One Enzyme, Three Metabolites: Shewanella algae Controls Siderophore Production via the Cellular Substrate Pool

Complete Genome Sequence and Pan-Genome Analysis of Shewanella oncorhynchi Z-P2, a Siderophore Putrebactin-Producing Bacterium

In this study, we reported the complete genome sequence of Shewanella oncorhynchi for the first time. S. oncorhynchi Z-P2 is a bacterium that produces the siderophore putrebactin. Its genome consists of a circular chromosome of 5,034,612 bp with a G + C content of 45.4%. A total of 4544 protein-coding genes, 109 tRNAs and 31 rRNAs were annotated by the RAST. Five non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and polyketide synthetase (PKS) gene clusters were identified by the antiSMASH analysis. The pan-genome analysis of Z-P2 and 10 Shewanella putrefaciens revealed 9228 pan-gene clusters and 2681 core gene clusters, with Z-P2 having 618 unique gene clusters. Additionally, the gene cluster involved in putrebactin biosynthesis in Z-P2 was annotated, and the mechanism of putrebactin biosynthesis was analyzed. The putrebactin produced by Z-P2 was detected using UPLC-MS analysis, with an [M + H]+ molecular ion at m/z 373.21. These findings provide valuable support for further research on the genetic engineering of putrebactin biosynthetic genes of Z-P2 and their potential applications.

DFT-based analysis of siderophore-metal ion interaction for efficient heavy metal remediation

Siderophores have great application potential in metal pollutant remediation because of their effective cost and friendly impact on the environment. However, the practical use of siderophores in the remediation of specific metals is rather limited because of the weak nonspecific interactions between the siderophores and different metals. Thus, screening for a siderophore with optimal interaction with a specific metal would be necessary. In this study, the interaction between metal ions and moieties that donate the oxygen ligands for the coordination of four types of siderophore (hydroxamates, catecholates, phenolates, and carboxylates) was modeled and analyzed. As revealed by DFT-based analysis, the four types of siderophore generally exhibited selection preference for different metal ions in the order Ga3+  > Al3+  > Fe3+  > Cr3+  > Ni2+  > Cu2+  > Zn2+  > Co2+  > Mn2+  > Hg2+  > Pb2+  > Cd2+, which was determined mainly by the electronegativity of the siderophore functional groups, the electronegativity of the metals, and the ionic radius of the metals, as well as the interaction between the siderophores and the metals. Moreover, the effect of linear or nonlinear (cyclic) structure on the affinity of each siderophore for different metal ions was evaluated. In most situations, metal-bound cyclic siderophores were found to be more stable than their linear counterparts. Thus, proper siderophores for the remediation of metal pollution may be rapidly screened using this model.

Siderophore Synthetase DesD Catalyzes N-to-C Condensation in Desferrioxamine Biosynthesis

Desferrioxamine siderophores are assembled by the nonribosomal-peptide-synthetase-independent siderophore (NIS) synthetase enzyme DesD via ATP-dependent iterative condensation of three N1-hydroxy-N1-succinyl-cadaverine (HSC) units. Current knowledge of NIS enzymology and the desferrioxamine biosynthetic pathway does not account for the existence of most known members of this natural product family, which differ in substitution patterns of the N- and C-termini. The directionality of desferrioxamine biosynthetic assembly, N-to-C versus C-to-N, is a longstanding knowledge gap that is limiting further progress in understanding the origins of natural products in this structural family. Here, we establish the directionality of desferrioxamine biosynthesis using a chemoenzymatic approach with stable isotope incorporation and dimeric substrates. We propose a mechanism where DesD catalyzes the N-to-C condensation of HSC units to establish a unifying biosynthetic paradigm for desferrioxamine natural products in Streptomyces.

Population response of intestinal microbiota to acute Vibrio alginolyticus infection in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis)

Introduction

Vibriosis causes enormous economic losses of marine fish. The present study investigated the intestinal microbial response to acute infection of half-smooth tongue sole with different-dose Vibrio alginolyticus within 72 h by metagenomic sequencing.

Methods

The inoculation amount of V. alginolyticus for the control, low-dose, moderate-dose, and high-dose groups were 0, 8.5 × 101, 8.5 × 104, and 8.5 × 107 cells/g respectively, the infected fish were farmed in an automatic seawater circulation system under a relatively stable temperature, dissolved oxygen and photoperiod, and 3 ~ 6 intestinal samples per group with high-quality DNA assay were used for metagenomics analysis.

Results

The acute infections with V. alginolyticus at high, medium, and low doses caused the change of different-type leukocytes at 24 h, whereas the joint action of monocytes and neutrophils to cope with the pathogen infection only occurred in the high-dose group at 72 h. The metagenomic results suggest that a high-dose V. alginolyticus infection can significantly alter the intestinal microbiota, decrease the microbial α-diversity, and increase the bacteria from Vibrio and Shewanella, including various potential pathogens at 24 h. High-abundance species of potential pathogens such as V. harveyii, V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae, V. vulnificus, and V. scophthalmi exhibited significant positive correlations with V. alginolyticus. The function analysis revealed that the high-dose inflection group could increase the genes closely related to pathogen infection, involved in cell motility, cell wall/ membrane/envelope biogenesis, material transport and metabolism, and the pathways of quorum sensing, biofilm formation, flagellar assembly, bacterial chemotaxis, virulence factors and antibiotic resistances mainly from Vibrios within 72 h.

Discussion

It indicates that the half-smooth tongue sole is highly likely to be a secondary infection with intestinal potential pathogens, especially species from Vibrio and that the disease could become even more complicated because of the accumulation and transfer of antibiotic-resistance genes in intestinal bacteria during the process of V. alginolyticus intensified infection.

