Literature DB >> 22919581

Burkholderia cenocepacia differential gene expression during host-pathogen interactions and adaptation to the host environment.

Eoin P O'Grady1, Pamela A Sokol.   

Abstract

Members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) are important in medical, biotechnological, and agricultural disciplines. These bacteria naturally occur in soil and water environments and have adapted to survive in association with plants and animals including humans. All Bcc species are opportunistic pathogens including Burkholderia cenocepacia that causes infections in cystic fibrosis and chronic granulomatous disease patients. The adaptation of B. cenocepacia to the host environment was assessed in a rat chronic respiratory infection model and compared to that of high cell-density in vitro grown cultures using transcriptomics. The distribution of genes differentially expressed on chromosomes 1, 2, and 3 was relatively proportional to the size of each genomic element, whereas the proportion of plasmid-encoded genes differentially expressed was much higher relative to its size and most genes were induced in vivo. The majority of genes encoding known virulence factors, components of types II and III secretion systems and chromosome 2-encoded type IV secretion system were similarly expressed between in vitro and in vivo environments. Lower expression in vivo was detected for genes encoding N-acyl-homoserine lactone synthase CepI, orphan LuxR homolog CepR2, zinc metalloproteases ZmpA and ZmpB, LysR-type transcriptional regulator ShvR, nematocidal protein AidA, and genes associated with flagellar motility, Flp type pilus formation, and type VI secretion. Plasmid-encoded type IV secretion genes were markedly induced in vivo. Additional genes induced in vivo included genes predicted to be involved in osmotic stress adaptation or intracellular survival, metal ion, and nutrient transport, as well as those encoding outer membrane proteins. Genes identified in this study are potentially important for virulence during host-pathogen interactions and may be associated with survival and adaptation to the host environment during chronic lung infections.

Entities:  

Keywords:  Burkholderia cenocepacia; Burkholderia cepacia complex; in vitro; in vivo; lung infection; microarray; rat chronic respiratory infection model

Mesh:

Substances:

Year:  2011        PMID: 22919581      PMCID: PMC3417382          DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2011.00015

Source DB:  PubMed          Journal:  Front Cell Infect Microbiol        ISSN: 2235-2988            Impact factor:   5.293


Introduction

Members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) are commonly found in soil and aquatic environments (LiPuma, 2010; Loutet and Valvano, 2010). Seventeen Bcc species have been identified, all of which have the potential to be opportunistic pathogens, although Burkholderia cenocepacia is the most clinically significant. B. cenocepacia causes lung infections resulting in significantly decreased survival rates in cystic fibrosis and chronic granulomatous disease patients (Mahenthiralingam et al., 2005). The organism is intrinsically multidrug resistant and can persist in the lungs of CF patients for many years (Mahenthiralingam et al., 2008). In some patients, infection with B. cenocepacia can progress to what is termed “cepacia syndrome.” Cepacia syndrome is associated with a rapid deterioration in lung function associated with necrotizing pneumonia, bacteremia and sepsis that can result in death (Isles et al., 1984). Many virulence factors have been identified in B. cenocepacia including extracellular enzymes, toxins, secretions systems, iron acquisition systems, cell–cell communication (quorum sensing, QS) systems, regulatory proteins as well as genes contributing to motility, biofilm formation, adhesion, cell invasion, intracellular survival, and bacterial protection from host factors (for review see Loutet and Valvano, 2010). Several infection models have been employed to identify and characterize the contribution of numerous genes to pathogenesis (Uehlinger et al., 2009). B. cenocepacia exhibits virulence against Caenorhabditis elegans (Kothe et al., 2003), Galleria mellonella (Seed and Dennis, 2008), Acanthamoeba (Marolda et al., 1999), Dictyostelium discoideum (Aubert et al., 2008), Danio rerio (Vergunst et al., 2010), Drosophila melanogaster (Castonguay-Vanier et al., 2010), and alfalfa seedlings (Bernier et al., 2003). Chronic respiratory infection models have been developed in mice and rats to investigate pathogenesis of Bcc species. The rat chronic respiratory infection model described by Cash et al. (1979) involves transtracheal delivery of agar-embedded bacteria directly into the lung allowing for bacterial persistence and pathology to be measured. This chronic infection model has been used to identify Bcc species and bacterial strains that persisted or caused lung pathology from less virulent strains such as mutants in ornibactin biosynthesis, uptake and utilization, zinc metalloproteases, and genes encoding other enzymes, transcriptional regulators, and lipopolysaccharide (Sokol et al., 1999, 2000; Bernier et al., 2003, 2008; Corbett et al., 2003; Baldwin et al., 2004; Bernier and Sokol, 2005; Kooi et al., 2006; Loutet et al., 2006; Flannagan et al., 2007). These studies have revealed the importance of individual genes or systems to virulence but have not assessed bacterial gene expression during infection. Transcriptional profiling using custom B. cenocepacia microarrays and RNA sequencing technology have enabled in vitro gene expression studies to be performed at a genome level. Transcriptional profiling has been used to examine gene expression in different environmental conditions such as those mimicking CF sputum or soil, or in response to antimicrobials (Drevinek et al., 2008; Yoder-Himes et al., 2009, 2010; Peeters et al., 2010; Bazzini et al., 2011; Coenye et al., 2011; Sass et al., 2011). In addition to further characterizing genes previously known to be important in virulence, these studies have also identified many genes with potential importance in virulence. Our current understanding of B. cenocepacia physiology, pathogenesis, and survival is incomplete since the B. cenocepacia genome, which is over 8 Mb, contains genes encoding many uncharacterized proteins. Identifying such proteins and determining their functional significance will improve our abilities to target such proteins for therapeutic purposes. To date, no studies have profiled B. cenocepacia gene expression at the whole genome level directly from infected cells/tissues or during infection of a susceptible host. To further understand B. cenocepacia adaptation to the host environment, we have used microarrays to examine the B. cenocepacia gene expression signature in the rat chronic respiratory infection model and compared this to high cell-density laboratory-grown cultures.

Materials and Methods

Bacterial strains and growth conditions for in vitro samples

Burkholderia cenocepacia K56-2 is a CF isolate that belongs to the ET12 lineage (RAPD type 2) and is clonally related to the sequenced strain J2315 (Mahenthiralingam et al., 2000; Baldwin et al., 2004; Holden et al., 2009). To generate in vitro samples, K56-2 cultures were grown at 37°C, in 10 ml Miller’s Luria broth (LB; Invitrogen, Burlington, ON, Canada) with shaking in 125 ml Erlenmeyer flasks to stationary phase (16 h) as previously described (O’Grady et al., 2009). Bacterial growth was assessed by determining the optical density (OD) at 600 nm.

Animal studies

Animal infections were performed using the rat agar bead respiratory infection model (Cash et al., 1979). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (150–180 g; Charles River, QC, Canada) were inoculated transtracheally with approximately 107 CFU of K56-2. At 3 days postinfection, infected lungs were aseptically removed, stored at 4°C overnight in 15 ml of RNA later (Ambion, Streetsville, ON, Canada), and subsequently maintained at −70°C to prevent RNA degradation. Animal experiments were conducted according to the guidelines of the Canadian Council of Animal Care for the care and use of experimental animals under protocol M08089 approved by the University of Calgary Animal Care Committee.

RNA manipulations

Total RNA from in vitro samples was prepared as previously described (O’Grady et al., 2009) using a RiboPure bacterial RNA isolation kit according to manufacturer’s instructions (Ambion). For in vivo samples, total RNA from infected lungs was isolated using Tri Reagent (Invitrogen) as recommended by the manufacturer. Total RNA samples were enriched for bacterial RNA using a MicrobEnrich kit (Ambion) and purified using a MegaClear kit (Ambion). Enriched and purified bacterial RNA was depleted of 16S and 23S rRNAs using a MicrobExpress kit (Ambion) to isolate mRNA according to manufacturer’s instructions to provide enhanced sensitivity for microarray experiments. DNase treatment was performed on all RNA samples using DNA-Free (Ambion), and samples were confirmed by PCR using Taq polymerase (Invitrogen) to be free of DNA prior to cDNA synthesis.

Microarray analysis

In vitro-derived total RNA and in vivo-derived mRNA samples were indirectly labeled with the CyScribe Post-Labelling Kit (GE Healthcare) and cDNA synthesis performed as described by Sass et al. (2011) with the following modifications. Three independent RNA samples were used for in vitro samples and two mRNA samples (each consisting of an mRNA pool isolated from two infected rats to reduce variability between animals) were used for in vivo samples. Approximately 10 μg total RNA was labeled for each in vitro sample and 8 μg mRNA was labeled for each in vivo sample. The reference pool for microarray experiments consisted of B. cenocepacia J2315 genomic DNA isolated and labeled as described (Sass et al., 2011). The B. cenocepacia J2315 custom microarray, with each probe printed four times using the Agilent Sure Print 4 × 44 microarray platform, was used (Drevinek et al., 2008; Sass et al., 2011). Approximately 700–1000 ng labeled cDNA from the in vitro and in vivo samples and 55 ng labeled control genomic DNA was used per microarray. Hybridization, washing, and scanning were performed as described using the Two Color Microarray Based Gene Expression Analysis Protocol (Agilent) and the data analyzed using GeneSpring GX version 7.3.1. All labeling, hybridization, and scanning were performed by the Mahenthiralingam Laboratory, Cardiff University, Wales. Initial data were preprocessed by employing the enhanced Agilent FE import method. Probes specific to J2315 were filtered on a 1.5-fold change in expression between conditions to identify clusters of differentially regulated genes related to specific functions or potentially organized in operons. To eliminate potential differences in RNA between samples, data were normalized to control samples and mean log2 ratios (in vivo/in vitro) calculated from replicates were used and reported as expression ratios. Mean log2 ratios were also filtered on twofold changes in expression between in vivo and in vitro conditions to identify more stringently differentially regulated genes. The in vitro- or in vivo-derived K56-2 cDNA produced a signal that was detected by at least 94% of the probes on the microarray. Operon prediction and gene annotation or predicted protein function were retrieved from the B. cenocepacia J2315 genome at http://www.burkholderia.com (Winsor et al., 2008) or http://www.microbesonline.org (Dehal et al., 2009). The entire microarray data set has been deposited in the Array Express database http://www.ebi.ac.uk/arrayexpress under accession number E-MEXP-3367.

Quantitative RT-PCR

RNA for quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was derived independently of that used for microarray analysis. Briefly, total RNA was isolated from three independent in vitro cultures prepared as described above. In a separate animal experiment to that used to prepare the microarray samples, enriched and purified total RNA was isolated as described above from three infected rats yielding three independent in vivo samples. Oligonucleotide primers (Table 1) were designed with Primer3 (Rozen and Skaletsky, 2000) and were synthesized by the University of Calgary Core DNA Services (Calgary, AB, Canada). BCAL0421 (gyrB) encoding DNA gyrase subunit B, previously used as a housekeeping gene in the Bcc multilocus sequence typing scheme (Baldwin et al., 2005) was used as a control as described previously (Peeters et al., 2010). Expression of gyrB was not significantly altered according to microarray analysis (data not shown). RT-PCR was performed using an iScript Select cDNA synthesis kit (Bio-Rad, Mississauga, ON, Canada). Quantification and melting curve analyses were performed with SsoFast Evagreen supermix with low ROX on an iCycler (Bio-Rad) according to manufacturer’s instructions. For each of the three in vitro and in vivo cDNA samples, qRT-PCRs were performed in triplicate, normalized to the control gene, gyrB. Data were calculated as previously described (Schmittgen and Livak, 2008) and represented as fold change of the in vivo samples relative to the in vitro samples.
Table 1

Oligonucleotide primers used in this study for qRT-PCR.

