Full virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa requires OprF

Infect Immun. 2011 Mar;79(3):1176-86. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00850-10. Epub 2010 Dec 28.

Abstract

OprF is a general outer membrane porin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a well-known human opportunistic pathogen associated with severe hospital-acquired sepsis and chronic lung infections of cystic fibrosis patients. A multiphenotypic approach, based on the comparative study of a wild-type strain of P. aeruginosa, its isogenic oprF mutant, and an oprF-complemented strain, showed that OprF is required for P. aeruginosa virulence. The absence of OprF results in impaired adhesion to animal cells, secretion of ExoT and ExoS toxins through the type III secretion system (T3SS), and production of the quorum-sensing-dependent virulence factors pyocyanin, elastase, lectin PA-1L, and exotoxin A. Accordingly, in the oprF mutant, production of the signal molecules N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone and N-butanoyl-l-homoserine lactone was found to be reduced and delayed, respectively. Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) production was decreased, while its precursor, 4-hydroxy-2-heptylquinoline (HHQ), accumulated in the cells. Taken together, these results show the involvement of OprF in P. aeruginosa virulence, at least partly through modulation of the quorum-sensing network. This is the first study showing a link between OprF, PQS synthesis, T3SS, and virulence factor production, providing novel insights into virulence expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Secretion Systems / physiology
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Cichorium intybus
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Plant Leaves / microbiology
  • Pseudomonas Infections / genetics
  • Pseudomonas Infections / metabolism*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / pathogenicity*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / physiology
  • Quinolones / metabolism
  • Quorum Sensing / physiology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Virulence
  • Virulence Factors / genetics
  • Virulence Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Secretion Systems
  • OprF protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Quinolones
  • Virulence Factors