scholarly journals A Distinct QscR Regulon in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum-Sensing Circuit

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (9) ◽  
pp. 3365-3370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yannick Lequette ◽  
Joon-Hee Lee ◽  
Fouzia Ledgham ◽  
Andrée Lazdunski ◽  
E. Peter Greenberg
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Acyl Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Signal Molecule ◽  
Control Of Gene Expression ◽  
Signaling Systems ◽  
Sensing Systems

ABSTRACT The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa possesses two complete acyl-homoserine lactone (acyl-HSL) signaling systems. One system consists of LasI and LasR, which generate a 3-oxododecanoyl-homoserine lactone signal and respond to that signal, respectively. The other system is RhlI and RhlR, which generate butanoyl-homoserine lactone and respond to butanoyl-homoserine lactone, respectively. These quorum-sensing systems control hundreds of genes. There is also an orphan LasR-RhlR homolog, QscR, for which there is no cognate acyl-HSL synthetic enzyme. We previously reported that a qscR mutant is hypervirulent and showed that QscR transiently represses a few quorum-sensing-controlled genes. To better understand the role of QscR in P. aeruginosa gene regulation and to better understand the relationship between QscR, LasR, and RhlR control of gene expression, we used transcription profiling to identify a QscR-dependent regulon. Our analysis revealed that QscR activates some genes and represses others. Some of the repressed genes are not regulated by the LasR-I or RhlR-I systems, while others are. The LasI-generated 3-oxododecanoyl-homoserine lactone serves as a signal molecule for QscR. Thus, QscR appears to be an integral component of the P. aeruginosa quorum-sensing circuitry. QscR uses the LasI-generated acyl-homoserine lactone signal and controls a specific regulon that overlaps with the already overlapping LasR- and RhlR-dependent regulons.

scholarly journals The Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal Regulates rhl Quorum Sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (10) ◽  
pp. 2702-2708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan L. McKnight ◽  
Barbara H. Iglewski ◽  
Everett C. Pesci
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Sensing System ◽  
Sensing Systems ◽  
Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal ◽  
Quorum Sensing System ◽  
Encoding Gene

ABSTRACT The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses intercellular signals to control the density-dependent expression of many virulence factors. The las and rhlquorum-sensing systems function, respectively, through the autoinducersN-(3-oxododecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone andN-butyryl-l-homoserine lactone (C4-HSL), which are known to positively regulate the transcription of the elastase-encoding gene, lasB. Recently, we reported that a second type of intercellular signal is involved in lasB induction. This signal was identified as 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone and designated thePseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS). PQS was determined to be part of the quorum-sensing hierarchy since its production and bioactivity depended on the las and rhlquorum-sensing systems, respectively. In order to define the role of PQS in the P. aeruginosa quorum-sensing cascade,lacZ gene fusions were used to determine the effect of PQS on the transcription of the quorum-sensing system geneslasR, lasI, rhlR, andrhlI. We found that in P. aeruginosa, PQS caused a major induction of rhlI′-lacZ and had lesser effects on the transcription of lasR′-lacZ andrhlR′-lacZ. We also observed that the transcription of bothrhlI′-lacZ and lasB′-lacZ was cooperatively effected by C4-HSL and PQS. Additionally, we present data indicating that PQS was not produced maximally until cultures reached the late stationary phase of growth. Taken together, our results imply that PQS acts as a link between the las and rhlquorum-sensing systems and that this signal is not involved in sensing cell density.

scholarly journals The Quorum-Sensing Negative Regulator RsaL of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Binds to the lasI Promoter

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (2) ◽  
pp. 815-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giordano Rampioni ◽  
Iris Bertani ◽  
Elisabetta Zennaro ◽  
Fabio Polticelli ◽  
Vittorio Venturi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Bidirectional Promoter ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Direct Demonstration ◽  
Dna Binding Site

