Function and regulation of virulence-related genes of the proteobacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Grant number: 09/09211-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2009
• End date: February 29, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Regina Lúcia Baldini
• Grantee: Regina Lúcia Baldini
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gamma-proteobacterium often found in soil and water that behaves as an opportunistic pathogen. In humans, it is one of the leading causes of nosocomial infections and colonizes burns, surgical wounds and the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. In those patients, P. aeruginosa causes a severe inflammatory reaction that often leads to lung failure and death. P. aeruginosa pathogenicity has been extensively studied regarding the factors directly responsible for virulence, such as toxins, extracellular enzymes and secretion systems, as well as its high intrinsic resistance to antibiotics. It is a model organism for research on phenomena such as cell-cell communication, biofilm formation, gene expression, metabolism and also for studies on bacterial diversity and genetic variability. The main goal of this project is to characterize genes related to P. aeruginosa pathogenicity, regarding their expression and the function of their products, both in traits unique to PA14 as in aspects conserved in a broad range of pathogenic bacteria. The specific aims include functional studies of the putative methyltransferase KerV and its connection to quorum sensing and secretion of virulence factors; the screening for protein-protein interactions between products of genes conserved in genomic islands; the detailing of the studies on regulation of expression of genes present in PA14 pathogenicity island, as well as the search for targets of the c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase PvrR. For the achievement of these aims, we will use genetic, biochemical and molecular biology approaches. This work is already in progress, as a development of a Jovem Pesquisador grant that will end in July, 2009. (AU)

Scientific publications

(The scientific publications listed on this page originate from the Web of Science or SciELO databases. Their authors have cited FAPESP grant or fellowship project numbers awarded to Principal Investigators or Fellowship Recipients, whether or not they are among the authors. This information is collected automatically and retrieved directly from those bibliometric databases.)

KAIHAMI, GILBERTO HIDEO; FOGACA DE ALMEIDA, JOSE ROBERTO; DOS SANTOS, SUELEN SILVANA; SOARES NETTO, LUIS EDUARDO; DE ALMEIDA, SANDRA ROGERIO; BALDINI, REGINA LUCIA. Involvement of a 1-Cys Peroxiredoxin in Bacterial Virulence. PLOS PATHOGENS, v. 10, n. 10, OCT 2014. (09/09211-9)

NICASTRO, GIANLUCCA G.; KAIHAMI, GILBERTO H.; PEREIRA, THAYS O.; MEIRELES, DIOGO A.; GROLEAU, MARIE-CHRISTINE; DEZIEL, ERIC; BALDINI, REGINA L.. Cyclic-di-GMP levels affect Pseudomonas aeruginosa fitness in the presence of imipenem. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, v. 16, n. 5, p. 1321-1333, MAY 2014. (11/08841-9, 09/09211-9, 09/08198-9, 07/03121-2)