Competence-programmed predation of noncompetent cells in the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae: Genetic requirements

摘要: Natural competence for genetic transformation is the best-characterized feature of major human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. Recent studies have shown virulence competence-deficient mutants to be attenuated, but nature connection between and remained unknown. Here we document release, triggered by competent cells, factors (e.g., cytolytic toxin pneumolysin) from noncompetent cells. This phenomenon, which name allolysis, involves a previously undescribed bacteriocin system consisting two-peptide bacteriocin, CibAB, its immunity factor, CibC; autolysin, LytA, lysozyme, LytC; proposed new amidase, CbpD. We show that CibAB are absolutely required whereas LytA LytC can supplied either cells or targeted propose allolysis constitutes competence-programmed mechanism predation benefits contributes coordinating release factors.