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Journal of Bacteriology, August 2006, p. 5731-5740, Vol. 188, No. 16
0021-9193/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00495-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The Bordetella Bfe System: Growth and Transcriptional Response to Siderophores, Catechols, and Neuroendocrine Catecholamines

Mark T. Anderson and Sandra K. Armstrong*

Department of Microbiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-0312

Received 7 April 2006/ Accepted 30 May 2006

Ferric enterobactin utilization by Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella pertussis requires the BfeA outer membrane receptor. Under iron-depleted growth conditions, transcription of bfeA is activated by the BfeR regulator by a mechanism requiring the siderophore enterobactin. In this study, enterobactin-inducible bfeA transcription was shown to be TonB independent. To determine whether other siderophores or nonsiderophore catechols could be utilized by the Bfe system, various compounds were tested for the abilities to promote the growth of iron-starved B. bronchiseptica and induce bfeA transcription. The BfeA receptor transported ferric salmochelin, corynebactin, and the synthetic siderophores TRENCAM and MECAM. Salmochelin and MECAM induced bfeA transcription in iron-starved Bordetella cells, but induction by corynebactin and TRENCAM was minimal. The neuroendocrine catecholamines epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine exhibited a remarkable capacity to induce transcription of bfeA. Norepinephrine treatment of B. bronchiseptica resulted in BfeR-dependent bfeA transcription, elevated BfeA receptor production, and growth stimulation. Pyrocatechol, carbidopa, and isoproterenol were similarly strong inducers of bfeA transcription, whereas tyramine and 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid demonstrated low inducing activity. The results indicate that the inducer structure requires a catechol group for function and that the ability to induce bfeA transcription does not necessarily correlate with the ability to stimulate bacterial growth. The expanded range of catechol siderophores transported by the BfeA receptor demonstrates the potential versatility of the Bordetella Bfe iron retrieval system. The finding that catecholamine neurotransmitters activate bfeA transcription and promote growth suggests that Bordetella cells can perceive and may benefit from neuroendocrine catecholamines on the respiratory epithelium.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, University of Minnesota, MMC 196, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455-0312. Phone: (612) 625-6947. Fax: (612) 626-0623. E-mail: armst018{at}umn.edu.

Journal of Bacteriology, August 2006, p. 5731-5740, Vol. 188, No. 16
0021-9193/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00495-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Oneal, M. J., Schafer, E. R., Madsen, M. L., Minion, F. C. (2008). Global transcriptional analysis of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae following exposure to norepinephrine. Microbiology 154: 2581-2588 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Anderson, M. T., Armstrong, S. K. (2008). Norepinephrine Mediates Acquisition of Transferrin-Iron in Bordetella bronchiseptica. J. Bacteriol. 190: 3940-3947 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Brickman, T. J., Armstrong, S. K. (2007). Impact of Alcaligin Siderophore Utilization on In Vivo Growth of Bordetella pertussis. Infect. Immun. 75: 5305-5312 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Cogan, T A, Thomas, A O, Rees, L E N, Taylor, A H, Jepson, M A, Williams, P H, Ketley, J, Humphrey, T J (2007). Norepinephrine increases the pathogenic potential of Campylobacter jejuni. Gut 56: 1060-1065 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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