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Kywe C, Lundquist EA, Ackley BD, Lansdon P. The MAB-5/Hox family transcription factor is important for Caenorhabditis elegans innate immune response to Staphylococcus epidermidis infection. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae054. [PMID: 38478633 PMCID: PMC11075571 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Innate immunity functions as a rapid defense against broad classes of pathogenic agents. While the mechanisms of innate immunity in response to antigen exposure are well-studied, how pathogen exposure activates the innate immune responses and the role of genetic variation in immune activity is currently being investigated. Previously, we showed significant survival differences between the N2 and the CB4856 Caenorhabditis elegans isolates in response to Staphylococcus epidermidis infection. One of those differences was expression of the mab-5 Hox family transcription factor, which was induced in N2, but not CB4856, after infection. In this study, we use survival assays and RNA-sequencing to better understand the role of mab-5 in response to S. epidermidis. We found that mab-5 loss-of-function (LOF) mutants were more susceptible to S. epidermidis infection than N2 or mab-5 gain-of-function (GOF) mutants, but not as susceptible as CB4856 animals. We then conducted transcriptome analysis of infected worms and found considerable differences in gene expression profiles when comparing animals with mab-5 LOF to either N2 or mab-5 GOF. N2 and mab-5 GOF animals showed a significant enrichment in expression of immune genes and C-type lectins, whereas mab-5 LOF mutants did not. Overall, gene expression profiling in mab-5 mutants provided insight into MAB-5 regulation of the transcriptomic response of C. elegans to pathogenic bacteria and helps us to understand mechanisms of innate immune activation and the role that transcriptional regulation plays in organismal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Kywe
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Erik A Lundquist
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Brian D Ackley
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Patrick Lansdon
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
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2
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Feng D, Qu L, Powell-Coffman JA. Transcriptome analyses describe the consequences of persistent HIF-1 over-activation in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0295093. [PMID: 38517909 PMCID: PMC10959373 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Metazoan animals rely on oxygen for survival, but during normal development and homeostasis, animals are often challenged by hypoxia (low oxygen). In metazoans, many of the critical hypoxia responses are mediated by the evolutionarily conserved hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs). The stability and activity of HIF complexes are strictly regulated. In the model organism C. elegans, HIF-1 stability and activity are negatively regulated by VHL-1, EGL-9, RHY-1 and SWAN-1. Importantly, C. elegans mutants carrying strong loss-of-function mutations in these genes are viable, and this provides opportunities to interrogate the molecular consequences of persistent HIF-1 over-activation. We find that the genome-wide gene expression patterns are compellingly similar in these mutants, supporting models in which RHY-1, VHL-1 and EGL-9 function in common pathway(s) to regulate HIF-1 activity. These studies illuminate the diversified biological roles played by HIF-1, including metabolism and stress response. Genes regulated by persistent HIF-1 over-activation overlap with genes responsive to pathogens, and they overlap with genes regulated by DAF-16. As crucial stress regulators, HIF-1 and DAF-16 converge on key stress-responsive genes and function synergistically to enable hypoxia survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingxia Feng
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Long Qu
- Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Jo Anne Powell-Coffman
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
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Feng D, Qu L. Transcriptome analyses describe the consequences of persistent HIF-1 over-activation in Caenorhabditis elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.15.567311. [PMID: 38014086 PMCID: PMC10680707 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.15.567311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Metazoan animals rely on oxygen for survival, but during normal development and homeostasis, animals are often challenged by hypoxia (low oxygen). In metazoans, many of the critical hypoxia responses are mediated by the evolutionarily conserved hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs). The stability and activity of HIF complexes are strictly regulated. In the model organism C. elegans, HIF-1 stability and activity are negatively regulated by VHL-1, EGL-9, RHY-1 and SWAN-1. Importantly, C. elegans mutants carrying strong loss-of-function mutations in these genes are viable, and this provides opportunities to interrogate the molecular consequences of persistent HIF-1 over-activation. We find that the genome-wide gene expression patterns are compellingly similar in these mutants, supporting models in which RHY-1, SWAN-1 and EGL-9 function in common pathway(s) to regulate HIF-1 activity. These studies illuminate the diversified biological roles played by HIF-1, including metabolism, hypoxia and other stress responses, reproduction and development. Genes regulated by persistent HIF-1 over-activation overlap with genes responsive to pathogens, and they overlap with genes regulated by DAF-16. As crucial stress regulators, HIF-1 and DAF-16 converge on key stress-responsive genes and function synergistically to enable hypoxia survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingxia Feng
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Long Qu
- Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
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Yamamoto KK, Savage-Dunn C. TGF-β pathways in aging and immunity: lessons from Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Genet 2023; 14:1220068. [PMID: 37732316 PMCID: PMC10507863 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1220068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily of signaling molecules plays critical roles in development, differentiation, homeostasis, and disease. Due to the conservation of these ligands and their signaling pathways, genetic studies in invertebrate systems including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have been instrumental in identifying signaling mechanisms. C. elegans is also a premier organism for research in longevity and healthy aging. Here we summarize current knowledge on the roles of TGF-β signaling in aging and immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cathy Savage-Dunn
- Department of Biology, Queens College, and PhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York City, NY, United States
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Paredes GF, Viehboeck T, Markert S, Mausz MA, Sato Y, Liebeke M, König L, Bulgheresi S. Differential regulation of degradation and immune pathways underlies adaptation of the ectosymbiotic nematode Laxus oneistus to oxic-anoxic interfaces. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9725. [PMID: 35697683 PMCID: PMC9192688 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13235-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotes may experience oxygen deprivation under both physiological and pathological conditions. Because oxygen shortage leads to a reduction in cellular energy production, all eukaryotes studied so far conserve energy by suppressing their metabolism. However, the molecular physiology of animals that naturally and repeatedly experience anoxia is underexplored. One such animal is the marine nematode Laxus oneistus. It thrives, invariably coated by its sulfur-oxidizing symbiont Candidatus Thiosymbion oneisti, in anoxic sulfidic or hypoxic sand. Here, transcriptomics and proteomics showed that, whether in anoxia or not, L. oneistus mostly expressed genes involved in ubiquitination, energy generation, oxidative stress response, immune response, development, and translation. Importantly, ubiquitination genes were also highly expressed when the nematode was subjected to anoxic sulfidic conditions, together with genes involved in autophagy, detoxification and ribosome biogenesis. We hypothesize that these degradation pathways were induced to recycle damaged cellular components (mitochondria) and misfolded proteins into nutrients. Remarkably, when L. oneistus was subjected to anoxic sulfidic conditions, lectin and mucin genes were also upregulated, potentially to promote the attachment of its thiotrophic symbiont. Furthermore, the nematode appeared to survive oxygen deprivation by using an alternative electron carrier (rhodoquinone) and acceptor (fumarate), to rewire the electron transfer chain. On the other hand, under hypoxia, genes involved in costly processes (e.g., amino acid biosynthesis, development, feeding, mating) were upregulated, together with the worm's Toll-like innate immunity pathway and several immune effectors (e.g., bactericidal/permeability-increasing proteins, fungicides). In conclusion, we hypothesize that, in anoxic sulfidic sand, L. oneistus upregulates degradation processes, rewires the oxidative phosphorylation and reinforces its coat of bacterial sulfur-oxidizers. In upper sand layers, instead, it appears to produce broad-range antimicrobials and to exploit oxygen for biosynthesis and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela F Paredes
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Environmental Cell Biology Group, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tobias Viehboeck
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Environmental Cell Biology Group, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution, Vienna, Austria
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Center for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephanie Markert
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Yui Sato
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Manuel Liebeke
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Lena König
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Environmental Cell Biology Group, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Silvia Bulgheresi
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Environmental Cell Biology Group, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Survival upon Staphylococcus aureus mediated wound infection in Caenorhabditis elegans and the mechanism entailed. Microb Pathog 2021; 157:104952. [PMID: 34022354 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Infection following injury is one of the major threats which causes huge economic burden in wound care management all over the world. Injury often results with poor healing when coupled by following infection. In contrast to this, we observed enhanced survival of wound infected worms compared to wounded worms in Caenorhabditis elegans wound model while infecting with Staphylococcus aureus. Hence, the study was intended to identify the mechanism for the enhanced survival of wound infected worms through LCMS/MS based high throughput proteomic analysis. Bioinformatics analyses of the identified protein players indicated differential enrichment of several pathways including MAPK signaling, oxidative phosphorylation and phosphatidylinositol signaling. Inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation and phosphatidylinositol signaling through chemical treatment showed complete reversal of the enhanced survival during wound infection nevertheless mutant of MAPK pathway did not reverse the same. Consequently, it was delineated that oxidative phosphorylation and phosphatidylinositol signaling are crucial for the survival. In this regard, elevated calcium signals and ROS including O- and H2O2 were observed in wounded and wound infected worms. Consequently, it was insinuated that presence of pathogen stress could have incited survival in wound infected worms with the aid of elevated ROS and calcium signals.
