Role of<i>Neisseria meningitidis luxS</i>in Cell-to-Cell Signaling and Bacteremic Infection

Abstract

Numerous pathogenic bacteria contain luxS, which is required for autoinducer-2 production. Here, we demonstrate that Neisseria meningitidis contains a functional copy of luxS that is necessary for full meningococcal virulence; strains with a luxS deletion are defective for bacteremia, a prerequisite of meningococcal pathogenesis.