scholarly journals Identification of a New Quorum-Sensing-Controlled Virulence Factor in Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica Secreted via the Type II Targeting Pathway

2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 334-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Corbett ◽  
Sam Virtue ◽  
Kenneth Bell ◽  
Paul Birch ◽  
Tom Burr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Xanthomonas Campestris ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Erwinia Carotovora ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Plant Assays

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the secreted proteins of Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica revealed alow-abundance protein that was identified by mass spectrometry as a homologue of a Xanthomonas campestris avirulence protein with unknown function. The predicted Svx protein has an N-terminal signal sequence and zinc binding-region signature, and the mature protein is post-translationally modified. A 2D difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) showed that the protein is secreted by the type II (out) secretion apparatus, which is also responsible for the secretion of the major known virulence factors, PelC and CelV. Transcription of the svx gene is under Nacyl- homoserine lactone-mediated quorum-sensing control. The svx gene was inactivated by transposon insertion. The mutant showed a decrease in virulence in potato plant assays, demonstrating a role for Svx in the pathogenicity of E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica. These results show that Svx is a previously unidentified virulence determinant which is secreted by the out machinery and is regulated by quorum sensing, two systems employed by several other virulence factors. Thus, the type II secretory machine is a conduit for virulence factors other than the main pectinnases and cellulase in E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica.

scholarly journals Quorum sensing regulation in Erwinia carotovora affects development of Drosophila melanogaster infected larvae

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filipe J. D. Vieira ◽  
Pol Nadal-Jimenez ◽  
Luis Teixeira ◽  
Karina B. Xavier
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Developmental Delay ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Virulence Factor ◽  
Plant Cell Wall ◽  
Erwinia Carotovora ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Pectolytic Enzymes ◽  
Two Component

AbstractMulti-host bacteria must rapidly adapt to drastic environmental changes, relying on integration of multiple stimuli for an optimal genetic response. Erwinia spp. are phytopathogens that cause soft-rot disease in plants. Erwinia carotovora Ecc15 is used as a model for bacterial oral-route infection in Drosophila melanogaster as it harbors a gene, the Erwinia virulence factor (Evf), which has been previously shown to be a major determinant for infection of D. melanogaster gut. However, the factors involved in regulation of evf expression are poorly understood. We investigated whether evf could be controlled by quorum sensing since, in the Erwinia genus, quorum sensing regulates pectolytic enzymes, the major virulence factors needed to infect plants. Here, we show that transcription of evf is positively regulated by quorum sensing in Ecc15 via the acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signal synthase ExpI, and the AHL receptors ExpR1 and ExpR2. Moreover, we demonstrate that the GacS/A two-component system is partially required for evf expression. We also show that the load of Ecc15 in the gut depends upon the quorum sensing-mediated regulation of evf. Furthermore, we demonstrate that larvae infected with Ecc15 suffer a developmental delay as a direct consequence of the regulation of evf via quorum sensing. Overall, our results show that Ecc15 relies on quorum sensing to control production of both pectolytic enzymes and Evf. This regulation influences the interaction of Ecc15 with its two known hosts, indicating that quorum sensing and GacS/A signaling systems may impact bacterial dissemination via insect vectors that feed on rotting plants.SignificanceIntegration of genetic networks allows bacteria to rapidly adapt to changing environments. This is particularly important in bacteria that interact with multiple hosts. Erwinia carotovora Ecc15 is a plant pathogen that uses Drosophila melanogaster as a vector. To interact with these two hosts, Ecc15 uses two different sets of virulence factors: plant cell wall-degrading enzymes to infect plants and the Erwinia virulence factor (evf) to infect Drosophila. Our work shows that, despite the virulence factors being different, both are regulated by homoserine lactone quorum sensing and the two component GacS/A system. Moreover, we show that these pathways are essential for Ecc15 loads in the gut of Drosophila and that this interaction carries a cost to the vector in the form of a developmental delay. Our findings provide evidence for the importance of quorum sensing regulation in the establishment of multi-host interactions.

scholarly journals Erwinia carotovora Quorum Sensing System Regulates Host-Specific Virulence Factors and Development Delay in Drosophila melanogaster

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Filipe J. D. Vieira ◽  
Pol Nadal-Jimenez ◽  
Luis Teixeira ◽  
Karina B. Xavier
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Plant Cell Wall ◽  
Erwinia Carotovora ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pectolytic Enzymes

