The central role of the SOS DNA repair system in antibiotics resistance: A new target for a new infectious treatment strategy

Mitigation of Triclocarban Inhibition in Microbial Electrolysis Cell-Assisted Anaerobic Digestion

Triclocarban (TCC), as a widely used antimicrobial agent, is accumulated in waste activated sludge at a high level and inhibits the subsequent anaerobic digestion of sludge. This study, for the first time, investigated the effectiveness of microbial electrolysis cell-assisted anaerobic digestion (MEC-AD) in mitigating the inhibition of TCC to methane production. Experimental results showed that 20 mg/L TCC inhibited sludge disintegration, hydrolysis, acidogenesis, and methanogenesis processes and finally reduced methane production from traditional sludge anaerobic digestion by 19.1%. Molecular docking revealed the potential inactivation of binding of TCC to key enzymes in these processes. However, MEC-AD with 0.6 and 0.8 V external voltages achieved much higher methane production and controlled the TCC inhibition to less than 5.8%. TCC in the MEC-AD systems was adsorbed by humic substances and degraded to dichlorocarbanilide, leading to a certain detoxification effect. Methanogenic activities were increased in MEC-AD systems, accompanied by complete VFA consumption. Moreover, the applied voltage promoted cell apoptosis and sludge disintegration to release biodegradable organics. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the applied voltage increased the resistance of electrode biofilms to TCC by enriching functional microorganisms (syntrophic VFA-oxidizing and electroactive bacteria and hydrogenotrophic methanogens), acidification and methanogenesis pathways, multidrug efflux pumps, and SOS response.

RecA inhibitor epicatechin prolongs the development of fluoroquinolone resistance in Pasteurella multocida

Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida), a primary pathogen of bovine respiratory diseases, has become resistant to many antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides. A large number of studies have proved that SOS reaction plays a crucial role in the development of antibiotic resistance. We have shown that the deletion of SOS response-related genes (recA, recO) can delay the development of fluoroquinolone resistance in P. multocida, therefore, it can be used as potential targets for antibiotic resistance inhibitors. In this study, we have used molecular docking to screen RecA protein inhibitors with high throughput screening, and found that epicatechin as an inhibitor significantly inhibited the formation of fluoroquinolone resistance in P. multocida, while in vitro coadministration of epicatechin with and without ciprofloxacin improved the efficacy of the antimicrobial agent. In conclusion, our results indicate that epicatechin is an efficient RecA inhibitor, implying that combining it with ciprofloxacin is a highly promising method for treating P. multocida resistant to fluoroquinolones.

Two-Pronged Dormant Photosensitizer-Antibiotic Bacterial Inactivation: Mechanism, Dosage, and Cellular Evolution Visualized at the Single-Cell Level

Innovative therapeutic approaches are required to battle the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Tapping on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in bacteria induced by bactericidal antibiotics, here we report a two-pronged strategy for bacterial inactivation relying on the synergistic combination of a bactericidal antibiotic and newly designed dormant photosensitizers (DoPSs) that activate in the presence of ROS. Intramolecular quenching renders DoPS inert in the presence of light. ROS trapping by DoPS aborts the quenching mechanism unmasking, in equal proportions, singlet oxygen (1O2) sensitization and fluorescence emission. Juxtaposed antioxidant-prooxidant activity built within our DoPS enables (i) initial activation of a few molecules by ROS and (ii) subsequent rapid activation of all DoPS in a bacterium via a domino effect mediated by photogenerated 1O2. Bulk colony forming unit studies employing the minimum inhibitory concentration of the antibiotic illustrate rapid and selective inactivation of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa only in the presence of light, antibiotic, and DoPS. Single-cell, real-time imaging studies on E. coli reveal an autocatalytic progression of DoPS activation from focal points, providing a unique amplification system for sensing. Single-cell analysis further illustrates the impact of DoPS cellular loading on the rate of DoPS activation and cell death times and on the 1O2 dosing necessary for cell death to occur. Our two-pronged therapy discriminates based on cell metabolites and has the potential to result in lower toxicity, pave the way to reduced drug resistance, and provide insightful mechanistic information about bacterial membrane response to 1O2.

Immunologic biomarkers for bacterial meningitis

Meningitis is defined as the inflammation of the meninges that is most often caused by various bacterial and viral pathogens, and is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Early detection of bacterial meningitis is essential to appropriate antibiotic therapy. Alterations in immunologic biomarkers levels have been considered the diagnostic approach in medical laboratories for the identifying of infections. The early increasing immunologic mediators such as cytokines and acute phase proteins (APPs) during bacterial meningitis have made they significant indicators for laboratory diagnosis. Immunology biomarkers showed wide variable sensitivity and specificity values that influenced by different reference values, selected a certain cutoff point, methods of detection, patient characterization and inclusion criteria, as well as etiology of meningitis and time of CSF or blood specimens' collection. This study provides an overview of different immunologic biomarkers as diagnostic markers for the identification of bacterial meningitis and their efficiencies in the differentiating of bacterial from viral meningitis.

Research progress of polyphenols in nanoformulations for antibacterial application

Infectious disease is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide, especially in low-income countries. The extensive use of antibiotics has led to an increase in antibiotic resistance, which poses a critical threat to human health globally. Natural products such as polyphenolic compounds and their derivatives have been shown the positive therapeutic effects in antibacterial therapy. However, the inherent physicochemical properties of polyphenolic compounds and their derivatives limit their pharmaceutical effects, such as short half-lives, chemical instability, low bioavailability, and poor water solubility. Nanoformulations have shown promising advantages in improving antibacterial activity by controlling the release of drugs and enhancing the bioavailability of polyphenols. In this review, we listed the classification and antibacterial mechanisms of the polyphenolic compounds. More importantly, the nanoformulations for the delivery of polyphenols as the antibacterial agent were summarized, including different types of nanoparticles (NPs) such as polymer-based NPs, metal-based NPs, lipid-based NPs, and nanoscaffolds such as nanogels, nanofibers, and nanoemulsions. At the same time, we also presented the potential biological applications of the nano-system to enhance the antibacterial ability of polyphenols, aiming to provide a new therapeutic perspective for the antibiotic-free treatment of infectious diseases.

Collateral sensitivity: An evolutionary trade-off between antibiotic resistance mechanisms, attractive for dealing with drug-resistance crisis

Background

The discovery and development of antimicrobial drugs were one of the most significant advances in medicine, but the evolution of microbial resistance limited the efficiency of these drugs.

Aim

This paper reviews the collateral sensitivity in bacteria and its potential and limitation as a new target for treating infections.

Results and Discussion

Knowledge mechanisms of resistance to antimicrobial agents are useful to trace a practical approach to treat and control of resistant pathogens. The effect of a resistance mechanism to certain antibiotics on the susceptibility or resistance to other drugs is a key point that may be helpful for applying a strategy to control resistance challenges. In an evolutionary trade-off known as collateral sensitivity, the resistance mechanism to a certain drug may be mediated by the hypersensitivity to other drugs. Collateral sensitivity has been described for different drugs in various bacteria, but the molecular mechanisms affecting susceptibility are not well demonstrated. Collateral sensitivity could be studied to detect its potential in the battle against resistance crisis as well as in the treatment of pathogens adapting to antibiotics. Collateral sensitivity-based antimicrobial therapy may have the potential to limit the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

FRETing about the details: Case studies in the use of a genetically encoded fluorescent amino acid for distance-dependent energy transfer

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a valuable method for monitoring protein conformation and biomolecular interactions. Intrinsically fluorescent amino acids that can be genetically encoded, such as acridonylalanine (Acd), are particularly useful for FRET studies. However, quantitative interpretation of FRET data to derive distance information requires careful use of controls and consideration of photophysical effects. Here we present two case studies illustrating how Acd can be used in FRET experiments to study small molecule induced conformational changes and multicomponent biomolecular complexes.

Fluoroquinolone Residues in the Environment Rapidly Induce Heritable Fluoroquinolone Resistance in Escherichia coli

Extensive antibiotic use increases the environmental presence of their residues and may accelerate the development of antibiotic resistance, although this remains poorly understood at environmentally relevant concentrations. Herein, susceptible Escherichia coli K12 was continuously exposed to five antibiotics at such concentrations for 100 days. The de novo-evolved mutants rapidly obtained fluoroquinolone resistance within 10 days, as indicated by the 4- and 16-fold augmentation of minimum inhibitory concentrations against enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. Moreover, the mutants maintained heritable fluoroquinolone resistance after the withdrawal of antibiotics for 30 days. Genomic analysis identified Asp87Gly or Ser83Leu substitutions in the gyrA gene in the mutants. Transcriptomics data showed that the transcriptional response of the mutants to fluoroquinolones was primarily involved in biofilm formation, cellular motility, porin, oxidative stress defense, and energy metabolism. Homologous recombination and molecular docking revealed that mutations of gyrA primarily mainly conferred fluoroquinolone resistance, while mutations at different positions of gyrA likely endowed different fluoroquinolone resistance levels. Collectively, this study revealed that environmentally relevant concentrations of antibiotics could rapidly induce heritable antibiotic resistance; therefore, the discharge of antibiotics into the environment should be rigorously controlled to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance.

Role of Extracellular DNA in Bacterial Response to SOS-Inducing Drugs

The SOS response is a conserved stress response pathway that is triggered by DNA damage in the bacterial cell. Activation of this pathway can, in turn, cause the rapid appearance of new mutations, sometimes called hypermutation. We compared the ability of various SOS-inducing drugs to trigger the expression of RecA, cause hypermutation, and produce elongation of bacteria. During this study, we discovered that these SOS phenotypes were accompanied by the release of large amounts of DNA into the extracellular medium. The release of DNA was accompanied by a form of bacterial aggregation in which the bacteria became tightly enmeshed in DNA. We hypothesize that DNA release triggered by SOS-inducing drugs could promote the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes by transformation or by conjugation.

Factors and Mechanisms Influencing Conjugation In Vivo in the Gastrointestinal Tract Environment: A Review

The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have imposed a serious threat on global public health. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) via plasmids is mainly responsible for the spread of ARGs, and conjugation plays an important role in HGT. The conjugation process is very active in vivo and its effect on the spreading of ARGs may be underestimated. In this review, factors affecting conjugation in vivo, especially in the intestinal environment, are summarized. In addition, the potential mechanisms affecting conjugation in vivo are summarized from the perspectives of bacterial colonization and the conjugation process.

Antibacterial and biofilm-inhibitory effects of vancomycin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles on methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative bacteria

The present study aimed to prepare and characterize vancomycin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Van-MSNs) to detect inhibitory effects on the planktonic and biofilm forms of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates, and study the biocompatibility and toxicity of Van-MSNs in vitro as well as antibacterial activity of Van-MSNs against Gram-negative bacteria. The inhibitory effects of Van-MSNs were investigated on MRSA using the determination of minimum inhibitory (MIC) and minimum biofilm-inhibitory concentrations (MBIC) as well as the effect on bacterial attachment. Biocompatibility was studied by examining the effect of Van-MSNs on the lysis and sedimentation rate of red blood cells (RBC). The interaction of Van-MSNs with human blood plasma was detected by the SDS-PAGE approach. The cytotoxic effect of the Van-MSNs on human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) was evaluated by the MTT assay. The antibacterial effects of vancomycin and Van-MSNs on Gram-negative bacteria were also investigated using MIC determination using the broth microdilution method. Furthermore, bacteria outer membrane (OM) permeabilization was determined. Van-MSNs showed inhibitory effects on planktonic and biofilm forms of bacteria on all isolates at levels lower than MICs and MBICs of free vancomycin, but the antibiofilm effect of Van-MSNs was not significant. However, Van-MSNs did not affect bacterial attachment to surfaces. Van-loaded MSNs did not show a considerable effect on the lysis and sedimentation of RBC. A low interaction of Van-MSNs was detected with albumin (66.5 kDa). The hBM-MSCs viability in exposure to different levels of Van-MSNs was 91-100%. MICs of ≥ 128 µg/mL were observed for vancomycin against all Gram-negative bacteria. In contrast, Van-MSNs exhibited modest antibacterial activity inhibiting the tested Gram-negative bacterial strains, at concentrations of ≤ 16 µg/mL. Van-MSNs increased the OM permeability of bacteria that can increase the antimicrobial effect of vancomycin. According to our findings, Van-loaded MSNs have low cytotoxicity, desirable biocompatibility, and antibacterial effects and can be an option for the battle against planktonic MRSA.

Evaluation of 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives as antibacterial agents: activity and mechanistic studies

The diverse and large-scale application of disinfectants posed potential health risks and caused ecological damage during the 2019-nCoV pandemic, thereby increasing the demands for the development of disinfectants based on natural products, with low health risks and low aquatic toxicity. In the present study, a few natural naphthoquinones and their derivatives bearing the 1,4-naphthoquinone skeleton were synthesized, and their antibacterial activity against selected bacterial strains was evaluated. In vitro antibacterial activities of the compounds were investigated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Under the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ⩽ 0.125 µmol/L for juglone (1a), 5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (1f), and 7-methyl-5-acetoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (3c), a strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus was observed. All 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives exhibited a strong antibacterial activity, with MIC values ranging between 15.625 and 500 µmol/L and EC₅₀ values ranging between 10.56 and 248.42 µmol/L. Most of the synthesized compounds exhibited strong antibacterial activities against S. aureus. Among these compounds, juglone (1a) showed the strongest antibacterial activity. The results from mechanistic investigations indicated that juglone, a natural naphthoquinone, caused cell death by inducing reactive oxygen species production in bacterial cells, leading to DNA damage. In addition, juglone could reduce the self-repair ability of bacterial DNA by inhibiting RecA expression. In addition to having a potent antibacterial activity, juglone exhibited low cytotoxicity in cell-based investigations. In conclusion, juglone is a strong antibacterial agent with low toxicity, indicating that its application as a bactericidal agent may be associated with low health risks and aquatic toxicity.

ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at 10.1007/s11783-023-1631-2 and is accessible for authorized users.

Sending out an SOS - the bacterial DNA damage response

The term “SOS response” was first coined by Radman in 1974, in an intellectual effort to put together the data suggestive of a concerted gene expression program in cells undergoing DNA damage. A large amount of information about this cellular response has been collected over the following decades. In this review, we will focus on a few of the relevant aspects about the SOS response: its mechanism of control and the stressors which activate it, the diversity of regulated genes in different species, its role in mutagenesis and evolution including the development of antimicrobial resistance, and its relationship with mobile genetic elements.

Locking down SOS Mutagenesis Repression in a Dynamic Pathogen

The article "The DdrR coregulator of the Acinetobacter baumannii mutagenic DNA damage response potentiates UmuDAb repression of error-prone polymerases" in this issue of the J Bacteriol, (D. Cook, M. D. Flannigan, B. V. Candra, K. D. Compton, and J. M. Hare., J Bacteriol 204:e00165-22, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.00165-22) reveals a more detailed understanding of the regulatory mechanism of the SOS response in Acinetobacter baumannii. This information provides novel targets for development of antimicrobial therapies against this ESKAPE pathogen and new insight into the complex regulation of the SOS stress-response.

Identification of small-molecule inhibitors of the DNA repair proteins RuvAB from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The Holliday junction (HJ) branch migrator RuvAB complex plays a fundamental role during homologous recombination and DNA damage repair, and therefore, is an attractive target for the treatment of bacterial pathogens. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa, Pa) is one of the most common clinical opportunistic bacterial pathogens, which can cause a series of life-threatening acute or chronic infections. Here, we performed a high throughput small-molecule screening targeting PaRuvAB using the FRET-based HJ branch migration assay. We identified that corilagin, bardoxolone methyl (BM) and 10-(6'-plastoquinonyl) decyltriphenylphosphonium (SKQ1) could efficiently inhibit the branch migration activity of PaRuvAB, with IC₅₀ values of 0.40 ± 0.04 μM, 0.38 ± 0.05 μM and 4.64 ± 0.27 μM, respectively. Further biochemical and molecular docking analyses demonstrated that corilagin directly bound to PaRuvB at the ATPase domain, and thus prevented ATP hydrolysis. In contrast, BM and SKQ1 acted through blocking the interactions between PaRuvA and HJ DNA. Finally, these compounds were shown to increase the susceptibility of P. aeruginosa to UV-C irradiation. Our work, for the first time, reports the small-molecule inhibitors of RuvA and RuvB from any species, providing valuable chemical tools to dissect the functional role of each individual protein in vivo.

