Uropathogenic Escherichia coli SOS response and SulA-mediated filamentation pathway (UPEC SOS-SulA pathway)

The Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) SOS response and SulA-mediated filamentation pathway is a critical survival mechanism used by bacteria during urinary tract infections (Justice et al., 2006, PNAS). Triggered by DNA damage—often caused by host immune defenses like reactive oxygen species or antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones—the SOS response involves the activation of RecA, which facilitates the self-cleavage of the repressor LexA (Simmons et al., 2008, Molecular Cell). This derepression leads to the expression of over 40 genes, including sulA, which encodes a protein that binds to and inhibits FtsZ, the primary protein responsible for bacterial cell division (Janion, 2008, Acta Biochimica Polonica). The resulting filamentation allows UPEC to avoid phagocytosis by neutrophils and escape from intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) within the bladder epithelium (Justice et al., 2004, Journal of Clinical Investigation). Targeting this pathway, particularly through the inhibition of RecA or LexA, is an emerging strategy to reduce bacterial virulence and prevent the development of antibiotic resistance (Bellio et al., 2017, Frontiers in Microbiology).

Other names

SOS responseSulA-mediated filamentationUPEC DNA damage responseLexA-RecA regulatory circuitBacterial SOS system

Inhibition of RecA-mediated LexA cleavage to prevent SOS induction; direct inhibition of SulA binding to FtsZ to prevent filamentation; or induction of the pathway via DNA-damaging agents like fluoroquinolones (Bellio et al., 2017, Frontiers in Microbiology).