Molecular basis and mechanisms of the interspecies interactions between pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus spp

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Our knowledge of microbial gene expression, regulation, and physiology are mostly obtained from the study of isolated species in defined laboratory conditions. However, microbes rarely exist in isolation but instead in microbial communities; their gene expression, behaviours and even survival are affected by interspecies interactions. The interactions between the members in a microbial community often result in many new physiological functions for the microbes. Therefore, dissecting microbial interactions and the underlying molecular mechanisms is critical to our fundamental understanding of the microbial life process. The proposed research is based on the observation that interaction between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus spp or Staphylococcus spp affected the expression of a number of important genes in P. aeruginosa. The objectives of the proposed research are: 1) to investigate in detail the molecular basis and genetic pathways of the interactions between P. aeruginosa and Streptococcus; 2) to examine the connections of the regulatory pathways mediated by quorum sensing, subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics and interspecies interaction; and 3) to probe the ecological roles of the type III secretion system (T3SS) in microbial communities. This research program focuses on elucidating the molecular basis and mechanisms of microbe-microbe interactions using the interaction between P. aeruginosa and Streptococcus as a model system, and will enhance our understanding of the microbial interspecies interactions.