title: The Pho regulon and the pathogenesis of Escherichia coli.
abstract: During the course of infection, bacteria must coordinately regulate gene expression in response to environmental stimuli. The phosphate (Pho) regulon is controlled by the two component-regulatory system PhoBR. PhoBR is activated during starvation and regulates genes involved in phosphate homeostasis. Several studies have highlighted the importance of the Pho regulon in bacterial pathogenesis, showing how induction of PhoBR, in addition to regulating genes participating in phosphate metabolism, leads to modulation of many cellular processes. The pleiotropic effects of Pho regulon activation include attenuated virulence and alteration of many virulence traits, including adhesion to host cells and resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides, acidity and oxidative stresses. This review provides an overview of the relationship between the Pho regulon and virulence in Escherichia coli and illustrates that, in addition to regulating phosphate homeostasis, the Pho regulon plays a key role in regulating stress responses and virulence.
authors.affiliation: INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, 531 Boul. des Prairies, Laval, Québec, Canada H7V 1B7.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crépin
authors.forename: Samuel-Mohammed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chekabab
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Le Bihan
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dozois
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harel
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D018085:Regulon; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D010710:Phosphates; C061278:PhoB protein, Bacteria; C061279:PhoR protein, Bacteria