Necrotrophism Is a Quorum-Sensing-Regulated Lifestyle in Bacillus thuringiensis

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002629
• Publication Date: 2012-04-12T21:07:21Z
• Authors: Thomas Dubois; Karoline Faegri; Stéphane Perchat; Christelle Lemy; Christophe Buisson; Christina Nielsen...; Michel Gohar; Philippe Jacques; Nalini Ramarao; Anne-Brit Kolstø; Didier Lereclus
• Keywords: Bacillus thuringiensis; Multicellular organism; Swarming (honey bee); Swarming motility

How pathogenic bacteria infect and kill their host is currently widely investigated. In comparison, the fate of pathogens after death receives less attention. We studied Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) infection an insect host, show that NprR, a quorum sensor, active allows Bt to survive in cadavers as vegetative cells. Transcriptomic analysis revealed NprR regulates at least 41 genes, including many encoding degradative enzymes or proteins involved synthesis nonribosomal peptide named kurstakin. These are essential vitro degrade several substrates specifically expressed suggesting has necrotrophic lifestyle cadaver. kurstakin for survival during development. It required swarming mobility biofilm formation, presumably through pore forming activity. A nprR deficient mutant does not develop necrotrophically sporulate efficiently report necrotrophism highly regulated mechanism infectious cycle, contributing spore spreading.