title: Extracellular DNA-induced antimicrobial peptide resistance in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium PhoPQ two component system (TCS) is activated by low Mg2+ levels, low pH and by antimicrobial peptides (AP). Under Mg2+ limitation, the PhoPQ system induces pmrD expression, which post-translationally activates the PmrAB TCS. PhoPQ and PmrAB control many genes required for intracellular survival and pathogenesis. These include the polymyxin resistance (pmr) operon, which is required for aminoarabinose modification of LPS and protecting the outer membrane from antimicrobial peptide disruption and killing. Extracellular DNA is a ubiquitous polymer in the matrix of biofilms and accumulates in some infection sites. Extracellular DNA chelates cations and thus activates the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PhoPQ/PmrAB systems, leading to expression of the orthologous arn (pmr) operon.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we show that extracellular DNA induces expression of the S. Typhimurium pmr antimicrobial peptide resistance operon in a PhoPQ and PmrAB-dependent manner. Induction of the pmr genes by DNA was blocked when present with excess Mg2+. Exogenous DNA led to increased resistance of planktonic cultures to aminoglycosides, antimicrobial peptides (AP) and ciprofloxacin, but only AP resistance was PhoPQ/PmrAB-dependent. Extracellular DNA was shown to be a matrix component of S. Typhimurium biofilms cultivated in flow chambers and on glass surfaces. A pmrH-gfp fusion was highly expressed in flow chamber biofilms cultivated in medium with repressing levels of 10 mM Mg2+ and co-localized with eDNA. Expression of pmrH-lux was monitored in plastic peg biofilms and shown to require PhoPQ and PmrAB. Biofilms had higher levels of pmrH expression compared to planktonic cultures. We propose that DNA accumulation in biofilms contributes to the increased pmrH-lux expression in biofilms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Salmonella PhoPQ/PmrAB systems and antimicrobial peptide resistance are activated by the cation chelating properties of extracellular DNA. DNA-induced AP resistance may allow immune evasion and increased survival of S. Typhimurium biofilms formed during extracellular growth stages of an infection or outside the host.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Shawn R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Horsman
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Charron-Mazenod
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Turnbull
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mulcahy
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Surette
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lewenza
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D009876:Operon; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002614:Chelating Agents; D003470:Culture Media; C079792:PhoQ protein, Bacteria; C409039:PmrB protein, bacteria; D014157:Transcription Factors; C081902:pmrA protein, Bacteria; C061064:PhoP protein, Bacteria; D004247:DNA; D008274:Magnesium