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Poupet C, Chassard C, Nivoliez A, Bornes S. Caenorhabditis elegans, a Host to Investigate the Probiotic Properties of Beneficial Microorganisms. Front Nutr 2020; 7:135. [PMID: 33425969 PMCID: PMC7786404 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2020.00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans, a non-parasitic nematode emerges as a relevant and powerful candidate as an in vivo model for microorganisms-microorganisms and microorganisms-host interactions studies. Experiments have demonstrated the probiotic potential of bacteria since they can provide to the worm a longer lifespan, an increased resistance to pathogens and to oxidative or heat stresses. Probiotics are used to prevent or treat microbiota dysbiosis and associated pathologies but the molecular mechanisms underlying their capacities are still unknown. Beyond safety and healthy aspects of probiotics, C. elegans represents a powerful way to design large-scale studies to explore transkingdom interactions and to solve questioning about the molecular aspect of these interactions. Future challenges and opportunities would be to validate C. elegans as an in vivo tool for high-throughput screening of microorganisms for their potential probiotic use on human health and to enlarge the panels of microorganisms studied as well as the human diseases investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Poupet
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMRF, Aurillac, France
| | | | | | - Stéphanie Bornes
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMRF, Aurillac, France
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Balasubramaniam B, VenkataKrishna LM, Vinitha T, JebaMercy G, Balamurugan K. Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi exposure elicits deliberate physiological alterations and triggers the involvement of ubiquitin mediated proteolysis pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 149:215-233. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.01.225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Antiaging, Stress Resistance, and Neuroprotective Efficacies of Cleistocalyx nervosum var. paniala Fruit Extracts Using Caenorhabditis elegans Model. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2019; 2019:7024785. [PMID: 31871554 PMCID: PMC6906846 DOI: 10.1155/2019/7024785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Plant parts and their bioactive compounds are widely used by mankind for their health benefits. Cleistocalyx nervosum var. paniala is one berry fruit, native to Thailand, known to exhibit various health benefits in vitro. The present study was focused on analyzing the antiaging, stress resistance, and neuroprotective effects of C. nervosum in model system Caenorhabditis elegans using physiological assays, fluorescent imaging, and qPCR analysis. The results suggest that the fruit extract was able to significantly extend the median and maximum lifespan of the nematode. It could also extend the healthspan by reducing the accumulation of the “age pigment” lipofuscin, inside the nematode along with regulating the expression of col-19, egl-8, egl-30, dgk-1, and goa-1 genes. Further, the extracts upregulated the expression of daf-16 while downregulating the expression of daf-2 and age-1 in wild-type nematodes. Interestingly, it could extend the lifespan in DAF-16 mutants suggesting that the extension of lifespan and healthspan was dependent and independent of DAF-16-mediated pathway. The fruit extract was also observed to reduce the level of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) inside the nematode during oxidative stress. The qPCR analysis suggests the involvement of skn-1 and sir-2.1 in initiating stress resistance by activating the antioxidant mechanism. Additionally, the fruit could also elicit neuroprotection as it could extend the median and maximum lifespan of transgenic strain integrated with Aβ. SKN-1 could play a pivotal role in establishing the antiaging, stress resistance, and neuroprotective effect of C. nervosum. Overall, C. nervosum can be used as a nutraceutical in the food industry which could offer potential health benefits.
