Abstract

Pseudomonas plecoglossicida is a temperature-dependent opportunistic pathogen mediating visceral granulomas in many piscine species including the large yellow croaker ( Larimichthys crocea ) but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. RpoE is an alternative sigma (σ) factor involved in regulated intramembrane proteolytic (RIP) cascade, enabling bacterial pathogens to coordinate the expression of genetic traits associated with stress adaptation and virulence determinants in response to diverse stimuli in vitro and in vivo of the hosts. In this study, genes associated to RIP cascade in P. plecoglossicida were identified and characterized to show various sequence similarities to their counterparts in Escherichia coli and P. aeruginosa . The expression of P. plecoglossicida RIP locus was induced by higher temperatures. Moreover, RNA sequencing approach revealed that RpoE regulated the expression of ∼297 and ∼261 genes at virulent (18 °C) and non-virulent (28 °C) temperatures, respectively. RpoE regulon genes are involved in various processes associated with bacterial signal transduction , membrane homeostasis , energy metabolism and virulence. In particular, RpoE positively controlled expression of csrA encoding an RNA binding protein essential for central carbon metabolism . In addition, P. plecoglossicida RpoE was validated to regulate type VI secretion system (T6SS) expression, bacteria competition, biofilm formation and reproduction in macrophages. Collectively, RpoE-centered RIP cascade appeared to play important roles in control of the expression of genes involved in adaptation in vivo and in vitro niches by thermal sensing in P. plecoglossicida . These results facilitates to reveal the pathogenic mechanisms of P. plecoglossicida causing fish diseases and provides new perspectives to control bacterial infection.