1
|
Ábrahám Á, Dér L, Csákvári E, Vizsnyiczai G, Pap I, Lukács R, Varga-Zsíros V, Nagy K, Galajda P. Single-cell level LasR-mediated quorum sensing response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to pulses of signal molecules. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16181. [PMID: 39003361 PMCID: PMC11246452 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66706-6] [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: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a communication form between bacteria via small signal molecules that enables global gene regulation as a function of cell density. We applied a microfluidic mother machine to study the kinetics of the QS response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria to additions and withdrawals of signal molecules. We traced the fast buildup and the subsequent considerably slower decay of a population-level and single-cell-level QS response. We applied a mathematical model to explain the results quantitatively. We found significant heterogeneity in QS on the single-cell level, which may result from variations in quorum-controlled gene expression and protein degradation. Heterogeneity correlates with cell lineage history, too. We used single-cell data to define and quantitatively characterize the population-level quorum state. We found that the population-level QS response is well-defined. The buildup of the quorum is fast upon signal molecule addition. At the same time, its decay is much slower following signal withdrawal, and the quorum may be maintained for several hours in the absence of the signal. Furthermore, the quorum sensing response of the population was largely repeatable in subsequent pulses of signal molecules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ágnes Ábrahám
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári Krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Sciences, University of Szeged, Dóm Tér 9, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
| | - László Dér
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári Krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Eszter Csákvári
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári Krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
- Division for Biotechnology, Bay Zoltán Nonprofit Ltd. for Applied Research, Derkovits Fasor 2., Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Gaszton Vizsnyiczai
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári Krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Imre Pap
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári Krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Sciences, University of Szeged, Dóm Tér 9, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
| | - Rebeka Lukács
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári Krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Vanda Varga-Zsíros
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári Krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biochemistry, Temesvári Krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Nagy
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári Krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary.
| | - Péter Galajda
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári Krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jin C, Sengupta A. Microbes in porous environments: from active interactions to emergent feedback. Biophys Rev 2024; 16:173-188. [PMID: 38737203 PMCID: PMC11078916 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-024-01185-7] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbes thrive in diverse porous environments-from soil and riverbeds to human lungs and cancer tissues-spanning multiple scales and conditions. Short- to long-term fluctuations in local factors induce spatio-temporal heterogeneities, often leading to physiologically stressful settings. How microbes respond and adapt to such biophysical constraints is an active field of research where considerable insight has been gained over the last decades. With a focus on bacteria, here we review recent advances in self-organization and dispersal in inorganic and organic porous settings, highlighting the role of active interactions and feedback that mediates microbial survival and fitness. We discuss open questions and opportunities for using integrative approaches to advance our understanding of the biophysical strategies which microbes employ at various scales to make porous settings habitable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenyu Jin
- Physics of Living Matter Group, Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg, 162 A, Avenue de la Faïencerie, Luxembourg City, L-1511 Luxembourg
| | - Anupam Sengupta
- Physics of Living Matter Group, Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg, 162 A, Avenue de la Faïencerie, Luxembourg City, L-1511 Luxembourg
- Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Luxembourg, 2 Avenue de l’Université, Esch-sur-Alzette, L-4365 Luxembourg
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Qu C, Geng Y, Ding Z, Li Y, Jiang H, Su M, Liu H. In Situ Spatiotemporal SERS Profiling of Bacterial Quorum Sensing by Hierarchical Hydrophobic Plasmonic Arrays in Agar Medium. Anal Chem 2024; 96:2396-2405. [PMID: 38305857 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
A feedback inhibition effect of high autoinducer levels on metabolite secretion in Chromobacterium subtsugae (C. subtsugae) was evidenced by in situ spatiotemporal surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) profiling. The hierarchical hydrophobic plasmonic array in agar medium is structured by oil/water/oil (OL/W/OH) triphasic interfacial self-assembly. The hydrophobic layer acts as a "door curtain" to selectively permit adsorption of a quorum sensing (QS)-regulated fat-soluble metabolite, i.e., violacein (Vio), and significantly blocks nonspecific adsorption of water-soluble proteins, etc. The SERS profiling clearly evidences that the diffusion of N-hexanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL) in agar medium quickly triggers the initial synthesis of Vio in C. subtsugae CV026 but surprisingly inhibits the intrinsic synthesis of Vio in C. subtsugae ATCC31532. The latter negative response might be related to the VioS repressor of ATCC31532, which negatively controls violacein production without influencing the expression of the CviI/R QS system. Moreover, two sender-receiver systems are constructed by separately coculturing CV026 or ATCC31532 with Hafnia alvei H4 that secretes large amounts of C6-HSL. Expectedly, the cocultivation similarly triggers the initial synthesis of Vio in CV026 but seems to have a quite weak negative effect on the intrinsic synthesis in ATCC31532. In fact, the negative regulation in ATCC31532 might be affected by a diffusion-dependent concentration effect. The H4 growth and its secretion of C6-HSL are a slow and continuous process, thereby avoiding the gathering of local high concentrations. Overall, our study put forward an in situ SERS strategy as an alternative to traditional bioluminescent tools for highly sensitively analyzing the spatiotemporal communication and cooperation in live microbial colonies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Qu
- China Light Industry Key Laboratory of Meat Microbial Control and Utilization, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, P. R. China
| | - Yuchuang Geng
- China Light Industry Key Laboratory of Meat Microbial Control and Utilization, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, P. R. China
| | - Zhongxiang Ding
- China Light Industry Key Laboratory of Meat Microbial Control and Utilization, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, P. R. China
| | - Yuzhu Li
- China Light Industry Key Laboratory of Meat Microbial Control and Utilization, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, P. R. China
| | - Hao Jiang
- China Light Industry Key Laboratory of Meat Microbial Control and Utilization, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, P. R. China
| | - Mengke Su
- China Light Industry Key Laboratory of Meat Microbial Control and Utilization, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, P. R. China
| | - Honglin Liu
- China Light Industry Key Laboratory of Meat Microbial Control and Utilization, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jung H. A pore-scale reactive transport modeling study for quorum sensing-driven biofilm dispersal in heterogeneous porous media. Math Biosci 2024; 367:109126. [PMID: 38070765 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2023.109126] [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] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms regulate the expression of energetically expensive phenotypes via a collective decision-making mechanism known as quorum sensing (QS). This study investigates the intricate dynamics of biofilm growth and QS-controlled biofilm dispersal in heterogeneous porous media, employing a pore-scale reactive transport modeling approach. Model simulations carried out under various fluid flow conditions and biofilm growth scenarios reveal that QS processes are influenced not only by the biomass density of biofilm colonies but also by a complex interplay between pore architecture, flow velocity, and the rates of biofilm growth and dispersal. This study demonstrates that pore architecture controls the initiation of QS processes and advection gives rise to oscillatory growth of biofilms. Such oscillation is suppressed if biofilm dynamics are in favor of sustaining a sufficiently high signal concentration, such as fast growth or slow dispersal rates. By establishing a mathematical framework, this study contributes to the fundamental understanding of QS-controlled biofilm dynamics in complex environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heewon Jung
- Department of Geological Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Domingues TS, Coifman RR, Haji-Akbari A. Robust Estimation of Position-Dependent Anisotropic Diffusivity Tensors from Molecular Dynamics Trajectories. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:8644-8659. [PMID: 37757480 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c03581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Confinement breaks translational and rotational symmetry in materials and makes all physical properties functions of position. Such spatial variations are key to modulating material properties at the nanoscale, and characterizing them accurately is therefore an intense area of research in the molecular simulations community. This is relatively easy to accomplish for basic mechanical observables. Determining spatial profiles of transport properties, such as diffusivity, is, however, much more challenging, as it requires calculating position-dependent autocorrelations of mechanical observables. In our previous paper (Domingues, T.S.; Coifman, R.; Haji-Akbari, A. J. Phys. Chem. B 2023, 127, 5273 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c00670), we analytically derive and numerically validate a set of filtered covariance estimators (FCEs) for quantifying spatial variations of the diffusivity tensor from stochastic trajectories. In this work, we adapt these estimators to extract diffusivity profiles from MD trajectories and validate them by applying them to a Lennard-Jones fluid within a slit pore. We find our MD-adapted estimator to exhibit the same qualitative features as its stochastic counterpart, as it accurately estimates the lateral diffusivity across the pore while systematically underestimating the normal diffusivity close to hard boundaries. We introduce a conceptually simple and numerically efficient correction scheme based on simulated annealing and diffusion maps to resolve the latter artifact and obtain normal diffusivity profiles that are consistent with the self-part of the van Hove correlation functions. Our findings demonstrate the potential of this MD-adapted estimator in accurately characterizing spatial variations of diffusivity in confined materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiago S Domingues
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Ronald R Coifman
- Department of Mathematics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Amir Haji-Akbari
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Perullini M, Dulhoste S, Ribot F, Pehau-Arnaudet G, Bouvet OMM, Livage J, Nassif N. Bacteria metabolic adaptation to oxidative stress: the case of silica. J Biotechnol 2023; 374:80-89. [PMID: 37567503 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2023.08.002] [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] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Although the presence of silica in many living organisms offers advanced properties including cell protection, the different in vitro attempts to build living materials in pure silica never favoured the cells viability. Thus, little attention has been paid to host-guest interactions to modify the expected biologic response. Here we report the physiological changes undergone by Escherichia coli K-12 in silica from colloidal solution to gel confinement. We show that the physiological alterations in growing cultures are not triggered by the initial oxidative Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) response. Silica promotes the induction of alternative metabolic pathways along with an increase of growth suggesting the existence of rpoS polymorphisms. Since the functionality of hybrid materials depends on the specific biologic responses of their guests, such cell physiological adaptation opens perspectives in the design of bioactive devices attracting for a large field of sciences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Perullini
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), Laboratorio de materiales funcionales con actividad biológica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Sophie Dulhoste
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), Laboratorio de materiales funcionales con actividad biológica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - François Ribot
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris (LCMCP), F-75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | | | - Odile M M Bouvet
- IAME, UMR 1137, INSERM, Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75018 Paris, France
| | - Jacques Livage
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris (LCMCP), F-75252 Paris Cedex 05, France.
