Quorum sensing regulators AphA and HapR differentially regulate fluvibactin biosynthesis in Vibrio fluvialis

First, the transcriptional units of fluvibactin biosynthesis gene cluster were characterized. The growth of V. fluvialis, the fluvibactin biosynthesis, and the mRNA expressions of genes in fluvibactin biosynthesis gene cluster under low-iron conditions were examined.

Then, how the QS regulators AphA and HapR regulate fluvibactin biosynthesis and the mRNA expressions of vfbACEBH genes was explored. The binding sites of AphA and/or HapR on the promoter regions of vfbACEBH genes were investigated. Finally, the bacterial loads in mice infected with WT or ΔvfbACEB were examined.