Carbon source utilisation by Bordetella bronchiseptica

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bacterial Physiology
• Host-Pathogen Interactions

Background:

• Bordetella bronchiseptica is an opportunistic pathogen affecting various animal hosts.
• Understanding its metabolic capabilities is crucial for controlling infections.
• Previous studies have indicated limited substrate utilization by B. bronchiseptica.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively investigate the sole carbon and energy sources utilized by Bordetella bronchiseptica.
• To confirm and extend previous findings on carbohydrate and sugar alcohol utilization.
• To assess the impact of different carbon substrates on key bacterial characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Culturing Bordetella bronchiseptica isolates representing different phase types and animal origins.
• Assessing utilization of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, organic acids, amino acids, carbohydrates, and sugar alcohols as sole carbon/energy sources.
• Measuring doubling time, piliation, flagellation, motility, capsule production, and adherence to mammalian cells.

Main Results:

• B. bronchiseptica efficiently utilized succinate, citrate, alpha-ketoglutarate, fumarate, lactate, oxaloacetate, pyruvate, acetate, proline, glutamate, glutamine, and tyrosine.
• The inability to utilize carbohydrates and sugar alcohols was confirmed and extended across various isolates.
• Substrate availability influenced bacterial doubling time, motility, piliation, flagellation, capsule production, and adherence.

Conclusions:

• Bordetella bronchiseptica possesses a versatile metabolic profile, primarily relying on organic acids and amino acids.
• Its limited ability to metabolize carbohydrates suggests specific nutritional requirements and potential host-specific adaptations.
• The observed influence of carbon substrates on bacterial phenotypes highlights the importance of host metabolic environment in B. bronchiseptica pathogenesis.