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Yang L, Jia S, Sun S, Wang L, Zhao B, Zhang M, Yin Y, Yang M, Fulano AM, Shen X, Pan J, Wang Y. A pyocin-like T6SS effector mediates bacterial competition in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0427823. [PMID: 38712967 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04278-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Within the realm of Gram-negative bacteria, bacteriocins are secreted almost everywhere, and the most representative are colicin and pyocin, which are secreted by Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Signal peptides at the amino terminus of bacteriocins or ABC transporters can secrete bacteriocins, which then enter bacteria through cell membrane receptors and exert toxicity. In general, the bactericidal spectrum is usually narrow, killing only the kin or closely related species. Our previous research indicates that YPK_0952 is an effector of the third Type VI secretion system (T6SS-3) in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Next, we sought to determine its identity and characterize its toxicity. We found that YPK_0952 (a pyocin-like effector) can achieve intra-species and inter-species competitive advantages through both contact-dependent and contact-independent mechanisms mediated by the T6SS-3 while enhancing the intestinal colonization capacity of Y. pseudotuberculosis. We further identified YPK_0952 as a DNase dependent on Mg2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, and Co2+ bivalent metal ions, and the homologous immune protein YPK_0953 can inhibit its activity. In summary, YPK_0952 exerts toxicity by degrading nucleic acids from competing cells, and YPK_0953 prevents self-attack in Y. pseudotuberculosis.IMPORTANCEBacteriocins secreted by Gram-negative bacteria generally enter cells through specific interactions on the cell surface, resulting in a narrow bactericidal spectrum. First, we identified a new pyocin-like effector protein, YPK_0952, in the third Type VI secretion system (T6SS-3) of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. YPK_0952 is secreted by T6SS-3 and can exert DNase activity through contact-dependent and contact-independent entry into nearby cells of the same and other species (e.g., Escherichia coli) to help Y. pseudotuberculosis to exert a competitive advantage and promote intestinal colonization. This discovery lays the foundation for an in-depth study of the different effector protein types within the T6SS and their complexity in competing interactions. At the same time, this study provides a new development for the toolbox of toxin/immune pairs for studying Gram-negative bacteriocin translocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shuangkai Jia
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Sihuai Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Bobo Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Mengsi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yanling Yin
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- College of Life Sciences, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, China
| | - Mingming Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Alex M Fulano
- Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Xihui Shen
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- College of Life Sciences, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, China
| | - Junfeng Pan
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yao Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
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Lin L. The expanding universe of contractile injection systems in bacteria. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102465. [PMID: 38520915 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Contractile injection systems (CISs) are phage tail-like machineries found in a wide range of bacteria. They are often deployed by bacteria to translocate effectors into the extracellular space or into target cells. CISs are classified into intracellular type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) and extracellular CIS (eCISs). eCISs are assembled in cytoplasm and released into the extracellular milieu upon cell lysis, while T6SSs are the secretion systems widespread among Gram-negative bacteria and actively translocate effectors into the environment or into the adjacent cell, without lysis of T6SS-producing cells. Recently, several noncanonical CISs that exhibit distinct characteristics have been discovered. This review will provide an overview on these noncanonical CISs and their unique features, as well as new advances in reprogramming CISs for therapeutic protein delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark.
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3
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Elfadadny A, Ragab RF, AlHarbi M, Badshah F, Ibáñez-Arancibia E, Farag A, Hendawy AO, De los Ríos-Escalante PR, Aboubakr M, Zakai SA, Nageeb WM. Antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: navigating clinical impacts, current resistance trends, and innovations in breaking therapies. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1374466. [PMID: 38646632 PMCID: PMC11026690 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1374466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative bacterium, is recognized for its adaptability and opportunistic nature. It poses a substantial challenge in clinical settings due to its complicated antibiotic resistance mechanisms, biofilm formation, and capacity for persistent infections in both animal and human hosts. Recent studies revealed a potential zoonotic transmission of P. aeruginosa between animals, the environment, and human populations which highlights awareness of this microbe. Implementation of the One Health approach, which underscores the connection between human, animal, and environmental health, we aim to offer a comprehensive perspective on the current landscape of P. aeruginosa management. This review presents innovative strategies designed to counteract P. aeruginosa infections. Traditional antibiotics, while effective in many cases, are increasingly compromised by the development of multidrug-resistant strains. Non-antibiotic avenues, such as quorum sensing inhibition, phage therapy, and nanoparticle-based treatments, are emerging as promising alternatives. However, their clinical application encounters obstacles like cost, side effects, and safety concerns. Effectively addressing P. aeruginosa infections necessitates persistent research efforts, advancements in clinical development, and a comprehension of host-pathogen interactions to deal with this resilient pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Elfadadny
- Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Rokaia F. Ragab
- Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Maha AlHarbi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Farhad Badshah
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China
| | - Eliana Ibáñez-Arancibia
- PhD Program in Sciences Mentioning Applied Molecular and Cell Biology, La Frontera University, Temuco, Chile
- Laboratory of Engineering, Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry – LIBBA, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, La Frontera University, Temuco, Chile
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, Catholic University of Temuco, Temuco, Chile
| | - Ahmed Farag
- Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Amin Omar Hendawy
- Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Patricio R. De los Ríos-Escalante
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, Catholic University of Temuco, Temuco, Chile
- Nucleus of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, Catholic University of Temuco, Temuco, Chile
| | - Mohamed Aboubakr
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh, Qaliobiya, Egypt
| | - Shadi A. Zakai
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wedad M. Nageeb
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
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Goult JD, Van DCL, Taylor YV, Inns PG, Kaminska R, Vesely M, Kleanthous C, Paci E. Structural constraints of pyocin S2 import through the ferripyoverdine receptor FpvAI. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae124. [PMID: 38577260 PMCID: PMC10994204 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
TonB-dependent transporters (TBDTs) mediate energized transport of essential nutrients into gram-negative bacteria. TBDTs are increasingly being exploited for the delivery of antibiotics to drug-resistant bacteria. While much is known about ground state complexes of TBDTs, few details have emerged about the transport process itself. In this study, we exploit bacteriocin parasitization of a TBDT to probe the mechanics of transport. Previous work has shown that the N-terminal domain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-specific bacteriocin pyocin S2 (PyoS2NTD) is imported through the pyoverdine receptor FpvAI. PyoS2NTD transport follows the opening of a proton-motive force-dependent pore through FpvAI and the delivery of its own TonB box that engages TonB. We use molecular models and simulations to formulate a complete translocation pathway for PyoS2NTD that we validate using protein engineering and cytotoxicity measurements. We show that following partial removal of the FpvAI plug domain which occludes the channel, the pyocin's N-terminus enters the channel by electrostatic steering and ratchets to the periplasm. Application of force, mimicking that exerted by TonB, leads to unraveling of PyoS2NTD as it squeezes through the channel. Remarkably, while some parts of PyoS2NTD must unfold, complete unfolding is not required for transport, a result we confirmed by disulfide bond engineering. Moreover, the section of the FpvAI plug that remains embedded in the channel appears to serve as a buttress against which PyoS2NTD is pushed to destabilize the domain. Our study reveals the limits of structural deformation that accompanies import through a TBDT and the role the TBDT itself plays in accommodating transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Goult
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Daniel C L Van
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Yasmin V Taylor
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Patrick G Inns
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Renata Kaminska
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Martin Vesely
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Colin Kleanthous
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Emanuele Paci
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Bologna, Bologna 40127, Italy
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5
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Garrett SR, Palmer T. The role of proteinaceous toxins secreted by Staphylococcus aureus in interbacterial competition. FEMS MICROBES 2024; 5:xtae006. [PMID: 38495077 PMCID: PMC10941976 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtae006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is highly adapted to colonization of the mammalian host. In humans the primary site of colonization is the epithelium of the nasal cavity. A major barrier to colonization is the resident microbiota, which have mechanisms to exclude S. aureus. As such, S. aureus has evolved mechanisms to compete with other bacteria, one of which is through secretion of proteinaceous toxins. S. aureus strains collectively produce a number of well-characterized Class I, II, and IV bacteriocins as well as several bacteriocin-like substances, about which less is known. These bacteriocins have potent antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive organisms, with some also active against Gram-negative species. S. aureus bacteriocins characterized to date are sporadically produced, and often encoded on plasmids. More recently the type VII secretion system (T7SS) of S. aureus has also been shown to play a role in interbacterial competition. The T7SS is encoded by all S. aureus isolates and so may represent a more widespread mechanism of competition used by this species. T7SS antagonism is mediated by the secretion of large protein toxins, three of which have been characterized to date: a nuclease toxin, EsaD; a membrane depolarizing toxin, TspA; and a phospholipase toxin, TslA. Further study is required to decipher the role that these different types of secreted toxins play in interbacterial competition and colonization of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Garrett
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Tracy Palmer
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
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6
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Ishii T, Tsuchida N, Hemelda NM, Saito K, Bao J, Watanabe M, Toyoda A, Matsubara T, Sato M, Toyooka K, Ishihama N, Shirasu K, Matsui H, Toyoda K, Ichinose Y, Hayashi T, Kawaguchi A, Noutoshi Y. Rhizoviticin is an alphaproteobacterial tailocin that mediates biocontrol of grapevine crown gall disease. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrad003. [PMID: 38365227 PMCID: PMC10811719 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Tailocins are headless phage tail structures that mediate interbacterial antagonism. Although the prototypical tailocins, R- and F-pyocins, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other predominantly R-type tailocins have been studied, their presence in Alphaproteobacteria remains unexplored. Here, we report the first alphaproteobacterial F-type tailocin, named rhizoviticin, as a determinant of the biocontrol activity of Allorhizobium vitis VAR03-1 against crown gall. Rhizoviticin is encoded by a chimeric prophage genome, one providing transcriptional regulators and the other contributing to tail formation and cell lysis, but lacking head formation genes. The rhizoviticin genome retains a nearly intact early phage region containing an integrase remnant and replication-related genes critical for downstream gene transcription, suggesting an ongoing transition of this locus from a prophage to a tailocin-coding region. Rhizoviticin is responsible for the most antagonistic activity in VAR03-1 culture supernatant against pathogenic A. vitis strain, and rhizoviticin deficiency resulted in a significant reduction in the antitumorigenic activity in planta. We identified the rhizoviticin-coding locus in eight additional A. vitis strains from diverse geographical locations, highlighting a unique survival strategy of certain Rhizobiales bacteria in the rhizosphere. These findings advance our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of tailocins and provide a scientific foundation for employing rhizoviticin-producing strains in plant disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Ishii
- Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Natsuki Tsuchida
- Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
- Present address: Division of Biological Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Niarsi Merry Hemelda
- Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
- Department of Biology, University of Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
| | - Kirara Saito
- Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
- Present address: Kyushu Okinawa Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki 885-0091, Japan
| | - Jiyuan Bao
- Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Megumi Watanabe
- Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Department of Genomics and Evolutionary Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Takehiro Matsubara
- Okayama University Hospital Biobank, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Mayuko Sato
- Mass Spectrometry and Microscopy Unit, Technology Platform Division, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Kiminori Toyooka
- Mass Spectrometry and Microscopy Unit, Technology Platform Division, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Ishihama
- Plant Immunity Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Ken Shirasu
- Plant Immunity Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
- Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Hidenori Matsui
- Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
- Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Toyoda
- Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
- Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Yuki Ichinose
- Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
- Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hayashi
- Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Akira Kawaguchi
- Western Region Agricultural Research Center (WARC), National Agricultural and Food Research Organization (NARO), Fukuyama, Hiroshima 721-8514, Japan
| | - Yoshiteru Noutoshi
- Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
- Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
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Cornelis P, Dingemans J, Baysse C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Soluble Pyocins as Antibacterial Weapons. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2721:125-136. [PMID: 37819519 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3473-8_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen causing nosocomial infections and associated with lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients (Lyczak et al., Microbes Infect 2:1051-1060, 2000). Multiple drug-resistant P. aeruginosa strains pose a serious problem because of antibiotic treatment failure. There is therefore a need for alternative anti-Pseudomonas molecules. Soluble pyocins (S-pyocins) are bacteriocins produced by P. aeruginosa strains that kill sensitive strains of the same species. These bacteriocins and their immunity gene are easily cloned and expressed in E. coli and their activity spectrum against different P. aeruginosa strains can be tested. In this chapter, we describe the procedures for cloning, expression, and sensitivity testing of two different S-pyocins. We also describe how to identify their receptor binding domain in sensitive strains, how to construct chimeric pyocins with extended activity spectra, and how to identify new pyocins in genomes by multiplex PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Cornelis
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Microbiology Group, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Jozef Dingemans
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Microbiology Group, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christine Baysse
- Institut de Génétique et de Développement de Rennes (IGDR), CNRS UMR 6290, Université de Rennes, Rennes, France
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8
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Mei M, Pheng P, Kurzeja-Edwards D, Diggle SP. High prevalence of lipopolysaccharide mutants and R2-pyocin susceptible variants in Pseudomonas aeruginosa populations sourced from cystic fibrosis lung infections. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0177323. [PMID: 37877708 PMCID: PMC10714928 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01773-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients often experience chronic, debilitating lung infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The genetic and phenotypic diversity of P. aeruginosa populations in CF lungs raises questions about their susceptibility to non-traditional antimicrobials, like bacteriocins. In this study, we focused on R-pyocins, a type of bacteriocin with high potency and a narrow killing spectrum. Our findings indicate that a large number of infectious CF variants are susceptible to R2-pyocins, even within diverse bacterial populations, supporting their potential use as therapeutic agents. The absence of a clear correlation between lipopolysaccharide (LPS) phenotypes and R-pyocin susceptibility suggests that LPS packing density may play a significant role in R-pyocin susceptibility among CF variants. Understanding the relationship between LPS phenotypes and R-pyocin susceptibility is crucial for developing effective treatments for these chronic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline Mei
- School of Biological Sciences, Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis, and Sleep, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Emory+Children’s Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airway Disease Research, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Preston Pheng
- School of Biological Sciences, Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Detriana Kurzeja-Edwards
- School of Biological Sciences, Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Stephen P. Diggle
- School of Biological Sciences, Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Borowicz M, Krzyżanowska DM, Narajczyk M, Sobolewska M, Rajewska M, Czaplewska P, Węgrzyn K, Czajkowski R. Soft rot pathogen Dickeya dadantii 3937 produces tailocins resembling the tails of Peduovirus P2. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1307349. [PMID: 38098664 PMCID: PMC10719855 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1307349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Tailocins are nanomolecular machines with bactericidal activity. They are produced by bacteria to contribute to fitness in mixed communities, and hence, they play a critical role in their ecology in a variety of habitats. Here, we characterized the new tailocin produced by Dickeya dadantii strain 3937, a well-characterized member of plant pathogenic Soft Rot Pectobacteriaceae (SRP). Tailocins induced in D. dadantii were ca. 166 nm long tubes surrounded by contractive sheaths with baseplates having tail fibers at one end. A 22-kb genomic cluster involved in their synthesis and having high homology to the cluster coding for the tail of the Peduovirus P2 was identified. The D. dadantii tailocins, termed dickeyocins P2D1 (phage P2-like dickeyocin 1), were resistant to inactivation by pH (3.5-12), temperature (4-50°C), and elevated osmolarity (NaCl concentration: 0.01-1 M). P2D1 could kill a variety of different Dickeya spp. but not any strain of Pectobacterium spp. tested and were not toxic to Caenorhabditis elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Borowicz
- Laboratory of Biologically Active Compounds, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of UG and MUG, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Dorota M. Krzyżanowska
- Laboratory of Biologically Active Compounds, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of UG and MUG, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Narajczyk
- Bioimaging Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Marta Sobolewska
- Laboratory of Biologically Active Compounds, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of UG and MUG, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Rajewska
- Laboratory of Plant Microbiology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of UG and MUG, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Paulina Czaplewska
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry-Core Facility Laboratories, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of UG and MUG, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Węgrzyn
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of UG and MUG, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Robert Czajkowski
- Laboratory of Biologically Active Compounds, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of UG and MUG, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
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Woudstra C, Sørensen AN, Brøndsted L. Engineering of Salmonella Phages into Novel Antimicrobial Tailocins. Cells 2023; 12:2637. [PMID: 37998371 PMCID: PMC10670071 DOI: 10.3390/cells12222637] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the extensive use of antibiotics, the increase of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria is now a global health concern. Phages have proven useful for treating bacterial infections and represent a promising alternative or complement to antibiotic treatment. Yet, other alternatives exist, such as bacteria-produced non-replicative protein complexes that can kill their targeted bacteria by puncturing their membrane (Tailocins). To expand the repertoire of Tailocins available, we suggest a new approach that transforms phages into Tailocins. Here, we genetically engineered the virulent Ackermannviridae phage S117, as well as temperate phages Fels-1, -2 and Gifsy-1 and -2, targeting the food pathogen Salmonella, by deleting the portal vertex or major capsid gene using CRISPR-Cas9. We report the production of Tailocin particles from engineered virulent and temperate phages able to kill their native host. Our work represents a steppingstone that taps into the huge diversity of phages and transforms them into versatile puncturing new antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lone Brøndsted
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; (C.W.); (A.N.S.)
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11
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Nazeer RR, Wang M, Welch M. More than just a gel: the extracellular matrixome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1307857. [PMID: 38028553 PMCID: PMC10679415 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1307857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Armed with an arsenal of protein secretion systems, antibiotic efflux pumps, and the occasional proclivity for explosive self-destruction, Pseudomonas aeruginosa has become a model for the study of bacterial pathogenesis and biofilm formation. There is accruing evidence to suggest that the biofilm matrix-the bioglue that holds the structure together-acts not only in a structural capacity, but is also a molecular "net" whose function is to capture and retain certain secreted products (including proteins and small molecules). In this perspective, we argue that the biofilm matrixome is a distinct extracellular compartment, and one that is differentiated from the bulk secretome. Some of the points we raise are deliberately speculative, but are becoming increasingly accessible to experimental investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Martin Welch
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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12
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Heiman CM, Vacheron J, Keel C. Evolutionary and ecological role of extracellular contractile injection systems: from threat to weapon. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1264877. [PMID: 37886057 PMCID: PMC10598620 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1264877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Contractile injection systems (CISs) are phage tail-related structures that are encoded in many bacterial genomes. These devices encompass the cell-based type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) as well as extracellular CISs (eCISs). The eCISs comprise the R-tailocins produced by various bacterial species as well as related phage tail-like structures such as the antifeeding prophages (Afps) of Serratia entomophila, the Photorhabdus virulence cassettes (PVCs), and the metamorphosis-associated contractile structures (MACs) of Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea. These contractile structures are released into the extracellular environment upon suicidal lysis of the producer cell and play important roles in bacterial ecology and evolution. In this review, we specifically portray the eCISs with a focus on the R-tailocins, sketch the history of their discovery and provide insights into their evolution within the bacterial host, their structures and how they are assembled and released. We then highlight ecological and evolutionary roles of eCISs and conceptualize how they can influence and shape bacterial communities. Finally, we point to their potential for biotechnological applications in medicine and agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Margot Heiman
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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13
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Mei M, Pheng P, Kurzeja-Edwards D, Diggle SP. High prevalence of lipopolysaccharide mutants and R2-Pyocin susceptible variants in Pseudomonas aeruginosa populations sourced from cystic fibrosis lung infections. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.26.538445. [PMID: 37163048 PMCID: PMC10168318 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.26.538445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Chronic, highly antibiotic-resistant infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) lungs contribute to increasing morbidity and mortality. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common CF pathogen, exhibits resistance to multiple antibiotics, contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). These bacterial populations display genetic and phenotypic diversity, but it is unclear how this diversity affects susceptibility to bacteriocins. R-pyocins, i.e. bacteriocins produced by P. aeruginosa, are phage tail-like antimicrobials. R-pyocins have potential as antimicrobials, however recent research suggests the diversity of P. aeruginosa variants within CF lung infections leads to varying susceptibility to R-pyocins. This variation may be linked to changes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS), acting as the R-pyocin receptor. Currently, it is unknown how frequently R-pyocin-susceptible strains are in chronic CF lung infection, particularly when considering the heterogeneity within these strains. In this study, we tested R2-pyocin susceptibility of 139 P. aeruginosa variants from 17 sputum samples of seven CF patients and analyzed LPS phenotypes. We found that 83% of sputum samples did not have R2-pyocin-resistant variants, while nearly all samples contained susceptible variants. there was no correlation between LPS phenotype and R2-pyocin susceptibility, though we estimate that about 76% of sputum-derived variants lack an O-specific antigen, 40% lack a common antigen, and 24% have altered LPS cores. The absence of a correlation between LPS phenotype and R-pyocin susceptibility suggests LPS packing density may play a significant role in R-pyocin susceptibility among CF variants. Our research supports the potential of R-pyocins as therapeutic agents, as many infectious CF variants are susceptible to R2-pyocins, even within diverse bacterial populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline Mei
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis, and Sleep, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Emory+Children’s Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airway Disease Research, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Preston Pheng
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Detriana Kurzeja-Edwards
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Stephen P. Diggle
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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14
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Torres MDT, Brooks E, Cesaro A, Sberro H, Nicolaou C, Bhatt AS, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Human gut metagenomic mining reveals an untapped source of peptide antibiotics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.31.555711. [PMID: 37693399 PMCID: PMC10491270 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.31.555711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Drug-resistant bacteria are outpacing traditional antibiotic discovery efforts. Here, we computationally mined 444,054 families of putative small proteins from 1,773 human gut metagenomes, identifying 323 peptide antibiotics encoded in small open reading frames (smORFs). To test our computational predictions, 78 peptides were synthesized and screened for antimicrobial activity in vitro, with 59% displaying activity against either pathogens or commensals. Since these peptides were unique compared to previously reported antimicrobial peptides, we termed them smORF-encoded peptides (SEPs). SEPs killed bacteria by targeting their membrane, synergized with each other, and modulated gut commensals, indicating that they may play a role in reconfiguring microbiome communities in addition to counteracting pathogens. The lead candidates were anti-infective in both murine skin abscess and deep thigh infection models. Notably, prevotellin-2 from Prevotella copri presented activity comparable to the commonly used antibiotic polymyxin B. We report the discovery of hundreds of peptide sequences in the human gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo D. T. Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
| | - Erin Brooks
- Department of Medicine (Hematology; Blood and Marrow Transplantation), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Angela Cesaro
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
| | - Hila Sberro
- Department of Medicine (Hematology; Blood and Marrow Transplantation), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Cosmos Nicolaou
- Department of Medicine (Hematology; Blood and Marrow Transplantation), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Ami S. Bhatt
- Department of Medicine (Hematology; Blood and Marrow Transplantation), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
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15
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Choi GH, Holzapfel WH, Todorov SD. Diversity of the bacteriocins, their classification and potential applications in combat of antibiotic resistant and clinically relevant pathogens. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023; 49:578-597. [PMID: 35731254 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2090227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
There is almost a century since discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming, a century of enthusiasm, abuse, facing development of antibiotic-resistance and clear conclusion that the modern medicine needs a new type of antimicrobials. Bacteriocins produced by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, Archaea and Eukaryotes were widely explored as potential antimicrobials with several applications in food industry. In last two decades bacteriocins showed their potential as promising alternative therapeutic for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Bacteriocins can be characterised as highly selective antimicrobials and therapeutics with low cytotoxicity. Most probably in order to solve the problems associated with the increasing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the application of natural or bioengineered bacteriocins in addition to synergistically acting preparations of bacteriocins and conventional antibiotics, can be the next step in combat versus drug-resistant pathogens. In this overview we focussed on diversity of specific lactic acid bacteria and their bacteriocins. Moreover, some additional examples of bacteriocins from non-lactic acid, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, Archaea and eukaryotic organisms are presented and discussed. Therapeutic properties of bacteriocins, their bioengineering and combined applications, together with conventional antibiotics, were evaluated with the scope of application in human and veterinary medicine for combating (multi-)drug-resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gee-Hyeun Choi
- ProBacLab, Department of Advanced Convergence, Handong Global University, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Wilhelm Heinrich Holzapfel
- Human Effective Microbes, Department of Advanced Convergence, Handong Global University, Pohang, Republic of Korea
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16
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González de Aledo M, Blasco L, Lopez M, Ortiz-Cartagena C, Bleriot I, Pacios O, Hernández-García M, Cantón R, Tomas M. Prophage identification and molecular analysis in the genomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from critical care patients. mSphere 2023; 8:e0012823. [PMID: 37366636 PMCID: PMC10449497 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00128-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Prophages are bacteriophages integrated into the bacterial host's chromosome. This research aims to analyze and characterize the existing prophages within a collection of 53 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from intensive care units (ICUs) in Portugal and Spain. A total of 113 prophages were localized in the collection, with 18 of them being present in more than one strain simultaneously. After annotation, five of them were discarded as incomplete, and the 13 remaining prophages were characterized. Of 13, 10 belonged to the siphovirus tail morphology group, 2 to the podovirus tail morphology group, and 1 to the myovirus tail morphology group. All prophages had a length ranging from 20,199 to 63,401 bp and a GC% between 56.2% and 63.6%. The number of open reading frames (ORFs) oscillated between 32 and 88, and in 3/13 prophages, more than 50% of the ORFs had an unknown function. With our findings, we show that prophages are present in the majority of the P. aeruginosa strains isolated from Portuguese and Spanish critically ill patients, many of them found in more than one circulating strain at the same time and following a similar clonal distribution pattern. Although a great sum of ORFs had an unknown function, number of proteins in relation to viral defense (anti-CRISPR proteins, toxin/antitoxin modules, proteins against restriction-modification systems) as well as to prophage interference into their host's quorum sensing system and regulatory cascades were found. This supports the idea that prophages have an influence in bacterial pathogenesis and anti-phage defense. IMPORTANCE Despite being known for decades, prophages remain understudied when compared to the lytic phages employed in phage therapy. This research aims to shed some light into the nature, composition, and role of prophages found within a set of circulating strains of Pseudomas aeruginosa, with special attention to high-risk clones. Given the fact that prophages can effectively influence bacterial pathogenesis, prophage basic research constitutes a topic of growing interest. Furthermore, the abundance of viral defense and regulatory proteins within prophage genomes detected in this study evidences the importance of characterizing the most frequent prophages in circulating clinical strains and in high-risk clones if phage therapy is to be used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel González de Aledo
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS); CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucia Blasco
- Microbiología Traslacional y Multidisciplinar (MicroTM)-Instituto de Investigación Biomédica (INIBIC); Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC); Universidad de A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Maria Lopez
- Microbiología Traslacional y Multidisciplinar (MicroTM)-Instituto de Investigación Biomédica (INIBIC); Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC); Universidad de A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Concha Ortiz-Cartagena
- Microbiología Traslacional y Multidisciplinar (MicroTM)-Instituto de Investigación Biomédica (INIBIC); Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC); Universidad de A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Inés Bleriot
- Microbiología Traslacional y Multidisciplinar (MicroTM)-Instituto de Investigación Biomédica (INIBIC); Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC); Universidad de A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Olga Pacios
- Microbiología Traslacional y Multidisciplinar (MicroTM)-Instituto de Investigación Biomédica (INIBIC); Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC); Universidad de A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Marta Hernández-García
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS); CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Cantón
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS); CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Study Group on Mechanisms of Action and Resistance to Antimicrobials (GEMARA) on behalf of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Tomas
- Microbiología Traslacional y Multidisciplinar (MicroTM)-Instituto de Investigación Biomédica (INIBIC); Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC); Universidad de A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
- Study Group on Mechanisms of Action and Resistance to Antimicrobials (GEMARA) on behalf of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), Madrid, Spain
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17
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Premsuriya J, Mosbahi K, Atanaskovic I, Kleanthous C, Walker D. Outer membrane translocation of pyocins via the copper regulated TonB-dependent transporter CrtA. Biochem J 2023; 480:1035-1049. [PMID: 37399084 PMCID: PMC10422930 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common cause of serious hospital-acquired infections, the leading proven cause of mortality in people with cystic fibrosis and is associated with high levels of antimicrobial resistance. Pyocins are narrow-spectrum protein antibiotics produced by P. aeruginosa that kill strains of the same species and have the potential to be developed as therapeutics targeting multi-drug resistant isolates. We have identified two novel pyocins designated SX1 and SX2. Pyocin SX1 is a metal-dependent DNase while pyocin SX2 kills cells through inhibition of protein synthesis. Mapping the uptake pathways of SX1 and SX2 shows these pyocins utilize a combination of the common polysaccharide antigen (CPA) and a previously uncharacterized TonB-dependent transporter (TBDT) PA0434 to traverse the outer membrane. In addition, TonB1 and FtsH are required by both pyocins to energize their transport into cells and catalyze their translocation across the inner membrane, respectively. Expression of PA0434 was found to be specifically regulated by copper availability and we have designated PA0434 as Copper Responsive Transporter A, or CrtA. To our knowledge these are the first S-type pyocins described that utilize a TBDT that is not involved in iron uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiraphan Premsuriya
- School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, U.K
- Princess Srisavangavadhana College of Medicine, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Khedidja Mosbahi
- School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, U.K
| | - Iva Atanaskovic
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K
| | - Colin Kleanthous
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K
| | - Daniel Walker
- School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, U.K
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, U.K
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18
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Romero-González LE, Rojas-Vargas J, Muriel-Millán LF, Bustos-Martínez J, Bustamante VH, Pardo-López L. Genomic and phenotypic characterization of Pseudomonas sp. GOM7, a novel marine bacterial species with antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288504. [PMID: 37440509 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a serious threat to global health. The development of new drugs to combat infections caused by bacteria resistant to multiple or even all available antibiotics is urgent. Most antibiotics used up to date have been identified from soil microorganisms. The marine environment represents an alternative source with great potential for the identification of microorganisms that produce bioactive molecules, including antibiotics. In this study, we analyzed the antibacterial activity of a collection of 82 bacterial strains isolated from marine water and sediment samples collected from the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Eight of the marine isolates inhibited the growth of different pathogenic bacteria, seven of which were identified as presumptive Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Interestingly, genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the remaining marine isolate showing antibacterial activity is a novel Pseudomonas species that we denominated Pseudomonas sp. GOM7, which was not pathogenic in the Galleria mellonella infection model in the conditions tested. Notably, Pseudomonas sp. GOM7 inhibited the growth of multidrug and methicillin-resistant strains of the priority pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Our results show that the anti-S. aureus compound(s) produced by Pseudomonas sp. GOM7 can be extracted from the culture supernatant of this bacterium with the organic solvent ethyl acetate. Annotation of the Pseudomonas sp. GOM7 genome revealed the presence of several biosynthetic gene clusters predicted to code for possible antimicrobial compounds. Our results further highlight the potential of bacteria from the Gulf of Mexico as a source of novel antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis E Romero-González
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Jorge Rojas-Vargas
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Luis F Muriel-Millán
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Jaime Bustos-Martínez
- Departamento de Atención a la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, CDMX, México
| | - Víctor H Bustamante
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Liliana Pardo-López
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
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19
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Gao Y, Wei J, Pu L, Fu S, Xing X, Zhang R, Jin F. Remotely Controllable Engineered Bacteria for Targeted Therapy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection. ACS Synth Biol 2023. [PMID: 37418677 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infection has become an intractable problem worldwide due to the decreasing efficacy of the mainstay therapy, antibiotic treatment. Hence, exploring new drugs and therapies to address this issue is crucial. Here, we construct a chimeric pyocin (ChPy) to specifically kill P. aeruginosa and engineer a near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive strain to produce and deliver this drug. Our engineered bacterial strain can continuously produce ChPy in the absence of light and release it to kill P. aeruginosa via remotely and precisely controlled bacterial lysis induced by NIR light. We demonstrate that our engineered bacterial strain is effective in P. aeruginosa-infected wound therapy in the mouse model, as it eradicated PAO1 in mouse wounds and shortened the wound healing time. Our work presents a potentially spatiotemporal and noninvasively controlled therapeutic strategy of engineered bacteria for the targeted treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmei Gao
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, No. 96, JinZhai Road, Baohe District, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Jingjing Wei
- Department of Fine Chemical Engineering, Shenzhen Polytechnic, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Lu Pu
- West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Shengwei Fu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, No. 96, JinZhai Road, Baohe District, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China
| | - Xiaochen Xing
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Rongrong Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Fan Jin
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, No. 96, JinZhai Road, Baohe District, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
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20
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Oftedal TF, Diep DB. Flow cytometric detection of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in urine using fluorescently labelled enterocin K1. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10930. [PMID: 37414859 PMCID: PMC10325980 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38114-9] [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: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs when bacteria enter and multiply in the urinary system. The infection is most often caused by enteric bacteria that normally live in the gut, which include Enterococcus faecium. Without antibiotic treatment, UTIs can progress to life-threatening septic shock. Early diagnosis and identification of the pathogen will reduce antibiotic use and improve patient outcomes. In this work, we develop and optimize a cost-effective and rapid (< 40 min) method for detecting E. faecium in urine. The method uses a fluorescently labelled bacteriocin enterocin K1 (FITC-EntK1) that binds specifically to E. faecium and is then detected using a conventional flow cytometer. Using this detection assay, urine containing E. faecium was identified by an increase in the fluorescent signals by 25-73-fold (median fluorescence intensity) compared to control samples containing Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus. The method presented in this work is a proof of concept showing the potential of bacteriocins to act as specific probes for the detection of specific bacteria, such as pathogens, in biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas F Oftedal
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
| | - Dzung B Diep
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
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21
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Saha S, Ojobor CD, Li ASC, Mackinnon E, North OI, Bondy-Denomy J, Lam JS, Ensminger AW, Maxwell KL, Davidson AR. F-Type Pyocins Are Diverse Noncontractile Phage Tail-Like Weapons for Killing Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0002923. [PMID: 37260386 PMCID: PMC10294684 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00029-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Most Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains produce bacteriocins derived from contractile or noncontractile phage tails known as R- and F-type pyocins, respectively. These bacteriocins possess strain-specific bactericidal activity against P. aeruginosa and likely increase evolutionary fitness through intraspecies competition. R-type pyocins have been studied extensively and show promise as alternatives to antibiotics. Although they have similar therapeutic potential, experimental studies on F-type pyocins are limited. Here, we provide a bioinformatic and experimental investigation of F-type pyocins. We introduce a systematic naming scheme for genes found in R- and F-type pyocin operons and identify 15 genes invariably found in strains producing F-type pyocins. Five proteins encoded at the 3' end of the F-type pyocin cluster are divergent in sequence and likely determine bactericidal specificity. We use sequence similarities among these proteins to define eleven distinct F-type pyocin groups, five of which had not been previously described. The five genes encoding the variable proteins associate in two modules that have clearly reassorted independently during the evolution of these operons. These proteins are considerably more diverse than the specificity-determining tail fibers of R-type pyocins, suggesting that F-type pyocins may have emerged earlier. Experimental studies on six F-type pyocin groups show that each displays a distinct spectrum of bactericidal activity. This activity is strongly influenced by the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen type, but other factors also play a role. F-type pyocins appear to kill as efficiently as R-type pyocins. These studies set the stage for the development of F-type pyocins as antibacterial therapeutics. IMPORTANCE Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes antibiotic-resistant infections with high mortality rates, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and cystic fibrosis patients. Due to the increasing frequency of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa infections, there is great need for the development of alternative therapeutics. In this study, we investigate one such potential therapeutic: F-type pyocins, which are bacteriocins naturally produced by P. aeruginosa that resemble noncontractile phage tails. We show that they are potent killers of P. aeruginosa and identify their probable bactericidal specificity determinants, which opens up the possibility of engineering them to precisely target strains of pathogenic bacteria. The resemblance of F-type pyocins to well-characterized phage tails will greatly facilitate their development into effective antibacterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senjuti Saha
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Child Health Research Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Chidozie D. Ojobor
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Annie Si Cong Li
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Erik Mackinnon
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Olesia I. North
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joseph Bondy-Denomy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California—San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Joseph S. Lam
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexander W. Ensminger
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karen L. Maxwell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alan R. Davidson
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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22
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Smith WPJ, Wucher BR, Nadell CD, Foster KR. Bacterial defences: mechanisms, evolution and antimicrobial resistance. Nat Rev Microbiol 2023:10.1038/s41579-023-00877-3. [PMID: 37095190 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00877-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Throughout their evolutionary history, bacteria have faced diverse threats from other microorganisms, including competing bacteria, bacteriophages and predators. In response to these threats, they have evolved sophisticated defence mechanisms that today also protect bacteria against antibiotics and other therapies. In this Review, we explore the protective strategies of bacteria, including the mechanisms, evolution and clinical implications of these ancient defences. We also review the countermeasures that attackers have evolved to overcome bacterial defences. We argue that understanding how bacteria defend themselves in nature is important for the development of new therapies and for minimizing resistance evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- William P J Smith
- Division of Genomics, Infection and Evolution, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Benjamin R Wucher
- Department of Biological sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Carey D Nadell
- Department of Biological sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Kevin R Foster
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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23
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Saebi A, Brown JS, Marando VM, Hartrampf N, Chumbler NM, Hanna S, Poskus M, Loas A, Kiessling LL, Hung DT, Pentelute BL. Rapid Single-Shot Synthesis of the 214 Amino Acid-Long N-Terminal Domain of Pyocin S2. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:518-527. [PMID: 36821521 PMCID: PMC10460144 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The impermeable outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is bypassed by antibacterial proteins known as S-type pyocins. Because of their properties, pyocins are investigated as a potential new class of antimicrobials against Pseudomonas infections. Their production and modification, however, remain challenging. To address this limitation, we employed automated fast-flow peptide synthesis for the rapid production of a pyocin S2 import domain. The N-terminal domain sequence (PyS2NTD) was synthesized in under 10 h and purified to yield milligram quantities of the desired product. To our knowledge, the 214 amino acid sequence of PyS2NTD is among the longest peptides produced from a "single-shot" synthesis, i.e., made in a single stepwise route without the use of ligation techniques. Biophysical characterization of the PyS2NTD with circular dichroism was consistent with the literature reports. Fluorescently labeled PyS2NTD binds to P. aeruginosa expressing the cognate ferripyoverdine receptor and is taken up into the periplasm. This selective uptake was validated with confocal and super resolution microscopy, flow cytometry, and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. These modified, synthetic S-type pyocin domains can be used to probe import mechanisms of P. aeruginosa and leveraged to develop selective antimicrobial agents that bypass the outer membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azin Saebi
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Joseph S Brown
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Victoria M Marando
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Nina Hartrampf
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Nicole M Chumbler
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Stephanie Hanna
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Mackenzie Poskus
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Andrei Loas
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Laura L Kiessling
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Deborah T Hung
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Bradley L Pentelute
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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24
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Proteins and their functionalization for finding therapeutic avenues in cancer: Current status and future prospective. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188862. [PMID: 36791920 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188862] [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: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite the remarkable advancement in the health care sector, cancer remains the second most fatal disease globally. The existing conventional cancer treatments primarily include chemotherapy, which has been associated with little to severe side effects, and radiotherapy, which is usually expensive. To overcome these problems, target-specific nanocarriers have been explored for delivering chemo drugs. However, recent reports on using a few proteins having anticancer activity and further use of them as drug carriers have generated tremendous attention for furthering the research towards cancer therapy. Biomolecules, especially proteins, have emerged as suitable alternatives in cancer treatment due to multiple favourable properties including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural flexibility for easy surface functionalization. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have reported that various proteins derived from animal, plant, and bacterial species, demonstrated strong cytotoxic and antiproliferative properties against malignant cells in native and their different structural conformations. Moreover, surface tunable properties of these proteins help to bind a range of anticancer drugs and target ligands, thus making them efficient delivery agents in cancer therapy. Here, we discuss various proteins obtained from common exogenous sources and how they transform into effective anticancer agents. We also comprehensively discuss the tumor-killing mechanisms of different dietary proteins such as bovine α-lactalbumin, hen egg-white lysozyme, and their conjugates. We also articulate how protein nanostructures can be used as carriers for delivering cancer drugs and theranostics, and strategies to be adopted for improving their in vivo delivery and targeting. We further discuss the FDA-approved protein-based anticancer formulations along with those in different phases of clinical trials.
