1
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Zhu M, Frank MW, Radka CD, Jeanfavre S, Xu J, Tse MW, Pacheco JA, Kim JS, Pierce K, Deik A, Hussain FA, Elsherbini J, Hussain S, Xulu N, Khan N, Pillay V, Mitchell CM, Dong KL, Ndung'u T, Clish CB, Rock CO, Blainey PC, Bloom SM, Kwon DS. Vaginal Lactobacillus fatty acid response mechanisms reveal a metabolite-targeted strategy for bacterial vaginosis treatment. Cell 2024; 187:5413-5430.e29. [PMID: 39163861 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.07.029] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a common syndrome characterized by Lactobacillus-deficient vaginal microbiota, is associated with adverse health outcomes. BV often recurs after standard antibiotic therapy in part because antibiotics promote microbiota dominance by Lactobacillus iners instead of Lactobacillus crispatus, which has more beneficial health associations. Strategies to promote L. crispatus and inhibit L. iners are thus needed. We show that oleic acid (OA) and similar long-chain fatty acids simultaneously inhibit L. iners and enhance L. crispatus growth. These phenotypes require OA-inducible genes conserved in L. crispatus and related lactobacilli, including an oleate hydratase (ohyA) and putative fatty acid efflux pump (farE). FarE mediates OA resistance, while OhyA is robustly active in the vaginal microbiota and enhances bacterial fitness by biochemically sequestering OA in a derivative form only ohyA-harboring organisms can exploit. OA promotes L. crispatus dominance more effectively than antibiotics in an in vitro BV model, suggesting a metabolite-based treatment approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meilin Zhu
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Matthew W Frank
- Department of Host-Microbe Interactions, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Christopher D Radka
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | - Jiawu Xu
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Megan W Tse
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Jae Sun Kim
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kerry Pierce
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amy Deik
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Fatima Aysha Hussain
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Salina Hussain
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nondumiso Xulu
- HIV Pathogenesis Programme, The Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Nasreen Khan
- HIV Pathogenesis Programme, The Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Caroline M Mitchell
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Krista L Dong
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Health Systems Trust, Durban, South Africa; Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thumbi Ndung'u
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; HIV Pathogenesis Programme, The Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa; Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany; Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Clary B Clish
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Charles O Rock
- Department of Host-Microbe Interactions, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Paul C Blainey
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Seth M Bloom
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Douglas S Kwon
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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Christi K, Hudson J, Egan S. Current approaches to genetic modification of marine bacteria and considerations for improved transformation efficiency. Microbiol Res 2024; 284:127729. [PMID: 38663232 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127729] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Marine bacteria play vital roles in symbiosis, biogeochemical cycles and produce novel bioactive compounds and enzymes of interest for the pharmaceutical, biofuel and biotechnology industries. At present, investigations into marine bacterial functions and their products are primarily based on phenotypic observations, -omic type approaches and heterologous gene expression. To advance our understanding of marine bacteria and harness their full potential for industry application, it is critical that we have the appropriate tools and resources to genetically manipulate them in situ. However, current genetic tools that are largely designed for model organisms such as E. coli, produce low transformation efficiencies or have no transfer ability in marine bacteria. To improve genetic manipulation applications for marine bacteria, we need to improve transformation methods such as conjugation and electroporation in addition to identifying more marine broad host range plasmids. In this review, we aim to outline the reported methods of transformation for marine bacteria and discuss the considerations for each approach in the context of improving efficiency. In addition, we further discuss marine plasmids and future research areas including CRISPR tools and their potential applications for marine bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Christi
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Jennifer Hudson
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Suhelen Egan
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia.
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3
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Lovšin Ž, Kotnik T, Klančnik A. Antibiotic's target site affects the potentiation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum inhibition and inactivation by electroporation. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1331714. [PMID: 38585700 PMCID: PMC10996065 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1331714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Antibiotic resistance represents a growing global threat, and thus the motivation to develop novel and combined methods of bacterial inactivation is increasing. Electroporation is a technique in which electric pulses of sufficient strength are applied to permeabilize cells, including bacteria. Combining antibacterials with electroporation is a promising strategy to potentiate their bactericidal and bacteriostatic effectiveness. This approach has already proved useful for increasing bacterial inactivation, yet most studies so far have mainly focused on the maximal achievable effects, and less on the underlying mechanisms. We recently demonstrated that in the Gram-negative (G-) bacterium Escherichia coli, electroporation potentiates antibacterials targeting the peptidoglycan wall more than those with intracellular targets. However, in Gram-positive (G+) bacteria, the wall is directly accessible from the outside, and thus the dependence of potentiation on the antibacterial's target may be rather different. Here, we compare the inactivation and growth inhibition of the G+ bacterium Lactiplantibacillus plantarum for two antibiotics with different modes of action: ampicillin (inhibits cell-wall synthesis) and tetracycline (inhibits intracellular protein synthesis). Methods We used antibiotic concentrations ranging from 0 to 30 × MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration that we predetermined for each antibiotic), a single 1-ms electric pulse with an amplitude from 0 to 20 kV/cm, and post-pulse pre-dilution incubation of 24 h or 1 h. Results Electroporation increased the inhibition and inactivation efficiency of both antibiotics, but this was more pronounced for tetracycline, with statistical significance mostly limited to 24-h incubation. In general, both inhibition and inactivation grew stronger with increasing antibiotic concentration and electric field amplitude. Discussion Our results indicate that electroporation potentiates inactivation of G+ bacteria to a larger extent for antibiotics that inhibit intracellular processes and require transport into the cytoplasm, and to a smaller extent for antibiotics that inhibit cell-wall synthesis. This is the inverse of the relation observed in G- bacteria, and can be explained by the difference in the envelope structure: in G- bacteria the outer membrane must be breached for wall-inhibiting antibiotics to access their target, whereas in G+ bacteria the wall is inherently accessible from the outside and permeabilization does not affect this access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Žana Lovšin
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tadej Kotnik
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anja Klančnik
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Cornuault JK. CRISPRpi: Inducing and Curing Prophage Using the CRISPR Interference. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2793:257-271. [PMID: 38526735 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3798-2_16] [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: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
We present here a CRISPR-interference-based protocol to trigger prophage induction, even for non-inducible prophages. This method can also be used to cure the prophage from the bacterial host. The method is based on silencing of the phage's repressor transcription, thanks to CRISPR interference. Plasmid electroporation is used to bring the CRISPRi system into the bacteria, specifically on a plasmid carrying spacers targeting the prophage repressor. This method enables prophage induction and curation in a week or two with a high efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey K Cornuault
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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5
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Zhu M, Frank MW, Radka CD, Jeanfavre S, Tse MW, Pacheco JA, Pierce K, Deik A, Xu J, Hussain S, Hussain FA, Xulu N, Khan N, Pillay V, Dong KL, Ndung’u T, Clish CB, Rock CO, Blainey PC, Bloom SM, Kwon DS. Vaginal Lactobacillus fatty acid response mechanisms reveal a novel strategy for bacterial vaginosis treatment. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.30.573720. [PMID: 38234804 PMCID: PMC10793477 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.30.573720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a common syndrome characterized by Lactobacillus-deficient vaginal microbiota, is associated with adverse health outcomes. BV often recurs after standard antibiotic therapy in part because antibiotics promote microbiota dominance by Lactobacillus iners instead of Lactobacillus crispatus, which has more beneficial health associations. Strategies to promote L. crispatus and inhibit L. iners are thus needed. We show that oleic acid (OA) and similar long-chain fatty acids simultaneously inhibit L. iners and enhance L. crispatus growth. These phenotypes require OA-inducible genes conserved in L. crispatus and related species, including an oleate hydratase (ohyA) and putative fatty acid efflux pump (farE). FarE mediates OA resistance, while OhyA is robustly active in the human vaginal microbiota and sequesters OA in a derivative form that only ohyA-harboring organisms can exploit. Finally, OA promotes L. crispatus dominance more effectively than antibiotics in an in vitro model of BV, suggesting a novel approach for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meilin Zhu
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Matthew W. Frank
- Department of Host-Microbe Interactions, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Christopher D. Radka
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky
| | | | - Megan W. Tse
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Kerry Pierce
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amy Deik
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jiawu Xu
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Salina Hussain
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Fatima Aysha Hussain
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nondumiso Xulu
- HIV Pathogenesis Programme (HPP), The Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Nasreen Khan
- HIV Pathogenesis Programme (HPP), The Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Krista L. Dong
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Health Systems Trust, Durban, South Africa
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thumbi Ndung’u
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- HIV Pathogenesis Programme (HPP), The Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), Durban, South Africa
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Charles O. Rock
- Department of Host-Microbe Interactions, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- passed away on September 22, 2023
| | - Paul C. Blainey
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Seth M. Bloom
