Relative expression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence genes analyzed by a real time RT-PCR method during lung infection in rats.
The bacterial aspects of the events occurring during the first days of lung colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa are still unknown. The aim of this study was to develop a real time RT-PCR method for the direct quantification of the transcripts of three P. aeruginosa virulence genes: exoS, lasI and algD, during the first seven days of a rat lung infection. Our results document differences in bacterial gene expression throughout P. aeruginosa infection. ExoS transcripts levels were very high in the first days of infection, but a significant decrease was then progressively observed. Transcription of algD occurred on the 4th day and increased regularly over time suggesting a balance in the transcription of exoS and algD. The strong expression of exoS during the first 3 days was correlated to 29% of mortality among infected rats. On the contrary, the increase of algD expression after this period was associated to the development of a chronic infection with no further mortality. LasI transcription remained more constant throughout the infection.
Joly
Béatrice
B
EA 3925, Laboratoire de Bactériologie-Hygiène, Hôpital Calmette, Unité de Gastroentérologie, Hépatologie et Nutrition, Clinique de Pédiatrie, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, CHRU, 59037 Lille, France.
Béatrice
Joly
J
Pierre
Maud
M
Maud
Pierre
P
Auvin
Stéphane
S
Stéphane
Auvin
A
Colin
Franc
F
Franc Cois
Collet
C
Gottrand
Frédéric
F
Frédéric
Gottrand
G
Guery
Benoit
B
Benoit
Guery
G
Husson
Marie-Odile
MO
D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C081237:LasI protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D037521:Virulence Factors; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; C444820:exoenzyme S