ECF Sigma Factor HxuI Is Critical for In Vivo Fitness of Pseudomonas aeruginosa during Infection

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews (RGC: 21, 22, 62)21_Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

3 Scopus Citations
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Author(s)

  • Zeqiong Cai
  • Fan Yang
  • Xiaolong Shao
  • Zhuo Yue
  • Zhenpeng Li
  • Yuqin Song
  • Xiaolei Pan
  • Yongxin Jin
  • Zhihui Cheng
  • Un-Hwan Ha
  • Jie Feng
  • Liang Yang
  • Weihui Wu
  • Fang Bai

Related Research Unit(s)

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere01620-21
Journal / PublicationMicrobiology Spectrum
Volume10
Issue number1
Online published19 Jan 2022
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2022

Link(s)

Abstract

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa often adapts to its host environment and causes recurrent nosocomial infections. The extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factor enables bacteria to alter their gene expression in response to host environmental stimuli. Here, we report an ECF sigma factor, HxuI, which is rapidly induced once P. aeruginosa encounters the host. Host stresses such as iron limitation, oxidative stress, low oxygen, and nitric oxide induce the expression of hxuI. By combining RNA-seq and promoter-lacZ reporter fusion analysis, we reveal that HxuI can activate the expression of diverse metabolic and virulence pathways which are critical to P. aeruginosa infections, including iron acquisition, denitrification, pyocyanin synthesis, and bacteriocin production. Most importantly, overexpression of the hxuI in the laboratory strain PAO1 promotes its colonization in both murine lung and subcutaneous infections. Together, our findings show that HxuI, a key player in host stress-response, controls the in vivo adaptability and virulence of P. aeruginosa during infection. 

Research Area(s)

  • ECF sigma factor, Host stress-response, HxuI, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Virulence

Citation Format(s)

ECF Sigma Factor HxuI Is Critical for In Vivo Fitness of Pseudomonas aeruginosa during Infection. / Cai, Zeqiong; Yang, Fan; Shao, Xiaolong et al.

In: Microbiology Spectrum, Vol. 10, No. 1, e01620-21, 02.2022.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews (RGC: 21, 22, 62)21_Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

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