Combined transcriptomic and ChIPseq analyses of the Bordetella pertussis RisA regulon

Abstract

ABSTRACT The regulation of Bordetella pertussis virulence is mediated by the two-component system BvgA/S, which activates the transcription of virulence-activated genes ( vag s). In the avirulent phase, the vag s are not expressed, but instead, virulence-repressed genes ( vrg s) are expressed, under the control of another two-component system, RisA/K. Here, we combined transcriptomic and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIPseq) data to examine the RisA/K regulon. We performed RNAseq analyses of RisA-deficient and RisA-phosphoablative B. pertussis mutants cultivated in virulent and avirulent conditions. We confirmed that the expression of most vrg s is regulated by phosphorylated RisA. However, the expression of some, including those involved in flagellum biosynthesis and chemotaxis, requires RisA independently of phosphorylation. Many RisA-regulated genes encode proteins with regulatory functions, suggesting multiple RisA regulation cascades. By ChIPseq analyses, we identified 430 RisA-binding sites, 208 within promoter regions, 201 within open reading frames, and 21 in non-coding regions. RisA binding was demonstrated in the promoter regions of most vrg s and, surprisingly, of some vag s, as well as for other genes not identified as vag s or vrg s. Unexpectedly, many genes, including some vag s, like prn , brpL , bipA, and cyaA , contain a BvgA-binding site and a RisA-binding site, which increases the complexity of the RisAK/BvgAS network in B. pertussis virulence regulation. IMPORTANCE The expression of virulence-activated genes ( vag s) of Bordetella pertussis , the etiological agent of whooping cough, is under the transcriptional control of the two-component system BvgA/S, which allows the bacterium to switch between virulent and avirulent phases. In addition, the more recently identified two-component system RisA/K is required for the expression of B. pertussis genes, collectively named vrg s, that are repressed during the virulent phase but activated during the avirulent phase. We have characterized the RisA/K regulon by combined transcriptomic and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analyses. We identified more than 400 RisA-binding sites. Many of them are localized in promoter regions, especially vrg s, but some were found within open reading frames and in non-coding regions. Surprisingly, RisA-binding sites were also found in promoter regions of some vag s, illustrating the previously underappreciated complexity of virulence regulation in B. pertussis .