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 forces to virulence regulation.

• Why it matters: Understanding how physical cues influence bacterial virulence is crucial for developing strategies to combat infections, as signals activating cAMP are not fully known.
• What they did: Using the Gflamp1 biosensor, the study examined the effects of mechanical compression on cAMP levels and identified key components like the Pil-Chp system, FimV-FimL module, and CyaB involved in this response.
• The result: The findings reveal that compression-induced cAMP signaling enhances T3SS gene expression, suggesting a mechanism by which physical forces can regulate virulence gene activation in P. aeruginosa.