Laser-Desorption Rapid Evaporative Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (LD-REIMS) demonstrates a direct impact of hypochlorous acid stress on PQS-mediated quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
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ABSTRACT: To establish infections in human hosts, P. aeruginosa must overcome innate immune generated oxidative stress, such as the hypochlorous acid (HOCl) produced by neutrophils. We set out to find specific metabolomic biomarkers of oxidative stress and we developed a protocol for the metabolic profiling of P. aeruginosa cultures grown in the presence of different oxidants using a novel ionisation technique for mass spectrometry, laser-desorption rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry (LD-REIMS). We demonstrate the ability of LD-REIMS to classify samples as untreated or treated with a specific oxidant with 100 % accuracy and identified a panel of 54 metabolites with significantly altered concentrations after exposure to one or more of the oxidants. Key metabolic changes were conserved in P. aeruginosa clinical strains isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis lung infections. These data demonstrate that HOCl stress impacted the Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal (PQS) quorum sensing system. Ten 2-alkyl-4-quinolones (AHQs) associated with the PQS system were significantly lower in concentration in HOCl-stressed P. aeruginosa cultures, including 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone (PQS), the most active signal molecule of the PQS system. The PQS system regulates the production of virulence factors, including pyocyanin and elastase, and their levels were markedly affected by HOCl stress. No pyocyanin was detectable and elastase concentrations were significantly reduced in cultures grown with sub-lethal concentrations of HOCl, suggesting that this neutrophil-derived oxidant may disrupt the ability of P. aeruginosa to establish infections through interference with production of PQS-associated virulence factors.
INSTRUMENT(S): Xevo G2-S QTof
ORGANISM(S): Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Ucbpp-pa14 (ncbitaxon:208963)
SUBMITTER: Huw Williams
PROVIDER: MSV000093056 | MassIVE | Fri Oct 06 04:57:00 BST 2023
REPOSITORIES: MassIVE
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