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Nguyen A, Roy JJS, Kim JH, Yun KH, Lee W, Kim KK, Kim T, Chaurasia AK. Repeated Exposure of Vancomycin to Vancomycin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (VSSA) Parent Emerged VISA and VRSA Strains with Enhanced Virulence Potentials. J Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s12275-024-00139-8. [PMID: 38814539 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-024-00139-8] [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: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of resistance against the last-resort antibiotic vancomycin in staphylococcal infections is a serious concern for human health. Although various drug-resistant pathogens of diverse genetic backgrounds show higher virulence potential, the underlying mechanism behind this is not yet clear due to variability in their genetic dispositions. In this study, we investigated the correlation between resistance and virulence in adaptively evolved isogenic strains. The vancomycin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus USA300 was exposed to various concentrations of vancomycin repeatedly as a mimic of the clinical regimen to obtain mutation(s)-accrued-clonally-selected (MACS) strains. The phenotypic analyses followed by expression of the representative genes responsible for virulence and resistance of MACS strains were investigated. MACS strains obtained under 2 and 8 µg/ml vancomycin, named Van2 and Van8, respectively; showed enhanced vancomycin minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) to 4 and 16 µg/ml, respectively. The cell adhesion and invasion of MACS strains increased in proportion to their MICs. The correlation between resistance and virulence potential was partially explained by the differential expression of genes known to be involved in both virulence and resistance in MACS strains compared to parent S. aureus USA300. Repeated treatment of vancomycin against vancomycin-susceptible S. aureus (VSSA) leads to the emergence of vancomycin-resistant strains with variable levels of enhanced virulence potentials.
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Affiliation(s)
- An Nguyen
- Department of Precision Medicine, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science (GSBMS), Institute for Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Therapeutics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - J Jean Sophy Roy
- Department of Precision Medicine, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science (GSBMS), Institute for Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Therapeutics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hoon Kim
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Hee Yun
- Department of Precision Medicine, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science (GSBMS), Institute for Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Therapeutics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonsik Lee
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Kyu Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science (GSBMS), Institute for Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Therapeutics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - Truc Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science (GSBMS), Institute for Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Therapeutics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - Akhilesh Kumar Chaurasia
- Department of Precision Medicine, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science (GSBMS), Institute for Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Therapeutics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.
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Al Ali A, Alsulami J, Aubee JI, Idowu A, Tomlinson BR, Felton EA, Jackson JK, Kennedy SJ, Torres NJ, Shaw LN, Thompson KM. Staphylococcus aureus SigS Induces Expression of a Regulatory Protein Pair That Modulates Its mRNA Stability. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0039222. [PMID: 37255480 PMCID: PMC10294688 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00392-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
SigS is the sole extracytoplasmic function sigma factor in Staphylococcus aureus and is necessary for virulence, immune evasion, and adaptation to toxic chemicals and environmental stressors. Despite the contribution of SigS to a myriad of critical phenotypes, the downstream effectors of SigS-dependent pathogenesis, immune evasion, and stress adaptation remain elusive. To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed the S. aureus transcriptome following transient overexpression of SigS. We identified a bicistronic transcript, upregulated 1,000-fold, containing two midsized genes, each containing single domains of unknown function (DUFs). We renamed these genes SigS-regulated orfA (sroA) and SigS-regulated orfB (sroB). We demonstrated that SigS regulation of the sroAB operon is direct by using in vitro transcription analysis. Using Northern blot analysis, we also demonstrated that SroA and SroB have opposing autoregulatory functions on the transcriptional architecture of the sigS locus, with SroA stimulating SigS mRNA levels and SroB stimulating s750 (SigS antisense) levels. We hypothesized that these opposing regulatory effects were due to a direct interaction. We subsequently demonstrated a direct interaction between SroA and SroB using an in vivo surrogate genetics approach via bacterial adenylate cyclase-based two-hybrid (BACTH) analysis. We demonstrated that the SroA effect on SigS is at the posttranscriptional level of mRNA stability, highlighting a mechanism likely used by S. aureus to tightly control SigS levels. Finally, we demonstrate that the sroAB locus promotes virulence in a murine pneumonia model of infection. IMPORTANCE SigS is necessary for S. aureus virulence, immune evasion, and adaptation to chemical and environmental stressors. These processes are critically important for the ability of S. aureus to cause disease. However, the SigS-dependent transcriptome has not been identified, hindering our ability to identify downstream effectors of SigS that contribute to these pathogenic and adaptive phenotypes. Here, we identify a regulatory protein pair that is a major direct target of SigS, known as SroA and SroB. SroA also acts to stimulate SigS expression at the posttranscriptional level of RNA turnover, providing insight into intrinsically low levels of SigS. The discovery of SroA and SroB increases our understanding of SigS and the S. aureus pathogenesis process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amer Al Ali
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jamilah Alsulami
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Joseph I. Aubee
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ayotimofe Idowu
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Brooke R. Tomlinson
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Emily A. Felton
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Jessica K. Jackson
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Sarah J. Kennedy
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Nathanial J. Torres
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Lindsey N. Shaw
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Karl M. Thompson
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA
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Proline transporters ProT and PutP are required for Staphylococcus aureus infection. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011098. [PMID: 36652494 PMCID: PMC9886301 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Proline acquired via specific transporters can serve as a proteinogenic substrate, carbon and nitrogen source, or osmolyte. Previous reports have documented that Staphylococcus aureus, a major community and nosocomial pathogen, encodes at least four proline transporters, PutP, OpuC, OpuD, and ProP. A combination of genetic approaches and 3H-proline transport assays reveal that a previously unrecognized transporter, ProT, in addition to PutP, are the major proline transporters in S. aureus. Complementation experiments using constitutively expressed non-cognate promoters found that proline transport via OpuD, OpuC, and ProP is minimal. Both proline biosynthesis from arginine and proline transport via ProT are critical for growth when S. aureus is grown under conditions of high salinity. Further, proline transport mediated by ProT or PutP are required for growth in media with and without glucose, indicating both transporters function to acquire proline for proteinogenic purposes in addition to acquisition of proline as a carbon/nitrogen source. Lastly, inactivation of proT and putP resulted in a significant reduction (5 log10) of bacterial burden in murine skin-and-soft tissue infection and bacteremia models, suggesting that proline transport is required to establish a S. aureus infection.
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Costa MDOCE, do Nascimento APB, Martins YC, dos Santos MT, Figueiredo AMDS, Perez-Rueda E, Nicolás MF. The gene regulatory network of Staphylococcus aureus ST239-SCC mecIII strain Bmb9393 and assessment of genes associated with the biofilm in diverse backgrounds. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1049819. [PMID: 36704545 PMCID: PMC9871828 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1049819] [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: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most prevalent and relevant pathogens responsible for a wide spectrum of hospital-associated or community-acquired infections. In addition, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus may display multidrug resistance profiles that complicate treatment and increase the mortality rate. The ability to produce biofilm, particularly in device-associated infections, promotes chronic and potentially more severe infections originating from the primary site. Understanding the complex mechanisms involved in planktonic and biofilm growth is critical to identifying regulatory connections and ways to overcome the global health problem of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Methods In this work, we apply literature-based and comparative genomics approaches to reconstruct the gene regulatory network of the high biofilm-producing strain Bmb9393, belonging to one of the highly disseminating successful clones, the Brazilian epidemic clone. To the best of our knowledge, we describe for the first time the topological properties and network motifs for the Staphylococcus aureus pathogen. We performed this analysis using the ST239-SCCmecIII Bmb9393 strain. In addition, we analyzed transcriptomes available in the literature to construct a set of genes differentially expressed in the biofilm, covering different stages of the biofilms and genetic backgrounds of the strains. Results and discussion The Bmb9393 gene regulatory network comprises 1,803 regulatory interactions between 64 transcription factors and the non-redundant set of 1,151 target genes with the inclusion of 19 new regulons compared to the N315 transcriptional regulatory network published in 2011. In the Bmb9393 network, we found 54 feed-forward loop motifs, where the most prevalent were coherent type 2 and incoherent type 2. The non-redundant set of differentially expressed genes in the biofilm consisted of 1,794 genes with functional categories relevant for adaptation to the variable microenvironments established throughout the biofilm formation process. Finally, we mapped the set of genes with altered expression in the biofilm in the Bmb9393 gene regulatory network to depict how different growth modes can alter the regulatory systems. The data revealed 45 transcription factors and 876 shared target genes. Thus, the gene regulatory network model provided represents the most up-to-date model for Staphylococcus aureus, and the set of genes altered in the biofilm provides a global view of their influence on biofilm formation from distinct experimental perspectives and different strain backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Paula Barbosa do Nascimento
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Agnes Marie de Sá Figueiredo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Académica Yucatán, Merida, Mexico
| | - Ernesto Perez-Rueda
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Bactérias, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,*Correspondence: Ernesto Perez-Rueda ✉
| | - Marisa Fabiana Nicolás
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica (LNCC), Petrópolis, Brazil,Marisa Fabiana Nicolás ✉
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Seffer MT, Weinert M, Molinari G, Rohde M, Gröbe L, Kielstein JT, Engelmann S. Staphylococcus aureus binding to Seraph® 100 Microbind® Affinity Filter: Effects of surface protein expression and treatment duration. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283304. [PMID: 36930680 PMCID: PMC10022791 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Extracorporeal blood purification systems represent a promising alternative for treatment of blood stream infections with multiresistant bacteria. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to analyse the binding activity of S. aureus to Seraph affinity filters based on heparin coated beads and to identify effectors influencing this binding activity. RESULTS To test the binding activity, we used gfp-expressing S. aureus Newman strains inoculated either in 0.9% NaCl or in blood plasma and determined the number of unbound bacteria by FACS analyses after passing through Seraph affinity filters. The binding activity of S. aureus was clearly impaired in human plasma: while a percent removal of 42% was observed in 0.9% NaCl (p-value 0.0472) using Seraph mini columns, a percent removal of only 10% was achieved in human plasma (p-value 0.0934). The different composition of surface proteins in S. aureus caused by the loss of SarA, SigB, Lgt, and SaeS had no significant influence on its binding activity. In a clinically relevant approach using the Seraph® 100 Microbind® Affinity Filter and 1000 ml of human blood plasma from four different donors, the duration of treatment was shown to have a critical effect on the rate of bacterial reduction. Within the first four hours, the number of bacteria decreased continuously and the reduction in bacteria reached statistical significance after two hours of treatment (percentage reduction 64%, p-value 0.01165). The final reduction after four hours of treatment was close to 90% and is dependent on donor. The capacity of Seraph® 100 for S. aureus in human plasma was approximately 5 x 108 cells. CONCLUSIONS The Seraph affinity filter, based on heparin-coated beads, is a highly efficient method for reducing S. aureus in human blood plasma, with efficiency dependent on blood plasma composition and treatment duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin-Theres Seffer
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Microbial Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany
- Medical Clinic V, Nephrology, Rheumatology, Blood Purification, Academic Teaching Hospital Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Martin Weinert
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Microbial Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institute for Microbiology, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Gabriella Molinari
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Central Facility of Microscopy, Braunschweig Germany
| | - Manfred Rohde
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Central Facility of Microscopy, Braunschweig Germany
| | - Lothar Gröbe
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Experimental Immunology, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jan T. Kielstein
- Medical Clinic V, Nephrology, Rheumatology, Blood Purification, Academic Teaching Hospital Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Susanne Engelmann
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Microbial Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institute for Microbiology, Braunschweig, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Regulation of Staphylococcal Capsule by SarZ is SigA-Dependent. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0015222. [PMID: 35862799 PMCID: PMC9380528 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00152-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Production of capsular polysaccharides in Staphylococcus aureus is transcriptionally regulated by a control region of the cap operon that consists of SigA- and SigB-dependent promoters. A large number of regulators have been shown to affect cap gene expression. However, regulation of capsule is only partially understood. Here we found that SarZ was another regulator that activated the cap genes through the SigA-dependent promoter. Gel electrophoresis mobility shift experiments revealed that SarZ is bound to a broad region of the cap promoter including the SigA-dependent promoter but mainly the downstream region. We demonstrated that activation of cap expression by SarZ was independent of MgrA, which also activated capsule through the SigA-dependent promoter. Our results further showed that oxidative stress with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatments enhanced SarZ activation of cap expression, indicating that SarZ is able to sense oxidative stress to regulate capsule production. IMPORTANCE Expression of virulence genes in Staphylococcus aureus is affected by environmental cues and is regulated by a surprisingly large number of regulators. Much is still unknown about how virulence factors are regulated by environment cues at the molecular level. Capsule is an antiphagocytic virulence factor that is highly regulated. In this study, we found SarZ was an activator of capsule and that the regulation of capsule by SarZ was affected by oxidative stress. These results provide an example of how a virulence factor could be regulated in response to an environmental cue. As the host oxidative defense system plays an important role against S. aureus, this study contributes to a better understanding of virulence gene regulation and staphylococcal pathogenesis.
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Aubourg M, Pottier M, Léon A, Bernay B, Dhalluin A, Cacaci M, Torelli R, Ledormand P, Martini C, Sanguinetti M, Auzou M, Gravey F, Giard JC. Inactivation of the Response Regulator AgrA Has a Pleiotropic Effect on Biofilm Formation, Pathogenesis and Stress Response in Staphylococcus lugdunensis. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0159821. [PMID: 35138170 PMCID: PMC8826819 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01598-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus lugdunensis is a coagulase-negative Staphylococcus that emerges as an important opportunistic pathogen. However, little is known about the regulation underlying the transition from commensal to virulent state. Based on knowledge of S. aureus virulence, we suspected that the agr quorum sensing system may be an important determinant for the pathogenicity of S. lugdunensis. We investigated the functions of the transcriptional regulator AgrA using the agrA deletion mutant. AgrA played a role in cell pigmentation: ΔargA mutant colonies were white while the parental strains were slightly yellow. Compared with the wild-type strain, the ΔargA mutant was affected in its ability to form biofilm and was less able to survive in mice macrophages. Moreover, the growth of ΔagrA was significantly reduced by the addition of 10% NaCl or 0.4 mM H2O2 and its survival after 2 h in the presence of 1 mM H2O2 was more than 10-fold reduced. To explore the mechanisms involved beyond these phenotypes, the ΔagrA proteome and transcriptome were characterized by mass spectrometry and RNA-Seq. We found that AgrA controlled several virulence factors as well as stress-response factors, which are well correlated with the reduced resistance of the ΔagrA mutant to osmotic and oxidative stresses. These results were not the consequence of the deregulation of RNAIII of the agr system, since no phenotype or alteration of the proteomic profile has been observed for the ΔRNAIII mutant. Altogether, our results highlighted that the AgrA regulator of S. lugdunensis played a key role in its ability to become pathogenic. IMPORTANCE Although belonging to the natural human skin flora, Staphylococcus lugdunensis is recognized as a particularly aggressive and destructive pathogen. This study aimed to characterize the role of the response regulator AgrA, which is a component of the quorum-sensing agr system and known to be a major element in the regulation of pathogenicity and biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus. In the present study, we showed that, contrary to S. aureus, the agrA deletion mutant produced less biofilm. Inactivation of agrA conferred a white colony phenotype and impacted S. lugdunensis in its ability to survive in mice macrophages and to cope with osmotic and oxidative stresses. By global proteomic and transcriptomic approaches, we identified the AgrA regulon, bringing molecular bases underlying the observed phenotypes. Together, our data showed the importance of AgrA in the opportunistic pathogenic behavior of S. lugdunensis allowing it to be considered as an interesting therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Aubourg
- Université de Caen Normandie, Dynamicure, INSERM U1311, CHU de Caen, Caen, France
| | - Marine Pottier
- Université de Caen Normandie, Dynamicure, INSERM U1311, CHU de Caen, Caen, France
- LABÉO Frank Duncombe, Caen, France
| | - Albertine Léon
- Université de Caen Normandie, Dynamicure, INSERM U1311, CHU de Caen, Caen, France
- LABÉO Frank Duncombe, Caen, France
| | - Benoit Bernay
- Plateforme Proteogen SFR ICORE 4206, Université de Caen Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Anne Dhalluin
- Université de Caen Normandie, Dynamicure, INSERM U1311, CHU de Caen, Caen, France
| | - Margherita Cacaci
- Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L. go F. Vito 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Torelli
- Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L. go F. Vito 1, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Cecilia Martini
- Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L. go F. Vito 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Sanguinetti
- Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L. go F. Vito 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Michel Auzou
- CHU de Caen, Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Caen, France
| | - François Gravey
- Université de Caen Normandie, Dynamicure, INSERM U1311, CHU de Caen, Caen, France
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The Q225P Mutation in SigB Promotes Membrane Vesicle Formation in Staphylococcus aureus. Curr Microbiol 2022; 79:81. [PMID: 35103842 PMCID: PMC8804369 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-022-02772-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria release nano-sized lipid bilayered particles, known as membrane vesicles (MVs), into external environments. Although MVs play a variety of roles in bacterial physiology and pathogenesis, the mechanisms underlying MV formation in Gram-positive microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus remain obscure. Bacterial MV production can be induced in response to stress conditions, and the alternative sigma factor B (SigB) functions as a central regulator of the stress response in Gram-positive bacteria. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the SigB(Q225P) substitution mutation in S. aureus promotes biofilm formation. Here, we report that the SigB(Q225P) mutation also increases MV production in this important pathogen. LacZ reporter assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that the Q225P substitution reduces SigB binding to the promoter region of the thermonuclease gene (nuc), resulting in a significant reduction in Nuc expression. Deletion of nuc markedly enhances S. aureus MV generation, possibly due to the accumulation of nucleic acids. These results are not only important for understanding MV biogenesis in S. aureus, but also useful for the development of a S. aureus MV-based platform for MV application.
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Guo H, Tong Y, Cheng J, Abbas Z, Li Z, Wang J, Zhou Y, Si D, Zhang R. Biofilm and Small Colony Variants-An Update on Staphylococcus aureus Strategies toward Drug Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031241. [PMID: 35163165 PMCID: PMC8835882 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, the drawbacks arising from the overuse of antibiotics have drawn growing public attention. Among them, drug-resistance (DR) and even multidrug-resistance (MDR) pose significant challenges in clinical practice. As a representative of a DR or MDR pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus can cause diversity of infections related to different organs, and can survive or adapt to the diverse hostile environments by switching into other phenotypes, including biofilm and small colony variants (SCVs), with altered physiologic or metabolic characteristics. In this review, we briefly describe the development of the DR/MDR as well as the classical mechanisms (accumulation of the resistant genes). Moreover, we use multidimensional scaling analysis to evaluate the MDR relevant hotspots in the recent published reports. Furthermore, we mainly focus on the possible non-classical resistance mechanisms triggered by the two important alternative phenotypes of the S. aureus, biofilm and SCVs, which are fundamentally caused by the different global regulation of the S. aureus population, such as the main quorum-sensing (QS) and agr system and its coordinated regulated factors, such as the SarA family proteins and the alternative sigma factor σB (SigB). Both the biofilm and the SCVs are able to escape from the host immune response, and resist the therapeutic effects of antibiotics through the physical or the biological barriers, and become less sensitive to some antibiotics by the dormant state with the limited metabolisms.
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Dietrich A, Steffens U, Sass P, Bierbaum G. The hypersusceptible antibiotic screening strain Staphylococcus aureus SG511-Berlin harbors multiple mutations in regulatory genes. Int J Med Microbiol 2021; 311:151545. [PMID: 34896903 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2021.151545] [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: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The genetic plasticity of Staphylococcus aureus has facilitated the evolution of many virulent and drug-resistant strains. Here we present the sequence of the 2.74 Mbp genome of S. aureus SG511-Berlin, which is frequently used for antibiotic screening. Although S. aureus SG511 and the related methicillin-resistant S. aureus MRSA252 share a high similarity in their core genomes, indicated by an average nucleotide identity (ANI) of 99.83%, the accessory genomes of these strains differed, as nearly no mobile elements and resistance determinants were identified in the genome of S. aureus SG511. Susceptibility testing showed that S. aureus SG511 was susceptible to most of the tested antibiotics of different classes. Intriguingly, and in contrast to the standard laboratory strain S. aureus HG001, S. aureus SG511 was even hyper-susceptible towards cell wall and membrane targeting agents, with the exception of the MurA-inhibitor fosfomycin. In depth comparative genome analysis revealed that, in addition to the loss of function mutation in the antibiotic sensor histidine kinase gene graS, further mutations had occurred in the lysyltransferase gene mprF, the structural giant protein gene ebh, and the regulator genes codY and saeR, which might contribute to antibiotic susceptibility. In addition, an insertion element in agrC abolishes Agr-activity in S. aureus SG511, and the spa and sarS genes, which encode the surface protein SpA and its transcriptional regulator, were deleted. Thus, the lack of mobile resistance genes together with multiple mutations affecting cell envelope morphology may render S. aureus SG511 hyper-susceptible towards most cell wall targeting agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Dietrich
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Ursula Steffens
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Peter Sass
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Gabriele Bierbaum
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
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Elhakim YA, Ali AE, Hosny AEDMS, Abdeltawab NF. Zinc Deprivation as a Promising Approach for Combating Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Pilot Study. Pathogens 2021; 10:1228. [PMID: 34684179 PMCID: PMC8540720 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are a global health burden with an urgent need for antimicrobial agents. Studies have shown that host immune responses limit essential metals such as zinc during infection, leading to the limitation of bacterial virulence. Thus, the deprivation of zinc as an important co-factor for the activity of many S. aureus enzymes can be a potential antimicrobial approach. However, the effect of zinc deprivation on S. aureus and MRSA is not fully understood. Therefore, the current study aimed to dissect the effects of zinc deprivation on S. aureus hemolytic activity and biofilm formation through employing biochemical and genetic approaches to study the effect of zinc deprivation on S. aureus growth and virulence. Chemically defined media (CDM) with and without ZnCl2, was used to assess the effect of zinc deprivation on growth, biofilm formation, and hemolytic activity in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) RN6390 and MRSA N315 strains. Zinc deprivation decreased the growth of RN6390 and N315 S. aureus strains significantly by 1.5-2 folds, respectively compared to the zinc physiological range encountered by the bacteria in the human body (7-20 µM) (p < 0.05). Zinc deprivation significantly reduced biofilm formation by 1.5 folds compared to physiological levels (p < 0.05). Moreover, the hemolytic activity of RN6390 and N315 S. aureus strains was significantly decreased by 20 and 30 percent, respectively compared to physiological zinc levels (p < 0.05). Expression of biofilm-associated transcripts levels at late stage of biofilm formation (20 h) murein hydrolase activator A (cidA) and cidB were downregulated by 3 and 5 folds, respectively (p < 0.05) suggested an effect on extracellular DNA production. Expression of hemolysins-associated genes (hld, hlb, hla) was downregulated by 3, 5, and 10 folds, respectively, in absence of zinc (p < 0.001). Collectively the current study showed that zinc deprivation in vitro affected growth, biofilm formation, and hemolytic activity of S. aureus. Our in vitro findings suggested that zinc deprivation can be a potential supportive anti-biofilm formation and antihemolytic approach to contain MRSA topical infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yomna A. Elhakim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt; (Y.A.E.); (A.E.-D.M.S.H.)
| | - Amal E. Ali
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Future University in Egypt, New Cairo 12311, Egypt;
| | - Alaa El-Dien M. S. Hosny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt; (Y.A.E.); (A.E.-D.M.S.H.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Modern University for Technology and Information (MTI), Cairo 12055, Egypt
| | - Nourtan F. Abdeltawab
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt; (Y.A.E.); (A.E.-D.M.S.H.)
