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Goh KGK, Desai D, Thapa R, Prince D, Acharya D, Sullivan MJ, Ulett GC. An opportunistic pathogen under stress: how Group B Streptococcus responds to cytotoxic reactive species and conditions of metal ion imbalance to survive. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2024; 48:fuae009. [PMID: 38678005 PMCID: PMC11098048 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuae009] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS; also known as Streptococcus agalactiae) is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that causes sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, and skin and soft tissue infections in neonates and healthy or immunocompromised adults. GBS is well-adapted to survive in humans due to a plethora of virulence mechanisms that afford responses to support bacterial survival in dynamic host environments. These mechanisms and responses include counteraction of cell death from exposure to excess metal ions that can cause mismetallation and cytotoxicity, and strategies to combat molecules such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that are generated as part of innate host defence. Cytotoxicity from reactive molecules can stem from damage to proteins, DNA, and membrane lipids, potentially leading to bacterial cell death inside phagocytic cells or within extracellular spaces within the host. Deciphering the ways in which GBS responds to the stress of cytotoxic reactive molecules within the host will benefit the development of novel therapeutic and preventative strategies to manage the burden of GBS disease. This review summarizes knowledge of GBS carriage in humans and the mechanisms used by the bacteria to circumvent killing by these important elements of host immune defence: oxidative stress, nitrosative stress, and stress from metal ion intoxication/mismetallation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin G K Goh
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Devika Desai
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Ruby Thapa
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Darren Prince
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Dhruba Acharya
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Matthew J Sullivan
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Glen C Ulett
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
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Bourrel AS, Picart A, Fernandez JC, Hays C, Mignon V, Saubaméa B, Poyart C, Fouet A, Tazi A, Guignot J. Specific interaction between Group B Streptococcus CC17 hypervirulent clone and phagocytes. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0006224. [PMID: 38514466 PMCID: PMC11003227 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00062-24] [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: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae also named Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the most significant pathogen causing invasive infections, such as bacteremia and meningitis, in neonates. Worldwide epidemiological studies have shown that a particular clonal complex (CC) of capsular serotype III, the CC17, is strongly associated with meningitis in neonates and is therefore, designated as the hypervirulent clone. Macrophages are a permissive niche for intracellular bacteria of all GBS clones. In this study, we deciphered the specific interaction of GBS CC17 strains with macrophages. Our study revealed that CC17 strains are phagocytosed at a higher rate than GBS non-CC17 strains by human monocytes and macrophages both in cellular models and in primary cells. CC17-enhanced phagocytosis is due to an initial enhanced-attachment step to macrophages mediated by the CC17-specific surface protein HvgA and the PI-2b pilus (Spb1). We showed that two different inhibitors of scavenger receptors (fucoidan and poly(I)) specifically inhibited CC17 adhesion and phagocytosis while not affecting those of non-CC17 strains. Once phagocytosed, both CC17 and non-CC17 strains remained in a LAMP-1 positive vacuole that ultimately fuses with lysosomes where they can survive at similar rates. Finally, both strains displayed a basal egress which occurs independently from actin and microtubule networks. Our findings provide new insights into the interplay between the hypervirulent GBS CC17 and major players of the host's innate immune response. This enhanced adhesion, leading to increased phagocytosis, could reflect a peculiar capacity of the CC17 lineage to subvert the host immune defenses, establish a niche for persistence or disseminate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Bourrel
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Cochin, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Amandine Picart
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
| | | | - Constantin Hays
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Cochin, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Virginie Mignon
- Plateforme PICMO, US25 INSERM, UAR3612 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Saubaméa
- Plateforme PICMO, US25 INSERM, UAR3612 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Claire Poyart
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Cochin, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- Centre National de Référence des Streptocoques, Paris, France
| | - Agnès Fouet
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Asmaa Tazi
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Cochin, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- Centre National de Référence des Streptocoques, Paris, France
| | - Julie Guignot
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
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Williams AN, Croxen MA, Demczuk WHB, Martin I, Tyrrell GJ. Genomic characterization of emerging invasive Streptococcus agalactiae serotype VIII in Alberta, Canada. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2023; 42:747-757. [PMID: 37084119 PMCID: PMC10120474 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-023-04606-9] [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: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Invasive Group B Streptococcus (GBS) can infect pregnant women, neonates, and older adults. Invasive GBS serotype VIII is infrequent in Alberta; however, cases have increased in recent years. Here, genomic analysis was used to characterize fourteen adult invasive serotype VIII isolates from 2009 to 2021. Trends in descriptive clinical data and antimicrobial susceptibility results were evaluated for invasive serotype VIII isolates from Alberta. Isolate genomes were sequenced and subjected to molecular sequence typing, virulence and antimicrobial resistance gene identification, phylogenetic analysis, and pangenome determination. Multilocus sequencing typing identified eight ST42 (Clonal Complex; CC19), four ST1 (CC1), and two ST2 (CC1) profiles. Isolates were susceptible to penicillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin, apart from one isolate that displayed erythromycin and inducible clindamycin resistance. All isolates carried genes for peptide antibiotic resistance, three isolates for tetracycline resistance, and one for macrolide, lincosamide, and streptogramin resistance. All genomes carried targets currently being considered for protein-based vaccines (e.g., pili and/or Alpha family proteins). Overall, invasive GBS serotype VIII is emerging in Alberta, primarily due to ST42. Characterization and continued surveillance of serotype VIII will be important for outbreak prevention, informing vaccine development, and contributing to our understanding of the global epidemiology of this rare serotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Williams
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Alberta Precision Laboratories-Public Health Laboratory (ProvLab), Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Matthew A Croxen
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Alberta Precision Laboratories-Public Health Laboratory (ProvLab), Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Walter H B Demczuk
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Irene Martin
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Gregory J Tyrrell
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
- Alberta Precision Laboratories-Public Health Laboratory (ProvLab), Edmonton, AB, Canada.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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Burcham LR, Bath JR, Werlang CA, Lyon LM, Liu N, Evans C, Ribbeck K, Doran KS. Role of MUC5B during Group B Streptococcal Vaginal Colonization. mBio 2022; 13:e0003922. [PMID: 35323039 PMCID: PMC9040740 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00039-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The female reproductive tract (FRT) is a complex environment, rich in mucin glycoproteins that form a dense network on the surface of the underlying epithelia. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) asymptomatically colonizes 25-30% of healthy women, but during pregnancy can cause ascending infection in utero or be transmitted to the newborn during birth to cause invasive disease. Though the cervicovaginal mucosa is a natural site for GBS colonization, the specific interactions between GBS and mucins remain unknown. Here we demonstrate for the first time that MUC5B interacts directly with GBS and promotes barrier function by inhibiting both bacterial attachment to human epithelial cells and ascension from the vagina to the uterus in a murine model of GBS colonization. RNA sequencing analysis of GBS exposed to MUC5B identified 128 differentially expressed GBS genes, including upregulation of the pilus island-2b (PI-2b) locus. We subsequently show that PI-2b is important for GBS attachment to reproductive cells, binding to immobilized mucins, and vaginal colonization in vivo. Our results suggest that while MUC5B plays an important role in host defense, GBS upregulates pili in response to mucins to help promote persistence within the vaginal tract, illustrating the dynamic interplay between pathogen and host. IMPORTANCE Mucin glycoproteins are a major component that contributes to the complexity of the female reproductive tract (FRT). Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is present in the FRT of 25-30% of healthy women, but during pregnancy can ascend to the uterus to cause preterm birth and fetal infection in utero. Here we show that a prominent mucin found in the FRT, MUC5B, promotes host defense by inhibiting GBS interaction with epithelial cells found in the FRT and ascension from the vagina to the uterus in vivo. In response to MUC5B, GBS induces the expression of surface expressed pili, which in turn contributes to GBS persistence within the vaginal lumen. These observations highlight the importance and complexity of GBS-mucin interactions that warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey R. Burcham
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jade R. Bath
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Caroline A. Werlang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Laurie M. Lyon
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Naoko Liu
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Christopher Evans
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Katharina Ribbeck
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kelly S. Doran
