Deletion of two-component system QseBC weakened virulence of Glaesserella parasuis in a murine acute infection model and adhesion to host cells

Xuefeng Yan; Ke Dai; Congwei Gu; Zehui Yu; Manli He; Wudian Xiao; Mingde Zhao; Lvqin He

doi:10.7717/peerj.13648

Deletion of two-component system QseBC weakened virulence of Glaesserella parasuis in a murine acute infection model and adhesion to host cells

PeerJ. 2022 Jun 24:10:e13648. doi: 10.7717/peerj.13648. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Xuefeng Yan^#¹, Ke Dai^#², Congwei Gu¹, Zehui Yu¹, Manli He¹, Wudian Xiao¹, Mingde Zhao¹, Lvqin He¹

Affiliations

¹ Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
² Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

The widespread two-component system (TCS), QseBC, involves vital virulence regulators in Enterobacteriaceae and Pasteurellaceae. Here we studied the function of QseBC in Glaesserella parasuis. A ΔqseBC mutant was constructed using a Glaesserella parasuis serovar 11 clinical strain SC1401 by natural transformation. Immunofluorescence was used to evaluate cellular adhesion, the levels of inflammation and apoptosis. The ability of ΔqseBC and ΔqseC mutant strains to adhere to PAM and MLE-12 cells was significantly reduced. Additionally, by focusing on the clinical signs, H&E, and IFA for inflammation and apoptosis, we found that the ΔqseBC mutant weakened virulence in the murine models. Together, these findings suggest that QseBC plays an important role in the virulence of Glaesserella parasuis.

Keywords: Adherence; Glaesserella parasuis; QseBC; Quorum sensing; TCS; Virulence.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Enterobacteriaceae*
Inflammation*
Mice
Virulence / genetics

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the Science and Technology Strategic Cooperation Programs of Luzhou Municipal People’s Government and Southwest Medical University (2019LZXNYDJ20) and University Sponsered Research Program of Southwest Medical University (2020ZRQNA010). The funding body supported preparation of test materials, and had no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.