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Guillén-Chable F, Valdez Iuit JO, Avila Castro LA, Rosas C, Merino E, Rodríguez-Escamilla Z, Martínez-Núñez MA. Geographical distribution of mobile genetic elements in microbial communities along the Yucatan coast. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301642. [PMID: 38683832 PMCID: PMC11057721 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a well-documented strategy used by bacteria to enhance their adaptability to challenging environmental conditions. Through HGT, a group of conserved genetic elements known as mobile genetic elements (MGEs) is disseminated within bacterial communities. MGEs offer numerous advantages to the host, increasing its fitness by acquiring new functions that help bacteria contend with adverse conditions, including exposure to heavy metal and antibiotics. This study explores MGEs within microbial communities along the Yucatan coast using a metatranscriptomics approach. Prior to this research, nothing was known about the coastal Yucatan's microbial environmental mobilome and HGT processes between these bacterial communities. This study reveals a positive correlation between MGEs and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) along the Yucatan coast, with higher MGEs abundance in more contaminated sites. The Proteobacteria and Firmicutes groups exhibited the highest number of MGEs. It's important to highlight that the most abundant classes of MGEs might not be the ones most strongly linked to ARGs, as observed for the recombination/repair class. This work presents the first geographical distribution of the environmental mobilome in Yucatan Peninsula mangroves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Guillén-Chable
- UMDI-Sisal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sisal, Yucatán, México
| | - Johnny Omar Valdez Iuit
- UMDI-Sisal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sisal, Yucatán, México
| | | | - Carlos Rosas
- UMDI-Sisal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sisal, Yucatán, México
| | - Enrique Merino
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Zuemy Rodríguez-Escamilla
- Facultad de Sistemas Biológicos e Innovación Tecnológica, Universidad Autónoma "Benito Juárez" de Oaxaca, Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, México
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52
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Zaatry R, Herren R, Gefen T, Geva-Zatorsky N. Microbiome and infectious disease: diagnostics to therapeutics. Microbes Infect 2024:105345. [PMID: 38670215 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2024.105345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Over 300 years of research on the microbial world has revealed their importance in human health and disease. This review explores the impact and potential of microbial-based detection methods and therapeutic interventions, integrating research of early microbiologists, current findings, and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rawan Zaatry
- Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Rappaport Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Rachel Herren
- Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Rappaport Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tal Gefen
- Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Rappaport Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Naama Geva-Zatorsky
- Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Rappaport Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Technion, Haifa, Israel; CIFAR, Humans & the Microbiome, Toronto, Canada.
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53
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Petakh P, Behzadi P, Oksenych V, Kamyshnyi O. Current treatment options for leptospirosis: a mini-review. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1403765. [PMID: 38725681 PMCID: PMC11081000 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1403765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis, one of the most common global zoonotic infections, significantly impacts global human health, infecting more than a million people and causing approximately 60,000 deaths annually. This mini-review explores effective treatment strategies for leptospirosis, considering its epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and current therapeutic approaches. Emphasis is placed on antibiotic therapy, including recommendations for mild and severe cases, as well as the role of probiotics in modulating the gut microbiota. Furthermore, novel treatment options, such as bacteriophages and newly synthesized/natural compounds, are discussed, and the findings are expected to provide insights into promising approaches for combating leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlo Petakh
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Uzhhorod National University, Uzhhorod, Ukraine
- Department of Microbiology, Virology, and Immunology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Payam Behzadi
- Department of Microbiology, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Valentyn Oksenych
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Oleksandr Kamyshnyi
- Department of Microbiology, Virology, and Immunology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
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54
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Chitboonthavisuk C, Martin C, Huss P, Peters JM, Anantharaman K, Raman S. Systematic genome-wide discovery of host factors governing bacteriophage infectivity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.20.590424. [PMID: 38659955 PMCID: PMC11042327 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.20.590424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial host factors regulate the infection cycle of bacteriophages. Except for some well-studied host factors (e.g., receptors or restriction-modification systems), the contribution of the rest of the host genome on phage infection remains poorly understood. We developed PHAGEPACK, a pooled assay that systematically and comprehensively measures each host-gene impact on phage fitness. PHAGEPACK combines CRISPR interference with phage packaging to link host perturbation to phage fitness during active infection. Using PHAGEPACK, we constructed a genome-wide map of genes impacting T7 phage fitness in permissive E. coli, revealing pathways previously unknown to affect phage packaging. When applied to the non-permissive E. coli O121, PHAGEPACK identified pathways leading to host resistance; their removal increased phage susceptibility up to a billion-fold. Bioinformatic analysis indicates phage genomes carry homologs or truncations of key host factors, potentially for fitness advantage. In summary, PHAGEPACK offers valuable insights into phage-host interactions, phage evolution, and bacterial resistance.
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55
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Yang XY, Shen Z, Xie J, Greenwald J, Marathe I, Lin Q, Xie WJ, Wysocki VH, Fu TM. Molecular basis of Gabija anti-phage supramolecular assemblies. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024:10.1038/s41594-024-01283-w. [PMID: 38627580 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01283-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
As one of the most prevalent anti-phage defense systems in prokaryotes, Gabija consists of a Gabija protein A (GajA) and a Gabija protein B (GajB). The assembly and function of the Gabija system remain unclear. Here we present cryo-EM structures of Bacillus cereus GajA and GajAB complex, revealing tetrameric and octameric assemblies, respectively. In the center of the complex, GajA assembles into a tetramer, which recruits two sets of GajB dimer at opposite sides of the complex, resulting in a 4:4 GajAB supramolecular complex for anti-phage defense. Further biochemical analysis showed that GajA alone is sufficient to cut double-stranded DNA and plasmid DNA, which can be inhibited by ATP. Unexpectedly, the GajAB displays enhanced activity for plasmid DNA, suggesting a role of substrate selection by GajB. Together, our study defines a framework for understanding anti-phage immune defense by the GajAB complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yuan Yang
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Program of OSBP, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Zhangfei Shen
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jiale Xie
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Program of OSBP, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jacelyn Greenwald
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ila Marathe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Qingpeng Lin
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Wen Jun Xie
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Vicki H Wysocki
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Tian-Min Fu
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Program of OSBP, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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56
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Wu Y, Garushyants SK, van den Hurk A, Aparicio-Maldonado C, Kushwaha SK, King CM, Ou Y, Todeschini TC, Clokie MRJ, Millard AD, Gençay YE, Koonin EV, Nobrega FL. Bacterial defense systems exhibit synergistic anti-phage activity. Cell Host Microbe 2024; 32:557-572.e6. [PMID: 38402614 PMCID: PMC11009048 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial defense against phage predation involves diverse defense systems acting individually and concurrently, yet their interactions remain poorly understood. We investigated >100 defense systems in 42,925 bacterial genomes and identified numerous instances of their non-random co-occurrence and negative association. For several pairs of defense systems significantly co-occurring in Escherichia coli strains, we demonstrate synergistic anti-phage activity. Notably, Zorya II synergizes with Druantia III and ietAS defense systems, while tmn exhibits synergy with co-occurring systems Gabija, Septu I, and PrrC. For Gabija, tmn co-opts the sensory switch ATPase domain, enhancing anti-phage activity. Some defense system pairs that are negatively associated in E. coli show synergy and significantly co-occur in other taxa, demonstrating that bacterial immune repertoires are largely shaped by selection for resistance against host-specific phages rather than negative epistasis. Collectively, these findings demonstrate compatibility and synergy between defense systems, allowing bacteria to adopt flexible strategies for phage defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wu
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Sofya K Garushyants
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anne van den Hurk
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | | | - Simran Krishnakant Kushwaha
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK; Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan, India
| | - Claire M King
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Yaqing Ou
- Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Thomas C Todeschini
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Martha R J Clokie
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Andrew D Millard
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | - Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Franklin L Nobrega
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
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57
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Ilchenko K, Pfeifer E. A layered effect in bacterial defense. Cell Host Microbe 2024; 32:447-449. [PMID: 38604123 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Defense systems that protect bacteria from invaders, such as viruses, are believed to be multi-layered and driven by interactions. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Wu, Garushyants et al.1 delve into the dynamics between these safeguard mechanisms and unravel synergistic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Ilchenko
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Eugen Pfeifer
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
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58
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Gomez JB, Waters CM. A Vibrio cholerae Type IV restriction system targets glucosylated 5-hydroxyl methyl cytosine to protect against phage infection. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.05.588314. [PMID: 38617239 PMCID: PMC11014532 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.05.588314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
A major challenge faced by Vibrio cholerae is constant predation by bacteriophage (phage) in aquatic reservoirs and during infection of human hosts. To overcome phage predation, V. cholerae has evolved a myriad of phage defense systems. Although several novel defense systems have been discovered, we hypothesized more were encoded in V. cholerae given the relative paucity of phage that have been isolated which infect this species. Using a V. cholerae genomic library, we identified a Type IV restriction system consisting of two genes within a 16kB region of the Vibrio pathogenicity island-2 that we name TgvA and TgvB (Type I-embedded gmrSD-like system of VPI-2). We show that both TgvA and TgvB are required for defense against T2, T4, and T6 by targeting glucosylated 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). T2 or T4 phages that lose the glucose modification are resistant to TgvAB defense but exhibit a significant evolutionary tradeoff becoming susceptible to other Type IV restriction systems that target unglucosylated 5hmC. We show that additional phage defense genes are encoded in VPI-2 that protect against other phage like T3, secΦ18, secΦ27 and λ. Our study uncovers a novel Type IV restriction system in V. cholerae, increasing our understanding of the evolution and ecology of V. cholerae while highlighting the evolutionary interplay between restriction systems and phage genome modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper B Gomez
- Department of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Christopher M Waters
- Department of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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59
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Cossart P, Hacker J, Holden DH, Normark S, Vogel J. Meeting report 'Microbiology 2023: from single cell to microbiome and host', an international interacademy conference in Würzburg. MICROLIFE 2024; 5:uqae008. [PMID: 38665235 PMCID: PMC11044969 DOI: 10.1093/femsml/uqae008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
On September 20-22 September 2023, the international conference 'Microbiology 2023: from single cell to microbiome and host' convened microbiologists from across the globe for a very successful symposium, showcasing cutting-edge research in the field. Invited lecturers delivered exceptional presentations covering a wide range of topics, with a major emphasis on phages and microbiomes, on the relevant bacteria within these ecosystems, and their multifaceted roles in diverse environments. Discussions also spanned the intricate analysis of fundamental bacterial processes, such as cell division, stress resistance, and interactions with phages. Organized by four renowned Academies, the German Leopoldina, the French Académie des sciences, the Royal Society UK, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the symposium provided a dynamic platform for experts to share insights and discoveries, leaving participants inspired and eager to integrate new knowledge into their respective projects. The success of Microbiology 2023 prompted the decision to host the next quadrennial academic meeting in Sweden. This choice underscores the commitment to fostering international collaboration and advancing the frontiers of microbiological knowledge. The transition to Sweden promises to be an exciting step in the ongoing global dialogue and specific collaborations on microbiology, a field where researchers will continue to push the boundaries of knowledge, understanding, and innovation not only in health and disease but also in ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jörg Hacker
- German National Academy of Science Leopoldina, Jägerberg 1, D-06108 Halle, Germany
| | - David H Holden
- Department of Infectious Disease, Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Flowers Building, South Kensington Campus, Exhibition Road, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Staffan Normark
- Karolinska Institute, Tumor-och-cellbiologi, C1 Microbial Pathogenesis, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Josef-Schneider-Str2/Gebaude D15; É. D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
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60
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Barth ZK, Aylward FO. March of the proviruses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2402541121. [PMID: 38527209 PMCID: PMC10998573 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2402541121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zachary K. Barth
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA24061
| | - Frank O. Aylward
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA24061
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA24061
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61
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O’Connor PBF, Mahony J, Casey E, Baranov PV, van Sinderen D, Yordanova MM. Ribosome profiling reveals downregulation of UMP biosynthesis as the major early response to phage infection. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0398923. [PMID: 38451091 PMCID: PMC10986495 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03989-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria have evolved diverse defense mechanisms to counter bacteriophage attacks. Genetic programs activated upon infection characterize phage-host molecular interactions and ultimately determine the outcome of the infection. In this study, we applied ribosome profiling to monitor protein synthesis during the early stages of sk1 bacteriophage infection in Lactococcus cremoris. Our analysis revealed major changes in gene expression within 5 minutes of sk1 infection. Notably, we observed a specific and severe downregulation of several pyr operons which encode enzymes required for uridine monophosphate biosynthesis. Consistent with previous findings, this is likely an attempt of the host to starve the phage of nucleotides it requires for propagation. We also observed a gene expression response that we expect to benefit the phage. This included the upregulation of 40 ribosome proteins that likely increased the host's translational capacity, concurrent with a downregulation of genes that promote translational fidelity (lepA and raiA). In addition to the characterization of host-phage gene expression responses, the obtained ribosome profiling data enabled us to identify two putative recoding events as well as dozens of loci currently annotated as pseudogenes that are actively translated. Furthermore, our study elucidated alterations in the dynamics of the translation process, as indicated by time-dependent changes in the metagene profile, suggesting global shifts in translation rates upon infection. Additionally, we observed consistent modifications in the ribosome profiles of individual genes, which were apparent as early as 2 minutes post-infection. The study emphasizes our ability to capture rapid alterations of gene expression during phage infection through ribosome profiling. IMPORTANCE The ribosome profiling technology has provided invaluable insights for understanding cellular translation and eukaryotic viral infections. However, its potential for investigating host-phage interactions remains largely untapped. Here, we applied ribosome profiling to Lactococcus cremoris cultures infected with sk1, a major infectious agent in dairy fermentation processes. This revealed a profound downregulation of genes involved in pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis at an early stage of phage infection, suggesting an anti-phage program aimed at restricting nucleotide availability and, consequently, phage propagation. This is consistent with recent findings and contributes to our growing appreciation for the role of nucleotide limitation as an anti-viral strategy. In addition to capturing rapid alterations in gene expression levels, we identified translation occurring outside annotated regions, as well as signatures of non-standard translation mechanisms. The gene profiles revealed specific changes in ribosomal densities upon infection, reflecting alterations in the dynamics of the translation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick B. F. O’Connor
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- EIRNA Bio, Bioinnovation Hub, Cork, Ireland
| | - Jennifer Mahony
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Eoghan Casey
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Pavel V. Baranov
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Douwe van Sinderen
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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62
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Guo L, Huang P, Li Z, Shin YC, Yan P, Lu M, Chen M, Xiao Y. Auto-inhibition and activation of a short Argonaute-associated TIR-APAZ defense system. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:512-520. [PMID: 37932527 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01478-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Short prokaryotic Ago accounts for most prokaryotic Argonaute proteins (pAgos) and is involved in defending bacteria against invading nucleic acids. Short pAgo associated with TIR-APAZ (SPARTA) has been shown to oligomerize and deplete NAD+ upon guide-mediated target DNA recognition. However, the molecular basis of SPARTA inhibition and activation remains unknown. In this study, we determined the cryogenic electron microscopy structures of Crenotalea thermophila SPARTA in its inhibited, transient and activated states. The SPARTA monomer is auto-inhibited by its acidic tail, which occupies the guide-target binding channel. Guide-mediated target binding expels this acidic tail and triggers substantial conformational changes to expose the Ago-Ago dimerization interface. As a result, SPARTA assembles into an active tetramer, where the four TIR domains are rearranged and packed to form NADase active sites. Together with biochemical evidence, our results provide a panoramic vision explaining SPARTA auto-inhibition and activation and expand understanding of pAgo-mediated bacterial defense systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijie Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Pingping Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhaoxing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Young-Cheul Shin
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Purui Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meiling Lu
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meirong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yibei Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
- Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing, China.
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63
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Kogay R, Wolf YI, Koonin EV. Defence systems and horizontal gene transfer in bacteria. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16630. [PMID: 38643972 PMCID: PMC11034907 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a fundamental process in prokaryotic evolution, contributing significantly to diversification and adaptation. HGT is typically facilitated by mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as conjugative plasmids and phages, which often impose fitness costs on their hosts. However, a considerable number of bacterial genes are involved in defence mechanisms that limit the propagation of MGEs, suggesting they may actively restrict HGT. In our study, we investigated whether defence systems limit HGT by examining the relationship between the HGT rate and the presence of 73 defence systems across 12 bacterial species. We discovered that only six defence systems, three of which were different CRISPR-Cas subtypes, were associated with a reduced gene gain rate at the species evolution scale. Hosts of these defence systems tend to have a smaller pangenome size and fewer phage-related genes compared to genomes without these systems. This suggests that these defence mechanisms inhibit HGT by limiting prophage integration. We hypothesize that the restriction of HGT by defence systems is species-specific and depends on various ecological and genetic factors, including the burden of MGEs and the fitness effect of HGT in bacterial populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Kogay
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Yuri I. Wolf
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
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Agapov A, Baker KS, Bedekar P, Bhatia RP, Blower TR, Brockhurst MA, Brown C, Chong CE, Fothergill JL, Graham S, Hall JP, Maestri A, McQuarrie S, Olina A, Pagliara S, Recker M, Richmond A, Shaw SJ, Szczelkun MD, Taylor TB, van Houte S, Went SC, Westra ER, White MF, Wright R. Multi-layered genome defences in bacteria. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102436. [PMID: 38368839 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria have evolved a variety of defence mechanisms to protect against mobile genetic elements, including restriction-modification systems and CRISPR-Cas. In recent years, dozens of previously unknown defence systems (DSs) have been discovered. Notably, diverse DSs often coexist within the same genome, and some co-occur at frequencies significantly higher than would be expected by chance, implying potential synergistic interactions. Recent studies have provided evidence of defence mechanisms that enhance or complement one another. Here, we review the interactions between DSs at the mechanistic, regulatory, ecological and evolutionary levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksei Agapov
- ESI, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Kate S Baker
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Paritosh Bedekar
- ESI, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Rama P Bhatia
- ESI, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Tim R Blower
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Michael A Brockhurst
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Dover Street, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Cooper Brown
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9ST, UK
| | | | - Joanne L Fothergill
- Dept of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Shirley Graham
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9ST, UK
| | - James Pj Hall
- Dept of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Alice Maestri
- ESI, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Stuart McQuarrie
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Anna Olina
- ESI, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, UK
| | | | - Mario Recker
- ESI, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Anna Richmond
- ESI, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Steven J Shaw
- DNA-Protein Interactions Unit, School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS6 7YB, UK
| | - Mark D Szczelkun
- DNA-Protein Interactions Unit, School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS6 7YB, UK
| | - Tiffany B Taylor
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | | | - Sam C Went
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Edze R Westra
- ESI, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, UK.
