Gene PA2449 is essential for glycine metabolism and pyocyanin biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Antibiotic influx and efflux in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Regulation and therapeutic implications

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a notorious multidrug-resistant pathogen that poses a serious and growing threat to the worldwide public health. The expression of resistance determinants is exquisitely modulated by the abundant regulatory proteins and the intricate signal sensing and transduction systems in this pathogen. Downregulation of antibiotic influx porin proteins and upregulation of antibiotic efflux pump systems owing to mutational changes in their regulators or the presence of distinct inducing molecular signals represent two of the most efficient mechanisms that restrict intracellular antibiotic accumulation and enable P. aeruginosa to resist multiple antibiotics. Treatment of P. aeruginosa infections is extremely challenging due to the highly inducible mechanism of antibiotic resistance. This review comprehensively summarizes the regulatory networks of the major porin proteins (OprD and OprH) and efflux pumps (MexAB-OprM, MexCD-OprJ, MexEF-OprN, and MexXY) that play critical roles in antibiotic influx and efflux in P. aeruginosa. It also discusses promising therapeutic approaches using safe and efficient adjuvants to enhance the efficacy of conventional antibiotics to combat multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa by controlling the expression levels of porins and efflux pumps. This review not only highlights the complexity of the regulatory network that induces antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa but also provides important therapeutic implications in targeting the inducible mechanism of resistance.

Comparative proteomics unveils the bacteriostatic mechanisms of Ga(III) on the regulation of metabolic pathways in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Gallium has a long history as a chemotherapeutic agent. The mechanisms of action of Ga(III)-based anti-infectives are different from conventional antibiotics, which primarily result from the chemical similarities of Ga(III) with Fe(III) and substitution of gallium into iron-dependent biological pathways. However, more aspects of the molecular mechanisms of Ga(III) against human pathogens, especially the effects on bacterial metabolic processes, remain to be understood. Herein, by using conventional quantitative proteomics, we identified the protein changes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in response to Ga(NO3)3 treatment. We show that Ga(III) exhibits bacteriostatic mode of action against P. aeruginosa through affecting the expressions of a number of key enzymes in the main metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, TCA cycle, amino acid metabolism, and protein and nucleic acid biosynthesis. In addition, decreased expressions of proteins associated with pathogenesis and virulence of P. aeruginosa were also identified. Moreover, the correlations between protein expressions and metabolome changes in P. aeruginosa upon Ga(III) treatment were identified and discussed. Our findings thus expand the understanding on the antimicrobial mechanisms of Ga(III) that shed light on enhanced therapeutic strategies. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Mounting evidence suggest that the efficacy and resistance of clinical antibiotics are closely related to the metabolic homeostasis in bacterial pathogens. Ga(III)-based compounds have been repurposed as antibacterial therapeutic candidates against antibiotics resistant pathogens, and represent a safe and promising treatment for clinical human infections, while more thorough understandings of how bacteria respond to Ga(III) treatment are needed. In the present study, we provide evidences at the proteome level that indicate Ga(III)-induced metabolic perturbations in P. aeruginosa. We identified and discussed the interference of Ga(III) on the expressions and activities of enzymes in the main metabolic pathways in P. aeruginosa. In view of our previous report that the antimicrobial efficacy of Ga(III) could be modulated according to Ga(III)-induced metabolome changes in P. aeruginosa, our current analyses may provide theoretical basis at the proteome level for the development of efficient gallium-based therapies by exploiting bacterial metabolic mechanisms.

The Enhancer-Binding Protein MifR, an Essential Regulator of α-Ketoglutarate Transport, Is Required for Full Virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 in a Mouse Model of Pneumonia

The opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 has an extensive metabolism, enabling it to utilize a wide range of structurally diverse compounds to meet its nutritional and energy needs. Interestingly, the utilization of some of the more unusual compounds often associated with a eukaryotic-host environment is regulated via enhancer-binding proteins (EBPs) in P. aeruginosa. Whether the utilization of such compounds and the EBPs involved contribute to the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa remains to be fully understood. To narrow this gap, we investigated the roles of the EBPs EatR (regulator of ethanolamine catabolism), DdaR (regulator of methylarginine catabolism), and MifR (regulator of α-ketoglutarate or α-KG transport) in the virulence of P. aeruginosa PAO1 in a pneumonia-induced septic mouse model. Deletion of genes encoding EatR and DdaR had no significant effect on the mortality of P. aeruginosa PAO1-infected mice compared to wide-type (WT) PAO1-infected mice. In contrast, infected mice with ΔmifR mutant exhibited a significant reduction (~50%) in the mortality rate compared with WT PAO1 (P < 0.05). Infected mice with ΔmifR PAO1 had lower lung injury scores, fewer inflammatory cells, decreased proinflammatory cytokines, and decreased apoptosis and cell death compared to mice infected with WT PAO1 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, molecular analysis revealed decreased NLRP3 inflammasome activation in infected mice with ΔmifR PAO1 compared to WT PAO1 (P < 0.05). These results suggested that the utilization of α-KG was a contributing factor in P. aeruginosa-mediated pneumonia and sepsis and that MifR-associated regulation may be a potential therapeutic target for P. aeruginosa infectious disease.

The Regulatory Functions of σ54 Factor in Phytopathogenic Bacteria

σ⁵⁴ factor (RpoN), a type of transcriptional regulatory factor, is widely found in pathogenic bacteria. It binds to core RNA polymerase (RNAP) and regulates the transcription of many functional genes in an enhancer-binding protein (EBP)-dependent manner. σ⁵⁴ has two conserved functional domains: the activator-interacting domain located at the N-terminal and the DNA-binding domain located at the C-terminal. RpoN directly binds to the highly conserved sequence, GGN₁₀GC, at the −24/−12 position relative to the transcription start site of target genes. In general, bacteria contain one or two RpoNs but multiple EBPs. A single RpoN can bind to different EBPs in order to regulate various biological functions. Thus, the overlapping and unique regulatory pathways of two RpoNs and multiple EBP-dependent regulatory pathways form a complex regulatory network in bacteria. However, the regulatory role of RpoN and EBPs is still poorly understood in phytopathogenic bacteria, which cause economically important crop diseases and pose a serious threat to world food security. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the regulatory function of RpoN, including swimming motility, flagella synthesis, bacterial growth, type IV pilus (T4Ps), twitching motility, type III secretion system (T3SS), and virulence-associated phenotypes in phytopathogenic bacteria. These findings and knowledge prove the key regulatory role of RpoN in bacterial growth and pathogenesis, as well as lay the groundwork for further elucidation of the complex regulatory network of RpoN in bacteria.

Cysteamine Inhibits Glycine Utilisation and Disrupts Virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major opportunistic human pathogen which employs a myriad of virulence factors. In people with cystic fibrosis (CF) P. aeruginosa frequently colonises the lungs and becomes a chronic infection that evolves to become less virulent over time, but often adapts to favour persistence in the host with alginate-producing mucoid, slow-growing, and antibiotic resistant phenotypes emerging. Cysteamine is an endogenous aminothiol which has been shown to prevent biofilm formation, reduce phenazine production, and potentiate antibiotic activity against P. aeruginosa, and has been investigated in clinical trials as an adjunct therapy for pulmonary exacerbations of CF. Here we demonstrate (for the first time in a prokaryote) that cysteamine prevents glycine utilisation by P. aeruginosa in common with previously reported activity blocking the glycine cleavage system in human cells. Despite the clear inhibition of glycine metabolism, cysteamine also inhibits hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production by P. aeruginosa, suggesting a direct interference in the regulation of virulence factor synthesis. Cysteamine impaired chemotaxis, lowered pyocyanin, pyoverdine and exopolysaccharide production, and reduced the toxicity of P. aeruginosa secreted factors in a Galleria mellonella infection model. Thus, cysteamine has additional potent anti-virulence properties targeting P. aeruginosa, further supporting its therapeutic potential in CF and other infections.

MifS, a DctB family histidine kinase, is a specific regulator of α-ketoglutarate response in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

The C5-dicarboxylate α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) is a preferred nutrient source for the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, very little is known about how P. aeruginosa detects and responds to α-KG in the environment. Our laboratory has previously shown that the MifS/MifR two-component signal transduction system regulates α-KG assimilation in P. aeruginosa PAO1. In an effort to better understand how this bacterium detects α-KG, we characterized the MifS sensor histidine kinase. In this study we show that although MifS is a homologue of the C4-dicarboxylate sensor DctB, it specifically responds to the C5-dicarboxylate α-KG. MifS activity increased >10-fold in the presence of α-KG, while the related C5-dicarboxylate glutarate caused only a 2-fold increase in activity. All other dicarboxylates tested did not show any significant effect on MifS activity. Homology modelling of the MifS sensor domain revealed a substrate binding pocket for α-KG. Using protein modelling and mutational analysis, we identified nine residues that are important for α-KG response, including one residue that determines the substrate specificity of MifS. Further, we found that MifS has a novel cytoplasmic linker domain that is required for α-KG response and is probably involved in signal transduction from the sensor domain to the cytoplasmic transmitter domain. Until this study, DctB family histidine kinases were known to only respond to C4-dicarboxylates. Our work shows that MifS is a novel member of the DctB family histidine kinase that specifically responds to α-KG.

GAUGE-Annotated Microbial Transcriptomic Data Facilitate Parallel Mining and High-Throughput Reanalysis To Form Data-Driven Hypotheses

The NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) provides tools to query and download transcriptomic data. However, less than 4% of microbial experiments include the sample group annotations required to assess differential gene expression for high-throughput reanalysis, and data deposited after 2014 universally lack these annotations. Our algorithm GAUGE (general annotation using text/data group ensembles) automatically annotates GEO microbial data sets, including microarray and RNA sequencing studies, increasing the percentage of data sets amenable to analysis from 4% to 33%. Eighty-nine percent of GAUGE-annotated studies matched group assignments generated by human curators. To demonstrate how GAUGE annotation can lead to scientific insight, we created GAPE (GAUGE-annotated Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli transcriptomic compendia for reanalysis), a Shiny Web interface to analyze 73 GAUGE-annotated P. aeruginosa studies, three times more than previously available. GAPE analysis revealed that PA3923, a gene of unknown function, was frequently differentially expressed in more than 50% of studies and significantly coregulated with genes involved in biofilm formation. Follow-up wet-bench experiments demonstrate that PA3923 mutants are indeed defective in biofilm formation, consistent with predictions facilitated by GAUGE and GAPE. We anticipate that GAUGE and GAPE, which we have made freely available, will make publicly available microbial transcriptomic data easier to reuse and lead to new data-driven hypotheses.

IMPORTANCE GEO archives transcriptomic data from over 5,800 microbial experiments and allows researchers to answer questions not directly addressed in published papers. However, less than 4% of the microbial data sets include the sample group annotations required for high-throughput reanalysis. This limitation blocks a considerable amount of microbial transcriptomic data from being reused easily. Here, we demonstrate that the GAUGE algorithm could make 33% of microbial data accessible to parallel mining and reanalysis. GAUGE annotations increase statistical power and, thereby, make consistent patterns of differential gene expression easier to identify. In addition, we developed GAPE (GAUGE-annotated Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli transcriptomic compendia for reanalysis), a Shiny Web interface that performs parallel analyses on P. aeruginosa and E. coli compendia. Source code for GAUGE and GAPE is freely available and can be repurposed to create compendia for other bacterial species.

Author Video: An author video summary of this article is available.

Utilization of L-glutamate as a preferred or sole nutrient in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 depends on genes encoding for the enhancer-binding protein AauR, the sigma factor RpoN and the transporter complex AatJQMP

Background

Glutamate and aspartate are preferred nutrients for a variety of microorganisms. In the case for many Pseudomonas spp., utilization of these amino acids is believed to be dependent on a transporter complex comprised of a periplasmic-solute binding protein (AatJ), two permease domains (AatQM) and an ATP-binding component (AatP). Notably, expression of this transporter complex is hypothesized to be regulated at the transcriptional level by the enhancer-binding protein AauR and the alternative sigma factor RpoN. The purpose of the current study was to determine the biological significance of the putative aatJ-aatQMP operon and its regulatory aauR and rpoN genes in the utilization of L-glutamate, L-glutamine, L-aspartate and L-asparagine in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

Results

Deletion of the aatJ-aatQMP, aauR or rpoN genes did not affect the growth of P. aeruginosa PAO1 on L-glutamate, L-glutamine, L-aspartate and L-asparagine equally. Instead, only growth on L-glutamate as the sole carbon source was abolished with the deletion of any one of these genes. Interestingly, growth of the aauR mutant on L-glutamate was readily restored via plasmid-based expression of the aatQMP genes, suggesting that it is the function of AatQMP (and not AatJ) that is limiting in the absence of the aauR gene. Subsequent analysis of beta-galactosidase reporters revealed that both aatJ and aatQ were induced in response to L-glutamate, L-glutamine, L-aspartate or L-asparagine in a manner dependent on the aauR and rpoN genes. In addition, both aatJ and aatQ were expressed at reduced levels in the absence of the inducing-amino acids and the regulatory aauR and rpoN genes. The expression of the aatJ-aatQMP genes is, therefore, multifaceted. Lastly, the expression levels of aatJ were significantly higher (> 5 fold) than that of aatQ under all tested conditions.

Conclusions

The primary function of AauR in P. aeruginosa PAO1 is to activate expression of the aatJ-aatQMP genes in response to exogenous acidic amino acids and their amide derivatives. Importantly, it is the AauR-RpoN mediated induction of the aatQMP genes that is the pivotal factor enabling P. aeruginosa PAO1 to effectively utilize or consume L-glutamate as a sole or preferred nutrient.

Colour Me Blue: The History and the Biotechnological Potential of Pyocyanin

Pyocyanin was the first natural phenazine described. The molecule is synthesized by about 95% of the strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. From discovery up to now, pyocyanin has been characterised by a very rich and avant-garde history, which includes its use in antimicrobial therapy, even before the discovery of penicillin opened the era of antibiotic therapy, as well as its use in electric current generation. Exhibiting an exuberant blue colour and being easy to obtain, this pigment is the subject of the present review, aiming to narrate its history as well as to unveil its mechanisms and suggest new horizons for applications in different areas of engineering, biology and biotechnology.

Electrochemical detection of redox molecules secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa - Part 1: Electrochemical signatures of different strains

During infections, fast identification of the microorganisms is critical to improve patient treatment and to better manage antibiotics use. Electrochemistry exhibits several advantages for rapid diagnostic: it enables easy, cheap and in situ analysis of redox molecules in most liquids. In this work, several culture supernatants of different Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains (including PAO1 and its isogenic mutants PAO1ΔpqsA, PA14, PAK and CHA) were analyzed by square wave voltammetry on glassy carbon electrode during the bacterial growth. The obtained voltamograms shown complex traces exhibiting numerous redox peaks with potential repartitions and current amplitudes depending on the studied bacterium and/or growth time. Among them, some peaks were clearly associated to the well-known redox toxin Pyocyanin (PYO) and the autoinducer Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal (PQS). Other peaks were observed that are not yet attributed to known secreted species. Each complex electrochemical response (number of peaks, peak potential and amplitude) can be interpreted as a fingerprint or "ID-card" of the studied strain that may be implemented for fast bacteria strain identification.

A new strategy for the efficient production of pyocyanin, a versatile pigment, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa OG1 via toluene addition

Pseudomonas aeruginosa produce pyocyanin, which is an extracellular secondary metabolite and multifunctional pigment. In this study, the effects of several surfactants (Tween 20, Tween 80 and Triton X-100) and organic solvents (toluene and chloroform) on pyocyanin production and cell growth were investigated in submerged culture of P. aeruginosa OG1. Organic solvents were found to be more effective in the production of pyocyanin. The maximum production of pyocyanin (33 mg/L) was achieved when 0.2% toluene was added at the stationary growth phase (30 h), corresponding to significant increase of 312% compared with the control (8 mg/L). With the addition of toluene, pyocyanin production was significantly increased, but bacterial biomass reduced. Production of alkaline protease was also affected by toluene addition. It was found that the ratio of saturated/unsaturated fatty acids in the bacterial biomass significantly increased when toluene addition to the medium. This study revealed that with a novel strategy, the addition of toluene to the fermentation medium significantly increased pyocyanin production. These findings suggest that solvent-assisted fermentation strategy can be used in microbial fermentations to increase the production of biotechnological products such as industrially important pigment and enzyme. This study is a first investigation on the stimulation of pyocyanin release in the medium of P. aeruginosa cultures by the addition of toluene.

SfnR2 Regulates Dimethyl Sulfide-Related Utilization in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is a volatile sulfur compound produced mainly from the degradation of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in marine environments. DMS undergoes oxidation to form dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethyl sulfone (DMSO₂), and methanesulfonate (MSA), all of which occur in terrestrial environments and are accessible for consumption by various microorganisms. The purpose of the present study was to determine how the enhancer-binding proteins SfnR1 and SfnR2 contribute to the utilization of DMS and its derivatives in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. First, results from cell growth experiments showed that deletion of either sfnR2 or sfnG, a gene encoding a DMSO₂-monooxygenase, significantly inhibits the ability of P. aeruginosa PAO1 to use DMSP, DMS, DMSO, and DMSO₂ as sulfur sources. Deletion of the sfnR1 or msuEDC genes, which encode a MSA desulfurization pathway, did not abolish the growth of P. aeruginosa PAO1 on any sulfur compound tested. Second, data collected from β-galactosidase assays revealed that the msuEDC-sfnR1 operon and the sfnG gene are induced in response to sulfur limitation or nonpreferred sulfur sources, such as DMSP, DMS, and DMSO, etc. Importantly, SfnR2 (and not SfnR1) is essential for this induction. Expression of sfnR2 is induced under sulfur limitation but independently of SfnR1 or SfnR2. Finally, the results of this study suggest that the main function of SfnR2 is to direct the initial activation of the msuEDC-sfnR1 operon in response to sulfur limitation or nonpreferred sulfur sources. Once expressed, SfnR1 contributes to the expression of msuEDC-sfnR1, sfnG, and other target genes involved in DMS-related metabolism in P. aeruginosa PAO1.IMPORTANCE Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is an important environmental source of sulfur, carbon, and/or energy for microorganisms. For various bacteria, including Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas, and Azotobacter, DMS utilization is thought to be controlled by the transcriptional regulator SfnR. Adding more complexity, some bacteria, such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter cloacae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, possess two, nonidentical SfnR proteins. In this study, we demonstrate that SfnR2 and not SfnR1 is the principal regulator of DMS metabolism in P. aeruginosa PAO1. Results suggest that SfnR1 has a supportive but nonessential role in the positive regulation of genes required for DMS utilization. This study not only enhances our understanding of SfnR regulation but, importantly, also provides a framework for addressing gene regulation through dual SfnR proteins in other bacteria.

Whole-Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strain 4014, Isolated from Soil in France

We report here the draft genome sequence of strain 4014 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common human pathogen, isolated from soil in France. This sequence predicts resistance to multiple antibiotics, including vancomycin.

We report here the draft genome sequence of strain 4014 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common human pathogen, isolated from soil in France. This sequence predicts resistance to multiple antibiotics, including vancomycin.

RpoN-Dependent Direct Regulation of Quorum Sensing and the Type VI Secretion System in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen of humans, particularly those with cystic fibrosis. As a global regulator, RpoN controls a group of virulence-related factors and quorum-sensing (QS) genes in P. aeruginosa To gain further insights into the direct targets of RpoN in vivo, the present study focused on identifying the direct targets of RpoN regulation in QS and the type VI secretion system (T6SS). We performed chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) that identified 1,068 binding sites of RpoN, mostly including metabolic genes, a group of genes in QS (lasI, rhlI, and pqsR) and the T6SS (hcpA and hcpB). The direct targets of RpoN have been verified by electrophoretic mobility shifts assays (EMSA), lux reporter assay, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, and phenotypic detection. The ΔrpoN::Tc mutant resulted in the reduced production of pyocyanin, motility, and proteolytic activity. However, the production of rhamnolipids and biofilm formation were higher in the ΔrpoN::Tc mutant than in the wild type. In summary, the results indicated that RpoN had direct and profound effects on QS and the T6SS.IMPORTANCE As a global regulator, RpoN controls a wide range of biological pathways, including virulence in P. aeruginosa PAO1. This work shows that RpoN plays critical and global roles in the regulation of bacterial pathogenicity and fitness. ChIP-seq provided a useful database to characterize additional functions and targets of RpoN in the future. The functional characterization of RpoN-mediated regulation will improve the current understanding of the regulatory network of quorum sensing and virulence in P. aeruginosa and other bacteria.

Disarming the virulence arsenal of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by blocking two-component system signaling

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections have reached a “critical” threat status making novel therapeutic approaches required.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections have reached a “critical” threat status making novel therapeutic approaches required. Inhibiting key signaling enzymes known as the histidine kinases (HKs), which are heavily involved with its pathogenicity, has been postulated to be an effective new strategy for treatment. Herein, we demonstrate the potential of this approach with benzothiazole-based HK inhibitors that perturb multiple virulence pathways in the burn wound P. aeruginosa isolate, PA14. Specifically, our compounds significantly reduce the level of toxic metabolites generated by this organism that are involved in quorum-sensing and redox-balancing mechanisms. They also decrease the ability of this organism to swarm and attach to surfaces, likely by influencing their motility appendages. Quantitative transcription analysis of inhibitor-treated cultures showed substantial perturbations to multiple pathways including expression of response regulator GacA, the cognate partner of the “super regulator” of virulence, HK GacS, as well as flagella and pili formation. These promising results establish that blocking of bacterial signaling in P. aeruginosa has dramatic consequences on virulence behaviours, especially in the context of surface-associated infections.

Serine Hydroxymethyltransferase ShrA (PA2444) Controls Rugose Small-Colony Variant Formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes many biofilm infections, and the rugose small-colony variants (RSCVs) of this bacterium are important for infection. We found here that inactivation of PA2444, which we determined to be a serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), leads to the RSCV phenotype of P. aeruginosa PA14. In addition, loss of PA2444 increases biofilm formation by two orders of magnitude, increases exopolysaccharide by 45-fold, and abolishes swarming. The RSCV phenotype is related to higher cyclic diguanylate concentrations due to increased activity of the Wsp chemosensory system, including diguanylate cyclase WspR. By characterizing the PA2444 enzyme in vitro, we determined the physiological function of PA2444 protein by relating it to S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) concentrations and methylation of a membrane bound methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein WspA. A whole transcriptome analysis also revealed PA2444 is related to the redox state of the cells, and the altered redox state was demonstrated by an increase in the intracellular NADH/NAD+ ratio. Hence, we provide a mechanism for how an enzyme of central metabolism controls the community behavior of the bacterium, and suggest the PA2444 protein should be named ShrA for serine hydroxymethyltransferase related to rugose colony formation.

Nudix-type RNA pyrophosphohydrolase provides homeostasis of virulence factor pyocyanin and functions as a global regulator in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The PA0336 protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa belongs to the family of widely distributed Nudix pyrophosphohydrolases, which catalyze the hydrolysis of pyrophosphate bonds in a variety of nucleoside diphosphate derivatives. The amino acid sequence of the PA0336 protein is highly similar to that of the RppH Nudix RNA pyrophosphohydrolase from Escherichia coli, which removes pyrophosphate from 5'-end of triphosphorylated RNA transcripts. Trans-complementation experiments showed that the P. aeruginosa enzyme can functionally substitute for RppH in E. coli cells indicating that, similar to RppH, the Pseudomonas hydrolase mediates RNA turnover in vivo. In order to elucidate the biological significance of the PA0336 protein in Pseudomonas cells, a PA0336 mutant strain was constructed. The mutated strain considerably increased level of the virulence factor pyocyanin compared to wild type, suggesting that PA0336 could be involved in downregulation of P. aeruginosa pathogenicity. This phenotype was reversed by complementation with the wild type but not catalytically inactive PA0336, indicating that the catalytic activity was indispensable for its biological function. Pathogenesis tests in Caenorhabditis elegans showed that the PA0336 mutant of P. aeruginosa was significantly more virulent than the parental strain, confirming further that the P. aeruginosa RNA pyrophosphohydrolase PA0336 modulates bacterial pathogenesis by down-regulating production of virulence-associated factors. To study the role of PA0336 further, transcriptomes of the PA0336 mutant and the wild-type strain were compared using RNA sequencing. The level of 537 transcripts coding for proteins involved in a variety of cellular processes such as replication, transcription, translation, central metabolism and pathogenesis, was affected by the lack of PA0336. These results indicate that the PA0336 RNA pyrophosphohydrolase functions as a global regulator that influences many of transcripts including those involved in P. aeruginosa virulence.

Targeting the alternative sigma factor RpoN to combat virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative, opportunistic pathogen that infects immunocompromised and cystic fibrosis patients. Treatment is difficult due to antibiotic resistance, and new antimicrobials are needed to treat infections. The alternative sigma factor 54 (σ⁵⁴, RpoN), regulates many virulence-associated genes. Thus, we evaluated inhibition of virulence in P. aeruginosa by a designed peptide (RpoN molecular roadblock, RpoN*) which binds specifically to RpoN consensus promoters. We expected that RpoN* binding to its consensus promoter sites would repress gene expression and thus virulence by blocking RpoN and/or other transcription factors. RpoN* reduced transcription of approximately 700 genes as determined by microarray analysis, including genes related to virulence. RpoN* expression significantly reduced motility, protease secretion, pyocyanin and pyoverdine production, rhamnolipid production, and biofilm formation. Given the effectiveness of RpoN* in vitro, we explored its effects in a Caenorhabditis elegans–P. aeruginosa infection model. Expression of RpoN* protected C. elegans in a paralytic killing assay, whereas worms succumbed to paralysis and death in its absence. In a slow killing assay, which mimics establishment and proliferation of an infection, C. elegans survival was prolonged when RpoN* was expressed. Thus, blocking RpoN consensus promoter sites is an effective strategy for abrogation of P. aeruginosa virulence.

Bacterial d-amino acids suppress sinonasal innate immunity through sweet taste receptors in solitary chemosensory cells

In the upper respiratory epithelium, bitter and sweet taste receptors present in solitary chemosensory cells influence antimicrobial innate immune defense responses. Whereas activation of bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) stimulates surrounding epithelial cells to release antimicrobial peptides, activation of the sweet taste receptor (T1R) in the same cells inhibits this response. This mechanism is thought to control the magnitude of antimicrobial peptide release based on the sugar content of airway surface liquid. We hypothesized that d-amino acids, which are produced by various bacteria and activate T1R in taste receptor cells in the mouth, may also activate T1R in the airway. We showed that both the T1R2 and T1R3 subunits of the sweet taste receptor (T1R2/3) were present in the same chemosensory cells of primary human sinonasal epithelial cultures. Respiratory isolates of Staphylococcus species, but not Pseudomonas aeruginosa, produced at least two d-amino acids that activate the sweet taste receptor. In addition to inhibiting P. aeruginosa biofilm formation, d-amino acids derived from Staphylococcus inhibited T2R-mediated signaling and defensin secretion in sinonasal cells by activating T1R2/3. d-Amino acid-mediated activation of T1R2/3 also enhanced epithelial cell death during challenge with Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of the bitter receptor-activating compound denatonium benzoate. These data establish a potential mechanism for interkingdom signaling in the airway mediated by bacterial d-amino acids and the mammalian sweet taste receptor in airway chemosensory cells.

Unsupervised Extraction of Stable Expression Signatures from Public Compendia with an Ensemble of Neural Networks

Cross-experiment comparisons in public data compendia are challenged by unmatched conditions and technical noise. The ADAGE method, which performs unsupervised integration with denoising autoencoder neural networks, can identify biological patterns, but because ADAGE models, like many neural networks, are over-parameterized, different ADAGE models perform equally well. To enhance model robustness and better build signatures consistent with biological pathways, we developed an ensemble ADAGE (eADAGE) that integrated stable signatures across models. We applied eADAGE to a compendium of Pseudomonas aeruginosa gene expression profiling experiments performed in 78 media. eADAGE revealed a phosphate starvation response controlled by PhoB in media with moderate phosphate and predicted that a second stimulus provided by the sensor kinase, KinB, is required for this PhoB activation. We validated this relationship using both targeted and unbiased genetic approaches. eADAGE, which captures stable biological patterns, enables cross-experiment comparisons that can highlight measured but undiscovered relationships.

Reorganization of gene network for degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 under several conditions

Although polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are harmful to human health, their elimination from the environment is not easy. Biodegradation of PAHs is promising since many bacteria have the ability to use hydrocarbons as their sole carbon and energy sources for growth. Of various microorganisms that can degrade PAHs, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is particularly important, not only because it causes a series of diseases including infection in cystic fibrosis patients, but also because it is a model bacterium in various studies. The genes that are responsible for degrading PAHs have been identified in P. aeruginosa, however, no gene acts alone as various stresses often initiate different metabolic pathways, quorum sensing, biofilm formation, antibiotic tolerance, etc. Therefore, it is important to study how PAH degradation genes behave under different conditions. In this study, we apply network analysis to investigating how 46 PAH degradation genes reorganized among 5549 genes in P. aeruginosa PAO1 under nine different conditions using publicly available gene coexpression data from GEO. The results provide six aspects of novelties: (i) comparing the number of gene clusters before and after stresses, (ii) comparing the membership in each gene cluster before and after stresses, (iii) defining which gene changed its membership together with PAH degradation genes before and after stresses, (iv) classifying membership-changed-genes in terms of category in Pseudomonas Genome Database, (v) postulating unknown gene’s function, and (vi) proposing new mechanisms for genes of interests. This study can shed light on understanding of cooperative mechanisms of PAH degradation from the level of entire genes in an organism, and paves the way to conduct the similar studies on other genes.

DdaR (PA1196) Regulates Expression of Dimethylarginine Dimethylaminohydrolase for the Metabolism of Methylarginines in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAHs) catalyze the hydrolysis of methylarginines to yield l-citrulline and methylamines as products. DDAHs and their central roles in methylarginine metabolism have been characterized for eukaryotic cells. While DDAHs are known to exist in some bacteria, including Streptomyces coelicolor and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the physiological importance and genetic regulation of bacterial DDAHs remain poorly understood. To provide some insight into bacterial methylarginine metabolism, this study focused on identifying the key elements or factors regulating DDAH expression in P. aeruginosa PAO1. First, results revealed that P. aeruginosa can utilize N^G ,N^G -dimethyl-l-arginine (ADMA) as a sole source of nitrogen but not carbon. Second, expression of the ddaH gene was observed to be induced in the presence of methylarginines, including N^G -monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA) and ADMA. Third, induction of the ddaH gene was shown to be achieved through a mechanism consisting of the putative enhancer-binding protein PA1196 and the alternative sigma factor RpoN. Both PA1196 and RpoN were essential for the expression of the ddaH gene in response to methylarginines. On the basis of the results of this study, PA1196 was given the name DdaR, for dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase regulator. Interestingly, DdaR and its target ddaH gene are conserved only among P. aeruginosa strains, suggesting that this particular Pseudomonas species has evolved to utilize methylarginines from its environment.IMPORTANCE Methylated arginine residues are common constituents of eukaryotic proteins. During proteolysis, methylarginines are released in their free forms and become accessible nutrients for bacteria to utilize as growth substrates. In order to have a clearer and better understanding of this process, we explored methylarginine utilization in the metabolically versatile bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Our results show that the transcriptional regulator DdaR (PA1196) and the sigma factor RpoN positively regulate expression of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAHs) in response to exogenous methylarginines. DDAH is the central enzyme of methylarginine degradation, and its transcriptional regulation by DdaR-RpoN is expected to be conserved among P. aeruginosa strains.

Enhancing poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) production in Escherichia coli by the removal of the regulatory gene arcA

Recombinant Escherichia coli is a desirable platform for the production of many biological compounds including poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates), a class of naturally occurring biodegradable polyesters with promising biomedical and material applications. Although the controlled production of desirable polymers is possible with the utilization of fatty acid feedstocks, a central challenge to this biosynthetic route is the improvement of the relatively low polymer yield, a necessary factor of decreasing the production costs. In this study we sought to address this challenge by deleting arcA and ompR, two global regulators with the capacity to inhibit the uptake and activation of exogenous fatty acids. We found that polymer yields in a ΔarcA mutant increased significantly with respect to the parental strain. In the parental strain, PHV yields were very low but improved 64-fold in the ΔarcA mutant (1.92-124 mg L-1) The ΔarcA mutant also allowed for modest increases in some medium chain length polymer yields, while weight average molecular weights improved by approximately 1.5-fold to 12-fold depending on the fatty acid substrate utilized. These results were supported by an analysis of differential gene expression, which showed that the key genes (fadD, fadL, and fadE) encoding fatty acid degradation enzymes were all upregulated by 2-, 10-, and 31-fold in an ΔarcA mutant, respectively. Additionally, the short chain length fatty acid uptake genes atoA, atoE and atoD were upregulated by 103-, 119-, and 303-fold respectively, though these values are somewhat inflated due to low expression in the parental strain. Overall, this study demonstrates that arcA is an important target to improve PHA production from fatty acids.

Ethanolamine Catabolism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 Is Regulated by the Enhancer-Binding Protein EatR (PA4021) and the Alternative Sigma Factor RpoN

Although genes encoding enzymes and proteins related to ethanolamine catabolism are widely distributed in the genomes of Pseudomonas spp., ethanolamine catabolism has received little attention among this metabolically versatile group of bacteria. In an attempt to shed light on this subject, this study focused on defining the key regulatory factors that govern the expression of the central ethanolamine catabolic pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. This pathway is encoded by the PA4022-eat-eutBC operon and consists of a transport protein (Eat), an ethanolamine-ammonia lyase (EutBC), and an acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (PA4022). EutBC is an essential enzyme in ethanolamine catabolism because it hydrolyzes this amino alcohol into ammonia and acetaldehyde. The acetaldehyde intermediate is then converted into acetate in a reaction catalyzed by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. Using a combination of growth analyses and β-galactosidase fusions, the enhancer-binding protein PA4021 and the sigma factor RpoN were shown to be positive regulators of the PA4022-eat-eutBC operon in P. aeruginosa PAO1. PA4021 and RpoN were required for growth on ethanolamine, and both of these regulatory proteins were essential for induction of the PA4022-eat-eutBC operon. Unexpectedly, the results indicate that acetaldehyde (and not ethanolamine) serves as the inducer molecule that is sensed by PA4021 and leads to the transcriptional activation of the PA4022-eat-eutBC operon. Due to its regulatory role in ethanolamine catabolism, PA4021 was given the name EatR. Both EatR and its target genes are conserved in several other Pseudomonas spp., suggesting that these bacteria share a mechanism for regulating ethanolamine catabolism.

IMPORTANCE

The results of this study provide a basis for understanding ethanolamine catabolism and its regulation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Interestingly, expression of the ethanolamine-catabolic genes in this bacterium was found to be under the control of a positive-feedback regulatory loop in a manner dependent on the transcriptional regulator PA4021, the sigma factor RpoN, and the metabolite acetaldehyde. Previously characterized regulators of ethanolamine catabolism are known to sense and respond directly to ethanolamine. In contrast, PA4021 (EatR) appears to monitor the intracellular levels of free acetaldehyde and responds through transcriptional activation of the ethanolamine-catabolic genes. This regulatory mechanism is unique and represents an alternative strategy used by bacteria to govern the acquisition of ethanolamine from their surroundings.

Epistatic interactions between ancestral genotype and beneficial mutations shape evolvability in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The idea that interactions between mutations influence adaptation by driving populations to low and high fitness peaks on adaptive landscapes is deeply ingrained in evolutionary theory. Here, we investigate the impact of epistasis on evolvability by challenging populations of two Pseudomonas aeruginosa clones bearing different initial mutations (in rpoB conferring rifampicin resistance, and the type IV pili gene network) to adaptation to a medium containing l-serine as the sole carbon source. Despite being initially indistinguishable in fitness, populations founded by the two ancestral genotypes reached different fitness following 300 generations of evolution. Genome sequencing revealed that the difference could not be explained by acquiring mutations in different targets of selection; the majority of clones from both ancestors converged on one of the following two strategies: (1) acquiring mutations in either PA2449 (gcsR, an l-serine-metabolism RpoN enhancer binding protein) or (2) protease genes. Additionally, populations from both ancestors converged on loss-of-function mutations in the type IV pili gene network, either due to ancestral or acquired mutations. No compensatory or reversion mutations were observed in RNA polymerase (RNAP) genes, in spite of the large fitness costs typically associated with mutations in rpoB. Although current theory points to sign epistasis as the dominant constraint on evolvability, these results suggest that the role of magnitude epistasis in constraining evolvability may be underappreciated. The contribution of magnitude epistasis is likely to be greatest under the biologically relevant mutation supply rates that make back mutations probabilistically unlikely.

The Genomic Basis of Evolutionary Innovation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Novel traits play a key role in evolution, but their origins remain poorly understood. Here we address this problem by using experimental evolution to study bacterial innovation in real time. We allowed 380 populations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to adapt to 95 different carbon sources that challenged bacteria with either evolving novel metabolic traits or optimizing existing traits. Whole genome sequencing of more than 80 clones revealed profound differences in the genetic basis of innovation and optimization. Innovation was associated with the rapid acquisition of mutations in genes involved in transcription and metabolism. Mutations in pre-existing duplicate genes in the P. aeruginosa genome were common during innovation, but not optimization. These duplicate genes may have been acquired by P. aeruginosa due to either spontaneous gene amplification or horizontal gene transfer. High throughput phenotype assays revealed that novelty was associated with increased pleiotropic costs that are likely to constrain innovation. However, mutations in duplicate genes with close homologs in the P. aeruginosa genome were associated with low pleiotropic costs compared to mutations in duplicate genes with distant homologs in the P. aeruginosa genome, suggesting that functional redundancy between duplicates facilitates innovation by buffering pleiotropic costs.

GcsR, a TyrR-Like Enhancer-Binding Protein, Regulates Expression of the Glycine Cleavage System in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Glycine is required for various cellular functions, including cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, and the biosynthesis of several important metabolites. Regulating levels of glycine metabolism allows P. aeruginosa to maintain the metabolic flux of glycine through several pathways, including the metabolism of glycine to produce other amino acids, entry into the trichloroacetic acid cycle, and the production of virulence factors such as hydrogen cyanide. In this study, we characterized GcsR, a transcriptional regulator that activates the expression of genes involved in P. aeruginosa PAO1 glycine metabolism. Our work reveals that GcsR is the founding member of a novel class of TyrR-like EBPs that likely regulate glycine metabolism in Pseudomonadales.

Glycine serves as a major source of single carbon units for biochemical reactions within bacterial cells. Utilization of glycine is tightly regulated and revolves around a key group of proteins known as the glycine cleavage system (GCS). Our lab previously identified the transcriptional regulator GcsR (PA2449) as being required for catabolism of glycine in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. In an effort to clarify and have an overall better understanding of the role of GcsR in glycine metabolism, a combination of transcriptome sequencing and electrophoretic mobility shift assays was used to identify target genes of this transcriptional regulator. It was found that GcsR binds to an 18-bp consensus sequence (TGTAACG-N₄-CGTTCCG) upstream of the gcs2 operon, consisting of the gcvH2, gcvP2, glyA2, sdaA, and gcvT2 genes. The proteins encoded by these genes, namely, the GCS (GcvH2-GcvP2-GcvT2), serine hydroxymethyltransferase (GlyA2), and serine dehydratase (SdaA), form a metabolic pathway for the conversion of glycine into pyruvate, which can enter the central metabolism. GcsR activates transcription of the gcs2 operon in response to glycine. Interestingly, GcsR belongs to a family of transcriptional regulators known as TyrR-like enhancer-binding proteins (EBPs). Until this study, TyrR-like EBPs were only known to function in regulating aromatic amino acid metabolism. GcsR is the founding member of a new class of TyrR-like EBPs that function in the regulation of glycine metabolism. Indeed, homologs of GcsR and its target genes are present in almost all sequenced genomes of the Pseudomonadales order, suggesting that this genetic regulatory mechanism is a common theme for pseudomonads.

IMPORTANCE Glycine is required for various cellular functions, including cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, and the biosynthesis of several important metabolites. Regulating levels of glycine metabolism allows P. aeruginosa to maintain the metabolic flux of glycine through several pathways, including the metabolism of glycine to produce other amino acids, entry into the trichloroacetic acid cycle, and the production of virulence factors such as hydrogen cyanide. In this study, we characterized GcsR, a transcriptional regulator that activates the expression of genes involved in P. aeruginosa PAO1 glycine metabolism. Our work reveals that GcsR is the founding member of a novel class of TyrR-like EBPs that likely regulate glycine metabolism in Pseudomonadales.

Cross-Regulation between the phz1 and phz2 Operons Maintain a Balanced Level of Phenazine Biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Gene duplication often provides selective advantages for the survival of microorganisms in adapting to varying environmental conditions. P. aeruginosa PAO1 possesses two seven-gene operons [phz1 (phzA1B1C1D1E1F1G1) and phz2 (phzA2B2C2D2E2F2G2)] that are involved in the biosynthesis of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid and its derivatives. Although the two operons are highly homologous and their functions are well known, it is unclear how the two phz operons coordinate their expressions to maintain the phenazine biosynthesis. By constructing single and double deletion mutants of the two phz operons, we found that the phz1-deletion mutant produced the same or less amount of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid and pyocyanin in GA medium than the phz2-knockout mutant while the phz1-phz2 double knockout mutant did not produce any phenazines. By generating phzA1 and phzA2 translational and transcriptional fusions with a truncated lacZ reporter, we found that the expression of the phz1 operon increased significantly at the post-transcriptional level and did not alter at the transcriptional level in the absence of the phz2 operon. Surprisingly, the expression the phz2 operon increased significantly at the post-transcriptional level and only moderately at the transcriptional level in the absence of the phz1 operon. Our findings suggested that a complex cross-regulation existed between the phz1 and phz2 operons. By mediating the upregulation of one phz operon expression while the other was deleted, this crosstalk would maintain the homeostatic balance of phenazine biosynthesis in P. aeruginosa PAO1.

Engineering the central biosynthetic and secondary metabolic pathways of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA1201 to improve phenazine-1-carboxylic acid production

The secondary metabolite phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) is an important component of the newly registered biopesticide Shenqinmycin. We used a combined method involving gene, promoter, and protein engineering to modify the central biosynthetic and secondary metabolic pathways in the PCA-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA1201. The PCA yield of the resulting strain PA-IV was increased 54.6-fold via the following strategies: (1) blocking PCA conversion and enhancing PCA efflux pumping; (2) increasing metabolic flux towards the PCA biosynthetic pathway through the over-production of two DAHP synthases and blocking the synthesis of 21 secondary metabolites; (3) increasing the PCA precursor supply through the engineering of five chorismate-utilizing enzymes; (4) engineering the promoters of two PCA biosynthetic gene clusters. Strain PA-IV produced 9882 mg/L PCA in fed-batch fermentation, which is twice as much as that produced by the current industrial strain. Strain PA-IV was also genetically stable and comparable to Escherichia coli in cytotoxicity.

The metabolism of (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate is regulated by the enhancer-binding protein PA2005 and the alternative sigma factor RpoN in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

A variety of soil-dwelling bacteria produce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), which serves as a source of energy and carbon under nutrient deprivation. Bacteria belonging to the genus Pseudomonas do not generally produce PHB but are capable of using the PHB degradation product (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate [(R)-3-HB] as a growth substrate. Essential to this utilization is the NAD+-dependent dehydrogenase BdhA that converts (R)-3-HB into acetoacetate, a molecule that readily enters central metabolism. Apart from the numerous studies that had focused on the biochemical characterization of BdhA, there was nothing known about the assimilation of (R)-3-HB in Pseudomonas, including the genetic regulation of bdhA expression. This study aimed to define the regulatory factors that govern or dictate the expression of the bdhA gene and (R)-3-HB assimilation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Importantly, expression of the bdhA gene was found to be specifically induced by (R)-3-HB in a manner dependent on the alternative sigma factor RpoN and the enhancer-binding protein PA2005.This mode of regulation was essential for the utilization of (R)-3-HB as a sole source of energy and carbon. However, non-induced levels of bdhA expression were sufficient for P. aeruginosa PAO1 to grow on ( ± )-1,3-butanediol, which is catabolized through an (R)-3-HB intermediate. Because this is, we believe, the first report of an enhancer-binding protein that responds to (R)-3-HB, PA2005 was named HbcR for (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate catabolism regulator.

Genetic analysis of the assimilation of C5-dicarboxylic acids in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

There is a wealth of information on the genetic regulation and biochemical properties of bacterial C4-dicarboxylate transport systems. In sharp contrast, there are far fewer studies describing the transport and assimilation of C5-dicarboxylates among bacteria. In an effort to better our understanding on this subject, we identified the structural and regulatory genes necessary for the utilization of α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. The PA5530 gene, encoding a putative dicarboxylate transporter, was found to be essential for the growth of P. aeruginosa PAO1 on both α-KG and glutarate (another C5-dicarboxylate). Metabolite analysis confirmed that the PA5530 gene was necessary for the uptake of extracellular α-KG. Like other substrate-inducible transporter genes, expression of the PA5530 gene was induced by extracellular C5-dicarboxylates. It was later found that the expression of the PA5530 gene was driven solely by a -24/-12 promoter recognized by the alternative sigma factor RpoN. Surprisingly, the enhancer binding protein MifR, which is known to have an essential role in biofilm development, was required for the expression of the PA5530 gene. The MifR protein is homologous to other transcriptional regulators involved in dicarboxylate assimilation, suggesting that MifR might interact with RpoN to activate the expression of the PA5530 gene in response to extracellular C5-dicarboxylates, especially α-KG. The results of this study provide a framework for exploring the assimilation of α-KG in other pseudomonads.

Pyocyanin: production, applications, challenges and new insights

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic, Gram-negative bacterium and is one of the most commercially and biotechnologically valuable microorganisms. Strains of P. aeruginosa secrete a variety of redox-active phenazine compounds, the most well studied being pyocyanin. Pyocyanin is responsible for the blue-green colour characteristic of Pseudomonas spp. It is considered both as a virulence factor and a quorum sensing signalling molecule for P. aeruginosa. Pyocyanin is an electrochemically active metabolite, involved in a variety of significant biological activities including gene expression, maintaining fitness of bacterial cells and biofilm formation. It is also recognised as an electron shuttle for bacterial respiration and as an antibacterial and antifungal agent. This review summarises recent advances of pyocyanin production from P. aeruginosa with special attention to antagonistic property and bio-control activity. The review also covers the challenges and new insights into pyocyanin from P. aeruginosa.