ABSTRACT A mutation in the rsaL gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces dramatically higher amounts of N-acyl homoserine lactone with respect to the wild type, highlighting the key role of this negative regulator in controlling quorum sensing (QS) in this opportunistic pathogen. The DNA binding site of the RsaL protein on the rsaL-lasI bidirectional promoter partially overlaps the binding site of the LasR protein, consistent with the hypothesis that RsaL and LasR could be in binding competition on this promoter. This is the first direct demonstration that RsaL acts as a QS negative regulator by binding to the lasI promoter.

scholarly journals Identification, Timing, and Signal Specificity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum-Controlled Genes: a Transcriptome Analysis

2003 ◽  
Vol 185 (7) ◽  
pp. 2066-2079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Schuster ◽  
C. Phoebe Lostroh ◽  
Tomoo Ogi ◽  
E. P. Greenberg
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Stationary Phase ◽  
Transcriptome Analysis ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Logarithmic Phase ◽  
Acyl Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Global Regulators ◽  
Signaling Systems

ABSTRACT There are two interrelated acyl-homoserine lactone quorum-sensing-signaling systems in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These systems, the LasR-LasI system and the RhlR-RhlI system, are global regulators of gene expression. We performed a transcriptome analysis to identify quorum-sensing-controlled genes and to better understand quorum-sensing control of P. aeruginosa gene expression. We compared gene expression in a LasI-RhlI signal mutant grown with added signals to gene expression without added signals, and we compared a LasR-RhlR signal receptor mutant to its parent. In all, we identified 315 quorum-induced and 38 quorum-repressed genes, representing about 6% of the P. aeruginosa genome. The quorum-repressed genes were activated in the stationary phase in quorum-sensing mutants but were not activated in the parent strain. The analysis of quorum-induced genes suggests that the signal specificities are on a continuum and that the timing of gene expression is on a continuum (some genes are induced early in growth, most genes are induced at the transition from the logarithmic phase to the stationary phase, and some genes are induced during the stationary phase). In general, timing was not related to signal concentration. We suggest that the level of the signal receptor, LasR, is a critical trigger for quorum-activated gene expression. Acyl-homoserine lactone quorum sensing appears to be a system that allows ordered expression of hundreds of genes during P. aeruginosa growth in culture.

scholarly journals Quorum Quenching by an N-Acyl-Homoserine Lactone Acylase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 1673-1682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles F. Sio ◽  
Linda G. Otten ◽  
Robbert H. Cool ◽  
Stephen P. Diggle ◽  
Peter G. Braun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Quorum Quenching ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Signal Molecules ◽  
Acyl Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Beta Lactam ◽  
Signal Molecule ◽  
Pathogenic Potential

ABSTRACT The virulence of the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 is controlled by an N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-dependent quorum-sensing system. During functional analysis of putative acylase genes in the P. aeruginosa PAO1 genome, the PA2385 gene was found to encode an acylase that removes the fatty acid side chain from the homoserine lactone (HSL) nucleus of AHL-dependent quorum-sensing signal molecules. Analysis showed that the posttranslational processing of the acylase and the hydrolysis reaction type are similar to those of the beta-lactam acylases, strongly suggesting that the PA2385 protein is a member of the N-terminal nucleophile hydrolase superfamily. In a bioassay, the purified acylase was shown to degrade AHLs with side chains ranging in length from 11 to 14 carbons at physiologically relevant low concentrations. The substituent at the 3′ position of the side chain did not affect activity, indicating broad-range AHL quorum-quenching activity. Of the two main AHL signal molecules of P. aeruginosa PAO1, N-butanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (C4-HSL) and N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C12-HSL), only 3-oxo-C12-HSL is degraded by the enzyme. Addition of the purified protein to P. aeruginosa PAO1 cultures completely inhibited accumulation of 3-oxo-C12-HSL and production of the signal molecule 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone and reduced production of the virulence factors elastase and pyocyanin. Similar results were obtained when the PA2385 gene was overexpressed in P. aeruginosa. These results demonstrate that the protein has in situ quorum-quenching activity. The quorum-quenching AHL acylase may enable P. aeruginosa PAO1 to modulate its own quorum-sensing-dependent pathogenic potential and, moreover, offers possibilities for novel antipseudomonal therapies.

scholarly journals Efficacy of Liposomal Bismuth-Ethanedithiol-Loaded Tobramycin after Intratracheal Administration in Rats with Pulmonary Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection

2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 569-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moayad Alhariri ◽  
Abdelwahab Omri
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Protease Production ◽  
Signal Molecules ◽  
Acyl Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Signal Molecule ◽  
Intratracheal Administration ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTWe sought to investigate alterations in quorum-sensing signal moleculeN-acyl homoserine lactone secretion and in the release ofPseudomonas aeruginosavirulence factors, as well as thein vivoantimicrobial activity of bismuth-ethanedithiol incorporated into a liposome-loaded tobramycin formulation (LipoBiEDT-TOB) administered to rats chronically infected withP. aeruginosa. The quorum-sensing signal moleculeN-acyl homoserine lactone was monitored by using a biosensor organism.P. aeruginosavirulence factors were assessed spectrophotometrically. An agar beads model of chronicPseudomonaslung infection in rats was used to evaluate the efficacy of the liposomal formulation in the reduction of bacterial count. The levels of active tobramycin in the lungs and the kidneys were evaluated by microbiological assay. LipoBiEDT-TOB was effective in disrupting both quorum-sensing signal moleculesN-3-oxo-dodeccanoylhomoserine lactone andN-butanoylhomoserine lactone, as well as significantly (P< 0.05) reducing lipase, chitinase, and protease production. At 24 h after 3 treatments, the CFU counts in lungs of animals treated with LipoBiEDT-TOB were of 3 log10CFU/lung, comparated to 7.4 and 4.7 log10CFU/lung, respectively, in untreated lungs and in lungs treated with free antibiotic. The antibiotic concentration after the last dose of LipoBiEDT-TOB was 25.1 μg/lung, while no tobramycin was detected in the kidneys. As for the free antibiotic, we found 6.5 μg/kidney but could not detect any tobramycin in the lungs. Taken together, LipoBiEDT-TOB reduced the production of quorum-sensing molecules and virulence factors and could highly improve the management of chronic pulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis patients.

scholarly journals Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates defective in function of the LasR quorum sensing regulator are frequent in diverse environmental niches

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Christine Groleau ◽  
Hélène Taillefer ◽  
Antony T. Vincent ◽  
Philippe Constant ◽  
Eric Déziel
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Sensing Systems ◽  
Niche Adaptation ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Full Activation

ABSTRACTThe saprophyte Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a versatile opportunistic pathogen causing infections in immunocompromised individuals. To facilitate its adaptation to a large variety of niches, this bacterium exploits population density-dependant gene regulation systems called quorum sensing. In P. aeruginosa, three distinct but interrelated quorum sensing systems (las, rhl and pqs) regulate the production of many survival and virulence functions. In prototypical strains, the las system, through its transcriptional regulator LasR, is important for the full activation of the rhl and pqs systems. Still, LasR-deficient isolates have been reported, mostly sampled from the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis, where they are considered selected by the chronic infection environment. In this study, we show that a defect in LasR activity appears to be an actually widespread mechanism of adaptation in this bacterium. Indeed, we found abundant LasR-defective isolates sampled from hydrocarbon-contaminated soils, hospital sink drains, and meat/fish market environments, using an approach based on phenotypic profiling, supported by gene sequencing. Interestingly, several LasR-defective isolates maintain an active rhl system or are deficient in pqs system signaling. The high prevalence of a LasR-defective phenotype among environmental P. aeruginosa isolates questions the role of quorum sensing in niche adaptation.

scholarly journals Novel Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum-Sensing Inhibitors Identified in an Ultra-High-Throughput Screen

