Bordetella bronchiseptica Diguanylate Cyclase BdcA Regulates Motility and Is Important for the Establishment of Respiratory Infection in Mice

Abstract

Pathogenesis of Bordetella spp., like that of a number of other pathogens, involves biofilm formation. Biofilms increase tolerance to biotic and abiotic factors and are proposed as reservoirs of microbes for transmission to other organs (trachea, lungs) or other hosts. Bis-(3′-5′)-cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) is a second messenger that regulates transition between biofilm and planktonic lifestyles. In Bordetella bronchiseptica , high c-di-GMP levels inhibit motility and favor biofilm formation. In the present work, we characterized a B. bronchiseptica diguanylate cyclase, BdcA, which regulates motility and biofilm formation and affects the ability of B. bronchiseptica to colonize the murine respiratory tract. These results provide us with a better understanding of how B. bronchiseptica can infect a host.