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Guo Z, Zhu AT, Wei X, Jiang Y, Yu Y, Noh I, Gao W, Fang RH, Zhang L. A genetically engineered neuronal membrane-based nanotoxoid elicits protective immunity against neurotoxins. Bioact Mater 2024; 38:321-330. [PMID: 38764446 PMCID: PMC11101676 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.05.006] [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: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Given their dangerous effects on the nervous system, neurotoxins represent a significant threat to public health. Various therapeutic approaches, including chelating agents, receptor decoys, and toxin-neutralizing antibodies, have been explored. While prophylactic vaccines are desirable, it is oftentimes difficult to effectively balance their safety and efficacy given the highly dangerous nature of neurotoxins. To address this, we report here on a nanovaccine against neurotoxins that leverages the detoxifying properties of cell membrane-coated nanoparticles. A genetically modified cell line with constitutive overexpression of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is developed as a membrane source to generate biomimetic nanoparticles that can effectively and irreversibly bind to α-bungarotoxin, a model neurotoxin. This abrogates the biological activity of the toxin, enabling the resulting nanotoxoid to be safely delivered into the body and processed by the immune system. When co-administered with an immunological adjuvant, a strong humoral response against α-bungarotoxin is generated that protects vaccinated mice against a lethal dose of the toxin. Overall, this work highlights the potential of using genetic modification strategies to develop nanotoxoid formulations against various biological threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyuan Guo
- Department of NanoEngineering, Chemical Engineering Program, Shu and K.C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Audrey T. Zhu
- Department of NanoEngineering, Chemical Engineering Program, Shu and K.C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Xiaoli Wei
- Department of NanoEngineering, Chemical Engineering Program, Shu and K.C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Yao Jiang
- Department of NanoEngineering, Chemical Engineering Program, Shu and K.C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Yiyan Yu
- Department of NanoEngineering, Chemical Engineering Program, Shu and K.C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Ilkoo Noh
- Department of NanoEngineering, Chemical Engineering Program, Shu and K.C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Weiwei Gao
- Department of NanoEngineering, Chemical Engineering Program, Shu and K.C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Ronnie H. Fang
- Department of NanoEngineering, Chemical Engineering Program, Shu and K.C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Liangfang Zhang
- Department of NanoEngineering, Chemical Engineering Program, Shu and K.C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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2
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Ribeiro TP, Martins-de-Sa D, Macedo LLP, Lourenço-Tessutti IT, Ruffo GC, Sousa JPA, Rósario Santana JMD, Oliveira-Neto OB, Moura SM, Silva MCM, Morgante CV, Oliveira NG, Basso MF, Grossi-de-Sa MF. Cotton plants overexpressing the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry23Aa and Cry37Aa binary-like toxins exhibit high resistance to the cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis). PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 344:112079. [PMID: 38588981 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The cotton boll weevil (CBW, Anthonomus grandis) stands as one of the most significant threats to cotton crops (Gossypium hirsutum). Despite substantial efforts, the development of a commercially viable transgenic cotton event for effective open-field control of CBW has remained elusive. This study describes a detailed characterization of the insecticidal toxins Cry23Aa and Cry37Aa against CBW. Our findings reveal that CBW larvae fed on artificial diets supplemented exclusively with Cry23Aa decreased larval survival by roughly by 69%, while supplementation with Cry37Aa alone displayed no statistical difference compared to the control. However, the combined provision of both toxins in the artificial diet led to mortality rates approaching 100% among CBW larvae (LC50 equal to 0.26 PPM). Additionally, we engineered transgenic cotton plants by introducing cry23Aa and cry37Aa genes under control of the flower bud-specific pGhFS4 and pGhFS1 promoters, respectively. Seven transgenic cotton events expressing high levels of Cry23Aa and Cry37Aa toxins in flower buds were selected for greenhouse bioassays, and the mortality rate of CBW larvae feeding on their T0 and T1 generations ranged from 75% to 100%. Our in silico analyses unveiled that Cry23Aa displays all the hallmark characteristics of β-pore-forming toxins (β-PFTs) that bind to sugar moieties in glycoproteins. Intriguingly, we also discovered a distinctive zinc-binding site within Cry23Aa, which appears to be involved in protein-protein interactions. Finally, we discuss the major structural features of Cry23Aa that likely play a role in the toxin's mechanism of action. In view of the low LC50 for CBW larvae and the significant accumulation of these toxins in the flower buds of both T0 and T1 plants, we anticipate that through successive generations of these transgenic lines, cotton plants engineered to overexpress cry23Aa and cry37Aa hold promise for effectively managing CBW infestations in cotton crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuanne Pires Ribeiro
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Diogo Martins-de-Sa
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF 70910-900, Brazil; Genesilico Biotech, Brasília, DF 71503-508, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Lima Pepino Macedo
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Isabela Tristan Lourenço-Tessutti
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Caseca Ruffo
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; Graduate Program in Genomic Science and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, DF 71966-700, Brazil
| | - João Pedro Abreu Sousa
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; Graduate Program in Genomic Science and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, DF 71966-700, Brazil
| | - Julia Moura do Rósario Santana
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; Graduate Program in Genomic Science and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, DF 71966-700, Brazil
| | - Osmundo Brilhante Oliveira-Neto
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; Euroamerican University Center, Unieuro, Brasília, DF 70790-160, Brazil
| | - Stéfanie Menezes Moura
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Mattar Silva
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Carolina Vianna Morgante
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; Embrapa Semi-Arid, Pretrolina, PE 56302-970, Brazil
| | - Nelson Geraldo Oliveira
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Marcos Fernando Basso
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sa
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; Graduate Program in Genomic Science and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, DF 71966-700, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Catholic University Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS 79117-900, Brazil.
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3
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Desai N, Pande S, Salave S, Singh TRR, Vora LK. Antitoxin nanoparticles: design considerations, functional mechanisms, and applications in toxin neutralization. Drug Discov Today 2024:104060. [PMID: 38866357 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.104060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The application of nanotechnology has significantly advanced the development of novel platforms that enhance disease treatment and diagnosis. A key innovation in this field is the creation of antitoxin nanoparticles (ATNs), designed to address toxin exposure. These precision-engineered nanosystems have unique physicochemical properties and selective binding capabilities, allowing them to effectively capture and neutralize toxins from various biological, chemical, and environmental sources. In this review, we thoroughly examine their therapeutic and diagnostic potential for managing toxin-related challenges. We also explore recent advancements and offer critical insights into the design and clinical implementation of ATNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimeet Desai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, Kandi, Telangana, India
| | - Shreya Pande
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, Kandi, Telangana, India
| | - Sagar Salave
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Ahmedabad (NIPER-A), Gujarat, India
| | | | - Lalitkumar K Vora
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
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4
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Zhu X, Shi Z, Mao Y, Lächelt U, Huang R. Cell Membrane Perforation: Patterns, Mechanisms and Functions. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2310605. [PMID: 38344881 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202310605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Cell membrane is crucial for the cellular activities, and any disruption to it may affect the cells. It is demonstrated that cell membrane perforation is associated with some biological processes like programmed cell death (PCD) and infection of pathogens. Specific developments make it a promising technique to perforate the cell membrane controllably and precisely. The pores on the cell membrane provide direct pathways for the entry and exit of substances, and can also cause cell death, which means reasonable utilization of cell membrane perforation is able to assist intracellular delivery, eliminate diseased or cancerous cells, and bring about other benefits. This review classifies the patterns of cell membrane perforation based on the mechanisms into 1) physical patterns, 2) biological patterns, and 3) chemical patterns, introduces the characterization methods and then summarizes the functions according to the characteristics of reversible and irreversible pores, with the aim of providing a comprehensive summary of the knowledge related to cell membrane perforation and enlightening broad applications in biomedical science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinran Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Ministry of Education), Huashan Hospital, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zhifeng Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ying Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ulrich Lächelt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Rongqin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Ministry of Education), Huashan Hospital, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
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5
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Zhao J, Wang Z, Yang M, Guo J, Gao Z, Song P, Song YY. Pore-Forming Toxin-Driven Recovery of Peroxidase-Mimicking Activity in Biomass Channels for Label-Free Electrochemical Bacteria Sensing. Anal Chem 2024; 96:7661-7668. [PMID: 38687969 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00589] [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: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The development of sensitive, selective, and rapid methods to detect bacteria in complex media is essential to ensuring human health. Virulence factors, particularly pore-forming toxins (PFTs) secreted by pathogenic bacteria, play a crucial role in bacterial diseases and serve as indicators of disease severity. In this study, a nanochannel-based label-free electrochemical sensing platform was developed for the detection of specific pathogenic bacteria based on their secreted PFTs. In this design, wood substrate channels were functionalized with a Fe-based metal-organic framework (FeMOF) and then protected with a layer of phosphatidylcholine (PC)-based phospholipid membrane (PM) that serves as a peroxidase mimetic and a channel gatekeeper, respectively. Using Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) as the model bacteria, the PC-specific PFTs secreted by S. aureus perforate the PM layer. Now exposed to the FeMOF, uncharged 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) molecules in the electrolyte undergo oxidation to cationic products (ABTS•+). The measured transmembrane ionic current indicates the presence of S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) with a low detection limit of 3 cfu mL-1. Besides excellent specificity, this sensing approach exhibits satisfactory performance for the detection of target bacteria in the complex media of food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjian Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Zirui Wang
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Mei Yang
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Junli Guo
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
- Foshan Graduate School of Innovation, Northeastern University, Foshan 528311, China
| | - Zhida Gao
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Pei Song
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua 321000, China
| | - Yan-Yan Song
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
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6
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Li F, Zhu P, Zheng B, Lu Z, Fang C, Fu Y, Li X. A Customized Biohybrid Presenting Cascade Responses to Tumor Microenvironment. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2404901. [PMID: 38723206 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202404901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Intrinsic characteristics of microorganisms, including non-specific metabolism sites, toxic byproducts, and uncontrolled proliferation constrain their exploitation in medical applications such as tumor therapy. Here, the authors report an engineered biohybrid that can efficiently target cancerous sites through a pre-determined metabolic pathway to enable precise tumor ablation. In this system, DH5α Escherichia coli is engineered by the introduction of hypoxia-inducible promoters and lactate oxidase genes, and further surface-armored with iron-doped ZIF-8 nanoparticles. This bioengineered E. coli can produce and secrete lactate oxidase to reduce lactate concentration in response to hypoxic tumor microenvironment, as well as triggering immune activation. The peroxidase-like functionality of the nanoparticles extends the end product of the lactate metabolism, enabling the conversion of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into highly cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals. This, coupled with the transformation of tirapazamine loaded on nanoparticles to toxic benzotriazinyl, culminates in severe tumor cell ferroptosis. Intravenous injection of this biohybrid significantly inhibits tumor growth and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China
| | - Peipei Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China
| | - Bingzhu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China
