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Volume 148, Issue 4

Genetically programmed autoinducer destruction reduces virulence gene expression and swarming motility in PAO1

The GenBank accession number for the nucleotide sequence is AF397400. The GenBank accession numbers for the nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA genes of strains A23 and A24 are AF397398 and AF397399.

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Abstract

Virulence in the opportunistic human pathogen is controlled by cell density via diffusible signalling molecules (‘autoinducers’) of the -acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) type. Two sp. isolates (A23 and A24) with AHL-degrading activity were identified among a large collection of rhizosphere bacteria. From isolate A24 a gene was cloned which was similar to the gene, encoding an AHL lactonase in another strain. Expression of the homologue from isolate A24 in PAO1 reduced the amount of the quorum sensing signal -oxododecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone and completely prevented the accumulation of the second AHL signal, -butyryl-L-homoserine lactone. This strongly reduced AHL content correlated with a markedly decreased expression and production of several virulence factors and cytotoxic compounds such as elastase, rhamnolipids, hydrogen cyanide and pyocyanin, and strongly reduced swarming. However, no effect was observed on flagellar swimming or on twitching motility, and expression did not affect bacterial adhesion to a polyvinylchloride surface. In conclusion, introduction of an AHL degradation gene into could block cell–cell communication and exoproduct formation, but failed to interfere with surface colonization.

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Keyword(s): AHL, N-acylhomoserine lactone , BHL, N-butyryl-L-homoserine lactone , cell–cell signalling , CTAB, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide , HHL, N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone , OdDHL, N-oxododecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone , OHHL, N-oxohexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone , OOHL, N-oxooctanoyl-L-homoserine lactone , quorum sensing , twitching motility and virulence
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2002-04-01
2025-03-22
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Genetically programmed autoinducer destruction reduces virulence gene expression and swarming motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1The GenBank accession number for the aiiA nucleotide sequence is AF397400. The GenBank accession numbers for the nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA genes of strains A23 and A24 are AF397398 and AF397399.
Microbiology 148, 923 (2002); https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-148-4-923
/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-148-4-923
/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-148-4-923
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