Journal article
Surface sensing in Vibrio parahaemolyticus triggers a programme of gene expression that promotes colonization and virulence
Molecular microbiology, Vol.79(1), pp.240-263
01/2011
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07445.x
PMCID: PMC3075615
PMID: 21166906
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus senses surfaces via impeded rotation of its polar flagellum. We have exploited this surface-sensing mechanism to trick the organism into thinking it is on a surface when it is growing in liquid. This facilitated studies of global gene expression in a way that avoided many of the complications of surface-to-liquid comparisons, and illuminated ∼ 70 genes that respond to surface sensing per se. Almost all are surface-induced (not repressed) and encode swarming motility proteins, virulence factors or sensory enzymes involved with chemoreception and c-di-GMP signalling. Follow-up studies were performed to place the surface-responsive genes in a regulatory hierarchy. Mapping the hierarchy revealed two surprises about LafK, a transcriptional activator that until now has been considered to be the master regulator for the lateral flagellar system. First, LafK controls a more diverse set of genes than previously appreciated. Second, some laf genes are not under LafK control, which means LafK is not the master regulator after all. Additional experiments motivated by the transcriptome analyses revealed that growth on a surface lowers c-di-GMP levels and enhances cytotoxicity. Thus, we demonstrate that V. parahaemolyticus can invoke a programme of gene control upon encountering a surface and the specific identities of the surface-responsive genes are pertinent to colonization and pathogenesis.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Surface sensing in Vibrio parahaemolyticus triggers a programme of gene expression that promotes colonization and virulence
- Creators
- Cindy J Gode-Potratz - Department of Microbiology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USARyan J KustuschPatrick J BrehenyDavid S WeissLinda L McCarter
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Molecular microbiology, Vol.79(1), pp.240-263
- Publisher
- England
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07445.x
- PMID
- 21166906
- PMCID
- PMC3075615
- ISSN
- 0950-382X
- eISSN
- 1365-2958
- Grant note
- 5 R21 AI065526 / NIAID NIH HHS R21 AI065526 / NIAID NIH HHS R21 AI065526-02 / NIAID NIH HHS 5 T32 GM077973 / NIGMS NIH HHS T32 GM077973 / NIGMS NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2011
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology; Biostatistics
- Record Identifier
- 9983997308902771
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