The human pathogens Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus mutans have both
evolved complex quorum sensing (QS) systems that regulate the production of bacteriocins …

Natural DNA transformation is a lateral gene transfer mechanism during which bacteria take
up naked DNA from their environment and stably integrate it in their genome. The proteins …

Polymicrobial biofilms are of large medical importance, but relatively little is known about the
role of interspecies interactions for their physiology and virulence. Here, we studied two …

Mucus barriers accommodate trillions of microorganisms throughout the human body while
preventing pathogenic colonization. In the oral cavity, saliva containing the mucins MUC5B …

Invasive infection by the Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is controlled by a
four gene operon, agr that encodes a quorum sensing system for the regulation of virulence …

Most chronic and recurrent bacterial infections involve a biofilm component, the foundation
of which is the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Extracellular DNA (e DNA) is a …

Two small quorum sensing (QS) peptides regulate competence in S. mutans in a cell density
dependent manner: XIP (sigX inducing peptide) and CSP (competence stimulating peptide) …

Streptococcus mutans regulates genetic competence through a complex network that
receives inputs from a number of environmental stimuli, including two signalling peptides …

In many streptococci, competence for natural DNA transformation is regulated by the Rgg‐
type regulator ComR and the pheromone ComS, which is sensed intracellularly. We …

Horizontal gene transfer is an important means of bacterial evolution that is facilitated by
transduction, conjugation, and natural genetic transformation. Transformation occurs after …