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Pant N, Eisen DP. Non-Antimicrobial Adjuvant Strategies to Tackle Biofilm-Related Staphylococcus aureus Prosthetic Joint Infections. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10091060. [PMID: 34572641 PMCID: PMC8465242 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10091060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus frequently causes community- and hospital-acquired infections. S. aureus attachment followed by biofilm formation on tissues and medical devices plays a significant role in the establishment of chronic infections. Staphylococcal biofilms encase bacteria in a matrix and protect the cells from antimicrobials and the immune system, resulting in infections that are highly resistant to treatment. The biology of biofilms is complex and varies between organisms. In this review, we focus our discussion on S. aureus biofilms and describe the stages of their formation. We particularly emphasize genetic and biochemical processes that may be vulnerable to novel treatment approaches. Against this background, we discuss treatment strategies that have been successful in animal models of S. aureus biofilm-related infection and consider their possible use for the prevention and eradication of biofilm-related S. aureus prosthetic joint infection.
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Apt (Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase) Mutation in Laboratory-Selected Vancomycin-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10050583. [PMID: 34069103 PMCID: PMC8170892 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10050583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative genomic sequencing of laboratory-derived vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcusaureus (VISA) (MM66-3 and MM66-4) revealed unique mutations in both MM66-3 (in apt and ssaA6), and MM66-4 (in apt and walK), compared to hetero-VISA parent strain MM66. Transcriptional profiling revealed that both MM66 VISA shared 79 upregulated genes and eight downregulated genes. Of these, 30.4% of the upregulated genes were associated with the cell envelope, whereas 75% of the downregulated genes were associated with virulence. In concordance with mutations and transcriptome alterations, both VISA strains demonstrated reduced autolysis, reduced growth in the presence of salt and reduced virulence factor activity. In addition to mutations in genes linked to cell wall metabolism (ssaA6 and walK), the same mutation in apt which encodes adenine phosphoribosyltransferase, was confirmed in both MM66 VISA. Apt plays a role in both adenine metabolism and accumulation and both MM66 VISA grew better than MM66 in the presence of adenine or 2-fluoroadenine indicating a reduction in the accumulation of these growth inhibiting compounds in the VISA strains. MM66 apt mutants isolated via 2-fluoroadenine selection also demonstrated reduced susceptibility to the cell wall lytic dye Congo red and vancomycin. Finding that apt mutations contribute to reduced vancomycin susceptibility once again suggests a role for altered purine metabolism in a VISA mechanism.
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Tran HT, Bonilla CY. SigB-regulated antioxidant functions in gram‐positive bacteria. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 37:38. [DOI: 10.1007/s11274-021-03004-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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15
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Sinha D, Sinha D, Dutta A, Chakraborty T, Mondal R, Seal S, Poddar A, Chatterjee S, Sau S. Alternative Sigma Factor of Staphylococcus aureus Interacts with the Cognate Antisigma Factor Primarily Using Its Domain 3. Biochemistry 2021; 60:135-151. [PMID: 33406357 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
σB, an alternative sigma factor, is usually employed to tackle the general stress response in Staphylococcus aureus and other Gram-positive bacteria. This protein, involved in S. aureus-mediated pathogenesis, is typically blocked by RsbW, an antisigma factor having serine kinase activity. σB, a σ70-like sigma factor, harbors three conserved domains designated σB2, σB3, and σB4. To better understand the interaction between RsbW and σB or its domains, we have studied their recombinant forms, rRsbW, rσB, rσB2, rσB3, and rσB4, using different probes. The results show that none of the rσB domains, unlike rσB, showed binding to a cognate DNA in the presence of a core RNA polymerase. However, both rσB2 and rσB3, like rσB, interacted with rRsbW, and the order of their rRsbW binding affinity looks like rσB > rσB3 > rσB2. Furthermore, the reaction between rRsbW and rσB or rσB3 was exothermic and occurred spontaneously. rRsbW and rσB3 also associate with each other at a stoichiometry of 2:1, and different types of noncovalent bonds might be responsible for their interaction. A structural model of the RsbW-σB3 complex that has supported our experimental results indicated the binding of rσB3 at the putative dimeric interface of RsbW. A genetic study shows that the tentative dimer-forming region of RsbW is crucial for preserving its rσB binding ability, serine kinase activity, and dimerization ability. Additionally, a urea-induced equilibrium unfolding study indicated a notable thermodynamic stabilization of σB3 in the presence of RsbW. Possible implications of the stabilization data in drug discovery were discussed at length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debabrata Sinha
- Department of Biochemistry, Bose Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal 700054, India
| | - Debasmita Sinha
- Department of Biochemistry, Bose Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal 700054, India
| | - Anindya Dutta
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal 700054, India
| | - Tushar Chakraborty
- Department of Biochemistry, Bose Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal 700054, India
| | - Rajkrishna Mondal
- Department of Biotechnology, Nagaland University, Dimapur, Nagaland 797112, India
| | - Soham Seal
- Department of Biochemistry, Bose Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal 700054, India
| | - Asim Poddar
- Department of Biochemistry, Bose Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal 700054, India
| | | | - Subrata Sau
- Department of Biochemistry, Bose Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal 700054, India
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Fritsch VN, Loi VV, Busche T, Tung QN, Lill R, Horvatek P, Wolz C, Kalinowski J, Antelmann H. The alarmone (p)ppGpp confers tolerance to oxidative stress during the stationary phase by maintenance of redox and iron homeostasis in Staphylococcus aureus. Free Radic Biol Med 2020; 161:351-364. [PMID: 33144262 PMCID: PMC7754856 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.10.322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Slow growing stationary phase bacteria are often tolerant to multiple stressors and antimicrobials. Here, we show that the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus develops a non-specific tolerance towards oxidative stress during the stationary phase, which is mediated by the nucleotide second messenger (p)ppGpp. The (p)ppGpp0 mutant was highly susceptible to HOCl stress during the stationary phase. Transcriptome analysis of the (p)ppGpp0 mutant revealed an increased expression of the PerR, SigB, QsrR, CtsR and HrcA regulons during the stationary phase, indicating an oxidative stress response. The (p)ppGpp0 mutant showed a slight oxidative shift in the bacillithiol (BSH) redox potential (EBSH) and an impaired H2O2 detoxification due to higher endogenous ROS levels. The increased ROS levels in the (p)ppGpp0 mutant were shown to be caused by higher respiratory chain activity and elevated total and free iron levels. Consistent with these results, N-acetyl cysteine and the iron-chelator dipyridyl improved the growth and survival of the (p)ppGpp0 mutant under oxidative stress. Elevated free iron levels caused 8 to 31-fold increased transcription of Fe-storage proteins ferritin (ftnA) and miniferritin (dps) in the (p)ppGpp0 mutant, while Fur-regulated uptake systems for iron, heme or siderophores (efeOBU, isdABCDEFG, sirABC and sstADBCD) were repressed. Finally, the susceptibility of the (p)ppGpp0 mutant towards the bactericidal action of the antibiotics ciprofloxacin and tetracycline was abrogated with N-acetyl cysteine and dipyridyl. Taken together, (p)ppGpp confers tolerance to ROS and antibiotics by down-regulation of respiratory chain activity and free iron levels, lowering ROS formation to ensure redox homeostasis in S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Nadin Fritsch
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology-Microbiology, D-14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vu Van Loi
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology-Microbiology, D-14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Busche
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology-Microbiology, D-14195, Berlin, Germany; Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, D-33594, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Quach Ngoc Tung
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology-Microbiology, D-14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roland Lill
- Institute of Cytobiology, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35037, Marburg, Germany; Research Center for Synthetic Microbiology SynMikro, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Petra Horvatek
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christiane Wolz
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jörn Kalinowski
- Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, D-33594, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Haike Antelmann
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology-Microbiology, D-14195, Berlin, Germany.
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Transcriptomic Analysis of Staphylococcus xylosus in Solid Dairy Matrix Reveals an Aerobic Lifestyle Adapted to Rind. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8111807. [PMID: 33212972 PMCID: PMC7698506 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus xylosus is found in the microbiota of traditional cheeses, particularly in the rind of soft smeared cheeses. Despite its frequency, the molecular mechanisms allowing the growth and adaptation of S. xylosus in dairy products are still poorly understood. A transcriptomic approach was used to determine how the gene expression profile is modified during the fermentation step in a solid dairy matrix. S. xylosus developed an aerobic metabolism perfectly suited to the cheese rind. It overexpressed genes involved in the aerobic catabolism of two carbon sources in the dairy matrix, lactose and citrate. Interestingly, S. xylosus must cope with nutritional shortage such as amino acids, peptides, and nucleotides, consequently, an extensive up-regulation of genes involved in their biosynthesis was observed. As expected, the gene sigB was overexpressed in relation with general stress and entry into the stationary phase and several genes under its regulation, such as those involved in transport of anions, cations and in pigmentation were up-regulated. Up-regulation of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes and glycine betaine transport and synthesis systems showed that S. xylosus has to cope with oxidative and osmotic stresses. S. xylosus expressed an original system potentially involved in iron acquisition from lactoferrin.
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18
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Casey D, Sleator RD. A genomic analysis of osmotolerance in Staphylococcus aureus. Gene 2020; 767:145268. [PMID: 33157201 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.145268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A key phenotypic characteristic of the Gram-positive bacterial pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus, is its ability to grow in low aw environments. A homology transfer based approach, using the well characterised osmotic stress response systems of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, was used to identify putative osmotolerance loci in Staphylococcus aureus ST772-MRSA-V. A total of 17 distinct putative hyper and hypo-osmotic stress response systems, comprising 78 genes, were identified. The ST772-MRSA-V genome exhibits significant degeneracy in terms of the osmotic stress response; with three copies of opuD, two copies each of nhaK and mrp/mnh, and five copies of opp. Furthermore, regulation of osmotolerance in ST772-MRSA-V appears to be mediated at the transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Casey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, Bishopstown Campus, Cork, Ireland
| | - Roy D Sleator
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, Bishopstown Campus, Cork, Ireland.
