title: Global Rsh-dependent transcription profile of Brucella suis during stringent response unravels adaptation to nutrient starvation and cross-talk with other stress responses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the intracellular pathogen Brucella spp., the activation of the stringent response, a global regulatory network providing rapid adaptation to growth-affecting stress conditions such as nutrient deficiency, is essential for replication in the host. A single, bi-functional enzyme Rsh catalyzes synthesis and hydrolysis of the alarmone (p)ppGpp, responsible for differential gene expression under stringent conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  cDNA microarray analysis allowed characterization of the transcriptional profiles of the B. suis 1330 wild-type and Δrsh mutant in a minimal medium, partially mimicking the nutrient-poor intramacrophagic environment. A total of 379 genes (11.6% of the genome) were differentially expressed in a rsh-dependent manner, of which 198 were up-, and 181 were down-regulated. The pleiotropic character of the response was confirmed, as the genes encoded an important number of transcriptional regulators, cell envelope proteins, stress factors, transport systems, and energy metabolism proteins. Virulence genes such as narG and sodC, respectively encoding respiratory nitrate reductase and superoxide dismutase, were under the positive control of (p)ppGpp, as well as expression of the cbb3-type cytochrome c oxidase, essential for chronic murine infection. Methionine was the only amino acid whose biosynthesis was absolutely dependent on stringent response in B. suis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study illustrated the complexity of the processes involved in adaptation to nutrient starvation, and contributed to a better understanding of the correlation between stringent response and Brucella virulence. Most interestingly, it clearly indicated (p)ppGpp-dependent cross-talk between at least three stress responses playing a central role in Brucella adaptation to the host: nutrient, oxidative, and low-oxygen stress.
authors.affiliation: Université Montpellier 1, Centre d'études d'agents Pathogènes et Biotechnologies pour la Santé (CPBS), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: Safia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ouahrani-Bettache
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.forename: L Garry
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Occhialini
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D041021:Brucella suis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology; D008715:Methionine / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D050901:Nitrate Reductase / Q000235:genetics; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008715:Methionine; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D050901:Nitrate Reductase; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV