铜绿假单胞菌（Pseudomonas aeruginosa）是临床上重要的致病菌之一，严重危害着人类的生命健康。群体感应系统是一类依赖细菌群体密度发挥作用的调控系统。PQS（Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal）系统是其中一种，调控多种毒力因子表达，在细菌感染过程中发挥着重要作用。本项目前期研究发现了一种新的PQS信号分子受体，转录调节子PA2010，其功能受到PQS信号分子调节，同时PA2010也可调控PQS信号分子合成。本项目拟运用ChIP-seq、RNA-seq等高通量技术，鉴定PA2010调控的下游靶基因，系统地探讨PA2010调控PQS系统的机制及其功能；同时深入研究PQS信号分子与受体PA2010的相互作用机制。研究结果将有助于加深对PQS群体感应系统及PA2010功能的认识，为控制铜绿假单胞菌感染以及开发针对性治疗策略和药物提供理论基础。

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunist human pathogen, can cause severe and persistent infections in immune compromised individual and cystic fibrosis sufferers. The quorum sensing (QS) network of P. aeruginosa is organized in a multi-playered hierarchy consisting of at least three interconnected signaling mechanisms. Evidence is accumulating that QS plays a key role in biofilm formation and virulence gene expression. PQS (Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal) is the inducer of pqs quorum sensing system. MvfR, a LysR-type transcriptional regulator is the cognate receptor of PQS, which regulates many virulence factors, such as pyocyanin, rhamnolipid production. Our research suggests that another transcriptional regulator PA2010 is a new receptor of PQS signal. Simultaneously, PA2010 regulate PQS production. In this proposal, we will systematically investigate the global regulatory role of PA2010 through ChIP-seq and RNA-seq methods. Meanwhile, we will elucidate the interaction mechanism between PQS signal and PA2010 using ITC, EMSA methods. These result will expand our fundamental understanding of the function of PQS system and PA2010, which will provide a theoretical basis for the development of the novel anti-pathogenic drugs targeting of PQS system for prevention of the bacterial infections.