The PHO regulon and assisted evolution in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Grant number: 14/09143-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2014
• End date: June 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Beny Spira
• Grantee: Luiz Gustavo de Almeida
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is an element of extreme importance to all living beings. It is present in nucleic acids, lipopolysaccharides and phospholipids, among other molecules. Bacteria carry several genes related to uptake and assimilation of inorganic phosphate (Pi) and other phosphorylated molecules. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Proteobacteria carry at least two Pi-transport systems. The main Pi uptake system, Pst, has high affinity for its substrate. Pst is encoded by an operon formed by five genes. The first four genes encode proteins involved directly in Pi transport, and the last operon gene, phoU, encodes a protein whose exact function is unknown. Pi excess is stored in the form of inorganic polyphosphate (poliP) a linear polymer formed by many Pi molecules linked by high-energy phosphoanhydride bonds. Pseudomonas aeruginosa accumulates large amounts of poliP. In my master thesis, a phoU null mutant of P. aeruginosa PA14 was constructed. We analyzed several phenotypic characteristics of the phoU mutant, such as its effect on Pi uptake, accumulation of poliP, resistance to environmental stresses and antibiotics. It was also shown that the phoU mutant produces large amounts of guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) and that this phenomenon is associated with the accumulation of poliP. In this project we will continue the analysis of the phoU gene and Pi metabolism in P. aeruginosa. This project also aims to obtain a bacteria with increased Pi uptake capacity that accumulates large amounts of poliP towards its implementation in a wastewater Pi removal system. (AU)

Scientific publications

(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)

THOMAZ, LUCIANA; DE ALMEIDA, LUIZ GUSTAVO; SILVA, FLAVIA R. O.; CORTEZ, MAURO; TABORDA, CARLOS P.; SPIRA, BENY. In vivo Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Galleria mellonella. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 11, NOV 9 2020. (12/24105-3, 15/06547-7, 16/08730-6, 11/07775-2, 14/09143-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

ALMEIDA, Luiz Gustavo de. Pseudomonas aeruginosa phoU mutant characterization.. 2019. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.