| | - Zijie Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China
| | - Chao Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China
| | - Yike Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China
| | - Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China
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7
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Zheng Y, Yang Y, Liu X, Liu P, Li X, Zhang M, Zhou E, Zhao Z, Wang X, Zhang Y, Zheng B, Yan Y, Liu Y, Xu D, Cao L. Accelerated corrosion of 316L stainless steel in a simulated oral environment via extracellular electron transfer and acid metabolites of subgingival microbiota. Bioact Mater 2024; 35:56-66. [PMID: 38283387 PMCID: PMC10810744 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.01.007] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
316L stainless steel (SS) is widely applied as microimplant anchorage (MIA) due to its excellent mechanical properties. However, the risk that the oral microorganisms can corrode 316L SS is fully neglected. Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of 316L SS is essential to the health and safety of all patients because the accelerated corrosion caused by the oral microbiota can trigger the release of Cr and Ni ions. This study investigated the corrosion behavior and mechanism of subgingival microbiota on 316L SS by 16S rRNA and metagenome sequencing, electrochemical measurements, and surface characterization techniques. Multispecies biofilms were formed by the oral subgingival microbiota in the simulated oral anaerobic environment on 316L SS surfaces, significantly accelerating the corrosion in the form of pitting. The microbiota samples collected from the subjects differed in biofilm compositions, corrosion behaviors, and mechanisms. The oral subgingival microbiota contributed to the accelerated corrosion of 316L SS via acidic metabolites and extracellular electron transfer. Our findings provide a new insight into the underlying mechanisms of oral microbial corrosion and guide the design of oral microbial corrosion-resistant materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zheng
- School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Shenyang, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rolling and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xianbo Liu
- School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Shenyang, China
| | - Pan Liu
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rolling and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiangyu Li
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rolling and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Mingxing Zhang
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rolling and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Enze Zhou
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rolling and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhenjin Zhao
- School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Shenyang, China
| | - Xue Wang
- School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Shenyang, China
| | - Bowen Zheng
- School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuwen Yan
- School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Shenyang, China
| | - Yi Liu
- School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Shenyang, China
| | - Dake Xu
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rolling and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
- Electrobiomaterials Institute, Key Laboratory for Anisotropy and Texture of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Liu Cao
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Institute of Health Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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8
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Schmidt G. Some Examples of Bacterial Toxins as Tools. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:202. [PMID: 38787054 PMCID: PMC11125981 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16050202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic bacteria produce diverse protein toxins to disturb the host's defenses. This includes the opening of epithelial barriers to establish bacterial growth in deeper tissues of the host and to modulate immune cell functions. To achieve this, many toxins share the ability to enter mammalian cells, where they catalyze the modification of cellular proteins. The enzymatic activity is diverse and ranges from ribosyl- or glycosyl-transferase activity, the deamidation of proteins, and adenylate-cyclase activity to proteolytic cleavage. Protein toxins are highly active enzymes often with tight specificity for an intracellular protein or a protein family coupled with the intrinsic capability of entering mammalian cells. A broad understanding of their molecular mechanisms established bacterial toxins as powerful tools for cell biology. Both the enzymatic part and the pore-forming/protein transport capacity are currently used as tools engineered to study signaling pathways or to transport cargo like labeled compounds, nucleic acids, peptides, or proteins directly into the cytosol. Using several representative examples, this review is intended to provide a short overview of the state of the art in the use of bacterial toxins or parts thereof as tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gudula Schmidt
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 25, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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9
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Gigon L, Müller P, Haenni B, Iacovache I, Barbo M, Gosheva G, Yousefi S, Soragni A, von Ballmoos C, Zuber B, Simon HU. Membrane damage by MBP-1 is mediated by pore formation and amplified by mtDNA. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114084. [PMID: 38583154 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114084] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Eosinophils play a crucial role in host defense while also contributing to immunopathology through the release of inflammatory mediators. Characterized by distinctive cytoplasmic granules, eosinophils securely store and rapidly release various proteins exhibiting high toxicity upon extracellular release. Among these, major basic protein 1 (MBP-1) emerges as an important mediator in eosinophil function against pathogens and in eosinophil-associated diseases. While MBP-1 targets both microorganisms and host cells, its precise mechanism remains elusive. We demonstrate that formation of small pores by MBP-1 in lipid bilayers induces membrane permeabilization and disrupts potassium balance. Additionally, we reveal that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) present in eosinophil extracellular traps (EETs) amplifies MBP-1 toxic effects, underscoring the pivotal role of mtDNA in EETs. Furthermore, we present evidence indicating that absence of CpG methylation in mtDNA contributes to the regulation of MBP-1-mediated toxicity. Taken together, our data suggest that the mtDNA scaffold within extracellular traps promotes MBP-1 toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Gigon
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Müller
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Beat Haenni
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ioan Iacovache
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maruša Barbo
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gordana Gosheva
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Shida Yousefi
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alice Soragni
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Christoph von Ballmoos
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Benoît Zuber
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Uwe Simon
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Biochemistry, Brandenburg Medical School, 16816 Neuruppin, Germany.
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10
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Meyer N, Torrent J, Balme S. Characterizing Prion-Like Protein Aggregation: Emerging Nanopore-Based Approaches. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2400058. [PMID: 38644684 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Prion-like protein aggregation is characteristic of numerous neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. This process involves the formation of aggregates ranging from small and potentially neurotoxic oligomers to highly structured self-propagating amyloid fibrils. Various approaches are used to study protein aggregation, but they do not always provide continuous information on the polymorphic, transient, and heterogeneous species formed. This review provides an updated state-of-the-art approach to the detection and characterization of a wide range of protein aggregates using nanopore technology. For each type of nanopore, biological, solid-state polymer, and nanopipette, discuss the main achievements for the detection of protein aggregates as well as the significant contributions to the understanding of protein aggregation and diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Meyer
- Institut Européen des Membranes, UMR5635 University of Montpellier ENCSM CNRS, Place Eugène Bataillon, Cedex 5, Montpellier, 34095, France
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, 34095, France
| | - Joan Torrent
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, 34095, France
| | - Sébastien Balme
- Institut Européen des Membranes, UMR5635 University of Montpellier ENCSM CNRS, Place Eugène Bataillon, Cedex 5, Montpellier, 34095, France
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11
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Kulma M, Šakanović A, Bedina-Zavec A, Caserman S, Omersa N, Šolinc G, Orehek S, Hafner-Bratkovič I, Kuhar U, Slavec B, Krapež U, Ocepek M, Kobayashi T, Kwiatkowska K, Jerala R, Podobnik M, Anderluh G. Sequestration of membrane cholesterol by cholesterol-binding proteins inhibits SARS-CoV-2 entry into Vero E6 cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 716:149954. [PMID: 38704887 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Membrane lipids and proteins form dynamic domains crucial for physiological and pathophysiological processes, including viral infection. Many plasma membrane proteins, residing within membrane domains enriched with cholesterol (CHOL) and sphingomyelin (SM), serve as receptors for attachment and entry of viruses into the host cell. Among these, human coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), use proteins associated with membrane domains for initial binding and internalization. We hypothesized that the interaction of lipid-binding proteins with CHOL in plasma membrane could sequestrate lipids and thus affect the efficiency of virus entry into host cells, preventing the initial steps of viral infection. We have prepared CHOL-binding proteins with high affinities for lipids in the plasma membrane of mammalian cells. Binding of the perfringolysin O domain four (D4) and its variant D4E458L to membrane CHOL impaired the internalization of the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the pseudovirus complemented with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells was also decreased. Overall, our results demonstrate that the integrity of CHOL-rich membrane domains and the accessibility of CHOL in the membrane play an essential role in SARS-CoV-2 cell entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kulma
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Aleksandra Šakanović
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Apolonija Bedina-Zavec
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Simon Caserman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Neža Omersa
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gašper Šolinc
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sara Orehek
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Iva Hafner-Bratkovič
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; EN-FIST Centre of Excellence, Trg Osvobodilne Fronte 13, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urška Kuhar
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Brigita Slavec
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Uroš Krapež
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matjaž Ocepek
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Toshihide Kobayashi
- Lipid Biology Laboratory, RIKEN, 2-1, Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan; UMR 7021 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, F-67401, Illkirch, France
| | - Katarzyna Kwiatkowska
- Laboratory of Molecular Membrane Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Roman Jerala
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; EN-FIST Centre of Excellence, Trg Osvobodilne Fronte 13, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marjetka Podobnik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Anderluh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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12
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Beltrán JF, Herrera-Belén L, Parraguez-Contreras F, Farías JG, Machuca-Sepúlveda J, Short S. MultiToxPred 1.0: a novel comprehensive tool for predicting 27 classes of protein toxins using an ensemble machine learning approach. BMC Bioinformatics 2024; 25:148. [PMID: 38609877 PMCID: PMC11010298 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-024-05748-z] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein toxins are defense mechanisms and adaptations found in various organisms and microorganisms, and their use in scientific research as therapeutic candidates is gaining relevance due to their effectiveness and specificity against cellular targets. However, discovering these toxins is time-consuming and expensive. In silico tools, particularly those based on machine learning and deep learning, have emerged as valuable resources to address this challenge. Existing tools primarily focus on binary classification, determining whether a protein is a toxin or not, and occasionally identifying specific types of toxins. For the first time, we propose a novel approach capable of classifying protein toxins into 27 distinct categories based on their mode of action within cells. To accomplish this, we assessed multiple machine learning techniques and found that an ensemble model incorporating the Light Gradient Boosting Machine and Quadratic Discriminant Analysis algorithms exhibited the best performance. During the tenfold cross-validation on the training dataset, our model exhibited notable metrics: 0.840 accuracy, 0.827 F1 score, 0.836 precision, 0.840 sensitivity, and 0.989 AUC. In the testing stage, using an independent dataset, the model achieved 0.846 accuracy, 0.838 F1 score, 0.847 precision, 0.849 sensitivity, and 0.991 AUC. These results present a powerful next-generation tool called MultiToxPred 1.0, accessible through a web application. We believe that MultiToxPred 1.0 has the potential to become an indispensable resource for researchers, facilitating the efficient identification of protein toxins. By leveraging this tool, scientists can accelerate their search for these toxins and advance their understanding of their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge F Beltrán
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universidad de La Frontera, Ave. Francisco Salazar, 01145, Temuco, Chile.
| | - Lisandra Herrera-Belén
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomas, Temuco, Chile
| | - Fernanda Parraguez-Contreras
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universidad de La Frontera, Ave. Francisco Salazar, 01145, Temuco, Chile
| | - Jorge G Farías
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universidad de La Frontera, Ave. Francisco Salazar, 01145, Temuco, Chile
| | - Jorge Machuca-Sepúlveda
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universidad de La Frontera, Ave. Francisco Salazar, 01145, Temuco, Chile
| | - Stefania Short
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universidad de La Frontera, Ave. Francisco Salazar, 01145, Temuco, Chile
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13
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Zhu C, Xu S, Jiang R, Yu Y, Bian J, Zou Z. The gasdermin family: emerging therapeutic targets in diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:87. [PMID: 38584157 PMCID: PMC10999458 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01801-8] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The gasdermin (GSDM) family has garnered significant attention for its pivotal role in immunity and disease as a key player in pyroptosis. This recently characterized class of pore-forming effector proteins is pivotal in orchestrating processes such as membrane permeabilization, pyroptosis, and the follow-up inflammatory response, which are crucial self-defense mechanisms against irritants and infections. GSDMs have been implicated in a range of diseases including, but not limited to, sepsis, viral infections, and cancer, either through involvement in pyroptosis or independently of this process. The regulation of GSDM-mediated pyroptosis is gaining recognition as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of various diseases. Current strategies for inhibiting GSDMD primarily involve binding to GSDMD, blocking GSDMD cleavage or inhibiting GSDMD-N-terminal (NT) oligomerization, albeit with some off-target effects. In this review, we delve into the cutting-edge understanding of the interplay between GSDMs and pyroptosis, elucidate the activation mechanisms of GSDMs, explore their associations with a range of diseases, and discuss recent advancements and potential strategies for developing GSDMD inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglong Zhu
- Faculty of Anesthesiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- School of Anesthesiology, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Sheng Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity & Inflammation, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Ruoyu Jiang
- School of Anesthesiology, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yizhi Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity & Inflammation, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Jinjun Bian
- Faculty of Anesthesiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Zui Zou
- Faculty of Anesthesiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
- School of Anesthesiology, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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14
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Popoff MR. Overview of Bacterial Protein Toxins from Pathogenic Bacteria: Mode of Action and Insights into Evolution. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:182. [PMID: 38668607 PMCID: PMC11054074 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16040182] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial protein toxins are secreted by certain bacteria and are responsible for mild to severe diseases in humans and animals. They are among the most potent molecules known, which are active at very low concentrations. Bacterial protein toxins exhibit a wide diversity based on size, structure, and mode of action. Upon recognition of a cell surface receptor (protein, glycoprotein, and glycolipid), they are active either at the cell surface (signal transduction, membrane damage by pore formation, or hydrolysis of membrane compound(s)) or intracellularly. Various bacterial protein toxins have the ability to enter cells, most often using an endocytosis mechanism, and to deliver the effector domain into the cytosol, where it interacts with an intracellular target(s). According to the nature of the intracellular target(s) and type of modification, various cellular effects are induced (cell death, homeostasis modification, cytoskeleton alteration, blockade of exocytosis, etc.). The various modes of action of bacterial protein toxins are illustrated with representative examples. Insights in toxin evolution are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel R Popoff
- Unité des Toxines Bactériennes, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 2001 INSERM U1306, F-75015 Paris, France
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15
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Johnson AG, Mayer ML, Schaefer SL, McNamara-Bordewick NK, Hummer G, Kranzusch PJ. Structure and assembly of a bacterial gasdermin pore. Nature 2024; 628:657-663. [PMID: 38509367 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07216-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
In response to pathogen infection, gasdermin (GSDM) proteins form membrane pores that induce a host cell death process called pyroptosis1-3. Studies of human and mouse GSDM pores have revealed the functions and architectures of assemblies comprising 24 to 33 protomers4-9, but the mechanism and evolutionary origin of membrane targeting and GSDM pore formation remain unknown. Here we determine a structure of a bacterial GSDM (bGSDM) pore and define a conserved mechanism of pore assembly. Engineering a panel of bGSDMs for site-specific proteolytic activation, we demonstrate that diverse bGSDMs form distinct pore sizes that range from smaller mammalian-like assemblies to exceptionally large pores containing more than 50 protomers. We determine a cryo-electron microscopy structure of a Vitiosangium bGSDM in an active 'slinky'-like oligomeric conformation and analyse bGSDM pores in a native lipid environment to create an atomic-level model of a full 52-mer bGSDM pore. Combining our structural analysis with molecular dynamics simulations and cellular assays, our results support a stepwise model of GSDM pore assembly and suggest that a covalently bound palmitoyl can leave a hydrophobic sheath and insert into the membrane before formation of the membrane-spanning β-strand regions. These results reveal the diversity of GSDM pores found in nature and explain the function of an ancient post-translational modification in enabling programmed host cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex G Johnson
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Megan L Mayer
- Harvard Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stefan L Schaefer
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Gerhard Hummer
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Biophysics, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Philip J Kranzusch
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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16
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Morelli M, Cabezuelo Rodríguez M, Queiroz K. A high-throughput gut-on-chip platform to study the epithelial responses to enterotoxins. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5797. [PMID: 38461178 PMCID: PMC10925042 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56520-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Enterotoxins are a type of toxins that primarily affect the intestines. Understanding their harmful effects is essential for food safety and medical research. Current methods lack high-throughput, robust, and translatable models capable of characterizing toxin-specific epithelial damage. Pressing concerns regarding enterotoxin contamination of foods and emerging interest in clinical applications of enterotoxins emphasize the need for new platforms. Here, we demonstrate how Caco-2 tubules can be used to study the effect of enterotoxins on the human intestinal epithelium, reflecting toxins' distinct pathogenic mechanisms. After exposure of the model to toxins nigericin, ochratoxin A, patulin and melittin, we observed dose-dependent reductions in barrier permeability as measured by TEER, which were detected with higher sensitivity than previous studies using conventional models. Combination of LDH release assays and DRAQ7 staining allowed comprehensive evaluation of toxin cytotoxicity, which was only observed after exposure to melittin and ochratoxin A. Furthermore, the study of actin cytoskeleton allowed to assess toxin-induced changes in cell morphology, which were only caused by nigericin. Altogether, our study highlights the potential of our Caco-2 tubular model in becoming a multi-parametric and high-throughput tool to bridge the gap between current enterotoxin research and translatable in vivo models of the human intestinal epithelium.
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17
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Deng S, Li Z, Yuan L, Zeng H. An Exceptionally Active and Highly Selective Perchlorate Transporter Containing a Trimesic Amide Scaffold. Molecules 2024; 29:1118. [PMID: 38474632 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29051118] [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: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
We report here a series of alkyl group-modified trimesic amide molecules (TAs) with excellent anion transport activities. Among them, TA6, with the highest ion transport activity and excellent selectivity, efficiently transports anions across the membrane in the order of ClO4- > I- > NO3- > Br- > Cl-, with an EC50 value as low as 17.6 nM (0.022 mol% relative to lipid molecules) for ClO4-, which outperforms other anions by 5- to 22-folds and manifests as the best perchlorate transporter ever reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaowen Deng
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Hunan University of Science and Engineering, Yongzhou 425100, China
| | - Zhongyan Li
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, China
| | - Lin Yuan
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Hunan University of Science and Engineering, Yongzhou 425100, China
| | - Huaqiang Zeng
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, China
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18
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Müller R, König A, Groth S, Zarnowski R, Visser C, Handrianz T, Maufrais C, Krüger T, Himmel M, Lee S, Priest EL, Yildirim D, Richardson JP, Blango MG, Bougnoux ME, Kniemeyer O, d'Enfert C, Brakhage AA, Andes DR, Trümper V, Nehls C, Kasper L, Mogavero S, Gutsmann T, Naglik JR, Allert S, Hube B. Secretion of the fungal toxin candidalysin is dependent on conserved precursor peptide sequences. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:669-683. [PMID: 38388771 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01606-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans damages host cells via its peptide toxin, candidalysin. Before secretion, candidalysin is embedded in a precursor protein, Ece1, which consists of a signal peptide, the precursor of candidalysin and seven non-candidalysin Ece1 peptides (NCEPs), and is found to be conserved in clinical isolates. Here we show that the Ece1 polyprotein does not resemble the usual precursor structure of peptide toxins. C. albicans cells are not susceptible to their own toxin, and single NCEPs adjacent to candidalysin are sufficient to prevent host cell toxicity. Using a series of Ece1 mutants, mass spectrometry and anti-candidalysin nanobodies, we show that NCEPs play a role in intracellular Ece1 folding and candidalysin secretion. Removal of single NCEPs or modifications of peptide sequences cause an unfolded protein response (UPR), which in turn inhibits hypha formation and pathogenicity in vitro. Our data indicate that the Ece1 precursor is not required to block premature pore-forming toxicity, but rather to prevent intracellular auto-aggregation of candidalysin sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Müller
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Annika König
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Sabrina Groth
- Division of Biophysics, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
| | - Robert Zarnowski
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Corissa Visser
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Tom Handrianz
- Division of Biophysics, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
| | - Corinne Maufrais
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Maximilian Himmel
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Sejeong Lee
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Emily L Priest
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Deniz Yildirim
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Jonathan P Richardson
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Matthew G Blango
- RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Marie-Elisabeth Bougnoux
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Paris, France
- Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie Clinique, Hôpital Necker-Enfants-Malades, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Paris, France
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Christophe d'Enfert
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Paris, France
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - David R Andes
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Verena Trümper
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Nehls
- Division of Biophysics, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
- Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science KiNSIS, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Lydia Kasper
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Selene Mogavero
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Gutsmann
- Division of Biophysics, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
- Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science KiNSIS, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Julian R Naglik
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Stefanie Allert
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
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19
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Peng Z, Iwabuchi S, Izumi K, Takiguchi S, Yamaji M, Fujita S, Suzuki H, Kambara F, Fukasawa G, Cooney A, Di Michele L, Elani Y, Matsuura T, Kawano R. Lipid vesicle-based molecular robots. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:996-1029. [PMID: 38239102 PMCID: PMC10898420 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00860f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
A molecular robot, which is a system comprised of one or more molecular machines and computers, can execute sophisticated tasks in many fields that span from nanomedicine to green nanotechnology. The core parts of molecular robots are fairly consistent from system to system and always include (i) a body to encapsulate molecular machines, (ii) sensors to capture signals, (iii) computers to make decisions, and (iv) actuators to perform tasks. This review aims to provide an overview of approaches and considerations to develop molecular robots. We first introduce the basic technologies required for constructing the core parts of molecular robots, describe the recent progress towards achieving higher functionality, and subsequently discuss the current challenges and outlook. We also highlight the applications of molecular robots in sensing biomarkers, signal communications with living cells, and conversion of energy. Although molecular robots are still in their infancy, they will unquestionably initiate massive change in biomedical and environmental technology in the not too distant future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zugui Peng
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Shoji Iwabuchi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Kayano Izumi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Sotaro Takiguchi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Misa Yamaji
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Shoko Fujita
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Harune Suzuki
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Fumika Kambara
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Genki Fukasawa
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Aileen Cooney
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Lorenzo Di Michele
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Tomoaki Matsuura
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Ryuji Kawano
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
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20
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Volarić J, van der Heide NJ, Mutter NL, Samplonius DF, Helfrich W, Maglia G, Szymanski W, Feringa BL. Visible Light Control over the Cytolytic Activity of a Toxic Pore-Forming Protein. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:451-461. [PMID: 38318850 PMCID: PMC10877574 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Enabling control over the bioactivity of proteins with light, along with the principles of photopharmacology, has the potential to generate safe and targeted medical treatments. Installing light sensitivity in a protein can be achieved through its covalent modification with a molecular photoswitch. The general challenge in this approach is the need for the use of low energy visible light for the regulation of bioactivity. In this study, we report visible light control over the cytolytic activity of a protein. A water-soluble visible-light-operated tetra-ortho-fluoro-azobenzene photoswitch was synthesized by utilizing the nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction for installing a solubilizing sulfonate group onto the electron-poor photoswitch structure. The azobenzene was attached to two cysteine mutants of the pore-forming protein fragaceatoxin C (FraC), and their respective activities were evaluated on red blood cells. For both mutants, the green-light-irradiated sample, containing predominantly the cis-azobenzene isomer, was more active compared to the blue-light-irradiated sample. Ultimately, the same modulation of the cytolytic activity pattern was observed toward a hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. These results constitute the first case of using low energy visible light to control the biological activity of a toxic protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Volarić
- Stratingh
Institute for Organic Chemistry, University
of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nieck J. van der Heide
- Groningen
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Natalie L. Mutter
- Groningen
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Douwe F. Samplonius
- Department
of Surgery, Translational Surgical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wijnand Helfrich
- Department
of Surgery, Translational Surgical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Giovanni Maglia
- Groningen
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wiktor Szymanski
- Stratingh
Institute for Organic Chemistry, University
of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department
of Radiology, Medical Imaging Center, University
of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ben L. Feringa
- Stratingh
Institute for Organic Chemistry, University
of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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21
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Matkivska R, Samborska I, Maievskyi O. Effect of animal venom toxins on the main links of the homeostasis of mammals (Review). Biomed Rep 2024; 20:16. [PMID: 38144889 PMCID: PMC10739175 DOI: 10.3892/br.2023.1704] [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: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The human body is affected by environmental factors. The dynamic balance between the organism and its environment results from the influence of natural, anthropogenic and social aspects. The factors of exogenous origin determine development of adaptive changes. The present article summarises the mechanisms of animal venom toxins and homeostasis disruption in the body of mammals. The mechanisms underlying pathological changes are associated with shifts in biochemical reactions. Components of the immune, nervous and endocrine systems are key in the host defense and adaptation processes in response to venom by triggering signalling pathways (PI3kinase pathway, arachidonic acid cascade). Animal venom toxins initiate the development of inflammatory processes, the synthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators (cytokines), ROS, proteolytic enzymes, activate the migration of leukocytes and macrophages. Keratinocytes and endothelial cells act as protective barriers under the action of animal venom toxins on the body of mammals. In addition, the formation of pores in cell membranes, structural changes in cell ion channels are characteristic of the action of animal venom toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruzhena Matkivska
- Department of Descriptive and Clinical Anatomy, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv 03680, Ukraine
| | - Inha Samborska
- Department of Biological and General Chemistry, National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya 21018, Ukraine
| | - Oleksandr Maievskyi
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Educational and Scientific Center ‘Institute of Biology and Medicine’ of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv 03127, Ukraine
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22
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Stefani C, Bruchez AM, Rosasco MG, Yoshida AE, Fasano KJ, Levan PF, Lorant A, Hubbard NW, Oberst A, Stuart LM, Lacy-Hulbert A. LITAF protects against pore-forming protein-induced cell death by promoting membrane repair. Sci Immunol 2024; 9:eabq6541. [PMID: 38181093 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abq6541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are the largest class of bacterial toxins and contribute to virulence by triggering host cell death. Vertebrates also express endogenous pore-forming proteins that induce cell death as part of host defense. To mitigate damage and promote survival, cells mobilize membrane repair mechanisms to neutralize and counteract pores, but how these pathways are activated is poorly understood. Here, we use a transposon-based gene activation screen to discover pathways that counteract the cytotoxicity of the archetypal PFT Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin. We identify the endolysosomal protein LITAF as a mediator of cellular resistance to PFT-induced cell death that is active against both bacterial toxins and the endogenous pore, gasdermin D, a terminal effector of pyroptosis. Activation of the ubiquitin ligase NEDD4 by potassium efflux mobilizes LITAF to recruit the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) machinery to repair damaged membrane. Cells lacking LITAF, or carrying naturally occurring disease-associated mutations of LITAF, are highly susceptible to pore-induced death. Notably, LITAF-mediated repair occurs at endosomal membranes, resulting in expulsion of damaged membranes as exosomes, rather than through direct excision of pores from the surface plasma membrane. These results identify LITAF as a key effector that links sensing of cellular damage to repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Stefani
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anna M Bruchez
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mario G Rosasco
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anna E Yoshida
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kayla J Fasano
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Paula F Levan
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alina Lorant
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Andrew Oberst
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lynda M Stuart
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Adam Lacy-Hulbert
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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23
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Liu Y, Hou S. Bacteria manipulate host cells with channel-forming effectors. Trends Microbiol 2024; 32:8-9. [PMID: 37953153 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens deliver effectors into host cells mostly to manipulate signaling and metabolic molecules, thereby subverting host immunity. A recent study by Nomura et al. demonstrates that certain effectors create membrane channels in host cells, enabling bacteria to access water and solutes for multiplication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Liu
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, 300 Bailong Si, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China.
| | - Shuguo Hou
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agriculture Sciences in Weifang, Weifang, Shandong 261325, China.
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24
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Lecaudey LA, Netzer R, Wibberg D, Busche T, Bloecher N. Metatranscriptome analysis reveals the putative venom toxin repertoire of the biofouling hydroid Ectopleura larynx. Toxicon 2024; 237:107556. [PMID: 38072317 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107556] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Cnidarians thriving in biofouling communities on aquaculture net pens represent a significant health risk for farmed finfish due to their stinging cells. The toxins coming into contact with the fish, during net cleaning, can adversely affect their behavior, welfare, and survival, with a particularly serious health risk for the gills, causing direct tissue damage such as formation of thrombi and increasing risks of secondary infections. The hydroid Ectopleura larynx is one of the most common fouling organisms in Northern Europe. However, despite its significant economic, environmental, and operational impact on finfish aquaculture, biological information on this species is scarce and its venom composition has never been investigated. In this study, we generated a whole transcriptome of E. larynx, and identified its putative expressed venom toxin proteins (predicted toxin proteins, not functionally characterized) based on in silico transcriptome annotation mining and protein sequence analysis. The results uncovered a broad and diverse repertoire of putative toxin proteins for this hydroid species. Its toxic arsenal appears to include a wide and complex selection of toxin proteins, covering a large panel of potential biological functions that play important roles in envenomation. The putative toxins identified in this species, such as neurotoxins, GTPase toxins, metalloprotease toxins, ion channel impairing toxins, hemorrhagic toxins, serine protease toxins, phospholipase toxins, pore-forming toxins, and multifunction toxins may cause various major deleterious effects in prey, predators, and competitors. These results provide valuable new insights into the venom composition of cnidarians, and venomous marine organisms in general, and offer new opportunities for further research into novel and valuable bioactive molecules for medicine, agronomics and biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roman Netzer
- SINTEF Ocean, Aquaculture Department, Brattørkaia 17c, 7010, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Daniel Wibberg
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Tobias Busche
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany; Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, Morgenbreede 1, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Nina Bloecher
- SINTEF Ocean, Aquaculture Department, Brattørkaia 17c, 7010, Trondheim, Norway
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25
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Wang Z, Yang Y, Li S, Ma W, Wang K, Soberón M, Yan S, Shen J, Francis F, Bravo A, Zhang J. JAK/STAT signaling regulated intestinal regeneration defends insect pests against pore-forming toxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011823. [PMID: 38236820 PMCID: PMC10796011 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
A variety of coordinated host-cell responses are activated as defense mechanisms against pore-forming toxins (PFTs). Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a worldwide used biopesticide whose efficacy and precise application methods limits its use to replace synthetic pesticides in agricultural settings. Here, we analyzed the intestinal defense mechanisms of two lepidopteran insect pests after intoxication with sublethal dose of Bt PFTs to find out potential functional genes. We show that larval intestinal epithelium was initially damaged by the PFTs and that larval survival was observed after intestinal epithelium regeneration. Further analyses showed that the intestinal regeneration caused by Cry9A protein is regulated through c-Jun NH (2) terminal kinase (JNK) and Janus tyrosine kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathways. JAK/STAT signaling regulates intestinal regeneration through proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells to defend three different Bt proteins including Cry9A, Cry1F or Vip3A in both insect pests, Chilo suppressalis and Spodoptera frugiperda. Consequently, a nano-biopesticide was designed to improve pesticidal efficacy based on the combination of Stat double stranded RNA (dsRNA)-nanoparticles and Bt strain. This formulation controlled insect pests with better effect suggesting its potential use to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides in agricultural settings for pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanchao Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Sirui Li
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Weihua Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kui Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mario Soberón
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Shuo Yan
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MOA Key Laboratory of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Shen
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MOA Key Laboratory of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Frederic Francis
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Alejandra Bravo
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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26
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Topitsch A, Schwede T, Pereira J. Outer membrane β-barrel structure prediction through the lens of AlphaFold2. Proteins 2024; 92:3-14. [PMID: 37465978 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Most proteins found in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria share a common domain: the transmembrane β-barrel. These outer membrane β-barrels (OMBBs) occur in multiple sizes and different families with a wide range of functions evolved independently by amplification from a pool of homologous ancestral ββ-hairpins. This is part of the reason why predicting their three-dimensional (3D) structure, especially by homology modeling, is a major challenge. Recently, DeepMind's AlphaFold v2 (AF2) became the first structure prediction method to reach close-to-experimental atomic accuracy in CASP even for difficult targets. However, membrane proteins, especially OMBBs, were not abundant during their training, raising the question of how accurate the predictions are for these families. In this study, we assessed the performance of AF2 in the prediction of OMBBs and OMBB-like folds of various topologies using an in-house-developed tool for the analysis of OMBB 3D structures, and barrOs. In agreement with previous studies on other membrane protein classes, our results indicate that AF2 predicts transmembrane β-barrel structures at high accuracy independently of the use of templates, even for novel topologies absent from the training set. These results provide confidence on the models generated by AF2 and open the door to the structural elucidation of novel transmembrane β-barrel topologies identified in high-throughput OMBB annotation studies or designed de novo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Torsten Schwede
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joana Pereira
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
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27
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Jarzab M, Skorko-Glonek J. There Are No Insurmountable Barriers: Passage of the Helicobacter pylori VacA Toxin from Bacterial Cytoplasm to Eukaryotic Cell Organelle. MEMBRANES 2023; 14:11. [PMID: 38248700 PMCID: PMC10821523 DOI: 10.3390/membranes14010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacterium Helicobacter pylori is a very successful pathogen, one of the most commonly identified causes of bacterial infections in humans worldwide. H. pylori produces several virulence factors that contribute to its persistence in the hostile host habitat and to its pathogenicity. The most extensively studied are cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) and vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA). VacA is present in almost all H. pylori strains. As a secreted multifunctional toxin, it assists bacterial colonization, survival, and proliferation during long-lasting infections. To exert its effect on gastric epithelium and other cell types, VacA undergoes several modifications and crosses multiple membrane barriers. Once inside the gastric epithelial cell, VacA disrupts many cellular-signaling pathways and processes, leading mainly to changes in the efflux of various ions, the depolarization of membrane potential, and perturbations in endocytic trafficking and mitochondrial function. The most notable effect of VacA is the formation of vacuole-like structures, which may lead to apoptosis. This review focuses on the processes involved in VacA secretion, processing, and entry into host cells, with a particular emphasis on the interaction of the mature toxin with host membranes and the formation of transmembrane pores.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joanna Skorko-Glonek
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland;
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28
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Berhanu S, Majumder S, Müntener T, Whitehouse J, Berner C, Bera AK, Kang A, Liang B, Khan GN, Sankaran B, Tamm LK, Brockwell DJ, Hiller S, Radford SE, Baker D, Vorobieva AA. Sculpting conducting nanopore size and shape through de novo protein design. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.20.572500. [PMID: 38187764 PMCID: PMC10769293 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.20.572500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Transmembrane β-barrels (TMBs) are widely used for single molecule DNA and RNA sequencing and have considerable potential for a broad range of sensing and sequencing applications. Current engineering approaches for nanopore sensors are limited to naturally occurring channels such as CsgG, which have evolved to carry out functions very different from sensing, and hence provide sub-optimal starting points. In contrast, de novo protein design can in principle create an unlimited number of new nanopores with any desired properties. Here we describe a general approach to the design of transmembrane β-barrel pores with different diameter and pore geometry. NMR and crystallographic characterization shows that the designs are stably folded with structures close to the design models. We report the first examples of de novo designed TMBs with 10, 12 and 14 stranded β-barrels. The designs have distinct conductances that correlate with their pore diameter, ranging from 110 pS (~0.5 nm pore diameter) to 430 pS (~1.1 nm pore diameter), and can be converted into sensitive small-molecule sensors with high signal to noise ratio. The capability to generate on demand β-barrel pores of defined geometry opens up fundamentally new opportunities for custom engineering of sequencing and sensing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Berhanu
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sagardip Majumder
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - James Whitehouse
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
| | - Carolin Berner
- Structural Biology Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- VUB-VIB Center for Structural Biology, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Asim K. Bera
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alex Kang
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Binyong Liang
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics and Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - G Nasir Khan
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
| | - Banumathi Sankaran
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lukas K. Tamm
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics and Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - David J. Brockwell
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
| | | | - Sheena E. Radford
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
| | - David Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anastassia A. Vorobieva
- Structural Biology Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- VUB-VIB Center for Structural Biology, Brussels, Belgium
- VIB Center for AI and Computational Biology, Belgium
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29
