Copper in microbial pathogenesis: meddling with the metal

Cell-autonomous effector mechanisms against mycobacterium tuberculosis

Few pathogens run the gauntlet of sterilizing immunity like Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). This organism infects mononuclear phagocytes and is also ingested by neutrophils, both of which possess an arsenal of cell-intrinsic effector mechanisms capable of eliminating it. Here Mtb encounters acid, oxidants, nitrosylating agents, and redox congeners, often exuberantly delivered under low oxygen tension. Further pressure is applied by withholding divalent Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺, as well as by metabolic privation in the form of carbon needed for anaplerosis and aromatic amino acids for growth. Finally, host E3 ligases ubiquinate, cationic peptides disrupt, and lysosomal enzymes digest Mtb as part of the autophagic response to this particular pathogen. It is a testament to the evolutionary fitness of Mtb that sterilization is rarely complete, although sufficient to ensure most people infected with this airborne bacterium remain disease-free.

Peptidoglycan recognition proteins kill bacteria by inducing oxidative, thiol, and metal stress

Mammalian Peptidoglycan Recognition Proteins (PGRPs) are a family of evolutionary conserved bactericidal innate immunity proteins, but the mechanism through which they kill bacteria is unclear. We previously proposed that PGRPs are bactericidal due to induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), a mechanism of killing that was also postulated, and later refuted, for several bactericidal antibiotics. Here, using whole genome expression arrays, qRT-PCR, and biochemical tests we show that in both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis PGRPs induce a transcriptomic signature characteristic of oxidative stress, as well as correlated biochemical changes. However, induction of ROS was required, but not sufficient for PGRP killing. PGRPs also induced depletion of intracellular thiols and increased cytosolic concentrations of zinc and copper, as evidenced by transcriptome changes and supported by direct measurements. Depletion of thiols and elevated concentrations of metals were also required, but by themselves not sufficient, for bacterial killing. Chemical treatment studies demonstrated that efficient bacterial killing can be recapitulated only by the simultaneous addition of agents leading to production of ROS, depletion of thiols, and elevation of intracellular metal concentrations. These results identify a novel mechanism of bacterial killing by innate immunity proteins, which depends on synergistic effect of oxidative, thiol, and metal stress and differs from bacterial killing by antibiotics. These results offer potential targets for developing new antibacterial agents that would kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Bacterial infections are still a major cause of morbidity and mortality because of increasing antibiotic resistance. New targets for developing new approaches to antibacterial therapy are needed, because discovering new or improving current antibiotics have become increasingly difficult. One such approach is developing new antibacterial agents based on the antibacterial mechanisms of bactericidal innate immunity proteins, such as human peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs). Thus, our aim was to determine how PGRPs kill bacteria. We previously proposed that PGRPs kill bacteria by inducing toxic oxygen by-products (“reactive oxygen species”, ROS) in bacteria. It was also previously proposed, but recently refuted, that bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria by inducing ROS production in bacteria. These findings prompted us to evaluate in greater detail the mechanism of PGRP-induced bacterial killing, including the role of ROS in PGRP killing. We show here that PGRPs kill bacteria through synergistic induction of ROS, depletion of thiols, and increasing intracellular concentration of metals, which are all required, but individually not sufficient for bacterial killing. Our results reveal a novel bactericidal mechanism of innate immunity proteins, which differs from killing by antibiotics and offers alternative targets for developing new antibacterial therapies for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Iron and copper as virulence modulators in human fungal pathogens

