A Single Mechanosensitive Channel ProtectsFrancisella tularensissubsp.holarcticafrom Hypoosmotic Shock and Promotes Survival in the Aquatic Environment
AbstractFrancisella tularensissubspeciesholarcticais found throughout the northern hemisphere and causes the disease tularemia in humans and animals. An aquatic cycle has been described for this subspecies, which has caused water-borne outbreaks of tularemia in at least 10 countries. In this study, we sought to identify mechanosensitive channel(s) required for the bacterium to survive the transition from mammalian hosts to freshwater, which is likely essential for transmission of the bacterium between susceptible hosts. A singlemechanosensitivechannel MscS (FTL_1753), among the smallest members of the mechanosensitive channel superfamily, was found to protect subsp.holarctiafrom hypoosmotic shock. Deletion of this channel did not affect virulence within the mammalian host, howevermscSwas required to survive the transition from the host niche to fresh water. Deletion ofmscSdid not alter the sensitivity ofF. tularensissubspeciesholarcticato detergents, H2O2, or antibiotics, suggesting that the role of MscS is specific to protection from hypoosmotic shock. Interestingly, deletion ofmscSalso led to reduced average cell size without altering gross cell morphology. The small mechanosensitive channel identified and characterized in this study likely contributes to the transmission of tularemia between hosts by allowing the bacterium to survive the transition from mammalian hosts to fresh water.