Diversity of the polar lipids of the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes exposed to antimicrobial peptides displays differential regulation of lipids and proteins associated to stress response

With the onset of Listeria monocytogenes resistance to the bacteriocin nisin, the search for alternative antimicrobial treatments is of fundamental importance. In this work, we set out to investigate proteins and lipids involved in the resistance mechanisms of L. monocytogenes against the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) nisin and fengycin. The effect of sub-lethal concentrations of nisin and lipopeptide fengycin secreted by Bacillus velezensis P34 on L. monocytogenes was investigated by mass spectrometry-based lipidomics and proteomics. Both AMPs caused a differential regulation of biofilm formation, confirming the promotion of cell attachment and biofilm assembling after treatment with nisin, whereas growth inhibition was observed after fengycin treatment. Anteiso branched-chain fatty acids were detected in higher amounts in fengycin-treated samples (46.6%) as compared to nisin-treated and control samples (39.4% and 43.4%, respectively). In addition, a higher relative abundance of 30:0, 31:0 and 32:0 phosphatidylglycerol species was detected in fengycin-treated samples. The lipidomics data suggest the inhibition of biofilm formation by the fengycin treatment, while the proteomics data revealed downregulation of important cell wall proteins involved in the building of biofilms, such as the lipoteichoic acid backbone synthesis (Lmo0927) and the flagella-related (Lmo0718) proteins among others. Together, these results provide new insights into the modification of lipid and protein profiles and biofilm formation in L. monocytogenes upon exposure to antimicrobial peptides.

Alteration of the phospho- or neutral lipid content and fatty acid composition in Listeria monocytogenes due to acid adaptation mechanisms for hydrochloric, acetic and lactic acids at pH 5.5 or benzoic acid at neutral pH

This study provides a first approach to observe the effects on Listeria monocytogenes of cellular exposure to acid stress at low or neutral pH, notably how phospho- or neutral lipids are involved in this mechanism, besides the fatty acid profile alteration. A thorough investigation of the composition of polar and neutral lipids from L. monocytogenes grown at pH 5.5 in presence of hydrochloric, acetic and lactic acids, or at neutral pH 7.3 in presence of benzoic acid, is described relative to cells grown in acid-free medium. The results showed that only low pH values enhance the antimicrobial activity of an acid. We suggest that, irrespective of pH, the acid adaptation response will lead to a similar alteration in fatty acid composition [decreasing the ratio of branched chain/saturated straight fatty acids of total lipids], mainly originating from the neutral lipid class of adapted cultures. Acid adaptation in L. monocytogenes was correlated with a decrease in total lipid phosphorus and, with the exception of cells adapted to benzoic acid, this change in the amount of phosphorus reflected a higher content of the neutral lipid class. Upon acetic or benzoic acid stress the lipid phosphorus proportion was analysed in the main phospholipids present: cardiolipin, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphoaminolipid and phosphatidylinositol. Interestingly only benzoic acid had a dramatic effect on the relative quantities of these four phospholipids.

Coordinated regulation of cold-induced changes in fatty acids with cardiolipin and phosphatidylglycerol composition among phospholipid species for the food pathogen Listeria monocytogenes

We present here the structural identification of four phospholipid (Phl) classes in Listeria monocytogenes, the fatty acid (FA) composition for each individual Phl species, and a description of cold-induced FA changes. Cardiolipin (48.5%) and phosphatidylglycerol (18.1%) are dominated by anteiso-FA, and the previously recognized branched FA chain shortening by cold was observed singularly in these Phls. Phosploaminolipid (19.9%) and phosphatidylinositol, (9.1%) are significantly different, containing significant amounts of straight-chain FA. These findings are supported by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis.

Effect of cold temperature on the composition of different lipid classes of the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes: focus on neutral lipids

In this work a thorough consideration of the membrane lipid composition of Listeria monocytogenes together with DSC analysis is described in order to estimate the biological importance of lipid changes during low-temperature adaptation. Furthermore, these studies provide comparative data for fatty acid changes for neutral, NL and polar lipids, PL separately. The cold adaptation (5 degrees C) response of L. monocytogenes showed (i) an increase in the level of NL content (30%) among the total lipids, TL and (ii) that the increase (7-fold) in the anteiso-15:0/anteiso-17:0 fatty acid ratio, FAr, for cold NL was at variance with the ratio for TL and PL (about 10-fold). We correlated our findings with DSC studies on phase transition temperature (Tc), enthalpy difference (DeltaH) and peak range of the transition for TL, PL, NL (from cultures at 30 and 5 degrees C); The decrease of Tc (10.5 degrees C) and DeltaH (51%) for TL is a reflection of the decrease of Tc (11.5 degrees C) and DeltaH (56%) for PL. This large decrease is interpreted by the high (10-fold) increase of a-15:0/a-17:0 FAr of PL5 degrees C. In NL the decrease of Tc (3 degrees C) and of DeltaH (42%) is interpreted by both adaptation mechanisms: the (lower) 7-fold increase of anteiso-15:0/anteiso-17:0 FAr and the NL percentage calculated from increased mass values. The peak range of TL5 degrees C (from -15 to 25 degrees C) is a reflection of the peak range of NL5 degrees C, which is unchanged, as is the peak range of NL30 degrees C.

Role of the glycine betaine and carnitine transporters in adaptation of Listeria monocytogenes to chill stress in defined medium

The food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes proliferates at refrigeration temperatures, rendering refrigeration ineffective in the preservation of Listeria-contaminated foods. The uptake and intracellular accumulation of the potent compatible solutes glycine betaine and carnitine has been shown to be a key mediator of the pathogen's cold-tolerant phenotype. To date, three compatible solute systems are known to operate in L. monocytogenes: glycine betaine porter I (BetL), glycine betaine porter II (Gbu), and the carnitine transporter OpuC. We investigated the specificity of each transporter towards each compatible solute at 4 degrees C by examining mutant derivatives of L. monocytogenes 10403S that possess each of the transporters in isolation. Kinetic and steady-state compatible solute accumulation data together with growth rate experiments demonstrated that under cold stress glycine betaine transport is primarily mediated by Gbu and that Gbu-mediated betaine uptake results in significant growth stimulation of chill-stressed cells. BetL and OpuC can serve as minor porters for the uptake of betaine, and their action is capable of providing a small degree of cryotolerance. Under cold stress, carnitine transport occurs primarily through OpuC and results in a high level of cryoprotection. Weak carnitine transport occurs via Gbu and BetL, conferring correspondingly weak cryoprotection. No other transporter in L. monocytogenes 10403S appears to be involved in transport of either compatible solute at 4 degrees C, since a triple mutant strain yielded neither transport nor accumulation of glycine betaine or carnitine and could not be rescued by either osmolyte when grown at that temperature.

Sphingophosphonolipid molecular species from edible mollusks and a jellyfish

The goal of this study is to supplement the composition and nature of sphingophosphonolipids diversity from edible mollusks (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Eobania vermiculata) and from jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca, organisms rich in phosphonolipids. M. galloprovincialis contained a major ceramide 2-aminoethylphosphonate (CAEP-IM) and a minor ceramide that was detected chromatographically as the methyl analog (CAEP-IIM). In CAEP-IM, saturated fatty acids (FA) of 14, 16 and 18 carbons amounted to 68.8%; also 52.5% dihydroxy bases were detected. On thin layer chromatography, the Rf for CAEP-IIM was smaller than the Rf for CAEP-IM because of an increase of 22.0% in 2OH-16:0 FA, plus 29.2% trihydroxy bases (phytosphingosine). Similarly, a ceramide 2-methylaminoethylphosphonate (CAEP-IIE, 1.5% of phospholipids) was quantitated in Eobania (apart from the previously reported major CAEP, 7.6%). In CAEP-IIE, saturated and hydroxy FA of 14, 16 and 18 carbons amounted to 37.0 and 37.8%; 29.1% dihydroxy and 23.0% trihydroxy bases were detected in the same molecule. Eobania's unsaturated FA percentages (total lipids: 66.3, polar: 47.5, neutral: 59.0) were similar to those previously found for other land snails. A suite of two minor CAEP (CAEP-IIP, CAEP-IIIP) was quantitated in Pelagia at 2.0 and 1.3% of phospholipids (apart from the previously reported major CAEP, 21.0%) identified chromatographically as methyl analogs. In CAEP-IIP, saturated FA of 14, 16, 18 and 19 carbons amounted to 56.0%; 12.6% dihydroxy and 34.1% trihydroxy bases were also detected in CAEP-IIP. The Rf CAEP-IIIP<Rf CAEP-IIP owing to an increase of +8.5% of hydroxy FA and +12.3% of trihydroxy bases. The compositions of CAEP-IIM and CAEP-IIE appear to be specific of each organism, while the composition of molluscan or jellyfish major sphingophosphonolipids appears not specific.

Membranes of class IIa bacteriocin-resistant Listeria monocytogenes cells contain increased levels of desaturated and short-acyl-chain phosphatidylglycerols

A major concern in the use of class IIa bacteriocins as food preservatives is the well-documented resistance development in target Listeria strains. We studied the relationship between leucocin A, a class IIa bacteriocin, and the composition of the major phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol (PG), in membranes of both sensitive and resistant L. monocytogenes strains. Two wild-type strains, L. monocytogenes B73 and 412, two spontaneous mutants of L. monocytogenes B73 with intermediate resistance to leucocin A (+/-2.4 and +/-4 times the 50% inhibitory concentrations [IC50] for sensitive strains), and two highly resistant mutants of each of the wild-type strains (>500 times the IC50 for sensitive strains) were analyzed. Electrospray mass spectrometry analysis showed an increase in the ratios of unsaturated to saturated and short- to long-acyl-chain species of PG in all the resistant L. monocytogenes strains in our study, although their sensitivities to leucocin A were significantly different. This alteration in membrane phospholipids toward PGs containing shorter, unsaturated acyl chains suggests that resistant strains have cells with a more fluid membrane. The presence of this phenomenon in a strain (L. monocytogenes 412P) which is resistant to both leucocin A and pediocin PA-1 may indicate a link between membrane composition and class IIa bacteriocin resistance in some L. monocytogenes strains. Treatment of strains with sterculic acid methyl ester (SME), a desaturase inhibitor, resulted in significant changes in the leucocin A sensitivity of the intermediate-resistance strains but no changes in the sensitivity of highly resistant strains. There was, however, a decrease in the amount of unsaturated and short-acyl-chain PGs after treatment with SME in one of the intermediate and both of the highly resistant strains, but the opposite effect was observed for the sensitive strains. It appears, therefore, that membrane adaptation may be part of a resistance mechanism but that several resistance mechanisms may contribute to a resistance phenotype and that levels of resistance vary according to the type of mechanisms present.

Sphingophosphonolipids, phospholipids, and fatty acids from Aegean jellyfish Aurelia aurita

The goal of this study is to elucidate and identify several sphingophosphonolipids from Aurelia aurita, an abundant but harmless Aegean jellyfish, in which they have not previously been described. Total lipids of A. aurita were 0.031-0.036% of fresh tissue, and the lipid phosphorus content was 1.3-1.7% of total lipids. Phosphonolipids were 21.7% of phospholipids and consisted of a major ceramide aminoethylphosphonate (CAEP-I; 18.3%), as well as three minor CAEP (II, III, IV) methyl analogs at 1.3, 1.1, and 1.0%, respectively. The remaining phospholipid composition was: phosphatidylcholine, 44.5%, including 36.2% glycerylethers; phosphatidylethanolamine, 18.6%, including 4.5% glycerylethers; cardiolipin, 5.6%; phosphatidylinositol, 2.6%; and lysophosphatidylcholine, 5.0%. In CAEP-I, saturated fatty acids of 14-18 carbon chain length were 70.8% and were combined with 57.3% dihydroxy bases and 23.4% trihydroxy bases. The suite of the three minor CAEP methyl analogs were of the same lipid class based on the head group, but they separated into three different components because of their polarity as follows: CAEP-II and CAEP-III differentiation from the major CAEP-I was mainly due to the increased fatty acid unsaturation and not to a different long-chain base, but the CAEP-IV differentiation from CAEP-I, apart from fatty acid unsaturation, was due to the increased content of hydroxyl groups originated from both hydroxy fatty acids and trihydroxy long-chain bases. Saturated fatty acids were predominant in total (76.7%), polar (83.0%), and neutral lipids (67.6%) of A. aurita. The major phospholipid components of A. aurita were comparable to those previously found in a related organism (Pelagia noctiluca), which can injure humans.

