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Guo X, Yu H, Xiong J, Dai Q, Li Y, Zhang W, Liao X, He X, Zhou H, Zhang K. Pseudomonas aeruginosa two-component system LadS/PA0034 regulates macrophage phagocytosis via fimbrial protein cupA1. mBio 2024; 15:e0061624. [PMID: 38771052 PMCID: PMC11237798 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00616-24] [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: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common nosocomial pathogens worldwide, known for its virulence, drug resistance, and elaborate sensor-response network. The primary challenge encountered by pathogens during the initial stages of infection is the immune clearance arising from the host. The resident macrophages of barrier organs serve as the frontline defense against these pathogens. Central to our understanding is the mechanism by which bacteria modify their behavior to circumvent macrophage-mediated clearance, ensuring their persistence and colonization. To successfully evade macrophage-mediated phagocytosis, bacteria must possess an adaptive response mechanism. Two-component systems provide bacteria the agility to navigate diverse environmental challenges, translating external stimuli into cellular adaptive responses. Here, we report that the well-documented histidine kinase, LadS, coupled to a cognate two-component response regulator, PA0034, governs the expression of a vital adhesin called chaperone-usher pathway pilus cupA. The LadS/PA0034 system is susceptible to interference from the reactive oxygen species likely to be produced by macrophages and further lead to a poor adhesive phenotype with scantily cupA pilus, impairing the phagocytosis efficiency of macrophages during acute infection. This dynamic underscores the intriguing interplay: as macrophages deploy reactive oxygen species to combat bacterial invasion, the bacteria recalibrate their exterior to elude these defenses. IMPORTANCE The notoriety of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is underscored by its virulence, drug resistance, and elaborate sensor-response network. Yet, the mechanisms by which P. aeruginosa maneuvers to escape phagocytosis during acute infections remain elusive. This study pinpoints a two-component response regulator, PA0034, coupled with the histidine kinase LadS, and responds to macrophage-derived reactive oxygen species. The macrophage-derived reactive oxygen species can impair the LadS/PA0034 system, resulting in reduced expression of cupA pilus in the exterior of P. aeruginosa. Since the cupA pilus is an important adhesin of P. aeruginosa, its deficiency reduces bacterial adhesion and changes their behavior to adopt a planktonic lifestyle, subsequently inhibiting the phagocytosis of macrophages by interfering with bacterial adhesion. Briefly, reactive oxygen species may act as environmental cues for the LadS/PA0034 system. Upon recognition, P. aeruginosa may transition to a poorly adhesive state, efficiently avoiding engulfment by macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Guo
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hua Yu
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Junzhi Xiong
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qian Dai
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiping Liao
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaomei He
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongli Zhou
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kebin Zhang
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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2
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Elsen S, Simon V, Attrée I. Cross-regulation and cross-talk of conserved and accessory two-component regulatory systems orchestrate Pseudomonas copper resistance. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011325. [PMID: 38861577 PMCID: PMC11195947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria use diverse strategies and molecular machinery to maintain copper homeostasis and to cope with its toxic effects. Some genetic elements providing copper resistance are acquired by horizontal gene transfer; however, little is known about how they are controlled and integrated into the central regulatory network. Here, we studied two copper-responsive systems in a clinical isolate of Pseudomonas paraeruginosa and deciphered the regulatory and cross-regulation mechanisms. To do so, we combined mutagenesis, transcriptional fusion analyses and copper sensitivity phenotypes. Our results showed that the accessory CusRS two-component system (TCS) responds to copper and activates both its own expression and that of the adjacent nine-gene operon (the pcoA2 operon) to provide resistance to elevated levels of extracellular copper. The same locus was also found to be regulated by two core-genome-encoded TCSs-the copper-responsive CopRS and the zinc-responsive CzcRS. Although the target palindromic sequence-ATTCATnnATGTAAT-is the same for the three response regulators, transcriptional outcomes differ. Thus, depending on the operon/regulator pair, binding can result in different activation levels (from none to high), with the systems demonstrating considerable plasticity. Unexpectedly, although the classical CusRS and the noncanonical CopRS TCSs rely on distinct signaling mechanisms (kinase-based vs. phosphatase-based), we discovered cross-talk in the absence of the cognate sensory kinases. This cross-talk occurred between the proteins of these two otherwise independent systems. The cusRS-pcoA2 locus is part of an Integrative and Conjugative Element and was found in other Pseudomonas strains where its expression could provide copper resistance under appropriate conditions. The results presented here illustrate how acquired genetic elements can become part of endogenous regulatory networks, providing a physiological advantage. They also highlight the potential for broader effects of accessory regulatory proteins through interference with core regulatory proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Elsen
- University Grenoble Alpes, Institute of Structural Biology, UMR5075, Team Bacterial Pathogenesis and Cellular Responses, Grenoble, France
| | - Victor Simon
- University Grenoble Alpes, Institute of Structural Biology, UMR5075, Team Bacterial Pathogenesis and Cellular Responses, Grenoble, France
| | - Ina Attrée
- University Grenoble Alpes, Institute of Structural Biology, UMR5075, Team Bacterial Pathogenesis and Cellular Responses, Grenoble, France
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Chen G, Zhang H, Yuan M, Huang R, Xiao Y, Qu Y, Ren Y. Physiological responses and molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation induced by extracellular metabolites of euglena in Pseudomonas aeruginosa LNR1 for diesel biodegradation based on transcriptomic and proteomic. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 248:118273. [PMID: 38280528 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Diesel, as a toxic and complex pollutant, is one of the main components in oily wastewater, and poses serious threats to the aquatic environment and the health of organisms. Employing environmentally friendly biostimulants to enhance the metabolic functions of microorganisms is currently the optimal choice to improve the biodegradation of oil-containing wastewater efficiency. This study takes Pseudomonas aeruginosa LNR1 as the target, analyzing the physiological responses and molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation when enhanced by the extracellular metabolites of euglena (EME) for diesel degradation. The results show that EME not only induces auto-aggregation behavior of strain LNR1, forming aerobic suspended granule biofilm, but also promotes the secretion of signaling molecules in the quorum sensing (QS) system. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses indicate that the stimulatory effect of EME on strain LNR1 mainly manifests in biofilm formation, substance transmembrane transport, signal transduction, and other biological processes, especially the QS system in signal transduction, which plays a significant regulatory role in biofilm formation, chemotaxis, and two-component system (TCS). This study collectively unveils the molecular mechanisms of biostimulant EME inducing strain LNR1 to enhance diesel degradation from different aspects, providing theoretical guidance for the practical application of EME in oily wastewater pollution control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guotao Chen
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Huiqun Zhang
- GH Water Supply (Holdings) Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518021, China
| | - Meng Yuan
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Rui Huang
- GH Water Supply (Holdings) Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518021, China
| | - Yibo Xiao
- Protoga Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518000, China; Microalgae Biosynthesis R&D Center, Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Yujiao Qu
- Protoga Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518000, China; Microalgae Biosynthesis R&D Center, Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, China; The Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-Remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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4
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Song Y, Zhang S, Zhao N, Nong C, He Y, Bao R. Pseudomonas aeruginosa two-component system CprRS regulates HigBA expression and bacterial cytotoxicity in response to LL-37 stress. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011946. [PMID: 38198506 PMCID: PMC10805311 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a highly pathogenic bacterium known for its ability to sense and coordinate the production of virulence factors in response to host immune responses. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying this process have remained largely elusive. In this study, we investigate the two-component system CprRS in P. aeruginosa and unveil the crucial role of the sensor protein CprS in sensing the human host defense peptide LL-37, thereby modulating bacterial virulence. We demonstrate that CprS acts as a phosphatase in the presence of LL-37, leading to the phosphorylation and activation of the response regulator CprR. The results prove that CprR directly recognizes a specific sequence within the promoter region of the HigBA toxin-antitoxin system, resulting in enhanced expression of the toxin HigB. Importantly, LL-37-induced HigB expression promotes the production of type III secretion system effectors, leading to reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines and increased cytotoxicity towards macrophages. Moreover, mutations in cprS or cprR significantly impair bacterial survival in both macrophage and insect infection models. This study uncovers the regulatory mechanism of the CprRS system, enabling P. aeruginosa to detect and respond to human innate immune responses while maintaining a balanced virulence gene expression profile. Additionally, this study provides new evidence and insights into the complex regulatory system of T3SS in P. aeruginosa within the host environment, contributing to a better understanding of host-microbe communication and the development of novel strategies to combat bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Song
