RNA-Seq reveals that Pseudomonas aeruginosa mounts growth medium-dependent competitive responses when sensing diffusible cues from Burkholderia cenocepacia.

Most habitats host diverse bacterial communities, offering opportunities for inter-species interactions. While competition might often dominate such interactions, little is known about whether bacteria can sense competitors and mount adequate responses. The competition sensing hypothesis proposes that bacteria can use cues such as nutrient stress and cell damage to prepare for battle. Here, we tested this hypothesis by measuring transcriptome changes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa exposed to the supernatant of its competitor Burkholderia cenocepacia. We found that P. aeruginosa exhibited significant growth-medium-dependent transcriptome changes in response to competition. In an iron-rich medium, P. aeruginosa upregulated genes encoding the type-VI secretion system and the siderophore pyoverdine, whereas genes encoding phenazine toxins and hydrogen cyanide were upregulated under iron-limited conditions. Moreover, general stress response and quorum sensing regulators were upregulated upon supernatant exposure. Altogether, our results reveal nuanced competitive responses of P. aeruginosa when confronted with B. cenocepacia supernatant, integrating both environmental and social cues.

Metabolomics and Dual RNA-Sequencing on Root Nodules Revealed New Cellular Functions Controlled by Paraburkholderia phymatum NifA.

Paraburkholderia phymatum STM815 is a nitrogen-fixing endosymbiont that nodulate the agriculturally important Phaseolus vulgaris and several other host plants. We previously showed that the nodules induced by a STM815 mutant of the gene encoding the master regulator of nitrogen fixation NifA showed no nitrogenase activity (Fix-) and increased in number compared to P. vulgaris plants infected with the wild-type strain. To further investigate the role of NifA during symbiosis, nodules from P. phymatum wild-type and nifA mutants were collected and analyzed by metabolomics and dual RNA-Sequencing, allowing us to investigate both host and symbiont transcriptome. Using this approach, several metabolites' changes could be assigned to bacterial or plant responses. While the amount of the C4-dicarboxylic acid succinate and of several amino acids was lower in Fix- nodules, the level of indole-acetamide (IAM) and brassinosteroids increased. Transcriptome analysis identified P. phymatum genes involved in transport of C4-dicarboxylic acids, carbon metabolism, auxin metabolism and stress response to be differentially expressed in absence of NifA. Furthermore, P. vulgaris genes involved in autoregulation of nodulation (AON) are repressed in nodules in absence of NifA potentially explaining the hypernodulation phenotype of the nifA mutant. These results and additional validation experiments suggest that P. phymatum STM815 NifA is not only important to control expression of nitrogenase and related enzymes but is also involved in regulating its own auxin production and stress response. Finally, our data indicate that P. vulgaris does sanction the nifA nodules by depleting the local carbon allocation rather than by mounting a strong systemic immune response to the Fix- rhizobia.

Paraburkholderia phymatum Homocitrate Synthase NifV Plays a Key Role for Nitrogenase Activity during Symbiosis with Papilionoids and in Free-Living Growth Conditions.

Homocitrate is an essential component of the iron-molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenase, the bacterial enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of dinitrogen (N2) to ammonia. In nitrogen-fixing and nodulating alpha-rhizobia, homocitrate is usually provided to bacteroids in root nodules by their plant host. In contrast, non-nodulating free-living diazotrophs encode the homocitrate synthase (NifV) and reduce N2 in nitrogen-limiting free-living conditions. Paraburkholderia phymatum STM815 is a beta-rhizobial strain, which can enter symbiosis with a broad range of legumes, including papilionoids and mimosoids. In contrast to most alpha-rhizobia, which lack nifV, P. phymatum harbors a copy of nifV on its symbiotic plasmid. We show here that P. phymatum nifV is essential for nitrogenase activity both in root nodules of papilionoid plants and in free-living growth conditions. Notably, nifV was dispensable in nodules of Mimosa pudica despite the fact that the gene was highly expressed during symbiosis with all tested papilionoid and mimosoid plants. A metabolome analysis of papilionoid and mimosoid root nodules infected with the P. phymatum wild-type strain revealed that among the approximately 400 measured metabolites, homocitrate and other metabolites involved in lysine biosynthesis and degradation have accumulated in all plant nodules compared to uninfected roots, suggesting an important role of these metabolites during symbiosis.