PrimerSequence (5′–3′)Product size (bp)Reference
L0114fliCRTfor1GCGTGTCGATGATTCAAACGGCAT159O’Grady et al. (2009)
L0114fliCRTrev1TCACTTCCTGGATCTGCTGCGAAA
L0343hcpRTfor1ACGTTCTCGCTGAAGTACGC120This study
L0343hcpRTrev1CGCGTAGGTCTTGTCGTTCT
L1525qRTfor1AGCAATCATCAAGCGTTTCC87This study
L1525qRTrev1AGAGCGACTGCGATAAGTCC
M2194mmsAqRTfor1ATGACGGTCTACACGCATGA164This study
M2194mmsAqRTrev1TCGATCTCGCTCTGGAACTT
M2702prpCqRTfor1GAAATCCAGAGCCGCTACAG83This study
M2702prpCqRTrev1CCGATCACCACTTCCTTGTT
pBCA025traFqRTfor1TCGACCTTTGCTGATACGTG196This study
pBCA025traFqRTrev1GGCAGTAAGGGCAGTCAGAG
pBCA045traKqRTfor1CGAGCCATCAAGAAGGTTGT157This study
pBCA045traKqRTrev1ACTGGTAGGTAGCGCCTTGA
pBCA053qRTfor1GCAAAGGCCGACACATCTAT90This study
pBCA053qRTrev1TCTACGGGATACCGAACAGC
L0421gyrBqRTfor1GTTCCACTGCATCGCGACTT109Peeters et al. (2010)
L0421gyrBqRTrev1GGGCTTCGTCGAATTCATCA
Oligonucleotide primers used in this study for qRT-PCR.

Results

Genes on all genomic elements are induced in response to the host environment

Global gene expression profiles were generated using microarrays from B. cenocepacia cultures recovered from rat lungs 3 days postinfection using a chronic respiratory infection model and compared to those of B. cenocepacia cultures grown to high cell-density in vitro. Using a fold change cut off of ≥1.5, we identified 366 genes that were induced in vitro and 304 genes that were induced in vivo (Table 2). The B. cenocepacia J2315 genome is comprised of four genetic elements: chromosome 1, 3.87 Mb; chromosome 2, 3.22 Mb; chromosome 3, 0.88 Mb; and a plasmid, 0.09 Mb (Holden et al., 2009). Differential expression was observed for genes present on the three chromosomes as well as the plasmid. The number of genes induced in vitro or induced in vivo on each genomic element and the percentage of the total number of genes induced in vitro or in vivo located on each genomic element is shown in Table 2. For in vitro induced genes, the distribution of changes across the genome was relatively proportional to the size of each genomic element, i.e., a decreasing percentage of genes showed altered expression from chromosomes 1 through 3 and to the plasmid. Interestingly, more than 20% of genes induced in vivo were plasmid genes indicating this group of genes was highly overrepresented (Table 2). Consistent with this observation, for chromosomes 1 through 3, the percentage of genes on each replicon induced in vivo was similar and ranged from 2.9 to 4.8%, in marked contrast to the plasmid where 66% of plasmid-encoded genes were induced in vivo (Table 2).
Table 2

Microarray analysis of .

Genomic element
Total
Chr 1aChr 2Chr 3Plasmid
Number of genes induced in vitro182b139441366
Number of genes induced in vivo1041023662304
Percentage of total genes induced in vitro (%)49.7c38.012.00.3100
Percentage of total genes induced in vivo (%)34.233.611.820.4100
Percentage of genes on each replicon induced in vitro (%)5.1c4.96.01.15.1d
Percentage of genes on each replicon induced in vivo (%)2.93.64.866.04.2

.

.

Microarray analysis of . . .

A majority of characterized virulence genes are similarly expressed between in vitro and in vivo environments

At least 28 genes have been characterized in B. cenocepacia that are known to be important for virulence and belong to functional groups including stress resistance, extracellular enzymes or secreted toxins, QS, transcriptional regulation, as well as genes involved in heme uptake, iron acquisition, and the synthesis of structural components such as lipopolysaccharide, porins, and lectins (Loutet and Valvano, 2010). Analysis of these virulence genes showed that expression of the majority of these genes was similar between in vitro and in vivo conditions (Figure 1). The expression of cepI, encoding an N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) synthase, was somewhat lower in vivo and this observation was consistent with lower expression of CepIR-regulated genes including those encoding extracellular zinc metalloproteases ZmpA and ZmpB, the orphan LuxR homolog CepR2 and the LysR-type transcriptional regulator ShvR (Figure 1). Two other genes known to be influenced by CepIR such as the major catalase/peroxidase encoded by katB and an acyl-CoA dehydrogenase encoded by BCAS0208 were similarly expressed in the in vitro and in vivo environments (Figure 1). The BCAS0208 mutant caused less lung pathology than wild type in the rat chronic respiratory infection model (Subramoni et al., 2011).
Figure 1

. Expression ratio of RNA recovered from rat lungs (in vivo) relative to RNA isolated from in vitro grown cultures as determined by microarray analysis. The “BCA” designation has been removed from names of genes encoded on chromosomes 1, 2, and 3 for image clarity.

. Expression ratio of RNA recovered from rat lungs (in vivo) relative to RNA isolated from in vitro grown cultures as determined by microarray analysis. The “BCA” designation has been removed from names of genes encoded on chromosomes 1, 2, and 3 for image clarity. Limited iron availability in mammals is circumvented by infectious pathogens by the production of iron binding and transport complexes such as heme binding proteins and siderophores. Although genes involved in heme transport (huvA and hmuS) were not differentially expressed between in vivo and in vitro environments (Figure 1), huvA mutants exhibited survival defects in the rat chronic respiratory infection model (Hunt et al., 2004). Genes involved in ornibactin biosynthesis and transport were also expressed at similar levels in both environments, although ornibactin mediated iron uptake is required for persistence in the rat chronic respiratory infection model (Visser et al., 2004). Among the characterized virulence genes, the lowest in vivo expression ratio (0.04) was observed for BCAS0293 (aidA; Figure 1). The aidA gene encodes a protein that significantly contributes to virulence against C. elegans (Huber et al., 2004), but an aidA mutation had no effect on virulence in the rat chronic respiratory infection model (Uehlinger et al., 2009).

Secretion systems are selectively regulated between in vitro and in vivo environments

Burkholderia cenocepacia has one type II, type III, and type VI protein secretion systems (T2SS, T3SS, and T6SS, respectively) that contribute to pathogenesis, and two type IV secretion systems (T4SS), one of which has been shown to be important in virulence. Expression of genes encoding components of each of these systems varied between in vitro and in vivo environments. The T2SS is composed at least 12 ORFs on three gsp operons and is involved in secretion of extracellular zinc metalloproteases ZmpA, ZmpB, and other extracellular proteins that have enzymatic activity such as phospholipase C, hemolysin, lipase, and polygalacturonase (Fehlner-Gardiner et al., 2002; Kothe et al., 2003; Gingues et al., 2005; Somvanshi et al., 2010). Expression of the three gsp operons encoding the T2SS was similar between in vitro and in vivo conditions (Figure 2A). Apart from the lower expression of zmpA and zmpB in vivo (Figure 1), expression of other genes encoding enzymes secreted by the T2SS described above was not different between in vitro and in vivo conditions (data not shown). The B. cenocepacia T3SS genes are organized in two operons on chromosome 2 thought to be responsible for secretion of effector proteins that have yet to be identified (Tomich et al., 2003; Glendinning et al., 2004). Mutation of bcscN, encoding an ATP-binding protein, reduced bacterial survival, and lung inflammation in a mouse agar bead infection model (Tomich et al., 2003). In our study, the mean expression ratio of genes in the bcscQ and bcscV operons was 1.03 and 0.99, respectively, in the in vivo compared to in vitro conditions (Figure 2B) indicating that there was no difference in expression.
Figure 2

. Expression ratio of RNA recovered from rat lungs (in vivo) relative to RNA isolated from in vitro grown cultures as determined by microarray analysis. (A) T2SS, (B) T3SS, (C) T4SS, (D) T6SS. Inset in (C) is chromosome 2-encoded T4SS genes with expanded y-axis. The “BCA” designation has been removed from names of genes encoded on chromosomes 1, 2, and 3 for image clarity. Putative operons are indicated by arrows.

. Expression ratio of RNA recovered from rat lungs (in vivo) relative to RNA isolated from in vitro grown cultures as determined by microarray analysis. (A) T2SS, (B) T3SS, (C) T4SS, (D) T6SS. Inset in (C) is chromosome 2-encoded T4SS genes with expanded y-axis. The “BCA” designation has been removed from names of genes encoded on chromosomes 1, 2, and 3 for image clarity. Putative operons are indicated by arrows. Two gene clusters located on chromosome 2 and the plasmid have been identified to encode components of T4SS. Interestingly, the plasmid-encoded T4SS was induced in vivo. The bc-VirB/D4 T4SS on chromosome 2 shares homology with the Agrobacterium tumefaciens T4SS and is involved in plasmid mobilization (Engledow et al., 2004). The second T4SS gene cluster exists on a 92.7-kb plasmid that is found in relatively few B. cenocepacia strains including J2315 and K56-2 (Engledow et al., 2004) but not AU1054 or MCO-3 (Winsor et al., 2008). This plasmid-encoded T4SS contributes to the plant tissue watersoaking (ptw) phenotype and disease symptoms in onion tissue (Engledow et al., 2004) and increased survival of B. cenocepacia in macrophages and airway epithelial cells (Sajjan et al., 2008). Expression of genes on the chromosome 2-encoded T4SS were similar in the in vitro and in vivo conditions (Figure 2C). In contrast, several genes that are part of the plasmid-encoded T4SS were markedly induced in vivo at levels ranging from 3- to 46.1-fold (Figure 2C). Higher in vivo expression of pBCA025 encoding the putative conjugative transfer protein TraF and pBCA045 encoding the putative exported protein TraK was confirmed using qRT-PCR (Table 3). These data indicated differential regulation of chromosome 2- and plasmid-encoded T4SS between in vitro and in vivo conditions.
Table 3

Microarray and qRT-PCR analysis of selected genes showing differential expression from .

GeneAnnotation or predicted functionaFold changeb
microarrayqRT-PCR
BCAL0114fliC, type II flagellin protein−8.29−28.00
BCAL0343Hcp, hemolysin-coregulated protein−1.86−7.82
BCAL1525Flp type pilus subunit−11.75−12.95
BCAM2194mmsA, methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase2.261.74
BCAM2702prpC, 2-methylcitrate synthase5.888.29
pBCA025traF, putative conjugative transfer protein7.10344.86
pBCA045traK, putative exported protein12.4333.26
pBCA053Putative extracellular solute-binding protein480.7010.44

.

.

Microarray and qRT-PCR analysis of selected genes showing differential expression from . . . The B. cenocepacia T6SS comprises 16 genes organized in three adjacent operons on chromosome 1. The T6SS contributes to survival of B. cenocepacia in the rat chronic respiratory infection model (Hunt et al., 2004) and influences infection of macrophages (Aubert et al., 2008). Expression of BCAL0339 and BCAL0346 was lower in B. cenocepacia growing in medium supplemented with CF sputum compared to control cultures (Drevinek et al., 2008). In our study, expression of six T6SS genes was lower in vivo compared to in vitro conditions. The BCAL0340–0348 operon exhibited the lowest expression in vivo (0.66) compared to the other two T6SS operons (Figure 2D). The BCAL0340 operon includes genes encoding the ClpV-like chaperone (BCAL0347) and the hemolysin-coregulated protein (Hcp) (BCAL0343; Aubert et al., 2008). The ClpV-like chaperone is required for secretion of Hcp in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Mougous et al., 2006). The hcp gene showed the lowest in vivo expression (0.54) of any T6SS gene and the low hcp expression in vivo was confirmed using qRT-PCR (Figure 2D; Table 3).

