PqsE expands and differentially modulates the RhlR quorum sensing regulon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

While it is known that PqsE can stimulate the ability of RhlR to control some virulence factors, no data are available allowing clear discrimination of the PqsE and RhlR regulons. In this study, a P. aeruginosa PAO1 mutant strain with deletion of multiple QS elements and inducible expression of PqsE and/or RhlR has been generated and validated. RNA-seq performed in this genetic background allowed to unambiguously define the regulons controlled by PqsE and RhlR when produced alone or in combination Data produced in this study demonstrate that PqsE mainly impacts on the P. aeruginosa transcriptome via an RhlR-dependent pathway, and splits the RhlR-regulon in PqsE-dependent and PqsE-independent sub-regulons. Overall design: 12 samples of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 gathered in 4 different groups consisting of 3 biological replicates. Group A: mutant strain (baseline). Group B: mutant strain expressing PqsE. Group C: mutant expressing RhlR. Group D: mutant expressing both PqsE and RhlR.