Bacteria belonging to the genus Streptococcus are the first inhabitants of the oral cavity,
which can be acquired right after birth and thus play an important role in the assembly of the …

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are important starter, commensal, or pathogenic microorganisms.
The stress physiology of LAB has been studied in depth for over 2 decades, fueled mostly by …

Most bacteria can selectively use substrates from a mixture of different carbon sources. The
presence of preferred carbon sources prevents the expression, and often also the activity, of …

The bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP): carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS)
carries out both catalytic and regulatory functions. It catalyzes the transport and …

Streptococci readily colonize mucosal tissues in the nasopharynx; the respiratory,
gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts; and the skin. Each ecological niche presents a …

This chapter reviews what is known about the health and economic “burden” of acute
rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) worldwide. Evidence on the …

The continued evolution of bacterial pathogens has major implications for both human and
animal disease, but the exchange of genetic material between host-restricted pathogens is …

Enterococcus is a diverse and rugged genus colonizing the gastrointestinal tract of humans
and numerous hosts across the animal kingdom. Enterococci are also a leading cause of …

The nature of the oral cavity and host behaviors has mandated that the oral microbiota
evolve mechanisms for coping with environmental fluctuations, especially changes in the …

Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a major bacterial pathogen responsible for both local and
systemic infections in humans. The molecular mechanisms that contribute to disease …