c-di-AMP accumulation impairs toxin expression of Bacillus anthracis by down-regulating potassium importers

• DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03786-23
• Publication Date: 2024-06-20T13:00:43Z
• Authors: Jia Hu; Junmin Yao; Chengfeng Lei; Xiulian Sun
• Keywords: Bacillus anthracis; Anthrax toxin

ABSTRACT The Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax and a bioterrorism threat worldwide. As crucial second messenger in many bacterial species, cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP) modulates various key processes for homeostasis pathogenesis. Overaccumulation c-di-AMP alters cellular growth reduces toxin expression as well virulence by unresolved underlying mechanisms. In this report, we discovered that binds to series receptors involved potassium uptake B. . By analyzing Kdp Ktr mutants osmotic stress, gene expression, also showed inhibits operon through binding KdpD ydaO riboswitch; up-regulating intracellular promotes accumulated Decreased at high occurs inhibition uptake. Understanding molecular basis how affects has potential provide new insight into control anthracis. IMPORTANCE conserved global regulator homeostasis. How regulates unknown. With study, link between accumulation might inhibit suppressing