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Corre M, Boehm V, Besic V, Kurowska A, Viry A, Mohammad A, Sénamaud-Beaufort C, Thomas-Chollier M, Lebreton A. Alternative splicing induced by bacterial pore-forming toxins sharpens CIRBP-mediated cell response to Listeria infection. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:12459-12475. [PMID: 37941135 PMCID: PMC10711537 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell autonomous responses to intracellular bacteria largely depend on reorganization of gene expression. To gain isoform-level resolution of these modes of regulation, we combined long- and short-read transcriptomic analyses of the response of intestinal epithelial cells to infection by the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. Among the most striking isoform-based types of regulation, expression of the cellular stress response regulator CIRBP (cold-inducible RNA-binding protein) and of several SRSFs (serine/arginine-rich splicing factors) switched from canonical transcripts to nonsense-mediated decay-sensitive isoforms by inclusion of 'poison exons'. We showed that damage to host cell membranes caused by bacterial pore-forming toxins (listeriolysin O, perfringolysin, streptolysin or aerolysin) led to the dephosphorylation of SRSFs via the inhibition of the kinase activity of CLK1, thereby driving CIRBP alternative splicing. CIRBP isoform usage was found to have consequences on infection, since selective repression of canonical CIRBP reduced intracellular bacterial load while that of the poison exon-containing isoform exacerbated it. Consistently, CIRBP-bound mRNAs were shifted towards stress-relevant transcripts in infected cells, with increased mRNA levels or reduced translation efficiency for some targets. Our results thus generalize the alternative splicing of CIRBP and SRSFs as a common response to biotic or abiotic stresses by extending its relevance to the context of bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Corre
- Group Bacterial infection, response & dynamics, Institut de biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Volker Boehm
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Vinko Besic
- Group Bacterial infection, response & dynamics, Institut de biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Anna Kurowska
- Group Bacterial infection, response & dynamics, Institut de biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Anouk Viry
- Group Bacterial infection, response & dynamics, Institut de biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Ammara Mohammad
- GenomiqueENS, Institut de Biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Catherine Sénamaud-Beaufort
- GenomiqueENS, Institut de Biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Morgane Thomas-Chollier
- Group Bacterial infection, response & dynamics, Institut de biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005 Paris, France
- GenomiqueENS, Institut de Biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Alice Lebreton
- Group Bacterial infection, response & dynamics, Institut de biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005 Paris, France
- INRAE, Micalis Institute, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
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Verma P, Chauhan A, Thakur R, Lata K, Sharma A, Chattopadhyay K, Mukhopadhaya A. Vibrio parahaemolyticus thermostable direct haemolysin induces non-classical programmed cell death despite caspase activation. Mol Microbiol 2023; 120:845-873. [PMID: 37818865 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Thermostable direct haemolysin (TDH) is the key virulence factor secreted by the human gastroenteric bacterial pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus. TDH is a membrane-damaging pore-forming toxin. It evokes potent cytotoxicity, the mechanism of which still remains under-explored. Here, we have elucidated the mechanistic details of cell death response elicited by TDH. Employing Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells and THP-1 monocytic cells, we show that TDH induces some of the hallmark features of apoptosis-like programmed cell death. TDH triggers caspase-3 and 7 activations in the THP-1 cells, while caspase-7 activation is observed in the Caco-2 cells. Interestingly, TDH appears to induce caspase-independent cell death. Higher XIAP level and lower Smac/Diablo level upon TDH intoxication provide plausible explanation for the functional inability of caspases in the THP-1 cells, in particular. Further exploration reveals that mitochondria play a central role in the TDH-induced cell death. TDH triggers mitochondrial damage, resulting in the release of AIF and endonuclease G, responsible for the execution of caspase-independent cell death. Among the other critical mediators of cell death, ROS is found to play an important role in the THP-1 cells, while PARP-1 appears to play a critical role in the Caco-2 cells. Altogether, our work provides critical new insights into the mechanism of cell death induction by TDH, showing a common central theme of non-classical programmed cell death. Our study also unravels the interplay of crucial molecules in the underlying signalling processes. Our findings add valuable insights into the role of TDH in the context of the host-pathogen interaction processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratima Verma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Aakanksha Chauhan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Reena Thakur
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Kusum Lata
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Arpita Sharma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Kausik Chattopadhyay
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Arunika Mukhopadhaya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, Punjab, India
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31
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Huh E, Choi JG, Choi Y, Ju IG, Kim B, Shin YJ, An JM, Park MG, Yim SV, Chung SJ, Seo SU, Kim D, Kim CH, Kim DH, Oh MS. P. mirabilis-derived pore-forming haemolysin, HpmA drives intestinal alpha-synuclein aggregation in a mouse model of neurodegeneration. EBioMedicine 2023; 98:104887. [PMID: 37995468 PMCID: PMC10709029 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104887] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies suggesting the importance of the gut-microbiome in intestinal aggregated alpha synuclein (α-syn) have led to the exploration of the possible role of the gut-brain axis in central nervous system degeneration. Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis), a gram-negative facultative anaerobic bacterium, has been linked to brain neurodegeneration in animal studies. We hypothesised that P. mirabilis-derived virulence factors aggregate intestinal α-synuclein and could prompt the pathogenesis of dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the brain. METHODS We used vagotomised- and antibiotic-treated male murine models to determine the pathogenesis of P. mirabilis during brain neurodegeneration. The neurodegenerative factor that is driven by P. mirabilis was determined using genetically mutated P. mirabilis. The pathological functions and interactions of the virulence factors were determined in vitro. FINDINGS The results showed that P. mirabilis-induced motor dysfunction and neurodegeneration are regulated by intestinal α-syn aggregation in vagotomised- or antibiotic-treated murine models. We deduced that the specific virulence factor, haemolysin A (HpmA), plays a role in the pathogenesis of P. mirabilis. HpmA is involved in α-synuclein oligomerisation and membrane pore formation, resulting in the activation of mTOR-mediated autophagy signalling in intestinal neuroendocrine cells. INTERPRETATION Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that HpmA can interact with α-syn and act as a possible indicator of brain neurodegenerative diseases that are induced by P. mirabilis. FUNDING This study was supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Huh
- Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science and Kyung Hee East-West Pharmaceutical Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea; Neurobiota Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Gyu Choi
- Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science and Kyung Hee East-West Pharmaceutical Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Yujin Choi
- Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - In Gyoung Ju
- Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science and Kyung Hee East-West Pharmaceutical Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea; Neurobiota Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Bora Kim
- Neurobiota Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon-Jung Shin
- Neurobiota Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Min An
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Myoung Gyu Park
- MetaCen Therapeutics Inc. R&D Center, 256 Changryongdae-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-Do, 16229, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Vin Yim
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Jin Chung
- Department of Neurology, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 155 Hwasu-ro, Deokyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-Do, 10475, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Uk Seo
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpodae-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Dokyoung Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Chun Hyung Kim
- Paean Biotechnology, 17 Techno 4-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34013, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Hyun Kim
- Neurobiota Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung Sook Oh
- Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science and Kyung Hee East-West Pharmaceutical Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea; Neurobiota Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea; Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea; Department of Integrated Drug Development and Natural Products, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
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Jiang X, Yu G, Zhu L, Siddique A, Zhan D, Zhou L, Yue M. Flanking N- and C-terminal domains of PrsA in Streptococcus suis type 2 are crucial for inducing cell death independent of TLR2 recognition. Virulence 2023; 14:2249779. [PMID: 37641974 PMCID: PMC10467536 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2249779] [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: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus suis type 2 (SS2), a major emerging/re-emerging zoonotic pathogen found in humans and pigs, can cause severe clinical infections, and pose public health issues. Our previous studies recognized peptidyl-prolyl isomerase (PrsA) as a critical virulence factor promoting SS2 pathogenicity. PrsA contributed to cell death and operated as a pro-inflammatory effector. However, the molecular pathways through which PrsA contributes to cell death are poorly understood. Here in this study, we prepared the recombinant PrsA protein and found that pyroptosis and necroptosis were involved in cell death stimulated by PrsA. Specific pyroptosis and necroptosis signalling inhibitors could significantly alleviate the fatal effect. Cleaved caspase-1 and IL-1β in pyroptosis with phosphorylated MLKL proteins in necroptosis pathways, respectively, were activated after PrsA stimulation. Truncated protein fragments of enzymatic PPIase domain (PPI), N-terminal (NP), and C-terminal (PC) domains fused with PPIase, were expressed and purified. PrsA flanking N- or C-terminal but not enzymatic PPIase domain was found to be critical for PrsA function in inducing cell death and inflammation. Additionally, PrsA protein could be anchored on the cell surface to interact with host cells. However, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) was not implicated in cell death and recognition of PrsA. PAMPs of PrsA could not promote TLR2 activation, and no rescued phenotypes of death were shown in cells blocking of TLR2 receptor or signal-transducing adaptor of MyD88. Overall, these data, for the first time, advanced our perspective on PrsA function and elucidated that PrsA-induced cell death requires its flanking N- or C-terminal domain but is dispensable for recognizing TLR2. Further efforts are still needed to explore the precise molecular mechanisms of PrsA-inducing cell death and, therefore, contribution to SS2 pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowu Jiang
- College of Medicine, Yichun University, Yichun, Jiangxi, China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Active Component of Natural Drugs, Poster-Doctoral Research Center, Yichun, Jiangxi, China
| | - Guijun Yu
- College of Medicine, Yichun University, Yichun, Jiangxi, China
| | - Lexin Zhu
- College of Medicine, Yichun University, Yichun, Jiangxi, China
| | - Abubakar Siddique
- Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya, China
- Atta Ur Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Dongbo Zhan
- College of Medicine, Yichun University, Yichun, Jiangxi, China
| | - Linhua Zhou
- College of Medicine, Yichun University, Yichun, Jiangxi, China
| | - Min Yue
- Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya, China
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Anderluh G. A label-free approach for measuring interactions of proteins with lipid membranes. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100649. [PMID: 37989086 PMCID: PMC10694574 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
In this issue of Cell Reports Methods, Sadi et al. present a nuclear magnetic resonance approach for quantitative assessment of protein interactions with lipid membranes. It is sensitive, applicable to diverse membrane systems, covers a broad range of KDs, and does not require large amounts of material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Anderluh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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34
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S Mesquita F, Abrami L, Bracq L, Panyain N, Mercier V, Kunz B, Chuat A, Carlevaro-Fita J, Trono D, van der Goot FG. SARS-CoV-2 hijacks a cell damage response, which induces transcription of a more efficient Spike S-acyltransferase. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7302. [PMID: 37952051 PMCID: PMC10640587 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43027-2] [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: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection requires Spike protein-mediated fusion between the viral and cellular membranes. The fusogenic activity of Spike depends on its post-translational lipid modification by host S-acyltransferases, predominantly ZDHHC20. Previous observations indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection augments the S-acylation of Spike when compared to mere Spike transfection. Here, we find that SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers a change in the transcriptional start site of the zdhhc20 gene, both in cells and in an in vivo infection model, resulting in a 67-amino-acid-long N-terminally extended protein with approx. 40 times higher Spike acylating activity, resulting in enhanced fusion of viruses with host cells. Furthermore, we observed the same induced transcriptional change in response to other challenges, such as chemically induced colitis and pore-forming toxins, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 hijacks an existing cell damage response pathway to optimize it fusion glycoprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laurence Abrami
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lucie Bracq
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nattawadee Panyain
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Mercier
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
- ACCESS, Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Béatrice Kunz
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Audrey Chuat
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Didier Trono
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Prashar A, Kinkar OU, Kumar A, Hadapad AB, Makde RD, Hire RS. Crystal structures of PirA and PirB toxins from Photorhabdus akhurstii subsp. akhurstii K-1. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 162:104014. [PMID: 37778713 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.104014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
PirAB binary toxin from Photorhabdus is toxic to the larvae of dipteran and lepidopteran insect pests. However, the 3-D structures and their toxicity mechanism are not yet fully understood. Here we report the crystal structures of PirA and PirB proteins from Photorhabdus akhurstii subsp. akhurstii K-1 at 1.6 and 2.1 Å, respectively. PirA comprises of eight β-strands depicting jelly-roll topology while PirB folds into two distinct domains, an N-terminal domain (PirB-N) made up of seven α-helices and a C-terminal domain (PirB-C) consists of ten β-strands. Despite the low sequence identity, PirA adopts similar architecture as domain III and PirB shared similar architecture as domain I/II of the Cry δ-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis, respectively. However, PirA shows significant structural variations as compared to domain III of lepidopteran and dipteran specific Cry toxins (Cry1Aa and Cry11Ba) suggesting its role in virulence among range of insect pests and hence, in receptor binding. High structural resemblance between PirB-N and domain I of Cry toxin raises the possibility that the putative PirAB binary toxin may mimic the toxicity mechanism of the Cry protein, particularly its ability to perform pore formation. The mixture of independently purified PirA and PirB proteins are not toxic to insects. However, PirA-PirB protein complex purified from expression of pir operon with non-coding Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC) sequences found toxic to Galleria mellonella larvae with LD50 value of 1.62 μg/larva. This suggests that toxic conformation of PirA and PirB are achieved in-vivo with the help of ERIC sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpit Prashar
- Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Omkar U Kinkar
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, Maharashtra, India; Beamline Development and Application Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- Beamline Development and Application Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Ashok B Hadapad
- Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Ravindra D Makde
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, Maharashtra, India; Beamline Development and Application Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Ramesh S Hire
- Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, Maharashtra, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, Maharashtra, India.
