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5 The role of quorum-sensing in the virulence of Pseudomonas ...

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numbers with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> lungs and <strong>the</strong>n proceed to recover. In contrast, LESB58-<strong>in</strong>fected<br />

mice had <strong>the</strong>ir peak <strong>in</strong> symptom scores at 18 hours post-<strong>in</strong>fection and recovered<br />

beyond this timepo<strong>in</strong>t. This co<strong>in</strong>cided with a decrease <strong>in</strong> CFU recovered from <strong>the</strong><br />

lungs. This anomaly suggests that <strong>quorum</strong>-<strong>sens<strong>in</strong>g</strong> over-expression is not always an<br />

over-rid<strong>in</strong>g <strong>virulence</strong> determ<strong>in</strong>ant <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> acute respiratory <strong>in</strong>fection.<br />

In conclusion, <strong>quorum</strong>-<strong>sens<strong>in</strong>g</strong> over-expression is a reliable marker for <strong>in</strong>creased<br />

<strong>virulence</strong> <strong>of</strong> P. aerug<strong>in</strong>osa with<strong>in</strong> a mur<strong>in</strong>e acute respiratory model, but it is<br />

possible that <strong>the</strong> effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>quorum</strong>-<strong>sens<strong>in</strong>g</strong> can be over-ridden <strong>in</strong> some cases. <strong>The</strong><br />

<strong>quorum</strong>-<strong>sens<strong>in</strong>g</strong> over-express<strong>in</strong>g LES isolates, LES431 and LESB65 were more<br />

virulent than <strong>the</strong> deficient isolate, LES400. LESB58, an over-express<strong>in</strong>g isolate<br />

appears to an anomaly to this trend as it is less virulent than LES400. Fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />

analysis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> differences <strong>in</strong> <strong>virulence</strong> between <strong>the</strong> LES isolates are explored <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

follow<strong>in</strong>g subsection.<br />

5.3.2 <strong>The</strong> differences <strong>in</strong> <strong>virulence</strong> between <strong>the</strong> LES isolates<br />

All <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isolates used dur<strong>in</strong>g this project are natural mutants <strong>of</strong> P. aerug<strong>in</strong>osa<br />

LES. <strong>The</strong> literature shows that <strong>the</strong>re is a conserved genomic backbone between P.<br />

aerug<strong>in</strong>osa stra<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> approximately 90% (Wolfgang et al. 2003). As <strong>the</strong>se isolates<br />

are from <strong>the</strong> same stra<strong>in</strong>, <strong>the</strong> genome similarity should be closer to 100%. <strong>The</strong><br />

differences between isolates will be most likely attributed to an additive effect <strong>of</strong> a<br />

small number <strong>of</strong> gene mutations and changes <strong>in</strong> gene expression pr<strong>of</strong>ile. A research<br />

project that was targeted at determ<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> differences between <strong>the</strong> genomes <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>se isolates could determ<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> <strong>virulence</strong> factors that contribute to respiratory<br />

disease and p<strong>in</strong>po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>the</strong> differences <strong>in</strong> <strong>virulence</strong>. Genomic variation between LES<br />

isolates has been previously reported (Fo<strong>the</strong>rgill et al. 2007). <strong>The</strong> small genome<br />

differences are exemplified by Figure 5-14 show<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> PFGE pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>of</strong> LES400<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st that <strong>of</strong> LES431 and PAO1; <strong>the</strong>re is a two band difference between LES400<br />

and LES431.<br />

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