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Douglas S. Kwon
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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6
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Marsh JW, Kirk C, Ley RE. Toward Microbiome Engineering: Expanding the Repertoire of Genetically Tractable Members of the Human Gut Microbiome. Annu Rev Microbiol 2023; 77:427-449. [PMID: 37339736 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-032421-112304] [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: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Genetic manipulation is necessary to interrogate the functions of microbes in their environments, such as the human gut microbiome. Yet, the vast majority of human gut microbiome species are not genetically tractable. Here, we review the hurdles to seizing genetic control of more species. We address the barriers preventing the application of genetic techniques to gut microbes and report on genetic systems currently under development. While methods aimed at genetically transforming many species simultaneously in situ show promise, they are unable to overcome many of the same challenges that exist for individual microbes. Unless a major conceptual breakthrough emerges, the genetic tractability of the microbiome will remain an arduous task. Increasing the list of genetically tractable organisms from the human gut remains one of the highest priorities for microbiome research and will provide the foundation for microbiome engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- James W Marsh
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Christian Kirk
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Ruth E Ley
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany;
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7
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Rudenko O, Baseggio L, McGuigan F, Barnes AC. Transforming the untransformable with knockout minicircles: High-efficiency transformation and vector-free allelic exchange knockout in the fish pathogen Photobacterium damselae. Microbiologyopen 2023; 12:e1374. [PMID: 37642481 PMCID: PMC10441182 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1374] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene inactivation studies are critical in pathogenic bacteria, where insights into species biology can guide the development of vaccines and treatments. Allelic exchange via homologous recombination is a generic method of targeted gene editing in bacteria. However, generally applicable protocols are lacking, and suboptimal approaches are often used for nonstandard but epidemiologically important species. Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida (Pdp) is a primary pathogen of fish in aquaculture and has been considered hard to transform since the mid-1990s. Consequently, conjugative transfer of RK2/RP4 suicide vectors from Escherichia coli S17-1/SM10 donor strains, a system prone to off-target mutagenesis, was used to deliver the allelic exchange DNA in previous studies. Here we have achieved efficient electrotransformation in Pdp using a salt-free highly concentrated sucrose solution, which performs as a hypertonic wash buffer, cryoprotectant, and electroporation buffer. High-efficiency transformation has enabled vector-free mutagenesis for which we have employed circular minimalistic constructs (knockout minicircles) containing only allelic exchange essentials that were generated by Gibson assembly. Preparation of competent cells using sucrose and electroporation/integration of minicircles had virtually no detectable off-target promutagenic effect. In contrast, a downstream sacB selection apparently induced several large deletions via mobilization of transposable elements. Electroporation of minicircles into sucrose-treated cells is a versatile broadly applicable approach that may facilitate allelic exchange in a wide range of microbial species. The method permitted inactivation of a primary virulence factor unique to Pdp, apoptogenic toxin AIP56, demonstrating the efficacy of minicircles for difficult KO targets located on the high copy number of small plasmids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksandra Rudenko
- School of Biological Sciences and Centre for Marine ScienceThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Laura Baseggio
- School of Biological Sciences and Centre for Marine ScienceThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Fynn McGuigan
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Andrew C. Barnes
- School of Biological Sciences and Centre for Marine ScienceThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
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8
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Sanders BE, Umaña A, Nguyen TTD, Williams KJ, Yoo CC, Casasanta MA, Wozniak B, Slade DJ. Type IV pili facilitated natural competence in Fusobacterium nucleatum. Anaerobe 2023; 82:102760. [PMID: 37451427 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2023.102760] [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: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Many bacterial species naturally take up DNA from their surroundings and recombine it into their chromosome through homologous gene transfer (HGT) to aid in survival and gain advantageous functions. Herein we present the first characterization of Type IV pili facilitated natural competence in Fusobacterium nucleatum, which is a Gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium that participates in a range of infections and diseases including periodontitis, preterm birth, and cancer. METHODS Here we used bioinformatics on multiple Fusobacterium species, as well as molecular genetics to characterize natural competence in strain F. nucleatum subsp. nucleatum ATCC 23726. RESULTS We bioinformatically identified components of the Type IV conjugal pilus machinery and show this is a conserved system within the Fusobacterium genus. We next validate Type IV pili in natural competence in F. nucleatum ATCC 23726 and show that gene deletions in key components of pilus deployment (pilQ) and cytoplasmic DNA import (comEC) abolish DNA uptake and chromosomal incorporation. We next show that natural competence may require native F. nucleatum DNA methylation to bypass restriction modification systems and allow subsequent genomic homologous recombination. CONCLUSIONS In summary, this proof of principle study provides the first characterization of natural competence in Fusobacterium nucleatum and highlights the potential to exploit this DNA import mechanism as a genetic tool to characterize virulence mechanisms of an opportunistic oral pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake E Sanders
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Biochemistry, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Ariana Umaña
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Biochemistry, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Tam T D Nguyen
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Biochemistry, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Kevin J Williams
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Biochemistry, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Christopher C Yoo
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Biochemistry, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Michael A Casasanta
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Biochemistry, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Bryce Wozniak
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Biochemistry, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Daniel J Slade
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Biochemistry, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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9
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Bortolucci J, Guazzaroni ME, Schoch T, Dürre P, Reginatto V. Enhancing 1,3-Propanediol Productivity in the Non-Model Chassis Clostridium beijerinckii through Genetic Manipulation. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1855. [PMID: 37513028 PMCID: PMC10383064 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Biotechnological processes at biorefineries are considered one of the most attractive alternatives for valorizing biomasses by converting them into bioproducts, biofuels, and bioenergy. For example, biodiesel can be obtained from oils and grease but generates glycerol as a byproduct. Glycerol recycling has been studied in several bioprocesses, with one of them being its conversion to 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) by Clostridium. Clostridium beijerinckii is particularly interesting because it can produce a range of industrially relevant chemicals, including solvents and organic acids, and it is non-pathogenic. However, while Clostridium species have many potential advantages as chassis for synthetic biology applications, there are significant limitations when considering their use, such as their limited genetic tools, slow growth rate, and oxygen sensitivity. In this work, we carried out the overexpression of the genes involved in the synthesis of 1,3-PDO in C. beijerinckii Br21, which allowed us to increase the 1,3-PDO productivity in this strain. Thus, this study contributed to a better understanding of the metabolic pathways of glycerol conversion to 1,3-PDO by a C. beijerinckii isolate. Also, it made it possible to establish a transformation method of a modular vector in this strain, therefore expanding the limited genetic tools available for this bacterium, which is highly relevant in biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonatã Bortolucci
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto 14040-030, SP, Brazil
| | - María-Eugenia Guazzaroni
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto 14040-030, SP, Brazil
| | - Teresa Schoch
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Universität Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee, 11, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Peter Dürre
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Universität Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee, 11, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Valeria Reginatto
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto 14040-030, SP, Brazil
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10
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Elston KM, Phillips LE, Leonard SP, Young E, Holley JAC, Ahsanullah T, McReynolds B, Moran NA, Barrick JE. The Pathfinder plasmid toolkit for genetically engineering newly isolated bacteria enables the study of Drosophila-colonizing Orbaceae. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:49. [PMID: 37225918 PMCID: PMC10209150 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-023-00255-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Toolkits of plasmids and genetic parts streamline the process of assembling DNA constructs and engineering microbes. Many of these kits were designed with specific industrial or laboratory microbes in mind. For researchers interested in non-model microbial systems, it is often unclear which tools and techniques will function in newly isolated strains. To address this challenge, we designed the Pathfinder toolkit for quickly determining the compatibility of a bacterium with different plasmid components. Pathfinder plasmids combine three different broad-host-range origins of replication with multiple antibiotic resistance cassettes and reporters, so that sets of parts can be rapidly screened through multiplex conjugation. We first tested these plasmids in Escherichia coli, a strain of Sodalis praecaptivus that colonizes insects, and a Rosenbergiella isolate from leafhoppers. Then, we used the Pathfinder plasmids to engineer previously unstudied bacteria from the family Orbaceae that were isolated from several fly species. Engineered Orbaceae strains were able to colonize Drosophila melanogaster and could be visualized in fly guts. Orbaceae are common and abundant in the guts of wild-caught flies but have not been included in laboratory studies of how the Drosophila microbiome affects fly health. Thus, this work provides foundational genetic tools for studying microbial ecology and host-associated microbes, including bacteria that are a key constituent of the gut microbiome of a model insect species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Elston
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Laila E Phillips
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Sean P Leonard
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Eleanor Young
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Jo-Anne C Holley
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Freshman Research Initiative, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Tasneem Ahsanullah
- Freshman Research Initiative, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Braydin McReynolds
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Nancy A Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Jeffrey E Barrick
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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11
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Jia Y, Wang Z, Zhu S, Wang Z, Liu Y. Disinfectants facilitate the transformation of exogenous antibiotic resistance genes via multiple pathways. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 253:114678. [PMID: 36857920 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria pose a global challenge to public health. Natural transformation is one of the essential ways for horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Although disinfectants are frequently used during COVID-19, little is known about whether these disinfectants are associated with the transformation of plasmid-borne ARGs. In our study, we assessed the effect of some disinfectants on bacterial transformation using resistance plasmids as extracellular DNA and E. coli DH5α as the recipient bacteria. The results showed that these disinfectants at environmentally relevant concentrations, including benzalkonium bromide (BB), benzalkonium chloride (BC) and polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHMG), significantly enhanced the transformation of plasmid-encoded ARGs. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the promotive effect of disinfectants on transformation. We revealed that the addition of disinfectants significantly increased the membrane permeability and promoted membrane-related genes expression. Moreover, disinfectants led to the boosted bacterial respiration, ATP production and flagellum motility, as well as increased expression of bacterial secretion system-related genes. Together, our findings shed insights into the spread of ARGs through bacterial transformation and indicate potential risks associated with the widespread use of disinfectants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqian Jia
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zeyu Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuyao Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yuan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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12
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Fristot E, Bessede T, Camacho Rufino M, Mayonove P, Chang HJ, Zuniga A, Michon AL, Godreuil S, Bonnet J, Cambray G. An optimized electrotransformation protocol for Lactobacillus jensenii. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280935. [PMID: 36800374 PMCID: PMC9937494 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Engineered bacteria are promising candidates for in situ detection and treatment of diseases. The female uro-genital tract presents several pathologies, such as sexually transmitted diseases or genital cancer, that could benefit from such technology. While bacteria from the gut microbiome are increasingly engineered, the use of chassis isolated from the female uro-genital resident flora has been limited. A major hurdle to implement the experimental throughput required for efficient engineering in these non-model bacteria is their low transformability. Here we report an optimized electrotransformation protocol for Lactobacillus jensenii, one the most widespread species across vaginal microflora. Starting from classical conditions, we optimized buffers, electric field parameters, cuvette type and DNA quantity to achieve an 80-fold improvement in transformation efficiency, with up to 3.5·103 CFUs/μg of DNA in L. jensenii ATCC 25258. We also identify several plasmids that are maintained and support reporter gene expression in L. jensenii. Finally, we demonstrate that our protocol provides increased transformability in three independent clinical isolates of L. jensenii. This work will facilitate the genetic engineering of L. jensenii and enable its use for addressing challenges in gynecological healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Fristot
- Centre de Biologie Structurale (CBS), University of Montpellier, INSERM U 1054, CNRS UMR 5048, Montpellier, France
| | - Thomas Bessede
- Centre de Biologie Structurale (CBS), University of Montpellier, INSERM U 1054, CNRS UMR 5048, Montpellier, France
| | - Miguel Camacho Rufino
- Centre de Biologie Structurale (CBS), University of Montpellier, INSERM U 1054, CNRS UMR 5048, Montpellier, France
| | - Pauline Mayonove
- Centre de Biologie Structurale (CBS), University of Montpellier, INSERM U 1054, CNRS UMR 5048, Montpellier, France
| | - Hung-Ju Chang
- Centre de Biologie Structurale (CBS), University of Montpellier, INSERM U 1054, CNRS UMR 5048, Montpellier, France
| | - Ana Zuniga
- Centre de Biologie Structurale (CBS), University of Montpellier, INSERM U 1054, CNRS UMR 5048, Montpellier, France
| | - Anne-Laure Michon
- Diversité des Génomes et Interactions Microorganismes Insectes (DGIMI), University of Montpellier, INRAE UMR1333, Montpellier, France
| | - Sylvain Godreuil
- Service de Bactériologie, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve—CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jérôme Bonnet
- Centre de Biologie Structurale (CBS), University of Montpellier, INSERM U 1054, CNRS UMR 5048, Montpellier, France
- * E-mail: (GC); (JB)
| | - Guillaume Cambray
- Centre de Biologie Structurale (CBS), University of Montpellier, INSERM U 1054, CNRS UMR 5048, Montpellier, France
- Diversité des Génomes et Interactions Microorganismes Insectes (DGIMI), University of Montpellier, INRAE UMR1333, Montpellier, France
- * E-mail: (GC); (JB)
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13
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Elston KM, Phillips LE, Leonard SP, Young E, Holley JAC, Ahsanullah T, McReynolds B, Moran NA, Barrick JE. The Pathfinder plasmid toolkit for genetically engineering newly isolated bacteria enables the study of Drosophila -colonizing Orbaceae. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.15.528778. [PMID: 36824770 PMCID: PMC9949093 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.15.528778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Toolkits of plasmids and genetic parts streamline the process of assembling DNA constructs and engineering microbes. Many of these kits were designed with specific industrial or laboratory microbes in mind. For researchers interested in non-model microbial systems, it is often unclear which tools and techniques will function in newly isolated strains. To address this challenge, we designed the Pathfinder toolkit for quickly determining the compatibility of a bacterium with different plasmid components. Pathfinder plasmids combine three different broad-host-range origins of replication with multiple antibiotic resistance cassettes and reporters, so that sets of parts can be rapidly screened through multiplex conjugation. We first tested these plasmids in Escherichia coli , a strain of Sodalis praecaptivus that colonizes insects, and a Rosenbergiella isolate from leafhoppers. Then, we used the Pathfinder plasmids to engineer previously unstudied bacteria from the family Orbaceae that were isolated from several fly species. Engineered Orbaceae strains were able to colonize Drosophila melanogaster and could be visualized in fly guts. Orbaceae are common and abundant in the guts of wild-caught flies but have not been included in laboratory studies of how the Drosophila microbiome affects fly health. Thus, this work provides foundational genetic tools for studying new host-associated microbes, including bacteria that are a key constituent of the gut microbiome of a model insect species. IMPORTANCE To fully understand how microbes have evolved to interact with their environments, one must be able to modify their genomes. However, it can be difficult and laborious to discover which genetic tools and approaches work for a new isolate. Bacteria from the recently described Orbaceae family are common in the microbiomes of insects. We developed the Pathfinder plasmid toolkit for testing the compatibility of different genetic parts with newly cultured bacteria. We demonstrate its utility by engineering Orbaceae strains isolated from flies to express fluorescent proteins and characterizing how they colonize the Drosophila melanogaster gut. Orbaceae are widespread in Drosophila in the wild but have not been included in laboratory studies examining how the gut microbiome affects fly nutrition, health, and longevity. Our work establishes a path for genetic studies aimed at understanding and altering interactions between these and other newly isolated bacteria and their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M. Elston
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Laila E. Phillips
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Sean P. Leonard
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Eleanor Young
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jo-anne C. Holley
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Freshman Research Initiative, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Tasneem Ahsanullah
- Freshman Research Initiative, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Braydin McReynolds
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Nancy A. Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jeffrey E. Barrick
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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14
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Moreira JPC, Heap JT, Alves JI, Domingues L. Developing a genetic engineering method for Acetobacterium wieringae to expand one-carbon valorization pathways. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2023; 16:24. [PMID: 36788587 PMCID: PMC9930230 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-023-02259-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Developing new bioprocesses to produce chemicals and fuels with reduced production costs will greatly facilitate the replacement of fossil-based raw materials. In most fermentation bioprocesses, the feedstock usually represents the highest cost, which becomes the target for cost reduction. Additionally, the biorefinery concept advocates revenue growth from the production of several compounds using the same feedstock. Taken together, the production of bio commodities from low-cost gas streams containing CO, CO2, and H2, obtained from the gasification of any carbon-containing waste streams or off-gases from heavy industry (steel mills, processing plants, or refineries), embodies an opportunity for affordable and renewable chemical production. To achieve this, by studying non-model autotrophic acetogens, current limitations concerning low growth rates, toxicity by gas streams, and low productivity may be overcome. The Acetobacterium wieringae strain JM is a novel autotrophic acetogen that is capable of producing acetate and ethanol. It exhibits faster growth rates on various gaseous compounds, including carbon monoxide, compared to other Acetobacterium species, making it potentially useful for industrial applications. The species A. wieringae has not been genetically modified, therefore developing a genetic engineering method is important for expanding its product portfolio from gas fermentation and overall improving the characteristics of this acetogen for industrial demands. RESULTS This work reports the development and optimization of an electrotransformation protocol for A. wieringae strain JM, which can also be used in A. wieringae DSM 1911, and A. woodii DSM 1030. We also show the functionality of the thiamphenicol resistance marker, catP, and the functionality of the origins of replication pBP1, pCB102, pCD6, and pIM13 in all tested Acetobacterium strains, with transformation efficiencies of up to 2.0 × 103 CFU/μgDNA. Key factors affecting electrotransformation efficiency include OD600 of cell harvesting, pH of resuspension buffer, the field strength of the electric pulse, and plasmid amount. Using this method, the acetone production operon from Clostridium acetobutylicum was efficiently introduced in all tested Acetobacterium spp., leading to non-native biochemical acetone production via plasmid-based expression. CONCLUSIONS A. wieringae can be electrotransformed at high efficiency using different plasmids with different replication origins. The electrotransformation procedure and tools reported here unlock the genetic and metabolic manipulation of the biotechnologically relevant A. wieringae strains. For the first time, non-native acetone production is shown in A. wieringae.