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Johnson AG, Mayer ML, Schaefer SL, McNamara-Bordewick NK, Hummer G, Kranzusch PJ. Structure and assembly of a bacterial gasdermin pore. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.20.537723. [PMID: 37131678 PMCID: PMC10153256 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.20.537723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
In response to pathogen infection, gasdermin (GSDM) proteins form membrane pores that induce a host cell death process called pyroptosis1-33. Studies of human and mouse GSDM pores reveal the functions and architectures of 24-33 protomers assemblies4-9, but the mechanism and evolutionary origin of membrane targeting and GSDM pore formation remain unknown. Here we determine a structure of a bacterial GSDM (bGSDM) pore and define a conserved mechanism of pore assembly. Engineering a panel of bGSDMs for site-specific proteolytic activation, we demonstrate that diverse bGSDMs form distinct pore sizes that range from smaller mammalian-like assemblies to exceptionally large pores containing >50 protomers. We determine a 3.3 Å cryo-EM structure of a Vitiosangium bGSDM in an active slinky-like oligomeric conformation and analyze bGSDM pores in a native lipid environment to create an atomic-level model of a full 52-mer bGSDM pore. Combining our structural analysis with molecular dynamics simulations and cellular assays, our results support a stepwise model of GSDM pore assembly and suggest that a covalently bound palmitoyl can leave a hydrophobic sheath and insert into the membrane before formation of the membrane-spanning β-strand regions. These results reveal the diversity of GSDM pores found in nature and explain the function of an ancient post-translational modification in enabling programmed host cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex G. Johnson
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Megan L. Mayer
- Harvard Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Stefan L. Schaefer
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Gerhard Hummer
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Biophysics, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Philip J. Kranzusch
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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37
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Kulshrestha A, Punnathanam SN, Roy R, Ayappa KG. Cholesterol catalyzes unfolding in membrane-inserted motifs of the pore forming protein cytolysin A. Biophys J 2023; 122:4068-4081. [PMID: 37740492 PMCID: PMC10598289 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasma membrane-induced protein folding and conformational transitions play a central role in cellular homeostasis. Several transmembrane proteins are folded in the complex lipid milieu to acquire a specific structure and function. Bacterial pore forming toxins (PFTs) are proteins expressed by a large class of pathogenic bacteria that exploit the plasma membrane environment to efficiently undergo secondary structure changes, oligomerize, and form transmembrane pores. Unregulated pore formation causes ion imbalance, leading to cell death and infection. Determining the free energy landscape of these membrane-driven-driven transitions remains a challenging problem. Although cholesterol recognition is required for lytic activity of several proteins in the PFT family of toxins, the regulatory role of cholesterol for the α-PFT, cytolysin A expressed by Escherichia coli remains unexplained. In a recent free energy computation, we showed that the β tongue, a critical membrane-inserted motif of the ClyA toxin, has an on-pathway partially unfolded intermediate that refolds into the helix-turn-helix motif of the pore state. To understand the molecular role played by cholesterol, we carry out string-method-based computations in membranes devoid of cholesterol, which reveals an increase of ∼30 times in the free energy barrier for the loss of β sheet secondary structure when compared with membranes containing cholesterol. Specifically, the tyrosine-cholesterol interaction was found to be critical to creating the unfolded intermediate. Cholesterol also increases the packing and hydrophobicity of the bilayer, resulting in enhanced interactions of the bound protein before complete membrane insertion. Our study illustrates that cholesterol is critical to catalyzing and stabilizing the membrane-inserted unfolded state of the β tongue motif of ClyA, opening up fresh insights into cholesterol-assisted unfolding of membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avijeet Kulshrestha
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Sudeep N Punnathanam
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Rahul Roy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; Center for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - K Ganapathy Ayappa
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
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Yuan Q, Mao D, Tang X, Liu C, Zhang R, Deng J, Zhu X, Li W, Man Q, Sun F. Biological effect abundance analysis of hemolytic pathogens based on engineered biomimetic sensor. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 237:115502. [PMID: 37423067 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115502] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Conventional pathogen detection strategies based on the molecular structure or chemical characteristics of biomarkers can only provide the "physical abundance" of microorganisms, but cannot reflect the "biological effect abundance" in the true sense. To address this issue, we report an erythrocyte membrane-encapsulated biomimetic sensor cascaded with CRISPR-Cas12a (EMSCC). Taking hemolytic pathogens as the target model, we first constructed an erythrocyte membrane-encapsulated biomimetic sensor (EMS). Only hemolytic pathogens with biological effects can disrupt the erythrocyte membrane (EM), resulting in signal generation. Then the signal was amplified by cascading CRISPR-Cas12a, and more than 6.67 × 104-fold improvement in detection sensitivity compared to traditional erythrocyte hemolysis assay was achieved. Notably, compared with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based quantification methods, EMSCC can sensitively respond to the pathogenicity change of pathogens. For the detection of simulated clinical samples based on EMSCC, we obtained an accuracy of 95% in 40 samples, demonstrating its potential clinical value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqin Yuan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, PR China
| | - Dongsheng Mao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, PR China
| | - Xiaochen Tang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Diagnostics for Pediatrics, Shanghai, 200127, PR China
| | - Chenbin Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, PR China
| | - Runchi Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, PR China
| | - Jie Deng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, PR China
| | - Xiaoli Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, PR China
| | - Wenxing Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, PR China.
| | - Qiuhong Man
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200080, PR China.
| | - Fenyong Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, PR China.