Nanopore metatranscriptomics reveals cryptic catfish species as potential Shigella flexneri vectors in Kenya

Bacteria in the Shigella genus remain a major cause of dysentery in sub-Saharan Africa, and annually cause an estimated 600,000 deaths worldwide. Being spread by contaminated food and water, this study highlights how wild caught food, in the form of freshwater catfish, can act as vectors for Shigella flexneri in Southern Kenya. A metatranscriptomic approach was used to identify the presence of Shigella flexneri in the catfish which had been caught for consumption from the Galana river. The use of nanopore sequencing was shown to be a simple and effective method to highlight the presence of Shigella flexneri and could represent a potential new tool in the detection and prevention of this deadly pathogen. Rather than the presence/absence results of more traditional testing methods, the use of metatranscriptomics highlighted how primarily one SOS response gene was being transcribed, suggesting the bacteria may be dormant in the catfish. Additionally, COI sequencing of the vector catfish revealed they likely represent a cryptic species. Morphological assignment suggested the fish were widehead catfish Clarotes laticeps, which range across Africa, but the COI sequences from the Kenyan fish are distinctly different from C. laticeps sequenced in West Africa.

Molecular Factors and Mechanisms Driving Multidrug Resistance in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli-An Update

The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria indisputably constitutes a major global health problem. Pathogenic Escherichia coli are listed among the most critical group of bacteria that require fast development of new antibiotics and innovative treatment strategies. Among harmful extraintestinal Enterobacteriaceae strains, uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) pose a significant health threat. UPEC are considered the major causative factor of urinary tract infection (UTI), the second-most commonly diagnosed infectious disease in humans worldwide. UTI treatment places a substantial financial burden on healthcare systems. Most importantly, the misuse of antibiotics during treatment has caused selection of strains with the ability to acquire MDR via miscellaneous mechanisms resulting in gaining resistance against many commonly prescribed antibiotics like ampicillin, gentamicin, cotrimoxazole and quinolones. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as transposons, integrons and conjugative plasmids are the major drivers in spreading resistance genes in UPEC. The co-occurrence of various bacterial evasion strategies involving MGEs and the SOS stress response system requires further research and can potentially lead to the discovery of new, much-awaited therapeutic targets. Here, we analyzed and summarized recent discoveries regarding the role, mechanisms, and perspectives of MDR in the pathogenicity of UPEC.

RecA and RecB: probing complexes of DNA repair proteins with mitomycin C in live Escherichia coli with single-molecule sensitivity

The RecA protein and RecBCD complex are key bacterial components for the maintenance and repair of DNA. RecBCD is a helicase-nuclease that uses homologous recombination to resolve double-stranded DNA breaks. It also facilitates coating of single-stranded DNA with RecA to form RecA filaments, a vital step in the double-stranded break DNA repair pathway. However, questions remain about the mechanistic roles of RecA and RecBCD in live cells. Here, we use millisecond super-resolved fluorescence microscopy to pinpoint the spatial localization of fluorescent reporters of RecA or RecB at physiological levels of expression in individual live Escherichia coli cells. By introducing the DNA cross-linker mitomycin C, we induce DNA damage and quantify the resulting steady state changes in stoichiometry, cellular protein copy number and molecular mobilities of RecA and RecB. We find that both proteins accumulate in molecular hotspots to effect repair, resulting in RecA stoichiometries equivalent to several hundred molecules that assemble largely in dimeric subunits before DNA damage, but form periodic subunits of approximately 3-4 molecules within mature filaments of several thousand molecules. Unexpectedly, we find that the physiologically predominant forms of RecB are not only rapidly diffusing monomers, but slowly diffusing dimers.

Interaction of RecA mediated SOS response with bacterial persistence, biofilm formation, and host response