Motility and Flp type pilus-encoding genes are induced in vitro

Bacterial motility, attachment, and invasion via flagellar- and pilus-encoding genes are known to be important in virulence (Tomich et al., 2002; Urban et al., 2004). Expression of 24 flagellar-associated genes from eight different operons distributed across chromosome 1 was lower in vivo, with the lowest in vivo/in vitro expression ratio (0.23) observed for fliC, encoding type II flagellin (Figure 3A). Lower expresssion of fliC in vivo compared to in vitro conditions was independently confirmed using qRT-PCR (Table 3).
Figure 3

. Expression ratio of RNA recovered from rat lungs (in vivo) relative to RNA isolated from in vitro grown cultures as determined by microarray analysis. (A) Flagellar-associated genes, (B) Flp type pilus genes. The “BCA” designation has been removed from names of genes encoded on chromosomes 1, 2, and 3 for image clarity. Putative operons are indicated by arrows.

. Expression ratio of RNA recovered from rat lungs (in vivo) relative to RNA isolated from in vitro grown cultures as determined by microarray analysis. (A) Flagellar-associated genes, (B) Flp type pilus genes. The “BCA” designation has been removed from names of genes encoded on chromosomes 1, 2, and 3 for image clarity. Putative operons are indicated by arrows. The genomic locus from BCAL1520–1537 encodes components of a subclass of type IVb prepilins, called a Flp type pilus, that is similar to the flp–tad–rcp locus that is involved in adherence and biofilm formation in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Kachlany et al., 2001; Inoue et al., 2003) and aggregation and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa (de Bentzmann et al., 2006). Ten genes encoding components of the chromosome 1-encoded Flp type pilus had lower in vivo expression. The lowest expression was observed for BCAL1525 encoding a Flp type pilus subunit and this trend was confirmed using qRT-PCR (Figure 3B; Table 3).

Identification of genes potentially important in the host environment

Approximately 300 genes were identified with at least a 1.5-fold change increase in expression in vivo compared to in vitro grown cultures (Table A1 in Appendix). Selected genes and their fold change differences are shown in Table 4. Many of these genes have not been previously characterized in B. cenocepacia. The most common putative functions of these in vivo induced genes were related to adaptation to stress or a host environment, metabolism, or nutrient acquisition (Table 4).
Table A1

.

GeneAnnotation or predicted functionaFold changeb
BCAL0123Putative glycosyltransferase2.17
BCAL0194Putative oxidoreductase1.62
BCAL0206APutative outer membrane protein2.36
BCAL0226DNA-directed RNA polymerase beta chain1.73
BCAL0227DNA-directed RNA polymerase beta’ chain1.56
BCAL0269Putative oxidoreductase1.59
BCAL0278Putative type IV pilus secretin1.58
BCAL0290Glutamate synthase small subunit1.78
BCAL02922′,5′ RNA ligase family protein1.66
BCAL0305Putative exported protein2.21
BCAL0366Nitroreductase family protein1.60
BCAL0403Putative outer membrane-bound lytic murein1.54
BCAL0446Putative aminotransferase2.86
BCAL0580Putative chromate transport protein1.62
BCAL0623Putative exported protein1.72
BCAL0624Putative outer membrane porin protein precursor1.62
BCAL0658Allophanate hydrolase subunit 21.56
BCAL0668Serine peptidase, family S9 unassigned1.52
BCAL0704d-alanyl-d-alanine carboxypeptidase1.64
BCAL0804Putative membrane protein1.53
BCAL1103Putative OsmB-like lipoprotein2.13
BCAL1121Hypothetical protein1.65
BCAL12122-Oxoisovalerate dehydrogenase alpha subunit3.02
BCAL12132-Oxoisovalerate dehydrogenase beta subunit2.91
BCAL1214Lipoamide acyltransferase component of3.68
BCAL1215Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase2.22
BCAL1226Major facilitator superfamily protein1.52
BCAL1279Putative exported protein1.64
BCAL1468Putative electron transport protein1.51
BCAL1499Putative exported protein1.79
BCAL1539Putative exported protein2.30
BCAL1657Putative ribose transport system1.77
BCAL1658Putative ribose ABC transporter ATP-binding1.56
BCAL1671Metallo peptidase, subfamily M23B1.61
BCAL1678Putative outer membrane usher protein precursor2.40
BCAL1699Putative l-ornithine 5-monooxygenase1.61
BCAL1715Conserved hypothetical protein1.53c
BCAL1749Putative CoA-transferase2.39
BCAL1750Conserved hypothetical protein2.39d
BCAL1751Glyoxalase/bleomycin resistance1.70
BCAL1754Major facilitator superfamily protein3.50
BCAL1783_J_0TonB-dependent receptor (pseudogene)1.59
BCAL1789Putative iron-transport protein1.73
BCAL1798Putative exported protein1.95
BCAL1961Putative exported protein1.94
BCAL1980Putative acyl-CoA synthetase1.54
BCAL1992Putative acyl-CoA thioesterase precursor2.00
BCAL2037Putative ureidoglycolate hydrolase1.61
BCAL2038Putative allantoicase1.53
BCAL2039Putative uricase1.72
BCAL2040Polysaccharide deacetylase1.54
BCAL2044Muramoyltetrapeptide carboxypeptidase1.51
BCAL2083Outer membrane protein assembly factor YaeT1.53
BCAL2155Putative serine acetyltransferase1.61
BCAL2179Enolase1.51
BCAL2187Putative exported protein1.56
BCAL2191Putative membrane protein3.09
BCAL2272Conserved hypothetical protein1.57d
BCAL2357Ketol-acid reductoisomerase1.59
BCAL2467Putative lipoprotein2.10
BCAL2468Putative membrane protein1.91
BCAL2475aConserved hypothetical protein1.63d
BCAL2476Hypothetical protein1.73
BCAL2482Putative outer membrane protein3.15
BCAL2485Putative iron–sulfur cluster-binding electron2.12
BCAL2486Putative iron–sulfur oxidoreductase2.11
BCAL2488Lysr family regulatory protein2.07
BCAL2500Hypothetical protein1.67
BCAL2505Putative membrane protein1.55
BCAL2507Conserved hypothetical protein1.93c
BCAL2516Hypothetical protein1.70
BCAL2529Putative transcriptional regulator1.53
BCAL2541Putative hydrolase1.53
BCAL2552Putative membrane protein1.53
BCAL2553Putative membrane protein1.85
BCAL2558Putative thioredoxin/FAD-dependent pyridine2.09
BCAL2588Putative transposase (fragment)1.81
BCAL2607Putative exported protein2.70
BCAL2615Putative exported outer membrane porin protein2.16
BCAL2777Putative N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase1.58
BCAL2819Putative permease protein1.61
BCAL2911Proline-rich exported protein1.58
BCAL2956Putative exported protein1.52
BCAL3024Putative exported protein1.57
BCAL3033Probable outer membrane lipoproteins carrier1.53
BCAL3038ABC transporter ATP-binding component1.61
BCAL3039ABC transporter, membrane permease1.54
BCAL3040ABC transporter, membrane permease1.71
BCAL3041Maltose-binding protein2.09
BCAL3163Putative nucleotidyltransferase1.68
BCAL3203Putative periplasmic TolB protein1.64
BCAL3204Putative OmpA family lipoprotein1.68
BCAL3205Putative exported protein1.62
BCAL3289Putative glycolate oxidase subunit GlcE1.64
BCAL3297Putative ferritin DPS-family DNA-binding1.67
BCAL3310Putative exported protein1.74
BCAL3311Putative exported protein1.60
BCAL3314Putative membrane protein2.43
BCAL3362Putative oxidoreductase1.77
BCAL3364Putative gluconokinase1.66
BCAL3473Putative outer membrane porin1.87
BCAL3486Putative RNA polymerase sigma factor, sigma-701.84
BCAL3490Putative exported protein1.96
BCAL3492Putative exported protein1.63
BCAM0027PadR family regulatory protein1.51
BCAM0042Putative aldo/keto reductase1.75
BCAM0047Putative transporter – LysE family2.57
BCAM0094Xylulose kinase1.67
BCAM0126Putative AMP-binding enzyme1.65
BCAM0166NADH dehydrogenase1.66
BCAM0178Putative periplasmic solute-binding protein2.74
BCAM0195Putative non-ribosomal peptide synthetase1.53
BCAM0207Putative tyrosine-protein kinase1.61
BCAM0235Putative sodium bile acid symporter family1.51
BCAM0271Conserved hypothetical protein1.66d
BCAM0273Conserved hypothetical protein2.08d
BCAM0274aHypothetical protein1.95
BCAM0275Conserved hypothetical protein1.60d
BCAM0275aConserved hypothetical protein1.70d
BCAM0277Conserved hypothetical protein1.72c
BCAM0303ABC transporter ATP-binding membrane protein1.62
BCAM0368Putative branched-chain amino acid transport1.52
BCAM0414Conserved hypothetical protein2.01d
BCAM0415Putative betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase1.53
BCAM0422LuxR superfamily regulatory protein1.89
BCAM0447Putative exported multicopper oxidase13.01
BCAM0459Cysteine desulfurase3.60
BCAM0478Glucosamine – fructose-6-phosphate1.52
BCAM0502Conserved hypothetical protein1.78c
BCAM0595LysR family regulatory protein2.56
BCAM0630Putative dehydrogenase1.73
BCAM0676Putative exported protein1.84
BCAM0880Putative methyltransferase7.10
BCAM0895Conserved hypothetical protein1.55c
BCAM0926Multidrug efflux system transporter protein5.89
BCAM0944Putative lipoprotein1.58
BCAM09833-Isopropylmalate dehydratase large subunit2.87
BCAM0983APutative entericidin B-like bacteriolytic toxin2.01
BCAM09843-Isopropylmalate dehydratase small subunit2.08
BCAM09853-Isopropylmalate dehydrogenase1.55
BCAM1016Putative ribonuclease1.81
BCAM1053Putative reverse transcriptase – Group II1.72
BCAM11503-Hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase1.64
BCAM1151Methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase2.40
BCAM1171Major facilitator superfamily protein1.55
BCAM1187TonB-dependent siderophore receptor1.71
BCAM1207ABC transporter ATP-binding membrane protein1.52
BCAM1263Putative malate/l-lactate dehydrogenase1.79
BCAM1279Conserved hypothetical protein1.54d
BCAM1313Putative amidase accessory protein1.60
BCAM1315Aliphatic amidase (acylamide amidohydrolase)1.55
BCAM1330Putative polysaccharide export protein1.73
BCAM1333Putative exopolysaccharide acyltransferase1.56
BCAM1341Conserved hypothetical protein3.22c
BCAM1374Conserved hypothetical protein1.87c
BCAM1390Putative aldolase3.00
BCAM1425Putative membrane protein2.88
BCAM1427LysE family transporter3.76
BCAM1487Putative ABC transporter, substrate-binding3.14
BCAM1488Putative proline racemase1.90
BCAM1527Putative cation efflux protein1.82
BCAM1563ABC transporter ATP-binding membrane protein1.70
BCAM1679Putative lysylphosphatidylglycerol synthetase1.62
BCAM1726Putative exported protein2.01
BCAM1742Putative exported protein1.87
BCAM1775Putative transglycosylase associated protein1.76
BCAM1823Putative methyltransferase1.52
BCAM1901Hypothetical phage protein1.65
BCAM1904Hypothetical phage protein1.58
BCAM1911Hypothetical phage protein1.65
BCAM1946Putative quinoxaline efflux system transporter1.61
BCAM1957ABC transporter ATP-binding protein1.56
BCAM1964Putative exported protein1.57
BCAM2007TonB-dependent siderophore receptor1.58
BCAM2025Sigma-54 interacting regulatory protein1.87
BCAM2051Type III secretion system protein1.73
BCAM2073Putative exported protein2.98
BCAM2095Putative HTH transcriptional regulator1.57
BCAM2096Putative gamma-glutamylputrescine1.87
BCAM2119Carboxylesterase1.81
BCAM2162MarR family regulatory protein1.99
BCAM2191Enoyl-CoA hydratase/isomerase family1.94
BCAM2192Enoyl-CoA hydratase/isomerase family protein2.37
BCAM2193Putative 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase2.39
BCAM2194Methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase2.26
BCAM2195Putative AMP-binding enzyme2.51
BCAM2196Putative acyl-CoA dehydrogenase2.10
BCAM2237Putative 2,2-dialkylglycine decarboxylase2.41
BCAM2260Major facilitator superfamily protein1.61
BCAM2338Putative glycosyltransferase1.53
BCAM2356Conserved hypothetical protein1.63d
BCAM2453Putative redoxin protein1.69
BCAM2479Putative transporter – LysE family1.54
BCAM2488Putative phosphoglycerate/bisphosphoglycerate1.56
BCAM2504Conserved hypothetical protein1.84c
BCAM2542Fenitrothion hydrolase protein FedA1.57
BCAM2618Putative periplasmic1.64
BCAM2623Conserved hypothetical protein2.05c
BCAM2647Putative membrane protein1.71
BCAM2648NAD dependent epimerase/dehydratase family1.61
BCAM2685Conserved hypothetical protein2.11c
BCAM2700Putative membrane protein1.81
BCAM2701Aconitate hydratase 12.66
BCAM27022-Methylcitrate synthase5.88
BCAM2703Probable methylisocitrate lyase2.78
BCAM2730Putative tripeptide permease1.54
BCAS0028Succinylglutamate desuccinylase/aspartoacylase2.80
BCAS0043Putative l-lysine 6-monooxygenase3.11
BCAS0050Putative amidohydrolase1.53
BCAS0053FMN reductase2.34
BCAS0097Putative cobalamin synthesis protein1.66
BCAS0100Putative ribokinase1.52
BCAS0230Putative sugar ABC transporter ATP-binding1.58
BCAS0251Putative lipoprotein1.61
BCAS0260Conserved hypothetical protein2.29d
BCAS0278Tartrate dehydrogenase1.66
BCAS0308Putative flp type pilus assembly protein2.44
BCAS0362Putative ketopantoate reductase1.58
BCAS0397Metallo peptidase, subfamily M20D2.01
BCAS0436AraC family regulatory protein1.66
BCAS0443Putative binding-protein-dependent transport5.32
BCAS0449Putative binding-protein-dependent transport1.62
BCAS0461Putative lipoprotein3.69
BCAS0463Putative membrane protein1.64
BCAS0477Putative lipoprotein2.07
BCAS0482Conserved hypothetical protein4.89c
BCAS0513Putative phage tail protein1.54
BCAS0519Hypothetical phage protein1.64
BCAS0543Putative phage transcriptional regulator1.84
BCAS0545Hypothetical phage protein1.55
BCAS0547Putative phage DNA-binding protein1.54
BCAS0552Hypothetical phage protein1.72
BCAS0569Conserved hypothetical protein2.31d
BCAS0574Amino acid ABC transporter ATP-binding protein3.67
BCAS0575Putative binding-protein-dependent transport2.02
BCAS0577Periplasmic solute-binding protein1.54
BCAS0587_J_0Aminopyrrolnitrin oxidase PrnD (fragment)2.33
BCAS0588Putative membrane protein (fragment)1.52
BCAS0672Hypothetical protein1.91
BCAS0713Putative short-chain oxidoreductase1.66
BCAS0730Putative Na+ dependent nucleoside transporter2.13
BCAS0750Putative exported protein1.82
pBCA001Putative partition protein1.93
pBCA002Putative partitioning protein1.52
pBCA008Conserved hypothetical protein2.48d
pBCA009Conserved hypothetical protein1.74d
pBCA010Putative membrane protein3.19
pBCA012Hypothetical protein3.34
pBCA013Putative exported protein6.32
pBCA014Putative membrane protein3.28
pBCA015Hypothetical protein2.71
pBCA016Conserved hypothetical protein6.54d
pBCA017Conserved hypothetical protein3.24d
pBCA018Hypothetical protein8.91
pBCA019Putative membrane protein2.40
pBCA020Putative TraG conjugative transfer protein5.51
pBCA021Putative TraH conjugative transfer protein13.21
pBCA022Conserved hypothetical protein8.09c
pBCA023Conserved hypothetical protein5.09d
pBCA024Conserved hypothetical protein10.16c
pBCA025Putative TraF conjugative transfer protein7.10
pBCA026Putative membrane protein10.57
pBCA027Putative conjugative transfer protein TraN14.73
pBCA028Conserved hypothetical protein5.03d
pBCA029Putative membrane protein8.60
pBCA030Putative conjugative transfer protein TrbC6.06
pBCA031Putative TraU conjugative transfer protein6.92
pBCA032Putative TraW conjugative transfer protein8.96
pBCA033Putative peptidase protein4.97
pBCA034Putative membrane protein6.01
pBCA035GntR family regulatory protein18.91
pBCA036Putative membrane protein13.82
pBCA037Putative membrane protein7.33
pBCA037aHypothetical protein11.90
pBCA038Hypothetical protein9.54
pBCA039Hypothetical protein1.98
pBCA040Hypothetical protein2.04
pBCA041Putative TraC conjugative transfer protein9.20
pBCA042Type IV secretion system TraV19.71
pBCA043Thiol:disulfide interchange protein DsbC7.91
pBCA044Putative TraB conjugative transfer protein3.00
pBCA045Putative exported protein TraK12.43
pBCA046Putative TraE conjugative transfer protein16.87
pBCA047Type IV conjugative transfer system protein TraL46.07
pBCA048Putative membrane protein55.79
pBCA049Putative transglycosylase protein4.97
pBCA050Hypothetical protein8.74
pBCA051LamB/YcsF family protein159.40
pBCA052Putative exported protein789.20
pBCA053Putative extracellular solute-binding protein480.70
pBCA054LuxR family regulatory protein3.90
pBCA056Hypothetical protein4.34
pBCA057Putative conjugative transfer protein4.80
pBCA058Thiol:disulfide interchange protein DsbD7.43
pBCA059Putative TraD conjugative transfer protein4.13
pBCA060Hypothetical protein6.97
pBCA062Conserved hypothetical protein2.52d
pBCA065Conserved hypothetical protein1.53c
pBCA076Conserved hypothetical protein1.55c
pBCA077Conserved hypothetical protein1.66d
pBCA087NUDIX hydrolase family protein1.53
pBCA088Amidohydrolase family protein1.64
pBCA090Putative integrase1.68
pBCA095Putative ligase1.59

.

.

.

.

Table 4

Selected genes induced during chronic lung infection.

GeneAnnotation or predicted functionaFold changeb
OSMOTIC STRESS AND ADAPTATION
BCAL1103Putative OsmB-like lipoprotein2.1
BCAL2044LdcA LD-carboxypeptidase A1.5
BCAL2558Pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductase2.1
BCAL3297DPS-family DNA-binding ferritin like protein1.7
BCAL3310YceI family protein, osmotic, and acid stress adaptation1.7
BCAL3311YceI family protein, osmotic, and acid stress adaptation1.6
BCAL3314PqiA paraquat inducible protein A2.4
BCAL3362Putative oxidoreductase1.8
BCAM0027PadR family regulatory protein, phenolic acid induced stress response1.5
BCAM0414Conserved hypothetical protein2.0
BCAM0415Putative betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase1.5
BCAM2700prpF, putative membrane protein1.8
BCAM2701acnA, aconitate hydratase 12.7
BCAM2702prpC, 2-methylcitrate synthase5.9
BCAM2703prpB, probable methylisocitrate lyase2.8
METAL ION TRANSPORT OR METABOLISM
BCAL0269Oxidoreductase, molybdopterin-binding domain1.6
BCAL0366Nitroreductase family protein, metal ion oxidation1.6
BCAL0580Putative chromate transport protein1.6
BCAL1789ExbB, iron-transport protein1.7
BCAL2485Putative iron–sulfur cluster-binding electron2.1
BCAL2486Putative iron–sulfur oxidoreductase2.1
BCAM0447Putative exported multicopper oxidase13.0
BCAM1187TonB-dependent siderophore receptor1.7
BCAM1527Putative cation efflux protein1.8
BCAM2007TonB-dependent siderophore receptor1.6
BCAS0028Succinylglutamate desuccinylase/aspartoacylase2.8
BCAS0449Nickle ion binding-protein-dependent transport1.6
CARBOHYDRATE TRANSPORT AND METABOLISM
BCAL0804N-acetylglucosamine transferase1.5
BCAL1657Putative ribose transport system1.8
BCAL1658Putative ribose ABC transporter ATP-binding1.5
BCAL1754Major facilitator superfamily protein, carbohydrate transport3.5
BCAL2040Polysaccharide deacetylase, carbohydrate transport1.5
BCAL3038ABC transporter ATP-binding component, carbohydrate ABC transporter1.6
BCAL3039ABC transporter, membrane permease1.5
BCAL3040ABC transporter, membrane permease1.7
BCAL3041MalE, maltose-binding protein2.1
BCAL3364Putative gluconokinase1.7
BCAM0094Xylulose kinase1.7
BCAM1330Cellulose polysaccharide export protein1.7
BCAM1333Cellulose exopolysaccharide acyltransferase1.6
BCAM1390Putative aldolase3.0
BCAM2260Major facilitator superfamily protein1.6
BCAS0230Putative sugar ABC transporter ATP-binding1.6
AMINO ACID TRANSPORT AND METABOLISM
BCAL0446Putative aminotransferase2.9
BCAL1212bkdA1, 2-oxoisovalerate dehydrogenase alpha subunit3.0
BCAL1213bkdA2, 2-oxoisovalerate dehydrogenase beta subunit2.9
BCAL1214bhdB, lipoamide acyltransferase3.7
BCAL1215lpdV, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase2.2
BCAL1749Putative CoA-transferase2.4
BCAL1750Conserved hypothetical protein, pyruvate decarboxylase2.4
BCAL1751Glyoxalase/bleomycin resistance, amino acid transport1.7
BCAM0047Lysine exporter – LysE/YggA2.6
BCAM0178ABC transporter periplasmic solute-binding protein2.7
BCAM0368Putative branched-chain amino acid transport1.5
BCAM0459Cysteine desulfurase3.6
BCAM0983leuC1, 3-isopropylmalate dehydratase large subunit2.9
BCAM0983APutative entericidin B-like bacteriolytic toxin2.0
BCAM0984leuD1, 3-isopropylmalate dehydratase small subunit2.1
BCAM11503-Hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase1.6
BCAM1151Methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase2.4
BCAM1427LysE family transporter3.7
BCAM1487Putative ABC transporter, substrate-binding3.1
BCAM1488Putative proline racemase1.9
BCAM2095Putative HTH transcriptional regulator1.6
BCAM2096puuB gamma-glutamylputrescine oxidoreductase1.9
BCAM2191Enoyl-CoA hydratase/isomerase family1.9
BCAM2192Enoyl-CoA hydratase/isomerase family protein2.4
BCAM2193mmsB, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase2.4
BCAM2194mmsA, methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase2.3
BCAM2195Putative AMP-binding enzyme2.5
BCAM2196Putative acyl-CoA dehydrogenase2.1
BCAM2237Putative 2,2-dialkylglycine decarboxylase2.4
BCAS0397Metallo peptidase, subfamily M20D2.0
BCAS0443Putative binding-protein-dependent transport5.3
BCAS0574Amino acid ABC transporter ATP-binding protein3.7
BCAS0575Putative binding-protein-dependent transport2.0
BCAS0577Periplasmic solute-binding protein1.5
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
BCAL0403Putative outer membrane-bound lytic murein1.5
BCAL0624Putative OmpC, outer membrane porin protein precursor1.6
BCAL1678Putative outer membrane usher protein precursor, fimD pilin biogenesis2.4
BCAL2083YaeT, Outer membrane protein assembly factor1.5
BCAL2191Putative 17 kDa membrane protein surface antigen3.1
BCAL2468Putative membrane protein1.9
BCAL2482Putative OmpC outer membrane protein3.1
BCAL2505Putative membrane protein1.5
BCAL2552Putative membrane protein1.5
BCAL2553Putative membrane protein1.8
BCAL3033Probable outer membrane lipoprotein carrier1.5
BCAL3203Putative periplasmic TolB protein1.6
BCAL3204Putative OmpA family lipoprotein/PAL1.7
BCAL3205YbgF,Tol-PAL system protein1.6
BCAL3473Putative OmpC-like outer membrane porin1.9
BCAM0926Multidrug efflux system transporter protein5.9
BCAM1207ABC transporter ATP-binding membrane protein1.5
BCAM1341Acyltransferase like protein3.2
BCAM1425Putative membrane protein2.9
BCAM1563ABC transporter ATP-binding membrane protein1.7
BCAM1946Putative quinoxaline efflux system transporter1.6
BCAM1957ABC transporter ATP-binding protein1.6
BCAM2647Putative membrane protein1.7
BCAM2648NAD dependent epimerase/dehydratase family, outer membrane biogenesis1.6
BCAS0308Putative flp type pilus assembly protein, TadG-like pilus2.4
BCAS0463Putative membrane protein1.6
pBCA010Putative membrane protein3.2
pBCA014Putative membrane protein3.3
pBCA019Putative membrane protein2.4
pBCA026Putative membrane protein10.6
pBCA029Putative membrane protein8.6
pBCA034Putative membrane protein6.0
pBCA036Putative membrane protein13.8
pBCA037Putative membrane protein7.3
pBCA048Putative membrane protein55.6
EXPORTED PROTEINS
BCAL0305Putative exported protein2.2
BCAL0623Putative exported protein1.7
BCAL1279Putative exported protein1.6
BCAL1499Putative exported protein1.8
BCAL1539Putative exported protein2.3
BCAL1798Putative exported protein1.9
BCAL1961Putative exported protein1.9
BCAL2187Putative exported protein1.6
BCAL2607Putative exported protein2.7
BCAL2615Putative exported outer membrane porin protein2.2
BCAL2911Proline-rich exported protein1.6
BCAL2956Putative exported protein1.5
BCAL3024Putative exported protein1.6
BCAL3490Putative exported protein2.0
BCAL3492Putative exported protein1.6
BCAM0676Putative exported protein1.8
BCAM1726Putative exported protein2.0
BCAM1742Putative exported protein1.9
BCAM1964Putative exported protein1.6
BCAM2073Putative exported protein3.0
pBCA013Putative exported protein6.3
REGULATORY PROTEINS
BCAL2488LysR family regulatory protein2.0
BCAL2529LysR family regulatory protein1.5
BCAL3486ecfM, RNA polymerase sigma factor, sigma-701.8
BCAM0422LuxR superfamily regulatory protein1.9
BCAM0595LysR family regulatory protein2.6
BCAM2025Sigma-54 interacting regulatory protein1.9
BCAM2162MarR family regulatory protein2.0
BCAS0436AraC family regulatory protein1.7
pBCA035GntR family regulatory protein18.9

