The Ax21 Protein Is a Cell-Cell Signal That Regulates Virulence in the Nosocomial Pathogen Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

摘要

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia encodes proteins related to the Rax proteins of Xanthomonas oryzae, which are required for the synthesis and secretion of the Ax21 protein. Here we show that Ax21 acts as a cell-cell signal to regulate a diverse range of functions, including virulence, in this nosocomial pathogen.