Transcription factors of Chromobacterium violaceum: integrating signaling pathways, regulons and pathogenicity

• Grant number: 12/20435-9
• Support type: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• Duration: April 01, 2013 - March 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal researcher: José Freire da Silva Neto
• Grantee: José Freire da Silva Neto
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Luis Eduardo Soares Netto
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/03342-0 - The Fur family of transcription factors and the response to iron and zinc in Chromobacterium violaceum, BP.DR; 16/08728-1 - Study of the MarR family transcription factor CV3905 of Chromobacterium violaceum, BP.IC; 15/12605-0 - MarR family transcription factors and antibiotic resistance in Chromobacterium violaceum, BP.MS; 13/25745-9 - Functional characterization of MarR family transcription factors in Chromobacterium violaceum, BP.DR; 13/04182-6 - Transcription factors of Chromobacterium violaceum: integrating signaling pathways, regulons and pathogenicity, BP.JP

Abstract

Transcription factors have a central role in the hierarchy of control of gene expression by binding to specific DNA sequences, thereby modulating transcription initiation. The integration of these regulatory proteins in signal transduction pathways allows bacteria to monitor various physico-chemical parameters and develop appropriate adaptive cellular responses. Thus, the study of these pathways has a significant impact on understanding how bacteria control various cellular functions such as biofilm production, virulence, antibiotic resistance and host recognition. However, even in model organisms many transcription factors have not been studied, and for few of them the signals and the molecular mechanisms of activation are described. In this sense, we propose the investigation of Chromobacterium violaceum, a free-living beta-proteobacterium that can act as an opportunistic human pathogen, as a model to study the role of transcription factors in virulence. Thus, we will perform a systematic mutagenesis of 10% of all transcription factors of C. violaceum, and the mutant strains will be tested for decrease of virulence in experimental models. The regulons of these transcription factors will be determined using DNA microarrays and traditional biochemical techniques. It will be selected transcription factors containing conserved cysteine residues in order to contemplate redox regulators, especially because many pathogens are confronted with oxidative stress during infection or antibiotics exposure. The role of eukaryotic-like kinase/phosphatases will also be evaluated to test if these transcription factors are able to integrate different signals (redox regulation and phosphorylation) in the control of virulence. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BATISTA, BIANCA BONTEMPI; RODRIGUES DE SOUZA SANTOS, RENATO ELIAS; RICCI-AZEVEDO, RAFAEL; SILVA NETO, JOSE FREIRE. Production and Uptake of Distinct Endogenous Catecholate-Type Siderophores Are Required for Iron Acquisition and Virulence in Chromobacterium violaceum. Infection and Immunity, v. 87, n. 12 DEC 2019. Web of Science Citations: 0.

BARROSO, KELLY C. M.; PREVIATO-MELLO, MARISTELA; BATISTA, BIANCA B.; BATISTA, JULIANA H.; DA SILVA NETO, JOSE F. EmrR-Dependent Upregulation of the Efflux Pump EmrCAB Contributes to Antibiotic Resistance in Chromobacterium violaceum. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 9, NOV 15 2018. Web of Science Citations: 3.

BATISTA, JULIANA H.; DA SILVA NETO, JOSE F. Chromobacterium violaceum Pathogenicity: Updates and Insights from Genome Sequencing of Novel Chromobacterium Species. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 8, NOV 10 2017. Web of Science Citations: 9.

PREVIATO-MELLO, MARISTELA; MEIRELES, DIOGO DE ABREU; SOARES NETTO, LUIS EDUARDO; DA SILVA NETO, JOSE FREIRE. Global Transcriptional Response to Organic Hydroperoxide and the Role of OhrR in the Control of Virulence Traits in Chromobacterium violaceum. Infection and Immunity, v. 85, n. 8 AUG 2017. Web of Science Citations: 7.