Exopolyphosphatases PPX1 and PPX2 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis regulate dormancy response and pathogenesis

Stress adaptation and virulence of various bacterial pathogens require stringent response pathways involving guanosine pentaphosphate and inorganic polyphosphate (PolyP). In M. tuberculosis, intracellular PolyP levels are maintained by the activities of polyphosphate kinase (PPK-1, PPK-2) and exopolyphosphatases (PPX-1, PPX-2). We demonstrate that these exopolyphosphatases cumulatively contribute to biofilm formation and survival of M. tuberculosis in nutrient limiting, low oxygen growth conditions and in macrophages. Characterization of single (Delta ppx2) and double knock out strain (dkppx) of M. tuberculosis demonstrated that these exopolyphosphatases are essential for establishing infection in guinea pigs and mice. Transcriptional profiling revealed that relative to the parental strain the expression of genes belonging to DosR regulon were significantly reduced in mid-log phase cultures of dkppx strain. We also show that PolyP inhibited the autophosphorylation activities associated with DosT and DosS sensor kinases. Host RNA-seq analysis revealed that transcripts involved in various antimicrobial pathways such as apoptosis, autophagy, macrophage activation, calcium signalling, innate and T-cell response were differentially expressed in lung tissues of dkppx strain infected mice. Taken together, we demonstrate that enzymes involved in PolyP homeostasis play a critical role in physiology and virulence of M. tuberculosis. These enzymes are attractive targets for developing novel interventions that might be active against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant M. tuberculosis.

Automated summary

The study highlights the importance of enzymes involved in PolyP homeostasis in the physiology and virulence of M. tuberculosis. These enzymes contribute to biofilm formation, survival in nutrient limiting and low oxygen conditions, and establishment of infection in guinea pigs and mice. Targeting these enzymes could lead to the development of novel interventions against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant M. tuberculosis.