Methods and compositions to modulate adhesion and stress tolerance in bacteria

摘要

Methods and compositions are provided which improve the adhesion of a bacteria to target substrates and/or improve the stress tolerance of a bacteria. Methods comprise exposing bacteria to adhesion adaptive conditions and thereby increasing the adhesion activity and/or stress tolerance of the bacteria. Further provided are bacteria having a modulated production of autoinducer-2. Compositions include recombinant bacteria expressing nucleic acid molecules involved in the pathway of autoinducer-2 production. Further provided are autoinducer-2-related fusion proteins, antigenic peptides, antibodies, and vectors. Methods of screening compounds or environmental conditions which will stimulate the production of autoinducer-2 and/or produce an adhesion adaptive response are further provided, as are various methods of use for the bacteria having increased adhesion and/or stress tolerance.