Fungal pathogens have evolved sophisticated machinery to precisely balance the fine line between acquiring essential metals and defending against metal toxicity. Iron and copper are essential metals for many processes in both fungal pathogens and their mammalian hosts, but reduce viability when present in excess. However, during infection, the host uses these two metals differently. Fe has a long-standing history of influencing virulence in pathogenic fungi, mostly in regards to Fe acquisition. Numerous studies demonstrate the requirement of the Fe acquisition pathway of Candida, Cryptococcus and Aspergillus for successful systemic infection. Fe is not free in the host, but is associated with Fe-binding proteins, leading fungi to develop mechanisms to interact with and to acquire Fe from these Fe-bound proteins. Cu is also essential for cell growth and development. Essential Cu-binding proteins include Fe transporters, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and cytochrome c oxidase. Although Cu acquisition plays critical roles in fungal survival in the host, recent work has revealed that Cu detoxification is extremely important. Here, we review fungal responses to altered metal conditions presented by the host, contrast the roles of Fe and Cu during infection, and outline the critical roles of fungal metal homeostasis machinery at the host-pathogen axis.

Metallobiology of Tuberculosis

Transition metals are essential constituents of all living organisms, playing crucial structural and catalytic parts in many enzymes and transcription factors. However, transition metals can also be toxic when present in excess. Their uptake and efflux rates must therefore be carefully controlled by biological systems. In this chapter, we summarize the current knowledge about uptake and efflux systems in Mycobacterium tuberculosis for mainly three of these metals, namely iron, zinc, and copper. We also propose questions for future research in the field of metallobiology of host-pathogen interactions in tuberculosis.

Copper complexation screen reveals compounds with potent antibiotic properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Macrophages take advantage of the antibacterial properties of copper ions in the killing of bacterial intruders. However, despite the importance of copper for innate immune functions, coordinated efforts to exploit copper ions for therapeutic interventions against bacterial infections are not yet in place. Here we report a novel high-throughput screening platform specifically developed for the discovery and characterization of compounds with copper-dependent antibacterial properties toward methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We detail how one of the identified compounds, glyoxal-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) (GTSM), exerts its potent strictly copper-dependent antibacterial properties on MRSA. Our data indicate that the activity of the GTSM-copper complex goes beyond the general antibacterial effects of accumulated copper ions and suggest that, in contrast to prevailing opinion, copper complexes can indeed exhibit species- and target-specific activities. Based on experimental evidence, we propose that copper ions impose structural changes upon binding to the otherwise inactive GTSM ligand and transfer antibacterial properties to the chelate. In turn, GTSM determines target specificity and utilizes a redox-sensitive release mechanism through which copper ions are deployed at or in close proximity to a putative target. According to our proof-of-concept screen, copper activation is not a rare event and even extends to already established drugs. Thus, copper-activated compounds could define a novel class of anti-MRSA agents that amplify copper-dependent innate immune functions of the host. To this end, we provide a blueprint for a high-throughput drug screening campaign which considers the antibacterial properties of copper ions at the host-pathogen interface.

Functional diversity of five homologous Cu+-ATPases present in Sinorhizobium meliloti

Copper is an important element in host-microbe interactions, acting both as a catalyst in enzymes and as a potential toxin. Cu(+)-ATPases drive cytoplasmic Cu(+) efflux and protect bacteria against metal overload. Many pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria contain multiple Cu(+)-ATPase genes within particular genetic environments, suggesting alternative roles for each resulting protein. This hypothesis was tested by characterizing five homologous Cu(+)-ATPases present in the symbiotic organism Sinorhizobium meliloti. Mutation of each gene led to different phenotypes and abnormal nodule development in the alfalfa host. Distinct responses were detected in free-living S. meliloti mutant strains exposed to metal and redox stresses. Differential gene expression was detected under Cu(+), oxygen or nitrosative stress. These observations suggest that CopA1a maintains the cytoplasmic Cu(+) quota and its expression is controlled by Cu(+) levels. CopA1b is also regulated by Cu(+) concentrations and is required during symbiosis for bacteroid maturation. CopA2-like proteins, FixI1 and FixI2, are necessary for the assembly of two different cytochrome c oxidases at different stages of bacterial life. CopA3 is a phylogenetically distinct Cu(+)-ATPase that does not contribute to Cu(+) tolerance. It is regulated by redox stress and required during symbiosis. We postulated a model where non-redundant homologous Cu(+)-ATPases, operating under distinct regulation, transport Cu(+) to different target proteins.

The copper-responsive RicR regulon contributes to Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence

As with most life on Earth, the transition metal copper (Cu) is essential for the viability of the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, infected hosts can also use Cu to control microbial growth. Several Cu-responsive pathways are present in M. tuberculosis, including the regulated in copper repressor (RicR) regulon, which is unique to pathogenic mycobacteria. In this work, we describe the contribution of each RicR-regulated gene to Cu resistance in vitro and to virulence in animals. We found that the deletion or disruption of individual RicR-regulated genes had no impact on virulence in mice, although several mutants had Cu hypersensitivity. In contrast, a mutant unable to activate the RicR regulon was not only highly susceptible to Cu but also attenuated in mice. Thus, these data suggest that several genes of the RicR regulon are required simultaneously to combat Cu toxicity in vivo or that this regulon is also important for resistance against Cu-independent mechanisms of host defense.

IMPORTANCE Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of tuberculosis, killing millions of people every year. Therefore, understanding the biology of M. tuberculosis is crucial for the development of new therapies to treat this devastating disease. Our studies reveal that although host-supplied Cu can suppress bacterial growth, M. tuberculosis has a unique pathway, the RicR regulon, to defend against Cu toxicity. These findings suggest that Cu homeostasis pathways in both the host and the pathogen could be exploited for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of tuberculosis, killing millions of people every year. Therefore, understanding the biology of M. tuberculosis is crucial for the development of new therapies to treat this devastating disease. Our studies reveal that although host-supplied Cu can suppress bacterial growth, M. tuberculosis has a unique pathway, the RicR regulon, to defend against Cu toxicity. These findings suggest that Cu homeostasis pathways in both the host and the pathogen could be exploited for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Recent developments in copper and zinc homeostasis in bacterial pathogens

Copper and zinc homeostasis systems in pathogenic bacteria are required to resist host efforts to manipulate the availability and toxicity of these metal ions. Central to this microbial adaptive response is the involvement of metal-trafficking and metal-sensing proteins that ultimately exercise control of metal speciation in the cell. Cu-specific and Zn-specific metalloregulatory proteins regulate the transcription of metal-responsive genes while metallochaperones and related proteins ensure that these metals are appropriately buffered by the intracellular milieu and delivered to correct intracellular targets. In this review, we summarize recent findings on how bacterial pathogens mount a metal-specific response to derail host efforts to win the 'fight over metals.'

Intracytoplasmic copper homeostasis controls cytochrome c oxidase production

Copper is an essential micronutrient used as a metal cofactor by a variety of enzymes, including cytochrome c oxidase (Cox). In all organisms from bacteria to humans, cellular availability and insertion of copper into target proteins are tightly controlled due to its toxicity. The major subunit of Cox contains a copper atom that is required for its catalytic activity. Previously, we identified CcoA (a member of major facilitator superfamily transporters) as a component required for cbb3-type Cox production in the Gram-negative, facultative phototroph Rhodobacter capsulatus. Here, first we demonstrate that CcoA is a cytoplasmic copper importer. Second, we show that bypass suppressors of a ccoA deletion mutant suppress cbb3-Cox deficiency by increasing cellular copper content and sensitivity. Third, we establish that these suppressors are single-base-pair insertion/deletions located in copA, encoding the major P1B-type ATP-dependent copper exporter (CopA) responsible for copper detoxification. A copA deletion alone has no effect on cbb3-Cox biogenesis in an otherwise wild-type background, even though it rescues the cbb3-Cox defect in the absence of CcoA and renders cells sensitive to copper. We conclude that a hitherto unknown functional interplay between the copper importer CcoA and the copper exporter CopA controls intracellular copper homeostasis required for cbb3-Cox production in bacteria like R. capsulatus.

