AutA and AutR, Two Novel Global Transcriptional Regulators, Facilitate Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Infection.
Bacteria can change its lifestyle during inhabiting in host niches where they survive and replicate by rapidly altering gene expression pattern to accommodate the new environment. In this study, two novel regulators in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) were identified and designated as AutA and AutR. RT-PCR and β-galactosidase assay results showed that AutA and AutR co-regulated the expression of adhesin UpaB in APEC strain DE205B. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that AutA and AutR could directly bind the upaB promoter DNA. In vitro transcription assay indicated that AutA could activate the upaB transcription, while AutR inhibited the upaB transcription due to directly suppressing the activating effect of AutA on UpaB expression. Transcriptome analysis showed that AutA and AutR coherently affected the expression of hundreds of genes. Our study confirmed that AutA and AutR co-regulated the expression of DE205B K1 capsule and acid resistance systems in E. coli acid fitness island (AFI). Moreover, phenotypic heterogeneity in expression of K1 capsule and acid resistance systems in AFI during host-pathogen interaction was associated with the regulation of AutA and AutR. Collectively speaking, our studies presented that AutA and AutR are involved in APEC adaptive lifestyle change to facilitate its infection.
Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Xiangkai
X
Zhuge
Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Fang
F
Tang
Beijing Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
Hongfei
H
Zhu
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China.
Xiang
X
Mao
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China.
Shaohui
S
Wang
Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Zongfu
Z
Wu
Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Chengping
C
Lu
Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Jianjun
J
Dai
Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Hongjie
H
Fan
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D002645:Chickens; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C569987:UpaB protein, E coli; D037521:Virulence Factors; C036962:capsular polysaccharide K1