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Siping Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ninglin Zhao
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Cheng Nong
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongxing He
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Rui Bao
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Zhou Z, Lian Y, Zhu L, Zhang H, Li Z, Wang M. Platinum Nanoparticles Prevent the Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Ciprofloxacin and Imipenem: Mechanism Insights. ACS NANO 2023; 17:24685-24695. [PMID: 38048441 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c04167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) have recently gained extensive attention due to their broad-spectrum prospect, particularly in biomedical application. Here, we reveal that long-term exposure to platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) increases the susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 to imipenem and ciprofloxacin. We exposed PAO1 to Pt NPs (a series of doses, varying from 0.125 to 35 μg/mL) for 60 days and characterized the evolved strains (ES) and compared with wild type (WT) to understand the mechanism of heightened sensitivity. We found that overexpression of oprD and downregulation of mexEF-oprN facilitate the intracellular accumulation of antibiotic, thus increasing susceptibility. Furthermore, loss-of-function mutations were discovered in regulators lasR and mexT. Cloning intact lasR from wild-type (WT) into ES slightly improves imipenem resistance. Strikingly, cloning mexT from WT into ES reverts the imipenem and ciprofloxacin resistance to the original level. Briefly, the increase of membrane permeability controlled by mexT made PAO1 greatly susceptible to imipenem and ciprofloxacin, and the decrease of quorum sensing mediated by lasR made PAO1 slightly susceptible to imipenem. Overall, these results reveal an antibiotic susceptibility mechanism from prolonged exposure to MNPs, which provides a promising approach to prevent antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiruo Zhou
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Yulu Lian
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Haibo Zhang
- China National Demonstration Center for Experimental Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zhangqiang Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Meizhen Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China
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6
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Chen F, Di H, Wang Y, Peng C, Chen R, Pan H, Yang CG, Liang H, Lan L. The enzyme activity of sortase A is regulated by phosphorylation in Staphylococcus aureus. Virulence 2023; 14:2171641. [PMID: 36694285 PMCID: PMC9928477 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2171641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In many Gram-positive bacteria, the transpeptidase enzyme sortase A (SrtA) anchors surface proteins to cell wall and plays a critical role in the bacterial pathogenesis. Here, we show that in Staphylococcus aureus, an important human pathogen, the SrtA is phosphorylated by serine/threonine protein kinase Stk1. S. aureus SrtA can also be phosphorylated by small-molecule phosphodonor acetyl phosphate (AcP) in vitro. We determined that various amino acid residues of S. aureus SrtA are subject to phosphorylation, primarily on its catalytic site residue cysteine-184 in the context of a bacterial cell lysate. Both Stk1 and AcP-mediated phosphorylation inhibited the enzyme activity of SrtA in vitro. Consequently, deletion of gene (i.e. stp1) encoding serine/threonine phosphatase Stp1, the corresponding phosphatase of Stk1, caused an increase in the phosphorylation level of SrtA. The stp1 deletion mutant mimicked the phenotypic traits of srtA deletion mutant (i.e. attenuated growth where either haemoglobin or haem as a sole iron source and reduced liver infections in a mouse model of systemic infection). Importantly, the phenotypic defects of the stp1 deletion mutant can be alleviated by overexpressing srtA. Taken together, our finding suggests that phosphorylation plays an important role in modulating the activity of SrtA in S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Chen
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an, China,State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China,Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongxia Di
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanhui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Peng
- National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, Zhangjiang Lab, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Rongrong Chen
- Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huiwen Pan
- Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Cai-Guang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China,Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haihua Liang
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an, China,School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China,Haihua Liang School of Medicine Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lefu Lan
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an, China,State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China,Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China,CONTACT Lefu Lan
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7
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Zhao NL, Zhu ZQ, Feng HZ, Song YJ, Huang Q, Mou XY, Nong C, He YX, Bao R. Host-derived peptide signals regulate Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence stress via the ParRS and CprRS two-component systems. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 460:132512. [PMID: 37703740 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a versatile bacterium, has dual significance because of its beneficial roles in environmental soil processes and its detrimental effects as a nosocomial pathogen that causes clinical infections. Understanding adaptability to environmental stress is essential. This investigation delves into the complex interplay of two-component system (TCS), specifically ParRS and CprRS, as P. aeruginosa interprets host signals and navigates stress challenges. In this study, through phenotypic and proteomic analyses, the nuanced contributions of ParRS and CprRS to the pathogenesis and resilience mechanisms were elucidated. Furthermore, the indispensable roles of the ParS and CprS extracellular sensor domains in orchestrating signal perception remain unknown. Structural revelations imply a remarkable convergence of TCS sensors in interacting with host peptides, suggesting evolutionary strategies for bacterial adaptation. This pioneering work not only established links between cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) resistance-associated TCSs and virulence modulation in nosocomial bacteria, but also transcended conventional boundaries. These implications extend beyond clinical resistance, permeating into the realm of soil revitalization and environmental guardianship. As it unveils P. aeruginosa intricacies, this study assumes a mantle of guiding strategies to mitigate clinical hazards, harness environmental advantages, and propel sustainable solutions forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning-Lin Zhao
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zi-Qi Zhu
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Han-Zhong Feng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ying-Jie Song
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610101, China
| | - Qin Huang
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xing-Yu Mou
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Cheng Nong
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yong-Xing He
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Rui Bao
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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Guo M, Tian P, Li Q, Meng B, Ding Y, Liu Y, Li Y, Yu L, Li J. Gallium Nitrate Enhances Antimicrobial Activity of Colistin against Klebsiella pneumoniae by Inducing Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0033423. [PMID: 37272820 PMCID: PMC10434156 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00334-23] [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: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae, a pathogen of critical clinical concern, urgently demands effective therapeutic options owing to its drug resistance. Polymyxins are increasingly regarded as a last-line therapeutic option for the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial infections. However, polymyxin resistance in K. pneumoniae is an emerging issue. Here, we report that gallium nitrate (GaNt), an antimicrobial candidate, exhibits a potentiating effect on colistin against MDR K. pneumoniae clinical isolates. To further confirm this, we investigated the efficacy of combined GaNt and colistin in vitro using spot dilution and rapid time-kill assays and growth curve inhibition tests and in vivo using a murine lung infection model. The results showed that GaNt significantly increased the antimicrobial activity of colistin, especially in the iron-limiting media. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that bacterial antioxidant activity was repressed by GaNt, as revealed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), leading to intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in K. pneumoniae, which was enhanced in the presence of colistin. Therefore, oxidative stress induced by GaNt and colistin augments the colistin-mediated killing of wild-type cells, which can be abolished by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), an effective ROS scavenger. Collectively, our study indicates that GaNt has a notable impact on the antimicrobial activity of colistin against K. pneumoniae, revealing the potential of GaNt as a novel colistin adjuvant to improve the treatment outcomes of bacterial infections. IMPORTANCE This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial activity of GaNt combined with colistin against Klebsiella pneumoniae in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that by combining GaNt with colistin, antioxidant activity was suppressed and reactive oxygen species accumulation was induced in bacterial cells, enhancing antimicrobial activity against K. pneumoniae. We found that GaNt functioned as an antibiotic adjuvant when combined with colistin by inhibiting the growth of multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae. Our study provides insight into the use of an adjuvant to boost the antibiotic potential of colistin for treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjuan Guo
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Chaohu Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ping Tian
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qingqing Li
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Bao Meng
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yuting Ding
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yanyan Liu
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, Hefei, China
- Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yasheng Li
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, Hefei, China
- Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Liang Yu
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, Hefei, China
- Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jiabin Li
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Chaohu Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, Hefei, China
- Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
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9
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Paredes A, Iheacho C, Smith AT. Metal Messengers: Communication in the Bacterial World through Transition-Metal-Sensing Two-Component Systems. Biochemistry 2023; 62:2339-2357. [PMID: 37539997 PMCID: PMC10530140 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria survive in highly dynamic and complex environments due, in part, to the presence of systems that allow the rapid control of gene expression in the presence of changing environmental stimuli. The crosstalk between intra- and extracellular bacterial environments is often facilitated by two-component signal transduction systems that are typically composed of a transmembrane histidine kinase and a cytosolic response regulator. Sensor histidine kinases and response regulators work in tandem with their modular domains containing highly conserved structural features to control a diverse array of genes that respond to changing environments. Bacterial two-component systems are widespread and play crucial roles in many important processes, such as motility, virulence, chemotaxis, and even transition metal homeostasis. Transition metals are essential for normal prokaryotic physiological processes, and the presence of these metal ions may also influence pathogenic virulence if their levels are appropriately controlled. To do so, bacteria use transition-metal-sensing two-component systems that bind and respond to rapid fluctuations in extracytosolic concentrations of transition metals. This perspective summarizes the structural and metal-binding features of bacterial transition-metal-sensing two-component systems and places a special emphasis on understanding how these systems are used by pathogens to establish infection in host cells and how these systems may be targeted for future therapeutic developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Paredes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, United States
| | - Chioma Iheacho
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, United States
| | - Aaron T Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, United States
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10
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Gautam P, Erill I, Cusick KD. Linking Copper-Associated Signal Transduction Systems with Their Environment in Marine Bacteria. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11041012. [PMID: 37110435 PMCID: PMC10141476 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11041012] [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: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Copper is an essential trace element for living cells. However, copper can be potentially toxic for bacterial cells when it is present in excess amounts due to its redox potential. Due to its biocidal properties, copper is prevalent in marine systems due to its use in antifouling paints and as an algaecide. Thus, marine bacteria must possess means of sensing and responding to both high copper levels and those in which it is present at only typical trace metal levels. Bacteria harbor diverse regulatory mechanisms that respond to intracellular and extracellular copper and maintain copper homeostasis in cells. This review presents an overview of the copper-associated signal transduction systems in marine bacteria, including the copper efflux systems, detoxification, and chaperone mechanisms. We performed a comparative genomics study of the copper-regulatory signal transduction system on marine bacteria to examine the influence of the environment on the presence, abundance, and diversity of copper-associated signal transduction systems across representative phyla. Comparative analyses were performed among species isolated from sources, including seawater, sediment, biofilm, and marine pathogens. Overall, we observed many putative homologs of copper-associated signal transduction systems from various copper systems across marine bacteria. While the distribution of the regulatory components is mainly influenced by phylogeny, our analyses identified several intriguing trends: (1) Bacteria isolated from sediment and biofilm displayed an increased number of homolog hits to copper-associated signal transduction systems than those from seawater. (2) A large variability exists for hits to the putative alternate σ factor CorE hits across marine bacteria. (3) Species isolated from seawater and marine pathogens harbored fewer CorE homologs than those isolated from the sediment and biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratima Gautam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Ivan Erill
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Kathleen D Cusick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
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11
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Lu Y, Chen F, Zhao Q, Cao Q, Chen R, Pan H, Wang Y, Huang H, Huang R, Liu Q, Li M, Bae T, Liang H, Lan L. Modulation of MRSA virulence gene expression by the wall teichoic acid enzyme TarO. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1594. [PMID: 36949052 PMCID: PMC10032271 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37310-5] [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: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) and Staphylococcal protein A (SpA) are key virulence determinants for community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), an important human pathogen that causes a wide range of diseases. Here, using chemical and genetic approaches, we show that inhibition of TarO, the first enzyme in the wall teichoic acid (WTA) biosynthetic pathway, decreases the expression of genes encoding PSMs and SpA in the prototypical CA-MRSA strain USA300 LAC. Mechanistically, these effects are linked to the activation of VraRS two-component system that directly represses the expression of accessory gene regulator (agr) locus and spa. The activation of VraRS was due in part to the loss of the functional integrity of penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2) in a PBP2a-dependent manner. TarO inhibition can also activate VraRS in a manner independent of PBP2a. We provide multiple lines of evidence that accumulation of lipid-linked peptidoglycan precursors is a trigger for the activation of VraRS. In sum, our results reveal that WTA biosynthesis plays an important role in the regulation of virulence gene expression in CA-MRSA, underlining TarO as an attractive target for anti-virulence therapy. Our data also suggest that acquisition of PBP2a-encoding mecA gene can impart an additional regulatory layer for the modulation of key signaling pathways in S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfu Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Feifei Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710127, China
| | - Qingmin Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qiao Cao
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710127, China
| | - Rongrong Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Huiwen Pan
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yanhui Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Haixin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ruimin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Taeok Bae
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Northwest, Gary, IN, 46408, USA
| | - Haihua Liang
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710127, China.
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Lefu Lan
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China.
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710127, China.
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12
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Cho THS, Pick K, Raivio TL. Bacterial envelope stress responses: Essential adaptors and attractive targets. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2023; 1870:119387. [PMID: 36336206 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Millions of deaths a year across the globe are linked to antimicrobial resistant infections. The need to develop new treatments and repurpose of existing antibiotics grows more pressing as the growing antimicrobial resistance pandemic advances. In this review article, we propose that envelope stress responses, the signaling pathways bacteria use to recognize and adapt to damage to the most vulnerable outer compartments of the microbial cell, are attractive targets. Envelope stress responses (ESRs) support colonization and infection by responding to a plethora of toxic envelope stresses encountered throughout the body; they have been co-opted into virulence networks where they work like global positioning systems to coordinate adhesion, invasion, microbial warfare, and biofilm formation. We highlight progress in the development of therapeutic strategies that target ESR signaling proteins and adaptive networks and posit that further characterization of the molecular mechanisms governing these essential niche adaptation machineries will be important for sparking new therapeutic approaches aimed at short-circuiting bacterial adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy H S Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Kat Pick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Tracy L Raivio
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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13
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Thai TD, Lim W, Na D. Synthetic bacteria for the detection and bioremediation of heavy metals. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1178680. [PMID: 37122866 PMCID: PMC10133563 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1178680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxic heavy metal accumulation is one of anthropogenic environmental pollutions, which poses risks to human health and ecological systems. Conventional heavy metal remediation approaches rely on expensive chemical and physical processes leading to the formation and release of other toxic waste products. Instead, microbial bioremediation has gained interest as a promising and cost-effective alternative to conventional methods, but the genetic complexity of microorganisms and the lack of appropriate genetic engineering technologies have impeded the development of bioremediating microorganisms. Recently, the emerging synthetic biology opened a new avenue for microbial bioremediation research and development by addressing the challenges and providing novel tools for constructing bacteria with enhanced capabilities: rapid detection and degradation of heavy metals while enhanced tolerance to toxic heavy metals. Moreover, synthetic biology also offers new technologies to meet biosafety regulations since genetically modified microorganisms may disrupt natural ecosystems. In this review, we introduce the use of microorganisms developed based on synthetic biology technologies for the detection and detoxification of heavy metals. Additionally, this review explores the technical strategies developed to overcome the biosafety requirements associated with the use of genetically modified microorganisms.
