Oligoribonuclease mediates high adaptability of P. aeruginosa through metabolic conversion

Oligoribonuclease (orn) of P. aeruginosa is a highly conserved exonuclease, which can regulate the global gene expression levels of bacteria through regulation of both the nanoRNA and c-di-GMP. NanoRNA can regulate the expression of the bacterial global genome as a transcription initiator, and c-di-GMP is the most widely second messenger in bacterial cells.

This study seeks to elucidate on the regulation by orn on pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa.

P. aeruginosa with orn deletion was constructed by suicide plasmid homologous recombination method. The possible regulatory process of orn was analyzed by TMT quantitative labeling proteomics. Then experiments were conducted to verify the changes of Δorn on bacterial motility, virulence and biofilm formation. Bacterial pathogenicity was further detected in cell and animal skin trauma models. ELISA detection c-di-GMP concentration and colony aggregation and biofilm formation were observed by scanning electron microscope.

orn deletion changed the global metabolism of P. aeruginosa and reduced intracellular energy metabolism. It leads to the disorder of the quorum sensing system, the reduction of bacterial motility and virulence factors pyocyanin and rhamnolipids. But, orn deletion enhanced pathogenicity in vitro and in vivo, a high level of c-di-GMP and biofilm development of P. aeruginosa.

orn regulates the ability of P. aeruginosa to adapt to the external environment.