Publications

Microbial pathogenesis. 2009-05-01; 46.5: 283-7.

Exogenous Yersinia pestis quorum sensing molecules N-octanoyl-homoserine lactone and N-(3-oxooctanoyl)-homoserine lactone regulate the LcrV virulence factor

Gelhaus HC, Rozak DA, Nierman WC, Chen D, Varga JJ, Zadeh M, Ulrich RL, Adamovicz JJ

PMID: 19249344

Abstract

LcrV is a key Yersinia pestis antigen, immune regulator, and component of the type III secretion system (T3SS). Researchers have shown that N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) can down-regulate the expression of the LcrV homolog, PcrV, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using ELISA, western blot, DNA microarray analysis, and real time PCR we demonstrate that the addition of AHL molecules N-octanoyl-homoserine lactone (C8) or N-(3-oxooctanoyl)-homoserine lactone (oxo-C8) to Y. pestis cultures down-regulates LcrV protein expression. DNA microarray analysis shows 10 additional T3SS genes are consistently down-regulated by C8 or oxo-C8. This is the first report demonstrating that AHLs regulate Y. pestis virulence factor expression.

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