Pseudomonas PrrF sRNAs

Predicted 3D structure of the PrrF1 sRNA by MD simulation, provided by Dr. Alex MacKerell, UMB School of Pharmacy

Representative Publications

Ouattara KO and Oglesby AG. (2026) Iron and peroxide regulation of the PrrF sRNAs and a conserved ferritin family protein in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens. J Bacteriol e0053425.

Chourashi R, Weiner JM, Hoang TM, Ouattara K, Oglesby AG. (2026) The Pseudomonas aeruginosa PrrF sRNAs and PqsA promote biofilm formation at body temperature. J Bacteriol e0050725.

Brewer LK, Huang W, Hackert BJ, Kane MA, Oglesby AG. (2020) Static growth promotes PrrF and 2-alkyl-4(1H)-quinolone regulation of type VI secretion protein expression in Pseudomonas aerugionsa. J Bacteriol e00416-20.

Reinhart AA, Nguyen AT, Brewer LK, Bevere J, Jones JW, Kane MA, Damron FH, Barbier M, Oglesby-Sherrouse AG. (2017) The Pseudomonas aeruginosa PrrF small RNAs regulate iron homeostasis during acute murine lung infection. Infect Immun e00764-16.

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa iron-responsive PrrF small RNAs (sRNAs) exert broad effects on overall physiology and production of virulence traits. PrrF sRNAs function as an iron budgeter – sparing the use of iron for only the most critical processes–when this nutrient becomes limiting. We previously showed that the PrrF sRNAs are expressed by clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa from acute and chronic infections . Moreover, we detected high levels of the PrrF sRNAs in sputum isolated from individuals with CF, verifying they are produced during chronic CF lung infection. Further, we have shown that the PrrF sRNAs are required for virulence in an acute lung infection model, as well as for biofilm formation at body temperature. We are currently studying the impacts of temperature on PrrF regulation and iron homeostasis, as well as determining how the PrrF sRNAS promote biofilm formation.