| | - Nadine Nassif
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris (LCMCP), F-75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Williams P, Hill P, Bonev B, Chan WC. Quorum-sensing, intra- and inter-species competition in the staphylococci. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169:001381. [PMID: 37578829 PMCID: PMC10482373 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
In Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and the coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), the accessory gene regulator (agr) is a highly conserved but polymorphic quorum-sensing system involved in colonization, virulence and biofilm development. Signalling via agr depends on the interaction of an autoinducing peptide (AIP) with AgrC, a transmembrane sensor kinase that, once phosphorylated activates the response regulator AgrA. This in turn autoinduces AIP biosynthesis and drives target gene expression directly via AgrA or via the post-transcriptional regulator, RNAIII. In this review we describe the molecular mechanisms underlying the agr-mediated generation of, and response to, AIPs and the molecular basis of AIP-dependent activation and inhibition of AgrC. How the environment impacts on agr functionality is considered and the consequences of agr dysfunction for infection explored. We also discuss the concept of AIP-driven competitive interference between S. aureus and the CoNS and its anti-infective potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Williams
- Biodiscovery Institute and School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Phil Hill
- School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Boyan Bonev
- Biodiscovery Institute and School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Weng C. Chan
- School of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Moreno-Gámez S, Hochberg ME, van Doorn GS. Quorum sensing as a mechanism to harness the wisdom of the crowds. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3415. [PMID: 37296108 PMCID: PMC10256802 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37950-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria release and sense small molecules called autoinducers in a process known as quorum sensing. The prevailing interpretation of quorum sensing is that by sensing autoinducer concentrations, bacteria estimate population density to regulate the expression of functions that are only beneficial when carried out by a sufficiently large number of cells. However, a major challenge to this interpretation is that the concentration of autoinducers strongly depends on the environment, often rendering autoinducer-based estimates of cell density unreliable. Here we propose an alternative interpretation of quorum sensing, where bacteria, by releasing and sensing autoinducers, harness social interactions to sense the environment as a collective. Using a computational model we show that this functionality can explain the evolution of quorum sensing and arises from individuals improving their estimation accuracy by pooling many imperfect estimates - analogous to the 'wisdom of the crowds' in decision theory. Importantly, our model reconciles the observed dependence of quorum sensing on both population density and the environment and explains why several quorum sensing systems regulate the production of private goods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefany Moreno-Gámez
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
| | - Michael E Hochberg
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, 34095, Montpellier, France
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, USA
| | - G S van Doorn
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Domingues TS, Coifman RR, Haji-Akbari A. Robust Estimation of Position-Dependent Anisotropic Diffusivity Tensors from Stochastic Trajectories. J Phys Chem B 2023. [PMID: 37261948 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c00670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Materials under confinement can possess properties that deviate considerably from their bulk counterparts. Indeed, confinement makes all physical properties position-dependent and possibly anisotropic, and characterizing such spatial variations and directionality has been an intense area of focus in experimental and computational studies of confined matter. While this task is fairly straightforward for simple mechanical observables, it is far more daunting for transport properties such as diffusivity that can only be estimated from autocorrelations of mechanical observables. For instance, there are well established methods for estimating diffusivity from experimentally observed or computationally generated trajectories in bulk systems. No rigorous generalizations of such methods, however, exist for confined systems. In this work, we present two filtered covariance estimators for computing anisotropic and position-dependent diffusivity tensors and validate them by applying them to stochastic trajectories generated according to known diffusivity profiles. These estimators can accurately capture spatial variations that span over several orders of magnitude and that assume different functional forms. Our kernel-based approach is also very robust to implementation details such as the localization function and time discretization and performs significantly better than estimators that are solely based on local covariance. Moreover, the kernel function does not have to be localized and can instead belong to a dictionary of orthogonal functions. Therefore, the proposed estimator can be readily used to obtain functional estimates of diffusivity rather than a tabulated collection of pointwise estimates. Nonetheless, the susceptibility of the proposed estimators to time discretization is higher at the immediate vicinity of hard boundaries. We demonstrate this heightened susceptibility to be common among all covariance-based estimators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiago S Domingues
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Ronald R Coifman
- Department of Mathematics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Amir Haji-Akbari
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Polaske TJ, West KHJ, Zhao K, Widner DL, York JT, Blackwell HE. Chemical and biomolecular insights into the Staphylococcus aureus agr quorum sensing system: Current progress and ongoing challenges. Isr J Chem 2023; 63:e202200096. [PMID: 38765792 PMCID: PMC11101167 DOI: 10.1002/ijch.202200096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a ubiquitous bacterium that has become a major threat to human health due to its extensive toxin production and tremendous capacity for antibiotic resistance (e.g., MRSA "superbug" infections). Amid a worsening antibiotic resistance crisis, new strategies to combat this deadly microbe that remove the selective pressure of traditional approaches are in high demand. S. aureus utilizes an accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum sensing network to monitor its local cellular population and trigger a devastating communal attack, like an invading horde, once a threshold cell density has been reached. The role of the agr system in a range of disease types is still being unraveled. Herein, we discuss the present-day biochemical understanding of agr along with unresolved details, describe its connection to the progression of infection, and review how chemical strategies have been implemented to study and intercept this signaling pathway. This research is illuminating the potential of agr as an anti-virulence target in S. aureus and should inform the study of similar, yet less studied, agr systems in related bacterial pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. Polaske
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Korbin H. J. West
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Ke Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Danielle L. Widner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Jordan T. York
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Helen E. Blackwell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
李 政, 彭 显. [Application of Droplet-Based Microfluidics in Microbial Research]. SICHUAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF SICHUAN UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCE EDITION 2023; 54:673-678. [PMID: 37248604 PMCID: PMC10475413 DOI: 10.12182/20230560303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidics is a technology that generates and manipulates highly uniform droplets, ranging from picoliter to nanoliter droplets, in microchannels under precise control. In biological research, each droplet can be used to encapsulate a small group of cells or even a single cell, and then serve as an individual container for biochemical reaction, which is well suited for high-throughput and high-resolution biochemical analysis. In the field of microbial research, from cultivation and identification of microbes to the investigation of the spatiotemporal dynamics of microbial communities, from precise quantitation of microbiota to systematic study of microbial interactions, and from the isolation of rare and unculturable microbes to the development of genetically engineered strains, droplet microfluidic technology has played an important promotional role in all these aspects. Droplet microfluidics shows potential for becoming a basic tool for exploring single-cell microbes in microbiological research. In this review, we gave a brief overview of the technical basis of droplet microfluidics. Then, we presented its latest applications in microbial research and had some discussions, aiming to provide a reference for relevant research on microorganisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- 政毅 李
- 口腔疾病研究国家重点实验室 四川大学华西口腔医院 (成都 610041)State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 显 彭
- 口腔疾病研究国家重点实验室 四川大学华西口腔医院 (成都 610041)State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Francis D, Bhairaddy A, Joy A, Hari GV, Francis A. Secretory proteins in the orchestration of microbial virulence: The curious case of Staphylococcus aureus. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2023; 133:271-350. [PMID: 36707204 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2022.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Microbial virulence showcases an excellent model for adaptive changes that enable an organism to survive and proliferate in a hostile environment and exploit host resources to its own benefit. In Staphylococcus aureus, an opportunistic pathogen of the human host, known for the diversity of the disease conditions it inflicts and the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance, virulence is a consequence of having a highly plastic genome that is amenable to quick reprogramming and the ability to express a diverse arsenal of virulence factors. Virulence factors that are secreted to the host milieu effectively manipulate the host conditions to favor bacterial survival and growth. They assist in colonization, nutrient acquisition, immune evasion, and systemic spread. The structural and functional characteristics of the secreted virulence proteins have been shaped to assist S. aureus in thriving and disseminating effectively within the host environment and exploiting the host resources to its best benefit. With the aim of highlighting the importance of secreted virulence proteins in bacterial virulence, the present chapter provides a comprehensive account of the role of the major secreted proteins of S. aureus in orchestrating its virulence in the human host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dileep Francis
- Department of Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
| | - Anusha Bhairaddy
- Department of Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Atheene Joy
- Department of Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Ashik Francis
- Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
In Silico Genome-Scale Analysis of Molecular Mechanisms Contributing to the Development of a Persistent Infection with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ST239. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232416086. [PMID: 36555727 PMCID: PMC9781258 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416086] [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: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing frequency of isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) limits the chances for the effective antibacterial therapy of staphylococcal diseases and results in the development of persistent infection such as bacteremia and osteomyelitis. The aim of this study was to identify features of the MRSAST239 0943-1505-2016 (SA943) genome that contribute to the formation of both acute and chronic musculoskeletal infections. The analysis was performed using comparative genomics data of the dominant epidemic S. aureus lineages, namely ST1, ST8, ST30, ST36, and ST239. The SA943 genome encodes proteins that provide resistance to the host's immune system, suppress immunological memory, and form biofilms. The molecular mechanisms of adaptation responsible for the development of persistent infection were as follows: amino acid substitution in PBP2 and PBP2a, providing resistance to ceftaroline; loss of a large part of prophage DNA and restoration of the nucleotide sequence of beta-hemolysin, that greatly facilitates the escape of phagocytosed bacteria from the phagosome and formation of biofilms; dysfunction of the AgrA system due to the presence of psm-mec and several amino acid substitutions in the AgrC; partial deletion of the nucleotide sequence in genomic island vSAβ resulting in the loss of two proteases of Spl-operon; and deletion of SD repeats in the SdrE amino acid sequence.
