Hyperpiliation, not loss of pilus retraction, reduces <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> pathogenicity.

ABSTRACT: Type IVa pili (T4aP) are important virulence factors for many bacterial pathogens. Previous studies suggested that the retraction ATPase, PilT, modulates pathogenicity due to its critical role in pilus dynamics and twitching motility. Here we use a Caenorhabditis elegans slow-killing model to show that hyperpiliation, not loss of pilus retraction, reduces virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains PAK and PA14. Hyperactivating point mutations in the P. aeruginosa PilSR two-component system that controls transcription of the major pilin gene, pilA, increased levels of surface pili to the same extent as deleting pilT, without impairing twitching motility. These functionally hyperpiliated PilSR mutants had significant defects in pathogenicity that were resc

SUBMITTER: Kilmury SLN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11960060 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature