Differential Expression Analysis of Type II Toxin-Antitoxin Genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 under Different Environmental Conditions

Bacterial persistence is considered as one of the primary reason for antibiotic tolerance besides genetically acquired antibiotic resistance. Persisters are the subpopulation of a clonal bacterial population, which can survive environmental extremes and become invulnerable to stresses due to limited metabolic activities and physiological functions. Cognate toxin and antitoxin (TA) pairs, which are transcribed simultaneously from the same or different operons within the bacterial chromosomes or plasmids, play an important role for bacterial survival during stressful growth environments. Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 is one of the most versatile microorganisms in the environment. Despite its ubiquitous presence, no studies have shown the differential expression pattern of its toxin-antitoxins, and persistence related genes. The purpose of the following study is to analyze differential expression of P. aeruginosa PAO1 type II toxin-antitoxins and persistence related genes under different growth conditions and to show how their stoichiometric ratio changes during different growth conditions. Differential expression analysis indicated that the toxins and antitoxin pairs behave differently under different growth conditions. In addition, the genes related to persistence presented relatively consistent differential expression pattern under different growth environment.