Bacterial sensing and signaling /

Contents 6
Foreword 8
Chemical Interactions between Organisms in Microbial Communities 10
Abstract 10
Passive and Active Interactions between Bacteria 10
Chemical Signaling: Communication, Cues and Chemical Manipulation 13
Secondary Metabolites and Chemical Interactions on Bacteria 14
Bacterial Quorum Sensing 15
Communication, Cues, Eavesdropping, and Interference 17
Antibiotics in Microbial Communities 19
Interrelationship of Quorum Sensing and Antibiotics in Microbial Communities 19
Physical Interactions in Microbial Communities 21
Perspective 22
Acknowledgements 22
References 22
Autoinducer-2-Based Chemical Communication in Bacteria: Complexities of Interspecies Signaling 27
Abstract 27
Intra- and Interspecies Quorum Sensing 28
AI-2 Identification 32
DPD and AI-2 Activity 32
Discriminating between AI-2 Signaling Effects and LuxS Metabolic Roles 34
A Structural Study of the AI-2 Receptor of Vibrio harveyi 36
Future Questions and Goals 39
References 40
The Molecular Basis of Excitation and Adaptation during Chemotactic Sensory Transduction in Bacteria 42
Abstract 42
Excitation 44
Adaptation 54
Concluding Remarks 62
Acknowledgements 63
References 63
Bacterial PEP-Dependent Carbohydrate: Phosphotransferase Systems Couple Sensing and Global Control Mechanisms 74
Abstract 74
Sensory (Signal Transduction) and Global Regulatory Systems Often Share Elements in the Prokaryotes 75
Components and Structure of Various PTSs Involved in the Coupling of Sensory and Regulatory Mechanisms 76
Functions of the PTS Which Couple Sensing and Global Control 83
Conclusions 92
Acknowledgements 92
References 92
Correlations between Carbon Metabolism and Virulence in Bacteria 97
Abstract 97
Mechanisms Controlling CCR in Enterobacteria 98
Other Interaction Partners of PTS Proteins in Enterobacteria 99
Mechanisms Controlling CCR in Firmicutes 99
Carbohydrate Availability and Virulence in Bacteria 101
CCR and Virulence in Firmicutes 101
CCR and Virulence in Proteobacteria without HprK/P 105
CCR and Virulence in Proteobacteria Containing HprK/P 106
Conclusions 108
References 108
Stand-Alone Response Regulators Controlling Global Virulence Networks in Streptococcus pyogenes 112
Abstract 112
Stand-Alone Response Regulators: Virulence and Growth Phase 113
The Mga Regulon: Responding to the Good Life 114
RALPs: Regulating Life at the Transition 118
Rgg/RopB: Sensing the Stresses of Infection 121
Interactions between Stand-Alone Regulators 123
Acknowledgements 124
References 124
The Heme Sensor System of Staphylococcus aureus 129
Abstract 129
Staphylococcus aureus Pathogenesis 129
Staphylococcal Heme Metabolism 130
The Adaptive Response of S. aureus to Heme 130
The Heme Regulated Transporter (HrtAB) 131
The Heme Sensor System (HssRS) 135
Evolutionary Implications of Heme Sensing in Gram-Positive Bacteria 140
Acknowledgments 142
References 142
Bacterial Sensing of Antimicrobial Peptides 145
Abstract 145
Mechanisms of Bacterial Resistance to Antimicrobial Peptides 146
The Gram-Negative PhoP/PhoQ Antimicrobial Peptide Sensor 149
The Gram-Positive Aps Antimicrobial Peptide Sensor 152
Anionic Antimicrobial Peptides and Non-Specific Sensing 154
A Potential Target for Antimicrobial Therapeutics? 154
Acknowledgement 155
References 155
RNA Thermosensors in Bacterial Pathogens 159
Abstract 159
RNA Thermosensors 160
Cold Sensors 163
Eukaryotic RNA Thermosensors 163
RNA Thermosensors in Bacterial Pathogens 164
Structural Requirements 166
Questions and Future Perspectives 167
Conclusions 168
Acknowledgements 168
References 168
Prevailing Concepts of c-di-GMP Signaling 170
Abstract 170
Biosynthesis of C-di-GMP by GGDEF Domain Proteins 171
Degradation of C-di-GMP by EAL and HD-GYP Domain Proteins 171
Abundance of GGDEF, EAL and HD-GYP Domain Proteins in Bacterial Genomes 173
Modulation of the Enzymatic Activity of C-di-GMP-Metabolizing Enzymes 174
C-di-GMP Binding Sites 176
Transition between Sessility and Motility by C-di-GMP Signaling 178
Transition between Sessility and Motility Occurs on the Single Cell Level 180
Role of C-di-GMP Signaling in Virulence 181
Additional Phenotypes Affected by C-di-GMP Signaling 182
Redundancy and Specificity of C-di-GMP Signaling 183
Specificity of C-di-GMP Signaling \u2013 A Phenomenon Based on Receptor Affinity? 185
Conclusions 185
Acknowledgements 185
References 186
Magnetosomes and Magneto-Aerotaxis 191
Abstract 191
General Features of Magnetotactic Bacteria 191
Magnetosomes 192
Cellular Magnetic Dipole 194
Magnetotaxis 194
Magneto-Aerotaxis 195
Polar Magneto-Aerotaxis 195
Axial Magneto-Aerotaxis 196
Redoxtaxis 197
Deviations from the Magneto-Aerotaxis Models 199
Bacterial Hemerythrins and Magneto-Aerotaxis 200
Conclusion 201
Acknowledgements 201
References 201
Engineering Bacterial Signals and Sensors 203
Abstract 203
Introduction 203
Specifications of Well-Characterized Bacterial Sensors and Signals 209
Engineering New Bacterial Sensors 217
Engineering Synthetic Gene Networks with Rewired Sensors 224
Concluding Remarks 229
References 230
Author Index 235
Subject Index 236