Pseudomonas fluorescens Encodes the Crohn's Disease-Associated I2 Sequence and T-Cell Superantigen

Commensal bacteria have emerged as an important disease factor in human Crohn's disease (CD) and murine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) models. We recently isolated I2, a novel gene segment of microbial origin that is associated with human CD and that encodes a T-cell superantigen. To identify the I2 microorganism, BLAST analysis was used to identify a microbial homologue, PA2885, a novel open reading frame (ORF) in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome. PCR and Southern analysis identified Pseudomonas fluorescens as the originating species of I2, with homologues detectable in 3 of 13 other Pseudomonas species. Genomic cloning disclosed a locus containing the full-length I2 gene (pfiT) and three other orthologous genes, including a homologue of the pbrA/pvdS iron response gene. CD4(+) T-cell responses to recombinant proteins were potent for I2 and pfiT, but modest for PA2885. pfiT has several features of a virulence factor: association with an iron-response locus, restricted species distribution, and T-cell superantigen bioactivity. These findings suggest roles for pfiT and P. fluorescens in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease.