1
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Pham TT, Nguyen TD, Nguyen TT, Pham MN, Nguyen PT, Nguyen TUT, Huynh TTN, Nguyen HT. Rhizosphere bacterial exopolysaccharides: composition, biosynthesis, and their potential applications. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:388. [PMID: 39196410 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-04113-1] [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: 07/04/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) are biopolymers of carbohydrates, often released from cells into the extracellular environment. Due to their distinctive physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity, EPS finds applications in various industrial sectors. However, the need for alternative EPS has grown over the past few decades as lactic acid bacteria's (LAB) low-yield EPS is unable to meet the demand. In this case, rhizosphere bacteria with the diverse communities in soil leading to variations in composition and structure, are recognized as a potential source of EPS applicable in various industries. In addition, media components and cultivation conditions have an impact on EPS production, which ultimately affects the quantity, structure, and biological functions of the EPS. Therefore, scientists are currently working on manipulating bacterial EPS by developing cultures and applying abiotic and biotic stresses, so that better production of exopolysaccharides can be attained. This review highlights the composition, biosynthesis, and effects of environmental factors on EPS production along with the potential applications in different fields of industry. Ultimately, an overview of potential future paths and tactics for improving EPS implementation and commercialization is pointed out.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thi-Tho Nguyen
- Hutech Institute of Applied Science, HUTECH University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
| | - Minh-Nhut Pham
- Hutech Institute of Applied Science, HUTECH University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Phu-Tho Nguyen
- An Giang University, An Giang, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - To-Uyen Thi Nguyen
- Graduate University of Sciences and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | | | - Huu-Thanh Nguyen
- An Giang University, An Giang, Vietnam.
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
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2
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Kramarska E, Toumi E, Squeglia F, Laverde D, Napolitano V, Frapy E, Autiero I, Sadones O, Huebner J, Skurnik D, Romero-Saavedra F, Berisio R. A rationally designed antigen elicits protective antibodies against multiple nosocomial Gram-positive pathogens. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:151. [PMID: 39155280 PMCID: PMC11330964 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00940-x] [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: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
ESKAPE pathogens are responsible for complicated nosocomial infections worldwide and are often resistant to commonly used antibiotics in clinical settings. Among ESKAPE, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are two important Gram-positive pathogens for which non-antibiotic alternatives are urgently needed. We previously showed that the lipoprotein AdcA of E. faecium elicits opsonic and protective antibodies against E. faecium and E. faecalis. Prompted by our observation, reported here, that AdcA also elicits opsonic antibodies against MRSA and other clinically relevant Gram-positive pathogens, we identified the dominant epitope responsible for AdcA cross-reactive activity and designed a hyper-thermostable and multi-presenting antigen, Sc(EH)3. We demonstrate that antibodies raised against Sc(EH)3 mediate opsonic killing of a wide-spectrum of Gram-positive pathogens, including VREfm and MRSA, and confer protection both in passive and active immunisation models. Our data indicate that Sc(EH)3 is a promising antigen for the development of vaccines against different Gram-positive pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Kramarska
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Italian Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Eya Toumi
- CNRS, INSERM, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, U1151-Equipe 11, Faculté de Médecine, University of Paris City, Paris, France
| | - Flavia Squeglia
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Italian Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Diana Laverde
- Division of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Hauner Children's Hospital LMU, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Valeria Napolitano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Italian Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Eric Frapy
- CNRS, INSERM, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, U1151-Equipe 11, Faculté de Médecine, University of Paris City, Paris, France
| | - Ida Autiero
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Italian Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Oceane Sadones
- Division of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Hauner Children's Hospital LMU, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Huebner
- Division of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Hauner Children's Hospital LMU, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - David Skurnik
- CNRS, INSERM, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, U1151-Equipe 11, Faculté de Médecine, University of Paris City, Paris, France.
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire Prématurité (FHU PREMA), Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris City, Paris, France.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Felipe Romero-Saavedra
- Division of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Hauner Children's Hospital LMU, LMU, Munich, Germany.
| | - Rita Berisio
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Italian Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy.
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3
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Durand T, Dodge GJ, Siuda RP, Higinbotham HR, Arbour CA, Ghosh S, Allen KN, Imperiali B. Proteome-Wide Bioinformatic Annotation and Functional Validation of the Monotopic Phosphoglycosyl Transferase Superfamily. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.10.602977. [PMID: 39026775 PMCID: PMC11257628 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.10.602977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Phosphoglycosyl transferases (PGTs) are membrane proteins that initiate glycoconjugate biosynthesis by transferring a phospho-sugar moiety from a soluble nucleoside diphosphate sugar to a membrane-embedded polyprenol phosphate acceptor. The centrality of PGTs in complex glycan assembly and the current lack of functional information make these enzymes high-value targets for biochemical investigation. In particular, the small monotopic PGT family is exclusively bacterial and represents the minimal functional unit of the monotopic PGT superfamily. Here, we combine a sequence similarity network (SSN) analysis with a generalizable, luminescence-based activity assay to probe the substrate specificity of this family of monoPGTs in a bacterial cell-membrane fraction. This strategy allows us to identify specificity on a far more significant scale than previously achievable and correlate preferred substrate specificities with predicted structural differences within the conserved monoPGT fold. Finally, we present the proof-of-concept for a small-scale inhibitor screen (eight nucleoside analogs) with four monoPGTs of diverse substrate specificity, thus building a foundation for future inhibitor discovery initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo Durand
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Imperial College London, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Greg J. Dodge
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Current address Biogen, 225 Binney Street, Cambridge MA 02139, USA
| | - Roxanne P. Siuda
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Ave, Boston MA 02215, USA
- Dept. of Pharmacology Physiology, and Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, 72 E Concord St L-630D, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Hugh R. Higinbotham
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Christine A. Arbour
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Soumi Ghosh
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Karen N. Allen
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Ave, Boston MA 02215, USA
| | - Barbara Imperiali
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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4
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Lei MG, Jorgenson MA, Robbs EJ, Black IM, Archer-Hartmann S, Shalygin S, Azadi P, Lee CY. Characterization of Ssc, an N-acetylgalactosamine-containing Staphylococcus aureus surface polysaccharide. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0004824. [PMID: 38712944 PMCID: PMC11112989 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00048-24] [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: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Whole genome sequencing has revealed that the genome of Staphylococcus aureus possesses an uncharacterized 5-gene operon (SAOUHSC_00088-00092 in strain 8325 genome) that encodes factors with functions related to polysaccharide biosynthesis and export, indicating the existence of a new extracellular polysaccharide species. We designate this locus as ssc for staphylococcal surface carbohydrate. We found that the ssc genes were weakly expressed and highly repressed by the global regulator MgrA. To characterize Ssc, Ssc was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and extracted by heat treatment. Ssc was also conjugated to AcrA from Campylobacter jejuni in E. coli using protein glycan coupling technology (PGCT). Analysis of the heat-extracted Ssc and the purified Ssc-AcrA glycoconjugate by tandem mass spectrometry revealed that Ssc is likely a polymer consisting of N-acetylgalactosamine. We further demonstrated that the expression of the ssc genes in S. aureus affected phage adsorption and susceptibility, suggesting that Ssc is surface-exposed. IMPORTANCE Surface polysaccharides play crucial roles in the biology and virulence of bacterial pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus produces four major types of polysaccharides that have been well-characterized. In this study, we identified a new surface polysaccharide containing N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc). This marks the first report of GalNAc-containing polysaccharide in S. aureus. Our discovery lays the groundwork for further investigations into the chemical structure, surface location, and role in pathogenesis of this new polysaccharide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei G. Lei
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Matthew A. Jorgenson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Emily J. Robbs
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Ian M. Black
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Sergei Shalygin
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Parastoo Azadi
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Chia Y. Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
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5
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Löckener I, Behrmann LV, Reuter J, Schiefer A, Klöckner A, Krannich S, Otten C, Mölleken K, Ichikawa S, Hoerauf A, Schneider T, Pfarr KM, Henrichfreise B. The MraY Inhibitor Muraymycin D2 and Its Derivatives Induce Enlarged Cells in Obligate Intracellular Chlamydia and Wolbachia and Break the Persistence Phenotype in Chlamydia. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:421. [PMID: 38786149 PMCID: PMC11117252 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13050421] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Chlamydial infections and diseases caused by filarial nematodes are global health concerns. However, treatment presents challenges due to treatment failures potentially caused by persisting Chlamydia and long regimens against filarial infections accompanied by low compliance. A new treatment strategy could be the targeting of the reduced peptidoglycan structures involved in cell division in the obligate intracellular bacteria Chlamydia and Wolbachia, the latter being obligate endosymbionts supporting filarial development, growth, and survival. Here, cell culture experiments with C. trachomatis and Wolbachia showed that the nucleoside antibiotics muraymycin and carbacaprazamycin interfere with bacterial cell division and induce enlarged, aberrant cells resembling the penicillin-induced persistence phenotype in Chlamydia. Enzymatic inhibition experiments with purified C. pneumoniae MraY revealed that muraymycin derivatives abolish the synthesis of the peptidoglycan precursor lipid I. Comparative in silico analyses of chlamydial and wolbachial MraY with the corresponding well-characterized enzyme in Aquifex aeolicus revealed a high degree of conservation, providing evidence for a similar mode of inhibition. Muraymycin D2 treatment eradicated persisting non-dividing C. trachomatis cells from an established penicillin-induced persistent infection. This finding indicates that nucleoside antibiotics may have additional properties that can break bacterial persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Löckener
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Microbiology (IPM), University of Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 168, 53115 Bonn, Germany (C.O.); (B.H.)
| | - Lara Vanessa Behrmann
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (L.V.B.)
| | - Jula Reuter
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Microbiology (IPM), University of Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 168, 53115 Bonn, Germany (C.O.); (B.H.)
| | - Andrea Schiefer
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (L.V.B.)
| | - Anna Klöckner
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Microbiology (IPM), University of Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 168, 53115 Bonn, Germany (C.O.); (B.H.)
| | - Sebastian Krannich
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Microbiology (IPM), University of Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 168, 53115 Bonn, Germany (C.O.); (B.H.)
| | - Christian Otten
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Microbiology (IPM), University of Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 168, 53115 Bonn, Germany (C.O.); (B.H.)
| | - Katja Mölleken
- Institute for Functional Microbial Genomics, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany;
| | - Satoshi Ichikawa
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (L.V.B.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Tanja Schneider
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Microbiology (IPM), University of Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 168, 53115 Bonn, Germany (C.O.); (B.H.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Kenneth M. Pfarr
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (L.V.B.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Beate Henrichfreise
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Microbiology (IPM), University of Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 168, 53115 Bonn, Germany (C.O.); (B.H.)
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6
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Dodge GJ, Anderson AJ, He Y, Liu W, Viner R, Imperiali B. Mapping the architecture of the initiating phosphoglycosyl transferase from S. enterica O-antigen biosynthesis in a liponanoparticle. eLife 2024; 12:RP91125. [PMID: 38358918 PMCID: PMC10942596 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91125] [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] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial cell surface glycoconjugates are critical for cell survival and for interactions between bacteria and their hosts. Consequently, the pathways responsible for their biosynthesis have untapped potential as therapeutic targets. The localization of many glycoconjugate biosynthesis enzymes to the membrane represents a significant challenge for expressing, purifying, and characterizing these enzymes. Here, we leverage cutting-edge detergent-free methods to stabilize, purify, and structurally characterize WbaP, a phosphoglycosyl transferase (PGT) from the Salmonella enterica (LT2) O-antigen biosynthesis. From a functional perspective, these studies establish WbaP as a homodimer, reveal the structural elements responsible for dimerization, shed light on the regulatory role of a domain of unknown function embedded within WbaP, and identify conserved structural motifs between PGTs and functionally unrelated UDP-sugar dehydratases. From a technological perspective, the strategy developed here is generalizable and provides a toolkit for studying other classes of small membrane proteins embedded in liponanoparticles beyond PGTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg J Dodge
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeUnited States
| | - Alyssa J Anderson
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeUnited States
| | - Yi He
- Thermo Fisher ScientificSan JoseUnited States
| | - Weijing Liu
- Thermo Fisher ScientificSan JoseUnited States
| | - Rosa Viner
- Thermo Fisher ScientificSan JoseUnited States
| | - Barbara Imperiali
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeUnited States
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7
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Jiang JH, Cameron DR, Nethercott C, Aires-de-Sousa M, Peleg AY. Virulence attributes of successful methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus lineages. Clin Microbiol Rev 2023; 36:e0014822. [PMID: 37982596 PMCID: PMC10732075 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00148-22] [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] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a leading cause of severe and often fatal infections. MRSA epidemics have occurred in waves, whereby a previously successful lineage has been replaced by a more fit and better adapted lineage. Selection pressures in both hospital and community settings are not uniform across the globe, which has resulted in geographically distinct epidemiology. This review focuses on the mechanisms that trigger the establishment and maintenance of current, dominant MRSA lineages across the globe. While the important role of antibiotic resistance will be mentioned throughout, factors which influence the capacity of S. aureus to colonize and cause disease within a host will be the primary focus of this review. We show that while MRSA possesses a diverse arsenal of toxins including alpha-toxin, the success of a lineage involves more than just producing toxins that damage the host. Success is often attributed to the acquisition or loss of genetic elements involved in colonization and niche adaptation such as the arginine catabolic mobile element, as well as the activity of regulatory systems, and shift metabolism accordingly (e.g., the accessory genome regulator, agr). Understanding exactly how specific MRSA clones cause prolonged epidemics may reveal targets for therapies, whereby both core (e.g., the alpha toxin) and acquired virulence factors (e.g., the Panton-Valentine leukocidin) may be nullified using anti-virulence strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhih-Hang Jiang
- Department of Microbiology, Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David R. Cameron
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cara Nethercott
- Department of Microbiology, Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marta Aires-de-Sousa
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Institutode Tecnologia Químicae Biológica António Xavier (ITQB-NOVA), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
- Escola Superior de Saúde da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa-Lisboa (ESSCVP-Lisboa), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Anton Y. Peleg
- Department of Microbiology, Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre to Impact Antimicrobial Resistance, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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8
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Arbour CA, Nagar R, Bernstein HM, Ghosh S, Al-Sammarraie Y, Dorfmueller HC, Ferguson MAJ, Stanley-Wall NR, Imperiali B. Defining early steps in Bacillus subtilis biofilm biosynthesis. mBio 2023; 14:e0094823. [PMID: 37650625 PMCID: PMC10653937 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00948-23] [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: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Biofilms are the communal way of life that microbes adopt to increase survival. Key to our ability to systematically promote or ablate biofilm formation is a detailed understanding of the biofilm matrix macromolecules. Here, we identify the first two essential steps in the Bacillus subtilis biofilm matrix exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesis pathway. Together, our studies and approaches provide the foundation for the sequential characterization of the steps in EPS biosynthesis, using prior steps to enable chemoenzymatic synthesis of the undecaprenyl diphosphate-linked glycan substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A. Arbour
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rupa Nagar
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah M. Bernstein
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Soumi Ghosh
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yusra Al-Sammarraie
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Helge C. Dorfmueller
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Michael A. J. Ferguson
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola R. Stanley-Wall
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara Imperiali
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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9
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Patel H, Rawat S. A genetic regulatory see-saw of biofilm and virulence in MRSA pathogenesis. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1204428. [PMID: 37434702 PMCID: PMC10332168 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1204428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common opportunistic human pathogens causing several infectious diseases. Ever since the emergence of the first methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain decades back, the organism has been a major cause of hospital-acquired infections (HA-MRSA). The spread of this pathogen across the community led to the emergence of a more virulent subtype of the strain, i.e., Community acquired Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). Hence, WHO has declared Staphylococcus aureus as a high-priority pathogen. MRSA pathogenesis is remarkable because of the ability of this "superbug" to form robust biofilm both in vivo and in vitro by the formation of polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA), extracellular DNA (eDNA), wall teichoic acids (WTAs), and capsule (CP), which are major components that impart stability to a biofilm. On the other hand, secretion of a diverse array of virulence factors such as hemolysins, leukotoxins, enterotoxins, and Protein A regulated by agr and sae two-component systems (TCS) aids in combating host immune response. The up- and downregulation of adhesion genes involved in biofilm formation and genes responsible for synthesizing virulence factors during different stages of infection act as a genetic regulatory see-saw in the pathogenesis of MRSA. This review provides insight into the evolution and pathogenesis of MRSA infections with a focus on genetic regulation of biofilm formation and virulence factors secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Seema Rawat
- Microbiology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
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10
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Nakamoto R, Bamyaci S, Blomqvist K, Normark S, Henriques-Normark B, Sham LT. The divisome but not the elongasome organizes capsule synthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3170. [PMID: 37264013 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38904-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial cell envelope consists of multiple layers, including the peptidoglycan cell wall, one or two membranes, and often an external layer composed of capsular polysaccharides (CPS) or other components. How the synthesis of all these layers is precisely coordinated remains unclear. Here, we identify a mechanism that coordinates the synthesis of CPS and peptidoglycan in Streptococcus pneumoniae. We show that CPS synthesis initiates from the division septum and propagates along the long axis of the cell, organized by the tyrosine kinase system CpsCD. CpsC and the rest of the CPS synthesis complex are recruited to the septum by proteins associated with the divisome (a complex involved in septal peptidoglycan synthesis) but not the elongasome (involved in peripheral peptidoglycan synthesis). Assembly of the CPS complex starts with CpsCD, then CpsA and CpsH, the glycosyltransferases, and finally CpsJ. Remarkably, targeting CpsC to the cell pole is sufficient to reposition CPS synthesis, leading to diplococci that lack CPS at the septum. We propose that septal CPS synthesis is important for chain formation and complement evasion, thereby promoting bacterial survival inside the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rei Nakamoto
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117545, Singapore
| | - Sarp Bamyaci
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SE-17177, Sweden
| | - Karin Blomqvist
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SE-17177, Sweden
- Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, SE-17176, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Staffan Normark
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SE-17177, Sweden
| | - Birgitta Henriques-Normark
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SE-17177, Sweden
- Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, SE-17176, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lok-To Sham
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117545, Singapore.
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11
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Tang J, Guo M, Chen M, Xu B, Ran T, Wang W, Ma Z, Lin H, Fan H. A link between STK signalling and capsular polysaccharide synthesis in Streptococcus suis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2480. [PMID: 37120581 PMCID: PMC10148854 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38210-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthesis of capsular polysaccharide (CPS), an important virulence factor of pathogenic bacteria, is modulated by the CpsBCD phosphoregulatory system in Streptococcus. Serine/threonine kinases (STKs, e.g. Stk1) can also regulate CPS synthesis, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we identify a protein (CcpS) that is phosphorylated by Stk1 and modulates the activity of phosphatase CpsB in Streptococcus suis, thus linking Stk1 to CPS synthesis. The crystal structure of CcpS shows an intrinsically disordered region at its N-terminus, including two threonine residues that are phosphorylated by Stk1. The activity of phosphatase CpsB is inhibited when bound to non-phosphorylated CcpS. Thus, CcpS modulates the activity of phosphatase CpsB thereby altering CpsD phosphorylation, which in turn modulates the expression of the Wzx-Wzy pathway and thus CPS production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsheng Tang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Mengru Guo
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Min Chen
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Bin Xu
- National Research Center of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Tingting Ran
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Weiwu Wang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Zhe Ma
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Jiangsu Coinnovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Huixing Lin
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Jiangsu Coinnovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Hongjie Fan
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
- Jiangsu Coinnovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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12
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Koyano Y, Okajima K, Mihara M, Yamamoto H. Visualization of Wall Teichoic Acid Decoration in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0006623. [PMID: 37010431 PMCID: PMC10127673 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00066-23] [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: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Teichoic acids are important for the maintenance of cell shape and growth in Gram-positive bacteria. Bacillus subtilis produces major and minor forms of wall teichoic acid (WTA) and lipoteichoic acid during vegetative growth. We found that newly synthesized WTA attachment to peptidoglycan occurs in a patch-like manner on the sidewall with the fluorescent labeling compound of the concanavalin A lectin. Similarly, WTA biosynthesis enzymes fused to the epitope tags were localized in similar patch-like patterns on the cylindrical part of the cell, and WTA transporter TagH was frequently colocalized with WTA polymerase TagF, WTA ligase TagT, and actin homolog MreB, respectively. Moreover, we found that the nascent cell wall patches, decorated with the newly glucosylated WTA, were colocalized with TagH and WTA ligase TagV. In the cylindrical part, the newly glucosylated WTA patchily inserted into the bottom of the cell wall layer and finally reached the outermost layer of the cell wall after approximately half an hour. Incorporation of newly glucosylated WTA was arrested with the addition of vancomycin but restored with the removal of the antibiotic. These results are consistent with the prevailing model that WTA precursors are attached to newly synthesized peptidoglycan. IMPORTANCE In Gram-positive bacteria, the cell wall is composed of mesh-like peptidoglycan and covalently linked wall teichoic acid (WTA). It is unclear where WTA decorates peptidoglycan to create a cell wall architecture. Here, we demonstrate that nascent WTA decoration occurred in a patch-like manner at the peptidoglycan synthesis sites on the cytoplasmic membrane. The incorporated cell wall with newly glucosylated WTA in the cell wall layer then reached the outermost layer of the cell wall after approximately half an hour. Incorporation of newly glucosylated WTA was arrested with the addition of vancomycin but restored with the removal of the antibiotic. These results are consistent with the prevailing model that WTA precursors are attached to newly synthesized peptidoglycan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Koyano
- Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan
| | - Kiyoshirou Okajima
- Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan
| | - Mako Mihara
- Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yamamoto
- Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan
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13
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Kant S, Sun Y, Pancholi V. StkP- and PhpP-Mediated Posttranslational Modifications Modulate the S. pneumoniae Metabolism, Polysaccharide Capsule, and Virulence. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0029622. [PMID: 36877045 PMCID: PMC10112228 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00296-22] [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: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumococcal Ser/Thr kinase (StkP) and its cognate phosphatase (PhpP) play a crucial role in bacterial cytokinesis. However, their individual and reciprocal metabolic and virulence regulation-related functions have yet to be adequately investigated in encapsulated pneumococci. Here, we demonstrate that the encapsulated pneumococcal strain D39-derived D39ΔPhpP and D39ΔStkP mutants displayed differential cell division defects and growth patterns when grown in chemically defined media supplemented with glucose or nonglucose sugars as the sole carbon source. Microscopic and biochemical analyses supported by RNA-seq-based global transcriptomic analyses of these mutants revealed significantly down- and upregulated polysaccharide capsule formation and cps2 genes in D39ΔPhpP and D39ΔStkP mutants, respectively. While StkP and PhpP individually regulated several unique genes, they also participated in sharing the regulation of the same set of differentially regulated genes. Cps2 genes were reciprocally regulated in part by the StkP/PhpP-mediated reversible phosphorylation but independent of the MapZ-regulated cell division process. StkP-mediated dose-dependent phosphorylation of CcpA proportionately inhibited CcpA-binding to Pcps2A, supporting increased cps2 gene expression and capsule formation in D39ΔStkP. While the attenuation of the D39ΔPhpP mutant in two mouse infection models corroborated with several downregulated capsules-, virulence-, and phosphotransferase systems (PTS)-related genes, the D39ΔStkP mutant with increased amounts of polysaccharide capsules displayed significantly decreased virulence in mice compared to the D39 wild-type, but more virulence compared to D39ΔPhpP. NanoString technology-based inflammation-related gene expression and Meso Scale Discovery-based multiplex chemokine analysis of human lung cells cocultured with these mutants confirmed their distinct virulence phenotypes. StkP and PhpP may, therefore, serve as critical therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sashi Kant
- Department of Pathology, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Youcheng Sun
- Department of Pathology, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Vijay Pancholi
- Department of Pathology, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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14
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Abstract
The microbial secretome modulates how the organism interacts with its environment. Included in the Staphylococcus aureus secretome are extracellular membrane vesicles (MVs) that consist of cytoplasmic and membrane proteins, as well as exoproteins, some cell wall-associated proteins, and glycopolymers. The extent to which MVs contribute to the diverse composition of the secretome is not understood. We performed a proteomic analysis of MVs purified from the S. aureus strain MRSA252 along with a similar analysis of the whole secretome (culture supernatant) before and after depletion of MVs. The MRSA252 secretome was comprised of 1,001 proteins, of which 667 were also present in MVs. Cell membrane-associated proteins and lipoteichoic acid in the culture supernatant were highly associated with MVs, followed by cytoplasmic and extracellular proteins. Few cell wall-associated proteins were contained in MVs, and capsular polysaccharides were found both in the secretome and MVs. When MVs were removed from the culture supernatant by ultracentrifugation, 54 of the secretome proteins were significantly depleted in abundance. Proteins packaged in MVs were characterized by an isoelectric point that was significantly higher than that of proteins excluded from MVs. Our data indicate that the generation of S. aureus MVs is a mechanism by which lipoteichoic acid, cytoplasmic, and cell membrane-associated proteins are released into the secretome. IMPORTANCE The secretome of Staphylococcus aureus includes soluble molecules and nano-sized extracellular membrane vesicles (MVs). The protein composition of both the secretome and MVs includes cytoplasmic and membrane proteins, as well as exoproteins, some cell wall-associated proteins, and glycopolymers. How the MV cargo differs from the protein composition of the secretome has not yet been addressed. Although the compositions of the secretome and MVs were strikingly similar, we identified 54 proteins that were specifically packaged in MVs. Proteins highly associated with MVs were characterized by their abundance in the secretome, an association with the bacterial membrane, and a basic isoelectric point. This study deepens our limited understanding about the contribution of MVs to the secretome of S. aureus.
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15
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Malet-Villemagne J, Yucheng L, Evanno L, Denis-Quanquin S, Hugonnet JE, Arthur M, Janoir C, Candela T. Polysaccharide II Surface Anchoring, the Achilles' Heel of Clostridioides difficile. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0422722. [PMID: 36815772 PMCID: PMC10100865 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04227-22] [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: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell wall glycopolymers (CWPGs) in Gram-positive bacteria have been reported to be involved in several bacterial processes. These polymers, pillars for proteins and S-layer, are essential for the bacterial surface setup, could be essential for growth, and, in pathogens, participate most often in virulence. CWGPs are covalently anchored to peptidoglycan by proteins that belong to the LytR-CpsA-PSr (LCP) family. This anchoring, important for growth, was reported as essential for some bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, but the reason why CWGP anchoring is essential remains unknown. We studied LcpA and LcpB of Clostridioides difficile and showed that they have a redundant activity. To delete both lcp genes, we set up the first conditional-lethal mutant method in C. difficile and showed that polysaccharide II (PSII) anchoring at the bacterial surface is essential for C. difficile survival. In the conditional-lethal mutant, C. difficile morphology was impaired, suggesting that peptidoglycan synthesis was affected. Because Lcp proteins are transferring CWPGs from the C55-undecaprenyl phosphate (also needed in the peptidoglycan synthesis process), we assumed that there was competition between PSII and peptidoglycan synthesis pathways. We confirmed that UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide precursor was accumulated, showing that peptidoglycan synthesis was blocked. Our results provide an explanation for the essentiality of PSII anchoring in C. difficile and suggest that the essentiality of the anchoring of CWPGs in other bacteria can also be explained by the blocking of peptidoglycan synthesis. To conclude, our results suggest that Lcps are potential new targets to combat C. difficile infection. IMPORTANCE Cell wall glycopolymers (CWGPs) in Gram-positive bacteria have been reported to be involved in several bacterial processes. CWGP anchoring to peptidoglycan is important for growth and virulence. We set up the first conditional-lethal mutant method in Clostridioides difficile to study LcpA and LcpB involved in the anchoring of CWPGs to peptidoglycan. This study offers new tools to reveal the role of essential genes in C. difficile. LcpA and LcpB activity was shown to be essential, suggesting that they are potential new targets to combat C. difficile infection. In this study, we also showed that there is competition between the polysaccharide II synthesis pathway and peptidoglycan synthesis that probably exists in other Gram-positive bacteria. A better understanding of these mechanisms allows us to define the Lcp proteins as a therapeutic target for potential design of novel antibiotics against pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liang Yucheng
- INSERM UMR-S 1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Evanno
- Biomolécules: Conception, Isolement et Synthèse (BioCIS), Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Orsay, France
| | | | - Jean-Emmanuel Hugonnet
- INSERM UMR-S 1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Michel Arthur
- INSERM UMR-S 1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Claire Janoir
- Micalis Institute, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Thomas Candela
- Micalis Institute, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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16
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Arbour CA, Nagar R, Bernstein HM, Ghosh S, Al-Sammarraie Y, Dorfmueller HC, Ferguson MAJ, Stanley-Wall NR, Imperiali B. Defining Early Steps in B. subtilis Biofilm Biosynthesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.22.529487. [PMID: 36865097 PMCID: PMC9980142 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.22.529487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The Bacillus subtilis extracellular biofilm matrix includes an exopolysaccharide that is critical for the architecture and function of the community. To date, our understanding of the biosynthetic machinery and the molecular composition of the exopolysaccharide of B. subtilis remains unclear and incomplete. This report presents synergistic biochemical and genetic studies built from a foundation of comparative sequence analyses targeted at elucidating the activities of the first two membrane-committed steps in the exopolysaccharide biosynthetic pathway. By taking this approach, we determined the nucleotide sugar donor and lipid-linked acceptor substrates for the first two enzymes in the B. subtilis biofilm exopolysaccharide biosynthetic pathway. EpsL catalyzes the first phosphoglycosyl transferase step using UDP-di- N -acetyl bacillosamine as phospho-sugar donor. EpsD is a GT-B fold glycosyl transferase that facilitates the second step in the pathway that utilizes the product of EpsL as an acceptor substrate and UDP- N -acetyl glucosamine as the sugar donor. Thus, the study defines the first two monosaccharides at the reducing end of the growing exopolysaccharide unit. In doing so we provide the first evidence of the presence of bacillosamine in an exopolysaccharide synthesized by a Gram-positive bacterium. IMPORTANCE Biofilms are the communal way of life that microbes adopt to increase survival. Key to our ability to systematically promote or ablate biofilm formation is a detailed understanding of the biofilm matrix macromolecules. Here we identify the first two essential steps in the Bacillus subtilis biofilm matrix exopolysaccharide synthesis pathway. Together our studies and approaches provide the foundation for the sequential characterization of the steps in exopolysaccharide biosynthesis, using prior steps to enable chemoenzymatic synthesis of the undecaprenol diphosphate-linked glycan substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A. Arbour
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 (USA)
| | - Rupa Nagar
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Hannah M. Bernstein
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 (USA)
| | - Soumi Ghosh
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 (USA)
| | - Yusra Al-Sammarraie
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Helge C. Dorfmueller
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Michael A. J. Ferguson
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Nicola R. Stanley-Wall
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Barbara Imperiali
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 (USA)
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17