An acyl-adenylate mimic reveals the structural basis for substrate recognition by the iterative siderophore synthetase DesD

Siderophores are conditionally essential metabolites used by microbes for environmental iron sequestration. Most Streptomyces strains produce hydroxamate-based desferrioxamine (DFO) siderophores composed of repeating units of N¹-hydroxy-cadaverine (or N¹-hydroxy-putrescine) and succinate. The DFO biosynthetic operon, desABCD, is highly conserved in Streptomyces; however, expression of desABCD alone does not account for the vast structural diversity within this natural product class. Here, we report the in vitro reconstitution and biochemical characterization of four DesD orthologs from Streptomyces strains that produce unique DFO siderophores. Under in vitro conditions, all four DesD orthologs displayed similar saturation steady-state kinetics (V_max = 0.9–2.5 μM⋅min⁻¹) and produced the macrocyclic trimer DFOE as the favored product, suggesting a conserved role for DesD in the biosynthesis of DFO siderophores. We further synthesized a structural mimic of N¹-hydroxy-N¹-succinyl-cadaverine (HSC)-acyl-adenylate, the HSC-acyl sulfamoyl adenosine analog (HSC-AMS), and obtained crystal structures of DesD in the ATP-bound, AMP/PP_i-bound, and HSC-AMS/P_i-bound forms. We found HSC-AMS inhibited DesD orthologs (IC₅₀ values = 48–53 μM) leading to accumulation of linear trimeric DFOG and di-HSC at the expense of macrocyclic DFOE. Addition of exogenous PP_i enhanced DesD inhibition by HSC-AMS, presumably via stabilization of the DesD–HSC-AMS complex, similar to the proposed mode of adenylate stabilization where PP_i remains buried in the active site. In conclusion, our data suggest that acyl-AMS derivatives may have utility as chemical probes and bisubstrate inhibitors to reveal valuable mechanistic and structural insight for this unique family of adenylating enzymes.

Emerging Infections Due to Shewanella spp.: A Case Series of 128 Cases Over 10 Years

Background

Shewanella species are emerging pathogens that can cause severe hepatobiliary, skin and soft tissue, gastrointestinal, respiratory infections, and bacteremia. Here we reported the largest case series of infections caused by Shewanella species.

Aim

To identify the clinical features and risk factors predisposing to Shewanella infections. To evaluate resistance pattern of Shewanella species and appropriateness of antibiotic use in the study cohort.

Methods

Patients admitted to a regional hospital in Hong Kong with Shewanella species infection from April 1, 2010 to December 31, 2020 were included. Demographics, antibiotics, microbiology, and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.

Findings

Over the 10 years, we identified 128 patients with Shewanella species infection. 61.7% were male with a median age of 78 (IQR 65–87). Important underlying diseases included hepatobiliary diseases (63.3%), malignancy (26.6%), chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal failure (25.8%), and diabetes mellitus (22.7%). Hepatobiliary infections (60.4%) were the most common clinical manifestation. Majority (92.2%) were infected with Shewanella algae, while 7.8% were infected with Shewanella putrefaciens. The identified organisms were usually susceptible to ceftazidime (98.7%), gentamicin (97.4%), cefoperazone-sulbactam (93.5%) and ciprofloxacin (90.3%). Imipenem-susceptible strains were only present in 76.6% of isolates.

Conclusion

This largest case series suggested that Shewanella infections are commonly associated with underlying comorbidities, especially with hepatobiliary diseases and malignancy. Although Shewanella species remained largely susceptible to third and fourth generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides, carbapenem resistance has been on a significant rise.

Seaweed-associated heterotrophic bacteria: are they future novel sources of antimicrobial agents against drug-resistant pathogens?

Emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms and requirements for novel antimicrobial compounds necessitate exploring newer habitats to develop potential bioactive leads. Culture-contingent analysis of heterotrophic bacterial flora from the seaweeds led to the isolation of bioactive strains possessing potential antibacterial properties against wide-ranging clinical pathogens viz., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VREfs). Seven of the most active strains belonging to the phylum Firmicutes isolated from a brown seaweed (Phaeophyceae) Sargassum wightii exhibited spot-over-lawn assay guided inhibition zone of larger than 30 mm. Integrated phenotypic and genotypic studies have led to the characterization of the seaweed-associated bacteria particularly belonging to the phylum Firmicutes. The organic extracts of the studied bacteria exhibited promising antibacterial properties against MRSA and VREfs with minimum inhibitory concentration ranging between 6.25 and 12.50 μg/mL. Time-kill kinetic profiles of those bacteria displayed rapid bactericidal activity against both E. coli and MRSA, showing a ≥ 3log₁₀ reduction in viable cell count than the initial. Among the studied bioactive Bacillus spp, B. tequilensis MTCC13043 and B. altiitudinis MTCC13046 were found to possess functional polyketide synthase (pks) gene (MW027664 and MW027660) that could be amplified. The outcome of amplified genes encrypting for polyketide synthase in conjunction with antibacterial activities unveiled the broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities of the marine heterotrophic Firmicutes, which could be further used against the emergent problem of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens.

Recent Advances in the Siderophore Biology of Shewanella

Despite the abundance of iron in nature, iron acquisition is a challenge for life in general because the element mostly exists in the extremely insoluble ferric (Fe³⁺) form in oxic environments. To overcome this, microbes have evolved multiple iron uptake strategies, a common one of which is through the secretion of siderophores, which are iron-chelating metabolites generated endogenously. Siderophore-mediated iron transport, a standby when default iron transport routes are abolished under iron rich conditions, is essential under iron starvation conditions. While there has been a wealth of knowledge about the molecular basis of siderophore synthesis, uptake and regulation in model bacteria, we still know surprisingly little about siderophore biology in diverse environmental microbes. Shewanella represent a group of γ-proteobacteria capable of respiring a variety of organic and inorganic substrates, including iron ores. This respiratory process relies on a large number of iron proteins, c-type cytochromes in particular. Thus, iron plays an essential and special role in physiology of Shewanella. In addition, these bacteria use a single siderophore biosynthetic system to produce an array of macrocyclic dihydroxamate siderophores, some of which show particular biological activities. In this review, we first outline current understanding of siderophore synthesis, uptake and regulation in model bacteria, and subsequently discuss the siderophore biology in Shewanella.

Acetyl-CoA-Mediated Post-Biosynthetic Modification of Desferrioxamine B Generates N- and N-O-Acetylated Isomers Controlled by a pH Switch

Biosynthesis of the hydroxamic acid siderophore desferrioxamine D₁ (DFOD₁, 6), which is the N-acetylated analogue of desferrioxamine B (DFOB, 5), has been delineated. Enzyme-independent Ac-CoA-mediated N-acetylation of 5 produced 6, in addition to three constitutional isomers containing an N-O-acetyl group installed at either one of the three hydroxamic acid groups of 5. The formation of N-Ac-DFOB (DFOD₁, 6) and the composite of N-O-acetylated isomers N-O-Ac-DFOB[001] (6a), N-O-Ac-DFOB[010] (6b), and N-O-Ac-DFOB[100] (6c) (defined as the N-O-Ac motif positioned within the terminal amine, internal, or N-acetylated region of 5, respectively), was pH-dependent, with 6a-6c dominant at pH < 8.5 and 6 dominant at pH > 8.5. The trend in the pH dependence was consistent with the pK_a values of the NH₃⁺ (pK_a ∼ 10) and N-OH (pK_a ∼ 8.5-9) groups in 5. The N- and N-O-acetyl motifs can be conceived as a post-biosynthetic modification (PBM) of a nonproteinaceous secondary metabolite, akin to a post-translational modification (PTM) of a protein. The pH-labile N-O-acetyl group could act as a reversible switch to modulate the properties and functions of secondary metabolites, including hydroxamic acid siderophores. An alternative (most likely minor) biosynthetic pathway for 6 showed that the nonribosomal peptide synthetase-independent siderophore synthetase DesD was competent in condensing N'-acetyl-N-succinyl-N-hydroxy-1,5-diaminopentane (N'-Ac-SHDP, 7) with the dimeric hydroxamic acid precursor (AHDP-SHDP, 4) native to 5 biosynthesis to generate 6. The strategy of diversifying protein structure and function using PTMs could be paralleled in secondary metabolites with the use of PBMs.

Bacillibactin class of siderophore antibiotics from a marine symbiotic Bacillus as promising antibacterial agents

Preliminary antibacterial metabolite production screening unveiled that B. amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12,713 associated with the intertidal red alga Kappaphycus alverezii exhibited potential inhibitory effects against drug-resistant pathogens methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Four homologous siderophore types of bacillibactins were isolated from a heterotrophic marine bacterium through bioactivity-guided purification. All detectable natural product gene clusters in B. amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12,713 were analyzed by sequencing the complete genome of the bacterium. The studied compounds displayed broad spectrum bactericidal activity against multidrug-resistant strains with a range of minimum inhibitory concentration values from 1.56 to 6.25 µg/mL, whereas standard antibiotic chloramphenicol was active at 6.25 to 12.5 µg/mL. Structure-bioactivity relationship assessment showed that higher electronic values were responsible for antibacterial properties against the nosocomial pathogens. The 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoate (dhb)-assisted biosynthetic pathway of catecholate-enclosed bacillibactins was proposed through the bacillibactin synthase multienzyme complex catalysis followed by dimerization of dhbACEBF operons with 16 genes (~ 12 kb bacterial genome). The present findings recognized an undescribed 4-methoxy-11'-pentanoyloxy-bacillibactin C as a source of potential antibacterial agent for use against drug-resistant pathogens for pharmaceutical applications. KEY POINTS: • Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in association with Kappaphycus alverezii was isolated • Four antibacterial bacillibactin analogs were identified from symbiotic bacterium • 4-Methoxy-11'-pentanoyloxy-bacillibactin C showed potential antibacterial activity.

Marine macroalga-associated heterotrophic Bacillus velezensis: a novel antimicrobial agent with siderophore mode of action against drug-resistant nosocomial pathogens

Increased prevalence of microbial resistance and development of drug-resistant pathogens have triggered an urge among researchers to discover potential antimicrobial compounds, particularly from the marine habitat. The present study highlights the cultivable diversity and bioactivities of heterotrophic bacteria associated with marine macroalgae of southeast Indian coastal region. Culture-dependent isolation method resulted in 40 isolates, in which greater part of the isolates represented Gammaproteobacteria (62%) followed by that comprised of the phylum Firmicutes. One of the most active strains isolated from a macroalga, Laurencia papillosa, was characterized based on the integrated phenotypic and genotypic analysis as Bacillus velezensis MBTDLP1 MTCC 13048, with an inhibition zone of about 35 mm against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), was selected for bioprospecting studies. Type-I pks gene (MT394492) of 700 bp could be amplified from the heterotrophic B. velezensis. The bacterium exhibited siderophore production and possessed genes implicated in the biosynthesis of siderophore type of metabolites exhibiting 99% similarity with other GenBank sequences in BLAST search. B. velezensis exhibited promising anti-infective properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (minimum inhibitory concentration 15 µg/mL), and the activities were positively correlated (r² > 0.9) with iron-chelating activities. Chemical investigation of the organic extract of B. velezensis MBTDLP1 characterized a macrocyclic polyketide exhibiting prospective antibacterial potential against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MIC 0.38 µg/mL), than that exhibited by positive control chloramphenicol (6.25 µg/mL). Significant antibacterial activity against drug-resistant bacteria combined with the presence of genes coding for bioactive secondary metabolites revealed that this marine symbiotic bacterium could be used against emerging antibiotic resistance.

Complete Genome Sequence and Methylome of the Type Strain of Shewanella algae

We report the complete genome sequence and base modification analysis of the Shewanella algae type strain CECT 5071 (= OK-1 = ATCC 51192 = DSM 9167 = IAM 14159). The genome is composed of a single chromosome of 4,924,764 bp, with a GC content of 53.10%.