IMPORTANCE

Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient required for many processes in the cell. It is found as a cofactor for heme-copper containing cytochrome c oxidase enzymes at the terminus of the respiratory chains of aerobic organisms by catalyzing reduction of dioxygen (O2) to water. Defects in the biogenesis and copper insertion into cytochrome c oxidases lead to mitochondrial diseases in humans. This work shows that a previously identified Cu transporter (CcoA) is a Cu importer and illustrates the link between two Cu transporters, the importer CcoA and the exporter CopA, required for Cu homeostasis and Cu trafficking to cytochrome c oxidase in the cell.

Copper-transporting ATPase is important for malaria parasite fertility

Homeostasis of the trace element copper is essential to all eukaryotic life. Copper serves as a cofactor in metalloenzymes and catalyses electron transfer reactions as well as the generation of potentially toxic reactive oxygen species. Here, we describe the functional characterization of an evolutionarily highly conserved, predicted copper-transporting P-type ATPase (CuTP) in the murine malaria model parasite Plasmodium berghei. Live imaging of a parasite line expressing a fluorescently tagged CuTP demonstrated that CuTP is predominantly located in vesicular bodies of the parasite. A P. berghei loss-of-function mutant line was readily obtained and showed no apparent defect in in vivo blood stage growth. Parasite transmission through the mosquito vector was severely affected, but not entirely abolished. We show that male and female gametocytes are abundant in cutp⁻ parasites, but activation of male microgametes and exflagellation were strongly impaired. This specific defect could be mimicked by addition of the copper chelator neocuproine to wild-type gametocytes. A cross-fertilization assay demonstrated that female fertility was also severely abrogated. In conclusion, we provide experimental genetic and pharmacological evidence that a healthy copper homeostasis is critical to malaria parasite fertility of both genders of gametocyte and, hence, to transmission to the mosquito vector.

Manganese acquisition and homeostasis at the host-pathogen interface

Pathogenic bacteria acquire transition metals for cell viability and persistence of infection in competition with host nutritional defenses. The human host employs a variety of mechanisms to stress the invading pathogen with both cytotoxic metal ions and oxidative and nitrosative insults while withholding essential transition metals from the bacterium. For example, the S100 family protein calprotectin (CP) found in neutrophils is a calcium-activated chelator of extracellular Mn and Zn and is found in tissue abscesses at sites of infection by Staphylococcus aureus. In an adaptive response, bacteria have evolved systems to acquire the metals in the face of this competition while effluxing excess or toxic metals to maintain a bioavailability of transition metals that is consistent with a particular inorganic "fingerprint" under the prevailing conditions. This review highlights recent biological, chemical and structural studies focused on manganese (Mn) acquisition and homeostasis and connects this process to oxidative stress resistance and iron (Fe) availability that operates at the human host-pathogen interface.

Iron, copper, zinc, and manganese transport and regulation in pathogenic Enterobacteria: correlations between strains, site of infection and the relative importance of the different metal transport systems for virulence

For all microorganisms, acquisition of metal ions is essential for survival in the environment or in their infected host. Metal ions are required in many biological processes as components of metalloproteins and serve as cofactors or structural elements for enzymes. However, it is critical for bacteria to ensure that metal uptake and availability is in accordance with physiological needs, as an imbalance in bacterial metal homeostasis is deleterious. Indeed, host defense strategies against infection either consist of metal starvation by sequestration or toxicity by the highly concentrated release of metals. To overcome these host strategies, bacteria employ a variety of metal uptake and export systems and finely regulate metal homeostasis by numerous transcriptional regulators, allowing them to adapt to changing environmental conditions. As a consequence, iron, zinc, manganese, and copper uptake systems significantly contribute to the virulence of many pathogenic bacteria. However, during the course of our experiments on the role of iron and manganese transporters in extraintestinal Escherichia coli (ExPEC) virulence, we observed that depending on the strain tested, the importance of tested systems in virulence may be different. This could be due to the different set of systems present in these strains, but literature also suggests that as each pathogen must adapt to the particular microenvironment of its site of infection, the role of each acquisition system in virulence can differ from a particular strain to another. In this review, we present the systems involved in metal transport by Enterobacteria and the main regulators responsible for their controlled expression. We also discuss the relative role of these systems depending on the pathogen and the tissues they infect.

