The regulation of sB activity and its role in some gram-positive food-borne pathogens—— A review

Abstract:

The alternative sigma factor sB modulates the stress response of several Gram-positive bacteria. Not only does sB play a prominent role in sporulation in the Gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis, but it also contributes both directly and indirectly to bacterial virulence in the food-borne human pathogens Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. As sB has been shown to regulate expression of both virulence and virulence-associated genes, it indicates that sB is a key player in pathogen ecophysiology.