Regulation of colony morphology and biofilm formation in Shewanella algae

Bacterial colony morphology can reflect different physiological stages such as virulence or biofilm formation. In this work we used transposon mutagenesis to identify genes that alter colony morphology and cause differential Congo Red (CR) and Brilliant Blue G (BBG) binding in Shewanella algae, a marine indigenous bacterium and occasional human pathogen. Microscopic analysis of colonies formed by the wild-type strain S. algae CECT 5071 and three transposon integration mutants representing the diversity of colony morphotypes showed production of biofilm extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and distinctive morphological alterations. Electrophoretic and chemical analyses of extracted EPS showed differential patterns between strains, although the targets of CR and BBG binding remain to be identified. Galactose and galactosamine were the preponderant sugars in the colony biofilm EPS of S. algae. Surface-associated biofilm formation of transposon integration mutants was not directly correlated with a distinct colony morphotype. The hybrid sensor histidine kinase BarA abrogated surface-associated biofilm formation. Ectopic expression of the kinase and mutants in the phosphorelay cascade partially recovered biofilm formation. Altogether, this work provides the basic analysis to subsequently address the complex and intertwined networks regulating colony morphology and biofilm formation in this poorly understood species.

Directing macrocyclic architecture using iron(III)-, gallium(III)-, or zirconium(IV)-assisted ring closure of linear dimeric endo-hydroxamic acid ligands

Dimeric hydroxamic acid macrocycles are a subclass of bacterial siderophores produced for iron acquisition. Limited yields from natural sources provides the impetus to develop synthetic routes to improve access to these compounds, which have potential utility in metal ion binding applications in the environment and medicine. This work has examined the role of metal ions in forming pre-complexes with linear endo-hydroxamic acid (endo-HXA) ligands bearing terminal amine and carboxylic acid groups optimally configured for in situ ring closure reactions. The 1:1 reaction between Fe(III) and the dimeric endo-HXA ligand 5-((5-(5-((5-aminopentyl)(hydroxy)amino)-5-oxopentanamido)pentyl)(hydroxy)amino)-5-oxopentanoic acid (PPH-PPH) (1) formed the pre-complex (PC) [Fe(PP-PP)-PC]⁺ with in situ amide coupling generating the macrocycle (MC) [Fe(PP)₂-MC]⁺ and, following Fe(III) removal, the apo-macrocycle 1,13-dihydroxy-1,7,13,19-tetraazacyclotetracosane-2,6,14,18-tetraone (PPH)₂-MC (2). The 1:2 reaction system between Fe(III) and the monomeric endo-HXA ligand 5-((5-aminopentyl)(hydroxy)amino)-5-oxopentanoic acid (PPH) gave significantly less [Fe(PP)₂-MC]⁺ than the former system, due to the requirement to form two rather than one amide bond(s). The 1:1 Ga(III):1 system yielded [Ga(PP-PP)-PC]⁺ and [Ga(PP)₂-MC]⁺. Neither [Zr(PP-PP)-PC]²⁺ nor [Zr(PP)₂-MC]²⁺ was detected in the 1:1 Zr(IV):1 system. Instead, the Zr(IV) system showed the formation of a 1:2 Zr(IV):1 pre-complex [Zr(PP-PP)₂-PC], which following in situ amide bond forming chemistry, generated two Zr(IV) macrocyclic complexes with distinct architectures: a dimer-of-dimers complex [Zr((PP)₂)₂-MC] and an end-to-end macrocycle [Zr(PP)₄-MC]. The formation of [Fe(PP)₂-MC]⁺, [Ga(PP)₂-MC]⁺ or [Zr((PP)₂)₂-MC] was confirmed from reconstitution experiments with 2. The work has shown that the choice of metal ion in metal-assisted ring closure reactions directs the assembly of macrocyclic complexes with distinct architectures.

Iron-meditated fungal starvation by lupine rhizosphere-associated and extremotolerant Streptomyces sp. S29 desferrioxamine production

Siderophores are iron-chelating compounds that aid iron uptake, one of the key strategies for microorganisms to carve out ecological niches in microbially diverse environments. Desferrioxamines are the principal siderophores produced by Streptomyces spp. Their biosynthesis has been well studied and as a consequence, the chemical potential of the pathway continues to expand. With all of this in mind, our study aimed to explore extremotolerant and lupine rhizosphere-derived Streptomyces sp. S29 for its potential antifungal capabilities. Cocultivation of isolate S29 was carried out with Aspergillus niger and Botrytis cinerea, both costly fungal phytopathogens in the wine industry, to simulate their interaction within the rhizosphere. The results indicate that not only is Streptomyces sp. S29 extraordinary at producing hydroxamate siderophores but uses siderophore production as a means to 'starve' the fungi of iron. High resolution LC-MS/MS followed by GNPS molecular networking was used to observe the datasets for desferrioxamines and guided structure elucidation of new desferrioxamine analogues. Comparing the new chemistry, using tools like molecular networking and MS2LDA, with the known biosynthesis, we show that the chemical potential of the desferrioxamine pathway has further room for exploration.

Macrocyclic polyketides with siderophore mode of action from marine heterotrophic Shewanella algae: Prospective anti-infective leads attenuate drug-resistant pathogens

AIMS

Biotechnological and chemical characterization of previously undescribed homologous siderophore-type macrocyclic polyketides from heterotrophic Shewanella algae Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC) 12715 affiliated with Rhodophycean macroalga Hypnea valentiae of marine origin, with significant anti-infective potential against drug-resistant pathogens.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The heterotrophic bacterial strain in symbiotic association with intertidal macroalga H. valentiae was isolated to homogeneity in a culture-dependent method and screened for bioactivities by spot-over-lawn assay. The bacterial organic extract was purified and characterized by extensive chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, respectively, and was assessed for antibacterial activities with disc diffusion and microtube dilution methods. The macrocyclic polyketide compounds exhibited wide-spectrum of anti-infective potential against clinically significant vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VREfs), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia with minimum inhibitory concentration of about 1-3 µg ml^-1 , insomuch as the antibiotics chloramphenicol and ampicillin were active at ≥6·25 µg ml^-1 . The studied compounds unveiled Fe³⁺ chelating activity, which designated that their prospective anti-infective activities against the pathogens could be due to their siderophore mechanism of action. In support of that, the bacterium exhibited siderophore production on bioassay involving the cast upon culture agar plate, and the presence of siderophore biosynthetic gene (≈1000 bp) (MF 981936) further corroborated the inference. In silico molecular modelling with penicillin-binding protein (PBP2a) coded by mecA genes of MRSA (docking score -11·68 to -12·69 kcal mol^-1 ) verified their in vitro antibacterial activities. Putative biosynthetic pathway of macrocyclic polyketides through stepwise decarboxylative condensation initiated by malonate-acyl carrier protein further validated their structural and molecular attributes.

