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PMID:22901809

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Citation

Rabinovich, L, Sigal, N, Borovok, I, Nir-Paz, R and Herskovits, AA (2012) Prophage excision activates Listeria competence genes that promote phagosomal escape and virulence. Cell 150:792-802

Abstract

The DNA uptake competence (Com) system of the intracellular bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is considered nonfunctional. There are no known conditions for DNA transformation, and the Com master activator gene, comK, is interrupted by a temperate prophage. Here, we show that the L. monocytogenes Com system is required during infection to promote bacterial escape from macrophage phagosomes in a manner that is independent of DNA uptake. Further, we find that regulation of the Com system relies on the formation of a functional comK gene via prophage excision. Prophage excision is specifically induced during intracellular growth, primarily within phagosomes, yet, in contrast to classic prophage induction, progeny virions are not produced. This study presents the characterization of an active prophage that serves as a genetic switch to modulate the virulence of its bacterial host in the course of infection.

Links

PubMed Online version:10.1016/j.cell.2012.06.036

Keywords

Animals; Bacterial Proteins/genetics; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism; Bacteriophages/physiology; Base Sequence; Cells, Cultured; Female; Listeria/genetics; Listeria/immunology; Listeria/pathogenicity; Listeria/virology; Macrophages/cytology; Macrophages/immunology; Macrophages/microbiology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Molecular Sequence Data; Phagosomes/microbiology; Sequence Alignment; Virus Activation

Significance

Annotations

Gene product Qualifier GO Term Evidence Code with/from Aspect Extension Notes Status

See also

References

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