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14
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa: pathogenesis, virulence factors, antibiotic resistance, interaction with host, technology advances and emerging therapeutics. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:199. [PMID: 35752612 PMCID: PMC9233671 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01056-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 126.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that infects patients with cystic fibrosis, burn wounds, immunodeficiency, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), cancer, and severe infection requiring ventilation, such as COVID-19. P. aeruginosa is also a widely-used model bacterium for all biological areas. In addition to continued, intense efforts in understanding bacterial pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa including virulence factors (LPS, quorum sensing, two-component systems, 6 type secretion systems, outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), CRISPR-Cas and their regulation), rapid progress has been made in further studying host-pathogen interaction, particularly host immune networks involving autophagy, inflammasome, non-coding RNAs, cGAS, etc. Furthermore, numerous technologic advances, such as bioinformatics, metabolomics, scRNA-seq, nanoparticles, drug screening, and phage therapy, have been used to improve our understanding of P. aeruginosa pathogenesis and host defense. Nevertheless, much remains to be uncovered about interactions between P. aeruginosa and host immune responses, including mechanisms of drug resistance by known or unannotated bacterial virulence factors as well as mammalian cell signaling pathways. The widespread use of antibiotics and the slow development of effective antimicrobials present daunting challenges and necessitate new theoretical and practical platforms to screen and develop mechanism-tested novel drugs to treat intractable infections, especially those caused by multi-drug resistance strains. Benefited from has advancing in research tools and technology, dissecting this pathogen's feature has entered into molecular and mechanistic details as well as dynamic and holistic views. Herein, we comprehensively review the progress and discuss the current status of P. aeruginosa biophysical traits, behaviors, virulence factors, invasive regulators, and host defense patterns against its infection, which point out new directions for future investigation and add to the design of novel and/or alternative therapeutics to combat this clinically significant pathogen.
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15
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Trouillon J, Imbert L, Villard AM, Vernet T, Attrée I, Elsen S. Determination of the two-component systems regulatory network reveals core and accessory regulations across Pseudomonas aeruginosa lineages. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:11476-11490. [PMID: 34718721 PMCID: PMC8599809 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa possesses one of the most complex bacterial regulatory networks, which largely contributes to its success as a pathogen. However, most of its transcription factors (TFs) are still uncharacterized and the potential intra-species variability in regulatory networks has been mostly ignored so far. Here, we used DAP-seq to map the genome-wide binding sites of all 55 DNA-binding two-component systems (TCSs) response regulators (RRs) across the three major P. aeruginosa lineages. The resulting networks encompass about 40% of all genes in each strain and contain numerous new regulatory interactions across most major physiological processes. Strikingly, about half of the detected targets are specific to only one or two strains, revealing a previously unknown large functional diversity of TFs within a single species. Three main mechanisms were found to drive this diversity, including differences in accessory genome content, as exemplified by the strain-specific plasmid in IHMA87 outlier strain which harbors numerous binding sites of conserved chromosomally-encoded RRs. Additionally, most RRs display potential auto-regulation or RR-RR cross-regulation, bringing to light the vast complexity of this network. Overall, we provide the first complete delineation of the TCSs regulatory network in P. aeruginosa that will represent an important resource for future studies on this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Trouillon
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IBS UMR 5075, Team Bacterial Pathogenesis and Cellular Responses, 38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Lionel Imbert
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IBS UMR 5075, 38044 Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, EMBL, ISBG UAR 3518, 38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Anne-Marie Villard
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IBS UMR 5075, 38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Thierry Vernet
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IBS UMR 5075, 38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Ina Attrée
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IBS UMR 5075, Team Bacterial Pathogenesis and Cellular Responses, 38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Sylvie Elsen
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IBS UMR 5075, Team Bacterial Pathogenesis and Cellular Responses, 38044 Grenoble, France
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