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Yin Y, Wang X, Zhang P, Wang P, Wen J. Strategies for improving fengycin production: a review. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:144. [PMID: 38773450 PMCID: PMC11110267 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02425-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Fengycin is an important member of the lipopeptide family with a wide range of applications in the agricultural, food, medical and cosmetic industries. However, its commercial application is severely hindered by low productivity and high cost. Therefore, numerous studies have been devoted to improving the production of fengycin. We summarize these studies in this review with the aim of providing a reference and guidance for future researchers. This review begins with an overview of the synthesis mechanism of fengycin via the non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS), and then delves into the strategies for improving the fengycin production in recent years. These strategies mainly include fermentation optimization and metabolic engineering, and the metabolic engineering encompasses enhancement of precursor supply, application of regulatory factors, promoter engineering, and application of genome-engineering (genome shuffling and genome-scale metabolic network model). Finally, we conclude this review with a prospect of fengycin production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yin
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Coll Biol & Pharmaceut Sci, China Three Gorges Univ, Yichang, 443002, P. R. China
| | - Pengsheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Pan Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Imaging Precision Medical, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Jianping Wen
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China.
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
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2
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Qiao J, Borriss R, Sun K, Zhang R, Chen X, Liu Y, Liu Y. Research advances in the identification of regulatory mechanisms of surfactin production by Bacillus: a review. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:100. [PMID: 38566071 PMCID: PMC10988940 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02372-7] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Surfactin is a cyclic hexalipopeptide compound, nonribosomal synthesized by representatives of the Bacillus subtilis species complex which includes B. subtilis group and its closely related species, such as B. subtilis subsp subtilis, B. subtilis subsp spizizenii, B. subtilis subsp inaquosorum, B. atrophaeus, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. velezensis (Steinke mSystems 6: e00057, 2021) It functions as a biosurfactant and signaling molecule and has antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, and plant disease resistance properties. The Bacillus lipopeptides play an important role in agriculture, oil recovery, cosmetics, food processing and pharmaceuticals, but the natural yield of surfactin synthesized by Bacillus is low. This paper reviews the regulatory pathways and mechanisms that affect surfactin synthesis and release, highlighting the regulatory genes involved in the transcription of the srfAA-AD operon. The several ways to enhance surfactin production, such as governing expression of the genes involved in synthesis and regulation of surfactin synthesis and transport, removal of competitive pathways, optimization of media, and fermentation conditions were commented. This review will provide a theoretical platform for the systematic genetic modification of high-yielding strains of surfactin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqing Qiao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rainer Borriss
- Institute of Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Kai Sun
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rongsheng Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xijun Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Youzhou Liu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yongfeng Liu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu, China.
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3
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Edwards AN, McBride SM. The RgaS-RgaR two-component system promotes Clostridioides difficile sporulation through a small RNA and the Agr1 system. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010841. [PMID: 37844084 PMCID: PMC10602386 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to form a dormant spore is essential for the survival of the anaerobic pathogen, Clostridioides difficile, outside of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. The initiation of sporulation is governed by the master regulator of sporulation, Spo0A, which is activated by phosphorylation. Multiple sporulation factors control Spo0A phosphorylation; however, this regulatory pathway is not well defined in C. difficile. We discovered that RgaS and RgaR, a conserved orphan histidine kinase and orphan response regulator, function together as a cognate two-component regulatory system to directly activate transcription of several genes. One of these targets, agrB1D1, encodes gene products that synthesize and export a small quorum-sensing peptide, AgrD1, which positively influences expression of early sporulation genes. Another target, a small regulatory RNA now known as SpoZ, impacts later stages of sporulation through a small hypothetical protein and an additional, unknown regulatory mechanism(s). Unlike Agr systems in many organisms, AgrD1 does not activate the RgaS-RgaR two-component system, and thus, is not responsible for autoregulating its own production. Altogether, we demonstrate that C. difficile utilizes a conserved two-component system that is uncoupled from quorum-sensing to promote sporulation through two distinct regulatory pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianne N. Edwards
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Shonna M. McBride
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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Kohm K, Jalomo-Khayrova E, Krüger A, Basu S, Steinchen W, Bange G, Frunzke J, Hertel R, Commichau FM, Czech L. Structural and functional characterization of MrpR, the master repressor of the Bacillus subtilis prophage SPβ. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:9452-9474. [PMID: 37602373 PMCID: PMC10516654 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Prophages control their lifestyle to either be maintained within the host genome or enter the lytic cycle. Bacillus subtilis contains the SPβ prophage whose lysogenic state depends on the MrpR (YopR) protein, a key component of the lysis-lysogeny decision system. Using a historic B. subtilis strain harboring the heat-sensitive SPβ c2 mutant, we demonstrate that the lytic cycle of SPβ c2 can be induced by heat due to a single nucleotide exchange in the mrpR gene, rendering the encoded MrpRG136E protein temperature-sensitive. Structural characterization revealed that MrpR is a DNA-binding protein resembling the overall fold of tyrosine recombinases. MrpR has lost its recombinase function and the G136E exchange impairs its higher-order structure and DNA binding activity. Genome-wide profiling of MrpR binding revealed its association with the previously identified SPbeta repeated element (SPBRE) in the SPβ genome. MrpR functions as a master repressor of SPβ that binds to this conserved element to maintain lysogeny. The heat-inducible excision of the SPβ c2 mutant remains reliant on the serine recombinase SprA. A suppressor mutant analysis identified a previously unknown component of the lysis-lysogeny management system that is crucial for the induction of the lytic cycle of SPβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Kohm
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Institute for Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
- FG Molecular Microbiology, Institute for Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ekaterina Jalomo-Khayrova
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO) and Department of Chemistry, Phillips-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Aileen Krüger
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, iBG-1: Biotechnology, FZ Jülich, Germany
| | - Syamantak Basu
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Institute for Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
| | - Wieland Steinchen
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO) and Department of Chemistry, Phillips-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Gert Bange
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO) and Department of Chemistry, Phillips-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Max-Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Julia Frunzke
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, iBG-1: Biotechnology, FZ Jülich, Germany
| | - Robert Hertel
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Institute for Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fabian M Commichau
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Institute for Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
- FG Molecular Microbiology, Institute for Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Laura Czech
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO) and Department of Chemistry, Phillips-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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Qi X, Liu W, He X, Du C. A review on surfactin: molecular regulation of biosynthesis. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:313. [PMID: 37603063 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03652-3] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Surfactin has many biological activities, such as inhibiting plant diseases, resisting bacteria, fungi, viruses, tumors, mycoplasma, anti-adhesion, etc. It has great application potential in agricultural biological control, clinical medical treatment, environmental treatment and other fields. However, the low yield has been the bottleneck of its popularization and application. It is very important to understand the synthesis route and control strategy of surfactin to improve its yield and purity. In this paper, based on the biosynthetic pathway and regulatory factors of surfactin, its biosynthesis regulation strategy was comprehensively summarized, involving enhancement of endogenous and exogenous precursor supply, modification of the synthesis pathway of lipid chain and peptide chain, improvement of secretion and efflux, and manipulation some global regulatory factors, such as Spo0A, AbrB, ComQXP, phrCSF, etc. to directly or indirectly stimulate surfactin synthesis. And the current production and separation and purification process of surfactin are briefly described. This review also provides a scientific reference for promoting surfactin production and its applications in various fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Qi
- Engineering Research Center of Agricultural Microbiology Technology, Ministry of Education and Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Genetic Engineering and Biological Fermentation Engineering for Cold Region and Key Laboratory of Microbiology, College of Heilongjiang Province and School of Life Sciences, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Agricultural Microbiology Technology, Ministry of Education and Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Genetic Engineering and Biological Fermentation Engineering for Cold Region and Key Laboratory of Microbiology, College of Heilongjiang Province and School of Life Sciences, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China
| | - Xin He
- Hebei University of Environmental Engineering, Hebei Key Laboratory of Agroecological Safety, Qinhuangdao, 066102, China
| | - Chunmei Du
- Engineering Research Center of Agricultural Microbiology Technology, Ministry of Education and Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Genetic Engineering and Biological Fermentation Engineering for Cold Region and Key Laboratory of Microbiology, College of Heilongjiang Province and School of Life Sciences, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China.
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6
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Edwards AN, McBride SM. The RgaS-RgaR two-component system promotes Clostridioides difficile sporulation through a small RNA and the Agr1 system. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.26.546640. [PMID: 37425791 PMCID: PMC10327067 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.26.546640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The ability to form a dormant spore is essential for the survival of the anaerobic, gastrointestinal pathogen Clostridioides difficile outside of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. The initiation of sporulation is governed by the master regulator of sporulation, Spo0A, which is activated by phosphorylation. Multiple sporulation factors control Spo0A phosphorylation; however, this regulatory pathway is not well defined in C. difficile. We discovered that RgaS and RgaR, a conserved orphan histidine kinase and orphan response regulator, function together as a cognate two-component regulatory system to directly activate transcription of several genes. One of these targets, agrB1D1, encodes gene products that synthesize and export a small quorum-sensing peptide, AgrD1, which positively influences expression of early sporulation genes. Another target, a small regulatory RNA now known as SrsR, impacts later stages of sporulation through an unknown regulatory mechanism(s). Unlike Agr systems in many organisms, AgrD1 does not activate the RgaS-RgaR two-component system, and thus, is not responsible for autoregulating its own production. Altogether, we demonstrate that C. difficile utilizes a conserved two-component system that is uncoupled from quorum-sensing to promote sporulation through two distinct regulatory pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianne N. Edwards
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shonna M. McBride
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
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7
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Treinen C, Biermann L, Vahidinasab M, Heravi KM, Lilge L, Hausmann R, Henkel M. Deletion of Rap-phosphatases for quorum sensing control in Bacillus and its effect on surfactin production. AMB Express 2023; 13:51. [PMID: 37243871 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-023-01555-6] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The complex regulatory network in Bacillus, known as quorum sensing, offers many opportunities to modify bacterial gene expression and hence to control bioprocesses. One target regulated by this mechanism is the activity of the PsrfA promoter, which is engaged in the formation of lipopeptide surfactin. It was hypothesised that deletion of rapC, rapF and rapH, encoding for prominent Rap-phosphatases known to affect PsrfA activity, would enhance surfactin production. Therefore, these genes were deleted in a sfp+ derivative of B. subtilis 168 with subsequent evaluation of quantitative data. Up to the maximum product formation of the reference strain B. subtilis KM1016 after 16 h of cultivation, the titers of the rap deletion mutants did not exceed the reference. However, an increase in both product yield per biomass YP/X and specific surfactin productivity qsurfactin was observed, without any considerable effect on the ComX activity. By extending the cultivation time, a 2.7-fold increase in surfactin titer was observed after 24 h for strain CT10 (ΔrapC) and a 2.5-fold increase for CT11 (ΔrapF) compared to the reference strain KM1016. In addition, YP/X was again increased for strains CT10 and CT11, with values of 1.33 g/g and 1.13 g/g, respectively. Interestingly, the effect on surfactin titer in strain CT12 (ΔrapH) was not as distinct, although it achieved the highest promoter activity (PsrfA-lacZ). The data presented support the possibility of involving the quorum sensing system of Bacillus in bioprocess control as shown here on the example of lipopeptide production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal Treinen
- Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Department of Bioprocess Engineering (150k), University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 12, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
- Cellular Agriculture, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Gregor-Mendel-Str. 4, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - Lennart Biermann
- Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Department of Bioprocess Engineering (150k), University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 12, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Maliheh Vahidinasab
- Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Department of Bioprocess Engineering (150k), University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 12, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Kambiz Morabbi Heravi
- Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Department of Bioprocess Engineering (150k), University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 12, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Lars Lilge
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, Groningen, 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Rudolf Hausmann
- Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Department of Bioprocess Engineering (150k), University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 12, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Marius Henkel
- Cellular Agriculture, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Gregor-Mendel-Str. 4, 85354, Freising, Germany.
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Mohanta TK, Mohanta YK, Al-Harrasi A. Decoding the Virtual 2D Map of the Chloroplast Proteomes. Biol Proced Online 2022; 24:23. [PMID: 36513972 DOI: 10.1186/s12575-022-00186-8] [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: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The chloroplast is a semi-autonomous organelle having its own genome and corresponding proteome. Although chloroplast genomes have been reported, no reports exist on their corresponding proteomes. Therefore, a proteome-wide analysis of the chloroplast proteomes of 2893 species was conducted, and a virtual 2D map was constructed. RESULTS The resulting virtual 2D map of the chloroplast proteome exhibited a bimodal distribution. The molecular mass of the chloroplast proteome ranged from 0.448 to 616.334 kDa, and the isoelectric point (pI) ranged from 2.854 to 12.954. Chloroplast proteomes were dominated by basic pI proteins with an average pI of 7.852. The molecular weight and isoelectric point of chloroplast proteome were found to show bimodal distribution. Leu was the most abundant and Cys the least abundant amino acid in the chloroplast proteome. Notably, Trp amino acid was absent in the chloroplast protein sequences of Pilostyles aethiopica. In addition, Selenocysteine (Sec) and Pyrrolysine (Pyl) amino acids were also found to be lacking in the chloroplast proteomes. CONCLUSION The virtual 2D map and amino acid composition of chloroplast proteome will enable the researchers to understand the biochemistry of chloroplast protein in detail. Further, the amino acid composition of the chloroplast proteome will also allow us to understand the codon usage bias. The codon usage bias and amino acid usage bias of chloroplast will be crucial to understanding their relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapan Kumar Mohanta
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, 616, Nizwa, Oman.
| | - Yugal Kishore Mohanta
- Department of Applied Biology, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, Baridua, Meghalaya, 793101, Techno City, India
| | - Ahmed Al-Harrasi
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, 616, Nizwa, Oman.
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9
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Metabolic engineering of Bacillus subtilis 168 for the utilization of arabinose to synthesize the antifungal lipopeptide fengycin. Biochem Eng J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2022.108528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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10
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Islam T, Rabbee MF, Choi J, Baek KH. Biosynthesis, Molecular Regulation, and Application of Bacilysin Produced by Bacillus Species. Metabolites 2022; 12:397. [PMID: 35629901 PMCID: PMC9147277 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12050397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbes produce a diverse range of secondary metabolites in response to various environmental factors and interspecies competition. This enables them to become superior in a particular environment. Bacilysin, a dipeptide antibiotic produced by Bacillus species, is active against a broad range of microorganisms. Because of its simple structure and excellent mode of action, i.e., through the inhibition of glucosamine 6-phosphate synthase, it has drawn the attention of researchers. In addition, it acts as a pleiotropic signaling molecule that affects different cellular activities. However, all Bacillus species are not capable of producing bacilysin. The biosynthesis of bacilysin by Bacillus species is not uniform throughout the population; specificity and heterogeneity at both the strain and species levels has been observed. This review discusses how bacilysin is biosynthesized by Bacillus species, the regulators of its biosynthesis, its importance in the host, and the abiotic factors affecting bacilysin production.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kwang-Hyun Baek
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea; (T.I.); (M.F.R.); (J.C.)
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11
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Morawska LP, Hernandez-Valdes JA, Kuipers OP. Diversity of bet-hedging strategies in microbial communities-Recent cases and insights. WIREs Mech Dis 2022; 14:e1544. [PMID: 35266649 PMCID: PMC9286555 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Microbial communities are continuously exposed to unpredictable changes in their environment. To thrive in such dynamic habitats, microorganisms have developed the ability to readily switch phenotypes, resulting in a number of differently adapted subpopulations expressing various traits. In evolutionary biology, a particular case of phenotypic heterogeneity that evolved in an unpredictably changing environment has been defined as bet‐hedging. Bet‐hedging is a risk‐spreading strategy where isogenic populations stochastically (randomly) diversify their phenotypes, often resulting in maladapted individuals that suffer lower reproductive success. This fitness trade‐off in a specific environment may have a selective advantage upon the sudden environmental shift. Thus, a bet‐hedging strategy allows populations to persist in very dynamic habitats, but with a particular fitness cost. In recent years, numerous examples of phenotypic heterogeneity in different microorganisms have been observed, some suggesting bet‐hedging. Here, we highlight the latest reports concerning bet‐hedging phenomena in various microorganisms to show how versatile this strategy is within the microbial realms. This article is categorized under:Infectious Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiza P Morawska
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jhonatan A Hernandez-Valdes
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Groningen, The Netherlands
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12
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Bruce JB, Lion S, Buckling A, Westra ER, Gandon S. Regulation of prophage induction and lysogenization by phage communication systems. Curr Biol 2021; 31:5046-5051.e7. [PMID: 34562385 PMCID: PMC8612742 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.08.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Many viruses cause both lytic infections, where they release viral particles, and dormant infections, where they await future opportunities to reactivate.1 The benefits of each transmission mode depend on the density of susceptible hosts in the environment.2-4 Some viruses infecting bacteria use molecular signaling to respond plastically to changes in host availability.5 These viruses produce a signal during lytic infection and regulate, based on the signal concentration in the environment, the probability with which they switch to causing dormant infections.5,6 We present an analytical framework to examine the adaptive significance of plasticity in viral life-history traits in fluctuating environments. Our model generalizes and extends previous theory7 and predicts that host density fluctuations should select for plasticity in entering lysogeny as well as virus reactivation once signal concentrations decline. Using Bacillus subtilis and its phage phi3T, we experimentally confirm the prediction that phages use signal to make informed decisions over prophage induction. We also demonstrate that lysogens produce signaling molecules and that signal is degraded by hosts in a density-dependent manner. Declining signal concentrations therefore potentially indicate the presence of uninfected hosts and trigger prophage induction. Finally, we find that conflict over the responses of lysogenization and reactivation to signal is resolved through the evolution of different response thresholds for each trait. Collectively, these findings deepen our understanding of the ways viruses use molecular communication to regulate their infection strategies, which can be leveraged to manipulate host and phage population dynamics in natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- John B Bruce
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Exeter, UK.
| | - Sébastien Lion
- CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France
| | - Angus Buckling
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Exeter, UK
| | - Edze R Westra
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Exeter, UK.
| | - Sylvain Gandon
- CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France.
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13
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Rahman FB, Sarkar B, Moni R, Rahman MS. Molecular genetics of surfactin and its effects on different sub-populations of Bacillus subtilis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 32:e00686. [PMID: 34786355 PMCID: PMC8578018 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2021.e00686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Insight into the role of surfactin on B. subtilis cell differentiation. Insight into the molecular genetics of surfactin and its production. Graphical presentation of surfactin mediated signaling cascades via quorum sensing.
Surfactin is a biosurfactant produced by Bacillus subtilis. The srfA operon, Sfp gene, and two quorum sensing systems are required for its production. The master regulator spo0A also plays an indispensable role in proper surfactin synthesis. Upon production, surfactin itself acts as a signaling molecule and triggers the activation of Spo0A gene which in turn regulates cell differentiation. Interestingly, surfactin producing cells are immune to the action of surfactin but trigger other cells to differentiate into non-motile cells, matrix producing cells, cannibals, and spores. In case of competent cell differentiation, comS, which resides within the srfA operon, is co-expressed along with surfactin and plays a vital role in competent cell differentiation in response to quorum sensing signal. Surfactin inhibits the motility of certain cell subpopulations, although it helps the non-motile cells to swarm. Thus, surfactin plays significant roles in the differentiation of different subpopulations of specialized cell types of B. subtilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faisal Bin Rahman
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh
| | - Bishajit Sarkar
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh
- Wazed Miah Science Research Center (WMSRC), Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ripa Moni
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Shahedur Rahman
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh
- Wazed Miah Science Research Center (WMSRC), Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Corresponding author.
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14
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Tobita N, Tsuneto K, Ito S, Yamamoto T. Human TRPV1 and TRPA1 are receptors for bacterial quorum sensing molecules. J Biochem 2021; 170:775-785. [PMID: 34557892 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvab099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the activation of TRPV1 and TRPA1 by N-acyl homoserine lactones, quorum sensing molecules produced by Gram-negative bacteria, and the inhibitory effect of TRPV1 and TRPA1 by autoinducing peptides, quorum sensing molecules produced by Gram-positive bacteria, using human embryonic kidney 293T cell lines stably expressing human TRPV1 and TRPA1, respectively. As a result, we found that some N-acyl homoserine lactones, such as N-octanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C8-HSL), N-nonanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C9-HSL) and N-decanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C10-HSL) activated both TRPV1 and TRPA1. In addition, we clarified that some N-acyl homoserine lactones, for example, N-3-oxo-dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C12-HSL) only activated TRPV1, and N-acyl homoserine lactones having saturated short acyl chain, such as N-acetyl-L-homoserine lactone (C2-HSL) and N-butyryl-L-homoserine lactone (C4-HSL) only activated TRPA1, respectively. Furthermore, we found that an autoinducing peptide, simple linear peptide CHWPR, inhibited both TRPV1 and TRPA1, and peptide having thiolactone ring DICNAYF, thiolactone ring were formed between C3 to F7, strongly inhibited only the TRPV1. Although the specificity of TRPV1 and TRPA1 for quorum sensing molecules were different, these data suggest that both TRPV1 and TRPA1 would function as receptors for quorum sensing molecule produced by bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Tobita
- Tobacco Science Research Center, Japan Tobacco Inc., 6-2 Umegaoka, Aoba, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227-8512, Japan
| | - Kana Tsuneto
- Tobacco Science Research Center, Japan Tobacco Inc., 6-2 Umegaoka, Aoba, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227-8512, Japan
| | - Shigeaki Ito
- Scientific Product Assessment Center, Japan Tobacco Inc., 6-2 Umegaoka, Aoba, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227-8512, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yamamoto
- Tobacco Science Research Center, Japan Tobacco Inc., 6-2 Umegaoka, Aoba, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227-8512, Japan
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15
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Mohamed OG, Dorandish S, Lindow R, Steltz M, Shoukat I, Shoukat M, Chehade H, Baghdadi S, McAlister-Raeburn M, Kamal A, Abebe D, Ali K, Ivy C, Antonova M, Schultz P, Angell M, Clemans D, Friebe T, Sherman D, Casper AM, Price PA, Tripathi A. Identification of a New Antimicrobial, Desertomycin H, Utilizing a Modified Crowded Plate Technique. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:424. [PMID: 34436264 PMCID: PMC8400312 DOI: 10.3390/md19080424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The antibiotic-resistant bacteria-associated infections are a major global healthcare threat. New classes of antimicrobial compounds are urgently needed as the frequency of infections caused by multidrug-resistant microbes continues to rise. Recent metagenomic data have demonstrated that there is still biosynthetic potential encoded in but transcriptionally silent in cultivatable bacterial genomes. However, the culture conditions required to identify and express silent biosynthetic gene clusters that yield natural products with antimicrobial activity are largely unknown. Here, we describe a new antibiotic discovery scheme, dubbed the modified crowded plate technique (mCPT), that utilizes complex microbial interactions to elicit antimicrobial production from otherwise silent biosynthetic gene clusters. Using the mCPT as part of the antibiotic crowdsourcing educational program Tiny EarthTM, we isolated over 1400 antibiotic-producing microbes, including 62 showing activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens. The natural product extracts generated from six microbial isolates showed potent activity against vancomycin-intermediate resistant Staphylococcus aureus. We utilized a targeted approach that coupled mass spectrometry data with bioactivity, yielding a new macrolactone class of metabolite, desertomycin H. In this study, we successfully demonstrate a concept that significantly increased our ability to quickly and efficiently identify microbes capable of the silent antibiotic production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osama G. Mohamed
- Natural Products Discovery Core, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (O.G.M.); (P.S.)
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
- Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr el-Aini Street, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Sadaf Dorandish
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Rebecca Lindow
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Megan Steltz
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Ifrah Shoukat
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Maira Shoukat
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Hussein Chehade
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Sara Baghdadi
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Madelaine McAlister-Raeburn
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
- Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
| | - Asad Kamal
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
- Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Dawit Abebe
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Khaled Ali
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Chelsey Ivy
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Maria Antonova
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Pamela Schultz
- Natural Products Discovery Core, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (O.G.M.); (P.S.)
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
| | - Michael Angell
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Daniel Clemans
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Timothy Friebe
- Chemistry Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA;
| | - David Sherman
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Anne M. Casper
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Paul A. Price
- Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA; (S.D.); (R.L.); (M.S.); (I.S.); (M.S.); (H.C.); (S.B.); (M.M.-R.); (A.K.); (D.A.); (K.A.); (C.I.); (M.A.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Ashootosh Tripathi
- Natural Products Discovery Core, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (O.G.M.); (P.S.)
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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16
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van Gestel J, Bareia T, Tenennbaum B, Dal Co A, Guler P, Aframian N, Puyesky S, Grinberg I, D’Souza GG, Erez Z, Ackermann M, Eldar A. Short-range quorum sensing controls horizontal gene transfer at micron scale in bacterial communities. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2324. [PMID: 33875666 PMCID: PMC8055654 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22649-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In bacterial communities, cells often communicate by the release and detection of small diffusible molecules, a process termed quorum-sensing. Signal molecules are thought to broadly diffuse in space; however, they often regulate traits such as conjugative transfer that strictly depend on the local community composition. This raises the question how nearby cells within the community can be detected. Here, we compare the range of communication of different quorum-sensing systems. While some systems support long-range communication, we show that others support a form of highly localized communication. In these systems, signal molecules propagate no more than a few microns away from signaling cells, due to the irreversible uptake of the signal molecules from the environment. This enables cells to accurately detect micron scale changes in the community composition. Several mobile genetic elements, including conjugative elements and phages, employ short-range communication to assess the fraction of susceptible host cells in their vicinity and adaptively trigger horizontal gene transfer in response. Our results underscore the complex spatial biology of bacteria, which can communicate and interact at widely different spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi van Gestel
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland ,grid.418656.80000 0001 1551 0562Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Switzerland ,grid.7400.30000 0004 1937 0650Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland ,grid.419765.80000 0001 2223 3006Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Present Address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Tasneem Bareia
- grid.12136.370000 0004 1937 0546The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Bar Tenennbaum
- grid.12136.370000 0004 1937 0546The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Alma Dal Co
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland ,grid.418656.80000 0001 1551 0562Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Switzerland ,grid.38142.3c000000041936754XSchool of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Polina Guler
- grid.12136.370000 0004 1937 0546The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Nitzan Aframian
- grid.12136.370000 0004 1937 0546The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Shani Puyesky
- grid.12136.370000 0004 1937 0546The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Ilana Grinberg
- grid.12136.370000 0004 1937 0546The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Glen G. D’Souza
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland ,grid.418656.80000 0001 1551 0562Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Zohar Erez
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Martin Ackermann
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland ,grid.418656.80000 0001 1551 0562Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Avigdor Eldar
- grid.12136.370000 0004 1937 0546The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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17
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Cardinali N, Bauman C, Rodriguez Ayala F, Grau R. Two cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus successfully treated with probiotics. Clin Case Rep 2020; 8:3120-3125. [PMID: 33363892 PMCID: PMC7752325 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.3354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota, and particularly probiotic bacteria, has emerged as a promising and novel intervention to fight the looming worldwide diabetes epidemic when combined with the appropriate medication. Herein, we report two cases of patient with type 2 diabetes refractory to conventional therapy that showed notable improvement after probiotic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Bauman
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y FarmacéuticasConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)Universidad Nacional de RosarioRosarioArgentina
| | - Facundo Rodriguez Ayala
- Departamento de Micro y NanotecnologíaInstituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología ‐ Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica y CONICETBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Roberto Grau
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y FarmacéuticasConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)Universidad Nacional de RosarioRosarioArgentina
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18
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Abstract
Gram-positive bacteria employ an array of secreted peptides to control population-level behaviors in response to environmental cues. We review mechanistic and functional features of secreted peptides produced by the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. We discuss sequence features, mechanisms of transport, and receptors for 3 major categories of small peptides: the double-glycine peptides, the Rap, Rgg, NprR, PlcR, and PrgX (RRNPP)-binding peptides, and the lanthionine-containing peptides. We highlight the impact of factors that contribute to carriage and pathogenesis, specifically genetic diversity, microbial competition, biofilm development, and environmental adaptation. A recent expansion in pneumococcal peptide studies reveals a complex network of interacting signaling systems where multiple peptides are integrated into the same signaling pathway, allowing multiple points of entry into the pathway and extending information content in new directions. In addition, since peptides are present in the extracellular milieu, there are opportunities for crosstalk, quorum sensing (QS), as well as intra- and interstrain and species interactions. Knowledge on the manner that population-level behaviors contribute to disease provides an avenue for the design and development of anti-infective strategies.
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19
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Antibacterial Activity of Bacillus inaquosorum Strain T1 against pirABVp -Bearing Vibrio parahaemolyticus: Genetic and Physiological Characterization. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.01950-20. [PMID: 32859595 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01950-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is caused by PirAB toxin-producing Vibrio parahaemolyticus and has devastated the global shrimp aquaculture industry. One approach for preventing the growth of AHPND-producing Vibrio spp. is through the application of beneficial bacteria capable of inhibiting these pathogens. In this study, we focused on the inhibitory activity of Bacillus inaquosorum strain T1, which hinders V. parahaemolyticus growth in coculture experiments in a density-dependent manner; inhibition was also observed using cell-free supernatants from T1 stationary-phase cultures. Using mariner-based transposon mutagenesis, 17 mutants having a complete or partial loss of inhibitory activity were identified. Of those displaying a total loss of activity, 13 had insertions within a 42.6-kb DNA region comprising 15 genes whose deduced products were homologous to nonribosomal polypeptide synthetases (NRPSs), polyketide synthases (PKSs), and related activities, which were mapped as one transcriptional unit. Mutants with partial activity contained insertions in spo0A and oppA, indicating stationary-phase control. The levels of expression of NRPS and PKS lacZ transcriptional fusions were negligible during growth and were the highest during early stationary phase. Inactivation of sigH resulted in a loss of inhibitor activity, indicating a role for σH in transcription. Disruption of abrB resulted in NRPS and PKS gene overexpression during growth as well as enhanced growth inhibition. Our characterization of the expression and control of an NRPS-PKS gene cluster in B. inaquosorum T1 provides an understanding of the factors involved in inhibitor production, enabling this strain's development for use as a tool against AHPND-causing Vibrio pathogens in shrimp aquaculture.IMPORTANCE The shrimp aquaculture industry has been significantly impacted by acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), resulting in significant financial losses annually. AHPND is caused by strains of the bacterial pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and treatment of AHPND involves the use of antibiotics, which leads to a rise in the number of antibiotic-resistant strains. Alternative treatments include the application of beneficial microorganisms having inhibitory activities against pathogens causing AHPND. In this study, we examined the ability of Bacillus inaquosorum strain T1 to inhibit the growth of an AHPND-causing Vibrio strain, and we show that this activity involves a gene cluster associated with antibacterial compound production. We found that gene expression is under stationary-phase control and that enhanced activity occurs upon inactivation of a global transition state regulator. Our approach for understanding the factors involved in producing B. inaquosorum strain T1 inhibitory activity will allow for the development of this strain as a tool for AHPND prevention and treatment.
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A novel Rap-Phr system in Bacillus velezensis NAU-B3 regulates surfactin production and sporulation via interaction with ComA. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:10059-10074. [PMID: 33043389 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10942-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Several quorum sensing systems occurring in Bacillus subtilis, e.g. Rap-Phr systems, were reported to interact with major regulatory proteins, such as ComA, DegU, and Spo0A, in order to regulate competence, sporulation, and synthesis of secondary metabolites. In this study, we characterized a novel Rap-Phr system, RapA4-PhrA4, in Bacillus velezensis NAU-B3. We found that the rapA4 and phrA4 genes were co-transcribed in NAU-B3. When rapA4 was expressed in the heterologous host Bacillus subtilis OKB105, surfactin production and sporulation were severely inhibited. However, when the phrA4 was co-expressed, the RapA4 activity was inhibited. The transcription of the surfactin synthetase srfA gene and sporulation-related genes were also regulated by the RapA4-PhrA4 system. In vitro results obtained from electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) proved that RapA4 inhibits ComA binding to the promoter of the srfA operon, and the PhrA4 pentapeptide acts as anti-activator of RapA4. We also found that the F24 residue plays a key role in RapA4 function. This study indicated that the novel RapA4-PhrA4 system regulates the surfactin synthesis and sporulation via interaction with ComA, thereby supporting the bacterium to compete and to survive in a hostile environment. KEY POINTS: •Bacillus velezensis NAU-B3 has a novel Rap-Phr quorum sensing system, which does not occur in model strains Bacillus subtilis 168 and B. velezensis FZB42. •RapA4-PhrA4 regulates surfactin production and sporulation. •RapA4-PhrA4 interacts with the ComA protein from ComP/ComA two-component system.
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Negative Interplay between Biofilm Formation and Competence in the Environmental Strains of Bacillus subtilis. mSystems 2020; 5:5/5/e00539-20. [PMID: 32873610 PMCID: PMC7470987 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00539-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis can form robust biofilms, which are important for its survival in the environment. B. subtilis also exhibits natural competence. By investigating competence development in B. subtilisin situ during biofilm formation, we reveal that robust biofilm formation often greatly reduces the frequency of competent cells within the biofilm. We then characterize a cross-pathway regulation that allows cells in these two developmental events to undergo mutually exclusive cell differentiation during biofilm formation. Finally, we discuss potential biological implications of limiting competence in a bacterial biofilm. Environmental strains of the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis have valuable applications in agriculture, industry, and biotechnology; however, environmental strains are genetically less accessible. This reduced accessibility is in sharp contrast to laboratory strains, which are well known for their natural competence, and a limitation in their applications. In this study, we observed that robust biofilm formation by environmental strains of B. subtilis greatly reduced the frequency of competent cells in the biofilm. By using model strain 3610, we revealed a cross-pathway regulation that allows biofilm matrix producers and competence-developing cells to undergo mutually exclusive cell differentiation. We further demonstrated that the competence activator ComK represses the key biofilm regulatory gene sinI by directly binding to the sinI promoter, thus blocking competent cells from simultaneously becoming matrix producers. In parallel, the biofilm activator SlrR represses competence through three distinct mechanisms involving both genetic regulation and cell morphological changes. Finally, we discuss the potential implications of limiting competence in a bacterial biofilm. IMPORTANCE The soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis can form robust biofilms, which are important for its survival in the environment. B. subtilis also exhibits natural competence. By investigating competence development in B. subtilisin situ during biofilm formation, we reveal that robust biofilm formation often greatly reduces the frequency of competent cells within the biofilm. We then characterize a cross-pathway regulation that allows cells in these two developmental events to undergo mutually exclusive cell differentiation during biofilm formation. Finally, we discuss potential biological implications of limiting competence in a bacterial biofilm.
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Abstract
The ancestral strain of Bacillus subtilis NCIB3610 (3610) bears a large, low-copy-number plasmid, called pBS32, that was lost during the domestication of laboratory strain derivatives. Selection against pBS32 may have been because it encodes a potent inhibitor of natural genetic competence (ComI), as laboratory strains were selected for high-frequency transformation. Previous studies have shown that pBS32 and its sibling, pLS32 in Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto, encode a replication initiation protein (RepN), a plasmid partitioning system (AlfAB), a biofilm inhibitor (RapP), and an alternative sigma factor (SigN) that can induce plasmid-mediated cell death in response to DNA damage. Here, we review the literature on pBS32/pLS32, the genes found on it, and their associated phenotypes.
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23
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Špacapan M, Danevčič T, Štefanic P, Porter M, Stanley-Wall NR, Mandic-Mulec I. The ComX Quorum Sensing Peptide of Bacillus subtilis Affects Biofilm Formation Negatively and Sporulation Positively. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1131. [PMID: 32727033 PMCID: PMC7463575 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8081131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is often required for the formation of bacterial biofilms and is a popular target of biofilm control strategies. Previous studies implicate the ComQXPA quorum sensing system of Bacillus subtilis as a promoter of biofilm formation. Here, we report that ComX signaling peptide deficient mutants form thicker and more robust pellicle biofilms that contain chains of cells. We confirm that ComX positively affects the transcriptional activity of the PepsA promoter, which controls the synthesis of the major matrix polysaccharide. In contrast, ComX negatively controls the PtapA promoter, which drives the production of TasA, a fibrous matrix protein. Overall, the biomass of the mutant biofilm lacking ComX accumulates more monosaccharide and protein content than the wild type. We conclude that this QS phenotype might be due to extended investment into growth rather than spore development. Consistent with this, the ComX deficient mutant shows a delayed activation of the pre-spore specific promoter, PspoIIQ, and a delayed, more synchronous commitment to sporulation. We conclude that ComX mediated early commitment to sporulation of the wild type slows down biofilm formation and modulates the coexistence of multiple biological states during the early stages of biofilm development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihael Špacapan
- Chair of Microbiology, Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.Š.); (T.D.); (P.Š.)
| | - Tjaša Danevčič
- Chair of Microbiology, Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.Š.); (T.D.); (P.Š.)
| | - Polonca Štefanic
- Chair of Microbiology, Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.Š.); (T.D.); (P.Š.)
| | - Michael Porter
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK; (M.P.); (N.R.S.-W.)
| | - Nicola R. Stanley-Wall
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK; (M.P.); (N.R.S.-W.)
| | - Ines Mandic-Mulec
- Chair of Microbiology, Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.Š.); (T.D.); (P.Š.)
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24
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Aframian N, Eldar A. A Bacterial Tower of Babel: Quorum-Sensing Signaling Diversity and Its Evolution. Annu Rev Microbiol 2020; 74:587-606. [PMID: 32680450 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-012220-063740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Quorum sensing is a process in which bacteria secrete and sense a diffusible molecule, thereby enabling bacterial groups to coordinate their behavior in a density-dependent manner. Quorum sensing has evolved multiple times independently, utilizing different molecular pathways and signaling molecules. A common theme among many quorum-sensing families is their wide range of signaling diversity-different variants within a family code for different signal molecules with a cognate receptor specific to each variant. This pattern of vast allelic polymorphism raises several questions-How do different signaling variants interact with one another? How is this diversity maintained? And how did it come to exist in the first place? Here we argue that social interactions between signaling variants can explain the emergence and persistence of signaling diversity throughout evolution. Finally, we extend the discussion to include cases where multiple diverse systems work in concert in a single bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitzan Aframian
- Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Tel-Aviv University, 6997801 Tel-Aviv, Israel; ,
| | - Avigdor Eldar
- Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Tel-Aviv University, 6997801 Tel-Aviv, Israel; ,
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25
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Babel H, Naranjo-Meneses P, Trauth S, Schulmeister S, Malengo G, Sourjik V, Bischofs IB. Ratiometric population sensing by a pump-probe signaling system in Bacillus subtilis. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1176. [PMID: 32132526 PMCID: PMC7055314 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14840-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Communication by means of diffusible signaling molecules facilitates higher-level organization of cellular populations. Gram-positive bacteria frequently use signaling peptides, which are either detected at the cell surface or ‘probed’ by intracellular receptors after being pumped into the cytoplasm. While the former type is used to monitor cell density, the functions of pump-probe networks are less clear. Here we show that pump-probe networks can, in principle, perform different tasks and mediate quorum-sensing, chronometric and ratiometric control. We characterize the properties of the prototypical PhrA-RapA system in Bacillus subtilis using FRET. We find that changes in extracellular PhrA concentrations are tracked rather poorly; instead, cells accumulate and strongly amplify the signal in a dose-dependent manner. This suggests that the PhrA-RapA system, and others like it, have evolved to sense changes in the composition of heterogeneous populations and infer the fraction of signal-producing cells in a mixed population to coordinate cellular behaviors. Gram-positive bacteria can release signaling peptides that are ‘probed’ by intracellular receptors after being pumped into the cytoplasm. Here, Babel et al. show that these pump-probe networks can infer the fraction of signal-producing cells in a mixed population, and do not necessarily mediate typical quorum-sensing control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Babel
- BioQuant Center of the University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 282, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Pablo Naranjo-Meneses
- BioQuant Center of the University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 282, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Trauth
- BioQuant Center of the University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 282, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sonja Schulmeister
- BioQuant Center of the University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 282, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gabriele Malengo
- Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Karl-von-Frisch Str. 16, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Victor Sourjik
- Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Karl-von-Frisch Str. 16, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ilka B Bischofs
- BioQuant Center of the University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 282, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
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26
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Cogliati S, Clementi V, Francisco M, Crespo C, Argañaraz F, Grau R. Bacillus Subtilis Delays Neurodegeneration and Behavioral Impairment in the Alzheimer’s Disease Model Caenorhabditis Elegans. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 73:1035-1052. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-190837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Cogliati
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET – Rosario, Argentina
| | - Victoria Clementi
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET – Rosario, Argentina
| | - Marcos Francisco
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET – Rosario, Argentina
| | - Cira Crespo
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET – Rosario, Argentina
| | - Federico Argañaraz
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET – Rosario, Argentina
| | - Roberto Grau
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET – Rosario, Argentina
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27
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The oligopeptide ABC-importers are essential communication channels in Gram-positive bacteria. Res Microbiol 2019; 170:338-344. [PMID: 31376485 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The transport of peptides in microorganisms plays an important role in their physiology and behavior, both as a nutrient source and as a proxy to sense their environment. This latter function is evidenced in Gram-positive bacteria where cell-cell communication is mediated by small peptides. Here, we highlight the importance of the oligopeptide permease (Opp) systems in the various major processes controlled by signaling peptides, such as sporulation, virulence and conjugation. We underline that the functioning of these communication systems is tightly linked to the developmental status of the bacteria via the regulation of opp gene expression by transition phase regulators.
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28
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Yehuda A, Slamti L, Malach E, Lereclus D, Hayouka Z. Elucidating the Hot Spot Residues of Quorum Sensing Peptidic Autoinducer PapR by Multiple Amino Acid Replacements. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1246. [PMID: 31231335 PMCID: PMC6568020 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The quorum sensing (QS) system of Bacillus cereus, an opportunistic human pathogen, utilizes the autoinducing PapR peptide signal that mediates the activation of the pleiotropic virulence regulator PlcR. A set of synthetic 7-mer PapR-derived peptides (PapR7; ADLPFEF) have been shown to inhibit efficiently the PlcR regulon activity and the production of virulence factors, reflected by a loss in hemolytic activity without affecting bacterial growth. Interestingly, these first potent synthetic inhibitors involved D-amino acid or alanine replacements of three amino acids; proline, glutamic acid, and phenylalanine of the heptapeptide PapR. To better understand the role of these three positions in PlcR activity, we report herein the second generation design, synthesis, and characterization of PapR7-derived combinations, alternate double and triple alanine and D-amino acids replacement at these positions. Our findings generate a new set of non-native PapR7-derived peptides that inhibit the PlcR regulon activity and the production of virulence factors. Using the amino acids substitution strategy, we revealed the role of proline and glutamic acid on PlcR regulon activation. Moreover, we demonstrated that the D-Glutamic acid substitution was crucial for the design of stronger PlcR antagonists. These peptides represent potent synthetic inhibitors of B. cereus QS and constitute new and readily accessible chemical tools for the study of the PlcR system. Our method might be applied to other quorum sensing systems to design new anti-virulence agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avishag Yehuda
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Leyla Slamti
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Einav Malach
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Didier Lereclus
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Zvi Hayouka
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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29
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Dubois T, Lemy C, Perchat S, Lereclus D. The signaling peptide NprX controlling sporulation and necrotrophism is imported into Bacillus thuringiensis by two oligopeptide permease systems. Mol Microbiol 2019; 112:219-232. [PMID: 31017318 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The infectious cycle of Bacillus thuringiensis in the insect host is regulated by quorum sensors of the RNPP family. The activity of these regulators is modulated by their cognate signaling peptides translocated into the bacterial cells by oligopeptide permeases (Opp systems). In B. thuringiensis, the quorum sensor NprR is a bi-functional regulator that connects sporulation to necrotrophism. The binding of the signaling peptide NprX switches NprR from a dimeric inhibitor of sporulation to a tetrameric transcriptional activator involved in the necrotrophic lifestyle of B. thuringiensis. Here, we report that NprX is imported into the bacterial cells by two different oligopeptide permease systems. The first one is Opp, the system known to be involved in the import of the signaling peptide PapR in B. thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus. The second, designated as Npp (NprX peptide permease), was not previously described. We show that at least two substrate binding proteins (SBPs) are able to translocate NprX through OppBCDF. In contrast, we demonstrate that a unique SBP (NppA) can translocate NprX through NppDFBC. We identified the promoter of the npp operon, and we showed that transcription starts at the onset of stationary phase and is repressed by the nutritional regulator CodY during the exponential growth phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dubois
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, 78350, France
| | - Christelle Lemy
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, 78350, France
| | - Stéphane Perchat
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, 78350, France
| | - Didier Lereclus
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, 78350, France
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30
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Hu F, Liu Y, Li S. Rational strain improvement for surfactin production: enhancing the yield and generating novel structures. Microb Cell Fact 2019; 18:42. [PMID: 30819187 PMCID: PMC6394072 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-019-1089-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Surfactin, one of the most powerful microbial surfactants, is a lipopeptide-type biosurfactant which combines interesting physicochemical properties and biological activities. However, the high cost caused by its low productivity largely limits the commercial application of surfactin. Hence, many engineered bacterium have also been used to enhance surfactin biosynthesis. This review briefly summarizes the mechanism of surfactin biosynthesis, highlighting the synthesis pathway of N-terminally attached fatty acids, and outlines the main genetic engineering strategies for improving the yield and generating novel structures of surfactin, including promoter engineering, enhancing efflux systems, modifying the transcriptional regulatory genes of surfactin synthase (srfA), genomics and transcriptomics analysis, non ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) domain and combinatorial biosynthesis. Finally, we discuss the future prospects of the research on surfactin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangxiang Hu
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuyue Liu
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuang Li
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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31
