The immunosuppressive effects of a novel recombinant LipQ (Rv2485c) protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on human macrophage cell lines

Rv0495c regulates redox homeostasis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has evolved sophisticated surveillance mechanisms to neutralize the ROS-induces toxicity which otherwise would degrade a variety of biological molecules including proteins, nucleic acids and lipids. In the present study, we find that Mtb lacking the Rv0495c gene (ΔRv0495c) is presented with a highly oxidized cytosolic environment. The superoxide-induced lipid peroxidation resulted in altered colony morphology and loss of membrane integrity in ΔRv0495c. As a consequence, ΔRv0495c demonstrated enhanced susceptibility when exposed to various host-induced stress conditions. Further, as expected, we observed a mutant-specific increase in the abundance of transcripts that encode proteins involved in antioxidant defence. Surprisingly, despite showing a growth defect phenotype in macrophages, the absence of the Rv0495c enhanced the pathogenicity and augmented the ability of the Mtb to grow inside the host. Additionally, our study revealed that Rv0495c-mediated immunomodulation by the pathogen helps create a favorable niche for long-term survival of Mtb inside the host. In summary, the current study underscores the fact that the truce in the war between the host and the pathogen favours long-term disease persistence in tuberculosis. We believe targeting Rv0495c could potentially be explored as a strategy to potentiate the current anti-TB regimen.

Roles of Lipolytic enzymes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a bacterial pathogen that can endure for long periods in an infected patient, without causing disease. There are a number of virulence factors that increase its ability to invade the host. One of these factors is lipolytic enzymes, which play an important role in the pathogenic mechanism of Mtb. Bacterial lipolytic enzymes hydrolyze lipids in host cells, thereby releasing free fatty acids that are used as energy sources and building blocks for the synthesis of cell envelopes, in addition to regulating host immune responses. This review summarizes the relevant recent studies that used in vitro and in vivo models of infection, with particular emphasis on the virulence profile of lipolytic enzymes in Mtb. A better understanding of these enzymes will aid the development of new treatment strategies for TB. The recent work done that explored mycobacterial lipolytic enzymes and their involvement in virulence and pathogenicity was highlighted in this study. Lipolytic enzymes are expected to control Mtb and other intracellular pathogenic bacteria by targeting lipid metabolism. They are also potential candidates for the development of novel therapeutic agents.

Hsa_circ_0001204 modulates inflammatory response of macrophages infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis via TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a vital role in the regulation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) by macrophages. In this project, the potential role of hsa_circ_0001204 in M.tb-infected macrophages is explored. Hsa_circ_0001204 was determined in the patients with tuberculosis (TB) and M.tb-infected macrophages. Its effect on the survival of M.tb and the apoptosis and inflammation of M.tb-infected macrophages was evaluated. Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB (TLR4/NF-κB) signalling was detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence. TB patients and M.tb-infected THP-1 cells showed the significant downregulation of hsa_circ_0001204. Upregulating hsa_circ_0001204 reduced M.tb survival and suppressed the apoptosis and inflammatory response of THP-1 cells. The TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway could be inhibited by hsa_circ_0001204 overexpression, which was activated by M.tb-infection. Hsa_circ_0001204 confers protective effects in M.tb-infected THP-1 cells, at least partly via the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway.

Correlation of over-expression of rv1900c with enhanced survival of M. smegmatis under stress conditions: Modulation of cell surface properties

Mycobacterium tuberculosis has distinct cell wall composition that helps in intracellular survival of bacteria. Rv1900c, a two domain protein, has been grouped in lip gene family. The expression of rv1900c was upregulated under acidic, nutritive and iron stress conditions in M. tuberculosis H37Ra. To investigate the biological effect of Rv1900c in mycobacterium physiology, rv1900c gene was cloned in M. smegmatis, a surrogate host. Its counterpart MSMEG_4477 in M. smegmatis demonstrated 38% protein similarity with Rv1900c. MSMEG_4477 gene was knocked out in M. smegmatis by homologous recombination. rv1900c and MSMEG_4477 genes, cloned in pVV16, were expressed in the M. smegmatis knockout strain (M. smegmatis ΔMSMEG_4477). Gene knockout significantly altered colony morphology and growth kinetics of M. smegmatis. M. smegmatis ΔMSMEG_1900 (pVV16::rv1900c) colonies were less wrinkled and had smooth surface as compared to M. smegmatis ΔMSMEG_4477. The changes were reverted back to normal upon expression of MSMEG_4477 in knockout strain M. smegmatis ΔMSMEG_4477 (pVV16::MSMEG_4477). The expression of rv1900c enhanced the biofilm formation and survival of bacteria under various in vitro stresses like acidic, nutritive stress, including lysozyme, SDS and multiple antibiotics treatment in comparison to control. On the other hand the expression of rv1900c decreased the cell wall permeability. The resistance provided by M. smegmatis ΔMSMEG_4477 (pVV16::MSMEG_4477) was comparable to M. smegmatis having vector alone (MS_vec). The lipid content of M. smegmatis ΔMSMEG_1900 (pVV16::rv1900c) was observed to be different from M. smegmatis ΔMSMEG_4477 (pVV16::MSMEG_4477). M. smegmatis ΔMSMEG_1900 (pVV16::rv1900c) was more tolerant to stress conditions in comparison to M. smegmatis ΔMSMEG_4477 (pVV16::MSMEG_4477). Expression of rv1900c enhanced the intracellular survival of mycobacteria. Therefore, the present study suggested an association of Rv1900c to the stress tolerance by cell wall modification that might have resulted in enhanced intracellular survival of the mycobacteria.

Rv2223c, an acid inducible carboxyl-esterase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis enhanced the growth and survival of Mycobacterium smegmatis

Aim: To elucidate the role of Rv2223c in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Methods: Purified recombinant Rv2223c protein was characterized. Expression of rv2223c in the presence of different stress environment and subcellular localization were performed in M. tuberculosis H37Ra and Mycobacterium smegmatis ( MS_2223c). Effect of its overexpression on growth rate, infection and intracellular survival in THP-1/PBMC cells were studied. Results: rRv2223c demonstrated esterase activity with preference for pNP-octanoate and hydrolyzed trioctanoate to di- and mono-octanoate. Expression of rv2223c was upregulated in acidic and nutritive stress conditions. rRv2223c was identified in extracellular and cell wall fractions. MS_2223c exhibited enhanced growth, survival during in vitro stress, infection and intracellular survival. Conclusions: Rv2223c is a secretary, carboxyl-esterase, with enhanced expression under acidic and nutritive stress condition and might help in intracellular survival of bacteria.

Rv1288, a Two Domain, Cell Wall Anchored, Nutrient Stress Inducible Carboxyl-Esterase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Modulates Cell Wall Lipid

Rv1288, a conserved hypothetical protein of M. tuberculosis (M.tb), was recently characterized as two-domain esterase enzyme by in silico study. In the present study, Rv1288 and its domains (Est and Lyt) were cloned individually from M.tb into E. coli for expression and purification. The purified rRv1288 and rEst proteins exhibited lipolytic activity with medium chain length esters as optimum substrates, while Lyt domain did not show enzymatic activity. However, presence of Lyt domain resulted in enhanced rate of protein aggregation at higher temperature. Both rRv1288 and rEst followed the similar patterns of substrate specificity, temperature and pH activity. Site directed mutagenesis confirmed the Ser-294, Asp-391 and His-425 as catalytic site residues. Rv1288 was found to be present in cell wall fraction of M.tb H37Ra. Peptidoglycan binding activity of Rv1288 and its domains demonstrated that the Lyt domain is essential for anchoring protein to the cell wall. Expression of rv1288 was up regulated in M.tb under nutrient starved condition. Over expression of rv1288 in surrogate host M. smegmatis led to change in colony morphology, enhanced pellicle and aggregate formation that might be linked with the changed lipid composition of bacterial cell wall. Cell wall of M. smegmatis expressing rv1288 had higher amount of lipids, with a significant increase in trehalose dimycolate content. Rv1288 also leads to increase in drug resistance of M. smegmatis. Rv1288 also enhanced the intracellular survival of M. smegmatis in Raw264.7 cell line. Overall, this study suggested that Rv1288, a cell wall localized carboxyl hydrolase with mycolyl-transferase activity, modulated the cell wall lipids to favor the survival of bacteria under stress condition.

Lipid metabolism and intracellular bacterial virulence: key to next-generation therapeutics

Lipid metabolism is thought to play a key role in the pathogenicity of several intracellular bacteria. Bacterial lipolytic enzymes hydrolyze lipids from the host cell to release free fatty acids which are used as an energy source and building blocks for the synthesis of cell envelope and also to modulate host immune responses. In this review, we discussed the role of lipid metabolism and lipolytic enzymes in the life cycle and virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other intracellular bacteria. The lipolytic enzymes appear to be potential candidates for developing novel therapeutics by targeting lipid metabolism for controlling M. tuberculosis and other intracellular pathogenic bacteria.

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