.

.

Selected genes induced during chronic lung infection. . .

Novel genes induced in vivo

A four gene operon (BCAM2703–2700) containing genes involved in the methylcitrate cycle, required for propionyl-CoA metabolism, and fatty-acid utilization, were markedly induced in vivo (Table 4). Induced in vivo expression of BCAM2702 (prpC) encoding 2-methylcitrate synthase was confirmed using qRT-PCR (Table 3). Genes involved in the methylcitrate and glyoxylate cycles are required for virulence in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which relies more on fatty acids than carbohydrates during infection (Munoz-Elias and McKinney, 2005). Genes involved in the methylcitrate cycle are upregulated in M. tuberculosis isolated from murine macrophages (Schnappinger et al., 2003) and are important for growth in macrophages but not for intracellular survival (Munoz-Elias et al., 2006). It is unknown whether the methylcitrate cycle plays a role in B. cenocepacia intracellular survival in macrophages. An uncharacterized seven gene operon (BCAM2196–BCAM2191) containing genes putatively involved in lipid metabolism was also induced in vivo (Table 4), suggesting that fatty-acid metabolism or utilization may be important in B. cenocepacia lung infections. Using qRT-PCR we confirmed expression of BCAM2194 (mmsA) encoding methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase was induced in vivo (Table 3). A four gene operon (BCAL1212–1215) induced in vivo encodes genes for a 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex (Table 4). The dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase gene component of a similar complex was shown to be important for persistence and virulence in Streptococcus pneumoniae infection models likely due to having a role in capsule synthesis rather than metabolism of 2-oxo acids (Smith et al., 2002). BCAM0415 encodes a betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH; Table 4). In P. aeruginosa, BADH has been shown to be induced by choline and choline precursors (Velasco-Garcia et al., 2006a) which are abundant in infected lung tissues (Wright and Clements, 1987). In addition to playing a role in assimilating carbon and nitrogen from choline, BADH produces glycine betaine which can protect bacteria from high osmolarity stress and oxidative stress in infected tissues. BADH has been proposed as a therapeutic target for P. aeruginosa since inactivation of this enzyme leads to intracellular accumulation of betaine aldehyde, which is toxic, and the inability to grow in medium with choline (Velasco-Garcia et al., 2006b; Zaldivar-Machorro et al., 2011). Homologs of other genes induced by osmotic stress in bacteria were also identified as being induced in vivo (Table 4). BCAL1103, encodes an OsmB-like protein. OsmB is induced by osmotic stress and stationary phase growth conditions in E. coli (Jung et al., 1990; Boulanger et al., 2005). BCAL3310 and BCAL3311 are predicted to be co-transcribed YceI family proteins, homologs of which have been shown to be induced in response to osmotic stress in E. coli (Weber et al., 2006) and acid stress in Helicobacter pylori (Sisinni et al., 2010). BCAL2558, a putative pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductase with some similarity to TrxB (thioredoxin reductase) homologs, was induced twofold in vivo. TrxB genes are involved in cellular redox processes and defense against oxidative stress and are important in intracellular survival in some pathogens (Bjur et al., 2006; Potter et al., 2009). BCAL3314 encodes a homolog of PqiA-like proteins, which are induced by paraquat and other superoxide generators in E. coli (Koh and Roe, 1995). BCAL3297 encodes a DPS-family DNA-binding ferritin. Homologs of these proteins are involved in resistance as well as iron sequestration (Calhoun and Kwon, 2011). Although many of the in vivo induced outer membrane protein encoding genes are uncharacterized, a few have homology to proteins with predicted functions. BCAL3203, L3204, and L3205 form part of the Tol-PAL system membrane complex that is required for membrane integrity and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several Gram-negative bacteria (Bowe et al., 1998; Godlewska et al., 2009; Paterson et al., 2009). TolB (BCAL3203) is a periplasmic protein involved in biopolymer transport. BCAL3205 is a YbgF homolog which is the last gene of the Tol-PAL complex and interacts with TolA (Krachler et al., 2010). BCAL3204 has been annotated as OmpA/PAL. PAL has been shown to contribute to virulence in several Gram-negative bacteria and in E. coli has been shown to be released into the bloodstream contributing to septic shock (Hellman et al., 2002; Liang et al., 2005). A 17 kDa OmpA-like protein has recently been shown to be an immunodominant antigen following intranasal immunization with a B. cenocepacia outer membrane protein preparation in mice (Makidon et al., 2010). Although the immunoreactive protein reported to be an OmpA-like protein was not conclusively identified, the partial amino acid sequence determined from a peptide of this molecular mass isolated from SDS-polyacrylamide gels, has 95.8% identity to BCAL3204. There are at least six other OmpA-like proteins in B. cenocepacia with varying degrees of sequence identify; however, PAL has been shown to highly immunogenic in other bacteria (Godlewska et al., 2009). Therefore it is possible that the immunodominant antigen identified by Makidon et al. (2010) is PAL. BCAL2191, which was increased threefold in vivo (Table 4) is predicted to be an outer membrane lipoprotein with similarity to 17 kDa surface antigens in other species and therefore it is also possible that this protein contributed to the observed reaction with antiserum on Western blots in the study by Makidon et al. (2010). Several other proteins involved in biogenesis of membrane and other cell surface components were also identified (Table 4) including BCAL2083, a YaeT homolog, which in E. coli is an essential gene required for outer membrane assembly (Werner and Misra, 2005). BCAL2482 is a putative outer membrane porin (OmpC) and is in the same predicted operon as BCAL2486 and BCAL2485, which are iron–sulfur oxidoreductase and iron–sulfur electron transport proteins, respectively. All three genes are induced at least twofold in vivo (Table 4). Although ornibactin biosynthesis and uptake genes were expressed at similar levels in the in vitro and in vivo conditions used in this study, a number of other genes potentially involved in metal ion transport and metabolism were identified as being induced in vivo (Table 4). These included exbB, genes coding for iron–sulfur proteins and receptors for unknown siderophores. One of the most highly induced genes in vivo was BCAM0447 which encodes a putative multicopper oxidase (MCO). MCO genes are found in a number of genomes but have only recently been characterized. The MCO protein of P. aeruginosa has been shown to be involved in the oxidation of ferrous to ferric iron and may be important in iron acquisition (Huston et al., 2002). MCO homologs are also involved in copper resistance and dissemination in mice in S. typhimurium (Achard et al., 2010) and copper tolerance in Campylobacter jejuni (Hall et al., 2008). Genes encoding proteins of unknown function induced in vivo are shown in Table 4 and Table A1 in Appendix. Many of the expressed genes encode outer membrane proteins (11) and exported proteins (24) that could contribute to cell surface alterations or virulence. Genes encoding six hypothetical proteins were unique to B. cenocepacia (Table A1 in Appendix), whereas, 23 genes encoding hypothetical proteins were conserved in one or more members of the Bcc, of which 11 were also conserved in Burkholderia pseudomallei (Table A1 in Appendix). It is possible that these proteins are involved in adaptation, survival, or virulence in lung infections although further studies are required to determine their potential importance.

Plasmid-associated genes

Interestingly, the most highly induced genes in vivo were located on the plasmid where the vast majority of the genes were expressed at much higher levels in vivo than in vitro (Figure 4). Of the plasmid genes annotated in the J2315 sequence (Winsor et al., 2008), 62 genes had higher expression in the lung infection model. Only one gene, pBCA055, had higher expression levels in vitro, and the following genes had similar expression: pBCA003–007, 061, 063, 064, 066–075, 078–081, 083–086, 091–094.
Figure 4

. Expression ratio of RNA recovered from rat lungs (in vivo) relative to RNA isolated from in vitro grown cultures as determined by microarray analysis. The “pBCA” designation has been removed from names of plasmid-encoded genes for image clarity. Putative operons are indicated by arrows.

. Expression ratio of RNA recovered from rat lungs (in vivo) relative to RNA isolated from in vitro grown cultures as determined by microarray analysis. The “pBCA” designation has been removed from names of plasmid-encoded genes for image clarity. Putative operons are indicated by arrows. Many of the highly induced genes are part of the plasmid-encoded T4SS, which has been shown to play a role in both plant pathogenesis and survival in eukaryotic cells (Engledow et al., 2004; Sajjan et al., 2008). Expression ratios of genes known or predicted to be a part of the T4SS are shown in Figure 2C and described above. The presence of the plasmid-encoded T4SS in the B. cenocepacia ET12 lineage strains J2315 and K56-2 but not AU1054 or MCO-3 that entirely lack a plasmid is an interesting characteristic. Gene expression of pBCA054 encoding a LuxR family regulatory protein was higher in vivo. Interestingly, the most closely related pBCA054 orthologs are found in B. pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei, rather than in other members of the Bcc. pBCA001–002 are parAB-like homologs that are putatively involved in chromosome partitioning. pBCA017 is similar to the zeta toxin family of toxin–antitoxin complexes which are involved in programmed cell death to prevent proliferation of plasmid free cells (Gerdes et al., 2005). In addition to plasmid maintenance, toxin–antitoxin pairs can also be involved in responding to nutrient stress. Zeta toxins have recently been shown to target peptidoglycan synthesis triggering autolysis (Mutschler et al., 2011). Zeta toxins are typically paired with epsilon antitoxins; however, there does not appear to be an epsilon homolog adjacent to pBCA017. In some cases, a chromosomal antitoxin can neutralize the plasmid toxin, but in this case toxin expression would not favor plasmid maintenance (Van Melderen and Saavedra De Bast, 2009). Alternatively the toxin can be integrated into other regulatory networks or serve to reduce the overall population to increase nutrient availability for the survivors. Three genes forming an operon (pBCA053–051) exhibited the highest induction of any group of genes in vivo (Figure 4). pBCA053 encodes a extracellular solute-binding protein involved in dicarboxylate transporter carbohydrate metabolism and we confirmed higher in vivo expression of this gene using qRT-PCR (Table 3). The second and third genes in the operon encode an exported protein and a protein with homology to LamB/YcsF family proteins, respectively. In addition to the hypothetical proteins noted above, four putative exported proteins, nine putative membrane proteins, 12 conserved hypothetical proteins and 10 hypothetical proteins encoded on the plasmid were induced in vivo (Table A1 in Appendix). Few genes on this plasmid have been studied in detail opening the possibility for identifying proteins with potentially novel functions.

Discussion

In this study, we have identified the gene expression signature of B. cenocepacia during lung infections. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to apply transcriptomics for any member of the Bcc to study gene expression during infection of a susceptible host. Differential gene expression was observed for characterized virulence genes as well as potential novel virulence genes between in vitro and in vivo environments. Altered in vivo gene expression was observed for genes encoding enzymes, regulators, structural appendages as well as those contributing to ornibactin biosynthesis, and quorum sensing systems. Lower in vivo expression was observed for AHL-dependent QS controlled genes that are directly (e.g., aidA) and indirectly (e.g., shvR) regulated at the transcriptional level by CepR (Weingart et al., 2005; O’Grady et al., 2011). These observations suggest that more favorable conditions exist for CepIR-dependent regulation of selected genes in high cell-density (∼109) laboratory-grown cultures compared to the lower cell-density (∼105) in the lung infections, although it is possible that higher expression of QS regulated genes occurs in selected locations in the lungs where bacteria are present in high cell-density biofilms. Since cepI and CepR-regulated genes including zmpA, zmpB, and shvR have been shown to be important for virulence in the rat chronic respiratory infection model (Corbett et al., 2003; Sokol et al., 2003; Kooi et al., 2006; Bernier et al., 2008), it is clear that these genes are expressed at sufficient levels to play a role in infection. The majority of characterized virulence genes were similarly expressed in the in vivo and in vivo conditions. This suggests that expression of these genes is just as important in high cell-density cultures and during lung infections. The contribution of these individual genes has been characterized in one or more infection models highlighting their importance in B. cenocepacia pathogenesis. Similar expression of characterized virulence genes during growth in vivo in hamsters and in vitro has previously been observed for B. pseudomallei (Tuanyok et al., 2006). Increased expression of some genes belonging to the T3SS was observed in the closely related pathogens B. mallei and B. pseudomallei during infection of mice and hamsters, respectively (Kim et al., 2005; Tuanyok et al., 2006). In the present study, expression of T2SS and T3SS genes was similar between in vitro and in vivo environments. Genes in these secretion systems appear to be expressed at moderate levels in both in vitro and in vivo environments. We previously showed expression of the T2SS genes gspC and gspG was influenced by growth medium composition (O’Grady et al., 2011). A previous study was not able to identify growth conditions that altered expression of T3SS genes suggesting these genes are constitutively expressed (Engledow et al., 2004). The in vivo growth conditions provided a stimulus for expression of genes in the plasmid-encoded T4SS but did not affect expression of the T4SS genes on chromosome 2. A mutation in the chromosome 2-encoded T4SS was shown not to contribute to bacterial persistence or histopathology in the rat chronic respiratory infection model (Bernier and Sokol, 2005). To date, no studies have observed such a dramatic increase in expression of plasmid-encoded T4SS genes suggesting that specific environmental signal(s) in the lung environment enabled increased expression of these genes to be detected. It was shown that the plasmid-encoded T4SS contributed to onion tissue maceration through secretion of one or more effectors (Engledow et al., 2004). Whether this plasmid-encoded T4SS or its effectors have a role in mammalian cell/tissue damage has yet to be determined. We observed some T6SS genes had lower in vivo expression, in particular those genes on the BCAL0340 operon that includes a gene encoding the secreted effector Hcp. Previous work identified a transposon insertion in each of the three operons of the T6SS locus affected survival of B. cenocepacia in the rat chronic respiratory infection model (Hunt et al., 2004). Using a mouse agar bead infection model, a flagellin mutant failed to cause mortality compared to wild type (Urban et al., 2004). It was also shown that motility mutants were less able to invade epithelial cells (Tomich et al., 2002). Recent work showed expression of flagellar- and chemotaxis-associated genes and motility was reduced in B. cenocepacia strains of the ET12 lineage that were isolated from CF patients (Sass et al., 2011). However, a previous study showed transcription of flagellar-associated genes was increased in B. cenocepacia J2315 cultured in medium supplemented with CF sputum (Drevinek et al., 2008). Conflicting data regarding expression of flagellar-associated genes in these two studies likely reflect the experimental conditions employed where increased expression of flagellar-associated genes was detected in rapidly growing cultures (Drevinek et al., 2008). The phenotypic characteristics of the B. cenocepacia non-motile CF isolates are similar to P. aeruginosa clinical isolates which often acquire loss-of-function mutations associated with motility during chronic lung infection (Mahenthiralingam et al., 1994). It has also been shown that P. aeruginosa exhibited decreased transcription of flagellar-associated genes when cultured in CF sputum (Wolfgang et al., 2004). In our study, we detected lower in vivo expression of genes involved in motility and Flp type pilus formation. This result was likely due to differences in culture conditions between in vitro and in vivo environments. The agar bead infection model bypasses the colonization step during infection (Cash et al., 1979). Our data suggest expression of these genes is not required in an established infection taking place in the lower respiratory tract. Therefore, decreased expression of these genes was expected since expression of these genes is an energy-expensive process and is more likely associated with rapidly growing cultures than cultures recovered from chronic lung infection. We identified numerous genes that were induced during lung infections. Many of these genes encode proteins with functions related to metabolism, physiology, or adaptation to a stressful environment. While homologs of some of these proteins have been studied in other pathogens, these proteins have not been specifically studied in B. cenocepacia. Several B. cenocepacia ET12 lineage strains contain at least a 45-kb fragment of the plasmid found in K56-2 and J2315 (Engledow et al., 2004) while strains AU1054 and MCO-3 lack a plasmid (Winsor et al., 2008). While plasmid-minus derivatives of B. cenocepacia J2315 or K56-2 have not been reported, it would be interesting to determine what influence absence of the plasmid may have on infection considering the vast majority of plasmid-encoded genes were induced in vivo. Further confirmatory experiments are required to substantiate trends for additional genes that exhibited altered expression in the in vivo environmental conditions. Revealing the changes in gene expression that occur in bacterial cells during infection is a first step in understanding the response of bacterial cells to the host environment. Increased expression of genes during infection suggests these genes promote bacterial survival and adaptation in the lungs and potentially influence virulence. The identification of potential novel virulence genes among these in vivo induced genes provides an opportunity to characterize these genes in more detail in future studies. Determining what growth conditions alter the expression of these genes and how they are regulated in B. cenocepacia will shed light on their expression pattern. Increased expression of genes during lung infection could be due to a change in environmental cues that enable transcriptional activation by a positive regulator(s) or derepression by a negative regulator(s). For potentially novel virulence genes, it will be important to construct mutations and examine their influence on virulence-related phenotypes and pathogenesis in one or more infection models. This study provides an insight into B. cenocepacia gene expression in vivo and may provide opportunities to devise strategies to reduce or control B. cenocepacia lung infections.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Table A2

.

GeneAnnotation or predicted functionaFold changeb
BCAL0046Putative fatty-acid CoA ligase1.56
BCAL0057Putative membrane protein2.17
BCAL0112Conserved hypothetical protein1.82
BCAL0113B-type flagellar hook-associated protein 22.71
BCAL0114Flagellin (type II)8.29
BCAL0121Aquaporin Z3.29
BCAL0126Chemotaxis protein MotA2.19
BCAL0127Chemotaxis protein MotB2.03
BCAL0128Chemotaxis two-component response regulator2.96
BCAL0129Chemotaxis two-component sensor kinase CheA2.38
BCAL0130Chemotaxis protein CheW1.63
BCAL0132Chemotaxis protein methyltransferase2.52
BCAL0133Putative chemoreceptor glutamine deamidase cheD2.47
BCAL0134Chemotaxis response regulator protein-glutamate2.04
BCAL0135Chemotaxis protein CheY1.52
BCAL0136Chemotaxis protein CheZ2.09
BCAL0140Flagellar biosynthetic protein FlhB2.46
BCAL0143Putative flagellar biosynthesis protein1.71
BCAL01475,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase2.17
BCAL0154Histone-like nucleoid-structuring (H-NS)1.97
BCAL0168Hypothetical protein2.50
BCAL0169Conserved hypothetical protein2.42
BCAL0179Hypothetical protein1.87
BCAL0203Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein1.56
BCAL0212Putative phenylacetic acid degradation NADH1.63
BCAL023330s Ribosomal protein S101.59
BCAL0339Putative lipoprotein1.60
BCAL0341Conserved hypothetical protein1.75
BCAL0342Conserved hypothetical protein1.68
BCAL0343Conserved hypothetical protein1.86
BCAL0344Conserved hypothetical protein1.58
BCAL0345Conserved hypothetical protein1.78
BCAL0356Putative quinone oxidoreductase1.51
BCAL0404Phenylacetate-coenzyme A ligase1.59
BCAL0406Probable enoyl-CoA hydratase PaaG1.56
BCAL0412Conserved hypothetical protein (pseudogene)2.11
BCAL0413Conserved hypothetical protein1.67
BCAL0431Conserved hypothetical protein1.86
BCAL0432Putative membrane protein1.61
BCAL0434Putative exported protein2.13
BCAL0505Integrase/recombinase1.71
BCAL0511Putative deoxygenases1.60
BCAL0514Putative membrane protein2.52
BCAL0522Flagellum-specific ATP synthase FliI1.84
BCAL0523Flagellar assembly protein FliH1.63
BCAL0527Flagellar protein FliS3.38
BCAL0528Conserved hypothetical protein2.80
BCAL0543Major facilitator superfamily protein1.64
BCAL0561Flagella synthesis protein FlgN1.94
BCAL0562Negative regulator of flagellin synthesis2.56
BCAL0567Flagellar hook protein 1 FlgE11.57
BCAL0568Flagellar basal-body rod protein FlgF (putative1.66
BCAL0576Flagellar hook-associated protein 1 (HAP1)3.18
BCAL0577Flagellar hook-associated protein 3 (HAP3)3.20
BCAL0621Putative cyclic-di-GMP signaling protein1.56
BCAL0705Putative d-amino acid aminotransferase1.55
BCAL0706Conserved hypothetical protein1.75
BCAL0744Appr-1-p processing enzyme family protein1.74
BCAL0771Non-heme chloroperoxidase1.82
BCAL0808P-loop ATPase protein family protein1.88
BCAL0812Sigma-54 modulation protein1.91
BCAL0813Putative RNA polymerase sigma-54 factor2.13
BCAL0831Putative storage protein4.32
BCAL0833Putative Acetoacetyl-CoA reductase1.78
BCAL0834Putative membrane protein2.15
BCAL0842Putative membrane protein2.26
BCAL0928Conserved hypothetical protein3.58
BCAL0947Putative membrane protein1.55
BCAL1055Histidine transport system permease protein1.74
BCAL1056Histidine transport system permease protein1.81
BCAL1057Histidine ABC transporter ATP-binding protein1.98
BCAL1058AraC family regulatory protein2.22
BCAL1059Succinylornithine transaminase1.81
BCAL1060Putative arginine N-succinyltransferase, alpha1.63
BCAL1061Putative arginine N-succinyltransferase, beta1.86
BCAL1062Succinylglutamic semialdehyde dehydrogenase1.90
BCAL1063Succinylarginine dihydrolase2.58
BCAL1064Putative succinylglutamate desuccinylase2.00
BCAL1065Periplasmic solute-binding protein1.91
BCAL1146AraC family regulatory protein1.73
BCAL1155Putative maleate cis–trans isomerase3.29
BCAL1159Putative 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate-AMP ligase1.52
BCAL1167Putative exported protein1.74
BCAL1168Conserved hypothetical protein1.71
BCAL1221Putative porin1.54
BCAL1233Putative heat shock Hsp20-related protein1.65
BCAL1273Phosphate ABC transporter ATP-binding protein1.55
BCAL1282Putative membrane protein2.39
BCAL1291Putative membrane protein1.54
BCAL1292Putative membrane protein1.75
BCAL1299Conserved hypothetical protein1.51
BCAL1300Conserved hypothetical protein1.98
BCAL1316Conserved hypothetical protein1.56
BCAL1326Conserved hypothetical protein8.68
BCAL1357Putative exported protein1.56
BCAL1359Conserved hypothetical protein1.54
BCAL1360Hypothetical protein1.85
BCAL1373LysR family regulatory protein1.94
BCAL1390Endoglucanase precursor2.00
BCAL1394Putative exported protein1.51
BCAL1396Putative membrane protein1.72
BCAL1418Major facilitator superfamily protein2.31
BCAL1435Inositol 2-dehydrogenase2.41
BCAL1452Putative methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein1.75
BCAL1525Flp type pilus subunit12.95
BCAL1525aPutative flp type pilus leader peptidase4.62
BCAL1526Putative flp type pilus assembly protein2.62
BCAL1527Flp type pilus assembly protein2.05
BCAL1528Flp type pilus assembly protein2.87
BCAL1529Flp pilus type assembly-related protein1.93
BCAL1530Flp pilus type assembly protein3.56
BCAL1531Flp type pilus assembly protein2.02
BCAL1532Flp type pilus assembly protein2.40
BCAL1533Putative lipoprotein2.15
BCAL1534Putative exported protein2.81
BCAL1535Putative membrane protein1.71
BCAL1573Hypothetical phage protein1.52
BCAL1574Hypothetical phage protein1.56
BCAL1577Hypothetical phage protein2.26
BCAL1596Hypothetical phage protein1.66
BCAL1597Hypothetical phage protein1.78
BCAL1610Periplasmic cystine-binding protein1.59
BCAL1640Major facilitator superfamily protein3.38
BCAL1668Periplasmic solute-binding protein2.02
BCAL1677Putative type-1 fimbrial protein1.74
BCAL1730Precorrin-4 C11-methyltransferase1.71
BCAL1775Putative demethylase oxidoreductase1.85
BCAL1791Conserved hypothetical protein2.23
BCAL1818Metallo-beta-lactamase superfamily protein1.52
BCAL1900Thioredoxin1.96
BCAL1913Putative acetoin catabolism protein1.64
BCAL1949Glyoxylate carboligase1.62
BCAL2027Conserved hypothetical protein2.11
BCAL2054Putative HEAT-like repeat protein2.58
BCAL2059Putative 2′–5′ RNA ligase1.81
BCAL2122Malate synthase A1.65
BCAL2143Ubiquinol oxidase polypeptide I1.59
BCAL2192Conserved hypothetical protein1.74
BCAL2193Ferredoxin, 2Fe–2S1.79
BCAL2197Putative iron–sulfur cluster scaffold protein2.08
BCAL2198Cysteine desulfurase1.69
BCAL2208Dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase component of1.62
BCAL2210Two-component regulatory system, sensor kinase1.56
BCAL2253Conserved hypothetical protein1.73
BCAL2254Conserved hypothetical protein1.56
BCAL2297Conserved hypothetical protein1.57
BCAL2305Putative potassium channel subunit1.75
BCAL2309Putative copper-related MerR family regulatory1.52
BCAL2375Putative membrane protein1.79
BCAL2385Methylglyoxal synthase1.67
BCAL2479Putative IstB-like ATP-binding protein2.81
BCAL2494Putative exported protein53.57
BCAL2531Hypothetical protein1.56
BCAL2614LysR family regulatory protein6.70
BCAL2645Putative OmpA family membrane protein1.66
BCAL2671LysR family regulatory protein1.74
BCAL2746Putative citrate synthase1.79
BCAL2751Putative ketopantoate reductase1.68
BCAL2775Putative 4Fe–4S cluster-binding ferredoxin1.67
BCAL2792Putative tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase1.70
BCAL2793Major facilitator superfamily protein1.68
BCAL2847Putative methionine aminopeptidase1.55
BCAL2904Conserved hypothetical protein3.85
BCAL2969Hypothetical phage protein1.56
BCAL2969aHypothetical protein1.68
BCAL2971Hypothetical phage protein1.55
BCAL2973Putative exported protein1.64
BCAL2998Transglycosylase associated protein2.82
BCAL3006Cold shock-like protein3.81
BCAL3018Conserved hypothetical protein2.19
BCAL3109Urease accessory protein1.69
BCAL3178LysR family regulatory protein1.72
BCAL3179Probable d-lactate dehydrogenase1.91
BCAL3211Conserved hypothetical protein1.66
BCAL3227Conserved hypothetical protein2.10
BCAL3231Hypothetical protein1.63
BCAL3234Glycosyltransferase1.69
BCAL3239Glucosyltransferase1.84
BCAL3368Putative regulatory protein1.85
BCAL3427Histone H1-like protein2.68
BCAL3428Ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase beta chain1.58
BCAL3457Cell division protein FtsZ1.71
BCAM00102-Amino-3-ketobutyrate coenzyme A ligase2.03
BCAM0011Threonine 3-dehydrogenase1.71
BCAM0028Putative FHA-domain protein1.58
BCAM0030Conserved hypothetical protein8.45
BCAM0031Conserved hypothetical protein5.26
BCAM0032Conserved hypothetical protein1.71
BCAM0064Conserved hypothetical protein1.89
BCAM0067Putative short-chain dehydrogenase2.24
BCAM0069Conserved hypothetical protein1.57
BCAM0070Putative hydrolase1.66
BCAM0096ABC transporter ATP-binding protein2.32
BCAM0103Major facilitator superfamily protein1.65
BCAM0186Lectin2.64
BCAM0188N-acyl-homoserine lactone dependent regulatory1.57
BCAM0190Putative aminotransferase – class III2.44
BCAM0191Putative non-ribosomal peptide synthetase2.05
BCAM0192Conserved hypothetical protein1.65
BCAM0194Conserved hypothetical protein1.94
BCAM0210Putative transferase1.71
BCAM0288Two-component regulatory system, response1.52
BCAM0446Outer membrane efflux protein187.90
BCAM0485LacI family regulatory protein4.99
BCAM0487Conserved hypothetical1.53
BCAM0504CsbD-like protein2.24
BCAM0505Putative membrane-attached protein1.67
BCAM0507CsbD-like protein2.40
BCAM0521Putative IstB-like ATP-binding protein2.85
BCAM0522Putative integrase1.76
BCAM0589Conserved hypothetical protein1.68
BCAM0622Two-component regulatory system, sensor kinase1.58
BCAM0623Two-component regulatory system, response1.62
BCAM0633Conserved hypothetical protein2.67
BCAM0634Hypothetical protein10.80
BCAM0717Putative Gram-negative porin2.44
BCAM0753Putative membrane protein2.18
BCAM0780Putative helicase1.59
BCAM0851Conserved hypothetical protein1.83
BCAM0917Putative DNA primase1.64
BCAM0918RNA polymerase sigma factor RpoD1.52
BCAM0942Putative exported protein1.59
BCAM0953Extracellular solute-binding protein1.80
BCAM0957Putative pepstatin-insensitive carboxyl1.64
BCAM1041Putative phage coiled coil domain protein2.06
BCAM1123ABC transporter ATP-binding protein1.52
BCAM1138Major facilitator superfamily protein1.77
BCAM1140Putative aldehyde oxidase/xanthine1.52
BCAM1141Putative isochorismatase1.81
BCAM1142Conserved hypothetical protein1.76
BCAM1143Putative hydrolase1.86
BCAM1144Putative Asp/Glu/Hydantoin racemase2.22
BCAM1146Putative flavoprotein monooxygenase2.33
BCAM1147Isoquinoline 1-oxidoreductase alpha subunit1.98
BCAM1164Conserved hypothetical protein1.87
BCAM1175Putative iron–sulfur cluster protein1.60
BCAM1213Putative membrane protein2.19
BCAM1255Putative exported protein1.88
BCAM1265Putative amino acid permease1.80
BCAM1316aConserved hypothetical protein2.00
BCAM1316bConserved hypothetical protein1.54
BCAM1335Glycosyltransferase1.52
BCAM1358Gluconate 2-dehydrogenase cytochrome c subunit1.52
BCAM1411Putative short-chain dehydrogenase1.53
BCAM1412Conserved hypothetical protein10.28
BCAM1413AConserved hypothetical protein24.61
BCAM1414Conserved hypothetical protein3.86
BCAM1424Methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein1.68
BCAM1443Putative exported protein2.64
BCAM1473Putative di-haem cytochrome c peroxidase1.67
BCAM1491Putative exported protein1.56
BCAM1572Methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein1.93
BCAM1573Alpha, alpha-trehalose-phosphate synthase1.64
BCAM1588Putative lyase1.74
BCAM1602Conserved hypothetical protein1.59
BCAM1623Thiolase2.75
BCAM1643AMP-binding protein1.76
BCAM17042,3-Butanediol dehydrogenase1.79
BCAM1710Putative enoyl-CoA hydratase/isomerase1.58
BCAM1711Phenylacetate-coenzyme A ligase1.57
BCAM1733Putative membrane protein2.36
BCAM1734Putative cytochrome c1.73
BCAM1735Putative oxidoreductase1.89
BCAM1736Conserved hypothetical protein1.84
BCAM1744Serine peptidase, family S91.67
BCAM1777APutative exported protein4.61
BCAM1804Methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein2.10
BCAM1869Conserved hypothetical protein1.85
BCAM1871Conserved hypothetical protein2.64
BCAM1881Hypothetical phage protein1.86
BCAM1882Hypothetical phage protein1.80
BCAM1919Hypothetical phage protein2.12
BCAM1920Hypothetical phage protein1.90
BCAM1927Putative exported protein1.94
BCAM2021Methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein1.94
BCAM2024Putative membrane protein2.65
BCAM2048Type III secretion ssytem protein1.69
BCAM2052Putative type III secretion system protein1.85
BCAM2053Putative type III secretion system protein1.98
BCAM2067Putative undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase1.54
BCAM2087Putative lipoprotein2.24
BCAM2105MerR family regulatory protein1.64
BCAM2106Non-heme chloroperoxidase1.64
BCAM2167Conserved hypothetical protein1.51
BCAM2169Putative outer membrane autotransporter1.73
BCAM2198Serine peptidase, family S492.78
BCAM2199Putative membrane protein2.03
BCAM2207Conserved hypothetical protein1.90
BCAM2210Putative membrane protein2.59
BCAM2215Putative copper resistance protein C precursor1.55
BCAM2307Zinc metalloprotease ZmpB2.28
BCAM2312Putative ABC-type glycine betaine transport2.59
BCAM2321Putative electron transfer flavoprotein alpha1.74
BCAM2325Putative dipeptidase1.75
BCAM2333Putative glutathione-independent formaldehyde1.73
BCAM2366Putative proline iminopeptidase1.57
BCAM2374Putative methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein2.01
BCAM2377Putative exported protein3.99
BCAM2378Putative Xaa-Pro dipeptidyl-peptidase1.63
BCAM2403Conserved hypothetical protein1.97
BCAM2419Putative outer membrane protein A precursor1.79
BCAM2444Putative exported protein2.52
BCAM2523Conserved hypothetical protein2.31
BCAM2545Major facilitator superfamily protein1.72
BCAM2563Methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein1.62
BCAM2564Putative aerotaxis receptor3.44
BCAM2625Conserved hypothetical protein2.00
BCAM2640Putative methyltransferase1.75
BCAM2657Putative exported protein1.55
BCAM2670Conserved hypothetical protein2.03
BCAM2674Putative cytochrome oxidase subunit I1.88
BCAM2677Putative membrane protein1.76
BCAM2690Putative thioesterase1.71
BCAM2711H-NS histone family protein1.77
BCAM2712Conserved hypothetical protein1.57
BCAM2748Putative sigma factor1.53
BCAM2754Putative ketoreductase1.70
BCAM2771Putative dihydrodipicolinate synthetase1.61
BCAM2806Putative sugar ABC transporter ATP-binding2.87
BCAM2837_J_0Two-component regulatory system, response1.87
BCAM2837_J_1Two-component regulatory system, response2.42
BCAS0018MarR family regulatory protein1.55
BCAS0040Major facilitator superfamily protein1.55
BCAS0074Conserved hypothetical protein1.52
BCAS0085Organic hydroperoxide resistance protein1.53
BCAS0172Putative dehydrogenase1.51
BCAS0173Putative tautomerase1.60
BCAS0189Conserved hypothetical protein1.82
BCAS0190Putative H-NS family DNA-binding protein2.38
BCAS0225LysR family regulatory protein2.71
BCAS0226Putative hydrolase1.99
BCAS0256Putative porin protein1.51
BCAS0263Two-component regulatory system, response3.60
BCAS0264Two-component regulatory system, sensor kinase2.41
BCAS0290Conserved hypothetical protein1.73
BCAS0291Periplasmic solute-binding protein2.74
BCAS0292Conserved hypothetical protein10.91
BCAS0293Nematocidal protein AidA51.98
BCAS0294Putative GtrA-like family protein3.06
BCAS0295Glycosyltransferase1.52
BCAS0299Flp type pilus subunit1.68
BCAS0399Citrate-proton symporter5.66
BCAS0400Putative periplasmic solute-binding protein2.00
BCAS0403Hypothetical protein2.12
BCAS0406Putative exported protein1.64
BCAS0409Zinc metalloprotease ZmpA6.72
BCAS0452Putative membrane protein1.56
BCAS0462Putative alpha-galactosidase2.14
BCAS0467Putative transcriptional regulator – DeoR1.67
BCAS0481Putative lipoprotein1.86
BCAS0510Hypothetical phage protein2.29
BCAS0540Hypothetical phage protein1.72
BCAS0548Hypothetical phage protein1.69
BCAS0572Putative exported protein1.70
BCAS0573Putative exported protein1.72
BCAS0576Putative binding-protein-dependent transport1.52
BCAS0579Putative exported protein2.01
BCAS0595Putative sugar efflux transporter1.53
BCAS0596Conserved hypothetical protein1.58
BCAS0661CHypothetical protein1.83
BCAS0662Conserved hypothetical protein1.91
BCAS0669Hypothetical protein1.90
BCAS0700Putative oxygen-insensitive NAD(P)H1.52
BCAS0717Hypothetical protein2.26
BCAS0773Putative exported protein1.64
pBCA055Putative membrane protein18.16

