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Yin C, Larson M, Lahr N, Paulitz T. Wheat Rhizosphere-Derived Bacteria Protect Soybean from Soilborne Diseases. PLANT DISEASE 2024; 108:1565-1576. [PMID: 38105448 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-08-23-1713-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) is an important oilseed crop with a high economic value. However, three damaging soybean diseases, soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines Ichinohe), Sclerotinia stem rot caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lid.) de Bary, and soybean root rot caused by Fusarium spp., are major constraints to soybean production in the Great Plains. Current disease management options, including resistant or tolerant varieties, fungicides, nematicides, and agricultural practices (crop rotation and tillage), have limited efficacy for these pathogens or have adverse effects on the ecosystem. Microbes with antagonistic activity are a promising option to control soybean diseases with the advantage of being environmentally friendly and sustainable. In this study, 61 bacterial strains isolated from wheat rhizospheres were used to examine their antagonistic abilities against three soybean pathogens. Six bacterial strains significantly inhibited the growth of Fusarium graminearum in the dual-culture assay. These bacterial strains were identified as Chryseobacterium ginsengisoli, C. indologenes, Pseudomonas poae, two Pseudomonas spp., and Delftia acidovorans by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Moreover, C. ginsengisoli, C. indologenes, and P. poae significantly increased the mortality of SCN second-stage juveniles (J2), and two Pseudomonas spp. inhibited the growth of S. sclerotiorum in vitro. Further growth chamber tests found that C. ginsengisoli and C. indologenes reduced soybean Fusarium root rot disease. C. ginsengisoli and P. poae dramatically decreased SCN egg number on SCN-susceptible soybean 'Williams 82'. Two Pseudomonas spp. protected soybean plants from leaf damage and collapse after being infected by S. sclerotiorum. These bacteria exhibit versatile antagonistic potential. This work lays the foundation for further research on the field control of soybean pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuntao Yin
- North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Brookings, SD
| | - Matt Larson
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
| | - Nathan Lahr
- North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Brookings, SD
| | - Timothy Paulitz
- Wheat Health, Genetics, and Quality Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA
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2
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Paulino S, Petek S, Le Strat Y, Bourgougnon N, Le Blay G. Cultivable epiphytic bacteria of the Chlorophyta Ulva sp.: diversity, antibacterial, and biofilm-modulating activities. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae099. [PMID: 38702839 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae099] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Macroalgae harbor a rich epiphytic microbiota that plays a crucial role in algal morphogenesis and defense mechanisms. This study aims to isolate epiphytic cultivable microbiota from Ulva sp. surfaces. Various culture media were employed to evaluate a wide range of cultivable microbiota. Our objective was to assess the antibacterial and biofilm-modulating activities of supernatants from isolated bacteria. METHODS AND RESULTS Sixty-nine bacterial isolates from Ulva sp. were identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Their antibacterial activity and biofilm modulation potential were screened against three target marine bacteria: 45%, mostly affiliated with Gammaproteobacteria and mainly grown on diluted R2A medium (R2Ad), showed strong antibacterial activity, while 18% had a significant impact on biofilm modulation. Molecular network analysis was carried out on four bioactive bacterial supernatants, revealing new molecules potentially responsible for their activities. CONCLUSION R2Ad offered the greatest diversity and proportion of active isolates. The molecular network approach holds promise for both identifying bacterial isolates based on their molecular production and characterizing antibacterial and biofilm-modulating activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sauvann Paulino
- Université Bretagne Sud, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Chimie Marines, EMR CNRS 6076, Vannes, France
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, IUEM, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Sylvain Petek
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, IUEM, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Yoran Le Strat
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, IUEM, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Nathalie Bourgougnon
- Université Bretagne Sud, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Chimie Marines, EMR CNRS 6076, Vannes, France
| | - Gwenaelle Le Blay
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, IUEM, F-29280 Plouzané, France