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19
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Ranganathan N, Johnson R, Edwards AM. The general stress response of Staphylococcus aureus promotes tolerance of antibiotics and survival in whole human blood. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2020; 166:1088-1094. [PMID: 33095698 PMCID: PMC7723259 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent cause of invasive human infections such as bacteraemia and infective endocarditis. These infections frequently relapse or become chronic, suggesting that the pathogen has mechanisms to tolerate the twin threats of therapeutic antibiotics and host immunity. The general stress response of S. aureus is regulated by the alternative sigma factor B (σB) and provides protection from multiple stresses including oxidative, acidic and heat. σB also contributes to virulence, intracellular persistence and chronic infection. However, the protective effect of σB on bacterial survival during exposure to antibiotics or host immune defences is poorly characterized. We found that σB promotes the survival of S. aureus exposed to the antibiotics gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin and daptomycin, but not oxacillin or clindamycin. We also found that σB promoted staphylococcal survival in whole human blood, most likely via its contribution to oxidative stress resistance. Therefore, we conclude that the general stress response of S. aureus may contribute to the development of chronic infection by conferring tolerance to both antibiotics and host immune defences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Ranganathan
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, Armstrong Rd, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- Present address: Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham, Palace Road, W6 8RF, UK
| | - Rebecca Johnson
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, Armstrong Rd, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- Present address: Horizon Discovery, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9TL, UK
| | - Andrew M. Edwards
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, Armstrong Rd, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
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20
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Bonilla CY. Generally Stressed Out Bacteria: Environmental Stress Response Mechanisms in Gram-Positive Bacteria. Integr Comp Biol 2020; 60:126-133. [PMID: 32044998 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to monitor the environment for toxic chemical and physical disturbances is essential for bacteria that live in dynamic environments. The fundamental sensing mechanisms and physiological responses that allow bacteria to thrive are conserved even if the molecular components of these pathways are not. The bacterial general stress response (GSR) represents a conceptual model for how one pathway integrates a wide range of environmental signals, and how a generalized system with broad molecular responses is coordinated to promote survival likely through complementary pathways. Environmental stress signals such as heat, osmotic stress, and pH changes are received by sensor proteins that through a signaling cascade activate the sigma factor, SigB, to regulate over 200 genes. Additionally, the GSR plays an important role in stress priming that increases bacterial fitness to unrelated subsequent stressors such as oxidative compounds. While the GSR response is implicated during oxidative stress, the reason for its activation remains unknown and suggests crosstalk between environmental and oxidative stress sensors and responses to coordinate antioxidant functions. Systems levels studies of cellular responses such as transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes of stressed bacteria and single-cell analysis could shed light into the regulated functions that protect, remediate, and minimize damage during dynamic environments. This perspective will focus on fundamental stress sensing mechanisms and responses in Gram-positive bacterial species to illustrate their commonalities at the molecular and physiological levels; summarize exciting directions; and highlight how system-level approaches can help us understand bacterial physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Y Bonilla
- Biology Department, Gonzaga University, 502 East Boone Avenue, Spokane, WA 99258, USA
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21
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Schilcher K, Horswill AR. Staphylococcal Biofilm Development: Structure, Regulation, and Treatment Strategies. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2020. [PMID: 32792334 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00026-19/asset/e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In many natural and clinical settings, bacteria are associated with some type of biotic or abiotic surface that enables them to form biofilms, a multicellular lifestyle with bacteria embedded in an extracellular matrix. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, the most frequent causes of biofilm-associated infections on indwelling medical devices, can switch between an existence as single free-floating cells and multicellular biofilms. During biofilm formation, cells first attach to a surface and then multiply to form microcolonies. They subsequently produce the extracellular matrix, a hallmark of biofilm formation, which consists of polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNA. After biofilm maturation into three-dimensional structures, the biofilm community undergoes a disassembly process that leads to the dissemination of staphylococcal cells. As biofilms are dynamic and complex biological systems, staphylococci have evolved a vast network of regulatory mechanisms to modify and fine-tune biofilm development upon changes in environmental conditions. Thus, biofilm formation is used as a strategy for survival and persistence in the human host and can serve as a reservoir for spreading to new infection sites. Moreover, staphylococcal biofilms provide enhanced resilience toward antibiotics and the immune response and impose remarkable therapeutic challenges in clinics worldwide. This review provides an overview and an updated perspective on staphylococcal biofilms, describing the characteristic features of biofilm formation, the structural and functional properties of the biofilm matrix, and the most important mechanisms involved in the regulation of staphylococcal biofilm formation. Finally, we highlight promising strategies and technologies, including multitargeted or combinational therapies, to eradicate staphylococcal biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Schilcher
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Alexander R Horswill
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, Colorado, USA
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22
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Staphylococcal Biofilm Development: Structure, Regulation, and Treatment Strategies. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2020; 84:84/3/e00026-19. [PMID: 32792334 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00026-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 284] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In many natural and clinical settings, bacteria are associated with some type of biotic or abiotic surface that enables them to form biofilms, a multicellular lifestyle with bacteria embedded in an extracellular matrix. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, the most frequent causes of biofilm-associated infections on indwelling medical devices, can switch between an existence as single free-floating cells and multicellular biofilms. During biofilm formation, cells first attach to a surface and then multiply to form microcolonies. They subsequently produce the extracellular matrix, a hallmark of biofilm formation, which consists of polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNA. After biofilm maturation into three-dimensional structures, the biofilm community undergoes a disassembly process that leads to the dissemination of staphylococcal cells. As biofilms are dynamic and complex biological systems, staphylococci have evolved a vast network of regulatory mechanisms to modify and fine-tune biofilm development upon changes in environmental conditions. Thus, biofilm formation is used as a strategy for survival and persistence in the human host and can serve as a reservoir for spreading to new infection sites. Moreover, staphylococcal biofilms provide enhanced resilience toward antibiotics and the immune response and impose remarkable therapeutic challenges in clinics worldwide. This review provides an overview and an updated perspective on staphylococcal biofilms, describing the characteristic features of biofilm formation, the structural and functional properties of the biofilm matrix, and the most important mechanisms involved in the regulation of staphylococcal biofilm formation. Finally, we highlight promising strategies and technologies, including multitargeted or combinational therapies, to eradicate staphylococcal biofilms.
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23
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Supa-Amornkul S, Mongkolsuk P, Summpunn P, Chaiyakunvat P, Navaratdusit W, Jiarpinitnun C, Chaturongakul S. Alternative Sigma Factor B in Bovine Mastitis-Causing Staphylococcus aureus: Characterization of Its Role in Biofilm Formation, Resistance to Hydrogen Peroxide Stress, Regulon Members. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2493. [PMID: 31787937 PMCID: PMC6853994 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examines treatments of the bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, namely, in the context of its being a major cause of subclinical bovine mastitis. Such infections caused by S. aureus among dairy cows are difficult to detect and can easily become chronic, leading to reduced productivity and large losses for dairy manufacturers. In this study, the role of alternative sigma factor B (σB), which has been shown to be a global regulator for S. aureus infections, was explored in a mastitis-causing S. aureus strain, RF122. For comparison with the wild-type strain, a sigB null (ΔsigB) mutant was constructed and analyzed for its phenotypes and transcriptome. Our study found that σB is essential for biofilm formation as the ΔsigB mutant strain produced significantly less biofilm than did the wild-type strain at 48 h. σB is involved in response to H2O2 stress. However, σB plays a minor or no role in resistance to antiseptics (e.g., povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine), resistance to tested antibiotics, hemolysin activity, and invasion ability. RNA sequencing identified 225 σB-dependent genes, of which 171 are positively regulated and 54 are negatively regulated. The identified genes are involved in stress response, pathogenesis, and metabolic mechanisms. Quantitative TaqMan RT-PCR was performed to verify the RNA sequencing results; i.e., σB is a positive regulator for asp23, sarA, katA, yabJ, sodA, SAB2006c, and nrdD expressions. In the RF122 strain, σB plays a role in biofilm formation, general stress response (e.g., H2O2), and regulation of virulence factors and virulence-associated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirirak Supa-Amornkul
- Mahidol International Dental School, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Paninee Mongkolsuk
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pijug Summpunn
- Food Technology and Innovation Research Center of Excellence, School of Agricultural Technology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Pongkorn Chaiyakunvat
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Warisara Navaratdusit
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chutima Jiarpinitnun
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Soraya Chaturongakul
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Within-host evolution of bovine Staphylococcus aureus selects for a SigB-deficient pathotype characterized by reduced virulence but enhanced proteolytic activity and biofilm formation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13479. [PMID: 31530887 PMCID: PMC6748969 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49981-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of bovine mastitis, commonly leading to long-lasting, persistent and recurrent infections. Thereby, S. aureus constantly refines and permanently adapts to the bovine udder environment. In this work, we followed S. aureus within-host adaptation over the course of three months in a naturally infected dairy cattle with chronic, subclinical mastitis. Whole genome sequence analysis revealed a complete replacement of the initial predominant variant by another isogenic variant. We report for the first time within-host evolution towards a sigma factor SigB-deficient pathotype in S. aureus bovine mastitis, associated with a single nucleotide polymorphism in rsbU (G368A → G122D), a contributor to SigB-functionality. The emerged SigB-deficient pathotype exhibits a substantial shift to new phenotypic traits comprising strong proteolytic activity and poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG)-based biofilm production. This possibly unlocks new nutritional resources and promotes immune evasion, presumably facilitating extracellular persistence within the host. Moreover, we observed an adaptation towards attenuated virulence using a mouse infection model. This study extends the role of sigma factor SigB in S. aureus pathogenesis, so far described to be required for intracellular persistence during chronic infections. Our findings suggest that S. aureus SigB-deficiency is an alternative mechanism for persistence and underpin the clinical relevance of staphylococcal SigB-deficient variants which are consistently isolated during human chronic infections.
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Keinhörster D, George SE, Weidenmaier C, Wolz C. Function and regulation of Staphylococcus aureus wall teichoic acids and capsular polysaccharides. Int J Med Microbiol 2019; 309:151333. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2019.151333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
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Tan J, Wang J, Yang C, Zhu C, Guo G, Tang J, Shen H. Antimicrobial characteristics of Berberine against prosthetic joint infection-related Staphylococcus aureus of different multi-locus sequence types. BMC COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2019; 19:218. [PMID: 31419978 PMCID: PMC6697971 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2558-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Staphylococcal aureus (S. aureus) has become the leading causative pathogen of Prosthetic Joint Infection (PJI), which is the most devastating complication after arthroplasty surgeries. Due to the biofilm formation ability and emergence of multiple-drugs resistance strains of S. aureus, it has become an urgency to find new anti-staphylococcal agents to establish effective prophylaxis and treatment strategy for PJI. Extracted from a traditional Chinese herb, berberine is proved active in inhibiting S. aureus, while whether it exerts the same effect on PJI-related S. aureus remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the antimicrobial activity of berbrine against clinical derived PJI-related S. aureus and whether its inhibiting efficacy is associated with subtypes of S. aureus. METHODS Eighteen PJI-associated S. aureus were collected and their Multi-locus Sequence Types (MLST) and susceptibility to berberine both in planktonic and biofilm form were investigated. Additionally, one S. aureus strain (ST1792) was selected from the group and its transcriptomic profiling in berberine incubation was performed. The statistical analyses were conducted using Student's t-test with SPSS 24.0(SPSS, IBM, USA). The data were expressed as the means ± standard deviation. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS It was found out that the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration values of PJI-related S. aureus varied in a broad range (from 64 to 512 μg/ml) among different MLST subtypes and the bacteria were able to regain growth after 24 h in berberine of MIC value or higher concentrations. In addition, sub-inhibitory concentrations of berberine surprisingly enhanced biofilm formation in some S. aureus strains. CONCLUSION Traditional medicine is utilised by a large number of individuals, which provides abundant resources for modern medical science. In our study, berberine was found bactericidal against PJI related S. aureus, however, its antibacterial property was impacted by the MLST subtypes of the bacteria, both in planktonic and biofilm growth forms.
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Keinhörster D, Salzer A, Duque-Jaramillo A, George SE, Marincola G, Lee JC, Weidenmaier C, Wolz C. Revisiting the regulation of the capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis gene cluster in Staphylococcus aureus. Mol Microbiol 2019; 112:1083-1099. [PMID: 31283061 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Capsular polysaccharide (CP) biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus is tightly controlled resulting in a heterogeneous phenotype within a population and CP being mainly detectable in nongrowing cells. Expression of the corresponding biosynthesis gene cluster is driven by one promoter element (Pcap ). Here, we demonstrate that Pcap contains a main SigB-dependent promoter. The SigB consensus motif overlaps with a previously described inverted repeat (IR) that is crucial for cap expression. The essentiality of the IR is derived from this region acting as a SigB binding site rather than as an operator site for the proposed cap activators RbsR and MsaB. Furthermore, Pcap contains an extensive upstream region harboring a weak SigA-dependent promoter and binding sites for cap repressors such as SaeR, CodY and Rot. Heterogeneous CP synthesis is determined by SigB activity and repressor binding to the upstream region. SigB dependency and regulation by the upstream repressors are also sufficient to explain the temporal gene expression pattern at the transcriptional level. However, CP synthesis remains growth phase-dependent even when transcription is rendered constitutive, suggesting additional posttranscriptional regulatory circuits. Thus, the interference of multiple repressors with SigB-dependent promoter activity as well as post-transcriptional mechanisms ensure the appropriate regulation of CP synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Keinhörster
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Salzer
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alejandra Duque-Jaramillo
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Shilpa E George
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gabriella Marincola
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jean C Lee
- Department of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Christopher Weidenmaier
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christiane Wolz
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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The σBsignalling activation pathway in the enteropathogenClostridioides difficile. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:2852-2870. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Zhang P, Wright JA, Tymon A, Nair SP. Bicarbonate induces high-level resistance to the human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 in Staphylococcus aureus small colony variants. J Antimicrob Chemother 2019; 73:615-619. [PMID: 29211886 PMCID: PMC5890704 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkx433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Staphylococcus aureus small colony variants (SCVs) cause persistent infections and are resistant to cationic antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been suggested as promising alternatives for treating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We investigated the capacity of the human cationic AMP LL-37 to kill SCVs in the presence of physiological concentrations of bicarbonate, which are reported to alter bacterial membrane permeability and change resistance of bacteria to AMPs. Methods MBCs of LL-37 for S. aureus SCVs with mutations in different genes in the presence and absence of bicarbonate were determined. Results In the absence of bicarbonate, SCVs of S. aureus strains LS-1 and 8325-4 had the same level of resistance to LL-37 as the parental strain (8 mg/L). In the presence of bicarbonate, hemB, menD and aroD SCVs of LS-1 had high-level resistance to LL-37 (≥128 mg/L) compared with the parental strain (16 mg/L). However, only the aroD SCV of strain 8324-5 showed high-level resistance. 8325-4 harbours mutations in two genes, tcaR and rsbU, which are involved in antimicrobial sensing and the stress response, respectively. When rsbU was repaired in 8325-4 it displayed high-level resistance to LL-37 in the presence of bicarbonate. This phenotype was lost when tcaR was also repaired, demonstrating that RsbU and TcaR are involved in LL-37 resistance in the presence of bicarbonate Conclusions S. aureus SCVs would be resistant to high concentrations of LL-37 in niches where there are physiological concentrations of bicarbonate and therefore this AMP may not be effective in combating SCVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zhang
- Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK
| | - John A Wright
- Immunology Catalyst, GSK, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Anna Tymon
- Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK
| | - Sean P Nair
- Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK
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Marincola G, Wencker FDR, Ziebuhr W. The Many Facets of the Small Non-coding RNA RsaE (RoxS) in Metabolic Niche Adaptation of Gram-Positive Bacteria. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:4684-4698. [PMID: 30914292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are increasingly recognized as players in the complex regulatory networks governing bacterial gene expression. RsaE (synonym RoxS) is an sRNA that is highly conserved in bacteria of the Bacillales order. Recent analyses in Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis identified RsaE/RoxS as a potent riboregulator of central carbon metabolism and energy balance with many molecular RsaE/RoxS functions and targets being shared across species. Similarities and species-specific differences in cellular processes modulated by RsaE/RoxS suggest that this sRNA plays a prominent role in the adaptation of Gram-positive bacteria to niches with varying nutrient availabilities and environmental cues. This review summarizes recent findings on the molecular function of RsaE/RoxS and its interaction with mRNA targets. Special emphasis will be on the integration of RsaE/RoxS into metabolic regulatory circuits and, derived from this, the role of RsaE/RoxS as a putative driver to generate phenotypic heterogeneity in bacterial populations. In this respect, we will particularly discuss heterogeneous RsaE expression in S. epidermidis biofilms and its possible contribution to metabolic niche diversification, programmed bacterial lysis and biofilm matrix production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Marincola
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Freya D R Wencker
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Wilma Ziebuhr
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
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He X, Li S, Yin Y, Xu J, Gong W, Li G, Qian L, Yin Y, He X, Guo T, Huang Y, Lu F, Cao J. Membrane Vesicles Are the Dominant Structural Components of Ceftazidime-Induced Biofilm Formation in an Oxacillin-Sensitive MRSA. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:571. [PMID: 30949156 PMCID: PMC6438146 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has received increasing attention in recent years. However, the characteristics and relevant mechanisms of biofilm formation in oxacillin-sensitive MRSA (OS-MRSA) are poorly understood. This study was designed to characterize biofilm formation in OS-MRSA BWSA15 in response to ceftazidime (TZ) by comparing the methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strain BWSA23 and the oxacillin-resistant MRSA (OR-MRSA) strain BWSA11. The biofilms and biofilm-forming cells were observed by electron microscopy. Biofilms grown on microtiter plates were chemically decomposed and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The transcriptional regulation of genes associated with methicillin resistance, surface adhesion, fatty acid biosynthesis, and global regulation (sigma B) was investigated. A significant increase in biofilm formation ability (10.21-fold) and aggregation ability (2.56-fold) was observed in BWSA15 upon the treatment with TZ (16 μg/ml). The TZ-induced biofilm formation in BWSA15 was characterized by a disappearance of polysaccharide-like extracellular substances and an appearance of a large number of intercellular MVs from extracellular matrix. Few MVs were identified in the biofilms formed by BWSA11 and BWSA23. There was a significant upregulation of mecA, sigB, and fatty acid biosynthesis-associated genes and downregulation of icaA, icaD, clfA, clfB, and fnaA in BWSA15 upon the treatment with TZ. The formation of intracellular junctions of MVs in the biofilms of BWSA15 was mediated by a significant increase in the proportion of proteins as well as by an increase in the proportion of non-ionized carboxyl groups in fatty acids. This study demonstrated that beta-lactam antibiotics can induce biofilm formation in OS-MRSA, and the biofilm induction in OS-MRSA can mainly be attributed to exposed MVs with increased hydrophobicity rather than polysaccharide intercellular adhesins, cell wall-anchored surface proteins, and extracellular DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlong He
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention - Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,The Third People's Hospital of Wuxi, Wuxi, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yi Yin
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jiahui Xu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Weijuan Gong
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Guocai Li
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Li Qian
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yinyan Yin
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqin He
- NHC Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention - Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, China
| | - Tingting Guo
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yuzheng Huang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention - Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, China
| | - Feng Lu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention - Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Senile Diseases, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jun Cao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention - Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, China.,Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
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Reed JM, Olson S, Brees DF, Griffin CE, Grove RA, Davis PJ, Kachman SD, Adamec J, Somerville GA. Coordinated regulation of transcription by CcpA and the Staphylococcus aureus two-component system HptRS. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207161. [PMID: 30540769 PMCID: PMC6291074 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The success of Staphylococcus aureus as a pathogen is due in part to its ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions using signal transduction pathways, such as metabolite- responsive regulators and two-component systems. S. aureus has a two-component system encoded by the gene pair sav0224 (hptS) and sav0223 (hptR) that regulate the hexose phosphate transport (uhpT) system in response to extracellular glucose-6-phosphate. Glycolytic intermediates such as glucose-6-phosphate are important carbon sources that also modulate the activity of the global metabolite-responsive transcriptional regulator CcpA. Because uhpT has a putative CcpA binding site in its promoter and it is regulated by HptR, it was hypothesized the regulons of CcpA and HptR might intersect. To determine if the regulatory domains of CcpA and HptRS overlap, ccpA was deleted in strains SA564 and SA564-ΔhptRS and growth, metabolic, proteomic, and transcriptional differences were assessed. As expected, CcpA represses hptS and hptR in a glucose dependent manner; however, upon CcpA derepression, the HptRS system functions as a transcriptional activator of metabolic genes within the CcpA regulon. Importantly, inactivation of ccpA and hptRS altered sensitivity to fosfomycin and ampicillin in the absence of exogenous glucose-6-phosphate, indicating that both CcpA and HptRS modulate antibiotic susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M. Reed
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Sean Olson
- Department of Statistics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Danielle F. Brees
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Caitlin E. Griffin
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Ryan A. Grove
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Paul J. Davis
- Unaffiliated, Honey Creek, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Stephen D. Kachman
- Department of Statistics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Jiri Adamec
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Greg A. Somerville
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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From the genome sequence via the proteome to cell physiology – Pathoproteomics and pathophysiology of Staphylococcus aureus. Int J Med Microbiol 2018; 308:545-557. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Revised: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
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Graf A, Lewis RJ, Fuchs S, Pagels M, Engelmann S, Riedel K, Pané-Farré J. The hidden lipoproteome of Staphylococcus aureus. Int J Med Microbiol 2018; 308:569-581. [PMID: 29454809 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipoproteins are attached to the outer leaflet of the membrane by a di- or tri-acylglyceryl moiety and are thus positioned in the membrane-cell wall interface. Consequently, lipoproteins are involved in many surface associated functions, including cell wall synthesis, electron transport, uptake of nutrients, surface stress response, signal transduction, and they represent a reservoir of bacterial virulence factors. Inspection of 123 annotated Staphylococcus aureus genome sequences in the public domain revealed that this organism devotes about 2-3% of its coding capacity to lipoproteins, corresponding to about 70 lipoproteins per genome. 60 of these lipoproteins were identified in 95% of the genomes analyzed, which thus constitute the core lipoproteome of S. aureus. 30% of the conserved staphylococcal lipoproteins are substrate-binding proteins of ABC transporters with roles in nutrient transport. With a few exceptions, much less is known about the function of the remaining lipoproteins, representing a large gap in our knowledge of this functionally important group of proteins. Here, we summarize current knowledge, and integrate information from genetic context analysis, expression and regulatory data, domain architecture, sequence and structural information, and phylogenetic distribution to provide potential starting points for experimental evaluation of the biological function of the poorly or uncharacterized lipoproteome of S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anica Graf
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes (CFGM), University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Richard J Lewis
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Stephan Fuchs
- FG13 Nosocomial Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance, Robert Koch Institut (RKI), Burgstr. 37, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Martin Pagels
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes (CFGM), University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Susanne Engelmann
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research GmbH, Microbial Proteomics, Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; Institute for Microbiology, Department of Microbial Proteomics, Technical University Braunschweig, Spielmannstraße 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Katharina Riedel
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes (CFGM), University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jan Pané-Farré
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes (CFGM), University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany.
