Project description:Using a combination of ChIP-seq and RNA-seq we show that ToxT regulates expression of the small RNA TarB. TarB modulates the expression level of the transcriptioanl repressor VC0177. VC0177 controls expression of several genes including VC0179. The function of the Vibrio 7th pandemic island-1 (VSP-1) in cholera pathogenesis has remained obscure. Utilizing ChIP-seq and RNA-seq to map the regulon of the master virulence regulator ToxT, we identify a TCP island encoded small RNA that reduces the expression of a previously unrecognized VSP-1 encoded transcription factor termed VspR. VspR modulates the expression of several VSP-1 genes including one that encodes a novel class of di-nucleotide cyclase (DncV), which preferentially synthesizes a previously undescribed hybrid cyclic AMP-GMP molecule. We show that DncV is required for efficient intestinal colonization and down-regulates V. cholerae chemotaxis, a phenotype previously associated with hyperinfectivity. This pathway couples the actions of previously disparate genomic islands, defines VSP-1 as a pathogenicity island in V. cholerae and implicates its occurrence in 7th pandemic strains as a benefit for host adaptation through the production of a regulatory cyclic di-nucleotide.
Project description:The transcriptional factor ToxR initiates a virulence regulatory cascade required for V. cholerae to express critical host colonization factors and cause disease. Genome-wide expression studies suggest that ToxR regulates many genes important for V. cholerae pathogenesis, yet our knowledge of the direct regulon controlled by ToxR is limited to just four genes. Here, we determine ToxRâs genome-wide DNA-binding profile and show that ToxR is a global regulator of both progenitor genome-encoded genes and horizontally acquired islands encoding the majority of V. choleraeâs major virulence factors. Our results suggest that ToxR has gained regulatory control over important acquired elements that not only drive V. cholerae pathogenesis but that also define the major transitions of V. cholerae pandemic lineages. We demonstrate that ToxR shares nearly half its regulon with the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein H-NS, and antagonizes H-NS for control of critical colonization functions. This regulatory interaction is the major role of ToxR in V. cholerae colonization since deletion of H-NS abrogates the need of ToxR in V. cholerae host colonization. By comparing the genome-wide binding profiles of ToxR and other critical virulence regulators, we show that despite similar predicted DNA binding requirements, ToxR is unique in its global control of progenitor-encoded and acquired genes. Our results suggest that, like H-NS, factors in addition to linear DNA sequence drive selection of ToxR binding sites. We used ChIP-seq to identify HNS binding sites across the genome to determine the direct regulon of HNS
Project description:The transcriptional factor ToxR initiates a virulence regulatory cascade required for V. cholerae to express critical host colonization factors and cause disease. Genome-wide expression studies suggest that ToxR regulates many genes important for V. cholerae pathogenesis, yet our knowledge of the direct regulon controlled by ToxR is limited to just four genes. Here, we determine ToxRâs genome-wide DNA-binding profile and show that ToxR is a global regulator of both progenitor genome-encoded genes and horizontally acquired islands encoding the majority of V. choleraeâs major virulence factors. Our results suggest that ToxR has gained regulatory control over important acquired elements that not only drive V. cholerae pathogenesis but that also define the major transitions of V. cholerae pandemic lineages. We demonstrate that ToxR shares nearly half its regulon with the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein H-NS, and antagonizes H-NS for control of critical colonization functions. This regulatory interaction is the major role of ToxR in V. cholerae colonization since deletion of H-NS abrogates the need of ToxR in V. cholerae host colonization. By comparing the genome-wide binding profiles of ToxR and other critical virulence regulators, we show that despite similar predicted DNA binding requirements, ToxR is unique in its global control of progenitor-encoded and acquired genes. Our results suggest that, like H-NS, factors in addition to linear DNA sequence drive selection of ToxR binding sites. We used ChIP-seq to identify ToxR binding sites across the genome to determine the direct regulon of ToxR
Project description:The transcriptional factor ToxR initiates a virulence regulatory cascade required for V. cholerae to express critical host colonization factors and cause disease. Genome-wide expression studies suggest that ToxR regulates many genes important for V. cholerae pathogenesis, yet our knowledge of the direct regulon controlled by ToxR is limited to just four genes. Here, we determine ToxRâ??s genome-wide DNA-binding profile and show that ToxR is a global regulator of both progenitor genome-encoded genes and horizontally acquired islands encoding the majority of V. choleraeâ??s major virulence factors. Our results suggest that ToxR has gained regulatory control over important acquired elements that not only drive V. cholerae pathogenesis but that also define the major transitions of V. cholerae pandemic lineages. We demonstrate that ToxR shares nearly half its regulon with the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein H-NS, and antagonizes H-NS for control of critical colonization functions. This regulatory interaction is the major role of ToxR in V. cholerae colonization since deletion of H-NS abrogates the need of ToxR in V. cholerae host colonization. By comparing the genome-wide binding profiles of ToxR and other critical virulence regulators, we show that despite similar predicted DNA binding requirements, ToxR is unique in its global control of progenitor-encoded and acquired genes. Our results suggest that, like H-NS, factors in addition to linear DNA sequence drive selection of ToxR binding sites. We used ChIP-seq to identify TcpP binding sites across the genome to determine the direct regulon of TcpP
