Bacterial gene expression in response to catecholamine stress hormones

Abstract

Bacteria–host communication plays a crucial role in symbiosis and pathogenesis. Investigations of pathogenic bacterial responses to host neurotransmitters, including catecholamines, have been the subject of several studies. Both Epinephrine (Epi) and Norepinephrine (NE) catecholamines can modulate bacterial physiology, affecting growth, motility, biofilm formation, virulence, and interactions with eukaryotic cells. This has been widely described in Gram-negative bacteria and mostly for pathogens (i.e. Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella enterica, and Vibrio cholerae). In this review, we focused on whole and targeted bacterial gene expression that have been modulated upon exposure to Epi and NE catecholamines. A wide range of these genes were involved in various physiological aspects (i.e. general metabolism, stress responses, uptake/transport, motility, biofilm, and virulence).