Dessication-induced Persistance
Abstract
Bacteria frequently inhabit environments where they experience and survive severe desiccation despite massive cellular dehydration and ensuing starvation. Although desiccation is a common stress for many bacteria we have a limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms supporting non-spore forming bacterial survival under this extreme condition. This lack of knowledge precludes our understanding of potential environmental threats and from utilizing life without water for our benefit. Species of the Gram-negative Acineobacter genus occupy a wide range of environmental niches and are well documented for their ability to survive desiccation for weeks, months, and even years. We performed transcriptome, transposon mutant sequencing, and orfeome overexpression studies to identify genes and cellular processes that support A. baumannii desiccation survival. Our preliminary analysis suggests that desiccation activates toxins from at least three putative toxin-antitoxin modules and causes a shift in A. baumannii s translational capacity, both of which may synergize to promote entry into a lower energy-requiring state for survival. Toxin activation is implicated in the larger phenomenon of cellular dormancy, which allows bacteria to survive a broad range of extreme stresses. Thus desiccation survival may represent a new branch of this important bacterial response. We propose to characterize the regulation and activity of the toxins supporting A. baumannii desiccation survival. These results will broadly impact our understanding of bacterial stress response and environmental persistence.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 04, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1610146
Entities
People
- Bryan W Davies
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Texas at Austin