The broad host range pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14 carries two pathogenicity islands harboring plant and animal virulence genes

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0304622101
• Publication Date: 2004-02-24T23:03:03Z
• Authors: Jianxin He; Regina L. Baldini; Eric Déziel; Maude Saucier; Qunhao Zhang; Nicole T. Liberati; Daniel Lee; Jonathan Urbach; Howard M. Goodman; Laurence G. Rahme
• Keywords: ORFS; Pathogenicity island

The ubiquitous bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the quintessential opportunistic pathogen. Certain isolates infect a broad range of host organisms, from plants to humans. pathogenic promiscuity particular variants may reflect an increased virulence gene repertoire beyond core P. genome. We have identified and characterized two pathogenicity islands (PAPI-1 PAPI-2) in genome PA14, highly virulent clinical isolate. 108-kb PAPI-1 11-kb PAPI-2, which are absent less reference strain PAO1, exhibit modular structures, revealing their complex derivations wide array bacterial species mobile elements. Most genes within these that homologous known occur other human plant pathogens. For example, carries complete cluster predicted encode type IV group B pilus, well adhesin PAO1. However, >80% DNA sequence unique, 75 its 115 ORF products unrelated any proteins or functional domains. Significantly, many ORFs also several cystic fibrosis isolates. Twenty-three PAPI were mutated, 19 found be necessary for full animal virulence, with 11 required both. large set “extra” functions encoded by both PAPIs contribute strains, directing additional functions.