Differential response of the bvg virulence regulon of Bordetella pertussis to MgSO4 modulation.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Scarlato V
PROVIDER: S-EPMC209252 | biostudies-other | 1991 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
Publications
Differential response of the bvg virulence regulon of Bordetella pertussis to MgSO4 modulation.
Journal of bacteriology 19911101 22
Magnesium sulfate is known to repress the expression of the virulence factors of Bordetella pertussis that are coordinately regulated by the bvg locus. We have tested the time required by MgSO4 to repress the synthesis of several bvg-regulated mRNA species and found that the promoters of the virulence genes (pertussis toxin, adenylate cyclase, and filamentous hemagglutinin) are repressed in 6 min, while the autogenously regulated promoters of the bvg locus (P1, P3, and P4) are repressed only sev ...[more]
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Project description:Nearly all virulence factors in Bordetella pertussis are activated by a master two-component system, BvgAS, composed of the sensor kinase BvgS and the response regulator BvgA. When BvgS is active, BvgA is phosphorylated (BvgA~P), and virulence-activated genes (vags) are expressed [Bvg(+) mode]. When BvgS is inactive and BvgA is not phosphorylated, virulence-repressed genes (vrgs) are induced [Bvg(-) mode]. Here, we have used transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to define the BvgAS-dependent regulon of B. pertussis Tohama I. Our analyses reveal more than 550 BvgA-regulated genes, of which 353 are newly identified. BvgA-activated genes include those encoding two-component systems (such as kdpED), multiple other transcriptional regulators, and the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factor brpL, which is needed for type 3 secretion system (T3SS) expression, further establishing the importance of BvgA~P as an apex regulator of transcriptional networks promoting virulence. Using in vitro transcription, we demonstrate that the promoter for brpL is directly activated by BvgA~P. BvgA-FeBABE cleavage reactions identify BvgA~P binding sites centered at positions -41.5 and -63.5 in bprL Most importantly, we show for the first time that genes for multiple and varied metabolic pathways are significantly upregulated in the B. pertussis Bvg(-) mode. These include genes for fatty acid and lipid metabolism, sugar and amino acid transporters, pyruvate dehydrogenase, phenylacetic acid degradation, and the glycolate/glyoxylate utilization pathway. Our results suggest that metabolic changes in the Bvg(-) mode may be participating in bacterial survival, transmission, and/or persistence and identify over 200 new vrgs that can be tested for function.IMPORTANCE Within the past 20 years, outbreaks of whooping cough, caused by Bordetella pertussis, have led to respiratory disease and infant mortalities, despite good vaccination coverage. This is due, at least in part, to the introduction of a less effective acellular vaccine in the 1990s. It is crucial, then, to understand the molecular basis of B. pertussis growth and infection. The two-component system BvgA (response regulator)/BvgS (histidine kinase) is the master regulator of B. pertussis virulence genes. We report here the first RNA-seq analysis of the BvgAS regulon in B. pertussis, revealing that more than 550 genes are regulated by BvgAS. We show that genes for multiple and varied metabolic pathways are highly regulated in the Bvg(-) mode (absence of BvgA phosphorylation). Our results suggest that metabolic changes in the Bvg(-) mode may be participating in bacterial survival, transmission, and/or persistence.
| S-EPMC5635692 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The whooping cough agent Bordetella pertussis regulates the production of its virulence factors by the BvgA/S system. Phosphorylated BvgA activates the virulence-activated genes (vags) and represses the expression of the virulence-repressed genes (vrgs) via the activation of the bvgR gene. In modulating conditions, with MgSO4, the BvgA/S system is inactive, and the vrgs are expressed. Here, we show that the expression of almost all vrgs depends on RisA, another transcriptional regulator. We also show that some vags are surprisingly no longer modulated by MgSO4 in the risA(-) background. RisA also regulates the expression of other genes, including chemotaxis and flagellar operons, iron-regulated genes, and genes of unknown function, which may or may not be controlled by BvgA/S. We identified RisK as the likely cognate RisA kinase and found that it is important for expression of most, but not all RisA-regulated genes. This was confirmed using the phosphoablative RisAD(60)N and the phosphomimetic RisAD(60)E analogues. Thus the RisA regulon adds a new layer of complexity to B. pertussis virulence gene regulation.
| S-EPMC5020355 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Purpose: Within the past 20 years, outbreaks of whooping cough, caused by Bordetella pertussis, have led to respiratory disease and infant mortalities, despite good vaccination coverage. This is due at least in part to the introduction of a less effective acellular vaccine in the 1990’s. It is crucial then to understand the molecular basis of B. pertussis growth and infection. The two-component system BvgA/BvgS is the B. pertussis master regulator that regulates the expression of various virulence genes. Previous genome wide studies to identify the bvgAS regulon in B. pertussis have been limited to microarray analyses. The goal of this study is to define the bvgAS regulon using NGS based RNA-seq analysis and RT-qPCR and to compare the differences with the previous microarray data. Method: To define the bvgAS regulon, transcriptomes were generated using B. pertussis Tohama I BP536 (WT) and a ΔbvgAS derivative in the presence and absence of phosphorylated BvgA. Bacteria were grown either under modulating (50 mM MgSO4) conditions, in which phosphorylated BvgA is undetectable (Bvg- mode), or non-modulating (no MgSO4) conditions in which BvgA is phosphorylated (Bvg+ mode). After total RNA extraction and rRNA removal, strand-specific DNA libraries were prepared for Illumina sequencing using the ScriptSeq 2.0 kit (Illumina) in duplicates. Libraries were sequenced using a HiSeq 2000 sequencer (Illumina; University of Buffalo Next Generation Sequencing Core Facility). Sequence reads were mapped to the reference genome (NC_002929.2) and normalized against total reads. Differential expression analyses were performed using CLC Biomedical Genomic Workbench version 3.5.4 with default parameters. Differential gene expression profiles were obtained after Empirical DGE statistical test with FDR p-value. RT–qPCR validation was performed using SYBR Green assays. Result: Using CLC Biomedical Genomic Workbench version 3.5.4, ~ 20-25 million reads per sample were mapped to the reference B. pertussis genome (NC_002929.2). RNA-seq analyses identified >550 genes (15% of genome) that were regulated in a bvgAS-dependent manner with a fold difference ≥ 1.6 and FDR p-value < 0.05. RT-qPCR was used for confirmatory analyses for 80 genes. Overall, we identified 245 genes that were positively regulated and 326 genes that were negatively regulated by bvgAS. 362 members of the bvgAS regulon were newly identified by our study. Most importantly, our analyses indicated that the expression of dozens of transcriptional regulators increases, while the expression of multiple metabolic genes decreases in the presence of BvgA~P. Conclusion: We report here the first RNA-seq analysis of the bvgAS regulon in B. pertussis, revealing that > 550 genes are regulated by bvgAS. Our results suggest that metabolic changes in the Bvg- mode (absence of BvgA phosphorylation) may be participating in bacterial survival, transmission, and/or persistence and identify over 200 new genes negatively regulated by bvgAS that can be tested for function.
2017-09-22 | GSE98155 | GEO
Project description:Bordetella pertussis, the etiological agent of whooping cough, regulates the expression of its virulence factors by the well-defined BvgA/S two-component regulatory system. Phosphorylated BvgA activates the virulence activated genes (vags) and represses via the activation of the bvgR gene the expression of the virulence repressed genes (vrgs). In the presence of MgSO4, known as modulating condition, the BvgA/S system is inactive, and the vrgs are expressed. Here, we show that, except for 6 genes of unknown function, the expression of all the vrgs depends on RisA, another transcriptional two-component regulator. In addition to the vrgs, RisA also regulates the expression of a many other genes. Whereas the expression of most vags was not affected by the deletion of risA, some vags, including the genes coding for pertactin, filamentous hemagglutinin, fimbriae and adenylate cyclase toxin, were surprisingly no longer modulated by MgSO4 in the risA- background. Yet another set of genes, mostly of unknown function, were modulated only in the risA- background. Finally, a large group of genes were up-regulated under modulating conditions only in the risA- background. They comprise genes of the chemotaxis and flagellar operons, iron-regulated genes, some of which are under the control of BvgA/S, while others are not. We identified RisK as the cognate RisA kinase, and found that most of the RisA-dependent genes also required RisK for expression, whereas a few genes were independent of RisK. These results were confirmed by the replacement of RisA with the phosphoablative RisAD60N analog and the phosphomimetic RisAD60E analog. Thus, according to its phosphorylation state, RisA regulates the expression of many genes, which may or may not also be regulated by the BvgA/S system, adding a new layer of complexity of B. pertussis gene regulation.
2016-08-20 | GSE77754 | GEO
Project description:Bordetella pertussis is a Gram-negative strictly human pathogen of the respiratory tract and the etiological agent of whooping cough (pertussis). Previously, we have shown that RNA chaperone Hfq is required for virulence of B. pertussis. Furthermore, microarray analysis revealed that a large number of genes are affected by the lack of Hfq. This study represents the first attempt to characterize the Hfq regulon in bacterial pathogen using an integrative omics approach. Gene expression profiles were analyzed by RNA-seq and protein amounts in cell-associated and cell-free fractions were determined by LC-MS/MS technique. Comparative analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic data revealed solid correlation (r2 = 0.4) considering the role of Hfq in post-transcriptional control of gene expression. Importantly, our study confirms and further enlightens the role of Hfq in pathogenicity of B. pertussis as it shows that Δhfq strain displays strongly impaired secretion of substrates of Type III secretion system (T3SS) and substantially reduced resistance to serum killing. On the other hand, significantly increased production of proteins implicated in transport of important metabolites and essential nutrients observed in the mutant seems to compensate for the physiological defect introduced by the deletion of the hfq gene.
| S-EPMC6627887 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The BvgAS phosphorelay regulates ?10% of the annotated genomes of Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella bronchiseptica and controls their infectious cycles. The hierarchical organization of the regulatory network allows the integration of contextual signals to control all or specific subsets of BvgAS-regulated genes. Here, we characterize a regulatory node involving a type III secretion system (T3SS)-exported protein, BtrA, and demonstrate its role in determining fundamental differences in T3SS phenotypes among Bordetella species. We show that BtrA binds and antagonizes BtrS, a BvgAS-regulated extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factor, to couple the secretory activity of the T3SS apparatus to gene expression. In B. bronchiseptica, a remarkable spectrum of expression states can be resolved by manipulating btrA, encompassing over 80 BtrA-activated loci that include genes encoding toxins, adhesins, and other cell surface proteins, and over 200 BtrA-repressed genes that encode T3SS apparatus components, secretion substrates, the BteA effector, and numerous additional factors. In B. pertussis, BtrA retains activity as a BtrS antagonist and exerts tight negative control over T3SS genes. Most importantly, deletion of btrA in B. pertussis revealed T3SS-mediated, BteA-dependent cytotoxicity, which had previously eluded detection. This effect was observed in laboratory strains and in clinical isolates from a recent California pertussis epidemic. We propose that the BtrA-BtrS regulatory node determines subspecies-specific differences in T3SS expression among Bordetella species and that B. pertussis is capable of expressing a full range of T3SS-dependent phenotypes in the presence of appropriate contextual cues.
| S-EPMC4780644 | biostudies-literature
Project description:In gram-negative bacteria, high-affinity iron uptake requires the TonB/ExbB/ExbD envelope complex to release iron chelates from their specific outer membrane receptors into the periplasm. Based on sequence similarities, the Bordetella pertussis tonB exbB exbD locus was identified on a cloned DNA fragment. The tight organization of the three genes suggests that they are cotranscribed. A putative Fur-binding sequence located upstream from tonB was detected in a Fur titration assay, indicating that the tonB exbB exbD operon may be Fur-repressed in high-iron growth conditions. Putative structural genes of the beta-subunit of the histone-like protein HU and of a new two-component regulatory system were identified upstream from tonB and downstream from exbD, respectively. A B. pertussis DeltatonB exbB::Km(r) mutant was constructed by allelic exchange and characterized. The mutant was impaired for growth in low-iron medium in vitro and could not use ferrichrome, desferal, or hemin as iron sources. Levels of production of the major bacterial toxins and adhesins were similar in the TonB(+)/TonB(-) pair. The DeltatonB exbB mutant was still responsive to chemical modulators of virulence; thus, the BvgA/BvgS two-component system is not TonB dependent. Nevertheless, in vivo in the mouse respiratory infection model, the colonization ability of the mutant was reduced compared to the parental strain.
