Regulatory role and mechanism of sRNA24 targeting pqsH in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection immunity
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- 2Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Panyu Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- 4Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Integrated TCM & Western Medicine Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- 5Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Qingyuan People’s Hospital), Qingyuan, Guangdong, China
Abstract
Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes healthcareassociated infections through complex virulence mechanisms and immune evasion strategies. The quorumsensing (QS) system is central to its pathogenesis, whereas small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) modulate bacterial adaptability and virulence. This study investigates the regulatory function of sRNA24 during infection.
Methods: This study used a mouse intraperitoneal infection model and RNA sequencing for screening to identify and explore the regulatory function of sRNA24 during infection. Bacterial proliferation, virulencerelated phenotypes, host cell adhesion/invasion, and immunerelated transcriptional levels were subsequently assessed. Mechanistic studies focused on the functional targeting of pqsH, a crucial QS synthase gene. Results:The expression of sRNA24 is dynamically regulated by the host immunological microenvironment. sRNA24 does not influence bacterial proliferation but promotes pyocyanin synthesis, biofilm development, and host cell adhesion/invasion, while inhibiting swimming/swarming motility. Immunologically, sRNA24 suppresses M1 macrophage markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines, promotes M2 markers and antiinflammatory cytokines, and exhibits an anti-inflammatory-biased transcriptional profile. Mechanistically, sRNA24 functionally targets and upregulates pqsH expression. Overexpression of pqsH mimics the phenotypes induced by sRNA24 overexpression. In vivo, the sRNA24-overexpressing strain exhibits enhanced peritoneal colonization.
Discussion: These findings reveal a previously unrecognized sRNAmediated regulatory axis in P. aeruginosa infection, suggesting sRNA24 as a potential target for further investigation in the context of persistent infections.
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BibTeX
@article{liao2026regulatory,
title = {{Regulatory role and mechanism of sRNA24 targeting pqsH in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection immunity}},
author = {Huanlan Liao and Qianying Liu and Yuyang Liu and Qiwei Li and Yujuan Xiong and Lan Wang and Yang Lu},
journal = {Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fcimb.2026.1933779},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1933779},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Regulatory role and mechanism of sRNA24 targeting pqsH in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection immunity
AU - Huanlan Liao
AU - Qianying Liu
AU - Yuyang Liu
AU - Qiwei Li
AU - Yujuan Xiong
AU - Lan Wang
AU - Yang Lu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
DO - 10.3389/fcimb.2026.1933779
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1933779
AB - Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes healthcareassociated infections through complex virulence mechanisms and immune evasion strategies. The quorumsensing (QS) system is central to its pathogenesis, whereas small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) modulate bacterial adaptability and virulence. This study investigates the regulatory function of sRNA24 during infection. Methods: This study used a mouse intraperitoneal infection model and RNA sequencing for screening to identify and explore the regulatory function of sRNA24 during infection. Bacterial proliferation, virulencerelated phenotypes, host cell adhesion/invasion, and immunerelated transcriptional levels were subsequently assessed. Mechanistic studies focused on the functional targeting of pqsH, a crucial QS synthase gene. Results:The expression of sRNA24 is dynamically regulated by the host immunological microenvironment. sRNA24 does not influence bacterial proliferation but promotes pyocyanin synthesis, biofilm development, and host cell adhesion/invasion, while inhibiting swimming/swarming motility. Immunologically, sRNA24 suppresses M1 macrophage markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines, promotes M2 markers and antiinflammatory cytokines, and exhibits an anti-inflammatory-biased transcriptional profile. Mechanistically, sRNA24 functionally targets and upregulates pqsH expression. Overexpression of pqsH mimics the phenotypes induced by sRNA24 overexpression. In vivo, the sRNA24-overexpressing strain exhibits enhanced peritoneal colonization. Discussion: These findings reveal a previously unrecognized sRNAmediated regulatory axis in P. aeruginosa infection, suggesting sRNA24 as a potential target for further investigation in the context of persistent infections.
SN - 2235-2988
ER -