ABSTRACT Multihost bacteria have to rapidly adapt to drastic environmental changes, relying on a fine integration of multiple stimuli for an optimal genetic response. Erwinia carotovora spp. are phytopathogens that cause soft-rot disease. Strain Ecc15 in particular is a model for bacterial oral-route infection in Drosophila melanogaster as it harbors a unique gene, evf, that encodes the Erwinia virulence factor (Evf), which is a major determinant for infection of the D. melanogaster gut. However, the factors involved in the regulation of evf expression are poorly understood. We investigated whether evf could be controlled by quorum sensing as, in the Erwinia genus, quorum sensing regulates pectolytic enzymes, the major virulence factors needed to infect plants. Here, we show that transcription of evf is positively regulated by quorum sensing in Ecc15 via acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signal synthase ExpI and AHL receptors ExpR1 and ExpR2. We also show that the load of Ecc15 in the gut depends upon the quorum sensing-mediated regulation of evf. Furthermore, we demonstrate that larvae infected with Ecc15 suffer a developmental delay as a direct consequence of the regulation of evf via quorum sensing. Finally, we demonstrate that evf is coexpressed with plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDE) during plant infection in a quorum sensing-dependent manner. Overall, our results show that Ecc15 relies on quorum sensing to control production of both pectolytic enzymes and Evf. This regulation influences the interaction of Ecc15 with its two known hosts, indicating that quorum sensing signaling may impact bacterial dissemination via insect vectors that feed on rotting plants. IMPORTANCE Integration of genetic networks allows bacteria to rapidly adapt to changing environments. This is particularly important in bacteria that interact with multiple hosts. Erwinia carotovora is a plant pathogen that uses Drosophila melanogaster as a vector. To interact with these two hosts, Ecc15 uses different sets of virulence factors: plant cell wall-degrading enzymes to infect plants and the Erwinia virulence factor (evf) to infect Drosophila. Our work shows that, despite the virulence factors being specific for each host, both sets are coactivated by homoserine lactone quorum sensing and by the two-component GacS/A system in infected plants. This regulation is essential for Ecc15 loads in the gut of Drosophila and minimizes the developmental delay caused by the bacteria with respect to the insect vector. Our findings provide evidence that coactivation of the host-specific factors in the plant may function as a predictive mechanism to maximize the probability of transit of the bacteria between hosts.

scholarly journals Revisiting the quorum-sensing hierarchy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: the transcriptional regulator RhlR regulates LasR-specific factors

Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (3) ◽  
pp. 712-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valérie Dekimpe ◽  
Eric Déziel
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
The Other ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Late Stationary Phase ◽  
Regulatory Systems ◽  
Specific Factors

Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses the two major quorum-sensing (QS) regulatory systems las and rhl to modulate the expression of many of its virulence factors. The las system is considered to stand at the top of the QS hierarchy. However, some virulence factors such as pyocyanin have been reported to still be produced in lasR mutants under certain conditions. Interestingly, such mutants arise spontaneously under various conditions, including in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients. Using transcriptional lacZ reporters, LC/MS quantification and phenotypic assays, we have investigated the regulation of QS-controlled factors by the las system. Our results show that activity of the rhl system is only delayed in a lasR mutant, thus allowing the expression of multiple virulence determinants such as pyocyanin, rhamnolipids and C4-homoserine lactone (HSL) during the late stationary phase. Moreover, at this stage, RhlR is able to overcome the absence of the las system by activating specific LasR-controlled functions, including production of 3-oxo-C12-HSL and Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS). P. aeruginosa is thus able to circumvent the deficiency of one of its QS systems by allowing the other to take over. This work demonstrates that the QS hierarchy is more complex than the model simply presenting the las system above the rhl system.

scholarly journals PqsE Functions Independently of PqsR-Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal and Enhances the rhl Quorum-Sensing System

2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (21) ◽  
pp. 7043-7051 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Farrow ◽  
Zoe M. Sund ◽  
Matthew L. Ellison ◽  
Dana S. Wade ◽  
James P. Coleman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Signaling Systems ◽  
Sensing System ◽  
Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal ◽  
Quorum Sensing System ◽  
Hostile Environments

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes both acute and chronic infections in immunocompromised individuals. This gram-negative bacterium produces a battery of virulence factors that allow it to infect and survive in many different hostile environments. The control of many of these virulence factors falls under the influence of one of three P. aeruginosa cell-to-cell signaling systems. The focus of this study, the quinolone signaling system, functions through the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS), previously identified as 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone. This signal binds to and activates the LysR-type transcriptional regulator PqsR (also known as MvfR), which in turn induces the expression of the pqsABCDE operon. The first four genes of this operon are required for PQS synthesis, but the fifth gene, pqsE, is not. The function of the pqsE gene is not known, but it is required for the production of multiple PQS-controlled virulence factors and for virulence in multiple models of infection. In this report, we show that PqsE can activate PQS-controlled genes in the absence of PqsR and PQS. Our data also suggest that the regulatory activity of PqsE requires RhlR and indicate that a pqsE mutant can be complemented for pyocyanin production by a large excess of exogenous N-butyryl homoserine lactone (C4-HSL). Finally, we show that PqsE enhances the ability of Escherichia coli expressing RhlR to respond to C4-HSL. Overall, our data lead us to conclude that PqsE functions as a regulator that is independent of PqsR and PQS but dependent on the rhl quorum-sensing system.

