Phenotypic changes in group B streptococci grown in the presence of the polyols, erythritol, sorbitol and mannitol

BMC Microbiology

Gregory J. Tyrrell¹  Matthew A. Croxen¹  Maram Hulbah² 

[1] Division of Diagnostic and Applied Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada;Alberta Precision Laboratories-Public Health, T6G 2J2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;Division of Diagnostic and Applied Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada;Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia;

关键词: GBS;    Polyols;    PGK;    Virulence;    Invasion;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12866-021-02208-z

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundGroup B streptococci (GBS) are important neonatal bacterial pathogens that can cause severe invasive disease in the newborn. It is thought that in many cases of invasive neonatal GBS disease, the bacteria ascend the vagina into the uterus and infect the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus. Important constituents of this environment include the polyols or sugar alcohols of which erythritol, sorbitol and mannitol are examples. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of polyols on GBS grown in media containing these sugar alcohols.ResultsGBS incubated in varying concentrations of polyols (erythritol, sorbitol or mannitol) did not display any significant enhancement or inhibition of bacterial growth. However, growth of GBS in the presence of erythritol significantly increased the surface expression of GBS-PGK (a plasminogen binding protein) 1.25 to 1.5-fold depending on the erythritol concentration and significantly enhanced the survival in human blood 3X to 18X depending on the concentration of polyol used. Interestingly, GBS grown in 1% erythritol significantly increased invasion by the bacteria of HeLa cells (epithelial cell line) (150% vs 100%) however, at higher concentrations (2% or 4% of polyol) the number of CFUs was significantly reduced (55-75% vs 100%) suggesting higher concentrations of polyols may inhibit invasion. Erythritol also increased GBS hemolytic activity as well as enhancing biofilm formation 1.4X to 3.3X depending on the concentration of polyol used.ConclusionsGBS grown in the presence of polyols alters the bacteria’s phenotype resulting in changes associated with GBS virulence. This effect was greatest for the polyol erythritol.

【 授权许可】

CC BY