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R-Type Fonticins Produced by Pragia fontium Form Large Pores with High Conductance. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0031522. [PMID: 36541812 PMCID: PMC9879110 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00315-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fonticins are phage tail-like bacteriocins produced by the Gram-negative bacterium Pragia fontium from the family Budviciaceae. This bacterium produces contractile-type particles that adsorb on the surface of sensitive bacteria and penetrate the cell wall, probably during contraction, in a way similar to the type VI secretion system. We characterized the pore-forming activity of fonticins using both living cells and in vitro model membranes. Using a potassium leakage assay, we show that fonticins are able to permeabilize sensitive cells. On black lipid membranes, single-pore conductance is about 0.78 nS in 1 M NaCl and appears to be linearly dependent on the increasing molar strength of NaCl solution, which is a property of considerably large pores. In agreement with these findings, fonticins are not ion selective for Na+, K+, and Cl-. Polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350) molecules of about 3.5 nm in diameter can enter the fonticin pore lumen, whereas the larger molecules cannot pass the pore. The size of fonticin pores was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The terminal membrane-piercing complex of the fonticin tube probably creates a selective barrier restricting passage of macromolecules. IMPORTANCE Phage tail-like bacteriocins are now the subject of research as potent antibacterial agents due to their narrow host specificity and single-hit mode of action. In this work, we focused on the structure and mode of action of fonticins. According to some theories, related particles were initially adapted for passage of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) molecules, but fonticins changed their function during the evolution; they are able to form large pores through the bacterial envelope of Gram-negative bacteria. As various pore-forming proteins are extensively used for nanopore sequencing and stochastic sensing, we decided to investigate the pore-forming properties of fonticin protein complexes on artificial lipid membranes. Our research revealed remarkable structural properties of these particles that may have a potential application as a nanodevice.
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Lee SM, Keum HL, Sul WJ. Bacterial Crosstalk via Antimicrobial Peptides on the Human Skin: Therapeutics from a Sustainable Perspective. J Microbiol 2023; 61:1-11. [PMID: 36719618 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-022-00002-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The skin's epidermis is an essential barrier as the first guard against invading pathogens, and physical protector from external injury. The skin microbiome, which consists of numerous bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea on the epidermis, play a key role in skin homeostasis. Antibiotics are a fast-acting and effective treatment method, however, antibiotic use is a nuisance that can disrupt skin homeostasis by eradicating beneficial bacteria along with the intended pathogens and cause antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread. Increased numbers of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from humans and bacteria have been reported, and their roles have been well defined. Recently, modulation of the skin microbiome with AMPs rather than artificially synthesized antibiotics has attracted the attention of researchers as many antibiotic-resistant strains make treatment mediation difficult in the context of ecological problems. Herein, we discuss the overall insights into the skin microbiome, including its regulation by different AMPs, as well as their composition and role in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seon Mi Lee
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Lim Keum
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Jun Sul
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, 17546, Republic of Korea.
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27
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Parallel Evolution to Elucidate the Contributions of PA0625 and parE to Ciprofloxacin Sensitivity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microorganisms 2022; 11:microorganisms11010013. [PMID: 36677304 PMCID: PMC9860795 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous pathogen that causes a wide range of acute and chronic infections. Ciprofloxacin, one of the first-line fluoroquinolone class antibiotics, is commonly used for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections. However, ciprofloxacin-resistant P. aeruginosa is increasingly reported worldwide, making treatment difficult. To determine resistance-related mutations, we conducted an experimental evolution using a previously identified ciprofloxacin-resistant P. aeruginosa clinical isolate, CRP42. The evolved mutants could tolerate a 512-fold higher concentration of ciprofloxacin than CRP42. Genomic DNA reference mapping was performed, which revealed mutations in genes known to be associated with ciprofloxacin resistance as well as in those not previously linked to ciprofloxacin resistance, including the ParER586W substitution and PA0625 frameshift insertion. Simulation of the ParER586W substitution and PA0625 frameshift insertion by gene editing in CRP42 and the model strain PAO1 demonstrated that while the PA0625 mutation does contribute to resistance, mutation in the ParER586W does not contribute to resistance but rather affects tolerance against ciprofloxacin. These findings advance our understanding of ciprofloxacin resistance in P. aeruginosa.
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28
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Role of Efflux Pumps on Antimicrobial Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415779. [PMID: 36555423 PMCID: PMC9779380 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is an old and silent pandemic. Resistant organisms emerge in parallel with new antibiotics, leading to a major global public health crisis over time. Antibiotic resistance may be due to different mechanisms and against different classes of drugs. These mechanisms are usually found in the same organism, giving rise to multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria. One resistance mechanism that is closely associated with the emergence of MDR and XDR bacteria is the efflux of drugs since the same pump can transport different classes of drugs. In Gram-negative bacteria, efflux pumps are present in two configurations: a transmembrane protein anchored in the inner membrane and a complex formed by three proteins. The tripartite complex has a transmembrane protein present in the inner membrane, a periplasmic protein, and a porin associated with the outer membrane. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one of the main pathogens associated with respiratory tract infections, four main sets of efflux pumps have been associated with antibiotic resistance: MexAB-OprM, MexXY, MexCD-OprJ, and MexEF-OprN. In this review, the function, structure, and regulation of these efflux pumps in P. aeruginosa and their actions as resistance mechanisms are discussed. Finally, a brief discussion on the potential of efflux pumps in P. aeruginosa as a target for new drugs is presented.
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29
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OxyR Positively Influences Phaseolotoxin Synthesis and Pyoverdin Production in Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. phaseolicola NPS3121. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10112123. [DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Phaseolotoxin is a major virulence factor of the bean pathogen bacterium P. savastanoi pv. phaseolicola. This toxin plays a key role in the development of the halo blight disease in bean plants. So far, the signal transduction pathways involved in the synthesis of phaseolotoxin have not been elucidated. The influence of regulation mechanisms related to the oxidative stress response, in particular the OxyR protein, it has been suggested to be involved in this process.. In this study we evaluated the role of OxyR in P. savastanoi pv. phaseolicola, mainly compared to the synthesis of phaseolotoxin and the virulence of this phytopathogen. Generation of the oxyR-mutant, pathogenicity and virulence tests, and analyses of gene expression by RT-PCR assays were performed. The results showed that OxyR exerts an effect on the synthesis of phaseolotoxin and positively influences the expression of the Pht and Pbo cluster genes. Likewise, OxyR influences the production of pyoverdine by the control of the expression of the genes encoding the PvdS sigma factor, involved in the synthesis of this pigment. This study is the first report on members of the OxyR regulon of P. savastanoi pv. phaseolicola NPS3121.
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30
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A DNase Type VI Secretion System Effector Requires Its MIX Domain for Secretion. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0246522. [PMID: 36098406 PMCID: PMC9602870 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02465-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Gram-negative bacteria often employ the type VI secretion system (T6SS) to deliver diverse cocktails of antibacterial effectors into rival bacteria. In many cases, even when the identity of the delivered effectors is known, their toxic activity and mechanism of secretion are not. Here, we investigate VPA1263, a Vibrio parahaemolyticus T6SS effector that belongs to a widespread class of polymorphic effectors containing a MIX domain. We reveal a C-terminal DNase toxin domain belonging to the HNH nuclease superfamily, and we show that it mediates the antibacterial toxicity of this effector during bacterial competition. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the VPA1263 MIX domain is necessary for T6SS-mediated secretion and intoxication of recipient bacteria. These results are the first indication of a functional role for MIX domains in T6SS secretion. IMPORTANCE Specialized protein delivery systems are used during bacterial competition to deploy cocktails of toxins that target conserved cellular components. Although numerous toxins have been revealed, the activity of many remains unknown. In this study, we investigated such a toxin from the pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Our findings indicate that the toxin employs a DNase domain to intoxicate competitors. We also show that a domain used as a marker for secreted toxins is required for secretion of the toxin via a type VI secretion system.
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31
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Riemerella anatipestifer AS87_RS02955 Acts as a Virulence Factor and Displays Endonuclease Activity. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0127622. [PMID: 36106871 PMCID: PMC9552600 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01276-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Riemerella anatipestifer is an important bacterial pathogen in the global duck industry and causes heavy economic losses. In our previous study, we demonstrated that R. anatipestifer type IX secretion system components GldK and GldM, and the secretion protein metallophosphoesterase, acted as virulence factors. In this study, R. anatipestifer AS87_RS02955 was investigated for virulence and enzymatic activity properties. We constructed AS87_RS02955 mutation and complementation strains to assess bacterial virulence. In vivo bacterial loads showed a significantly reduced bacterial loads in the blood of ducks infected with mutant strain Yb2Δ02955, which was recovered in the blood of ducks infected with the complementation strain cYb2Δ02955, demonstrating that AS87_RS02955 was associated with virulence. Further studies showed AS87_RS02955 was a novel nonspecific endonuclease with no functionally conserved domain, but enzymatic activity toward DNA and RNA was indicated. DNase activity was activated by Zn2+, Cu2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Mn2+ ions but inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. RNase activity was independent of metal cations, but stimulated by Mg2+, Ca2+, and Mn2+. RAS87_RS02955 enzymatic activity was active across a broad pH and temperature range. Moreover, we identified four sites in rAS87_RS02955, F39, F92, I134, and F145, which were critical for enzymatic activity. In summary, we showed that R. anatipestifer AS87_RS02955 encoded a novel endonuclease with important roles in bacterial virulence. IMPORTANCE R. anatipestifer AS87_RS02955 was identified as a novel T9SS effector and displayed a nonspecific endonuclease activity in this study. The protein did not contain a conserved His-Asn-His motif structure, which is similar to the endonuclease from Prevotella sp. Its mutant strain Yb2Δ02955 demonstrated significantly attenuated virulence, suggesting AS87_RS02955 is an important virulence factor. Moreover, AS87_RS02955 displayed nonspecific endonuclease activity to cleave λ DNA and MS2 RNA, while four protein sites were critical for endonuclease activity. In conclusion, R. anatipestifer AS87_RS02955 plays important roles in bacterial virulence.