CONCLUSIONS

The studied siderophore-type macrocyclic polyketides from S. algae MTCC 12715 with significant anti-infective potential could be considered as promising candidates for pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications, especially against emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study exhibited the heterotrophic bacteria in association with intertidal macroalga as propitious biological resources to biosynthesize novel antibacterial agents.

Searching for putative virulence factors in the genomes of Shewanella indica and Shewanella algae

Bacterial pathogens are a major threat to both humans and animals worldwide. It is crucial to understand the mechanisms of various disease processes at the molecular level. Shewanella species are widespread in the environment and some are considered as emerging opportunistic human and marine mammal pathogens. In this study, putative virulence factors on the genome of Shewanella indica BW, a bacterium isolated from the Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni), were determined. Additionally, for comparative purposes, putative virulence factors from two other S. indica and ten S. algae strains were also determined using the Pathosystems Resource Integration Center (PATRIC) pipeline. We confirmed the presence of previously reported virulence factors and we are proposing several new candidate virulence factors. Interestingly, the putative virulence factors were very similar between the two species with the exception of microbial collagenase which was present in all S. algae genomes, but absent in all S. indica genomes.

A Systematic Analysis of Mosquito-Microbiome Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Reveals Antimalarial Siderophores that Reduce Mosquito Reproduction Capacity

Advances in infectious disease control strategies through genetic manipulation of insect microbiomes have heightened interest in microbially produced small molecules within mosquitoes. Herein, 33 mosquito-associated bacterial genomes were mined and over 700 putative biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) were identified, 135 of which belong to known classes of BGCs. After an in-depth analysis of the 135 BGCs, iron-binding siderophores were chosen for further investigation due to their high abundance and well-characterized bioactivities. Through various metabolomic strategies, eight siderophore scaffolds were identified in six strains of mosquito-associated bacteria. Among these, serratiochelin A and pyochelin were found to reduce female Anopheles gambiae overall fecundity likely by lowering their blood-feeding rate. Serratiochelin A and pyochelin were further found to inhibit the Plasmodium parasite asexual blood and liver stages in vitro. Our work supplies a bioinformatic resource for future mosquito-microbiome studies and highlights an understudied source of bioactive small molecules.

The Siderophore Synthetase IucA of the Aerobactin Biosynthetic Pathway Uses an Ordered Mechanism

Biosynthesis of the hydroxamate siderophore aerobactin requires the activity of four proteins encoded within the iuc operon. Recently, we biochemically reconstituted the biosynthetic pathway and structurally characterized IucA and IucC, two enzymes that sequentially couple N⁶-acetyl-N⁶-hydroxylysine to the primary carboxylates of citrate. IucA and IucC are members of a family of non-ribosomal peptide synthetase-independent siderophore (NIS) synthetases that are involved in the production of other siderophores, including desferrioxamine, achromobactin, and petrobactin. While structures of several members of this family were solved previously, there is limited mechanistic insight into the reaction catalyzed by NIS synthetases. Therefore, we performed a terreactant steady-state kinetic analysis and herein provide evidence for an ordered mechanism in which the chemistry is preceded by the formation of the quaternary complex. We further probed two regions of the active site with site-directed mutagenesis and identified several residues, including a conserved motif that is present on a dynamic loop, that are important for substrate binding and catalysis.

Differences in Cystic Fibrosis-Associated Burkholderia spp. Bacteria Metabolomes after Exposure to the Antibiotic Trimethoprim

The Burkholderia cepacia complex is a group of closely related bacterial species with large genomes that infect immunocompromised individuals and those living with cystic fibrosis. Some of these species are found more frequently and cause more severe disease than others, yet metabolomic differences between these have not been described. Furthermore, our understanding of how these species respond to antibiotics is limited. We investigated the metabolomics differences between three most prevalent Burkholderia spp. associated with cystic fibrosis: B. cenocepacia, B. multivorans, and B. dolosa in the presence and absence of the antibiotic trimethoprim. Using a combination of supervised and unsupervised metabolomics data visualization and analysis tools, we describe the overall differences between strains of the same species and between species. Specifically, we report, for the first time, the role of the pyomelanin pathway in the metabolism of trimethoprim. We also report differences in the detection of known secondary metabolites such as fragin, ornibactin, and N-acylhomoserine lactones and their analogs in closely related strains. Furthermore, we highlight the potential for the discovery of new secondary metabolites in clinical strains of Burkholderia spp. The metabolomics differences described in this study highlight the personalized nature of closely related Burkholderia strains.

Microbial Engineering for Production of N-Functionalized Amino Acids and Amines

N-functionalized amines play important roles in nature and occur, for example, in the antibiotic vancomycin, the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, the cytostatic actinomycin, the siderophore aerobactin, the cyanogenic glucoside linamarin, and the polyamine spermidine. In the pharmaceutical and fine-chemical industries N-functionalized amines are used as building blocks for the preparation of bioactive molecules. Processes based on fermentation and on enzyme catalysis have been developed to provide sustainable manufacturing routes to N-alkylated, N-hydroxylated, N-acylated, or other N-functionalized amines including polyamines. Metabolic engineering for provision of precursor metabolites is combined with heterologous N-functionalizing enzymes such as imine or ketimine reductases, opine or amino acid dehydrogenases, N-hydroxylases, N-acyltransferase, or polyamine synthetases. Recent progress and applications of fermentative processes using metabolically engineered bacteria and yeasts along with the employed enzymes are reviewed and the perspectives on developing new fermentative processes based on insight from enzyme catalysis are discussed.

Promiscuous Enzymes Cause Biosynthesis of Diverse Siderophores in Shewanella oneidensis

The siderophore synthetic system in Shewanella species is able to synthesize dozens of macrocyclic siderophores in vitro with synthetic precursors. In vivo, however, although three siderophores are produced naturally in Shewanella algae B516, which carries a lysine decarboxylase (AvbA) specific for siderophore synthesis, only one siderophore can be detected from many other Shewanella species. In this study, we examined a siderophore-overproducing mutant of Shewanella oneidensis which lacks an AvbA counterpart, and we found that it can also produce these three siderophores. We identified both SpeC and SpeF as promiscuous decarboxylases for both lysine and ornithine to synthesize the siderophore precursors cadaverine and putrescine, respectively. Intriguingly, putrescine is mainly synthesized from arginine through an arginine decarboxylation pathway in a constitutive manner, not liable to the concentrations of iron and siderophores. Our results provide further evidence that the substrate availability plays a determining role in siderophore production. Furthermore, we provide evidence to suggest that under iron starvation conditions, cells allocate more putrescine for siderophore biosynthesis by downregulating the expression of the enzyme that transforms putrescine into spermidine. Overall, this study provides another example of the great flexibility of bacterial metabolism that is honed by evolution to better fit living environments of these bacteria.IMPORTANCE The simultaneous production of multiple siderophores is considered a general strategy for microorganisms to rapidly adapt to their ever-changing environments. In this study, we show that some Shewanella spp. may downscale their capability for siderophore synthesis to facilitate adaptation. Although S. oneidensis lacks an enzyme specifically synthesizing cadaverine, it can produce it by using promiscuous ornithine decarboxylases. Despite this ability, this bacterium predominately produces the primary siderophore while restraining the production of secondary siderophores by regulating substrate availability. In addition to using the arginine decarboxylase (ADC) pathway for putrescine synthesis, cells optimize the putrescine pool for siderophore production. Our work provides an insight into the coordinated synthesis of multiple siderophores by harnessing promiscuous enzymes in bacteria and underscores the importance of substrate pools for the biosynthesis of natural products.

Inhibitors of Bacterial Swarming Behavior

Bacteria can migrate in groups of flagella-driven cells over semisolid surfaces. This coordinated form of motility is called swarming behavior. Swarming is associated with enhanced virulence and antibiotic resistance of various human pathogens and may be considered as favorable adaptation to the diverse challenges that microbes face in rapidly changing environments. Consequently, the differentiation of motile swarmer cells is tightly regulated and involves multi-layered signaling networks. Controlling swarming behavior is of major interest for the development of novel anti-infective strategies. In addition, compounds that block swarming represent important tools for more detailed insights into the molecular mechanisms of the coordination of bacterial population behavior. Over the past decades, there has been major progress in the discovery of small-molecule modulators and mechanisms that allow selective inhibition of swarming behavior. Herein, an overview of the achievements in the field and future directions and challenges will be presented.

Evolutionary dynamics of natural product biosynthesis in bacteria

Covering: 2008 up to 2019The forces of biochemical adaptive evolution operate at the level of genes, manifesting in complex phenotypes and the global biodiversity of proteins and metabolites. While evolutionary histories have been deciphered for some other complex traits, the origins of natural product biosynthesis largely remain a mystery. This fundamental knowledge gap is surprising given the many decades of research probing the genetic, chemical, and biophysical mechanisms of bacterial natural product biosynthesis. Recently, evolutionary thinking has begun to permeate this otherwise mechanistically dominated field. Natural products are now sometimes referred to as 'specialized' rather than 'secondary' metabolites, reinforcing the importance of their biological and ecological functions. Here, we review known evolutionary mechanisms underlying the overwhelming chemical diversity of bacterial secondary metabolism, focusing on enzyme promiscuity and the evolution of enzymatic domains that enable metabolic traits. We discuss the mechanisms that drive the assembly of natural product biosynthetic gene clusters and propose formal definitions for 'specialized' and 'secondary' metabolism. We further explore how biosynthetic gene clusters evolve to synthesize related molecular species, and in turn how the biological and ecological roles that emerge from metabolic diversity are acted on by selection. Finally, we reconcile chemical, functional, and genetic data into an evolutionary model, the dynamic chemical matrix evolutionary hypothesis, in which the relationships between chemical distance, biomolecular activity, and relative fitness shape adaptive landscapes.

Engineering siderophores

Siderophores have important functions for bacteria in iron acquisition and as virulence factors. In this chapter we will discuss the engineering of cyclic hydroxamate siderophores by various biochemical approaches based on the example of Shewanella algae. The marine gamma-proteobacterium S. algae produces three different cyclic hydroxamate siderophores as metabolites via a single biosynthetic gene cluster and one of them is an important key player in interspecies competition blocking swarming of Vibrio alginolyticus. AvbD is the key metabolic enzyme assembling the precursors into three different core structures and hence an interesting target for metabolic and biochemical engineering. Synthetic natural and unnatural precursors can be converted in vitro with purified AvbD to generate siderophores with various ring sizes ranging from analytical to milligram scale. These engineered siderophores can be applied, for example, as swarming inhibitors against V. alginolyticus. Here, we describe the synthesis of the natural and unnatural siderophore precursors HS[X]A and provide our detailed protocols for protein expression of AvbD, conversion of HS[X]A with the enzyme to produce ring-size engineered siderophores and secondly for a biosynthetic feeding strategy that allows to extract engineered siderophores in the milligram scale.

