Affiliation:
1. State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
2. Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, China
3. Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases of MOA, Shanghai, China
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Copper plays a vital role in the host–pathogen interface, potentially making components of the bacterial copper response suitable targets for the development of innovative antimicrobial strategies. The anti-copper arsenal of intracellular pathogens has expanded as an adaptation to survive copper toxicity in order to escape intracellular killing by the host immune system. Herein, we employed transposon insertion sequencing to investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying the survival of
Edwardsiella piscicida
under copper stress. A novel transcriptional regulator, ETAE_2324 (named CorR), was identified to participate in the response to copper ions by controlling the expression of
copA,
the core component of cytoplasmic copper homeostasis. Furthermore, CorR regulated the expression of virulent determinant
eseB
, influencing the
in vivo
colonization of
E. piscicida
. Collectively, our results contribute to the comprehension of the underlying mechanism of the adaption of intracellular pathogens to copper stress during bacterial infections.
IMPORTANCE
Copper ions play a pivotal role in the interaction between bacteria and the host during infection. The host’s innate immune system employs copper ions for their bactericidal properties, thereby making bacterial copper tolerance a crucial determinant of virulence.
Edwardsiella piscicida
, a significant marine pathogen, has caused substantial losses in the global aquaculture industry. To comprehensively investigate how
E. piscicida
responds to copper stress, we utilized transposon insertion sequencing to explore genes associated with copper tolerance in culture media containing different concentrations of copper ions. A novel transcriptional regulator, CorR, was identified to respond to copper ions and regulates the expression of crucial components of copper homeostasis CopA, along with the essential virulence factor EseB. These findings offer valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms that govern bacterial copper tolerance and present novel perspectives for the development of vaccines and therapeutic strategies targeting
E. piscicida
.
Funder
MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China
MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China
China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Subject
Ecology,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,Food Science,Biotechnology