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Zhang H, Zeng W, Zhao MM, Wang J, Wang Q, Chen T, Zhang Y, Lee W, Chen S, Zhang Y, Lan X, Xiang Y. Caenorhabditis elegans LIN-24, a homolog of bacterial pore-forming toxin, protects the host from microbial infection. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23162. [PMID: 37682220 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202300063r] [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: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Aerolysin-like pore-forming protein (af-PFP) superfamily members are double-edge swords that assist the bacterial infection but shied bacteria from the host by various mechanisms in some species including the toad Bombina maxima and zebrafish. While members of this family are widely expressed in all kingdoms, especially non-bacteria species, it remains unclear whether their anti-bacterial function is conserved. LIN-24 is an af-PFP that is constitutively expressed throughout the Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan. Here, we observed that LIN-24 knockdown reduced the maximum lifespan of worms. RNA-seq analysis identified 323 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) post-LIN-24 knockdown that were enriched in "immune response" and "lysosome pathway," suggesting a possible role for LIN-24 in resisting microbial infection. In line with this, we found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa 14 (PA14) infection induced LIN-24 expression, and that survival after PA14 infection was significantly reduced by LIN-24 knockdown. In contrast, LIN-24 overexpression (LIN-24-OE) conferred protection against PA14 infection, with worms showing longer survival time and reduced bacterial load. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis of LIN-24-OE worms showed that the highest correlation module was enriched in factors related to immunity and the defense response. Finally, by predicting transcription factors from RNA-seq data and knocking down candidate transcription factors in LIN-24-OE worms, we revealed that LIN-24 may protect worms against bacterial infection by stimulating DAF-16-mediated immune responses. These findings agree with our previous studies showing an anti-microbial role for the amphibian-derived af-PFP complex βγ-CAT, suggesting that af-PFPs may play a conserved role in combatting microbial infections. Further research is needed to determine the roles this protein family plays in other physio-pathological processes, such as metabolism, longevity, and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijie Zhang
- Metabolic Control and Aging, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, and Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Human Aging, Nanchang, China
| | - Weirong Zeng
- Metabolic Control and Aging, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, and Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Human Aging, Nanchang, China
| | - Ming-Ming Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Jiali Wang
- Metabolic Control and Aging, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, and Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Human Aging, Nanchang, China
| | - Qiquan Wang
- Metabolic Control and Aging, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, and Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Human Aging, Nanchang, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Metabolic Control and Aging, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, and Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Human Aging, Nanchang, China
| | - Yuyan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Wenhui Lee
- Metabolic Control and Aging, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, and Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Human Aging, Nanchang, China
| | - Shenghan Chen
- Metabolic Control and Aging, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, and Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Human Aging, Nanchang, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Xinqiang Lan
- Metabolic Control and Aging, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, and Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Human Aging, Nanchang, China
| | - Yang Xiang
- Metabolic Control and Aging, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, and Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Human Aging, Nanchang, China
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Hérnández-Elizárraga VH, Vega-Tamayo JE, Olguín-López N, Ibarra-Alvarado C, Rojas-Molina A. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses reveal the first occurrence of diverse toxin groups in Millepora alcicornis. J Proteomics 2023; 288:104984. [PMID: 37536522 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2023.104984] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Millepora alcicornis is a reef-forming cnidarian widely distributed in the Mexican Caribbean. Millepora species or "fire corals" inflict a painful stinging reaction in humans when touched. Even though hundreds of organic and polypeptide toxins have been characterized from sea anemones and jellyfish, there are few reports regarding the diversity of toxins synthesized by fire corals. Here, based on transcriptomic analysis of M. alcicornis, several predicted proteins that show amino acid sequence similarity to toxins were identified, including neurotoxins, metalloproteases, hemostasis-impairing toxins, serin proteases, cysteine-rich venom proteins, phospholipases, complement system-impairing toxins, phosphodiesterases, pore-forming toxins, and L-aminoacid oxidases. The soluble nematocyst proteome of this organism was shown to induce hemolytic, proteolytic, and phospholipase A2 effects by gel zymography. Protein bands or spots on 1D- and 2D-PAGE gels corresponding to zones of hemolytic and enzymatic activities were excised, subjected to in-gel digestion with trypsin, and analyzed by mass spectrometry. These proteins exhibited sequence homology to PLA2s, metalloproteinases, pore-forming toxins, and neurotoxins, such as actitoxins and CrTX-A. The complex array of venom-related transcripts that were identified in M. alcicornis, some of which are first reported in "fire corals", provide novel insight into the structural richness of Cnidarian toxins and their distribution among species. SIGNIFICANCE: Marine organisms are a promising source of bioactive compounds with valuable contributions in diverse fields such as human health, pharmaceuticals, and industrial application. Currently, not much attention has been paid to the study of fire corals, which possess a variety of molecules that exhibit diverse toxic effects and therefore have great pharmaceutical and biotechnological potential. The isolation and identification of novel marine-derived toxins by classical approaches are time-consuming and have low yields. Thus, next-generation strategies, like base-'omics technologies, are essential for the high-throughput characterization of venom compounds such as those synthesized by fire corals. This study moves the field forward because it provides new insights regarding the first occurrence of diverse toxin groups in Millepora alcicornis. The findings presented here will contribute to the current understanding of the mechanisms of action of Millepora toxins. This research also reveals important information related to the potential role of toxins in the defense and capture of prey mechanisms and for designing appropriate treatments for fire coral envenomation. Moreover, due to the lack of information on the taxonomic identification of Millepora, the insights presented here can advise the taxonomic classification of the species of this genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Hugo Hérnández-Elizárraga
- Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, C.P. 76010 Querétaro, Qro, Mexico; University of Minnesota Genomics Center, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | | | - Norma Olguín-López
- Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, C.P. 76010 Querétaro, Qro, Mexico; División Química y Energías Renovables, Universidad Tecnológica de San Juan del Río. Av La Palma No 125 Vista Hermosa, 76800 San Juan del Río, Qro, Mexico.
| | - César Ibarra-Alvarado
- Laboratorio de Investigación Química y Farmacológica de Productos Naturales, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, C.P. 76010 Querétaro, Qro, Mexico
| | - Alejandra Rojas-Molina
- Laboratorio de Investigación Química y Farmacológica de Productos Naturales, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, C.P. 76010 Querétaro, Qro, Mexico.
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Chiu YC, Yeh MC, Wang CH, Chen YA, Chang H, Lin HY, Ho MC, Lin SM. Structural basis for calcium-stimulating pore formation of Vibrio α-hemolysin. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5946. [PMID: 37741869 PMCID: PMC10517994 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41579-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio α-hemolysins (αHLs) are β-pore-forming toxins secreted by Vibrio pathogens, crucial for the facilitation of bacterial infections through host cell lysis. These toxins are produced as inactive precursors, requiring proteolytic maturation and membrane association for activation within host tissues. Here, we investigate Vibrio campbellii αHL (VcαHL), and establish that its hemolytic activity is significantly stimulated by calcium ions, with an EC50 that aligns with physiological calcium concentrations. Furthermore, we illustrate the vital contribution of calcium ions to the oligomerization of VcαHL on membranes. Using X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, we decipher both the immature and assembled structures of VcαHL and elucidate the conformational changes corresponding to toxin assembly. We also identify a calcium-binding module that is integral for VcαHL's calcium-dependent activation. These findings provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms of VcαHL and have the potential to inform the development of targeted therapeutic strategies against Vibrio infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chuan Chiu
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Min-Chi Yeh
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hsiung Wang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-An Chen
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang Chang
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Han-You Lin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Chiao Ho
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ming Lin
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
- Institute of Tropical Plant Sciences and Microbiology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
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Lee SA, Liu F, Yuwono C, Phan M, Chong S, Biazik J, Tay ACY, Janitz M, Riordan SM, Lan R, Wehrhahn MC, Zhang L. Emerging Aeromonas enteric infections: their association with inflammatory bowel disease and novel pathogenic mechanisms. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0108823. [PMID: 37732778 PMCID: PMC10581128 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01088-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Aeromonas species are emerging human enteric pathogens. This study examines the isolation of Aeromonas and other enteric bacterial pathogens from patients with and without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study also investigates the intestinal epithelial pathogenic mechanisms of Aeromonas veronii. The isolation rates of seven enteric bacterial pathogens from 2,279 patients with IBD and 373,276 non-IBD patients were compared. An A. veronii strain (AS1) isolated from intestinal biopsies of a patient with IBD was used for pathogenic mechanism investigation, and Escherichia coli K12 was used as a bacterial control. HT-29 cells were used as a model of human intestinal epithelium. A significantly higher isolation of Aeromonas species was found in patients with IBD as compared to non-IBD patients (P = 0.0001, odds ratio = 2.11). A. veronii upregulated 177 inflammatory genes and downregulated 52 protein-coding genes affecting chromatin assembly, multiple small nuclear RNAs, multiple nucleolar RNAs, and 55 cytoplasmic tRNAs in HT-29 cells. These downregulation effects were unique to A. veronii and not observed in HT-29 cells infected with E. coli K12. A. veronii induced intestinal epithelial apoptosis involving the intrinsic pathway. A. veronii caused epithelial microvilli shortening and damage and epithelial production of IL-8. In conclusion, this study for the first time reports the association between IBD and Aeromonas enteric infection detected by bacterial cultivation. This study also reports that A. veronii damages intestinal epithelial cells via multiple mechanisms, of which the downregulating cytoplasmic tRNA, small nuclear RNA, and small nucleolar RNA are novel bacterial pathogenic mechanisms. IMPORTANCE This study for the first time reports the association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Aeromonas enteric infection detected by bacterial pathogen cultivation, highlighting the need of clinical and public health attention. The finding that patients with IBD are more susceptible to Aeromonas enteric infection suggests that detection of Aeromonas enteric infection should be routinely performed for the diagnosis and treatment of IBD. This study also reports novel bacterial pathogenic mechanisms employed by Aeromonas veronii. Through comparative transcriptomic analysis and other techniques, this study revealed the pathogenic mechanisms by which A. veronii causes damage to intestinal epithelial cells. Among the various pathogenic mechanisms identified, the downregulating tRNA, small nuclear and nucleolar RNAs in human intestinal epithelial cells are novel bacterial pathogenic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seul A. Lee
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Fang Liu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christopher Yuwono
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Monique Phan
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sarah Chong
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joanna Biazik
- Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alfred Chin Yen Tay
- Helicobacter Research Laboratory, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Michael Janitz
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stephen M. Riordan
- Gastrointestinal and Liver Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ruiting Lan
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael C. Wehrhahn
- Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology, a Sonic Healthcare Australia Pathology Practice, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Li Zhang
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Tang Q, Dong M, Xu Z, Xue N, Jiang R, Wei X, Gu J, Li Y, Xin R, Wang J, Xiao X, Zhou X, Yin S, Wang Y, Chen J. Red blood cell-mimicking liposomes loading curcumin promote diabetic wound healing. J Control Release 2023; 361:871-884. [PMID: 37532149 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.07.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
The excessive inflammatory response is known to be a major challenge for diabetic wound healing, while bacteria secreted toxin, α-hemolysin (Hlα), was recently reported to prolong inflammation and delay diabetic wound healing. In this study, we designed a red blood cell membrane (RBCM)-mimicking liposome containing curcumin (named RC-Lip) for the treatment of diabetic wounds. RC-Lips were successfully fabricated using the thin film dispersion method, and the fusion of RBC membrane with the liposomal membrane was confirmed via surface protein analysis. RC-Lips efficiently adsorbed Hlα, thereby reducing the damage and pro-apoptotic effects of Hlα on keratinocytes. Furthermore, they remarkably facilitated liposome uptake into macrophages with advanced curcumin release and regulation of M2 macrophage polarization. In a diabetic mouse and infected wound model, RC-Lips treatment significantly promoted wound healing and re-epithelialization while downregulating interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and upregulating interleukin-10 (IL-10). In summary, the results showed that the spongiform RC-Lips effectively modulate the inflammatory response after adsorbing Hlα and regulating M2 macrophage polarization, leading to a significant promotion of wound healing in diabetic mice. Hence, this study provides a prospective strategy of efficiently mediating inflammatory response for diabetic wounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghan Tang
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of TCM External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Mei Dong
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of TCM External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China.
| | - Zeyu Xu
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of TCM External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Nannan Xue
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of TCM External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Ruihan Jiang
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of TCM External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Xuchao Wei
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of TCM External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Jingyue Gu
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of TCM External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Yue Li
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of TCM External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Rongshuang Xin
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of TCM External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Jia Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Xueying Xiao
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of TCM External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Xin Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Shaoping Yin
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of TCM External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Yiwei Wang
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of TCM External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China.
| | - Jun Chen
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of TCM External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China.
