The chitinolytic cascade in Vibrios is regulated by chitin oligosaccharides and a two-component chitin catabolic sensor/kinase

RNA-seq-based monitoring of gene expression changes of viable but non-culturable state of Vibrio cholerae induced by cold seawater

Vibrio cholerae O1 is a natural inhabitant of aquatic environments and causes the acute diarrheal disease cholera. Entry into a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state is a survival strategy by which V. cholerae withstands natural stresses and is important for the transition between the aquatic and host environments during the V. cholerae life cycle. In this study, the formation of VBNC V. cholerae induced by cold seawater exposure was investigated using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The analysis revealed that the expression of 1420 genes was changed on VBNC state formation. In the VBNC cells, genes related to biofilm formation, chitin utilization and stress responses were upregulated, whereas those related to cell division, morphology and ribosomal activity were mainly downregulated. The concurrent acquisition of a carbon source and the arrest of cell division in cells with low metabolic activity help bacteria increase their resistance to unfavourable environments. Moreover, two transcriptional regulators, SlmA and MetJ, were found to play roles in both VBNC formation and intestinal colonization, suggesting that some genes may function in both processes. This acquired knowledge will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance and may help control future cholera infections and outbreaks.

Chitosugar translocation by an unexpressed monomeric protein channel

The outer membrane protein channel EcChiP, associated with a silent gene in E. coli, is a monomeric chitoporin. In a glucose-deficient environment, E. coli can express the ChiP gene to exploit chitin degradation products. Single-channel small ion current measurements, which reveal the dynamics of single sugar molecules trapped in channel, are used here to study the exotic transport of chitosugars by E. coli. Molecules escape from the channel on multiple timescales. Voltage-dependent trapping rates observed for charged chitosan molecules, as well as model calculations, indicate that the rapid escape processes are those in which the molecule escapes back to the side of the membrane from which it originated. The probability that a sugar molecule is translocated through the membrane is thus estimated from the current data and the dependence of this translocation probability on the length of the chitosugar molecule and the applied voltage analyzed. The described method for obtaining the translocation probability and related molecular translocation current is applicable to other transport channels.

Chitin-induced T6SS in Vibrio cholerae is dependent on ChiS activation

Vibrio cholerae regularly colonizes the chitinous exoskeleton of crustacean shells in the aquatic region. The type 6 secretion system (T6SS) in V. cholerae is an interbacterial killing device. This system is thought to provide a competitive advantage to V. cholerae in a polymicrobial community of the aquatic region under nutrient-poor conditions. V. cholerae chitin sensing is known to be initiated by the activation of a two-component sensor histidine kinase ChiS in the presence of GlcNAc2 (N,N'-diacetylchitobiose) residues generated by the action of chitinases on chitin. It is known that T6SS in V. cholerae is generally induced by chitin. However, the effect of ChiS activation on T6SS is unknown. Here, we found that ChiS inactivation resulted in impaired bacterial killing and reduced expression of T6SS genes. Active ChiS positively affected T6SS-mediated natural transformation in V. cholerae. ChiS depletion or inactivation also resulted in reduced colonization on insoluble chitin surfaces. Therefore, we have shown that V. cholerae colonization on chitinous surfaces activates ChiS, which promotes T6SS-dependent bacterial killing and horizontal gene transfer. We also highlight the importance of chitinases in T6SS upregulation.

Unique GH18 chitinase from Euglena gracilis: full-length cDNA cloning and characterization of its catalytic domain

A cDNA of putative chitinase from Euglena gracilis, designated EgChiA, encoded 960 amino acid residues, which is arranged from N-terminus in the order of signal peptide, glycoside hydrolase family 18 (GH18) domain, carbohydrate binding module family 18 (CBM18) domain, GH18 domain, CBM18 domain, and transmembrane helix. It is likely that EgChiA is anchored on the cell surface. The recombinant second GH18 domain of EgChiA, designated as CatD2, displayed optimal catalytic activity at pH 3.0 and 50 °C. The lower the polymerization degree of the chitin oligosaccharides [(GlcNAc)_4-6] used as the substrates, the higher was the rate of degradation by CatD2. CatD2 degraded chitin nanofibers as an insoluble substrate, and it produced only (GlcNAc)₂ and GlcNAc. Therefore, we speculated that EgChiA localizes to the cell surface of E. gracilis and is involved in degradation of chitin polymers into (GlcNAc)₂ or GlcNAc, which are easily taken up by the cells.

Chitin Deacetylases: Structures, Specificities, and Biotech Applications

Depolymerization and de-N-acetylation of chitin by chitinases and deacetylases generates a series of derivatives including chitosans and chitooligosaccharides (COS), which are involved in molecular recognition events such as modulation of cell signaling and morphogenesis, immune responses, and host-pathogen interactions. Chitosans and COS are also attractive scaffolds for the development of bionanomaterials for drug/gene delivery and tissue engineering applications. Most of the biological activities associated with COS seem to be largely dependent not only on the degree of polymerization but also on the acetylation pattern, which defines the charge density and distribution of GlcNAc and GlcNH₂ moieties in chitosans and COS. Chitin de-N-acetylases (CDAs) catalyze the hydrolysis of the acetamido group in GlcNAc residues of chitin, chitosan, and COS. The deacetylation patterns are diverse, some CDAs being specific for single positions, others showing multiple attack, processivity or random actions. This review summarizes the current knowledge on substrate specificity of bacterial and fungal CDAs, focusing on the structural and molecular aspects of their modes of action. Understanding the structural determinants of specificity will not only contribute to unravelling structure-function relationships, but also to use and engineer CDAs as biocatalysts for the production of tailor-made chitosans and COS for a growing number of applications.

Genome Analysis of Fimbriiglobus ruber SP5T, a Planctomycete with Confirmed Chitinolytic Capability

Members of the bacterial order Planctomycetales have often been observed in associations with Crustacea. The ability to degrade chitin, however, has never been reported for any of the cultured planctomycetes although utilization of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) as a sole carbon and nitrogen source is well recognized for these bacteria. Here, we demonstrate the chitinolytic capability of a member of the family Gemmataceae, Fimbriiglobus ruber SP5^T, which was isolated from a peat bog. As revealed by metatranscriptomic analysis of chitin-amended peat, the pool of 16S rRNA reads from F. ruber increased in response to chitin availability. Strain SP5^T displayed only weak growth on amorphous chitin as a sole source of carbon but grew well with chitin as a source of nitrogen. The genome of F. ruber SP5^T is 12.364 Mb in size and is the largest among all currently determined planctomycete genomes. It encodes several enzymes putatively involved in chitin degradation, including two chitinases affiliated with the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family GH18, GH20 family β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, and the complete set of enzymes required for utilization of GlcNAc. The gene encoding one of the predicted chitinases was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the endochitinase activity of the recombinant enzyme was confirmed. The genome also contains genes required for the assembly of type IV pili, which may be used to adhere to chitin and possibly other biopolymers. The ability to use chitin as a source of nitrogen is of special importance for planctomycetes that inhabit N-depleted ombrotrophic wetlands.IMPORTANCE Planctomycetes represent an important part of the microbial community in Sphagnum-dominated peatlands, but their potential functions in these ecosystems remain poorly understood. This study reports the presence of chitinolytic potential in one of the recently described peat-inhabiting members of the family Gemmataceae, Fimbriiglobus ruber SP5^T This planctomycete uses chitin, a major constituent of fungal cell walls and exoskeletons of peat-inhabiting arthropods, as a source of nitrogen in N-depleted ombrotrophic Sphagnum-dominated peatlands. This study reports the chitin-degrading capability of representatives of the order Planctomycetales.

Structure and function of a novel periplasmic chitooligosaccharide-binding protein from marine Vibrio bacteria

Periplasmic solute-binding proteins in bacteria are involved in the active transport of nutrients into the cytoplasm. In marine bacteria of the genus Vibrio, a chitooligosaccharide-binding protein (CBP) is thought to be the major solute-binding protein controlling the rate of chitin uptake in these bacteria. However, the molecular mechanism of the CBP involvement in chitin metabolism has not been elucidated. Here, we report the structure and function of a recombinant chitooligosaccharide-binding protein from Vibrio harveyi, namely VhCBP, expressed in Escherichia coli Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that VhCBP strongly binds shorter chitooligosaccharides ((GlcNAc) _n , where n = 2, 3, and 4) with affinities that are considerably greater than those for glycoside hydrolase family 18 and 19 chitinases but does not bind longer ones, including insoluble chitin polysaccharides. We also found that VhCBP comprises two domains with flexible linkers and that the domain-domain interface forms the sugar-binding cleft, which is not long extended but forms a small cavity. (GlcNAc)₂ bound to this cavity, apparently triggering a closed conformation of VhCBP. Trp-363 and Trp-513, which stack against the two individual GlcNAc rings, likely make a major contribution to the high affinity of VhCBP for (GlcNAc)₂ The strong chitobiose binding, followed by the conformational change of VhCBP, may facilitate its interaction with an active-transport system in the inner membrane of Vibrio species.

Comparative genomic analysis reveals the evolution and environmental adaptation strategies of vibrios

BACKGROUND

Vibrios are among the most diverse and ecologically important marine bacteria, which have evolved many characteristics and lifestyles to occupy various niches. The relationship between genome features and environmental adaptation strategies is an essential part for understanding the ecological functions of vibrios in the marine system. The advent of complete genome sequencing technology has provided an important method of examining the genetic characteristics of vibrios on the genomic level.

RESULTS

Two Vibrio genomes were sequenced and found to occupy many unique orthologues families which absent from the previously genes pool of the complete genomes of vibrios. Comparative genomics analysis found vibrios encompass a steady core-genome and tremendous pan-genome with substantial gene gain and horizontal gene transfer events in the evolutionary history. Evolutionary analysis based on the core-genome tree suggested that V. fischeri emerged ~ 385 million years ago, along with the occurrence of cephalopods and the flourish of fish. The relatively large genomes, the high number of 16S rRNA gene copies, and the presence of R-M systems and CRISPR system help vibrios live in various marine environments. Chitin-degrading related genes are carried in nearly all the Vibrio genomes. The number of chitinase genes in vibrios has been extremely expanded compared to which in the most recent ancestor of the genus. The chitinase A genes were estimated to have evolved along with the genus, and have undergone significant purifying selective force to conserve the ancestral state.

CONCLUSIONS

Vibrios have experienced extremely genome expansion events during their evolutionary history, allowing them to develop various functions to spread globally. Despite their close phylogenetic relationships, vibrios were found to have a tremendous pan-genome with a steady core-genome, which indicates the highly plastic genome of the genus. Additionally, the existence of various chitin-degrading related genes and the expansion of chitinase A in the genus demonstrate the importance of the chitin utilization for vibrios. Defensive systems in the Vibrio genomes may protect them from the invasion of external DNA. These genomic features investigated here provide a better knowledge of how the evolutionary process has forged Vibrio genomes to occupy various niches.

Substrate Recognition and Specificity of Chitin Deacetylases and Related Family 4 Carbohydrate Esterases

Carbohydrate esterases family 4 (CE4 enzymes) includes chitin and peptidoglycan deacetylases, acetylxylan esterases, and poly-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylases that act on structural polysaccharides, altering their physicochemical properties, and participating in diverse biological functions. Chitin and peptidoglycan deacetylases are not only involved in cell wall morphogenesis and remodeling in fungi and bacteria, but they are also used by pathogenic microorganisms to evade host defense mechanisms. Likewise, biofilm formation in bacteria requires partial deacetylation of extracellular polysaccharides mediated by poly-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylases. Such biological functions make these enzymes attractive targets for drug design against pathogenic fungi and bacteria. On the other side, acetylxylan esterases deacetylate plant cell wall complex xylans to make them accessible to hydrolases, making them attractive biocatalysts for biomass utilization. CE4 family members are metal-dependent hydrolases. They are highly specific for their particular substrates, and show diverse modes of action, exhibiting either processive, multiple attack, or patterned deacetylation mechanisms. However, the determinants of substrate specificity remain poorly understood. Here, we review the current knowledge on the structure, activity, and specificity of CE4 enzymes, focusing on chitin deacetylases and related enzymes active on N-acetylglucosamine-containing oligo and polysaccharides.

Structural basis for chitin acquisition by marine Vibrio species

Chitin, an insoluble polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, is one of the most abundant biopolymers on Earth. By degrading chitin, chitinolytic bacteria such as Vibrio harveyi are critical for chitin recycling and maintenance of carbon and nitrogen cycles in the world’s oceans. A decisive step in chitin degradation is the uptake of chito-oligosaccharides by an outer membrane protein channel named chitoporin (ChiP). Here, we report X-ray crystal structures of ChiP from V. harveyi in the presence and absence of chito-oligosaccharides. Structures without bound sugar reveal a trimeric assembly with an unprecedented closing of the transport pore by the N-terminus of a neighboring subunit. Substrate binding ejects the pore plug to open the transport channel. Together with molecular dynamics simulations, electrophysiology and in vitro transport assays our data provide an explanation for the exceptional affinity of ChiP for chito-oligosaccharides and point to an important role of the N-terminal gate in substrate transport.

Chitin degrading bacteria are important for marine ecosystems. Here the authors structurally and functionally characterize the Vibrio harveyi outer membrane diffusion channel chitoporin and give mechanistic insights into chito-oligosaccharide uptake.

Chitinase Expression in Listeria monocytogenes Is Influenced by lmo0327, Which Encodes an Internalin-Like Protein

The chitinolytic system of Listeria monocytogenes thus far comprises two chitinases, ChiA and ChiB, and a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase, Lmo2467. The role of the system in the bacterium appears to be pleiotropic, as besides mediating the hydrolysis of chitin, the second most ubiquitous carbohydrate in nature, the chitinases have been deemed important for the colonization of unicellular molds, as well as mammalian hosts. To identify additional components of the chitinolytic system, we screened a transposon mutant library for mutants exhibiting impaired chitin hydrolysis. The screening yielded a mutant with a transposon insertion in a locus corresponding to lmo0327 of the EGD-e strain. lmo0327 encodes a large (1,349 amino acids [aa]) cell wall-associated protein that has been proposed to possess murein hydrolase activity. The single inactivation of lmo0327, as well as of lmo0325 that codes for a putative transcriptional regulator functionally related to lmo0327, led to an almost complete abolishment of chitinolytic activity. The effect could be traced at the transcriptional level, as both chiA and chiB transcripts were dramatically decreased in the lmo0327 mutant. In accordance with that, we could barely detect ChiA and ChiB in the culture supernatants of the mutant strain. Our results provide new information regarding the function of the lmo0325-lmo0327 locus in L. monocytogenes and link it to the expression of chitinolytic activity.

IMPORTANCE Many bacteria from terrestrial and marine environments express chitinase activities enabling them to utilize chitin as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Interestingly, several bacterial chitinases may also be involved in host pathogenesis. For example, in the important foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, the chitinases ChiA and ChiB and the lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase Lmo2467 are implicated in chitin assimilation but also act as virulence factors during the infection of mammalian hosts. Therefore, it is important to identify their regulators and induction cues to understand how the different roles of the chitinolytic system are controlled and mediated. Here, we provide evidence for the importance of lmo0327 and lmo0325, encoding a putative internalin/autolysin and a putative transcriptional activator, respectively, in the efficient expression of chitinase activity in L. monocytogenes and thereby provide new information regarding the function of the lmo0325-lmo0327 locus.

Glucose-Specific Enzyme IIA of the Phosphoenolpyruvate:Carbohydrate Phosphotransferase System Modulates Chitin Signaling Pathways in Vibrio cholerae

In Vibrio cholerae, the genes required for chitin utilization and natural competence are governed by the chitin-responsive two-component system (TCS) sensor kinase ChiS. In the classical TCS paradigm, a sensor kinase specifically phosphorylates a cognate response regulator to activate gene expression. However, our previous genetic study suggested that ChiS stimulates the non-TCS transcriptional regulator TfoS by using mechanisms distinct from classical phosphorylation reactions (S. Yamamoto, J. Mitobe, T. Ishikawa, S. N. Wai, M. Ohnishi, H. Watanabe, and H. Izumiya, Mol Microbiol 91:326-347, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.12462). TfoS specifically activates the transcription of tfoR, encoding a small regulatory RNA essential for competence gene expression. Whether ChiS and TfoS interact directly remains unknown. To determine if other factors mediate the communication between ChiS and TfoS, we isolated transposon mutants that turned off tfoR::lacZ expression but possessed intact chiS and tfoS genes. We demonstrated an unexpected association of chitin-induced signaling pathways with the glucose-specific enzyme IIA (EIIA^glc) of the phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) for carbohydrate uptake and catabolite control of gene expression. Genetic and physiological analyses revealed that dephosphorylated EIIA^glc inactivated natural competence and tfoR transcription. Chitin-induced expression of the chb operon, which is required for chitin transport and catabolism, was also repressed by dephosphorylated EIIA^glc Furthermore, the regulation of tfoR and chb expression by EIIA^glc was dependent on ChiS and intracellular levels of ChiS were not affected by disruption of the gene encoding EIIA^glc These results define a previously unknown connection between the PTS and chitin signaling pathways in V. cholerae and suggest a strategy whereby this bacterium can physiologically adapt to the existing nutrient status.IMPORTANCE The EIIA^glc protein of the PTS coordinates a wide variety of physiological functions with carbon availability. In this report, we describe an unexpected association of chitin-activated signaling pathways in V. cholerae with EIIA^glc The signaling pathways are governed by the chitin-responsive TCS sensor kinase ChiS and lead to the induction of chitin utilization and natural competence. We show that dephosphorylated EIIA^glc inhibits both signaling pathways in a ChiS-dependent manner. This inhibition is different from classical catabolite repression that is caused by lowered levels of cyclic AMP. This work represents a newly identified connection between the PTS and chitin signaling pathways in V. cholerae and suggests a strategy whereby this bacterium can physiologically adapt to the existing nutrient status.

Systematic genetic dissection of chitin degradation and uptake in Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae is a natural resident of the aquatic environment, where a common nutrient is the chitinous exoskeletons of microscopic crustaceans. Chitin utilization requires chitinases, which degrade this insoluble polymer into soluble chitin oligosaccharides. These oligosaccharides also serve as an inducing cue for natural transformation in Vibrio species. There are 7 predicted endochitinase-like genes in the V. cholerae genome. Here, we systematically dissect the contribution of each gene to growth on chitin as well as induction of natural transformation. Specifically, we created a strain that lacks all 7 putative chitinases and from this strain, generated a panel of strains where each expresses a single chitinase. We also generated expression plasmids to ectopically express all 7 chitinases in our chitinase deficient strain. Through this analysis, we found that low levels of chitinase activity are sufficient for natural transformation, while growth on insoluble chitin as a sole carbon source requires more robust and concerted chitinase activity. We also assessed the role that the three uptake systems for the chitin degradation products GlcNAc, (GlcNAc)₂ and (GlcN)₂ , play in chitin utilization and competence induction. Cumulatively, this study provides mechanistic details for how this pathogen utilizes chitin to thrive and evolve in its environmental reservoir.

Interbacterial predation as a strategy for DNA acquisition in naturally competent bacteria

Natural competence enables bacteria to take up exogenous DNA. The evolutionary function of natural competence remains controversial, as imported DNA can act as a source of substrates or can be integrated into the genome. Exogenous homologous DNA can also be used for genome repair. In this Opinion article, we propose that predation of non-related neighbouring bacteria coupled with competence regulation might function as an active strategy for DNA acquisition. Competence-dependent kin-discriminated killing has been observed in the unrelated bacteria Vibrio cholerae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Importantly, both the regulatory networks and the mode of action of neighbour predation differ between these organisms, with V. cholerae using a type VI secretion system and S. pneumoniae secreting bacteriocins. We argue that the forced release of DNA from killed bacteria and the transfer of non-clonal genetic material have important roles in bacterial evolution.

Staying Alive: Vibrio cholerae's Cycle of Environmental Survival, Transmission, and Dissemination

Infectious diseases kill nearly 9 million people annually. Bacterial pathogens are responsible for a large proportion of these diseases, and the bacterial agents of pneumonia, diarrhea, and tuberculosis are leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Increasingly, the crucial role of nonhost environments in the life cycle of bacterial pathogens is being recognized. Heightened scrutiny has been given to the biological processes impacting pathogen dissemination and survival in the natural environment, because these processes are essential for the transmission of pathogenic bacteria to new hosts. This chapter focuses on the model environmental pathogen Vibrio cholerae to describe recent advances in our understanding of how pathogens survive between hosts and to highlight the processes necessary to support the cycle of environmental survival, transmission, and dissemination. We describe the physiological and molecular responses of V. cholerae to changing environmental conditions, focusing on its survival in aquatic reservoirs between hosts and its entry into and exit from human hosts.

