The Putative Glycosyltransferase-Encoding Gene cylJ and the Group B Streptococcus (GBS)-Specific Gene cylK Modulate Hemolysin Production and Virulence of GBS

Abstract
Group B streptococcus (GBS) expresses a hemolysin/cytolysin that plays an important role in pathogenesis. Using the Himar1 transposon mutagenesis system, a hypohemolytic mutant carrying an interrupted cylJ gene was characterized. cylJ , encoding a putative glycosyltransferase, and cylK , whose product is unknown, are both required for the full hemolytic/cytolytic activity, pigment formation, and virulence of GBS.