Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2025

Establishment of a High-throughput Setup for Screening Small Molecules That Modulate c-di-GMP Signaling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
11:31

Establishment of a High-throughput Setup for Screening Small Molecules That Modulate c-di-GMP Signaling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Published on: June 30, 2016

8.4K

PelD is required downstream of c-di-GMP for host specialization of Pseudomonas lurida

Anna Czerwinski1, Julia Löwenstrom1, Sören Franzenburg2

  • 1Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, University of Kiel, 24118, Kiel, Germany.

BMC Microbiology
|April 16, 2025
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The bacterial second messenger cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) influences biofilm formation. This study identifies pelD as a key gene, downstream of c-di-GMP, that modulates beneficial symbiont-host associations in Pseudomonas lurida MYb11 and Caenorhabditis elegans.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial symbiosis
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a bacterial second messenger regulating biofilm formation and host persistence.
  • Previous studies showed Pseudomonas lurida MYb11 variants evolved host specialization with increased c-di-GMP.
  • Molecular mechanisms of c-di-GMP-mediated specialization in this symbiosis were previously unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify molecular processes underlying c-di-GMP-mediated host specialization in P. lurida MYb11.
  • To investigate the role of differentially expressed genes in symbiont-host interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Transcriptomic analysis of P. lurida MYb11 host specialists.
  • Functional genetic analysis of candidate genes.
  • Assessing bacterial fitness and biofilm formation in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Main Results:

  • Host specialists showed differential expression of genes involved in attachment, motility, and biofilm production, including pelD.
  • Deletion of pelD led to decreased competitive fitness within the host.
  • pelD deletion resulted in reduced bacterial numbers and loss of biofilm biomass in C. elegans.

Conclusions:

  • PelD is a novel key modulator of beneficial symbiont-host associations.
  • PelD acts downstream of c-di-GMP in regulating bacterial traits.
  • This finding advances understanding of bacterial symbiosis and host specialization.
Keywords:
Caenorhabditis elegansPseudomonas luridapelDBiofilmHost-microbe interactionSymbiosisc-di-GMP

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