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Hembach N, Drechsel V, Sobol M, Kaster AK, Köhler HR, Triebskorn R, Schwartz T. Effect of glyphosate, its metabolite AMPA, and the glyphosate formulation Roundup ® on brown trout ( Salmo trutta f. fario) gut microbiome diversity. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1271983. [PMID: 38298542 PMCID: PMC10829098 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1271983] [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: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Glyphosate is used worldwide as a compound of pesticides and is detectable in many environmental compartments. It enters water bodies primarily through drift from agricultural areas so that aquatic organisms are exposed to this chemical, especially after rain events. Glyphosate is advertised and sold as a highly specific herbicide, which interacts with the EPSP synthase, an enzyme of the shikimate metabolism, resulting in inhibition of the synthesis of vital aromatic amino acids. However, not only plants but also bacteria can possess this enzyme so that influences of glyphosate on the microbiomes of exposed organisms cannot be excluded. Those influences may result in subtle and long-term effects, e.g., disturbance of the symbiotic interactions of bionts with microorganisms of their microbiomes. Mechanisms how the transformation product aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) of glyphosate might interfere in this context have not understood so far. In the present study, molecular biological fingerprinting methods showed concentration-dependent effects of glyphosate and AMPA on fish microbiomes. In addition, age-dependent differences in the composition of the microbiomes regarding abundance and diversity were detected. Furthermore, the effect of exposure to glyphosate and AMPA was investigated for several fish pathogens of gut microbiomes in terms of their gene expression of virulence factors associated with pathogenicity. In vitro transcriptome analysis with the fish pathogen Yersinia ruckeri revealed that it is questionable whether the observed effect on the microbiome is caused by the intended mode of action of glyphosate, such as the inhibition of EPSP synthase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Hembach
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Functional Interfaces, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - V. Drechsel
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Animal Physiological Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - M. Sobol
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Biological Interfaces, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - A.-K. Kaster
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Biological Interfaces, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - H.-R. Köhler
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Animal Physiological Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - R. Triebskorn
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Animal Physiological Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - T. Schwartz
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Functional Interfaces, Karlsruhe, Germany
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2
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Riborg A, Gulla S, Fiskebeck EZ, Ryder D, Verner-Jeffreys DW, Colquhoun DJ, Welch TJ. Pan-genome survey of the fish pathogen Yersinia ruckeri links accessory- and amplified genes to virulence. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285257. [PMID: 37167256 PMCID: PMC10174560 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
While both virulent and putatively avirulent Yersinia ruckeri strains exist in aquaculture environments, the relationship between the distribution of virulence-associated factors and de facto pathogenicity in fish remains poorly understood. Pan-genome analysis of 18 complete genomes, representing established virulent and putatively avirulent lineages of Y. ruckeri, revealed the presence of a number of accessory genetic determinants. Further investigation of 68 draft genome assemblies revealed that the distribution of certain putative virulence factors correlated well with virulence and host-specificity. The inverse-autotransporter invasin locus yrIlm was, however, the only gene present in all virulent strains, while absent in lineages regarded as avirulent. Strains known to be associated with significant mortalities in salmonid aquaculture display a combination of serotype O1-LPS and yrIlm, with the well-documented highly virulent lineages, represented by MLVA clonal complexes 1 and 2, displaying duplication of the yrIlm locus. Duplication of the yrIlm locus was further found to have evolved over time in clonal complex 1, where some modern, highly virulent isolates display up to three copies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Riborg
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ås, Norway
- Vaxxinova Norway AS, Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | - David Ryder
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom
| | - David W Verner-Jeffreys
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan J Colquhoun
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ås, Norway
- University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Timothy J Welch
- National Centre for Cool and Coldwater Aquaculture, USDA-ARS, Leetown, WV, United States of America
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3
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The long and the short of Periscope Proteins. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:1293-1302. [PMID: 36196877 DOI: 10.1042/bst20220194] [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: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria sense, interact with, and modify their environmental niche by deploying a molecular ensemble at the cell surface. The changeability of this exposed interface, combined with extreme changes in the functional repertoire associated with lifestyle switches from planktonic to adherent and biofilm states necessitate dynamic variability. Dynamic surface changes include chemical modifications to the cell wall; export of diverse extracellular biofilm components; and modulation of expression of cell surface proteins for adhesion, co-aggregation and virulence. Local enrichment for highly repetitive proteins with high tandem repeat identity has been an enigmatic phenomenon observed in diverse bacterial species. Preliminary observations over decades of research suggested these repeat regions were hypervariable, as highly related strains appeared to express homologues with diverse molecular mass. Long-read sequencing data have been interrogated to reveal variation in repeat number; in combination with structural, biophysical and molecular dynamics approaches, the Periscope Protein class has been defined for cell surface attached proteins that dynamically expand and contract tandem repeat tracts at the population level. Here, I review the diverse high-stability protein folds and coherent interdomain linkages culminating in the formation of highly anisotropic linear repeat arrays, so-called rod-like protein 'stalks', supporting roles in bacterial adhesion, biofilm formation, cell surface spatial competition, and immune system modulation. An understanding of the functional impacts of dynamic changes in repeat arrays and broader characterisation of the unusual protein folds underpinning this variability will help with the design of immunisation strategies, and contribute to synthetic biology approaches including protein engineering and microbial consortia construction.
