RNA Polymerase Sigma Factors in Streptococcus pyogenes

化脓性链球菌(又称A组链球菌或GAS)是人类常见的重要致病菌。它引起的疾病范围从自限性皮肤和喉咙感染，但有可能导致严重的后遗症，包括风湿性心脏病、急性肾小球肾炎，可能还有儿科神经心理障碍，到严重的侵袭性疾病，如肌炎和链球菌中毒性休克综合征。由于单一的GAS菌株似乎能够引起大多数或所有这些疾病，因此调节GAS基因的表达以响应宿主内的特定环境差异可能是确定感染过程的关键。在这里，我们提出了一种新的方法，通过鉴定在不同条件下转录基因所需的新的RNA聚合酶(RNAP)次级西格玛因子及其调控的基因，来更多地了解GAS中基因表达的调控。

Streptococcus pyogenes (the group A streptococcus or GAS) is an important and common human pathogen. The diseases it causes range from self-limiting skin and throat infections, with, however, the potential for serious sequelae including rheumatic heart disease, acute glomerulonephritis, and possibly pediatric neuropsychological disorders, to severe invasive diseases like myositis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Since single strains of the GAS seem to be able to cause most or all of these diseases, regulation of the expression of GAS genes in response to specific environmental differences within the host is probably key in determining the course of the infectious process. We propose here a new approach to learn more about control of gene expression in the GAS by the characterization of a new RNA polymerase (RNAP) secondary sigma factor needed to transcribe genes under different conditions and the characterization of the genes it regulates.