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Affiliation(s)
- João P. C. Moreira
- grid.10328.380000 0001 2159 175XCEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal ,LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - John T. Heap
- grid.4563.40000 0004 1936 8868School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
| | - Joana I. Alves
- grid.10328.380000 0001 2159 175XCEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal ,LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Lucília Domingues
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. .,LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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15
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Strategies for efficient extracellular secretion of recombinant cyclomaltodextrinase by Escherichia coli. FOOD BIOSCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2022.102203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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16
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Krause AL, Stinear TP, Monk IR. Barriers to genetic manipulation of Enterococci: Current Approaches and Future Directions. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6650352. [PMID: 35883217 PMCID: PMC9779914 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are Gram-positive commensal gut bacteria that can also cause fatal infections. To study clinically relevant multi-drug resistant E. faecalis and E. faecium strains, methods are needed to overcome physical (thick cell wall) and enzymatic barriers that limit the transfer of foreign DNA and thus prevent facile genetic manipulation. Enzymatic barriers to DNA uptake identified in E. faecalis and E. faecium include type I, II and IV restriction modification systems and CRISPR-Cas. This review examines E. faecalis and E. faecium DNA defence systems and the methods with potential to overcome these barriers. DNA defence system bypass will allow the application of innovative genetic techniques to expedite molecular-level understanding of these important, but somewhat neglected, pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L Krause
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia
| | - Timothy P Stinear
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia
| | - Ian R Monk
- Corresponding author: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia. E-mail:
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17
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Danilova IV, Rudakova NL, Vasilyeva YA, Gilmutdinova AI, Diadkina IV, Khasanov DI, Sharipova MR. Optimization of Electroporation Conditions for Bacillus pumilus 3–19 Strain. BIONANOSCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12668-022-00982-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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18
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Development of highly characterized genetic bioparts for efficient gene expression in CO2-fixing Eubacterium limosum. Metab Eng 2022; 72:215-226. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2022.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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19
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Leung HY, Yeung MHY, Leung WT, Wong KH, Tang WY, Cho WCS, Wong HT, Tsang HF, Wong YKE, Pei XM, Cheng HYL, Chan AKC, Wong SCC. The current and future applications of in situ hybridization technologies in anatomical pathology. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2021; 22:5-18. [PMID: 34779317 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2022.2007076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In situ hybridization (ISH) plays an important role in the field of molecular diagnostics, especially in an anatomical pathology laboratory. ISH is a technique that can detect the targeted DNA or RNA sequences in tissue sections from frozen or fixed materials with labeled DNA or RNA probes. Radioactive and non-radioactive probes are the two major probes that can be used to label the targeted nucleic acids. AREAS COVERED Two decades after the Human Genome Project, ISH has not only simply been applied to identify the chromosomal location of a human gene but has also been extensively applied to gene expressions studies and utilized for clinical diagnosis, especially for the determination of biomarkers for breast and ovarian cancers - human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Cri-du-chat syndrome, Angelman syndrome, PraderWilli syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and trisomy are diseases that can also be detected by ISH. In this review, the basic principles, historical development, advantages and disadvantages, enhancement in reporting molecules and probes, advancement in detection methods, in situ PCR, clinical applications and novel applications of ISH will be discussed. EXPERT OPINION With the advancement in ISH technologies and appropriate training, diagnosis can be improved in Anatomical Pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoi Yi Leung
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Martin Ho Yin Yeung
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Wai Tung Leung
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - King Hin Wong
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Wai Yan Tang
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - William Chi Shing Cho
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Heong Ting Wong
- Department of Pathology, Kiang Wu Hospital, Santo António, Macau Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Hin Fung Tsang
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Yin Kwan Evelyn Wong
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Xiao Meng Pei
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Hennie Yuk Lin Cheng
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Amanda Kit Ching Chan
- Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Sze Chuen Cesar Wong
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
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20
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Lovšin Ž, Klančnik A, Kotnik T. Electroporation as an Efficacy Potentiator for Antibiotics With Different Target Sites. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:722232. [PMID: 34733244 PMCID: PMC8558673 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.722232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a global health threat, and there is ample motivation for development of novel antibacterial approaches combining multiple strategies. Electroporation is among the promising complementary techniques – highly optimizable, effective against a broad range of bacteria, and largely impervious to development of resistance. To date, most studies investigating electroporation as an efficacy potentiator for antibacterials used substances permissible in food industry, and only few used clinical antibiotics, as acceptable applications are largely limited to treatment of wastewaters inherently contaminated with such antibiotics. Moreover, most studies have focused mainly on maximal achievable effect, and less on underlying mechanisms. Here, we compare Escherichia coli inactivation potentiation rates for three antibiotics with different modes of action: ampicillin (inhibits cell wall synthesis), ciprofloxacin (inhibits DNA replication), and tetracycline (inhibits protein synthesis). We used concentrations for each antibiotic from 0 to 30× its minimum inhibitory concentration, a single 1-ms electric pulse with amplitude from 0 to 20 kV/cm, and post-pulse pre-dilution incubation either absent (≲1 min) or lasting 60 min, 160 min, or 24 h. Our data show that with incubation, potentiation is significant for all three antibiotics, increases consistently with pulse amplitude, and generally also with antibiotic concentration and incubation time. With incubation, potentiation for ampicillin was rather consistently (although with weak statistical significance) superior to both ciprofloxacin and tetracycline: ampicillin was superior to both in 42 of 48 data points, including 7 with significance with respect to both, while at 60- and 160-min incubation, it was superior in 31 of 32 data points, including 6 with significance with respect to both. This suggests that electroporation potentiates wall-targeting antibiotics more than those with intracellular targets, providing motivation for in-depth studies of the relationship between the mode of action of an antibiotic and its potentiation by electroporation. Identification of substances permissible in foods and targeting the cell wall of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria might provide candidate antibacterials for broad and strong potentiation by electroporation applicable also for food preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Žana Lovšin
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anja Klančnik
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tadej Kotnik
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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21
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Meng Q, Yuan Y, Li Y, Wu S, Shi K, Liu S. Optimization of Electrotransformation Parameters and Engineered Promoters for Lactobacillus plantarum from Wine. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:1728-1738. [PMID: 34048225 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Robust and versatile promoters for Lactobacillus plantarum found in wine are necessary gene expression tools for genetic research involving wine stress. We optimized the electrotransformation parameters for L. plantarum XJ25 isolated from wine and engineered five promoters based on the promoter P23; these promoters showed significantly different transcriptional activities under nonstress conditions. The activities of these promoters in vivo and the resulting growth burden to the host strain under different wine stresses were also evaluated. A range of colors (from white to dark pink) of the developing colonies with the plasmid pNZ8148 carrying an X-mCherry expression cassette, namely, P23-mCherry, trcP23-mCherry, POL1-mCherry, POL2-mCherry, POL3-mCherry, or POL4-mCherry, were analyzed. The applicability of the optimized electrotransformation parameters and synthetic promoters with different activities were also verified in several L. plantarum strains. Therefore, the optimized electrotransformation and these characterized promoters were determined to be suitable for applications in wine research in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Meng
- College of Enology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuxin Yuan
- College of Enology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yueyao Li
- College of Enology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shaowen Wu
- College of Enology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kan Shi
- College of Enology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shuwen Liu
- College of Enology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
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22
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Abstract
Bacteria acquire novel DNA through horizontal gene transfer (HGT), a process that enables an organism to rapidly adapt to changing environmental conditions, provides a competitive edge and potentially alters its relationship with its host. Although the HGT process is routinely exploited in laboratories, there is a surprising disconnect between what we know from laboratory experiments and what we know from natural environments, such as the human gut microbiome. Owing to a suite of newly available computational algorithms and experimental approaches, we have a broader understanding of the genes that are being transferred and are starting to understand the ecology of HGT in natural microbial communities. This Review focuses on these new technologies, the questions they can address and their limitations. As these methods are applied more broadly, we are beginning to recognize the full extent of HGT possible within a microbiome and the punctuated dynamics of HGT, specifically in response to external stimuli. Furthermore, we are better characterizing the complex selective pressures on mobile genetic elements and the mechanisms by which they interact with the bacterial host genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana Lauren Brito
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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23
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Inoue G, Toyohara D, Mori T, Muraoka T. Critical Side Chain Effects of Cell-Penetrating Peptides for Transporting Oligo Peptide Nucleic Acids in Bacteria. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2021; 4:3462-3468. [PMID: 35014430 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Of various methods for delivering functional molecules into cells, a chemical approach using cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) is facile and highly efficient. Currently, however, there are few examples of CPPs highly efficient with bacteria in contrast to CPPs targeting animal cells, and thus our understanding of the structural effects of these bacteria-efficient CPPs, termed as BCPPs, on permeation efficiency is limited. Herein, we report a comprehensive investigation on the permeation efficiencies of cationic short peptides through bacterial cell membranes. We observed that elongating the length of the main chain increased permeation efficiency. More interestingly, the length of the peptide side chain critically affected permeation efficiency; shortening the side chain significantly enhanced efficiency. Among the BCPPs investigated, 2,3-diaminopropionic acid nonamer showed the highest permeation efficiency into bacterial cells of diverse strains, allowing the transport of oligo peptide nucleic acids and subsequent growth inhibition. This study provides insights into the molecular design of efficient BCPPs for manipulating bacterial growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Go Inoue
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Daichi Toyohara
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Tetsushi Mori
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.,Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-8-1 Harumi-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8538, Japan
| | - Takahiro Muraoka
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.,Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-8-1 Harumi-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8538, Japan
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24
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Abstract
Filifactor alocis, a fastidious Gram-positive obligate anaerobic bacterium, is a newly appreciated member of the periodontal community that is now proposed to be a diagnostic indicator of periodontal disease. Its pathogenic characteristics are highlighted by its ability to survive in the oxidative stress-rich environment of the periodontal pocket and to significantly alter the microbial community dynamics by forming biofilms and interacting with several oral bacteria. Here, we describe the current understanding of F. alocis virulence attributes, such as its comparative resistance to oxidative stress, production of unique proteases and collagenases that can cause structural damage to host cells, and dysregulation of the immune system, which enable this bacterium to colonize, survive, and outcompete other traditional pathogens in the inflammatory environment of the periodontal pocket. Furthermore, we explore the recent advancements and future directions for F. alocis research, including the potential mechanisms for oxidative stress resistance and our evolving understanding of the interactions and mechanisms of bacterial survival inside neutrophils. We also discuss the current genetic tools and challenges involved in manipulating the F. alocis genome for the functional characterization of the putative virulence genes. Collectively, this information will expedite F. alocis research and should lead to the identification of prime targets for the development of novel therapeutics to aid in the control and prevention of periodontal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Aja
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - M Mangar
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - H M Fletcher
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - A Mishra
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
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25
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Poudel A, Oludiran A, Sözer EB, Casciola M, Purcell EB, Muratori C. Growth in a biofilm sensitizes Cutibacterium acnes to nanosecond pulsed electric fields. Bioelectrochemistry 2021; 140:107797. [PMID: 33773215 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2021.107797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is a commensal of the human skin, but also an opportunistic pathogen that contributes to the pathophysiology of the skin disease acne vulgaris. C. acnes can form biofilms; cells in biofilms are more resilient to antimicrobial stresses. Acne therapeutic options such as topical or systemic antimicrobial treatments often show incomplete responses. In this study we measured the efficacy of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF), a new promising cell and tissue ablation technology, to inactivate C. acnes. Our results show that all tested nsPEF doses (250 to 2000 pulses, 280 ns pulses, 28 kV/cm, 5 Hz; 0.5 to 4 kJ/ml) failed to inactivate planktonic C. acnes and that pretreatment with lysozyme, a naturally occurring cell-wall-weakening enzyme, increased C. acnes vulnerability to nsPEF. Surprisingly, growth in a biofilm appears to sensitize C. acnes to nsPEF-induced stress, as C. acnes biofilm-derived cells showed increased cell death after nsPEF treatments that did not affect planktonic cells. Biofilm inactivation by nsPEF was confirmed by treating intact biofilms grown on glass coverslips with an indium oxide conductive layer. Altogether our results show that, contrary to other antimicrobial agents, nsPEF kill more efficiently bacteria in biofilms than planktonic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asia Poudel
- Old Dominion University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, USA
| | - Adenrele Oludiran
- Old Dominion University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, USA
| | - Esin B Sözer
- Old Dominion University, Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, USA
| | - Maura Casciola
- Old Dominion University, Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, USA; Center for Devices and Radiological Health, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Erin B Purcell
- Old Dominion University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, USA.
| | - Claudia Muratori
- Old Dominion University, Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, USA.
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26
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Wang J, Huang C, Guo K, Ma L, Meng X, Wang N, Huo YX. Converting Escherichia coli MG1655 into a chemical overproducer through inactivating defense system against exogenous DNA. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2020; 5:333-342. [PMID: 33102829 PMCID: PMC7568196 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2020.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli strain K-12 MG1655 has been proposed as an appropriate host strain for industrial production. However, the direct application of this strain suffers from the transformation inefficiency and plasmid instability. Herein, we conducted genetic modifications at a serial of loci of MG1655 genome, generating a robust and universal host strain JW128 with higher transformation efficiency and plasmid stability that can be used to efficiently produce desired chemicals after introducing the corresponding synthetic pathways. Using JW128 as the host, the titer of isobutanol reached 5.76 g/L in shake-flask fermentation, and the titer of lycopene reached 1.91 g/L in test-tube fermentation, 40-fold and 5-fold higher than that of original MG1655, respectively. These results demonstrated JW128 is a promising chassis for high-level production of value-added chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingge Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100081, China
- SIP-UCLA Institute for Technology Advancement, 10 Yueliangwan Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Chaoyong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Kai Guo
- Biology Institute, Shandong Province Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250103, China
| | - Lianjie Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xiangyu Meng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100081, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Yi-Xin Huo
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100081, China
- SIP-UCLA Institute for Technology Advancement, 10 Yueliangwan Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100081, China.
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27
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Wang Y, Wang X, Yu L, Tian Y, Li S, Leng F, Ma J, Chen J. Effects of Sr 2 + on the preparation of Escherchia coli DH5α competent cells and plasmid transformation. PeerJ 2020. [DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial gene transformation used with Escherichia coli as a desired microorganism is one of the important techniques in genetic engineering. In this study, the preparation of E. coli DH5α competent cells treated with SrCl2 and transformation by heat-shock with pUC19 plasmid was optimized by Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Other five E. coli strains including BL21 (DE3), HB-101, JM109, TOP10 and TG1, three different sizes plasmids (pUC19, pET32a, pPIC9k) were used to verify the protocol, respectively. The transformation mechanism was explored by scanning electron microscope combined with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). An equation of regression model was obtained, and the ideal parameters were Sr2 + ions of 90 mM, heat-shock time of 90 s and 9 ng of plasmid. Under this conditions, the transformation efficiency could almost reach to 106 CFU/µg DNA. A small change of the cell surface structure has been observed between E. coli DH5α strain and competent cells by abovementioned spectrum technologies, which implied that a strict regulation mechanism involved in the formation of competent cells and transformation of plasmids. An equation of regression model for the competent cells preparation and plasmid transformation could be applied in gene cloning technology
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonggang Wang
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lan Zhou, Gansu, China
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xinjian Wang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Linmiao Yu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yuan Tian
- Lhasa National Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shaowei Li
- Lhasa National Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Feifan Leng
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Jianzhong Ma
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Jixiang Chen
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lan Zhou, Gansu, China
- School of Petrochemical Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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28
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Wang Y, Liu Y, Zheng P, Sun J, Wang M. Microbial Base Editing: A Powerful Emerging Technology for Microbial Genome Engineering. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 39:165-180. [PMID: 32680590 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Genome engineering is crucial for answering fundamental questions about, and exploring practical applications of, microorganisms. Various microbial genome-engineering tools, including CRISPR/Cas-enhanced homologous recombination (HR), have been developed, with ever-improving simplicity, efficiency, and applicability. Recently, a powerful emerging technology based on CRISPR/Cas-nucleobase deaminase fusions, known as base editing, opened new avenues for microbial genome engineering. Base editing enables nucleotide transition without inducing lethal double-stranded (ds)DNA cleavage, adding foreign donor DNA, or depending on inefficient HR. Here, we review ongoing efforts to develop and apply base editing to engineer industrially and clinically relevant microorganisms. We also summarize bioinformatics tools that would greatly facilitate guide (g)RNA design and sequencing data analysis and discuss the future challenges and prospects associated with this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China.
| | - Ye Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Ping Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Jibin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China.
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29
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Chai D, Wang G, Fang L, Li H, Liu S, Zhu H, Zheng J. The optimization system for preparation of TG1 competent cells and electrotransformation. Microbiologyopen 2020; 9:e1043. [PMID: 32394632 PMCID: PMC7349126 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
An efficient electrotransformation system that includes electrocompetent cells is a critical component for the success of large‐scale gene transduction and replication. The conditions of TG1 competent cell preparation and optimal electrotransformation were evaluated by investigating different parameters. Certain parameters for preparation of TG1 competent cells (≥8 × 1010 colony forming units (cfu)/μg DNA) include optimum culture time of monoclonal bacteria (8–10 hr), amplification growth concentration (approximately OD600 = 0.45), and culture volume (400 ml in 2 L conical flask). With increased storage of competent cells at −80°C, electrotransformation efficiency gradually decreased, but it remains greater than ≥ 1010 cfu/μg DNA 3 months later. Moreover, the recovery time of electrotransformation also influenced electrotransformation efficiency (1.5–2 hr for optimization). The optimized transformation efficiency of TG1 (≥8 × 1010 cfu/μg DNA) was observed under suitable electric voltage (2.5 kV), electric intensity (15 kV/cm), and electric time (3.5 ms) of electricity for plasmid transformation. Optimized DNA amount (0.01–100 ng) dissolved in water led to the high efficiency of plasmid transformation (≥8 × 1010 cfu/μg DNA), but had low efficiency when dissolved in T4 ligation buffer (≤3 × 1010 cfu/μg DNA). These results indicated that an optimized TG1 transformation system is useful for high electrotransformation efficiency under general laboratory conditions. The optimized TG1 transformation system might facilitate large‐scale gene transduction for phage display library construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafei Chai
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Gang Wang
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Lin Fang
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Huizhong Li
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Shanshan Liu
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Haiying Zhu
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Junnian Zheng
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China.,Center of Clinical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
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30
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Ozyigit II. Gene transfer to plants by electroporation: methods and applications. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:3195-3210. [PMID: 32242300 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05343-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Developing gene transfer technologies enables the genetic manipulation of the living organisms more efficiently. The methods used for gene transfer fall into two main categories; natural and artificial transformation. The natural methods include the conjugation, transposition, bacterial transformation as well as phage and retroviral transductions, contain the physical methods whereas the artificial methods can physically alter and transfer genes from one to another organisms' cell using, for instance, biolistic transformation, micro- and macroinjection, and protoplast fusion etc. The artificial gene transformation can also be conducted through chemical methods which include calcium phosphate-mediated, polyethylene glycol-mediated, DEAE-Dextran, and liposome-mediated transfers. Electrical methods are also artificial ways to transfer genes that can be done by electroporation and electrofusion. Comparatively, among all the above-mentioned methods, electroporation is being widely used owing to its high efficiency and broader applicability. Electroporation is an electrical transformation method by which transient electropores are produced in the cell membranes. Based on the applications, process can be either reversible where electropores in membrane are resealable and cells preserve the vitality or irreversible where membrane is not able to reseal, and cell eventually dies. This problem can be minimized by developing numerical models to iteratively optimize the field homogeneity considering the cell size, shape, number, and electrode positions supplemented by real-time measurements. In modern biotechnology, numerical methods have been used in electrotransformation, electroporation-based inactivation, electroextraction, and electroporative biomass drying. Moreover, current applications of electroporation also point to some other uncovered potentials for various exploitations in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Ilker Ozyigit
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, Marmara University, Goztepe, 34722, Istanbul, Turkey. .,Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, 720038, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
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31
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Abstract
Understanding the underlying biology of pathogens is essential to develop novel treatment options. To drive this understanding, genetic tools are essential. In recent years, the genetic toolbox available to Clostridioides difficile researchers has expanded significantly but still requires the conjugal transfer of DNA from a donor strain into C. difficile. Here we describe an electroporation-based transformation protocol that was effective at introducing existing genetic tools into different C. difficile strains. An important risk factor for acquiring Clostridioides difficile infection is antibiotic use. Therefore, a detailed knowledge of the physiology and the virulence factors can help drive the development of new diagnostic tools and nonantibiotic therapeutic agents to combat these organisms. Several genetic systems are available to study C. difficile in the laboratory environment, and all rely on stably replicating or segregationally unstable plasmids. Currently, the transfer of plasmids into C. difficile can only be performed by conjugation using Escherichia coli or Bacillus subtilis as conjugal donors. Here we report a method to introduce plasmid DNA into C. difficile using electroporation and test factors that might contribute to higher transformation efficiencies: osmolyte used to stabilize weakened cells, DNA concentration, and recovery time postelectroporation. Depending on the C. difficile strain and plasmid used, this transformation protocol achieves between 20 and 200 colonies per microgram of DNA and is mostly influenced by the recovery time postelectroporation. Based on our findings, we recommend that each strain be tested for the optimum recovery time in each lab. IMPORTANCE Understanding the underlying biology of pathogens is essential to develop novel treatment options. To drive this understanding, genetic tools are essential. In recent years, the genetic toolbox available to Clostridioides difficile researchers has expanded significantly but still requires the conjugal transfer of DNA from a donor strain into C. difficile. Here we describe an electroporation-based transformation protocol that was effective at introducing existing genetic tools into different C. difficile strains.
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32
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Kondo T, Yumura S. Strategies for enhancing gene expression in Escherichia coli. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:3825-3834. [PMID: 32125482 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10430-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Regulation of gene expression is fundamental for cellular function. Upon manipulation of the mechanism of gene expression in Escherichia coli, various bioproducts have been developed that are valuable industrially and medically in the last four decades. To efficiently produce bioproducts, numerous molecular tools are used for enhancing expression at the transcriptional and translational levels. Our recent discovery identified a new approach that enhances the gene expression in E. coli using the gene sequence of the eukaryote, Dictyostelium discoideum. In this review, we highlight the current molecular strategies used for high-level gene expression techniques commonly utilized in basic and applied microbiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomo Kondo
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan.
| | - Shigehiko Yumura
- Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, 753-8512, Japan
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33
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Toyohara D, Yokoi Y, Inoue G, Muraoka T, Mori T. Abiotic Factors Promote Cell Penetrating Peptide Permeability in Enterobacteriaceae Models. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2534. [PMID: 31849846 PMCID: PMC6902036 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventionally, the delivery of biomolecules into bacteria for the generation of characterized or functional mutants has relied greatly on horizontal gene transfer techniques. However, the low compatibility of these techniques with novel or hard-to-transform bacteria currently serves as a challenge to the bioengineering field. Here, we explored the use of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) as an alternative biomolecule delivery approach by investigating the effects of the abiotic factors during CPP permeation. Using the (KFF)3K-FAM conjugate and Escherichia coli as models, we evaluated four abiotic factors where two of these factors, temperature and solution tonicity, promoted (KFF)3K-FAM permeation efficiency. Our data show that optimal (KFF)3K-FAM permeation efficiency was achieved for E. coli at approximately 98.1% under conditions of 37°C (growth optimal temperature) and 50% PBS concentration. Based on these conditions, we subsequently tested the applicability of CPP permeation in various bacterial strains by treating 10 bacterial strains from the Enterobacteriaceae family among which seven strains have no CPP permeation records with (KFF)3K-FAM. Interestingly, when compared with non-optimized conditions, all 10 strains showed a marked increase in CPP permeation ranging between 20 and 90% efficiency. Although using strains within Enterobacteriaceae that are phylogenetically close, our results hinted on the possibility that with proper optimization of the abiotic factors, CPPs could be compatible with a broad range of bacterial strains. Our efforts suggest that CPP could serve as an effective alternative approach for mutant generation and for biomolecule delivery into novel or hard-to-transform bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daichi Toyohara
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Yokoi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Japan
| | - Go Inoue
- Department of Organic and Polymer Materials Chemistry, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Japan
| | - Takahiro Muraoka
- Department of Organic and Polymer Materials Chemistry, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Japan
| | - Tetsushi Mori
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Japan
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34
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Batani G, Bayer K, Böge J, Hentschel U, Thomas T. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and cell sorting of living bacteria. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18618. [PMID: 31819112 PMCID: PMC6901588 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55049-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the development of several cultivation methods, the rate of discovery of microorganisms that are yet-to-be cultivated outpaces the rate of isolating and cultivating novel species in the laboratory. Furthermore, no current cultivation technique is capable of selectively isolating and cultivating specific bacterial taxa or phylogenetic groups independently of morphological or physiological properties. Here, we developed a new method to isolate living bacteria solely based on their 16S rRNA gene sequence. We showed that bacteria can survive a modified version of the standard fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) procedure, in which fixation is omitted and other factors, such as centrifugation and buffers, are optimized. We also demonstrated that labelled DNA probes can be introduced into living bacterial cells by means of chemical transformation and that specific hybridization occurs. This new method, which we call live-FISH, was then combined with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to sort specific taxonomic groups of bacteria from a mock and natural bacterial communities and subsequently culture them. Live-FISH represents the first attempt to systematically optimize conditions known to affect cell viability during FISH and then to sort bacterial cells surviving the procedure. No sophisticated probe design is required, making live-FISH a straightforward method to be potentially used in combination with other single-cell techniques and for the isolation and cultivation of new microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giampiero Batani
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Science - Department of Parasitology, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Kristina Bayer
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Julia Böge
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Ute Hentschel
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105, Kiel, Germany
- Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Christian-Albrechts-Platz 4, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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35
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Design of Experiments As a Tool for Optimization in Recombinant Protein Biotechnology: From Constructs to Crystals. Mol Biotechnol 2019; 61:873-891. [DOI: 10.1007/s12033-019-00218-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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36
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Higuchi-Takeuchi M, Morisaki K, Numata K. Method for the facile transformation of marine purple photosynthetic bacteria using chemically competent cells. Microbiologyopen 2019; 9:e00953. [PMID: 31638342 PMCID: PMC6957439 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine purple photosynthetic bacteria are ideal organisms for the production of useful materials at reduced costs and contributing to a sustainable society because they can utilize sunlight, seawater, and components of air, including carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases, for their growth. However, conjugation is the only applicable method for the transformation of marine purple photosynthetic bacteria so far. Here, we examined a calcium chloride‐mediated method for the transformation of marine purple photosynthetic bacteria. Plasmid DNAs containing the kanamycin resistance gene were successfully transferred into chemically competent cells of two strains of marine purple photosynthetic bacteria (Rhodovulum sulfidophilum and Roseospira marina). Heat shock treatment increased the transformation efficiency in R. sulfidophilum, whereas the addition of cell‐penetrating peptide did not improve it. We also found that prolonged incubation in agar plates containing kanamycin led to spontaneous mutation of the 16S rRNA, resulting in kanamycin resistance in R. marina. Thus, we developed an efficient and facile transformation method using chemically competent cells of marine purple photosynthetic bacteria with calcium chloride.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mieko Higuchi-Takeuchi
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kumiko Morisaki
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Keiji Numata
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
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37
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Soltysiak MPM, Meaney RS, Hamadache S, Janakirama P, Edgell DR, Karas BJ. Trans-Kingdom Conjugation within Solid Media from Escherichia coli to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E5212. [PMID: 31640164 PMCID: PMC6829330 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20205212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Conjugation is a bacterial mechanism for DNA transfer from a donor cell to a wide range of recipients, including both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. In contrast to conventional DNA delivery techniques, such as electroporation and chemical transformation, conjugation eliminates the need for DNA extraction, thereby preventing DNA damage during isolation. While most established conjugation protocols allow for DNA transfer in liquid media or on a solid surface, we developed a procedure for conjugation within solid media. Such a protocol may expand conjugation as a tool for DNA transfer to species that require semi-solid or solid media for growth. Conjugation within solid media could also provide a more stable microenvironment in which the conjugative pilus can establish and maintain contact with recipient cells for the successful delivery of plasmid DNA. Furthermore, transfer in solid media may enhance the ability to transfer plasmids and chromosomes greater than 100 kbp. Using our optimized method, plasmids of varying sizes were tested for transfer from Escherichia coli to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We demonstrated that there was no significant change in conjugation frequency when plasmid size increased from 56.5 to 138.6 kbp in length. Finally, we established an efficient PCR-based synthesis protocol to generate custom conjugative plasmids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca S Meaney
- Designer Microbes Inc., London, ON N5Z 3N2, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada.
