PhoB regulates both environmental and virulence gene expression in Vibrio cholerae
Authors:
Open Access
- 14 September 2010
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Molecular Microbiology
- Vol. 77 (6) , 1595-1605
Abstract
Summary: Vibrio cholerae is a facultative pathogen that thrives in two nutritionally disparate environments, aquatic and human small intestine. Phosphate (Pi) is an essential nutrient that is limited in aquatic ecosystems and of unknown availability in the small intestine. Here, we show that the Pi (Pho) regulon, which is controlled by the Pi‐specific transporter (Pst) and two‐component system PhoBR, is required for V. cholerae survival in both environments, though for differing reasons. While induction of Pi acquisition systems including Pst is critical for survival in the aquatic environment, regulation of virulence genes by PhoB and not Pi transport per se is required for colonization of the small intestine. We show that PhoB regulates virulence genes by directly controlling expression of a key upstream transcriptional regulator, tcpPH. Thus, the Pho regulon includes virulence genes and represents a diverse gene set essential to pathogenic V. cholerae throughout its life cycle.Keywords
This publication has 40 references indexed in Scilit:
- Glycogen contributes to the environmental persistence and transmission of Vibrio choleraeMolecular Microbiology, 2009
- Genes Induced Late in Infection Increase Fitness of Vibrio cholerae after Release into the EnvironmentCell Host & Microbe, 2007
- The X-ray Crystal Structures of Two Constitutively Active Mutants of the Escherichia coli PhoB Receiver Domain Give Insights into ActivationJournal of Molecular Biology, 2007
- Characterization of Phagosome Trafficking and Identification of PhoP-Regulated Genes Important for Survival ofYersinia pestisin MacrophagesInfection and Immunity, 2006
- The phosphate‐starvation response in Vibrio cholerae O1 and phoB mutant under proteomic analysis: Disclosing functions involved in adaptation, survival and virulenceProteomics, 2006
- Genome-Wide Identification of Plant-Upregulated Genes of Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937 Using a GFP-Based IVET Leaf ArrayMolecular Plant-Microbe Interactions®, 2004
- Vibrio cholerae AphA uses a novel mechanism for virulence gene activation that involves interaction with the LysR‐type regulator AphB at the tcpPH promoterMolecular Microbiology, 2004
- The Virulence Activator AphA Links Quorum Sensing to Pathogenesis and Physiology in Vibrio cholerae by Repressing the Expression of a Penicillin Amidase Gene on the Small ChromosomeJournal of Bacteriology, 2003
- Large‐scale identification of serotype 4 Streptococcus pneumoniae virulence factorsMolecular Microbiology, 2002
- Molecular aspects of phosphate transport in Escherichia coliMolecular Microbiology, 1990