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Rojas D, Marcoleta AE, Gálvez-Silva M, Varas MA, Díaz M, Hernández M, Vargas C, Nourdin-Galindo G, Koch E, Saldivia P, Vielma J, Gan YH, Chen Y, Guiliani N, Chávez FP. Inorganic Polyphosphate Affects Biofilm Assembly, Capsule Formation, and Virulence of Hypervirulent ST23 Klebsiella pneumoniae. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:606-623. [PMID: 38205780 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00509] [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: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) strains poses a significant threat to public health due to high mortality rates and propensity to cause severe community-acquired infections in healthy individuals. The ability to form biofilms and produce a protective capsule contributes to its enhanced virulence and is a significant challenge to effective antibiotic treatment. Polyphosphate kinase 1 (PPK1) is an enzyme responsible for inorganic polyphosphate synthesis and plays a vital role in regulating various physiological processes in bacteria. In this study, we investigated the impact of polyP metabolism on the biofilm and capsule formation and virulence traits in hvKP using Dictyostelium discoideum amoeba as a model host. We found that the PPK1 null mutant was impaired in biofilm and capsule formation and showed attenuated virulence in D. discoideum compared to the wild-type strain. We performed a proteomic analysis to gain further insights into the underlying molecular mechanism. The results revealed that the PPK1 mutant had a differential expression of proteins involved in capsule synthesis (Wzi-Ugd), biofilm formation (MrkC-D-H), synthesis of the colibactin genotoxin precursor (ClbB), as well as proteins associated with the synthesis and modification of lipid A (ArnB-LpxC-PagP). These proteomic findings corroborate the phenotypic observations and indicate that the PPK1 mutation is associated with impaired biofilm and capsule formation and attenuated virulence in hvKP. Overall, our study highlights the importance of polyP synthesis in regulating extracellular biomolecules and virulence in K. pneumoniae and provides insights into potential therapeutic targets for treating K. pneumoniae infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Rojas
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Andrés E Marcoleta
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Matías Gálvez-Silva
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Macarena A Varas
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Mauricio Díaz
- Laboratorio de Comunicación Microbiana, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Mauricio Hernández
- División Biotecnología, Instituto Melisa, San Pedro de la Paz CP 9660000, Chile
| | - Cristian Vargas
- División Biotecnología, Instituto Melisa, San Pedro de la Paz CP 9660000, Chile
| | | | - Elard Koch
- División Biotecnología, Instituto Melisa, San Pedro de la Paz CP 9660000, Chile
| | - Pablo Saldivia
- División Biotecnología, Instituto Melisa, San Pedro de la Paz CP 9660000, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción CP 4070389, Chile
| | - Jorge Vielma
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Yunn-Hwen Gan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore CP 119077, Singapore
| | - Yahua Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore CP 119077, Singapore
| | - Nicolás Guiliani
- Laboratorio de Comunicación Microbiana, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Francisco P Chávez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
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Gagné-Thivierge C, Kukavica-Ibrulj I, Filion G, Dekimpe V, Tan SGE, Vincent AT, Déziel É, Levesque RC, Charette SJ. A multi-host approach to identify a transposon mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa LESB58 lacking full virulence. BMC Res Notes 2018; 11:198. [PMID: 29580289 PMCID: PMC5870910 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-3308-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen well known to cause chronic lung infections in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). Some strains adapted to this particular niche show distinct phenotypes, such as biofilm hyperproduction. It is necessary to study CF clinical P. aeruginosa isolates, such as Liverpool Epidemic Strains (LES), to acquire a better understanding of the key genes essential for in vivo maintenance and the major virulence mechanisms involved in CF lung infections. Previously, a library of 9216 mutants of the LESB58 strain were generated by signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM) and screened in the rat model of chronic lung infection, allowing the identification of 163 STM mutants showing defects in in vivo maintenance. RESULTS In the present study, these 163 mutants were successively screened in two additional surrogate host models (the amoeba and the fruit fly). The STM PALES_11731 mutant was the unique non-virulent in the three hosts. A competitive index study in rat lungs confirmed that the mutant was 20-fold less virulent than the wild-type strain. This study demonstrated the pertinence to use a multi-host approach to study the genetic determinants of P. aeruginosa strains infecting CF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Gagné-Thivierge
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Irena Kukavica-Ibrulj
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Geneviève Filion
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | | | - Sok Gheck E Tan
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Antony T Vincent
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Éric Déziel
- INRS-Institut Armand Frappier, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Roger C Levesque
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Steve J Charette
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada. .,Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada. .,Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
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Denoncourt AM, Paquet VE, Charette SJ. Packaging of Mycobacterium smegmatis bacteria into fecal pellets by the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2017; 364:4597601. [PMID: 29126315 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacteria are widespread microorganisms that live in various environments, including man-made water systems where they cohabit with protozoa. Environmental mycobacterial species give rise to many opportunistic human infections and can infect phagocytic protozoa. Protozoa such as amoebae and ciliates feeding on bacteria can sometimes get rid of non-digestible or pathogenic material by packaging it into secreted fecal pellets. Usually, packaged bacteria are still viable and are protected against chemical and physical stresses. We report here that mycobacteria can be packaged into pellets by ciliates. The model bacterium Mycobacterium smegmatis survived digestion in food vacuoles of the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis and was included in expelled fecal pellets. LIVE/DEAD® staining confirmed that packaged M. smegmatis cells preserved their viability through the process. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that bacteria are packaged in undefined filamentous and/or laminar substances and that just a thin layer of material seemed to keep the pellet contents in a spherical shape. These results imply that packaging of bacteria is more common than expected, and merits further study to understand its role in persistence and dissemination of pathogens in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alix M Denoncourt
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.,Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Hôpital Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada.,Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Valérie E Paquet
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.,Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Hôpital Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada.,Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Steve J Charette
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.,Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Hôpital Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada.,Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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Paquet VE, Charette SJ. Amoeba-resisting bacteria found in multilamellar bodies secreted by Dictyostelium discoideum: social amoebae can also package bacteria. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 92:fiw025. [PMID: 26862140 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Many bacteria can resist phagocytic digestion by various protozoa. Some of these bacteria (all human pathogens) are known to be packaged in multilamellar bodies produced in the phagocytic pathway of the protozoa and that are secreted into the extracellular milieu. Packaged bacteria are protected from harsh conditions, and the packaging process is suspected to promote bacterial persistence in the environment. To date, only a limited number of protozoa, belonging to free-living amoebae and ciliates, have been shown to perform bacteria packaging. It is still unknown if social amoebae can do bacteria packaging. The link between the capacity of 136 bacterial isolates to resist the grazing of the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum and to be packaged by this amoeba was investigated in the present study. The 45 bacterial isolates displaying a resisting phenotype were tested for their capacity to be packaged. A total of seven isolates from Cupriavidus, Micrococcus, Microbacterium and Rathayibacter genera seemed to be packaged and secreted by D. discoideum based on immunofluorescence results. Electron microscopy confirmed that the Cupriavidus and Rathayibacter isolates were formally packaged. These results show that social amoebae can package some bacteria from the environment revealing a new aspect of microbial ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie E Paquet
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Hôpital Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 4G5, Canada
| | - Steve J Charette
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Hôpital Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 4G5, Canada Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
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Périnet S, Jeukens J, Kukavica-Ibrulj I, Ouellet MM, Charette SJ, Levesque RC. Molybdate transporter ModABC is important for Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronic lung infection. BMC Res Notes 2016; 9:23. [PMID: 26758577 PMCID: PMC4710039 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-016-1840-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mechanisms underlying the success of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in chronic lung infection among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are poorly defined. The modA gene was previously linked to in vivo competitiveness of P. aeruginosa by a genetic screening in the rat lung. This gene encodes a subunit of transporter ModABC, which is responsible for extracellular uptake of molybdate. This compound is essential for molybdoenzymes, including nitrate reductases. Since anaerobic growth conditions are known to occur during CF chronic lung infection, inactivation of a molybdate transporter could inhibit proliferation through the inactivation of denitrification enzymes. Hence, we performed phenotypic characterization of a modA mutant strain obtained by signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM_modA) and assessed its virulence in vivo with two host models. RESULTS The STM_modA mutant was in fact defective for anaerobic growth and unable to use nitrates in the growth medium for anaerobic respiration. Bacterial growth and nitrate usage were restored when the medium was supplemented with molybdate. Most significantly, the mutant strain showed reduced virulence compared to wild-type strain PAO1 according to a competitive index in the rat model of chronic lung infection and a predation assay with Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae. As the latter took place in aerobic conditions, the in vivo impact of the mutation in modA appears to extend beyond its effect on anaerobic growth. CONCLUSIONS These results support the modABC-encoded transporter as important for the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa, and suggest that enzymatic machinery implicated in anaerobic growth during chronic lung infection in CF merits further investigation as a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Périnet
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. .,Département de microbiologie-infectiologie-immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
| | - Julie Jeukens
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. .,Département de microbiologie-infectiologie-immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
| | - Irena Kukavica-Ibrulj
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. .,Département de microbiologie-infectiologie-immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
| | - Myriam M Ouellet
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. .,Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. .,Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec (CRIUCPQ), Quebec, QC, Canada.
| | - Steve J Charette
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. .,Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. .,Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec (CRIUCPQ), Quebec, QC, Canada.
| | - Roger C Levesque
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. .,Département de microbiologie-infectiologie-immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
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Ouellet MM, Leduc A, Nadeau C, Barbeau J, Charette SJ. Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from dental unit waterlines can be divided in two distinct groups, including one displaying phenotypes similar to isolates from cystic fibrosis patients. Front Microbiol 2015; 5:802. [PMID: 25653647 PMCID: PMC4301018 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa displays broad genetic diversity, giving it an astonishing capacity to adapt to a variety of environments and to infect a wide range of hosts. While many P. aeruginosa isolates of various origins have been analyzed, isolates from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients have received the most attention. Less is known about the genetic and phenotypic diversity of P. aeruginosa isolates that colonize other environments where flourishing biofilms can be found. In the present study, 29 P. aeruginosa isolates from dental unit waterlines and CF patients were collected and their genetic and phenotypes profiles were compared to determine whether environmental and clinical isolates are related. The isolates were first classified using the random amplified polymorphic DNA method. This made it possible to distribute the isolates into one clinical cluster and two environmental clusters. The isolates in the environmental cluster that were genetically closer to the clinical cluster also displayed phenotypes similar to the clinical isolates. The isolates from the second environmental cluster displayed opposite phenotypes, particularly an increased capacity to form biofilms. The isolates in this cluster were also the only ones harboring genes that encoded specific epimerases involved in the synthesis of lipopolysaccharides, which could explain their increased ability to form biofilms. In conclusion, the isolates from the dental unit waterlines could be distributed into two clusters, with some of the environmental isolates resembled the clinical isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam M. Ouellet
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de QuébecQué, QC, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, UniversitéLaval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, UniversitéLaval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Annie Leduc
- Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de MontréalMontréal, QC, Canada
| | - Christine Nadeau
- Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, UniversitéLaval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Jean Barbeau
- Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de MontréalMontréal, QC, Canada
| | - Steve J. Charette
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de QuébecQué, QC, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, UniversitéLaval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, UniversitéLaval, Québec, QC, Canada
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