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4
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Riborg A, Colquhoun DJ, Gulla S. Biotyping reveals loss of motility in two distinct Yersinia ruckeri lineages exclusive to Norwegian aquaculture. JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES 2022; 45:641-653. [PMID: 35180320 PMCID: PMC9304254 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.13590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Non-motile strains of Yersinia ruckeri, known as Y. ruckeri biotype 2, now dominate amongst clinical isolates retrieved from rainbow trout internationally. Due to an acute increase in the number of yersiniosis cases in Norway in recent years, followed by introduction of widespread intraperitoneal vaccination against the disease, an investigation on the prevalence of Y. ruckeri biotype 2 in Norwegian aquaculture was conducted. We biotyped 263 Y. ruckeri isolates recovered from diseased salmonids in Norway between 1985 and 2020. A total of seven biotype 2 isolates were identified, four of which were collected between 1985 and 1987, and three of which belong to the current epizootic clone, isolated from two different sea-farms in 2017. Whole-genome sequencing revealed single non-synonymous nucleotide polymorphisms in the flagellar genes flhC in isolates from the 1980s, and in fliP in isolates from 2017. In both variants, motility was restored both by complementation with wild-type alleles in trans and via spontaneous mutation-driven reversion following prolonged incubation on motility agar. While biotype 2 strains do not yet seem to have become broadly established in Norwegian aquaculture, the seven isolates described here serve to document a further two independent cases of Y. ruckeri biotype 2 emergence in salmonid aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Riborg
- Norwegian Veterinary InstituteÅsNorway
- Vaxxinova Norway ASBergenNorway
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5
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Abdel-Glil MY, Fischer U, Steinhagen D, McCarthy U, Neubauer H, Sprague LD. Phylogenetic Relatedness and Genome Structure of Yersinia ruckeri Revealed by Whole Genome Sequencing and a Comparative Analysis. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:782415. [PMID: 34867924 PMCID: PMC8640586 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.782415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Yersinia ruckeri is the causative agent of enteric redmouth disease (ERM), a serious infection that affects global aquaculture with high economic impact. The present study used whole genome sequences to perform a comparative analysis on 10 Y. ruckeri strains and to explore their genetic relatedness to other members of the genus. Y. ruckeri, Yersinia entomophaga, and Yersinia nurmii formed a species complex that constitutes the most basal lineage of the genus. The results showed that the taxonomy of Y. ruckeri strains is better defined by using a core genome alignment and phylogenetic analysis. The distribution of accessory genes in all Yersinia species revealed the presence of 303 distinctive genes in Y. ruckeri. Of these, 169 genes were distributed in 17 genomic islands potentially involved in the pathogenesis of ERM via (1) encoding virulence factors such as Afp18, Yrp1, phage proteins and (2) improving the metabolic capabilities by enhancing utilization and metabolism of iron, amino acids (specifically, arginine and histidine), and carbohydrates. The genome of Y. ruckeri is highly conserved regarding gene structure, gene layout and functional categorization of genes. It contains various components of mobile genetic elements but lacks the CRISPR-Cas system and possesses a stable set of virulence genes possibly playing a critical role in pathogenicity. Distinct virulence plasmids were exclusively restricted to a specific clonal group of Y. ruckeri (CG4), possibly indicating a selective advantage. Phylogenetic analysis of Y. ruckeri genomes revealed the co-presence of multiple genetically distant lineages of Y. ruckeri strains circulating in Germany. Our results also suggest a possible dissemination of a specific group of strains in the United States, Peru, Germany, and Denmark. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the taxonomy and evolution of Y. ruckeri and contributes to a better understanding of the pathogenicity of ERM in aquaculture. The genomic analysis presented here offers a framework for the development of more efficient control strategies for this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Y Abdel-Glil
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses (IBIZ), Jena, Germany
| | - Uwe Fischer
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Infectiology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Dieter Steinhagen
- Fish Disease Research Unit, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Una McCarthy
- Marine Laboratory, Marine Scotland, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Heinrich Neubauer
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses (IBIZ), Jena, Germany
| | - Lisa D Sprague
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses (IBIZ), Jena, Germany
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6
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van Belkum A, Almeida C, Bardiaux B, Barrass SV, Butcher SJ, Çaykara T, Chowdhury S, Datar R, Eastwood I, Goldman A, Goyal M, Happonen L, Izadi-Pruneyre N, Jacobsen T, Johnson PH, Kempf VAJ, Kiessling A, Bueno JL, Malik A, Malmström J, Meuskens I, Milner PA, Nilges M, Pamme N, Peyman SA, Rodrigues LR, Rodriguez-Mateos P, Sande MG, Silva CJ, Stasiak AC, Stehle T, Thibau A, Vaca DJ, Linke D. Host-Pathogen Adhesion as the Basis of Innovative Diagnostics for Emerging Pathogens. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11071259. [PMID: 34359341 PMCID: PMC8305138 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11071259] [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: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases are an existential health threat, potentiated by emerging and re-emerging viruses and increasing bacterial antibiotic resistance. Targeted treatment of infectious diseases requires precision diagnostics, especially in cases where broad-range therapeutics such as antibiotics fail. There is thus an increasing need for new approaches to develop sensitive and specific in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests. Basic science and translational research are needed to identify key microbial molecules as diagnostic targets, to identify relevant host counterparts, and to use this knowledge in developing or improving IVD. In this regard, an overlooked feature is the capacity of pathogens to adhere specifically to host cells and tissues. The molecular entities relevant for pathogen–surface interaction are the so-called adhesins. Adhesins vary from protein compounds to (poly-)saccharides or lipid structures that interact with eukaryotic host cell matrix molecules and receptors. Such interactions co-define the specificity and sensitivity of a diagnostic test. Currently, adhesin-receptor binding is typically used in the pre-analytical phase of IVD tests, focusing on pathogen enrichment. Further exploration of adhesin–ligand interaction, supported by present high-throughput “omics” technologies, might stimulate a new generation of broadly applicable pathogen detection and characterization tools. This review describes recent results of novel structure-defining technologies allowing for detailed molecular analysis of adhesins, their receptors and complexes. Since the host ligands evolve slowly, the corresponding adhesin interaction is under selective pressure to maintain a constant receptor binding domain. IVD should exploit such conserved binding sites and, in particular, use the human ligand to enrich the pathogen. We provide an inventory of methods based on adhesion factors and pathogen attachment mechanisms, which can also be of relevance to currently emerging pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex van Belkum
- BioMérieux, Open Innovation & Partnerships, 38390 La Balme Les Grottes, France;
- Correspondence: (A.v.B.); (D.L.)
| | | | - Benjamin Bardiaux
- Institut Pasteur, Structural Biology and Chemistry, 75724 Paris, France; (B.B.); (N.I.-P.); (T.J.); (M.N.)
| | - Sarah V. Barrass
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (S.V.B.); (S.J.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Sarah J. Butcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (S.V.B.); (S.J.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Tuğçe Çaykara
- Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, 4760-034 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal; (T.Ç.); (C.J.S.)
| | - Sounak Chowdhury
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 22242 Lund, Sweden; (S.C.); (L.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Rucha Datar
- BioMérieux, Microbiology R&D, 38390 La Balme Les Grottes, France;
| | | | - Adrian Goldman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (S.V.B.); (S.J.B.); (A.G.)
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; (P.H.J.); (A.K.); (J.L.B.); (A.M.); (P.A.M.); (S.A.P.)
| | - Manisha Goyal
- BioMérieux, Open Innovation & Partnerships, 38390 La Balme Les Grottes, France;
| | - Lotta Happonen
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 22242 Lund, Sweden; (S.C.); (L.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Nadia Izadi-Pruneyre
- Institut Pasteur, Structural Biology and Chemistry, 75724 Paris, France; (B.B.); (N.I.-P.); (T.J.); (M.N.)
| | - Theis Jacobsen
- Institut Pasteur, Structural Biology and Chemistry, 75724 Paris, France; (B.B.); (N.I.-P.); (T.J.); (M.N.)
| | - Pirjo H. Johnson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; (P.H.J.); (A.K.); (J.L.B.); (A.M.); (P.A.M.); (S.A.P.)
| | - Volkhard A. J. Kempf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital, Goethe-University, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (V.A.J.K.); (A.T.); (D.J.V.)
| | - Andreas Kiessling
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; (P.H.J.); (A.K.); (J.L.B.); (A.M.); (P.A.M.); (S.A.P.)
| | - Juan Leva Bueno
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; (P.H.J.); (A.K.); (J.L.B.); (A.M.); (P.A.M.); (S.A.P.)
| | - Anchal Malik
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; (P.H.J.); (A.K.); (J.L.B.); (A.M.); (P.A.M.); (S.A.P.)
| | - Johan Malmström
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 22242 Lund, Sweden; (S.C.); (L.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Ina Meuskens
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Paul A. Milner
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; (P.H.J.); (A.K.); (J.L.B.); (A.M.); (P.A.M.); (S.A.P.)
| | - Michael Nilges
- Institut Pasteur, Structural Biology and Chemistry, 75724 Paris, France; (B.B.); (N.I.-P.); (T.J.); (M.N.)
| | - Nicole Pamme
- School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK; (N.P.); (P.R.-M.)
| | - Sally A. Peyman
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; (P.H.J.); (A.K.); (J.L.B.); (A.M.); (P.A.M.); (S.A.P.)
| | - Ligia R. Rodrigues
- CEB—Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (L.R.R.); (M.G.S.)
| | - Pablo Rodriguez-Mateos
- School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK; (N.P.); (P.R.-M.)
| | - Maria G. Sande
- CEB—Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (L.R.R.); (M.G.S.)
| | - Carla Joana Silva
- Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, 4760-034 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal; (T.Ç.); (C.J.S.)
| | - Aleksandra Cecylia Stasiak
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.C.S.); (T.S.)
| | - Thilo Stehle
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.C.S.); (T.S.)
| | - Arno Thibau
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital, Goethe-University, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (V.A.J.K.); (A.T.); (D.J.V.)
| | - Diana J. Vaca
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital, Goethe-University, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (V.A.J.K.); (A.T.); (D.J.V.)
| | - Dirk Linke
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway;
- Correspondence: (A.v.B.); (D.L.)
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7
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The extracellular juncture domains in the intimin passenger adopt a constitutively extended conformation inducing restraints to its sphere of action. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21249. [PMID: 33277518 PMCID: PMC7718877 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77706-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli are among the most important food-borne pathogens, posing a global health threat. The virulence factor intimin is essential for the attachment of pathogenic E. coli to the intestinal host cell. Intimin consists of four extracellular bacterial immunoglobulin-like (Big) domains, D00–D2, extending into the fifth lectin subdomain (D3) that binds to the Tir-receptor on the host cell. Here, we present the crystal structures of the elusive D00–D0 domains at 1.5 Å and D0–D1 at 1.8 Å resolution, which confirms that the passenger of intimin has five distinct domains. We describe that D00–D0 exhibits a higher degree of rigidity and D00 likely functions as a juncture domain at the outer membrane-extracellular medium interface. We conclude that D00 is a unique Big domain with a specific topology likely found in a broad range of other inverse autotransporters. The accumulated data allows us to model the complete passenger of intimin and propose functionality to the Big domains, D00–D0–D1, extending directly from the membrane.
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8
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Vance TDR, Ye Q, Conroy B, Davies PL. Essential role of calcium in extending RTX adhesins to their target. JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY-X 2020; 4:100036. [PMID: 32984811 PMCID: PMC7493085 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjsbx.2020.100036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Elongated beta-sandwich repeats are a major part of bacterial RTX adhesins. The repeats are arranged in tandem to extend away from the bacterial surface. Calcium ions are coordinated in the linkers between repeats to stiffen the protein. Rigidification of the tandem repeats further helps extension of the adhesin. The repeats differ greatly between species, but all have Ca2+ in their linkers.
RTX adhesins are long, multi-domain proteins present on the outer membrane of many Gram-negative bacteria. From this vantage point, adhesins use their distal ligand-binding domains for surface attachment leading to biofilm formation. To expand the reach of the ligand-binding domains, RTX adhesins maintain a central extender region of multiple tandem repeats, which makes up most of the proteins’ large molecular weight. Alignments of the 10-15-kDa extender domains show low sequence identity between adhesins. Here we have produced and structurally characterized protein constructs of four tandem repeats (tetra-tandemers) from two different RTX adhesins. In comparing the tetra-tandemers to each other and already solved structures from Marinomonas primoryensis and Salmonella enterica, the extender domains fold as diverse beta-sandwich structures with widely differing calcium contents. However, all the tetra-tandemers have at least one calcium ion coordinated in the linker region between beta-sandwich domains whose role appears to be the rigidification of the extender region to help the adhesin extend its reach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler D R Vance
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Science, Queen's University Kingston ON, Canada
| | - Qilu Ye
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Science, Queen's University Kingston ON, Canada
| | - Brigid Conroy
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Science, Queen's University Kingston ON, Canada
| | - Peter L Davies
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Science, Queen's University Kingston ON, Canada
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9
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Wrobel A, Saragliadis A, Pérez-Ortega J, Sittman C, Göttig S, Liskiewicz K, Spence MH, Schneider K, Leo JC, Arenas J, Linke D. The inverse autotransporters of Yersinia ruckeri, YrInv and YrIlm, contribute to biofilm formation and virulence. Environ Microbiol 2020; 22:2939-2955. [PMID: 32372498 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Yersinia ruckeri causes enteric redmouth disease (ERM) that mainly affects salmonid fishes and leads to significant economic losses in the aquaculture industry. An increasing number of outbreaks and the lack of effective vaccines against some serotypes necessitates novel measures to control ERM. Importantly, Y. ruckeri survives in the environment for long periods, presumably by forming biofilms. How the pathogen forms biofilms and which molecular factors are involved in this process, remains unclear. Yersinia ruckeri produces two surface-exposed adhesins, belonging to the inverse autotransporters (IATs), called Y. ruckeri invasin (YrInv) and Y. ruckeri invasin-like molecule (YrIlm). Here, we investigated whether YrInv and YrIlm play a role in biofilm formation and virulence. Functional assays revealed that YrInv and YrIlm promote biofilm formation on different abiotic substrates. Confocal microscopy revealed that they are involved in microcolony interaction and formation, respectively. The effect of both IATs on biofilm formation correlated with the presence of different biopolymers in the biofilm matrix, including extracellular DNA, RNA and proteins. Moreover, YrInv and YrIlm contributed to virulence in the Galleria mellonella infection model. Taken together, we propose that both IATs are possible targets for the development of novel diagnostic and preventative strategies to control ERM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Wrobel
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0316, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Jesús Pérez-Ortega
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Carolin Sittman
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Hospital of Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stephan Göttig
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Hospital of Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Jack C Leo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0316, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Biosciences, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ, UK
| | - Jesús Arenas
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Unit of Microbiology of the Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Dirk Linke
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0316, Oslo, Norway
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10
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Seif Y, Choudhary KS, Hefner Y, Anand A, Yang L, Palsson BO. Metabolic and genetic basis for auxotrophies in Gram-negative species. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:6264-6273. [PMID: 32132208 PMCID: PMC7084086 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1910499117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Auxotrophies constrain the interactions of bacteria with their environment, but are often difficult to identify. Here, we develop an algorithm (AuxoFind) using genome-scale metabolic reconstruction to predict auxotrophies and apply it to a series of available genome sequences of over 1,300 Gram-negative strains. We identify 54 auxotrophs, along with the corresponding metabolic and genetic basis, using a pangenome approach, and highlight auxotrophies conferring a fitness advantage in vivo. We show that the metabolic basis of auxotrophy is species-dependent and varies with 1) pathway structure, 2) enzyme promiscuity, and 3) network redundancy. Various levels of complexity constitute the genetic basis, including 1) deleterious single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in-frame indels, and deletions; 2) single/multigene deletion; and 3) movement of mobile genetic elements (including prophages) combined with genomic rearrangements. Fourteen out of 19 predictions agree with experimental evidence, with the remaining cases highlighting shortcomings of sequencing, assembly, annotation, and reconstruction that prevent predictions of auxotrophies. We thus develop a framework to identify the metabolic and genetic basis for auxotrophies in Gram-negatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Seif
- Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, CA 92122
| | - Kumari Sonal Choudhary
- Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, CA 92122
| | - Ying Hefner
- Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, CA 92122
| | - Amitesh Anand
- Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, CA 92122
| | - Laurence Yang
- Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, CA 92122
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Bernhard O Palsson
- Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, CA 92122;
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
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11
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Draft Genome Sequence of Yersinia ruckeri Strain FMV-22, Isolated from Diseased Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Peru. Microbiol Resour Announc 2020; 9:9/3/e01389-19. [PMID: 31948963 PMCID: PMC6965581 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01389-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Yersinia ruckeri is a significant and frequent bacterial fish pathogen in Peru. We report the draft genome sequence of strain FMV-22, isolated from a diseased rainbow trout, which consists of 3.84 Mb, with a G+C content of 47.45% and 3,765 protein-coding genes. Yersinia ruckeri is a significant and frequent bacterial fish pathogen in Peru. We report the draft genome sequence of strain FMV-22, isolated from a diseased rainbow trout, which consists of 3.84 Mb, with a G+C content of 47.45% and 3,765 protein-coding genes.
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12
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Tørresen OK, Star B, Mier P, Andrade-Navarro MA, Bateman A, Jarnot P, Gruca A, Grynberg M, Kajava AV, Promponas VJ, Anisimova M, Jakobsen KS, Linke D. Tandem repeats lead to sequence assembly errors and impose multi-level challenges for genome and protein databases. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:10994-11006. [PMID: 31584084 PMCID: PMC6868369 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The widespread occurrence of repetitive stretches of DNA in genomes of organisms across the tree of life imposes fundamental challenges for sequencing, genome assembly, and automated annotation of genes and proteins. This multi-level problem can lead to errors in genome and protein databases that are often not recognized or acknowledged. As a consequence, end users working with sequences with repetitive regions are faced with 'ready-to-use' deposited data whose trustworthiness is difficult to determine, let alone to quantify. Here, we provide a review of the problems associated with tandem repeat sequences that originate from different stages during the sequencing-assembly-annotation-deposition workflow, and that may proliferate in public database repositories affecting all downstream analyses. As a case study, we provide examples of the Atlantic cod genome, whose sequencing and assembly were hindered by a particularly high prevalence of tandem repeats. We complement this case study with examples from other species, where mis-annotations and sequencing errors have propagated into protein databases. With this review, we aim to raise the awareness level within the community of database users, and alert scientists working in the underlying workflow of database creation that the data they omit or improperly assemble may well contain important biological information valuable to others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole K Tørresen
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Bastiaan Star
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Pablo Mier
- Faculty of Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hans-Dieter-Husch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Miguel A Andrade-Navarro
- Faculty of Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hans-Dieter-Husch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Alex Bateman
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton. CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Patryk Jarnot
- Institute of Informatics, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 16, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Gruca
- Institute of Informatics, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 16, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Marcin Grynberg
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics PAS, Pawińskiego 5A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrey V Kajava
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie cellulaire de Montpellier, UMR 5237 CNRS, Universite Montpellier 1919 Route de Mende, CEDEX 5, 34293 Montpellier, France
- Institut de Biologie Computationnelle, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Vasilis J Promponas
- Bioinformatics Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, PO Box 20537, CY 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Maria Anisimova
- Institute of Applied Simulations, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Wädenswil, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kjetill S Jakobsen
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Dirk Linke
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
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13
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Wrobel A, Leo JC, Linke D. Overcoming Fish Defences: The Virulence Factors of Yersinia ruckeri. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E700. [PMID: 31514317 PMCID: PMC6770984 DOI: 10.3390/genes10090700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Yersinia ruckeri is the causative agent of enteric redmouth disease, a bacterial infection of marine and freshwater fish. The disease mainly affects salmonids, and outbreaks have significant economic impact on fish farms all over the world. Vaccination routines are in place against the major serotypes of Y. ruckeri but are not effective in all cases. Despite the economic importance of enteric redmouth disease, a detailed molecular understanding of the disease is lacking. A considerable number of mostly omics-based studies have been performed in recent years to identify genes related to Y. ruckeri virulence. This review summarizes the knowledge on Y. ruckeri virulence factors. Understanding the molecular pathogenicity of Y. ruckeri will aid in developing more efficient vaccines and antimicrobial compounds directed against enteric redmouth disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Wrobel
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Jack C Leo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK.
| | - Dirk Linke
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
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14
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Abstract
Escherichia coli is one of the most prevalent facultative anaerobes of the human gut. E. coli normally exists as a harmless commensal but can also cause disease following the acquisition of genes that enhance its pathogenicity. Adhesion is an important first step in colonization of the host and is mediated by an array of cell surface components. In E. coli, these include a family of adhesins secreted by the type V secretion system. Here, we identified and characterized new proteins from an emerging subclass of the type V secretion system known as the inverse autotransporters (IATs). We found that IAT-encoding genes are present in a wide range of strains and showed that three novel IATs were localized on the E. coli cell surface and mediated biofilm formation. Overall, this study provides new insight into the prevalence, function, and regulation of IATs in E. coli. Proteins secreted by the type V secretion system possess multiple functions, including the capacity to mediate adhesion, aggregation, and biolfilm formation. The type V secretion system can be divided into five subclasses, one of which is the type Ve system. Proteins of the type Ve secretion system are also referred to as inverse autotransporters (IATs). In this study, we performed an in silico analysis of 126 completely sequenced Escherichia coli genomes available in the NCBI database and identified several distinct IAT-encoding gene families whose distribution varied throughout the E. coli phylogeny. The genes included three characterized IATs (intimin, fdeC, and yeeJ) and four uncharacterized IATs (here named iatA, iatB, iatC, and iatD). The four iat genes were cloned from the completely sequenced environmental E. coli strain SMS-3-5 and characterized. Three of these IAT proteins (IatB, IatC, and IatD) were expressed at the cell surface and possessed the capacity to mediate biofilm formation in a recombinant E. coli K-12 strain. Further analysis of the iatB gene, which showed a unique association with extraintestinal E. coli strains, suggested that its regulation is controlled by the LeuO global regulator. Overall, this study provides new data describing the prevalence, sequence variation, domain structure, function, and regulation of IATs found in E. coli. IMPORTANCEEscherichia coli is one of the most prevalent facultative anaerobes of the human gut. E. coli normally exists as a harmless commensal but can also cause disease following the acquisition of genes that enhance its pathogenicity. Adhesion is an important first step in colonization of the host and is mediated by an array of cell surface components. In E. coli, these include a family of adhesins secreted by the type V secretion system. Here, we identified and characterized new proteins from an emerging subclass of the type V secretion system known as the inverse autotransporters (IATs). We found that IAT-encoding genes are present in a wide range of strains and showed that three novel IATs were localized on the E. coli cell surface and mediated biofilm formation. Overall, this study provides new insight into the prevalence, function, and regulation of IATs in E. coli.
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Padra JT, Murugan AVM, Sundell K, Sundh H, Benktander J, Lindén SK. Fish pathogen binding to mucins from Atlantic salmon and Arctic char differs in avidity and specificity and is modulated by fluid velocity. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215583. [PMID: 31125340 PMCID: PMC6534294 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease outbreaks are limiting factors for an ethical and economically sustainable aquaculture industry. The first point of contact between a pathogen and a host occurs in the mucus, which covers the epithelial surfaces of the skin, gills and gastrointestinal tract. Increased knowledge on host-pathogen interactions at these primary barriers may contribute to development of disease prevention strategies. The mucus layer is built of highly glycosylated mucins, and mucin glycosylation differs between these epithelial sites. We have previously shown that A. salmonicida binds to Atlantic salmon mucins. Here we demonstrate binding of four additional bacteria, A. hydrophila, V. harveyi, M. viscosa and Y. ruckeri, to mucins from Atlantic salmon and Arctic char. No specific binding could be observed for V. salmonicida to any of the mucin groups. Mucin binding avidity was highest for A. hydrophila and A. salmonicida, followed by V. harveyi, M. viscosa and Y. ruckeri in decreasing order. Four of the pathogens showed highest binding to either gills or intestinal mucins, whereas none of the pathogens had preference for binding to skin mucins. Fluid velocity enhanced binding of intestinal mucins to A. hydrophila and A. salmonicida at 1.5 and 2 cm/s, whereas a velocity of 2 cm/s for skin mucins increased binding of A. salmonicida and decreased binding of A. hydrophila. Binding avidity, specificity and the effect of fluid velocity on binding thus differ between salmonid pathogens and with mucin origin. The results are in line with a model where the short skin mucin glycans contribute to contact with pathogens whereas pathogen binding to mucins with complex glycans aid the removal of pathogens from internal epithelial surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- János Tamás Padra
- Department of Medical Chemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Abarna V. M. Murugan
- Department of Medical Chemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kristina Sundell
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Henrik Sundh
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - John Benktander
- Department of Medical Chemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sara K. Lindén
- Department of Medical Chemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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16
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Ormsby MJ, Grahame E, Burchmore R, Davies RL. Comparative bioinformatic and proteomic approaches to evaluate the outer membrane proteome of the fish pathogen Yersinia ruckeri. J Proteomics 2019; 199:135-147. [PMID: 30831250 PMCID: PMC6447952 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2019.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Yersinia ruckeri is the aetiological agent of enteric redmouth (ERM) disease and is responsible for significant economic losses in farmed salmonids. Enteric redmouth disease is associated primarily with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum) but its incidence in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is increasing. Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Gram-negative bacteria are located at the host-pathogen interface and play important roles in virulence. The outer membrane of Y. ruckeri is poorly characterised and little is known about its composition and the roles of individual OMPs in virulence. Here, we employed a bioinformatic pipeline to first predict the OMP composition of Y. ruckeri. Comparative proteomic approaches were subsequently used to identify those proteins expressed in vitro in eight representative isolates recovered from Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. One hundred and forty-one OMPs were predicted from four Y. ruckeri genomes and 77 of these were identified in three or more genomes and were considered as "core" proteins. Gel-free and gel-based proteomic approaches together identified 65 OMPs in a single reference isolate and subsequent gel-free analysis identified 64 OMPs in the eight Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout isolates. Together, our gel-free and gel-based proteomic analyses identified 84 unique OMPs in Y. ruckeri. SIGNIFICANCE: Yersinia ruckeri is an important pathogen of Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout and is of major economic significance to the aquaculture industry worldwide. Disease outbreaks are becoming more problematic in Atlantic salmon and there is an urgent need to investigate in further detail the cell-surface (outer membrane) composition of strains infecting each of these host species. Currently, the outer membrane of Y. ruckeri is poorly characterised and very little is known about the OMP composition of strains infecting each of these salmonid species. This study represents the most comprehensive comparative outer membrane proteomic analysis of Y. ruckeri to date, encompassing isolates of different biotypes, serotypes, OMP-types and hosts of origin and provides insights into the potential roles of these diverse proteins in host-pathogen interactions. The study has identified key OMPs likely to be involved in disease pathogenesis and makes a significant contribution to furthering our understanding of the cell-surface composition of this important fish pathogen that will be relevant to the development of improved vaccines and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Ormsby
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Sir Graeme Davies Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
| | - Edward Grahame
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Sir Graeme Davies Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
| | - Richard Burchmore
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Sir Graeme Davies Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK; Polyomics, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, TCRC, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 1QH, UK
| | - Robert L Davies
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Sir Graeme Davies Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.
