The Lon protease is essential for full virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

  • chair:

    Breidenstein, E.B.M. / Janot, L. / Strehmel, J. / Fernandez, L. / Taylor, P.K. / Kukavica-Ibrulj, I. / Gellatly, S.L. / Levesque,  R.C. /  Overhage, J. / Hancock, R.E.W. (2012)
  • place:

    PLOS One, in press
  • Date: 2012

  • Breidenstein, E.B.M. / Janot, L. / Strehmel, J. / Fernandez, L. / Taylor, P.K. / Kukavica-Ibrulj, I. / Gellatly, S.L. / Levesque,  R.C. /  Overhage, J. / Hancock, R.E.W. (2012): „The Lon protease is essential for full virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa“. In: PLOS One, in press

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 lon mutants are supersusceptible to ciprofloxacin, and exhibit a defect in cell division and in virulence-related properties, such as swarming, twitching and biofilm formation, despite the fact that the Lon protease is not a traditional regulator. Here we set out to investigate the influence of a lon mutation in a series of infection models. It was demonstrated that the lon mutant had a defect in cytotoxicity towards epithelial cells, was less virulent in an amoeba model as well as a mouse acute lung infection model, and impacted on in vivo survival in a rat model of chronic infection. Using qRT-PCR it was demonstrated that the lon mutation led to a down-regulation of Type III secretion genes. The Lon protease also influenced motility and biofilm formation in a mucin-rich environment. Thus alterations in several virulence-related processes in vitro in a lon mutant were reflected by defective virulence in vivo. 

 

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