The SOS Response Master Regulator LexA Is Associated with Sporulation, Motility and Biofilm Formation in Clostridium difficile

Walter, Beata Maria; Cartman, Stephen T.; Minton, Nigel P.; Butala, Matej; Rupnik, Maja

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144763

Cited by 50 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…For instance, a mutation in the lexA gene led to reduced flagellar motility and increased biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa [66], as well as in C . difficile [31]. For this reason, the lexA gene seems an interesting target to further study the regulation of biofilm formation in C .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biofilm Formation by Clostridium ljungdahlii Is Induced by Sodium Chloride Stress: Experimental Evaluation and Transcriptome Analysis

et al. 2017

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The acetogen Clostridium ljungdahlii is capable of syngas fermentation and microbial electrosynthesis. Biofilm formation could benefit both these applications, but was not yet reported for C. ljungdahlii. Biofilm formation does not occur under standard growth conditions, but attachment or aggregation could be induced by different stresses. The strongest biofilm formation was observed with the addition of sodium chloride. After 3 days of incubation, the biomass volume attached to a plastic surface was 20 times higher with than without the addition of 200 mM NaCl to the medium. The addition of NaCl also resulted in biofilm formation on glass, graphite and glassy carbon, the latter two being often used electrode materials for microbial electrosynthesis. Biofilms were composed of extracellular proteins, polysaccharides, as well as DNA, while pilus-like appendages were observed with, but not without, the addition of NaCl. A transcriptome analysis comparing planktonic (no NaCl) and biofilm (NaCl addition) cells showed that C. ljungdahlii coped with the salt stress by the upregulation of the general stress response, Na+ export and osmoprotectant accumulation. A potential role for poly-N-acetylglucosamines and D-alanine in biofilm formation was found. Flagellar motility was downregulated, while putative type IV pili biosynthesis genes were not expressed. Moreover, the gene expression analysis suggested the involvement of the transcriptional regulators LexA, Spo0A and CcpA in stress response and biofilm formation. This study showed that NaCl addition might be a valuable strategy to induce biofilm formation by C. ljungdahlii, which can improve the efficacy of syngas fermentation and microbial electrosynthesis applications.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biofilm Formation by Clostridium ljungdahlii Is Induced by Sodium Chloride Stress: Experimental Evaluation and Transcriptome Analysis

et al. 2017

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“…32–34 However, upon severe DNA damage, bacteria may have to make a “fight or flight” decision; either enforce the biofilm for protection or degrade the biofilm in order to escape. This decision may vary depending on the species and situation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacillus subtilis utilizes the DNA damage response to manage multicellular development

Gozzi

Ching

Paruthiyil

et al. 2017

npj Biofilms Microbiomes

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Bacteria switch between free-living and a multicellular state, known as biofilms, in response to cellular and environmental cues. It is important to understand how these cues influence biofilm development as biofilms are not only ubiquitous in nature but are also causative agents of infectious diseases. It is often believed that any stress triggers biofilm formation as a means of bacterial protection. In this study, we propose a new mechanism for how cellular and environmental DNA damage may influence biofilm formation. We demonstrate that Bacillus subtilis prevents biofilm formation and cell differentiation when stressed by oxidative DNA damage. We show that during B. subtilis biofilm development, a subpopulation of cells accumulates reactive oxygen species, which triggers the DNA damage response. Surprisingly, DNA damage response induction shuts off matrix genes whose products permit individual cells to stick together within a biofilm. We further revealed that DDRON cells and matrix producers are mutually exclusive and spatially separated within the biofilm, and that a developmental checkpoint protein, Sda, mediates the exclusiveness. We believe this represents an alternative survival strategy, ultimately allowing cells to escape the multicellular community when in danger.

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“…The same authors also showed that LexA controls the expression of toxin genes, metronidazole resistance, biofilm production, and sporulation (193). The relationship between sporulation and the SOS system was also found in Bacillus subtilis, through the sda gene (193). Although this gene is absent in C. difficile (194), Walter and colleagues studied how LexA interacted in vitro with the promoter region of another gene associated with sporulation, sspB (194).…”

Section: Sos Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, the features of the SOS response have been studied in C. difficile, and the authors reached the conclusion that the SOS system is related to C. difficile sporulation and that the induction of the SOS system can stimulate biofilm production in this pathogen (193). The same authors also showed that LexA controls the expression of toxin genes, metronidazole resistance, biofilm production, and sporulation (193). The relationship between sporulation and the SOS system was also found in Bacillus subtilis, through the sda gene (193).…”

Section: Sos Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms of Bacterial Tolerance and Persistence in the Gastrointestinal and Respiratory Environments

et al. 2018

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SUMMARYPathogens that infect the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts are subjected to intense pressure due to the environmental conditions of the surroundings. This pressure has led to the development of mechanisms of bacterial tolerance or persistence which enable microorganisms to survive in these locations. In this review, we analyze the general stress response (RpoS mediated), reactive oxygen species (ROS) tolerance, energy metabolism, drug efflux pumps, SOS response, quorum sensing (QS) bacterial communication, (p)ppGpp signaling, and toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems of pathogens, such as , spp., spp., spp., , spp., spp., spp., and , all of which inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. The following respiratory tract pathogens are also considered:, ,, , and Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms regulating the bacterial tolerance and persistence phenotypes is essential in the fight against multiresistant pathogens, as it will enable the identification of new targets for developing innovative anti-infective treatments.

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The SOS Response Master Regulator LexA Is Associated with Sporulation, Motility and Biofilm Formation in Clostridium difficile

Cited by 50 publications

References 55 publications

Biofilm Formation by Clostridium ljungdahlii Is Induced by Sodium Chloride Stress: Experimental Evaluation and Transcriptome Analysis

Biofilm Formation by Clostridium ljungdahlii Is Induced by Sodium Chloride Stress: Experimental Evaluation and Transcriptome Analysis

Bacillus subtilis utilizes the DNA damage response to manage multicellular development

Mechanisms of Bacterial Tolerance and Persistence in the Gastrointestinal and Respiratory Environments

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