Project description:Naturally occurring mtrR mutants of gonococci displaying clinically relevant levels of antibiotic resistance are often isolated from patients and mtrR mutants have been reported to be more fit than the wild type parent strain in a murine vaginal infection model. DNA-binding proteins, such as MtrR, that negatively regulate bacterial efflux pump genes have been considered to be “local” gene regulators, although there is increasing evidence that they can directly or indirectly influence expression of other genes. To define the regulatory properties of MtrR we employed microarray analysis of isogenic MtrR-positive and MtrR-negative gonococci. Keywords: single time point
Project description:Whole transcriptome analysis of N. gonorrhoeae FA19 and isogenic NGEG_00293 (misR) mutant using RNA-Seq (note that NGO0177 is the misR ORF designation in mapping strain FA1090)
Project description:The overall goals and objectives of this study are to investigate the transcriptomics of Neisseria gonorrhoeae using RNA-seq. This work will look at gene expression, start points of transcription, transcriptional termination, and differences between these in different conditions and between strains and growing cultures over time.
Project description:Previous studies have shown that the MpeR transcriptional regulator produced by Neisseria gonorrhoeae represses expression of mtrF, which encodes a putative inner membrane protein that works with the MtrC-MtrD-MtrE efflux pump to allow gonococci to resist high levels of multiple hydrophobic antimicrobials. Regulation of mpeR has been reported to occur by an iron-dependent mechanism involving Fur (Ferric uptake regulator). Collectively, these observations suggest the presence of an interconnected regulatory system in gonococci that modulates expression of drug efflux pump protein-encoding genes in an iron-responsive manner. Herein, we describe this connection and report that levels of gonococcal resistance to a substrate of the mtrCDE-encoded efflux pump can be modulated by MpeR and the availability of free iron. Using microarray analysis, we found that the mtrR gene, which encodes the direct transcriptional repressor (MtrR) of mtrCDE, is an MpeR-repressed determinant in the late-logarithmic phase of growth when free iron levels would be reduced due to bacterial consumption. MpeR-mediated repression of mtrR appeared to be direct, as judged by DNA-binding analyses, and was enhanced by conditions of iron-limitation, which resulted in increased expression of the mtrCDE efflux pump operon. Taken together, our results indicate that both genetic and physiologic parameters can influence expression of the mtr efflux system and that these can modulate levels of gonococcal susceptibility to efflux pump substrates.
Project description:Regulation of gene expression by small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) plays a critical role in bacterial response to physiological stresses. NrrF, a trans-acting sRNA in Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, has been shown in the meningococcus to indirectly control, in response to iron (Fe) availability, the transcription of genes encoding subunits of succinate dehydrogenase, a Fe-requiring enzyme. Given that in other organisms sRNAs target multiple mRNAs to control gene expression, we used a global approach to examine the role of NrrF in controlling gonococcal transcription. Three strains, including N. gonorrhoeae FA1090, an nrrF deletion mutant and a complemented derivative were examined using a custom CombiMatrix microarray to assess the role of this sRNA in controlling gene expression in response to Fe availability. In the absence of NrrF, mRNA half-lives increased for 12 genes in Fe-depleted growth conditions, compared to FA1090. Biological functions for the 12 genes controlled by NrrF included energy metabolism, oxidative stress, antibiotic resistance, amino acid synthesis and a regulatory protein whose functions are not fully understood, in addition to hypothetical proteins. 18 samples. Three separate biological replicates for both growth conditions (Fe deplete and Fe replete) were done for all each isolate (6 samples per isolate); FA1090 wild type strain; NrrF_mutant strain LJ001; NrrF_complemented strain LJ002
Project description:We assessed the small RNA transcriptome of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain MS11 in two genetic backgrounds; using wild type cells as well as cells carrying a rppH insertional mutation. It was found that the presence of the RppH enzyme affected both the quantity and length of small RNAs in various chromosomal locations. However, in comparing the two transcriptomes, we found that not all small RNAs were differentially expressed, suggesting that RppH targets only a subset of transcripts.
Project description:Wild type Neisseria gonorrhoea strain FA1090 and N. meningitidis strain MC58 were grown on normal GC plate at either 35 degree celsius (for control samples) or 40 degree celsius (for test samples)