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Norcross S, Sunderraj A, Tantama M. pH- and Temperature-Dependent Peptide Binding to the Lactococcus lactis Oligopeptide-Binding Protein A Measured with a Fluorescence Anisotropy Assay. ACS OMEGA 2019; 4:2812-2822. [PMID: 30842982 PMCID: PMC6396125 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b02427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial ATP-binding cassette transporters are a superfamily of transport systems involved in the import of various molecules including amino acids, ions, sugars, and peptides. In the lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactis, the oligopeptide-binding protein A (OppA) binds peptides for import to support nitrogen metabolism and cell growth. The OppA protein is of great interest because it can bind peptides over a broad variety of lengths and sequences; however, current methods to study peptide binding have employed low throughput, endpoint, or low dynamic range techniques. Therefore, in this study, we developed a fluorescence anisotropy-based peptide-binding assay that can be readily employed to quantify OppA function. To test the utility of our assay, we characterized the pH dependence of oligopeptide binding because L. lactis is commonly used in fermentation and often must survive in low pH environments caused by lactic acid export. We determined that OppA affinity increases as pH or temperature decreases, and circular dichroism spectroscopy further indicated that acidic conditions increase the thermal stability of the protein, increasing the unfolding transition temperature by 10 °C from pH 8 to pH 6. Thus, our fluorescence anisotropy assay provides an easy technique to measure peptide binding, and it can be used to understand molecular aspects of OppA function under stress conditions experienced during fermentation and other biotechnology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stevie Norcross
- Department
of Chemistry, Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, and Institute for
Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive Box 68, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Ashwin Sunderraj
- Department
of Chemistry, Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, and Institute for
Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive Box 68, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Mathew Tantama
- Department
of Chemistry, Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, and Institute for
Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive Box 68, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- E-mail: . Phone: 765-494-5312
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32
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Kalamara M, Spacapan M, Mandic‐Mulec I, Stanley‐Wall NR. Social behaviours by Bacillus subtilis: quorum sensing, kin discrimination and beyond. Mol Microbiol 2018; 110:863-878. [PMID: 30218468 PMCID: PMC6334282 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Here, we review the multiple mechanisms that the Gram‐positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis uses to allow it to communicate between cells and establish community structures. The modes of action that are used are highly varied and include routes that sense pheromone levels during quorum sensing and control gene regulation, the intimate coupling of cells via nanotubes to share cytoplasmic contents, and long‐range electrical signalling to couple metabolic processes both within and between biofilms. We explore the ability of B. subtilis to detect ‘kin’ (and ‘cheater cells’) by looking at the mechanisms used to potentially ensure beneficial sharing (or limit exploitation) of extracellular ‘public goods’. Finally, reflecting on the array of methods that a single bacterium has at its disposal to ensure maximal benefit for its progeny, we highlight that a large future challenge will be integrating how these systems interact in mixed‐species communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Kalamara
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life SciencesUniversity of DundeeDundeeDD15EHUK
| | - Mihael Spacapan
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljana1000Slovenia
| | - Ines Mandic‐Mulec
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljana1000Slovenia
| | - Nicola R. Stanley‐Wall
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life SciencesUniversity of DundeeDundeeDD15EHUK
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33
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Yehuda A, Slamti L, Bochnik-Tamir R, Malach E, Lereclus D, Hayouka Z. Turning off Bacillus cereus quorum sensing system with peptidic analogs. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 54:9777-9780. [PMID: 30105347 DOI: 10.1039/c8cc05496g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
We explored quenching of the PlcR-PapR quorum-sensing system in Bacillus cereus. We generated PapR7-peptidic derivatives that inhibit this system and thus the production of virulence factors, reflected by a loss in hemolytic activity, without affecting bacterial growth. To our knowledge, these peptides represent the first potent synthetic inhibitors of quorum-sensing in B. cereus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avishag Yehuda
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
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34
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A single mutation in rapP induces cheating to prevent cheating in Bacillus subtilis by minimizing public good production. Commun Biol 2018; 1:133. [PMID: 30272012 PMCID: PMC6123732 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0136-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cooperation is beneficial to group behaviors like multicellularity, but is vulnerable to exploitation by cheaters. Here we analyze mechanisms that protect against exploitation of extracellular surfactin in swarms of Bacillus subtilis. Unexpectedly, the reference strain NCIB 3610 displays inherent resistance to surfactin-non-producing cheaters, while a different wild isolate is susceptible. We trace this interstrain difference down to a single amino acid change in the plasmid-borne regulator RapP, which is necessary and sufficient for cheater mitigation. This allele, prevalent in many Bacillus species, optimizes transcription of the surfactin operon to the minimum needed for full cooperation. When combined with a strain lacking rapP, NCIB 3610 acts as a cheater itself—except it does not harm the population at high proportions since it still produces enough surfactin. This strategy of minimal production is thus a doubly advantageous mechanism to limit exploitation of public goods, and is readily evolved from existing regulatory networks. Lyons and Kolter describe a single-point mutation in the plasmid-borne gene rapP of Bacillus subtilis that optimizes surfactin transcription to express the minimum required for cooperation. The decrease in the production of this public good significantly prevented the exploitation of cooperative traits by cheaters.
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35
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Eymard-Vernain E, Luche S, Rabilloud T, Lelong C. Impact of nanoparticles on the Bacillus subtilis (3610) competence. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2978. [PMID: 29445231 PMCID: PMC5813000 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21402-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles, the use of nanomaterials increases every year in industrial and medical processes. At the same time, the increasing number of bacteria becoming resistant to many antibiotics, mostly by a horizontal gene transfer process, is a major public health concern. We herein report, for the first time, the role of nanoparticles in the physiological induction of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria. Besides the most well-known impacts of nanoparticles on bacteria, i.e. death or oxidative stress, two nanoparticles, n-ZnO and n-TiO2, significantly and oppositely impact the transformation efficiency of Bacillus subtilis in biofilm growth conditions, by modification of the physiological processes involved in the induction of competence, the first step of transformation. This effect is the consequence of a physiological adaptation rather than a physical cell injury: two oligopeptide ABC transporters, OppABCDF and AppDFABC, are differentially expressed in response to nanoparticles. Interestingly, a third tested nanoparticle, n-Ag, has no significant effect on competence in our experimental conditions. Overall, these results show that nanoparticles, by altering bacterial physiology and especially competence, may have profound influences in unsuspected areas, such as the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Eymard-Vernain
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, BIG, CBM, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38054, Grenoble cedex 9, France
| | - Sylvie Luche
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, BIG, CBM, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38054, Grenoble cedex 9, France
| | - Thierry Rabilloud
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, BIG, CBM, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38054, Grenoble cedex 9, France
| | - Cécile Lelong
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, BIG, CBM, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38054, Grenoble cedex 9, France.
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36
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Spacapan M, Danevčič T, Mandic-Mulec I. ComX-Induced Exoproteases Degrade ComX in Bacillus subtilis PS-216. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:105. [PMID: 29449835 PMCID: PMC5799266 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gram-positive bacteria use peptides as auto-inducing (AI) signals to regulate the production of extracellular enzymes (e.g., proteases). ComX is an AI peptide, mostly known for its role in the regulation of bacterial competence and surfactant production in Bacillus subtilis. These two traits are regulated accordingly to the bacterial population size, thus classifying ComX as a quorum sensing signal. ComX also indirectly regulates exoprotease production through the intermediate transcriptional regulator DegQ. We here use this peptide-based AI system (the ComQXPA system) as a model to address exoprotease regulation by ComX in biofilms. We also investigate the potential of ComX regulated proteases to degrade the ComX AI peptide. Results indicate that ComX indeed induces the expression of aprE, the gene for the major serine protease subtilisin, and stimulates overall exoprotease production in biofilms of B. subtilis PS-216 and several other B. subtilis soil isolates. We also provide evidence that these exoproteases can degrade ComX. The ComX biological activity decay is reduced in the spent media of floating biofilms with low proteolytic activity found in the comP and degQ mutants. ComX biological activity decay can be restored by the addition of subtilisin to such media. In contrast, inhibition of metalloproteases by EDTA reduces ComX biological activity decay. This suggests that both serine and metalloproteases, which are induced by ComX, are ultimately capable of degrading this signaling peptide. This work brings novel information on regulation of exoproteases in B. subtilis floating biofilms and reveals that these proteolytic enzymes degrade the AI signaling peptide ComX, which is also a major determinant of their expression in biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihael Spacapan
- Chair of Microbiology, Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tjaša Danevčič
- Chair of Microbiology, Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ines Mandic-Mulec
- Chair of Microbiology, Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Fazion F, Perchat S, Buisson C, Vilas-Bôas G, Lereclus D. A plasmid-borne Rap-Phr system regulates sporulation ofBacillus thuringiensisin insect larvae. Environ Microbiol 2017; 20:145-155. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/23/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Fazion
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay; 78350 Jouy-en-Josas France
- Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Bio/CCB; Londrina Brazil
| | - Stéphane Perchat
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay; 78350 Jouy-en-Josas France
| | - Christophe Buisson
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay; 78350 Jouy-en-Josas France
| | | | - Didier Lereclus
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay; 78350 Jouy-en-Josas France
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Abstract
Bacterial cell-cell signaling, or quorum sensing, is characterized by the secretion and group-wide detection of small diffusible signal molecules called autoinducers. This mechanism allows cells to coordinate their behavior in a density-dependent manner. A quorum-sensing cell may directly respond to the autoinducers it produces in a cell-autonomous and quorum-independent manner, but the strength of such self-sensing effect and its impact on bacterial physiology are unclear. Here, we explored the existence and impact of self-sensing in the Bacillus subtilis ComQXP and Rap-Phr quorum-sensing systems. By comparing the quorum-sensing response of autoinducer-secreting and non-secreting cells in co-culture, we found that secreting cells consistently showed a stronger response than non-secreting cells. Combining genetic and quantitative analyses, we demonstrated this effect to be a direct result of self-sensing and ruled out an indirect regulatory effect of the autoinducer production genes on response sensitivity. In addition, self-sensing in the ComQXP system affected persistence to antibiotic treatment. Together, these findings indicate the existence of self-sensing in the two most common designs of quorum-sensing systems of Gram-positive bacteria.
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Wilkening RV, Capodagli GC, Khataokar A, Tylor KM, Neiditch MB, Federle MJ. Activating mutations in quorum-sensing regulator Rgg2 and its conformational flexibility in the absence of an intermolecular disulfide bond. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:20544-20557. [PMID: 29030429 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.801670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Rap/Rgg/NprR/PlcR/PrgX (RRNPP) quorum-sensing systems use extracellular peptide pheromones that are detected by cytoplasmic receptors to regulate gene expression in firmicute bacteria. Rgg-type receptors are allosterically regulated through direct pheromone binding to control transcriptional activity; however, the receptor activation mechanism remains poorly understood. Previous work has identified a disulfide bond between Cys-45 residues within the homodimer interface of Rgg2 from Streptococcus dysgalactiae (Rgg2Sd). Here, we compared two Rgg2Sd(C45S) X-ray crystal structures with that of wild-type Rgg2Sd and found that in the absence of the intermolecular disulfide, the Rgg2Sd dimer interface is destabilized and Rgg2Sd can adopt multiple conformations. One conformation closely resembled the "disulfide-locked" Rgg2Sd secondary and tertiary structures, but another displayed more extensive rigid-body shifts as well as dramatic secondary structure changes. In parallel experiments, a genetic screen was used to identify mutations in rgg2 of Streptococcus pyogenes (rgg2Sp ) that conferred pheromone-independent transcriptional activation of an Rgg2-stimulated promoter. Eight mutations yielding constitutive Rgg2 activity, designated Rgg2Sp*, were identified, and five of them clustered in or near an Rgg2 region that underwent conformational changes in one of the Rgg2Sd(C45S) crystal structures. The Rgg2Sp* mutations increased Rgg2Sp sensitivity to pheromone and pheromone variants while displaying decreased sensitivity to the Rgg2 antagonist cyclosporine A. We propose that Rgg2Sp* mutations invoke shifts in free-energy bias to favor the active state of the protein. Finally, we present evidence for an electrostatic interaction between an N-terminal Asp of the pheromone and Arg-153 within the proposed pheromone-binding pocket of Rgg2Sp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reid V Wilkening
- From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607
| | - Glenn C Capodagli
- the Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey 07103, and
| | - Atul Khataokar
- the Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey 07103, and
| | - Kaitlyn M Tylor
- From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607
| | - Matthew B Neiditch
- the Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey 07103, and
| | - Michael J Federle
- From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, .,the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Center for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607
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40
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Cogliati S, Ayala FR, Bauman C, Bartolini M, Leñini C, Villalba JM, Argañaraz F, Grau R. Determination of NO and CSF Levels Produced by Bacillus subtilis. Bio Protoc 2017; 7:e2379. [PMID: 34541119 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.2379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell-to-cell communication and division of labour that occurs inside a beneficial biofilm produce significant differences in gene expression compared with the gene expression pattern of cells grew under planktonic conditions. In this sense, the levels of NO (nitric oxide) and CSF (Competence Sporulation Stimulating Factor) produced in Bacillus subtilis cultures have been measured only under planktonic growth conditions. We sought to determine whether NO and/or CSF production is affected in B. subtilis cells that develop as a biofilm. To measure the production levels of the two prolongevity molecules, we grew B. subtilis cells under planktonic and biofilm supporting condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Cogliati
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Facundo Rodriguez Ayala
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Carlos Bauman
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Marco Bartolini
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Leñini
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Juan Manuel Villalba
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Federico Argañaraz
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Roberto Grau
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, CONICET, Rosario, Argentina
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Silva WM, Dorella FA, Soares SC, Souza GHMF, Castro TLP, Seyffert N, Figueiredo H, Miyoshi A, Le Loir Y, Silva A, Azevedo V. A shift in the virulence potential of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis biovar ovis after passage in a murine host demonstrated through comparative proteomics. BMC Microbiol 2017; 17:55. [PMID: 28327085 PMCID: PMC5361795 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-017-0925-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis biovar ovis, a facultative intracellular pathogen, is the etiologic agent of caseous lymphadenitis in small ruminants. During the infection process, C. pseudotuberculosis changes its gene expression to resist different types of stresses and to evade the immune system of the host. However, factors contributing to the infectious process of this pathogen are still poorly documented. To better understand the C. pseudotuberculosis infection process and to identify potential factors which could be involved in its virulence, experimental infection was carried out in a murine model using the strain 1002_ovis and followed by a comparative proteomic analysis of the strain before and after passage. Results The experimental infection assays revealed that strain 1002_ovis exhibits low virulence potential. However, the strain recovered from the spleen of infected mice and used in a new infection challenge showed a dramatic change in its virulence potential. Label-free proteomic analysis of the culture supernatants of strain 1002_ovis before and after passage in mice revealed that 118 proteins were differentially expressed. The proteome exclusive to the recovered strain contained important virulence factors such as CP40 proteinase and phospholipase D exotoxin, the major virulence factor of C. pseudotuberculosis. Also, the proteome from recovered condition revealed different classes of proteins involved in detoxification processes, pathogenesis and export pathways, indicating the presence of distinct mechanisms that could contribute in the infectious process of this pathogen. Conclusions This study shows that C. pseudotuberculosis modifies its proteomic profile in the laboratory versus infection conditions and adapts to the host context during the infection process. The screening proteomic performed us enable identify known virulence factors, as well as potential proteins that could be related to virulence this pathogen. These results enhance our understanding of the factors that might influence in the virulence of C. pseudotuberculosis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-017-0925-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanderson M Silva
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,INRA, UMR1253 STLO, 35042, Rennes, France.,Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1253 STLO, 35042, Rennes, France
| | - Fernanda A Dorella
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Siomar C Soares
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Gustavo H M F Souza
- Waters Corporation, Waters Technologies Brazil, MS Applications Laboratory, Alphaville, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thiago L P Castro
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Núbia Seyffert
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Henrique Figueiredo
- Aquacen, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Anderson Miyoshi
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Yves Le Loir
- INRA, UMR1253 STLO, 35042, Rennes, France.,Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1253 STLO, 35042, Rennes, France
| | - Artur Silva
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Guamá, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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42
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Bacillus subtilis biofilm extends Caenorhabditis elegans longevity through downregulation of the insulin-like signalling pathway. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14332. [PMID: 28134244 PMCID: PMC5290332 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Beneficial bacteria have been shown to affect host longevity, but the molecular mechanisms mediating such effects remain largely unclear. Here we show that formation of Bacillus subtilis biofilms increases Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan. Biofilm-proficient B. subtilis colonizes the C. elegans gut and extends worm lifespan more than biofilm-deficient isogenic strains. Two molecules produced by B. subtilis — the quorum-sensing pentapeptide CSF and nitric oxide (NO) — are sufficient to extend C. elegans longevity. When B. subtilis is cultured under biofilm-supporting conditions, the synthesis of NO and CSF is increased in comparison with their production under planktonic growth conditions. We further show that the prolongevity effect of B. subtilis biofilms depends on the DAF-2/DAF-16/HSF-1 signalling axis and the downregulation of the insulin-like signalling (ILS) pathway. Probiotic bacteria can improve host health, but the mechanisms underlying such beneficial effects are often unclear. Here, the authors show that biofilm formation of the probiotic bacterium B. subtilis extends the lifespan of its host, the nematode C. elegans, by reducing insulin-like signalling.
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43
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Transient Duplication-Dependent Divergence and Horizontal Transfer Underlie the Evolutionary Dynamics of Bacterial Cell-Cell Signaling. PLoS Biol 2016; 14:e2000330. [PMID: 28033323 PMCID: PMC5199041 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2000330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary expansion of signaling pathway families often underlies the evolution of regulatory complexity. Expansion requires the acquisition of a novel homologous pathway and the diversification of pathway specificity. Acquisition can occur either vertically, by duplication, or through horizontal transfer, while divergence of specificity is thought to occur through a promiscuous protein intermediate. The way by which these mechanisms shape the evolution of rapidly diverging signaling families is unclear. Here, we examine this question using the highly diversified Rap-Phr cell-cell signaling system, which has undergone massive expansion in the genus Bacillus. To this end, genomic sequence analysis of >300 Bacilli genomes was combined with experimental analysis of the interaction of Rap receptors with Phr autoinducers and downstream targets. Rap-Phr expansion is shown to have occurred independently in multiple Bacillus lineages, with >80 different putative rap-phr alleles evolving in the Bacillius subtilis group alone. The specificity of many rap-phr alleles and the rapid gain and loss of Rap targets are experimentally demonstrated. Strikingly, both horizontal and vertical processes were shown to participate in this expansion, each with a distinct role. Horizontal gene transfer governs the acquisition of already diverged rap-phr alleles, while intralocus duplication and divergence of the phr gene create the promiscuous intermediate required for the divergence of Rap-Phr specificity. Our results suggest a novel role for transient gene duplication and divergence during evolutionary shifts in specificity.
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44
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Ribbe J, Maier B. Density-Dependent Differentiation of Bacteria in Spatially Structured Open Systems. Biophys J 2016; 110:1648-1660. [PMID: 27074689 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Revised: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial quorum sensing is usually studied in well-mixed populations residing within closed systems. The latter do not exchange mass with their surroundings; however, in their natural environment, such as the rhizosphere, bacteria live in spatially structured open systems. Here, we tested the hypothesis that trapping of bacteria within microscopic pockets of an open system triggers density-dependent differentiation. We designed a microfluidic device that trapped swimming bacteria within microscopic compartments. The geometry of the traps controlled their diffusive coupling to fluid flow that played a dual role as nutrient source and autoinducer sink. Bacillus subtilis differentiates into a state of competence in response to quorum sensing and nutrient limitation. Using a mutant strain with a high differentiation rate and fluorescent reporters for competence, we found that the cell density required for differentiation was 100-fold higher than that required in closed systems. A direct comparison of strongly and moderately coupled reservoirs showed that strong coupling supported early differentiation but required a higher number of bacteria for its initiation. Weak coupling resulted in retardation of growth and differentiation. We conclude that spatial heterogeneity can promote density-dependent differentiation in open systems, and propose that the minimal quorum is determined by diffusive coupling to the environment through a trade-off between retaining autoinducers and accessing nutrients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Ribbe
- Department of Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Berenike Maier
- Department of Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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45
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Kröber M, Verwaaijen B, Wibberg D, Winkler A, Pühler A, Schlüter A. Comparative transcriptome analysis of the biocontrol strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42 as response to biofilm formation analyzed by RNA sequencing. J Biotechnol 2016; 231:212-223. [PMID: 27312701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42 is a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) and biocontrol agent known to keep infections of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) by the phytopathogen Rhizoctonia solani down. Several mechanisms, including the production of secondary metabolites possessing antimicrobial properties and induction of the host plant's systemic resistance (ISR), were proposed to explain the biocontrol effect of the strain. B. amyloliquefaciens FZB42 is able to form plaques (biofilm-like structures) on plant roots and this feature was discussed to be associated with its biocontrol properties. For this reason, formation of B. amyloliquefaciens biofilms was studied at the transcriptional level using high-throughput sequencing of whole transcriptome cDNA libraries from cells grown under biofilm-forming conditions vs. planktonic growth. Comparison of the transcriptional profiles of B. amyloliquefaciens FZB42 under these growth conditions revealed a common set of highly transcribed genes mostly associated with basic cellular functions. The lci gene, encoding an antimicrobial peptide (AMP), was among the most highly transcribed genes of cells under both growth conditions suggesting that AMP production may contribute to biocontrol. In contrast, gene clusters coding for synthesis of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties were only moderately transcribed and not induced in biofilm-forming cells. Differential gene expression revealed that 331 genes were significantly up-regulated and 230 genes were down-regulated in the transcriptome of B. amyloliquefaciens FZB42 under biofilm-forming conditions in comparison to planktonic cells. Among the most highly up-regulated genes, the yvqHI operon, coding for products involved in nisin (class I bacteriocin) resistance, was identified. In addition, an operon whose products play a role in fructosamine metabolism was enhanced in its transcription. Moreover, genes involved in the production of the extracellular biofilm matrix including exopolysaccharide genes (eps) and the yqxM-tasA-sipW operon encoding amyloid fiber synthesis were up-regulated in the B. amyloliquefaciens FZB42 biofilm. On the other hand, highly down-regulated genes in biofilms are associated with synthesis, assembly and regulation of the flagellar apparatus, the degradation of aromatic compounds and the export of copper. The obtained transcriptional profile for B. amyloliquefaciens biofilm cells uncovered genes involved in its development and enabled the assessment that synthesis of secondary metabolites among other factors may contribute to the biocontrol properties of the strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kröber
- Genome Research of Industrial Microorganisms, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Bart Verwaaijen
- Genome Research of Industrial Microorganisms, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Daniel Wibberg
- Genome Research of Industrial Microorganisms, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Anika Winkler
- Genome Research of Industrial Microorganisms, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Alfred Pühler
- Genome Research of Industrial Microorganisms, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Andreas Schlüter
- Genome Research of Industrial Microorganisms, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
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Di Luccia B, D'Apuzzo E, Varriale F, Baccigalupi L, Ricca E, Pollice A. Bacillus megaterium SF185 induces stress pathways and affects the cell cycle distribution of human intestinal epithelial cells. Benef Microbes 2016; 7:609-20. [PMID: 27291405 DOI: 10.3920/bm2016.0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The interaction between the enteric microbiota and intestinal cells often involves signal molecules that affect both microbial behaviour and host responses. Examples of such signal molecules are the molecules secreted by bacteria that induce quorum sensing mechanisms in the producing microorganism and signal transduction pathways in the host cells. The pentapeptide competence and sporulation factor (CSF) of Bacillus subtilis is a well characterized quorum sensing factor that controls competence and spore formation in the producing bacterium and induces cytoprotective heat shock proteins in intestinal epithelial cells. We analysed several Bacillus strains isolated from human ileal biopsies of healthy volunteers and observed that some of them were unable to produce CSF but still able to act in a CSF-like fashion on model intestinal epithelial cells. One of those strains belonging to the Bacillus megaterium species secreted at least two factors with effects on intestinal HT29 cells: a peptide smaller than 3 kDa able to induce heat shock protein 27 (hsp27) and p38-MAPK, and a larger molecule able to induce protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) with a pro-proliferative effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Di Luccia
- 1 Department of Biology, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Federico II University, via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - E D'Apuzzo
- 1 Department of Biology, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Federico II University, via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - F Varriale
- 1 Department of Biology, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Federico II University, via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - L Baccigalupi
- 1 Department of Biology, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Federico II University, via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - E Ricca
- 1 Department of Biology, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Federico II University, via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - A Pollice
- 1 Department of Biology, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Federico II University, via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy
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Verplaetse E, Slamti L, Gohar M, Lereclus D. Two distinct pathways lead Bacillus thuringiensis to commit to sporulation in biofilm. Res Microbiol 2016; 168:388-393. [PMID: 27106256 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2016.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The spore-forming bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is an efficient biofilm producer, responsible for persistent contamination of industrial food processing systems. B. thuringiensis biofilms are highly heterogeneous bacterial structures in which three distinct cell types controlled by quorum sensing regulators were identified: PlcR-controlled virulent cells, NprR-dependent necrotrophic cells and cells committed to sporulation, a differentiation process controlled by Rap phosphatases and Spo0A-P. Interestingly, a cell lineage study revealed that, in LB medium or in insect larvae, only necrotrophic cells became spores. Here we analyzed cellular differentiation undertaken by cells growing in biofilm in a medium optimized for sporulation. No virulent cells were identified; surprisingly, two distinct routes could lead to differentiation as a spore in this growth condition: the NprR-dependent route, followed by the majority of cells, and the newly identified NprR-independent route, which is followed by 20% of sporulating cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Verplaetse
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Leyla Slamti
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Michel Gohar
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Didier Lereclus
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
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48
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van Gestel J, Weissing FJ. Regulatory mechanisms link phenotypic plasticity to evolvability. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24524. [PMID: 27087393 PMCID: PMC4834480 DOI: 10.1038/srep24524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms have a remarkable capacity to respond to environmental change. They can either respond directly, by means of phenotypic plasticity, or they can slowly adapt through evolution. Yet, how phenotypic plasticity links to evolutionary adaptability is largely unknown. Current studies of plasticity tend to adopt a phenomenological reaction norm (RN) approach, which neglects the mechanisms underlying plasticity. Focusing on a concrete question - the optimal timing of bacterial sporulation - we here also consider a mechanistic approach, the evolution of a gene regulatory network (GRN) underlying plasticity. Using individual-based simulations, we compare the RN and GRN approach and find a number of striking differences. Most importantly, the GRN model results in a much higher diversity of responsive strategies than the RN model. We show that each of the evolved strategies is pre-adapted to a unique set of unseen environmental conditions. The regulatory mechanisms that control plasticity therefore critically link phenotypic plasticity to the adaptive potential of biological populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi van Gestel
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, Groningen 9700 CC, The Netherlands
| | - Franz J. Weissing
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, Groningen 9700 CC, The Netherlands
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Edwards AN, Tamayo R, McBride SM. A novel regulator controls Clostridium difficile sporulation, motility and toxin production. Mol Microbiol 2016; 100:954-71. [PMID: 26915493 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic pathogen that forms spores which promote survival in the environment and transmission to new hosts. The regulatory pathways by which C. difficile initiates spore formation are poorly understood. We identified two factors with limited similarity to the Rap sporulation proteins of other spore-forming bacteria. In this study, we show that disruption of the gene CD3668 reduces sporulation and increases toxin production and motility. This mutant was more virulent and exhibited increased toxin gene expression in the hamster model of infection. Based on these phenotypes, we have renamed this locus rstA, for regulator of sporulation and toxins. Our data demonstrate that RstA is a bifunctional protein that upregulates sporulation through an unidentified pathway and represses motility and toxin production by influencing sigD transcription. Conserved RstA orthologs are present in other pathogenic and industrial Clostridium species and may represent a key regulatory protein controlling clostridial sporulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianne N Edwards
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rita Tamayo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Shonna M McBride
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Slamti L, Lemy C, Henry C, Guillot A, Huillet E, Lereclus D. CodY Regulates the Activity of the Virulence Quorum Sensor PlcR by Controlling the Import of the Signaling Peptide PapR in Bacillus thuringiensis. Front Microbiol 2016; 6:1501. [PMID: 26779156 PMCID: PMC4701985 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In Gram-positive bacteria, cell–cell communication mainly relies on cytoplasmic sensors of the RNPP family. Activity of these regulators depends on their binding to secreted signaling peptides that are imported into the cell. These quorum sensing regulators control important biological functions in bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group, such as virulence and necrotrophism. The RNPP quorum sensor PlcR, in complex with its cognate signaling peptide PapR, is the main regulator of virulence in B. cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Recent reports have shown that the global stationary phase regulator CodY, involved in adaptation to nutritional limitation, is required for the expression of virulence genes belonging to the PlcR regulon. However, the mechanism underlying this regulation was not described. Using genetics and proteomics approaches, we showed that CodY regulates the expression of the virulence genes through the import of PapR. We report that CodY positively controls the production of the proteins that compose the oligopeptide permease OppABCDF, and of several other Opp-like proteins. It was previously shown that the pore components of this oligopeptide permease, OppBCDF, were required for the import of PapR. However, the role of OppA, the substrate-binding protein (SBP), was not investigated. Here, we demonstrated that OppA is not the only SBP involved in the recognition of PapR, and that several other OppA-like proteins can allow the import of this peptide. Altogether, these data complete our model of quorum sensing during the lifecycle of Bt and indicate that RNPPs integrate environmental conditions, as well as cell density, to coordinate the behavior of the bacteria throughout growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyla Slamti
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Christelle Lemy
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Céline Henry
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Alain Guillot
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Eugénie Huillet
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Didier Lereclus
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay Jouy-en-Josas, France
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