The nucleoid occlusion protein SlmA is a direct transcriptional activator of chitobiose utilization in Vibrio cholerae

Chitin utilization by the cholera pathogen Vibrio cholerae is required for its persistence and evolution via horizontal gene transfer in the marine environment. Genes involved in the uptake and catabolism of the chitin disaccharide chitobiose are encoded by the chb operon. The orphan sensor kinase ChiS is critical for regulation of this locus, however, the mechanisms downstream of ChiS activation that result in expression of the chb operon are poorly understood. Using an unbiased transposon mutant screen, we uncover that the nucleoid occlusion protein SlmA is a regulator of the chb operon. SlmA has not previously been implicated in gene regulation. Also, SlmA is a member of the TetR family of proteins, which are generally transcriptional repressors. In vitro, we find that SlmA binds directly to the chb operon promoter, and in vivo, we show that this interaction is required for transcriptional activation of this locus and for chitobiose utilization. Using point mutations that disrupt distinct functions of SlmA, we find that DNA-binding, but not nucleoid occlusion, is critical for transcriptional activation. This study identifies a novel role for SlmA as a transcriptional regulator in V. cholerae in addition to its established role as a cell division licensing factor.

The cholera pathogen Vibrio cholerae is a natural resident of the aquatic environment and causes disease when ingested in the form of contaminated food or drinking water. In the aquatic environment, the shells of marine zooplankton, which are primarily composed of chitin, serve as an important food source for this pathogen. The genes required for the utilization of chitin are tightly regulated in V. cholerae, however, the exact mechanism underlying this regulation is currently unclear. Here, we uncover that a protein involved in regulating cell division is also important for regulating the genes involved in chitin utilization. This is a newly identified property for this cell division protein and the significance of a common regulator for these two disparate activities remains to be understood.

Rules of Engagement: The Type VI Secretion System in Vibrio cholerae

Microbial species often exist in complex communities where they must avoid predation and compete for favorable niches. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a contact-dependent bacterial weapon that allows for direct killing of competitors through the translocation of proteinaceous toxins. Vibrio cholerae is a Gram-negative pathogen that can use its T6SS during antagonistic interactions with neighboring prokaryotic and eukaryotic competitors. The T6SS not only promotes V. cholerae's survival during its aquatic and host life cycles, but also influences its evolution by facilitating horizontal gene transfer. This review details the recent insights regarding the structure and function of the T6SS as well as the diverse signals and regulatory pathways that control its activation in V. cholerae.

Short-Chain Chitin Oligomers: Promoters of Plant Growth

Chitin is the second most abundant biopolymer in nature after cellulose, and it forms an integral part of insect exoskeletons, crustacean shells, krill and the cell walls of fungal spores, where it is present as a high-molecular-weight molecule. In this study, we showed that a chitin oligosaccharide of lower molecular weight (tetramer) induced genes in Arabidopsis that are principally related to vegetative growth, development and carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Based on plant responses to this chitin tetramer, a low-molecular-weight chitin mix (CHL) enriched to 92% with dimers (2mer), trimers (3mer) and tetramers (4mer) was produced for potential use in biotechnological processes. Compared with untreated plants, CHL-treated plants had increased in vitro fresh weight (10%), radicle length (25%) and total carbon and nitrogen content (6% and 8%, respectively). Our data show that low-molecular-weight forms of chitin might play a role in nature as bio-stimulators of plant growth, and they are also a known direct source of carbon and nitrogen for soil biomass. The biochemical properties of the CHL mix might make it useful as a non-contaminating bio-stimulant of plant growth and a soil restorer for greenhouses and fields.

Global occurrence and heterogeneity of the Roseobacter-clade species Ruegeria mobilis

Tropodithietic acid (TDA)-producing Ruegeria mobilis strains of the Roseobacter clade have primarily been isolated from marine aquaculture and have probiotic potential due to inhibition of fish pathogens. We hypothesized that TDA producers with additional novel features are present in the oceanic environment. We isolated 42 TDA-producing R. mobilis strains during a global marine research cruise. While highly similar on the 16S ribosomal RNA gene level (99-100% identity), the strains separated into four sub-clusters in a multilocus sequence analysis. They were further differentiated to the strain level by average nucleotide identity using pairwise genome comparison. The four sub-clusters could not be associated with a specific environmental niche, however, correlated with the pattern of sub-typing using co-isolated phages, the number of prophages in the genomes and the distribution in ocean provinces. Major genomic differences within the sub-clusters include prophages and toxin-antitoxin systems. In general, the genome of R. mobilis revealed adaptation to a particle-associated life style and querying TARA ocean data confirmed that R. mobilis is more abundant in the particle-associated fraction than in the free-living fraction occurring in 40% and 6% of the samples, respectively. Our data and the TARA data, although lacking sufficient data from the polar regions, demonstrate that R. mobilis is a globally distributed marine bacterial species found primarily in the upper open oceans. It has preserved key phenotypic behaviors such as the production of TDA, but contains diverse sub-clusters, which could provide new capabilities for utilization in aquaculture.

Growth on Chitin Impacts the Transcriptome and Metabolite Profiles of Antibiotic-Producing Vibrio coralliilyticus S2052 and Photobacterium galatheae S2753

The bacterial family Vibrionaceae (vibrios) is considered a major player in the degradation of chitin, the most abundant polymer in the marine environment; however, the majority of studies on the topic have focused on a small number of Vibrio species. In this study, we analyzed the genomes of two vibrios to assess their genetic potential for the degradation of chitin. We then used transcriptomics and metabolomics to demonstrate that chitin strongly affects these vibrios at both the transcriptional and metabolic levels. We observed a strong increase in production of secondary metabolites, suggesting an ecological role for these molecules during chitin colonization in the marine environment.

Members of the Vibrionaceae family are often associated with chitin-containing organisms, and they are thought to play a major role in chitin degradation. The purpose of the present study was to determine how chitin affects the transcriptome and metabolome of two bioactive Vibrionaceae strains, Vibrio coralliilyticus and Photobacterium galatheae. We focused on chitin degradation genes and secondary metabolites based on the assumption that these molecules in nature confer an advantage to the producer. Growth on chitin caused upregulation of genes related to chitin metabolism and of genes potentially involved in host colonization and/or infection. The expression of genes involved in secondary metabolism was also significantly affected by growth on chitin, in one case being 34-fold upregulated. This was reflected in the metabolome, where the antibiotics andrimid and holomycin were produced in larger amounts on chitin. Other polyketide synthase/ nonribosomal peptide synthetase (PKS-NRPS) clusters in P. galatheae were also strongly upregulated on chitin. Collectively, this suggests that both V. coralliilyticus and P. galatheae have a specific lifestyle for growth on chitin and that their secondary metabolites likely play a crucial role during chitin colonization.

IMPORTANCE The bacterial family Vibrionaceae (vibrios) is considered a major player in the degradation of chitin, the most abundant polymer in the marine environment; however, the majority of studies on the topic have focused on a small number of Vibrio species. In this study, we analyzed the genomes of two vibrios to assess their genetic potential for the degradation of chitin. We then used transcriptomics and metabolomics to demonstrate that chitin strongly affects these vibrios at both the transcriptional and metabolic levels. We observed a strong increase in production of secondary metabolites, suggesting an ecological role for these molecules during chitin colonization in the marine environment.

A seven-gene cluster in Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum is essential for signalization, uptake and catabolism of the degradation products of cellulose hydrolysis

BACKGROUND

Like a number of anaerobic and cellulolytic Gram-positive bacteria, the model microorganism Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum produces extracellular multi-enzymatic complexes called cellulosomes, which efficiently degrade the crystalline cellulose. Action of the complexes on cellulose releases cellobiose and longer cellodextrins but to date, little is known about the transport and utilization of the produced cellodextrins in the bacterium. A better understanding of the uptake systems and fermentation of sugars derived from cellulose could have a major impact in the field of biofuels production.

RESULTS

We characterized a putative ABC transporter devoted to cellodextrins uptake, and a cellobiose phosphorylase (CbpA) in R. cellulolyticum. The genes encoding the components of the ABC transporter (a binding protein CuaA and two integral membrane proteins) and CbpA are expressed as a polycistronic transcriptional unit induced in the presence of cellobiose. Upstream, another polycistronic transcriptional unit encodes a two-component system (sensor and regulator), and a second binding protein CuaD, and is constitutively expressed. The products might form a three-component system inducing the expression of cuaABC and cbpA since we showed that CuaR is able to recognize the region upstream of cuaA. Biochemical analysis showed that CbpA is a strict cellobiose phosphorylase inactive on longer cellodextrins; CuaA binds to all cellodextrins (G2-G5) tested, whereas CuaD is specific to cellobiose and presents a higher affinity to this sugar. This results are in agreement with their function in transport and signalization, respectively. Characterization of a cuaD mutant, and its derivatives, indicated that the ABC transporter and CbpA are essential for growth on cellobiose and cellulose.

CONCLUSIONS

For the first time in a Gram-positive strain, we identified a three-component system and a conjugated ABC transporter/cellobiose phosphorylase system which was shown to be essential for the growth of the model cellulolytic bacterium R. cellulolyticum on cellobiose and cellulose. This efficient and energy-saving system of transport and phosphorolysis appears to be the major cellobiose utilization pathway in R. cellulolyticum, and seems well adapted to cellulolytic life-style strain. It represents a new way to enable engineered strains to utilize cellodextrins for the production of biofuels or chemicals of interest from cellulose.

A Novel Scaffold for Developing Specific or Broad-Spectrum Chitinase Inhibitors

Chitinases play important roles in pathogen invasion, arthropod molting, plant defense, and human inflammation. Inhibition of the activity of a typical chitinase by small molecules is of significance in drug development and biological research. On the basis of a recent reported crystal structure of OfChtI, the insect chitinase derived from the pest Ostrinia furnacalis, we computationally identified 17 compounds from a library of over 4 million chemicals by two rounds virtual screening. Among these, three compounds from one chemical class inhibited the activity of OfChtI with single-digit-micromolar IC₅₀ values, and one compound from another chemical class exhibited a broad inhibitory activity not only toward OfChtI but also toward bacterial, fungal, and human chitinases. A new scaffold was discovered, and a structure-inhibitory activity relationship was proposed. This work may provide a novel starting point for the development of specific or broad-spectrum chitinase inhibitors.

VIBRIO CHOLERAE CHITINOLYTIC COMPLEX: THE COMPOSITION AND THE ROLE IN PERSISTANCE

Reviewed the paper are the composition and functions of Vibrio cholerae chitinolytic complex which play an important role in the maintaining and creating new forms of vibrios in the environment, it is better adapted to survive in environmental.

Role of a sensor histidine kinase ChiS of Vibrio cholerae in pathogenesis

Vibrio cholera survival in an aquatic environment depends on chitin utilization pathway that requires two factors, chitin binding protein and chitinases. The chitinases and the chitin utilization pathway are regulated by a two-component sensor histidine kinase ChiS in V. cholerae. In recent studies these two factors are also shown to be involved in V. cholerae pathogenesis. However, the role played by their upstream regulator ChiS in pathogenesis is yet to be known. In this study, we investigated the activation of ChiS in presence of mucin and its functional role in pathogenesis. We found ChiS is activated in mucin supplemented media. The isogenic chiS mutant (ChiS^-) showed less growth compared to the wild type strain (ChiS⁺) in the presence of mucin supplemented media. The ChiS^- strain also showed highly retarded motility as well as mucin layer penetration in vitro. Our result also showed that ChiS was important for adherence and survival in HT-29 cell. These observations indicate that ChiS is activated in presence of intestinal mucin and subsequently switch on the chitin utilization pathway. In animal models, our results also supported the in vitro observation. We found reduced fluid accumulation and colonization during infection with ChiS^- strain. We also found ChiS^- mutant with reduced expression of ctxA, toxT and tcpA. The cumulative effect of these events made V. cholerae ChiS^- strain hypovirulent. Hence, we propose that ChiS plays a vital role in V. cholerae pathogenesis.

Correlated trapping of sugar molecules by the trimeric protein channel chitoporin

The protein channel chitoporin (ChiP), which is used by marine bacteria to translocate selected sugar molecules through the outer cell membrane, is studied via single channel current measurements in water and heavy water sugar solutions. The dynamic trapping and escape probabilities of sugar molecules from different monomers in the trimeric channel are characterized, including their dependence on channel orientation and sensitivity to a deuterium isotope effect. A detailed analysis of stochastic current fluctuations reveals that the trapping properties of chitoporin exhibit memory effects: the rate of trapping transitions depends on the previous sequence of transitions; and intermonomer correlations: the average trapping rate of an unblocked monomer is larger when its neighboring monomers are blocked. The latter, likely resulting from rapid re-trapping of recently escaped sugar molecules, is considered as a possible design strategy to enhance sugar transport.

Influence of Niche-Specific Nutrients on Secondary Metabolism in Vibrionaceae

Many factors, such as the substrate and the growth phase, influence biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in microorganisms. Therefore, it is crucial to consider these factors when establishing a bioprospecting strategy. Mimicking the conditions of the natural environment has been suggested as a means of inducing or influencing microbial secondary metabolite production. The purpose of the present study was to determine how the bioactivity of Vibrionaceae was influenced by carbon sources typical of their natural environment. We determined how mannose and chitin, compared to glucose, influenced the antibacterial activity of a collection of Vibrionaceae strains isolated because of their ability to produce antibacterial compounds but that in subsequent screenings seemed to have lost this ability. The numbers of bioactive isolates were 2- and 3.5-fold higher when strains were grown on mannose and chitin, respectively, than on glucose. As secondary metabolites are typically produced during late growth, potential producers were also allowed 1 to 2 days of growth before exposure to the pathogen. This strategy led to a 3-fold increase in the number of bioactive strains on glucose and an 8-fold increase on both chitin and mannose. We selected two bioactive strains belonging to species for which antibacterial activity had not previously been identified. Using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry and bioassay-guided fractionation, we found that the siderophore fluvibactin was responsible for the antibacterial activity of Vibrio furnissii and Vibrio fluvialis These results suggest a role of chitin in the regulation of secondary metabolism in vibrios and demonstrate that considering bacterial ecophysiology during development of screening strategies will facilitate bioprospecting.

IMPORTANCE

A challenge in microbial natural product discovery is the elicitation of the biosynthetic gene clusters that are silent when microorganisms are grown under standard laboratory conditions. We hypothesized that, since the clusters are not lost during proliferation in the natural niche of the microorganisms, they must, under such conditions, be functional. Here, we demonstrate that an ecology-based approach in which the producer organism is allowed a temporal advantage and where growth conditions are mimicking the natural niche remarkably increases the number of Vibrionaceae strains producing antibacterial compounds.

Identification and Functional Characterization of a Novel OprD-like Chitin Uptake Channel in Non-chitinolytic Bacteria

Chitoporin from the chitinolytic marine Vibrio has been characterized as a trimeric OmpC-like channel responsible for effective chitin uptake. In this study we describe the identification and characterization of a novel OprD-like chitoporin (so-called EcChiP) from Escherichia coli The gene was identified, cloned, and functionally expressed in the Omp-deficient E. coli BL21 (Omp8) Rosetta strain. On size exclusion chromatography, EcChiP had an apparent native molecular mass of 50 kDa, as predicted by amino acid sequencing and mass analysis, confirming that the protein is a monomer. Black lipid membrane reconstitution demonstrated that EcChiP could readily form stable, monomeric channels in artificial phospholipid membranes, with an average single channel conductance of 0.55 ± 0.01 nanosiemens and a slight preference for cations. Single EcChiP channels showed strong specificity, interacting with long chain chitooligosaccharides but not with maltooligosaccharides. Liposome swelling assays indicated the bulk permeation of neutral monosaccharides and showed the size exclusion limit of EcChiP to be ∼200-300 Da for small permeants that pass through by general diffusion while allowing long chain chitooligosaccharides to pass through by a facilitated diffusion process. Taking E. coli as a model, we offer the first evidence that non-chitinolytic bacteria can activate a quiescent ChiP gene to express a functional chitoporin, enabling them to take up chitooligosaccharides for metabolism as an immediate source of energy.

RpoS is required for natural transformation of Vibrio cholerae through regulation of chitinases

Vibrio species naturally reside in the aquatic environment and a major metabolite in this habitat is the chitinous exoskeletons of crustacean zooplankton. In addition to serving as a nutrient, chitin-derived oligosaccharides also induce natural genetic competence in many Vibrio spp., a physiological state in which bacteria take up DNA from the extracellular environment and can integrate it into their chromosome by homologous recombination. Another inducing cue required for competence are quorum-sensing autoinducers. The alternative sigma factor RpoS is critical for natural transformation in Vibrio cholerae, and it was previously presumed to exert this effect through regulation of quorum sensing. Here, we show that RpoS does not affect quorum sensing-dependent regulation of competence. Instead, we show that an rpoS mutant has reduced chitinase activity, which is required to liberate the soluble chitin oligosaccharides that serve as an inducing cue for competence. Consistent with this, we demonstrate that RpoS is required for growth of V. cholerae on insoluble chitin. RpoS also regulates the mucosal escape response in pathogenic strains of V. cholerae. Thus, in addition to promoting egress from its human host, RpoS may also prime this pathogen for successful reentry into the aquatic environment.

Interactions of Vibrio spp. with Zooplankton

Members of the genus Vibrio are known to interact with phyto- and zooplankton in aquatic environments. These interactions have been proven to protect the bacterium from various environmental stresses, serve as a nutrient source, facilitate exchange of DNA, and to serve as vectors of disease transmission. This review highlights the impact of Vibrio-zooplankton interactions at the ecosystem scale and the importance of studies focusing on a wide range of Vibrio-zooplankton interactions. The current knowledge on chitin utilization (i.e., chemotaxis, attachment, and degradation) and the role of these factors in attachment to nonchitinous zooplankton is also presented.

Diversity of Clinical and Environmental Isolates of Vibrio cholerae in Natural Transformation and Contact-Dependent Bacterial Killing Indicative of Type VI Secretion System Activity

The bacterial pathogen Vibrio cholerae can occupy both the human gut and aquatic reservoirs, where it may colonize chitinous surfaces that induce the expression of factors for three phenotypes: chitin utilization, DNA uptake by natural transformation, and contact-dependent bacterial killing via a type VI secretion system (T6SS). In this study, we surveyed a diverse set of 53 isolates from different geographic locales collected over the past century from human clinical and environmental specimens for each phenotype outlined above. The set included pandemic isolates of serogroup O1, as well as several serogroup O139 and non-O1/non-O139 strains. We found that while chitin utilization was common, only 22.6% of the isolates tested were proficient at chitin-induced natural transformation, suggesting that transformation is expendable. Constitutive contact-dependent killing of Escherichia coli prey, which is indicative of a functional T6SS, was rare among clinical isolates (only 4 of 29) but common among environmental isolates (22 of 24). These results bolster the pathoadaptive model in which tight regulation of T6SS-mediated bacterial killing is beneficial in a human host, whereas constitutive killing by environmental isolates may give a competitive advantage in natural settings. Future sequence analysis of this set of diverse isolates may identify previously unknown regulators and structural components for both natural transformation and T6SS.

Age-Related Differences in the Gastrointestinal Microbiota of Chinstrap Penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica)

The gastrointestinal tract microbiota is known to play very important roles in the well being of animals. It is a complex community composed by hundreds of microbial species interacting closely among them and with their host, that is, a microbial ecosystem. The development of high throughput sequencing techniques allows studying the diversity of such communities in a realistic way and considerable work has been carried out in mammals and some birds such as chickens. Wild birds have received less attention and in particular, in the case of penguins, only a few individuals of five species have been examined with molecular techniques. We collected cloacal samples from Chinstrap penguins in the Vapour Col rookery in Deception Island, Antarctica, and carried out pyrosequencing of the V1-V3 region of the 16S rDNA in samples from 53 individuals, 27 adults and 26 chicks. This provided the first description of the Chinstrap penguin gastrointestinal tract microbiota and the most extensive in any penguin species. Firmicutes, Bacteoridetes, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Tenericutes were the main components. There were large differences between chicks and adults. The former had more Firmicutes and the latter more Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. In addition, adults had richer and more diverse bacterial communities than chicks. These differences were also observed between parents and their offspring. On the other hand, nests explained differences in bacterial communities only among chicks. We suggest that environmental factors have a higher importance than genetic factors in the microbiota composition of chicks. The results also showed surprisingly large differences in community composition with other Antarctic penguins including the congeneric Adélie and Gentoo penguins.

Chitinase producing bacteria with direct algicidal activity on marine diatoms

Chitinase producing bacteria can involve extensively in nutrient cycling and energy flow in the aquatic environment through degradation and utilization of chitin. It is well known that diatoms cells are encased by box-like frustules composed of chitin. Thus the chitin containing of diatoms shall be a natural target of chitinase producing bacteria, however, the interaction between these two organismic groups has not been studied thus far. Therefore, in this study, the algicidal mechanism of one chitinase producing bacterium (strain LY03) on Thalassiosira pseudonana was investigated. The algicidal range and algicidal mode of strain LY03 were first studied, and then bacterial viability, chemotactic ability and direct interaction characteristic between bacteria and diatom were also confirmed. Finally, the characteristic of the intracellular algicidal substance was identified and the algicidal mechanism was determined whereby algicidal bacterial cells showed chemotaxis to algal cells, fastened themselves on algal cells with their flagella, and then produced chitinase to degrade algal cell walls, and eventually caused algal lysis and death. It is the first time to investigate the interaction between chitinase producing bacteria and diatoms, and this novel special interaction mode was confirmed in this study, which will be helpful in protection and utilization of diatoms resources.

Probing the Catalytic Mechanism of Vibrio harveyi GH20 β-N-Acetylglucosaminidase by Chemical Rescue

BACKGROUND

Vibrio harveyi GH20 β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (VhGlcNAcase) is a chitinolytic enzyme responsible for the successive degradation of chitin fragments to GlcNAc monomers, activating the onset of the chitin catabolic cascade in marine Vibrios.

METHODS

Two invariant acidic pairs (Asp303-Asp304 and Asp437-Glu438) of VhGlcNAcase were mutated using a site-directed mutagenesis strategy. The effects of these mutations were examined and the catalytic roles of these active-site residues were elucidated using a chemical rescue approach. Enhancement of the enzymic activity of the VhGlcNAcase mutants was evaluated by a colorimetric assay using pNP-GlcNAc as substrate.

RESULTS

Substitution of Asp303, Asp304, Asp437 or Glu438 with Ala/Asn/Gln produced a dramatic loss of the GlcNAcase activity. However, the activity of the inactive D437A mutant was recovered in the presence of sodium formate. Our kinetic data suggest that formate ion plays a nucleophilic role by mimicking the β-COO-side chain of Asp437, thereby stabilizing the reaction intermediate during both the glycosylation and the deglycosylation steps.

CONCLUSIONS

Chemical rescue of the inactive D437A mutant of VhGlcNAcase by an added nucleophile helped to identify Asp437 as the catalytic nucleophile/base, and hence its acidic partner Glu438 as the catalytic proton donor/acceptor.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Identification of the catalytic nucleophile of VhGlcNAcases supports the proposal of a substrate-assisted mechanism of GH20 GlcNAcases, requiring the catalytic pair Asp437-Glu438 for catalysis. The results suggest the mechanistic basis of the participation of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase in the chitin catabolic pathway of marine Vibrios.

Draft Genome Sequence of Vibrio sp. Strain Evh12, a Bacterium Retrieved from the Gorgonian Coral Eunicella verrucosa

To shed light on the associations established between Vibrio species and soft corals in coastal ecosystems, we report here the draft genome sequence of Vibrio sp. strain Evh12, a bacterium that has been isolated from the gorgonian coral Eunicella verrucosa and that shows antagonistic activity against Escherichia coli.

Regulation of competence-mediated horizontal gene transfer in the natural habitat of Vibrio cholerae

The human pathogen Vibrio cholerae is an autochthonous inhabitant of aquatic environments where it often interacts with zooplankton and their chitinous molts. Chitin induces natural competence for transformation in V. cholerae, a key mode of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Recent comparative genomic analyses were indicative of extensive HGT in this species. However, we can still expand our understanding of the complex regulatory network that drives competence in V. cholerae. Here, we present recent advances, including the elucidation of bipartite competence regulation mediated by QstR, the inclusion of the type VI secretion system in the competence regulon of pandemic O1 El Tor strains, and the identification of TfoS as a transcriptional regulator that links chitin to competence induction in V. cholerae.

Chitin and Products of Its Hydrolysis in Vibrio cholerae Ecology

The role of chitin and its hydrolysis products generated by Vibrio cholerae chitinases in mechanisms of its adaptation in water environments, metabolism, preservation, acquisition of pathogenic potential, and its epidemiological value are reviewed. Chitin utilization by V. cholerae as a source of energy, carbon, and nitrogen is described. Chitin association promotes biofilm formation on natural chitinous surfaces, increasing V. cholerae resistance to adverse factors in ecological niches: the human body and water environments with its inhabitants. Hydrolytic enzymes regulated by the corresponding genes result in complete chitin biodegradation by a chitinolytic catabolic cascade. Consequences of V. cholerae cell and chitin interaction at different hierarchical levels include metabolic and physiological cell reactions such as chemotaxis, cell division, biofilm formation, induction of genetic competence, and commensalic and symbiotic mutual relations with higher organisms, nutrient cycle, pathogenicity for humans, and water organisms that is an example of successful interrelation of bacteria and substratum in the ecology of the microorganism.

Genomic insight into Aquimarina longa SW024 T: its ultra-oligotrophic adapting mechanisms and biogeochemical functions

BACKGROUND

South Pacific Gyre (SPG) is the largest and clearest gyre in the world, where the concentration of surface chlorophyll a and primary production are extremely low. Aquimarina longa SW024(T) was isolated from surface water of the SPG center. To understand how this bacterium could survive in this ultra-oligotrophic oceanic environment and its function in biogeochemical cycle, we sequenced the genome of A. longa SW024(T) and performed extensive genomic analyses.

METHODS

Genomic DNA was extracted and sequenced using Illumina Hiseq 2000 and Miseq platform. Genome annotation, genomic comparison and phylogenetic analyses were performed with the use of multiple bioinformatics tools like: BLAST+ 2.2.24, Glimmer3.0, RAST server, Geneious 4.8.5, ClustalW2 and MEGA5. Physiological and morphological features were tested by bacterial culture, electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and exopolysaccharides extraction.

RESULTS

Analysis of seven Aquimarina genomes and 30 other genomes of Flavobacteriaceae isolated from seawater showed that most of the strains had low DNA G + C contents, and Aquimarina had larger genomes than other strains. Genome comparison showed varying genomic properties among seven Aquimarina genomes, including genome sizes and gene contents, which may warrant their specific adaptive strategies. Genome of A. longa SW024(T) was further compared with the genomes of two other Aquimarina species which were also isolated from the SPG and A. longa SW024(T) appeared to have much more genes related to replication, recombination and repair. As a copiotroph, A. longa SW024(T) is long in length, and possesses large genome size and diverse transporters. However, it has also evolved many properties to survive in the oligotrophic marine environment. This bacterium grew better on solid medium than in liquid medium, suggesting it may be liable to attach to particle surfaces in order to survive in the nutrient-limiting environment. Gliding motility and the capacity to degrade various polymers possibly allow the bacterium to grow on detritus particles and use polymeric substances as carbon and energy sources. Moreover, genes related to carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur metabolisms were identified, which showed that A. longa SW024(T) might be involved in various elemental cycles.

CONCLUSIONS

Genomic comparison of Aquimarina genus exhibits comprehensive capabilities of the strains to adapt to diverse marine environments. The genomic characteristics of A. longa SW024(T) reveal that it evolves various strategies to cope with both copiotrophic and ultra-oligotrophic marine environment, which provides a better understanding of the survival abilities of bacteria in prevalent and even extreme oceanic environments. Furthermore, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur utilization of A. longa SW024(T) may represent its potential functions in the global biogeochemical cycle.

Genetics of Natural Competence in Vibrio cholerae and other Vibrios

Many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria can become naturally competent to take up extracellular DNA from the environment via a dedicated uptake apparatus. The genetic material that is acquired can (i) be used for nutrients, (ii) aid in genome repair, and (iii) promote horizontal gene transfer when incorporated onto the genome by homologous recombination, the process of “transformation.” Recent studies have identified multiple environmental cues sufficient to induce natural transformation in Vibrio cholerae and several other Vibrio species. In V. cholerae , nutrient limitation activates the cAMP receptor protein regulator, quorum-sensing signals promote synthesis of HapR-controlled QstR, chitin stimulates production of TfoX, and low extracellular nucleosides allow CytR to serve as an additional positive regulator. The network of signaling systems that trigger expression of each of these required regulators is well described, but the mechanisms by which each in turn controls competence apparatus genes is poorly understood. Recent work has defined a minimal set of genes that encode apparatus components and begun to characterize the architecture of the machinery by fluorescence microscopy. While studies with a small set of V. cholerae reference isolates have identified regulatory and competence genes required for DNA uptake, future studies may identify additional genes and regulatory connections, as well as revealing how common natural competence is among diverse V. cholerae isolates and other Vibrio species.

Living in the matrix: assembly and control of Vibrio cholerae biofilms

Nearly all bacteria form biofilms as a strategy for survival and persistence. Biofilms are associated with biotic and abiotic surfaces and are composed of aggregates of cells that are encased by a self-produced or acquired extracellular matrix. Vibrio cholerae has been studied as a model organism for understanding biofilm formation in environmental pathogens, as it spends much of its life cycle outside of the human host in the aquatic environment. Given the important role of biofilm formation in the V. cholerae life cycle, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process and the signals that trigger biofilm assembly or dispersal have been areas of intense investigation over the past 20 years. In this Review, we discuss V. cholerae surface attachment, various matrix components and the regulatory networks controlling biofilm formation.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of a GH20 β-N-acetylglucosaminidase from the marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi

Vibrio harveyi β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (VhGlcNAcase) is a new member of the GH20 glycoside hydrolase family responsible for the complete degradation of chitin fragments, with N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) monomers as the final products. In this study, the crystallization and preliminary crystallographic data of wild-type VhGlcNAcase and its catalytically inactive mutant D437A in the absence and the presence of substrate are reported. Crystals of wild-type VhGlcNAcase were grown in 0.1 M sodium acetate pH 4.6, 1.4 M sodium malonate, while crystals of the D437A mutant were obtained in 0.1 M bis-tris pH 7.5, 0.1 M sodium acetate, 20% PEG 3350. X-ray data from the wild-type and the mutant crystals were collected at a synchrotron-radiation light source and were complete to a resolution of 2.5 Å. All crystals were composed of the same type of dimer, with the substrate N,N'-diacetylglucosamine (GlcNAc₂ or diNAG) used for soaking was cleaved by the active enzyme, leaving only a single GlcNAc molecule bound to the protein.

Genome mining reveals unlocked bioactive potential of marine Gram-negative bacteria

Background

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria spreads quickly, overtaking the pace at which new compounds are discovered and this emphasizes the immediate need to discover new compounds for control of infectious diseases. Terrestrial bacteria have for decades been investigated as a source of bioactive compounds leading to successful applications in pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Marine bacteria have so far not been exploited to the same extent; however, they are believed to harbor a multitude of novel bioactive chemistry. To explore this potential, genomes of 21 marine Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria collected during the Galathea 3 expedition were sequenced and mined for natural product encoding gene clusters.

Results

Independently of genome size, bacteria of all tested genera carried a large number of clusters encoding different potential bioactivities, especially within the Vibrionaceae and Pseudoalteromonadaceae families. A very high potential was identified in pigmented pseudoalteromonads with up to 20 clusters in a single strain, mostly NRPSs and NRPS-PKS hybrids. Furthermore, regulatory elements in bioactivity-related pathways including chitin metabolism, quorum sensing and iron scavenging systems were investigated both in silico and in vitro. Genes with siderophore function were identified in 50% of the strains, however, all but one harboured the ferric-uptake-regulator gene. Genes encoding the syntethase of acylated homoserine lactones were found in Roseobacter-clade bacteria, but not in the Vibrionaceae strains and only in one Pseudoalteromonas strains. The understanding and manipulation of these elements can help in the discovery and production of new compounds never identified under regular laboratory cultivation conditions. High chitinolytic potential was demonstrated and verified for Vibrio and Pseudoalteromonas species that commonly live in close association with eukaryotic organisms in the environment. Chitin regulation by the ChiS histidine-kinase seems to be a general trait of the Vibrionaceae family, however it is absent in the Pseudomonadaceae. Hence, the degree to which chitin influences secondary metabolism in marine bacteria is not known.

Conclusions

Utilizing the rapidly developing sequencing technologies and software tools in combination with phenotypic in vitro assays, we demonstrated the high bioactive potential of marine bacteria in an efficient, straightforward manner – an approach that will facilitate natural product discovery in the future.

A metalloprotease secreted by the type II secretion system links Vibrio cholerae with collagen

Vibrio cholerae is autochthonous to various aquatic niches and is the etiological agent of the life-threatening diarrheal disease cholera. The persistence of V. cholerae in natural habitats is a crucial factor in the epidemiology of cholera. In contrast to the well-studied V. cholerae-chitin connection, scarce information is available about the factors employed by the bacteria for the interaction with collagens. Collagens might serve as biologically relevant substrates, because they are the most abundant protein constituents of metazoan tissues and V. cholerae has been identified in association with invertebrate and vertebrate marine animals, as well as in a benthic zone of the ocean where organic matter, including collagens, accumulates. Here, we describe the characterization of the V. cholerae putative collagenase, VchC, encoded by open reading frame VC1650 and belonging to the subfamily M9A peptidases. Our studies demonstrate that VchC is an extracellular collagenase degrading native type I collagen of fish and mammalian origin. Alteration of the predicted catalytic residues coordinating zinc ions completely abolished the protein enzymatic activity but did not affect the translocation of the protease by the type II secretion pathway into the extracellular milieu. We also show that the protease undergoes a maturation process with the aid of a secreted factor(s). Finally, we propose that V. cholerae is a collagenovorous bacterium, as it is able to utilize collagen as a sole nutrient source. This study initiates new lines of investigations aiming to uncover the structural and functional components of the V. cholerae collagen utilization program.

The acetate switch of an intestinal pathogen disrupts host insulin signaling and lipid metabolism

Vibrio cholerae is lethal to the model host Drosophila melanogaster through mechanisms not solely attributable to cholera toxin. To examine additional virulence determinants, we performed a genetic screen in V. cholerae-infected Drosophila and identified the two-component system CrbRS. CrbRS controls transcriptional activation of acetyl-CoA synthase-1 (ACS-1) and thus regulates the acetate switch, in which bacteria transition from excretion to assimilation of environmental acetate. The resultant loss of intestinal acetate leads to deactivation of host insulin signaling and lipid accumulation in enterocytes, resulting in host lethality. These metabolic effects are not observed upon infection with ΔcrbS or Δacs1 V. cholerae mutants. Additionally, uninfected flies lacking intestinal commensals, which supply short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, also exhibit altered insulin signaling and intestinal steatosis, which is reversed upon acetate supplementation. Thus, acetate consumption by V. cholerae alters host metabolism, and dietary acetate supplementation may ameliorate some sequelae of cholera.

Evolution: 'snowed' in with the enemy

Explaining the origins and maintenance of cooperation in nature is a key challenge in evolutionary biology. A recent study demonstrates two novel mechanisms through which the natural ecology of sinking ocean aggregates--colloquially called 'marine snow' - promotes cooperation.