1
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Tan Y, Liu W, Chen Y, Zhou Y, Song K, Cao S, Zhang Y, Song Y, Deng H, Yang R, Du Z. Comparative Lysine Acetylome Analysis of Y. pestis YfiQ/CobB Mutants Reveals that Acetylation of SlyA Lys73 Significantly Promotes Biofilm Formation of Y. pestis. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0046023. [PMID: 37458592 PMCID: PMC10433856 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00460-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence shows that protein lysine acetylation is involved in almost every aspect of cellular physiology in bacteria. Yersinia pestis is a flea-borne pathogen responsible for millions of human deaths in three global pandemics. However, the functional role of lysine acetylation in this pathogen remains unclear. Here, we found more acetylated proteins and a higher degree of acetylation in Y. pestis grown under mammalian host (Mh) conditions than under flea vector (Fv) conditions, suggesting that protein acetylation could significantly change during fleabite transmission. Comparative acetylome analysis of mutants of YfiQ and CobB, the major acetyltransferase and deacetylase of Y. pestis, respectively, identified 23 YfiQ-dependent and 315 CobB-dependent acetylated proteins. Further results demonstrated that acetylation of Lys73 of the SlyA protein, a MarR-family transcriptional regulator, inhibits its binding to the promoter of target genes, including hmsT that encodes diguanylate cyclase responsible for the synthesis of c-di-GMP, and significantly enhances biofilm formation of Y. pestis. Our study presents the first extensive acetylome data of Y. pestis and a critical resource for the functional study of lysine acetylation in this pathogen. IMPORTANCE Yersinia pestis is the etiological agent of plague, historically responsible for three global pandemics. The 2017 plague epidemic in Madagascar was a reminder that Y. pestis remains a real threat in many parts of the world. Plague is a zoonotic disease that primarily infects rodents via fleabite, and transmission of Y. pestis from infected fleas to mammals requires rapid adaptive responses to adverse host environments to establish infection. Our study provides the first global profiling of lysine acetylation derived from mass spectrometry analysis in Y. pestis. Our data set can serve as a critical resource for the functional study of lysine acetylation in Y. pestis and provides new molecular insight into the physiological role of lysine acetylation in proteins. More importantly, we found that acetylation of Lys73 of SlyA significantly promotes biofilm formation of Y. pestis, indicating that bacteria can use lysine acetylation to fine-tune the expression of genes to improve adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafang Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Wanbing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yuling Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yazhou Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Song
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Shiyang Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yajun Song
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Haiteng Deng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Zongmin Du
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
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2
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Liu L, Liu W, He Y, Liu Y, Wu H, Zhang Y, Zhang Q. Transcriptional Regulation of hmsB, A Temperature-Dependent Small RNA, by RovM in Yersinia pestis Biovar Microtus. Curr Microbiol 2023; 80:182. [PMID: 37046126 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03293-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
HmsB, a temperature-dependent sRNA, promotes biofilm formation by Yersinia pestis, but whether its own expression is regulated by other regulators is still poorly understood. RovM is a global regulator that activates biofilm formation but represses the virulence of Y. pestis. In this work, the results of primer extension, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and LacZ fusion demonstrated that RovM was able to activate hmsB expression. However, the results of electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that His-RovM did not bind to the upstream DNA region of hmsB. Thus, RovM may exert its regulatory action on hmsB expression in an indirect manner. The data presented here enriched the content of the regulatory circuits that control gene expression in Y. pestis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the PLA, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Wanbing Liu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the PLA, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Yingyu He
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the PLA, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the PLA, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Haisheng Wu
- Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, 811602, China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, 811602, China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Qinwen Zhang
- Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, 811602, China.
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3
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Liu L, Liu W, He Y, Liu Y, Zhang Y. The cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) controls expression of the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) in Yersinia pestis. Can J Microbiol 2022; 68:501-506. [PMID: 35801716 DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2021-0314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is one of the most dangerous pathogens in the world. Both the cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) and ferric uptake regulator (Fur) are global regulators that control the expression of a great deal of genes involved in a variety of cellular functions in Y. pestis. In this work, two CRP box-like deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences were detected in the upstream DNA region of fur, suggesting that the transcription of fur might be directly regulated by CRP in Y. pestis. Thus, transcriptional regulation of fur by CRP was investigated by primer extension, quantitative real-time PCR, LacZ fusion, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. The results demonstrated that CRP was able to bind the regulatory DNA region of fur to activate its transcription. The data presented here not only suggested that the CRP and Fur regulons were bridged together via the direct regulation of fur by CRP, but also provided us a deeper understanding of the transcriptional regulation of fur in Y. pestis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the PLA, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China.,The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Wanbing Liu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the PLA, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Yingyu He
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan Liu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China
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4
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Nlp enhances biofilm formation by Yersinia pestis biovar microtus. Microb Pathog 2022; 169:105659. [PMID: 35760284 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Biofilms formed by Yersinia pestis are able to attach to and block flea's proventriculus, which stimulates the transmission of this pathogen from fleas to mammals. In this study, we found that Nlp (YP1143) enhanced biofilm formation by Y. pestis and had regulatory effects on biofilm-associated genes at the transcriptional level. Phenotypic assays, including colony morphology assay, crystal violet staining, and Caenorhabditis elegans biofilm assay, disclosed that Nlp strongly promoted biofilm formation by Y. pestis. Further gene regulation assays showed that Nlp stimulated the expression of hmsHFRS, hmsCDE and hmsB, while had no regulatory effect on the expression of hmsT and hmsP at the transcriptional level. These findings promoted us to gain more understanding of the complex regulatory circuits controlling biofilm formation by Y. pestis.
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5
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Gahlot DK, Wai SN, Erickson DL, Francis MS. Cpx-signalling facilitates Hms-dependent biofilm formation by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2022; 8:13. [PMID: 35351893 PMCID: PMC8964730 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-022-00281-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria often reside in sessile communities called biofilms, where they adhere to a variety of surfaces and exist as aggregates in a viscous polymeric matrix. Biofilms are resistant to antimicrobial treatments, and are a major contributor to the persistence and chronicity of many bacterial infections. Herein, we determined that the CpxA-CpxR two-component system influenced the ability of enteropathogenic Yersinia pseudotuberculosis to develop biofilms. Mutant bacteria that accumulated the active CpxR~P isoform failed to form biofilms on plastic or on the surface of the Caenorhabditis elegans nematode. A failure to form biofilms on the worm surface prompted their survival when grown on the lawns of Y. pseudotuberculosis. Exopolysaccharide production by the hms loci is the major driver of biofilms formed by Yersinia. We used a number of molecular genetic approaches to demonstrate that active CpxR~P binds directly to the promoter regulatory elements of the hms loci to activate the repressors of hms expression and to repress the activators of hms expression. Consequently, active Cpx-signalling culminated in a loss of exopolysaccharide production. Hence, the development of Y. pseudotuberculosis biofilms on multiple surfaces is controlled by the Cpx-signalling, and at least in part this occurs through repressive effects on the Hms-dependent exopolysaccharide production.
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6
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Li C, Pan D, Li M, Wang Y, Song L, Yu D, Zuo Y, Wang K, Liu Y, Wei Z, Lu Z, Zhu L, Shen X. Aerobactin-Mediated Iron Acquisition Enhances Biofilm Formation, Oxidative Stress Resistance, and Virulence of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:699913. [PMID: 34335534 PMCID: PMC8319957 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.699913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aerobactin is a citrate-hydroxamate siderophore that is critical for the virulence of pathogenic enteric bacteria. However, although the aerobactin-producing iucABCD-iutA operon is distributed widely in the genomes of Yersinia species, none of the pathogenic Yersinia spp. was found to produce aerobactin. Here, we showed that the iucABCD-iutA operon in the food-borne enteric pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis YPIII is a functional siderophore system involved in iron acquisition. The expression of the operon was found to be directly repressed by the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) in an iron concentration-dependent manner. In addition, we demonstrated that the aerobactin-mediated iron acquisition contributes to bacterial growth under iron-limited conditions. Moreover, we provided evidence that aerobactin plays important roles in biofilm formation, resistance to oxidative stress, ROS removal, and virulence of Y. pseudotuberculosis. Overall, our study not only uncovered a novel strategy of iron acquisition in Y. pseudotuberculosis but also highlighted the importance of aerobactin in the pathogenesis of Y. pseudotuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changfu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.,Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Damin Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Mengyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Luting Song
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Danyang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yuxin Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Kenan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yuqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.,Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Zhiyan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Zhiqiang Lu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Lingfang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.,Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Xihui Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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7
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Suntsov VV. Genomogenesis of the Plague Bacteria Yersinia pestis as a Process of Mosaic Evolution. RUSS J GENET+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795421020113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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8
