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Li ZH, Dong K, Yuan JP, Hu BY, Liu JX, Zhao GP, Guo XK. Characterization of the cheY genes from Leptospira interrogans and their effects on the behavior of Escherichia coli. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2006; 345:858-66. [PMID: 16701553 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.04.159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2006] [Accepted: 04/11/2006] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The motility and chemotaxis system are critical for the virulence of pathogenic leptospire, which enable them to penetrate host tissue barriers during infection. The completed genome sequence of a representative virulent serovar type strain (Lai) of Leptospira interrogans serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae (L. interrogans strain Lai) suggested that there were multiple copies of putative chemotaxis homologues located at its large chromosome. In order to verify the function of these proteins, the putative cheY genes were cloned into pQE31 vector and then expressed, respectively, in wild-type Escherichia coli strain RP437 and cheY defective strain RP5232. The results showed that all the five cheYs could restore the swarming of RP5232 strain to some extend. Overexpression of CheYs in RP437 showed inhibited swarming of RP437. To investigate the mechanism of chemotaxis signaling in L. interrogans strain Lai, certain aspartates (Asp-53, Asp-61, Asp-70, Asp-62, and Asp-66 for L. interrogans strain Lai CheY1, CheY2, CheY3, CheY4, and CheY5, respectively) were mutated. Expression of these mutated cheYs manifested neither restoration of the swarming ability of RP5232 nor inhibition on swarming ability of RP437. Multiple amino acid sequence alignment predicted ternary structures and the result of mutation experiment suggested that these conserved aspartate residues of L. interrogans were analogous to that in E. coli CheY in function and structure. So, L. interrogans and E. coli may have similar mechanisms of activation of the chemotaxis phosphorelay pathway, but there are differences in their control by signal terminator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Hong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, 280 South Chongqing Road, Medical school, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, PR China
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152
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Boylan JA, Hummel CS, Benoit S, Garcia-Lara J, Treglown-Downey J, Crane EJ, Gherardini FC. Borrelia burgdorferi bb0728 encodes a coenzyme A disulphide reductase whose function suggests a role in intracellular redox and the oxidative stress response. Mol Microbiol 2006; 59:475-86. [PMID: 16390443 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.04963.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The cellular responses of Borrelia burgdorferiTo reactive oxygen species (ROS) encountered during the different stages of its infective cycle are poorly understood. Few enzymes responsible for protecting proteins, DNA/RNA and lipids from damage by ROS have been identified and characterized. Data presented here suggest that bb0728 encodes an enzyme involved in this process. Biochemical analyses on purified recombinant BB0728 indicated that it functioned as a coenzyme A disulphide reductase (CoADR) (specific activity approximately 26 units per mg of protein). This enzyme was specific for coenzyme A (CoA) disulphide, required NADH and had no significant activity against other disulphides, such as oxidized glutathione or thioredoxin. The high intracellular concentration of reduced CoA (CoASH) in B. burgdorferi cells ( approximately 1 mM) and absence of glutathione suggest that CoA is the major low-molecular-weight thiol in this spirochete. Interestingly, CoASH was able to reduce H(2)O(2) and be regenerated by CoADR suggesting one role for the system may be to protect B. burgdorferi from ROS. Further, mobility-shift assays and transcriptional fusion data indicated that bb0728 was positively regulated by the Borrelia oxidative stress response regulator, BosR. Taken together, these data suggest a role for BB0728 in intracellular redox and the oxidative stress response in B. burgdorferi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Boylan
- Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
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153
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De Brito T, Menezes LF, Lima DMC, Lourenço S, Silva AMG, Alves VAF. Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies of the liver and kidney in human leptospirosis. Virchows Arch 2006; 448:576-83. [PMID: 16541282 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-006-0163-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2005] [Accepted: 01/18/2006] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
An in situ hybridization (ISH) assay for the detection of leptospiral DNA in tissues was described and its diagnostic and pathogenetic usefulness in combination with immunohistochemistry (IHC) was evaluated in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver and kidney samples from human fatal cases of leptospirosis. IHC assays with anti-E-cadherin antibodies assessed the liver-plate disarray frequently observed in leptospirosis. Immunohistochemistry detected leptospiral antigen (LAg) in macrophages, both in human liver and kidney. In guinea pigs, in addition to these findings, staining on cell membranes of hepatocytes and, occasionally, in apical membrane of kidney tubular cells was demonstrated. Positive ISH signal was observed chiefly in the nuclei of human hepatocytes and in the cytoplasm and nuclei of liver cells of experimentally infected guinea pigs. Loss of E-cadherin membrane expression is associated with liver-plate disarray. These findings were discussed in the contention that, in leptospirosis, cell membrane damage might be important for the pathogenesis of the disease. Finally, it was suggested that both IHC and/or ISH might be used for both diagnostic and research purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- T De Brito
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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154
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von Lackum K, Babb K, Riley SP, Wattier RL, Bykowski T, Stevenson B. Functionality of Borrelia burgdorferi LuxS: the Lyme disease spirochete produces and responds to the pheromone autoinducer-2 and lacks a complete activated-methyl cycle. Int J Med Microbiol 2006; 296 Suppl 40:92-102. [PMID: 16530477 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2005.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi produces Pfs and LuxS enzymes for breakdown of the toxic byproducts of methylation reactions, producing 4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione (DPD), adenine, and homocysteine. DPD and its spontaneously rearranged derivatives constitute a class of bacterial pheromones named autoinducer-2 (AI-2). We describe that B. burgdorferi produces DPD during laboratory cultivation. Furthermore, addition of in vitro synthesized DPD to cultured B. burgdorferi resulted in altered expression levels of a specific set of bacterial proteins, among which is the outer surface lipoprotein VlsE. While a large number of bacteria utilize homocysteine, the other LuxS product, for synthesis of methionine as part of the activated-methyl cycle, B. burgdorferi was found to lack that ability. We propose that the main function of B. burgdorferi LuxS is to synthesize DPD and that the Lyme disease spirochete utilizes a form of DPD as a pheromone to control gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate von Lackum
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, MS 415 Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0298, USA
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155
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Abstract
The present review considered: (a) the factors that conditioned the early transition from non-life to life; (b) genome structure and complexity in prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and organelles; (c) comparative human chromosome genomics; and (d) the Brazilian contribution to some of these studies. Understanding the dialectical conflict between freedom and organization is fundamental to give meaning to the patterns and processes of organic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco M Salzano
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Caixa Postal 15053, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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156
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Zhang XY, Yu Y, He P, Zhang YX, Hu BY, Yang Y, Nie YX, Jiang XG, Zhao GP, Guo XK. Expression and comparative analysis of genes encoding outer membrane proteins LipL21, LipL32 and OmpL1 in epidemic leptospires. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2005; 37:649-56. [PMID: 16215631 DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7270.2005.00094.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospiral outer membrane proteins (OMPs) are highly conserved in different species, and play an essential role in the development of new immunoprotection and serodiagnosis strategies. The genes encoding LipL21, LipL32 and OmpL1 were cloned from the complete genome sequence of Leptospira interrogans serovar lai strain Lai and expressed in vitro. Sequence comparison analysis revealed that the three genes were highly conserved among distinct epidemic leptospires, including three major epidemic species Leptospira interrogans, Leptospira borgpetersenii and Leptospira weilii, in China. Immunoblot analysis was further performed to scrutinize 15 epidemic Leptospira reference strains using the antisera of the recombinant OMPs. Both immunoblot assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that these three OMPs were conservatively expressed in pathogenic L. interrogans strains and other pathogenic leptospires. Additionally, the use of these recombinant OMPs as antigens in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serodiagnosis of leptospirosis was evaluated. The recombinant LipL32 and OmpL1 proteins showed a high degree of ELISA reactivity with sera from patients infected with L. interrogans strain Lai and other pathogenic leptospires. These results may contribute to the identification of candidates for broad-range vaccines and immunodiagnostic antigens in further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Yan Zhang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, China
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157
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Hauk P, Negrotto S, Romero EC, Vasconcellos SA, Genovez ME, Ward RJ, Schattner M, Goméz RM, Ho PL. Expression and characterization of HlyX hemolysin from Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni: Potentiation of hemolytic activity by LipL32. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2005; 333:1341-7. [PMID: 15990088 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.06.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2005] [Accepted: 06/10/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The HlyX, a putative hemolysin identified from the Leptospira genomes, was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and its hemolytic activity was confirmed. Mouse polyclonal antiserum against the recombinant HlyX recognized HlyX-related antigens in a panel of Leptospira species extracts and it was also able to abolish the hemolytic activity of HlyX. A mixture of HlyX and LipL32, a known hemolysin from Leptospira, induced hemolysis in a synergistic way that was fully inhibited by antiserum against either protein. Moreover, sera from patients with leptospirosis also recognized the recombinant HlyX, showing that it is presented to the host immune system during Leptospira infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pricila Hauk
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
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158
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Gamberini M, Gómez RM, Atzingen MV, Martins EAL, Vasconcellos SA, Romero EC, Leite LCC, Ho PL, Nascimento ALTO. Whole-genome analysis ofLeptospira interrogansto identify potential vaccine candidates against leptospirosis. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2005; 244:305-13. [PMID: 15766783 DOI: 10.1016/j.femsle.2005.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2005] [Revised: 01/31/2005] [Accepted: 02/02/2005] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an important global human and veterinary health problem. Humans can be infected by exposure to chronically infected animals and their environment. An important focus of the current leptospiral research is the identification of outer membrane proteins (OMPs). Due to their location, leptospiral OMPs are likely to be relevant in host-pathogen interactions, hence their potential ability to stimulate heterologous immunity. The existing whole-genome sequence of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni offers a unique opportunity to search for cell surface proteins. Predicted genes encoding potential surface proteins were amplified from genomic DNA by PCR methodology and cloned into an Escherichia coli expression system. The partially purified recombinant proteins were probed by Western blotting with sera from human patients diagnosed with leptospirosis. Sixteen proteins, out of a hundred tested, were recognized by antibodies present in human sera. Four of these proteins were conserved among eight serovars of L. interrogans and absent in the non-pathogenic Leptospira biflexa. These proteins might be useful for the diagnosis of the disease as well as potential vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia Gamberini
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, SãoPaulo, SP 05503-900, Brazil
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159
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Fang G, Ho C, Qiu Y, Cubas V, Yu Z, Cabau C, Cheung F, Moszer I, Danchin A. Specialized microbial databases for inductive exploration of microbial genome sequences. BMC Genomics 2005; 6:14. [PMID: 15698474 PMCID: PMC549560 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-6-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2004] [Accepted: 02/07/2005] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The enormous amount of genome sequence data asks for user-oriented databases to manage sequences and annotations. Queries must include search tools permitting function identification through exploration of related objects. Methods The GenoList package for collecting and mining microbial genome databases has been rewritten using MySQL as the database management system. Functions that were not available in MySQL, such as nested subquery, have been implemented. Results Inductive reasoning in the study of genomes starts from "islands of knowledge", centered around genes with some known background. With this concept of "neighborhood" in mind, a modified version of the GenoList structure has been used for organizing sequence data from prokaryotic genomes of particular interest in China. GenoChore , a set of 17 specialized end-user-oriented microbial databases (including one instance of Microsporidia, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, a member of Eukarya) has been made publicly available. These databases allow the user to browse genome sequence and annotation data using standard queries. In addition they provide a weekly update of searches against the world-wide protein sequences data libraries, allowing one to monitor annotation updates on genes of interest. Finally, they allow users to search for patterns in DNA or protein sequences, taking into account a clustering of genes into formal operons, as well as providing extra facilities to query sequences using predefined sequence patterns. Conclusion This growing set of specialized microbial databases organize data created by the first Chinese bacterial genome programs (ThermaList, Thermoanaerobacter tencongensis, LeptoList, with two different genomes of Leptospira interrogans and SepiList, Staphylococcus epidermidis) associated to related organisms for comparison.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Fang
- HKU-Pasteur Research Centre, Dexter HC Man Building, 8, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
- Unité de Génétique des Génomes Bactériens, CNRS URA2171, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Christine Ho
- HKU-Pasteur Research Centre, Dexter HC Man Building, 8, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yaowu Qiu
- HKU-Pasteur Research Centre, Dexter HC Man Building, 8, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Virginie Cubas
- HKU-Pasteur Research Centre, Dexter HC Man Building, 8, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhou Yu
- HKU-Pasteur Research Centre, Dexter HC Man Building, 8, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cédric Cabau
- HKU-Pasteur Research Centre, Dexter HC Man Building, 8, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Frankie Cheung
- HKU-Pasteur Research Centre, Dexter HC Man Building, 8, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ivan Moszer
- Plate-forme Intégration et Analyse Génomiques, Genopole, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
- Unité de Génétique des Génomes Bactériens, CNRS URA2171, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Antoine Danchin
- HKU-Pasteur Research Centre, Dexter HC Man Building, 8, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
- Unité de Génétique des Génomes Bactériens, CNRS URA2171, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
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160
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Ussery DW, Hallin PF. Genome Update: annotation quality in sequenced microbial genomes. Microbiology (Reading) 2004; 150:2015-2017. [PMID: 15256543 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.27338-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David W Ussery
- Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Department of Biotechnology, Building 208, The Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter F Hallin
- Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Department of Biotechnology, Building 208, The Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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161
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Ussery DW, Hallin PF, Lagesen K, Wassenaar TM. Genome Update: tRNAs in sequenced microbial genomes. Microbiology (Reading) 2004; 150:1603-1606. [PMID: 15184546 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.27260-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David W Ussery
- Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Department of Biotechnology, Building 208, The Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter F Hallin
- Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Department of Biotechnology, Building 208, The Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Karin Lagesen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Oslo, The National Hospital, NO-0027 Oslo, Norway
| | - Trudy M Wassenaar
- Molecular Microbiology and Genomics Consultants, Tannestrasse 7, D-55576 Zotzenheim, Germany
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