Transcriptomic differences noted in Glaesserella parasuis between growth in broth and on agar

PLoS One. 2019 Aug 6;14(8):e0220365. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220365. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Glaesserella parasuis is the cause of Glӓsser's disease in pigs and is a significant contributor to post-weaning mortality in the swine industry. Prevention of G. parasuis disease relies primarily on bacterin vaccines, which have shown good homologous protection and variable heterologous protection. Bacterin production involves large scale growth of the bacteria and proteins produced during the proliferation phase of production become important antigens that stimulate the immune response. In order to evaluate genes activated during G. parasuis growth on different media substrates, the transcriptome of broth and agar grown G. parasuis strain 29755 were sequenced and compared. The transcription of most purported virulence genes were comparable between broth and agar grown G. parasuis; however, four virulence-associated genes, including ompA and vapD, had elevated expression under agar growth, while six virulence-associate genes had elevated expression during broth growth, including several protease genes. Additionally, there were metabolic shifts toward increased protein and lipid production and increased cellular division in broth grown G. parasuis. The results contribute to the understanding of how growth substrate alters gene transcription and protein expression, which may impact vaccine efficacy if immunogens important to the protective immune response are not produced under specific in vitro conditions. While the results of this work are unable to fully elucidate which growth medium presents a transcriptome more representative of in vivo samples or best suited for bacterin production, it forms a foundation that can be used for future comparisons and provides a better understanding of the metabolic differences in broth and agar grown bacteria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Agar / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Culture Media / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Haemophilus parasuis / genetics*
  • Haemophilus parasuis / growth & development
  • Lipids / biosynthesis
  • Protein Biosynthesis / drug effects
  • Swine
  • Virulence / genetics

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Culture Media
  • Lipids
  • Agar

Grants and funding

This research was supported in part by an appointment to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Research Participation Program administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). All opinions expressed in this paper are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the policies and views of USDA, ARS, DOE, or ORAU/ORISE.