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17
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Guo S, Vance TD, Stevens CA, Voets I, Davies PL. RTX Adhesins are Key Bacterial Surface Megaproteins in the Formation of Biofilms. Trends Microbiol 2019; 27:453-467. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2018.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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18
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Wrobel A, Ottoni C, Leo JC, Linke D. pYR4 From a Norwegian Isolate of Yersinia ruckeri Is a Putative Virulence Plasmid Encoding Both a Type IV Pilus and a Type IV Secretion System. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:373. [PMID: 30460204 PMCID: PMC6232867 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteric redmouth disease caused by the pathogen Yersinia ruckeri is a significant problem for fish farming around the world. Despite its importance, only a few virulence factors of Y. ruckeri have been identified and studied in detail. Here, we report and analyze the complete DNA sequence of pYR4, a plasmid from a highly pathogenic Norwegian Y. ruckeri isolate, sequenced using PacBio SMRT technology. Like the well-known pYV plasmid of human pathogenic Yersiniae, pYR4 is a member of the IncFII family. Thirty-one percent of the pYR4 sequence is unique compared to other Y. ruckeri plasmids. The unique regions contain, among others genes, a large number of mobile genetic elements and two partitioning systems. The G+C content of pYR4 is higher than that of the Y. ruckeri NVH_3758 genome, indicating its relatively recent horizontal acquisition. pYR4, as well as the related plasmid pYR3, comprises operons that encode for type IV pili and for a conjugation system (tra). In contrast to other Yersinia plasmids, pYR4 cannot be cured at elevated temperatures. Our study highlights the power of PacBio sequencing technology for identifying mis-assembled segments of genomic sequences. Comparative analysis of pYR4 and other Y. ruckeri plasmids and genomes, which were sequenced by second and the third generation sequencing technologies, showed errors in second generation sequencing assemblies. Specifically, in the Y. ruckeri 150 and Y. ruckeri ATCC29473 genome assemblies, we mapped the entire pYR3 plasmid sequence. Placing plasmid sequences on the chromosome can result in erroneous biological conclusions. Thus, PacBio sequencing or similar long-read methods should always be preferred for de novo genome sequencing. As the tra operons of pYR3, although misplaced on the chromosome during the genome assembly process, were demonstrated to have an effect on virulence, and type IV pili are virulence factors in many bacteria, we suggest that pYR4 directly contributes to Y. ruckeri virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claudio Ottoni
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jack C Leo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dirk Linke
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Guijarro JA, García-Torrico AI, Cascales D, Méndez J. The Infection Process of Yersinia ruckeri: Reviewing the Pieces of the Jigsaw Puzzle. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:218. [PMID: 29998086 PMCID: PMC6028603 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Finding the keys to understanding the infectious process of Yersinia ruckeri was not a priority for many years due to the prompt development of an effective biotype 1 vaccine which was used mainly in Europe and USA. However, the gradual emergence of outbreaks in vaccinated fish, which have been reported since 2003, has awakened interest in the mechanism of virulence in this pathogen. Thus, during the last two decades, a large number of studies have considerably enriched our knowledge of many aspects of the pathogen and its interaction with the host. By means of both conventional and a variety of novel strategies, such as cell GFP tagging, bioluminescence imaging and optical projection tomography, it has been possible to determine three putative Y. ruckeri infection routes, the main point of entry for the bacterium being the gill lamellae. Moreover, a wide range of potential virulence factors have been highlighted by specific gene mutagenesis strategies or genome-wide transposon/plasmid insertion-based screening approaches, such us in vivo expression technology (IVET) and signature tagged mutagenesis (STM). Finally, recent proteomic and whole genomic analyses have allowed many of the genes and systems that are potentially implicated in the organism's pathogenicity and its adaptation to the host environmental conditions to be elucidated. Altogether, these studies contribute to a better understanding of the infectious process of Y. ruckeri in fish, which is crucial for the development of more effective strategies for preventing or treating enteric redmouth disease (ERM).
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Guijarro
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Biología Funcional, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Ana I García-Torrico
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Biología Funcional, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Desirée Cascales
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Biología Funcional, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Jessica Méndez
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Biología Funcional, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
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