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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Nakata M, Kreikemeyer B. Genetics, Structure, and Function of Group A Streptococcal Pili. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:616508. [PMID: 33633705 PMCID: PMC7900414 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.616508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus; GAS) is an exclusively human pathogen. This bacterial species is responsible for a large variety of infections, ranging from purulent but mostly self-limiting oropharynx/skin diseases to streptococcal sequelae, including glomerulonephritis and rheumatic fever, as well as life-threatening streptococcal toxic-shock syndrome. GAS displays a wide array of surface proteins, with antigenicity of the M protein and pili utilized for M- and T-serotyping, respectively. Since the discovery of GAS pili in 2005, their genetic features, including regulation of expression, and structural features, including assembly mechanisms and protein conformation, as well as their functional role in GAS pathogenesis have been intensively examined. Moreover, their potential as vaccine antigens has been studied in detail. Pilus biogenesis-related genes are located in a discrete section of the GAS genome encoding fibronectin and collagen binding proteins and trypsin-resistant antigens (FCT region). Based on the heterogeneity of genetic composition and DNA sequences, this region is currently classified into nine distinguishable forms. Pili and fibronectin-binding proteins encoded in the FCT region are known to be correlated with infection sites, such as the skin and throat, possibly contributing to tissue tropism. As also found for pili of other Gram-positive bacterial pathogens, GAS pilin proteins polymerize via isopeptide bonds, while intramolecular isopeptide bonds present in the pilin provide increased resistance to degradation by proteases. As supported by findings showing that the main subunit is primarily responsible for T-serotyping antigenicity, pilus functions and gene expression modes are divergent. GAS pili serve as adhesins for tonsillar tissues and keratinocyte cell lines. Of note, a minor subunit is considered to have a harpoon function by which covalent thioester bonds with host ligands are formed. Additionally, GAS pili participate in biofilm formation and evasion of the immune system in a serotype/strain-specific manner. These multiple functions highlight crucial roles of pili during the onset of GAS infection. This review summarizes the current state of the art regarding GAS pili, including a new mode of host-GAS interaction mediated by pili, along with insights into pilus expression in terms of tissue tropism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanobu Nakata
- Department of Oral Microbiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Bernd Kreikemeyer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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Zhang L, Ma L, Zhu L, Zhou XH, Xu LJ, Guo C, Meng JH, Zhang XH, Liu QH, Huang R. Molecular characterization of pathogenic group B streptococcus from a tertiary hospital in Shanxi, China: High incidence of sequence type 10 strains in infants/pregnant women. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2020; 54:1094-1100. [PMID: 32826191 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2020.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of serious infection in infants. Understanding its regional molecular epidemiology is helpful for regulating efficient prevention practice. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted to collected data from infants and pregnant women with culture-proven GBS disease in the largest women and children's medical center in Shanxi between January 2017 and September 2019. All GBS isolates were analyzed by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) as well as distribution of pilus island (PI) genes. RESULTS A total of 54 GBS isolates were obtained from 36 (66.7%) pregnant women and 18 (33.3%) infants with invasive disease. Among invasive GBS strains, the most common sequence type was ST10 (72.2%, P < 0.05), followed by ST23 and ST19. The ST10 strain was also the leading sequence type in colonizing pregnant women (44.4%, P < 0.05). All of the isolates carried at least one pilus island. The most frequently detected pilus island was PI-1+PI-2a (85.2%, P < 0.05), followed in turn by PI-2a and PI-2b. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that one hypervirulent clone, sequence type 10, accounts for a large proportion of invasive GBS disease in infants and colonizing pregnant women, and the PI-1+PI-2a sub-lineages should be noted in infant infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanxi Children's Hospital Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Lan Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanxi Children's Hospital Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Lei Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanxi Children's Hospital Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiang-Hong Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanxi Children's Hospital Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Li-Jun Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanxi Children's Hospital Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Chao Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanxi Children's Hospital Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jin-Hua Meng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanxi Children's Hospital Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xin-Hua Zhang
- Neonatal Department, Shanxi Children's Hospital Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Qing-Hua Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Rui Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanxi Children's Hospital Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Taiyuan, China
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