Title |
The Lon Protease Is Essential for Full Virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
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Published in |
PLOS ONE, November 2012
|
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0049123 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Elena B. M. Breidenstein, Laure Janot, Janine Strehmel, Lucia Fernandez, Patrick K. Taylor, Irena Kukavica-Ibrulj, Shaan L. Gellatly, Roger C. Levesque, Joerg Overhage, Robert E. W. Hancock |
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. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
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United States | 1 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 1 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
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United States | 1 | 1% |
Portugal | 1 | 1% |
Germany | 1 | 1% |
Unknown | 89 | 97% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Student > Master | 15 | 16% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 14 | 15% |
Student > Bachelor | 12 | 13% |
Researcher | 11 | 12% |
Student > Postgraduate | 6 | 7% |
Other | 17 | 18% |
Unknown | 17 | 18% |
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Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 23 | 25% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 12 | 13% |
Chemistry | 2 | 2% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 2 | 2% |
Other | 4 | 4% |
Unknown | 17 | 18% |