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Host-associated niche metabolism controls enteric infection through fine-tuning the regulation of type 3 secretion

Lookup NU author(s): Dr James ConnollyORCiD

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Abstract

© 2018, The Author(s). Niche-adaptation of a bacterial pathogen hinges on the ability to recognize the complexity of signals from the environment and integrate that information with the regulation of genes critical for infection. Here we report the transcriptome of the attaching and effacing pathogen Citrobacter rodentium during infection of its natural murine host. Pathogen gene expression in vivo was heavily biased towards the virulence factor repertoire and was found to be co-ordinated uniquely in response to the host. Concordantly, we identified the host-specific induction of a metabolic pathway that overlapped with the regulation of virulence. The essential type 3 secretion system and an associated suite of distinct effectors were found to be modulated co-ordinately through a unique mechanism involving metabolism of microbiota-derived 1,2-propanediol, which dictated the ability to colonize the host effectively. This study provides novel insights into how host-specific metabolic adaptation acts as a cue to fine-tune virulence.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Connolly JPR, Slater SL, O'Boyle N, Goldstone RJ, Crepin VF, Ruano-Gallego D, Herzyk P, Smith DGE, Douce GR, Frankel G, Roe AJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Nature Communications

Year: 2018

Volume: 9

Issue: 1

Online publication date: 10/10/2018

Acceptance date: 14/09/2018

Date deposited: 20/09/2019

ISSN (electronic): 2041-1723

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group

URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06701-4

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06701-4

PubMed id: 30305622

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