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A Trimeric Autotransporter Enhances Biofilm Cohesiveness in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis but Not in Yersinia pestis. J Bacteriol 2020; 202:JB.00176-20. [PMID: 32778558 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00176-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cohesion of biofilms made by Yersinia pestis and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis has been attributed solely to an extracellular polysaccharide matrix encoded by the hms genes (Hms-dependent extracellular matrix [Hms-ECM]). However, mutations in the Y. pseudotuberculosis BarA/UvrY/CsrB regulatory cascade enhance biofilm stability without dramatically increasing Hms-ECM production. We found that treatment with proteinase K enzyme effectively destabilized Y. pseudotuberculosis csrB mutant biofilms, suggesting that cell-cell interactions might be mediated by protein adhesins or extracellular matrix proteins. We identified an uncharacterized trimeric autotransporter lipoprotein (YPTB2394), repressed by csrB, which has been referred to as YadE. Biofilms made by a ΔyadE mutant strain were extremely sensitive to mechanical disruption. Overexpression of yadE in wild-type Y. pseudotuberculosis increased biofilm cohesion, similar to biofilms made by csrB or uvrY mutants. We found that the Rcs signaling cascade, which represses Hms-ECM production, activated expression of yadE The yadE gene appears to be functional in Y. pseudotuberculosis but is a pseudogene in modern Y. pestis strains. Expression of functional yadE in Y. pestis KIM6+ weakened biofilms made by these bacteria. This suggests that although the YadE autotransporter protein increases Y. pseudotuberculosis biofilm stability, it may be incompatible with the Hms-ECM production that is essential for Y. pestis biofilm production in fleas. Inactivation of yadE in Y. pestis may be another instance of selective gene loss in the evolution of flea-borne transmission by this species.IMPORTANCE The evolution of Yersinia pestis from its Y. pseudotuberculosis ancestor involved gene acquisition and gene losses, leading to differences in biofilm production. Characterizing the unique biofilm features of both species may provide better understanding of how each adapts to its specific niches. This study identifies a trimeric autotransporter, YadE, that promotes biofilm stability of Y. pseudotuberculosis but which has been inactivated in Y. pestis, perhaps because it is not compatible with the Hms polysaccharide that is crucial for biofilms inside fleas. We also reveal that the Rcs signaling cascade, which represses Hms expression, activates YadE in Y. pseudotuberculosis The ability of Y. pseudotuberculosis to use polysaccharide or YadE protein for cell-cell adhesion may help it produce biofilms in different environments.
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9
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Liu L, Zheng S. Transcriptional regulation of Yersinia pestis biofilm formation. Microb Pathog 2019; 131:212-217. [PMID: 30980880 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2019.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is transmitted primarily by infected fleas in nature. Y. pestis can produce biofilms that block flea's proventriculus and promote flea-borne transmission. Transcriptional regulation of Y. pestis biofilm formation plays an important role in the response to complex changes in environments, including temperature, pH, oxidative stress, and restrictive nutrition conditions, and contributes to Y. pestis growth, reproduction, transmission, and pathogenesis. A set of transcriptional regulators involved in Y. pestis biofilm production simultaneously controls a variety of biological functions and physiological pathways. Interactions between these regulators contribute to the development of Y. pestis gene regulatory networks, which are helpful for a quick response to complex environmental changes and better survival. The roles of crucial factors and regulators involved in response to complex environmental signals and Y. pestis biofilm formation as well as the precise gene regulatory networks are discussed in this review, which will give a better understanding of the complicated mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in Y. pestis biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Department of Transfusion, General Hospital of Central Theater Command, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China; State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Shangen Zheng
- Department of Transfusion, General Hospital of Central Theater Command, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.
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10
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Transcriptional Regulation Between the Two Global Regulators RovA and CRP in Yersinia pestis biovar Microtus. Curr Microbiol 2018; 75:1634-1641. [PMID: 30291406 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-018-1571-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Yersinia pestis is a dangerous bacterial pathogen that can cause plague. Both RovA and cyclic AMP receptor protein (cAMP-CRP) are required for regulating biofilm- and virulence-related genes in Y. pestis. In this study, the transcriptional regulation between RovA and cAMP-CRP were analyzed by using primer extension, quantitative RT-PCR, LacZ fusion, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The results indicated that RovA repressed crp transcription in an indirect manner, while that RovA had no regulatory action on cyaA at the transcriptional level. In addition, cAMP-CRP did not regulate the transcription of rovA. Taken together with our previous results, complex regulatory interactions of RovA, cAMP-CRP, and PhoP/PhoQ in Y. pestis were revealed, which would promote us gain deeper understanding about coordinative modulation of biofilm- and virulence-related regulator genes.
