Cyclic di-GMP Increases Catalase Production and Hydrogen Peroxide Tolerance in <i>Vibrio cholerae</i>

Abstract

As a result of infection with V. cholerae , patients become dehydrated, leading to death if not properly treated. The aquatic environment is the natural reservoir for V. cholerae , where it can survive alterations in temperature, salinity, and oxygen. The second messenger molecule c-di-GMP is an important signal regulating host and aquatic environmental persistence because it controls whether V. cholerae will form a biofilm or disperse through flagellar motility. In this work, we demonstrate another function of c-di-GMP in V. cholerae biology: promoting tolerance to the reactive oxygen species H 2 O 2 through the differential regulation of catalase expression. Our results suggest a mechanism where c-di-GMP simultaneously controls biofilm formation and antioxidant production, which could promote persistence in human and marine environments.