Transcriptomic analysis reveals that the small protein MgtS contributes to the virulence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Shujie; Pang, Yu; Zhang, Si; Li, Qing; Wang, Qian; Wang, Lei; Feng, Lu
• Is Part Of: Microbial pathogenesis. Volume 152(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli -- Urinary tract infection -- Transcriptome profile -- mgtS -- Virulence; Urinary tract infections (UTIs) uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) -- uropathogenic Escherichia coli CFT073 (CFT073) bladder epithelial cells (BECs) -- intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 (CNF-1) -- secreted auto-transporter toxin (Sat) wild type(WT) -- multiplicity of infection (MOI) colony-forming unit (CFU) -- electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) post-infection (p.i.) -- clusters of orthologous groups (COGs) standard deviation (SD) -- differentially expressed genes (DEGs) pyelonephritis-associated pilus (pap) -- two-component signal system (TCS) Salmonella serovar Typhimurium(Salmonella); Pathogenic microorganisms -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- parasitology -- Periodicals; Micro-organismes pathogènes -- Périodiques; Pathologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104765
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0882-4010

Abstract

Abstract: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common pathogen causing urinary tract infections (UTIs). The pathogenesis of UPEC relies on the formation of intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) after invading bladder epithelial cells (BECs). In this study, the gene expression profiles of UPEC after invading BECs were comprehensively analyzed using RNA sequencing to reveal potential virulence-related genes. The small protein MgtS, which is transcriptionally upregulated in BECs, was further investigated. It was found that MgtS contributed positively to UPEC invasion of BECs and colonization in murine bladders. A two-component regulatory system, PhoPQ was confirmed as a direct activator of mgtS expression in BECs, and magnesium limitation is proposed as a host cue for the activation. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome profile of UPEC during its intra-BECs life, revealing a new virulence-associated gene and its regulatory mechanism. Highlights: We show the RNA-seq profile of uropathogenic E. coli in bladder epithelial cells. Transcriptome profile reveals metabolic reprogramming intra-BECs. Small protein MgtS is a new virulence-associated factor of UPEC intra-BECs. PhoPQ directly activates transcription of MgtS in a low Mg 2+ environment.