The predicted role for sif2 in nitrogen metabolism suggests that maintenance of a high population depends on the ability to assimilate sufficient nitrogen, and the sif2 mutant is reduced in this function in soil. Under the same conditions, the sif10 mutant showed no such defect. In contrast, when soil was inoculated with Lazertinib 10-fold fewer cells,

the sif10 mutant was depressed in soil colonization while the sif2 mutant reached a similar population to the wild-type (Figure 1B). We suggest that sif2 is important in the maintenance of high population density in soil, while the role of sif10 is in the establishment of high density. Thus, sif2 appears to have no effect when the inoculation Osimertinib solubility dmso is low (Figure 1B), because under these conditions Pf0-1 does not reach the density at which sif2 is required (>6 log cfu/g of soil). Conversely, sif10 is not necessary at higher inoculation levels (Figure 1A) because the population threshold below which sif10 is important (<5 log cfu/g of soil) has already

been surpassed. The effects of the sif2 and sif10 mutations were reversed by complementation (not shown). It is important to note that the effects of sif2 and sif10 inactivation on soil colonization/persistence are small but significant. This was observed in independent replicate experiments that included the complemented strains (P≤0.01). The sif2 and sif10 regions were identified Angiogenesis inhibitor (-)-p-Bromotetramisole Oxalate based on induction of expression and may contribute additively to arid soil colonization/persistence. The fact that one sif-defective strain fails to compete against the parental strain in a different environment (see section on agricultural soil) supports the notion that effects observed in arid soil were not experimental artifacts. These two genes which were upregulated during growth in arid soil are important for optimal performance of Pf0-1 in that environment and represent attractive targets to improve persistence in bacteria applied to

natural environments as biocontrol or bioremediation agents. Alternatively, identification of these sequences which contribute to fitness could add to a catalog of desirable traits which can be sought when prospecting for new biocontrol/bioremediation strains. The sif10 sequence identifies Pfl01_5595 as being induced in arid soil, and important for colonization of arid soil. Pfl01_5595 is predicted to be part of an HSI-II type six secretion system (T6SS) gene cluster encoded by Pfl01_5577-Pfl01_5596 [49]. T6SSs translocate effectors from the secreting cell into both eukaryote and prokaryote targets (depending on the T6SS system in question) in a contact-dependent manner reviewed in [50]. For example, P. aeruginosa has three T6SS gene clusters, at least two of which have distinct functions [51]. The gene Pfl01_5595 is a predicted ortholog of the P.