Expression profiles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa TBCF10839 wild type and nadk1 mutant under oxidative stress conditions

Phagocytosis and killing of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) is the major antipseudomonal host defense of vertebrates. By screening a transposon library of the clinical P. aeruginosa isolate TBCF10839 that can grow and replicate in PMNs, a mutant was identified that was most strongly sensitized to killing by PMNs. The inactivated gene PA1572 termed nadK1 was found to encode an ATP:NAD kinase. The transcriptomes of the TBCF10839 wild type and nadK1 mutant were investigated in the presence of PMNs or H2O2. Exposure to H2O2 led to diametrical mRNA expression profiles. H2O2-degrading enzymes were upregulated by wild type, but not by nadK1 mutant. This data demonstrates that NadK1 is crucial for the response of P. aeruginosa to reactive oxygen species.

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