2006 ◽  
Vol 50 (11) ◽  
pp. 3674-3679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ute Müh ◽  
Martin Schuster ◽  
Roger Heim ◽  
Ashvani Singh ◽  
Eric R. Olson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Acyl Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
Alkyl Tail

ABSTRACT The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa has two complete acyl-homoserine lactone (acyl-HSL) signaling systems, LasR-LasI and RhlR-RhlI. LasI catalyzes the synthesis of N-3-oxododecanoyl homoserine lactone (3OC12-HSL), and LasR is a transcription factor that requires 3OC12-HSL as a ligand. RhlI catalyzes the synthesis of N-butanoyl homoserine lactone (C4), and RhlR is a transcription factor that responds to C4. LasR and RhlR control the transcription of hundreds of P. aeruginosa genes, many of which are critical virulence determinants, and LasR is required for RhlR function. We developed an ultra-high-throughput cell-based assay to screen a library of approximately 200,000 compounds for inhibitors of LasR-dependent gene expression. Although the library contained a large variety of chemical structures, the two best inhibitors resembled the acyl-homoserine lactone molecule that normally binds to LasR. One compound, a tetrazole with a 12-carbon alkyl tail designated PD12, had a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 30 nM. The second compound, V-06-018, had an IC50 of 10 μM and is a phenyl ring with a 12-carbon alkyl tail. A microarray analysis showed that both compounds were general inhibitors of quorum sensing, i.e., the expression levels of most LasR-dependent genes were affected. Both compounds also inhibited the production of two quorum-sensing-dependent virulence factors, elastase and pyocyanin. These compounds should be useful for studies of LasR-dependent gene regulation and might serve as scaffolds for the identification of new quorum-sensing modulators.

Influence of Glucose Concentrations on Biofilm Formation, Motility, Exoprotease Production, and Quorum Sensing in Aeromonas hydrophila

2013 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
IQBAL KABIR JAHID ◽  
NA-YOUNG LEE ◽  
ANNA KIM ◽  
SANG-DO HA
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Aeromonas Hydrophila ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Protease Production ◽  
Acyl Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Human Pathogen ◽  
Initial Biofilm ◽  
Motility Inhibition

Aeromonas hydrophila recently has received increased attention because it is opportunistic and a primary human pathogen. A. hydrophila biofilm formation and its control are a major concern for food safety because biofilms are related to virulence. Therefore, we investigated biofilm formation, motility inhibition, quorum sensing, and exoprotease production of this opportunistic pathogen in response to various glucose concentrations from 0.05 to 2.5% (wt/vol). More than 0.05% glucose significantly impaired (P &lt; 0.05) quorum sensing, biofilm formation, protease production, and swarming and swimming motility, whereas bacteria treated with 0.05% glucose had activity similar to that of the control (0% glucose). A stage shift biofilm assay revealed that the addition of glucose (2.5%) inhibited initial biofilm formation but not later stages. However, addition of quorum sensing molecules N-3-butanoyl-DL-homoserine lactone and N-3-hexanoyl homoserine lactone partially restored protease production, indicating that quorum sensing is controlled by glucose concentrations. Thus, glucose present in food or added as a preservative could regulate acyl-homoserine lactone quorum sensing molecules, which mediate biofilm formation and virulence in A. hydrophila.

scholarly journals Disruption of Quorum Sensing and Virulence inBurkholderia cenocepaciaby a Structural Analogue of thecis-2-Dodecenoic Acid Signal

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaoyu Cui ◽  
Shihao Song ◽  
Chunxi Yang ◽  
Xiuyun Sun ◽  
Yutong Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Enoic Acid ◽  
Acyl Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Structural Analogue ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Signal Production

