Focal targeting by human β-defensin 2 disrupts localized virulence factor assembly sites in Enterococcus faecalis
Abstract
In Gram-positive bacteria, many virulence factors are assembled and attached to the growing cell wall by sortase enzymes, which are localized to one or two sites in the cell membrane. Mislocalization of sortase enzymes negatively impacts their function. We demonstrate that β-defensins target Enterococcus faecalis at discrete sites, resulting in the mislocalization of sortase and associated secretion enzymes. The multiple peptide resistance factor protein, which adds cationic residues to anionic lipids as a general cationic peptide resistance strategy, limits focal defensin targeting in E. faecalis. This work suggests that focal targeting by defensins is important for efficient bacterial killing, and that pathogens have evolved mechanisms to balance focal localization of secretion and sortase enzymes with modification of these localization sites to combat defensins.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- December 2013
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1319066110
- Bibcode:
- 2013PNAS..11020230K