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Liu S, Zhu Y, Zhao L, Li M, Liang D, Li M, Zhao G, Ma Y, Tu Q. Characteristic substance analysis and rapid detection of bacteria spores in cooked meat products by surface enhanced Raman scattering based on Ag@AuNP array substrate. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1308:342616. [PMID: 38740451 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial spores are the main potential hazard in medium- and high-temperature sterilized meat products, and their germination and subsequent reproduction and metabolism can lead to food spoilage. Moreover, the spores of some species pose a health and safety threat to consumers. The rapid detection, prevention, and control of bacterial spores has always been a scientific problem and a major challenge for the medium and high-temperature meat industry. Early and sensitive identification of spores in meat products is a decisive factor in contributing to consumer health and safety. RESULTS In this study, we developed a novel and stable Ag@AuNP array substrate by using a two-step synthesis approach and a liquid-interface self-assembly method that can directly detect bacterial spores in actual meat product samples without the need for additional in vitro bacterial culture. The results indicate that the Ag@AuNP array substrate exhibits high reproducibility and Raman enhancement effects (1.35 × 105). The differentiation in the Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of five bacterial spores primarily arises from proteins in the spore coat and inner membrane, peptidoglycan of cortex, and Ca2⁺-DPA within the spore core. The correct recognition rate of linear discriminant analysis for spores in the meat product matrix can reach 100 %. The average recovery accuracy of the SERS quantitative model was at around 101.77 %, and the limit of detection can reach below 10 CFU/mL. SIGNIFICANCE It provides a promising technological strategy for the characteristic substance analysis and timely monitoring of spores in meat products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijie Liu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China; International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China
| | - Yaodi Zhu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China; International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China
| | - Lijun Zhao
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China; International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China
| | - Miaoyun Li
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China; International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China.
| | - Dong Liang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China; International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China
| | - Mengya Li
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China; International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China
| | - Gaiming Zhao
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China; International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China
| | - Yangyang Ma
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China; International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China
| | - Qiancheng Tu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China; International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, PR China
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Zeng J, Fang S, Guo J, Dong M, Tian G, Tao L. Fight or flee, a vital choice for Clostridioides difficile. MLIFE 2024; 3:14-20. [PMID: 38827507 PMCID: PMC11139204 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections, causing billions of economic losses every year. Its symptoms range from mild diarrhea to life-threatening damage to the colon. Transmission and recurrence of C. difficile infection (CDI) are mediated by the metabolically dormant spores, while the virulence of C. difficile is mainly due to the two large clostridial toxins, TcdA and TcdB. Producing toxins or forming spores are two different strategies for C. difficile to cope with harsh environmental conditions. It is of great significance to understand the molecular mechanisms for C. difficile to skew to either of the cellular processes. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the regulation and connections between toxin production and sporulation in C. difficile and further discuss the potential solutions for yet-to-be-answered questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Zeng
- School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical SciencesGuangdong University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
| | - Shuying Fang
- School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical SciencesGuangdong University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
| | - Jinquan Guo
- Department of Brest SurgeryPanyu Central HospitalGuangzhouChina
| | - Min Dong
- Department of MicrobiologyHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Guo‐Bao Tian
- Department of MicrobiologyZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of MedicineSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouChina
- School of MedicineXizang Minzu UniversityXianyangChina
| | - Liang Tao
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and BiomedicineWestlake UniversityHangzhouChina
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, School of Life SciencesWestlake UniversityHangzhouChina
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3
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Huang J, Sheng K, Zhang Y, Song M, Ali A, Huang T, Huang M. Inactivation Effect of Germination Combined with Cold Plasma Treatment on Bacillus licheniformis Spores. Foods 2023; 12:4319. [PMID: 38231775 DOI: 10.3390/foods12234319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Food spoilage, primarily caused by spore-forming bacteria, has become a critical concern since it results in substantial economic losses within the food industry. Past investigations have successfully identified Bacillus licheniformis as the main bacterium responsible for spoilage in roast chicken. In this study, we screened a new sterilization combination from 16 germinants and 4 cold plasma conditions, respectively. Among them, the combination of "A"GFNa-1 (composed of 60 mmol/L L-alanine, 10 mmol/L D-glucose, 10 mmol/L D-fructose, and 1 g/L NaCl) with cold plasma treatment (packed with 100% argon at 70 kV) proved effective in deactivating B. licheniformis spores, resulting in a reduction of approximately 2.1 log CFU/mL. Furthermore, we exposed the spores to different conditions: CK (no germination, no cold plasma), MF (germination only), CP (no germination, 100% argon packed, 70 kV cold plasma treatment for 3 min), and MF + CP (germination for 5 h, 100% argon packed, 70 kV cold plasma treatment for 3 min). The results of heat inactivation and dipicolinic acid (DPA) release rate demonstrated that cold plasma treatment effectively inactivated both spores and vegetative cells without inducing germination. Additionally, the reduced survival under hyperosmotic conditions and the presence of distinct red fluorescence patterns observed through confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) collectively suggest that cold plasma treatment disrupts the inner membrane structure and leads to the inactivation of B. licheniformis. Overall, our findings indicate a spore clearance rate of 99.2% and suggest that the combination of efficient germinants and cold plasma treatment holds promise as a viable approach to mitigate spore contamination in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jichao Huang
- College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Kairan Sheng
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Mengmeng Song
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ahtisham Ali
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Tianran Huang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ming Huang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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Marini E, Olivença C, Ramalhete S, Aguirre AM, Ingle P, Melo MN, Antunes W, Minton NP, Hernandez G, Cordeiro TN, Sorg JA, Serrano M, Henriques AO. A sporulation signature protease is required for assembly of the spore surface layers, germination and host colonization in Clostridioides difficile. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011741. [PMID: 37956166 PMCID: PMC10681294 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A genomic signature for endosporulation includes a gene coding for a protease, YabG, which in the model organism Bacillus subtilis is involved in assembly of the spore coat. We show that in the human pathogen Clostridioidesm difficile, YabG is critical for the assembly of the coat and exosporium layers of spores. YabG is produced during sporulation under the control of the mother cell-specific regulators σE and σK and associates with the spore surface layers. YabG shows an N-terminal SH3-like domain and a C-terminal domain that resembles single domain response regulators, such as CheY, yet is atypical in that the conserved phosphoryl-acceptor residue is absent. Instead, the CheY-like domain carries residues required for activity, including Cys207 and His161, the homologues of which form a catalytic diad in the B. subtilis protein, and also Asp162. The substitution of any of these residues by Ala, eliminates an auto-proteolytic activity as well as interdomain processing of CspBA, a reaction that releases the CspB protease, required for proper spore germination. An in-frame deletion of yabG or an allele coding for an inactive protein, yabGC207A, both cause misassemby of the coat and exosporium and the formation of spores that are more permeable to lysozyme and impaired in germination and host colonization. Furthermore, we show that YabG is required for the expression of at least two σK-dependent genes, cotA, coding for a coat protein, and cdeM, coding for a key determinant of exosporium assembly. Thus, YabG also impinges upon the genetic program of the mother cell possibly by eliminating a transcriptional repressor. Although this activity has not been described for the B. subtilis protein and most of the YabG substrates vary among sporeformers, the general role of the protease in the assembly of the spore surface is likely to be conserved across evolutionary distance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Marini
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Carmen Olivença
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Sara Ramalhete
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Andrea Martinez Aguirre
- Texas A&M University, Department of Biology, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Patrick Ingle
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Manuel N Melo
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Wilson Antunes
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Nigel P Minton
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Guillem Hernandez
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Tiago N Cordeiro
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Joseph A Sorg
- Texas A&M University, Department of Biology, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mónica Serrano
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Adriano O Henriques
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
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5
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Li YQ, He L, Aryal M, Wicander J, Korza G, Setlow P. Thioflavin-T does not report on electrochemical potential and memory of dormant or germinating bacterial spores. mBio 2023; 14:e0222023. [PMID: 37830807 PMCID: PMC10653816 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02220-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Bacillus and Clostridium spores cause food spoilage and disease because of spores' dormancy and resistance to microbicides. However, when spores "come back to life" in germination, their resistance properties are lost. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of spore germination could facilitate the development of "germinate to eradicate" strategies. One germination feature is the memory of a pulsed germinant stimulus leading to greater germination following a second pulse. Recent observations of increases in spore binding of the potentiometric dye thioflavin-T early in their germination of spores led to the suggestion that increasing electrochemical potential is how spores "remember" germinant pulses. However, new work finds no increased thioflavin-T binding in the physiological germination of Coatless spores or of intact spores germinating with dodecylamine, even though spore memory is seen in both cases. Thus, using thioflavin-T uptake by germinating spores to assess the involvement of electrochemical potential in memory of germinant exposure, as suggested recently, is questionable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-qing Li
