Epinephrine and norepinephrine regulate the expression of virulence factors in Gallibacterium anatis

• Published in: Microbial pathogenesis 2024-11, Vol.196, p.106987, Article 106987
• Main Authors: Rea Hernández, Pablo A., Ramírez-Paz-y-Puente, Gerardo A., Montes-García, Fernando, Vázquez-Cruz, Candelario, Sanchez-Alonso, Patricia, Cobos-Justo, Maria Elena, Zenteno, Edgar, Negrete-Abascal, Erasmo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesins; Biofilm; Catecholamines; Gallibacterium; qseC gene; Virulence factor
• ISSN: 0882-4010; 1096-1208; 1096-1208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106987

Gallibacterium anatis is a member of the Pasteurellaceae family and is an opportunistic pathogen that causes gallibacteriosis in chickens. Stress plays a relevant role in promoting the development of pathogenicity in G. anatis. Epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) are relevant to stress; however, their effects on G. anatis have not been elucidated. In this work, we evaluated the effects of E and NE on the growth, biofilm formation, expression of adhesins, and proteases of two G. anatis strains, namely, the hemolytic 12656-12 and the nonhemolytic F149T biovars. E (10 μM/mL) and NE (30 and 50 μM/mL) increased the growth of G. anatis 12656-12 by 20 % and 25 %, respectively. E did not affect the growth of F149T, whereas 40 μM/mL NE decreased bacterial growth by 25 %. E and NE at a dose of 30–50 μM/mL upregulated five fibrinogen adhesins in the 12565-12 strain, whereas no effect was observed in the F149T strain. NE increased proteolytic activity in both strains, whereas E diminished proteolytic activity in the 12656-12 strain. E and NE reduced biofilm formation (30 %) and increased Congo red binding (15 %) in both strains. QseBC is the E and NE two-component detection system most common in bacteria. The qseC gene, which is the E and NE receptor in bacteria, was identified in the genomic DNA of the 12565-12 and F149TG. anatis strains via PCR amplification. Our results suggest that QseC can detect host changes in E and NE concentrations and that catecholamines can modulate the expression of several virulence factors in G. anatis. [Display omitted] •Epinephrine (E) and Norepinephrine (NE) promote the Gallibacterium anatis 12656-12 growth but just NE of the F149T strain.•E and NE induce adhesins differential expression in the G. anatis 12656-12 strain, without affect G. anatis F149T strain.•Norepinephrine increases the secreted proteolytic activity of G. anatis.•E and NE diminished biofilm formation and Congo red binding in G. anatis.•Informed consent statement not applicable.