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Nunez C, Kostoulias X, Peleg A, Short F, Qu Y. A comprehensive comparison of biofilm formation and capsule production for bacterial survival on hospital surfaces. Biofilm 2023; 5:100105. [PMID: 36711324 PMCID: PMC9880390 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100105] [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: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilm formation and capsule production are known microbial strategies used by bacterial pathogens to survive adverse conditions in the hospital environment. The relative importance of these strategies individually is unexplored. This project aims to compare the contributory roles of biofilm formation and capsule production in bacterial survival on hospital surfaces. Representative strains of bacterial species often causing hospital-acquired infections were selected, including Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The importance of biofilm formation and capsule production on bacterial survival was evaluated by comparing capsule-positive wild-type and capsule-deficient mutant strains, and biofilm and planktonic growth modes respectively, against three adverse hospital conditions, including desiccation, benzalkonium chloride disinfection and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Bacterial survival was quantitatively assessed using colony-forming unit (CFU) enumeration and the 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) assay and qualitatively by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Correlations between capsule production and biofilm formation were further investigated. Biofilm formation contributed significantly to bacterial survival on hospital surface simulators, mediating high resistance to desiccation, benzalkonium chloride disinfection and UV radiation. The role of capsule production was minor and species-specific; encapsulated A. baumannii but not K. pneumoniae cells demonstrated slightly increased resistance to desiccation, and neither showed enhanced resistance to benzalkonium chloride. Interestingly, capsule production sensitized K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii to UV radiation. The loss of capsule in K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii enhanced biofilm formation, possibly by increasing cell surface hydrophobicity. In summary, this study confirms the crucial role of biofilm formation in bacterial survival on hospital surfaces. Conversely, encapsulation plays a relatively minor role and may even negatively impact bacterial biofilm formation and hospital survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Nunez
- Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Xenia Kostoulias
- Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia,Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Anton Peleg
- Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia,Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Francesca Short
- Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia,Corresponding author.,
| | - Yue Qu
- Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia,Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia,Corresponding author. Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
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18
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Castro BE, Rios R, Carvajal LP, Vargas ML, Cala MP, León L, Hanson B, Dinh AQ, Ortega-Recalde O, Seas C, Munita JM, Arias CA, Rincon S, Reyes J, Diaz L. Multiomics characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates with heterogeneous intermediate resistance to vancomycin (hVISA) in Latin America. J Antimicrob Chemother 2022; 78:122-132. [PMID: 36322484 PMCID: PMC10205466 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) compromise the clinical efficacy of vancomycin. The hVISA isolates spontaneously produce vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) cells generated by diverse and intriguing mechanisms. OBJECTIVE To characterize the biomolecular profile of clinical hVISA applying genomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches. METHODS 39 hVISA and 305 VSSA and their genomes were included. Core genome-based Bayesian phylogenetic reconstructions were built and alterations in predicted proteins in VISA/hVISA were interrogated. Linear discriminant analysis and a Genome-Wide Association Study were performed. Differentially expressed genes were identified in hVISA-VSSA by RNA-sequencing. The undirected profiles of metabolites were determined by liquid chromatography and hydrophilic interaction in six CC5-MRSA. RESULTS Genomic relatedness of MRSA associated to hVISA phenotype was not detected. The change Try38 → His in Atl (autolysin) was identified in 92% of the hVISA. We identified SNPs and k-mers associated to hVISA in 11 coding regions with predicted functions in virulence, transport systems, carbohydrate metabolism and tRNA synthesis. Further, capABCDE, sdrD, esaA, esaD, essA and ssaA genes were overexpressed in hVISA, while lacABCDEFG genes were downregulated. Additionally, valine, threonine, leucine tyrosine, FAD and NADH were more abundant in VSSA, while arginine, glycine and betaine were more abundant in hVISA. Finally, we observed altered metabolic pathways in hVISA, including purine and pyrimidine pathway, CoA biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism and aminoacyl tRNA biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that the mechanism of hVISA involves major changes in regulatory systems, expression of virulence factors and reduction in glycolysis via TCA cycle. This work contributes to the understanding of the development of this complex resistance mechanism in regional strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betsy E Castro
- Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Rafael Rios
- Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Lina P Carvajal
- Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Mónica L Vargas
- Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Mónica P Cala
- Metabolomics Core Facility-MetCore, Vice-Presidency for Research, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Lizeth León
- Metabolomics Core Facility-MetCore, Vice-Presidency for Research, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Blake Hanson
- Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - An Q Dinh
- Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Research in Genetics and Genomics—CIGGUR, GENIUROS Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad Del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Oscar Ortega-Recalde
- Center for Research in Genetics and Genomics—CIGGUR, GENIUROS Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad Del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carlos Seas
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander Von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Jose M Munita
- Millennium Initiative for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
- Genomics and Resistant Microbes (GeRM) Group. Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Universidad del Desarrollo School of Medicine, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cesar A Arias
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sandra Rincon
- Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Jinnethe Reyes
- Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Lorena Diaz
- Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogota, Colombia
- Millennium Initiative for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
- Genomics and Resistant Microbes (GeRM) Group. Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Universidad del Desarrollo School of Medicine, Santiago, Chile
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19
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Hajredini F, Alphonse S, Ghose R. BY-kinases: Protein tyrosine kinases like no other. J Biol Chem 2022; 299:102737. [PMID: 36423682 PMCID: PMC9800525 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BY-kinases (for bacterial tyrosine kinases) constitute a family of protein tyrosine kinases that are highly conserved in the bacterial kingdom and occur most commonly as essential components of multicomponent assemblies responsible for the biosynthesis, polymerization, and export of complex polysaccharides involved in biofilm or capsule formation. BY-kinase function has been attributed to a cyclic process involving formation of an oligomeric species, its disassembly into constituent monomers, and subsequent reassembly, depending on the overall phosphorylation level of a C-terminal cluster of tyrosine residues. However, the relationship of this process to the active/inactive states of the enzyme and the mechanism of its integration into the polysaccharide production machinery remain unclear. Here, we synthesize the substantial body of biochemical, cell-biological, structural, and computational data, acquired over the nearly 3 decades since the discovery of BY-kinases, to suggest means by which they fulfill their physiological function. We propose a mechanism involving temporal coordination of the assembly/disassembly process with the autokinase activity of the enzyme and its ability to be dephosphorylated by its counteracting phosphatase. We speculate that this temporal control enables BY-kinases to function as molecular timers that coordinate the diverse processes involved in the synthesis, polymerization, and export of complex sugar derivatives. We suggest that BY-kinases, which deploy distinctive catalytic domains resembling P-loop nucleoside triphosphatases, have uniquely adapted this ancient fold to drive functional processes through exquisite spatiotemporal control over protein-protein interactions and conformational changes. It is our hope that the hypotheses proposed here will facilitate future experiments targeting these unique protein kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatlum Hajredini
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, New York, USA,PhD Programs in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sébastien Alphonse
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ranajeet Ghose
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, New York, USA,PhD Programs in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, New York, USA,PhD Programs in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, New York, USA,PhD Programs in Physics, The Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, New York, USA,For correspondence: Ranajeet Ghose
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20
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Anderson AJ, Seebald LM, Arbour CA, Imperiali B. Probing Monotopic Phosphoglycosyl Transferases from Complex Cellular Milieu. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:3191-3197. [PMID: 36346917 PMCID: PMC9703085 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00648] [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] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Monotopic phosphoglycosyl transferase enzymes (monoPGTs) initiate the assembly of prokaryotic glycoconjugates essential for bacterial survival and proliferation. MonoPGTs belong to an expansive superfamily with a diverse and richly annotated sequence space; however, the biochemical roles of most monoPGTs in glycoconjugate biosynthesis pathways remain elusive. To better understand these critical enzymes, we have implemented activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) probes as protein-centric, membrane protein compatible tools that lay the groundwork for understanding the activity and regulation of the monoPGT superfamily from a cellular proteome. With straightforward gel-based readouts, we demonstrate robust, covalent labeling at the active site of various representative monoPGTs from cell membrane fractions using 3-phenyl-2H-azirine probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa J. Anderson
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Leah M. Seebald
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Christine A. Arbour
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Barbara Imperiali
- Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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21
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Tien N, Ho CY, Lai SJ, Lin YC, Yang CS, Wang YC, Huang WC, Chen Y, Chang JJ. Crystal structure of the capsular polysaccharide-synthesis enzyme CapG from Staphylococcus aureus. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2022; 78:378-385. [PMID: 36322423 PMCID: PMC9629516 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x22008743] [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: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial capsular polysaccharides provide protection against environmental stress and immune evasion from the host immune system, and are therefore considered to be attractive therapeutic targets for the development of anti-infectious reagents. Here, we focused on CapG, one of the key enzymes in the synthesis pathway of capsular polysaccharides type 5 (CP5) from the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. SaCapG catalyses the 2-epimerization of UDP-N-acetyl-D-talosamine (UDP-TalNAc) to UDP-N-acetyl-D-fucosamine (UDP-FucNAc), which is one of the nucleotide-activated precursors for the synthesis of the trisaccharide repeating units of CP5. Here, the cloning, expression and purification of recombinant SaCapG are reported. After extensive efforts, single crystals of SaCapG were successfully obtained which belonged to space group C2 and exhibited unit-cell parameters a = 302.91, b = 84.34, c = 145.09 Å, β = 110.65°. The structure was solved by molecular replacement and was refined to 3.2 Å resolution. The asymmetric unit revealed a homohexameric assembly of SaCapG, which was consistent with gel-filtration analysis. Structural comparison with UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine 2-epimerase from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii identified α2, the α2-α3 loop and α10 as a gate-regulated switch controlling substrate entry and/or product release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Tien
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Yi Ho
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Division of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Physical Examination Center, China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Jung Lai
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chuan Lin
- Translational Cell Therapy Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Shin Yang
- Institute of Translational Medicine and New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chuan Wang
- Institute of Translational Medicine and New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chien Huang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yeh Chen
- Institute of Translational Medicine and New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Jen Chang
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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22
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Wang Z, Wang Y, Wang Y, Chen W, Ji Q. CRISPR/Cpf1-Mediated Multiplex and Large-Fragment Gene Editing in Staphylococcus aureus. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3049-3057. [PMID: 36001082 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen that causes a variety of infections, including life-threatening diseases. Research on S. aureus is constrained by complex and limited genetic manipulation methods. Here, we report a CRISPR/Cpf1-mediated system, pCpfSA, for rapid and versatile genome editing in S. aureus. In direct comparison with the existing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome-editing system, the pCpfSA system exhibits enhanced colony-forming units (CFUs) after editing and an expanded targetable range with comparable editing efficiency. Given the precursor crRNA (pre-crRNA) processing activity of Cpf1, the pCpfSA system also allows multiplex gene editing and large-fragment DNA knockout simply by introducing two crRNAs and the corresponding donor templates, which is difficult to achieve using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, thereby greatly expanding the genome editor toolbox for S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Wang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Wang
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, China
| | - Yujue Wang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Weizhong Chen
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Quanjiang Ji
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
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23
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Regulation of Staphylococcal Capsule by SarZ is SigA-Dependent. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0015222. [PMID: 35862799 PMCID: PMC9380528 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00152-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Production of capsular polysaccharides in Staphylococcus aureus is transcriptionally regulated by a control region of the cap operon that consists of SigA- and SigB-dependent promoters. A large number of regulators have been shown to affect cap gene expression. However, regulation of capsule is only partially understood. Here we found that SarZ was another regulator that activated the cap genes through the SigA-dependent promoter. Gel electrophoresis mobility shift experiments revealed that SarZ is bound to a broad region of the cap promoter including the SigA-dependent promoter but mainly the downstream region. We demonstrated that activation of cap expression by SarZ was independent of MgrA, which also activated capsule through the SigA-dependent promoter. Our results further showed that oxidative stress with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatments enhanced SarZ activation of cap expression, indicating that SarZ is able to sense oxidative stress to regulate capsule production. IMPORTANCE Expression of virulence genes in Staphylococcus aureus is affected by environmental cues and is regulated by a surprisingly large number of regulators. Much is still unknown about how virulence factors are regulated by environment cues at the molecular level. Capsule is an antiphagocytic virulence factor that is highly regulated. In this study, we found SarZ was an activator of capsule and that the regulation of capsule by SarZ was affected by oxidative stress. These results provide an example of how a virulence factor could be regulated in response to an environmental cue. As the host oxidative defense system plays an important role against S. aureus, this study contributes to a better understanding of virulence gene regulation and staphylococcal pathogenesis.
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24
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Alphonse S, Djemil I, Piserchio A, Ghose R. Structural basis for the recognition of the bacterial tyrosine kinase Wzc by its cognate tyrosine phosphatase Wzb. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2201800119. [PMID: 35737836 PMCID: PMC9245664 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201800119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial tyrosine kinases (BY-kinases) comprise a family of protein tyrosine kinases that are structurally distinct from their functional counterparts in eukaryotes and are highly conserved across the bacterial kingdom. BY-kinases act in concert with their counteracting phosphatases to regulate a variety of cellular processes, most notably the synthesis and export of polysaccharides involved in biofilm and capsule biogenesis. Biochemical data suggest that BY-kinase function involves the cyclic assembly and disassembly of oligomeric states coupled to the overall phosphorylation levels of a C-terminal tyrosine cluster. This process is driven by the opposing effects of intermolecular autophosphorylation, and dephosphorylation catalyzed by tyrosine phosphatases. In the absence of structural insight into the interactions between a BY-kinase and its phosphatase partner in atomic detail, the precise mechanism of this regulatory process has remained poorly defined. To address this gap in knowledge, we have determined the structure of the transiently assembled complex between the catalytic core of the Escherichia coli (K-12) BY-kinase Wzc and its counteracting low-molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP) Wzb using solution NMR techniques. Unambiguous distance restraints from paramagnetic relaxation effects were supplemented with ambiguous interaction restraints from static spectral perturbations and transient chemical shift changes inferred from relaxation dispersion measurements and used in a computational docking protocol for structure determination. This structurepresents an atomic picture of the mode of interaction between an LMW-PTP and its BY-kinase substrate, and provides mechanistic insight into the phosphorylation-coupled assembly/disassembly process proposed to drive BY-kinase function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Alphonse
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, NY 10031
| | - Imane Djemil
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY 10016
| | - Andrea Piserchio
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, NY 10031
| | - Ranajeet Ghose
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, NY 10031
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY 10016
- PhD Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, NY 10016
- PhD Program in Physics, The Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, NY 10016
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25
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Flores-Kim J, Dobihal GS, Bernhardt TG, Rudner DZ. WhyD tailors surface polymers to prevent premature bacteriolysis and direct cell elongation in Streptococcus pneumoniae. eLife 2022; 11:e76392. [PMID: 35593695 PMCID: PMC9208761 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Penicillin and related antibiotics disrupt cell wall synthesis in bacteria causing the downstream misactivation of cell wall hydrolases called autolysins to induce cell lysis. Despite the clinical importance of this phenomenon, little is known about the factors that control autolysins and how penicillins subvert this regulation to kill cells. In the pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp), LytA is the major autolysin responsible for penicillin-induced bacteriolysis. We recently discovered that penicillin treatment of Sp causes a dramatic shift in surface polymer biogenesis in which cell wall-anchored teichoic acids (WTAs) increase in abundance at the expense of lipid-linked teichoic acids (LTAs). Because LytA binds to both species of teichoic acids, this change recruits the enzyme to its substrate where it cleaves the cell wall and elicits lysis. In this report, we identify WhyD (SPD_0880) as a new factor that controls the level of WTAs in Sp cells to prevent LytA misactivation and lysis during exponential growth . We show that WhyD is a WTA hydrolase that restricts the WTA content of the wall to areas adjacent to active peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis. Our results support a model in which the WTA tailoring activity of WhyD during exponential growth directs PG remodeling activity required for proper cell elongation in addition to preventing autolysis by LytA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josué Flores-Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- UMass Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | | | - Thomas G Bernhardt
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBostonUnited States
| | - David Z Rudner
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
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26
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Abstract
Peptidoglycan is a major constituent of the bacterial cell wall and an important determinant for providing protection to cells. In addition to peptidoglycan, many bacteria synthesize other glycans that become part of the cell wall. Streptomycetes grow apically, where they synthesize a glycan that is exposed at the outer surface, but how it gets there is unknown. Here, we show that deposition of the apical glycan at the cell surface of Streptomyces coelicolor depends on two key enzymes, the glucanase CslZ and the lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase LpmP. Activity of these enzymes allows localized remodeling and degradation of the peptidoglycan, and we propose that this facilitates passage of the glycan. The absence of both enzymes not only prevents morphological development but also sensitizes strains to lysozyme. Given that lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases are commonly found in microbes, this newly identified biological role in cell wall remodeling may be widespread.
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27
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Passot FM, Cantlay S, Flärdh K. Protein phosphatase SppA regulates apical growth and dephosphorylates cell polarity determinant DivIVA in Streptomyces coelicolor. Mol Microbiol 2021; 117:411-428. [PMID: 34862689 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Members of the Actinobacteria, including mycobacteria and streptomycetes, exhibit a distinctive mode of polar growth, with cell wall synthesis occurring in zones at cell poles and directed by the essential cell polarity determinant DivIVA. Streptomyces coelicolor modulates polar growth via the Ser/Thr protein kinase AfsK, which phosphorylates DivIVA. Here, we show that the phosphoprotein phosphatase SppA has strong effects on polar growth and cell shape and that it reverses the AfsK-mediated phosphorylation of DivIVA. SppA affects hyphal branching and the rate of tip extension. The sppA mutant hyphae also exhibit a high frequency of spontaneous growth arrests, indicating problems with maintenance of tip extension. The phenotypic effects are partially suppressed in an afsK sppA double mutant, indicating that AfsK and SppA to some extent share target proteins. Strains with a nonphosphorylatable mutant DivIVA confirm that the effect of afsK on hyphal branching during normal growth is mediated by DivIVA phosphorylation. However, the phenotypic effects of sppA deletion are independent of DivIVA phosphorylation and must be mediated via other substrates. This study adds a PPP-family protein phosphatase to the proteins involved in the control of polar growth and cell shape determination in S. coelicolor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Klas Flärdh
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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28
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Nagarajan SN, Lenoir C, Grangeasse C. Recent advances in bacterial signaling by serine/threonine protein kinases. Trends Microbiol 2021; 30:553-566. [PMID: 34836791 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
It has been nearly three decades since the discovery of the first bacterial serine/threonine protein kinase (STPK). Since then, a blend of technological advances has led to the characterization of a multitude of STPKs and phosphorylation substrates in several bacterial species that finely regulate intricate signaling cascades. Years of intense research from several laboratories have demonstrated unexpected roles for serine/threonine phosphorylation, regulating not only bacterial growth and cell division but also antibiotic persistence, virulence and infection, metabolism, chromosomal biology, and cellular differentiation. This review aims to provide an account of the most recent and significant developments in this up and growing field in microbiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sathya Narayanan Nagarajan
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, UMR 5086, Université de Lyon, CNRS, IBCP building, 7 passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Cassandra Lenoir
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, UMR 5086, Université de Lyon, CNRS, IBCP building, 7 passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Christophe Grangeasse
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, UMR 5086, Université de Lyon, CNRS, IBCP building, 7 passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
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29
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Reithuber E, Wixe T, Ludwig KC, Müller A, Uvell H, Grein F, Lindgren AEG, Muschiol S, Nannapaneni P, Eriksson A, Schneider T, Normark S, Henriques-Normark B, Almqvist F, Mellroth P. THCz: Small molecules with antimicrobial activity that block cell wall lipid intermediates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2108244118. [PMID: 34785593 PMCID: PMC8617507 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2108244118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging antibiotic resistance demands identification of novel antibacterial compound classes. A bacterial whole-cell screen based on pneumococcal autolysin-mediated lysis induction was developed to identify potential bacterial cell wall synthesis inhibitors. A hit class comprising a 1-amino substituted tetrahydrocarbazole (THCz) scaffold, containing two essential amine groups, displayed bactericidal activity against a broad range of gram-positive and selected gram-negative pathogens in the low micromolar range. Mode of action studies revealed that THCz inhibit cell envelope synthesis by targeting undecaprenyl pyrophosphate-containing lipid intermediates and thus simultaneously inhibit peptidoglycan, teichoic acid, and polysaccharide capsule biosynthesis. Resistance did not readily develop in vitro, and the ease of synthesizing and modifying these small molecules, as compared to natural lipid II-binding antibiotics, makes THCz promising scaffolds for development of cell wall-targeting antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Reithuber
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Torbjörn Wixe
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå 90736, Sweden
| | - Kevin C Ludwig
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn 53115, Germany
| | - Anna Müller
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn 53115, Germany
| | - Hanna Uvell
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå 90736, Sweden
| | - Fabian Grein
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn 53115, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn 53115, Germany
| | - Anders E G Lindgren
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå 90736, Sweden
- Laboratories for Chemical Biology Umeå (LCBU), Umeå University, Umeå 90736, Sweden
| | - Sandra Muschiol
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Priyanka Nannapaneni
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Eriksson
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå 90736, Sweden
| | - Tanja Schneider
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn 53115, Germany;
| | - Staffan Normark
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Birgitta Henriques-Normark
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Almqvist
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå 90736, Sweden;
- Laboratories for Chemical Biology Umeå (LCBU), Umeå University, Umeå 90736, Sweden
| | - Peter Mellroth
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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30
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The bacterial tyrosine kinase system CpsBCD governs the length of capsule polymers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2103377118. [PMID: 34732571 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2103377118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many pathogenic bacteria are encased in a layer of capsular polysaccharide (CPS). This layer is important for virulence by masking surface antigens, preventing opsonophagocytosis, and avoiding mucus entrapment. The bacterial tyrosine kinase (BY-kinase) regulates capsule synthesis and helps bacterial pathogens to survive different host niches. BY-kinases autophosphorylate at the C-terminal tyrosine residues upon external stimuli, but the role of phosphorylation is still unclear. Here, we report that the BY-kinase CpsCD is required for growth in Streptococcus pneumoniae Cells lacking a functional cpsC or cpsD accumulated low molecular weight CPS and lysed because of the lethal sequestration of the lipid carrier undecaprenyl phosphate, resulting in inhibition of peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis. CpsC interacts with CpsD and the polymerase CpsH. CpsD phosphorylation reduces the length of CPS polymers presumably by controlling the activity of CpsC. Finally, pulse-chase experiments reveal the spatiotemporal coordination between CPS and PG synthesis. This coordination is dependent on CpsC and CpsD. Together, our study provides evidence that BY-kinases regulate capsule polymer length by fine-tuning CpsC activity through autophosphorylation.
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31
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Sun Y, Liu M, Niu M, Zhao X. Phenotypic Switching of Staphylococcus aureus Mu50 Into a Large Colony Variant Enhances Heritable Resistance Against β-Lactam Antibiotics. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:709841. [PMID: 34690952 PMCID: PMC8530407 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.709841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic heterogeneity within a bacterial population may confer new functionality and allow microorganisms to adapt to fluctuating environments. Previous work has suggested that Staphylococcus aureus could form small colony variants to avoid elimination by therapeutic antibiotics and host immunity systems. Here we show that a reversible non-pigment large colony morphology (Mu50∆lcpA-LC) was observed in S. aureus Mu50 after knocking out lcpA, coding for the LytR-CpsA-Psr family A protein. Mu50∆lcpA-LC increased resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, in addition, the enlarged cell size, enhanced spreading ability on solid medium, and reduced biofilm formation, suggesting better abilities for bacterial expansion. Moreover, the expression of spa encoding protein A was significantly increased in Mu50∆lcpA-LC. This study shows that besides the small colony variants, S. aureus could fight against antibiotics and host immunity through phenotype switching into a large colony variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Miaomiao Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Mingze Niu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.,Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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32
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Rakovitsky N, Lellouche J, Ben David D, Frenk S, Elmalih P, Weber G, Kon H, Schwartz D, Wolfhart L, Temkin E, Carmeli Y. Increased Capsule Thickness and Hypermotility Are Traits of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii ST3 Strains Causing Fulminant Infection. Open Forum Infect Dis 2021; 8:ofab386. [PMID: 34514017 PMCID: PMC8423469 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Acinetobacter baumannii is a successful nosocomial pathogen, causing severe, life-threatening infections in hospitalized patients, including pneumonia and bloodstream infections. The spread of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) strains is a major health threat worldwide. The successful spread of CRAB is mostly due to its highly plastic genome. Although some virulence factors associated with CRAB have been uncovered, many mechanisms contributing to its success are not fully understood. Methods Here we describe strains of CRAB that were isolated from fulminant cases in 2 hospitals in Israel. These isolates show a rare hypermucoid (HM) phenotype and were investigated using phenotypic assays, comparative genomics, and an in vivo Galleria mellonella model. Results The 3 isolates belonged to the ST3 international clonal type and were closely related to each other, as shown by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and phylogenetic analyses. These isolates possessed thickened capsules and a dense filamentous extracellular polysaccharides matrix as shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and overexpressed the capsule polysaccharide synthesis pathway-related wzc gene. Conclusions The HM isolates possessed a unique combination of virulence genes involved in iron metabolism, protein secretion, adherence, and membrane glycosylation. HM strains were more virulent than control strains in 2 G. mellonella infection models. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated several virulence factors, all present in 3 CRAB isolates with rare hypermucoid phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadya Rakovitsky
- National Institute for Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control, Ministry of Health, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Jonathan Lellouche
- National Institute for Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control, Ministry of Health, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Debby Ben David
- National Institute for Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control, Ministry of Health, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Sammy Frenk
- National Institute for Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control, Ministry of Health, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Polet Elmalih
- National Institute for Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control, Ministry of Health, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Gabriel Weber
- The B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.,Infectious Disease and Infection Control Unit, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Hadas Kon
- National Institute for Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control, Ministry of Health, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - David Schwartz
- National Institute for Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control, Ministry of Health, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Liat Wolfhart
- National Institute for Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control, Ministry of Health, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Elizabeth Temkin
- National Institute for Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control, Ministry of Health, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Yehuda Carmeli
- National Institute for Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control, Ministry of Health, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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Wang Y, Cao L, Bi M, Wang S, Chen M, Chen X, Ying M, Huang L. Wobble Editing of Cre-box by Unspecific CRISPR/Cas9 Causes CCR Release and Phenotypic Changes in Bacillus pumilus. Front Chem 2021; 9:717609. [PMID: 34434920 PMCID: PMC8381255 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.717609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-associated Cas9 endonuclease (CRISPR/Cas9) systems are widely used to introduce precise mutations, such as knocking in/out at targeted genomic sites. Herein, we successfully disrupted the transcription of multiple genes in Bacillus pumilus LG3145 using a series of unspecific guide RNAs (gRNAs) and UgRNA:Cas9 system-assisted cre-box editing. The bases used as gRNAs shared 30–70% similarity with a consensus sequence, a cis-acting element (cre-box) mediating carbon catabolite repression (CCR) of many genes in Bacillus. This triggers trans-crRNA:Cas9 complex wobble cleavage up/downstream of cre sites in the promoters of multiple genes (up to 7), as confirmed by Sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing (NGS). LG3145 displayed an obvious CCR release phenotype, including numerous secondary metabolites released into the culture broth, ∼ 1.67 g/L white flocculent protein, pigment overflow causing orange-coloured broth (absorbance = 309 nm), polysaccharide capsules appearing outside cells, improved sugar tolerance, and a two-fold increase in cell density. We assessed the relationship between carbon catabolite pathways and phenotype changes caused by unspecific UgRNA-directed cre site wobble editing. We propose a novel strategy for editing consensus targets at operator sequences that mediates transcriptional regulation in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxiang Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organic Solar Cells and Photochemical Conversion, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Bioimaging, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Linfeng Cao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organic Solar Cells and Photochemical Conversion, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Bioimaging, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Meiying Bi
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organic Solar Cells and Photochemical Conversion, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Bioimaging, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Sicheng Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organic Solar Cells and Photochemical Conversion, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Bioimaging, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Meiting Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organic Solar Cells and Photochemical Conversion, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Bioimaging, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Xingyu Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organic Solar Cells and Photochemical Conversion, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Bioimaging, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Ming Ying
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organic Solar Cells and Photochemical Conversion, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Bioimaging, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Huang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organic Solar Cells and Photochemical Conversion, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Bioimaging, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
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Glycoconjugate pathway connections revealed by sequence similarity network analysis of the monotopic phosphoglycosyl transferases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2018289118. [PMID: 33472976 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018289118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The monotopic phosphoglycosyl transferase (monoPGT) superfamily comprises over 38,000 nonredundant sequences represented in bacterial and archaeal domains of life. Members of the superfamily catalyze the first membrane-committed step in en bloc oligosaccharide biosynthetic pathways, transferring a phosphosugar from a soluble nucleoside diphosphosugar to a membrane-resident polyprenol phosphate. The singularity of the monoPGT fold and its employment in the pivotal first membrane-committed step allows confident assignment of both protein and corresponding pathway. The diversity of the family is revealed by the generation and analysis of a sequence similarity network for the superfamily, with fusion of monoPGTs with other pathway members being the most frequent and extensive elaboration. Three common fusions were identified: sugar-modifying enzymes, glycosyl transferases, and regulatory domains. Additionally, unexpected fusions of the monoPGT with members of the polytopic PGT superfamily were discovered, implying a possible evolutionary link through the shared polyprenol phosphate substrate. Notably, a phylogenetic reconstruction of the monoPGT superfamily shows a radial burst of functionalization, with a minority of members comprising only the minimal PGT catalytic domain. The commonality and identity of the fusion partners in the monoPGT superfamily is consistent with advantageous colocalization of pathway members at membrane interfaces.
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The surprising structural and mechanistic dichotomy of membrane-associated phosphoglycosyl transferases. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:1189-1203. [PMID: 34100892 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Phosphoglycosyl transferases (PGTs) play a pivotal role at the inception of complex glycoconjugate biosynthesis pathways across all domains of life. PGTs promote the first membrane-committed step in the en bloc biosynthetic strategy by catalyzing the transfer of a phospho-sugar from a nucleoside diphospho-sugar to a membrane-resident polyprenol phosphate. Studies on the PGTs have been hampered because they are integral membrane proteins, and often prove to be recalcitrant to expression, purification and analysis. However, in recent years exciting new information has been derived on the structures and the mechanisms of PGTs, revealing the existence of two unique superfamilies of PGT enzymes that enact catalysis at the membrane interface. Genome neighborhood analysis shows that these superfamilies, the polytopic PGT (polyPGT) and monotopic PGT (monoPGT), may initiate different pathways within the same organism. Moreover, the same fundamental two-substrate reaction is enacted through two different chemical mechanisms with distinct modes of catalysis. This review highlights the structural and mechanistic divergence between the PGT enzyme superfamilies and how this is reflected in differences in regulation in their varied glycoconjugate biosynthesis pathways.
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36
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Dong Y, Miao X, Zheng YD, Liu J, He QY, Ge R, Sun X. Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Displays Enhanced Resistance and Virulence in Iron-Restricted Conditions. J Proteome Res 2021; 20:2839-2850. [PMID: 33872026 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The unreasonable misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of large-scale drug-resistant bacteria, seriously threatening human health. Compared with drug-sensitive bacteria, resistant bacteria are difficult to clear by host immunity. To fully explore the adaptive mechanism of resistant bacteria to the iron-restricted environment, we performed data-independent acquisition-based quantitative proteomics on ciprofloxacin (CIP)-resistant (CIP-R) Staphylococcus aureus in the presence or absence of iron. On bioinformatics analysis, CIP-R bacteria showed stronger amino acid synthesis and energy storage ability. Notably, CIP-R bacteria increased virulence by upregulating the expression of many virulence-related proteins and enhancing the synthesis of virulence-related amino acids under iron-restricted stress. This study will help us to further explain the adaptive mechanisms that lead to bacterial resistance to antibiotics depending on the host environment and provide insights into the development of novel drugs for the treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingshan Dong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xinyu Miao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yun-Dan Zheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jiajia Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qing-Yu He
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Ruiguang Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, College of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Xuesong Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Fisher JF, Mobashery S. β-Lactams against the Fortress of the Gram-Positive Staphylococcus aureus Bacterium. Chem Rev 2021; 121:3412-3463. [PMID: 33373523 PMCID: PMC8653850 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The biological diversity of the unicellular bacteria-whether assessed by shape, food, metabolism, or ecological niche-surely rivals (if not exceeds) that of the multicellular eukaryotes. The relationship between bacteria whose ecological niche is the eukaryote, and the eukaryote, is often symbiosis or stasis. Some bacteria, however, seek advantage in this relationship. One of the most successful-to the disadvantage of the eukaryote-is the small (less than 1 μm diameter) and nearly spherical Staphylococcus aureus bacterium. For decades, successful clinical control of its infection has been accomplished using β-lactam antibiotics such as the penicillins and the cephalosporins. Over these same decades S. aureus has perfected resistance mechanisms against these antibiotics, which are then countered by new generations of β-lactam structure. This review addresses the current breadth of biochemical and microbiological efforts to preserve the future of the β-lactam antibiotics through a better understanding of how S. aureus protects the enzyme targets of the β-lactams, the penicillin-binding proteins. The penicillin-binding proteins are essential enzyme catalysts for the biosynthesis of the cell wall, and understanding how this cell wall is integrated into the protective cell envelope of the bacterium may identify new antibacterials and new adjuvants that preserve the efficacy of the β-lactams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jed F Fisher
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, McCourtney Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Shahriar Mobashery
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, McCourtney Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Indiana 46556, United States
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Jiang G, Liu S, Yu T, Wu R, Ren Y, van der Mei HC, Liu J, Busscher HJ. PAMAM dendrimers with dual-conjugated vancomycin and Ag-nanoparticles do not induce bacterial resistance and kill vancomycin-resistant Staphylococci. Acta Biomater 2021; 123:230-243. [PMID: 33508504 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The effective life-time of new antimicrobials until the appearance of the first resistant strains is steadily decreasing, which discourages incentives for commercialization required for clinical translation and application. Therefore, development of new antimicrobials should not only focus on better and better killing of antimicrobial-resistant strains, but as a paradigm shift on developing antimicrobials that prevent induction of resistance. Heterofunctionalized, poly-(amido-amine) (PAMAM) dendrimers with amide-conjugated vancomycin (Van) and incorporated Ag nanoparticles (AgNP) showed a 6-7 log reduction in colony-forming-units of a vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain in vitro, while not inducing resistance in a vancomycin-susceptible strain. Healing of a superficial wound in mice infected with the vancomycin-resistant S. aureus was significantly faster and more effective by irrigation with low-dose, dual-conjugated Van-PAMAM-AgNP dendrimer suspension than by irrigation with vancomycin in solution or a PAMAM-AgNP dendrimer suspension. Herewith, dual-conjugation of vancomycin together with AgNPs in heterofunctionalized PAMAM dendrimers fulfills the need for new, prolonged life-time antimicrobials killing resistant pathogens without inducing resistance in susceptible strains. Important for clinical translation, this better use of antibiotics can be achieved with currently approved and clinically applied antibiotics, provided suitable for amide-conjugation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guimei Jiang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Rd, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P. R. China; University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Sidi Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Rd, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P. R. China; University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Tianrong Yu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Rd, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P. R. China; University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Renfei Wu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Rd, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P. R. China; University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Yijin Ren
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center of Groningen, Department of Orthodontics, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Henny C van der Mei
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, Netherlands.
| | - Jian Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Rd, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Henk J Busscher
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, Netherlands
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LytR-CpsA-Psr Glycopolymer Transferases: Essential Bricks in Gram-Positive Bacterial Cell Wall Assembly. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020908. [PMID: 33477538 PMCID: PMC7831098 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria contain a variety of glycopolymers (CWGPs), a significant proportion of which are covalently linked to the peptidoglycan (PGN) scaffolding structure. Prominent CWGPs include wall teichoic acids of Staphylococcus aureus, streptococcal capsules, mycobacterial arabinogalactan, and rhamnose-containing polysaccharides of lactic acid bacteria. CWGPs serve important roles in bacterial cellular functions, morphology, and virulence. Despite evident differences in composition, structure and underlaying biosynthesis pathways, the final ligation step of CWGPs to the PGN backbone involves a conserved class of enzymes-the LytR-CpsA-Psr (LCP) transferases. Typically, the enzymes are present in multiple copies displaying partly functional redundancy and/or preference for a distinct CWGP type. LCP enzymes require a lipid-phosphate-linked glycan precursor substrate and catalyse, with a certain degree of promiscuity, CWGP transfer to PGN of different maturation stages, according to in vitro evidence. The prototype attachment mode is that to the C6-OH of N-acetylmuramic acid residues via installation of a phosphodiester bond. In some cases, attachment proceeds to N-acetylglucosamine residues of PGN-in the case of the Streptococcus agalactiae capsule, even without involvement of a phosphate bond. A novel aspect of LCP enzymes concerns a predicted role in protein glycosylation in Actinomyces oris. Available crystal structures provide further insight into the catalytic mechanism of this biologically important class of enzymes, which are gaining attention as new targets for antibacterial drug discovery to counteract the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria.
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40
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Snell SB, Gill AL, Haidaris CG, Foster TH, Baran TM, Gill SR. Staphylococcus aureus Tolerance and Genomic Response to Photodynamic Inactivation. mSphere 2021; 6:e00762-20. [PMID: 33408223 PMCID: PMC7845598 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00762-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen with a clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic skin colonization to invasive infections. While traditional antibiotic therapies can be effective against S. aureus, the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains results in treatment failures and high mortality rates. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is an innovative and promising alternative to antibiotics. While progress has been made in our understanding of the bacterial response to PDI, major gaps remain in our knowledge of PDI tolerance, the global cellular response, and adaptive genomic mutations acquired as a result of PDI. To address these gaps, S. aureus HG003 and isogenic mutants with mutations in agr, mutS, mutL, and mutY exposed to single or multiple doses of PDI were assessed for survival and tolerance and examined by global transcriptome and genome analyses to identify regulatory and genetic adaptations that contribute to tolerance. Pathways in inorganic ion transport, oxidative response, DNA replication recombination and repair, and cell wall and membrane biogenesis were identified in a global cellular response to PDI. Tolerance to PDI was associated with superoxide dismutase and the S. aureus global methylhydroquinone (MHQ)-quinone transcriptome network. Genome analysis of PDI-tolerant HG003 identified a nonsynonymous mutation in the quinone binding domain of the transcriptional repressor QsrR, which mediates quinone sensing and oxidant response. Acquisition of a heritable QsrR mutation through repeated PDI treatment demonstrates selective adaption of S. aureus to PDI. PDI tolerance of a qsrR gene deletion in HG003 confirmed that QsrR regulates the S. aureus response to PDI.IMPORTANCEStaphylococcus aureus can cause disease at most body sites, with illness ranging from asymptomatic infection to death. The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains results in treatment failures and high mortality rates. S. aureus acquires resistance to antibiotics through multiple mechanisms, often by genetic variation that alters antimicrobial targets. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI), which employs a combination of a nontoxic dye and low-intensity visible light, is a promising alternative to antibiotics that effectively eradicates S. aureus in human infections when antibiotics are no longer effective. In this study, we demonstrate that repeated exposure to PDI results in resistance of S. aureus to further PDI treatment and identify the underlying bacterial mechanisms that contribute to resistance. This work supports further analysis of these mechanisms and refinement of this novel technology as an adjunctive treatment for S. aureus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara B Snell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Ann Lindley Gill
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Constantine G Haidaris
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
- Center for Oral Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Thomas H Foster
- Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Timothy M Baran
- Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Steven R Gill
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
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Su T, Nakamoto R, Chun YY, Chua WZ, Chen JH, Zik JJ, Sham LT. Decoding capsule synthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020; 45:6041728. [PMID: 33338218 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae synthesizes more than one hundred types of capsular polysaccharides (CPS). While the diversity of the enzymes and transporters involved is enormous, it is not limitless. In this review, we summarized the recent progress on elucidating the structure-function relationships of CPS, the mechanisms by which they are synthesized, how their synthesis is regulated, the host immune response against them, and the development of novel pneumococcal vaccines. Based on the genetic and structural information available, we generated provisional models of the CPS repeating units that remain unsolved. In addition, to facilitate cross-species comparisons and assignment of glycosyltransferases, we illustrated the biosynthetic pathways of the known CPS in a standardized format. Studying the intricate steps of pneumococcal CPS assembly promises to provide novel insights for drug and vaccine development as well as improve our understanding of related pathways in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Su
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117545, Singapore
| | - Rei Nakamoto
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117545, Singapore
| | - Ye Yu Chun
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117545, Singapore
| | - Wan Zhen Chua
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117545, Singapore
| | - Jia Hui Chen
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117545, Singapore
| | - Justin J Zik
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117545, Singapore
| | - Lok-To Sham
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117545, Singapore
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Chateau A, Van der Verren SE, Remaut H, Fioravanti A. The Bacillus anthracis Cell Envelope: Composition, Physiological Role, and Clinical Relevance. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1864. [PMID: 33255913 PMCID: PMC7759979 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthrax is a highly resilient and deadly disease caused by the spore-forming bacterial pathogen Bacillus anthracis. The bacterium presents a complex and dynamic composition of its cell envelope, which changes in response to developmental and environmental conditions and host-dependent signals. Because of their easy to access extracellular locations, B. anthracis cell envelope components represent interesting targets for the identification and development of novel therapeutic and vaccine strategies. This review will focus on the novel insights regarding the composition, physiological role, and clinical relevance of B. anthracis cell envelope components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Chateau
- Avignon Université, INRAE, UMR SQPOV, F-84914 Avignon, France;
| | - Sander E. Van der Verren
- Structural and Molecular Microbiology, Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (S.E.V.d.V.); (H.R.)