The Outer Membrane Protein FstC of Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida Acts as Receptor for Amonabactin Siderophores and Displays a Wide Ligand Plasticity. Structure-Activity Relationships of Synthetic Amonabactin Analogues

Amonabactins are a group of four related catecholate siderophores produced by several species of the genus Aeromonas, including A. hydrophila and the fish pathogen A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida. Although the gene cluster encoding amonabactin biosynthesis also contains a gene that could encode the ferri-siderophore receptor (fstC), to date there is no experimental evidence to explain its role. In this work, we report the identification of the amonabactins' outer membrane receptor and the determination of the minimal structural parts of these siderophores involved in the molecular recognition by their cognate receptor. The four natural amonabactin forms (P750, T789, P693, and T732) and some mono and biscatecholate amonabactin analogues were chemically synthesized, and their siderophore activity on A. salmonicida FstC(+) and FstC(-) strains was evaluated. The results showed that each amonabactin form has quite different growth promotion activity, with P750 and T789 the most active. The outer membrane receptor FstC recognizes more efficiently biscatecholate siderophores in which the length of the linker between the two iron-binding catecholamide units is 15 atoms (P750 and T789) instead of 12 atoms (P693 and T732). Analysis of the siderophore activity of synthetic analogues indicated that the presence of Phe or Trp residues is not required for siderophore recognition. The results together point toward evidence that the amonabactin receptor FstC admits a high degree of ligand plasticity. We also showed that FstC is present in most Aeromonas species, including relevant human and animal pathogens as A. hydrophila. From the results obtained, we concluded that the ferri-amonabactin uptake pathway involving the outer membrane transporter FstC possesses a considerable functional plasticity that could be exploited for delivery of antimicrobial compounds into the cell. This would allow the use of the siderophore-based iron uptake mechanisms to combat infections caused by species of the genus Aeromonas.

Whole-Genome Sequencing Redefines Shewanella Taxonomy

The genus Shewanella encompasses a diverse group of Gram negative, primarily aquatic bacteria with a remarkable ecological relevance, an outstanding set of metabolic features and an emergent clinical importance. The rapid expansion of the genus over the 2000 s has prompted questions on the real taxonomic position of some isolates and species. Recent work by us and others identified inconsistencies in the existing species classification. In this study we aimed to clarify such issues across the entire genus, making use of the genomic information publicly available worldwide. Phylogenomic analyses, including comparisons based on genome-wide identity indexes (digital DNA-DNA hybridization and Average Nucleotide Identity) combined with core and accessory genome content evaluation suggested that the taxonomic position of 64 of the 131 analyzed strains should be revisited. Based on the genomic information currently available, emended descriptions for some Shewanella species are proposed. Our study establishes for the first time a whole-genome based phylogeny for Shewanella spp. including a classification at the subspecific level.

Structure and reactivity of a siderophore-interacting protein from the marine bacterium Shewanella reveals unanticipated functional versatility

Siderophores make iron accessible under iron-limited conditions and play a crucial role in the survival of microorganisms. Because of their remarkable metal-scavenging properties and ease in crossing cellular envelopes, siderophores hold great potential in biotechnological applications, raising the need for a deeper knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the siderophore pathway. Here, we report the structural and functional characterization of a siderophore-interacting protein from the marine bacterium Shewanella frigidimarina NCIBM400 (SfSIP). SfSIP is a flavin-containing ferric-siderophore reductase with FAD- and NAD(P)H-binding domains that have high homology with other characterized SIPs. However, we found here that it mechanistically departs from what has been described for this family of proteins. Unlike other FAD-containing SIPs, SfSIP did not discriminate between NADH and NADPH. Furthermore, SfSIP required the presence of the Fe²⁺-scavenger, ferrozine, to use NAD(P)H to drive the reduction of Shewanella-produced hydroxamate ferric-siderophores. Additionally, this is the first SIP reported that also uses a ferredoxin as electron donor, and in contrast to NAD(P)H, its utilization did not require the mediation of ferrozine, and electron transfer occurred at fast rates. Finally, FAD oxidation was thermodynamically coupled to deprotonation at physiological pH values, enhancing the solubility of ferrous iron. On the basis of these results and the location of the SfSIP gene downstream of a sequence for putative binding of aerobic respiration control protein A (ArcA), we propose that SfSIP contributes an additional layer of regulation that maintains cellular iron homeostasis according to environmental cues of oxygen availability and cellular iron demand.

Multiple siderophores: bug or feature?

It is common for bacteria to produce chemically diverse sets of small Fe-binding molecules called siderophores. Studies of siderophore bioinorganic chemistry have firmly established the role of these molecules in Fe uptake and provided great insight into Fe complexation. However, we still do not fully understand why microbes make so many siderophores. In many cases, the release of small structural variants or siderophore fragments has been ignored, or considered as an inefficiency of siderophore biosynthesis. Yet, in natural settings, microbes live in complex consortia and it has become increasingly clear that the secondary metabolite repertoires of microbes reflect this dynamic environment. Multiple siderophore production may, therefore, provide a window into microbial life in the wild. This minireview focuses on three biochemical routes by which multiple siderophores can be released by the same organism-multiple biosynthetic gene clusters, fragment release, and precursor-directed biosynthesis-and highlights emergent themes related to each. We also emphasize the plurality of reasons for multiple siderophore production, which include enhanced iron uptake via synergistic siderophore use, microbial warfare and cooperation, and non-classical functions such as the use of siderophores to take up metals other than Fe.

Fluorinated Analogues of Desferrioxamine B from Precursor-Directed Biosynthesis Provide New Insight into the Capacity of DesBCD

The siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB, 1) native to Streptomyces pilosus is biosynthesized by the DesABCD enzyme cluster. DesA-mediated decarboxylation of l-lysine gives 1,5-diaminopentane (DP) for processing by DesBCD. S. pilosus culture medium was supplemented with rac-1,4-diamino-2-fluorobutane ( rac-FDB) to compete against DP to generate fluorinated analogues of DFOB, as agents of potential clinical interest. LC-MS/MS analysis identified fluorinated analogues of DFOB with one, two, or three DP units (binary notation: 0) exchanged for one (DFOA-F₁[001] (2), DFOA-F₁[010] (3), DFOA-F₁[100] (4)), two (DFOA-F₂[011] (5), DFOA-F₂[110] (6), DFOA-F₂[101] (7)), or three (DFOA-F₃[111] (8)) rac-FDB units (binary notation: 1). The two sets of constitutional isomers 2-4 and 5-7 arose from the position of the substrates in the N-acetyl, internal, or amine-containing regions of the DFOB trimer. N-Acetylated fluorinated DFOB analogues were formed where the rac-FDB substrate was positioned in the amine region ( e.g., N-Ac-DFOA-F₁[001] (2a)). Other analogues contained two hydroxamic acid groups and three amide bonds. Experiments using rac-FDB, R-FDB, or S-FDB showed a similar species profile between rac-FDB and R-FDB. These data are consistent with the following. (i) DesB can act on rac-FDB. (ii) DesC can act directly on rac-FDB. (iii) The products of DesBC or DesC catalysis of rac-FDB can undergo a second round of DesC catalysis at the free amine. (iv) DesD catalysis of these products gives N, N'-diacetylated compounds. (v) A minimum of two hydroxamic acid groups is required to form a viable DesD-substrate(s) precomplex. (vi) One or more DesBCD-catalyzed steps in DFOB biosynthesis is enantioselective. This work has provided a potential path to access fluorinated analogues of DFOB and new insight into its biosynthesis.