Investigation of Burkholderia cepacia Complex Methylomes via Single-Molecule, Real-Time Sequencing and Mutant Analysis.

Bacterial genomes can be methylated at particular motifs by methyltransferases (MTs). This DNA modification allows restriction endonucleases (REs) to discriminate between self and foreign DNA. While the accepted primary function of such restriction modification (RM) systems is to degrade incoming foreign DNA, other roles of RM systems and lone RE or MT components have been found in genome protection, stability, and the regulation of various phenotypes. The Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is a group of closely related opportunistic pathogens with biotechnological potential. Here, we constructed and analyzed mutants lacking various RM components in the clinical Bcc isolate Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 and used single-molecule, real-time (SMRT) sequencing of single mutants to assign the B. cenocepacia H111 MTs to their cognate motifs. DNA methylation is shown to affect biofilm formation, cell shape, motility, siderophore production, and membrane vesicle production. Moreover, DNA methylation had a large effect on the maintenance of the Bcc virulence megaplasmid pC3. Our data also suggest that the gp51 MT-encoding gene, which is essential in H111 and is located within a prophage, is required for maintaining the bacteriophage in a lysogenic state, thereby ensuring a constant, low level of phage production within the bacterial population. IMPORTANCE While the genome sequence determines an organism's proteins, methylation of the nucleotides themselves can confer additional properties. In bacteria, MTs modify specific nucleotide motifs to allow discrimination of "self" from "nonself" DNA, e.g., from bacteriophages. Restriction enzymes detect "nonself" methylation patterns and cut foreign DNA. Furthermore, methylation of promoter regions can influence gene expression and hence affect various phenotypes. In this study, we determined the methylated motifs of four strains from the Burkholderia cepacia complex of opportunistic pathogens. We deleted all genes encoding the restriction and modification components in one of these strains, Burkholderia cenocepacia H111. It is shown that DNA methylation affects various phenotypic traits, the most noteworthy being lysogenicity of a bacteriophage and maintenance of a virulence megaplasmid.

Functional Genomics Approaches to Studying Symbioses between Legumes and Nitrogen-Fixing Rhizobia.

Biological nitrogen fixation gives legumes a pronounced growth advantage in nitrogen-deprived soils and is of considerable ecological and economic interest. In exchange for reduced atmospheric nitrogen, typically given to the plant in the form of amides or ureides, the legume provides nitrogen-fixing rhizobia with nutrients and highly specialised root structures called nodules. To elucidate the molecular basis underlying physiological adaptations on a genome-wide scale, functional genomics approaches, such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have been used. This review presents an overview of the different functional genomics approaches that have been performed on rhizobial symbiosis, with a focus on studies investigating the molecular mechanisms used by the bacterial partner to interact with the legume. While rhizobia belonging to the alpha-proteobacterial group (alpha-rhizobia) have been well studied, few studies to date have investigated this process in beta-proteobacteria (beta-rhizobia).

Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Identify Multiple Downstream Targets of Paraburkholderia phymatum σ54 During Symbiosis with Phaseolus vulgaris.

RpoN (or σ54) is the key sigma factor for the regulation of transcription of nitrogen fixation genes in diazotrophic bacteria, which include α- and ß-rhizobia. Our previous studies showed that an rpoN mutant of the ß-rhizobial strain Paraburkholderia phymatum STM815T formed root nodules on Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Negro jamapa, which were unable to reduce atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. In an effort to further characterize the RpoN regulon of P. phymatum, transcriptomics was combined with a powerful metabolomics approach. The metabolome of P. vulgaris root nodules infected by a P. phymatumrpoN Fix- mutant revealed statistically significant metabolic changes compared to wild-type Fix⁺ nodules, including reduced amounts of chorismate and elevated levels of flavonoids. A transcriptome analysis on Fix- and Fix⁺ nodules-combined with a search for RpoN binding sequences in promoter regions of regulated genes-confirmed the expected control of σ54 on nitrogen fixation genes in nodules. The transcriptomic data also allowed us to identify additional target genes, whose differential expression was able to explain the observed metabolite changes in numerous cases. Moreover, the genes encoding the two-component regulatory system NtrBC were downregulated in root nodules induced by the rpoN mutant, and contained a putative RpoN binding motif in their promoter region, suggesting direct regulation. The construction and characterization of an ntrB mutant strain revealed impaired nitrogen assimilation in free-living conditions, as well as a noticeable symbiotic phenotype, as fewer but heavier nodules were formed on P. vulgaris roots.

Biosynthesis of fragin is controlled by a novel quorum sensing signal.

Members of the diazeniumdiolate class of natural compounds show potential for drug development because of their antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and antitumor activities. Yet, their biosynthesis has remained elusive to date. Here, we identify a gene cluster directing the biosynthesis of the diazeniumdiolate compound fragin in Burkholderia cenocepacia H111. We provide evidence that fragin is a metallophore and that metal chelation is the molecular basis of its antifungal activity. A subset of the fragin biosynthetic genes is involved in the synthesis of a previously undescribed cell-to-cell signal molecule, valdiazen. RNA-Seq analyses reveal that valdiazen controls fragin biosynthesis and affects the expression of more than 100 genes. Homologs of the valdiazen biosynthesis genes are found in various bacteria, suggesting that valdiazen-like compounds may constitute a new class of signal molecules. We use structural information, in silico prediction of enzymatic functions and biochemical data to propose a biosynthesis route for fragin and valdiazen.

Transcriptome Analysis of Paraburkholderia phymatum under Nitrogen Starvation and during Symbiosis with Phaseolus Vulgaris.

Paraburkholderia phymatum belongs to the ß-subclass of proteobacteria. It has recently been shown to be able to nodulate and fix nitrogen in symbiosis with several mimosoid and papilionoid legumes. In contrast to the symbiosis of legumes with α-proteobacteria, very little is known about the molecular determinants underlying the successful establishment of this mutualistic relationship with ß-proteobacteria. In this study, we performed an RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of free-living P. phymatum growing under nitrogen-replete and -limited conditions, the latter partially mimicking the situation in nitrogen-deprived soils. Among the genes upregulated under nitrogen limitation, we found genes involved in exopolysaccharides production and in motility, two traits relevant for plant root infection. Next, RNA-seq data of P. phymatum grown under free-living conditions and from symbiotic root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) were generated and compared. Among the genes highly upregulated during symbiosis, we identified-besides the nif gene cluster-an operon encoding a potential cytochrome o ubiquinol oxidase (Bphy_3646-49). Bean root nodules induced by a cyoB mutant strain showed reduced nitrogenase and nitrogen fixation abilities, suggesting an important role of the cytochrome for respiration inside the nodule. The analysis of mutant strains for the RNA polymerase transcription factor RpoN (σ54) and its activator NifA indicated that-similar to the situation in α-rhizobia-P. phymatum RpoN and NifA are key regulators during symbiosis with P. vulgaris.

Competition Experiments for Legume Infection Identify Burkholderia phymatum as a Highly Competitive ß-Rhizobium.

Members of the genus Burkholderia (ß-proteobacteria) have only recently been shown to be able to establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with several legumes, which is why they are also referred to as ß-rhizobia. Therefore, very little is known about the competitiveness of these species to nodulate different legume host plants. In this study, we tested the competitiveness of several Burkholderia type strains (B. diazotrophica, B. mimosarum, B. phymatum, B. sabiae, B. symbiotica and B. tuberum) to nodulate four legumes (Phaseolus vulgaris, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Vigna unguiculata and Mimosa pudica) under our closely defined growth conditions. The assessment of nodule occupancy of these species on different legume host plants revealed that B. phymatum was the most competitive strain in the three papilionoid legumes (bean, cowpea and siratro), while B. mimosarum outcompeted the other strains in mimosa. The analysis of phenotypes known to play a role in nodulation competitiveness (motility, exopolysaccharide production) and additional in vitro competition assays among ß-rhizobial strains suggested that B. phymatum has the potential to be a very competitive legume symbiont.

NtrC-dependent control of exopolysaccharide synthesis and motility in Burkholderia cenocepacia H111.

Burkholderia cenocepacia is a versatile opportunistic pathogen that survives in a wide variety of environments, which can be limited in nutrients such as nitrogen. We have previously shown that the sigma factor σ54 is involved in the control of nitrogen assimilation and virulence in B. cenocepacia H111. In this work, we investigated the role of the σ54 enhancer binding protein NtrC in response to nitrogen limitation and in the pathogenicity of H111. Of 95 alternative nitrogen sources tested the ntrC showed defects in the utilisation of nitrate, urea, L-citrulline, acetamide, DL-lactamide, allantoin and parabanic acid. RNA-Seq and phenotypic analyses of an ntrC mutant strain showed that NtrC positively regulates two important phenotypic traits: exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and motility. However, the ntrC mutant was not attenuated in C. elegans virulence.

