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Gong XX, Zeng YH, Chen HM, Zhang N, Han Y, Long H, Xie ZY. Bioinformatic and functional characterization of cyclic-di-GMP metabolic proteins in Vibrio alginolyticus unveils key diguanylate cyclases controlling multiple biofilm-associated phenotypes. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1258415. [PMID: 37808288 PMCID: PMC10552763 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1258415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The biofilm lifestyle is critical for bacterial survival and proliferation in the fluctuating marine environment. Cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) is a key second messenger during bacterial adaptation to various environmental signals, which has been identified as a master regulator of biofilm formation. However, little is known about whether and how c-di-GMP signaling regulates biofilm formation in Vibrio alginolyticus, a globally dominant marine pathogen. Here, a large set of 63 proteins were predicted to participate in c-di-GMP metabolism (biosynthesis or degradation) in a pathogenic V. alginolyticus strain HN08155. Guided by protein homology, conserved domains and gene context information, a representative subset of 22 c-di-GMP metabolic proteins were selected to determine which ones affect biofilm-associated phenotypes. By comparing phenotypic differences between the wild-type and mutants or overexpression strains, we found that 22 c-di-GMP metabolic proteins can separately regulate different phenotypic outputs in V. alginolyticus. The results indicated that overexpression of four c-di-GMP metabolic proteins, including VA0356, VA1591 (CdgM), VA4033 (DgcB) and VA0088, strongly enhanced rugose colony morphotypes and strengthened Congo Red (CR) binding capacity, both of which are indicators of biofilm matrix overproduction. Furthermore, rugose enhanced colonies were accompanied by increased transcript levels of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis genes and decreased expression of flagellar synthesis genes compared to smooth colonies (WTpBAD control), as demonstrated by overexpression strains WTp4033 and ∆VA4033p4033. Overall, the high abundance of c-di-GMP metabolic proteins in V. alginolyticus suggests that c-di-GMP signaling and regulatory system could play a key role in its response and adaptation to the ever-changing marine environment. This work provides a robust foundation for the study of the molecular mechanisms of c-di-GMP in the biofilm formation of V. alginolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xiao Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
- College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Yan-Hua Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Hai-Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
- College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Na Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
- College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Yue Han
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
- College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Hao Long
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
- College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
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2
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Ge H, Ye L, Cai Y, Guo H, Gu D, Xu Z, Hu M, Allison HE, Jiao X, Chen X. Efficient screening of adsorbed receptors for Salmonella phage LP31 and identification of receptor-binding protein. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0260423. [PMID: 37728369 PMCID: PMC10581130 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02604-23] [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: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The adsorption process is the first step in the lifecycle of phages and plays a decisive role in the entire infection process. Identifying the adsorption mechanism of phages not only makes phage therapy more precise and efficient but also enables the exploration of other potential applications and modifications of phages. Phage LP31 can lyse multiple Salmonella serotypes, efficiently clearing biofilms formed by Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) and significantly reducing the concentration of S. Enteritidis in chicken feces. Therefore, LP31 has great potential for many practical applications. In this study, we established an efficient screening method for phage infection-related genes and identified a total of 10 genes related to the adsorption process of phage LP31. After the construction of strain C50041ΔrfaL 58-358, it was found that the knockout strain had a rough phenotype as an O-antigen-deficient strain. Adsorption rate and transmission electron microscopy experiments showed that the receptor for phage LP31 was the O9 antigen of S. Enteritidis. Homology comparison and adsorption experiments confirmed that the tail fiber protein Lp35 of phage LP31 participated in the adsorption process as a receptor-binding protein. IMPORTANCE A full understanding of the interaction between phages and their receptors can help with the development of phage-related products. Phages like LP31 with the tail fiber protein Lp35, or a closely related protein, have been reported to effectively recognize and infect multiple Salmonella serotypes. However, the role of these proteins in phage infection has not been previously described. In this study, we established an efficient screening method to detect phage adsorption to host receptors. We found that phage LP31 can utilize its tail fiber protein Lp35 to adsorb to the O9 antigen of S. Enteritidis, initiating the infection process. This study provides a great model system for further studies of how a phage-encoded receptor-binding protein (RBP) interacts with its host's RBP binding target, and this new model offers opportunities for further theoretical and experimental studies to understand the infection mechanism of phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haojie Ge
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ling Ye
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yueyi Cai
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Huimin Guo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Dan Gu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhengzhong Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Maozhi Hu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Heather E. Allison
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Xin'an Jiao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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3
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Cai J, Zhou M, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Zhang Y, Wang Q. Identification of determinants for entering into a viable but nonculturable state in Vibrio alginolyticus by Tn-seq. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:1813-1827. [PMID: 36729225 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12376-9] [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: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state is a dormant state of nonsporulating bacteria that enhances survival in adverse environments. Systematic genome-wide research on the genetic basis of VBNC formation is warranted. In this study, we demonstrated that the marine bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus lost culturability but remained viable and entered into the VBNC state when exposed to low nutrient concentrations for prolonged periods of time. Using transposon-insertion sequencing (Tn-seq), we identified 635 determinants governing the formation of the VBNC state, including 322 genes with defective effects on VBNC formation and 313 genes contributing to entry into the VBNC state. Tn-seq analysis revealed that genes involved in various metabolic pathways were shown to have an inhibitory effect on VBNC formation, while genes related to chemotaxis or folate biosynthesis promoted entry into the VBNC state. Moreover, the effects of these genes on the formation of VBNC were validated with the growth of deletion mutants of eight selected genes under nutrient-limited conditions. Interestingly, fleQ and pyrI were identified as essential for entry into the VBNC state, and they affected the formation of the VBNC state independent of RpoE or ToxR regulation. Collectively, these results provide new insights into the mechanism of VBNC formation. KEY POINTS: • Vibrio alginolyticus has the ability to enter into the VBNC state under low nutrient conditions at low temperature. • The 635 determinants for entry into the VBNC state were systematically identified by transposon-insertion sequencing. • PyrI and FleQ were validated to play significant roles in the formation of the VBNC state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxiao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Mengqing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yuanxing Zhang
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yue Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China. .,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, 200237, China. .,Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Yibei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China. .,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Qiyao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, 200237, China.,Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
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Zhang Y, Huang Y, Ding H, Ma J, Tong X, Zhang Y, Tao Z, Wang Q. A σE-mediated temperature gauge orchestrates type VI secretion system, biofilm formation and cell invasion in pathogen Pseudomonas plecoglossicida. Microbiol Res 2023; 266:127220. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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5
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Gu D, Zhang Y, Wang K, Li M, Jiao X. Characterization of the RpoN regulon reveals the regulation of motility, T6SS2 and metabolism in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1025960. [PMID: 36620062 PMCID: PMC9817140 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1025960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a foodborne pathogen that can colonize the small intestine of the host and cause diarrhea. The alternative sigma factor RpoN plays a vital role in regulating motility, carbon utilization and affects host colonization in V. parahaemolyticus RIMD2210633. In this study, transcriptome and phenotypic analysis further expanded our understanding of the RpoN regulon in V. parahaemolyticus. A deletion mutant of rpoN (ΔrpoN) was subjected to RNA-seq for systemic identification of the RpoN-controlled genes. Compared with the wild-type (WT), 399 genes were differentially expressed in the ΔrpoN strain. Moreover, 264 genes were down-regulated in the ΔrpoN strain, including those associated with nitrogen utilization (VP0118), glutamine synthetase (VP0121), formate dehydrogenase (VP1511 and VP1513-VP1515), quorum sensing (opaR and luxZ), polar flagellar systems, and type VI secretion system 2 (T6SS2). Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) further confirmed that RpoN could directly bind to the promoters of these genes associated with polar flagellar systems (flgB and fliE), lateral flagellar systems (flgB2 and lafA), T6SS2 (hcp2 and VPA1044) and glutamine synthetase (VP0121), and then positively regulate the expression of these systems. A RpoN-binding motif was identified in V. parahaemolyticus using the MEME suite and verified by the EMSA. Besides, the deletion of rpoN caused a significant decrease in hemolytic activity, adhesion, and cytotoxicity. Our results provide new cues to better understand the regulatory networks of RpoN protein to motility, T6SS2, and metabolism in V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Gu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Youkun Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Kangru Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Mingzhu Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xinan Jiao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Xinan Jiao,
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6
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Ren Y, Wang L, Chen R, Li X, Li S, Li J, Li Q, Wang Z, Xu Y. Isolation and characterization of a novel phage vB_ValP_VA-RY-3 infecting Vibrio alginolyticus. Virus Res 2022; 322:198945. [PMID: 36181974 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.198945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Vibrio alginolyticus is a common foodborne pathogen existing both in contaminated seafood and the environment and can cause serious mortality in aquaculture facilities. Bacteriophages can be used as an alternative bio-control agent to eliminate and reduce pathogens. In this study, a novel lytic phage, designated vB_ValP_VA-RY-3 (referred to as S1R3Y), was isolated from sewage collected in Dalian, China. The linear double-stranded DNA genome of phage S1R3Y is 40.271 kb, which has a mol% G + C content of 43.98, containing 51 ORFs with a T7-like genomic organization. It shared the closest relationship with phage vB_CsaP_Ss1, but the homology coverage is just 6%. S1R3Y lacks tRNA and no known virulence or lysogenic genes were found. S1R3Y had a burst size of 147 PFU/cell and is stable under different temperatures (4-56 °C) and pH (5.0-7.0). A comparison of its genomic features and phylogenetic analysis revealed that phage S1R3Y is a novel member of the order Caudovirales, family Podoviridae. Our results suggest that phage S1R3Y may represent a potential therapeutic agent against Vibrio alginolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Ren
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Lili Wang
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Renjie Chen
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Shuying Li
- Technology Innovation Center for Phage Application of Liaoning Province, Dalian 116620, China; Dalian SEM Bio-Engineering Technology Co. Ltd., Dalian 116620, China
| | - Jibin Li
- Technology Innovation Center for Phage Application of Liaoning Province, Dalian 116620, China; Dalian SEM Bio-Engineering Technology Co. Ltd., Dalian 116620, China
| | - Qiang Li
- College of Marine and Biology Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, China
| | - Zhenhui Wang
- College of Marine and Biology Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, China
| | - Yongping Xu
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China; Technology Innovation Center for Phage Application of Liaoning Province, Dalian 116620, China; Dalian SEM Bio-Engineering Technology Co. Ltd., Dalian 116620, China.
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7
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Transposon insertion sequencing analysis unveils novel genes involved in luxR expression and quorum sensing regulation in Vibrio alginolyticus. Microbiol Res 2022; 267:127243. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Campbell JA, Cianciotto NP. Legionella pneumophila Cas2 Promotes the Expression of Small Heat Shock Protein C2 That Is Required for Thermal Tolerance and Optimal Intracellular Infection. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0036922. [PMID: 36073935 PMCID: PMC9584283 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00369-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we demonstrated that Cas2 encoded within the CRISPR-Cas locus of Legionella pneumophila strain 130b promotes the ability of the Legionella pathogen to infect amoebal hosts. Given that L. pneumophila Cas2 has RNase activity, we posited that the cytoplasmic protein is regulating the expression of another Legionella gene(s) that fosters intracellular infection. Proteomics revealed 10 proteins at diminished levels in the cas2 mutant, and reverse transcription-quantitative (qRT-PCR) confirmed the reduced expression of a gene encoding putative small heat shock protein C2 (HspC2), among several others. As predicted, the gene was expressed more highly at 37°C to 50°C than that at 30°C, and an hspC2 mutant, but not its complemented derivative, displayed ~100-fold reduced CFU following heat shock at 55°C. Compatible with the effect of Cas2 on hspC2 expression, strains lacking Cas2 also had impaired thermal tolerance. The hspC2 mutant, like the cas2 mutant before it, was greatly impaired for infection of Acanthamoeba castellanii, a frequent host for legionellae in waters. HspC2 and Cas2 were not required for entry into these host cells but promoted the replicative phase of intracellular infection. Finally, the hspC2 mutant exhibited an additional defect during the infection of macrophages, which are the primary host for legionellae during lung infection. In summary, hspC2 is upregulated by the presence of Cas2, and HspC2 uniquely promotes both L. pneumophila extracellular survival at high temperatures and infection of amoebal and human host cells. To our knowledge, these findings also represent the first genetic proof linking Cas2 to thermotolerance, expanding the repertoire of noncanonical functions associated with CRISPR-Cas proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson A. Campbell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Nicholas P. Cianciotto
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Xiao G, Zheng X, Li J, Yang Y, Yang J, Xiao N, Liu J, Sun Z. Contribution of the EnvZ/OmpR two-component system to growth, virulence and stress tolerance of colistin-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1032969. [PMID: 36312957 PMCID: PMC9597241 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1032969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Aeromonas hydrophila is an important zoonotic pathogen responsible for septicemia, diarrhea and gastroenteritis, and has attracted considerable attention. The EnvZ/OmpR two-component system (TCS) mediates environmental stress responses in gram-negative bacteria. We investigated the role of the TCS in A. hydrophila by comparing the characteristics of the parental (23-C-23), EnvZ/OmpR knockout (23-C-23:ΔEnvZ/OmpR), and complemented strains (23-C-23:CΔEnvZ/OmpR). Under non-stress conditions, the 23-C-23:ΔEnvZ/OmpR strain showed a significant decrease in growth rate compared to that of 23-C-23. Transcriptome and metabonomic analysis indicated that many metabolic pathways were remarkably affected in the ΔEnvZ/OmpR strain, including the TCA cycle and arginine biosynthesis. In addition, the virulence of the ΔEnvZ/OmpR strain was attenuated in a Kunming mouse model. The ΔEnvZ/OmpR strain exhibited notably reduced tolerance to environmental stresses, including high temperature, different pH conditions, oxidative stress, and high osmotic stress. The downregulated expression of genes related to cell metabolism, motility, and virulence in the ΔEnvZ/OmpR mutant strain was further validated by real-time quantitative PCR. Consequently, our data suggest that the EnvZ/OmpR TCS is required for growth, motility, virulence, and stress response in A. hydrophila, which has significant implications in the development of novel antibacterial and vaccine therapies targeting EnvZ/OmpR against A. hydrophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Xiao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Technology Research Center of Veterinary Drugs, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zheng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Technology Research Center of Veterinary Drugs, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiyun Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Technology Research Center of Veterinary Drugs, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Yang Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Technology Research Center of Veterinary Drugs, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Ning Xiao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Technology Research Center of Veterinary Drugs, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Junqi Liu
- Veterinary Drug Laboratory, Hunan Institute of Animal and Veterinary Science, Changsha, China
| | - Zhiliang Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Technology Research Center of Veterinary Drugs, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- National Research Center of Engineering and Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
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10
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Liang S, Zhang T, Liu Z, Wang J, Zhu C, Kong Q, Fu X, Mou H. Response mechanism of Vibrio parahaemolyticus at high pressure revealed by transcriptomic analysis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:5615-5628. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12082-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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11
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Cai J, Hao Y, Xu R, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Zhang Y, Wang Q. Differential binding of LuxR in response to temperature gauges switches virulence gene expression in Vibrio alginolyticus. Microbiol Res 2022; 263:127114. [PMID: 35878491 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127114] [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: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Vibrio pathogens must cope with temperature changes for proper thermo-adaptation and virulence gene expression. LuxR is a quorum-sensing (QS) master regulator of vibrios, playing roles in response to temperature alteration. However, the molecular mechanisms how LuxR is involved in adapting to different temperatures in bacteria have not been precisely elucidated. In this study, using chromatin immunoprecipitation and nucleotide sequencing (ChIP-seq), we identified 272 and 22 enriched loci harboring LuxR-binding peaks at ambient temperature (30 ˚C) and heat shock (42 ˚C) in the Vibrio alginolyticus genome, respectively. Analysis with the MEME (multiple EM for motif elicitation) algorithm indicated that the binding motifs of LuxR varied from temperatures. Three novel binding regions (the promoter of orf00292, orf00397 and fadD) of LuxR were identified and verified that the rising temperature causes the decreasing binding affinity of LuxR to these promoters. Meanwhile, the expression of orf00292, orf00397 and fadD were regulated by LuxR. Moreover, the weak binding of LuxR to the promoter of extracellular protease (Asp) was attributed to the attenuated Asp expression at thermal stress conditions. Taken together, our study demonstrated distinct binding characteristics of LuxR in response to temperature changes, thus highlighting LuxR as a thermo-sensor to switch and control virulence gene expression in V. alginolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxiao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yuan Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Rongjing Xu
- Yantai Tianyuan Aquatic Co. Ltd., Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Yuanxing Zhang
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519000, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yue Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yibei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Qiyao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Maricultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
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12
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Yan L, Jin Y, Zhang B, Xu Y, Peng X, Qin S, Chen L. Diverse Aquatic Animal Matrices Play a Key Role in Survival and Potential Virulence of Non-O1/O139 Vibrio cholerae Isolates. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:896767. [PMID: 35801116 PMCID: PMC9255913 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.896767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio cholerae can cause pandemic cholera in humans. The waterborne bacterium is frequently isolated from aquatic products worldwide. However, current literature on the impact of aquatic product matrices on the survival and pathogenicity of cholerae is rare. In this study, the growth of eleven non-O1/0O139 V. cholerae isolates recovered from eight species of commonly consumed fish and shellfish was for the first time determined in the eight aquatic animal matrices, most of which highly increased the bacterial biomass when compared with routine trypsin soybean broth (TSB) medium. Secretomes of the V. cholerae isolates (draft genome size: 3,852,021–4,144,013 bp) were determined using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE-GE) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) techniques. Comparative secretomic analyses revealed 74 differential extracellular proteins, including several virulence- and resistance-associated proteins secreted by the V. cholerae isolates when grown in the eight matrices. Meanwhile, a total of 8,119 intracellular proteins were identified, including 83 virulence- and 8 resistance-associated proteins, of which 61 virulence-associated proteins were absent from proteomes of these isolates when grown in the TSB medium. Additionally, comparative genomic and proteomic analyses also revealed several strain-specific proteins with unknown functions in the V. cholerae isolates. Taken, the results in this study demonstrate that distinct secretomes and proteomes induced by the aquatic animal matrices facilitate V. cholerae resistance in the edible aquatic animals and enhance the pathogenicity of the leading waterborne pathogen worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Yan
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinzhe Jin
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Beiyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingwei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Peng
- Department of Biology, Archaea Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Si Qin
- Key Laboratory for Food Science and Biotechnology of Hunan Province, College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Si Qin
| | - Lanming Chen
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Lanming Chen
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13
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Yin WL, Xie ZY, Zeng YH, Zhang J, Long H, Ren W, Zhang X, Cai XN, Huang AY. Two (p)ppGpp Synthetase Genes, relA and spoT, Are Involved in Regulating Cell Motility, Exopolysaccharides Production, and Biofilm Formation of Vibrio alginolyticus. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:858559. [PMID: 35422789 PMCID: PMC9002329 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.858559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The stringent response mediated by the signal molecule (p)ppGpp is involved in response to multiple environmental stresses and control of various physiological processes. Studies have revealed that (p)ppGpp strongly affects the formation and maintenance of several bacterial biofilms. However, the specific regulatory roles of (p)ppGpp in biofilms, especially in the expression of genes related to cell motility and exopolysaccharides (EPSs) production, remain poorly understood. We recently reported two (p)ppGpp synthetase genes relA and spoT from the epizootic pathogen Vibrio alginolyticus. Herein, we found that the (p)ppGpp synthetase genes of V. alginolyticus contributed to biofilm formation at low cell density and biofilm detachment at high cell density, respectively, in polystyrene microtiter plates. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that the expression levels of both EPSs and motility associated genes were consistent with the development of biofilms. Besides, the (p)ppGpp synthetase gene spoT was found to be closely involved in the regulation of flagellum, smooth/translucent colony morphology and spotty pellicle at the air-liquid interface. Interestingly, pleiotropic phenotypes of ΔrelAΔspoT were similar to that of the rpoN (σ54) deletion mutant. Meanwhile, the absence of (p)ppGpp synthetase genes significantly reduced the expression levels of rpoN at low cell density, suggesting that (p)ppGpp may mediate the formation via positively affecting the alternative sigma factor RpoN. These findings allow us to propose (p)ppGpp as a crucial regulator for biofilm development in V. alginolyticus, in view of the regulatory roles of relA and spoT in cell motility and EPSs production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Liang Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Laboratory of Development and Utilization of Marine Microbial Resource, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Laboratory of Development and Utilization of Marine Microbial Resource, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Haikou, China
| | - Yan-Hua Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Laboratory of Development and Utilization of Marine Microbial Resource, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Ju Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Laboratory of Development and Utilization of Marine Microbial Resource, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Hao Long
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Laboratory of Development and Utilization of Marine Microbial Resource, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Wei Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Laboratory of Development and Utilization of Marine Microbial Resource, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Haikou, China
| | - Xiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Laboratory of Development and Utilization of Marine Microbial Resource, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Haikou, China
| | - Xiao-Ni Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Laboratory of Development and Utilization of Marine Microbial Resource, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Haikou, China
| | - Ai-You Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Laboratory of Development and Utilization of Marine Microbial Resource, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Haikou, China
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14
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A Novel Transcription Factor VPA0041 Was Identified to Regulate the Swarming Motility in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11040453. [PMID: 35456128 PMCID: PMC9029033 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus can change their usual lifestyle of surviving in an aqueous environment attached to a host, wherein both swimming motility and swarming motility play important roles in lifestyle changes, respectively. VPA0041 is a novel transcription factor involved in regulating the swarming ability of V. parahaemolyticus. The deletion of the vpa0041 gene resulted in the loss of swarming motility in the brain heart infusion (BHI) agars, while the swimming motility was unaffected by VPA0041. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) assays showed that no flagellum was found around the bacterial cells. RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis revealed that VPA0041 regulated 315 genes; 207 genes were up-regulated, and 108 genes were down-regulated. RNA-seq results indicated that the lateral flagellar genes were down-regulated by VPA0041, which was confirmed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) demonstrated that VPA0041 directly bound to the promoters of vpa0264, vpa1548, and vpa1550 to regulate the expression of the lateral flagellar genes. Our results demonstrated that the transcription factor VPA0041 could directly regulate the expression of lateral flagellar genes to mediate the swarming motility in V. parahaemolyticus.
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