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Vilas Boas D, Castro J, Araújo D, Nóbrega FL, Keevil CW, Azevedo NF, Vieira MJ, Almeida C. The Role of Flagellum and Flagellum-Based Motility on Salmonella Enteritidis and Escherichia coli Biofilm Formation. Microorganisms 2024; 12:232. [PMID: 38399635 PMCID: PMC10893291 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Flagellum-mediated motility has been suggested to contribute to virulence by allowing bacteria to colonize and spread to new surfaces. In Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli species, mutants affected by their flagellar motility have shown a reduced ability to form biofilms. While it is known that some species might act as co-aggregation factors for bacterial adhesion, studies of food-related biofilms have been limited to single-species biofilms and short biofilm formation periods. To assess the contribution of flagella and flagellum-based motility to adhesion and biofilm formation, two Salmonella and E. coli mutants with different flagellar phenotypes were produced: the fliC mutants, which do not produce flagella, and the motAB mutants, which are non-motile. The ability of wild-type and mutant strains to form biofilms was compared, and their relative fitness was determined in two-species biofilms with other foodborne pathogens. Our results showed a defective and significant behavior of E. coli in initial surface colonization (p < 0.05), which delayed single-species biofilm formation. Salmonella mutants were not affected by the ability to form biofilm (p > 0.05). Regarding the effect of motility/flagellum absence on bacterial fitness, none of the mutant strains seems to have their relative fitness affected in the presence of a competing species. Although the absence of motility may eventually delay initial colonization, this study suggests that motility is not essential for biofilm formation and does not have a strong impact on bacteria's fitness when a competing species is present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Vilas Boas
- Center of Biological Engineering (CEB), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (D.V.B.); (M.J.V.)
- LABBELS–Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Joana Castro
- Center of Biological Engineering (CEB), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (D.V.B.); (M.J.V.)
- INIAV—National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Rua dos Lagidos, 4485-655 Vila do Conde, Portugal; (J.C.); (D.A.)
| | - Daniela Araújo
- Center of Biological Engineering (CEB), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (D.V.B.); (M.J.V.)
- INIAV—National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Rua dos Lagidos, 4485-655 Vila do Conde, Portugal; (J.C.); (D.A.)
| | - Franklin L. Nóbrega
- Center of Biological Engineering (CEB), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (D.V.B.); (M.J.V.)
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK; (F.L.N.); (C.W.K.)
| | - Charles W. Keevil
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK; (F.L.N.); (C.W.K.)
| | - Nuno F. Azevedo
- LEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal;
- AliCE—Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria João Vieira
- Center of Biological Engineering (CEB), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (D.V.B.); (M.J.V.)
- LABBELS–Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Carina Almeida
- Center of Biological Engineering (CEB), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (D.V.B.); (M.J.V.)
- INIAV—National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Rua dos Lagidos, 4485-655 Vila do Conde, Portugal; (J.C.); (D.A.)
- LEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal;
- AliCE—Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
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Barbosa A, Miranda S, Azevedo NF, Cerqueira L, Azevedo AS. Imaging biofilms using fluorescence in situ hybridization: seeing is believing. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1195803. [PMID: 37284501 PMCID: PMC10239779 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1195803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are complex structures with an intricate relationship between the resident microorganisms, the extracellular matrix, and the surrounding environment. Interest in biofilms is growing exponentially given its ubiquity in so diverse fields such as healthcare, environmental and industry. Molecular techniques (e.g., next-generation sequencing, RNA-seq) have been used to study biofilm properties. However, these techniques disrupt the spatial structure of biofilms; therefore, they do not allow to observe the location/position of biofilm components (e.g., cells, genes, metabolites), which is particularly relevant to explore and study the interactions and functions of microorganisms. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has been arguably the most widely used method for an in situ analysis of spatial distribution of biofilms. In this review, an overview on different FISH variants already applied on biofilm studies (e.g., CLASI-FISH, BONCAT-FISH, HiPR-FISH, seq-FISH) will be explored. In combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy, these variants emerged as a powerful approach to visualize, quantify and locate microorganisms, genes, and metabolites inside biofilms. Finally, we discuss new possible research directions for the development of robust and accurate FISH-based approaches that will allow to dig deeper into the biofilm structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Barbosa
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sónia Miranda
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IPATIMUP-Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno F. Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Laura Cerqueira
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Andreia S. Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IPATIMUP-Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Azevedo AS, Fernandes RM, Faria AR, Silvestre OF, Nieder JB, Lou C, Wengel J, Almeida C, Azevedo NF. Spectral imaging and nucleic acid mimics fluorescence in situ hybridization (SI-NAM-FISH) for multiplex detection of clinical pathogens. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:976639. [PMID: 36246234 PMCID: PMC9557775 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.976639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The application of nucleic acid mimics (NAMs), such as locked nucleic acid (LNA) and 2′-O-methyl-RNA (2’OMe), has improved the performance of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) methods for the detection/location of clinical pathogens since they provide design versatility and thermodynamic control. However, an important limitation of FISH techniques is the low number of distinguishable targets. The use of filters in fluorescence image acquisition limits the number of fluorochromes that can be simultaneously differentiated. Recent advances in fluorescence spectral image acquisition have allowed the unambiguous identification of several microorganisms in a single sample. In this work, we aimed to combine NAM-FISH and spectral image analysis to develop and validate a new FISH variant, the spectral imaging-NAM-FISH (SI-NAM-FISH), that allows a multiplexed, robust and rapid detection of clinical pathogens. In the first stage, to implement/validate the method, we have selected seven fluorochromes with distinct spectral properties and seven bacterial species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus). As a strong variation in fluorescence intensities is found between species and between fluorochromes, seven versions of a EUB LNA/2’OMe probe, each conjugated to one of seven fluorochromes, were used to rank species/fluorochromes by FISH and then optimize species/fluorochrome pairing. Then, final validation tests were performed using mixed populations to evaluate the potential of the technique for separating/quantifying the different targets. Overall, validation tests with different proportions of bacteria labeled with the respective fluorochrome have shown the ability of the method to correctly distinguish the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia S. Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IPATIMUP-Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Andreia S. Azevedo,
| | - Ricardo M. Fernandes
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Vila Do Conde, Portugal
| | - Ana R. Faria
- INL International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av Mestre José Veiga s/n, Braga, Portugal
| | - Oscar F. Silvestre
- INL International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av Mestre José Veiga s/n, Braga, Portugal
| | - Jana B. Nieder
- INL International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av Mestre José Veiga s/n, Braga, Portugal
| | - Chenguang Lou
- Biomolecular Nanoscale Engineering Center, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jesper Wengel
- Biomolecular Nanoscale Engineering Center, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense, Denmark
| | - Carina Almeida
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Vila Do Conde, Portugal
| | - Nuno F. Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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4
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The role of Nucleic Acid Mimics (NAMs) on FISH-based techniques and applications for microbial detection. Microbiol Res 2022; 262:127086. [PMID: 35700584 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is a powerful tool that for more than 30 years has allowed to detect and quantify microorganisms as well as to study their spatial distribution in three-dimensional structured environments such as biofilms. Throughout these years, FISH has been improved in order to face some of its earlier limitations and to adapt to new research objectives. One of these improvements is related to the emergence of Nucleic Acid Mimics (NAMs), which are now employed as alternatives to the DNA and RNA probes that have been classically used in FISH. NAMs such as peptide and locked nucleic acids (PNA and LNA) have provided enhanced sensitivity and specificity to the FISH technique, as well as higher flexibility in terms of applications. In this review, we aim to cover the state-of-the-art of the different NAMs and explore their possible applications in FISH, providing a general overview of the technique advancement in the last decades.
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Azevedo AS, Rocha R, Dias N. Flow-FISH Using Nucleic Acid Mimic Probes for the Detection of Bacteria. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2246:263-277. [PMID: 33576995 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1115-9_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Flow-Fluorescence in situ hybridization (Flow-FISH) enables multiparametric high-throughput detection of target nucleic acid sequences at the single cell-level, allowing an accurate quantification of different cell populations by using a combination of flow cytometry and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). In this chapter, a flow-FISH protocol is described with labeled nucleic acid mimics (NAMs) (e.g. LNA/2'OMe and PNA) acting as the reporter molecules. This protocol allows for the specific detection of bacterial cells. Hence, this protocol can be carried out with minor adjustments, in order to simultaneously detect different species of bacteria in different types of clinical, food, or environmental samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia S Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Rui Rocha
- CISAS - Centre for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo, Portugal
| | - Nicolina Dias
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
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6
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Oliveira R, Azevedo AS, Mendes L. Application of Nucleic Acid Mimics in Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2246:69-86. [PMID: 33576983 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1115-9_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Traditionally, RNA and DNA probes are used in fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) methods for microbial detection and characterization of communities' structure and diversity. However, the recent introduction of nucleic acid mimics (NAMs) has improved the robustness of the FISH methods in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Several NAMs have been used, of which the most relevant are peptide nucleic acid (PNA), locked nucleic acids (LNA), 2'-O-methyl RNA (2'OMe), and phosphorothioates (PS). In this chapter, we describe a protocol using PNA and LNA/2'OMe probes for microbial detection by FISH, pointing out the differences between them. These protocols are easily adapted to different microorganisms and different probe sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Oliveira
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,INIAV - National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Rua dos Lagidos, Lugar da Madalena, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Andreia S Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Luzia Mendes
- FMDUP - Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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7
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Allkja J, Azevedo AS. Characterization of Social Interactions and Spatial Arrangement of Individual Bacteria in MultiStrain or Multispecies Biofilm Systems Using Nucleic Acid Mimics-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2246:97-109. [PMID: 33576985 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1115-9_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Biofilms are often composed of different bacterial and fungal species/strains, which form complex structures based on social interactions with each other. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) can help us identify the different species/strains present within a biofilm , and when coupled with confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM), it enables the visualization of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the biofilm and the spatial arrangement of each individual species/strain within it. In this chapter, we describe the protocol for characterizing multistrain or multispecies biofilm formation using NAM-FISH and CSLM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jontana Allkja
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Andreia S Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
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Abstract
FISH has gained an irreplaceable place in microbiology because of its ability to detect and locate a microorganism, or a group of organisms, within complex samples. However, FISH role has evolved drastically in the last few decades and its value has been boosted by several advances in signal intensity, imaging acquisitions, automation, method robustness, and, thus, versatility. This has resulted in a range of FISH variants that gave researchers the ability to access a variety of other valuable information such as complex population composition, metabolic activity, gene detection/quantification, or subcellular location of genetic elements. In this chapter, we will review the more relevant FISH variants, their intended use, and how they address particular challenges of classical FISH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno M Guimarães
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Nuno F Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carina Almeida
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INIAV - National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Rua dos Lagidos, Lugar da Madalena, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
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Teixeira H, Sousa AL, Azevedo AS. Bioinformatic Tools and Guidelines for the Design of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Probes. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2246:35-50. [PMID: 33576981 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1115-9_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a well-established technique that allows the detection of microorganisms in diverse types of samples (e.g., clinical, food, environmental samples, and biofilm communities). The FISH probe design is an essential step in this technique. For this, two strategies can be used, the manual form based on multiple sequence alignment to identify conserved regions and programs/software specifically developed for the selection of the sequence of the probe. Additionally, databases/software for the theoretical evaluation of the probes in terms of specificity, sensitivity, and thermodynamic parameters (melting temperature and Gibbs free energy change) are used. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the essential steps and guidelines for the design of FISH probes (e.g., DNA and Nucleic Acid Mimic (NAM) probes), and its theoretical evaluation through the application of diverse bioinformatic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Teixeira
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana L Sousa
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,INIAV - National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Rua dos Lagidos, Lugar da Madalena, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Andreia S Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
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Azevedo AS, Gerola GP, Baptista J, Almeida C, Peres J, Mergulhão FJ, Azevedo NF. Increased Intraspecies Diversity in Escherichia coli Biofilms Promotes Cellular Growth at the Expense of Matrix Production. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9110818. [PMID: 33212939 PMCID: PMC7698454 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9110818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraspecies diversity in biofilm communities is associated with enhanced survival and growth of the individual biofilm populations. Studies on the subject are scarce, namely, when more than three strains are present. Hence, in this study, the influence of intraspecies diversity in biofilm populations composed of up to six different Escherichia coli strains isolated from urine was evaluated in conditions mimicking the ones observed in urinary tract infections and catheter-associated urinary tract infections. In general, with the increasing number of strains in a biofilm, an increase in cell cultivability and a decrease in matrix production were observed. For instance, single-strain biofilms produced an average of 73.1 µg·cm−2 of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), while six strains biofilms produced 19.9 µg·cm−2. Hence, it appears that increased genotypic diversity in a biofilm leads E. coli to direct energy towards the production of its offspring, in detriment of the production of public goods (i.e., matrix components). Apart from ecological implications, these results can be explored as another strategy to reduce the biofilm burden, as a decrease in EPS matrix production may render these intraspecies biofilms more sensitive to antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia S. Azevedo
- LEPABE-Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; (G.P.G.); (J.B.); (C.A.); (J.P.); (F.J.M.); (N.F.A.)
- Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho Braga, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IPATIMUP-Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-2250-8158; Fax: +351-225-081-449
| | - Gislaine P. Gerola
- LEPABE-Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; (G.P.G.); (J.B.); (C.A.); (J.P.); (F.J.M.); (N.F.A.)
| | - João Baptista
- LEPABE-Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; (G.P.G.); (J.B.); (C.A.); (J.P.); (F.J.M.); (N.F.A.)
| | - Carina Almeida
- LEPABE-Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; (G.P.G.); (J.B.); (C.A.); (J.P.); (F.J.M.); (N.F.A.)
- Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho Braga, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Vairão, 4485-655 Vila Do Conde, Portugal
| | - Joana Peres
- LEPABE-Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; (G.P.G.); (J.B.); (C.A.); (J.P.); (F.J.M.); (N.F.A.)
| | - Filipe J. Mergulhão
- LEPABE-Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; (G.P.G.); (J.B.); (C.A.); (J.P.); (F.J.M.); (N.F.A.)
| | - Nuno F. Azevedo
- LEPABE-Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; (G.P.G.); (J.B.); (C.A.); (J.P.); (F.J.M.); (N.F.A.)
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11
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The Protective Effect of Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilm Matrix against Phage Predation. Viruses 2020; 12:v12101076. [PMID: 32992766 PMCID: PMC7601396 DOI: 10.3390/v12101076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a major causative agent of nosocomial infections, mainly associated with the use of indwelling devices, on which this bacterium forms structures known as biofilms. Due to biofilms’ high tolerance to antibiotics, virulent bacteriophages were previously tested as novel therapeutic agents. However, several staphylococcal bacteriophages were shown to be inefficient against biofilms. In this study, the previously characterized S. epidermidis-specific Sepunavirus phiIBB-SEP1 (SEP1), which has a broad spectrum and high activity against planktonic cells, was evaluated concerning its efficacy against S. epidermidis biofilms. The in vitro biofilm killing assays demonstrated a reduced activity of the phage. To understand the underlying factors impairing SEP1 inefficacy against biofilms, this phage was tested against distinct planktonic and biofilm-derived bacterial populations. Interestingly, SEP1 was able to lyse planktonic cells in different physiological states, suggesting that the inefficacy for biofilm control resulted from the biofilm 3D structure and the protective effect of the matrix. To assess the impact of the biofilm architecture on phage predation, SEP1 was tested in disrupted biofilms resulting in a 2 orders-of-magnitude reduction in the number of viable cells after 6 h of infection. The interaction between SEP1 and the biofilm matrix was further assessed by the addition of matrix to phage particles. Results showed that the matrix did not inactivate phages nor affected phage adsorption. Moreover, confocal laser scanning microscopy data demonstrated that phage infected cells were less predominant in the biofilm regions where the matrix was more abundant. Our results provide compelling evidence indicating that the biofilm matrix can work as a barrier, allowing the bacteria to be hindered from phage infection.
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Cattò C, Cappitelli F. Testing Anti-Biofilm Polymeric Surfaces: Where to Start? Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E3794. [PMID: 31382580 PMCID: PMC6696330 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20153794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Present day awareness of biofilm colonization on polymeric surfaces has prompted the scientific community to develop an ever-increasing number of new materials with anti-biofilm features. However, compared to the large amount of work put into discovering potent biofilm inhibitors, only a small number of papers deal with their validation, a critical step in the translation of research into practical applications. This is due to the lack of standardized testing methods and/or of well-controlled in vivo studies that show biofilm prevention on polymeric surfaces; furthermore, there has been little correlation with the reduced incidence of material deterioration. Here an overview of the most common methods for studying biofilms and for testing the anti-biofilm properties of new surfaces is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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Optimizing locked nucleic acid/2'-O-methyl-RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (LNA/2'OMe-FISH) procedure for bacterial detection. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217689. [PMID: 31150460 PMCID: PMC6544301 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the successful application of LNA/2'OMe-FISH procedures for bacteria detection, there is a lack of knowledge on the properties that affect hybridization. Such information is crucial for the rational design of protocols. Hence, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of three essential factors on the LNA/2'OMe hybridization step-hybridization temperature, NaCl concentration and type and concentration of denaturant (formamide, ethylene carbonate and urea). This optimization was performed for 3 Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Citrobacter freundii) and 2 Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus epidermidis), employing the response surface methodology and a Eubacteria probe. In general, it was observed that a high NaCl concentration is beneficial (from 2 M to 5 M), regardless of the denaturant used. Urea, formamide and ethylene carbonate are suitable denaturants for LNA/2'OMe-FISH applications; but urea provides higher fluorescence intensities among the different bacteria, especially for gram-positive bacteria and for P. aeruginosa. However, a unique optimal protocol was not found for all tested bacteria. Despite this, the results indicate that a hybridization solution with 2 M of urea and 4 M of NaCl would be a proper starting point. Furthermore, a hybridization temperature around 62°C, for 14 bp probes with LNA monomers at every third position of 2'OMe and 64% of GC content, should be use in initial optimization of new LNA/2'OMe-FISH protocols.
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Azevedo AS, Almeida C, Melo LF, Azevedo NF. Impact of polymicrobial biofilms in catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Crit Rev Microbiol 2016; 43:423-439. [PMID: 28033847 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2016.1240656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Recent reports have demonstrated that most biofilms involved in catheter-associated urinary tract infections are polymicrobial communities, with pathogenic microorganisms (e.g. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae) and uncommon microorganisms (e.g. Delftia tsuruhatensis, Achromobacter xylosoxidans) frequently co-inhabiting the same urinary catheter. However, little is known about the interactions that occur between different microorganisms and how they impact biofilm formation and infection outcome. This lack of knowledge affects CAUTIs management as uncommon bacteria action can, for instance, influence the rate at which pathogens adhere and grow, as well as affect the overall biofilm resistance to antibiotics. Another relevant aspect is the understanding of factors that drive a single pathogenic bacterium to become prevalent in a polymicrobial community and subsequently cause infection. In this review, a general overview about the IMDs-associated biofilm infections is provided, with an emphasis on the pathophysiology and the microbiome composition of CAUTIs. Based on the available literature, it is clear that more research about the microbiome interaction, mechanisms of biofilm formation and of antimicrobial tolerance of the polymicrobial consortium are required to better understand and treat these infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia S Azevedo
- a Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering , Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, and Energy and Biotechnology Engineering (LEPABE), University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Carina Almeida
- a Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering , Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, and Energy and Biotechnology Engineering (LEPABE), University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,b Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (IBB), Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho , Braga , Portugal
| | - Luís F Melo
- a Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering , Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, and Energy and Biotechnology Engineering (LEPABE), University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Nuno F Azevedo
- a Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering , Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, and Energy and Biotechnology Engineering (LEPABE), University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
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15
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Barros J, Grenho L, Fontenente S, Manuel CM, Nunes OC, Melo LF, Monteiro FJ, Ferraz MP. Staphylococcus aureusandEscherichia colidual-species biofilms on nanohydroxyapatite loaded with CHX or ZnO nanoparticles. J Biomed Mater Res A 2016; 105:491-497. [DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.35925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joana Barros
- FEUP - Faculdade de Engenharia, Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e Materiais; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
- INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
| | - Liliana Grenho
- FEUP - Faculdade de Engenharia, Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e Materiais; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
- INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
| | - Sílvia Fontenente
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
- IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto; Portugal
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Departamento de Engenharia Química; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
| | - Cândida M. Manuel
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Departamento de Engenharia Química; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
- ULP-Universidade Lusófona do Porto; Portugal
| | - Olga C. Nunes
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Departamento de Engenharia Química; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
| | - Luís F. Melo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Departamento de Engenharia Química; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
| | - Fernando J. Monteiro
- FEUP - Faculdade de Engenharia, Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e Materiais; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
- INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica; Universidade do Porto; Portugal
| | - Maria P. Ferraz
- FP-ENAS/CEBIMED; University Fernando Pessoa Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit/Biomedical Research Center; Porto Portugal
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16
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Application of locked nucleic acid-based probes in fluorescence in situ hybridization. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 100:5897-906. [PMID: 26969040 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-7429-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Revised: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) employing nucleic acid mimics as probes is becoming an emerging molecular tool in the microbiology area for the detection and visualization of microorganisms. However, the impact that locked nucleic acid (LNA) and 2'-O-methyl (2'-OMe) RNA modifications have on the probe that is targeting microorganisms is unknown. In this study, the melting and hybridization efficiency properties of 18 different probes in regards to their use in FISH for the detection of the 16S rRNA of Helicobacter pylori were compared. For the same sequence and target, probe length and the type of nucleic acid mimics used as mixmers in LNA-based probes strongly influence the efficiency of detection. LNA probes with 10 to 15 mers showed the highest efficiency. Additionally, the combination of 2'-OMe RNA with LNA allowed an increase on the fluorescence intensities of the probes. Overall, these results have significant implications for the design and applications of LNA probes for the detection of microorganisms.
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17
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Azevedo AS, Almeida C, Pereira B, Melo LF, Azevedo NF. Impact of Delftia tsuruhatensis and Achromobacter xylosoxidans on Escherichia coli dual-species biofilms treated with antibiotic agents. BIOFOULING 2016; 32:227-241. [PMID: 26901701 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2015.1124096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Recently it was demonstrated that for urinary tract infections species with a lower or unproven pathogenic potential, such as Delftia tsuruhatensis and Achromobacter xylosoxidans, might interact with conventional pathogenic agents such as Escherichia coli. Here, single- and dual-species biofilms of these microorganisms were characterized in terms of microbial composition over time, the average fitness of E. coli, the spatial organization and the biofilm antimicrobial profile. The results revealed a positive impact of these species on the fitness of E. coli and a greater tolerance to the antibiotic agents. In dual-species biofilms exposed to antibiotics, E. coli was able to dominate the microbial consortia in spite of being the most sensitive strain. This is the first study demonstrating the protective effect of less common species over E. coli under adverse conditions imposed by the use of antibiotic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia S Azevedo
- a Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, and Energy and Biotechnology Engineering (LEPABE), Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
- b Nucleic Acid Center, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Southern Denmark , Odense M , Denmark
| | - Carina Almeida
- a Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, and Energy and Biotechnology Engineering (LEPABE), Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
- c Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (IBB), Centre of Biological Engineering , Universidade do Minho , Braga , Portugal
| | - Bruno Pereira
- a Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, and Energy and Biotechnology Engineering (LEPABE), Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Luís F Melo
- a Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, and Energy and Biotechnology Engineering (LEPABE), Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Nuno F Azevedo
- a Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, and Energy and Biotechnology Engineering (LEPABE), Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
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