Bacteriology
Identification of virulence-related functions of transcription factor OmpR in Vibrio vulnificus
Xia Wenhao, Ren Yuxuan, Xu Yulu, Hu Weilin
Published 2022-10-31
Cite as Chin J Microbiol Immunol, 2022, 42(10): 784-790. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112309-20220523-00175
Abstract
ObjectiveTo study the virulence-related functions and the pathogenic molecular mechanism of the transcription factor OmpR in Vibrio vulnificus.
MethodsThe Vibrio vulnificus ompR mutant (ΔompR) strain was constructed using a markerless gene deletion system. Changes in the tolerance to osmotic pressure, swarming mobility and biofilm synthesis were detected by growth curve, swimming assay and crystal violet assay, respectively. Colony counting methods were used to analyze the cytoadherence of the ΔompR strain. The cytotoxicity of the ΔompR strain was measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) releasing test. Real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the changes in the expression of target genes including ompN, ompU, ompA and hcp2 at mRNA level in the ΔompR.
ResultsThe ΔompR strain was constructed successfully. Compared with the wild-type strain, the mutant strain showed decreased tolerance to high osmotic pressure, suppressed capability of biofilm formation and reduced cytoadherence and cytotoxicity, whereas no significant difference in motility was detected. The expression of ompN gene at mRNA level in the ΔompR strain was down-regulated (P<0.05), while the expression of other target genes showed no significant changes.
ConclusionsThe transcription factor OmpR regulated the tolerance to high osmotic pressure, biofilm formation, cytoadherence and cytotoxicity in Vibrio vulnificus.
Key words:
Vibrio vulnificus; OmpR; Function identification
Contributor Information
Xia Wenhao
National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310052, China
Department of Medical Microbiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
Ren Yuxuan
National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310052, China
Department of Medical Microbiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
Xu Yulu
National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310052, China
Department of Medical Microbiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
Hu Weilin
National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310052, China
Department of Medical Microbiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
