Genome-wide phenotypic profiling of transcription factors and identification of novel targets to control the virulence of Vibrio vulnificus

Abstract

For successful infection, the life-threatening pathogen Vibrio vulnificus elaborately regulates the expression of survival and virulence genes using various transcription factors (TFs). In this study, a library of the V. vulnificus mutants carrying specific signature tags in 285 TF genes was constructed and subjected to 16 phenotypic analyses. Consequently, 89 TFs affecting more than one phenotype of V. vulnificus were identified. Of these, 59 TFs affected the in vitro survival including growth, stress resistance, biofilm formation and motility, and 64 TFs affected the virulence of V. vulnificus. Particularly, 27 of the 64 TFs enhanced the in vitro hemolytic or cytotoxic activities, and 8 of the 27 TFs also increased the in vivo brine shrimp or murine infectivities of V. vulnificus. Among the eight TFs, HlyU, IscR, NagC, MetJ and Tet2 did not affect the growth of V. vulnificus but still regulated the expression of major exotoxin genes, including rtxA, vvhA and plpA, thereby emerging as potential drug targets for anti-virulence therapies with low selective pressure for developing resistance. Altogether, this study characterized the functions of TFs at a genome-wide scale and identified novel targets to control the virulence of V. vulnificus.