Mutations in Two Paraburkholderia phymatum Type VI Secretion Systems Cause Reduced Fitness in Interbacterial Competition.

Paraburkholderia phymatum is a highly effective microsymbiont of Mimosa spp. and has also been shown to nodulate papilionoid legumes. P. phymatum was found to be highly competitive both in a natural environment as well as under controlled test conditions and is more competitive for nodulation over other α- and ß-rhizobial strains in a variety of different plant hosts. In order to elucidate the factors that make this bacterium highly competitive for legume infection, we here characterized the type VI secretion system (T6SS) clusters of P. phymatum. T6SSs have been shown to function as a contact-dependent injection system for both bacterial and eukaryotic cells. We identified two T6SS clusters in the genome, created respective mutant strains and showed that they are defective in biofilm formation and in interbacterial competition in vitro. While the T6SS mutants were as efficient as the wild-type in nodulating the non-cognate host Vigna unguiculata, the mutants were less competitive in in planta competition assays, suggesting that the T6SS is one of the factors responsible for the success of P. phymatum in infecting legumes by directly inhibiting competitors.

Metabolomic Profiling of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens-Induced Root Nodules Reveals Both Host Plant-Specific and Developmental Signatures.

Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens is a nitrogen-fixing endosymbiont, which can grow inside root-nodule cells of the agriculturally important soybean and other host plants. Our previous studies described B. diazoefficiens host-specific global expression changes occurring during legume infection at the transcript and protein level. In order to further characterize nodule metabolism, we here determine by flow injection-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis the metabolome of (i) nodules and roots from four different B. diazoefficiens host plants; (ii) soybean nodules harvested at different time points during nodule development; and (iii) soybean nodules infected by two strains mutated in key genes for nitrogen fixation, respectively. Ribose (soybean), tartaric acid (mungbean), hydroxybutanoyloxybutanoate (siratro) and catechol (cowpea) were among the metabolites found to be specifically elevated in one of the respective host plants. While the level of C4-dicarboxylic acids decreased during soybean nodule development, we observed an accumulation of trehalose-phosphate at 21 days post infection (dpi). Moreover, nodules from non-nitrogen-fixing bacteroids (nifA and nifH mutants) showed specific metabolic alterations; these were also supported by independent transcriptomics data. The alterations included signs of nitrogen limitation in both mutants, and an increased level of a phytoalexin in nodules induced by the nifA mutant, suggesting that the tissue of these nodules exhibits defense and stress reactions.

σ54-Dependent Response to Nitrogen Limitation and Virulence in Burkholderia cenocepacia Strain H111.

Members of the genus Burkholderia are versatile bacteria capable of colonizing highly diverse environmental niches. In this study, we investigated the global response of the opportunistic pathogen Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 to nitrogen limitation at the transcript and protein expression levels. In addition to a classical response to nitrogen starvation, including the activation of glutamine synthetase, PII proteins, and the two-component regulatory system NtrBC, B. cenocepacia H111 also upregulated polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) accumulation and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production in response to nitrogen shortage. A search for consensus sequences in promoter regions of nitrogen-responsive genes identified a σ(54) consensus sequence. The mapping of the σ(54) regulon as well as the characterization of a σ(54) mutant suggests an important role of σ(54) not only in control of nitrogen metabolism but also in the virulence of this organism.

The IclR-family regulator BapR controls biofilm formation in B. cenocepacia H111.

In Burkholderia cenocepacia H111, the large surface protein BapA plays a crucial role in the formation of highly structured communities, known as biofilms. We have recently demonstrated that quorum sensing (QS) is necessary for the maximal expression of bapA. In this study we identify BapR, a protein from the IclR family of transcriptional regulators that, in conjunction with QS, controls biofilm formation by affecting the expression of bapA. We present evidence that, in addition to bapA, BapR influences the expression of extracellular proteases, swimming motility and has a profound impact in the incidence of persister cells, making this regulator an interesting target for persister cells and biofilm eradication.