ABSTRACTQuorum sensing (QS) signals are widely used by bacterial pathogens to control biological functions and virulence in response to changes in cell population densities.Burkholderia cenocepaciaemploys a molecular mechanism in which thecis-2-dodecenoic acid (namedBurkholderiadiffusiblesignalfactor [BDSF]) QS system regulatesN-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) signal production and virulence by modulating intracellular levels of cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP). Thus, inhibition of BDSF signaling may offer a non-antibiotic-based therapeutic strategy against BDSF-regulated bacterial infections. In this study, we report the synthesis of small-molecule mimics of the BDSF signal and evaluate their ability to inhibit BDSF QS signaling inB. cenocepacia. A novel structural analogue of BDSF, 14-Me-C16:Δ2(cis-14-methylpentadec-2-enoic acid), was observed to inhibit BDSF production and impair BDSF-regulated phenotypes inB. cenocepacia, including motility, biofilm formation, and virulence, while it did not inhibit the growth rate of this pathogen. 14-Me-C16:Δ2also reduced AHL signal production. Genetic and biochemical analyses showed that 14-Me-C16:Δ2inhibited the production of the BDSF and AHL signals by decreasing the expression of their synthase-encoding genes. Notably, 14-Me-C16:Δ2attenuated BDSF-regulated phenotypes in variousBurkholderiaspecies. These findings suggest that 14-Me-C16:Δ2could potentially be developed as a new therapeutic agent against pathogenicBurkholderiaspecies by interfering with their QS signaling.IMPORTANCEBurkholderia cenocepaciais an important opportunistic pathogen which can cause life-threatening infections in susceptible individuals, particularly in cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised patients. It usually employs two types of quorum sensing (QS) systems, including thecis-2-dodecenoic acid (BDSF) system andN-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) system, to regulate virulence. In this study, we have designed and identified an unsaturated fatty acid compound (cis-14-methylpentadec-2-enoic acid [14-Me-C16:Δ2]) that is capable of interfering withB. cenocepaciaQS signaling and virulence. We demonstrate that 14-Me-C16:Δ2reduced BDSF and AHL signal production inB. cenocepacia. It also impaired QS-regulated phenotypes in variousBurkholderiaspecies. These results suggest that 14-Me-C16:Δ2could interfere with QS signaling in manyBurkholderiaspecies and might be developed as a new antibacterial agent.

scholarly journals GidA Posttranscriptionally Regulates rhl Quorum Sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2009 ◽  
Vol 191 (18) ◽  
pp. 5785-5792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashmi Gupta ◽  
Timothy R. Gobble ◽  
Martin Schuster
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide ◽  
Skim Milk ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Trna Modification ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Novel Genes ◽  
Lasa Protease

ABSTRACT The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa utilizes two interconnected acyl-homoserine lactone quorum-sensing (acyl-HSL QS) systems, LasRI and RhlRI, to regulate the expression of hundreds of genes. The QS circuitry itself is integrated into a complex network of regulation by other factors. However, our understanding of this network is still unlikely to be complete, as a comprehensive, saturating approach to identifying regulatory components has never been attempted. Here, we utilized a nonredundant P. aeruginosa PA14 transposon library to identify additional genes that regulate QS at the level of LasRI/RhlRI. We initially screened all 5,459 mutants for loss of function in one QS-controlled trait (skim milk proteolysis) and then rescreened attenuated candidates for defects in other QS phenotypes (LasA protease, rhamnolipid, and pyocyanin production) to exclude mutants defective in functions other than QS. We identified several known and novel genes, but only two novel genes, gidA and pcnB, affected all of the traits assayed. We characterized gidA, which exhibited the most striking QS phenotypes, further. This gene is predicted to encode a conserved flavin adenine dinucleotide-binding protein involved in tRNA modification. Inactivation of the gene primarily affected rhlR-dependent QS phenotypes such as LasA, pyocyanin, and rhamnolipid production. GidA affected RhlR protein but not transcript levels and also had no impact on LasR and acyl-HSL production. Overexpression of rhlR in a gidA mutant partially restored QS-dependent phenotypes. Taken together, these results indicate that GidA selectively controls QS gene expression posttranscriptionally via RhlR-dependent and -independent pathways.

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