Extending the "One Strain Many Compounds" (OSMAC) Principle to Marine Microorganisms

Genomic data often highlights an inconsistency between the number of gene clusters identified using bioinformatic approaches as potentially producing secondary metabolites and the actual number of chemically characterized secondary metabolites produced by any given microorganism. Such gene clusters are generally considered as “silent”, meaning that they are not expressed under laboratory conditions. Triggering expression of these “silent” clusters could result in unlocking the chemical diversity they control, allowing the discovery of novel molecules of both medical and biotechnological interest. Therefore, both genetic and cultivation-based techniques have been developed aimed at stimulating expression of these “silent” genes. The principles behind the cultivation based approaches have been conceptualized in the “one strain many compounds” (OSMAC) framework, which underlines how a single strain can produce different molecules when grown under different environmental conditions. Parameters such as, nutrient content, temperature, and rate of aeration can be easily changed, altering the global physiology of a microbial strain and in turn significantly affecting its secondary metabolism. As a direct extension of such approaches, co-cultivation strategies and the addition of chemical elicitors have also been used as cues to activate “silent” clusters. In this review, we aim to provide a focused and comprehensive overview of these strategies as they pertain to marine microbes. Moreover, we underline how changes in some parameters which have provided important results in terrestrial microbes, but which have rarely been considered in marine microorganisms, may represent additional strategies to awaken “silent” gene clusters in marine microbes. Unfortunately, the empirical nature of the OSMAC approach forces scientists to perform extensive laboratory experiments. Nevertheless, we believe that some computation and experimental based techniques which are used in other disciplines, and which we discuss; could be effectively employed to help streamline the OSMAC based approaches. We believe that natural products discovery in marine microorganisms would be greatly aided through the integration of basic microbiological approaches, computational methods, and technological innovations, thereby helping unearth much of the as yet untapped potential of these microorganisms.

The chemical biology and coordination chemistry of putrebactin, avaroferrin, bisucaberin, and alcaligin

Dihydroxamic acid macrocyclic siderophores comprise four members: putrebactin (putH₂), avaroferrin (avaH₂), bisucaberin (bisH₂), and alcaligin (alcH₂). This mini-review collates studies of the chemical biology and coordination chemistry of these macrocycles, with an emphasis on putH₂. These Fe(III)-binding macrocycles are produced by selected bacteria to acquire insoluble Fe(III) from the local environment. The macrocycles are optimally pre-configured for Fe(III) binding, as established from the X-ray crystal structure of dinuclear [Fe₂(alc)₃] at neutral pH. The dimeric macrocycles are biosynthetic products of two endo-hydroxamic acid ligands flanked by one amine group and one carboxylic acid group, which are assembled from 1,4-diaminobutane and/or 1,5-diaminopentane as initial substrates. The biosynthesis of alcH₂ includes an additional diamine C-hydroxylation step. Knowledge of putH₂ biosynthesis supported the use of precursor-directed biosynthesis to generate unsaturated putH₂ analogues by culturing Shewanella putrefaciens in medium supplemented with unsaturated diamine substrates. The X-ray crystal structures of putH₂, avaH₂ and alcH₂ show differences in the relative orientations of the amide and hydroxamic acid functional groups that could prescribe differences in solvation and other biological properties. Functional differences have been borne out in biological studies. Although evolved for Fe(III) acquisition, solution coordination complexes have been characterised between putH₂ and oxido-V(IV/V), Mo(VI), or Cr(V). Retrosynthetic analysis of 1:1 complexes of [Fe(put)]⁺, [Fe(ava)]⁺, and [Fe(bis)]⁺ that dominate at pH < 5 led to a forward metal-templated synthesis approach to generate the Fe(III)-loaded macrocycles, with apo-macrocycles furnished upon incubation with EDTA. This mini-review aims to capture the rich chemistry and chemical biology of these seemingly simple compounds.

One Enzyme To Build Them All: Ring-Size Engineered Siderophores Inhibit the Swarming Motility of Vibrio

Bacteria compete for ferric iron by producing siderophores, and some microbes engage in piracy by scavenging siderophores of their competitors. The macrocyclic hydroxamate siderophore avaroferrin of Shewanella algae inhibits swarming of Vibrio alginolyticus by evading this piracy. Avaroferrin, as well as related putrebactin and bisucaberin, are produced by the IucC-like synthetases AvbD, PubC, and BibC^C. Here, we have established that they are capable of synthesizing not only their native product but also other siderophores. Exploiting this relaxed substrate specificity by synthetic precursors generated 15 different ring-size engineered macrocycles ranging from 18- to 28-membered rings, indicating unprecedented biosynthetic flexibility of the enzymes. Two of the novel siderophores could be obtained in larger quantities by precursor-directed biosynthesis in S. algae. Both inhibited swarming motility of Vibrio and, similar to avaroferrin, the most active one exhibited a heterodimeric architecture. Our results demonstrate the impact of minor structural changes on biological activity, which may trigger the evolution of siderophore diversity.

From pirates and killers: does metabolite diversity drive bacterial competition?

This article discusses interspecies competition by sets of closely related metabolites with significantly different biological activities.

Rationalizing the Right Ratios

The three hydroxamate siderophores, avaroferrin, bisucaberin, and putrebactin are synthesized by the same key enzyme AvbD. Rütschlin et al. (2017) show that the ratio of these three compounds is not governed by the enzyme's substrate specificity but rather by the substrate pool. This ensures a large metabolic flexibility and adaptability to new environments.