EepR Mediates Secreted-Protein Production, Desiccation Survival, and Proliferation in a Corneal Infection Model.
Serratia marcescens is a soil- and water-derived bacterium that secretes several host-directed factors and causes hospital infections and community-acquired ocular infections. The putative two-component regulatory system composed of EepR and EepS regulates hemolysis and swarming motility through transcriptional control of the swrW gene and pigment production through control of the pigA-pigN operon. Here, we identify and characterize a role for EepR in regulation of exoenzyme production, stress survival, cytotoxicity to human epithelial cells, and virulence. Genetic analysis supports the model that EepR is in a common pathway with the widely conserved cyclic-AMP receptor protein that regulates protease production. Together, these data introduce a novel regulator of host-pathogen interactions and secreted-protein production.
Charles T. Campbell Laboratory of Ophthalmic Microbiology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Kimberly M
KM
Brothers
Charles T. Campbell Laboratory of Ophthalmic Microbiology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Nicholas A
NA
Stella
Charles T. Campbell Laboratory of Ophthalmic Microbiology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Eric G
EG
Romanowski
Charles T. Campbell Laboratory of Ophthalmic Microbiology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Regis P
RP
Kowalski
Charles T. Campbell Laboratory of Ophthalmic Microbiology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA shanksrm@upmc.edu.
Robert M Q
RM
Shanks
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D003890:Desiccation; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport; D011817:Rabbits; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases