Biofilm-Mediated Regulation of Siderophore Production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Date
2019-06-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Description
Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative, multidrug-resistant, nosocomial pathogen that threatens the lives of immunocompromised patients. A key virulence factor in this pathogen is the siderophore pyoverdine. Due to its extremely high affinity for ferric iron, pyoverdine gives the pathogen a significant advantage over the host in their competition for iron. In addition, pyoverdine can regulate the production of multiple bacterial virulence factors and perturb host mitochondrial homeostasis. To elucidate the regulation of pyoverdine production, we developed a high-throughput genetic screen to identify genes necessary for its biosynthesis. Through this screen, we demonstrated that biofilm formation is necessary for pyoverdine production. Consistent with this result, upstream regulators of biofilm, notably intracellular c-di-GMP, regulated pyoverdine production in a biofilm-dependent manner. Furthermore, inhibiting biofilm formation using 2-amino-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole was sufficient to attenuate pyoverdine production, suggesting that biofilm inhibitors may have multiple therapeutic benefits in addition to disrupting the pathogen’s main mechanism of antimicrobial resistance.

Description
Degree
Master of Arts
Type
Thesis
Keywords
Biofilm, Pyoverdine, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Antivirulence, Iron Acquisition, Siderophores, High-Throughput Screen, c-di-GMP, Virulence, Cell Aggregation
Citation

Kang, Donghoon. "Biofilm-Mediated Regulation of Siderophore Production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa." (2019) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. https://hdl.handle.net/1911/106150.

Has part(s)
Forms part of
Published Version
Rights
Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
Link to license
Citable link to this page