TY  - JOUR
AB  - Mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients produce large amounts of the exopolysaccharide alginate. AlgR has long been considered a key regulator of alginate production, but its cognate sensor has not been identified. Here we show that AlgR is required for twitching motility, which is a form of bacterial surface translocation mediated by type 4 fimbriae. Adjacent to algR we have identified a sensor gene (fimS), which is also required for twitching motility. However, FimS does not appear to be required for alginate production in mucoid strains. FimS and AlgR are representative of a new subclass of two-component transmitter-receiver regulatory systems. The alternative sigma factor AlgU also affects both alginate production and twitching motility. Therefore, these two virulence determinants appear to be closely associated and coordinately regulated.
AU  - Whitchurch, CB
AU  - Alm, RA
AU  - Mattick, JS
DA  - 1996/09/03
DO  - 10.1073/pnas.93.18.9839
EP  - 9843
JO  - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
PY  - 1996/09/03
SP  - 9839
TI  - The alginate regulator AlgR and an associated sensor FimS are required for twitching motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
VL  - 93
Y1  - 1996/09/03
Y2  - 2026/07/19
ER  -