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Transcriptome analysis of Newman delta2027

ABSTRACT: Intracellular small-molecule signaling has drawn increasing attention due to its importance in bacterial physiology and host-pathogen interactions. Here, we show that a new quinone-sensing transcriptional regulator, QsbR (quinone-stress sensing and bleomycin resistance regulator), is important for bacterial stress response and virulence in S. aureus. The mutant strain of qsbR exhibits dramatically reduced staphylococcal virulence in a murine abscess model of infection. Moreover, the qsbR mutant shows an accumulation of riboflavin and an increased resistance to quinone stress and bleomycin compared to the wild-type strain Newman. Microarray analysis confirmed that QsbR impacts the expression of genes that are involved in quinone stress response, bleomycin resistance, riboflavin biosynthesis, and pathogenesis. DNase-I footprinting and gel shift assays suggest that QsbR not only directly regulates transcription of genes involved in quinone detoxification and bleomycin resistance, but is also subject to autoregulation by binding to the palindromic consensus sequence GTATAN(5)TATAC in their promoter regions. This binding could be disrupted by quinone treatment in vitro. Mass spectrometric analysis showed that wild-type QsbR, but not QsbRC5S with Cys5 mutated to Ser, could be alkylated at Cys5 by quinone. Further mutagenesis studies revealed that Cys5 plays a key role in quinone sensing as substitution of Cys5 with Ser renders the bacterium more sensitive to quinone stress. Our results demonstrate that QsbR is a quinone-sensing regulator that dramatically impacts staphylococcal virulence and stress response.

ORGANISM(S): Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus str. Newman Staphylococcus aureus

PROVIDER: GSE35409 | GEO | 2012/03/09

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA152801

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Intracellular small-molecule signaling has drawn increasing attention due to its importance in bacterial physiology and host-pathogen interactions. Here, we show that a new quinone-sensing transcriptional regulator, QsbR (quinone-stress sensing and bleomycin resistance regulator), is important for bacterial stress response and virulence in S. aureus. The mutant strain of qsbR exhibits dramatically reduced staphylococcal virulence in a murine abscess model of infection. Moreover, the qsbR mutant shows an accumulation of riboflavin and an increased resistance to quinone stress and bleomycin compared to the wild-type strain Newman. Microarray analysis confirmed that QsbR impacts the expression of genes that are involved in quinone stress response, bleomycin resistance, riboflavin biosynthesis, and pathogenesis. DNase-I footprinting and gel shift assays suggest that QsbR not only directly regulates transcription of genes involved in quinone detoxification and bleomycin resistance, but is also subject to autoregulation by binding to the palindromic consensus sequence GTATAN(5)TATAC in their promoter regions. This binding could be disrupted by quinone treatment in vitro. Mass spectrometric analysis showed that wild-type QsbR, but not QsbRC5S with Cys5 mutated to Ser, could be alkylated at Cys5 by quinone. Further mutagenesis studies revealed that Cys5 plays a key role in quinone sensing as substitution of Cys5 with Ser renders the bacterium more sensitive to quinone stress. Our results demonstrate that QsbR is a quinone-sensing regulator that dramatically impacts staphylococcal virulence and stress response. Sample preparation for transcriptional analysis. For each strain, 2 clones were inoculated in TSB and collected from mid-log or stationary phase. Appropriate volumes from each of the 2 cultures per strain were pooled and added to 2 volumes of RNAprotect reagent (Qiagen). Cultures were centrifuged and cell pellets were stored at 4 ÂºC until RNA extraction. During the experiment, OD600 and viable cfu per ml were monitored for each of the cultures. This procedure was repeated 2 independent times to generate 2 samples at each time point for each strain.

Project description:While significant advances have been made in EHEC pathogenesis, we still do not fully understand the impact of environmental stress on EHEC virulence. During the course of infection, EHEC must evade or overcome several biological barriers, the first of which is the gastric acidity encountered during passage through the stomach. EHEC is remarkable in its ability to tolerate this acidity. There are four different acid resistance systems that provide E. coli O157:H7 protection against exposure to low pH (2-2.5). Interestingly, EHEC uses these acid resistance systems differentially for survival in foods versus the bovine intestinal tract. The glutamate-dependent acid-resistance system is thought to offer the best protection below pH 3. Since the infectious dose of EHEC is so low (50-100 organisms), acid resistance becomes an important virulence trait. Studies of EHEC response to acid stress have focused primarily on levels of acid tolerance and the molecular basis of tolerance. However, the impact of acid stress on EHEC virulence is less well understood. In the related pathogen, EPEC, the plasmid-encoded regulator, Per, that regulates expression of many EPEC virulence factors, is regulated negatively at pH 5.5 and positively at pH 8.0, suggesting that virulence gene expression is repressed during mild acid stress and enhanced in alkaline pH typical of the small intestine. Expression of EPEC type III secreted factors involved in A/E lesion formation has been shown to be influenced by factors including culture media, iron and calcium levels. Protein secretion was inhibited at pH 6 and 8. In a third study, a gadE (encoding acid resistance regulator) mutation resulted in increased adhesion of E.coli O157:H7 to colonic epithelial cells, suggesting negative regulation of one or more adhesins. Other studies have reported that shiga toxin production is sensitive to culture conditions including pH. However, there are no studies of EHEC virulence changes after more severe acid stress nor studies linking stressed EHEC virulence phenotype with transcriptional changes. The goal of this study was to determine how acid stress affects EHEC virulence properties and through microarray analysis, define the genetic basis for these changes. Understanding how acid stress modulates the virulence potential of this pathogen is essential for delineating the pathogenesis of disease caused by EHEC infection and may offer novel approaches to prevent and treat EHEC infections.

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Transcriptome analysis of Newman delta2027

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