Combined Systems Approaches Reveal Highly Plastic Responses to Antimicrobial Peptide Challenge in Escherichia coli

Justyna Kozlowska, Louic S. Vermeer, Geraint B. Rogers, Nabila Rehnnuma, Sarah Beth T.A. Amos, Garrit Koller, Michael McArthur, Kenneth D. Bruce, A. James Mason

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Obtaining an in-depth understanding of the arms races between peptides comprising the innate immune response and bacterial pathogens is of fundamental interest and will inform the development of new antibacterial therapeutics. We investigated whether a whole organism view of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) challenge on Escherichia coli would provide a suitably sophisticated bacterial perspective on AMP mechanism of action. Selecting structurally and physically related AMPs but with expected differences in bactericidal strategy, we monitored changes in bacterial metabolomes, morphological features and gene expression following AMP challenge at sub-lethal concentrations. For each technique, the vast majority of changes were specific to each AMP, with such a plastic response indicating E. coli is highly capable of discriminating between specific antibiotic challenges. Analysis of the ontological profiles generated from the transcriptomic analyses suggests this approach can accurately predict the antibacterial mode of action, providing a fresh, novel perspective for previous functional and biophysical studies.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere1004104
JournalPLoS Pathogens
Volume10
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished or Issued - May 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Virology

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