.

.

  92 in total

1.  Biofilm formation by a fimbriae-deficient mutant of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

Authors:  Tetsuyoshi Inoue; Ryuji Shingaki; Norio Sogawa; Chiharu Aoki Sogawa; Jun-ichi Asaumi; Susumu Kokeguchi; Kazuhiro Fukui
Journal:  Microbiol Immunol       Date:  2003       Impact factor: 1.955

2.  The CepIR quorum-sensing system contributes to the virulence of Burkholderia cenocepacia respiratory infections.

Authors:  P A Sokol; U Sajjan; M B Visser; S Gingues; J Forstner; C Kooi
Journal:  Microbiology       Date:  2003-12       Impact factor: 2.777

3.  Transcriptional response of Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315 sessile cells to treatments with high doses of hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite.

Authors:  Elke Peeters; Andrea Sass; Eshwar Mahenthiralingam; Hans Nelis; Tom Coenye
Journal:  BMC Genomics       Date:  2010-02-05       Impact factor: 3.969

4.  Comparative analysis of plant and animal models for characterization of Burkholderia cepacia virulence.

Authors:  Steve P Bernier; Laura Silo-Suh; Donald E Woods; Dennis E Ohman; Pamela A Sokol
Journal:  Infect Immun       Date:  2003-09       Impact factor: 3.441

5.  Identification of specific and universal virulence factors in Burkholderia cenocepacia strains by using multiple infection hosts.

Authors:  Susanne Uehlinger; Stephan Schwager; Steve P Bernier; Kathrin Riedel; David T Nguyen; Pamela A Sokol; Leo Eberl
Journal:  Infect Immun       Date:  2009-06-15       Impact factor: 3.441

6.  An extracellular zinc metalloprotease gene of Burkholderia cepacia.

Authors:  C R Corbett; M N Burtnick; C Kooi; D E Woods; P A Sokol
Journal:  Microbiology       Date:  2003-08       Impact factor: 2.777

7.  Reciprocal regulation by the CepIR and CciIR quorum sensing systems in Burkholderia cenocepacia.

Authors:  Eoin P O'Grady; Duber F Viteri; Rebecca J Malott; Pamela A Sokol
Journal:  BMC Genomics       Date:  2009-09-17       Impact factor: 3.969

8.  Identification of potential therapeutic targets for Burkholderia cenocepacia by comparative transcriptomics.

Authors:  Deborah R Yoder-Himes; Konstantinos T Konstantinidis; James M Tiedje
Journal:  PLoS One       Date:  2010-01-15       Impact factor: 3.240

9.  MicrobesOnline: an integrated portal for comparative and functional genomics.

Authors:  Paramvir S Dehal; Marcin P Joachimiak; Morgan N Price; John T Bates; Jason K Baumohl; Dylan Chivian; Greg D Friedland; Katherine H Huang; Keith Keller; Pavel S Novichkov; Inna L Dubchak; Eric J Alm; Adam P Arkin
Journal:  Nucleic Acids Res       Date:  2009-11-11       Impact factor: 16.971

10.  Transcriptional Adaptation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis within Macrophages: Insights into the Phagosomal Environment.

Authors:  Dirk Schnappinger; Sabine Ehrt; Martin I Voskuil; Yang Liu; Joseph A Mangan; Irene M Monahan; Gregory Dolganov; Brad Efron; Philip D Butcher; Carl Nathan; Gary K Schoolnik
Journal:  J Exp Med       Date:  2003-09-01       Impact factor: 14.307

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  14 in total

1.  Burkholderia cenocepacia virulence microevolution in the CF lung: Variations on a theme.

Authors:  Jonathan J Dennis
Journal:  Virulence       Date:  2016-10-27       Impact factor: 5.882

2.  Gene expression profiling of Burkholderia cenocepacia at the time of cepacia syndrome: loss of motility as a marker of poor prognosis?

Authors:  Lucie Kalferstova; Michal Kolar; Libor Fila; Jolana Vavrova; Pavel Drevinek
Journal:  J Clin Microbiol       Date:  2015-02-18       Impact factor: 5.948

3.  Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Derived Rhamnolipids and Other Detergents Modulate Colony Morphotype and Motility in the Burkholderia cepacia Complex.

Authors:  Steve P Bernier; Courtney Hum; Xiang Li; George A O'Toole; Nathan A Magarvey; Michael G Surette
Journal:  J Bacteriol       Date:  2017-06-13       Impact factor: 3.490

4.  Environmental Burkholderia cenocepacia Strain Enhances Fitness by Serial Passages during Long-Term Chronic Airways Infection in Mice.

Authors:  Alessandra Bragonzi; Moira Paroni; Luisa Pirone; Ivan Coladarci; Fiorentina Ascenzioni; Annamaria Bevivino
Journal:  Int J Mol Sci       Date:  2017-11-14       Impact factor: 5.923

Review 5.  Iron Acquisition Mechanisms and Their Role in the Virulence of Burkholderia Species.

Authors:  Aaron T Butt; Mark S Thomas
Journal:  Front Cell Infect Microbiol       Date:  2017-11-06       Impact factor: 5.293

6.  Proteomics-based identification of differentially abundant proteins reveals adaptation mechanisms of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri during Citrus sinensis infection.

Authors:  Leandro M Moreira; Márcia R Soares; Agda P Facincani; Cristiano B Ferreira; Rafael M Ferreira; Maria I T Ferro; Fábio C Gozzo; Érica B Felestrino; Renata A B Assis; Camila Carrião M Garcia; João C Setubal; Jesus A Ferro; Julio C F de Oliveira
Journal:  BMC Microbiol       Date:  2017-07-11       Impact factor: 3.605

7.  An Oxygen-Sensing Two-Component System in the Burkholderia cepacia Complex Regulates Biofilm, Intracellular Invasion, and Pathogenicity.

Authors:  Matthew M Schaefers; Tiffany L Liao; Nicole M Boisvert; Damien Roux; Deborah Yoder-Himes; Gregory P Priebe
Journal:  PLoS Pathog       Date:  2017-01-03       Impact factor: 6.823

8.  Swimming motility in a longitudinal collection of clinical isolates of Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria from people with cystic fibrosis.

Authors:  James E A Zlosnik; Paul Y Mori; Derek To; James Leung; Trevor J Hird; David P Speert
Journal:  PLoS One       Date:  2014-09-09       Impact factor: 3.240

9.  GvmR - A Novel LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator Involved in Virulence and Primary and Secondary Metabolism of Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Authors:  Linh Tuan Duong; Sandra Schwarz; Harald Gross; Katrin Breitbach; Falko Hochgräfe; Jörg Mostertz; Kristin Eske-Pogodda; Gabriel E Wagner; Ivo Steinmetz; Christian Kohler
Journal:  Front Microbiol       Date:  2018-05-16       Impact factor: 5.640

10.  Genetic Determinants Associated With in Vivo Survival of Burkholderia cenocepacia in the Caenorhabditis elegans Model.

Authors:  Yee-Chin Wong; Moataz Abd El Ghany; Raeece N M Ghazzali; Soon-Joo Yap; Chee-Choong Hoh; Arnab Pain; Sheila Nathan
Journal:  Front Microbiol       Date:  2018-05-29       Impact factor: 5.640

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