Collapse
|
14
|
Ma R, Hu X, Zhang X, Wang W, Sun J, Su Z, Zhu C. Strategies to prevent, curb and eliminate biofilm formation based on the characteristics of various periods in one biofilm life cycle. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1003033. [PMID: 36211965 PMCID: PMC9534288 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1003033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are colonies of bacteria embedded inside a complicated self-generating intercellular. The formation and scatter of a biofilm is an extremely complex and progressive process in constant cycles. Once formed, it can protect the inside bacteria to exist and reproduce under hostile conditions by establishing tolerance and resistance to antibiotics as well as immunological responses. In this article, we reviewed a series of innovative studies focused on inhibiting the development of biofilm and summarized a range of corresponding therapeutic methods for biological evolving stages of biofilm. Traditionally, there are four stages in the biofilm formation, while we systematize the therapeutic strategies into three main periods precisely:(i) period of preventing biofilm formation: interfering the colony effect, mass transport, chemical bonds and signaling pathway of plankton in the initial adhesion stage; (ii) period of curbing biofilm formation:targeting several pivotal molecules, for instance, polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNA (eDNA) via polysaccharide hydrolases, proteases, and DNases respectively in the second stage before developing into irreversible biofilm; (iii) period of eliminating biofilm formation: applying novel multifunctional composite drugs or nanoparticle materials cooperated with ultrasonic (US), photodynamic, photothermal and even immune therapy, such as adaptive immune activated by stimulated dendritic cells (DCs), neutrophils and even immunological memory aroused by plasmocytes. The multitargeted or combinational therapies aim to prevent it from developing to the stage of maturation and dispersion and eliminate biofilms and planktonic bacteria simultaneously.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Zheng Su
- *Correspondence: Chen Zhu, ; Zheng Su,
| | - Chen Zhu
- *Correspondence: Chen Zhu, ; Zheng Su,
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Shang L, Ye F, Li M, Zhao Y. Spatial confinement toward creating artificial living systems. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:4075-4093. [PMID: 35502858 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs01025e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Lifeforms are regulated by many physicochemical factors, and these factors could be controlled to play a role in the construction of artificial living systems. Among these factors, spatial confinement is an important one, which mediates biological behaviors at multiscale levels and participates in the biomanufacturing processes accordingly. This review describes how spatial confinement, as a fundamental biological phenomenon, provides cues for the construction of artificial living systems. Current knowledge about the role of spatial confinement in mediating individual cell behavior, collective cellular behavior, and tissue-level behavior are categorized. Endeavors on the synthesis of biomacromolecules, artificial cells, engineered tissues, and organoids in spatially confined bioreactors are then emphasized. After that, we discuss the cutting-edge applications of spatially confined artificial living systems in biomedical fields. Finally, we conclude by assessing the remaining challenges and future trends in the context of fundamental science, technical improvement, and practical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luoran Shang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, China. .,Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism (Ministry of Science and Technology), Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Fangfu Ye
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. .,Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health); Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China.
| | - Ming Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, China. .,Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health); Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
|
17
|
Effects of Growth Stage on the Characterization of Enterotoxin A-Producing Staphylococcus aureus‐Derived Membrane vesicles. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10030574. [PMID: 35336149 PMCID: PMC8948643 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030574] [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: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Virulence factors, such as staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), are contained within membrane vesicles (MVs) in the cell membrane of Staphylococcus aureus. In this study, the effects of the growth stage on quantitative and qualitative changes in the components contained in the MVs of S. aureus SEA-producing strains were examined. Changes in the expression levels of S. aureus genes were examined at each growth stage; phenol-soluble modulin (PSM) gene reached a maximum after 8 h, and the expression of cell membrane-related genes was decreased after 6 h. Based on these gene expression patterns, MVs were prepared at 6, 17, and 24 h. The particle size of MVs did not change depending on the growth stage. MVs prepared after culture for 17 h maintained their particle size when stored at 23 °C. The amount of SEA in the culture supernatant and MVs were not correlated. Bifunctional autolysin, a protein involved in cell wall biosynthesis/degradation, was increased in MVs at 17 h. The expression pattern of inflammation-related genes in human adult low calcium high temperature (HaCaT) cells induced by MVs was different for each growth stage. The inclusion components of S. aureus-derived MVs are selective, depend on the stage of growth, and may play an important role in toxicity.
Collapse
|
18
|
CRISPR-Cas Technology: Emerging Applications in Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14111171. [PMID: 34832953 PMCID: PMC8625472 DOI: 10.3390/ph14111171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Through the years, many promising tools for gene editing have been developed including zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9), and homing endonucleases (HEs). These novel technologies are now leading new scientific advancements and practical applications at an inimitable speed. While most work has been performed in eukaryotes, CRISPR systems also enable tools to understand and engineer bacteria. The increase in the number of multi-drug resistant strains highlights a necessity for more innovative approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of infections. CRISPR has given scientists a glimmer of hope in this area that can provide a novel tool to fight against antimicrobial resistance. This system can provide useful information about the functions of genes and aid us to find potential targets for antimicrobials. This paper discusses the emerging use of CRISPR-Cas systems in the fields of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases with a particular emphasis on future prospects.
Collapse
|
19
|
Methods for Studying Bacterial–Fungal Interactions in the Microenvironments of Soil. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11199182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Due to their small size, microorganisms directly experience only a tiny portion of the environmental heterogeneity manifested in the soil. The microscale variations in soil properties constrain the distribution of fungi and bacteria, and the extent to which they can interact with each other, thereby directly influencing their behavior and ecological roles. Thus, to obtain a realistic understanding of bacterial–fungal interactions, the spatiotemporal complexity of their microenvironments must be accounted for. The objective of this review is to further raise awareness of this important aspect and to discuss an overview of possible methodologies, some of easier applicability than others, that can be implemented in the experimental design in this field of research. The experimental design can be rationalized in three different scales, namely reconstructing the physicochemical complexity of the soil matrix, identifying and locating fungi and bacteria to depict their physical interactions, and, lastly, analyzing their molecular environment to describe their activity. In the long term, only relevant experimental data at the cell-to-cell level can provide the base for any solid theory or model that may serve for accurate functional prediction at the ecosystem level. The way to this level of application is still long, but we should all start small.
Collapse
|
20
|
Alabresm A, Chandler SL, Benicewicz BC, Decho AW. Nanotargeting of Resistant Infections with a Special Emphasis on the Biofilm Landscape. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:1411-1430. [PMID: 34319073 PMCID: PMC8527872 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial resistance to antimicrobial compounds is a growing concern in medical and public health circles. Overcoming the adaptable and duplicative resistance mechanisms of bacteria requires chemistry-based approaches. Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) now offer unique advantages toward this effort. However, most in situ infections (in humans) occur as attached biofilms enveloped in a protective surrounding matrix of extracellular polymers, where survival of microbial cells is enhanced. This presents special considerations in the design and deployment of antimicrobials. Here, we review recent efforts to combat resistant bacterial strains using NPs and, then, explore how NP surfaces may be specifically engineered to enhance the potency and delivery of antimicrobial compounds. Special NP-engineering challenges in the design of NPs must be overcome to penetrate the inherent protective barriers of the biofilm and to successfully deliver antimicrobials to bacterial cells. Future challenges are discussed in the development of new antibiotics and their mechanisms of action and targeted delivery via NPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amjed Alabresm
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
- Department of Biological Development of Shatt Al-Arab & N. Arabian Gulf, Marine Science Centre, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
| | - Savannah L Chandler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Brian C Benicewicz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
- USC NanoCenter, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Alan W Decho
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Hommes JW, Kratofil RM, Wahlen S, de Haas CJC, Hildebrand RB, Hovingh GK, Otto M, van Eck M, Hoekstra M, Korporaal SJA, Surewaard BGJ. High density lipoproteins mediate in vivo protection against staphylococcal phenol-soluble modulins. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15357. [PMID: 34321507 PMCID: PMC8319287 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94651-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus virulence has been associated with the production of phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs). These PSMs have distinct virulence functions and are known to activate, attract and lyse neutrophils. These PSM-associated biological functions are inhibited by lipoproteins in vitro. We set out to address whether lipoproteins neutralize staphylococcal PSM-associated virulence in experimental animal models. Serum from both LCAT an ABCA1 knockout mice strains which are characterised by near absence of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, was shown to fail to protect against PSM-induced neutrophil activation and lysis in vitro. Importantly, PSM-induced peritonitis in LCAT-/- mice resulted in increased lysis of resident peritoneal macrophages and enhanced neutrophil recruitment into the peritoneal cavity. Notably, LCAT-/- mice were more likely to succumb to staphylococcal bloodstream infections in a PSM-dependent manner. Plasma from homozygous carriers of ABCA1 variants characterized by very low HDL-cholesterol levels, was found to be less protective against PSM-mediated biological functions compared to healthy humans. Therefore, we conclude that lipoproteins present in blood can protect against staphylococcal PSMs, the key virulence factor of community-associated methicillin resistant S. aureus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josefien W Hommes
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Disease. Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Rachel M Kratofil
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Disease. Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sigrid Wahlen
- Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Carla J C de Haas
- Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Reeni B Hildebrand
- Division of BioTherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - G Kees Hovingh
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Micheal Otto
- Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Miranda van Eck
- Division of BioTherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Menno Hoekstra
- Division of BioTherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Suzanne J A Korporaal
- Division of BioTherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bas G J Surewaard
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Disease. Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. .,Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Kim J, Silva-Rocha R, de Lorenzo V. Picking the right metaphors for addressing microbial systems: economic theory helps understanding biological complexity. Int Microbiol 2021; 24:507-519. [PMID: 34269947 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-021-00194-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Any descriptive language is necessarily metaphoric and interpretative. Two somewhat overlapping-but not identical-languages have been thoroughly employed in the last decade to address the issue of regulatory complexity in biological systems: the terminology of network theory and the jargon of electric circuitry. These approaches have found many formal equivalences between the layout of extant genetic circuits and the architecture of man-made counterparts. However, these languages still fail to describe accurately key features of biological objects, in particular the diversity of signal-transfer molecules and the diffusion that is inherent to any biochemical system. Furthermore, current formalisms associated with networks and circuits can hardly face the problem of multi-scale regulatory complexity-from single molecules to entire ecosystems. We argue that the language of economic theory might be instrumental not only to portray accurately many features of regulatory networks, but also to unveil aspects of the biological complexity problem that remain opaque to other types of analyses. The main perspective opened by the economic metaphor when applied to control of microbiological activities is a focus on metabolism, not gene selfishness, as the necessary background to make sense of regulatory phenomena. As an example, we analyse and reinterpret the widespread phenomenon of catabolite repression with the formal frame of the consumer's choice theory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juhyun Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Rafael Silva-Rocha
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Víctor de Lorenzo
- Systems Biology Department, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-CSIC, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Vozza EG, Mulcahy ME, McLoughlin RM. Making the Most of the Host; Targeting the Autophagy Pathway Facilitates Staphylococcus aureus Intracellular Survival in Neutrophils. Front Immunol 2021; 12:667387. [PMID: 34220813 PMCID: PMC8242348 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.667387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The success of Staphylococcus aureus as a human commensal and an opportunistic pathogen relies on its ability to adapt to several niches within the host. The innate immune response plays a key role in protecting the host against S. aureus infection; however, S. aureus adeptness at evading the innate immune system is indisputably evident. The “Trojan horse” theory has been postulated to describe a mechanism by which S. aureus takes advantage of phagocytes as a survival niche within the host to facilitate dissemination of S. aureus to secondary sites during systemic infection. Several studies have determined that S. aureus can parasitize both professional and non-professional phagocytes by manipulating the host autophagy pathway in order to create an intracellular survival niche. Neutrophils represent a critical cell type in S. aureus infection as demonstrated by the increased risk of infection among patients with congenital neutrophil disorders. However, S. aureus has been repeatedly shown to survive intracellularly within neutrophils with evidence now supporting a pathogenic role of host autophagy. By manipulating this pathway, S. aureus can also alter the apoptotic fate of the neutrophil and potentially skew other important signalling pathways for its own gain. Understanding these critical host-pathogen interactions could lead to the development of new host directed therapeutics for the treatment of S. aureus infection by removing its intracellular niche and restoring host bactericidal functions. This review discusses the current findings surrounding intracellular survival of S. aureus within neutrophils, the pathogenic role autophagy plays in this process and considers the therapeutic potential for targeting this immune evasion mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilio G Vozza
- Host-Pathogen Interactions Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michelle E Mulcahy
- Host-Pathogen Interactions Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rachel M McLoughlin
- Host-Pathogen Interactions Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Matsumoto M, Nakagawa S, Zhang L, Nakamura Y, Villaruz AE, Otto M, Wolz C, Inohara N, Núñez G. Interaction between Staphylococcus Agr virulence and neutrophils regulates pathogen expansion in the skin. Cell Host Microbe 2021; 29:930-940.e4. [PMID: 33852876 PMCID: PMC11024063 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus commonly infects the skin, but the host-pathogen interactions controlling bacterial growth remain unclear. S. aureus virulence is regulated by the Agr quorum-sensing system that controls factors including phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs), a group of cytotoxic peptides. We found a differential requirement for Agr and PSMα for pathogen growth in the skin. In neutrophil-deficient mice, S. aureus growth on the epidermis was unaffected, but the pathogen penetrated the dermis through mechanisms that require PSMα. In the dermis, pathogen expansion required Agr in wild-type mice, but not in neutrophil-deficient mice. Agr limited oxidative and non-oxidative killing in neutrophils by inhibiting pathogen late endosome localization and promoting phagosome escape. Unlike Agr, the SaeR/S virulence program was dispensable for growth in the epidermis and promoted dermal pathogen expansion independently of neutrophils. Thus, S. aureus growth and invasion are differentially regulated with Agr limiting intracellular killing within neutrophils to promote pathogen expansion in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masanori Matsumoto
- Department of Pathology and Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Seitaro Nakagawa
- Department of Pathology and Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Lingzhi Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yuumi Nakamura
- Cutaneous Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Amer E Villaruz
- Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michael Otto
- Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Christiane Wolz
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Naohiro Inohara
- Department of Pathology and Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Gabriel Núñez
- Department of Pathology and Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Lei Q, Guo J, Kong F, Cao J, Wang L, Zhu W, Brinker CJ. Bioinspired Cell Silicification: From Extracellular to Intracellular. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:6305-6322. [PMID: 33826324 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c00814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In nature, biosilicification directs the formation of elaborate amorphous silica exoskeletons that provide diatoms mechanically strong, chemically inert, non-decomposable silica armor conferring chemical and thermal stability as well as resistance to microbial attack, without changing the optical transparency or adversely effecting nutrient and waste exchange required for growth. These extraordinary silica/cell biocomposites have inspired decades of biomimetic research aimed at replication of diatoms' hierarchically organized exoskeletons, immobilization of cells or living organisms within silica matrices and coatings to protect them against harmful external stresses, genetic re-programming of cellular functions by virtue of physico-chemical confinement within silica, cellular integration into devices, and endowment of cells with non-native, abiotic properties through facile silica functionalization. In this Perspective, we focus our discussions on the development and concomitant challenges of bioinspired cell silicification ranging from "cells encapsulated within 3D silica matrices" and "cells encapsulated within 2D silica shells" to extra- and intracellular silica replication, wherein all biomolecular interfaces are encased within nanoscopic layers of amorphous silica. We highlight notable examples of advances in the science and technology of biosilicification and consider challenges to advancing the field, where we propose cellular "mineralization" with arbitrary nanoparticle exoskeletons as a generalizable means to impart limitless abiotic properties and functions to cells, and, based on the interchangeability of water and silicic acid and analogies between amorphous ice and amorphous silica, we consider "freezing" cells within amorphous silica as an alternative to cryo-preservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Lei
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Jimin Guo
- Center for Micro-Engineered Materials, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Molecular Medicine, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Fanhui Kong
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Jiangfan Cao
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Wei Zhu
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - C Jeffrey Brinker
- Center for Micro-Engineered Materials, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Du H, Xu W, Zhang Z, Han X. Bacterial Behavior in Confined Spaces. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:629820. [PMID: 33816474 PMCID: PMC8012557 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.629820] [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] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In confined spaces, bacteria exhibit unexpected cellular behaviors that are related to the biogeochemical cycle and human health. Types of confined spaces include lipid vesicles, polymer vesicles, emulsion droplets, microfluidic chips, and various laboratory-made chambers. This mini-review summarizes the behaviors of living bacteria in these confined spaces, including (a) growth and proliferation, (b) cell communication, and (c) motion. Future trends and challenges are also discussed in this paper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.,Center for Marine Antifouling Engineering Technology of Shandong Province, School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai, China
| | - Weili Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Zhizhou Zhang
- Center for Marine Antifouling Engineering Technology of Shandong Province, School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai, China
| | - Xiaojun Han
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Bacteria-host transcriptional response during endothelial invasion by Staphylococcus aureus. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6037. [PMID: 33727596 PMCID: PMC7966777 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84050-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is the cause of serious vascular infections such as sepsis and endocarditis. These infections are notoriously difficult to treat, and it is believed that the ability of S. aureus to invade endothelial cells and persist intracellularly is a key mechanism for persistence despite ongoing antibiotic treatment. Here, we used dual RNA sequencing to study the simultaneous transcriptional response of S. aureus and human endothelial cells during in vitro infections. We revealed discrete and shared differentially expressed genes for both host and pathogen at the different stages of infection. While the endothelial cells upregulated genes involved in interferon signalling and antigen presentation during late infection, S. aureus downregulated toxin expression while upregulating genes related to iron scavenging. In conclusion, the presented data provide an important resource to facilitate functional investigations into host–pathogen interaction during S. aureus invasive infection and a basis for identifying novel drug target sites.
Collapse
|
28
|
Lahiri D, Nag M, Sheikh HI, Sarkar T, Edinur HA, Pati S, Ray RR. Microbiologically-Synthesized Nanoparticles and Their Role in Silencing the Biofilm Signaling Cascade. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:636588. [PMID: 33717030 PMCID: PMC7947885 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.636588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of bacterial resistance to antibiotics has led to the search for alternate antimicrobial treatment strategies. Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) for efficient penetration into a living system have become more common in the world of health and hygiene. The use of microbial enzymes/proteins as a potential reducing agent for synthesizing NPs has increased rapidly in comparison to physical and chemical methods. It is a fast, environmentally safe, and cost-effective approach. Among the biogenic sources, fungi and bacteria are preferred not only for their ability to produce a higher titer of reductase enzyme to convert the ionic forms into their nano forms, but also for their convenience in cultivating and regulating the size and morphology of the synthesized NPs, which can effectively reduce the cost for large-scale manufacturing. Effective penetration through exopolysaccharides of a biofilm matrix enables the NPs to inhibit the bacterial growth. Biofilm is the consortia of sessile groups of microbial cells that are able to adhere to biotic and abiotic surfaces with the help extracellular polymeric substances and glycocalyx. These biofilms cause various chronic diseases and lead to biofouling on medical devices and implants. The NPs penetrate the biofilm and affect the quorum-sensing gene cascades and thereby hamper the cell-to-cell communication mechanism, which inhibits biofilm synthesis. This review focuses on the microbial nano-techniques that were used to produce various metallic and non-metallic nanoparticles and their "signal jamming effects" to inhibit biofilm formation. Detailed analysis and discussion is given to their interactions with various types of signal molecules and the genes responsible for the development of biofilm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dibyajit Lahiri
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Engineering & Management, Kolkata, India
| | - Moupriya Nag
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Engineering & Management, Kolkata, India
| | - Hassan I. Sheikh
- Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Malaysia
| | - Tanmay Sarkar
- Department of Food Technology and Bio-Chemical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
- Malda Polytechnic, West Bengal State Council of Technical Education, Govt. of West Bengal, Malda, India
| | | | - Siddhartha Pati
- Centre of Excellence, Khallikote University, Berhampur, Ganjam, Odisha, India
- Research Division, Association for Biodiversity Conservation and Research (ABC), Balasore, India
| | - Rina Rani Ray
- Department of Biotechnology, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Haringhata, India
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Ostovar G, Naughton KL, Boedicker JQ. Computation in bacterial communities. Phys Biol 2020; 17:061002. [PMID: 33035198 DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/abb257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria across many scales are involved in a dynamic process of information exchange to coordinate activity and community structure within large and diverse populations. The molecular components bacteria use to communicate have been discovered and characterized, and recent efforts have begun to understand the potential for bacterial signal exchange to gather information from the environment and coordinate collective behaviors. Such computations made by bacteria to coordinate the action of a population of cells in response to information gathered by a multitude of inputs is a form of collective intelligence. These computations must be robust to fluctuations in both biological, chemical, and physical parameters as well as to operate with energetic efficiency. Given these constraints, what are the limits of computation by bacterial populations and what strategies have evolved to ensure bacterial communities efficiently work together? Here the current understanding of information exchange and collective decision making that occur in microbial populations will be reviewed. Looking toward the future, we consider how a deeper understanding of bacterial computation will inform future direction in microbiology, biotechnology, and biophysics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ghazaleh Ostovar
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States of America
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Jung H, Meile CD. Numerical investigation of microbial quorum sensing under various flow conditions. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9942. [PMID: 32983649 PMCID: PMC7500354 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms efficiently coordinate phenotype expressions through a decision-making process known as quorum sensing (QS). We investigated QS amongst distinct, spatially distributed microbial aggregates under various flow conditions using a process-driven numerical model. Model simulations assess the conditions suitable for QS induction and quantify the importance of advective transport of signaling molecules. In addition, advection dilutes signaling molecules so that faster flow conditions require higher microbial densities, faster signal production rates, or higher sensitivities to signaling molecules to induce QS. However, autoinduction of signal production can substantially increase the transport distance of signaling molecules in both upstream and downstream directions. We present empirical approximations to the solutions of the advection–diffusion–reaction equation that describe the concentration profiles of signaling molecules for a wide range of flow and reaction rates. These empirical relationships, which predict the distribution of dissolved solutes along pore channels, allow to quantitatively estimate the effective communication distances amongst multiple microbial aggregates without further numerical simulations.
Collapse
|
31
|
Butrico CE, Cassat JE. Quorum Sensing and Toxin Production in Staphylococcus aureus Osteomyelitis: Pathogenesis and Paradox. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12080516. [PMID: 32806558 PMCID: PMC7471978 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12080516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive pathogen capable of infecting nearly every vertebrate organ. Among these tissues, invasive infection of bone (osteomyelitis) is particularly common and induces high morbidity. Treatment of osteomyelitis is notoriously difficult and often requires debridement of diseased bone in conjunction with prolonged antibiotic treatment to resolve infection. During osteomyelitis, S. aureus forms characteristic multicellular microcolonies in distinct niches within bone. Virulence and metabolic responses within these multicellular microcolonies are coordinated, in part, by quorum sensing via the accessory gene regulator (agr) locus, which allows staphylococcal populations to produce toxins and adapt in response to bacterial density. During osteomyelitis, the Agr system significantly contributes to dysregulation of skeletal homeostasis and disease severity but may also paradoxically inhibit persistence in the host. Moreover, the Agr system is subject to complex crosstalk with other S. aureus regulatory systems, including SaeRS and SrrAB, which can significantly impact the progression of osteomyelitis. The objective of this review is to highlight Agr regulation, its implications on toxin production, factors that affect Agr activation, and the potential paradoxical influences of Agr regulation on disease progression during osteomyelitis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Casey E. Butrico
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
| | - James E. Cassat
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Bone Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation (VI4), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-615-936-6494
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Tan CH, Oh HS, Sheraton VM, Mancini E, Joachim Loo SC, Kjelleberg S, Sloot PMA, Rice SA. Convection and the Extracellular Matrix Dictate Inter- and Intra-Biofilm Quorum Sensing Communication in Environmental Systems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:6730-6740. [PMID: 32390423 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms and impact of bacterial quorum sensing (QS) for the coordination of population-level behaviors are well studied under laboratory conditions. However, it is unclear how, in otherwise open environmental systems, QS signals accumulate to sufficient concentration to induce QS phenotypes, especially when quorum quenching (QQ) organisms are also present. We explore the impact of QQ activity on QS signaling in spatially organized biofilms in scenarios that mimic open systems of natural and engineered environments. Using a functionally differentiated biofilm system, we show that the extracellular matrix, local flow, and QQ interact to modulate communication. In still aqueous environments, convection facilitates signal dispersal while the matrix absorbs and relays signals to the cells. This process facilitates inter-biofilm communication even at low extracellular signal concentrations. Within the biofilm, the matrix further regulates the transport of the competing QS and QQ molecules, leading to heterogenous QS behavior. Importantly, only extracellular QQ enzymes can effectively control QS signaling, suggesting that the intracellular QQ enzymes may not have evolved to degrade environmental QS signals for competition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Hao Tan
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore
| | - Hyun-Suk Oh
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, 01811 Seoul, South Korea
| | - Vivek M Sheraton
- Complexity Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore
| | - Emiliano Mancini
- Institute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam, 1012 GC Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Say Chye Joachim Loo
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore
| | - Staffan Kjelleberg
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore
- The School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, The Schools of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, and Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, 2031 Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter M A Sloot
- Complexity Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore
- Institute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam, 1012 GC Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- ITMO University, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Scott A Rice
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore
- The School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore
- The ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, 2007 Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Patel K, Rodriguez C, Stabb EV, Hagen SJ. Spatially propagating activation of quorum sensing in Vibrio fischeri and the transition to low population density. Phys Rev E 2020; 101:062421. [PMID: 32688581 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.101.062421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria communicate by secreting and detecting diffusible small molecule signals or pheromones. Using the local concentrations of these signals to regulate gene expression, individual cells can synchronize changes in phenotype population-wide, a behavior known as quorum sensing (QS). In unstirred media, the interplay between diffusion of signals, bacterial growth, and regulatory feedback can generate complex spatial and temporal patterns of expression of QS-controlled genes. Here we identify the parameters that allow a local signal to trigger a self-sustaining, traveling activation of QS behavior. Using the natural bioluminescence of wild-type Vibrio fischeri as a readout of its lux QS system, we measure the induction of a spreading QS response by a localized triggering stimulus in unstirred media. Our data show that a QS response propagates outward, sustained by positive feedback in synthesis of the diffusible signal, and that this response occurs only if the triggering stimulus exceeds a critical threshold. We also test how the autonomous or untriggered activation of the V. fischeri QS pathway changes at very low initial population densities. At the lowest population densities, clusters of cells do not transition to a self-sensing behavior, but rather remain in communication via signal diffusion until they reach sufficiently large size that their own growth slows. Our data, which are reproduced by simple growth and diffusion simulations, indicate that in part owing to bacterial growth behavior, natural QS systems can be characterized by long distance communication through signal diffusion even in very heterogeneous and spatially dispersed populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keval Patel
- Physics Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-8440, USA
| | - Coralis Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Eric V Stabb
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Stephen J Hagen
- Physics Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-8440, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Rybkin I, Gorin D, Sukhorukov G, Lapanje A. Thickness of Polyelectrolyte Layers of Separately Confined Bacteria Alters Key Physiological Parameters on a Single Cell Level. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2019; 7:378. [PMID: 31867314 PMCID: PMC6904277 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Confinement of bacterial cells in a matrix or in capsules is an integral part of many biotechnological applications. Here, the well-known layer-by-layer method of deposition of a polyelectrolyte film a few nanometers in thickness to confine separated bacterial cells in permeable and physically durable shells has been examined. Due to the physical properties of such a confinement, we found that this method enables investigation of effects of physical barriers against mass gain and cell division. Using the method of time-lapse confocal microscopy, we observed a prolonged lag phase, dependent on the number of polyelectrolyte layers. In the confinement, both the GFP fluorescent signal from the leaking T7 promoter and the cell size were increased by factors of more than five and two, respectively. This creates a paradigm shift that enables use of mechanical entrapment for control of bacterial cell physiology and opens possibilities of controlling the division rate as well as gene expression. These effects can be attributed to the perturbation of the sensing of the cell size, which results in disproportional synthesis of a cell envelope impinging the intracellular material and compels cells to grow rapidly. In addition, the charged surface of cells enables prolonged intercellular physical interaction and results in spherically shaped microcolonies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iaroslav Rybkin
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Remote Controlled Theranostic Systems Lab, Institute of Nanostructures and Biosystems, Saratov State University, Saratov, Russia.,Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Department of Reactive Transport, Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dmitry Gorin
- Remote Controlled Theranostic Systems Lab, Institute of Nanostructures and Biosystems, Saratov State University, Saratov, Russia.,Center for Photonics and Quantum Materials, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Gleb Sukhorukov
- Remote Controlled Theranostic Systems Lab, Institute of Nanostructures and Biosystems, Saratov State University, Saratov, Russia.,School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aleš Lapanje
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Li W, Geng X, Liu D, Li Z. Near-Infrared Light-Enhanced Protease-Conjugated Gold Nanorods As A Photothermal Antimicrobial Agent For Elimination Of Exotoxin And Biofilms. Int J Nanomedicine 2019; 14:8047-8058. [PMID: 31632017 PMCID: PMC6781946 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s212750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Treatment strategies to eliminate bacterial infections have long emphasized bacterial killing as a goal. However, bacteria secrete toxins that sustain chronic disease and dead cells release DNA that can promote the spread of antibiotic resistance even when viable cells are eradicated. Meanwhile, biofilms regulated by quorum-sensing system, protect bacteria and promote the development of antibiotic resistance. Thus, all of these factors underscore the need for novel antimicrobial therapeutic treatments as alternatives to traditional antibiotics. Here, a smart material was developed that incorporated gold nanorods and an adsorbed protease (protease-conjugated gold nanorods, PGs). When illuminated with near-infrared (NIR) light, PGs functioned to physically damage bacteria, prevent biofilm and exotoxin production, eliminate pre-existing biofilm and exotoxin, and inhibit bacterial quorum-sensing systems. Methods PGs were incubated with suspensions of Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria followed by exposure to 808-nm NIR laser irradiation. Bacterial viability was determined using a colony-forming unit assay followed by an exploration of cell-damage mechanisms using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, agarose gel electrophoresis, and SDS-PAGE. Quantification of biofilm mass was performed using crystal violet staining. A commercial enterotoxin ELISA kit was used to test inhibitory and degradative effects of PGs on secreted exotoxin. Results Use of the remote-controlled antibacterial system reduced surviving bacterial populations to 3.2% and 2.1% of untreated control numbers for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively, and inhibited biofilm formation and exotoxin secretion even in the absence of NIR radiation. However, enhanced degradation of existing biofilm and exotoxin was observed when PGs were used with NIR laser irradiation. Conclusion This promising new strategy achieved both the reduction of viable microorganisms and elimination of biofilm and exotoxin. Thus, this strategy addresses the long-ignored issue of persistence of bacterial residues that perpetuate chronic illness in patients even after viable bacteria have been eradicated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, Jilin, People's Republic of China.,Scientific Research Center, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Geng
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongni Liu
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengqiang Li
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for a broad range of infections. This pathogen has a vast arsenal of virulence factors at its disposal, but avirulent strains are frequently isolated as the cause of clinical infections. These isolates have a mutated agr locus and have been believed to have no evolutionary future. Here we show that a fraction of Agr-negative strains can repair their mutated agr locus with mechanisms resembling phase variation. The agr revertants sustain an Agr OFF state as long as they exist as a minority but can activate their Agr system upon phagocytosis. These revertant cells might function as a cryptic insurance strategy to survive immune-mediated host stress that arises during infection. Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen whose success is largely attributed to its vast arsenal of virulence factors that facilitate its invasion into, and survival within, the human host. The expression of these virulence factors is controlled by the quorum sensing accessory gene regulator (Agr) system. However, a large proportion of clinical S. aureus isolates are consistently found to have a mutationally inactivated Agr system. These mutants have a survival advantage in the host but are considered irreversible mutants. Here we show, for the first time, that a fraction of Agr-negative mutants can revert their Agr activity. By serially passaging Agr-negative strains and screening for phenotypic reversion of hemolysis and subsequent sequencing, we identified two mutational events responsible for reversion: a genetic duplication plus inversion event and a poly(A) tract alteration. Additionally, we demonstrate that one clinical Agr-negative methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolate could reproducibly generate Agr-revertant colonies with a poly(A) tract genetic mechanism. We also show that these revertants activate their Agr system upon phagocytosis. We propose a model in which a minor fraction of Agr-negative S. aureus strains are phase variants that can revert their Agr activity and may act as a cryptic insurance strategy against host-mediated stress.
Collapse
|
37
|
Jiang Q, Chen J, Yang C, Yin Y, Yao K. Quorum Sensing: A Prospective Therapeutic Target for Bacterial Diseases. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:2015978. [PMID: 31080810 PMCID: PMC6475571 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2015978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication in which specific signals are activated to coordinate pathogenic behaviors and help bacteria acclimatize to the disadvantages. The QS signals in the bacteria mainly consist of acyl-homoserine lactone, autoinducing peptide, and autoinducer-2. QS signaling activation and biofilm formation lead to the antimicrobial resistance of the pathogens, thus increasing the therapy difficulty of bacterial diseases. Anti-QS agents can abolish the QS signaling and prevent the biofilm formation, therefore reducing bacterial virulence without causing drug-resistant to the pathogens, suggesting that anti-QS agents are potential alternatives for antibiotics. This review focuses on the anti-QS agents and their mediated signals in the pathogens and conveys the potential of QS targeted therapy for bacterial diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Jiang
- Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100043, China
- Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2
| | - Jiashun Chen
- Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Chengbo Yang
- Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2
| | - Yulong Yin
- Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Kang Yao
- Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Dissecting the Cell Entry Pathway of Baculovirus by Single-Particle Tracking and Quantitative Electron Microscopic Analysis. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.00033-19. [PMID: 30760565 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00033-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The budded virus of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) infects insect cells through mainly clathrin-mediated endocytosis. However, the cell entry pathway of AcMNPV remains unclear. In this study, by using population-based analysis of single-virus tracking and electron microscopy, we investigated the internalization, fusion behavior, and endocytic trafficking of AcMNPV. AcMNPV internalization into host insect cells was facilitated by actin polymerization and dynamin. After incorporation into early endosomes, the AcMNPV envelope fused with the membranes of early endosome, allowing for nucleocapsid release into the cytoplasm. Microtubules were implicated in the bidirectional and long-range transport of virus-containing endosomes. In addition, microtubule depolymerization reduced the motility of virus-bearing early endosomes, impairing the progression of infection beyond enlarged early endosomes. These findings demonstrated that AcMNPV internalization was facilitated by actin polymerization in a dynamin-dependent manner, and nucleocapsid release occurred in early endosomes in a microtubule-dependent manner. This study provides mechanistic and kinetic insights into AcMNPV infection and enhance our understanding of the infection pathway of baculoviruses.IMPORTANCE Baculoviruses are used widely as environmentally benign pesticides, protein expression systems, and potential mammalian gene delivery vectors. Despite the significant application value, little is known about the cell entry and endocytic trafficking pathways of baculoviruses. In this study, we demonstrated that the alphabaculovirus AcMNPV exhibited actin- and microtubule-dependent transport for nucleocapsid release predominantly from within early endosomes. In contrast to AcMNPV transduction in mammalian cells, its infection in host insect cells is facilitated by actin polymerization for internalization and microtubules for endocytic trafficking within early endosomes, implying that AcMNPV exhibits cell type specificity in the requirement of the cytoskeleton network. In addition, experimental depolymerization of microtubules impaired the progression of infection beyond enlarged early endosomes. This is the first study that dissects the cell entry pathway of baculoviruses in host cells at the single-particle level, which advances our understanding of the early steps of baculovirus entry.
Collapse
|
39
|
Buchan KD, Foster SJ, Renshaw SA. Staphylococcus aureus: setting its sights on the human innate immune system. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2019; 165:367-385. [PMID: 30625113 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus has colonized humans for at least 10 000 years, and today inhabits roughly a third of the population. In addition, S. aureus is a major pathogen that is responsible for a significant disease burden, ranging in severity from mild skin and soft-tissue infections to life-threatening endocarditis and necrotizing pneumonia, with treatment often hampered by resistance to commonly available antibiotics. Underpinning its versatility as a pathogen is its ability to evade the innate immune system. S. aureus specifically targets innate immunity to establish and sustain infection, utilizing a large repertoire of virulence factors to do so. Using these factors, S. aureus can resist phagosomal killing, impair complement activity, disrupt cytokine signalling and target phagocytes directly using proteolytic enzymes and cytolytic toxins. Although most of these virulence factors are well characterized, their importance during infection is less clear, as many display species-specific activity against humans or against animal hosts, including cows, horses and chickens. Several staphylococcal virulence factors display species specificity for components of the human innate immune system, with as few as two amino acid changes reducing binding affinity by as much as 100-fold. This represents a major issue for studying their roles during infection, which cannot be examined without the use of humanized infection models. This review summarizes the major factors S. aureus uses to impair the innate immune system, and provides an in-depth look into the host specificity of S. aureus and how this problem is being approached.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle D Buchan
- 1The Bateson Centre and Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Simon J Foster
- 2Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Stephen A Renshaw
- 1The Bateson Centre and Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Stal LJ, Bolhuis H, Cretoiu MS. Phototrophic marine benthic microbiomes: the ecophysiology of these biological entities. Environ Microbiol 2018; 21:1529-1551. [PMID: 30507057 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Phototrophic biofilms are multispecies, self-sustaining and largely closed microbial ecosystems. They form macroscopic structures such as microbial mats and stromatolites. These sunlight-driven consortia consist of a number of functional groups of microorganisms that recycle the elements internally. Particularly, the sulfur cycle is discussed in more detail as this is fundamental to marine benthic microbial communities and because recently exciting new insights have been obtained. The cycling of elements demands a tight tuning of the various metabolic processes and require cooperation between the different groups of microorganisms. This is likely achieved through cell-to-cell communication and a biological clock. Biofilms may be considered as a macroscopic biological entity with its own physiology. We review the various components of some marine phototrophic biofilms and discuss their roles in the system. The importance of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) as the matrix for biofilm metabolism and as substrate for biofilm microorganisms is discussed. We particularly assess the importance of extracellular DNA, horizontal gene transfer and viruses for the generation of genetic diversity and innovation, and for rendering resilience to external forcing to these biological entities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas J Stal
- IBED Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, and Utrecht University, Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Henk Bolhuis
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, and Utrecht University, Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Mariana S Cretoiu
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME, 04544, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Cheptsov VS, Tsypina SI, Minaev NV, Yusupov VI, Chichkov BN. New microorganism isolation techniques with emphasis on laser printing. Int J Bioprint 2018; 5:165. [PMID: 32596530 PMCID: PMC7294688 DOI: 10.18063/ijb.v5i1.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of biodiversity, growth, development, and metabolism of cultivated microorganisms is an integral part of modern microbiological, biotechnological, and medical research. Such studies require the development of new methods of isolation, cultivation, manipulation, and study of individual bacterial cells and their consortia. To this end, in recent years, there has been an active development of different isolation and three-dimensional cell positioning methods. In this review, the optical tweezers, surface heterogeneous functionalization, multiphoton lithography, microfluidic techniques, and laser printing are reviewed. Laser printing is considered as one of the most promising techniques and is discussed in detail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V S Cheptsov
- Department of Soil Science, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 11999 Moscow, Russia
| | - S I Tsypina
- Research Center "Crystallography and Photonics" RAS, Institute of Photonic Technologies, Troitsk, Moscow, Russia
| | - N V Minaev
- Research Center "Crystallography and Photonics" RAS, Institute of Photonic Technologies, Troitsk, Moscow, Russia
| | - V I Yusupov
- Research Center "Crystallography and Photonics" RAS, Institute of Photonic Technologies, Troitsk, Moscow, Russia
| | - B N Chichkov
- Research Center "Crystallography and Photonics" RAS, Institute of Photonic Technologies, Troitsk, Moscow, Russia.,Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten, 30167, Hannover
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Wu X, Yang M, Fang X, Zhen S, Zhang J, Yang X, Qiao L, Yang Y, Zhang C. Expression and regulation of phenol-soluble modulins and enterotoxins in foodborne Staphylococcus aureus. AMB Express 2018; 8:187. [PMID: 30467730 PMCID: PMC6250609 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-018-0717-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although high levels of staphylococcal phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) in clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been shown to correlate with bacterial virulence, the PSMs expression in foodborne Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), as well as its association with staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) was not yet clear. We collected a panel of 350 foodborne and 127 clinic-derived S. aureus strains and compared their PSMs expression. Overall, foodborne strains exhibited higher PSMs than clinical isolates, indicating a potential pathological significance of PSMs in staphylococcal food contamination. Furthermore, PSMs expression and staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) levels in relation to antibiotic sensitive and resistant strains were analysed. While the co-expression of PSMs and SEs was confirmed, one typical foodborne strain simultaneously yielding PSMs, SEB and SED was selected. By comparing this wildtype strain to a series of gene-deficient mutants, we concluded that PSMs and SEs expressions both relied on staphylococcal accessory regulator A initiation in the early stage of accessory gene regulator control, yet their succedent regulations differentiated to RNAIII-dependent and independent, respectively. These data provided preliminary insight into PSMs and SEs expression in foodborne S. aureus, and may guide the further studies on PSMs effects in SFP.
Collapse
|
43
|
Poulin RX, Pohnert G. Simplifying the complex: metabolomics approaches in chemical ecology. Anal Bioanal Chem 2018; 411:13-19. [PMID: 30417266 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-018-1470-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Chemical signals are important mediators of organismal interactions. These interactions significantly influence ecosystem structure and thus are crucial to understand. Ecologists and analytical chemists work closely together to identify the specific molecules regulating ecological interactions. However, limitations in the analytical techniques on the one hand and time-demanding bioassays on the other have been restraining chemical ecology research. Application of metabolomics techniques has recently led to significant advancement of the field. Here, we discuss modifications to the traditional bioassay-guided fractionation approach with metabolomics techniques. We focus on two challenging topics within chemical ecology, waterborne cues and single-cell investigations, to highlight how metabolomics techniques can succeed where traditional approaches have failed. Graphical abstract ᅟ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Remington X Poulin
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Lehrstuhl für Instrumentelle Analytik/Bioorganische Analytik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Lessingstr. 8, 07743, Jena, Germany.
| | - Georg Pohnert
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Lehrstuhl für Instrumentelle Analytik/Bioorganische Analytik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Lessingstr. 8, 07743, Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
|
45
|
Zhang X, Marichannegowda MH, Rakesh KP, Qin HL. Master mechanisms of Staphylococcus aureus: consider its excellent protective mechanisms hindering vaccine development! Microbiol Res 2018; 212-213:59-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
|
46
|
Conrad JC, Poling-Skutvik R. Confined Flow: Consequences and Implications for Bacteria and Biofilms. Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2018; 9:175-200. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-060817-084006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria overwhelmingly live in geometrically confined habitats that feature small pores or cavities, narrow channels, or nearby interfaces. Fluid flows through these confined habitats are ubiquitous in both natural and artificial environments colonized by bacteria. Moreover, these flows occur on time and length scales comparable to those associated with motility of bacteria and with the formation and growth of biofilms, which are surface-associated communities that house the vast majority of bacteria to protect them from host and environmental stresses. This review describes the emerging understanding of how flow near surfaces and within channels and pores alters physical processes that control how bacteria disperse, attach to surfaces, and form biofilms. This understanding will inform the development and deployment of technologies for drug delivery, water treatment, and antifouling coatings and guide the structuring of bacterial consortia for production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta C. Conrad
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, USA
| | - Ryan Poling-Skutvik
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Makthal N, Do H, VanderWal AR, Olsen RJ, Musser JM, Kumaraswami M. Signaling by a Conserved Quorum Sensing Pathway Contributes to Growth Ex Vivo and Oropharyngeal Colonization of Human Pathogen Group A Streptococcus. Infect Immun 2018; 86:e00169-18. [PMID: 29531135 PMCID: PMC5913841 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00169-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial virulence factor production is a highly coordinated process. The temporal pattern of bacterial gene expression varies in different host anatomic sites to overcome niche-specific challenges. The human pathogen group A streptococcus (GAS) produces a potent secreted protease, SpeB, that is crucial for pathogenesis. Recently, we discovered that a quorum sensing pathway comprised of a leaderless short peptide, SpeB-inducing peptide (SIP), and a cytosolic global regulator, RopB, controls speB expression in concert with bacterial population density. The SIP signaling pathway is active in vivo and contributes significantly to GAS invasive infections. In the current study, we investigated the role of the SIP signaling pathway in GAS-host interactions during oropharyngeal colonization. The SIP signaling pathway is functional during growth ex vivo in human saliva. SIP-mediated speB expression plays a crucial role in GAS colonization of the mouse oropharynx. GAS employs a distinct pattern of SpeB production during growth ex vivo in saliva that includes a transient burst of speB expression during early stages of growth coupled with sustained levels of secreted SpeB protein. SpeB production aids GAS survival by degrading LL37, an abundant human antimicrobial peptide. We found that SIP signaling occurs during growth in human blood ex vivo. Moreover, the SIP signaling pathway is critical for GAS survival in blood. SIP-dependent speB regulation is functional in strains of diverse emm types, indicating that SIP signaling is a conserved virulence regulatory mechanism. Our discoveries have implications for future translational studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nishanth Makthal
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Hackwon Do
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Arica R VanderWal
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Randall J Olsen
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - James M Musser
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Muthiah Kumaraswami
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Nagy K, Ábrahám Á, Keymer JE, Galajda P. Application of Microfluidics in Experimental Ecology: The Importance of Being Spatial. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:496. [PMID: 29616009 PMCID: PMC5870036 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidics is an emerging technology that is used more and more in biology experiments. Its capabilities of creating precisely controlled conditions in cellular dimensions make it ideal to explore cell-cell and cell-environment interactions. Thus, a wide spectrum of problems in microbial ecology can be studied using engineered microbial habitats. Moreover, artificial microfluidic ecosystems can serve as model systems to test ecology theories and principles that apply on a higher level in the hierarchy of biological organization. In this mini review we aim to demonstrate the versatility of microfluidics and the diversity of its applications that help the advance of microbiology, and in more general, experimental ecology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krisztina Nagy
- Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Ábrahám
- Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Science, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Juan E. Keymer
- School of Biological Sciences and School of Physics, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Péter Galajda
- Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Elani Y, Trantidou T, Wylie D, Dekker L, Polizzi K, Law RV, Ces O. Constructing vesicle-based artificial cells with embedded living cells as organelle-like modules. Sci Rep 2018. [PMID: 29540757 PMCID: PMC5852042 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22263-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing interest in constructing artificial cells by functionalising lipid vesicles with biological and synthetic machinery. Due to their reduced complexity and lack of evolved biochemical pathways, the capabilities of artificial cells are limited in comparison to their biological counterparts. We show that encapsulating living cells in vesicles provides a means for artificial cells to leverage cellular biochemistry, with the encapsulated cells serving organelle-like functions as living modules inside a larger synthetic cell assembly. Using microfluidic technologies to construct such hybrid cellular bionic systems, we demonstrate that the vesicle host and the encapsulated cell operate in concert. The external architecture of the vesicle shields the cell from toxic surroundings, while the cell acts as a bioreactor module that processes encapsulated feedstock which is further processed by a synthetic enzymatic metabolism co-encapsulated in the vesicle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. .,Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - Tatiana Trantidou
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Douglas Wylie
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.,Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Linda Dekker
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Karen Polizzi
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Robert V Law
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Oscar Ces
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. .,Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Geng W, Wang L, Jiang N, Cao J, Xiao YX, Wei H, Yetisen AK, Yang XY, Su BL. Single cells in nanoshells for the functionalization of living cells. NANOSCALE 2018; 10:3112-3129. [PMID: 29393952 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr08556g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Inspired by the characteristics of cells in live organisms, new types of hybrids have been designed comprising live cells and abiotic materials having a variety of structures and functionalities. The major goal of these studies is to uncover hybridization approaches that promote cell stabilization and enable the introduction of new functions into living cells. Single-cells in nanoshells have great potential in a large number of applications including bioelectronics, cell protection, cell therapy, and biocatalysis. In this review, we discuss the results of investigations that have focused on the synthesis, structuration, functionalization, and applications of these single-cells in nanoshells. We describe synthesis methods to control the structural and functional features of single-cells in nanoshells, and further develop their applications in sustainable energy, environmental remediation, green biocatalysis, and smart cell therapy. Perceived limitations of single-cells in nanoshells have been also identified.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, 122, Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, China.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|