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Jiang T, Bai X, Li M. Advances in the Development of Bacterial Bioluminescence Imaging. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (PALO ALTO, CALIF.) 2024; 17:265-288. [PMID: 38640069 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anchem-061622-034229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a powerful method for visualizing biological processes and tracking cells. Engineered bioluminescent bacteria that utilize luciferase-catalyzed biochemical reactions to generate luminescence have become useful analytical tools for in vitro and in vivo bacterial imaging. Accordingly, this review initially introduces the development of engineered bioluminescent bacteria that use different luciferase-luciferin pairs as analytical tools and their applications for in vivo BLI, including real-time bacterial tracking of infection, probiotic investigation, tumor-targeted therapy, and drug screening. Applications of engineered bioluminescent bacteria as whole-cell biosensors for sensing biological changes in vitro and in vivo are then discussed. Finally, we review the optimizations and future directions of bioluminescent bacteria for imaging. This review aims to provide fundamental insights into bacterial BLI and highlight the potential development of this technique in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Jiang
- 1Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-Infectives, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoyu Bai
- 1Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-Infectives, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- 2School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Minyong Li
- 3Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China;
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Shang W, Hu Z, Li M, Wang Y, Rao Y, Tan L, Chen J, Huang X, Liu L, Liu H, Guo Z, Peng H, Yang Y, Hu Q, Li S, Hu X, Zou J, Rao X. Optimizing a high-sensitivity NanoLuc-based bioluminescence system for in vivo evaluation of antimicrobial treatment. MLIFE 2023; 2:462-478. [PMID: 38818266 PMCID: PMC10989145 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Focal and systemic infections are serious threats to human health. Preclinical models enable the development of new drugs and therapeutic regimens. In vivo, animal bioluminescence (BL) imaging has been used with bacterial reporter strains to evaluate antimicrobial treatment effects. However, high-sensitivity bioluminescent systems are required because of the limited tissue penetration and low brightness of the BL signals of existing approaches. Here, we report that NanoLuc (Nluc) showed better performance than LuxCDABE in bacteria. However, the retention rate of plasmid constructs in bacteria was low. To construct stable Staphylococcus aureus reporter strains, a partner protein enolase (Eno) was identified by screening of S. aureus strain USA300 for fusion expression of Nluc-based luciferases, including Nluc, Teluc, and Antares2. Different substrates, such as hydrofurimazine (HFZ), furimazine (FUR), and diphenylterazine (DTZ), were used to optimize a stable reporter strain/substrate pair for BL imaging. S. aureus USA300/Eno-Antares2/HFZ produced the highest number of photons of orange-red light in vitro and enabled sensitive BL tracking of S. aureus in vivo, with sensitivities of approximately 10 CFU from mouse skin and 750 CFU from mouse kidneys. USA300/Eno-Antares2/HFZ was a powerful combination based on the longitudinal evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of antibiotics. The optimized S. aureus Eno-Antares2/HFZ pair provides a technological advancement for the in vivo evaluation of antimicrobial treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weilong Shang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Zhen Hu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Mengyang Li
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine Chongqing University Chongqing China
| | - Yuting Wang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Yifan Rao
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Xinqiao Hospital Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Li Tan
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Juan Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Xinqiao Hospital Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Xiaonan Huang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Lu Liu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine Chongqing University Chongqing China
| | - He Liu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Zuwen Guo
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Huagang Peng
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Qiwen Hu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Shu Li
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Xiaomei Hu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Jiao Zou
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
| | - Xiancai Rao
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China
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Srivastava A, Pati S, Kaushik H, Singh S, Garg LC. Toxin-antitoxin systems and their medical applications: current status and future perspective. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:1803-1821. [PMID: 33582835 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11134-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Almost all bacteria synthesize two types of toxins-one for its survival by regulating different cellular processes and another as a strategy to interact with host cells for pathogenesis. Usually, "bacterial toxins" are contemplated as virulence factors that harm the host organism. However, toxins produced by bacteria, as a survival strategy against the host, also hamper its cellular processes. To overcome this, the bacteria have evolved with the production of a molecule, referred to as antitoxin, to negate the deleterious effect of the toxin against itself. The toxin and antitoxins are encoded by a two-component toxin-antitoxin (TA) system. The antitoxin, a protein or RNA, sequesters the toxins of the TA system for neutralization within the bacterial cell. In this review, we have described different TA systems of bacteria and their potential medical and biotechnological applications. It is of interest to note that while bacterial toxin-antitoxin systems have been well studied, the TA system in unicellular eukaryotes, though predicted by the investigators, have never been paid the desired attention. In the present review, we have also touched upon the TA system of eukaryotes identified to date. KEY POINTS: Bacterial toxins harm the host and also affect the bacterial cellular processes. The antitoxin produced by bacteria protect it from the toxin's harmful effects. The toxin-antitoxin systems can be targeted for various medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akriti Srivastava
- Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201314, India
| | - Soumya Pati
- Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201314, India
| | - Himani Kaushik
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Shailja Singh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India.
| | - Lalit C Garg
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, 110067, India.
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In Vivo Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus-Infected Mice Reveals Differential Temporal and Spatial Expression Patterns of fhuD2. Infect Immun 2017; 85:IAI.00270-17. [PMID: 28784927 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00270-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic human pathogen and a major cause of invasive infections such as bacteremia, endocarditis, pneumonia, and wound infections. FhuD2 is a staphylococcal lipoprotein involved in the uptake of iron-hydroxymate and is under the control of the iron uptake regulator Fur. This protein is part of an investigational multicomponent vaccine formulation that has shown protective efficacy in several murine models of infection. Even though fhuD2 expression has been shown to be upregulated in murine kidneys infected with S. aureus, it is not known whether the bacterium undergoes increased iron deprivation during prolonged infection. Furthermore, different S. aureus infection niches might provide different environments and levels of iron availability, resulting in different fhuD2 expression patterns among organs of the same host. To address these questions, we characterized the in vitro expression of the fhuD2 gene and confirmed Fur-dependent regulation of its expression. We further investigated its expression in mice infected with a bioluminescent reporter strain of S. aureus expressing the luciferase operon under the control of the fhuD2 promoter. The emission of bioluminescence in different organs was followed over a 7-day time course, and quantitative real-time PCR analysis of the RNA transcribed from the endogenous fhuD2 gene was performed. Using this approach, we were able to show that fhuD2 expression was induced during infection in all organs analyzed and that differences in expression were observed at different time points and in different infected organs. Our data suggest that S. aureus undergoes increased iron deprivation during the progression of infection in diverse host organs and accordingly induces dedicated iron acquisition mechanisms. Since FhuD2 plays a central role in providing the pathogen with the required iron, further knowledge of the patterns of fhuD2 expression in vivo during infection will be instrumental in better defining the role of this antigen in S. aureus pathogenesis and as a vaccine antigen.
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Iqbal M, Doherty N, Page AML, Qazi SNA, Ajmera I, Lund PA, Kypraios T, Scott DJ, Hill PJ, Stekel DJ. Reconstructing promoter activity from Lux bioluminescent reporters. PLoS Comput Biol 2017; 13:e1005731. [PMID: 28922354 PMCID: PMC5619816 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial Lux system is used as a gene expression reporter. It is fast, sensitive and non-destructive, enabling high frequency measurements. Originally developed for bacterial cells, it has also been adapted for eukaryotic cells, and can be used for whole cell biosensors, or in real time with live animals without the need for euthanasia. However, correct interpretation of bioluminescent data is limited: the bioluminescence is different from gene expression because of nonlinear molecular and enzyme dynamics of the Lux system. We have developed a computational approach that, for the first time, allows users of Lux assays to infer gene transcription levels from the light output. This approach is based upon a new mathematical model for Lux activity, that includes the actions of LuxAB, LuxEC and Fre, with improved mechanisms for all reactions, as well as synthesis and turn-over of Lux proteins. The model is calibrated with new experimental data for the LuxAB and Fre reactions from Photorhabdus luminescens—the source of modern Lux reporters—while literature data has been used for LuxEC. Importantly, the data show clear evidence for previously unreported product inhibition for the LuxAB reaction. Model simulations show that predicted bioluminescent profiles can be very different from changes in gene expression, with transient peaks of light output, very similar to light output seen in some experimental data sets. By incorporating the calibrated model into a Bayesian inference scheme, we can reverse engineer promoter activity from the bioluminescence. We show examples where a decrease in bioluminescence would be better interpreted as a switching off of the promoter, or where an increase in bioluminescence would be better interpreted as a longer period of gene expression. This approach could benefit all users of Lux technology. Bioluminescent reporters are used in many areas of biology as fast, sensitive and non-destructive measures of gene expression. They have been developed for bacteria, adapted now for other kinds of organisms, and recently been used for whole cell biosensors, and for real-time live animal models for infection without the need for euthanasia. However, users of Lux technologies rely on the light output being similar to the gene expression they wish to measure. We show that this is not the case. Rather, there is a nonlinear relationship between the two: light output can be misleading and so limits the way that such data can be interpreted. We have developed a new computational method that, for the first time, allows users of Lux reporters to infer accurate gene transcription levels from bioluminescent data. We show examples where a small decrease in light would be better interpreted as promoter being switched off, or where an increase in light would be better interpreted as promoter activity for a longer time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mudassar Iqbal
- Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Doherty
- Food Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Anna M. L. Page
- Food Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Saara N. A. Qazi
- Food Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Ishan Ajmera
- Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Peter A. Lund
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Theodore Kypraios
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Scott
- Food Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Philip J. Hill
- Food Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Dov J. Stekel
- Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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A Bioluminescent Francisella tularensis SCHU S4 Strain Enables Noninvasive Tracking of Bacterial Dissemination and the Evaluation of Antibiotics in an Inhalational Mouse Model of Tularemia. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:7206-7215. [PMID: 27671061 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01586-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) enables real-time, noninvasive tracking of infection in vivo and longitudinal infection studies. In this study, a bioluminescent Francisella tularensis strain, SCHU S4-lux, was used to develop an inhalational infection model in BALB/c mice. Mice were infected intranasally, and the progression of infection was monitored in real time using BLI. A bioluminescent signal was detectable from 3 days postinfection (3 dpi), initially in the spleen and then in the liver and lymph nodes, before finally becoming systemic. The level of bioluminescent signal correlated with bacterial numbers in vivo, enabling noninvasive quantification of bacterial burdens in tissues. Treatment with levofloxacin (commencing at 4 dpi) significantly reduced the BLI signal. Furthermore, BLI was able to distinguish noninvasively between different levofloxacin treatment regimens and to identify sites of relapse following treatment cessation. These data demonstrate that BLI and SCHU S4-lux are suitable for the study of F. tularensis pathogenesis and the evaluation of therapeutics for tularemia.
