Dual species biofilms are enhanced by metabolite cross-feeding

Article Ecology

Heme cross-feeding can augment Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis dual species biofilms

Jun-Hong Ch'ng et al.

Summary: This study reports the enhanced biofilm biomass resulting from the combination of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, which is dependent on the activation of E. faecalis aerobic respiration. S. aureus provides heme to activate E. faecalis respiration, and E. faecalis gelatinase activity facilitates heme extraction. This interspecies interaction and metabolic cross-feeding may explain the frequent co-occurrence of these microbes in biofilm-associated infections.

ISME JOURNAL (2022)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Heme protects Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus from calprotectin-induced iron starvation

Emily M. Zygiel et al.

Summary: This study reveals that Pseudomonas aeruginosa upregulates heme uptake machinery in response to the presence of the innate immune protein calprotectin (CP), which inhibits iron uptake. Furthermore, heme is found to protect P. aeruginosa from CP-mediated inhibition of iron uptake and iron-starvation responses. Similar results are observed with Staphylococcus aureus, suggesting the importance of heme utilization for bacterial adaptation to host iron-withholding strategies.

JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY (2021)

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Article Microbiology

A Novel Enterococcus faecalis Heme Transport Regulator (FhtR) Senses Host Heme To Control Its Intracellular Homeostasis

Vincent Saillant et al.

Summary: Enterococcus faecalis is a commensal Gram-positive pathogen found in the intestines of mammals and a leading cause of severe infections in hospitalized patients. The transcriptional regulator FhtR manages heme homeostasis in E. faecalis by controlling an efflux pump, thus regulating heme detoxification. The FhtR-HrtBAEf system is relevant in a mouse intestinal model, sensing heme fluctuations within the gastrointestinal tract.

MBIO (2021)

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Article Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology