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He P, Zhao B, He W, Song Z, Pei S, Liu D, Xia H, Wang S, Ou X, Zheng Y, Zhou Y, Song Y, Wang Y, Cao X, Xing R, Zhao Y. Impact of MSMEG5257 Deletion on Mycolicibacterium smegmatis Growth. Microorganisms 2024; 12:770. [PMID: 38674714 PMCID: PMC11052289 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040770] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterial membrane proteins play a pivotal role in the bacterial invasion of host cells; however, the precise mechanisms underlying certain membrane proteins remain elusive. Mycolicibacterium smegmatis (Ms) msmeg5257 is a hemolysin III family protein that is homologous to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) Rv1085c, but it has an unclear function in growth. To address this issue, we utilized the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editor to construct Δmsmeg5257 strains and combined RNA transcription and LC-MS/MS protein profiling to determine the functional role of msmeg5257 in Ms growth. The correlative analysis showed that the deletion of msmeg5257 inhibits ABC transporters in the cytomembrane and inhibits the biosynthesis of amino acids in the cell wall. Corresponding to these results, we confirmed that MSMEG5257 localizes in the cytomembrane via subcellular fractionation and also plays a role in facilitating the transport of iron ions in environments with low iron levels. Our data provide insights that msmeg5257 plays a role in maintaining Ms metabolic homeostasis, and the deletion of msmeg5257 significantly impacts the growth rate of Ms. Furthermore, msmeg5257, a promising drug target, offers a direction for the development of novel therapeutic strategies against mycobacterial diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping He
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Bing Zhao
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Wencong He
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Zexuan Song
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Shaojun Pei
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, China;
| | - Dongxin Liu
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Hui Xia
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Shengfen Wang
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Xichao Ou
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Yang Zheng
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Yang Zhou
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Yuanyuan Song
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Yiting Wang
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Xiaolong Cao
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Ruida Xing
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
| | - Yanlin Zhao
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; (P.H.); (B.Z.); (W.H.); (Z.S.); (D.L.); (H.X.); (S.W.); (X.O.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (R.X.)
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Zhou S, Zhang D, Li D, Wang H, Ding C, Song J, Huang W, Xia X, Zhou Z, Han S, Jin Z, Yan B, Gonzales J, Via LE, Zhang L, Wang D. Pathogenic mycobacterium upregulates cholesterol 25-hydroxylase to promote granuloma development via foam cell formation. iScience 2024; 27:109204. [PMID: 38420591 PMCID: PMC10901098 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic mycobacteria orchestrate the complex cell populations known as granuloma that is the hallmark of tuberculosis. Foam cells, a lipid-rich cell-type, are considered critical for granuloma formation; however, the causative factor in foam cell formation remains unclear. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the abundant accumulation of lipid-laden-macrophage-derived foam cells during which cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (CH25H) is crucial in foam cell formation. Here, we show that M. marinum (Mm), a relative of M. tuberculosis, induces foam cell formation, leading to granuloma development following CH25H upregulation. Moreover, the Mm-driven increase in CH25H expression is associated with the presence of phthiocerol dimycocerosate, a determinant for Mm virulence and integrity. CH25H-null mice showed decreased foam cell formation and attenuated pathology. Atorvastatin, a recommended first-line lipid-lowering drug, promoted the elimination of M. marinum and concomitantly reduced CH25H production. These results define a previously unknown role for CH25H in controlling macrophage-derived foam cell formation and Tuberculosis pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University; Institute of Infection and Inflammation, China Three Gorges University; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, P.R. China
| | - Ding Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University; Institute of Infection and Inflammation, China Three Gorges University; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, P.R. China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Tuberculosis, The Third People’s Hospital of Yichang, Yichang 443003, P.R. China
| | - Hankun Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University; Institute of Infection and Inflammation, China Three Gorges University; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, P.R. China
| | - Cairong Ding
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University; Institute of Infection and Inflammation, China Three Gorges University; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, P.R. China
| | - Jingrui Song
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University; Institute of Infection and Inflammation, China Three Gorges University; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, P.R. China
| | - Weifeng Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University; Institute of Infection and Inflammation, China Three Gorges University; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, P.R. China
| | - Xuan Xia
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University; Institute of Infection and Inflammation, China Three Gorges University; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, P.R. China
| | - Ziwei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, MOE Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Shanshan Han
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University; Institute of Infection and Inflammation, China Three Gorges University; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, P.R. China
| | - Zhu Jin
- Department of Tuberculosis, The Third People’s Hospital of Yichang, Yichang 443003, P.R. China
| | - Bo Yan
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai China
| | - Jacqueline Gonzales
- Tuberculosis Research Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20982, USA
| | - Laura E. Via
- Tuberculosis Research Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20982, USA
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, MOE Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Decheng Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University; Institute of Infection and Inflammation, China Three Gorges University; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, P.R. China
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Orgeur M, Sous C, Madacki J, Brosch R. Evolution and emergence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2024; 48:fuae006. [PMID: 38365982 PMCID: PMC10906988 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuae006] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases in human history, prevailing even in the 21st century. The causative agents of TB are represented by a group of closely related bacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), which can be subdivided into several lineages of human- and animal-adapted strains, thought to have shared a last common ancestor emerged by clonal expansion from a pool of recombinogenic Mycobacterium canettii-like tubercle bacilli. A better understanding of how MTBC populations evolved from less virulent mycobacteria may allow for discovering improved TB control strategies and future epidemiologic trends. In this review, we highlight new insights into the evolution of mycobacteria at the genus level, describing different milestones in the evolution of mycobacteria, with a focus on the genomic events that have likely enabled the emergence and the dominance of the MTBC. We also review the recent literature describing the various MTBC lineages and highlight their particularities and differences with a focus on host preferences and geographic distribution. Finally, we discuss on putative mechanisms driving the evolution of tubercle bacilli and mycobacteria in general, by taking the mycobacteria-specific distributive conjugal transfer as an example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickael Orgeur
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 6047, Unit for Integrated Mycobacterial Pathogenomics, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Camille Sous
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 6047, Unit for Integrated Mycobacterial Pathogenomics, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Jan Madacki
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 6047, Unit for Integrated Mycobacterial Pathogenomics, 75015 Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 2000, Unit for Human Evolutionary Genetics, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Roland Brosch
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 6047, Unit for Integrated Mycobacterial Pathogenomics, 75015 Paris, France
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Sankey N, Merrick H, Singh P, Rogers J, Reddi A, Hartson SD, Mitra A. Role of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis ESX-4 Secretion System in Heme Iron Utilization and Pore Formation by PPE Proteins. mSphere 2023; 8:e0057322. [PMID: 36749044 PMCID: PMC10117145 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00573-22] [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: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is transmitted through aerosols and primarily colonizes within the lung. The World Health Organization estimates that Mtb kills ~1.4 million people every year. A key aspect that makes Mtb such a successful pathogen is its ability to overcome iron limitation mounted by the host immune response. In our previous studies, we have shown that Mtb can utilize iron from heme, the largest source of iron in the human host, and that it uses two redundant heme utilization pathways. In this study, we show that the ESX-4 type VII secretion system (T7SS) is necessary for extracellular heme uptake into the Mtb cell through both heme utilization pathways. ESX-4 influences the secretion of the culture filtrate proteins Rv0125 and Rv1085c, which are also necessary for efficient heme utilization. We also discovered that deletion of the alternative sigma factor SigM significantly reduced Mtb heme utilization through both pathways and predict that SigM is a global positive regulator of core heme utilization genes of both pathways. Finally, we present the first direct evidence that some mycobacterial PPE (proline-proline-glutamate motif) proteins of the PPE protein family are pore-forming membrane proteins. Altogether, we identified core components of both Mtb Heme utilization pathways that were previously unknown and identified a novel channel-forming membrane protein of Mtb. IMPORTANCE M. tuberculosis (Mtb) is completely dependent on iron acquisition in the host to cause disease. The largest source of iron for Mtb in the human host is heme. Here, we show that the ancestral ESX-4 type VII secretion system is required for the efficient utilization of heme as a source of iron, which is an essential nutrient. This is another biological function identified for ESX-4 in Mtb, whose contribution to Mtb physiology is poorly understood. A most exciting finding is that some mycobacterial PPE (proline-proline-glutamate motif) proteins that have been implicated in the nutrient acquisition are membrane proteins that can form channels in a lipid bilayer. These observations have far-reaching implications because they support an emerging theme that PPE proteins can function as channel proteins in the outer mycomembrane for nutrient acquisition. Mtb has evolved a heme uptake system that is drastically different from all other known bacterial heme acquisition systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- November Sankey
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Haley Merrick
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Padam Singh
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Janet Rogers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Amit Reddi
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Parker Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Steven D. Hartson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Avishek Mitra
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
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Lagune M, Le Moigne V, Johansen MD, Vásquez Sotomayor F, Daher W, Petit C, Cosentino G, Paulowski L, Gutsmann T, Wilmanns M, Maurer FP, Herrmann JL, Girard-Misguich F, Kremer L. The ESX-4 substrates, EsxU and EsxT, modulate Mycobacterium abscessus fitness. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010771. [PMID: 35960766 PMCID: PMC9401124 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
ESX type VII secretion systems are complex secretion machineries spanning across the mycobacterial membrane and play an important role in pathogenicity, nutrient uptake and conjugation. We previously reported the role of ESX-4 in modulating Mycobacterium abscessus intracellular survival. The loss of EccB4 was associated with limited secretion of two effector proteins belonging to the WXG-100 family, EsxU and EsxT, and encoded by the esx-4 locus. This prompted us to investigate the function of M. abscessus EsxU and EsxT in vitro and in vivo. Herein, we show that EsxU and EsxT are substrates of ESX-4 and form a stable 1:1 heterodimer that permeabilizes artificial membranes. While expression of esxU and esxT was up-regulated in M. abscessus-infected macrophages, their absence in an esxUT deletion mutant prevented phagosomal membrane disruption while maintaining M. abscessus in an unacidified phagosome. Unexpectedly, the esxUT deletion was associated with a hyper-virulent phenotype, characterised by increased bacterial loads and mortality in mouse and zebrafish infection models. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the presence of EsxU and EsxT dampens survival and persistence of M. abscessus during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Lagune
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Infection et inflammation, Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France
| | - Vincent Le Moigne
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Infection et inflammation, Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France
| | - Matt D. Johansen
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 9004, Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Flor Vásquez Sotomayor
- National and WHO Supranational Reference Center for Mycobacteria, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
| | - Wassim Daher
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 9004, Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- INSERM, IRIM, Montpellier, France
| | - Cécile Petit
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gina Cosentino
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Infection et inflammation, Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France
| | - Laura Paulowski
- National and WHO Supranational Reference Center for Mycobacteria, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
| | - Thomas Gutsmann
- Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Division of Biophysics, Borstel, Germany
| | - Matthias Wilmanns
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (MW); (FPM); (J-LH); (FG-M); (LK)
| | - Florian P. Maurer
- National and WHO Supranational Reference Center for Mycobacteria, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hospital Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (MW); (FPM); (J-LH); (FG-M); (LK)
| | - Jean-Louis Herrmann
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Infection et inflammation, Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France
- APHP, GHU Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Service de Microbiologie, Garches, France
- * E-mail: (MW); (FPM); (J-LH); (FG-M); (LK)
| | - Fabienne Girard-Misguich
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Infection et inflammation, Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France
- * E-mail: (MW); (FPM); (J-LH); (FG-M); (LK)
| | - Laurent Kremer
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 9004, Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- INSERM, IRIM, Montpellier, France
- * E-mail: (MW); (FPM); (J-LH); (FG-M); (LK)
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Vilchèze C, Yan B, Casey R, Hingley-Wilson S, Ettwiller L, Jacobs WR. Commonalities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Transcriptomes in Response to Defined Persisting Macrophage Stresses. Front Immunol 2022; 13:909904. [PMID: 35844560 PMCID: PMC9283954 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.909904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
As the goal of a bacterium is to become bacteria, evolution has imposed continued selections for gene expression. The intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, has adopted a fine-tuned response to survive its host's methods to aggressively eradicate invaders. The development of microarrays and later RNA sequencing has led to a better understanding of biological processes controlling the relationship between host and pathogens. In this study, RNA-seq was performed to detail the transcriptomes of M. tuberculosis grown in various conditions related to stresses endured by M. tuberculosis during host infection and to delineate a general stress response incurring during persisting macrophage stresses. M. tuberculosis was subjected to long-term growth, nutrient starvation, hypoxic and acidic environments. The commonalities between these stresses point to M. tuberculosis maneuvering to exploit propionate metabolism for lipid synthesis or to withstand propionate toxicity whilst in the intracellular environment. While nearly all stresses led to a general shutdown of most biological processes, up-regulation of pathways involved in the synthesis of amino acids, cofactors, and lipids were observed only in hypoxic M. tuberculosis. This data reveals genes and gene cohorts that are specifically or exclusively induced during all of these persisting stresses. Such knowledge could be used to design novel drug targets or to define possible M. tuberculosis vulnerabilities for vaccine development. Furthermore, the disruption of specific functions from this gene set will enhance our understanding of the evolutionary forces that have caused the tubercle bacillus to be a highly successful pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Vilchèze
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Bo Yan
- Research Department, Genome Biology Division, New England Biolabs Inc., Ipswich, MA, United States
| | - Rosalyn Casey
- Department of Microbial Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Suzie Hingley-Wilson
- Department of Microbial Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Laurence Ettwiller
- Research Department, Genome Biology Division, New England Biolabs Inc., Ipswich, MA, United States
| | - William R. Jacobs
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: William R. Jacobs Jr,
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