Project description:The PFGRC has developed a cost effective alternative to complete genome sequencing in order to study the genetic differences between closely related species and/or strains. The comparative genomics approach combines Gene Discovery (GD) and Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) techniques, resulting in the design and production of species microarrays that represent the diversity of a species beyond just the sequenced reference strain(s) used in the initial microarray design. These species arrays may then be used to interrogate hundreds of closely related strains in order to further unravel their evolutionary relationships. Many infectious agents that cause emerging and re-emerging diseases appear to evolve from non-virulent forms. We still lack a clear understanding about the natural history of various microbial agents that cause human infectious diseases and the events leading to acquisition of their pathogenic potential. There have been seven pandemics of V. cholerae throughout the history of the mankind. To date, the world population is still experiencing the seventh one which started in the early 1960s. From almost 200 recognized V. cholerae serotypes, the majority of these epidemics are associated with primarily O1 serotype. However there is evidence that this species is undergoing some phenotypic changes during the last decades. Such examples include shifts in some metabolic pathways used for biotyping, phage sensitivity profiling and the acquisition of plasmids that carry multiple genes conferring antimicrobial resistance. Furthermore, the recent emergence of a non-O1 serotype (‘Bengal strain’, classified serologically as O139) has prompted the experts to think that perhaps this genotype will be the predominant one in the upcoming (eighth) pandemic. Besides the O1 and O139, the non-O1 and non-O139 V. cholerae stains are occasionally associated with other severe forms of gastrointestinal disease in humans. Interestingly, many of these non-canonical strains lack the genes encoding the typical virulence factors for this species such as the Cholera-toxin (ctx) and toxin co-regulated pilus (tcpA). Therefore it has been hypothesized that this group of non-canonical V. cholerae pathogens consist of several sub-clones that elicit disease via unknown virulence determinants and underlying mechanisms. The flow of genetic information within this group motivated us to identify novel genes for the purpose of creating a "species" DNA microarray to better understand the ancestral relationships among its members. Based on preliminary genotyping (MLST, and CGH using a single-genome-based array), 10 diverse V. cholerae and one V. mimicus were selected for sequencing. Sequence information obtained from this project, and from other publicly available sources, led to the development of a comprehensive species microarray for V. cholerae group members. The availability of the V. cholerae species DNA microarray has allowed us to carry out a collaborative CGH genotyping project to validate this microarray as well as understand the phylogenomic relationships among members of V. cholerae group.
Project description:The transcriptional factor ToxR initiates a virulence regulatory cascade required for V. cholerae to express critical host colonization factors and cause disease. Genome-wide expression studies suggest that ToxR regulates many genes important for V. cholerae pathogenesis, yet our knowledge of the direct regulon controlled by ToxR is limited to just four genes. Here, we determine ToxR’s genome-wide DNA-binding profile and show that ToxR is a global regulator of both progenitor genome-encoded genes and horizontally acquired islands encoding the majority of V. cholerae’s major virulence factors. Our results suggest that ToxR has gained regulatory control over important acquired elements that not only drive V. cholerae pathogenesis but that also define the major transitions of V. cholerae pandemic lineages. We demonstrate that ToxR shares nearly half its regulon with the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein H-NS, and antagonizes H-NS for control of critical colonization functions. This regulatory interaction is the major role of ToxR in V. cholerae colonization since deletion of H-NS abrogates the need of ToxR in V. cholerae host colonization. By comparing the genome-wide binding profiles of ToxR and other critical virulence regulators, we show that despite similar predicted DNA binding requirements, ToxR is unique in its global control of progenitor-encoded and acquired genes. Our results suggest that, like H-NS, factors in addition to linear DNA sequence drive selection of ToxR binding sites.
Project description:The transcriptional factor ToxR initiates a virulence regulatory cascade required for V. cholerae to express critical host colonization factors and cause disease. Genome-wide expression studies suggest that ToxR regulates many genes important for V. cholerae pathogenesis, yet our knowledge of the direct regulon controlled by ToxR is limited to just four genes. Here, we determine ToxR’s genome-wide DNA-binding profile and show that ToxR is a global regulator of both progenitor genome-encoded genes and horizontally acquired islands encoding the majority of V. cholerae’s major virulence factors. Our results suggest that ToxR has gained regulatory control over important acquired elements that not only drive V. cholerae pathogenesis but that also define the major transitions of V. cholerae pandemic lineages. We demonstrate that ToxR shares nearly half its regulon with the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein H-NS, and antagonizes H-NS for control of critical colonization functions. This regulatory interaction is the major role of ToxR in V. cholerae colonization since deletion of H-NS abrogates the need of ToxR in V. cholerae host colonization. By comparing the genome-wide binding profiles of ToxR and other critical virulence regulators, we show that despite similar predicted DNA binding requirements, ToxR is unique in its global control of progenitor-encoded and acquired genes. Our results suggest that, like H-NS, factors in addition to linear DNA sequence drive selection of ToxR binding sites.