Contribution of a ZIP‐family protein to manganese uptake and infective endocarditis virulence in Streptococcus sanguinis

Streptococcus sanguinis is an important cause of infective endocarditis. In strain SK36, the ABC‐family manganese transporter, SsaACB, is essential for virulence. We have now identified a ZIP‐family protein, TmpA, as a secondary manganese transporter. A tmpA mutant had no phenotype, but a ΔssaACB ΔtmpA mutant was more attenuated for serum growth and for virulence in a rabbit model than its ΔssaACB parent. The growth of both mutants was restored by supplemental manganese, but the ΔssaACB ΔtmpA mutant required twenty‐fold more and accumulated less. Although ZIP‐family proteins are known for zinc and iron transport, TmpA‐mediated transport of either metal was minimal. While ssaACB appears ubiquitous in St. sanguinis, tmpA was present in a majority of strains and a mntH gene encoding an NRAMP‐family transporter was identified in relatively few, including VMC66. As in SK36, deletion of ssaACB greatly diminished VMC66 endocarditis virulence and serum growth, and deletion of tmpA from this mutant diminished virulence further. Virulence was not significantly altered by deletion of mntH from either VMC66 or its ΔssaACB mutant. This and the accompanying paper together suggest that SsaACB is of primary importance for endocarditis virulence while secondary transporters TmpA and MntH contribute to growth under differing conditions. Manganese transport in Streptococcus sanguinis has long been known to be mediated by an ABC transporter. When that transporter is eliminated, a newly discovered ZIP‐family protein, TmpA, takes over the role of manganese transport and in so doing, contributes to serum growth and endocarditis virulence.