An ribonuclease T2 family protein modulates Acinetobacter baumannii abiotic surface colonization.
Acinetobacter baumannii is an emerging bacterial pathogen of considerable medical concern. The organism's transmission and ability to cause disease has been associated with its propensity to colonize and form biofilms on abiotic surfaces in health care settings. To better understand the genetic determinants that affect biomaterial attachment, we performed a transposon mutagenesis analysis of abiotic surface-colonization using A. baumannii strain 98-37-09. Disruption of an RNase T2 family gene was found to limit the organism's ability to colonize polystyrene, polypropylene, glass, and stainless steel surfaces. DNA microarray analyses revealed that in comparison to wild type and complemented cells, the RNase T2 family mutant exhibited reduced expression of 29 genes, 15 of which are predicted to be associated with bacterial attachment and surface-associated motility. Motility assays confirmed that RNase T2 mutant displays a severe motility defect. Taken together, our results indicate that the RNase T2 family protein identified in this study is a positive regulator of A. baumannii's ability to colonize inanimate surfaces and motility. Moreover, the enzyme may be an effective target for the intervention of biomaterial colonization, and consequently limit the organism's transmission within the hospital setting.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America.
Anna C
AC
Jacobs
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America.
Catlyn E
CE
Blanchard
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America.
Seana C
SC
Catherman
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America.
Paul M
PM
Dunman
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America.
Yoshihiko
Y
Murata
D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011137:Polystyrenes; D004722:Endoribonucleases; C022543:ribonuclease T(2)