Environmental magnesium ion affects global gene expression, motility, biofilm formation and virulence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Xue Li,
Xiaobai Zhang,
Miaomiao Zhang,
Xi Luo,
Tingting Zhang,
Xianjin Liu,
Renfei Lu,
Yiquan Zhang
Affiliations
Xue Li
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
Xiaobai Zhang
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
Miaomiao Zhang
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
Xi Luo
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
Tingting Zhang
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
Xianjin Liu
Department of Infection, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China; Corresponding author.
Renfei Lu
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China; Corresponding author.
Yiquan Zhang
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China; Corresponding author.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is widely distributed in marine ecosystems. Magnesium ion (Mg2+) is the second most abundant metal cation in seawater, and plays important roles in the growth and gene expression of V. parahaemolyticus, but lacks the detailed mechanisms. In this study, the RNA sequencing data demonstrated that a total of 1494 genes was significantly regulated by Mg2+. The majority of the genes associated with lateral flagella, exopolysaccharide, type III secretion system 2, type VI secretion system (T6SS) 1, T6SS2, and thermostable direct hemolysin were downregulated. A total of 18 genes that may be involved in c-di-GMP metabolism and more than 80 genes encoding putative regulators were also significantly and differentially expressed in response to Mg2+, indicating that the adaptation process to Mg2+ stress may be strictly regulated by complex regulatory networks. In addition, Mg2+ promoted the proliferative speed, swimming motility and cell adhesion of V. parahaemolyticus, but inhibited the swarming motility, biofilm formation, and c-di-GMP production. However, Mg2+ had no effect on the production of capsular polysaccharide and cytoxicity against HeLa cells. Therefore, Mg2+ had a comprehensive impact on the physiology and gene expression of V. parahaemolyticus.
