Decoding a Second-Messenger's Message Biofilms are aggregates of bacteria on surface often associated with increased resistance to antibiotics and stress. In Vibrio cholerae , the bacterial species that causes cholera, biofilm formation is promoted by second-messenger cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) involves transcription regulator, VpsT. Krasteva et al. (p. 866 ) show VpsT itself receptor for c-di-GMP binding small signaling molecule promotes dimerization, which required DNA recognition...

Many benthic marine animal populations are established and maintained by free-swimming larvae that recognize cues from surface-bound bacteria to settle metamorphose. Larvae of the tubeworm Hydroides elegans, an important biofouling agent, require contact with undergo metamorphosis; however, mechanisms underpin this microbially mediated developmental transition have been enigmatic. Here, we show a bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea, produces arrays phage tail-like structures trigger...

Significance Free-swimming larvae of many animals that inhabit the sea floor metamorphose in response to bacteria. However, molecular mechanisms underpin animal metamorphosis bacterial triggers remain elusive. We investigated developmental cascade induced by bacteria a model tubeworm, Hydroides elegans , and identified mutant host signaling system critical for initiation tissue remodeling during metamorphic development, respectively. Identifying has implications understanding basic...

The swimming larvae of many marine animals identify a location on the sea floor to undergo metamorphosis based presence specific bacteria. Although this microbe–animal interaction is critical for life cycles diverse animals, what types biochemical cues from bacteria that induce has been mystery. Metamorphosis tubeworm Hydroides elegans induced by arrays phage tail-like contractile injection systems, which are released bacterium Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea. Here we novel effector protein...

The enteric bacterium and potential human pathogen, Escherichia coli, is known to persist in tropical soils coastal waters. Vibrio cholerae causes the disease cholera inhabits marine environments including microbial films on submerged surfaces. abundances of E. coli V. were quantified biofilm water-column samples from three harbors Honolulu, Hawai'i, which differ their local international ship traffic. and, some cases cholerae, occurred relatively high biofilms formed abiotic surfaces,...

Many bacteria interact with target organisms using syringe-like structures called contractile injection systems (CISs). CISs structurally resemble headless bacteriophages and share evolutionarily related proteins such as the tail tube, sheath, baseplate complex. In many cases, mediate trans-kingdom interactions between eukaryotes by delivering effectors to cells. However, specific their modes of action are often unknown. Here, we establish an ex vivo model study extracellular CIS (eCIS)...

ABSTRACT Vibrio cholerae causes the disease cholera and inhabits aquatic environments. One key factor in environmental survival of V. is its ability to form matrix-enclosed, surface-associated microbial communities known as biofilms. Mature biofilms rely on polysaccharide connect cells each other a surface. We previously described core regulatory network, which consists two positive transcriptional regulators, VpsR VpsT, negative regulator HapR, that controls biofilm formation by regulating...

ABSTRACT Vibrio cholerae is a facultative human pathogen. In its aquatic habitat and as it passes through the digestive tract, V. must cope with fluctuations in salinity. We analyzed genome-wide transcriptional profile of grown at different NaCl concentrations determined that expression compatible solute biosynthesis transporter genes, virulence genes involved adhesion biofilm formation differentially regulated. salinity modulates formation, this response was mediated regulators VpsR VpsT....

The second messenger, cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP), regulates diverse cellular processes in bacteria. C-di-GMP is produced by cyclases (DGCs), degraded phosphodiesterases (PDEs), and receptors couple c-di-GMP production to responses. In many bacteria, including Vibrio cholerae, multiple DGCs PDEs contribute signaling, it currently unclear whether the compartmentalization of signaling components required mediate signal transduction. this study we show that transcriptional regulator, VpsT,...

Biofilms are a ubiquitous feature of microbial community structure in both natural and host environments; they enhance transmission infectivity pathogens provide protection from human defense mechanisms antibiotics. However, few products known that impact biofilm formation or persistence for either environmental pathogenic bacteria. Using the combination novel library fish microbiome an image-based screen inhibition, we describe identification taurine-conjugated bile acids as inhibitors...

Bacterial biofilms are assemblages of bacterial cells and extracellular matrix that result in the creation surface-associated macrocolony formation. Most bacteria capable forming under suitable conditions. Biofilm formation by pathogenic on medical implant devices has been linked to rejection up 10% cases, due biofilm-related secondary infections. In addition, biofilm implicated both persistence antibiotic resistance. this study, a method developed for discovery small molecule inhibitors...