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Ma Y, Tang WS, Liu SY, Khoo BL, Chua SL. Juglone as a Natural Quorum Sensing Inhibitor against Pseudomonas aeruginosa pqs-Mediated Virulence and Biofilms. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:533-543. [PMID: 38357290 PMCID: PMC10863437 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00354] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a notorious opportunistic pathogen associated with chronic biofilm-related infections, posing a significant challenge to effective treatment strategies. Quorum sensing (QS) and biofilm formation are critical virulence factors employed by P. aeruginosa, contributing to its pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance. Other than the homoserine-based QS systems, P. aeruginosa also possesses the quinolone-based Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) QS signaling. Synthesis of the PQS signaling molecule is achieved by the pqsABCDEH operon, whereas the PQS signaling response was mediated by the PqsR receptor. In this study, we report the discovery of a novel natural compound, Juglone, with potent inhibitory effects on pqs QS and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. Through an extensive screening of natural compounds from diverse sources, we identified Juglone, a natural compound from walnut, as a promising candidate. We showed that Juglone could inhibit PqsR and the molecular docking results revealed that Juglone could potentially bind to the PqsR active site. Furthermore, Juglone could inhibit pqs-regulated virulence factors, such as pyocyanin and the PQS QS signaling molecule. Juglone could also significantly reduce both the quantity and quality of P. aeruginosa biofilms. Notably, this compound exhibited minimal cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells, suggesting its potential safety for therapeutic applications. To explore the clinical relevance of Juglone, we investigated its combinatorial effects with colistin, a commonly used antibiotic against P. aeruginosa infections. The Juglone-colistin combinatorial treatment could eliminate biofilms formed by wild-type P. aeruginosa PAO1 and its clinical isolates collected from cystic fibrosis patients. The Juglone-colistin combinatorial therapy dramatically improved colistin efficacy and reduced inflammation in a wound infection model, indicating its potential for clinical utility. In conclusion, the discovery of Juglone provides insights into the development of innovative antivirulence therapeutic strategies to combat P. aeruginosa biofilm-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeping Ma
- Department
of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Wing Suet Tang
- Department
of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Sylvia Yang Liu
- Department
of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Bee Luan Khoo
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, City University
of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Hong
Kong Center for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering (COCHE), Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- City
University of Hong Kong–Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Song Lin Chua
- Department
of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- State
Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Research
Centre of Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Research
Institute for Future Food (RiFood), The
Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
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Wang S, Chan SY, Deng Y, Khoo BL, Chua SL. Oxidative stress induced by Etoposide anti-cancer chemotherapy drives the emergence of tumor-associated bacteria resistance to fluoroquinolones. J Adv Res 2024; 55:33-44. [PMID: 36822389 PMCID: PMC10770098 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.02.011] [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: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, are prevalent in lung cancer patients, resulting in poor clinical outcomes and high mortality. Etoposide (ETO) is an FDA-approved chemotherapy drug that kills cancer cells by damaging DNA through oxidative stress. However, it is unclear if ETO can cause unintentional side effects on tumor-associated microbial pathogens, such as inducing antibiotic resistance. OBJECTIVES We aimed to show that prolonged ETO treatment could unintendedly confer fluoroquinolone antibiotic resistance to P. aeruginosa, and evaluate the effect of tumor-associated P. aeruginosa on tumor progression. METHODS We employed experimental evolution assay to treat P. aeruginosa with prolonged ETO exposure, evaluated the ciprofloxacin resistance, and elucidated the gene mutations by DNA sequencing. We also established a lung tumor-P. aeruginosa bacterial model to study the role of ETO-evolved intra-tumoral bacteria in tumor progression using immunostaining and confocal microscopy. RESULTS ETO could generate oxidative stress and lead to gene mutations in P. aeruginosa, especially the gyrase (gyrA) gene, resulting in acquired fluoroquinolone resistance. We further demonstrated using a microfluidic-based lung tumor-P. aeruginosa coculture model that bacteria can evolve ciprofloxacin (CIP) resistance in a tumor microenvironment. Moreover, ETO-induced CIP-resistant (EICR) mutants could form multicellular biofilms which protected tumor cells from ETO killing and enabled tumor progression. CONCLUSION Overall, our preclinical proof-of-concept provides insights into how anti-cancer chemotherapy could inadvertently allow tumor-associated bacteria to acquire antibiotic resistance mutations and shed new light on the development of novel anti-cancer treatments based on anti-bacterial strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
| | - Shepherd Yuen Chan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
| | - Yanlin Deng
- Hong Kong Center for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering (COCHE), China
| | - Bee Luan Khoo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China; Hong Kong Center for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering (COCHE), China; City University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Song Lin Chua
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Food Biological Safety Control, Shenzhen, China; Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China.
