Shigella flexneri Diguanylate Cyclases Regulate Virulence. 2021

Ruchi Ojha, and Ashley A Dittmar, and Geoffrey B Severin, and Benjamin J Koestler
Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan Universitygrid.268187.2, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA.

Shigella flexneri is an intracellular human pathogen that invades colonic cells and causes bloody diarrhea. S. flexneri evolved from commensal Escherichia coli, and genome comparisons reveal that S. flexneri has lost approximately 20% of its genes through the process of pathoadaptation, including a disproportionate number of genes associated with the turnover of the nucleotide-based second messenger cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP); however, the remaining c-di-GMP turnover enzymes are highly conserved. c-di-GMP regulates many behavioral changes in other bacteria in response to changing environmental conditions, including biofilm formation, but this signaling system has not been examined in S. flexneri. In this study, we expressed VCA0956, a constitutively active c-di-GMP synthesizing diguanylate cyclase (DGC) from Vibrio cholerae, in S. flexneri to determine if virulence phenotypes were regulated by c-di-GMP. We found that expressing VCA0956 in S. flexneri increased c-di-GMP levels, and this corresponds with increased biofilm formation and reduced acid resistance, host cell invasion, and plaque size. We examined the impact of VCA0956 expression on the S. flexneri transcriptome and found that genes related to acid resistance were repressed, and this corresponded with decreased survival to acid shock. We also found that individual S. flexneri DGC mutants exhibit reduced biofilm formation and reduced host cell invasion and plaque size, as well as increased resistance to acid shock. This study highlights the importance of c-di-GMP signaling in regulating S. flexneri virulence phenotypes. IMPORTANCE The intracellular human pathogen Shigella causes dysentery, resulting in as many as one million deaths per year. Currently, there is no approved vaccine for the prevention of shigellosis, and the incidence of antimicrobial resistance among Shigella species is on the rise. Here, we explored how the widely conserved c-di-GMP bacterial signaling system alters Shigella behaviors associated with pathogenesis. We found that expressing or removing enzymes associated with c-di-GMP synthesis results in changes in Shigella's ability to form biofilms, invade host cells, form lesions in host cell monolayers, and resist acid stress.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009154 Mutation Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations. Mutations
D006152 Cyclic GMP Guanosine cyclic 3',5'-(hydrogen phosphate). A guanine nucleotide containing one phosphate group which is esterified to the sugar moiety in both the 3'- and 5'-positions. It is a cellular regulatory agent and has been described as a second messenger. Its levels increase in response to a variety of hormones, including acetylcholine, insulin, and oxytocin and it has been found to activate specific protein kinases. (From Merck Index, 11th ed) Guanosine Cyclic 3',5'-Monophosphate,Guanosine Cyclic 3,5 Monophosphate,Guanosine Cyclic Monophosphate,Guanosine Cyclic-3',5'-Monophosphate,3',5'-Monophosphate, Guanosine Cyclic,Cyclic 3',5'-Monophosphate, Guanosine,Cyclic Monophosphate, Guanosine,Cyclic-3',5'-Monophosphate, Guanosine,GMP, Cyclic,Guanosine Cyclic 3',5' Monophosphate,Monophosphate, Guanosine Cyclic
D012763 Shigella flexneri A bacterium which is one of the etiologic agents of bacillary dysentery (DYSENTERY, BACILLARY) and sometimes of infantile gastroenteritis.
D014774 Virulence The degree of pathogenicity within a group or species of microorganisms or viruses as indicated by case fatality rates and/or the ability of the organism to invade the tissues of the host. The pathogenic capacity of an organism is determined by its VIRULENCE FACTORS. Pathogenicity
D015964 Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial Any of the processes by which cytoplasmic or intercellular factors influence the differential control of gene action in bacteria. Bacterial Gene Expression Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression, Bacterial,Regulation, Gene Expression, Bacterial
D015971 Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control of gene action in enzyme synthesis. Enzymologic Gene Expression Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression, Enzymologic,Regulation, Gene Expression, Enzymologic
D016680 Genome, Bacterial The genetic complement of a BACTERIA as represented in its DNA. Bacterial Genome,Bacterial Genomes,Genomes, Bacterial
D017756 Aquaculture The farming, breeding, rearing, and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water environments including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Bioflocs,Aquacultures,Biofloc
D059467 Transcriptome The pattern of GENE EXPRESSION at the level of genetic transcription in a specific organism or under specific circumstances in specific cells. Transcriptomes,Gene Expression Profiles,Gene Expression Signatures,Transcriptome Profiles,Expression Profile, Gene,Expression Profiles, Gene,Expression Signature, Gene,Expression Signatures, Gene,Gene Expression Profile,Gene Expression Signature,Profile, Gene Expression,Profile, Transcriptome,Profiles, Gene Expression,Profiles, Transcriptome,Signature, Gene Expression,Signatures, Gene Expression,Transcriptome Profile
D019761 Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases Enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of a phosphorus-oxygen bond by means other than hydrolysis or oxidation. EC 4.6. Lyases, Phosphorus-Oxygen,Phosphorus Oxygen Lyases

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