Burkholderia cenocepacia requires the RpoN sigma factor for biofilm formation and intracellular trafficking within macrophages.

ABSTRACT: Chronic respiratory infections by Burkholderia cenocepacia in cystic fibrosis patients are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, but virulence factors determining the persistence of the infection in the airways are not well characterized. Using a chronic pulmonary infection model, we previously identified an attenuated mutant with an insertion in a gene encoding an RpoN activator protein, suggesting that RpoN and/or components of the RpoN regulon play a role in B. cenocepacia virulence. In this study, we demonstrate that a functional rpoN gene is required for bacterial motility and biofilm formation in B. cenocepacia K56-2. Unlike other bacteria, RpoN does not control flagellar biosynthesis, as evidenced by the presence of flagella in the rpoN mutant. We also demonstrate that,

SUBMITTER: Saldias MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2258854 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature