Biological Sciences Division
Published December 12, 2008 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Media Ion Composition Controls Regulatory and Virulence Response of Salmonella in Spaceflight

Creators

  • 1. Villanova University
  • 2. NASA-Johnson Space Center
  • 3. Arizona State University
  • 4. Tulane University
  • 5. Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center
  • 6. University of Arizona
  • 7. Wyle Laboratories
  • 8. NASA-Ames Research Center
  • 9. University of Chicago

Description

The spaceflight environment is relevant to conditions encountered by pathogens during the course of infection and induces novel changes in microbial pathogenesis not observed using conventional methods. It is unclear how microbial cells sense spaceflight-associated changes to their growth environment and orchestrate corresponding changes in molecular and physiological phenotypes relevant to the infection process. Here we report that spaceflight-induced increases in Salmonella virulence are regulated by media ion composition, and that phosphate ion is sufficient to alter related pathogenesis responses in a spaceflight analogue model. Using whole genome microarray and proteomic analyses from two independent Space Shuttle missions, we identified evolutionarily conserved molecular pathways in Salmonella that respond to spaceflight under all media compositions tested. Identification of conserved regulatory paradigms opens new avenues to control microbial responses during the infection process and holds promise to provide an improved understanding of human health and disease on Earth.

Notes

Due to the large number of authors, only the first 20 and the University of Chicago authors are included on the above author list. Please download the article for the complete list of authors.

Files

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Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0003923
Other
oai:uchicago.tind.io:10440

Funding

NASA
NCC2-1362
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
ES06694
National Cancer Institute
CA023074
University of Arizona
BIO5 Institute
King Baudouin Foundation
Henri Benedictus Fellowship
Belgian American Educational Foundation

UChicago Information

Division(s)
Biological Sciences Division
Department(s)
Surgery