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.