A LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator Controls Multiple Phenotypes in Acinetobacter baumannii
Acinetobacter baumannii is a multidrug-resistant, Gram-negative nosocomial pathogen that exhibits phenotypic heterogeneity resulting in virulent opaque (VIR-O) and avirulent translucent (AV-T) colony variants. Each variant has a distinct gene expression profile resulting in multiple phenotypic diffe...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.778331/full |
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| author | Aimee R. P. Tierney Chui Yoke Chin Chui Yoke Chin Chui Yoke Chin Chui Yoke Chin David S. Weiss David S. Weiss David S. Weiss David S. Weiss David S. Weiss Philip N. Rather Philip N. Rather |
| author_facet | Aimee R. P. Tierney Chui Yoke Chin Chui Yoke Chin Chui Yoke Chin Chui Yoke Chin David S. Weiss David S. Weiss David S. Weiss David S. Weiss David S. Weiss Philip N. Rather Philip N. Rather |
| author_sort | Aimee R. P. Tierney |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Acinetobacter baumannii is a multidrug-resistant, Gram-negative nosocomial pathogen that exhibits phenotypic heterogeneity resulting in virulent opaque (VIR-O) and avirulent translucent (AV-T) colony variants. Each variant has a distinct gene expression profile resulting in multiple phenotypic differences. Cells interconvert between the VIR-O and AV-T variants at high frequency under laboratory conditions, suggesting that the genetic mechanism underlying the phenotypic switch could be manipulated to attenuate virulence. Therefore, our group has focused on identifying and characterizing genes that regulate this switch, which led to the investigation of ABUW_1132 (1132), a highly conserved gene predicted to encode a LysR-type transcriptional regulator. ABUW_1132 was shown to be a global regulator as the expression of 74 genes was altered ≥ 2-fold in an 1132 deletion mutant. The 1132 deletion also resulted in a 16-fold decrease in VIR-O to AV-T switching, loss of 3-OH-C12-HSL secretion, and reduced surface-associated motility. Further, the deletion of 1132 in the AV-T background caused elevated capsule production, which increased colony opacity and altered the typical avirulent phenotype of translucent cells. These findings distinguish 1132 as a global regulatory gene and advance our understanding of A. baumannii’s opacity-virulence switch. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T05:37:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d0f5a9cbf7ce4271860b95d9cd3ba0ec |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2235-2988 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T05:37:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d0f5a9cbf7ce4271860b95d9cd3ba0ec2022-12-21T18:37:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882021-11-011110.3389/fcimb.2021.778331778331A LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator Controls Multiple Phenotypes in Acinetobacter baumanniiAimee R. P. Tierney0Chui Yoke Chin1Chui Yoke Chin2Chui Yoke Chin3Chui Yoke Chin4David S. Weiss5David S. Weiss6David S. Weiss7David S. Weiss8David S. Weiss9Philip N. Rather10Philip N. Rather11Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United StatesEmory Vaccine Center, Atlanta, GA, United StatesYerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, United StatesDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United StatesEmory Antibiotic Resistance Center, Atlanta, GA, United StatesEmory Vaccine Center, Atlanta, GA, United StatesYerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, United StatesDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United StatesEmory Antibiotic Resistance Center, Atlanta, GA, United StatesResearch Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Atlanta Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United StatesDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United StatesResearch Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Atlanta Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United StatesAcinetobacter baumannii is a multidrug-resistant, Gram-negative nosocomial pathogen that exhibits phenotypic heterogeneity resulting in virulent opaque (VIR-O) and avirulent translucent (AV-T) colony variants. Each variant has a distinct gene expression profile resulting in multiple phenotypic differences. Cells interconvert between the VIR-O and AV-T variants at high frequency under laboratory conditions, suggesting that the genetic mechanism underlying the phenotypic switch could be manipulated to attenuate virulence. Therefore, our group has focused on identifying and characterizing genes that regulate this switch, which led to the investigation of ABUW_1132 (1132), a highly conserved gene predicted to encode a LysR-type transcriptional regulator. ABUW_1132 was shown to be a global regulator as the expression of 74 genes was altered ≥ 2-fold in an 1132 deletion mutant. The 1132 deletion also resulted in a 16-fold decrease in VIR-O to AV-T switching, loss of 3-OH-C12-HSL secretion, and reduced surface-associated motility. Further, the deletion of 1132 in the AV-T background caused elevated capsule production, which increased colony opacity and altered the typical avirulent phenotype of translucent cells. These findings distinguish 1132 as a global regulatory gene and advance our understanding of A. baumannii’s opacity-virulence switch.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.778331/fullAcinetobacter baumanniiAB5075LysR-type transcriptional regulatorphenotypic heterogeneityquorum sensingmotility |
| spellingShingle | Aimee R. P. Tierney Chui Yoke Chin Chui Yoke Chin Chui Yoke Chin Chui Yoke Chin David S. Weiss David S. Weiss David S. Weiss David S. Weiss David S. Weiss Philip N. Rather Philip N. Rather A LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator Controls Multiple Phenotypes in Acinetobacter baumannii Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology Acinetobacter baumannii AB5075 LysR-type transcriptional regulator phenotypic heterogeneity quorum sensing motility |
| title | A LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator Controls Multiple Phenotypes in Acinetobacter baumannii |
| title_full | A LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator Controls Multiple Phenotypes in Acinetobacter baumannii |
| title_fullStr | A LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator Controls Multiple Phenotypes in Acinetobacter baumannii |
| title_full_unstemmed | A LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator Controls Multiple Phenotypes in Acinetobacter baumannii |
| title_short | A LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator Controls Multiple Phenotypes in Acinetobacter baumannii |
| title_sort | lysr type transcriptional regulator controls multiple phenotypes in acinetobacter baumannii |
| topic | Acinetobacter baumannii AB5075 LysR-type transcriptional regulator phenotypic heterogeneity quorum sensing motility |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.778331/full |
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