Summary Vibrio cholerae inhabits aquatic environments and colonizes the human digestive tract to cause disease cholera. In these environments, V. copes with fluctuations in salinity osmolarity by producing transporting small, organic, highly soluble molecules called compatible solutes, which counteract extracellular osmotic pressure. Currently, it is unclear how regulates expression of genes important for biosynthesis or transport solutes response changing conditions. Through a genome‐wide...

Planktonic larvae of many sessile marine invertebrates settle and metamorphose preferentially on surfaces covered by bacterial biofilms. The polychaete tubeworm Hydroides elegans is induced to biofilms the primary colonizer newly submerged in succession macrofouling Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA. This study examines community composition cell density biofilms, how temporal changes affect settlement H. . Settlement assays were conducted naturally formed increasing age from Harbor. Denaturing...

Abstract The sedimentary record of molecular fossils (biomarkers) can potentially provide important insights into the composition ancient organisms; however, it only captures a small portion their original lipid content. To interpret what remains, is to consider potential for functional overlap between different lipids in living cells, and how presence one type might impact abundance another. Hopanoids are diverse class steroid analogs made by bacteria found soils, sediments, rocks. Here, we...

A conspicuous roadblock to studying marine bacteria for fundamental research and biotechnology is a lack of modular synthetic biology tools their genetic manipulation. Here, we applied, generated new parts for, plasmid toolkit study in the context symbioses host-microbe interactions. To demonstrate utility this system, genetically manipulated bacterium Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea, which stimulates metamorphosis model tubeworm, Hydroides elegans. Using these tools, quantified constitutive...

Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea is a globally distributed marine bacterium that stimulates the metamorphosis of animal larvae, an important bacteria-animal interaction can promote recruitment animals to benthic ecosystems. Recently, different P. isolates have been shown produce two stimulatory factors induce tubeworm and coral metamorphosis; Metamorphosis-Associated Contractile structures (MACs) tetrabromopyrrole (TBP) respectively. However, it remains unclear what proportion possess genes...

External environmental cues can have significant impacts on the timing and outcomes of animal development. For swimming larvae many marine invertebrates, presence specific surface-bound bacteria are important that help identify a suitable location sea floor for metamorphosis adult life. While in response to occurs diverse animals from across tree life, we know little about signal transduction cascades stimulated at onset upon their interaction with bacteria. The model tubeworm, Hydroides...

A conspicuous roadblock to studying marine bacteria for fundamental research and biotechnology is a lack of modular synthetic biology tools their genetic manipulation. Here, we applied, generated new parts for, plasmid toolkit study in the context symbioses host-microbe interactions. To demonstrate utility this system, genetically manipulated bacterium Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea , which stimulates metamorphosis model tubeworm, Hydroides elegans . Using these tools, quantified...

An important factor dictating coral fitness is the quality of bacteria associated with corals and reefs. One way that benefit by stimulating larval to juvenile life cycle transition settlement metamorphosis. Tetrabromopyrrole (TBP) a small molecule produced stimulates metamorphosis without attachment in range species. A standing debate remains, however, about whether TBP biosynthesis from live Pseudoalteromonas primary stimulant In this study, we create sp. PS5 mutant lacking brominase gene,...

Recent research on host-microbe interactions has focused intimate symbioses. Yet transient interactions, such as the stimulation of animal metamorphosis by bacteria, can have significant impacts each partner.

Many commensal bacteria antagonize each other or their host by producing syringe-like secretion systems called contractile injection (CIS). Members of the Bacteroidales family have been shown to produce only one type CIS-a contact-dependent 6 system that mediates bacterium-bacterium interactions. Here, we show a second distinct cluster genes from human microbiome may encode yet-uncharacterized term (BIS). We found BIS are present in gut microbiomes 99% individuals United States and Europe...

Abstract Background The biofouling marine tube worm, Hydroides elegans , is an indirect developing polychaete with significance as a model organism for questions in developmental biology and the evolution of host‐microbe interactions. However, complete description life cycle from fertilization through sexual maturity remains scattered literature, lacks standardization. Results discussion Here, we present unified staging scheme synthesizing major morphological changes that occur during entire...