Genomic plasticity of pathogenic Escherichia coli mediates D-serine tolerance via multiple adaptive mechanisms

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O'Boyle, Nicky and Connolly, James P. R. and Tucker, Nicholas P. and Roe, Andrew J. (2020) Genomic plasticity of pathogenic Escherichia coli mediates D-serine tolerance via multiple adaptive mechanisms. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117 (36). pp. 22484-22493. ISSN 1091-6490 (https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2004977117)

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Abstract

Significance Pathogens ensure infection of favored sites in the body by responding to chemical signals. One chemical abundant in urine, the amino acid d -Ser, is toxic to EHEC and reduces expression of the machinery used for host cell attachment, making the bladder an unfavorable environment. We observed that under d -Ser stress, EHEC acquires genetic changes that lead to blocking d -Ser uptake into the cell or activating a silent enzyme for degrading d -Ser. This prevents growth inhibition and, critically, inhibits the repression of attachment machinery normally caused by d -Ser. These findings highlight the importance of pathogen evolution in determining how host molecules regulate colonization. These interactions underpin a process known as niche restriction that is important for pathogen success within the host.

ORCID iDs

O'Boyle, Nicky, Connolly, James P. R., Tucker, Nicholas P. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6331-3704 and Roe, Andrew J.;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)