BfmRS encodes a regulatory system involved in light signal transduction modulating motility and desiccation tolerance in the human pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii

PEREZ MORA, BÁRBARA; GIORDANO, ROCÍO; PERMINGEAT, VALENTÍN; CALDERONE, MALENA; ARANA, NATALIA; MÜLLER, GABRIELA; RODRIGEZ, RAMIRO; KRASAUSKAS, RENATAS; MUSSI, MARÍA ALEJANDRA

scientific reports

Springer Nature

Año: 2023

We have previously shown that Acinetobacter baumannii as well as other relevant clinical bacterialpathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, perceive and respond to lightat 37 °C, the normal temperature in mammal hosts. In this work, we present evidence indicating thatthe two-component system BfmRS transduces a light signal in A. baumannii at this temperature,showing selective involvement of the BfmR and BfmS components depending on the specific cellularprocess. In fact, both BfmR and BfmS participate in modulation of motility by light, while only BfmRis involved in light regulation of desiccation tolerance in this microorganism. Neither BfmR norBfmS contain a photoreceptor domain and then most likely, the system is sensing light indirectly.Intriguingly, this system inhibits blsA expression at 37 °C, suggesting antagonistic functioning of bothsignaling systems. Furthermore, we present evidence indicating that the phosphorylatable form ofBfmR represses motility. Overall, we provide experimental evidence on a new biological function ofthis multifaceted system that broadens our understanding of A. baumannii’s physiology and responsesto light.