Augmentation of virulence related traits of pqs mutants by Pseudomonas quinolone signal through membrane vesicles. (3rd October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bala, Anju; Kumar, Lokender; Chhibber, Sanjay; Harjai, Kusum
• Is Part Of: Journal of basic microbiology. Volume 55:issue 5(2015:May)
• Page Start: 566
• Page End: 578
• Publication Date: 2014-10-03
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579
• DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201400377
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0233-111X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jobm201400377-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Pathogenicity of opportunistic <italic>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</italic> is mediated through expression of different virulence determinants, most of which are under the control of quorum sensing. Besides acylhomoserine lactones, <italic>P. aeruginosa</italic> produces Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) molecules which co‐regulate expression of overlapping subset of genes. In the present study, effect of mutations in the <italic>pqs</italic> genes on the production of virulence factors, biofilm, and membrane vesicles (MVs) was studied using standard strain and isogenic <italic>pqs</italic> mutants of <italic>P. aeruginosa</italic>. Mutations in <italic>pqs</italic> genes severely reduced elastase, pyocyanin, siderophores, biofilm formation, and production of MVs. Further, effect of synthetic PQS on virulence of <italic>P. aeruginosa</italic> and its correlation with MVs was investigated. Supplementation of PQS resulted in enhancement of phenotypic expression of virulence factors and biofilm forming capacity of these strains. Restoration of virulent phenotype of mutants in presence of PQS indicated that PQS system play an important role in the virulence of <italic>P. aeruginosa</italic>. In addition, PQS also induced substantial release of MVs in all strains. When vesicles containing natural PQS were added to the mutants, significant increase in production of virulence factors was observed. This augmentation of the virulence traits may be associated with the efficient delivery of PQS among bacterial cells, which could be one possible mechanism of <italic>pqs</italic> system contributing to the overall virulence of <italic>P. aeruginosa</italic>.</p> </sec> </abstract>