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Guanine Limitation Results in CodY-Dependent and -Independent Alteration of Staphylococcus aureus Physiology and Gene Expression. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:JB.00136-18. [PMID: 29712876 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00136-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In Staphylococcus aureus, the global transcriptional regulator CodY modulates the expression of hundreds of genes in response to the availability of GTP and the branched-chain amino acids isoleucine, leucine, and valine (ILV). CodY DNA-binding activity is high when GTP and ILV are abundant. When GTP and ILV are limited, CodY's affinity for DNA drops, altering expression of CodY-regulated targets. In this work, we investigated the impact of guanine nucleotides (GNs) on S. aureus physiology and CodY activity by constructing a guaA null mutant (ΔguaA strain). De novo biosynthesis of guanine monophosphate is abolished due to the guaA mutation; thus, the mutant cells require exogenous guanosine for growth. We also found that CodY activity was reduced when we knocked out guaA, activating the Agr two-component system and increasing secreted protease activity. Notably, in a rich, complex medium, we detected an increase in alternative sigma factor B activity in the ΔguaA mutant, which results in a 5-fold increase in production of the antioxidant pigment staphyloxanthin. Under biologically relevant flow conditions, ΔguaA cells failed to form robust biofilms when limited for guanine or guanosine. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis of the S. aureus transcriptome during growth in guanosine-limited chemostats revealed substantial CodY-dependent and -independent alterations of gene expression profiles. Importantly, these changes increase production of proteases and δ-toxin, suggesting that S. aureus exhibits a more invasive lifestyle when limited for guanosine. Further, gene products upregulated under GN limitation, including those necessary for lipoic acid biosynthesis and sugar transport, may prove to be useful drug targets for treating Gram-positive infections.IMPORTANCE Staphylococcus aureus infections impose a serious economic burden on health care facilities and patients because of the emergence of strains resistant to last-line antibiotics. Understanding the physiological processes governing fitness and virulence of S. aureus in response to environmental cues is critical for developing efficient diagnostics and treatments. De novo purine biosynthesis is essential for both fitness and virulence in S. aureus since inhibiting production cripples S. aureus's ability to cause infection. Here, we corroborate these findings and show that blocking guanine nucleotide synthesis severely affects S. aureus fitness by altering metabolic and virulence gene expression. Characterizing pathways and gene products upregulated in response to guanine limitation can aid in the development of novel adjuvant strategies to combat S. aureus infections.
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Salt-Induced Stress Stimulates a Lipoteichoic Acid-Specific Three-Component Glycosylation System in Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:JB.00017-18. [PMID: 29632092 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00017-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in Staphylococcus aureus is a poly-glycerophosphate polymer anchored to the outer surface of the cell membrane. LTA has numerous roles in cell envelope physiology, including regulating cell autolysis, coordinating cell division, and adapting to environmental growth conditions. LTA is often further modified with substituents, including d-alanine and glycosyl groups, to alter cellular function. While the genetic determinants of d-alanylation have been largely defined, the route of LTA glycosylation and its role in cell envelope physiology have remained unknown, in part due to the low levels of basal LTA glycosylation in S. aureus We demonstrate here that S. aureus utilizes a membrane-associated three-component glycosylation system composed of an undecaprenol (Und) N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) charging enzyme (CsbB; SAOUHSC_00713), a putative flippase to transport loaded substrate to the outside surface of the cell (GtcA; SAOUHSC_02722), and finally an LTA-specific glycosyltransferase that adds α-GlcNAc moieties to LTA (YfhO; SAOUHSC_01213). We demonstrate that this system is specific for LTA with no cross recognition of the structurally similar polyribitol phosphate containing wall teichoic acids. We show that while wild-type S. aureus LTA has only a trace of GlcNAcylated LTA under normal growth conditions, amounts are raised upon either overexpressing CsbB, reducing endogenous d-alanylation activity, expressing the cell envelope stress responsive alternative sigma factor SigB, or by exposure to environmental stress-inducing culture conditions, including growth media containing high levels of sodium chloride.IMPORTANCE The role of glycosylation in the structure and function of Staphylococcus aureus lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is largely unknown. By defining key components of the LTA three-component glycosylation pathway and uncovering stress-induced regulation by the alternative sigma factor SigB, the role of N-acetylglucosamine tailoring during adaptation to environmental stresses can now be elucidated. As the dlt and glycosylation pathways compete for the same sites on LTA and induction of glycosylation results in decreased d-alanylation, the interplay between the two modification systems holds implications for resistance to antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides.
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Imber M, Loi VV, Reznikov S, Fritsch VN, Pietrzyk-Brzezinska AJ, Prehn J, Hamilton C, Wahl MC, Bronowska AK, Antelmann H. The aldehyde dehydrogenase AldA contributes to the hypochlorite defense and is redox-controlled by protein S-bacillithiolation in Staphylococcus aureus. Redox Biol 2018; 15:557-568. [PMID: 29433022 PMCID: PMC5975064 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus produces bacillithiol (BSH) as major low molecular weight (LMW) thiol which functions in thiol-protection and redox-regulation by protein S-bacillithiolation under hypochlorite stress. The aldehyde dehydrogenase AldA was identified as S-bacillithiolated at its active site Cys279 under NaOCl stress in S. aureus. Here, we have studied the expression, function, redox regulation and structural changes of AldA of S. aureus. Transcription of aldA was previously shown to be regulated by the alternative sigma factor SigmaB. Northern blot analysis revealed SigmaB-independent induction of aldA transcription under formaldehyde, methylglyoxal, diamide and NaOCl stress. Deletion of aldA resulted in a NaOCl-sensitive phenotype in survival assays, suggesting an important role of AldA in the NaOCl stress defense. Purified AldA showed broad substrate specificity for oxidation of several aldehydes, including formaldehyde, methylglyoxal, acetaldehyde and glycol aldehyde. Thus, AldA could be involved in detoxification of aldehyde substrates that are elevated under NaOCl stress. Kinetic activity assays revealed that AldA is irreversibly inhibited under H2O2 treatment in vitro due to overoxidation of Cys279 in the absence of BSH. Pre-treatment of AldA with BSH prior to H2O2 exposure resulted in reversible AldA inactivation due to S-bacillithiolation as revealed by activity assays and BSH-specific Western blot analysis. Using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation, we further show that BSH occupies two different positions in the AldA active site depending on the AldA activation state. In conclusion, we show here that AldA is an important target for S-bacillithiolation in S. aureus that is up-regulated under NaOCl stress and functions in protection under hypochlorite stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Imber
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Biology-Microbiology, Königin-Luise-Strasse 12-16, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Vu Van Loi
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Biology-Microbiology, Königin-Luise-Strasse 12-16, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sylvia Reznikov
- School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Verena Nadin Fritsch
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Biology-Microbiology, Königin-Luise-Strasse 12-16, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Agnieszka J Pietrzyk-Brzezinska
- Freie Universität Berlin, Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, D-14195 Berlin, Germany; Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz 90-924, Poland
| | - Janek Prehn
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Biology-Microbiology, Königin-Luise-Strasse 12-16, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Chris Hamilton
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Markus C Wahl
- Freie Universität Berlin, Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, D-14195 Berlin, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Macromolecular Crystallography, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Agnieszka K Bronowska
- School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Haike Antelmann
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Biology-Microbiology, Königin-Luise-Strasse 12-16, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
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A novel SigB(Q225P) mutation in Staphylococcus aureus retains virulence but promotes biofilm formation. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018; 7:72. [PMID: 29691368 PMCID: PMC5915575 DOI: 10.1038/s41426-018-0078-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2017] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen that produces abundant virulence factors, which cause various diseases that burden human health worldwide. The stress response regulon called sigma factor B (SigB) is a well-characterized global regulator that is involved in the regulation of S. aureus virulence, pigmentation, and biofilm formation. However, the regulatory network upon SigB in S. aureus is incompletely described. Here, we identified a novel substitution mutation, SigB(Q225P), which contributed the nonpigmented phenotype of S. aureus. The S. aureus mutant carrying SigB(Q225P) substitution lacks staphyloxanthin, a key virulence factor in protecting bacteria from host-oxidant killing, but retains bacterial pathogenicity with pleiotropic alterations in virulence factors, resulting in similar lethality and abscess formation ability in animal models. We also reported the SigB(Q225P) promotion of biofilm formation in S. aureus. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) revealed that the expression of nuc gene, which encodes thermonuclease, was significantly downregulated, resulting in accumulation of eDNA in the biofilm of SigB(Q225P) mutant strain. LacZ reporter assay showed that SigB(Q225P) influenced the activity of nuc promoter. Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and Bio-layer interferometry (BLI) assay revealed that both SigB and SigB(Q225P) proteins could directly bind to nuc gene promoter; however, the binding activity decreased for SigB(Q225P). Our data renewed the understanding of the relationship between S. aureus golden pigment and its virulence and suggested that a single substitution mutation in SigB might enhance the biofilm formation of S. aureus by directly downregulating nuc expression.
