Open AccessPseudomonas aeruginosa virulence genes identified in a Dictyostelium host model
Author(s) -
Alibaud Laeticia,
Köhler Thilo,
Coudray Alice,
PrigentCombaret Claire,
Bergeret Evelyne,
Perrin Jackie,
Benghezal Mohammed,
Reimmann Cornelia,
Gauthier Yves,
Van Delden Christian,
Attree Ina,
Fauvarque MarieOdile,
Cosson Pierre
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2007.01080.x
Subject(s) - virulence , biology , pseudomonas aeruginosa , dictyostelium , mutant , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , quorum sensing , pathogen , host (biology) , virulence factor , genetics , mutation , bacteria
Summary The human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been shown previously to use similar virulence factors when infecting mammalian hosts or Dictyostelium amoebae. Here we randomly mutagenized a clinical isolate of P. aeruginosa , and identified mutants with attenuated virulence towards Dictyostelium . These mutant strains also exhibited a strong decrease in virulence when infecting Drosophila and mice, confirming that P. aeruginosa makes use of similar virulence traits to confront these very different hosts. Further characterization of these bacterial mutants showed that TrpD is important for the induction of the quorum‐sensing circuit, while PchH and PchI are involved in the induction of the type III secretion system. These results demonstrate the usefulness and the relevance of the Dictyostelium host model to identify and analyse new virulence genes in P. aeruginosa .