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. 2023 Jun 8;19(6):e1010928. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010928

Fig 6. RnaA and DsbA modulate capsule production and Loki susceptibility through BfmRS and in different clinical isolates.

Fig 6

(A) Capsule levels measured in 17978 derivatives with ∆rnaA and ∆dsbA mutation singly and in combination with ∆bfmRS. A representative gel (top) and quantification from n = 3 samples (bottom; means ± s.d. analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Šídák’s multiple comparisons test) are shown as in Fig 5B. (B) Liquid challenge assays examining susceptibility of strains in A to Loki attack. Data presented as in Fig 1A (n = 6). (C-D) ∆rnaA and ∆dsbA derivatives of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii strain BAA-1790 show increased capsule and Loki sensitivity. Capsule levels (C) were analyzed as in A. Bacterial growth during liquid challenge with a virulent Loki derivative (Loki*) (D) was analyzed as in B (n = 3). (E-F) rnaA overexpression via high-copy plasmid decreases capsule production and blocks Loki infection in a manner dependent on the BfmS signal receptor. WT or bfmS* 17978 bacteria harbored pJE127 (IPTG-dependent rnaA) and were grown in the presence or absence of IPTG. Representative capsule gel (E, top), capsule quantification from n = 3 samples (E, bottom), and Loki plaque assays (F) are shown. Mean capsule levels ± s.d. were analyzed by unpaired t-tests. P values: *, ≤0.05; **, ≤0.01; ***, <0.001. ns, not significant.