Phenotypic variation in Photorhabdus temperata K122

Photorhabdus spp. are Gram negative enterobacteria which have a life cycle involving mutualism with a nematode partner and pathogenicity towards insects. Photorhabdus reside as intestinal symbionts of the infective juvenile (IJ) stage of entomopathogenic nematodes of the Heterorhabditis family. The bacteria and its nematode partner together form an insect killing (entomopathogenic) complex that kills the soil dwelling larval stages of a wide variety of insect species. Photorhabdus spp. have the ability to exist in either of two phenotypically different forms. The bacterial form isolated from the nematode is referred to as the primary phenotype variant, whilst the phenotypically different form is referred to as secondary phenotype variant. This secondary variant is isolated after prolonged stationary phase growth of the primary variant. The secondary variant does not support mutualism with the nematode partner and does not produce pigment, bioluminescence, extracellular enzymes, antibiotics and displays a different colony morphology to the primary variant. Study of the phenotypic switch undergone by Photorhabdus has identified two signalling pathways which play a role in the regulation of phenotypic variation - the LysR-type transcriptional regulator HexA and the ‘adaptation to stationary phase’ AstR-AstS two component signal transduction system. A putative DNA binding protein, Ner, has also been shown to influence the phenotypic switch when overexpressed. This study has confirmed the role of HexA in the regulation of symbiosis, virulence and phenotypic variation in P. temperata K122 and furthermore, has identified a role for HexA in regulating the small RNA global regulator csrB. Other genes, including hipB (part of a toxin/antitoxin system) and sdiA a LuxR type regulator have also been identified as having potential roles in phenotypic variation. A broad range of other genes that influence phenotypic variation either directly or indirectly have also been identified, providing further insight into the reasons for the occurrence of phenotypic variation in P. temperata K122.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

National University of Ireland Maynooth

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• McWeeney, Hilton Donal

• Biology

Language dc:language

en