Elucidating Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence gene regulation by the ribbon-helix-helix transcription factor AmrZ

Abstract

The opportunistic pathogen <italic>Pseudomonas aeruginosa </italic> causes a myriad of infections to immunosuppressed patients, including endocarditis, microbial keratitis of the eye, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and chronic lung infection in patients with cystic fibrosis. The underlying cause of the severity of these infections is due in part to the arsenal of virulence factors <italic>P. aeruginosa</italic> has at its disposal, which include biofilm formation, lipopolysaccharide, quorum sensing, and exotoxin production, among others. AmrZ, a member of the ribbon-helix-helix family of DNA binding proteins, regulates several virulence factors, including alginate biosynthesis, flagellum expression, and type IV pili localization and twitching motility. AmrZ also acts as an autorepressor by binding two sites on its own promoter.