Lactonase SsoPox modulates CRISPR-Cas expression in gram-negative proteobacteria using AHL-based quorum sensing systems

Res Microbiol. 2019 Sep-Oct;170(6-7):296-299. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2019.06.004. Epub 2019 Jul 3.

Abstract

Quorum sensing (QS) is a molecular communication system that bacteria use to harmonize the regulation of genes in a cell density-dependent manner. In proteobacteria, QS is involved, among others, in virulence, biofilm formation or CRISPR-Cas gene regulation. Here, we report for the first time the effect of a QS-interfering enzyme to alter the regulation of CRISPR-Cas systems in model and clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as in the marine bacterium Chromobacterium violaceum CV12472. The expression of CRISPR-Cas genes decreased in most cases suggesting that enzymatic disruption of QS is promising for modulating phage-bacteria interactions.

Keywords: Biofilm; CRISPR-Cas; Lactonase; Quorum quenching; Quorum sensing; Virulence.

MeSH terms

  • Acyl-Butyrolactones / metabolism*
  • Bacteriophages / genetics
  • Bacteriophages / growth & development
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics*
  • Chromobacterium / genetics*
  • Chromobacterium / isolation & purification
  • Chromobacterium / metabolism
  • Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / genetics*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / isolation & purification
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / metabolism
  • Quorum Sensing / genetics*

Substances

  • Acyl-Butyrolactones

Supplementary concepts

  • Chromobacterium violaceum