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Fang H, Liu L, Zhang Y, Yang H, Yan Y, Ding X, Han Y, Zhou D, Yang R. BfvR, an AraC-Family Regulator, Controls Biofilm Formation and pH6 Antigen Production in Opposite Ways in Yersinia pestis Biovar Microtus. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:347. [PMID: 30333962 PMCID: PMC6176095 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilm formation is critical for blocking flea foregut and hence for transmission of Y. pestis by flea biting. In this study, we identified the regulatory role of the AraC-family transcriptional regulator BfvR (YPO1737 in strain CO92) in biofilm formation and virulence of Yersinia pestis biovar Microtus. Crystal violet staining, Caenorhabditis elegans biofilm assay, colony morphology assay, intracellular c-di-GMP concentration determination, and BALB/c mice challenge were employed to reveal that BfvR enhanced Y. pestis biofilm formation while repressed its virulence in mice. Further molecular biological assays demonstrated that BfvR directly stimulated the expression of hmsHFRS, waaAE-coaD, and hmsCDE, which, in turn, affected the production of exopolysaccharide, LPS, and c-di-GMP, respectively. In addition, BfvR directly and indirectly repressed psaABC and psaEF transcription, respectively. We concluded that the modulation of biofilm- and virulence-related genes by BfvR led to increased biofilm formation and reduced virulence of Y. pestis biovar Microtus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihong Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China.,Division of Biology, Beijing Academy, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Wuhan General Hospital of PLA, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Huiying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yanfeng Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojuan Ding
- Department of Microbiology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yanping Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
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12
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Schachterle JK, Stewart RM, Schachterle MB, Calder JT, Kang H, Prince JT, Erickson DL. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis BarA-UvrY Two-Component Regulatory System Represses Biofilms via CsrB. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:323. [PMID: 30280093 PMCID: PMC6153318 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The formation of biofilms by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (Yptb) and Y. pestis requires the hmsHFRS genes, which direct production of a polysaccharide extracellular matrix (Hms-ECM). Despite possessing identical hmsHFRS sequences, Yptb produces much less Hms-ECM than Y. pestis. The regulatory influences that control Yptb Hms-ECM production and biofilm formation are not fully understood. In this study, negative regulators of biofilm production in Yptb were identified. Inactivation of the BarA/UvrY two-component system or the CsrB regulatory RNA increased binding of Congo Red dye, which correlates with extracellular polysaccharide production. These mutants also produced biofilms that were substantially more cohesive than the wild type strain. Disruption of uvrY was not sufficient for Yptb to cause proventricular blockage during infection of Xenopsylla cheopis fleas. However, this strain was less acutely toxic toward fleas than wild type Yptb. Flow cytometry measurements of lectin binding indicated that Yptb BarA/UvrY/CsrB mutants may produce higher levels of other carbohydrates in addition to poly-GlcNAc Hms-ECM. In an effort to characterize the relevant downstream targets of the BarA/UvrY system, we conducted a proteomic analysis to identify proteins with lower abundance in the csrB::Tn5 mutant strain. Urease subunit proteins were less abundant and urease enzymatic activity was lower, which likely reduced toxicity toward fleas. Loss of CsrB impacted expression of several potential regulatory proteins that may influence biofilms, including the RcsB regulator. Overexpression of CsrB did not alter the Congo-red binding phenotype of an rcsB::Tn5 mutant, suggesting that the effect of CsrB on biofilms may require RcsB. These results underscore the regulatory and compositional differences between Yptb and Y. pestis biofilms. By activating CsrB expression, the Yptb BarA/UvrY two-component system has pleiotropic effects that impact biofilm production and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey K Schachterle
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Ryan M Stewart
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - M Brett Schachterle
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Joshua T Calder
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Huan Kang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - John T Prince
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - David L Erickson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
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13
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Genetic diversity and spatial-temporal distribution of Yersinia pestis in Qinghai Plateau, China. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006579. [PMID: 29939993 PMCID: PMC6034908 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is a highly infectious, zoonotic disease. Hundreds of human plague cases are reported across the world annually. Qinghai Plateau is one of the most severely affected plague regions in China, with more than 240 fatal cases of Y. pestis in the last 60 years. Conventional epidemiologic analysis has effectively guided the prevention and control of local plague transmission; however, molecular genetic analysis is more effective for investigating population diversity and transmission. In this report, we employed different genetic markers to analyze the population structure of Y. pestis in Qinghai Plateau. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING We employed a two-step hierarchical strategy to analyze the phylogeny of 102 Qinghai Plateau isolates of Y. pestis, collected between 1954 and 2011. First, we defined the genealogy of Y. pestis by constructed minimum spanning tree based on 25 key SNPs. Seven groups were identified, with group 1.IN2 being identified as the dominant population. Second, two methods, MLVA and CRISPR, were applied to examine the phylogenetic detail of group 1.IN2, which was further divided into three subgroups. Subgroups of 1.IN2 revealed a clear geographic cluster, possibly associated with interaction between bacteriophage and Y. pestis. More recently, Y. pestis populations appear to have shifted from the east toward the center and west of Qinghai Plateau. This shift could be related to destruction of the local niche of the original plague focus through human activities. Additionally, we found that the abundance and relative proportion of 1.IN2 subgroups varied by decade and might be responsible for the fluctuations of plague epidemics in Qinghai Plateau. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE Molecular genotyping methods provided us with detailed information on population diversity and the spatial-temporal distribution of dominant populations of Y. pestis, which will facilitate future surveillance, prevention, and control of plague in Qinghai Plateau.
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Liu L, Fang H, Yang H, Zhang Y, Han Y, Zhou D, Yang R. Reciprocal regulation of Yersinia pestis biofilm formation and virulence by RovM and RovA. Open Biol 2016; 6:rsob.150198. [PMID: 26984293 PMCID: PMC4821237 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.150198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
RovA is known to enhance Yersinia pestis virulence by directly upregulating the psa loci. This work presents a complex gene regulatory paradigm involving the reciprocal regulatory action of RovM and RovA on the expression of biofilm and virulence genes as well as on their own genes. RovM and RovA enhance and inhibit Y. pestis biofilm production, respectively, whereas RovM represses virulence in mice. RovM directly stimulates the transcription of hmsT, hmsCDE and rovM, while indirectly enhancing hmsHFRS transcription. It also indirectly represses hmsP transcription. By contrast, RovA directly represses hmsT transcription and indirectly inhibits waaAE-coaD transcription, while RovM inhibits psaABC and psaEF transcription by directly repressing rovA transcription. rovM expression is significantly upregulated at 26°C (the temperature of the flea gut) relative to 37°C (the warm-blooded host temperature). We speculate that upregulation of rovM together with downregulation of rovA in the flea gut would promote Y. pestis biofilm formation while inhibiting virulence gene expression, leading to a more transmissible infection of this pathogen in fleas. Once the bacterium shifts to a lifestyle in the warm-blooded hosts, inhibited RovM production accompanied by recovered RovA synthesis would encourage virulence factor production and inhibit biofilm gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, People's Republic of China
| | - Haihong Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, People's Republic of China School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanping Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, People's Republic of China
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Afanas’ev MV, Balakhonov SV, Tokmakova EG, Polovinkina VS, Sidorova EA, Sinkov VV. Analysis of complete sequence of cryptic plasmid pTP33 from Yersinia pestis isolated in Tuva natural focus of plague. RUSS J GENET+ 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795416090027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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16
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Liu Z, Gao X, Wang H, Fang H, Yan Y, Liu L, Chen R, Zhou D, Yang R, Han Y. Plasmid pPCP1-derived sRNA HmsA promotes biofilm formation of Yersinia pestis. BMC Microbiol 2016; 16:176. [PMID: 27492011 PMCID: PMC4973556 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-016-0793-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The ability of Yersinia pestis to form a biofilm is an important characteristic in flea transmission of this pathogen. Y. pestis laterally acquired two plasmids (pPCP1and pMT1) and the ability to form biofilms when it evolved from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are thought to play a crucial role in the processes of biofilm formation and pathogenesis. Results A pPCP1-derived sRNA HmsA (also known as sR084) was found to contribute to the enhanced biofilm formation phenotype of Y. pestis. The concentration of c-di-GMP was significantly reduced upon deletion of the hmsA gene in Y. pestis. The abundance of mRNA transcripts determining exopolysaccharide production, crucial for biofilm formation, was measured by primer extension, RT-PCR and lacZ transcriptional fusion assays in the wild-type and hmsA mutant strains. HmsA positively regulated biofilm synthesis-associated genes (hmsHFRS, hmsT and hmsCDE), but had no regulatory effect on the biofilm degradation-associated gene hmsP. Interestingly, the recently identified biofilm activator sRNA, HmsB, was rapidly degraded in the hmsA deletion mutant. Two genes (rovM and rovA) functioning as biofilm regulators were also found to be regulated by HmsA, whose regulatory effects were consistent with the HmsA-mediated biofilm phenotype. Conclusion HmsA potentially functions as an activator of biofilm formation in Y. pestis, implying that sRNAs encoded on the laterally acquired plasmids might be involved in the chromosome-based regulatory networks implicated in Y. pestis-specific physiological processes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-016-0793-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zizhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China.,State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Xiaofang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China.,Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China
| | - Hongduo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China.,College of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
| | - Haihong Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Yanfeng Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Lei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Rong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China.,The General Hospital of PLA, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Yanping Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China.
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Liu L, Fang H, Yang H, Zhang Y, Han Y, Zhou D, Yang R. CRP Is an Activator of Yersinia pestis Biofilm Formation that Operates via a Mechanism Involving gmhA and waaAE-coaD. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:295. [PMID: 27014218 PMCID: PMC4782182 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
gmhA encodes a phosphoheptose isomerase that catalyzes the biosynthesis of heptose, a conserved component of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). GmhA plays an important role in Yersinia pestis biofilm blockage in the flea gut. waaA, waaE, and coaD constitute a three-gene operon waaAE-coaD in Y. pestis. waaA encodes a transferase that is responsible for binding lipid-A to the core oligosaccharide of LPS. WaaA is a key determinant in Y. pestis biofilm formation, and the waaA expression is positively regulated by the two-component regulatory system PhoP/PhoQ. WaaE is involved in LPS modification and is necessary for Y. pestis biofilm production. In this study, the biofilm-related phenotypic assays indicate that the global regulator CRP stimulates Y. pestis biofilm formation in vitro and on nematodes, while it has no regulatory effect on the biosynthesis of the biofilm-signaling molecular 3',5'-cyclic diguanosine monophosphate. Further gene regulation experiments disclose that CRP does not regulate the hms genes at the transcriptional level but directly promotes the gmhA transcription and indirectly activates the waaAE-coaD transcription through directly acting on phoPQ-YPO1632. Thus, it is speculated that CRP-mediated carbon catabolite regulation of Y. pestis biofilm formation depends on the CRP-dependent carbon source metabolic pathways of the biosynthesis, modification, and transportation of biofilm exopolysaccharide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Haihong Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Huiying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yanping Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
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Chen S, Thompson KM, Francis MS. Environmental Regulation of Yersinia Pathophysiology. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 6:25. [PMID: 26973818 PMCID: PMC4773443 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Hallmarks of Yersinia pathogenesis include the ability to form biofilms on surfaces, the ability to establish close contact with eukaryotic target cells and the ability to hijack eukaryotic cell signaling and take over control of strategic cellular processes. Many of these virulence traits are already well-described. However, of equal importance is knowledge of both confined and global regulatory networks that collaborate together to dictate spatial and temporal control of virulence gene expression. This review has the purpose to incorporate historical observations with new discoveries to provide molecular insight into how some of these regulatory mechanisms respond rapidly to environmental flux to govern tight control of virulence gene expression by pathogenic Yersinia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan, China
| | - Karl M Thompson
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Howard University Washington, DC, USA
| | - Matthew S Francis
- Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå UniversityUmeå, Sweden; Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå UniversityUmeå, Sweden
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Abstract
Y. pestis exhibits dramatically different traits of pathogenicity and transmission, albeit their close genetic relationship with its ancestor-Y. pseudotuberculosis, a self-limiting gastroenteric pathogen. Y. pestis is evolved into a deadly pathogen and transmitted to mammals and/or human beings by infected flea biting or directly contacting with the infected animals. Various kinds of environmental changes are implicated into its complex life cycle and pathogenesis. Dynamic regulation of gene expression is critical for environmental adaptation or survival, primarily reflected by genetic regulation mediated by transcriptional factors and small regulatory RNAs at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional level, respectively. The effects of genetic regulation have been shown to profoundly influence Y. pestis physiology and pathogenesis such as stress resistance, biofilm formation, intracellular survival, and replication. In this chapter, we mainly summarize the progresses on popular methods of genetic regulation and on regulatory patterns and consequences of many key transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulators, with a particular emphasis on how genetic regulation influences the biofilm and virulence of Y. pestis.
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Yang R, Cui Y, Bi Y. Perspectives on Yersinia pestis: A Model for Studying Zoonotic Pathogens. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 918:377-391. [PMID: 27722871 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-024-0890-4_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Yersinia pestis is a typical zoonotic bacterial pathogen. The following reasons make this pathogen a model for studying zoonotic pathogens: (1) Its unique lifestyle makes Y. pestis an ideal model for studying host-vector-environment-pathogen interactions; (2) population diversity characters in Y. pestis render it a model species for studying monomorphic bacterial evolution; (3) the pathogenic features of bacteria provide us with good opportunities to study human immune responses; (4) typical animal and vector models of Y. pestis infection create opportunities for experimental studies on pathogenesis and evolution; and (5) repeated pandemics and local outbreaks provide us with clues about the infectious disease outbreaks that have occurred in human history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifu Yang
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Yujun Cui
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Yujing Bi
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China
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Liu L, Fang N, Sun Y, Yang H, Zhang Y, Han Y, Zhou D, Yang R. Transcriptional regulation of the waaAE-coaD operon by PhoP and RcsAB in Yersinia pestis biovar Microtus. Protein Cell 2015; 5:940-4. [PMID: 25359466 PMCID: PMC4259886 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-014-0110-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
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Fang N, Yang H, Fang H, Liu L, Zhang Y, Wang L, Han Y, Zhou D, Yang R. RcsAB is a major repressor of Yersinia biofilm development through directly acting on hmsCDE, hmsT, and hmsHFRS. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9566. [PMID: 25828910 PMCID: PMC4381331 DOI: 10.1038/srep09566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilm formation in flea gut is important for flea-borne transmission of Yersinia pestis. There are enhancing factors (HmsHFRS, HmsCDE, and HmsT) and inhibiting one (HmsP) for Yersinia pestis biofilm formation. The RcsAB regulatory complex acts as a repressor of Yesinia biofilm formation, and adaptive pseudogenization of rcsA promotes Y. pestis to evolve the ability of biofilm formation in fleas. In this study, we constructed a set of isogenic strains of Y. pestis biovar Microtus, namely WT (RscB+ and RcsA-), c-rcsA (RscB+ and RcsA+), ΔrcsB (RscB- and RcsA-), and ΔrcsB/c-rcsA (RscB- and RcsA+). The phenotypic assays confirmed that RcsB alone (but not RcsA alone) had an inhibiting effect on biofilm/c-di-GMP production whereas assistance of RcsA to RcsB greatly enhanced this inhibiting effect. Further gene regulation experiments showed that RcsB in assistance of RcsA tightly bound to corresponding promoter-proximal regions to achieve transcriptional repression of hmsCDE, hmsT and hmsHFRS and, meanwhile, RcsAB positively regulated hmsP most likely in an indirect manner. Data presented here disclose that pseudogenization of rcsA leads to dramatic remodeling of RcsAB-dependent hms gene expression between Y. pestis and its progenitor Y. pseudotuberculosis, enabling potent production of Y. pestis biofilms in fleas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Huiying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Haihong Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Lei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yanping Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
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Guo XP, Ren GX, Zhu H, Mao XJ, Sun YC. Differential regulation of the hmsCDE operon in Yersinia pestis and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis by the Rcs phosphorelay system. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8412. [PMID: 25672461 PMCID: PMC4325325 DOI: 10.1038/srep08412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Yersinia pestis, the agent of plague, forms a biofilm in its flea vector to enhance transmission. Y. pestis biofilm development is positively regulated by hmsT and hmsD, encoding diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) involved in synthesis of the bacterial second messenger c-di-GMP. rcsA, encoding an auxiliary protein in Rcs phosphorelay, is nonfunctional in Y. pestis, while in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, rcsA is functional and represses biofilms. Previously we showed that Rcs phosphorelay negatively regulates transcription of hmsT in Y. pestis and its ancestor Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. In this study, we show that Rcs positively regulates hmsCDE operon (encoding HmsD) in Y. pestis; while in the presence of functional rcsA, Rcs represses hmsCDE operon in Y. pseudotuberculosis. Loss of rcsA's function in Y. pestis not only causes derepression of hmsT but also causes activation of hmsD, which may account for the increased biofilm formation in Y. pestis. In addition, differential regulation of the two DGCs, HmsT and HmsD by Rcs may help Y. pestis to adapt to different environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Peng Guo
- MOH key laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 9, Dongdan Santiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Gai-Xian Ren
- MOH key laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 9, Dongdan Santiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- MOH key laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 9, Dongdan Santiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xu-Jian Mao
- MOH key laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 9, Dongdan Santiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yi-Cheng Sun
- MOH key laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 9, Dongdan Santiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
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Laganà P, Caruso G, Mazzù F, Caruso G, Parisi S, Santi Delia A. Brief Notes About Biofilms. SPRINGERBRIEFS IN MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-20559-5_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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25
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Fang N, Qu S, Yang H, Fang H, Liu L, Zhang Y, Wang L, Han Y, Zhou D, Yang R. HmsB enhances biofilm formation in Yersinia pestis. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:685. [PMID: 25566205 PMCID: PMC4264472 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The hmsHFRS operon is responsible for biosynthesis and translocation of biofilm matrix exopolysaccharide. Yersinia pestis expresses the two sole diguanylate cyclases HmsT and HmsD and the sole phosphodiesterase HmsP, which are specific for biosynthesis and degradation, respectively, of 3′,5′-cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP), a second messenger promoting exopolysaccharide production. In this work, the phenotypic assays indicates that Y. pestis sRNA HmsB enhances the production of c-di-GMP, exopolysaccharide, and biofilm. Further gene regulation experiments disclose that HmsB stimulates the expression of hmsB, hmsCDE, hmsT, and hmsHFRS but represses that of hmsP. HmsB most likely acts as a major activator of biofilm formation in Y. pestis. This is the first report of regulation of Yersinia biofilm formation by a sRNA. Data presented here will promote us to gain a deeper understanding of the complex regulatory circuits controlling Yersinia biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Shi Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Huiying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Haihong Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Lei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Yanping Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
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Suntsov VV. Ecological aspects of the origin of Yersinia pestis, causative agent of the plague: Concept of intermediate environment. CONTEMP PROBL ECOL+ 2014. [DOI: 10.1134/s1995425514010144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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27
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Lawal A, Kirtley ML, van Lier CJ, Erova TE, Kozlova EV, Sha J, Chopra AK, Rosenzweig JA. The effects of modeled microgravity on growth kinetics, antibiotic susceptibility, cold growth, and the virulence potential of a Yersinia pestis ymoA-deficient mutant and its isogenic parental strain. ASTROBIOLOGY 2013; 13:821-32. [PMID: 23988036 PMCID: PMC3779001 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2013.0968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 06/09/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Previously, we reported that there was no enhancement in the virulence potential (as measured by cell culture infections) of the bacterial pathogen Yersinia pestis (YP) following modeled microgravity/clinorotation growth. We have now further characterized the effects of clinorotation (CR) on YP growth kinetics, antibiotic sensitivity, cold growth, and YP's virulence potential in a murine model of infection. Surprisingly, none of the aforementioned phenotypes were altered. To better understand why CR did not enhance YP's virulence potential as it did for other bacterial pathogens, a YP ΔymoA isogenic mutant in the KIM/D27 background strain that is unable to produce the histone-like YmoA protein and influences DNA topography was used in both cell culture and murine models of infection. YmoA represses type three secretion system (T3SS) virulence gene expression in the yersiniae. Similar to our CR-grown parental YP strain data, the CR-grown ΔymoA mutant induced reduced HeLa cell cytotoxicity with concomitantly decreased Yersinia outer protein E (YopE) and low calcium response V (LcrV) antigen production and secretion. Important, however, were our findings that, although no significant differences were observed in survival of mice infected intraperitoneally with either normal gravity (NG)- or CR-grown parental YP, the ΔymoA mutant induced significantly more mortality in infected mice than did the parental strain following CR growth. Taken together, our data demonstrate that CR did enhance the virulence potential of the YP ΔymoA mutant in a murine infection model (relative to the CR-grown parental strain), despite inducing less HeLa cell rounding in our cell culture infection assay due to reduced T3SS activity. Therefore, CR, which induces a unique type of bacterial stress, might be enhancing YP's virulence potential in vivo through a T3SS-independent mechanism when the histone-like YmoA protein is absent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abidat Lawal
- Department of Biology, Department of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Center for Bionanotechnology and Environmental Research (CBER), Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas
| | - Michelle L. Kirtley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, and the Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Christina J. van Lier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, and the Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Tatiana E. Erova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, and the Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Elena V. Kozlova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, and the Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Jian Sha
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, and the Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Ashok K. Chopra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, and the Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Jason A. Rosenzweig
- Department of Biology, Department of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Center for Bionanotechnology and Environmental Research (CBER), Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas
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Sun F, Gao H, Zhang Y, Wang L, Fang N, Tan Y, Guo Z, Xia P, Zhou D, Yang R. Fur is a repressor of biofilm formation in Yersinia pestis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e52392. [PMID: 23285021 PMCID: PMC3528687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 11/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Yersinia pestis synthesizes the attached biofilms in the flea proventriculus, which is important for the transmission of this pathogen by fleas. The hmsHFRS operons is responsible for the synthesis of exopolysaccharide (the major component of biofilm matrix), which is activated by the signaling molecule 3′, 5′-cyclic diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) synthesized by the only two diguanylate cyclases HmsT, and YPO0449 (located in a putative operonYPO0450-0448). Methodology/Principal Findings The phenotypic assays indicated that the transcriptional regulator Fur inhibited the Y. pestis biofilm production in vitro and on nematode. Two distinct Fur box-like sequences were predicted within the promoter-proximal region of hmsT, suggesting that hmsT might be a direct Fur target. The subsequent primer extension, LacZ fusion, electrophoretic mobility shift, and DNase I footprinting assays disclosed that Fur specifically bound to the hmsT promoter-proximal region for repressing the hmsT transcription. In contrast, Fur had no regulatory effect on hmsHFRS and YPO0450-0448 at the transcriptional level. The detection of intracellular c-di-GMP levels revealed that Fur inhibited the c-di-GMP production. Conclusions/Significance Y. pestis Fur inhibits the c-di-GMP production through directly repressing the transcription of hmsT, and thus it acts as a repressor of biofilm formation. Since the relevant genetic contents for fur, hmsT, hmsHFRS, and YPO0450-0448 are extremely conserved between Y. pestis and typical Y. pseudotuberculosis, the above regulatory mechanisms can be applied to Y. pseudotuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengjun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Southwest Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - He Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yafang Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaobiao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Peiyuan Xia
- Department of Pharmacy, Southwest Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- * E-mail: (PX); (DZ); (RY)
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (PX); (DZ); (RY)
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (PX); (DZ); (RY)
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