The stringent response regulator (p) ppGpp mediates virulence gene expression and survival in Erwinia amylovora

ABSTRACT Control of the virulence regulator/sensor kinase (CovRS) two-component system (TCS) serves as a model for investigating the impact of signaling pathways on the pathogenesis of Gram-positive bacteria. However, the molecular mechanisms by which CovR, an OmpR/PhoB family response regulator, controls virulence gene expression are poorly defined, partly due to the labile nature of its aspartate phosphorylation site. To better understand the regulatory effect of phosphorylated CovR, we generated the phosphorylation site mutant strain 10870-CovR-D53E, which we predicted to have a constitutive CovR phosphorylation phenotype. Interestingly, this strain showed CovR activity only for a subset of the CovR regulon, which allowed for classification of CovR-influenced genes into D53E-regulated and D53E-nonregulated groups. Inspection of the promoter sequences of genes belonging to each group revealed distinct promoter architectures with respect to the location and number of putative CovR-binding sites. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis demonstrated that recombinant CovR-D53E protein retains its ability to bind promoter DNA from both CovR-D53E-regulated and -nonregulated groups, implying that factors other than mere DNA binding are crucial for gene regulation. In fact, we found that CovR-D53E is incapable of dimerization, a process thought to be critical to OmpR/PhoB family regulator function. Thus, our global analysis of CovR-D53E indicates dimerization-dependent and dimerization-independent modes of CovR-mediated repression, thereby establishing distinct mechanisms by which this critical regulator coordinates virulence gene expression. IMPORTANCE Streptococcus pyogenes causes a wide variety of diseases, ranging from superficial skin and throat infections to life-threatening invasive infections. To establish these various disease manifestations, Streptococcus pyogenes requires tightly coordinated production of its virulence factor repertoire. Here, the response regulator CovR plays a crucial role. As an OmpR/PhoB family member, CovR is activated by phosphorylation on a conserved aspartate residue, leading to protein dimerization and subsequent binding to operator sites. Our transcriptome analysis using the monomeric phosphorylation mimic mutant CovR-D53E broadens this general notion by revealing dimerization-independent repression of a subset of CovR-regulated genes. Combined with promoter analyses, these data suggest distinct mechanisms of CovR transcriptional control, which allow for differential expression of virulence genes in response to environmental cues.

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The response regulator ResD modulates virulence gene expression in response to carbohydrates in Listeria monocytogenes

Molecular Microbiology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05328.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 61 (6) ◽

pp. 1622-1635 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Marianne H. Larsen ◽

Birgitte H. Kallipolitis ◽

Janne K. Christiansen ◽

John E. Olsen ◽

Hanne Ingmer

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Listeria Monocytogenes ◽

Response Regulator ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Virulence Gene Expression

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Identification of an Orphan Response Regulator Required for the Virulence of Francisella spp. and Transcription of Pathogenicity Island Genes

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00351-07 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 75 (7) ◽

pp. 3305-3314 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Nrusingh P. Mohapatra ◽

Shilpa Soni ◽

Brian L. Bell ◽

Richard Warren ◽

Robert K. Ernst ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Mutant Strain ◽

Lipid A ◽

Response Regulator ◽

Model Organism ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Pathogenicity Island ◽

Effective Vaccine ◽

Gene Encoding ◽

Virulence Gene Expression

ABSTRACT Francisella tularensis is a category A agent of biowarfare/biodefense. Little is known about the regulation of virulence gene expression in Francisella spp. Comparatively few regulatory factors exist in Francisella, including those belonging to two-component systems (TCS). However, orphan members of typical TCS can be identified. To determine if orphan TCS members affect Francisella gene expression, a gene encoding a product with high similarity to the Salmonella PmrA response regulator (FTT1557c/FNU0663.2) was deleted in Francisella novicida (a model organism for F. tularensis). The F. novicida pmrA mutant was defective in survival/growth within human and murine macrophage cell lines and was 100% defective in virulence in mice at a dose of up to 108 CFU. In addition, the mutant strain demonstrated increased susceptibility to antimicrobial peptide killing, but no differences were observed between the lipid A of the mutant and the parental strain, as has been observed with pmrA mutants of other microbes. The F. novicida pmrA mutant was 100% protective as a single-dose vaccine when challenge was with 106 CFU of F. novicida but did not protect against type A Schu S4 wild-type challenge. DNA microarray analysis identified 65 genes regulated by PmrA. The majority of these genes were located in the region surrounding pmrA or within the Francisella pathogenicity island (FPI). These FPI genes are also regulated by MglA, but MglA does not regulate pmrA, nor does PmrA regulate MglA. Thus, the orphan response regulator PmrA is an important factor in controlling virulence in F. novicida, and a pmrA mutant strain is an effective vaccine against homologous challenge.

