Mechanical compression activates cAMP signaling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Mechanical compression activates cAMP signaling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa with an estimated force of 3-30 nN, linking physical stimuli to virulence regulation.

• Why it matters: Understanding how physical signals activate cAMP in bacteria is crucial because cAMP controls virulence factors like the T3SS, yet the mechanisms remain unclear, limiting insights into bacterial pathogenicity.
• What they did: Using the real-time cAMP biosensor Gflamp1, the study shows that compression activates cAMP via the Pil-Chp system, FimV-FimL module, and CyaB, with PilA being essential but not surface piliation or pilus extension/retraction.
• The result: Compression increases T3SS-related gene expression, indicating that mechanical stimuli may connect confined growth environments to virulence gene regulation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.