Schematic representation of the involvement of each of the four genes on virulence factor expression. HapR binds to the aphA promoter, resulting in a decrease in virulence factor production, and H-NS decreases virulence factor production through a mechanism of transcriptional silencing. LuxO works in a manner contrary to that of HapR, and VieA degrades c-di-GMP, both of which result in indirect upregulation of virulence factor production. qrr, quorum regulatory RNA; sRNA, small RNA.