title: Space flight alters bacterial gene expression and virulence and reveals a role for global regulator Hfq.
abstract: A comprehensive analysis of both the molecular genetic and phenotypic responses of any organism to the space flight environment has never been accomplished because of significant technological and logistical hurdles. Moreover, the effects of space flight on microbial pathogenicity and associated infectious disease risks have not been studied. The bacterial pathogen Salmonella typhimurium was grown aboard Space Shuttle mission STS-115 and compared with identical ground control cultures. Global microarray and proteomic analyses revealed that 167 transcripts and 73 proteins changed expression with the conserved RNA-binding protein Hfq identified as a likely global regulator involved in the response to this environment. Hfq involvement was confirmed with a ground-based microgravity culture model. Space flight samples exhibited enhanced virulence in a murine infection model and extracellular matrix accumulation consistent with a biofilm. Strategies to target Hfq and related regulators could potentially decrease infectious disease risks during space flight missions and provide novel therapeutic options on Earth.
authors: Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: Wilson
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Ott
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Höner zu Bentrup
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Ramamurthy
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Quick
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Porwollik
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Cheng
authors: M
authors: M
authors: McClelland
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Tsaprailis
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Radabaugh
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Hunt
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Fernandez
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Richter
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Shah
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kilcoyne
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Joshi
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Nelman-Gonzalez
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Hing
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Parra
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Dumars
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Norwood
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Bober
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authors: J
authors: Devich
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ruggles
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Goulart
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Rupert
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Stodieck
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Stafford
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Catella
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Schurr
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Buchanan
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Morici
authors: J
authors: J
authors: McCracken
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Allen
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Baker-Coleman
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Hammond
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Vogel
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Nelson
authors: D L
authors: DL
authors: Pierson
authors: H M
authors: HM
authors: Stefanyshyn-Piper
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Nickerson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D035001:Host Factor 1 Protein / Q000502:physiology; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D040901:Proteomics; D018085:Regulon; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000209:etiology; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D013026:Space Flight; D014774:Virulence; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation
chemical_list: D035001:Host Factor 1 Protein; D007501:Iron