| | - Samir Hamadache
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada.
| | | | - David R Edgell
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada.
| | - Bogumil J Karas
- Designer Microbes Inc., London, ON N5Z 3N2, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada.
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Zhao R, Liu Y, Zhang H, Chai C, Wang J, Jiang W, Gu Y. CRISPR-Cas12a-Mediated Gene Deletion and Regulation in Clostridium ljungdahlii and Its Application in Carbon Flux Redirection in Synthesis Gas Fermentation. ACS Synth Biol 2019; 8:2270-2279. [PMID: 31526005 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Uncovering the full potential of gas-fermenting Clostridia, attractive autotrophic bacteria capable of using synthesis gases (CO-CO2-H2) to produce a range of chemicals and fuels, for industrial applications relies on having efficient molecular tools for genetic modifications. Although the CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing system has been developed in Clostridia, its use is limited owing to low GC content (approx. 30%) in these anaerobes. Therefore, the effector protein Cas12a, which recognizes T-rich instead of G-rich protospacer-adjacent motifs (PAMs), has evident advantages over Cas9 in CRISPR genome editing in Clostridia. Here, we developed the CRISPR-Cas12a system for efficient gene deletion and regulation in the gas-fermenting Clostridium ljungdahlii species. On the basis of screening for the most suitable Cas12a and significantly improved electrotransformation efficiency that bypassed poor repair efficiency of the Cas12a-caused DNA double-strand break (DSB) in C. ljungdahlii, efficient deletion (80-100%) of four genes (pyrE, pta, adhE1, and ctf) was achieved by using the CRISPR-FnCas12a system. Furthermore, a DNase-deactivated FnCas12a (ddCas12a) was adopted to construct a CRISPRi system to downregulate targeted genes, reaching over 80% repression for most of the chosen binding sites. This CRISPRi system was also used in a butyric acid-producing C. ljungdahlii strain to redirect carbon flux, leading to 20-40% reductions in ethanol titer that were accompanied by increased butyric acid titer. These results demonstrate the high efficiency of the CRISPR-FnCas12a system for genome engineering in C. ljungdahlii, which effectively expands the existing CRISPR-Cas toolbox in gas-fermenting Clostridium species and may play important roles in genetic manipulations where CRISPR-Cas9 is incompetent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Yanqiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Changsheng Chai
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jin Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
| | - Weihong Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yang Gu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
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Wen Z, Lu M, Ledesma-Amaro R, Li Q, Jin M, Yang S. TargeTron Technology Applicable in Solventogenic Clostridia: Revisiting 12 Years' Advances. Biotechnol J 2019; 15:e1900284. [PMID: 31475782 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium has great potential in industrial application and medical research. But low DNA repair capacity and plasmids transformation efficiency severely delay development and application of genetic tools based on homologous recombination (HR). TargeTron is a gene editing technique dependent on the mobility of group II introns, rather than homologous recombination, which makes it very suitable for gene disruption of Clostridium. The application of TargeTron technology in solventogenic Clostridium is academically reported in 2007 and this tool has been introduced in various clostridia as it is easy to operate, time saving, and reliable. TargeTron has made great progress in solventogenic Clostridium in the aspects of acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation pathway modification, important functional genes identification, and xylose metabolic pathway analysis and reconstruction. In the review, 12 years' advances of TargeTron technology applicable in solventogenic Clostridium, including its principle, technical characteristics, application, and efforts to expand its capabilities, or to avoid potential drawbacks, are revisisted. Some other technologies as putative competitors or collaborators are also discussed. It is believed that TargeTron combined with CRISPR/Cas-assisted gene/base editing and gene-expression regulation system will make a better future for clostridial genetic modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Wen
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China
| | - Minrui Lu
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China
| | | | - Qi Li
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Longquan, Chengdu, 610101, China
| | - Mingjie Jin
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China
| | - Sheng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Huzhou Center of Industrial Biotechnology, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang, 313000, China
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Abstract
Genetic engineering is a powerful approach for discovering fundamental aspects of bacterial physiology, metabolism, and pathogenesis as well as for harnessing the capabilities of bacteria for human use. However, the full power of genetic engineering can only be applied to a few model organisms. Biological diversity and strain-level variation in restriction-modification systems are critical barriers keeping most bacteria beyond the full potential of genetics. We have designed a systematic approach to effectively evade restriction-modification systems and successfully applied this approach to a clinically relevant USA300 strain of the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Our results demonstrate the simplicity and effectiveness of this stealth-by-engineering approach, which could enable microbial genetic system design not restrained by innate restriction-modification defense mechanisms. Bacteria that are recalcitrant to genetic manipulation using modern in vitro techniques are termed genetically intractable. Genetic intractability is a fundamental barrier to progress that hinders basic, synthetic, and translational microbiology research and development beyond a few model organisms. The most common underlying causes of genetic intractability are restriction-modification (RM) systems, ubiquitous defense mechanisms against xenogeneic DNA that hinder the use of genetic approaches in the vast majority of bacteria and exhibit strain-level variation. Here, we describe a systematic approach to overcome RM systems. Our approach was inspired by a simple hypothesis: if a synthetic piece of DNA lacks the highly specific target recognition motifs for a host’s RM systems, then it is invisible to these systems and will not be degraded during artificial transformation. Accordingly, in this process, we determine the genome and methylome of an individual bacterial strain and use this information to define the bacterium’s RM target motifs. We then synonymously eliminate RM targets from the nucleotide sequence of a genetic tool in silico, synthesize an RM-silent “SyngenicDNA” tool, and propagate the tool as minicircle plasmids, termed SyMPL (SyngenicDNA Minicircle Plasmid) tools, before transformation. In a proof-of-principle of our approach, we demonstrate a profound improvement (five orders of magnitude) in the transformation of a clinically relevant USA300 strain of Staphylococcus aureus. This stealth-by-engineering SyngenicDNA approach is effective, flexible, and we expect in future applications could enable microbial genetics free of the restraints of restriction-modification barriers.
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Abstract
Although the pan and the core genome of Acinetobacter baumannii and its essential genes are relatively well characterized, functional characterization of these genes has not paralleled the genome-level studies. However, recently developed genetic tools and optimized protocols are poised to accelerate genetic manipulation of A. baumannii. Transferring exogenous DNA into the cytosol of bacteria cells is a critical step in genetic characterizations. Conjugation is restricted to the transfer of DNA from one bacterial cell to another, and only a portion of A. baumannii clinical isolates are naturally competent. Electroporation, which is thought to transiently create aqueous pores in the membrane, is a preferred method in transferring exogenous DNA as it does not have such limitations. Several factors contribute to efficiency of electroporation and often need to be empirically optimized to maximize efficiency of this procedure. Here we provide an optimized electroporation protocol and guidance for electroporation of clinical MDR isolates of A. baumannii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell G Thompson
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Süleyman Yildirim
- Department of Medical Microbiology, International School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey.
