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Liu N, Yue Z, Hu S, Xing R, Wang R, Yang L, Chen X. Screening and separation of natural anticancer active ingredients related to phospholipase C. J Sep Sci 2024; 47:e2300898. [PMID: 38726747 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202300898] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Based on the specific binding of drug molecules to cell membrane receptors, a screening and separation method for active compounds of natural products was established by combining phospholipase C (PLC) sensitized hollow fiber microscreening by a solvent seal with high-performance liquid chromatography technology. In the process, the factors affecting the screening were optimized. Under the optimal screening conditions, we screened honokiol (HK), magnolol (MG), negative control drug carbamazepine, and positive control drug amentoflavone, the repeatability of the method was tested. The PLC activity was determined before and after the screening. Experimental results showed that the sensitization factors of PLC of HK and MG were 61.0 and 48.5, respectively, and amentoflavone was 15.0, carbamazepine could not bind to PLC. Moreover, the molecular docking results were consistent with this measurement, indicating that HK and MG could be combined with PLC, and they were potential interacting components with PLC. This method used organic solvent to seal the PLC greatly ensuring the activity, so this method had the advantage of integrating separation, and purification with screening, it not only exhibited good reproducibility and high sensitivity but was also suitable for screening the active components in natural products by various targets in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, P. R. China
| | - Zili Yue
- School of Pharmacy, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, P. R. China
| | - Shuang Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, P. R. China
| | - Rongrong Xing
- School of Pharmacy, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, P. R. China
| | - Runqin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, P. R. China
| | - Li Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, P. R. China
| | - Xuan Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, P. R. China
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2
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Popoff MR. Overview of Bacterial Protein Toxins from Pathogenic Bacteria: Mode of Action and Insights into Evolution. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:182. [PMID: 38668607 PMCID: PMC11054074 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16040182] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial protein toxins are secreted by certain bacteria and are responsible for mild to severe diseases in humans and animals. They are among the most potent molecules known, which are active at very low concentrations. Bacterial protein toxins exhibit a wide diversity based on size, structure, and mode of action. Upon recognition of a cell surface receptor (protein, glycoprotein, and glycolipid), they are active either at the cell surface (signal transduction, membrane damage by pore formation, or hydrolysis of membrane compound(s)) or intracellularly. Various bacterial protein toxins have the ability to enter cells, most often using an endocytosis mechanism, and to deliver the effector domain into the cytosol, where it interacts with an intracellular target(s). According to the nature of the intracellular target(s) and type of modification, various cellular effects are induced (cell death, homeostasis modification, cytoskeleton alteration, blockade of exocytosis, etc.). The various modes of action of bacterial protein toxins are illustrated with representative examples. Insights in toxin evolution are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel R Popoff
- Unité des Toxines Bactériennes, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 2001 INSERM U1306, F-75015 Paris, France
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3
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Lidbury IDEA, Hitchcock A, Groenhof SRM, Connolly AN, Moushtaq L. New insights in bacterial organophosphorus cycling: From human pathogens to environmental bacteria. Adv Microb Physiol 2024; 84:1-49. [PMID: 38821631 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2023.12.003] [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: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
In terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, phosphorus (P) availability controls primary production, with consequences for climate regulation and global food security. Understanding the microbial controls on the global P cycle is a prerequisite for minimising our reliance on non-renewable phosphate rock reserves and reducing pollution associated with excessive P fertiliser use. This recognised importance has reinvigorated research into microbial P cycling, which was pioneered over 75 years ago through the study of human pathogenic bacteria-host interactions. Immobilised organic P represents a significant fraction of the total P pool. Hence, microbes have evolved a plethora of mechanisms to transform this fraction into labile inorganic phosphate, the building block for numerous biological molecules. The 'genomics era' has revealed an extraordinary diversity of organic P cycling genes exist in the environment and studies going 'back to the lab' are determining how this diversity relates to function. Through this integrated approach, many hitherto unknown genes and proteins that are involved in microbial P cycling have been discovered. Not only do these fundamental discoveries push the frontier of our knowledge, but several examples also provide exciting opportunities for biotechnology and present possible solutions for improving the sustainability of how we grow our food, both locally and globally. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of bacterial organic P cycling, covering studies on human pathogens and how this knowledge is informing new discoveries in environmental microbiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian D E A Lidbury
- Molecular Microbiology - Biochemistry and Disease, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew Hitchcock
- Molecular Microbiology - Biochemistry and Disease, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Plants, Photosynthesis, and Soil, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie R M Groenhof
- Molecular Microbiology - Biochemistry and Disease, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Alex N Connolly
- Molecular Microbiology - Biochemistry and Disease, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Laila Moushtaq
- Molecular Microbiology - Biochemistry and Disease, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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4
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Sherik M, Eves R, Guo S, Lloyd CJ, Klose KE, Davies PL. Sugar-binding and split domain combinations in repeats-in-toxin adhesins from Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas veronii mediate cell-surface recognition and hemolytic activities. mBio 2024; 15:e0229123. [PMID: 38171003 PMCID: PMC10865825 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02291-23] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Many pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria use repeats-in-toxin adhesins for colonization and biofilm formation. In the cholera agent Vibrio cholerae, flagellar-regulated hemagglutinin A (FrhA) enables these functions. Using bioinformatic analysis, a sugar-binding domain was identified in FrhA adjacent to a domain of unknown function. AlphaFold2 indicated the boundaries of both domains to be slightly shorter than previously predicted and assisted in the recognition of the unknown domain as a split immunoglobulin-like fold that can assist in projecting the sugar-binding domain toward its target. The AlphaFold2-predicted structure is in excellent agreement with the molecular envelope obtained from small-angle X-ray scattering analysis of a recombinant construct spanning the sugar-binding and unknown domains. This two-domain construct was probed by glycan micro-array screening and showed binding to mammalian fucosylated glycans, some of which are characteristic erythrocyte markers and intestinal cell epitopes. Isothermal titration calorimetry further showed the construct-bound l-fucose with a Kd of 21 µM. Strikingly, this recombinant protein construct bound and lysed erythrocytes in a concentration-dependent manner, and its hemolytic activity was blocked by the addition of l-fucose. A protein ortholog construct from Aeromonas veronii was also produced and showed a similar glycan-binding pattern, binding affinity, erythrocyte-binding, and hemolytic activities. As demonstrated here with Hep-2 cells, fucose-based inhibitors of this sugar-binding domain can potentially be developed to block colonization by V. cholerae and other pathogenic bacteria that share this adhesin domain.IMPORTANCEThe bacterium, Vibrio cholerae, which causes cholera, uses an adhesion protein to stick to human cells and begin the infection process. One part of this adhesin protein binds to a particular sugar, fucose, on the surface of the target cells. This binding can lead to colonization and killing of the cells by the bacteria. Adding l-fucose to the bacteria before they bind to the human cells can prevent attachment and has promise as a preventative drug to protect against cholera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Sherik
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert Eves
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shuaiqi Guo
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cameron J. Lloyd
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Karl E. Klose
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Peter L. Davies
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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Feng C, Fang H, Wang F, Chen W, Xia LC, Lan D, Wang Y. Crystal Structure of Fungal Nonspecific Phospholipase C Unveils a Distinct Catalytic Mechanism. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:16352-16361. [PMID: 37800479 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c05155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Nonspecific phospholipase C (NPC) plays a pivotal role in hydrolyzing phospholipids, releasing diacylglycerol─an essential second messenger. Extensive research has elucidated the structure and function of bacterial and plant NPCs, but our understanding of their fungal counterparts remains limited. Here, we present the first crystal structure of a fungal NPC derived from Rasamsonia emersonii (RePLC), unraveling its distinguishable features divergent from other known phospholipase C. Remarkably, the structure of RePLC contains solely the phosphoesterase domain without the crucial C-terminal domain (CTD) found in plant NPCs, although CTD is important for their activity. Through a comparative analysis of structural features among NPCs from diverse species combined with structure-based mutation analyses and bioinformatics methods, we propose a potential molecular mechanism that may universally underlie the catalysis of phospholipid hydrolysis in fungal NPCs. Furthermore, our study sheds light on the captivating evolutionary trajectory of enzymes across diverse species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenhao Feng
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Hao Fang
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Fanghua Wang
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Guangdong Youmei Institute of Intelligent Bio-manufacturing, Foshan 528225, China
| | - Wen Chen
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Li C Xia
- School of Mathematics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Dongming Lan
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Guangdong Youmei Institute of Intelligent Bio-manufacturing, Foshan 528225, China
| | - Yonghua Wang
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Guangdong Youmei Institute of Intelligent Bio-manufacturing, Foshan 528225, China
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Badilla-Vargas L, Pereira R, Molina-Mora JA, Alape-Girón A, Flores-Díaz M. Clostridium perfringens phospholipase C, an archetypal bacterial virulence factor, induces the formation of extracellular traps by human neutrophils. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1278718. [PMID: 37965263 PMCID: PMC10641792 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1278718] [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: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are networks of DNA and various microbicidal proteins released to kill invading microorganisms and prevent their dissemination. However, a NETs excess is detrimental to the host and involved in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory and immunothrombotic diseases. Clostridium perfringens is a widely distributed pathogen associated with several animal and human diseases, that produces many exotoxins, including the phospholipase C (CpPLC), the main virulence factor in gas gangrene. During this disease, CpPLC generates the formation of neutrophil/platelet aggregates within the vasculature, favoring an anaerobic environment for C. perfringens growth. This work demonstrates that CpPLC induces NETosis in human neutrophils. Antibodies against CpPLC completely abrogate the NETosis-inducing activity of recombinant CpPLC and C. perfringens secretome. CpPLC induces suicidal NETosis through a mechanism that requires calcium release from inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3) sensitive stores, activation of protein kinase C (PKC), and the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) pathways, as well as the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the metabolism of arachidonic acid. Proteomic analysis of the C. perfringens secretome identified 40 proteins, including a DNAse and two 5´-nucleotidases homologous to virulence factors that could be relevant in evading NETs. We suggested that in gas gangrene this pathogen benefits from having access to the metabolic resources of the tissue injured by a dysregulated intravascular NETosis and then escapes and spreads to deeper tissues. Understanding the role of NETs in gas gangrene could help develop novel therapeutic strategies to reduce mortality, improve muscle regeneration, and prevent deleterious patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Badilla-Vargas
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Reynaldo Pereira
- Centro Nacional de alta Tecnología, Consejo Nacional de Rectores (CONARE), San José, Costa Rica
| | - José Arturo Molina-Mora
- Centro de investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Alberto Alape-Girón
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Marietta Flores-Díaz
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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Barisch C, Holthuis JCM, Cosentino K. Membrane damage and repair: a thin line between life and death. Biol Chem 2023; 404:467-490. [PMID: 36810295 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2022-0321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Bilayered membranes separate cells from their surroundings and form boundaries between intracellular organelles and the cytosol. Gated transport of solutes across membranes enables cells to establish vital ion gradients and a sophisticated metabolic network. However, an advanced compartmentalization of biochemical reactions makes cells also particularly vulnerable to membrane damage inflicted by pathogens, chemicals, inflammatory responses or mechanical stress. To avoid potentially lethal consequences of membrane injuries, cells continuously monitor the structural integrity of their membranes and readily activate appropriate pathways to plug, patch, engulf or shed the damaged membrane area. Here, we review recent insights into the cellular mechanisms that underly an effective maintenance of membrane integrity. We discuss how cells respond to membrane lesions caused by bacterial toxins and endogenous pore-forming proteins, with a primary focus on the intimate crosstalk between membrane proteins and lipids during wound formation, detection and elimination. We also discuss how a delicate balance between membrane damage and repair determines cell fate upon bacterial infection or activation of pro-inflammatory cell death pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Barisch
- Molecular Infection Biology Division, Department of Biology and Center of Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Joost C M Holthuis
- Molecular Cell Biology Division, Department of Biology and Center of Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Katia Cosentino
- Molecular Cell Biophysics Division, Department of Biology and Center of Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany
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Liao C, Huang X, Wang Q, Yao D, Lu W. Virulence Factors of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Antivirulence Strategies to Combat Its Drug Resistance. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:926758. [PMID: 35873152 PMCID: PMC9299443 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.926758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen causing nosocomial infections in severely ill and immunocompromised patients. Ubiquitously disseminated in the environment, especially in hospitals, it has become a major threat to human health due to the constant emergence of drug-resistant strains. Multiple resistance mechanisms are exploited by P. aeruginosa, which usually result in chronic infections difficult to eradicate. Diverse virulence factors responsible for bacterial adhesion and colonization, host immune suppression, and immune escape, play important roles in the pathogenic process of P. aeruginosa. As such, antivirulence treatment that aims at reducing virulence while sparing the bacterium for its eventual elimination by the immune system, or combination therapies, has significant advantages over traditional antibiotic therapy, as the former imposes minimal selective pressure on P. aeruginosa, thus less likely to induce drug resistance. In this review, we will discuss the virulence factors of P. aeruginosa, their pathogenic roles, and recent advances in antivirulence drug discovery for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongbing Liao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (Ministry of Education (MOE)/National Health Commission (NHC)/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS)), School of Basic Medical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (Ministry of Education (MOE)/National Health Commission (NHC)/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS)), School of Basic Medical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingxia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (Ministry of Education (MOE)/National Health Commission (NHC)/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS)), School of Basic Medical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Yao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (Ministry of Education (MOE)/National Health Commission (NHC)/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS)), School of Basic Medical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wuyuan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (Ministry of Education (MOE)/National Health Commission (NHC)/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS)), School of Basic Medical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Zajmi A, Teo J, Yeo CC. Epidemiology and Characteristics of Elizabethkingia spp. Infections in Southeast Asia. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10050882. [PMID: 35630327 PMCID: PMC9144721 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Elizabethkingia spp. is a ubiquitous pathogenic bacterium that has been identified as the causal agent for a variety of conditions such as meningitis, pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis, endophthalmitis, and sepsis and is emerging as a global threat including in Southeast Asia. Elizabethkingia infections tend to be associated with high mortality rates (18.2–41%) and are mostly observed in neonates and immunocompromised patients. Difficulties in precisely identifying Elizabethkingia at the species level by traditional methods have hampered our understanding of this genus in human infections. In Southeast Asian countries, hospital outbreaks have usually been ascribed to E. meningoseptica, whereas in Singapore, E. anophelis was reported as the main Elizabethkingia spp. associated with hospital settings. Misidentification of Elizabethkingia spp. could, however, underestimate the number of cases attributed to the bacterium, as precise identification requires tools such as MALDI-TOF MS, and particularly whole-genome sequencing, which are not available in most hospital laboratories. Elizabethkingia spp. has an unusual antibiotic resistance pattern for a Gram-negative bacterium with a limited number of horizontal gene transfers, which suggests an intrinsic origin for its multidrug resistance. Efforts to prevent and further understand Elizabethkingia spp. infections and limit its spread must rise to this new challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asdren Zajmi
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases and Biotechnology (CeRIDB), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu 20400, Malaysia;
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Management and Science University, Seksyen 13, Shah Alam 40100, Malaysia
| | - Jeanette Teo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore;
| | - Chew Chieng Yeo
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases and Biotechnology (CeRIDB), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu 20400, Malaysia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +60-9-627-5506
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Shahrear S, Afroj Zinnia M, Sany MRU, Islam ABMMK. Functional Analysis of Hypothetical Proteins of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Reveals the Presence of Virulence Factors and Growth-Related Enzymes With Therapeutic Potential. Bioinform Biol Insights 2022; 16:11779322221136002. [PMID: 36386863 PMCID: PMC9661560 DOI: 10.1177/11779322221136002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus, an aquatic pathogen, is a major concern in the shrimp aquaculture industry. Several strains of this pathogen are responsible for causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease as well as other serious illness, both of which result in severe economic losses. The genome sequence of two pathogenic strains of V. parahaemolyticus, MSR16 and MSR17, isolated from Bangladesh, have been reported to gain a better understanding of their diversity and virulence. However, the prevalence of hypothetical proteins (HPs) makes it challenging to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis of V. parahaemolyticus. The aim of the present study is to provide a functional annotation of the HPs to elucidate their role in pathogenesis employing several in silico tools. The exploration of protein domains and families, similarity searches against proteins with known function, gene ontology enrichment, along with protein-protein interaction analysis of the HPs led to the functional assignment with a high level of confidence for 656 proteins out of a pool of 2631 proteins. The in silico approach used in this study was important for accurately assigning function to HPs and inferring interactions with proteins with previously described functions. The HPs with function predicted were categorized into various groups such as enzymes involved in small-compound biosynthesis pathway, iron binding proteins, antibiotics resistance proteins, and other proteins. Several proteins with potential druggability were identified among them. In addition, the HPs were investigated in search of virulent factors, which led to the identification of proteins that have the potential to be exploited as vaccine candidate. The findings of the study will be effective in gaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis. They may also provide an insight into the process of evaluating promising targets for the development of drugs and vaccines against V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sazzad Shahrear
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Md. Rabi Us Sany
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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