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Fisher EL, Otto M, Cheung GYC. Basis of Virulence in Enterotoxin-Mediated Staphylococcal Food Poisoning. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:436. [PMID: 29662470 PMCID: PMC5890119 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins are a superfamily of secreted virulence factors that share structural and functional similarities and possess potent superantigenic activity causing disruptions in adaptive immunity. The enterotoxins can be separated into two groups; the classical (SEA-SEE) and the newer (SEG-SElY and counting) enterotoxin groups. Many members from both these groups contribute to the pathogenesis of several serious human diseases, including toxic shock syndrome, pneumonia, and sepsis-related infections. Additionally, many members demonstrate emetic activity and are frequently responsible for food poisoning outbreaks. Due to their robust tolerance to denaturing, the enterotoxins retain activity in food contaminated previously with S. aureus. The genes encoding the enterotoxins are found mostly on a variety of different mobile genetic elements. Therefore, the presence of enterotoxins can vary widely among different S. aureus isolates. Additionally, the enterotoxins are regulated by multiple, and often overlapping, regulatory pathways, which are influenced by environmental factors. In this review, we also will focus on the newer enterotoxins (SEG-SElY), which matter for the role of S. aureus as an enteropathogen, and summarize our current knowledge on their prevalence in recent food poisoning outbreaks. Finally, we will review the current literature regarding the key elements that govern the complex regulation of enterotoxins, the molecular mechanisms underlying their enterotoxigenic, superantigenic, and immunomodulatory functions, and discuss how these activities may collectively contribute to the overall manifestation of staphylococcal food poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie L Fisher
- Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Michael Otto
- Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Gordon Y C Cheung
- Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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40
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Roles of Staphylococcus aureus Mnh1 and Mnh2 Antiporters in Salt Tolerance, Alkali Tolerance, and Pathogenesis. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:JB.00611-17. [PMID: 29263099 PMCID: PMC5809693 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00611-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus has three types of cation/proton antiporters. The type 3 family includes two multisubunit Na+/H+ (Mnh) antiporters, Mnh1 and Mnh2. These antiporters are clusters of seven hydrophobic membrane-bound protein subunits. Mnh antiporters play important roles in maintaining cytoplasmic pH in prokaryotes, enabling their survival under extreme environmental stress. In this study, we investigated the physiological roles and catalytic properties of Mnh1 and Mnh2 in S. aureus. Both Mnh1 and Mnh2 were cloned separately into a pGEM3Z+ vector in the antiporter-deficient KNabc Escherichia coli strain. The catalytic properties of the antiporters were measured in everted (inside out) vesicles. The Mnh1 antiporter exhibited a significant exchange of Na+/H+ cations at pH 7.5. Mnh2 showed a significant exchange of both Na+/H+ and K+/H+ cations, especially at pH 8.5. Under elevated salt conditions, deletion of the mnhA1 gene resulted in a significant reduction in the growth rate of S. aureus in the range of pH 7.5 to 9. Deletion of mnhA2 had similar effects but mainly in the range of pH 8.5 to 9.5. Double deletion of mnhA1 and mnhA2 led to a severe reduction in the S. aureus growth rate mainly at pH values above 8.5. The effects of functional losses of both antiporters in S. aureus were also assessed via their support of virulence in a mouse in vivo infection model. Deletion of the mnhA1 gene led to a major loss of S. aureus virulence in mice, while deletion of mnh2 led to no change in virulence. IMPORTANCE This study focuses on the catalytic properties and physiological roles of Mnh1 and Mnh2 cation/proton antiporters in S. aureus and their contributions under different stress conditions. The Mnh1 antiporter was found to have catalytic activity for Na+/H+ antiport, and it plays a significant role in maintaining halotolerance at pH 7.5 while the Mnh2 antiporter has catalytic antiporter activities for Na+/H+ and K+/H+ that have roles in both osmotolerance and halotolerance in S. aureus. Study of S. aureus with a single deletion of either mnhA1 or mnhA2 was assessed in an infection model of mice. The result shows that mnhA1, but not mnhA2, plays a major role in S. aureus virulence.
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Choe D, Szubin R, Dahesh S, Cho S, Nizet V, Palsson B, Cho BK. Genome-scale analysis of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300 reveals a tradeoff between pathogenesis and drug resistance. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2215. [PMID: 29396540 PMCID: PMC5797083 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20661-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus infection is a rising public health care threat. S. aureus is believed to have elaborate regulatory networks that orchestrate its virulence. Despite its importance, the systematic understanding of the transcriptional landscape of S. aureus is limited. Here, we describe the primary transcriptome landscape of an epidemic USA300 isolate of community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus. We experimentally determined 1,861 transcription start sites with their principal promoter elements, including well-conserved -35 and -10 elements and weakly conserved -16 element and 5' untranslated regions containing AG-rich Shine-Dalgarno sequence. In addition, we identified 225 genes whose transcription was initiated from multiple transcription start sites, suggesting potential regulatory functions at transcription level. Along with the transcription unit architecture derived by integrating the primary transcriptome analysis with operon prediction, the measurement of differential gene expression revealed the regulatory framework of the virulence regulator Agr, the SarA-family transcriptional regulators, and β-lactam resistance regulators. Interestingly, we observed a complex interplay between virulence regulation, β-lactam resistance, and metabolism, suggesting a possible tradeoff between pathogenesis and drug resistance in the USA300 strain. Our results provide platform resource for the location of transcription initiation and an in-depth understanding of transcriptional regulation of pathogenesis, virulence, and antibiotic resistance in S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghui Choe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Richard Szubin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92023, CA, USA
| | - Samira Dahesh
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, 92023, CA, USA
| | - Suhyung Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Victor Nizet
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, 92023, CA, USA.
| | - Bernhard Palsson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92023, CA, USA.
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, 92023, CA, USA.
| | - Byung-Kwan Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
- KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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42
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Junker S, Maaβ S, Otto A, Michalik S, Morgenroth F, Gerth U, Hecker M, Becher D. Spectral Library Based Analysis of Arginine Phosphorylations in Staphylococcus aureus. Mol Cell Proteomics 2018; 17:335-348. [PMID: 29183913 PMCID: PMC5795395 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra117.000378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Reversible protein phosphorylation is one of the major mechanisms in the regulation of protein expression and protein activity, controlling physiological functions of the important human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus Phosphorylations at serine, threonine and tyrosine are known to influence for example protein activity in central metabolic pathways and the more energy-rich phosphorylations at histidine, aspartate or cysteine can be found as part of two component system sensor domains or mediating bacterial virulence. In addition to these well-known phosphorylations, the phosphorylation at arginine residues plays an essential role. Hence, the deletion mutant S. aureus COL ΔptpB (protein tyrosine phosphatase B) was studied because the protein PtpB is assumed to be an arginine phosphatase. A gel-free approach was applied to analyze the changes in the phosphoproteome of the deletion mutant ΔptpB and the wild type in growing cells, thereby focusing on the occurrence of phosphorylation on arginine residues. In order to enhance the reliability of identified phosphorylation sites at arginine residues, a subset of arginine phosphorylated peptides was chemically synthesized. Combined spectral libraries based on phosphoenriched samples, synthetic arginine phosphorylated peptides and classical proteome samples provide a sophisticated tool for the analysis of arginine phosphorylations. This way, 212 proteins phosphorylated on serine, threonine, tyrosine or arginine residues were identified within the mutant ΔptpB and 102 in wild type samples. Among them, 207 arginine phosphosites were identified exclusively within the mutant ΔptpB, widely distributed along the whole bacterial metabolism. This identification of putative targets of PtpB allows further investigation of the physiological relevance of arginine phosphorylations and provides the basis for reliable quantification of arginine phosphorylations in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabryna Junker
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sandra Maaβ
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andreas Otto
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stephan Michalik
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Ulf Gerth
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michael Hecker
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dörte Becher
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
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43
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Junker S, Maaβ S, Otto A, Michalik S, Morgenroth F, Gerth U, Hecker M, Becher D. Spectral Library Based Analysis of Arginine Phosphorylations in Staphylococcus aureus. MOLECULAR & CELLULAR PROTEOMICS : MCP 2017. [PMID: 29183913 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra117.000378.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Reversible protein phosphorylation is one of the major mechanisms in the regulation of protein expression and protein activity, controlling physiological functions of the important human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus Phosphorylations at serine, threonine and tyrosine are known to influence for example protein activity in central metabolic pathways and the more energy-rich phosphorylations at histidine, aspartate or cysteine can be found as part of two component system sensor domains or mediating bacterial virulence. In addition to these well-known phosphorylations, the phosphorylation at arginine residues plays an essential role. Hence, the deletion mutant S. aureus COL ΔptpB (protein tyrosine phosphatase B) was studied because the protein PtpB is assumed to be an arginine phosphatase. A gel-free approach was applied to analyze the changes in the phosphoproteome of the deletion mutant ΔptpB and the wild type in growing cells, thereby focusing on the occurrence of phosphorylation on arginine residues. In order to enhance the reliability of identified phosphorylation sites at arginine residues, a subset of arginine phosphorylated peptides was chemically synthesized. Combined spectral libraries based on phosphoenriched samples, synthetic arginine phosphorylated peptides and classical proteome samples provide a sophisticated tool for the analysis of arginine phosphorylations. This way, 212 proteins phosphorylated on serine, threonine, tyrosine or arginine residues were identified within the mutant ΔptpB and 102 in wild type samples. Among them, 207 arginine phosphosites were identified exclusively within the mutant ΔptpB, widely distributed along the whole bacterial metabolism. This identification of putative targets of PtpB allows further investigation of the physiological relevance of arginine phosphorylations and provides the basis for reliable quantification of arginine phosphorylations in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabryna Junker
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sandra Maaβ
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andreas Otto
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stephan Michalik
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Ulf Gerth
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michael Hecker
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dörte Becher
- From the ‡Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
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Horn J, Stelzner K, Rudel T, Fraunholz M. Inside job: Staphylococcus aureus host-pathogen interactions. Int J Med Microbiol 2017; 308:607-624. [PMID: 29217333 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2017.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a notorious opportunistic pathogen causing a plethora of diseases. Recent research established that once phagocytosed by neutrophils and macrophages, a certain percentage of S. aureus is able to survive within these phagocytes which thereby even may contribute to dissemination of the pathogen. S. aureus further induces its uptake by otherwise non-phagocytic cells and the ensuing intracellular cytotoxicity is suggested to lead to tissue destruction, whereas bacterial persistence within cells is thought to lead to immune evasion and chronicity of infections. We here review recent work on the S. aureus host pathogen interactions with a focus on the intracellular survival of the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Horn
- Chair of Microbiology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Stelzner
- Chair of Microbiology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Rudel
- Chair of Microbiology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Fraunholz
- Chair of Microbiology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
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45
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Fuchs S, Mehlan H, Bernhardt J, Hennig A, Michalik S, Surmann K, Pané-Farré J, Giese A, Weiss S, Backert L, Herbig A, Nieselt K, Hecker M, Völker U, Mäder U. AureoWiki ̵ The repository of the Staphylococcus aureus research and annotation community. Int J Med Microbiol 2017; 308:558-568. [PMID: 29198880 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2017.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In light of continuously accumulating data and knowledge on major human pathogens, comprehensive and up-to-date sources of easily accessible information are urgently required. The AureoWiki database (http://aureowiki.med.uni-greifswald.de) provides detailed information on the genes and proteins of clinically and experimentally relevant S. aureus strains, currently covering NCTC 8325, COL, Newman, USA300_FPR3757, and N315. By implementing a pan-genome approach, AureoWiki facilitates the transfer of knowledge gained in studies with different S. aureus strains, thus supporting functional annotation and better understanding of this organism. All data related to a given gene or gene product is compiled on a strain-specific gene page. The gene pages contain sequence-based information complemented by data on, for example, protein function and localization, transcriptional regulation, and gene expression. The information provided is connected via links to other databases and published literature. Importantly, orthologous genes of the individual strains, which are linked by a pan-genome gene identifier and a unified gene name, are presented side by side using strain-specific tabs. The respective pan-genome gene page contains an orthologue table for 32 S. aureus strains, a multiple-strain genome viewer, a protein sequence alignment as well as other comparative information. The data collected in AureoWiki is also accessible through various download options in order to support bioinformatics applications. In addition, based on two large-scale gene expression data sets, AureoWiki provides graphical representations of condition-dependent mRNA levels and protein profiles under various laboratory and infection-related conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Fuchs