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Analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans phosphoproteome reveals the involvement of a molecular chaperone, HSP-90 protein during Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi infection. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 137:620-646. [PMID: 31252012 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.06.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Being a primary and prerequisite Post Translational Modification (PTM), protein phosphorylation mediates the defense mechanisms that presides host defense against a pathogen attack. Hence, the current study was intended to uncover the role of regulatory proteins and their PTMs with special attention to phosphorylation during pathogen attack, using C. elegans as a host and S. Typhi as an interacting pathogen. The study was initiated with the identification of differential regulation of the crucial immune regulatory kinases such as PMK-1, JNK-1 and SGK-1 through immunoblotting analysis, which revealed up-regulation of kinases during 48 h of S. Typhi infection. Subsequent the phosphoproteome profiling of S. Typhi infected C. elegans, using TiO2 Column Chromatography followed by MALDI-ToF-ToF-MS, uncovered the regulated phosphoprotein players resulting in the identification of 166 and 54 proteins from gel-free and gel-based analysis, respectively. HSP-90 was found to be a central player from the interactome analyses and its role during pathogenic defense was validated using immunoblotting. Furthermore, the protein disorders of the identified phosphoproteins have been extensively analysed in silico. This study suggests that S. Typhi interferes with the homeostasis of chaperone molecules by kinetically interfering with the phosphorylation of the downstream pathway players of MAPK and JNK.
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Mir DA, Balamurugan K. A proteomic analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans mitochondria during bacterial infection. Mitochondrion 2019; 48:37-50. [PMID: 30926536 DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondria are involved in a variety of cellular metabolic processes and their functions are regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. Recent studies have revealed functional diversity and importance of mitochondria in many cellular processes, including the innate immune response. This study evaluated the specific response and proteomic changes in host Caenorhabditis elegans mitochondria during Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 infection. We performed an inclusive approach to determine the C. elegans mitochondria proteome. The protein fractions of mitochondria were analysed by tandem LC-MS/MS, 129 differentially regulated proteins were identified, indicating an involvement of various mitochondrial processes. The several known components of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) machinery, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) and stable mitochondria-encoded proteins were found to be differentially expressed. Our results in-depth provide new horizons for mitochondria-associated protein functions and the classification of mitochondrial diseases during host-pathogen interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilawar Ahmad Mir
- Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu 630003, India
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Muthamil S, Balasubramaniam B, Balamurugan K, Pandian SK. Synergistic Effect of Quinic Acid Derived From Syzygium cumini and Undecanoic Acid Against Candida spp. Biofilm and Virulence. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2835. [PMID: 30534118 PMCID: PMC6275436 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, fungal infections have incredibly increased with Candida genus as the major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized and immunocompromised patients. Most of the Candida species are proficient in biofilm formation on implanted medical devices as well as human tissues. Biofilm related Candida infections are very difficult to treat using common antifungal agents owing to their increased drug resistance. To address these issues, the present study investigated the antibiofilm and antivirulent properties of Syzygium cumini derived quinic acid in combination with known antifungal compound undecanoic acid. Initially, antibiofilm potential of S. cumini leaf extract was assessed and the active principles were identified through gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Among the compounds identified, quinic acid was one of the major compounds. The interaction between quinic acid and undecanoic acid was found to be synergistic in the Fractional inhibitory concentration index (≤0.5). Results of in vitro assays and gene expression analysis suggested that the synergistic combinations of quinic acid and undecanoic acid significantly inhibited virulence traits of Candida spp. such as the biofilm formation, yeast-to-hyphal transition, extracellular polymeric substances production, filamentation, secreted hydrolases production and ergosterol biosynthesis. In addition, result of in vivo studies using Caenorhabditis elegans demonstrated the non-toxic nature of QA-UDA combination and antivirulence effect against Candida spp. For the first time, synergistic antivirulence ability of quinic acid and undecanoic acid was explored against Candida spp. Thus, results obtained from the present study suggest that combination of phytochemicals might be used an alternate therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of biofilm associated Candida infection.
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Khan F, Jain S, Oloketuyi SF. Bacteria and bacterial products: Foe and friends to Caenorhabditis elegans. Microbiol Res 2018; 215:102-113. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2018.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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