High Levels of the Xenorhabdus nematophila Transcription Factor Lrp Promote Mutualism with the Steinernema carpocapsae Nematode Host.

ABSTRACT: Xenorhabdus nematophila bacteria are mutualistic symbionts of Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes and pathogens of insects. The X. nematophila global regulator Lrp controls the expression of many genes involved in both mutualism and pathogenic activities, suggesting a role in the transition between the two host organisms. We previously reported that natural populations of X. nematophila exhibit various levels of Lrp expression and that cells expressing relatively low levels of Lrp are optimized for virulence in the insect Manduca sexta The adaptive advantage of the high-Lrp-expressing state was not established. Here we used strains engineered to express constitutively high or low levels of Lrp to test the model in which high-Lrp-expressing cells are adapted for mutualistic activities with th

SUBMITTER: Cao M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5452812 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature