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Replication of the Ordered, Nonredundant Library of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14 Transposon Insertion Mutants
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 produces R-bodies, extendable protein polymers with roles in host colonization and

Bryan Wang1, Yu-Cheng Lin1, Alejandro Vasquez-Rifo2

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

Nature Communications
|July 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 produces R-bodies, protein structures essential for virulence in nematodes. These R-bodies function by cleaving ribosomes and inhibiting translation, impacting bacterial infection.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • R-bodies are protein polymers known for their role in bacterial endosymbiont-mediated killing of paramecia.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14, an opportunistic pathogen, possesses a gene cluster (reb) potentially involved in R-body production and virulence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 reb gene cluster in R-body production and bacterial virulence.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which P. aeruginosa R-bodies contribute to host infection.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of the PA14 reb gene cluster products and their association with R-bodies.
  • Assessing R-body production during host colonization (plant and nematode).
  • Evaluating the requirement of R-body production for nematode virulence.
  • Analyzing nematode ribosome content and immune response.

Main Results:

  • Products of the PA14 reb cluster associate with R-bodies and regulate the expression of R-body structural genes.
  • R-body production is upregulated during colonization of plant and nematode hosts.
  • R-body production is essential for full virulence in nematodes.
  • P. aeruginosa R-bodies induce ribosome cleavage and translational inhibition in nematodes.

Conclusions:

  • The P. aeruginosa PA14 reb gene cluster is involved in R-body production and virulence.
  • R-bodies contribute to P. aeruginosa pathogenesis by targeting host ribosomes and inhibiting translation.
  • These findings offer insights into R-body biology and their impact on bacterial infections.

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