The roles of transition metals in the physiology and pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae

For bacterial pathogens whose sole environmental reservoir is the human host, the acquisition of essential nutrients, particularly transition metals, is a critical aspect of survival due to tight sequestration and limitation strategies deployed to curtail pathogen outgrowth. As such, these bacteria have developed diverse, specialized acquisition mechanisms to obtain these metals from the niches of the body in which they reside. To oppose the spread of infection, the human host has evolved multiple mechanisms to counter bacterial invasion, including sequestering essential metals away from bacteria and exposing bacteria to lethal concentrations of metals. Hence, to maintain homeostasis within the host, pathogens must be able to acquire necessary metals from host proteins and to export such metals when concentrations become detrimental. Furthermore, this acquisition and efflux equilibrium must occur in a tissue-specific manner because the concentration of metals varies greatly within the various microenvironments of the human body. In this review, we examine the functional roles of the metal import and export systems of the Gram-positive pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae in both signaling and pathogenesis.

Antimicrobial action of copper is amplified via inhibition of heme biosynthesis

Copper (Cu) is a potent antimicrobial agent. Its use as a disinfectant goes back to antiquity, but this metal ion has recently emerged to have a physiological role in the host innate immune response. Recent studies have identified iron-sulfur containing proteins as key targets for inhibition by Cu. However, the way in these effects at the molecular level translate into a global effect on cell physiology is not fully understood. Here, we provide a new insight into the way in which Cu poisons bacteria. Using a copA mutant of the obligate human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae that lacks a Cu efflux pump, we showed that Cu overloading led to an increased sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide. However, instead of promoting disproportionation of H2O2 via Fenton chemistry, Cu treatment led to an increased lifetime of H2O2 in cultures as a result of a marked decrease in catalase activity. We showed that this observation correlated with a loss of intracellular heme. We further established that Cu inhibited the pathway for heme biosynthesis. We proposed that this impaired ability to produce heme during Cu stress would lead to the failure to activate hemoproteins that participate in key processes, such as the detoxification of various reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and aerobic respiration. The impact would be a global disruption of cellular biochemistry and an amplified Cu toxicity.

Porins increase copper susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Copper resistance mechanisms are crucial for many pathogenic bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, during infection because the innate immune system utilizes copper ions to kill bacterial intruders. Despite several studies detailing responses of mycobacteria to copper, the pathways by which copper ions cross the mycobacterial cell envelope are unknown. Deletion of porin genes in Mycobacterium smegmatis leads to a severe growth defect on trace copper medium but simultaneously increases tolerance for copper at elevated concentrations, indicating that porins mediate copper uptake across the outer membrane. Heterologous expression of the mycobacterial porin gene mspA reduced growth of M. tuberculosis in the presence of 2.5 μM copper by 40% and completely suppressed growth at 15 μM copper, while wild-type M. tuberculosis reached its normal cell density at that copper concentration. Moreover, the polyamine spermine, a known inhibitor of porin activity in Gram-negative bacteria, enhanced tolerance of M. tuberculosis for copper, suggesting that copper ions utilize endogenous outer membrane channel proteins of M. tuberculosis to gain access to interior cellular compartments. In summary, these findings highlight the outer membrane as the first barrier against copper ions and the role of porins in mediating copper uptake in M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis.

A new unifying theory of the pathogenesis of tuberculosis

It is set in stone that Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a facultative intracellular bacterial parasite. This axiom drives our knowledge of the host response, the way we design vaccines against the organism by generating protective T cells, and to a lesser extent, the way we try to target anti-microbial drugs. The purpose of this article is to commit total heresy. I believe that M. tuberculosis can equally well be regarded as an extracellular pathogen and may in fact spend a large percentage of its human lung "life-cycle" in this environment. It is of course intracellular as well, but this may well be little more than a brief interlude after infection of a new host during which the bacterium must replicate to increase its chances of transmission and physiologically adapt prior to moving back to an extracellular phase. As a result, by focusing almost completely on just the intracellular phase, we may be making serious strategic errors in the way we try to intervene in this pathogenic process. It is my opinion that when a TB bacillus enters the lungs and starts to reside inside an alveolar macrophage, its central driving force is to switch on a process leading to lung necrosis, since it is only by this process that the local lung tissue can be destroyed and the bacillus can be exhaled and transmitted. I present here a new model of the pathogenesis of the disease that attempts to unify the pathogenic process of infection, disease, persistence [rather than latency], and reactivation.

Metal ions in macrophage antimicrobial pathways: emerging roles for zinc and copper

The immunomodulatory and antimicrobial properties of zinc and copper have long been appreciated. In addition, these metal ions are also essential for microbial growth and survival. This presents opportunities for the host to either harness their antimicrobial properties or limit their availability as defence strategies. Recent studies have shed some light on mechanisms by which copper and zinc regulation contribute to host defence, but there remain many unanswered questions at the cellular and molecular levels. Here we review the roles of these two metal ions in providing protection against infectious diseases in vivo, and in regulating innate immune responses. In particular, we focus on studies implicating zinc and copper in macrophage antimicrobial pathways, as well as the specific host genes encoding zinc transporters (SLC30A, SLC39A family members) and CTRs (copper transporters, ATP7 family members) that may contribute to pathogen control by these cells.

Comparative analysis of the performance of commonly available density functionals in the determination of geometrical parameters for copper complexes

In this study, a set of 50 transition-metal complexes of Cu(I) and Cu(II), were used in the evaluation of 18 density functionals in geometry determination. In addition, 14 different basis sets were considered, including four commonly used Pople's all-electron basis sets; four basis sets including popular types of effective-core potentials: Los Alamos, Steven-Basch-Krauss, and Stuttgart-Dresden; and six triple-ζ basis sets. The results illustrate the performance of different methodological alternatives for the treatment of geometrical properties in relevant copper complexes, pointing out Double-Hybrid (DH) and Long-range Correction (LC) Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) methods as better descriptors of the geometry of the evaluated systems. These however, are associated with a computational cost several times higher than some of the other methods employed, such as the M06 functional, which has also demonstrated a comparable performance. Regarding the basis sets, 6-31+G(d) and 6-31+G(d,p) were the best performing approaches. In addition, the results show that the use of effective-core potentials has a limited impact, in terms of the accuracy in the determination of metal-ligand bond-lengths and angles in our dataset of copper complexes. Hence, these could become a good alternative for the geometrical description of these systems, particularly CEP-121G and SDD basis sets, if one is considering larger copper complexes where the computational cost could be an issue.

Amphotericin B-copper(II) complex as a potential agent with higher antifungal activity against Candida albicans

Amphotericin B (AmB) is a polyene antibiotic produced by Streptomyces nodosus used for more than 50 years in the treatment of acute systemic fungal infections. It exhibits a broad spectrum of activity against fungal and protozoan pathogens with relatively rare resistance. The aim of this study was to prepare and evaluate the utility of the AmB-Cu(2+) complex as a potential compound with a high fungicidal activity at lower concentrations, compared with conventional AmB. It was hypothesized that insertion of copper ions into fungal cell membranes, together with the AmB-Cu(2+) complex bypassing the natural homeostatic mechanisms of this element, may contribute to the increased fungicidal activity of AmB. The analysis of results indicates the increased antifungal activity of the AmB-Cu(2+) complex against Candida albicans in comparison with the pure AmB and Fungizone. Additionally, it was stated that the increased antifungal activity of the AmB-Cu(2+) complex is not the sum of the toxic effects of AmB and Cu(2+) ions, but is a result of the unique structure of this compound.

A multicopper oxidase is required for copper resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, is one of the most important bacterial pathogens. Recent work has revealed that the natural bactericidal properties of copper are utilized by the host immune system to combat infections with bacteria, including M. tuberculosis. However, M. tuberculosis employs multiple mechanisms to reduce the internal copper amount by efflux and sequestration, which are required for virulence of M. tuberculosis. Here, we describe an alternative mechanism of copper resistance by M. tuberculosis. Deletion of the rv0846c gene increased the susceptibility of M. tuberculosis to copper at least 10-fold, establishing Rv0846c as a major component of copper resistance in M. tuberculosis. In vitro assays showed that Rv0846c oxidized organic substrates and Fe(II). Importantly, mutation of the predicted copper-coordinating cysteine 486 resulted in inactive Rv0846c protein which did not protect M. tuberculosis against copper stress. Hence, Rv0846c is a multicopper oxidase of M. tuberculosis and was renamed mycobacterial multicopper oxidase (MmcO). MmcO is membrane associated, probably by lipidation after export across the inner membrane by the twin-arginine translocation system. However, mutation of the lipidation site did not affect the oxidase activity or the copper protective function of MmcO. Our study revealed MmcO as an important copper resistance mechanism of M. tuberculosis, which possibly acts by oxidation of toxic Cu(I) in the periplasm.

Self-disinfecting surfaces: review of current methodologies and future prospects

Methods to improve disinfection of environmental surfaces in hospital rooms include improving cleaning/disinfection by environmental service workers through education and feedback on cleaning effectiveness (eg, use of fluorescent dyes), "no-touch" methods (eg, UV-C light), and self-disinfecting surfaces. Self-disinfecting surfaces can be created by impregnating or coating surfaces with heavy metals (eg, silver or copper), germicides (eg, triclosan), or miscellaneous methods (eg, light-activated antimicrobials). These methods are under active investigation but to date have not been assessed for their ability to reduce health care-associated infections.

Cryptococcus neoformans copper detoxification machinery is critical for fungal virulence

Copper (Cu) is an essential metal that is toxic at high concentrations. Thus, pathogens often rely on host Cu for growth, but host cells can hyperaccumulate Cu to exert antimicrobial effects. The human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans encodes many Cu-responsive genes, but their role in infection is unclear. We determined that pulmonary C. neoformans infection results in Cu-specific induction of genes encoding the Cu-detoxifying metallothionein (Cmt) proteins. Mutant strains lacking CMTs or expressing Cmt variants defective in Cu-coordination exhibit severely attenuated virulence and reduced pulmonary colonization. Consistent with the upregulation of Cmt proteins, C. neoformans pulmonary infection results in increased serum Cu concentrations and increases and decreases alveolar macrophage expression of the Cu importer (Ctr1) and ATP7A, a transporter implicated in phagosomal Cu compartmentalization, respectively. These studies indicate that the host mobilizes Cu as an innate antifungal defense but C. neoformans senses and neutralizes toxic Cu to promote infection.

A new structural paradigm in copper resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Copper resistance has emerged as an important virulence determinant of microbial pathogens. In Streptococcus pneumoniae, copper resistance is mediated by the copper-responsive repressor CopY, CupA and the copper-effluxing P(1B)-type ATPase CopA. We show here that CupA is a previously uncharacterized cell membrane-anchored Cu(I) chaperone and that a Cu(I) binding-competent, membrane-localized CupA is obligatory for copper resistance. The crystal structures of the soluble domain of CupA and the N-terminal metal-binding domain (MBD) of CopA (CopA(MBD)) reveal isostructural cupredoxin-like folds that each harbor a binuclear Cu(I) cluster unprecedented in bacterial copper trafficking. NMR studies reveal unidirectional Cu(I) transfer from the low-affinity site on the soluble domain of CupA to the high-affinity site of CopA(MBD). However, copper binding by CopA(MBD) is not essential for cellular copper resistance, consistent with a primary role of CupA in cytoplasmic Cu(I) sequestration and/or direct delivery to the transmembrane site of CopA for cellular efflux.

Novel antibiofilm chemotherapy targets exopolysaccharide synthesis and stress tolerance in Streptococcus mutans to modulate virulence expression in vivo

Fluoride is the mainstay of dental caries prevention, and yet current applications offer incomplete protection and may not effectively address the infectious character of the disease. Therefore, we evaluated the effectiveness of a novel combination therapy (CT; 2 mM myricetin, 4 mM tt-farnesol, 250 ppm of fluoride) that supplements fluoride with naturally occurring, food-derived, antibiofilm compounds. Treatment regimens simulating those experienced clinically (twice daily for ≤60 s) were used both in vitro over a saliva-coated hydroxyapatite biofilm model and in vivo with a rodent model of dental caries. The effectiveness of CT was evaluated based on the incidence and severity of carious lesions (compared to fluoride or vehicle control). We found that CT was superior to fluoride (positive control, P < 0.05); topical applications dramatically reduced caries development in Sprague-Dawley rats, all without altering the Streptococcus mutans or total populations within the plaque. We subsequently identified the underlying mechanisms through which applications of CT modulate biofilm virulence. CT targets expression of key Streptococcus mutans genes during biofilm formation in vitro and in vivo. These are associated with exopolysaccharide matrix synthesis (gtfB) and the ability to tolerate exogenous stress (e.g., sloA), which are essential for cariogenic biofilm assembly. We also identified a unique gene (SMU.940) that was severely repressed and may represent a potentially novel target; its inactivation disrupted exopolysaccharide accumulation and matrix development. Altogether, CT may be clinically more effective than current anticaries modalities, targeting expression of bacterial virulence associated with pathogenesis of the disease. These observations may have relevance for development of enhanced therapies against other biofilm-dependent infections.

Nutritional immunity: transition metals at the pathogen-host interface

Transition metals occupy an essential niche in biological systems. Their electrostatic properties stabilize substrates or reaction intermediates in the active sites of enzymes, and their heightened reactivity is harnessed for catalysis. However, this heightened activity also renders transition metals toxic at high concentrations. Bacteria, like all living organisms, must regulate their intracellular levels of these elements to satisfy their physiological needs while avoiding harm. It is therefore not surprising that the host capitalizes on both the essentiality and toxicity of transition metals to defend against bacterial invaders. This Review discusses established and emerging paradigms in nutrient metal homeostasis at the pathogen-host interface.

Mycobacteria and the intraphagosomal environment: take it with a pinch of salt(s)!

Ancient protozoan phagocytes and modern professional phagocytes of metazoans, such as macrophages, employ evolutionarily conserved mechanisms to kill microbes. These mechanisms rely on microbial ingestion, followed by maturation of the phagocytic vacuole, or so-called phagosome. Phagosome maturation includes a series of fusion and fission events with the host cell endosomes and lysosomes, leading to a rapid increase of the degradative properties of the vacuole and to the destruction of the ingested microbe within a very hostile intracellular compartment, the phagolysosome. Historically, the mechanisms and weapons used by phagocytes to kill microbes have been separated into different classes. Phagosomal acidification, together with the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, the selective manipulation of various ions in the phagosomal lumen, and finally the engagement of a battery of acidic hydrolases, are well-recognized players in this process. However, it is relatively recently that interconnections among these mechanisms have become apparent. In this review, we will focus on some emerging concepts about these interconnected aspects of the warfare at the host-pathogen interface, using mostly Mycobacterium tuberculosis as an example of intracellular pathogen. In particular, recent discoveries on the role of phagosomal ions and other chemicals in the control of pathogens, as well as mechanisms evolved by intracellular pathogens to circumvent or even exploit the weapons of the host cell will be discussed.