scholarly journals Transgenic Plants Producing the Bacterial Pheromone N-Acyl-Homoserine Lactone Exhibit Enhanced Resistance to the Bacterial Phytopathogen Erwinia carotovora

2001 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 1035-1042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres Mäe ◽  
Marcos Montesano ◽  
Viia Koiv ◽  
E. Tapio Palva
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Transgenic Tobacco ◽  
Plant Cell Wall ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Erwinia Carotovora ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Defense Responses ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Enhanced Resistance

Bacterial pheromones, mainly different homoserine lactones, are central to a number of bacterial signaling processes, including those involved in plant pathogenicity. We previously demonstrated that N-oxoacyl-homoserine lactone (OHL) is essential for quorum sensing in the soft-rot phytopathogen Erwinia carotovora. In this pathogen, OHL controls the coordinate activation of genes encoding the main virulence determinants, extracellular plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs), in a cell density-dependent manner. We suggest that E. carotovora employ quorum sensing to avoid the premature production of PCWDEs and subsequent activation of plant defense responses. To test whether modulating this sensory system would affect the outcome of a plant-pathogen interaction, we generated transgenic tobacco, producing OHL. This was accomplished by ectopic expression in tobacco of the E. carotovora gene expI, which is responsible for OHL biosynthesis. We show that expI-positive transgenic tobacco lines produced the active pheromone and partially complemented the avirulent phenotype of expI mutants. The OHL-producing tobacco lines exhibited enhanced resistance to infection by wild-type E. carotovora. The results were confirmed by exogenous addition of OHL to wild-type plants, which also resulted in increased resistance to E. carotovora.

scholarly journals LuxR- and Acyl-Homoserine-Lactone-Controlled Non-luxGenes Define a Quorum-Sensing Regulon in Vibrio fischeri

2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (10) ◽  
pp. 2811-2822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean M. Callahan ◽  
Paul V. Dunlap
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Vibrio Fischeri ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Symbiotic Bacterium ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Acyl Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Protein Patterns ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Key Enzyme

ABSTRACT The luminescence (lux) operon (luxICDABEG) of the symbiotic bacterium Vibrio fischeri is regulated by the transcriptional activator LuxR and two acyl-homoserine lactone (acyl-HSL) autoinducers (the luxI-dependent 3-oxo-hexanoyl-HSL [3-oxo-C6-HSL] and the ainS-dependent octanoyl-HSL [C8-HSL]) in a population density-responsive manner called quorum sensing. To identify quorum-sensing-regulated (QSR) proteins different from those encoded by lux genes, we examined the protein patterns of V. fischeri quorum-sensing mutants defective in luxI, ainS, andluxR by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Five non-Lux QSR proteins, QsrP, RibB, AcfA, QsrV, and QSR 7, were identified; their production occurred preferentially at high population density, required both LuxR and 3-oxo-C6-HSL, and was inhibited by C8-HSL at low population density. The genes encoding two of the QSR proteins were characterized: qsrP directs cells to synthesize an apparently novel periplasmic protein, andribB is a homolog of the Escherichia coli gene for 3,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 4-phosphate synthase, a key enzyme for riboflavin synthesis. The qsrP and ribBpromoter regions each contained a sequence similar to thelux operon lux box, a 20-bp region of dyad symmetry necessary for LuxR/3-oxo-C6-HSL-dependent activation oflux operon transcription. V. fischeri qsrP andribB mutants exhibited no distinct phenotype in culture. However, a qsrP mutant, in competition with its parent strain, was less successful in colonizing Euprymna scolopes, the symbiotic host of V. fischeri. The newly identified QSR genes, together with the lux operon, define a LuxR/acyl-HSL-responsive quorum-sensing regulon in V. fischeri.

scholarly journals Elevated Temperature Enhances Virulence of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora Strain EC153 to Plants and Stimulates Production of the Quorum Sensing Signal, N-Acyl Homoserine Lactone, and Extracellular Proteins

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (8) ◽  
pp. 4655-4663 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Hasegawa ◽  
A. Chatterjee ◽  
Y. Cui ◽  
A. K. Chatterjee
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Extracellular Enzymes ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Pectate Lyase ◽  
Erwinia Carotovora ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Extracellular Proteins ◽  
Acyl Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Tissue Maceration

