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Transcription regulation in haloalkaliphilic bacterium Spirochaeta africana

ABSTRACT: The Spirochaetota phylum represents the most basal lineage within the bacterial kingdom Pseudomonadati. These bacteria are distinguished by their long, thin helical shape and a unique flagellum located between the inner and outer membranes. While some spirochetes are pathogenic, causing diseases such as syphilis (Treponema), Lyme disease (Borrelia), and leptospirosis (Leptospira), this study focuses on the non-pathogenic, free-living Spirochaeta africana as a model organism. This approach allows for the investigation of fundamental aspects of gene regulation in spirochetes, free from the genomic reduction often observed in pathogenic spirochetes due to their parasitic lifestyle. We utilized RNA-Seq to assess the in vivo activities of spirochetal promoters and the relative abundance of transcripts encoding components of the spirochetal transcription system. These findings supplement detailed in vitro analyses of spirochetal RNA polymerase and transcription regulators by biochemical and structural methods.

ORGANISM(S): Spirochaeta africana

PROVIDER: GSE305863 | GEO | 2026/03/16

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:The life-threatening pathogen Leptospira interrogans navigates a dual existence: surviving in environmental reservoirs and infecting mammalian hosts. Leptospira biofilm formation is thought to be an important survival strategy in environmental contexts and may also contribute to the persistence of leptospirosis in maintenance hosts. Examining the correlation between biofilm formation and the virulence of pathogenic strains might improve our comprehension of the epidemiology of leptospirosis. To further explore Leptospira’s survival strategy, our study focused on elucidating the biological state of pathogenic Leptospira within biofilms, particularly aiming to uncover the adaptations and regulatory mechanisms that are involved in such complex microenvironments. To determine the transcriptional profile of pathogenic Leptospira in biofilm, we compared the genome-wide transcriptomic profiles in late biofilms (21 days old) with those in exponential planktonic cultures (5 days old), revealing a pronounced transcriptomic shift. While genes linked to motility, energy production, and metabolism were downregulated, those governing the general stress response, defense against metal stress, and redox homeostasis showed a significant upsurge, hinting at a tailored defensive strategy against stress in late biofilms. A standout finding was the increased expression of the csoR, copZ, and copA locus, integral to copper ion stress response in other bacterial genera, suggesting a unique adaptation to metal-induced stress. Further, despite a reduced metabolic state in biofilms, their disruption swiftly restored metabolic activity. Crucially, bacteria either in late biofilms or resulting from biofilm disruption retained virulence in a hamster infection model, defying the notion that biofilm maturation abolishes pathogenicity. In summary, our study highlights Leptospira's adaptive equilibrium in biofilms: minimizing cellular energy expenditure to conserve resources, potentially aiding in withstanding stresses while maintaining its pathogenicity. These insights are important for explaining the survival strategies of Leptospira, revealing that a biofilm lifestyle may confer an advantage in maintaining virulence. This understanding is essential for managing leptospirosis across both environmental reservoirs and mammalian hosts.

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Transcription regulation in haloalkaliphilic bacterium Spirochaeta africana

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