Four transcripts were significantly up-regulated in S phase gbs1420 (+6.3), encoding choline-binding protein, gbs1539 (+4.7) and gbs1929 (+5.5) encoding a putative nucleotidase, and gbs1143 (+2.6). We also observed down regulation in S phase of transcripts for several cell wall anchored proteins including a paralog of C5A peptidase precursor gbs0451 (-2), gbs1104 (-6.2), putative adhesin gbs1529 (-11) and fbp (gbs0850, -3), and putative laminin binding proteins (gbs1307, gbs1926; -3). Down regulation in S phase of proteins involved in bacterial attachment is consistent with results reported for GAS [14, 15, 19]. It is believed that several cell surface proteins

are produced during the initial stages of infection to promote adhesion, and later are down-regulated to avoid immune detection. Other known selleck compound virulence factors of GBS that showed decreased transcription in check details S phase included an operon encoding hemolysin (gbs0644–0654), genes encoded on the putative pathogeniCity island IX (gbs1061–1076), the putative group B antigen (gbs1478/9, gbs1481, gbs1484/5, gbs1492–1494), and genes involved in capsule synthesis (gbs1233–1247). The putative kinase cpsX (gbs1250) was

upregulated 4.4 times (Table 1). Down regulation www.selleckchem.com/products/Fludarabine(Fludara).html of capsule and putative and known surface antigens is known to occur in GAS [14, 15, 19]. For example, capsule, an antiphagocytic factor, is expressed during establishment of GAS infection and is later down-regulated once the infection is established [14, 15]. Our results imply a similar scenario could be occurring in GBS. The only transcript encoding a proven virulence factor that was increased in S phase was CAMP factor (+11.6, cfa, gbs2000). Conclusion Our results demonstrate that GBS gene transcript levels are highly dynamic throughout the growth cycle Urocanase in vitro, likely reflecting exposure to an environment that is altering significantly during growth. The organism activates genes involved in metabolism of nutrients

and carbon sources other than glucose such as complex carbohydrates and arginine and protect against changing pH. GBS slows down cell division and decreases transcription and translation. Production of virulence factors involved in establishment of the infection is reduced during growth. The global changes of transcript profiles we identified in GBS grown in rich medium are similar to patterns exhibited by GAS. Our results provide new information useful for the study of pathogen-host interactions and gene regulation in pathogenic bacteria. Acknowledgements Authors would like to thank Kathryn Stockbauer for critical reading of the manuscript. Electronic supplementary material Additional File 1: Supplemental table 1- Normalized hybridization values. File contains normalized hybridization values for each array used in the study. ML-mid logarithmic, LL-late logarithmic, ES-early stationary, S-stationary. P-”"present”" signal (detected in sample), M-”"marginal”" signal, A-”"absent”" signal (not detected).