RNA regulation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus type III secretion system gene expression in response to the environmental conditions

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07478
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 49050:Bacteriology-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Matsuda Shigeaki 大阪大学, 微生物病研究所, 准教授 (30506499)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 腸炎ビブリオ / Ⅲ型分泌装置 / 遺伝子発現制御

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the leading cause of seafood-borne gastroenteritis worldwide. It inhabits the marine environment, therefore, during infection, the gene expression of the type III secretion systems (T3SSs), the major virulence factors of this organism, is appropriately regulated in adaptation to the host intestinal environment. In this study, we found the multifaceted layers of the T3SS gene expression regulation and the contribution of RNA regulation to the T3SS gene expression. We also elucidated the temperature- and salinity-dependent on/off mechanism of the T3SS gene expression, in which H-NS is underlying. These findings would contribute to a better understanding of the regulatory network of T3SS gene expression in V. parahaemolyticus.

Free Research Field

細菌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

病原細菌は感染を成立させるために様々な病原因子を産生するが、自身の環境に合わせてその適切な発現制御が求められる。本研究は主要な食中毒菌である腸炎ビブリオの病原因子であるⅢ型分泌装置の発現制御について、従来の転写制御因子による転写調節応答からの理解に加えてRNA制御の寄与などを明らかにしたことで、T3SS発現制御の仕組みの統合的な理解を進展させ、腸炎ビブリオの病原性発揮メカニズムの全容解明に資するものである。