Project description:Quorum sensing (QS) is the cell density-dependent virulence factor regulator in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Here, we elucidate PIT2, a phage-encoded inhibitor of the QS regulator LasR, derived from the lytic Pseudomonas phage LMA2. PIT2 inhibits the effectors PrpL and LasA of the type 2 secretion system of P. aeruginosa and attenuates bacterial virulence towards HeLa cells and in Galleria mellonella. Using RNAseq-based differential gene expression analysis, the effect of PIT2 on the LasR regulatory network was revealed. Moreover, the specific interaction between LasR and PIT2 was determined. These data expand our knowledge on phage-encoded modulators of the bacterial metabolism, as this examples an anti-virulence protein derived from a lytic phage. From an applied perspective, this phage protein reveals and exploits an interesting anti-virulence target in P. aeruginosa. As such, it lays the foundation for a new phage-inspired anti-virulence strategy to combat multidrug resistant pathogens and opens the door for SynBio applications.
Project description:We have isolated and characterized several bacteriophages infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa distantly related to Felix O1 virus and proposed they form a new subfamily named Felixounavirinae. The infectious cycle of bacteriophages belonging to this subfamily has not been studied yet in terms of gene expression. The present study reports the RNA-Seq analysis of bacteriophage PAK_P3 infecting PAK strain of P. aeruginosa. RNA profile of Host and Phage at 0min, 3.5min and 13 min after infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAK strain with the Pseudomonas phage PAK P3. Three biological replicates for each time point.
Project description:Differential RNA-seq (dRNA-seq) was performed on Pseudomonas aeruginosa alone or shortly after iinfection with the jumbo phage phiKZ
Project description:The basic biology of bacteriophage–host interactions has attracted increasing attention due to a renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of bacteriophages. In addition, knowledge of the host pathways inhibited by phage may provide clues to novel drug targets. However, the effect of phage on bacterial gene expression and metabolism is still poorly understood. In this study, we tracked phage–host interactions by combining transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected with a lytic bacteriophage, PaP1. Compared with the uninfected host, 7.1% (399/5655) of the genes of the phage-infected host were differentially expressed genes (DEGs); of those, 354 DEGs were downregulated at the late infection phase. Many of the downregulated DEGs were found in amino acid and energy metabolism pathways. Using metabolomics approach, we then analyzed the changes in metabolite levels in the PaP1-infected host compared to un-infected controls. Thymidine was significantly increased in the host after PaP1 infection, results that were further supported by increased expression of a PaP1-encoded thymidylate synthase gene. Furthermore, the intracellular betaine concentration was drastically reduced, whereas choline increased, presumably due to downregulation of the choline–glycine betaine pathway. Interestingly, the choline–glycine betaine pathway is a potential antimicrobial target; previous studies have shown that betB inhibition results in the depletion of betaine and the accumulation of betaine aldehyde, the combination of which is toxic to P. aeruginosa. These results present a detailed description of an example of phage-directed metabolism in P. aeruginosa. Both phage-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes and phage-directed host gene expression may contribute to the metabolic changes observed in the host.
Project description:Two component systems (TCSs) control a large proportion of virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Yet, investigations on inhibitors of regulatory pathways of TCS remain scare, despite their potential in anti-virulence strategies. This work encompasses the working mechanism of PIT4, a protein derived from the lytic P. aeruginosa phage LSL4. This viral protein inhibits bacterial motility and in particular twitching motility, while reducing the virulence of P. aeruginosa towards HeLa cells. Via differential gene expression and a yeast two-hybrid screen, PIT4 was shown to interact with components of different two component systems. In one-on-one interaction assays, it was confirmed that PIT4 interacts with the histidine kinases FleS, PilS and PA2882, through interaction with the histidine kinase domain. As such, this work highlights the potential of previously unknown phage proteins in virulence regulation of multidrug resistant pathogens that might be exploited for anti-virulence strategies and biotechnological applications.
Project description:Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of quorum sensing on phage infection. Methods: We constructed the lasR gene knockout strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and performed transcriptome sequencing.
Project description:Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage PhiKZ is the type representative of the M-bM-^@M-^XgiantM-bM-^@M-^Y phage genus with unusually large virions and genomes. By unraveling the transcriptional map of the 280 kb genome to single-nucleotide resolution, we show that it encodes 369 genes organized in 134 operons, 20% more than originally annotated. Early transcription is initiated from 28 highly conserved AT-rich promoters distributed over the PhiKZ genome, all located on the same strand. Transcription of middle and late genes is dependent on protein synthesis and mediated by very poorly conserved middle (6) and late (16) promoters. As a result of massive PhiKZ transcription, halfway through infection only 1.5% of all mRNAs in the infected cell remain bacterial. Unique to PhiKZ is its ability to complete its infection in complete absence of bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) enzyme activity. Its transcription is performed by the consecutive action of two PhiKZ-encoded, non-canonical RNAPs, one of which is packed within the virion. This unique, rifampicin-resistant transcriptional machinery is conserved among giant viruses, seems to function without auxiliary factors and might have its origin preceding the split between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Construction of transcription maps for the PhiKZ phage and analysis of differential expression of host and phage genes using RNA-Seq data from samples taken in duplicate at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 35 minutes into infection.
Project description:Purpose: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). We provide an insight to the DNA auxotrophy of P. aeruginosa PASS4 isolate. Better understanding of P. aeruginosa adaptations in the CF lung environment can have a great impact in the development of specialised treatment regimes aimed at the eradications of P. aeruginosa infections. Methods: P. aeruginosa strains PAO1 and PASS4 were grown in minimal medium with either L-Asparagine or DNA as a carbon source, in biological triplicates. RNA was extracted and sequenced on Illumina HiSeq 1000 platform. The sequence reads that passed quality filters were analyzed using EdgePro and DESeq packages, as well as the Rockhopper tool. Results: We mapped > 10 million paired sequence reads per sample to the genome of P. aeruginosa PAO1 and identified a total of 576 genes differentially expressed by PASS4 when grown in DNA (P value < 0.01, log2 fold-change 1< to < -1), with 322 genes upregulated and 254 genes downregulated. There were a total of 423 genes differentially expressed by PAO1 when grown in DNA (P value < 0.01, log2 fold-change 1< to <-1), with 359 genes upregulated and 64 genes downregulated . A total of 129 transcripts displayed similar expression patterns in both organisms, with 112 being upregulated and 17 down-regulated. Conclusions: Our study identified that P. aeruginosa PASS4 was a purine auxotroph. Purine auxotropy may represent a viable microbial strategy for adaptation to DNA rich environments such as the CF lung.