Transcriptomic analysis of PhoR reveals its role in regulation of swarming motility and T3SS expression in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Yibei Zhang; Huanhuan Liu; Dan Gu; Xingxu Lu; Xiaohui Zhou; Xiaodong Xia

doi:10.1016/j.micres.2020.126448

Transcriptomic analysis of PhoR reveals its role in regulation of swarming motility and T3SS expression in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Microbiol Res. 2020 May:235:126448. doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2020.126448. Epub 2020 Feb 24.

Authors

Yibei Zhang¹, Huanhuan Liu², Dan Gu³, Xingxu Lu⁴, Xiaohui Zhou⁵, Xiaodong Xia⁶

Affiliations

¹ College of Food Science and Engineering, Sino-US Joint Research Center, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3089, USA.
² College of Food Science and Engineering, Sino-US Joint Research Center, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
³ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
⁴ Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3136, USA.
⁵ Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3089, USA. Electronic address: xiaohui.zhou@uconn.edu.
⁶ College of Food Science and Engineering, Sino-US Joint Research Center, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; School of Food Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Dalian Polytechnic University, 1 Qinggongyuan, Ganjingzi District, Dalian, Liaoning, 116034 China. Electronic address: xdxia@nwsuaf.edu.cn.

PMID: 32114363
DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2020.126448

Abstract

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a common foodborne pathogen in seafood and represents a major threat to human health worldwide. In this study, we identified that PhoR, a histidine kinase, is involved in the regulation of swarming and flagella assembly. RNA sequencing analysis showed that 1122 genes were differentially expressed in PhoR mutant, including 394 upregulated and 728 downregulated genes. KEGG enrichment and heatmap analysis demonstrated that the bacterial secretion system, flagella assembly and chemotaxis pathways were significantly downregulated in PhoR mutant, while the microbial metabolism in diverse environments and carbon metabolism pathways were upregulated in PhoR mutant. qRT-PCR further confirmed that genes responsible for the type III secretion system (T3SS), swarming and the thermostable direct hemolysin were positively regulated by PhoR. Phosphorylation assays suggested that PhoR was highly activated in BHI medium compared to LB medium. Taken together, these data suggested that activated PhoR contributes to the expression of swarming motility and secretion system genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Keywords: Motility; PhoR; Transcriptome; Type III secretion system (T3SS); Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

MeSH terms

Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
Bacterial Toxins / genetics
Biofilms / growth & development
Down-Regulation
Gene Expression Profiling
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
Hemolysin Proteins / genetics
Movement
Transcriptome*
Type III Secretion Systems / genetics*
Up-Regulation
Vibrio parahaemolyticus / enzymology
Vibrio parahaemolyticus / genetics*

Substances

Bacterial Proteins
Bacterial Toxins
Hemolysin Proteins
Type III Secretion Systems
PhoR protein, Bacteria
thermostable direct hemolysin