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The In Vivo and In Vitro Assessment of Pyocins in Treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11101366. [PMID: 36290026 PMCID: PMC9598984 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11101366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause several life-threatening infections among immunocompromised patients (e.g., cystic fibrosis) due to its ability to adapt and develop resistance to several antibiotics. In recent years, P. aeruginosa infections has become difficult to treat using conventional antibiotics due to the increase multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa strains. Therefore, there is a growing interest to develop novel treatments against antibiotic-resistance P. aeruginosa strains. One novel method includes the application of antimicrobial peptides secreted by P. aeruginosa strains, known as pyocins. In this review, we will discuss the structure, function, and use of pyocins in the pathogenesis and treatment of P. aeruginosa infection.
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33
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Bhattacharjee R, Nandi A, Sinha A, Kumar H, Mitra D, Mojumdar A, Patel P, Jha E, Mishra S, Rout PK, Panda PK, Suar M, Verma SK. Phage-tail-like bacteriocins as a biomedical platform to counter anti-microbial resistant pathogens. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 155:113720. [PMID: 36162371 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Phage Tail Like bacteriocins (PTLBs) has been an area of interest in the last couple of years owing to their varied application against multi-drug resistant (MDR), anti-microbial resistant (AMR) pathogens and their evolutionary link with the dsDNA virus and bacteriophages. PTLBs are defective phages derived from Myoviridae and Siphoviridae phages, PTLBs are distinguished into R-type (Rigid type) characterized by a non-flexible contractile nanotube resembling Myoviridae phage contractile tails, and F-type (Flexible type) with a flexible non-contractile rod-like structure similar to Siphoviridae phages. In this review, we have discussed the structural association, mechanism, and characterization of PTLBs. Moreover, we have elucidated the symbiotic biological function and application of PTLBs against MDR and XDR pathogens and highlighted the evolutionary role of PTLBs. The difficulties that must be overcome to implement PTLBs clinically are also discussed. It is imperative that these issues be addressed by academics in future studies before being implemented in clinical settings. This article is novel in its way as it will not only provide us with a gateway that acts as a novel strategy for scholars to mitigate and control the uprising issue of AMR pathogens but also promote the development of clinical studies for PTLBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Bhattacharjee
- KIIT School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
| | - Aditya Nandi
- KIIT School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
| | - Adrija Sinha
- KIIT School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
| | - Hrithik Kumar
- School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)-Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Disha Mitra
- University of Calcutta, 92, APC Road, Kolkata 700009, India
| | - Abhik Mojumdar
- Center for Research Equipment, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Ochang Center, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk 28119, Republic of Korea; Department of Bio-Analytical Science, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Paritosh Patel
- KIIT School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
| | - Ealisha Jha
- KIIT School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
| | - Suman Mishra
- KIIT School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
| | - Prabhat Kumar Rout
- KIIT School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
| | - Pritam Kumar Panda
- Condensed Matter Theory Group, Materials Theory Division, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Mrutyunjay Suar
- KIIT School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India.
| | - Suresh K Verma
- KIIT School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India; Condensed Matter Theory Group, Materials Theory Division, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Marković KG, Grujović MŽ, Koraćević MG, Nikodijević DD, Milutinović MG, Semedo-Lemsaddek T, Djilas MD. Colicins and Microcins Produced by Enterobacteriaceae: Characterization, Mode of Action, and Putative Applications. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11825. [PMID: 36142096 PMCID: PMC9517006 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Enterobacteriaceae are widely present in many environments related to humans, including the human body and the food that they consume, from both plant or animal origin. Hence, they are considered relevant members of the gastrointestinal tract microbiota. On the other hand, these bacteria are also recognized as putative pathogens, able to impair human health and, in food, they are considered indicators for the microbiological quality and hygiene status of a production process. Nevertheless, beneficial properties have also been associated with Enterobacteriaceae, such as the ability to synthesize peptides and proteins, which can have a role in the structure of microbial communities. Among these antimicrobial molecules, those with higher molecular mass are called colicins, while those with lower molecular mass are named microcins. In recent years, some studies show an emphasis on molecules that can help control the development of pathogens. However, not enough data are available on this subject, especially related to microcins. Hence, this review gathers and summarizes current knowledge on colicins and microcins, potential usage in the treatment of pathogen-associated diseases and cancer, as well as putative applications in food biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina G. Marković
- Institute for Information Technologies, Department of Science, University of Kragujevac, Jovana Cvijića bb, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Mirjana Ž. Grujović
- Institute for Information Technologies, Department of Science, University of Kragujevac, Jovana Cvijića bb, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Maja G. Koraćević
- Innovation Center, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia
| | - Danijela D. Nikodijević
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Milena G. Milutinović
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Teresa Semedo-Lemsaddek
- CIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Milan D. Djilas
- Institute for Public Health of Vojvodina, Futoška 121, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
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Dicks LMT, Vermeulen W. Do Bacteria Provide an Alternative to Cancer Treatment and What Role Does Lactic Acid Bacteria Play? Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091733. [PMID: 36144335 PMCID: PMC9501580 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. According to 2022 statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), close to 10 million deaths have been reported in 2020 and it is estimated that the number of cancer cases world-wide could increase to 21.6 million by 2030. Breast, lung, thyroid, pancreatic, liver, prostate, bladder, kidney, pelvis, colon, and rectum cancers are the most prevalent. Each year, approximately 400,000 children develop cancer. Treatment between countries vary, but usually includes either surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. Modern treatments such as hormone-, immuno- and antibody-based therapies are becoming increasingly popular. Several recent reports have been published on toxins, antibiotics, bacteriocins, non-ribosomal peptides, polyketides, phenylpropanoids, phenylflavonoids, purine nucleosides, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and enzymes with anticancer properties. Most of these molecules target cancer cells in a selective manner, either directly or indirectly through specific pathways. This review discusses the role of bacteria, including lactic acid bacteria, and their metabolites in the treatment of cancer.
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36
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Babar TK, Glare TR, Hampton JG, Hurst MRH, Narciso JO. Isolation, Purification, and Characterisation of a Phage Tail-Like Bacteriocin from the Insect Pathogenic Bacterium Brevibacillus laterosporus. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12081154. [PMID: 36009048 PMCID: PMC9406221 DOI: 10.3390/biom12081154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram-positive and spore-forming bacterium Brevibacillus laterosporus (Bl) belongs to the Brevibacillus brevis phylogenetic cluster. Isolates of the species have demonstrated pesticidal potency against a wide range of invertebrate pests and plant diseases. Two New Zealand isolates, Bl 1821L and Bl 1951, are under development as biopesticides for control of diamondback moth and other pests. However, due to the often-restricted growth of these endemic isolates, production can be an issue. Based on the previous work, it was hypothesised that the putative phages might be involved. During investigations of the cause of the disrupted growth, electron micrographs of crude lysate of Bl 1821L showed the presence of phages’ tail-like structures. A soft agar overlay method with PEG 8000 precipitation was used to differentiate between the antagonistic activity of the putative phage and phage tail-like structures (bacteriocins). Assay tests authenticated the absence of putative phage activity. Using the same method, broad-spectrum antibacterial activity of Bl 1821L lysate against several Gram-positive bacteria was found. SDS-PAGE of sucrose density gradient purified and 10 kD MWCO concentrated lysate showed a prominent protein band of ~48 kD, and transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of polysheath-like structures. N-terminal sequencing of the ~48 kD protein mapped to a gene with weak predicted amino acid homology to a Bacillus PBSX phage-like element xkdK, the translated product of which shared >90% amino acid similarity to the phage tail-sheath protein of another Bl published genome, LMG15441. Bioinformatic analysis also identified an xkdK homolog in the Bl 1951 genome. However, genome comparison of the region around the xkdK gene between Bl 1821L and Bl 1951 found differences including two glycine rich protein encoding genes which contain imperfect repeats (1700 bp) in Bl 1951, while a putative phage region resides in the analogous Bl 1821L region. Although comparative analysis of the genomic organisation of Bl 1821L and Bl 1951 PBSX-like region with the defective phages PBSX, PBSZ, and PBP 180 of Bacillus subtilis isolates 168 and W23, and Bacillus phage PBP180 revealed low amino acids similarity, the genes encode similar functional proteins in similar arrangements, including phage tail-sheath (XkdK), tail (XkdO), holin (XhlB), and N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine (XlyA). AMPA analysis identified a bactericidal stretch of 13 amino acids in the ~48 kD sequenced protein of Bl 1821L. Antagonistic activity of the purified ~48 kD phage tail-like protein in the assays differed remarkably from the crude lysate by causing a decrease of 34.2% in the number of viable cells of Bl 1951, 18 h after treatment as compared to the control. Overall, the identified inducible phage tail-like particle is likely to have implications for the in vitro growth of the insect pathogenic isolate Bl 1821L.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tauseef K. Babar
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7674, New Zealand
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture Sciences & Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60000, Pakistan
- Correspondence:
| | - Travis R. Glare
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7674, New Zealand
| | - John G. Hampton
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7674, New Zealand
| | - Mark R. H. Hurst
- Resilient Agriculture, AgResearch, Lincoln Research Centre, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Josefina O. Narciso
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7674, New Zealand
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Wang Y, Haqmal MA, Liang YD, Muhammad I, Zhao XO, Elken EM, Gao YH, Jia Y, He CG, Wang YM, Kong LC, Ma HX. Antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of a novel bacteriocin isolated from Pseudomonas sp. strain 166. Microb Biotechnol 2022; 15:2337-2350. [PMID: 35849816 PMCID: PMC9437881 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas sp. strain 166 was isolated from soil samples from Changbai Mountains. A novel bacteriocin PA166 from Pseudomonas sp. 166 was purified using ammonium sulfate, dextran gel chromatography column and Q-Sepharose column chromatography successively. The molecular mass of bacteriocin PA166 was found to be 49.38 kDa by SDS-PAGE and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS)/MS. Bacteriocin PA166 showed stability at a wide range of pH (2-10), and thermal stability (40, 60, 80 and 100°C). The bacteriocin PA166 antimicrobial activity was slightly inhibited by Ca2+ , K+ and Mg2+ . The minimum bactericidal concentrations of bacteriocin PA166 against five Pasteurella multocida strains ranged from 2 to 8 μg ml-1 . Bacteriocin PA166 showed low cytotoxicity and a higher treatment index (TI = 82.51). Fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that bacteriocin PA166 destroyed the cell membrane to exert antimicrobial activity. In summary, bacteriocin PA166 had strong antibacterial activity, high TI and low toxicity, and hence could serve as a potential clinical therapeutic drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - M Aman Haqmal
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yue-Dong Liang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Inam Muhammad
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China.,Department of Animal Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal Dir Upper-Pakistan, Sheringal, Pakistan
| | - Xiao-Ou Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Emad Mohammed Elken
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China.,Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, 11884, Egypt
| | - Yun-Hang Gao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yu Jia
- Jilin Agricultural University, College of Life Science, Changchun, China
| | - Cheng-Guang He
- Jilin Agricultural University, College of Life Science, Changchun, China
| | - Yi-Ming Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Ling-Cong Kong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China.,The Key Laboratory of New Veterinary Drug Research and Development of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun, 130118, China
| | - Hong-Xia Ma
- Jilin Agricultural University, College of Life Science, Changchun, China.,The Key Laboratory of New Veterinary Drug Research and Development of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun, 130118, China.,The Engineering Research Center of Bioreactor and Drug Development, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
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Heiman CM, Maurhofer M, Calderon S, Dupasquier M, Marquis J, Keel C, Vacheron J. Pivotal role of O-antigenic polysaccharide display in the sensitivity against phage tail-like particles in environmental Pseudomonas kin competition. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:1683-1693. [PMID: 35273372 PMCID: PMC9213528 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01217-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
AbstractEnvironmental pseudomonads colonize various niches including insect and plant environments. When invading these environments, bacteria are confronted with the resident microbiota. To oppose with closely related strains, they rely on narrow-spectrum weaponry such as tailocins, i.e., phage tail-like particles. Little is known about the receptors for these tailocins especially among phylogenetically closely related species. Here, we studied the interaction between an R-tailocin from Pseudomonas protegens CHA0 and a targeted kin, Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5. Using genome-wide transposon insertion sequencing, we identified that lipopolysaccharides are involved in the sensitivity of Pf-5 towards the tailocin of CHA0. By generating Pf-5 lipopolysaccharide mutants and exposing them to extracted tailocin, we specified the two O-antigenic polysaccharides (O-PS) targeted by the tailocin. We affirmed the role of these O-PS through competition assays in vitro as well as in insects. Further, we demonstrate that O-PS are double-edge swords that are responsible for the sensitivity of P. protegens towards tailocins and phages produced by their kin, but shield bacteria from the immune system of the insect. Our results shed light on the trade-off that bacteria are confronted with, where specific O-PS decorations can both be of benefit or disadvantage depending on the host environment and its bacterial inhabitants.
