Project description:This study investigated the transcriptomic response of rice pathogen Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae (Aaa) strain RS-1 to ß-lactam antibiotics in particular Ampicillin (Amp) and the result highlights the importance of Amp-induced differentially expressed genes in the virulence of Aaa strain RS-1.
Project description:Determining how a bacterial pathogen responds to its host and other bacterial species by altering gene expression is key to understand its pathogenesis and environmental adaption. Here, we used RNA-Seq to comprehensively and quantitatively assess the transcriptional response of the rice bacterial pathogen Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae strain RS-1 cultivated in vitro, in vivo and in co-culture with rice rhizobacterium Burkholderia seminalis R456. Results revealed a surprisingly large number of regulatory differences between these conditions indicating adaptation of A. avenae subsp. avenae to specific ecological conditions. In particular, a number of potential virulence factors such as type 3 secretion system proteins were specifically expressed under in vivo conditions, whereas genes whose protein products are involved in inter-bacterial interaction such as auxin efflux carrier, small mechanosensitive ion channel protein, and ureidoglycolate hydrolase were among those specifically up-regulated under co-culture conditions. In addition, global genomic analysis of strain RS-1 identified 406 putative non-coding (nc) RNA genes. Interestingly, 8 ncRNA genes that were uniquely expressed under in vivo may be linked to pathogenicity while 4 ncRNA genes that were uniquely expressed under coculture conditions may be involved in adaption to co-cultivation with B. seminalis. Expression data obtained by RNA-Seq were also confirmed for selected genes by quantitative real-time PCR and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis as well as knockout analysis.
Project description:Determining how a bacterial pathogen responds to its host and other bacterial species by altering gene expression is key to understand its pathogenesis and environmental adaption. Here, we used RNA-Seq to comprehensively and quantitatively assess the transcriptional response of the rice bacterial pathogen Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae strain RS-1 cultivated in vitro, in vivo and in co-culture with rice rhizobacterium Burkholderia seminalis R456. Results revealed a surprisingly large number of regulatory differences between these conditions indicating adaptation of A. avenae subsp. avenae to specific ecological conditions. In particular, a number of potential virulence factors such as type 3 secretion system proteins were specifically expressed under in vivo conditions, whereas genes whose protein products are involved in inter-bacterial interaction such as auxin efflux carrier, small mechanosensitive ion channel protein, and ureidoglycolate hydrolase were among those specifically up-regulated under co-culture conditions. In addition, global genomic analysis of strain RS-1 identified 406 putative non-coding (nc) RNA genes. Interestingly, 8 ncRNA genes that were uniquely expressed under in vivo may be linked to pathogenicity while 4 ncRNA genes that were uniquely expressed under coculture conditions may be involved in adaption to co-cultivation with B. seminalis. Expression data obtained by RNA-Seq were also confirmed for selected genes by quantitative real-time PCR and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis as well as knockout analysis. Aaa strain RS-1 and B. seminalis strain R456 was isolated from diseased rice plants (Li et al., 2011; Xie et al., 2011) and rice rhizosphere (Zhang et al., 2007; Li et al., 2011), respectively, in our previous studies, and were stored in 20-30% sterile glycerol at -80°C. The samples of Aaa strain RS-1 for in vitro and in vivo analysis were prepared as described before (Ibrahim et al., 2012). The co-culture analysis of Aaa strain RS-1 with B. seminalis strain R456 were conducted according to Ruiz et al. (2009) and Di Cagno et al. (2009). Briefly, Aaa strain RS-1 and B. seminalis strain R456 was inoculated and incubated in chambers of a double culture vessel apparatus separated by a 0.4-μm membrane filter (Millipore Isopore™). In order to avoid the possible contamination during in vivo and co-culture operation, all bacterial samples were further confirmed based on the sequence analysis of 16S-rRNA (Li et al., 2011). Then samples were processed for RNA harvesting, mRNA purification and cDNA synthesis.
Project description:Transcriptome analysis of rice pathogen Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae cultivated in vitro, in vivo and in co-culture with the rice rhizobacterium Burkholderia seminalis
Project description:Streptococcus agalactiae is among the few pathogens that have not developed resistance to ß-lactam antibiotics despite decades of clinical use. The molecular basis of this long-lasting susceptibility has not been investigated, and it is uncertain whether specific mechanisms constraint the emergence of resistance. In this study, we first report a conserved role of the signaling nucleotide cyclic-di-AMP in the sensitivity of S. agalactiae to ß-lactam. Specifically, we demonstrate that inactivation of the phosphodiesterase GdpP confers ß-lactam tolerance. Characterizing the signaling pathway revealed an antagonistic regulation by the transcriptional factor BusR, which is activated by c-di-AMP and negatively regulates ß-lactam susceptibility. Furthermore, we show that simultaneous inhibition of osmolyte transporters activity and transcription by c-di-AMP has an additive effect, sustaining ß-lactam tolerance. Finally, transposon mutagenesis for ß-lactam reduced susceptibility reveals a convergent pattern of mutations, including in the KhpAB small RNA chaperone and the protein S immunomodulator. Overall, our findings suggest mechanisms that may foster antibiotic resistance in S. agalactiae and demonstrate that c-di-AMP acts as a turgor pressure rheostat, coordinating an integrated response to cell wall weakening due to ß-lactam activity.