Physiological response and protein expression under acid stress of Escherichia coli O157:H7 TWC01 isolated from Taiwan

The role of PhoP/PhoQ system in regulating stress adaptation response in Escherichia coli O157:H7

The development of acid tolerance response (ATR) as a result of low pH in Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) contaminating beef during processing is considered a major food safety concern. Thus, in order to explore the formation and molecular mechanisms of the tolerance response of E. coli O157:H7 in a simulated beef processing environment, the resistance of a wild-type (WT) strain and its corresponding ΔphoP mutant to acid, heat, and osmotic pressure was evaluated. Strains were pre-adapted under different conditions of pH (5.4 and 7.0), temperature (37 °C and 10 °C), and culture medium (meat extract and Luria-Bertani broth media). In addition, the expression of genes related to stress response and virulence was also investigated among WT and ΔphoP strains under the tested conditions. Pre-acid adaptation increased the resistance of E. coli O157:H7 to acid and heat treatment while resistance to osmotic pressure decreased. Moreover, acid adaptation in meat extract medium simulating slaughter environment increased ATR, whereas pre-adaptation at 10 °C reduced the ATR. Furthermore, it was shown that mildly acidic conditions (pH = 5.4) and the PhoP/PhoQ two-component system (TCS) acted synergistically to enhance acid and heat tolerance in E. coli O157:H7. Additionally, the expression of genes related to arginine and lysine metabolism, heat shock, and invasiveness was up-regulated, which revealed that the mechanism of acid resistance and cross-protection under mildly acidic conditions was mediated by the PhoP/PhoQ TCS. Both acid adaptation and phoP gene knockout reduced the relative expression of stx1 and stx2 genes which were considered as critical pathogenic factors. Collectively, the current findings indicated that ATR could occur in E. coli O157:H7 during beef processing. Thus, there is an increased food safety risk due to the persistence of tolerance response in the following processing conditions. The present study provides a more comprehensive basis for the effective application of hurdle technology in beef processing.

Comparative Review of the Responses of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli to Low pH Stress

Acidity is one of the principal physicochemical factors that influence the behavior of microorganisms in any environment, and their response to it often determines their ability to grow and survive. Preventing the growth and survival of pathogenic bacteria or, conversely, promoting the growth of bacteria that are useful (in biotechnology and food production, for example), might be improved considerably by a deeper understanding of the protective responses that these microorganisms deploy in the face of acid stress. In this review, we survey the molecular mechanisms used by two unrelated bacterial species in their response to low pH stress. We chose to focus on two well-studied bacteria, Escherichia coli (phylum Proteobacteria) and Listeria monocytogenes (phylum Firmicutes), that have both evolved to be able to survive in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. We review the mechanisms that these species use to maintain a functional intracellular pH as well as the protective mechanisms that they deploy to prevent acid damage to macromolecules in the cells. We discuss the mechanisms used to sense acid in the environment and the regulatory processes that are activated when acid is encountered. We also highlight the specific challenges presented by organic acids. Common themes emerge from this comparison as well as unique strategies that each species uses to cope with acid stress. We highlight some of the important research questions that still need to be addressed in this fascinating field.

Genetic Determinants Enabling Medium-Dependent Adaptation to Nafcillin in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing standards driving clinical decision-making have centered around the use of cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth (CA-MHB) as the medium with the notion of supporting bacterial growth, without consideration of recapitulating the in vivo environment. However, it is increasingly recognized that various medium conditions have tremendous influence on antimicrobial activity, which in turn may have major implications on the ability of in vitro susceptibility assays to predict antibiotic activity in vivo. To elucidate differential growth optimization and antibiotic resistance mechanisms, adaptive laboratory evolution was performed in the presence or absence of the antibiotic nafcillin with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) TCH1516 in either (i) CA-MHB, a traditional bacteriological nutritionally rich medium, or (ii) Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI), a medium more reflective of the in vivo host environment. Medium adaptation analysis showed an increase in growth rate in RPMI, but not CA-MHB, with mutations in apt, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase, and the manganese transporter subunit, mntA, occurring reproducibly in parallel replicate evolutions. The medium-adapted strains showed no virulence attenuation. Continuous exposure of medium-adapted strains to increasing concentrations of nafcillin led to medium-specific evolutionary strategies. Key reproducibly occurring mutations were specific for nafcillin adaptation in each medium type and did not confer resistance in the other medium environment. Only the vraRST operon, a regulator of membrane- and cell wall-related genes, showed mutations in both CA-MHB- and RPMI-evolved strains. Collectively, these results demonstrate the medium-specific genetic adaptive responses of MRSA and establish adaptive laboratory evolution as a platform to study clinically relevant resistance mechanisms.IMPORTANCE The ability of pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus to evolve resistance to antibiotics used in the treatment of infections has been an important concern in the last decades. Resistant acquisition usually translates into treatment failure and puts patients at risk of unfavorable outcomes. Furthermore, the laboratory testing of antibiotic resistance does not account for the different environment the bacteria experiences within the human body, leading to results that do not translate into the clinic. In this study, we forced methicillin-resistant S. aureus to develop nafcillin resistance in two different environments, a laboratory environment and a physiologically more relevant environment. This allowed us to identify genetic changes that led to nafcillin resistance under both conditions. We concluded that not only does the environment dictate the evolutionary strategy of S. aureus to nafcillin but also that the evolutionary strategy is specific to that given environment.

Quantitative Proteomics Reveals Potential Crosstalk between a Small RNA CoaR and a Two-Component Regulator Slr1037 in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

Bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) and two-component systems (TCSs) were two vital regulatory mechanisms employed by microorganisms to respond to environmental changes and stresses. As a promising "autotrophic cell factory", photosynthetic cyanobacteria have attracted a lot of attention these years. Although most studies focused on studying the roles of sRNAs or TCS regulators in stress response in photosynthetic cyanobacteria, limited work has elucidated their potential crosstalk. Our previous work has identified a negative sRNA regulator CoaR and a positive response regulator Slr1037 both related to 1-butanol stress regulation in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. In this work, the potential crosstalk between CoaR and Slr1307 (i.e., the coregulated genes mediated by CoaR and Slr1037) was identified and validated through quantitative proteomics and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), respectively. The results showed that the sensitive phenotype to 1-butanol of Δslr1037 could be rescued by suppressing coaR in Δslr1037, probably due to the fact that some target genes of Slr1037 could be reactivated by repression of CoaR. Twenty-eight coregulated proteins mediated by CoaR and Slr1037 were found through quantitative proteomics, and 10 of the annotated proteins were validated via qRT-PCR. This study proved the existence of crosstalk between sRNAs and response regulators and provided new insights into the coregulation of biofuel resistance in cyanobacteria.

Increased EHEC survival and virulence gene expression indicate an enhanced pathogenicity upon simulated pediatric gastrointestinal conditions

BACKGROUND

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are major foodborne pathogens that constitute a serious public health threat, mainly in young children. Shiga toxins (Stx) are the main virulence determinants of EHEC pathogenesis but adhesins like intimin (eae) and Long polar fimbriae (Lpf) also contribute to infection. The TNO GastroIntestinal Model (TIM) was used for a comparative study of EHEC O157:H7 survival and virulence under adult and child digestive conditions.

METHODS

Survival kinetics in the in vitro digestive tract were determined by plating while bacterial viability was assessed by flow cytometry analysis. Expression of stx, eae, and lpf genes was followed by reverse transcriptase-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Stx production was measured by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).

RESULTS

Upon gastrointestinal passage, a higher amount of viable cells was found in the simulated ileal effluents of children compared to that of adults (with 34 and 6% of viable cells, respectively). Expression levels of virulence genes were up to 125-fold higher in children. Stx was detected only in child ileal effluents.

CONCLUSION

Differences in digestive physicochemical parameters may partially explain why children are more susceptible to EHEC infection than adults. Such data are essential for a full understanding of EHEC pathogenesis and would help in designing novel therapeutic approaches.

Microbial inactivation and physicochemical properties of ultrasound processed pomegranate juice

The effects of ultrasound treatment at various amplitudes (50, 75, and 100%) and times (0, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 min) on Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 (a surrogate for E. coli O157:H7) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 2366 levels and physicochemical characteristics (monomeric anthocyanins, color values, total phenolics, pH, and soluble solids) were determined in pomegranate juice. More than a 5-log inactivation of E. coli ATCC 25922 and a 1.36-log inactivation of S. cerevisiae ATCC 2366 were achieved after 30 min of ultrasound treatment at 100% amplitude. The log-linear and Weibull models were successfully used to estimate the microbial inactivation as a function of ultrasound treatment time (R(2) > 0.97). No significant changes were observed in total phenolics, pH, and soluble solids of the treated juice (P > 0.05). The ultrasound treatment for up to 30 min resulted in more than 92 and 89% anthocyanin retention at 75 and 100% amplitude, respectively. The redness (a*) of the juice did not change significantly after the ultrasound treatment at amplitudes of 75 and 100% for up to 24 and 12 min, respectively. No significant changes in L* and b* values were observed after ultrasound treatment at all amplitudes and after up to 30 min of treatment for 50 and 75% amplitudes. Small differences in juice color were noted based on total color difference scores.

Genomic, Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Studies of Two Well-Characterized, Laboratory-Derived Vancomycin-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus Strains Derived from the Same Parent Strain

Complete genome comparisons, transcriptomic and metabolomic studies were performed on two laboratory-selected, well-characterized vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) derived from the same parent MRSA that have changes in cell wall composition and decreased autolysis. A variety of mutations were found in the VISA, with more in strain 13136p(-)m⁺V20 (vancomycin MIC = 16 µg/mL) than strain 13136p(-)m⁺V5 (MIC = 8 µg/mL). Most of the mutations have not previously been associated with the VISA phenotype; some were associated with cell wall metabolism and many with stress responses, notably relating to DNA damage. The genomes and transcriptomes of the two VISA support the importance of gene expression regulation to the VISA phenotype. Similarities in overall transcriptomic and metabolomic data indicated that the VISA physiologic state includes elements of the stringent response, such as downregulation of protein and nucleotide synthesis, the pentose phosphate pathway and nutrient transport systems. Gene expression for secreted virulence determinants was generally downregulated, but was more variable for surface-associated virulence determinants, although capsule formation was clearly inhibited. The importance of activated stress response elements could be seen across all three analyses, as in the accumulation of osmoprotectant metabolites such as proline and glutamate. Concentrations of potential cell wall precursor amino acids and glucosamine were increased in the VISA strains. Polyamines were decreased in the VISA, which may facilitate the accrual of mutations. Overall, the studies confirm the wide variability in mutations and gene expression patterns that can lead to the VISA phenotype.

OmpR regulation of the uropathogenic Escherichia coli fimB gene in an acidic/high osmolality environment

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) causes more than 90 % of all human urinary tract infections through type 1 piliated UPEC cells binding to bladder epithelial cells. The FimB and FimE site-specific recombinases orient the fimS element containing the fimA structural gene promoter. Regulation of fimB and fimE depends on environmental pH and osmolality. The EnvZ/OmpR two-component system affects osmoregulation in E. coli. To ascertain if OmpR directly regulated the fimB gene promoters, gel mobility shift and DNase I footprinting experiments were performed using OmpR or phosphorylated OmpR (OmpR-P) mixed with the fimB promoter regions of UPEC strain NU149. Both OmpR-P and OmpR bound weakly to one fimB promoter. Because there was weak binding to one fimB promoter, strain NU149 was grown in different pH and osmolality environments, and total RNAs were extracted from each population and converted to cDNAs. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR showed no differences in ompR transcription among the different growth conditions. Conversely, Western blots showed a significant increase in OmpR protein in UPEC cells grown in a combined low pH/high osmolality environment versus a neutral pH/high osmolality environment. In a high osmolality environment, the ompR mutant expressed more fimB transcripts and Phase-ON positioning of the fimS element as well as higher type 1 pili levels than wild-type cells. Together these results suggest that OmpR may be post-transcriptionally regulated in UPEC cells growing in a low pH/high osmolality environment, which regulates fimB in UPEC.

Contribution of the lipopolysaccharide to resistance of Shigella flexneri 2a to extreme acidity

Shigella flexneri is endemic in most underdeveloped countries, causing diarrheal disease and dysentery among young children. In order to reach its target site, the colon, Shigella must overcome the acid environment of the stomach. Shigella is able to persist in this stressful environment and, because of this ability it can initiate infection following the ingestion of very small inocula. Thus, acid resistance is considered an important virulence trait of this bacterium. It has been reported that moderate acid conditions regulate the expression of numerous components of the bacterial envelope. Because the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major component of the bacterial surface, here we have addressed the role of LPS in acid resistance of S. flexneri 2a. Defined deletion mutants in genes encoding proteins involved in the synthesis, assembly and length regulation of the LPS O antigen were constructed and assayed for resistance to pH 2.5 after adaptation to pH 5.5. The results showed that a mutant lacking O antigen was significantly more sensitive to extreme acid conditions than the wild type. Not only the presence of polymerized O antigen, but also a particular polymer length (S-OAg) was required for acid resistance. Glucosylation of the O antigen also contributed to this property. In addition, a moderate acidic pH induced changes in the composition of the lipid A domain of LPS. The main modification was the addition of phosphoethanolamine to the 1' phosphate of lipid A. This modification increased resistance of S. flexneri to extreme acid conditions, provide that O antigen was produced. Overall, the results of this work point out to an important role of LPS in resistance of Shigella flexneri to acid stress.

Transcriptomic analysis of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and K-12 cultures exposed to inorganic and organic acids in stationary phase reveals acidulant- and strain-specific acid tolerance responses

The food-borne pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7 is commonly exposed to organic acid in processed and preserved foods, allowing adaptation and the development of tolerance to pH levels otherwise lethal. Since little is known about the molecular basis of adaptation of E. coli to organic acids, we studied K-12 MG1655 and O157:H7 Sakai during exposure to acetic, lactic, and hydrochloric acid at pH 5.5. This is the first analysis of the pH-dependent transcriptomic response of stationary-phase E. coli. Thirty-four genes and three intergenic regions were upregulated by both strains during exposure to all acids. This universal acid response included genes involved in oxidative, envelope, and cold stress resistance and iron and manganese uptake, as well as 10 genes of unknown function. Acidulant- and strain-specific responses were also revealed. The acidulant-specific response reflects differences in the modes of microbial inactivation, even between weak organic acids. The two strains exhibited similar responses to lactic and hydrochloric acid, while the response to acetic acid was distinct. Acidulant-dependent differences between the strains involved induction of genes involved in the heat shock response, osmoregulation, inorganic ion and nucleotide transport and metabolism, translation, and energy production. E. coli O157:H7-specific acid-inducible genes were identified, suggesting that the enterohemorrhagic E. coli strain possesses additional molecular mechanisms contributing to acid resistance that are absent in K-12. While E. coli K-12 was most resistant to lactic and hydrochloric acid, O157:H7 may have a greater ability to survive in more complex acidic environments, such as those encountered in the host and during food processing.

Expression of a glutathione reductase from Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis enhanced cellular redox homeostasis by modulating antioxidant proteins in Escherichia coli

Glutathione reductase (GR) is an enzyme that recycles a key cellular antioxidant molecule glutathione (GSH) from its oxidized form (GSSG) thus maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. A recombinant plasmid to overexpress a GR of Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis (BrGR) in E. coli BL21 (DE3) was constructed using an expression vector pKM260. Expression of the introduced gene was confirmed by semiquantitative RT-PCR, immunoblotting and enzyme assays. Purification of the BrGR protein was performed by IMAC method and indicated that the BrGR was a dimmer. The BrGR required NADPH as a cofactor and specific activity was approximately 458 U. The BrGR-expressing E. coli cells showed increased GR activity and tolerance to H(2)O(2), menadione, and heavy metal (CdCl(2), ZnCl(2) and AlCl(2))-mediated growth inhibition. The ectopic expression of BrGR provoked the co-regulation of a variety of antioxidant enzymes including catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Consequently, the transformed cells showed decreased hydroperoxide levels when exposed to stressful conditions. A proteomic analysis demonstrated the higher level of induction of proteins involved in glycolysis, detoxification/oxidative stress response, protein folding, transport/binding proteins, cell envelope/porins, and protein translation and modification when exposed to H(2)O(2) stress. Taken together, these results indicate that the plant GR protein is functional in a cooperative way in the E. coli system to protect cells against oxidative stress.

Survival of uropathogenic Escherichia coli in the murine urinary tract is dependent on OmpR

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) can grow in environments with significantly elevated osmolarities, such as murine and human urinary tracts. OmpR is the response regulator part of a two-component OmpR-EnvZ regulatory system that responds to osmotic stresses. To determine the role of OmpR in UPEC survival, a DeltaompR mutant was created in the UPEC clinical isolate NU149. The DeltaompR mutant had a growth defect compared with the wild-type strain under osmotic stress conditions; this defect was complemented by the full-length ompR gene on a plasmid, but not with a mutant OmpR with an alanine substitution for aspartic acid at the phosphorylation site at position 55. Furthermore, the DeltaompR mutant displayed up to 2-log reduction in bacterial cell numbers in murine bladders and kidneys compared with wild-type bacteria after 5 days of infection. The ability of the bacteria to survive was restored to wild-type levels when the DeltaompR mutant strain was complemented with wild-type ompR, but not when the alanine-substituted ompR gene was used. This study has fulfilled molecular Koch's postulates by showing the pivotal role OmpR plays in UPEC survival within the murine urinary tract.