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Genome-Wide Identification of Genes Regulated by the Rcs Phosphorelay System in Erwinia amylovora

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions ◽

10.1094/mpmi-08-11-0207 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 6-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Dongping Wang ◽

Mingsheng Qi ◽

Bernarda Calla ◽

Schuyler S. Korban ◽

Steven J. Clough ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Erwinia Amylovora ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Luria Bertani ◽

Regulatory Genes ◽

Bacterial Cells ◽

Virulence Gene Expression ◽

Genome Wide

The exopolysaccharide amylovoran is one of the major pathogenicity factors in Erwinia amylovora, the causal agent of fire blight of apples and pears. We have previously demonstrated that the RcsBCD phosphorelay system is essential for virulence by controlling amylovoran biosynthesis. We have also found that the hybrid sensor kinase RcsC differentially regulates amylovoran production in vitro and in vivo. To further understand how the Rcs system regulates E. amylovora virulence gene expression, we conducted genome-wide microarray analyses to determine the regulons of RcsB and RcsC in liquid medium and on immature pear fruit. Array analyses identified a total of 648 genes differentially regulated by RcsCB in vitro and in vivo. Consistent with our previous findings, RcsB acts as a positive regulator in both conditions, while RcsC positively controls expression of amylovoran biosynthetic genes in vivo but negatively controls expression in vitro. Besides amylovoran biosynthesis and regulatory genes, cell-wall and cell-envelope (membrane) as well as regulatory genes were identified as the major components of the RcsBC regulon, including many novel genes. We have also demonstrated that transcripts of rcsA, rcsC, and rcsD genes but not the rcsB gene were up-regulated when bacterial cells were grown in minimal medium or following infection of pear fruits compared with those grown in Luria Bertani medium. Furthermore, using the genome of E. amylovora ATCC 49946, a hidden Markov model predicted 60 genes with a candidate RcsB binding site in the intergenic region, 28 of which were identified in the microarray assay. Based on these findings as well as previous reported data, a working model has been proposed to illustrate how the Rcs phosphorelay system regulates virulence gene expression in E. amylovora.

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Molecular Signature of Differential Virulence in Natural Isolates of Erwinia amylovora

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto-100-2-0192 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 100 (2) ◽

pp. 192-198 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Dongping Wang ◽

Schuyler S. Korban ◽

Youfu Zhao

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Erwinia Amylovora ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Molecular Signature ◽

Molecular Signatures ◽

Swarming Motility ◽

Disease Symptoms ◽

Virulence Gene Expression ◽

Root Stock ◽

Natural Isolates

Erwinia amylovora, the causal agent of fire blight, is considered to be a genetically homogeneous species based on physiological, biochemical, phylogenetic, and genetic analysis. However, E. amylovora strains exhibiting differential virulence are isolated from nature. The exopolysaccharide amylovoran and type III secretion system (T3SS) are two major yet separate virulence factors in E. amylovora. The objective of this study was to investigate whether there is a correlation between E. amylovora virulence and levels of virulence gene expression. Four wild-type strains (Ea1189, Ea273, Ea110, and CFBP1430), widely used in studies of E. amylovora pathogenesis, have been analyzed and compared. E. amylovora strains Ea273 and Ea110 elicited higher severity of disease symptoms than those of Ea1189 and CFBP1430 on apple cv. Golden Delicious and G16 apple root stock plants but not on susceptible Gala plants. In addition, Ea273 and Ea110 elicited severe hypersensitive responses within shorter periods of time at lower inoculum concentrations than those of Ea1189 and CFBP1430 on tobacco plants. Further molecular analyses have revealed that amylovoran production and expression of both amylovoran (amsG) and T3SS (dspE and hrpL) genes were significantly higher in Ea273 and Ea110 than those in Ea1189 and CFBP1430. Other phenotypes such as swarming motility in these four strains also differed significantly. These results indicate that E. amylovora strains of different origin can be divided into subgroups based on molecular signatures of virulence gene expression. Therefore, these molecular signatures may be used to differentiate E. amylovora strains, which may have taxonomical and evolutionary implications.

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THERMOREGULATION OF VIRULENCE GENE EXPRESSION IN THE FIRE BLIGHT PATHOGEN ERWINIA AMYLOVORA

Acta Horticulturae ◽

10.17660/actahortic.1999.489.55 ◽

1999 ◽

pp. 321-326

Author(s):

C. Goyer ◽

M. Ullrich

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Fire Blight ◽

Erwinia Amylovora ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Virulence Gene Expression

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Vibrio harveyi virulence gene expression in vitro and in vivo during infection in black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms ◽

10.3354/dao03475 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 139 ◽

pp. 153-160

Author(s):

S Peeralil ◽

TC Joseph ◽

V Murugadas ◽

PG Akhilnath ◽

VN Sreejith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Vibrio Harveyi ◽

Penaeus Monodon ◽

Challenge Test ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Virulence Gene Expression

Luminescent Vibrio harveyi is common in sea and estuarine waters. It produces several virulence factors and negatively affects larval penaeid shrimp in hatcheries, resulting in severe economic losses to shrimp aquaculture. Although V. harveyi is an important pathogen of shrimp, its pathogenicity mechanisms have yet to be completely elucidated. In the present study, isolates of V. harveyi were isolated and characterized from diseased Penaeus monodon postlarvae from hatcheries in Kerala, India, from September to December 2016. All 23 tested isolates were positive for lipase, phospholipase, caseinase, gelatinase and chitinase activity, and 3 of the isolates (MFB32, MFB71 and MFB68) showed potential for significant biofilm formation. Based on the presence of virulence genes, the isolates of V. harveyi were grouped into 6 genotypes, predominated by vhpA+ flaB+ ser+ vhh1- luxR+ vopD- vcrD+ vscN-. One isolate from each genotype was randomly selected for in vivo virulence experiments, and the LD50 ranged from 1.7 ± 0.5 × 103 to 4.1 ± 0.1 × 105 CFU ml-1. The expression of genes during the infection in postlarvae was high in 2 of the isolates (MFB12 and MFB32), consistent with the result of the challenge test. However, in MFB19, even though all genes tested were present, their expression level was very low and likely contributed to its lack of virulence. Because of the significant variation in gene expression, the presence of virulence genes alone cannot be used as a marker for pathogenicity of V. harveyi.

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