Migration of Acanthamoeba through Legionella biofilms is regulated by bacterial quorum sensing, effectors and the flagellum
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ABSTRACT: Legionella pneumophila is a Gram-negative, environmental bacterium, which causes the life-threatening pneumonia Legionnaires’ disease. The facultative intracellular bacterium forms biofilms and employs the Icm/Dot type IV secretion system (T4SS) to replicate in amoebae and macrophages. The Legionella quorum sensing (Lqs) system and the transcription factor LvbR form a regulatory network controlling various traits, including bacterial motility, virulence and biofilm architecture. Here we show by comparative proteomics that in biofilms formed by L. pneumophila mutant strains lacking LvbR or the response regulator LqsR, proteins encoded by the 133 kb fitness island and components of the flagellum (FlaA) are downregulated. Confocal microscopy revealed that the ∆lqsR or ∆flaA mutant strains formed biofilms of the same patchy morphology as the parental strain JR32, while the ∆lvbR mutant forms a mat-like biofilm as previously shown. Acanthamoeba castellanii amoebae migrated more slowly through biofilms formed by the ∆lvbR, ∆lqsR or ∆flaA mutant strains, and amoebae migration was impaired in biofilms formed by L. pneumophila lacking a functional Icm/Dot T4SS (∆icmT) or the secreted effector proteins LegG1 and PpgA. Amoebae migrating through biofilms formed by JR32, ∆lvbR or ∆icmT were decorated by clusters of bacteria, while amoebae in ∆lqsR or ∆flaA biofilms were not. Taken together, the Lqs system, LvbR, FlaA and the Icm/Dot T4SS regulate migration of A. castellanii through L. pneumophila biofilms, and – with the exception of the T4SS – also regulate bacterial cluster formation on the amoeba. Hence, amoebae migration through L. pneumophila biofilms is regulated by bacterial quorum sensing, virulence and motility.
INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive
ORGANISM(S): Legionella Pneumophila Subsp. Pneumophila (strain Philadelphia 1 / Atcc 33152 / Dsm 7513)
SUBMITTER: Sandra Maass
LAB HEAD: Dörte Becher
PROVIDER: PXD030337 | Pride | 2022-06-08
REPOSITORIES: Pride
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