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Park MJ, Park MS, Ji GE. Improvement of electroporation-mediated transformation efficiency for a Bifidobacterium strain to a reproducibly high level. J Microbiol Methods 2018; 159:112-119. [PMID: 30529116 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2018.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Bifidobacteria are representative probiotics which are defined as live microorganisms that confer a health benefit on the host. Because of their safety and healthfulness when applied to humans, bifidobacteria are suitable as genetically engineered bacteria for applications to benefit human physiology and pathology. However, molecular biological studies of bifidobacteria have been limited due to insufficient genetic tools including effective transformation methods. The aim of this study is to improve the electroporation-mediated transformation efficiency of bifidobacteria to a reproducibly high level. The crucial factors that determine electroporation efficiency are the restriction-modification system, together with the cell wall and cell membrane structure of the bacteria. We optimized the bifidobacterial electroporation conditions by focusing on these factors as well as the amount of plasmid DNA used, the electrical parameters and the bacterial growth phase. As a result, the electroporation efficiency of B. bifidum BGN4 drastically and consistently increased from 103 to 105 CFU / μg DNA. The most significant factor for increasing the electroporation efficiency was the cell wall weakening mediated by NaCl, which improved the electroporation frequency by 20 times. Because the optimized electrotransformation conditions reported here should be widely applicable to other Bifidobacterium species, these could promote the extensive genetic manipulation of the various Bifidobacterium species in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Ju Park
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong Soo Park
- Research Center, BIFIDO Co., Ltd, Hongcheon 205-804, Republic of Korea; Department of Hotel Culinary Arts, Yeonsung University, Anyang 430-749, Republic of Korea.
| | - Geun Eog Ji
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea; Research Center, BIFIDO Co., Ltd, Hongcheon 205-804, Republic of Korea.
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Lim Y, Su CH, Liao YC, Lee SY. Impedimetric analysis on the mass transfer properties of intact and competent E. coli cells. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2018; 1861:9-16. [PMID: 30341999 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Competent Escherichia coli cells are commonly used in bacterial transformation owing to its high permeability for bioorganic macromolecules like plasmid DNA. However, the mass transfer property of competent E. coli cell has not fully investigated. In the present study, mass transfer coefficients of competent and intact E. coli cells in deionized water were evaluated by impedimetric analysis of the release of cytoplasmic compounds. Because competent cells have a higher permeability after chemical treatment, the lumped mass transfer coefficient of a competent cell was approximately 6.5 times larger than that of an intact cell at room temperature. Release of cytoplasmic components was accelerated at an elevated temperature of 42 °C, which is the heat shock temperature used during bacterial transformation. At this elevated temperature, assessed lumped mass transfer coefficients of intact and competent E. coli cells were 9.28 × 10-4 min-1 and 97.10 × 10-4 min-1, respectively. Significant increase in the mass transfer coefficient of the competent cell is caused by cytolysis of cells. The double layer capacitances were also assessed from the electrochemical spectra confirming the enhanced ion release from E. coli cells and rupture of the competent cell under prolonged exposure at the elevated temperature. Impedimetric detection of the ion release with analyses using an equivalent circuit model provides a method to evaluate mass transfer properties of biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngjoon Lim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Chun-Hao Su
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, No.1 Sec. 4 Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Chih Liao
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, No.1 Sec. 4 Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Sang-Yup Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
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Brophy JAN, Triassi AJ, Adams BL, Renberg RL, Stratis-Cullum DN, Grossman AD, Voigt CA. Engineered integrative and conjugative elements for efficient and inducible DNA transfer to undomesticated bacteria. Nat Microbiol 2018; 3:1043-1053. [PMID: 30127494 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0216-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Engineering microorganisms to promote human or plant health will require manipulation of robust bacteria that are capable of surviving in harsh, competitive environments. Genetic engineering of undomesticated bacteria can be limited by an inability to transfer DNA into the cell. Here we developed an approach based on the integrative and conjugative element from Bacillus subtilis (ICEBs1) to overcome this problem. A donor strain (XPORT) was built to transfer miniaturized integrative and conjugative elements (mini-ICEBs1) to undomesticated bacteria. The strain was engineered to enable inducible control over conjugation, to integrate delivered DNA into the chromosome of the recipient, to restrict spread of heterologous DNA through separation of the type IV secretion system from the transferred DNA, and to enable simple isolation of engineered bacteria through a D-alanine auxotrophy. Efficient DNA transfer (10-1 to 10-7 conjugation events per donor) is demonstrated using 35 Gram-positive strains isolated from humans (skin and gut) and soil. Mini-ICEBs1 was used to rapidly characterize the performance of an isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG)-inducible reporter across dozens of strains and to transfer nitrogen fixation to four Bacillus species. Finally, XPORT was introduced to soil to demonstrate DNA transfer under non-ideal conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A N Brophy
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alexander J Triassi
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Alan D Grossman
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Christopher A Voigt
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Zeaiter Z, Mapelli F, Crotti E, Borin S. Methods for the genetic manipulation of marine bacteria. ELECTRON J BIOTECHN 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejbt.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
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Li H, Li J, Jin R, Chen W, Liang C, Wu J, Jin JM, Tang SY. Towards the construction of high-quality mutagenesis libraries. Biotechnol Lett 2018; 40:1101-1107. [PMID: 29700725 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-018-2559-7] [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: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To improve the quality of mutagenesis libraries in directed evolution strategy. RESULTS In the process of library transformation, transformants which have been shown to take up more than one plasmid might constitute more than 20% of the constructed library, thereby extensively impairing the quality of the library. We propose a practical transformation method to prevent the occurrence of multiple-plasmid transformants while maintaining high transformation efficiency. A visual library model containing plasmids expressing different fluorescent proteins was used. Multiple-plasmid transformants can be reduced through optimizing plasmid DNA amount used for transformation based on the positive correlation between the occurrence frequency of multiple-plasmid transformants and the logarithmic ratio of plasmid molecules to competent cells. CONCLUSIONS This method provides a simple solution for a seemingly common but often neglected problem, and should be valuable for improving the quality of mutagenesis libraries to enhance the efficiency of directed evolution strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jing Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ruinan Jin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Wei Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Chaoning Liang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jieyuan Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jian-Ming Jin
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Research and Development, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Shuang-Yan Tang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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Liu M, Hilty C. Metabolic Measurements of Nonpermeating Compounds in Live Cells Using Hyperpolarized NMR. Anal Chem 2018; 90:1217-1222. [PMID: 29227628 PMCID: PMC6200330 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b03901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hyperpolarization by dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (D-DNP) has emerged as a technique for enhancing NMR signals by several orders of magnitude, thereby facilitating the characterization of metabolic pathways both in vivo and in vitro. Following the introduction of an externally hyperpolarized compound, real-time NMR enables the measurement of metabolic flux in the corresponding pathway. Spin relaxation however limits the maximum experimental time and prevents the use of this method with compounds exhibiting slow membrane transport rates. Here, we demonstrate that on-line electroporation can serve as a method for membrane permeabilization for use with D-DNP in cell cultures. An electroporation apparatus hyphenated with stopped-flow sample injection permits the introduction of the hyperpolarized metabolite within 3 s after the electrical pulse. In yeast cells that do not readily take up pyruvate, the addition of the electroporation pulse to the D-DNP experiment increases the signals of the downstream metabolic products CO2 and HCO3-, which otherwise are near the detection limit, by 8.2- and 8.6-fold. Modeling of the time dependence of these signals then permits the determination of the respective kinetic rate constants. The observed conversion rate from pyruvate to CO2 normalized for cell density was found to increase by a factor of 12 due to the alleviation of the membrane transport limitation. The use of electroporation therefore extends the applicability of D-DNP to in vitro studies with a wider range of metabolites and at the same time reduces the influence of membrane transport on the observed conversion rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxiao Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, 3255 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Christian Hilty
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, 3255 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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Russo M, La Corte D, Pisciotta A, Riela S, Alduina R, Lo Meo P. Binding abilities of polyaminocyclodextrins: polarimetric investigations and biological assays. Beilstein J Org Chem 2017; 13:2751-2763. [PMID: 29564010 PMCID: PMC5753052 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.13.271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Three polyaminocyclodextrin materials, obtained by direct reaction between heptakis(6-deoxy-6-iodo)-β-cyclodextrin and the proper linear polyamines, were investigated for their binding properties, in order to assess their potential applications in biological systems, such as vectors for simultaneous drug and gene cellular uptake or alternatively for the protection of macromolecules. In particular, we exploited polarimetry to test their interaction with some model p-nitroaniline derivatives, chosen as probe guests. The data obtained indicate that binding inside the host cavity is mainly affected by interplay between Coulomb interactions and conformational restraints. Moreover, simultaneous interaction of the cationic polyamine pendant bush at the primary rim was positively assessed. Insights on quantitative aspects of the interaction between our materials and polyanions were investigated by studying the binding with sodium alginate. Finally, the complexation abilities of the same materials towards polynucleotides were assessed by studying their interaction with the model plasmid pUC19. Our results positively highlight the ability of our materials to exploit both the cavity and the polycationic branches, thus functioning as bimodal ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Russo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, V.le delle Scienze ed. 17, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Daniele La Corte
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, V.le delle Scienze ed. 17, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Annalisa Pisciotta
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, V.le delle Scienze ed. 17, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Serena Riela
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, V.le delle Scienze ed. 17, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosa Alduina
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, V.le delle Scienze ed. 17, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Lo Meo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, V.le delle Scienze ed. 17, 90128 Palermo, Italy
- ATeNCenter, University of Palermo, V.le delle Scienze ed. 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy
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Kumari M, Pandey S, Mishra A, Nautiyal CS. Finding a facile way for the bacterial DNA transformation by biosynthesized gold nanoparticles. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2017; 364:3894107. [DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
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