Plasmid manipulation of bacterial gene regulatory networks

细菌基因调控网络的质粒操作

基本信息

批准号：
BB/R014884/2
负责人：
Michael Brockhurst
金额：
$ 31.72万
依托单位：
University of Manchester
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2020
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2020 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=BB%2FR014884%2F2
关键词：
Plasmid manipulation bacterial gene regulatory

项目摘要

Genome sequencing has revealed that bacteria frequently exchange genes between species, speeding-up evolution by allowing it to proceed by big leaps rather than just the gradual accumulation of small changes. Genes often pass from one bacterial cell to another on circular pieces of DNA called plasmids. Acquiring a plasmid is typically costly to a bacterial cell. However, little is currently known about the causes of these fitness costs. One possible cause of fitness costs is that plasmids often carry genes that interfere with the switching on / off of bacterial genes causing these genes to be expressed at the wrong times. In the proposal, we investigate a common plant-associated bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, where gaining a plasmid switches on around 20% of bacterial genes. Our preliminary data links this gene disruption to a widespread global regulatory pathway, Gac/Rsm, which controls the switch between chronic, biofilm-forming lifestyles and acute virulent states in many different bacterial species. This raises the intriguing possibility that plasmid-acquisition may reprogram the Gac/Rsm pathway, impacting key virulence- and competition-related behaviours in diverse bacterial species, including important human and plant pathogens. In this project, we will first unravel the molecular mechanism by which plasmids disrupt bacterial gene expression. Informed by the results of these experiments, we will examine the fitness costs and potential benefits of plasmid acquisition in complex plant-associated environments, and test whether the plasmid benefits from disrupting the Gac/Rsm pathway by boosting its rate of spread in bacterial populations growing on plants. These experiments will shed new light on a fundamental process in bacterial evolution, with relevance for understanding the sharing of genes encoding important functional traits (including antibiotic resistance) in natural communities.

基因组测序表明，细菌经常在物种之间交换基因，从而通过大跃进而不是逐渐积累微小的变化来加速进化。基因通常通过称为质粒的环状 DNA 片段从一个细菌细胞传递到另一个细菌细胞。对于细菌细胞来说，获取质粒通常成本高昂。然而，目前人们对这些健身成本的原因知之甚少。造成适应性成本的一个可能原因是质粒通常携带干扰细菌基因开启/关闭的基因，导致这些基因在错误的时间表达。在该提案中，我们研究了一种常见的植物相关细菌荧光假单胞菌，其中获得的质粒可开启约 20% 的细菌基因。我们的初步数据将这种基因破坏与广泛的全球调控途径 Gac/Rsm 联系起来，该途径控制许多不同细菌物种的慢性、生物膜形成生活方式和急性毒性状态之间的转换。这提出了一种有趣的可能性，即质粒获取可能会重新编程 Gac/Rsm 途径，从而影响不同细菌物种（包括重要的人类和植物病原体）的关键毒力和竞争相关行为。在这个项目中，我们将首先揭示质粒破坏细菌基因表达的分子机制。根据这些实验的结果，我们将检查在复杂的植物相关环境中获取质粒的适应性成本和潜在收益，并测试质粒是否通过提高其在生长的细菌群体中的传播速度而从破坏 Gac/Rsm 途径中受益。在植物上。这些实验将为细菌进化的基本过程提供新的线索，有助于理解自然群落中编码重要功能性状（包括抗生素耐药性）的基因的共享。

项目成果

期刊论文数量（5）

专著数量（0）

科研奖励数量（0）

会议论文数量（0）

专利数量（0）

Plasmids manipulate bacterial behaviour through translational regulatory crosstalk.

DOI：
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001988
发表时间：
2023-02
期刊：
PLOS BIOLOGY
影响因子：
9.8
作者：
Thompson, Catriona M. A.;Hall, James P. J.;Chandra, Govind M.;Martins, Carlo;Saalbach, Gerhard H.;Panturat, Supakan;Bird, Susannah M.;Ford, Samuel W.;Little, Richard H. A.;Piazza, Ainelen G.;Harrison, Ellie;Jackson, Robert W.;Brockhurst, Michael A.;Malone, Jacob G.
通讯作者：
Malone, Jacob G.

Why do plasmids manipulate the expression of bacterial phenotypes?

DOI：
10.1098/rstb.2020.0461
发表时间：
2022-01-17
期刊：
Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
影响因子：
0
作者：
Billane K;Harrison E;Cameron D;Brockhurst MA
通讯作者：
Brockhurst MA

Compensatory mutations reducing the fitness cost of plasmid carriage occur in plant rhizosphere communities

植物根际群落中发生降低质粒携带适应性成本的补偿性突变

DOI：
10.1101/2022.08.01.502293
发表时间：
2022
期刊：
影响因子：
0
作者：
Bird S
通讯作者：
Bird S

Compensatory mutations reducing the fitness cost of plasmid carriage occur in plant rhizosphere communities.

DOI：
10.1093/femsec/fiad027
发表时间：
2023-03-23
期刊：
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
影响因子：
4.2
作者：
Bird, Susannah M.;Ford, Samuel;Thompson, Catriona M. A.;Little, Richard;Hall, James P. J.;Jackson, Robert W.;Malone, Jacob;Harrison, Ellie;Brockhurst, Michael A.
通讯作者：
Brockhurst, Michael A.