TetR- and LysR-type transcriptional regulators mediate multilayered control of T3SS1 by <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> quorum sensing.

ABSTRACT: The gram-negative pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus employs a sophisticated regulatory network to control virulence factors, including type III secretion system 1 (T3SS1), a key mediator of cytotoxicity. While the quorum sensing (QS) cascade LuxQ-ArcB-LuxO and master regulators AphA and OpaR are known to modulate T3SS1, the full scope of transcriptional regulation remains incompletely defined. Here, we combined the transcriptomic profiling of ΔluxQ, ΔarcB, and ΔluxO mutants with functional genetics to identify two novel transcription factors (TFs) that fine-tune T3SS1 activity. We demonstrate that TftR, a TetR family regulator, represses T3SS1 by binding the opaR promoter and enhancing OpaR production, thereby linking QS signaling to virulence suppression.

SUBMITTER: Zhang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12691590 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature