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Gaeta NC, de Sá Guimarães AM, Timenetsky J, Clouser S, Gregory L, Ganda E. The first Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae recovered from a sheep with respiratory disease in Brazil - draft genome and genomic analysis. Vet Res Commun 2022; 46:1311-1318. [PMID: 35804255 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-022-09972-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is an important etiological agent of sheep respiratory disease worldwide. Here, we describe the first isolation and draft genome sequence of M. ovipneumoniae strain USP-BR2017 retrieved from tracheobronchial lavage of a sheep showing clinical signs of respiratory disease in the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The culture of tracheobronchial lavage resulted in glucose-fermenting fried egg colonies, which were identified as M. ovipneumoniae by polymerase chain reaction. The genome was sequenced using the Illumina NextSeq 2000 and de novo assembled using SPAdes. The genome of the sequenced organism presented an approximate size of 1,122,253 bp. The annotation revealed 773 coding DNA sequences (CDSs), 806 genes, three rRNAs, and 30 tRNAs. Data analysis revealed M. ovipneumoniae strain USP-BR2017 contains a few virulence genes, including the hemolysing C gene (hlyC). In addition, strain USP-BR2017 showed high identity over the 16S rRNA gene with other sheep isolates from China and United States. This first description of M. ovipneumoniae in diseased Brazilian sheep demonstrates the importance of continuous surveillance and diagnostics of pathogens causing respiratory disease in sheep in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália C Gaeta
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. .,Laboratory of Bacterial Zoonosis, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Ana Marcia de Sá Guimarães
- Laboratory of Applied Research to Mycobacteria, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jorge Timenetsky
- Laboratory of Mycoplasmas, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Stephanie Clouser
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Lilian Gregory
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Erika Ganda
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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Ramos EI, Das K, Harrison AL, Garcia A, Gadad SS, Dhandayuthapani S. Mycoplasma genitalium and M. pneumoniae Regulate a Distinct Set of Protein-Coding Genes in Epithelial Cells. Front Immunol 2021; 12:738431. [PMID: 34707609 PMCID: PMC8544821 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.738431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma genitalium and M. pneumoniae are two significant mycoplasmas that infect the urogenital and respiratory tracts of humans. Despite distinct tissue tropisms, they both have similar pathogenic mechanisms and infect/invade epithelial cells in the respective regions and persist within these cells. However, the pathogenic mechanisms of these species in terms of bacterium-host interactions are poorly understood. To gain insights on this, we infected HeLa cells independently with M. genitalium and M. pneumoniae and assessed gene expression by whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) approach. The results revealed that HeLa cells respond to M. genitalium and M. pneumoniae differently by regulating various protein-coding genes. Though there is a significant overlap between the genes regulated by these species, many of the differentially expressed genes were specific to each species. KEGG pathway and signaling network analyses revealed that the genes specific to M. genitalium are more related to cellular processes. In contrast, the genes specific to M. pneumoniae infection are correlated with immune response and inflammation, possibly suggesting that M. pneumoniae has some inherent ability to modulate host immune pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique I. Ramos
- Center of Emphasis in Cancer, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Kishore Das
- Center of Emphasis in Infectious Diseases, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Alana L. Harrison
- Center of Emphasis in Cancer, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Anissa Garcia
- Center of Emphasis in Infectious Diseases, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Shrikanth S. Gadad
- Center of Emphasis in Cancer, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, United States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
- Mays Cancer Center, UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Subramanian Dhandayuthapani
- Center of Emphasis in Infectious Diseases, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
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Aparicio D, Torres-Puig S, Ratera M, Querol E, Piñol J, Pich OQ, Fita I. Mycoplasma genitalium adhesin P110 binds sialic-acid human receptors. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4471. [PMID: 30367053 PMCID: PMC6203739 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06963-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to target cells is a prerequisite for colonization and further infection. The main adhesins of the emerging sexually transmitted pathogen Mycoplasma genitalium, P140 and P110, interact to form a Nap complex anchored to the cell membrane. Herein, we present the crystal structures of the extracellular region of the virulence factor P110 (916 residues) unliganded and in complex with sialic acid oligosaccharides. P110 interacts only with the neuraminic acid moiety of the oligosaccharides and experiments with human cells demonstrate that these interactions are essential for mycoplasma cytadherence. Additionally, structural information provides a deep insight of the P110 antigenic regions undergoing programmed variation to evade the host immune response. These results enlighten the interplay of M. genitalium with human target cells, offering new strategies to control mycoplasma infections. How the Mycoplasma genitalium cytadhesins P140 and P110 promote host cell invasion remains poorly understood. Here, combining structural analysis with functional assays, Aparicio et al. identify the P110 domain that binds to sialylated receptors essential for mycoplasma cytadherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Aparicio
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC) and Maria de Maeztu Unit of Excellence, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Torres-Puig
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercè Ratera
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC) and Maria de Maeztu Unit of Excellence, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enrique Querol
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Piñol
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oscar Q Pich
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Ignacio Fita
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC) and Maria de Maeztu Unit of Excellence, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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Fritsch TE, Siqueira FM, Schrank IS. Intrinsic terminators in Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae transcription. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:273. [PMID: 25886614 PMCID: PMC4411717 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1468-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, an important pathogen of swine, exhibits a low guanine and cytosine (GC) content genome. M. hyopneumoniae genome is organised in long transcriptional units and promoter sequences have been mapped upstream of all transcription units. These analysis provided insights into the gene organisation and transcription initiation at the genome scale. However, the presence of transcriptional terminator sequences in the M. hyopneumoniae genome is poorly understood. Results In silico analyses demonstrated the presence of putative terminators in 82% of the 33 monocistronic units (mCs) and in 74% of the 116 polycistronic units (pCs) considering different classes of terminators. The functional activity of 23 intrinsic terminators was confirmed by RT-PCR and qPCR. Analysis of all terminators found by three software algorithms, combined with experimental results, allowed us to propose a pattern of RNA hairpin formation during the termination process and to predict the location of terminators in the M. hyopneumoniae genome sequence. Conclusions The stem-loop structures of intrinsic terminators of mycoplasma diverge from the pattern of terminators found in other bacteria due the low content of guanine and cytosine. In M. hyopneumoniae, transcription can end after a transcriptional unit and before its terminator sequence and can also continue past the terminator sequence with RNA polymerases gradually releasing the RNA. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1468-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Ebert Fritsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Franciele Maboni Siqueira
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Irene Silveira Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. .,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, P. 43421, C.P. 15005, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 91501-970, Brazil.
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Siqueira FM, Schrank A, Schrank IS. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae transcription unit organization: genome survey and prediction. DNA Res 2011; 18:413-22. [PMID: 22086999 PMCID: PMC3223074 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsr028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is associated with swine respiratory diseases. Although gene organization and regulation are well known in many prokaryotic organisms, knowledge on mycoplasma is limited. This study performed a comparative analysis of three strains of M. hyopneumoniae (7448, J and 232), with a focus on genome organization and gene comparison for open read frame (ORF) cluster (OC) identification. An in silico analysis of gene organization demonstrated 117 OCs and 34 single ORFs in M. hyopneumoniae 7448 and J, while 116 OCs and 36 single ORFs were identified in M. hyopneumoniae 232. Genomic comparison revealed high synteny and conservation of gene order between the OCs defined for 7448 and J strains as well as for 7448 and 232 strains. Twenty-one OCs were chosen and experimentally confirmed by reverse transcription–PCR from M. hyopneumoniae 7448 genome, validating our prediction. A subset of the ORFs within an OC could be independently transcribed due to the presence of internal promoters. Our results suggest that transcription occurs in ‘run-on’ from an upstream promoter in M. hyopneumoniae, thus forming large ORF clusters (from 2 to 29 ORFs in the same orientation) and indicating a complex transcriptional organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franciele Maboni Siqueira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Molecular e Celular, Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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6
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Mycoplasma genitalium: from Chrysalis to multicolored butterfly. Clin Microbiol Rev 2011; 24:498-514. [PMID: 21734246 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00006-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 345] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The history, replication, genetics, characteristics (both biological and physical), and factors involved in the pathogenesis of Mycoplasma genitalium are presented. The latter factors include adhesion, the influence of hormones, motility, possible toxin production, and immunological responses. The preferred site of colonization, together with current detection procedures, mainly by PCR technology, is discussed. The relationships between M. genitalium and various diseases are highlighted. These diseases include acute and chronic nongonococcal urethritis, balanoposthitis, chronic prostatitis, and acute epididymitis in men and urethritis, bacterial vaginosis, vaginitis, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and reproductive disease in women. A causative relationship, or otherwise strong association, between several of these diseases and M. genitalium is apparent, and the extent of this, on a subjective basis, is presented; also provided is a comparison between M. genitalium and two other genital tract-orientated mollicutes, namely, Mycoplasma hominis, the first mycoplasma of human origin to be discovered, and Ureaplasma species. Also discussed is the relationship between M. genitalium and infertility and also arthritis in both men and women, as is infection in homosexual and immunodeficient patients. Decreased immunity, as in HIV infections, may enhance mycoplasmal detection and increase disease severity. Finally, aspects of the antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance of M. genitalium, together with the treatment and possible prevention of mycoplasmal disease, are discussed.
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Zhang W, Baseman JB. Transcriptional regulation of MG_149, an osmoinducible lipoprotein gene from Mycoplasma genitalium. Mol Microbiol 2011; 81:327-39. [PMID: 21692875 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07717.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation remains poorly understood in Mycoplasma genitalium, the smallest self-replicating cell and the causative agent of a spectrum of urogenital diseases. Previously, we reported that MG_149, a lipoprotein-encoding gene, was highly induced under physiological hyperosmolarity conditions. In this study we further analysed MG_149 transcription with a focus on the identification of promoter elements and regulatory mechanisms. We established MG_149 as a genuine osmoinducible gene that exhibited the highest transcript abundance compared with other lipoprotein genes. Using genetic approaches, we demonstrated that the -10 region of the MG_149 promoter was essential for osmoinduction. Moreover, we showed that MG_149 osmoinduction was regulated by DNA supercoiling, as the presence of novobiocin decreased MG_149 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results indicate that DNA supercoiling participates in controlling MG_149 expression during in vivo-like conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA
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8
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Chalker VJ, Jordan K, Ali T, Ison C. Real-time PCR detection of the mg219 gene of unknown function of Mycoplasma genitalium in men with and without non-gonococcal urethritis and their female partners in England. J Med Microbiol 2009; 58:895-899. [DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.009977-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Real-time PCR was employed to detect a region of the Mycoplasma genitalium
mg219 gene, a gene of unknown function, in clinical samples. Amplification of DNA and signal production from 15 other species of human mycoplasmas and 14 other bacteria and viruses did not occur. Using a panel of 208 genital and rectal samples, the sensitivity when compared to the modified mgpa gene (encoding the major surface protein MgPa) real-time PCR assay was found to be 100 % and the specificity of the assay 99.5 % with a positive predictive value of 80 % and a negative predictive value of 100 %. The mg219 gene was found to be in all strains of M. genitalium and was highly conserved. M. genitalium was detected in 3.9 % (11/280, 95 % CI 2.1–6.9) of all male specimens, in 7.7 % (10/130, 95 % CI 4.1–13.7) of patients with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) and in 0.7 % (1/150, 95 % CI <0.01–4.1) of patients without urethritis. The presence of M. genitalium was significantly associated with NGU (P ≤0.01; 95 % Cl 0.88–0.98) and non-chlamydial-non-gonococcal urethritis (P=0.0005; 95 % Cl 0.84–0.97).
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria J. Chalker
- Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Laboratory, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Karen Jordan
- Microbiology Laboratory, Northampton General Hospital Trust, Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5BD, UK
| | - Tahir Ali
- Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Laboratory, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Cathy Ison
- Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Laboratory, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
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Analysis identifying common and distinct sequences among Texas clinical strains of Mycoplasma genitalium. J Clin Microbiol 2009; 47:1469-75. [PMID: 19261784 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01602-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma genitalium is a human bacterial pathogen linked to urethritis and other sexually transmitted diseases. Here, we assessed the incidence of M. genitalium infection in patients attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in San Antonio, TX, by use of diagnostic real-time PCR. Overall, 16.8% of women and 15.1% of men were found M. genitalium positive. Regions of the mgpB gene, which encodes the MgPa adhesin, were amplified from positive clinical specimens and evaluated for sequence variability, which demonstrated transmission of the pathogen between sexual partners. Follow-up analysis of a subset of patient specimens revealed reinfection by a different strain of M. genitalium, indicating the absence of protective immunity. Eighteen DNA sequence variants were obtained and compared with all other available clinical sequences. Detailed analysis revealed silent mutations of six amino acid residues within the encoded region of the MgPa adhesin in numerous clinical strains. In addition, missense mutations of limited numbers of amino acids were observed. Alignment of putative amino acid sequences revealed the simultaneous occurrence of several mutations and the existence of identical or similar protein variants in strains from different locations.
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10
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Characterization of a unique ClpB protein of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and its impact on growth. Infect Immun 2008; 76:5082-92. [PMID: 18779336 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00698-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma pneumoniae accounts for 20 to 30% of all community-acquired pneumonia and has been associated with other airway pathologies, including asthma, and a range of extrapulmonary manifestations. Although the entire genomic sequence of M. pneumoniae has been completed, the functions of many of these genes in mycoplasma physiology are unknown. In this study, we focused on clpB, a well-known heat shock gene in other bacteria, to examine its role in mycoplasma growth. Transcriptional and translational analyses of heat shock in M. pneumoniae indicated that clpB is significantly upregulated, reinforcing its status as a critical responder to heat stress. Interestingly, M. pneumoniae ClpB does not use dual translational start points for ClpB synthesis, like other ClpB-characterized bacteria. Biochemical characterization of purified M. pneumoniae recombinant ClpB revealed casein- and lysine-independent ATPase activity and DnaK-DnaJ-GrpE-dependent chaperone activity. An M. pneumoniae mini-Tn4001-integrated, clpB-null mutant was impaired in its ability to replicate under permissive growth conditions, demonstrating the growth-promoting status of ClpB.
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Burgos R, Pich OQ, Querol E, Piñol J. Deletion of the Mycoplasma genitalium MG_217 gene modifies cell gliding behaviour by altering terminal organelle curvature. Mol Microbiol 2008; 69:1029-40. [PMID: 18573175 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2008.06343.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Motility is often a virulence factor of pathogenic bacteria. Although recent works have identified genes involved in gliding motility of mycoplasmas, little is known about the mechanisms governing the cell gliding behaviour. Here, we report that Mycoplasma genitalium MG217 is a novel protein involved in the gliding apparatus of this organism and it is, at least, one of the genes that are directing cells to move in narrow circles when they glide. In the absence of MG_217 gene, cells are still able to glide but they mainly move drawing erratic or wide circular paths. This change in the gliding behaviour correlates with a rearrangement in the terminal organelle disposition, suggesting that the terminal organelle operates as a guide to steer the mycoplasma cell in a specific direction. Immunogold labelling reveals that MG217 protein is located intracellular at the distal end of the terminal organelle, between the cell membrane and the terminal button. Such location is consistent with the idea that MG217 could act as a modulator of the terminal organelle curvature, allowing cells to move in specific directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raul Burgos
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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Lluch-Senar M, Vallmitjana M, Querol E, Piñol J. A new promoterless reporter vector reveals antisense transcription in Mycoplasma genitalium. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2007; 153:2743-2752. [PMID: 17660438 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.2006/007559-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms that promote and regulate transcription in mycoplasmas are poorly understood. Here, a promoter-probe vector based on the pMTnTetM438 minitransposon and containing a promoterless lacZ reporter gene was constructed to analyse Mycoplasma genitalium transcription in vivo. Recovered transposon insertions were in monocopy, with 16 % expressing enough beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) to yield colonies exhibiting a detectable blue colour. A sample of 52 blue colonies was propagated and selected for further analyses. The beta-Gal activity of the corresponding cultures was measured to quantify, in a reproducible way, the transcription levels of the interrupted ORFs. Several insertions were found in sense with the interrupted ORF, but surprisingly there was also a number of insertions in non-coding regions, many of them in repetitive DNA regions known as MgPa islands. Moreover, 30 % of the analysed transposon insertions had the lacZ gene in the opposite orientation to the coding frame, suggesting the existence of antisense transcripts that may be involved in the control of gene expression in M. genitalium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lluch-Senar
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miquel Vallmitjana
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enrique Querol
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Piñol
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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Ma L, Jensen JS, Myers L, Burnett J, Welch M, Jia Q, Martin DH. Mycoplasma genitalium: an efficient strategy to generate genetic variation from a minimal genome. Mol Microbiol 2007; 66:220-36. [PMID: 17784912 PMCID: PMC2169797 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2007.05911.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Mycoplasma genitalium, a human pathogen associated with sexually transmitted diseases, is unique in that it has smallest genome of any known free-living organism. The goal of this study was to investigate if and how M. genitalium uses a minimal genome to generate genetic variations. We analysed the sequence variability of the third gene (MG192 or mgpC) of the M. genitalium MgPa adhesion operon, demonstrated that the MG192 gene is highly variable among and within M. genitalium strains in vitro and in vivo, and identified MG192 sequence shifts in the course of in vitro passage of the G37 type strain and in sequential specimens from an M. genitalium-infected patient. In order to establish the origin of the MG192 variants, we examined nine genomic loci containing partial copies of the MgPa operon, known as MgPar sequences. Our analysis suggests that the MG192 sequence variation is achieved by recombination between the MG192 expression site and MgPar sequences via gene cross-over and, possibly, also by gene conversion. It appears plausible that M. genitalium has the ability to generate unlimited variants from its minimized genome, which presumably allows the organism to adapt to diverse environments and/or to evade host defences by antigenic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ma
- Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
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Ferreira HB, Castro LAD. A preliminary survey of M. hyopneumoniae virulence factors based on comparative genomic analysis. Genet Mol Biol 2007. [DOI: 10.1590/s1415-47572007000200012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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15
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Burgos R, Pich OQ, Ferrer-Navarro M, Baseman JB, Querol E, Piñol J. Mycoplasma genitalium P140 and P110 cytadhesins are reciprocally stabilized and required for cell adhesion and terminal-organelle development. J Bacteriol 2006; 188:8627-37. [PMID: 17028283 PMCID: PMC1698224 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00978-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma genitalium is a human pathogen that mediates cell adhesion by a complex structure known as the attachment organelle. This structure is composed of cytadhesins and cytadherence-associated proteins, but few data are available about the specific role of these proteins in M. genitalium cytadherence. We have deleted by homologous recombination the mg191 and mg192 genes from the MgPa operon encoding the P140 and P110 cytadhesins. Molecular characterization of these mutants has revealed a reciprocal posttranslational stabilization between the two proteins. Loss of either P140 or P110 yields a hemadsorption-negative phenotype and correlates with decreased or increased levels of cytoskeleton-related proteins MG386 and DnaK, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy analysis reveals the absolute requirement of P140 and P110 for the proper development of the attachment organelle. The phenotype described for these mutants resembles that of the spontaneous class I and class II cytadherence-negative mutants [G. R. Mernaugh, S. F. Dallo, S. C. Holt, and J. B. Baseman, Clin. Infect. Dis. 17(Suppl. 1):S69-S78, 1993], whose genetic basis remained undetermined until now. Complementation assays and sequencing analysis demonstrate that class I and class II mutants are the consequence of large deletions affecting the mg192 and mg191-mg192 genes, respectively. These deletions originated from single-recombination events involving sequences of the MgPa operon and the MgPa island located immediately downstream. We also demonstrate the translocation of MgPa sequences to a particular MgPa island by double-crossover events. Based on these observations, we propose that in addition to being a source of antigenic variation, MgPa islands could be also involved in a general phase variation mechanism switching on and off, in a reversible or irreversible way, the adhesion properties of M. genitalium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raul Burgos
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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Pich OQ, Burgos R, Planell R, Querol E, Piñol J. Comparative analysis of antibiotic resistance gene markers in Mycoplasma genitalium: application to studies of the minimal gene complement. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2006; 152:519-527. [PMID: 16436439 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.28287-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Mycoplasma genitalium has been proposed as a suitable model for an in-depth understanding of the biology of a free-living organism. This paper reports that the expression of the aminoglycoside resistance gene aac(6')-aph(2''), the only selectable marker hitherto available for M. genitalium genetic studies, correlates with a growth impairment of the resistant strains. In light of this finding, a tetM438 construction based on the tetracycline resistance gene tetM was developed; it can be used efficiently in M. genitalium and confers multiple advantages when compared to aac(6')-aph(2''). The use of tetM438 significantly improves transformation efficiency and generates visible colonies faster. Finally, the improvements in the pMTnTetM438 construction made it possible to obtain insertions in genes which have not been previously considered to be dispensable under laboratory growth conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Q Pich
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raul Burgos
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Planell
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enrique Querol
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Piñol
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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Musatovova O, Herrera C, Baseman JB. Proximal region of the gene encoding cytadherence-related protein permits molecular typing of Mycoplasma genitalium clinical strains by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. J Clin Microbiol 2006; 44:598-603. [PMID: 16455921 PMCID: PMC1392663 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.44.2.598-603.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the PCR-amplified proximal region of the gene encoding cytadherence accessory protein P110 (MG192) revealed DNA sequence divergences among 54 Mycoplasma genitalium clinical strains isolated from the genitourinary tracts of women attending a sexually transmitted disease-related health clinic, plus one from the respiratory tract and one from synovial fluid. Seven of 56 (12.5%) strains exhibited RFLPs following digestion of the proximal region with restriction endonuclease MboI or RsaI, or both. No sequence variability was detected in the distal portion of the gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oxana Musatovova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, MC 7758, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA
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Musatovova O, Dhandayuthapani S, Baseman JB. Transcriptional heat shock response in the smallest known self-replicating cell, Mycoplasma genitalium. J Bacteriol 2006; 188:2845-55. [PMID: 16585746 PMCID: PMC1447023 DOI: 10.1128/jb.188.8.2845-2855.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2005] [Accepted: 02/08/2006] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma genitalium is a human bacterial pathogen linked to urethritis and other sexually transmitted diseases as well as respiratory and joint pathologies. Though its complete genome sequence is available, little is understood about the regulation of gene expression in this smallest known, self-replicating cell, as its genome lacks orthologues for most of the conventional bacterial regulators. Still, the transcriptional repressor HrcA (heat regulation at CIRCE [controlling inverted repeat of chaperone expression]) is predicted in the M. genitalium genome as well as three copies of its corresponding regulatory sequence CIRCE. We investigated the transcriptional response of M. genitalium to elevated temperatures and detected the differential induction of four hsp genes. Three of the up-regulated genes, which encode DnaK, ClpB, and Lon, possess CIRCE within their promoter regions, suggesting that the HrcA-CIRCE regulatory mechanism is functional. Additionally, one of three DnaJ-encoding genes was up-regulated, even though no known regulatory sequences were found in the promoter region. Transcript levels returned to control values after 1 h of incubation at 37 degrees C, reinforcing the transient nature of the heat shock transcriptional response. Interestingly, neither of the groESL operon genes, which encode the GroEL chaperone and its cochaperone GroES, responded to heat shock. These data suggest that M. genitalium selectively regulates a limited number of genes in response to heat shock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oxana Musatovova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, mail code 7758, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA
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Benders GA, Powell BC, Hutchison CA. Transcriptional analysis of the conserved ftsZ gene cluster in Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. J Bacteriol 2005; 187:4542-51. [PMID: 15968065 PMCID: PMC1151755 DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.13.4542-4551.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Several experimental approaches were used to construct a detailed transcriptional profile of the phylogenetically conserved ftsZ cell division gene cluster in both Mycoplasma genitalium and its closest relative, Mycoplasma pneumoniae. We determined initiation and termination points for the cluster, as well as an absolute steady-state RNA level for each gene. Transcription of this cluster in both these organisms was shown to be highly strand specific. While the four genes in this cluster are cotranscribed, their transcription unit also includes two genes of close proximity yet disparate function. A transcription initiation point immediately upstream of these two genes was detected in M. genitalium but not M. pneumoniae. In M. pneumoniae, transcription of the six genes terminates at a poly(U)-tailed hairpin. In M. genitalium, this transcription terminates at two closely spaced points by an unknown mechanism. Real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis of this cluster in M. pneumoniae shows that mRNA levels for all six genes vary at most fivefold and form a gradient of decreasing quantity with increasing distance from the promoter at the beginning of the cluster. mRNA from coding regions was approximately 20- to 100-fold more abundant than that from intergenic regions. We estimated the most abundant mRNA we detected at 0.6 copy per cell. We conclude that groups of functionally related genes in M. genitalium and M. pneumoniae are often preceded by promoters but rarely followed by terminators. This causes functionally unrelated genes to be commonly cotranscribed in these organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwynedd A Benders
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
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Vasconcelos ATR, Ferreira HB, Bizarro CV, Bonatto SL, Carvalho MO, Pinto PM, Almeida DF, Almeida LGP, Almeida R, Alves-Filho L, Assunção EN, Azevedo VAC, Bogo MR, Brigido MM, Brocchi M, Burity HA, Camargo AA, Camargo SS, Carepo MS, Carraro DM, de Mattos Cascardo JC, Castro LA, Cavalcanti G, Chemale G, Collevatti RG, Cunha CW, Dallagiovanna B, Dambrós BP, Dellagostin OA, Falcão C, Fantinatti-Garboggini F, Felipe MSS, Fiorentin L, Franco GR, Freitas NSA, Frías D, Grangeiro TB, Grisard EC, Guimarães CT, Hungria M, Jardim SN, Krieger MA, Laurino JP, Lima LFA, Lopes MI, Loreto ELS, Madeira HMF, Manfio GP, Maranhão AQ, Martinkovics CT, Medeiros SRB, Moreira MAM, Neiva M, Ramalho-Neto CE, Nicolás MF, Oliveira SC, Paixão RFC, Pedrosa FO, Pena SDJ, Pereira M, Pereira-Ferrari L, Piffer I, Pinto LS, Potrich DP, Salim ACM, Santos FR, Schmitt R, Schneider MPC, Schrank A, Schrank IS, Schuck AF, Seuanez HN, Silva DW, Silva R, Silva SC, Soares CMA, Souza KRL, Souza RC, Staats CC, Steffens MBR, Teixeira SMR, Urmenyi TP, Vainstein MH, Zuccherato LW, Simpson AJG, Zaha A. Swine and poultry pathogens: the complete genome sequences of two strains of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and a strain of Mycoplasma synoviae. J Bacteriol 2005; 187:5568-77. [PMID: 16077101 PMCID: PMC1196056 DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.16.5568-5577.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2005] [Accepted: 05/19/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This work reports the results of analyses of three complete mycoplasma genomes, a pathogenic (7448) and a nonpathogenic (J) strain of the swine pathogen Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and a strain of the avian pathogen Mycoplasma synoviae; the genome sizes of the three strains were 920,079 bp, 897,405 bp, and 799,476 bp, respectively. These genomes were compared with other sequenced mycoplasma genomes reported in the literature to examine several aspects of mycoplasma evolution. Strain-specific regions, including integrative and conjugal elements, and genome rearrangements and alterations in adhesin sequences were observed in the M. hyopneumoniae strains, and all of these were potentially related to pathogenicity. Genomic comparisons revealed that reduction in genome size implied loss of redundant metabolic pathways, with maintenance of alternative routes in different species. Horizontal gene transfer was consistently observed between M. synoviae and Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Our analyses indicated a likely transfer event of hemagglutinin-coding DNA sequences from M. gallisepticum to M. synoviae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Tereza R Vasconcelos
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9500, Prédio 43421, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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