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Bao X, Goeteyn E, Crabbé A, Coenye T. Effect of malate on the activity of ciprofloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in different in vivo and in vivo-like infection models. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0068223. [PMID: 37819115 PMCID: PMC10649037 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00682-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical significance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections and the tolerance of this opportunistic pathogen to antibiotic therapy makes the development of novel antimicrobial strategies an urgent need. We previously found that D,L-malic acid potentiates the activity of ciprofloxacin against P. aeruginosa biofilms grown in a synthetic cystic fibrosis sputum medium by increasing metabolic activity and tricarboxylic acid cycle activity. This suggested a potential new strategy to improve antibiotic therapy in P. aeruginosa infections. Considering the importance of the microenvironment on microbial antibiotic susceptibility, the present study aims to further investigate the effect of D,L-malate on ciprofloxacin activity against P. aeruginosa in physiologically relevant infection models, aiming to mimic the infection environment more closely. We used Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes, Galleria mellonella larvae, and a 3-D lung epithelial cell model to assess the effect of D,L-malate on ciprofloxacin activity against P. aeruginosa. D,L-malate was able to significantly enhance ciprofloxacin activity against P. aeruginosa in both G. mellonella larvae and the 3-D lung epithelial cell model. In addition, ciprofloxacin combined with D,L-malate significantly improved the survival of infected 3-D cells compared to ciprofloxacin alone. No significant effect of D,L-malate on ciprofloxacin activity against P. aeruginosa in C. elegans nematodes was observed. Overall, these data indicate that the outcome of the experiment is influenced by the model system used which emphasizes the importance of using models that reflect the in vivo environment as closely as possible. Nevertheless, this study confirms the potential of D,L-malate to enhance ciprofloxacin activity against P. aeruginosa-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuerui Bao
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ellen Goeteyn
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aurélie Crabbé
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Coenye
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Ma Y, Aung TT, Lakshminarayanan R, Chua SL. Biofilm formation and virulence potential of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2023; 4:e489. [PMID: 37105205 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00097-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yeping Ma
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Thet Tun Aung
- Ocular Infections and Anti-Microbials Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore
| | - Rajamani Lakshminarayanan
- Ocular Infections and Anti-Microbials Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore; Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Song Lin Chua
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Research Centre of Deep Space Explorations, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
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Ma Y, Deng Y, Hua H, Khoo BL, Chua SL. Distinct bacterial population dynamics and disease dissemination after biofilm dispersal and disassembly. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023:10.1038/s41396-023-01446-5. [PMID: 37270584 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01446-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Microbial communities that form surface-attached biofilms must release and disperse their constituent cells into the environment to colonize fresh sites for continued survival of their species. For pathogens, biofilm dispersal is crucial for microbial transmission from environmental reservoirs to hosts, cross-host transmission, and dissemination of infections across tissues within the host. However, research on biofilm dispersal and its consequences in colonization of fresh sites remain poorly understood. Bacterial cells can depart from biofilms via stimuli-induced dispersal or disassembly due to direct degradation of the biofilm matrix, but the complex heterogeneity of bacterial populations released from biofilms rendered their study difficult. Using a novel 3D-bacterial "biofilm-dispersal-then-recolonization" (BDR) microfluidic model, we demonstrated that Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms undergo distinct spatiotemporal dynamics during chemical-induced dispersal (CID) and enzymatic disassembly (EDA), with contrasting consequences in recolonization and disease dissemination. Active CID required bacteria to employ bdlA dispersal gene and flagella to depart from biofilms as single cells at consistent velocities but could not recolonize fresh surfaces. This prevented the disseminated bacteria cells from infecting lung spheroids and Caenorhabditis elegans in on-chip coculture experiments. In contrast, EDA by degradation of a major biofilm exopolysaccharide (Psl) released immotile aggregates at high initial velocities, enabling the bacteria to recolonize fresh surfaces and cause infections in the hosts efficiently. Hence, biofilm dispersal is more complex than previously thought, where bacterial populations adopting distinct behavior after biofilm departure may be the key to survival of bacterial species and dissemination of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeping Ma
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yanlin Deng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Haojun Hua
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Bee Luan Khoo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
- Hong Kong Center for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering (COCHE), Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen-Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China.
| | - Song Lin Chua
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Food Biological Safety Control, Shenzhen, China.
- Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Chan SY, Liu SY, Wu R, Wei W, Fang JKH, Chua SL. Simultaneous Dissemination of Nanoplastics and Antibiotic Resistance by Nematode Couriers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37267481 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs) are increasingly recognized as a newly emerging pollutant in the environment. NPs can enable the colonization of microbial pathogens on their surfaces and adsorb toxic pollutants, such as heavy metals and residual antibiotics. Although the dissemination of plastic particles in water bodies and the atmosphere is widely studied, the dissemination of NPs and adsorbed pollutants on land, via biological means, is poorly understood. Since soil animals, such as the bacterivorous nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), are highly mobile, this raises the possibility that they play an active role in disseminating NPs and adsorbed pollutants. Here, we established that antibiotic-resistant bacteria could aggregate with antibiotic-adsorbed NPs to form antibiotic-adsorbed NP-antibiotic resistant bacteria (ANP-ARB) aggregates, using polymyxins (colistin) as a proof-of-concept. Colistin-resistant mcr-1 bearing Escherichia coli from a mixed population of resistant and sensitive bacteria selectively aggregate with colistin-ANPs. In the soil microcosm, C. elegans fed on ANP-ARB clusters, resulting in the rapid spread of ANP-ARB by the nematodes across the soil at a rate of 40-60 cm per day. Our work revealed insights into how NPs could still disseminate across the soil faster than previously thought by "hitching a ride" in soil animals and acting as agents of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and antibiotic contaminants. This poses direct risks to ecology, agricultural sustainability, and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shepherd Yuen Chan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Sylvia Yang Liu
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Rongben Wu
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - James Kar-Hei Fang
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Research Institute for Future Food, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Research Institute for Land and Space, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Song Lin Chua
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Food Biological Safety Control, Shenzhen Research Institute of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Shenzhen 518057, China
- Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
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Deng Y, Fu Y, Chua SL, Khoo BL. Biofilm Potentiates Cancer-Promoting Effects of Tumor-Associated Macrophages in a 3D Multi-Faceted Tumor Model. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2205904. [PMID: 36748304 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202205904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), influence tumor progression. The specific polarization and phenotypic transition of TAMs in the tumor microenvironment lead to two-pronged impacts that can promote or hinder cancer development and treatment. Here, a novel microfluidic multi-faceted bladder tumor model (TAMPIEB ) is developed incorporating TAMs and cancer cells to evaluate the impact of bacterial distribution on immunomodulation within the tumor microenvironment in vivo. It is demonstrated for the first time that biofilm-induced inflammatory conditions within tumors promote the transition of macrophages from a pro-inflammatory M1-like to an anti-inflammatory/pro-tumor M2-like state. Consequently, multiple roles and mechanisms by which biofilms promote cancer by inducing pro-tumor phenotypic switch of TAMs are identified, including cancer hallmarks such as reducing susceptibility to apoptosis, enhancing cell viability, and promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis. Furthermore, biofilms formed by extratumoral bacteria can shield tumors from immune attack by TAMs, which can be visualized through various imaging assays in situ. The study sheds light on the underlying mechanism of biofilm-mediated inflammation on tumor progression and provides new insights into combined anti-biofilm therapy and immunotherapy strategies in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlin Deng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Yatian Fu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Center for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering (COCHE), Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Song Lin Chua
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, Kowloon, 999077, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, Kowloon, 999077, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Food Biological Safety Control, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong
- Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, Kowloon, 999077, China
| | - Bee Luan Khoo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Center for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering (COCHE), Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen-Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China
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Yoon KH, Indong RA, Lee JI. Making "Sense" of Ecology from a Genetic Perspective: Caenorhabditis elegans, Microbes and Behavior. Metabolites 2022; 12:1084. [PMID: 36355167 PMCID: PMC9697003 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12111084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Our knowledge of animal and behavior in the natural ecology is based on over a century's worth of valuable field studies. In this post-genome era, however, we recognize that genes are the underpinning of ecological interactions between two organisms. Understanding how genes contribute to animal ecology, which is essentially the intersection of two genomes, is a tremendous challenge. The bacterivorous nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, one of the most well-known genetic animal model experimental systems, experiences a complex microbial world in its natural habitat, providing us with a window into the interplay of genes and molecules that result in an animal-microbial ecology. In this review, we will discuss C. elegans natural ecology, how the worm uses its sensory system to detect the microbes and metabolites that it encounters, and then discuss some of the fascinating ecological dances, including behaviors, that have evolved between the nematode and the microbes in its environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung-hye Yoon
- Department of Physiology, Mitohormesis Research Center, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju 26426, Korea
| | - Rocel Amor Indong
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, College of Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Korea
| | - Jin I. Lee
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, College of Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Korea
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Two Nematicidal Compounds from Lysinimonas M4 against the Pine Wood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13081191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
A rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites from microorgannisms are widely used to control plant diseases in an eco-friendly way. To explore ideal candidates for prevention of pine wilt disease (PWD), a bacterial strain from rhizosphere of Pinus thunbergii, Lysinimonas M4, with nematicidal activity against pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, was isolated. Two nematicidal compounds were obtained from the culture of Lysinimonas M4 by silica gel chromatography based on bioactivity-guided fractionation and were subsequently identified as 2-coumaranone and cyclo-(Phe-Pro) by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). The 2-coumaranone and cyclo-(Phe-Pro) showed significant nematicidal activity against PWN, with LC50 values at 24 h of 0.196 mM and 0.425 mM, respectively. Both compounds had significant inhibitory effects on egg hatching, feeding, and reproduction. The study on nematicidal mechanisms revealed that 2-coumaranone and cyclo-(Phe-Pro) caused the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in nematodes, along with a notable decrease in CAT and POS activity and an increase in SOD activity in nematodes, which might contribute to the death of pine wood nematodes. Bioassay tests demonstrated that the two compounds could reduce the incidence of wilting in Japanese black pine seedlings. This research offers a new bacterial strain and two metabolites for biocontrol against PWN.
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Simkovsky R, Parnasa R, Wang J, Nagar E, Zecharia E, Suban S, Yegorov Y, Veltman B, Sendersky E, Schwarz R, Golden SS. Transcriptomic and Phenomic Investigations Reveal Elements in Biofilm Repression and Formation in the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:899150. [PMID: 35814646 PMCID: PMC9260433 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.899150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilm formation by photosynthetic organisms is a complex behavior that serves multiple functions in the environment. Biofilm formation in the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 is regulated in part by a set of small secreted proteins that promotes biofilm formation and a self-suppression mechanism that prevents their expression. Little is known about the regulatory and structural components of the biofilms in PCC 7942, or response to the suppressor signal(s). We performed transcriptomics (RNA-Seq) and phenomics (RB-TnSeq) screens that identified four genes involved in biofilm formation and regulation, more than 25 additional candidates that may impact biofilm formation, and revealed the transcriptomic adaptation to the biofilm state. In so doing, we compared the effectiveness of these two approaches for gene discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Simkovsky
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Rami Parnasa
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Jingtong Wang
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Elad Nagar
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Eli Zecharia
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Shiran Suban
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yevgeni Yegorov
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Boris Veltman
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Eleonora Sendersky
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Rakefet Schwarz
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Susan S Golden
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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13
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Yeung YWS, Ma Y, Liu SY, Pun WH, Chua SL. Prevalence of alcohol-tolerant and antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens on public hand sanitizer dispensers. J Hosp Infect 2022; 127:26-33. [PMID: 35690267 PMCID: PMC9176178 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2022.05.017] [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: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Background Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispensers (HSDs) have been installed in most public and clinical settings for hygiene purposes and convenient application. Aim To determine whether sanitizer-tolerant bacterial pathogens can colonize HSDs, spreading diseases and antibiotic resistance. Methods Sampling was conducted from operational automatic HSDs, specifically the dispensing nozzle in direct contact with sanitizer. Culture-dependent cultivation of bacteria and MALDI-TOF were employed to assess microbiological contamination. Bacterial isolates were selected for rapid killing and biofilm eradication assays with alcohol treatment. Antibiotic minimum inhibitory concentration assays were performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Virulence potential of bacterial isolates was evaluated in the Caenorhadbitis elegans infection model. Findings Nearly 50% of HSDs from 52 locations, including clinical settings, food industry, and public spaces, contain microbial contamination at 103–106 bacteria/mL. Bacterial identification revealed Bacillus cereus as the most frequent pathogen (29%), while Enterobacter cloacae was the only Gram-negative bacterial pathogen (2%). Selecting B. cereus and E. cloacae isolates for further evaluation, these isolates and associated biofilms were found to be tolerant to alcohol with survival up to 70%. They possessed resistance to various antibiotic classes, with higher virulence than laboratory strains in the C. elegans infection model. Conclusion HSDs serve as potential breeding grounds for dissemination of pathogens and antibiotic resistance across unaware users. Proper HSD maintenance will ensure protection of public health and sustainable use of sanitizing alcohols, to prevent emergence of alcohol-resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoyo Wing Suet Yeung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Yeping Ma
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Sylvia Yang Liu
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR China
| | | | - Song Lin Chua
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR China; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR China; Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Food Biological Safety Control.
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14
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Liu YS, Deng Y, Chen CK, Khoo BL, Chua SL. Rapid detection of microorganisms in a fish infection microfluidics platform. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 431:128572. [PMID: 35278965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Inadequate access to clean water is detrimental to human health and aquatic industries. Waterborne pathogens can survive prolonged periods in aquatic bodies, infect commercially important seafood, and resist water disinfection, resulting in human infections. Environmental agencies and research laboratories require a relevant, portable, and cost-effective platform to monitor microbial pathogens and assess their risk of infection on a large scale. Advances in microfluidics enable better control and higher precision than traditional culture-based pathogen monitoring approaches. We demonstrated a rapid, high-throughput fish-based teleost (fish)-microbe (TelM) microfluidic-based device that simultaneously monitors waterborne pathogens in contaminated waters and assesses their infection potential under well-defined settings. A chamber-associated port allows direct access to the animal, while the transparency of the TelM platform enables clear observation of sensor readouts. As proof-of-concept, we established a wound infection model using Pseudomonas aeruginosa-contaminated water in the TelM platform, where bacteria formed biofilms on the wound and secreted a biofilm metabolite, pyoverdine. Pyoverdine was used as fluorescent sensor to correlate P. aeruginosa contamination to infection. The TelM platform was validated with environmental waterborne microbes from marine samples. Overall, the TelM platform can be readily applied to assess microbial and chemical risk in aquatic bodies in resource-constrained settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Sylvia Liu
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yanlin Deng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chun Kwan Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bee Luan Khoo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Center for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering (COCHE), Hong Kong, China; City University of Hong Kong - Futian Shenzhen Research Institute, China.
| | - Song Lin Chua
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Food Biological Safety Control, China.
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15
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Lee JH, Anderson AJ, Kim YC. Root-Associated Bacteria Are Biocontrol Agents for Multiple Plant Pests. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10051053. [PMID: 35630495 PMCID: PMC9146382 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10051053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological control is an important process for sustainable plant production, and this trait is found in many plant-associated microbes. This study reviews microbes that could be formulated into pesticides active against various microbial plant pathogens as well as damaging insects or nematodes. The focus is on the beneficial microbes that colonize the rhizosphere where, through various mechanisms, they promote healthy plant growth. Although these microbes have adapted to cohabit root tissues without causing disease, they are pathogenic to plant pathogens, including microbes, insects, and nematodes. The cocktail of metabolites released from the beneficial strains inhibits the growth of certain bacterial and fungal plant pathogens and participates in insect and nematode toxicity. There is a reinforcement of plant health through the systemic induction of defenses against pathogen attack and abiotic stress in the plant; metabolites in the beneficial microbial cocktail function in triggering the plant defenses. The review discusses a wide range of metabolites involved in plant protection through biocontrol in the rhizosphere. The focus is on the beneficial firmicutes and pseudomonads, because of the extensive studies with these isolates. The review evaluates how culture conditions can be optimized to provide formulations containing the preformed active metabolites for rapid control, with or without viable microbial cells as plant inocula, to boost plant productivity in field situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jang Hoon Lee
- Agricultural Solutions, BASF Korea Ltd., Seoul 04518, Korea;
| | - Anne J. Anderson
- Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA;
| | - Young Cheol Kim
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
- Correspondence:
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16
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Zhao Y, Yuan Z, Wang S, Wang H, Chao Y, Sederoff RR, Sederoff H, Yan H, Pan J, Peng M, Wu D, Borriss R, Niu B. Gene sdaB Is Involved in the Nematocidal Activity of Enterobacter ludwigii AA4 Against the Pine Wood Nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:870519. [PMID: 35602027 PMCID: PMC9121001 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.870519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, a plant parasitic nematode, is the causal agent of pine wilt, a devastating forest tree disease. Essentially, no efficient methods for controlling B. xylophilus and pine wilt disease have yet been developed. Enterobacter ludwigii AA4, isolated from the root of maize, has powerful nematocidal activity against B. xylophilus in a new in vitro dye exclusion test. The corrected mortality of the B. xylophilus treated by E. ludwigii AA4 or its cell extract reached 98.3 and 98.6%, respectively. Morphological changes in B. xylophilus treated with a cell extract from strain AA4 suggested that the death of B. xylophilus might be caused by an increased number of vacuoles in non-apoptotic cell death and the damage to tissues of the nematodes. In a greenhouse test, the disease index of the seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) treated with the cells of strain AA4 plus B. xylophilus or those treated by AA4 cell extract plus B. xylophilus was 38.2 and 30.3, respectively, was significantly lower than 92.5 in the control plants treated with distilled water and B. xylophilus. We created a sdaB gene knockout in strain AA4 by deleting the gene that was putatively encoding the beta-subunit of L-serine dehydratase through Red homologous recombination. The nematocidal and disease-suppressing activities of the knockout strain were remarkably impaired. Finally, we revealed a robust colonization of P. sylvestris seedling needles by E. ludwigii AA4, which is supposed to contribute to the disease-controlling efficacy of strain AA4. Therefore, E. ludwigii AA4 has significant potential to serve as an agent for the biological control of pine wilt disease caused by B. xylophilus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhibo Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Shuang Wang
- Administrative Office of the Summer Palace, Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks, Beijing, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Yanjie Chao
- The Center for Microbes, Development and Health (CMDH), Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ronald R. Sederoff
- Forest Biotechnology Group, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Heike Sederoff
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - He Yan
- Center for Biological Disaster Prevention and Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, China
| | - Jialiang Pan
- Center for Biological Disaster Prevention and Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, China
| | - Mu Peng
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, China
| | - Di Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Rainer Borriss
- Nord Reet UG, Greifswald, Germany
- Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V. (IMaB), Greifswald, Germany
- *Correspondence: Rainer Borriss,
| | - Ben Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- Ben Niu,
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17
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Li S, Liu SY, Chan SY, Chua SL. Biofilm matrix cloaks bacterial quorum sensing chemoattractants from predator detection. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:1388-1396. [PMID: 35034106 PMCID: PMC9038794 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01190-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Microbes often secrete high levels of quorum sensing (QS) autoinducers into the environment to coordinate gene expression and biofilm formation, but risk detection and subsequent predation by bacterivorous predators. With such prominent signaling molecules acting as chemoattractants that diffuse into the environment at alarmingly high concentrations, it is unclear if bacterial cells can mask their chemical trails from predator detection. Here, we describe a microbial-based anti-detection adaptation, termed as "biofilm cloak", where the biofilm prey produced biofilm matrix exopolysaccharides that "locked" and reduced the leaching of autoinducers into the milieu, thereby concealing their trails to the detection by the bacterivorous Caenorhabditis elegans nematode. The exopolysaccharides act as common good for the non-producers to hide their autoinducers from predator detection. Deficiency in chemosensory gene odr-10 in mutant animals abrogated their ability to detect autoinducers and migrate toward their prey in a directed manner, which led to lower population growth rate of animals. Hence, restriction of bacterial communication activities to the confinements of biofilms is a novel approach for predator evasion, which plays a fundamental role in shaping ecological dynamics of microbial communities and predator-prey interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoyang Li
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sylvia Yang Liu
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shepherd Yuen Chan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Song Lin Chua
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Food Biological Safety Control, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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18
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Han Z, Sieriebriennikov B, Susoy V, Lo WS, Igreja C, Dong C, Berasategui A, Witte H, Sommer RJ. Horizontally acquired cellulases assist the expansion of dietary range in Pristionchus nematodes. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6493351. [PMID: 34978575 PMCID: PMC8826503 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) enables the acquisition of novel traits via non-Mendelian inheritance of genetic material. HGT plays a prominent role in the evolution of prokaryotes, whereas in animals, HGT is rare and its functional significance is often uncertain. Here, we investigate horizontally acquired cellulase genes in the free-living nematode model organism Pristionchus pacificus. We show that these cellulase genes 1) are likely of eukaryotic origin, 2) are expressed, 3) have protein products that are secreted and functional, and 4) result in endo-cellulase activity. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we generated an octuple cellulase mutant, which lacks all eight cellulase genes and cellulase activity altogether. Nonetheless, this cellulase-null mutant is viable and therefore allows a detailed analysis of a gene family that was horizontally acquired. We show that the octuple cellulase mutant has associated fitness costs with reduced fecundity and slower developmental speed. Furthermore, by using various Escherichia coli K-12 strains as a model for cellulosic biofilms, we demonstrate that cellulases facilitate the procurement of nutrients from bacterial biofilms. Together, our analysis of cellulases in Pristionchus provides comprehensive evidence from biochemistry, genetics, and phylogeny, which supports the integration of horizontally acquired genes into the complex life history strategy of this soil nematode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziduan Han
- Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
| | | | - Vladislav Susoy
- Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Wen-Sui Lo
- Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Catia Igreja
- Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Chuanfu Dong
- Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
| | | | - Hanh Witte
- Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Ralf J Sommer
- Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
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19
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Simkovsky R, Parnasa R, Wang J, Nagar E, Zecharia E, Suban S, Yegorov Y, Veltman B, Sendersky E, Schwarz R, Golden SS. Transcriptomic and Phenomic Investigations Reveal Elements in Biofilm Repression and Formation in the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:899150. [PMID: 35814646 DOI: 10.1101/2022.01.27.477154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilm formation by photosynthetic organisms is a complex behavior that serves multiple functions in the environment. Biofilm formation in the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 is regulated in part by a set of small secreted proteins that promotes biofilm formation and a self-suppression mechanism that prevents their expression. Little is known about the regulatory and structural components of the biofilms in PCC 7942, or response to the suppressor signal(s). We performed transcriptomics (RNA-Seq) and phenomics (RB-TnSeq) screens that identified four genes involved in biofilm formation and regulation, more than 25 additional candidates that may impact biofilm formation, and revealed the transcriptomic adaptation to the biofilm state. In so doing, we compared the effectiveness of these two approaches for gene discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Simkovsky
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Rami Parnasa
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Jingtong Wang
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Elad Nagar
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Eli Zecharia
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Shiran Suban
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yevgeni Yegorov
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Boris Veltman
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Eleonora Sendersky
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Rakefet Schwarz
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Susan S Golden
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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20
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Kwok TY, Ma Y, Chua SL. Biofilm dispersal induced by mechanical cutting leads to heightened foodborne pathogen dissemination. Food Microbiol 2021; 102:103914. [PMID: 34809940 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2021.103914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The biofilm life cycle where bacteria alternate between biofilm and planktonic lifestyles poses major implications in food spoilage and gastrointestinal infections. Recent studies had shown that freshly biofilm-dispersed cells have a unique physiology from planktonic cells, raising the fundamental question if biofilm-dispersed cells and planktonic cells disseminate differently across food surfaces. Mechanical dislodging via cutting can cause biofilm dispersal and eventual food cross-contamination. Here, we showed that biofilm-dispersed bacteria from various foodborne pathogens were transferred from freshly cut surface at a higher rate to the cutting material than that of planktonic bacteria. When the cutting tool was used to cut a fresh surface, more biofilm-dispersed bacteria were disseminated from the cutting tool to the newly cut surface than planktonic bacteria. Our observations were applicable to cutting tools of various materials and cut surfaces, where polystyrene and surfaces with high water content were most susceptible to biofilm transfer, respectively. Simple washing with detergent and mechanical wiping could aid bacterial removal from cutting tools. Our work revealed that biofilm-dispersed cells were transferred at a higher rate than planktonic cells and cutting tool was an important medium for pathogen cross-contamination, thus providing insights in maintaining their cleanliness in food processing industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsz-Yiu Kwok
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Yeping Ma
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Song Lin Chua
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Food Biological Safety Control, Shenzhen Research Institute of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Shenzhen, 518057, China.
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21
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Laborda P, Sanz-García F, Hernando-Amado S, Martínez JL. Pseudomonas aeruginosa: an antibiotic resilient pathogen with environmental origin. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 64:125-132. [PMID: 34710741 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium characterized for its low antibiotics' susceptibility, is one of the most relevant opportunistic pathogens, causing infections at hospitals and in cystic fibrosis patients. Besides its relevance for human health, P. aeruginosa colonizes environmental ecosystems; therefore the elements driving its infectivity and antibiotic resistance must be analyzed from a One-Health perspective. Although some epidemic clones have been described, there are not specific lineages linked to infections, suggesting that P. aeruginosa virulence and antibiotic resistance determinants evolved in nature to play functions other than infecting the human host and avoiding antimicrobial treatment. Herein, we review current information on the population structure of P. aeruginosa and on the functional role that its resistance and virulence determinants have in non-clinical ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Laborda
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, 28049, Madrid, Spain
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22
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Liao J, Ren J, Wei H, Lam RHW, Chua SL, Khoo BL. Label-free biosensor of phagocytosis for diagnosing bacterial infections. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 191:113412. [PMID: 34153636 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Phagocytic cells recognize and phagocytose invading microbes for destruction. However, bacterial pathogens can remain hidden at low levels from conventional detection or replicate intracellularly after being phagocytosed by immune cells. Current phagocytosis-detection approaches involve flow cytometry or microscopic search for rare bacteria-internalized phagocytes among large populations of uninfected cells, which poses significant challenges in research and clinical settings. Hence it is imperative to develop a rapid, non-disruptive, and label-free phagocytosis detection approach. Using deformability assays and microscopic imaging, we have demonstrated for the first time that the presence of intracellular bacteria in phagocytic blood cells led to aberrant physical properties. Specifically, human monocytes with internalized bacteria of various species were stiffer and larger compared with uninfected monocytes. Taking advantage of these physical differences, a novel microfluidics-based biosensor platform was developed to passively sort, concentrate and quantify rare monocytes with internalized pathogens (MIP) from uninfected monocyte populations for phagocytosis detection. The clinical utility of the MIP platform was demonstrated by enriching and detecting bacteria-internalized monocytes from spiked human blood samples within 1.5 h. Patient-derived clinical isolates were used to validate the utility of the MIP platform further. This proof-of-concept presents a phagocytosis detection platform that could be used to rapidly diagnose microbial infections, especially in bloodstream infections (BSIs), thereby improving the clinical outcomes for point-of-care management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junchen Liao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jifeng Ren
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Huang Wei
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Raymond H W Lam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China; Centre for Robotics and Automation, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Song Lin Chua
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Food Biological Safety Control, China.
| | - Bee Luan Khoo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Deng Y, Liu SY, Chua SL, Khoo BL. The effects of biofilms on tumor progression in a 3D cancer-biofilm microfluidic model. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 180:113113. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Gamalero E, Glick BR. The Use of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria to Prevent Nematode Damage to Plants. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9110381. [PMID: 33171782 PMCID: PMC7695023 DOI: 10.3390/biology9110381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary It has been estimated that 100 g of bulk soil can host about 2000–4000 nematodes and this amount is increased 5-fold in the rhizosphere. A certain number of these nematodes are pathogenic for plants and cause yield and economic losses. Application of chemical nematicides is the most common method used to reduce nematode populations, but these chemicals can have a negative impact on both the environment and human health. Therefore, other more environmentally friendly methods of suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes have been proposed. Among them, the use of plant beneficial soil bacteria, behaving as biocontrol agents against nematodes, represent a potential alternative to chemicals. Abstract Plant-parasitic nematodes have been estimated to annually cause around US $173 billion in damage to plant crops worldwide. Moreover, with global climate change, it has been suggested that the damage to crops from nematodes is likely to increase in the future. Currently, a variety of potentially dangerous and toxic chemical agents are used to limit the damage to crops by plant-parasitic nematodes. As an alternative to chemicals and a more environmentally friendly means of decreasing nematode damage to plants, researchers have begun to examine the possible use of various soil bacteria, including plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Here, the current literature on some of the major mechanisms employed by these soil bacteria is examined. It is expected that within the next 5–10 years, as scientists continue to elaborate the mechanisms used by these bacteria, biocontrol soil bacteria will gradually replace the use of chemicals as nematicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Gamalero
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Innovazione Tecnologica, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Viale T. Michel 11, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0131-360238
| | - Bernard R. Glick
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada;
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