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Skare JT, Shaw DK, Trzeciakowski JP, Hyde JA. In Vivo Imaging Demonstrates That Borrelia burgdorferi ospC Is Uniquely Expressed Temporally and Spatially throughout Experimental Infection. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162501. [PMID: 27611840 PMCID: PMC5017786 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochetal bacterium transmitted by the Ixodes tick that causes Lyme disease in humans due to its ability to evade the host immune response and disseminate to multiple immunoprotective tissues. The pathogen undergoes dynamic genetic alterations important for adaptation from the tick vector to the mammalian host, but little is known regarding the changes at the transcriptional level within the distal tissues they colonize. In this study, B. burgdorferi infection and gene expression of the essential virulence determinant ospC was quantitatively monitored in a spatial and temporal manner utilizing reporter bioluminescent borrelial strains with in vivo and ex vivo imaging. Although expressed from a shuttle vector, the PospC-luc construct exhibited a similar expression pattern relative to native ospC. Bacterial burden in skin, inguinal lymph node, heart, bladder and tibiotarsal joint varied between tissues and fluctuated over the course of infection possibly in response to unique cues of each microenvironment. Expression of ospC, when normalized for changes in bacterial load, presented unique profiles in murine tissues at different time points. The inguinal lymph node was infected with a significant B. burgdorferi burden, but showed minimal ospC expression. B. burgdorferi infected skin and heart induced expression of ospC early during infection while the bladder and tibiotarsal joint continued to display PospC driven luminescence throughout the 21 day time course. Localized skin borrelial burden increased dramatically in the first 96 hours following inoculation, which was not paralleled with an increase in ospC expression, despite the requirement of ospC for dermal colonization. Quantitation of bioluminescence representing ospC expression in individual tissues was validated by qRT-PCR of the native ospC transcript. Taken together, the temporal regulation of ospC expression in distal tissues suggests a role for this virulence determinant beyond early infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan T. Skare
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan/College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Dana K. Shaw
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan/College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jerome P. Trzeciakowski
- Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan/College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jenny A. Hyde
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan/College Station, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Schuster CF, Bertram R. Toxin-Antitoxin Systems of Staphylococcus aureus. Toxins (Basel) 2016; 8:E140. [PMID: 27164142 PMCID: PMC4885055 DOI: 10.3390/toxins8050140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2016] [Revised: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are small genetic elements found in the majority of prokaryotes. They encode toxin proteins that interfere with vital cellular functions and are counteracted by antitoxins. Dependent on the chemical nature of the antitoxins (protein or RNA) and how they control the activity of the toxin, TA systems are currently divided into six different types. Genes comprising the TA types I, II and III have been identified in Staphylococcus aureus. MazF, the toxin of the mazEF locus is a sequence-specific RNase that cleaves a number of transcripts, including those encoding pathogenicity factors. Two yefM-yoeB paralogs represent two independent, but auto-regulated TA systems that give rise to ribosome-dependent RNases. In addition, omega/epsilon/zeta constitutes a tripartite TA system that supposedly plays a role in the stabilization of resistance factors. The SprA1/SprA1AS and SprF1/SprG1 systems are post-transcriptionally regulated by RNA antitoxins and encode small membrane damaging proteins. TA systems controlled by interaction between toxin protein and antitoxin RNA have been identified in S. aureus in silico, but not yet experimentally proven. A closer inspection of possible links between TA systems and S. aureus pathophysiology will reveal, if these genetic loci may represent druggable targets. The modification of a staphylococcal TA toxin to a cyclopeptide antibiotic highlights the potential of TA systems as rather untapped sources of drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher F Schuster
- Section of Microbiology & MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - Ralph Bertram
- Interfakultäres Institut für Mikrobiologie und Infektionsmedizin, Lehrbereich Mikrobielle Genetik, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
- Klinikum Nürnberg Medical School GmbH, Research Department, Paracelsus Medical University, 90419 Nuremberg, Germany.
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