A hallmark of microbes is the ability to alter their physiology to tolerate or exploit local conditions. Adaptation is crucial for pathogens, since these microorganisms confront distinct environments as they cycle between periods of colonization and transmission. As an experimental model to elucidate the impact of microbial differentiation on pathogenesis, we analyze a gram-negative intracellular pathogen of phagocytes. Here we test the hypothesis that, to thrive in the human lung and its aquatic reservoir, L. pneumophila expresses in a reciprocal pattern at least two distinct sets of biochemical pathways: one to promote replication in phagocyte vacuoles and the other to stimulate transmission between host cells. The hypothesis that its LetA/S two- component regulatory system is designed to confer versatility to the pathogen will also be tested. By exploiting knowledge of the regulatory circuit that governs L. pneumophila differentiation, mutants that lack the regulators FliA, LetA, LetS, or CsrA, or the threonine tranporter PhtA, the genome sequences of the Philadelphia, Paris and Lens strains, bioinformatic and microarray technology, and molecular and genetic assays of function, mechanisms that equip pathogens to cycle between intracellular replication and transmission can be elucidated. The molecular features critical to each stage of the life cycle can inform design of agents to eradicate this opportunistic pathogen from contaminated water supplies and from the infected lung. Together, these studies will provide a framework to investigate the biochemical pathways that equip intracellular microbes to emerge from the environment to cause opportunistic infections. Thus, concepts and pathways identified here can also guide studies and management of less tractable intracellular pathogens such as the Mycobacteria, Chlamydia, Francisella, and Coxiella species.
Fonseca, Maris V; Sauer, John-Demian; Crepin, Sebastien et al. (2014) The phtC-phtD locus equips Legionella pneumophila for thymidine salvage and replication in macrophages. Infect Immun 82:720-30 |
Edwards, Rachel L; Bryan, Andrew; Jules, Matthieu et al. (2013) Nicotinic acid modulates Legionella pneumophila gene expression and induces virulence traits. Infect Immun 81:945-55 |
Dalebroux, Zachary D; Swanson, Michele S (2012) ppGpp: magic beyond RNA polymerase. Nat Rev Microbiol 10:203-12 |
Bryan, Andrew; Harada, Kaoru; Swanson, Michele S (2011) Efficient generation of unmarked deletions in Legionella pneumophila. Appl Environ Microbiol 77:2545-8 |
Bryan, Andrew; Swanson, Michele S (2011) Oligonucleotides stimulate genomic alterations of Legionella pneumophila. Mol Microbiol 80:231-47 |
Hilbi, Hubert; Jarraud, Sophie; Hartland, Elizabeth et al. (2010) Update on Legionnaires' disease: pathogenesis, epidemiology, detection and control. Mol Microbiol 76:1-11 |
Tiaden, André; Spirig, Thomas; Sahr, Tobias et al. (2010) The autoinducer synthase LqsA and putative sensor kinase LqsS regulate phagocyte interactions, extracellular filaments and a genomic island of Legionella pneumophila. Environ Microbiol 12:1243-59 |
Dalebroux, Zachary D; Yagi, Brian F; Sahr, Tobias et al. (2010) Distinct roles of ppGpp and DksA in Legionella pneumophila differentiation. Mol Microbiol 76:200-19 |
Edwards, Rachel L; Jules, Matthieu; Sahr, Tobias et al. (2010) The Legionella pneumophila LetA/LetS two-component system exhibits rheostat-like behavior. Infect Immun 78:2571-83 |
Dalebroux, Zachary D; Svensson, Sarah L; Gaynor, Erin C et al. (2010) ppGpp conjures bacterial virulence. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 74:171-99 |
Showing the most recent 10 out of 25 publications