Antibiotics have a primary mode of actions, and most of them have a common secondary mode of action via reactive species (ROS and RNS) mediated DNA damage. Bacteria have been able to tolerate this DNA damage by SOS (Save-Our-Soul) response. RecA is the universal essential key protein of the DNA damage mediated SOS repair in various bacteria including ESKAPE pathogens. In addition, antibiotics also triggers activation of various other bacterial mechanisms such as biofilm formation, host dependent responses, persister subpopulation formation. These supporting the survival of bacteria in unfriendly natural conditions i.e. antibiotic presence. This review highlights the detailed mechanism of RecA mediated SOS response as well as role of RecA-LexA interaction in SOS response. The review also focuses on inter-connection between DNA damage repair pathway (like SOS response) with other survival mechanisms of bacteria such as host mediated RecA induction, persister-SOS interplay, and biofilm-SOS interplay. This understanding of inter-connection of SOS response with different other survival mechanisms will prove beneficial in targeting the SOS response for prevention and development of therapeutics against recalcitrant bacterial infections. The review also covers the significance of RecA as a promising potent therapeutic target for hindering bacterial SOS response in prevailing successful treatments of bacterial infections and enhancing the conventional antibiotic efficiency.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria: current situation and treatment options to accelerate the development of a new antimicrobial arsenal

INTRODUCTION

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest public health threats worldwide. Currently, antibiotic-resistant bacteria kill 700,000 people every year. These data represent the near future in which we find ourselves, a "post-antibiotic era" where the identification and development of new treatments are key. This review is focused on the current and emerging antimicrobial therapies which can solve this global threat.

AREAS COVERED

Through a literature search using databases such as Medline and Web of Science, and search engines such as Google Scholar, different antimicrobial therapies were analyzed, including pathogen-oriented therapy, phagotherapy, microbiota and antivirulent therapy. Additionally, the development pathways of new antibiotics were described, emphasizing on the potential advantages that the combination of a drug repurposing strategy with the application of mathematical prediction models could bring to solve the problem of AMRs.

EXPERT OPINION

This review offers several starting points to solve a single problem: reducing the number of AMR. The data suggest that the strategies described could provide many benefits to improve antimicrobial treatments. However, the development of new antimicrobials remains necessary. Drug repurposing, with the application of mathematical prediction models, is considered to be of interest due to its rapid and effective potential to increase the current therapeutic arsenal.

Subinhibitory Concentration of Colistin Promotes the Conjugation Frequencies of Mcr-1- and blaNDM-5-Positive Plasmids

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a significant role in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Most reported compounds promote HGT by increasing the cell membrane permeability. Colistin has been reported to increase the cell membrane permeability when exhibiting its antibacterial effect. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential role of colistin in facilitating the dissemination of ARGs via plasmid conjugation by establishing an in vitro mating model. Three strains Escherichia coli (E. coli) DH5α, E. coli L65, and E. coli LD67-1 carrying plasmid RP4-7, bla_NDM-5 positive IncX3 plasmid, and mcr-1 positive IncI2 plasmid, respectively, were regarded as the donor strains and E. coli J53 as the recipient strain. Exposure to subinhibitory concentrations of colistin (1/4, 1/8, 1/16 MIC) significantly stimulated the conjugation frequency of RP-4 plasmid, wide-type IncI2 and IncX3 plasmid. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the shrunken cell membrane after colistin treatment, whereas propidium iodide dye and 1-N-Phenylnaphthylamine fluorescent probe showed the increased cell membrane permeability. Additionally, the expression level of the outer membrane proteins (ompF and ompC) was increased. These results indicate a break in the membrane barrier. The expression of the mating pair formation gene (trbBp) was promoted and the expression of the global regulatory genes (korA, trbA), which downregulates trbBp expression, was inhibited. Thus, the production of the mating pairing machine could be elevated after colistin exposure. These findings aid in understanding the hidden risks of colistin on the spread of antimicrobial resistance. IMPORTANCE Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) dissemination is a growing global threat. As a last-resort treatment against multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, colistin has been used for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes in veterinary medicine. Previous studies have reported the presence of colistin residues in the intestinal tract and feces. The role of colistin in facilitating the conjugation frequency of mcr-1- and bla_NDM-5-positive plasmids was confirmed in this study along with elucidating its potential mechanisms. This study raises awareness of the potential AMR dissemination roles induced by colistin in environmental settings.

Recombinant HNP-1 Produced by Escherichia coli Triggers Bacterial Apoptosis and Exhibits Antibacterial Activity against Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP-1) is a promising antibiotic candidate, but its clinical applications have been hampered by challenges during mass production and an inadequate understanding of its bactericidal mechanisms. In this study, we demonstrated that Escherichia coli expressing full-length preproHNP-1 secretes a soluble form of HNP-1, which can be recovered from the total cell lysate after isopropyl thio-β-d-galactoside (IPTG) induction and ultrafiltration. Label-free quantitative proteomics and co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that HNP-1 induces cell apoptosis in bacteria by causing DNA and membrane damage. Notably, we found that HNP-1 disrupts the DNA damage response pathway by interfering with the binding of RecA to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). Further experiments demonstrated that HNP-1 encapsulated in liposomes inhibits the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and meropenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MRPA). These results indicated that recombinant protein expression may be a simple and cost-effective solution to produce HNP-1 and that RecA inhibition via HNP-1 may serve as an alternative strategy to counteract antibiotic resistance. IMPORTANCE Human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP-1) is a promising antibiotic candidate, but its clinical application has been hampered by the difficulty of mass production and an inadequate understanding of its bactericidal mechanisms. In this study, we demonstrated that recombinant protein expression combined with ultrafiltration may be a simple and cost-effective solution to HNP-1 production. We further found that HNP-1 induces bacterial apoptosis and prevents its SOS repair pathway from binding to the RecA protein, which may be a new antibacterial mechanism. In addition, we showed that HNP-1 encapsulated in liposomes inhibits the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and meropenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MRPA). These results provide new insights into the production and antibacterial mechanism of HNP-1, both of which may promote its clinical application.

DNA Repair in Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of both superficial and invasive infections of humans and animals. Despite a potent host response and apparently appropriate antibiotic therapy, staphylococcal infections frequently become chronic or recurrent, demonstrating a remarkable ability of S. aureus to withstand the hostile host environment. There is growing evidence that staphylococcal DNA repair makes important contributions to the survival of the pathogen in host tissues, as well as promoting the emergence of mutants that resist host defenses and antibiotics. While much of what we know about DNA repair in S. aureus is inferred from studies with model organisms, the roles of specific repair mechanisms in infection are becoming clear and differences with Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli have been identified. Furthermore, there is growing interest in staphylococcal DNA repair as a target for novel therapeutics that sensitize the pathogen to host defenses and antibiotics. In this review, we discuss what is known about staphylococcal DNA repair and its role in infection, examine how repair in S. aureus is similar to, or differs from, repair in well-characterized model organisms, and assess the potential of staphylococcal DNA repair as a novel therapeutic target.

Free ammonia pretreatment enhances the removal of antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic sludge digestion

Sludge has been recognized as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the wastewater treatment plants. Our previous study has demonstrated that free ammonia (FA, i.e., NH₃-N) pretreatment is an effective method for enhancing anaerobic digestion of sludge. However, the effects of FA pretreatment on the removal of ARGs in the anaerobic sludge digestion is still unknown. In this study, several ARGs representing various antibiotic classes and integrase gene (intI1) which is crucial for horizontal transfer of ARGs were chosen. This study demonstrated that combined FA pretreatment (420 mg NH₃-N/L for 24 h, under which the highest anaerobic sludge biodegradability was achieved in our previous study) and anaerobic digestion could enhance the removal of aac(6')-Ib-cr, blaTEM, sul2, tetA, tetB and tetX from sludge by 17-74% compared with anaerobic digestion without FA pretreatment, resulting in a lower ARGs abundance in the anaerobically digested sludge. This is caused by the removal of tested ARGs during FA pretreatment and the reduced abundance of potential microbial hosts of ARGs due to FA pretreatment during anaerobic digestion. The removal of IntI1 was not significantly affected by FA pretreatment and intI1 did not play a large role in the fate of the tested ARGs in this study. This study indicated that FA pretreatment for anaerobic digestion could potentially reduce the spread of ARGs from the sludge to the natural environment during sludge disposal or reuse.

Contribution of SOS genes to H2O2-induced apoptosis-like death in Escherichia coli

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a debriding agent that damages the microbial structure and function by generating various reactive oxygen species (ROS). H₂O₂-produced hydroxyl radical (OH∙) also exerts oxidative stress on microorganisms. The spread of antibiotic-resistance in bacteria is a serious issue worldwide, and greater efforts are needed to identify and characterize novel antibacterial mechanisms to develop new treatment strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the relationship between H₂O₂ and Escherichia coli and to elucidate a novel antibacterial mechanism(s) of H₂O₂. Following H₂O₂ exposure, increased levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and malondialdehyde indicated that H₂O₂ accelerates oxidation of bacterial DNA and lipids in E. coli. As oxidative damage worsened, the SOS response was triggered. Cell division arrest and resulting filamentous cells were identified in cells, indicating that LexA was involved in DNA replication. It was also verified that RecA, a representative SOS gene, helps self-cleavage of LexA and acts as a bacterial caspase-like protein. Our findings also showed that dinF is essential to preserve E. coli from H₂O₂-induced ROS, and furthermore, demonstrated that H₂O₂-induced SOS response and SOS genes participate differently in guarding E. coli from oxidative stress. As an extreme SOS response is considered apoptosis-like death (ALD) in bacteria, additional experiments were performed to examine the characteristics of ALD. DNA fragmentation and membrane depolarization appeared in H₂O₂-treated cells, suggesting that H₂O₂ causes ALD in E. coli. In conclusion, our investigations revealed that ALD is a novel antibacterial mode of action(s) of H₂O₂ with important contributions from SOS genes.

Antibiotic susceptibility of human gut-derived facultative anaerobic bacteria is different under aerobic versus anaerobic test conditions

Facultative anaerobes are the most common cause of infections in anoxic parts of the human body, including deep wound, vagina, periodontal pockets, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary tract and lungs. Generally, antibiotic susceptibility tests (AST) for facultative anaerobes are performed under aerobic conditions due to ease of handling and rapid growth. However, variation in susceptibility of facultative anaerobes to antibiotics under aerobic and anaerobic conditions can lead to failure of antibiotic treatment. Our study evaluated the susceptibility of facultative anaerobic microorganisms to antibiotics during growth under anaerobic or aerobic conditions. We compared the resistance patterns of representatives from 15 bacterial genera isolated from the human-gastrointestinal tract against 22 different antibiotics from six classes under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Preliminary results obtained by a disc diffusion method were verified using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing. The results demonstrated that 7-strains had a similar pattern of drug resistance under both conditions, while the remaining ten strains had significant differences in resistance patterns between aerobic and anaerobic conditions for at least one antibiotic. We conclude that successful antibiotic therapy for host-associated pathogens requires proper assessment of the oxygen condition of the growth environment and MIC testing of each pathogen under anaerobic and aerobic conditions.

Computational analysis of LexA regulons in Proteus species

To gain a general understanding of the SOS system in Proteus species, in this study LexA-binding sites and the LexA regulons in 23 Proteus genomes were first predicted by phylogenetic footprinting server, then with Proteus vulgaris as an example, the expression of LexA regulon in iron limitation was investigated by proteomic analysis and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method. The results showed that LexA proteins were highly conserved in Proteus species, and were in a close phylogenetic relationship with those in Gram-negative bacteria; the core SOS response genes lexA and recA were found in all the 23 genomes, indicating that this system was widely distributed in this genus; besides that, putative LexA-binding sites were also found in the upstream sequences of some genes involved in other biological processes such as biosynthesis, drug resistance, and stress response. Proteomic and RT-qPCR analyses showed that under iron deficient condition, the expression of lexA, recA and sulA was transcriptionally upregulated (p < 0.05), lexA was also translationally upregulated but recA was on the contrary (p < 0.05), whereas another SOS response gene dinI was transcriptionally downregulated (p < 0.01). These results indicated that in response to iron deficiency, the members of LexA regulon were not regulated by the same way, suggesting the existence of a precise regulation mechanism of SOS response in P. vulgaris. In conclusion, this study provided a preliminary understanding of the SOS system in Proteus species, which laid the foundation for further investigation of its roles in SOS response and other biological processes.

Tightly controlled response to oxidative stress; an important factor in the tolerance of Bacteroides fragilis

The exposure of Bacteroides fragilis to highly oxygenated tissues induces an oxidative stress due to a shift from the reduced condition of the gastrointestinal tract to an aerobic environment of host tissues. The potent and effective responses to reactive oxygen species (ROS) make the B. fragilis tolerant to atmospheric oxygen for several days. The response to oxidative stress in B. fragilis is a complicated event that is induced and regulated by different agents. In this review, we will focus on the B. fragilis response to oxidative stress and present an overview of the regulators of responses to oxidative stress in this bacterium.