| S-EPMC97367 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The regulation of Bordetella pertussis virulence is mediated by the two-component system BvgA/S, which activates the transcription of virulence-activated genes (vags). In the avirulent phase, the vags are not expressed, but instead, virulence-repressed genes (vrgs) are expressed, under the control of another two-component system, RisA/K. Here, we combined transcriptomic and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIPseq) data to examine the RisA/K regulon. We performed RNAseq analyses of RisA-deficient and RisA-phosphoablative B. pertussis mutants cultivated in virulent and avirulent conditions. We confirmed that the expression of most vrgs is regulated by phosphorylated RisA. However, the expression of some, including those involved in flagellum biosynthesis and chemotaxis, requires RisA independently of phosphorylation. Many RisA-regulated genes encode proteins with regulatory functions, suggesting multiple RisA regulation cascades. By ChIPseq analyses, we identified 430 RisA-binding sites, 208 within promoter regions, 201 within open reading frames, and 21 in non-coding regions. RisA binding was demonstrated in the promoter regions of most vrgs and, surprisingly, of some vags, as well as for other genes not identified as vags or vrgs. Unexpectedly, many genes, including some vags, like prn, brpL, bipA, and cyaA, contain a BvgA-binding site and a RisA-binding site, which increases the complexity of the RisAK/BvgAS network in B. pertussis virulence regulation.IMPORTANCEThe expression of virulence-activated genes (vags) of Bordetella pertussis, the etiological agent of whooping cough, is under the transcriptional control of the two-component system BvgA/S, which allows the bacterium to switch between virulent and avirulent phases. In addition, the more recently identified two-component system RisA/K is required for the expression of B. pertussis genes, collectively named vrgs, that are repressed during the virulent phase but activated during the avirulent phase. We have characterized the RisA/K regulon by combined transcriptomic and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analyses. We identified more than 400 RisA-binding sites. Many of them are localized in promoter regions, especially vrgs, but some were found within open reading frames and in non-coding regions. Surprisingly, RisA-binding sites were also found in promoter regions of some vags, illustrating the previously underappreciated complexity of virulence regulation in B. pertussis.
| S-EPMC11019879 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Bordetella pertussis, the etiological agent of whooping cough, regulates the expression of its virulence factors by the well-defined BvgA/S two-component regulatory system. Phosphorylated BvgA activates the virulence activated genes (vags) and represses via the activation of the bvgR gene the expression of the virulence repressed genes (vrgs). In the presence of MgSO4, known as modulating condition, the BvgA/S system is inactive, and the vrgs are expressed. Here, we show that, except for 6 genes of unknown function, the expression of all the vrgs depends on RisA, another transcriptional two-component regulator. In addition to the vrgs, RisA also regulates the expression of a many other genes. Whereas the expression of most vags was not affected by the deletion of risA, some vags, including the genes coding for pertactin, filamentous hemagglutinin, fimbriae and adenylate cyclase toxin, were surprisingly no longer modulated by MgSO4 in the risA- background. Yet another set of genes, mostly of unknown function, were modulated only in the risA- background. Finally, a large group of genes were up-regulated under modulating conditions only in the risA- background. They comprise genes of the chemotaxis and flagellar operons, iron-regulated genes, some of which are under the control of BvgA/S, while others are not. We identified RisK as the cognate RisA kinase, and found that most of the RisA-dependent genes also required RisK for expression, whereas a few genes were independent of RisK. These results were confirmed by the replacement of RisA with the phosphoablative RisAD60N analog and the phosphomimetic RisAD60E analog. Thus, according to its phosphorylation state, RisA regulates the expression of many genes, which may or may not also be regulated by the BvgA/S system, adding a new layer of complexity of B. pertussis gene regulation. Comparison of mutant strains with their corresponding parental wild type strains using 2 to 4 Biological replicates.
2016-08-20 | E-GEOD-77754 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Bordetella pertussis is a human pathogen that can infect the respiratory tract and cause the disease known as whooping cough. B. pertussis uses pertussis toxin (PT) and adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) to kill and modulate host cells to allow the pathogen to survive and persist. B. pertussis encodes many uncharacterized transcription factors, and very little is known about their functions. RpoE is a sigma factor which, in other bacteria, responds to oxidative, heat, and other environmental stresses. RseA is a negative regulator of RpoE that sequesters the sigma factor to regulate gene expression based on conditions. In B. pertussis, deletion of the rseA gene results in high transcriptional activity of RpoE and large amounts of secretion of ACT. By comparing parental B. pertussis to an rseA gene deletion mutant (PM18), we sought to characterize the roles of RpoE in virulence and determine the regulon of genes controlled by RpoE. Despite high expression of ACT, the rseA mutant strain did not infect the murine airway as efficiently as the parental strain and PM18 was killed more readily when inside phagocytes. RNA sequencing analysis was performed and 263 genes were differentially regulated by RpoE, and surprisingly, the rseA mutant strain where RpoE activity was elevated expressed very little pertussis toxin. Western blots and proteomic analysis corroborated the inverse relationship of PT to ACT expression in the high-RpoE-activity rseA deletion strain. Our data suggest that RpoE can modulate PT and ACT expression indirectly through unidentified mechanisms in response to conditions.
| S-EPMC5203664 | biostudies-literature