HemN2 Regulates the Virulence of HYS through 7-Hydroxytropolone Synthesis and Oxidative Stress.

Compared to pathogens and , HYS has stronger virulence towards . However, the underlying mechanisms haven't been fully understood. The heme synthesis system is essential for virulence, and former studies of HemN have focused on the synthesis of heme, while the relationship between HemN and virulence were barely pursued. In this study, we hypothesized that deficiency affected 7-hydroxytropolone (7-HT) biosynthesis and redox levels, thereby reducing bacterial virulence. There are four genes in HYS, and we reported for the first time that deletion of significantly reduced the virulence of HYS towards , whereas the reduction in virulence by the other three genes was not significant. Interestingly, deletion significantly reduced colonization of HYS in the gut of . Further studies showed that HemN2 was regulated by GacS and participated in the virulence of HYS towards by mediating the synthesis of the virulence factor 7-HT. In addition, HemN2 and GacS regulated the virulence of HYS by affecting antioxidant capacity and nitrative stress. In short, the findings that HemN2 was regulated by the Gac system and that it was involved in bacterial virulence via regulating 7-HT synthesis and redox levels were reported for the first time. These insights may enlighten further understanding of HemN-based virulence in the genus .