Vibrio cholerae causes the disease cholera and is a natural inhabitant of aquatic environments. Seasonal cholera outbreaks occur where the disease is endemic and can spread worldwide. V. cholerae's ability to cause epidemics is tied to its ability to survive in aquatic habitats. It has been proposed that V. cholerae's ability to form biofilms (i.e., matrix-enclosed, surface-associated communities) is crucial for its survival in aquatic habitats between epidemics and is advantageous for host-to-host transmission during epidemics. The objective of this proposal is to improve our understanding of biofilm matrix components, the mechanisms and regulation of biofilm formation, the mechanism of cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c- diGMP) signaling, and their importance in the biology of V. cholerae.
In Aim 1, we will focus on characterization of biofilm matrix components. We will determine Vibrio polysaccharide (VPS) binding capacities and localization patterns of the matrix proteins in biofilms, and test our hypothesis that these proteins bind to VPS in order to stabilize the matrix. We will determine which genes within the vps gene clusters are required for biofilm formation. We will also investigate the enzymatic properties of a putative VPS lyase. Finally, we will ascertain the contribution of known biofilm determinants in V. cholerae pathogenesis.
In Aim 2, we will dissect regulation of biofilm formation. Biofilm regulatory network consists of two positive transcriptional regulators (VpsR and VpsT), a negative transcriptional regulator (HapR), and our recently-identified sensor histidine kinase (VpsS). We will determine whether VpsS phoshorylates VpsR and identify important signals that control VpsS. We will characterize the cis-acting features of the vps and matrix-protein genes and elucidate whether the transcriptional regulators VpsR, VpsT and HapR interact directly with these promoters.
In Aim 3, we will elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which c-diGMP signaling controls biofilm formation. We will determine whether c-diGMP signaling proteins that modulate biofilm formation rely on protein-protein interactions. To identify the target proteins of the c-di-GMP signaling systems, we will search for proteins interacting with c-diGMP signaling proteins, as well as for c-diGMP receptor proteins within the rugose variants. We will then assess how these c-diGMP signaling proteins affect V. cholerae pathogenesis. Better understanding of the mechanism of biofilm formation, c-diGMP signaling, and the importance of both of these processes in V. cholerae biology will prove useful for the development of future strategies for predicting and controlling cholera epidemics, and will facilitate identification of novel drug targets for combating the pathogen during infection.

Public Health Relevance

Biofilms, surface attached microbial communities, cause significant problems in environmental, industrial, and clinical settings. Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the disease cholera, forms naturally-occurring biofilms that are critical for environmental survival and the transmission of the pathogen. This proposal aims to improve our understanding of biofilm formation, which will allow us to define targets to combat this deadly pathogen in both intestinal and aquatic ecosystems, and also help in the development of tools for prediction and/or control of cholera epidemics.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI055987-10
Application #
8390494
Study Section
Bacterial Pathogenesis Study Section (BACP)
Program Officer
Hall, Robert H
Project Start
2003-09-30
Project End
2014-11-30
Budget Start
2012-12-01
Budget End
2014-11-30
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$326,786
Indirect Cost
$96,462
Name
University of California Santa Cruz
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
125084723
City
Santa Cruz
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
95064
Fong, Jiunn Cn; Rogers, Andrew; Michael, Alicia K et al. (2017) Structural dynamics of RbmA governs plasticity of Vibrio cholerae biofilms. Elife 6:
Teschler, Jennifer K; Cheng, Andrew T; Yildiz, Fitnat H (2017) The Two-Component Signal Transduction System VxrAB Positively Regulates Vibrio cholerae Biofilm Formation. J Bacteriol 199:
Rogers, Andrew; Townsley, Loni; Gallego-Hernandez, Ana L et al. (2016) The LonA Protease Regulates Biofilm Formation, Motility, Virulence, and the Type VI Secretion System in Vibrio cholerae. J Bacteriol 198:973-85
Conner, Jenna G; Teschler, Jennifer K; Jones, Christopher J et al. (2016) Staying Alive: Vibrio cholerae's Cycle of Environmental Survival, Transmission, and Dissemination. Microbiol Spectr 4:
Fong, Jiunn N C; Yildiz, Fitnat H (2015) Biofilm Matrix Proteins. Microbiol Spectr 3:
Teschler, Jennifer K; Zamorano-Sánchez, David; Utada, Andrew S et al. (2015) Living in the matrix: assembly and control of Vibrio cholerae biofilms. Nat Rev Microbiol 13:255-68
Cheng, Andrew T; Ottemann, Karen M; Yildiz, Fitnat H (2015) Vibrio cholerae Response Regulator VxrB Controls Colonization and Regulates the Type VI Secretion System. PLoS Pathog 11:e1004933
Reichhardt, Courtney; Fong, Jiunn C N; Yildiz, Fitnat et al. (2015) Characterization of the Vibrio cholerae extracellular matrix: a top-down solid-state NMR approach. Biochim Biophys Acta 1848:378-83
Bilecen, Kivanc; Fong, Jiunn C N; Cheng, Andrew et al. (2015) Polymyxin B resistance and biofilm formation in Vibrio cholerae are controlled by the response regulator CarR. Infect Immun 83:1199-209
Zamorano-Sánchez, David; Fong, Jiunn C N; Kilic, Sefa et al. (2015) Identification and characterization of VpsR and VpsT binding sites in Vibrio cholerae. J Bacteriol 197:1221-35

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