| | - Malcolm F White
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Rosanna Wright
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Dover Street, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
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65
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Kuzminov A. Bacterial nucleoid is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0021123. [PMID: 38358278 PMCID: PMC10994824 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00211-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial chromosome, the nucleoid, is traditionally modeled as a rosette of DNA mega-loops, organized around proteinaceous central scaffold by nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs), and mixed with the cytoplasm by transcription and translation. Electron microscopy of fixed cells confirms dispersal of the cloud-like nucleoid within the ribosome-filled cytoplasm. Here, I discuss evidence that the nucleoid in live cells forms DNA phase separate from riboprotein phase, the "riboid." I argue that the nucleoid-riboid interphase, where DNA interacts with NAPs, transcribing RNA polymerases, nascent transcripts, and ssRNA chaperones, forms the transcription zone. An active part of phase separation, transcription zone enforces segregation of the centrally positioned information phase (the nucleoid) from the surrounding action phase (the riboid), where translation happens, protein accumulates, and metabolism occurs. I speculate that HU NAP mostly tiles up the nucleoid periphery-facilitating DNA mobility but also supporting transcription in the interphase. Besides extruding plectonemically supercoiled DNA mega-loops, condensins could compact them into solenoids of uniform rings, while HU could support rigidity and rotation of these DNA rings. The two-phase cytoplasm arrangement allows the bacterial cell to organize the central dogma activities, where (from the cell center to its periphery) DNA replicates and segregates, DNA is transcribed, nascent mRNA is handed over to ribosomes, mRNA is translated into proteins, and finally, the used mRNA is recycled into nucleotides at the inner membrane. The resulting information-action conveyor, with one activity naturally leading to the next one, explains the efficiency of prokaryotic cell design-even though its main intracellular transportation mode is free diffusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Kuzminov
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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66
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Ednacot EMQ, Morehouse BR. An OLD protein teaches us new tricks: prokaryotic antiviral defense. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2527. [PMID: 38514789 PMCID: PMC10957863 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46925-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eirene Marie Q Ednacot
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-3900, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin R Morehouse
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-3900, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Center for Virus Research, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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67
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Wang S, Ma T, Xia X, Zhang L. Evolutionary insights and functional diversity of gasdermin family proteins and homologs in microorganisms. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1371611. [PMID: 38571940 PMCID: PMC10989679 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1371611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The gasdermin protein family and its homologs in microorganisms have gained significant attention due to their roles in programmed cell death, immune defense, and microbial infection. This review summarizes the current research status of gasdermin proteins, their structural features, and functional roles in fungi, bacteria, and viruses. The review presents evolutionary parallels between mammalian and microbial defense systems, highlighting the conserved role of gasdermin proteins in regulating cell death processes and immunity. Additionally, the structural and functional characteristics of gasdermin homologs in microorganisms are summarized, shedding light on their potential as targets for therapeutic interventions. Future research directions in this field are also discussed to provide a roadmap for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shule Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Tingbo Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoyi Xia
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Leiliang Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
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68
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Gandon S, Guillemet M, Gatchitch F, Nicot A, Renaud AC, Tremblay DM, Moineau S. Building pyramids against the evolutionary emergence of pathogens. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20231529. [PMID: 38471546 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations allowing pathogens to escape host immunity promote the spread of infectious diseases in heterogeneous host populations and can lead to major epidemics. Understanding the conditions that slow down this evolution is key for the development of durable control strategies against pathogens. Here, we use theory and experiments to compare the efficacy of three strategies for the deployment of resistance: (i) a mixing strategy where the host population contains two single-resistant genotypes, (ii) a pyramiding strategy where the host carries a double-resistant genotype, (iii) a combining strategy where the host population is a mix of a single-resistant genotype and a double-resistant genotype. First, we use evolutionary epidemiology theory to clarify the interplay between demographic stochasticity and evolutionary dynamics to show that the pyramiding strategy always yields lower probability of evolutionary emergence. Second, we test experimentally these predictions with the introduction of bacteriophages into bacterial populations where we manipulated the diversity and the depth of immunity using a Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR associated (CRISPR-Cas) system. These biological assays confirm that pyramiding multiple defences into the same host genotype and avoiding combination with single-defence genotypes is a robust way to reduce pathogen evolutionary emergence. The experimental validation of these theoretical recommendations has practical implications in various areas, including for the optimal deployment of resistance varieties in agriculture and for the design of durable vaccination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Gandon
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Antoine Nicot
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Ariane C Renaud
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Quebec city, Canada G1V0A6
- Félix d'Hérelle Reference Center for Bacterial Viruses, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada G1V 0A6
| | - Denise M Tremblay
- Félix d'Hérelle Reference Center for Bacterial Viruses, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada G1V 0A6
| | - Sylvain Moineau
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Quebec city, Canada G1V0A6
- Félix d'Hérelle Reference Center for Bacterial Viruses, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada G1V 0A6
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69
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Beavogui A, Lacroix A, Wiart N, Poulain J, Delmont TO, Paoli L, Wincker P, Oliveira PH. The defensome of complex bacterial communities. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2146. [PMID: 38459056 PMCID: PMC10924106 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46489-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria have developed various defense mechanisms to avoid infection and killing in response to the fast evolution and turnover of viruses and other genetic parasites. Such pan-immune system (defensome) encompasses a growing number of defense lines that include well-studied innate and adaptive systems such as restriction-modification, CRISPR-Cas and abortive infection, but also newly found ones whose mechanisms are still poorly understood. While the abundance and distribution of defense systems is well-known in complete and culturable genomes, there is a void in our understanding of their diversity and richness in complex microbial communities. Here we performed a large-scale in-depth analysis of the defensomes of 7759 high-quality bacterial population genomes reconstructed from soil, marine, and human gut environments. We observed a wide variation in the frequency and nature of the defensome among large phyla, which correlated with lifestyle, genome size, habitat, and geographic background. The defensome's genetic mobility, its clustering in defense islands, and genetic variability was found to be system-specific and shaped by the bacterial environment. Hence, our results provide a detailed picture of the multiple immune barriers present in environmentally distinct bacterial communities and set the stage for subsequent identification of novel and ingenious strategies of diversification among uncultivated microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Beavogui
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), CNRS, Université Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Auriane Lacroix
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), CNRS, Université Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Nicolas Wiart
- Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Julie Poulain
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), CNRS, Université Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022 / Tara GOsee, Paris, France
| | - Tom O Delmont
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), CNRS, Université Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022 / Tara GOsee, Paris, France
| | - Lucas Paoli
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1284, Molecular Diversity of Microbes lab, Paris, France
| | - Patrick Wincker
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), CNRS, Université Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022 / Tara GOsee, Paris, France
| | - Pedro H Oliveira
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), CNRS, Université Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France.
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70
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Roisné-Hamelin F, Liu HW, Taschner M, Li Y, Gruber S. Structural basis for plasmid restriction by SMC JET nuclease. Mol Cell 2024; 84:883-896.e7. [PMID: 38309275 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
DNA loop-extruding SMC complexes play crucial roles in chromosome folding and DNA immunity. Prokaryotic SMC Wadjet (JET) complexes limit the spread of plasmids through DNA cleavage, yet the mechanisms for plasmid recognition are unresolved. We show that artificial DNA circularization renders linear DNA susceptible to JET nuclease cleavage. Unlike free DNA, JET cleaves immobilized plasmid DNA at a specific site, the plasmid-anchoring point, showing that the anchor hinders DNA extrusion but not DNA cleavage. Structures of plasmid-bound JetABC reveal two presumably stalled SMC motor units that are drastically rearranged from the resting state, together entrapping a U-shaped DNA segment, which is further converted to kinked V-shaped cleavage substrate by JetD nuclease binding. Our findings uncover mechanical bending of residual unextruded DNA as molecular signature for plasmid recognition and non-self DNA elimination. We moreover elucidate key elements of SMC loop extrusion, including the motor direction and the structure of a DNA-holding state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Roisné-Hamelin
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology (DMF), Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM), University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hon Wing Liu
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology (DMF), Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM), University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michael Taschner
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology (DMF), Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM), University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology (DMF), Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM), University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Gruber
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology (DMF), Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM), University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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71
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Haudiquet M, Le Bris J, Nucci A, Bonnin RA, Domingo-Calap P, Rocha EPC, Rendueles O. Capsules and their traits shape phage susceptibility and plasmid conjugation efficiency. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2032. [PMID: 38448399 PMCID: PMC10918111 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46147-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial evolution is affected by mobile genetic elements like phages and conjugative plasmids, offering new adaptive traits while incurring fitness costs. Their infection is affected by the bacterial capsule. Yet, its importance has been difficult to quantify because of the high diversity of confounding mechanisms in bacterial genomes such as anti-viral systems and surface receptor modifications. Swapping capsule loci between Klebsiella pneumoniae strains allowed us to quantify their impact on plasmid and phage infection independently of genetic background. Capsule swaps systematically invert phage susceptibility, revealing serotypes as key determinants of phage infection. Capsule types also influence conjugation efficiency in both donor and recipient cells, a mechanism shaped by capsule volume and conjugative pilus structure. Comparative genomics confirmed that more permissive serotypes in the lab correspond to the strains acquiring more conjugative plasmids in nature. The least capsule-sensitive pili (F-like) are the most frequent in the species' plasmids, and are the only ones associated with both antibiotic resistance and virulence factors, driving the convergence between virulence and antibiotics resistance in the population. These results show how traits of cellular envelopes define slow and fast lanes of infection by mobile genetic elements, with implications for population dynamics and horizontal gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Haudiquet
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, 75015, France.
- Ecole Doctoral FIRE-Programme Bettencourt, CRI, Paris, France.
| | - Julie Le Bris
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, 75015, France
- Sorbonne Université, Collège Doctoral, Ecole Doctorale Complexité du Vivant, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Amandine Nucci
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, 75015, France
| | - Rémy A Bonnin
- Team Resist UMR1184 Université Paris Saclay, CEA, Inserm, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, Paris, France
- Service de bactériologie, Hôpital Bicêtre, Université Paris Saclay, AP-HP, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, Paris, France
- Centre National de Référence Associé de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, Paris, France
| | - Pilar Domingo-Calap
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas, Universitat de València-CSIC, 46980, Paterna, Spain
| | - Eduardo P C Rocha
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, 75015, France.
| | - Olaya Rendueles
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, 75015, France.
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72
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Ipoutcha T, Racharaks R, Huttelmaier S, Wilson CJ, Ozer EA, Hartmann EM. A synthetic biology approach to assemble and reboot clinically relevant Pseudomonas aeruginosa tailed phages. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0289723. [PMID: 38294230 PMCID: PMC10913387 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02897-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The rise in the frequency of antibiotic resistance has made bacterial infections, specifically Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a cause for greater concern. Phage therapy is a promising solution that uses naturally isolated phages to treat bacterial infections. Ecological limitations, which stipulate a discrete host range and the inevitable evolution of resistance, may be overcome through a better understanding of phage biology and the utilization of engineered phages. In this study, we developed a synthetic biology approach to construct tailed phages that naturally target clinically relevant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As proof of concept, we successfully cloned and assembled the JG024 and DMS3 phage genomes in yeast using transformation-associated recombination cloning and rebooted these two phage genomes in two different strains of P. aeruginosa. We identified factors that affected phage reboot efficiency like the phage species or the presence of antiviral defense systems in the bacterial strain. We have successfully extended this method to two other phage species and observed that the method enables the reboot of phages that are naturally unable to infect the strain used for reboot. This research represents a critical step toward the construction of clinically relevant, engineered P. aeruginosa phages.IMPORTANCEPseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium responsible for severe infections and a common major complication in cystic fibrosis. The use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections has become increasingly difficult as antibiotic resistance has become more prevalent. Phage therapy is an alternative solution that is already being used in some European countries, but its use is limited by the narrow host range due to the phage receptor specificity, the presence of antiviral defense systems in the bacterial strain, and the possible emergence of phage resistance. In this study, we demonstrate the use of a synthetic biology approach to construct and reboot clinically relevant P. aeruginosa tailed phages. This method enables a significant expansion of possibilities through the construction of engineered phages for therapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Ipoutcha
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Ratanachat Racharaks
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Stefanie Huttelmaier
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Cole J. Wilson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Egon A. Ozer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Erica M. Hartmann
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
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73
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Tamulaitiene G, Sabonis D, Sasnauskas G, Ruksenaite A, Silanskas A, Avraham C, Ofir G, Sorek R, Zaremba M, Siksnys V. Activation of Thoeris antiviral system via SIR2 effector filament assembly. Nature 2024; 627:431-436. [PMID: 38383786 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07092-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
To survive bacteriophage (phage) infections, bacteria developed numerous anti-phage defence systems1-7. Some of them (for example, type III CRISPR-Cas, CBASS, Pycsar and Thoeris) consist of two modules: a sensor responsible for infection recognition and an effector that stops viral replication by destroying key cellular components8-12. In the Thoeris system, a Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR)-domain protein, ThsB, acts as a sensor that synthesizes an isomer of cyclic ADP ribose, 1''-3' glycocyclic ADP ribose (gcADPR), which is bound in the Smf/DprA-LOG (SLOG) domain of the ThsA effector and activates the silent information regulator 2 (SIR2)-domain-mediated hydrolysis of a key cell metabolite, NAD+ (refs. 12-14). Although the structure of ThsA has been solved15, the ThsA activation mechanism remained incompletely understood. Here we show that 1''-3' gcADPR, synthesized in vitro by the dimeric ThsB' protein, binds to the ThsA SLOG domain, thereby activating ThsA by triggering helical filament assembly of ThsA tetramers. The cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of activated ThsA revealed that filament assembly stabilizes the active conformation of the ThsA SIR2 domain, enabling rapid NAD+ depletion. Furthermore, we demonstrate that filament formation enables a switch-like response of ThsA to the 1''-3' gcADPR signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giedre Tamulaitiene
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Dziugas Sabonis
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Giedrius Sasnauskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Audrone Ruksenaite
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Arunas Silanskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Carmel Avraham
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gal Ofir
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rotem Sorek
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Mindaugas Zaremba
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Virginijus Siksnys
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
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74
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Li Y, Shen Z, Zhang M, Yang XY, Cleary SP, Xie J, Marathe IA, Kostelic M, Greenwald J, Rish AD, Wysocki VH, Chen C, Chen Q, Fu TM, Yu Y. PtuA and PtuB assemble into an inflammasome-like oligomer for anti-phage defense. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:413-423. [PMID: 38177683 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01172-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Escherichia coli Septu system, an anti-phage defense system, comprises two components: PtuA and PtuB. PtuA contains an ATPase domain, while PtuB is predicted to function as a nuclease. Here we show that PtuA and PtuB form a stable complex with a 6:2 stoichiometry. Cryo-electron microscopy structure of PtuAB reveals a distinctive horseshoe-like configuration. PtuA adopts a hexameric arrangement, organized as an asymmetric trimer of dimers, contrasting the ring-like structure by other ATPases. Notably, the three pairs of PtuA dimers assume distinct conformations and fulfill unique roles in recruiting PtuB. Our functional assays have further illuminated the importance of the oligomeric assembly of PtuAB in anti-phage defense. Moreover, we have uncovered that ATP molecules can directly bind to PtuA and inhibit the activities of PtuAB. Together, the assembly and function of the Septu system shed light on understanding other ATPase-containing systems in bacterial immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Li
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Zhangfei Shen
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mengyuan Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Yuan Yang
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Sean P Cleary
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jiale Xie
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ila A Marathe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Marius Kostelic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jacelyn Greenwald
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Anthony D Rish
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Vicki H Wysocki
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Chong Chen
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China.
| | - Tian-Min Fu
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
- The Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Yamei Yu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China.
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75
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Wang M, Zhang J, Wei J, Jiang L, Jiang L, Sun Y, Zeng Z, Wang Z. Phage-inspired strategies to combat antibacterial resistance. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:196-211. [PMID: 38400715 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2181056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in clinically priority pathogensis now a major threat to public health worldwide. Phages are bacterial parasites that efficiently infect or kill specific strains and represent the most abundant biological entities on earth, showing great attraction as potential antibacterial therapeutics in combating AMR. This review provides a summary of phage-inspired strategies to combat AMR. We firstly cover the phage diversity, and then explain the biological principles of phage therapy that support the use of phages in the post-antimicrobial era. Furthermore, we state the versatility methods of phage therapy both from direct access as well as collateral access. Among the direct access approaches, we discuss the use of phage cocktail therapy, phage-encoded endolysins and the bioengineering for function improvement of used phages or endolysins. On the other hand, we introduce the collateral access, including the phages antimicrobial immunity combined therapy and phage-based novel antibacterial mimic molecules. Nowadays, more and more talented and enthusiastic scientist, doctors, pharmacists, media, authorities, and industry are promoting the progress of phage therapy, and proposed more phages-inspired strategy to make them more tractable to combat AMR and benefit more people, more animal and diverse environment in "one health" framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mianzhi Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Junxuan Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingyi Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Li Jiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yongxue Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenling Zeng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou, China
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76
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Tuck OT, Adler BA, Armbruster EG, Lahiri A, Hu JJ, Zhou J, Pogliano J, Doudna JA. Hachiman is a genome integrity sensor. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.29.582594. [PMID: 38464307 PMCID: PMC10925250 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.29.582594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Hachiman is a broad-spectrum antiphage defense system of unknown function. We show here that Hachiman comprises a heterodimeric nuclease-helicase complex, HamAB. HamA, previously a protein of unknown function, is the effector nuclease. HamB is the sensor helicase. HamB constrains HamA activity during surveillance of intact dsDNA. When the HamAB complex detects DNA damage, HamB helicase activity liberates HamA, unleashing nuclease activity. Hachiman activation degrades all DNA in the cell, creating 'phantom' cells devoid of both phage and host DNA. We demonstrate Hachiman activation in the absence of phage by treatment with DNA-damaging agents, suggesting that Hachiman responds to aberrant DNA states. Phylogenetic similarities between the Hachiman helicase and eukaryotic enzymes suggest this bacterial immune system has been repurposed for diverse functions across all domains of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen T. Tuck
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Benjamin A. Adler
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Emily G. Armbruster
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Arushi Lahiri
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California USA
| | - Jason J. Hu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California USA
| | - Julia Zhou
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California USA
| | - Joe Pogliano
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Jennifer A. Doudna
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
- MBIB Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA USA
- Gladstone Institutes, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
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77
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Doré H, Eisenberg AR, Junkins EN, Leventhal GE, Ganesh A, Cordero OX, Paul BG, Valentine DL, O’Malley MA, Wilbanks EG. Targeted hypermutation of putative antigen sensors in multicellular bacteria. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2316469121. [PMID: 38354254 PMCID: PMC10907252 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316469121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Diversity-generating retroelements (DGRs) are used by bacteria, archaea, and viruses as a targeted mutagenesis tool. Through error-prone reverse transcription, DGRs introduce random mutations at specific genomic loci, enabling rapid evolution of these targeted genes. However, the function and benefits of DGR-diversified proteins in cellular hosts remain elusive. We find that 82% of DGRs from one of the major monophyletic lineages of DGR reverse transcriptases are encoded by multicellular bacteria, which often have two or more DGR loci in their genomes. Using the multicellular purple sulfur bacterium Thiohalocapsa sp. PB-PSB1 as an example, we characterized nine distinct DGR loci capable of generating 10282 different combinations of target proteins. With environmental metagenomes from individual Thiohalocapsa aggregates, we show that most of PB-PSB1's DGR target genes are diversified across its biogeographic range, with spatial heterogeneity in the diversity of each locus. In Thiohalocapsa PB-PSB1 and other bacteria hosting this lineage of cellular DGRs, the diversified target genes are associated with NACHT-domain anti-phage defenses and putative ternary conflict systems previously shown to be enriched in multicellular bacteria. We propose that these DGR-diversified targets act as antigen sensors that confer a form of adaptive immunity to their multicellular consortia, though this remains to be experimentally tested. These findings could have implications for understanding the evolution of multicellularity, as the NACHT-domain anti-phage systems and ternary systems share both domain homology and conceptual similarities with the innate immune and programmed cell death pathways of plants and metazoans.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Doré
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - A. R. Eisenberg
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - E. N. Junkins
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - G. E. Leventhal
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Anakha Ganesh
- Bay Paul Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA02543
| | - O. X. Cordero
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - B. G. Paul
- Bay Paul Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA02543
| | - D. L. Valentine
- Department of Earth Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - M. A. O’Malley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - E. G. Wilbanks
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106
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78
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Patel PH, Taylor VL, Zhang C, Getz LJ, Fitzpatrick AD, Davidson AR, Maxwell KL. Anti-phage defence through inhibition of virion assembly. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1644. [PMID: 38388474 PMCID: PMC10884400 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45892-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria have evolved diverse antiviral defence mechanisms to protect themselves against phage infection. Phages integrated into bacterial chromosomes, known as prophages, also encode defences that protect the bacterial hosts in which they reside. Here, we identify a type of anti-phage defence that interferes with the virion assembly pathway of invading phages. The protein that mediates this defence, which we call Tab (for 'Tail assembly blocker'), is constitutively expressed from a Pseudomonas aeruginosa prophage. Tab allows the invading phage replication cycle to proceed, but blocks assembly of the phage tail, thus preventing formation of infectious virions. While the infected cell dies through the activity of the replicating phage lysis proteins, there is no release of infectious phage progeny, and the bacterial community is thereby protected from a phage epidemic. Prophages expressing Tab are not inhibited during their own lytic cycle because they express a counter-defence protein that interferes with Tab function. Thus, our work reveals an anti-phage defence that operates by blocking virion assembly, thereby both preventing formation of phage progeny and allowing destruction of the infected cell due to expression of phage lysis genes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Landon J Getz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Alan R Davidson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karen L Maxwell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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79
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Pradhan B, Deep A, König J, Baaske MD, Corbett KD, Kim E. Loop extrusion-mediated plasmid DNA cleavage by the bacterial SMC Wadjet complex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.17.580791. [PMID: 38405785 PMCID: PMC10889018 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.17.580791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) protein complexes play pivotal roles in genome organization and maintenance across all domains of life. In prokaryotes, SMC family Wadjet complexes structurally resemble the widespread MukBEF genome-organizing complexes but serve a defensive role by inhibiting plasmid transformation. We previously showed that Wadjet specifically cleaves circular DNA; however, the molecular mechanism underlying DNA substrate recognition remains unclear. Here, we use in vitro single-molecule imaging to directly visualize DNA loop extrusion and plasmid cleavage by Wadjet. We find that Wadjet is a symmetric DNA loop extruder that simultaneously reels in DNA from both sides of a growing loop and that this activity requires a dimeric JetABC supercomplex containing two dimers of the JetC motor subunit. On surface-anchored plasmid DNAs, Wadjet extrudes the full length of a 44 kilobase pair plasmid, stalls, and then cleaves DNA. Our findings reveal the role of loop extrusion in the specific recognition and elimination of plasmids by Wadjet, and establish loop extrusion as an evolutionarily conserved mechanism among SMC complexes across kingdoms of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biswajit Pradhan
- Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Amar Deep
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Jessica König
- Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Kevin D Corbett
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Eugene Kim
- Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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80
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Gerdes K. Diverse genetic contexts of HicA toxin domains propose a role in anti-phage defense. mBio 2024; 15:e0329323. [PMID: 38236063 PMCID: PMC10865869 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03293-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules are prevalent in prokaryotic genomes, often in substantial numbers. For instance, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome alone harbors close to 100 TA modules, half of which belong to a singular type. Traditionally ascribed multiple biological roles, recent insights challenge these notions and instead indicate a predominant function in phage defense. TAs are often located within Defense Islands, genomic regions that encode various defense systems. The analysis of genes within Defense Islands has unveiled a wide array of systems, including TAs that serve in anti-phage defense. Prokaryotic cells are equipped with anti-phage Viperins that, analogous to their mammalian counterparts, inhibit viral RNA transcription. Additionally, bacterial Structural Maintenance of Chromosome (SMC) proteins combat plasmid intrusion by recognizing foreign DNA signatures. This study undertakes a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of genetic elements encoding the HicA double-stranded RNA-binding domain, complemented by protein structure modeling. The HicA toxin domains are found in at least 14 distinct contexts and thus exhibit a remarkable genetic diversity. Traditional bicistronic TA operons represent eight of these contexts, while four are characterized by monocistronic operons encoding fused HicA domains. Two contexts involve hicA adjacent to genes that encode bacterial Viperins. Notably, genes encoding RelE toxins are also adjacent to Viperin genes in some instances. This configuration hints at a synergistic enhancement of Viperin-mediated anti-phage action by HicA and RelE toxins. The discovery of a HicA domain merged with an SMC domain is compelling, prompting further investigation into its potential roles.IMPORTANCEProkaryotic organisms harbor a multitude of toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems, which have long puzzled scientists as "genes in search for a function." Recent scientific advancements have shed light on the primary role of TAs as anti-phage defense mechanisms. To gain an overview of TAs it is important to analyze their genetic contexts that can give hints on function and guide future experimental inquiries. This article describes a thorough bioinformatics examination of genes encoding the HicA toxin domain, revealing its presence in no fewer than 14 unique genetic arrangements. Some configurations notably align with anti-phage activities, underscoring potential roles in microbial immunity. These insights robustly reinforce the hypothesis that HicA toxins are integral components of the prokaryotic anti-phage defense repertoire. The elucidation of these genetic contexts not only advances our understanding of TAs but also contributes to a paradigm shift in how we perceive their functionality within the microbial world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenn Gerdes
- Kenn Gerdes is an independent researcher with the residence, Voldmestergade, Copenhagen, Denmark
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81
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Wang X, Leptihn S. Defense and anti-defense mechanisms of bacteria and bacteriophages. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2024; 25:181-196. [PMID: 38453634 PMCID: PMC10918411 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2300101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
In the post-antibiotic era, the overuse of antimicrobials has led to a massive increase in antimicrobial resistance, leaving medical doctors few or no treatment options to fight infections caused by superbugs. The use of bacteriophages is a promising alternative to treat infections, supplementing or possibly even replacing antibiotics. Using phages for therapy is possible, since these bacterial viruses can kill bacteria specifically, causing no harm to the normal flora. However, bacteria have developed a multitude of sophisticated and complex ways to resist infection by phages, including abortive infection and the clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) system. Phages also can evolve and acquire new anti-defense strategies to continue predation. An in-depth exploration of both defense and anti-defense mechanisms would contribute to optimizing phage therapy, while we would also gain novel insights into the microbial world. In this paper, we summarize recent research on bacterial phage resistance and phage anti-defense mechanisms, as well as collaborative win-win systems involving both virus and host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Wang
- School of Medicine, Lishui University, Lishui 323000, China.
| | - Sebastian Leptihn
- University of Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK.
- HMU Health and Medical University, Am Anger 64/73- 99084 Erfurt, Germany.
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82
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Kogay R, Wolf YI, Koonin EV. Defense systems and horizontal gene transfer in bacteria. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.09.579689. [PMID: 38410456 PMCID: PMC10896350 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.09.579689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a fundamental process in the evolution of prokaryotes, making major contributions to diversification and adaptation. Typically, HGT is facilitated by mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as conjugative plasmids and phages that generally impose fitness costs on their hosts. However, a substantial fraction of bacterial genes is involved in defense mechanisms that limit the propagation of MGEs, raising the possibility that they can actively restrict HGT. Here we examine whether defense systems curb HGT by exploring the connections between HGT rate and the presence of 73 defense systems in 12 bacterial species. We found that only 6 defense systems, 3 of which are different CRISPR-Cas subtypes, are associated with the reduced gene gain rate on the scale of species evolution. The hosts of such defense systems tend to have a smaller pangenome size and harbor fewer phage-related genes compared to genomes lacking these systems, suggesting that these defense mechanisms inhibit HGT by limiting the integration of prophages. We hypothesize that restriction of HGT by defense systems is species-specific and depends on various ecological and genetic factors, including the burden of MGEs and fitness effect of HGT in bacterial populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Kogay
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Yuri I. Wolf
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
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83
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Wirbel J, Bhatt AS, Probst AJ. The journey to understand previously unknown microbial genes. Nature 2024; 626:267-269. [PMID: 38291331 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-024-00077-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
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84
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McDonald MD, Owusu-Ansah C, Ellenbogen JB, Malone ZD, Ricketts MP, Frolking SE, Ernakovich JG, Ibba M, Bagby SC, Weissman JL. What is microbial dormancy? Trends Microbiol 2024; 32:142-150. [PMID: 37689487 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Life can be stressful. One way to deal with stress is to simply wait it out. Microbes do this by entering a state of reduced activity and increased resistance commonly called 'dormancy'. But what is dormancy? Different scientific disciplines emphasize distinct traits and phenotypic ranges in defining dormancy for their microbial species and system-specific questions of interest. Here, we propose a unified definition of microbial dormancy, using a broad framework to place earlier discipline-specific definitions in a new context. We then discuss how this new definition and framework may improve our ability to investigate dormancy using multi-omics tools. Finally, we leverage our framework to discuss the diversity of genomic mechanisms for dormancy in an extreme environment that challenges easy definitions - the permafrost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D McDonald
- Argonne National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | | | - Jared B Ellenbogen
- EMergent Ecosystem Response to ChanGE (EMERGE) Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Colorado State University, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Zachary D Malone
- University of California, Merced Environmental Systems Graduate Group, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Michael P Ricketts
- Argonne National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Steve E Frolking
- EMergent Ecosystem Response to ChanGE (EMERGE) Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; University of New Hampshire, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Jessica Gilman Ernakovich
- EMergent Ecosystem Response to ChanGE (EMERGE) Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; University of New Hampshire, Natural Resources and the Environment, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Michael Ibba
- EMergent Ecosystem Response to ChanGE (EMERGE) Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Chapman University, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Orange, CA 92866, USA
| | - Sarah C Bagby
- EMergent Ecosystem Response to ChanGE (EMERGE) Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Case Western Reserve University, Department of Biology, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - J L Weissman
- Chapman University, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Orange, CA 92866, USA; University of Southern California, Department of Biological Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA.
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85
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Huo Y, Kong L, Zhang Y, Xiao M, Du K, Xu S, Yan X, Ma J, Wei T. Structural and biochemical insights into the mechanism of the Gabija bacterial immunity system. Nat Commun 2024; 15:836. [PMID: 38282040 PMCID: PMC10822852 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45173-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The Gabija system is a newly discovered bacterial immune system that consists of GajA and GajB. Here we report the cryo-EM structure of the Gabija complex from Bacillus cereus VD045 at 3.6 Å, which provides the direct evidence of interactions between GajA and GajB. The Gabija complex is an octameric ring structure with four GajA and four GajB. GajA is an OLD nucleases family protein, while GajB belongs to the SF1 helicases. The Gabija complex has sequence-specific DNA nuclease activity and prefers circular rather than linear DNA as substrate, its activity is more sensitive to concentrations change of nucleotides compared to GajA alone. Our data suggest a mechanism of Gabija immunity: the nuclease activity of Gabija complex is inhibited under physiological conditions, while it is activated by depletion of NTP and dNTP upon the replication and transcription of invading phages and cleave the circular DNA to prevent phage DNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwu Huo
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Lingfei Kong
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Min Xiao
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Kang Du
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Sunyuntao Xu
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xiaoxue Yan
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jun Ma
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Gaoke Innovation Center, Guangqiao Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518132, China.
| | - Taotao Wei
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China.
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86
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Lu X, Xiao J, Wang L, Zhu B, Huang F. The nuclease-associated short prokaryotic Argonaute system nonspecifically degrades DNA upon activation by target recognition. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:844-855. [PMID: 38048327 PMCID: PMC10810196 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Prokaryotic Argonautes (pAgos) play a vital role in host defense by utilizing short nucleic acid guides to recognize and target complementary nucleic acids. Despite being the majority of pAgos, short pAgos have only recently received attention. Short pAgos are often associated with proteins containing an APAZ domain and a nuclease domain including DUF4365, SMEK, or HNH domain. In contrast to long pAgos that specifically cleave the target DNA, our study demonstrates that the short pAgo from Thermocrispum municipal, along with its associated DUF4365-APAZ protein, forms a heterodimeric complex. Upon RNA-guided target DNA recognition, this complex is activated to nonspecifically cleave DNA. Additionally, we found that the TmuRE-Ago complex shows a preference for 5'-OH guide RNA, specifically requires a uridine nucleotide at the 5' end of the guide RNA, and is sensitive to single-nucleotide mismatches between the guide RNA and target DNA. Based on its catalytic properties, our study has established a novel nucleic acid detection method and demonstrated its feasibility. This study not only expands our understanding of the defense mechanism employed by short pAgo systems but also suggests their potential applications in nucleic acid detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueling Lu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Jun Xiao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Longfei Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Bin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
- Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen 518063, China
| | - Fengtao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
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87
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Burke KA, Urick CD, Mzhavia N, Nikolich MP, Filippov AA. Correlation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phage Resistance with the Numbers and Types of Antiphage Systems. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1424. [PMID: 38338703 PMCID: PMC10855318 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Phage therapeutics offer a potentially powerful approach for combating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. However, to be effective, phage therapy must overcome existing and developing phage resistance. While phage cocktails can reduce this risk by targeting multiple receptors in a single therapeutic, bacteria have mechanisms of resistance beyond receptor modification. A rapidly growing body of knowledge describes a broad and varied arsenal of antiphage systems encoded by bacteria to counter phage infection. We sought to understand the types and frequencies of antiphage systems present in a highly diverse panel of Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates utilized to characterize novel antibacterials. Using the web-server tool PADLOC (prokaryotic antiviral defense locator), putative antiphage systems were identified in these P. aeruginosa clinical isolates based on sequence homology to a validated and curated catalog of known defense systems. Coupling this host bacterium sequence analysis with host range data for 70 phages, we observed a correlation between existing phage resistance and the presence of higher numbers of antiphage systems in bacterial genomes. We were also able to identify antiphage systems that were more prevalent in highly phage-resistant P. aeruginosa strains, suggesting their importance in conferring resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Andrey A. Filippov
- Wound Infections Department, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (K.A.B.); (C.D.U.); (N.M.); (M.P.N.)
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88
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Duan N, Hand E, Pheko M, Sharma S, Emiola A. Structure-guided discovery of anti-CRISPR and anti-phage defense proteins. Nat Commun 2024; 15:649. [PMID: 38245560 PMCID: PMC10799925 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45068-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria use a variety of defense systems to protect themselves from phage infection. In turn, phages have evolved diverse counter-defense measures to overcome host defenses. Here, we use protein structural similarity and gene co-occurrence analyses to screen >66 million viral protein sequences and >330,000 metagenome-assembled genomes for the identification of anti-phage and counter-defense systems. We predict structures for ~300,000 proteins and perform large-scale, pairwise comparison to known anti-CRISPR (Acr) and anti-phage proteins to identify structural homologs that otherwise may not be uncovered using primary sequence search. This way, we identify a Bacteroidota phage Acr protein that inhibits Cas12a, and an Akkermansia muciniphila anti-phage defense protein, termed BxaP. Gene bxaP is found in loci encoding Bacteriophage Exclusion (BREX) and restriction-modification defense systems, but confers immunity independently. Our work highlights the advantage of combining protein structural features and gene co-localization information in studying host-phage interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Duan
- Microbial Therapeutics Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Emily Hand
- Microbial Therapeutics Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mannuku Pheko
- Microbial Therapeutics Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shikha Sharma
- Microbial Therapeutics Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Akintunde Emiola
- Microbial Therapeutics Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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89
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Danov A, Segev O, Bograd A, Ben Eliyahu Y, Dotan N, Kaplan T, Levy A. Toxinome-the bacterial protein toxin database. mBio 2024; 15:e0191123. [PMID: 38117054 PMCID: PMC10790787 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01911-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Microbes use protein toxins as important tools to attack neighboring cells, microbial or eukaryotic, and for self-killing when attacked by viruses. These toxins work through different mechanisms to inhibit cell growth or kill cells. Microbes also use antitoxin proteins to neutralize the toxin activities. Here, we developed a comprehensive database called Toxinome of nearly two million toxins and antitoxins that are encoded in 59,475 bacterial genomes. We described the distribution of bacterial toxins and identified that they are depleted by bacteria that live in hot and cold temperatures. We found 5,161 cases in which toxins and antitoxins are densely clustered in bacterial genomes and termed these areas "Toxin Islands." The Toxinome database is a useful resource for anyone interested in toxin biology and evolution, and it can guide the discovery of new toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleks Danov
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Science, The Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ofir Segev
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Science, The Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Avi Bograd
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Science, The Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yedidya Ben Eliyahu
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noam Dotan
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tommy Kaplan
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Asaf Levy
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Science, The Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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90
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Lamichhane B, Mawad AMM, Saleh M, Kelley WG, Harrington PJ, Lovestad CW, Amezcua J, Sarhan MM, El Zowalaty ME, Ramadan H, Morgan M, Helmy YA. Salmonellosis: An Overview of Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Innovative Approaches to Mitigate the Antimicrobial Resistant Infections. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:76. [PMID: 38247636 PMCID: PMC10812683 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13010076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Salmonella is a major foodborne pathogen and a leading cause of gastroenteritis in humans and animals. Salmonella is highly pathogenic and encompasses more than 2600 characterized serovars. The transmission of Salmonella to humans occurs through the farm-to-fork continuum and is commonly linked to the consumption of animal-derived food products. Among these sources, poultry and poultry products are primary contributors, followed by beef, pork, fish, and non-animal-derived food such as fruits and vegetables. While antibiotics constitute the primary treatment for salmonellosis, the emergence of antibiotic resistance and the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella strains have highlighted the urgency of developing antibiotic alternatives. Effective infection management necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the pathogen's epidemiology and transmission dynamics. Therefore, this comprehensive review focuses on the epidemiology, sources of infection, risk factors, transmission dynamics, and the host range of Salmonella serotypes. This review also investigates the disease characteristics observed in both humans and animals, antibiotic resistance, pathogenesis, and potential strategies for treatment and control of salmonellosis, emphasizing the most recent antibiotic-alternative approaches for infection control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibek Lamichhane
- Department of Veterinary Science, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Asmaa M. M. Mawad
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Saleh
- Department of Veterinary Science, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - William G. Kelley
- Department of Veterinary Science, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Patrick J. Harrington
- Department of Veterinary Science, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Cayenne W. Lovestad
- Department of Veterinary Science, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Jessica Amezcua
- Department of Veterinary Science, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Mohamed M. Sarhan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, King Salman International University (KSIU), Ras Sudr 8744304, Egypt
| | - Mohamed E. El Zowalaty
- Veterinary Medicine and Food Security Research Group, Medical Laboratory Sciences Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi Women’s Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi 41012, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hazem Ramadan
- Hygiene and Zoonoses Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Melissa Morgan
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Yosra A. Helmy
- Department of Veterinary Science, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
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91
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Parra B, Cockx B, Lutz VT, Brøndsted L, Smets BF, Dechesne A. Isolation and characterization of novel plasmid-dependent phages infecting bacteria carrying diverse conjugative plasmids. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0253723. [PMID: 38063386 PMCID: PMC10782986 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02537-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE This work was undertaken because plasmid-dependent phages can reduce the prevalence of conjugative plasmids and can be leveraged to prevent the acquisition and dissemination of ARGs by bacteria. The two novel phages described in this study, Lu221 and Hi226, can infect Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Kluyvera sp. and Enterobacter sp. carrying conjugative plasmids. This was verified with plasmids carrying resistance determinants and belonging to the most common plasmid families among Gram-negative pathogens. Therefore, the newly isolated phages could have the potential to help control the spread of ARGs and thus help combat the antimicrobial resistance crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Parra
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Laboratorio de Investigación de Agentes Antibacterianos, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de las Américas, Concepción, Chile
| | - Bastiaan Cockx
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Veronika T. Lutz
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, København, Denmark
| | - Lone Brøndsted
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, København, Denmark
| | - Barth F. Smets
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Arnaud Dechesne
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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92
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Altenhoff AM, Warwick Vesztrocy A, Bernard C, Train CM, Nicheperovich A, Prieto Baños S, Julca I, Moi D, Nevers Y, Majidian S, Dessimoz C, Glover NM. OMA orthology in 2024: improved prokaryote coverage, ancestral and extant GO enrichment, a revamped synteny viewer and more in the OMA Ecosystem. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:D513-D521. [PMID: 37962356 PMCID: PMC10767875 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In this update paper, we present the latest developments in the OMA browser knowledgebase, which aims to provide high-quality orthology inferences and facilitate the study of gene families, genomes and their evolution. First, we discuss the addition of new species in the database, particularly an expanded representation of prokaryotic species. The OMA browser now offers Ancestral Genome pages and an Ancestral Gene Order viewer, allowing users to explore the evolutionary history and gene content of ancestral genomes. We also introduce a revamped Local Synteny Viewer to compare genomic neighborhoods across both extant and ancestral genomes. Hierarchical Orthologous Groups (HOGs) are now annotated with Gene Ontology annotations, and users can easily perform extant or ancestral GO enrichments. Finally, we recap new tools in the OMA Ecosystem, including OMAmer for proteome mapping, OMArk for proteome quality assessment, OMAMO for model organism selection and Read2Tree for phylogenetic species tree construction from reads. These new features provide exciting opportunities for orthology analysis and comparative genomics. OMA is accessible at https://omabrowser.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian M Altenhoff
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- ETH Zurich, Computer Science, Universitätstr. 6, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alex Warwick Vesztrocy
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Charles Bernard
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Clement-Marie Train
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alina Nicheperovich
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Prieto Baños
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Irene Julca
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Moi
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yannis Nevers
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sina Majidian
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Dessimoz
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Natasha M Glover
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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93
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Yan Y, Zheng J, Zhang X, Yin Y. dbAPIS: a database of anti-prokaryotic immune system genes. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:D419-D425. [PMID: 37889074 PMCID: PMC10767833 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-prokaryotic immune system (APIS) proteins, typically encoded by phages, prophages, and plasmids, inhibit prokaryotic immune systems (e.g. restriction modification, toxin-antitoxin, CRISPR-Cas). A growing number of APIS genes have been characterized and dispersed in the literature. Here we developed dbAPIS (https://bcb.unl.edu/dbAPIS), as the first literature curated data repository for experimentally verified APIS genes and their associated protein families. The key features of dbAPIS include: (i) experimentally verified APIS genes with their protein sequences, functional annotation, PDB or AlphaFold predicted structures, genomic context, sequence and structural homologs from different microbiome/virome databases; (ii) classification of APIS proteins into sequence-based families and construction of hidden Markov models (HMMs); (iii) user-friendly web interface for data browsing by the inhibited immune system types or by the hosts, and functions for searching and batch downloading of pre-computed data; (iv) Inclusion of all types of APIS proteins (except for anti-CRISPRs) that inhibit a variety of prokaryotic defense systems (e.g. RM, TA, CBASS, Thoeris, Gabija). The current release of dbAPIS contains 41 verified APIS proteins and ∼4400 sequence homologs of 92 families and 38 clans. dbAPIS will facilitate the discovery of novel anti-defense genes and genomic islands in phages, by providing a user-friendly data repository and a web resource for an easy homology search against known APIS proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Yan
- Nebraska Food for Health Center, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | | | - Xinpeng Zhang
- Nebraska Food for Health Center, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Yanbin Yin
- Nebraska Food for Health Center, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
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94
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Deep A, Liang Q, Enustun E, Pogliano J, Corbett KD. Architecture and infection-sensing mechanism of the bacterial PARIS defense system. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.02.573835. [PMID: 38260510 PMCID: PMC10802264 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.02.573835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria and the viruses that infect them (bacteriophages or phages) are engaged in an evolutionary arms race that has resulted in the development of hundreds of bacterial defense systems and myriad phage-encoded counterdefenses1-5. While the mechanisms of many bacterial defense systems are known1, how these systems avoid toxicity outside infection yet activate quickly upon sensing phage infection is less well understood. Here, we show that the bacterial Phage Anti-Restriction-Induced System (PARIS) operates as a toxin-antitoxin system, in which the antitoxin AriA sequesters and inactivates the toxin AriB until triggered by the T7 phage counterdefense protein Ocr. Using cryoelectron microscopy (cryoEM), we show that AriA is structurally similar to dimeric SMC-family ATPases but assembles into a distinctive homohexameric complex through two distinct oligomerization interfaces. In the absence of infection, the AriA hexamer binds up to three monomers of AriB, maintaining them in an inactive state. Ocr binding to the AriA-AriB complex triggers rearrangement of the AriA hexamer, releasing AriB and allowing it to dimerize and activate. AriB is a toprim/OLD-family nuclease whose activation arrests cell growth and inhibits phage propagation by globally inhibiting protein translation. Collectively, our findings reveal the intricate molecular mechanisms of a bacterial defense system that evolved in response to a phage counterdefense protein, and highlight how an SMC-family ATPase has been adapted as a bacterial infection sensor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amar Deep
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Qishan Liang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Eray Enustun
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Joe Pogliano
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Kevin D. Corbett
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
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95
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Chen Y, Ying Y, Lalsiamthara J, Zhao Y, Imani S, Li X, Liu S, Wang Q. From bacteria to biomedicine: Developing therapies exploiting NAD + metabolism. Bioorg Chem 2024; 142:106974. [PMID: 37984103 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) serves as a critical cofactor in cellular metabolism and redox reactions. Bacterial pathways rely on NAD+ participation, where its stability and concentration govern essential homeostasis and functions. This review delves into the role and metabolic regulation of NAD+ in bacteria, highlighting its influence on physiology and virulence. Notably, we explore enzymes linked to NAD+ metabolism as antibacterial drug targets and vaccine candidates. Moreover, we scrutinize NAD+'s medical potential, offering insights for its application in biomedicine. This comprehensive assessment informs future research directions in the dynamic realm of NAD+ and its biomedical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ying
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jonathan Lalsiamthara
- Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Yuheng Zhao
- College of Biology and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310015, China
| | - Saber Imani
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xin Li
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sijing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qingjing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang, China.
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96
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Blower TR, van Houte S. Viruses wrap up bacterial defence systems. Nature 2024; 625:250-251. [PMID: 38114828 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-03796-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
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97
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Guler P, Bendori SO, Borenstein T, Aframian N, Kessel A, Eldar A. Arbitrium communication controls phage lysogeny through non-lethal modulation of a host toxin-antitoxin defence system. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:150-160. [PMID: 38177304 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01551-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Temperate Bacillus phages often utilize arbitrium communication to control lysis/lysogeny decisions, but the mechanisms by which this control is exerted remains largely unknown. Here we find that the arbitrium system of Bacillus subtilis phage ϕ3T modulates the host-encoded MazEF toxin-antitoxin system to this aim. Upon infection, the MazF ribonuclease is activated by three phage genes. At low arbitrium signal concentrations, MazF is inactivated by two phage-encoded MazE homologues: the arbitrium-controlled AimX and the later-expressed YosL proteins. At high signal, MazF remains active, promoting lysogeny without harming the bacterial host. MazF cleavage sites are enriched on transcripts of phage lytic genes but absent from the phage repressor in ϕ3T and other Spβ-like phages. Combined with low activation levels of MazF during infections, this pattern explains the phage-specific effect. Our results show how a bacterial toxin-antitoxin system has been co-opted by a phage to control lysis/lysogeny decisions without compromising host viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina Guler
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Shira Omer Bendori
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Tom Borenstein
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Nitzan Aframian
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Amit Kessel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Avigdor Eldar
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
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98
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Brenzinger S, Airoldi M, Ogunleye AJ, Jugovic K, Amstalden MK, Brochado AR. The Vibrio cholerae CBASS phage defence system modulates resistance and killing by antifolate antibiotics. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:251-262. [PMID: 38172623 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01556-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Toxic bacterial modules such as toxin-antitoxin systems hold antimicrobial potential, though successful applications are rare. Here we show that in Vibrio cholerae the cyclic-oligonucleotide-based anti-phage signalling system (CBASS), another example of a toxic module, increases sensitivity to antifolate antibiotics up to 10×, interferes with their synergy and ultimately enables bacterial lysis by these otherwise classic bacteriostatic antibiotics. Cyclic-oligonucleotide production by the CBASS nucleotidyltransferase DncV upon antifolate treatment confirms full CBASS activation under these conditions, and suggests that antifolates release DncV allosteric inhibition by folates. Consequently, the CBASS-antifolate interaction is specific to CBASS systems with closely related nucleotidyltransferases and similar folate-binding pockets. Last, antifolate resistance genes abolish the CBASS-antifolate interaction by bypassing the effects of on-target antifolate activity, thereby creating potential for their coevolution with CBASS. Altogether, our findings illustrate how toxic modules can impact antibiotic activity and ultimately confer bactericidal activity to classical bacteriostatic antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Brenzinger
- Department of Microbiology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martina Airoldi
- Department of Microbiology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Karl Jugovic
- Department of Microbiology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Ana Rita Brochado
- Department of Microbiology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence 'Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections', University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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99
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Antine SP, Johnson AG, Mooney SE, Leavitt A, Mayer ML, Yirmiya E, Amitai G, Sorek R, Kranzusch PJ. Structural basis of Gabija anti-phage defence and viral immune evasion. Nature 2024; 625:360-365. [PMID: 37992757 PMCID: PMC10781630 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06855-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria encode hundreds of diverse defence systems that protect them from viral infection and inhibit phage propagation1-5. Gabija is one of the most prevalent anti-phage defence systems, occurring in more than 15% of all sequenced bacterial and archaeal genomes1,6,7, but the molecular basis of how Gabija defends cells from viral infection remains poorly understood. Here we use X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to define how Gabija proteins assemble into a supramolecular complex of around 500 kDa that degrades phage DNA. Gabija protein A (GajA) is a DNA endonuclease that tetramerizes to form the core of the anti-phage defence complex. Two sets of Gabija protein B (GajB) dimers dock at opposite sides of the complex and create a 4:4 GajA-GajB assembly (hereafter, GajAB) that is essential for phage resistance in vivo. We show that a phage-encoded protein, Gabija anti-defence 1 (Gad1), directly binds to the Gabija GajAB complex and inactivates defence. A cryo-EM structure of the virally inhibited state shows that Gad1 forms an octameric web that encases the GajAB complex and inhibits DNA recognition and cleavage. Our results reveal the structural basis of assembly of the Gabija anti-phage defence complex and define a unique mechanism of viral immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadie P Antine
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alex G Johnson
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah E Mooney
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Azita Leavitt
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Megan L Mayer
- Harvard Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erez Yirmiya
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gil Amitai
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Rotem Sorek
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Philip J Kranzusch
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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100
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Carhuaricra-Huaman D, Setubal JC. Step-by-Step Bacterial Genome Comparison. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2802:107-134. [PMID: 38819558 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3838-5_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Thanks to advancements in genome sequencing and bioinformatics, thousands of bacterial genome sequences are available in public databases. This presents an opportunity to study bacterial diversity in unprecedented detail. This chapter describes a complete bioinformatics workflow for comparative genomics of bacterial genomes, including genome annotation, pangenome reconstruction and visualization, phylogenetic analysis, and identification of sequences of interest such as antimicrobial-resistance genes, virulence factors, and phage sequences. The workflow uses state-of-the-art, open-source tools. The workflow is presented by means of a comparative analysis of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium genomes. The workflow is based on Linux commands and scripts, and result visualization relies on the R environment. The chapter provides a step-by-step protocol that researchers with basic expertise in bioinformatics can easily follow to conduct investigations on their own genome datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Carhuaricra-Huaman
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades em Bioinformática, Instituto de Matemática e Estatística, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Research Group in Biotechnology Applied to Animal Health, Production and Conservation (SANIGEN), Laboratory of Biology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, San Borja, Lima, Peru
| | - João Carlos Setubal
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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