- School of Electrical Engineering and Intelligentization, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
- Department of Physics, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lin He
- School of Electrical Engineering and Intelligentization, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Makunda Aryal
- Department of Physics, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - James Wicander
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - George Korza
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Peter Setlow
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
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6
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Ribis JW, Melo L, Shrestha S, Giacalone D, Rodriguez EE, Shen A, Rohlfing A. Single-spore germination analyses reveal that calcium released during Clostridioides difficile germination functions in a feedforward loop. mSphere 2023; 8:e0000523. [PMID: 37338207 PMCID: PMC10449524 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00005-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infections begin when its metabolically dormant spores germinate in response to sensing bile acid germinants alongside amino acid and divalent cation co-germinants in the small intestine. While bile acid germinants are essential for C. difficile spore germination, it is currently unclear whether both co-germinant signals are required. One model proposes that divalent cations, particularly Ca2+, are essential for inducing germination, while another proposes that either co-germinant class can induce germination. The former model is based on the finding that spores defective in releasing large stores of internal Ca2+ in the form of calcium dipicolinic acid (CaDPA) cannot germinate when germination is induced with bile acid germinant and amino acid co-germinant alone. However, since the reduced optical density of CaDPA-less spores makes it difficult to accurately measure their germination, we developed a novel automated, time-lapse microscopy-based germination assay to analyze CaDPA mutant germination at the single-spore level. Using this assay, we found that CaDPA mutant spores germinate in the presence of amino acid co-germinant and bile acid germinant. Higher levels of amino acid co-germinants are nevertheless required to induce CaDPA mutant spores to germinate relative to WT spores because CaDPA released by WT spores during germination can function in a feedforward loop to potentiate the germination of other spores within the population. Collectively, these data indicate that Ca2+ is not essential for inducing C. difficile spore germination because amino acid and Ca2+ co-germinant signals are sensed by parallel signaling pathways. IMPORTANCE Clostridioides difficile spore germination is essential for this major nosocomial pathogen to initiate infection. C. difficile spores germinate in response to sensing bile acid germinant signals alongside co-germinant signals. There are two classes of co-germinant signals: Ca2+ and amino acids. Prior work suggested that Ca2+ is essential for C. difficile spore germination based on bulk population analyses of germinating CaDPA mutant spores. Since these assays rely on optical density to measure spore germination and the optical density of CaDPA mutant spores is reduced relative to WT spores, this bulk assay is limited in its capacity to analyze germination. To overcome this limitation, we developed an automated image analysis pipeline to monitor C. difficile spore germination using time-lapse microscopy. With this analysis pipeline, we demonstrate that, although Ca2+ is dispensable for inducing C. difficile spore germination, CaDPA can function in a feedforward loop to potentiate the germination of neighboring spores.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W. Ribis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Luana Melo
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shailab Shrestha
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David Giacalone
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Aimee Shen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amy Rohlfing
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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7
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Liang D, Liu S, Li M, Zhu Y, Zhao L, Sun L, Ma Y, Zhao G. Effects of Different Bacteriostats on the Dynamic Germination of Clostridium perfringens Spores. Foods 2023; 12:foods12091834. [PMID: 37174372 PMCID: PMC10177833 DOI: 10.3390/foods12091834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriostats, as chemical substances that inhibit bacterial growth, are widely used in the sterilization process; however, their effects on spindle spores are unclear. In this study, the effects of bacteriostats, including nine commonly used food additives and four detergents, on the growth of Clostridium perfringens spores were investigated. The results showed that 0.07‱ ethylenediaminetetraacetate had a good inhibitory effect on C. perfringens spore growth, and the spore turbidity decreased by 4.8% after incubation for 60 min. Furthermore, 0.3‱ tea polyphenols, 0.8‱ D-isoascorbic acid, and 0.75‱ potassium sorbate promoted leakage of contents during spore germination. Among the four detergents, 5‱ glutaraldehyde solution presented the best inhibitory effect on the growth of C. perfringens spores, and the spore turbidity decreased by 5.6% after incubation for 60 min. Further analysis of the inactivation mechanism of spores by the bacteriostats was performed by comparing the leakage of UV-absorbing substances during germination. The results revealed that bacteriostats could not directly kill the spores, but could inactivate them by inhibiting germination or damaging the spore structure during germination, thus preventing the formation of bacterial vegetative bodies. These findings provide important information and reference for the mechanism underlying the effects of different bacteriostatic agents on spore growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Shengnan Liu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Miaoyun Li
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yaodi Zhu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Lijun Zhao
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Lingxia Sun
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yangyang Ma
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Gaiming Zhao
- College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- International Joint Laboratory of Meat Processing and Safety in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
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8
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Bublitz A, Brauer M, Wagner S, Hofer W, Müsken M, Deschner F, Lesker TR, Neumann-Schaal M, Paul LS, Nübel U, Bartel J, Kany AM, Zühlke D, Bernecker S, Jansen R, Sievers S, Riedel K, Herrmann J, Müller R, Fuchs TM, Strowig T. The natural product chlorotonil A preserves colonization resistance and prevents relapsing Clostridioides difficile infection. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:734-750.e8. [PMID: 37098342 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.04.003] [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: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) remain a healthcare problem due to high rates of relapsing/recurrent CDIs (rCDIs). Breakdown of colonization resistance promoted by broad-spectrum antibiotics and the persistence of spores contribute to rCDI. Here, we demonstrate antimicrobial activity of the natural product class of chlorotonils against C. difficile. In contrast to vancomycin, chlorotonil A (ChA) efficiently inhibits disease and prevents rCDI in mice. Notably, ChA affects the murine and porcine microbiota to a lesser extent than vancomycin, largely preserving microbiota composition and minimally impacting the intestinal metabolome. Correspondingly, ChA treatment does not break colonization resistance against C. difficile and is linked to faster recovery of the microbiota after CDI. Additionally, ChA accumulates in the spore and inhibits outgrowth of C. difficile spores, thus potentially contributing to lower rates of rCDI. We conclude that chlorotonils have unique antimicrobial properties targeting critical steps in the infection cycle of C. difficile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Bublitz
- Department of Microbial Immune Regulation, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Madita Brauer
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V., Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefanie Wagner
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Jena, Germany
| | - Walter Hofer
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Mathias Müsken
- Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Felix Deschner
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Till R Lesker
- Department of Microbial Immune Regulation, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Meina Neumann-Schaal
- Bacterial Metabolomics, Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany; Braunschweig Integrated Center of Systems Biology (BRICS), Technical University, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Lena-Sophie Paul
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrich Nübel
- Braunschweig Integrated Center of Systems Biology (BRICS), Technical University, Braunschweig, Germany; Microbial Genome Research, Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jürgen Bartel
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Proteomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andreas M Kany
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Daniela Zühlke
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Steffen Bernecker
- Department of Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Rolf Jansen
- Department of Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Susanne Sievers
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Katharina Riedel
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V., Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jennifer Herrmann
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Thilo M Fuchs
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Jena, Germany.
| | - Till Strowig
- Department of Microbial Immune Regulation, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany; Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), Hannover, Germany.
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9
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Wiese M, Schuren FHJ, Smits WK, Kuijper EJ, Ouwens A, Heerikhuisen M, Vigsnaes L, van den Broek TJ, de Boer P, Montijn RC, van der Vossen JMBM. 2'-Fucosyllactose inhibits proliferation of Clostridioides difficile ATCC 43599 in the CDi-screen, an in vitro model simulating Clostridioides difficile infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:991150. [PMID: 36389156 PMCID: PMC9650113 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.991150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium that can produce the toxins TcdA and/or TcdB and is considered an opportunistic pathogen. C. difficile is mainly transmitted as endospores, which germinate to produce the pathogenic vegetative cells under suitable conditions in the gut. To efficiently screen novel therapeutic- interventions against the proliferation of C. difficile within a complex microbial community, platforms are needed that facilitate parallel experimentation. In order to allow for screening of novel interventions a medium-to-high throughput in vitro system is desirable. To this end, we have developed the 96-well CDi-screen platform that employs an adapted simulated ileal effluent medium (CDi-SIEM) and allows for culturing of pathogenic C. difficile. METHODS C. difficile strain ATCC 43599 was inoculated in the form of vegetative cells and spores into the CDi-screen in the presence and absence of a cultured fecal microbiota and incubated for 48h. To demonstrate its utility, we investigated the effect of the human milk oligosaccharide 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL) at 4 and 8 mg/mL on C. difficile outgrowth and toxin production in the CDi-screen. The test conditions were sampled after 24 and 48 hours. C. difficile -specific primers were used to monitor C. difficile growth via qPCR and barcoded 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing facilitated the in-depth analysis of gut microbial community dynamics. RESULTS C. difficile ATCC 43599 proliferated in CDi-SIEM, both when inoculated as spores and as vegetative cells. The strain reached cell numbers expressed as C. difficile genome equivalents of up to 10 8 cells per mL after 24h of incubation. 2'-FL significantly inhibited the outgrowth of the ATTC 43599 strain within a complex human gut microbial community in the CDi-screen. In addition, a dose-dependent modulation of the gut microbial community composition by 2'-FL supplementation was detected, with a significant increase in the relative abundance of the genus Blautia in the presence of 2'-FL. CONCLUSION The CDi-screen is suitable for studying C. difficile proliferation in a complex gut ecosystem and for screening for anti-pathogenic interventions that target C. difficile directly and/or indirectly through interactions with the gut microbiota. Different doses of compounds such as in this study the dose of the human milk oligosaccharide 2'-FL can be screened for efficacy in the inhibition of C. difficile proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Wiese
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Frank H. J. Schuren
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Wiep Klaas Smits
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ed J. Kuijper
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Anita Ouwens
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Margreet Heerikhuisen
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Louise Vigsnaes
- Glycom A/S—DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Kogle Allé 4, Hørsholm, Denmark
- Department of Technology, Faculty of Health, University College Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tim J. van den Broek
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Paulo de Boer
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Roy C. Montijn
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jos M. B. M. van der Vossen
- Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, Netherlands
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Wang W, Liu Y, Li G, Liu Z, Wong PK, An T. Mechanism insights into bacterial sporulation at natural sphalerite interface with and without light irradiation: The suppressing role in bacterial sporulation by photocatalysis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 168:107460. [PMID: 35981477 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Unveiling the mechanisms of bacterial sporulation at natural mineral interfaces is crucial to fully understand the interactions of mineral with microorganism in aquatic environment. In this study, the bacterial sporulation mechanisms of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) at natural sphalerite (NS) interface with and without light irradiation were systematically investigated for the first time. Under dark condition, NS was found to inactivate vegetative cells of B. subtilis and promote their sporulation simultaneously. The released Zn2+ from NS was mainly responsible for the bacterial inactivation and sporulation. With light irradiation, the photocatalytic effect from NS could increase the bacterial inactivation efficiency, while the bacterial sporulation efficiency was decreased from 8.1 % to 4.5 %. The photo-generated H2O2 and O2- played the major roles in enhancing bacterial inactivation and suppressing bacterial sporulation process. The intracellular synthesis of dipicolinic acid (DPA) as biomarker for sporulation was promoted by NS in dark, which was suppressed by the photocatalytic effect of NS with light irradiation. The transformation process from vegetative cells to spores was monitored by both 3D-fluerecence EEM and SEM observations. Compared with the NS alone system, the NS/light combined system induced higher level of intracellular ROSs, up-regulated antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased cell metabolism activity, which eventually led to enhanced inactivation of vegetative cells and suppressed bacterial sporulation. These results not only provide in-depth understanding about bacterial sporulation as a new mode of sub-lethal stress response at NS interface, but also shed lights on putting forward suitable strategies for controlling spore-producing bacteria by suppressing their sporulation during water disinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanjun Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guiying Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhenni Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Po Keung Wong
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Taicheng An
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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Abstract
The nosocomial pathogen Clostridioides difficile is a burden to the healthcare system. Gut microbiome disruption, most commonly by broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment, is well established to generate a state that is susceptible to CDI. A variety of metabolites produced by the host and/or gut microbiota have been shown to interact with C. difficile. Certain bile acids promote/inhibit germination while other cholesterol-derived compounds and amino acids used in the Stickland metabolic pathway affect growth and CDI colonization. Short chain fatty acids maintain intestinal barrier integrity and a myriad of other metabolic compounds are used as nutritional sources or used by C. difficile to inhibit or outcompete other bacteria in the gut. As the move toward non-antibiotic CDI treatment takes place, a deeper understanding of interactions between C. difficile and the host's gut microbiome and metabolites becomes more relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph A. Sorg
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA,CONTACT Joseph A. Sorg Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX77843, USA
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