Tripartite interactions between filamentous Pf4 bacteriophage, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and bacterivorous nematodes

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 is infected by the filamentous bacteriophage Pf4. Pf4 virions promote biofilm formation, protect bacteria from antibiotics, and modulate animal immune responses in ways that promote infection. Furthermore, strains cured of their Pf4 infection ({Delta}Pf4) are less virulent in animal models of infection. Consistently, we find that strain {Delta}Pf4 is less virulent in a Caenorhabditis elegans nematode infection model. However, our data indicate that PQS quorum sensing is activated and production of the pigment pyocyanin, a potent virulence factor, is enhanced in strain {Delta}Pf4. The reduced virulence of {Delta}Pf4 despite high levels of pyocyanin production may be explained by our finding that C. elegans mutants unable to sense bacterial pigments through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor are more susceptible to {Delta}Pf4 infection compared to wild-type C. elegans. Collectively, our data support a model where suppression of quorum-regulated virulence factors by Pf4 allows P. aeruginosa to evade detection by innate host immune responses. Author SummaryPseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that infects wounds, lungs, and medical hardware. P. aeruginosa strains are often themselves infected by a filamentous virus (phage) called Pf. At sites of infection, filamentous Pf virions are produced that promote bacterial colonization and virulence. Here, we report that strains of P. aeruginosa cured of their Pf infection are less virulent in a Caenorhabditis elegans nematode infection model. We also report that PQS quorum sensing and production of the virulence factor pyocyanin are enhanced in P. aeruginosa strains cured of their Pf infection. Compared to wild-type C. elegans, nematodes unable to detect bacterial pigments via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor AhR were more susceptible to infection by Pf-free P. aeruginosa strains that over-produce pyocyanin. Collectively, this study supports a model where Pf phage suppress P. aeruginosa PQS quorum sensing and reduce pyocyanin production, allowing P. aeruginosa to evade AhR-mediated immune responses in C. elegans.