ABSTRACT Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica, E. carotovora subsp. betavasculorum, and E. carotovora subsp. carotovora produce high levels of extracellular enzymes, such as pectate lyase (Pel), polygalacturonase (Peh), cellulase (Cel), and protease (Prt), and the quorum-sensing signal N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) at 28°C. However, the production of these enzymes and AHL by these bacteria is severely inhibited during growth at elevated temperatures (31.2°C for E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica and 34.5°C for E. carotovora subsp. betavasculorum and most E. carotovora subsp. carotovora strains). At elevated temperatures these bacteria produce high levels of RsmA, an RNA binding protein that promotes RNA decay. E. carotovora subsp. carotovora strain EC153 is an exception in that it produces higher levels of Pel, Peh, Cel, and Prt at 34.5°C than at 28°C. EC153 also causes extensive maceration of celery petioles and Chinese cabbage leaves at 34.5°C, which correlates with a higher growth rate and higher levels of rRNA and AHL. The lack of pectinase production by E. carotovora subsp. carotovora strain Ecc71 at 34.5°C limits the growth of this organism in plant tissues and consequently impairs its ability to cause tissue maceration. Comparative studies with ahlI (the gene encoding a putative AHL synthase), pel-1, and peh-1 transcripts documented that at 34.5°C the RNAs are more stable in EC153 than in Ecc71. Our data reveal that overall metabolic activity, AHL levels, and mRNA stability are responsible for the higher levels of extracellular protein production and the enhanced virulence of EC153 at 34.5°C compared to 28°C.

scholarly journals Inhibition of Quorum Sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by N-Acyl Cyclopentylamides

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (10) ◽  
pp. 3183-3188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takenori Ishida ◽  
Tsukasa Ikeda ◽  
Noboru Takiguchi ◽  
Akio Kuroda ◽  
Hisao Ohtake ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Ring Structure ◽  
Response Regulators ◽  
Maximal Inhibition ◽  
Sensing Systems ◽  
Reporter Assays

ABSTRACT N-Octanoyl cyclopentylamide (C8-CPA) was found to moderately inhibit quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. To obtain more powerful inhibitors, a series of structural analogs of C8-CPA were synthesized and examined for their ability to inhibit quorum sensing in P. aeruginosa PAO1. The lasB-lacZ and rhlA-lacZ reporter assays revealed that the chain length and the ring structure were critical for C8-CPA analogs to inhibit quorum sensing. N-Decanoyl cyclopentylamide (C10-CPA) was found to be the strongest inhibitor, and its concentrations required for half-maximal inhibition for lasB-lacZ and rhlA-lacZ expression were 80 and 90 μM, respectively. C10-CPA also inhibited production of virulence factors, including elastase, pyocyanin, and rhamnolipid, and biofilm formation without affecting growth of P. aeruginosa PAO1. C10-CPA inhibited induction of both lasI-lacZ by N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone (PAI1) and rhlA-lacZ by N-butanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (PAI2) in the lasI rhlI mutant of P. aeruginosa PAO1, indicating that C10-CPA interferes with the las and rhl quorum-sensing systems via inhibiting interaction between their response regulators (LasR and RhlR) and autoinducers.

scholarly journals Metabolomic Profiling of Burkholderia Cenocepacia in Synthetic Cystic Fibrosis Sputum Media Reveals Nutrient Environment-Specific Production of Virulence Factors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olakunle A. Jaiyesimi ◽  
Andrew C. McAvoy ◽  
David N. Fogg ◽  
Neha Garg
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Comparative Metabolomics ◽  
Nutrient Environment ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Future Work

Abstract Infections by Burkholderia cenocepacia lead to life-threatening disease in immunocompromised individuals, including those living with cystic fibrosis (CF). While genetic variation in various B. cenocepacia strains has been reported, it remains unclear how the chemical environment of CF lung influences the production of small molecule virulence factors by these strains. Here we compare metabolomes of three clinical B. cenocepacia strains in synthetic CF sputum media (SCFM2) and in a routine laboratory media (LB), in the presence and absence of the antibiotic trimethoprim. Using a mass spectrometry based untargeted metabolomics approach, we identify several compound classes which are differentially produced in SCFM2 compared to LB media, including siderophores, antimicrobials, quorum sensing signals, and various lipids. Furthermore, we describe that specific metabolites are induced by the antibiotic trimethoprim only in SCFM2 when compared to LB. Herein, C13-acyl-homoserine lactone, a quorum sensing signal previously not known to be produced by B. cenocepacia as well as pyochelin-type siderophores were exclusively detected during growth in SCFM2 in the presence of trimethoprim. The comparative metabolomics approach described in this study provides insight into environment-dependent production of secondary metabolites by B. cenocepacia strains and suggests future work which could identify personalized strain-specific regulatory mechanisms involved in production of secondary metabolites.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document