Identification of a PadR-type regulator essential for intracellular pathogenesis of Burkholderia pseudomallei

Sci Rep. 2021 May 17;11(1):10405. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-89852-7.

Abstract

Burkholderia pseudomallei (Bp) is the causative agent of melioidosis, a disease endemic to the tropics. Melioidosis manifests in various ways ranging from acute skin lesions to pneumonia and, in rare cases, infection of the central nervous system. Bp is a facultative intracellular pathogen and it can infect various cell types. The Bp intracellular lifecycle has been partially elucidated and is highly complex. Herein, we have identified a transcriptional regulator, BP1026B_II1198, that is differentially expressed as Bp transits through host cells. A deletion mutant of BP1026B_II1198 was attenuated in RAW264.7 cell and BALB/c mouse infection. To further characterize the function of this transcriptional regulator, we endeavored to determine the regulon of BP1026B_II1198. RNA-seq analysis showed the global picture of genes regulated while ChIP-seq analysis identified two specific BP1026B_II1198 binding regions on chromosome II. We investigated the transposon mutants of these genes controlled by BP1026B_II1198 and confirmed that these genes contribute to pathogenesis in RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells. Taken together, the data presented here shed light on the regulon of BP1026B_II1198 and its role during intracellular infection and highlights an integral portion of the highly complex regulation network of Bp during host infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / genetics
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / pathogenicity*
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Humans
  • Melioidosis / microbiology*
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • RNA-Seq
  • Regulon
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Virulence Factors / genetics
  • Virulence Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Virulence Factors