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DNA Damage-Inducible Pyocin Expression Is Independent of RecA in xerC-Deleted Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0116722. [PMID: 35708338 PMCID: PMC9431673 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01167-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyocins are interbacterial killing complexes made by Pseudomonas aeruginosa primarily to enact intraspecific competition. DNA damage and the ensuing activation of RecA initiate canonical pyocin expression. We recently discovered that deletion of xerC, which encodes a tyrosine recombinase involved in chromosome decatenation, markedly elevates basal pyocin production independently of RecA. Interestingly, the already-elevated basal pyocin expression in ΔxerC cells is substantially further increased by ciprofloxacin treatment. Here, we asked whether this further increase is due to DNA damage additionally activating the canonical RecA-dependent pyocin expression pathway. We also interrogated the relationship between XerC recombinase activity and pyocin expression. Surprisingly, we find that DNA damage-induced pyocin stimulation in ΔxerC cells is independent of RecA but dependent on PrtN, implying a RecA-independent means of DNA damage sensing that activates pyocin expression via PrtN. In sharp contrast to the RecA independence of pyocin expression in ΔxerC strains, specific mutational inactivation of XerC recombinase activity (XerCY272F) caused modestly elevated basal pyocin expression and was further stimulated by DNA-damaging drugs, but both effects were fully RecA dependent. To test whether pyocins could be induced by chemically inactivating XerC, we deployed a previously characterized bacterial tyrosine recombinase inhibitor. However, the inhibitor did not activate pyocin expression even at growth-inhibitory concentrations, suggesting that its principal inhibitory activity resembles neither XerC absence nor enzymatic inactivation. Collectively, our results imply a second function of XerC, separate from its recombinase activity, whose absence permits RecA-independent but DNA damage-inducible pyocin expression. IMPORTANCE The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces pyocins—intraspecific, interbacterial killing complexes. The canonical pathway for pyocin production involves DNA damage and RecA activation. Pyocins are released by cell lysis, making production costly. We previously showed that cells lacking the tyrosine recombinase XerC produce pyocins independently of RecA. Here, we show that DNA-damaging agents stimulate pyocin expression in ΔxerC strains without involving RecA. However, strains mutated for XerC recombinase activity display strictly RecA-dependent pyocin production, and a known bacterial tyrosine recombinase inhibitor does not elicit pyocin expression. Our results collectively suggest that the use of XerC inhibition as an antipseudomonal strategy will require targeting the second function of XerC in regulating noncanonical pyocin production rather than targeting its recombinase activity.
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40
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Lin L, Capozzoli R, Ferrand A, Plum M, Vettiger A, Basler M. Subcellular localization of Type VI secretion system assembly in response to cell–cell contact. EMBO J 2022; 41:e108595. [PMID: 35634969 PMCID: PMC9251886 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021108595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria require a number of systems, including the type VI secretion system (T6SS), for interbacterial competition and pathogenesis. The T6SS is a large nanomachine that can deliver toxins directly across membranes of proximal target cells. Since major reassembly of T6SS is necessary after each secretion event, accurate timing and localization of T6SS assembly can lower the cost of protein translocation. Although critically important, mechanisms underlying spatiotemporal regulation of T6SS assembly remain poorly understood. Here, we used super‐resolution live‐cell imaging to show that while Acinetobacter and Burkholderia thailandensis can assemble T6SS at any site, a significant subset of T6SS assemblies localizes precisely to the site of contact between neighboring bacteria. We identified a class of diverse, previously uncharacterized, periplasmic proteins required for this dynamic localization of T6SS to cell–cell contact (TslA). This precise localization is also dependent on the outer membrane porin OmpA. Our analysis links transmembrane communication to accurate timing and localization of T6SS assembly as well as uncovers a pathway allowing bacterial cells to respond to cell–cell contact during interbacterial competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Lin
- Biozentrum University of Basel Basel Switzerland
| | | | - Alexia Ferrand
- Biozentrum Imaging Core Facility University of Basel Basel Switzerland
| | - Miro Plum
- Biozentrum University of Basel Basel Switzerland
| | | | - Marek Basler
- Biozentrum University of Basel Basel Switzerland
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41
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Lopes BS, Hanafiah A, Nachimuthu R, Muthupandian S, Md Nesran ZN, Patil S. The Role of Antimicrobial Peptides as Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Agents in Tackling the Silent Pandemic of Antimicrobial Resistance. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27092995. [PMID: 35566343 PMCID: PMC9105241 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Just over a million people died globally in 2019 due to antibiotic resistance caused by ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species). The World Health Organization (WHO) also lists antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter and Helicobacter as bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health. As it is becoming increasingly difficult to discover new antibiotics, new alternatives are needed to solve the crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Bacteria commonly found in complex communities enclosed within self-produced matrices called biofilms are difficult to eradicate and develop increased stress and antimicrobial tolerance. This review summarises the role of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in combating the silent pandemic of AMR and their application in clinical medicine, focusing on both the advantages and disadvantages of AMPs as antibiofilm agents. It is known that many AMPs display broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities, but in a variety of organisms AMPs are not stable (short half-life) or have some toxic side effects. Hence, it is also important to develop new AMP analogues for their potential use as drug candidates. The use of one health approach along with developing novel therapies using phages and breakthroughs in novel antimicrobial peptide synthesis can help us in tackling the problem of AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno S. Lopes
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
- Correspondence: (B.S.L.); (A.H.)
| | - Alfizah Hanafiah
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia;
- Correspondence: (B.S.L.); (A.H.)
