The adsorption of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage phiKMV is dependent on expression regulation of type IV pili genes

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2009 Jun;296(2):210-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2009.01640.x. Epub 2009 May 4.

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage phiKMV requires type IV pili for infection, as observed from the phenotypic characterization and phage adsorption assays on a phage infection-resistant host strain mutant. A cosmid clone library of the host (P. aeruginosa PAO1) genomic DNA was generated and used to select for a clone that was able to restore phiKMV infection in the resistant mutant. This complementing cosmid also re-established type IV pili-dependent twitching motility. The correlation between bacteriophage phiKMV infectivity and type IV pili, along with its associated twitching motility, was confirmed by the resistance of a P. aeruginosa PAO1DeltapilA mutant to the phage. Subcloning of the complementing cosmid and further phage infection analysis and motility assays suggests that a common regulatory mechanism and/or interaction between the ponA and pilMNOPQ gene products are essential for bacteriophage phiKMV infectivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / genetics
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Gene Library
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • Locomotion
  • Pseudomonas Phages / physiology*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / genetics
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / physiology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / virology*
  • Virus Attachment*