Bacterial second messenger 3',5'-cyclic diguanylate attracts Caenorhabditis elegans and suppresses its immunity

Commun Biol. 2020 Nov 20;3(1):700. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-01436-9.

Abstract

Cyclic di-nucleotides are important secondary signaling molecules in bacteria that regulate a wide range of processes. In this study, we found that Caenorhabditis elegans can detect and are attracted to multiple signal molecules produced by Vibrio cholerae, specifically the 3',5'-cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP), even though this bacterium kills the host at a high rate. C-di-GMP is sensed through C. elegans olfactory AWC neurons, which then evokes a series of signal transduction pathways that lead to reduced activity of two key stress response transcription factors, SKN-1 and HSF-1, and weakened innate immunity. Taken together, our study elucidates the role of c-di-GMP in interkingdom communication. For C. elegans, bacterial c-di-GMP may serve as a cue that they can use to detect food. On the other hand, preexposure to low concentrations of c-di-GMP may impair their immune response, which could facilitate bacterial invasion and survival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans* / drug effects
  • Caenorhabditis elegans* / immunology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans* / physiology
  • Cell Communication / physiology
  • Cyclic GMP / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cyclic GMP / metabolism
  • Cyclic GMP / pharmacology
  • Second Messenger Systems / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Vibrio cholerae / pathogenicity*

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid
  • Cyclic GMP