| | - Ramesh Nachimuthu
- Antibiotic Resistance and Phage Therapy Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore 632014, India;
| | - Saravanan Muthupandian
- AMR and Nanotherapeutics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha Dental College, Chennai 600077, India;
| | - Zarith Nameyrra Md Nesran
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia;
| | - Sandip Patil
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518038, China;
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42
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Sun W, Liang X, Zhu C, Xu Y, Ding Y, Huang YP. Regulation of maltocin synthesis in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia by positive and negative regulators. Res Microbiol 2022; 173:103956. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2022.103956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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43
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Paškevičius Š, Dapkutė V, Misiūnas A, Balzaris M, Thommes P, Sattar A, Gleba Y, Ražanskienė A. Chimeric bacteriocin S5-PmnH engineered by domain swapping efficiently controls Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in murine keratitis and lung models. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5865. [PMID: 35440606 PMCID: PMC9018753 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09865-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Rampant rise of multidrug resistant strains among Gram-negative bacteria has necessitated investigation of alternative antimicrobial agents with novel modes of action including antimicrobial proteins such as bacteriocins. The main hurdle in the clinical development of bacteriocin biologics is their narrow specificity and limited strain activity spectrum. Genome mining of bacteria for broadly active bacteriocins have identified a number of promising candidates but attempts to improve these natural multidomain proteins further, for example by combining domains of different origin, have so far met with limited success. We have found that domain swapping of Pseudomonas bacteriocins of porin type, when carried out between phylogenetically related molecules with similar mechanism of activity, allows the generation of highly active molecules with broader spectrum of activity, for example by abolishing strain resistance due to the presence of immunity proteins. The most broadly active chimera engineered in this study, S5-PmnH, exhibits excellent control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in validated murine keratitis and lung infection models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Šarūnas Paškevičius
- Nomads UAB, Geležinio vilko 29A, 01112, Vilnius, Lithuania.,Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio al. 7, 10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Viktorija Dapkutė
- Nomads UAB, Geležinio vilko 29A, 01112, Vilnius, Lithuania.,Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio al. 7, 10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | | | - Pia Thommes
- Evotec (UK) Ltd., Block 23, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, SK10 4TG, Cheshire, UK
| | - Abdul Sattar
- Evotec (UK) Ltd., Block 23, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, SK10 4TG, Cheshire, UK
| | - Yuri Gleba
- Nomad Bioscience GmbH, Biozentrum Halle, Weinbergweg 22, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
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Verma DK, Thakur M, Singh S, Tripathy S, Gupta AK, Baranwal D, Patel AR, Shah N, Utama GL, Niamah AK, Chávez-González ML, Gallegos CF, Aguilar CN, Srivastav PP. Bacteriocins as antimicrobial and preservative agents in food: Biosynthesis, separation and application. FOOD BIOSCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2022.101594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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45
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Pei T, Kan Y, Wang Z, Tang M, Li H, Yan S, Cui Y, Zheng H, Luo H, Liang X, Dong T. Delivery of an Rhs-family nuclease effector reveals direct penetration of the gram-positive cell envelope by a type VI secretion system in Acidovorax citrulli. MLIFE 2022; 1:66-78. [PMID: 38818323 PMCID: PMC10989746 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a double-tubular nanomachine widely found in gram-negative bacteria. Its spear-like Hcp tube is capable of penetrating a neighboring cell for cytosol-to-cytosol protein delivery. However, gram-positive bacteria have been considered impenetrable to such T6SS action. Here we report that the T6SS of a plant pathogen, Acidovorax citrulli (AC), could deliver an Rhs-family nuclease effector RhsB to kill not only gram-negative but also gram-positive bacteria. Using bioinformatic, biochemical, and genetic assays, we systematically identified T6SS-secreted effectors and determined that RhsB is a crucial antibacterial effector. RhsB contains an N-terminal PAAR domain, a middle Rhs domain, and an unknown C-terminal domain. RhsB is subject to self-cleavage at both its N- and C-terminal domains and its secretion requires the upstream-encoded chaperone EagT2 and VgrG3. The toxic C-terminus of RhsB exhibits DNase activities and such toxicity is neutralized by either of the two downstream immunity proteins, RimB1 and RimB2. Deletion of rhsB significantly impairs the ability of killing Bacillus subtilis while ectopic expression of immunity proteins RimB1 or RimB2 confers protection. We demonstrate that the AC T6SS not only can effectively outcompete Escherichia coli and B. subtilis in planta but also is highly potent in killing other bacterial and fungal species. Collectively, these findings highlight the greatly expanded capabilities of T6SS in modulating microbiome compositions in complex environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong‐Tong Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yumin Kan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Zeng‐Hang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Ming‐Xuan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Shuangquan Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yang Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hao‐Yu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Han Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaoye Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Tao Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of Immunology and MicrobiologySchool of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and TechnologyGuangdongChina
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Kin selection for cooperation in natural bacterial populations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2119070119. [PMID: 35193981 PMCID: PMC8892524 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2119070119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria secrete many molecules outside the cell, where they provide benefits to other cells. One potential reason for producing these “public goods” is that they benefit closely related cells that share the gene for cooperation (kin selection). While many laboratory studies have supported this hypothesis, there is a lack of evidence that kin selection favors cooperation in natural populations. We examined bacterial genomes from the environment and used population genetics theory to analyze the DNA sequences. Our analyses suggest that public goods cooperation has indeed been favored by kin selection in natural populations. Bacteria produce a range of molecules that are secreted from the cell and can provide a benefit to the local population of cells. Laboratory experiments have suggested that these “public goods” molecules represent a form of cooperation, favored because they benefit closely related cells (kin selection). However, there is a relative lack of data demonstrating kin selection for cooperation in natural populations of bacteria. We used molecular population genetics to test for signatures of kin selection at the genomic level in natural populations of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We found consistent evidence from multiple traits that genes controlling putatively cooperative traits have higher polymorphism and greater divergence and are more likely to harbor deleterious mutations relative to genes controlling putatively private traits, which are expressed at similar rates. These patterns suggest that cooperative traits are controlled by kin selection, and we estimate that the relatedness for social interactions in P. aeruginosa is r = 0.84. More generally, our results demonstrate how molecular population genetics can be used to study the evolution of cooperation in natural populations.
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Nagakubo T. Biological Functions and Applications of Virus-Related Bacterial Nanoparticles: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052595. [PMID: 35269736 PMCID: PMC8910223 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that microorganisms produce various nanoparticles that exhibit a variety of biological functions. The structure of these bacterial nanoparticles ranges from membrane vesicles composed of membrane lipids to multicomponent proteinaceous machines. Of bacterial nanoparticles, bacterial phage tail-like nanoparticles, associated with virus-related genes, are found in bacteria from various environments and have diverse functions. Extracellular contractile injection systems (eCISs), a type of bacterial phage tail-like nanostructure, have diverse biological functions that mediate the interactions between the producer bacteria and target eukaryote. Known gram-negative bacterial eCISs can act as protein translocation systems and inject effector proteins that modulate eukaryotic cellular processes by attaching to the target cells. Further investigation of the functions of eCISs will facilitate the application of these nanomachines as nano-sized syringes in the field of nanomedicine and vaccine development. This review summarises the recent progress in elucidating the structures and biological functions of nanoparticles that resemble the tail components of phages that infect bacteria and discusses directions for future research to improve the clinical applicability of virus-related bacterial nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiki Nagakubo
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan;
- Microbiology Research Centre for Sustainability (MiCS), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan
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Unraveling the Uncharacterized Domain of Carocin S2: A Ribonuclease Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum Bacteriocin. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020359. [PMID: 35208813 PMCID: PMC8878655 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Carocin S2 is a bacteriocin with a low molecular weight generated by Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum 3F3 strain. The caroS2K gene, which is found in the genomic DNA alongside the caroS2I gene, which codes for an immunity protein, encodes this bacteriocin. We explored the residues responsible for Carocin S2’s cytotoxic or RNA-se activity using a structure-based mutagenesis approach. The minimal antibiotic functional region starts at Lys691 and ends at Arg783, according to mutational research. Two residues in the identified region, Phe760 and Ser762, however, are unable to demonstrate this activity, suggesting that these sites may interact with another domain. Small modifications in the secondary structure of mutant caroS2K were revealed by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence (ITF), showing ribosomal RNA cleavage in the active site. A co-immunoprecipitation test indicated that the immunity protein CaroS2I binds to CaroS2K’s C-terminus, while a region under the uncharacterized Domain III inhibits association of N-terminally truncated CaroS2K from interacting with CaroS2I. Carocin S2, a ribosomal ribonuclease bacteriocin, is the first to be identified with a domain III that encodes the cytotoxic residues as well as the binding sites between its immunity and killer proteins.
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Huang CW, Lin YS, Huang WC, Lai CC, Chien HJ, Hu NJ, Chen JH. Inhibition of the clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: In vitro assessment of a case-based study. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2022; 55:60-68. [PMID: 33341362 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2020.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global rise in nosocomial infections associated with gram-negative bacteria and the spread of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) pose public health concerns. This study investigates the inhibitory effects and possible inhibitory mechanism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) on selected clinical strains of A. baumannii (AB) isolated from Taiwanese patients. METHODS Four and eight clinical strains of AB and PA, respectively, were randomly selected from the bacterial collection of Feng-Yuan Hospital, Taiwan. Antimicrobial-susceptibility was performed on the AB strains. Inhibition potential of the PA strains against AB was assessed by measuring the inhibition zones. In vitro analysis using phenazine-1-carboxamide (PCN) was conducted to assess the possible inhibitory mechanism of PA, which was later confirmed in the clinical isolates by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS All the clinical AB strains showed resistance to the eleven antibiotics and were classified as MDR-AB. The nine PA strains exert either a high (PA3596, PA3681, PA3772, and ATCC27853) or a low (PA3613, PA3625, PA3712, PA3715, and PA3744) degree of inhibition against AB strains. 0.25 mg/ml PCN had a clearer inhibition zone than 0.05 mg/ml PCN, suggesting a dose-dependent inhibition of PCN on the AB strains. The four PA strains that demonstrated a high degree of inhibition had a relatively high amount of PCN. CONCLUSION Selected strains of PA exert inhibitory actions on MDR-AB with PCN being a possible inhibitory agent. This finding raises the possibility of developing effective therapeutic antibiotics and disinfectant from specific components of PA for the treatment and control of Acinetobacter-associated infections in hospital settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Wen Huang
- Institute of Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Asia University Hospital, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Sheng Lin
- Institute of Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Asia University Hospital, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chang Huang
- Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Technology, Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli, Taiwan; Department of Industrial Engineering and Enterprise Information, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chen Lai
- Institute of Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Han-Ju Chien
- Institute of Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Nien-Jen Hu
- Institute of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
| | - Jiann-Hwa Chen
- Institute of Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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Zhao H, Clevenger AL, Coburn PS, Callegan MC, Rybenkov V. Condensins are essential for Pseudomonas aeruginosa corneal virulence through their control of lifestyle and virulence programs. Mol Microbiol 2022; 117:937-957. [PMID: 35072315 PMCID: PMC9512581 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14883] [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: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant opportunistic pathogen responsible for numerous human infections. Its high pathogenicity resides in a diverse array of virulence factors and an ability to adapt to hostile environments. We report that these factors are tied to the activity of condensins, SMC and MksBEF, which primarily function in structural chromosome maintenance. This study revealed that both proteins are required for P. aeruginosa virulence during corneal infection. The reduction in virulence was traced to broad changes in gene expression. Transcriptional signatures of smc and mksB mutants were largely dissimilar and non-additive, with the double mutant displaying a distinct gene expression profile. Affected regulons included those responsible for lifestyle control, primary metabolism, surface adhesion and biofilm growth, iron and sulfur assimilation, and numerous virulence factors, including type 3 and type 6 secretion systems. The in vitro phenotypes of condensin mutants mirrored their transcriptional profiles and included impaired production and secretion of multiple virulence factors, growth deficiencies under nutrient limiting conditions, and altered c-di-GMP signaling. Notably, c-di-GMP mediated some but not all transcriptional responses of the mutants. Thus, condensins are integrated into the control of multiple genetic programs related to epigenetic and virulent behavior of P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Zhao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, OK, USA
| | - April L Clevenger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Phillip S Coburn
- Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, USA
| | - Michelle C Callegan
- Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, USA
| | - Valentin Rybenkov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, OK, USA
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