Impact of the Histidine-Containing Phosphocarrier Protein HPr on Carbon Metabolism and Virulence in .

Carbon catabolite repression (CCR) is a common mechanism pathogenic bacteria use to link central metabolism with virulence factor synthesis. In gram-positive bacteria, catabolite control protein A (CcpA) and the histidine-containing phosphocarrier protein HPr (encoded by ) are the predominant mediators of CCR. In addition to modulating CcpA activity, HPr is essential for glucose import via the phosphotransferase system. While the regulatory functions of CcpA in are largely known, little is known about the function of HPr in CCR and infectivity. To address this knowledge gap, mutants were created in that either lack the open reading frame or harbor a variant carrying a thymidine to guanosine mutation at position 136, and the effects of these mutations on growth and metabolism were assessed. Inactivation of altered bacterial physiology and decreased the ability of to form a biofilm and cause infections in mice. These data demonstrate that HPr affects central metabolism and virulence in independent of its influence on CcpA regulation.