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Global Transcriptomic Analysis During Murine Pneumonia Infection Reveals New Virulence Factors in Acinetobacter

Marta Martínez-Guitián1, Juan C Vázquez-Ucha1, Laura Álvarez-Fraga1

  • 1Servicio de Microbiología del Complejo Hospitalario Universitario, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Avanzadas, Universidad de A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.

The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|August 26, 2020
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii lung infections were studied using transcriptomics in mice. Seven virulence genes identified offer potential new therapeutic targets against this global health threat.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Acinetobacter baumannii is a multidrug-resistant pathogen causing significant global health issues.
  • Pneumonia is a severe infection often caused by resistant bacterial strains.
  • Understanding bacterial gene expression during infection is crucial for developing new treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To perform a global in vivo transcriptomic analysis of Acinetobacter baumannii during murine pneumonia.
  • To identify specific genes and pathways involved in A. baumannii virulence during lung infection.
  • To explore potential novel therapeutic targets based on gene expression profiles.

Main Methods:

  • Infection of mice with A. baumannii strains (ATCC 17978 and AbH12O-A2).
  • Whole bacterial RNA extraction and RNA sequencing for transcriptomic analysis.
  • Identification of differentially expressed genes and subsequent gene deletion studies.

Main Results:

  • Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of genes related to iron acquisition and host invasion in A. baumannii during lung infection.
  • Mutant strains lacking specific genes (feoA, mtnN, yfgC, basB, hisF, oatA, bfnL) exhibited reduced virulence in murine pneumonia models.
  • Selected mutants showed decreased biofilm formation, adherence to epithelial cells, and growth rates.

Conclusions:

  • This study elucidates the in vivo gene expression profile of A. baumannii during murine pneumonia.
  • Seven upregulated genes identified are implicated in virulence and represent potential new therapeutic targets.
  • Targeting these virulence factors could offer novel strategies against Acinetobacter baumannii infections.
Keywords:
Acinetobacter baumanniianimal infection modelsin vivo transcriptomemurine pneumoniapathogenesisvirulence factors

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