- FG13 Nosocomial Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany; Institute for Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Henry Mehlan
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jörg Bernhardt
- Institute for Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - André Hennig
- Center for Bioinformatics Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stephan Michalik
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kristin Surmann
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jan Pané-Farré
- Institute for Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anne Giese
- Institute for Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefan Weiss
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Linus Backert
- Center for Bioinformatics Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Herbig
- Center for Bioinformatics Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kay Nieselt
- Center for Bioinformatics Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Hecker
- Institute for Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; ZIK FunGene, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald and University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Uwe Völker
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; ZIK FunGene, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald and University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ulrike Mäder
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
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46
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García-Betancur JC, Goñi-Moreno A, Horger T, Schott M, Sharan M, Eikmeier J, Wohlmuth B, Zernecke A, Ohlsen K, Kuttler C, Lopez D. Cell differentiation defines acute and chronic infection cell types in Staphylococcus aureus. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28893374 PMCID: PMC5595439 DOI: 10.7554/elife.28023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A central question to biology is how pathogenic bacteria initiate acute or chronic infections. Here we describe a genetic program for cell-fate decision in the opportunistic human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, which generates the phenotypic bifurcation of the cells into two genetically identical but different cell types during the course of an infection. Whereas one cell type promotes the formation of biofilms that contribute to chronic infections, the second type is planktonic and produces the toxins that contribute to acute bacteremia. We identified a bimodal switch in the agr quorum sensing system that antagonistically regulates the differentiation of these two physiologically distinct cell types. We found that extracellular signals affect the behavior of the agr bimodal switch and modify the size of the specialized subpopulations in specific colonization niches. For instance, magnesium-enriched colonization niches causes magnesium binding to S. aureusteichoic acids and increases bacterial cell wall rigidity. This signal triggers a genetic program that ultimately downregulates the agr bimodal switch. Colonization niches with different magnesium concentrations influence the bimodal system activity, which defines a distinct ratio between these subpopulations; this in turn leads to distinct infection outcomes in vitro and in an in vivo murine infection model. Cell differentiation generates physiological heterogeneity in clonal bacterial infections and helps to determine the distinct infection types. While in hospital, patients can be unwittingly exposed to bacteria that can cause disease. These hospital-associated bacteria can lead to potentially life-threatening infections that may also complicate the treatment of the patients’ existing medical conditions. Staphylococcus aureus is one such bacterium, and it can cause several types of infection including pneumonia, blood infections and long-term infections of prosthetic devices. It is thought that S. aureus is able to cause so many different types of infection because it is capable of colonizing distinct tissues and organs in various parts of the body. Understanding the biological processes that drive the different infections is crucial to improving how these infections are treated. S. aureus lives either as an independent, free-swimming cell or as part of a community known as a biofilm. These different lifestyles dictate the type of infection the bacterium can cause, with free-swimming cells producing toxins that contribute to intense, usually short-lived, infections and biofilms promoting longer-term infections that are difficult to eradicate. However, it is not clear how a population of S. aureus cells chooses to adopt a particular lifestyle and whether there are any environmental signals that influence this decision. Here, Garcia-Betancur et al. found that S. aureus populations contain small groups of cells that have already specialized into a particular lifestyle. These groups of cells collectively influence the choice made by other cells in the population. While both lifestyles will be represented in the population, environmental factors influence the numbers of cells that initially adopt each type of lifestyle, which ultimately affects the choice made by the rest of the population. For example, if the bacteria colonize a tissue or organ that contains high levels of magnesium ions, the population is more likely to form biofilms. In the future, the findings of Garcia-Betancur et al. may help us to predict how an infection may develop in a particular patient, which may help to diagnose the infection more quickly and allow it to be treated more effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan-Carlos García-Betancur
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Research Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Angel Goñi-Moreno
- School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Horger
- Department of Mathematics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Melanie Schott
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Malvika Sharan
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Julian Eikmeier
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Research Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Wohlmuth
- Department of Mathematics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Alma Zernecke
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Knut Ohlsen
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christina Kuttler
- Department of Mathematics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Daniel Lopez
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Research Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,National Center for Biotechnology, Madrid, Spain
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47
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A global Staphylococcus aureus proteome resource applied to the in vivo characterization of host-pathogen interactions. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9718. [PMID: 28887440 PMCID: PMC5591248 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10059-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry promises higher performance in terms of quantification and reproducibility compared to data-dependent acquisition mass spectrometry methods. To enable high-accuracy quantification of Staphylococcus aureus proteins, we have developed a global ion library for data-independent acquisition approaches employing high-resolution time of flight or Orbitrap instruments for this human pathogen. We applied this ion library resource to investigate the time-resolved adaptation of S. aureus to the intracellular niche in human bronchial epithelial cells and in a murine pneumonia model. In epithelial cells, abundance changes for more than 400 S. aureus proteins were quantified, revealing, e.g., the precise temporal regulation of the SigB-dependent stress response and differential regulation of translation, fermentation, and amino acid biosynthesis. Using an in vivo murine pneumonia model, our data-independent acquisition quantification analysis revealed for the first time the in vivo proteome adaptation of S. aureus. From approximately 2.15 × 105 S. aureus cells, 578 proteins were identified. Increased abundance of proteins required for oxidative stress response, amino acid biosynthesis, and fermentation together with decreased abundance of ribosomal proteins and nucleotide reductase NrdEF was observed in post-infection samples compared to the pre-infection state.
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48
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Roberts CA, Al-Tameemi HM, Mashruwala AA, Rosario-Cruz Z, Chauhan U, Sause WE, Torres VJ, Belden WJ, Boyd JM. The Suf Iron-Sulfur Cluster Biosynthetic System Is Essential in Staphylococcus aureus, and Decreased Suf Function Results in Global Metabolic Defects and Reduced Survival in Human Neutrophils. Infect Immun 2017; 85:e00100-17. [PMID: 28320837 PMCID: PMC5442634 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00100-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus remains a causative agent for morbidity and mortality worldwide. This is in part a result of antimicrobial resistance, highlighting the need to uncover novel antibiotic targets and to discover new therapeutic agents. In the present study, we explored the possibility that iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster synthesis is a viable antimicrobial target. RNA interference studies established that Suf (sulfur mobilization)-dependent Fe-S cluster synthesis is essential in S. aureus We found that sufCDSUB were cotranscribed and that suf transcription was positively influenced by sigma factor B. We characterized an S. aureus strain that contained a transposon inserted in the intergenic space between sufC and sufD (sufD*), resulting in decreased transcription of sufSUB Consistent with the transcriptional data, the sufD* strain had multiple phenotypes associated with impaired Fe-S protein maturation. They included decreased activities of Fe-S cluster-dependent enzymes, decreased growth in media lacking metabolites that require Fe-S proteins for synthesis, and decreased flux through the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Decreased Fe-S cluster synthesis resulted in sensitivity to reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species, as well as increased DNA damage and impaired DNA repair. The sufD* strain also exhibited perturbed intracellular nonchelated Fe pools. Importantly, the sufD* strain did not exhibit altered exoprotein production or altered biofilm formation, but it was attenuated for survival upon challenge by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The results presented are consistent with the hypothesis that Fe-S cluster synthesis is a viable target for antimicrobial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina A Roberts
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Hassan M Al-Tameemi
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Ameya A Mashruwala
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Zuelay Rosario-Cruz
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Unnati Chauhan
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - William E Sause
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Victor J Torres
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - William J Belden
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Boyd
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
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49
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Xu T, Wu Y, Lin Z, Bertram R, Götz F, Zhang Y, Qu D. Identification of Genes Controlled by the Essential YycFG Two-Component System Reveals a Role for Biofilm Modulation in Staphylococcus epidermidis. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:724. [PMID: 28491057 PMCID: PMC5405149 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms play a crucial role in the pathogenicity of Staphylococcus epidermidis, while little is known about whether the essential YycFG two-component signal transduction system (TCS) is involved in biofilm formation. We used antisense RNA (asRNA) to silence the yycFG TCS in order to study its regulatory functions in S. epidermidis. Strain 1457 expressing asRNAyycF exhibited a significant delay (~4–5 h) in entry to log phase, which was partially complemented by overexpressing ssaA. The expression of asRNAyycF and asRNAyycG resulted in a 68 and 50% decrease in biofilm formation at 6 h, respectively, while they had no significant inhibitory effect on 12 h biofilm formation. The expression of asRNAyycF led to a ~5-fold increase in polysaccharide intercellular adhesion (PIA) production, but it did not affect the expression of accumulation-associated protein (Aap) or the release of extracellular DNA. Consistently, quantitative real-time PCR showed that silencing yycF resulted in an increased transcription of biofilm-related genes, including icaA, arlR, sarA, sarX, and sbp. An in silico search of the YycF regulon for the conserved YycF recognition pattern and a modified motif in S. epidermidis, along with additional gel shift and DNase I footprinting assays, showed that arlR, sarA, sarX, and icaA are directly regulated by YycF. Our data suggests that YycFG modulates S. epidermidis biofilm formation in an ica-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Yang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Zhiwei Lin
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Ralph Bertram
- Klinikum Nürnberg Medical School GmbH, Research Department, Paracelsus Medical UniversityNuremberg, Germany.,Department of Microbial Genetics, Faculty of Science, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, University of TübingenTübingen, Germany
| | - Friedrich Götz
- Department of Microbial Genetics, Faculty of Science, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, University of TübingenTübingen, Germany
| | - Ying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan UniversityShanghai, China.,Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD, USA
| | - Di Qu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
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50
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Martin JE, Lisher JP, Winkler ME, Giedroc DP. Perturbation of manganese metabolism disrupts cell division in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Mol Microbiol 2017; 104:334-348. [PMID: 28127804 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient and required cofactor in bacteria. Despite its importance, excess Mn can impair bacterial growth, the mechanism of which remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that proper Mn homeostasis is critical for cellular growth of the major human respiratory pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. Perturbations in Mn homeostasis genes, psaBCA, encoding the Mn importer, and mntE, encoding the Mn exporter, lead to Mn sensitivity during aerobiosis. Mn-stressed cells accumulate iron and copper, in addition to Mn. Impaired growth is a direct result of Mn toxicity and does not result from iron-mediated Fenton chemistry, since cells remain sensitive to Mn during anaerobiosis or when hydrogen peroxide biogenesis is significantly reduced. Mn-stressed cells are significantly elongated, whereas Mn-limitation imposed by zinc addition leads to cell shortening. We show that Mn accumulation promotes aberrant dephosphorylation of cell division proteins via hyperactivation of the Mn-dependent protein phosphatase PhpP, a key enzyme involved in the regulation of cell division. We discuss a mechanism by which cellular Mn:Zn ratios dictate PhpP specific activity thereby regulating pneumococcal cell division. We propose that Mn-metalloenzymes are particularly susceptible to hyperactivation or mismetallation, suggesting the need for exquisite cellular control of Mn-dependent metabolic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia E Martin
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405-7102, USA
| | - John P Lisher
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405-7102, USA.,Graduate Program in Biochemistry Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Malcolm E Winkler
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - David P Giedroc
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405-7102, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
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