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He J, Yang X, Yang K, Xu H, Chen C, Wang J, Zeng J. TPST2-mediated receptor tyrosine sulfation enhances leukocidin cytotoxicity and S. aureus infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1242330. [PMID: 37671153 PMCID: PMC10476081 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1242330] [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: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background An essential fact underlying the severity of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection is the bicomponent leukocidins released by the pathogen to target and lyse host phagocytes through specific binding cell membrane receptors. However, little is known about the impact of post-transcriptional modification of receptors on the leukocidin binding. Method In this study, we used small interfering RNA library (Horizon/Dharmacon) to screen potential genes that affect leukocidin binding on receptors. The cell permeability was investigated through flow cytometry measuring the internalization of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. Expression of C5a anaphylatoxin chemotactic receptor 1 (C5aR1), sulfated C5aR1 in, and binding of 6x-His-tagged Hemolysin C (HlgC) and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) slow-component to THP-1 cell lines was detected and analyzed via flow cytometry. Bacterial burden and Survival analysis experiment was conducted in WT and myeloid TPST-cko C57BL/6N mice. Results After short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown of TPST2 gene in THP-1, HL-60, and RAW264.7, the cytotoxicity of HlgAB, HlgCB, and Panton-Valentine leukocidin on THP-1 or HL-60 cells was decreased significantly, and the cytotoxicity of HlgAB on RAW264.7 cells was also decreased significantly. Knockdown of TPST2 did not affect the C5aR1 expression but downregulated cell surface C5aR1 tyrosine sulfation on THP-1. In addition, we found that the binding of HlgC and LukS-PV on cell surface receptor C5aR1 was impaired in C5aR1+TPST2- and C5aR1-TPST2- cells. Phagocyte knockout of TPST2 protects mice from S. aureus infection and improves the survival of mice infected with S. aureus. Conclusion These results indicate that phagocyte TPST2 mediates the bicomponent leukocidin cytotoxicity by promoting cell membrane receptor sulfation modification that facilitates its binding to leukocidin S component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie He
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Medical College and The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Xianggui Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Medical College and The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Kai Yang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Medical College and The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | | | | | | | - Jun Zeng
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Medical College and The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
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Xing Y, Rottensteiner A, Ciccone J, Howorka S. Functional Nanopores Enabled with DNA. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202303103. [PMID: 37186432 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202303103] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Membrane-spanning nanopores are used in label-free single-molecule sensing and next-generation portable nucleic acid sequencing, and as powerful research tools in biology, biophysics, and synthetic biology. Naturally occurring protein and peptide pores, as well as synthetic inorganic nanopores, are used in these applications, with their limitations. The structural and functional repertoire of nanopores can be considerably expanded by functionalising existing pores with DNA strands and by creating an entirely new class of nanopores with DNA nanotechnology. This review outlines progress in this area of functional DNA nanopores and outlines developments to open up new applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzheng Xing
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Alexia Rottensteiner
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Jonah Ciccone
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Stefan Howorka
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
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Fettucciari K, Dini F, Marconi P, Bassotti G. Role of the Alteration in Calcium Homeostasis in Cell Death Induced by Clostridioides difficile Toxin A and Toxin B. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1117. [PMID: 37627001 PMCID: PMC10452684 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile), responsible for 15-25% of gastrointestinal infections, causes health problems mainly due to the toxic activity of toxins A and B (Tcds). These are responsible for its clinical manifestations, including diarrhea, pseudomembranous colitis, toxic megacolon and death, with a mortality of 5-30% in primary infection, that increase following relapses. Studies on Tcd-induced cell death have highlighted a key role of caspases, calpains, and cathepsins, with involvement of mitochondria and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a complex signaling pathway network. The complex response in the execution of various types of cell death (apoptosis, necrosis, pyroptosis and pyknosis) depends on the amount of Tcd, cell types, and Tcd receptors involved, and could have as initial/precocious event the alterations in calcium homeostasis. The entities, peculiarities and cell types involved in these alterations will decide the signaling pathways activated and cell death type. Calcium homeostasis alterations can be caused by calcium influx through calcium channel activation, transient intracellular calcium oscillations, and leakage of calcium from intracellular stores. These increases in cytoplasmic calcium have important effects on all calcium-regulated molecules, which may play a direct role in several cell death types and/or activate other cell death effectors, such as caspases, calpains, ROS and proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members. Furthermore, some support for the possible role of the calcium homeostasis alteration in Tcd-induced cell death originates from the similarity with cytotoxic effects that cause pore-forming toxins, based mainly on calcium influx through plasma membrane pores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia Fettucciari
- Biosciences & Medical Embryology Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Fabrizio Dini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62024 Matelica, Italy;
| | - Pierfrancesco Marconi
- Biosciences & Medical Embryology Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Gabrio Bassotti
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Digestive Endoscopy Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy;
- Gastroenterology & Hepatology Unit, Santa Maria Della Misericordia Hospital, 06129 Perugia, Italy
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Ferreira G, Cardozo R, Sastre S, Costa C, Santander A, Chavarría L, Guizzo V, Puglisi J, Nicolson GL. Bacterial toxins and heart function: heat-labile Escherichia coli enterotoxin B promotes changes in cardiac function with possible relevance for sudden cardiac death. Biophys Rev 2023; 15:447-473. [PMID: 37681088 PMCID: PMC10480140 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01100-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial toxins can cause cardiomyopathy, though it is not its most common cause. Some bacterial toxins can form pores in the membrane of cardiomyocytes, while others can bind to membrane receptors. Enterotoxigenic E. coli can secrete enterotoxins, including heat-resistant (ST) or labile (LT) enterotoxins. LT is an AB5-type toxin that can bind to specific cell receptors and disrupt essential host functions, causing several common conditions, such as certain diarrhea. The pentameric B subunit of LT, without A subunit (LTB), binds specifically to certain plasma membrane ganglioside receptors, found in lipid rafts of cardiomyocytes. Isolated guinea pig hearts and cardiomyocytes were exposed to different concentrations of purified LTB. In isolated hearts, mechanical and electrical alternans and an increment of heart rate variability, with an IC50 of ~0.2 μg/ml LTB, were observed. In isolated cardiomyocytes, LTB promoted significant decreases in the amplitude and the duration of action potentials. Na+ currents were inhibited whereas L-type Ca2+ currents were augmented at their peak and their fast inactivation was promoted. Delayed rectifier K+ currents decreased. Measurements of basal Ca2+ or Ca2+ release events in cells exposed to LTB suggest that LTB impairs Ca2+ homeostasis. Impaired calcium homeostasis is linked to sudden cardiac death. The results are consistent with the recent view that the B subunit is not merely a carrier of the A subunit, having a role explaining sudden cardiac death in children (SIDS) infected with enterotoxigenic E. coli, explaining several epidemiological findings that establish a strong relationship between SIDS and ETEC E. coli. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12551-023-01100-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Ferreira
- Ion Channels, Biological Membranes and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Dept. Of Biophysics, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la Republica, Gral Flores 2125, 11800 Montevideo, CP Uruguay
| | - Romina Cardozo
- Ion Channels, Biological Membranes and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Dept. Of Biophysics, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la Republica, Gral Flores 2125, 11800 Montevideo, CP Uruguay
| | - Santiago Sastre
- Ion Channels, Biological Membranes and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Dept. Of Biophysics and Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CeInBio), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la Republica, Gral Flores 2125, 11800 Montevideo, CP Uruguay
| | - Carlos Costa
- Ion Channels, Biological Membranes and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Dept. Of Biophysics, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la Republica, Gral Flores 2125, 11800 Montevideo, CP Uruguay
| | - Axel Santander
- Ion Channels, Biological Membranes and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Dept. Of Biophysics, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la Republica, Gral Flores 2125, 11800 Montevideo, CP Uruguay
| | - Luisina Chavarría
- Ion Channels, Biological Membranes and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Dept. Of Biophysics, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la Republica, Gral Flores 2125, 11800 Montevideo, CP Uruguay
| | - Valentina Guizzo
- Ion Channels, Biological Membranes and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Dept. Of Biophysics, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la Republica, Gral Flores 2125, 11800 Montevideo, CP Uruguay
| | - José Puglisi
- College of Medicine, California North State University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA 95757 USA
| | - G. L. Nicolson
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Beach, Huntington, CA USA
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48
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Mayse LA, Movileanu L. Gating of β-Barrel Protein Pores, Porins, and Channels: An Old Problem with New Facets. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12095. [PMID: 37569469 PMCID: PMC10418385 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
β barrels are ubiquitous proteins in the outer membranes of mitochondria, chloroplasts, and Gram-negative bacteria. These transmembrane proteins (TMPs) execute a wide variety of tasks. For example, they can serve as transporters, receptors, membrane-bound enzymes, as well as adhesion, structural, and signaling elements. In addition, multimeric β barrels are common structural scaffolds among many pore-forming toxins. Significant progress has been made in understanding the functional, structural, biochemical, and biophysical features of these robust and versatile proteins. One frequently encountered fundamental trait of all β barrels is their voltage-dependent gating. This process consists of reversible or permanent conformational transitions between a large-conductance, highly permeable open state and a low-conductance, solute-restrictive closed state. Several intrinsic molecular mechanisms and environmental factors modulate this universal property of β barrels. This review article outlines the typical signatures of voltage-dependent gating. Moreover, we discuss recent developments leading to a better qualitative understanding of the closure dynamics of these TMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A. Mayse
- Department of Physics, Syracuse University, 201 Physics Building, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA;
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, 223 Link Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Liviu Movileanu
- Department of Physics, Syracuse University, 201 Physics Building, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA;
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, 223 Link Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
- The BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
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Tian S, Zhou N. Gaining New Insights into Fundamental Biological Pathways by Bacterial Toxin-Based Genetic Screens. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:884. [PMID: 37627769 PMCID: PMC10451959 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10080884] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic screen technology has been applied to study the mechanism of action of bacterial toxins-a special class of virulence factors that contribute to the pathogenesis caused by bacterial infections. These screens aim to identify host factors that directly or indirectly facilitate toxin intoxication. Additionally, specific properties of certain toxins, such as membrane interaction, retrograde trafficking, and carbohydrate binding, provide robust probes to comprehensively investigate the lipid biosynthesis, membrane vesicle transport, and glycosylation pathways, respectively. This review specifically focuses on recent representative toxin-based genetic screens that have identified new players involved in and provided new insights into fundamental biological pathways, such as glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, protein glycosylation, and membrane vesicle trafficking pathways. Functionally characterizing these newly identified factors not only expands our current understanding of toxin biology but also enables a deeper comprehension of fundamental biological questions. Consequently, it stimulates the development of new therapeutic approaches targeting both bacterial infectious diseases and genetic disorders with defects in these factors and pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songhai Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nini Zhou
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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50
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Artuyants A, Hong J, Dauros-Singorenko P, Phillips A, Simoes-Barbosa A. Lactobacillus gasseri and Gardnerella vaginalis produce extracellular vesicles that contribute to the function of the vaginal microbiome and modulate host-Trichomonas vaginalis interactions. Mol Microbiol 2023. [PMID: 37485746 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15130] [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: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Trichomonas vaginalis is an extracellular protozoan parasite of the human urogenital tract, responsible for a prevalent sexually transmitted infection. Trichomoniasis is accompanied by a dysbiotic microbiome that is characterised by the depletion of host-protective commensals such as Lactobacillus gasseri, and the flourishing of a bacterial consortium that is comparable to the one seen for bacterial vaginosis, including the founder species Gardnerella vaginalis. These two vaginal bacteria are known to have opposite effects on T. vaginalis pathogenicity. Studies on extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been focused on the direction of a microbial producer (commensal or pathogen) to a host recipient, and largely in the context of the gut microbiome. Here, taking advantage of the simplicity of the human cervicovaginal microbiome, we determined the molecular cargo of EVs produced by L. gasseri and G. vaginalis and examined how these vesicles modulate the interaction of T. vaginalis and host cells. We show that these EVs carry a specific cargo of proteins, which functions can be attributed to the opposite roles that these bacteria play in the vaginal biome. Furthermore, these bacterial EVs are delivered to host and protozoan cells, modulating host-pathogen interactions in a way that mimics the opposite effects that these bacteria have on T. vaginalis pathogenicity. This is the first study to describe side-by-side the protein composition of EVs produced by two bacteria belonging to the opposite spectrum of a microbiome and to demonstrate that these vesicles modulate the pathogenicity of a protozoan parasite. Such as in trichomoniasis, infections and dysbiosis co-occur frequently resulting in significant co-morbidities. Therefore, studies like this provide the knowledge for the development of antimicrobial therapies that aim to clear the infection while restoring a healthy microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiwon Hong
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Surgical and Translational Research Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Anthony Phillips
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Surgical and Translational Research Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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