Nisin resistance in Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 700302 is a complex phenotype

Nisin resistance in Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 700302 is a complex phenotype involving alterations in both the cytoplasmic membrane and the cell wall and a requirement for divalent cations. In addition to a lower ratio of C15 to C17 fatty acids than in the wild-type strain (A. S. Mazzotta and T.J. Montville, J. Appl. Microbiol. 82: 32-38, 1997), this nisin-resistant (Nisr) strain contained significantly more zwitterionic phosphatidylethanolamine and less anionic phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin. The extraction of cardiolipin was enhanced by a penicillin-lysozyme step to disrupt the cell wall. This study is the first to quantify the phosphatidylethanolamine component of the L. monocytogenes cytoplasmic membrane. While these cytoplasmic membrane changes were induced by nisin, the Nisr strain also showed altered sensitivities to cell wall-acting compounds, even when grown in the absence of nisin, suggesting a constitutive alteration in the strain's cell wall. A model which integrates the roles of the cell membrane, cell wall, and divalent cations is presented. Finally, nisin resistance in L. monocytogenes ATCC 700302 conferred cross-resistance to the class IIa bacteriocin pediocin PA-1 and the class IV leuconocin S.

Critical role of anteiso-C15:0 fatty acid in the growth of Listeria monocytogenes at low temperatures

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen capable of growth at refrigeration temperatures. Membrane lipid fatty acids are major determinants of a sufficiently fluid membrane state to allow growth at low temperatures. L. monocytogenes was characterized by a fatty acid profile dominated to an unusual extent (> 95%) by branched-chain fatty acids, with the major fatty acids being anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0, and iso-C15:0 in cultures grown in complex or defined media at 37 degrees C. Determination of the fatty acid composition of L. monocytogenes 10403S and SLCC 53 grown over the temperature range 45 to 5 degrees C revealed two modes of adaptation of fatty acid composition to lower growth temperatures: (i) shortening of fatty acid chain length and (ii) alteration of branching from iso to anteiso. Two transposon Tn917-induced cold-sensitive mutants incapable of growth at low temperatures had dramatically altered fatty acid compositions with low levels of i-C15:0, a-C15:0, and a-C17:0 and high levels of i-C14:0, C14:0, i-C16:0, and C16:0. The levels of a-C15:0 and a-C17:0 and the ability to grow at low temperatures were restored by supplementing media with 2-methylbutyric acid, presumably because it acted as a precursor of methylbutyryl coenzyme A, the primer for synthesis of anteiso odd-numbered fatty acids. When mid-exponential-phase 10403S cells grown at 37 degrees C were temperature down-shocked to 5 degrees C they were able, for the most part, to reinitiate growth before the membrane fatty acid composition had reset to a composition more typical for low-temperature growth. No obvious evidence was found for a role for fatty acid unsaturation in adaptation of L. monocytogenes to cold temperature. The switch to a fatty acid profile dominated by a-C15:0 at low temperatures and the association of cold sensitivity with deficiency of a-C15:0 focus attention on the critical role of this fatty acid in growth of L. monocytogenes in the cold, presumably through its physical properties and their effects, in maintaining a fluid, liquid-crystalline state of the membrane lipids.

Modifications of membrane phospholipid composition in nisin-resistant Listeria monocytogenes Scott A

A nisin-resistant (NISr) variant of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A was isolated by stepwise exposure to increasing concentrations of nisin in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth. The NISr strain was about 12 times more resistant to nisin than was the wild-type (WT) strain. Accordingly, higher nisin concentrations were required to dissipate both components of the proton motive force in the NISr strain than in the WT strain. Comparison of the membrane fatty acyl composition of the sensitive strain with that of its NISr derivative revealed no significant differences. From phospholipid head group composition analysis and phospholipid biosynthesis measurements during growth in the absence and presence of nisin, it could be inferred that the NISr strain produces relatively more phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and less diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) than the parent strain does. Monolayer studies with pure lipid extracts from both strains showed that nisin interacted more efficiently with lipids derived from the WT strain than with those derived from the NISr strain, reflecting qualitative differences in nisin sensitivity. Involvement of the cell wall in acquisition of nisin resistance was excluded, since the WT and NISr strains showed a comparable sensitivity to lysozyme. Recently, it has been demonstrated that nisin penetrates more deeply into lipid monolayers of DPG than those of other lipids including PG, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (R.A. Demel, T. Peelen, R.J. Siezen, B. de Kruijff, and O.P. Kuipers, Eur. J.Biochem. 235:267-274, 1996). Collectively, the mechanism of nisin resistance in this L. monocytogenes NISr strain is attributed to a reduction in the DPG content of the cytoplasmic membrane.