Project description:Aeromonas taiwanensis was first described in 2010 on the basis of one clinical wound isolate (strain LMG 24683(T) = A2-50(T) = CECT 7403(T)) from Taiwan. We present here the genome sequence of A. taiwanensis LMG 24683(T), which carries several genes encoding virulence determinants and Ambler class C and D ?-lactamases.
Project description:Background: Pantoea ananatis LMG 2665T synthesizes and utilizes acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) for signaling. In this strain, short chain AHLs (C4 to C8) are produced by the EanI/R quorum sensing (QS) system that is involved in pathogenicity and biofilm formation. The complete set of genes regulated by the EanI/R system in P. ananatis LMG 2665T is still not fully known. In the present study, RNA-seq was used to analyze the transcriptome profiles controlled by the EanI/R system in this strain by comparing the wild type strain and its QS mutant 2665T ean∆I/R during lag and log stages. The RNA seq data was validated by RT qPCR. Results: The results showed that the EanI/R regulon in P. ananatis LMG 2665T comprised 144 genes, constituting 3.3% of the whole transcriptome under the experimental conditions in this study. The majority of genes regulated by the EanI/R system included genes for flagella assembly, bacterial chemotaxis, pyruvate metabolism, two component system, metabolic pathways, microbial metabolism and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Conclusions: This is the first study to identify the EanI/R QS regulon in P. ananatis LMG 2665T. Functional analysis of genes regulated the EanI/R system in LMG 2665T could help unveil genes that play a vital role in pathogenesis and survival strategies of this pathogen.
Project description:Aeromonas are ubiquitous inhabitants of both natural and anthropogenic aquatic ecosystems. Occasionally, Aeromonas also grows in drinking water distribution systems, which is highly undesired due to the pathogenicity of some members of this genus. The growth of Aeromonas in such highly oligotrophic environments is currently poorly understood. Possible nutrient sources are biopolymers. For example, chitin is the structural component of the exoskeleton of insects, some invertebrates and the cell walls of fungi which makes it one of the most abundant carbon and nitrogen sources in nature. In this study we demonstrate the ability of two Aeromonas strains, Aeromonas bestiarum and Aeromonas rivuli to efficiently grow on chitin. The secreted proteins confirm the presence of the functional hydrolytic enzymes that enable the efficient degradation and utilization of this abundant biopolymer. Further quantitative cellular proteomic study unravels the remarkable reorganization of the Aeromonas metabolism when switching to chitin as sole carbon and nitrogen source. This proves that Aeromonas is not only chitinolytic but also a chitinotrophic microorganism.
Project description:Aeromonas caviae has been associated with human gastrointestinal disease. Strains of this species typically lack virulence factors (VFs) such as enterotoxins and hemolysins that are produced by other human pathogens of the Aeromonas genus. Microarray profiling of murine small intestinal extracts, 24 hours after oral infection with an A. caviae strain, provides evidence of a Th1 type immune response. A large number of gamma-interferon (γ-IFN) induced genes are up-regulated as well as several tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) transcripts. A. caviae has always been considered an opportunistic pathogen because it lacks obvious virulence factors. This current effort suggests A. caviae colonizes murine intestinal tract and causes what has been described by others as a dysregulatory cytokine response leading to an irritable bowel-like syndrome. This response would explain why a number of diarrheal waterborne outbreaks have been attributed to A. caviae even though it lacks obvious enteropathogenic properties. Keywords: Aeromonas caviae, infection, disease mechanism, TH1 resposne