Role of the pyruvate metabolic network on carbohydrate metabolism and virulence in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Issue 4 (24th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Echlin, Haley; Frank, Matthew; Rock, Charles; Rosch, Jason W.
• Is Part Of: Molecular microbiology. Volume 114:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 536
• Page End: 552
• Publication Date: 2020-06-24
• Subjects: capsule production -- carbohydrate metabolism -- pyruvate -- Streptococcus pneumoniae -- virulence; Molecular microbiology -- Periodicals; 572.829
• DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14557
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-382X

Abstract

Abstract: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major human pathogen that must adapt to unique nutritional environments in several host niches. The pneumococcus can metabolize a range of carbohydrates that feed into glycolysis ending in pyruvate, which is catabolized by several enzymes. We investigated how the pneumococcus utilizes these enzymes to metabolize different carbohydrates and how this impacts survival in the host. Loss of ldh decreased bacterial burden in the nasopharynx and enhanced bacteremia in mice. Loss of spxB, pdhC or pfl2 decreased bacteremia and increased host survival. In glucose or galactose, loss of ldh increased capsule production, whereas loss of spxB and pdhC reduced capsule production. The pfl2 mutant exhibited reduced capsule production only in galactose. In glucose, pyruvate was metabolized primarily by LDH to generate lactate and NAD + and by SpxB and PDHc to generate acetyl‐CoA. In galactose, pyruvate metabolism was shunted toward acetyl‐CoA production. The majority of acetyl‐CoA generated by PFL was used to regenerate NAD + with a subset used in capsule production, while the acetyl‐CoA generated by SpxB and PDHc was utilized primarily for capsule biosynthesis. These data suggest that the pneumococcus can alter flux of pyruvate metabolism dependent on the carbohydrate present to succeed in distinct host niches. Abstract : Virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae is modulated by balance of carbohydrate metabolism via pyruvate node enzymes, providing a means to pass through the mucin layer and gain access past the epithelial layer. Loss of this balance results in changes in the pyruvate flux, levels of key metabolites, capsule production, and capacity to invade and survive in the host.