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Han Remaut
- Structural and Molecular Microbiology, Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (S.E.V.d.V.); (H.R.)
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Antonella Fioravanti
- Structural and Molecular Microbiology, Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (S.E.V.d.V.); (H.R.)
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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43
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Ultee E, van der Aart LT, Zhang L, van Dissel D, Diebolder CA, van Wezel GP, Claessen D, Briegel A. Teichoic acids anchor distinct cell wall lamellae in an apically growing bacterium. Commun Biol 2020; 3:314. [PMID: 32555532 PMCID: PMC7300013 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-1038-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial cell wall is a multicomponent structure that provides structural support and protection. In monoderm species, the cell wall is made up predominantly of peptidoglycan, teichoic acids and capsular glycans. Filamentous monoderm Actinobacteria incorporate new cell-wall material at their tips. Here we use cryo-electron tomography to reveal the architecture of the actinobacterial cell wall of Streptomyces coelicolor. Our data shows a density difference between the apex and subapical regions. Removal of teichoic acids results in a patchy cell wall and distinct lamellae. Knock-down of tagO expression using CRISPR-dCas9 interference leads to growth retardation, presumably because build-in of teichoic acids had become rate-limiting. Absence of extracellular glycans produced by MatAB and CslA proteins results in a thinner wall lacking lamellae and patches. We propose that the Streptomyces cell wall is composed of layers of peptidoglycan and extracellular polymers that are structurally supported by teichoic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eveline Ultee
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lizah T van der Aart
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Le Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dino van Dissel
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Christoph A Diebolder
- Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy (NeCEN), Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gilles P van Wezel
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Claessen
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ariane Briegel
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Bonne Køhler J, Jers C, Senissar M, Shi L, Derouiche A, Mijakovic I. Importance of protein Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphorylation for bacterial pathogenesis. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:2339-2369. [PMID: 32337704 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Protein phosphorylation regulates a large variety of biological processes in all living cells. In pathogenic bacteria, the study of serine, threonine, and tyrosine (Ser/Thr/Tyr) phosphorylation has shed light on the course of infectious diseases, from adherence to host cells to pathogen virulence, replication, and persistence. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based phosphoproteomics has provided global maps of Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphosites in bacterial pathogens. Despite recent developments, a quantitative and dynamic view of phosphorylation events that occur during bacterial pathogenesis is currently lacking. Temporal, spatial, and subpopulation resolution of phosphorylation data is required to identify key regulatory nodes underlying bacterial pathogenesis. Herein, we discuss how technological improvements in sample handling, MS instrumentation, data processing, and machine learning should improve bacterial phosphoproteomic datasets and the information extracted from them. Such information is expected to significantly extend the current knowledge of Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphorylation in pathogenic bacteria and should ultimately contribute to the design of novel strategies to combat bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Bonne Køhler
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Carsten Jers
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mériem Senissar
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lei Shi
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Division, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Abderahmane Derouiche
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Division, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ivan Mijakovic
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.,Systems and Synthetic Biology Division, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
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45
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Gajdiss M, Monk IR, Bertsche U, Kienemund J, Funk T, Dietrich A, Hort M, Sib E, Stinear TP, Bierbaum G. YycH and YycI Regulate Expression of Staphylococcus aureus Autolysins by Activation of WalRK Phosphorylation. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8060870. [PMID: 32526915 PMCID: PMC7355866 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8060870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative pathogen that can encode numerous antibiotic resistance and immune evasion genes and can cause severe infections. Reduced susceptibility to last resort antibiotics such as vancomycin and daptomycin is often associated with mutations in walRK, an essential two-component regulatory system (TCS). This study focuses on the WalK accessory membrane proteins YycH and YycI and their influence on WalRK phosphorylation. Depletion of YycH and YycI by antisense RNA caused an impaired autolysis, indicating a positive regulatory function on WalK as has been previously described. Phosphorylation assays with full-length recombinant proteins in phospholipid liposomes showed that YycH and YycI stimulate WalK activity and that both regulatory proteins are needed for full activation of the WalK kinase. This was validated in vivo through examining the phosphorylation status of WalR using Phos-tag SDS-PAGE with a yycHI deletion mutant exhibiting reduced levels of phosphorylated WalR. In the yycHI knockdown strain, muropeptide composition of the cell wall was not affected, however, the wall teichoic acid content was increased. In conclusion, a direct modulation of WalRK phosphorylation activity by the accessory proteins YycH and YycI is reported both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our results show that YycH and YycI are important in the direct regulation of WalRK-dependent cell wall metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike Gajdiss
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany; (M.G.); (J.K.); (T.F.); (A.D.); (M.H.); (E.S.)
| | - Ian R. Monk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; (I.R.M.); (T.P.S.)
| | - Ute Bertsche
- Department of Infection Biology, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany;
| | - Janina Kienemund
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany; (M.G.); (J.K.); (T.F.); (A.D.); (M.H.); (E.S.)
| | - Tanja Funk
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany; (M.G.); (J.K.); (T.F.); (A.D.); (M.H.); (E.S.)
| | - Alina Dietrich
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany; (M.G.); (J.K.); (T.F.); (A.D.); (M.H.); (E.S.)
| | - Michael Hort
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany; (M.G.); (J.K.); (T.F.); (A.D.); (M.H.); (E.S.)
| | - Esther Sib
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany; (M.G.); (J.K.); (T.F.); (A.D.); (M.H.); (E.S.)
| | - Timothy P. Stinear
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; (I.R.M.); (T.P.S.)
| | - Gabriele Bierbaum
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany; (M.G.); (J.K.); (T.F.); (A.D.); (M.H.); (E.S.)
- Correspondence:
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46
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Li F, Zhai D, Wu Z, Zhao Y, Qiao D, Zhao X. Impairment of the Cell Wall Ligase, LytR-CpsA-Psr Protein (LcpC), in Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Reduces Its Resistance to Antibiotics and Infection in a Mouse Model of Sepsis. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:557. [PMID: 32425893 PMCID: PMC7212477 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major opportunistic pathogen, infecting animals, and human beings. The bacterial cell wall plays a crucial role in antimicrobial resistance and its infection to host cells. Peptidoglycans (PGs) are a major component of the cell wall in S. aureus, which is heavily decorated with wall teichoic acids (WTAs) and capsular polysaccharides (CPs). The ligation of WTAs and CPs to PGs is catalyzed by LytR-CpsA-Psr (LCP) family proteins, including LcpA, LcpB, and LcpC. However, the involvement of LcpC in antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus and its infection to host cells remains unknown. By creating the LcpC-knockout strains, we showed that the deficiency in LcpC decreased the antimicrobial resistance to β-lactams and glycopeptides and impeded the binding to various epithelial cells. These changes were accompanied by the morphological changes in bacterial cell wall. More importantly, the knockout of LcpC significantly reduced the pathogenicity of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in mice. Our results suggest that LcpC might be an appealing target for developing a therapeutic approach against MRSA infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhai
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhaowei Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.,School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Dandan Qiao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.,Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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47
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Mengi B, Ikeda S, Murayama D, Bochimoto H, Matsumoto S, Kitazawa H, Urashima T, Fukuda K. Factors affecting decreasing viscosity of the culture medium during the stationary growth phase of exopolysaccharide-producing Lactobacillus fermentum MTCC 25067. BIOSCIENCE OF MICROBIOTA FOOD AND HEALTH 2020; 39:160-168. [PMID: 32775135 PMCID: PMC7392921 DOI: 10.12938/bmfh.2019-051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Lactobacillus fermentum MTCC 25067 produces a hetero-exopolysaccharide (HePS) when cultured which forms supramolecular networks in the culture medium, increasing
the viscosity. In the present study, the viscosity of the bacterial culture reached its maximum at 48 hr of cultivation and then decreased during a stationary growth phase lasting
for up to 144 hr. The monosaccharide composition did not change during the stationary growth phase, whereas degradation of HePS molecules was noticeable, leading to partial
disintegration of their supramolecular networks. The viscosity values of the HePS purified from the culture and dissolved in a fresh medium indicated little contribution of medium
components to the viscosity. Absence of the apparent network structure of the HePS in the surrounding area of bacterial cells was observed during the late growth phase, supporting
the idea that the decreases in culture viscosity during the prolonged period of cultivation were caused mainly by reduced interactions between bacterial cells and the intact
supramolecular networks as a consequence of decreasing bacterial cell wall integrity and partial degradation of HePS molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharat Mengi
- Department of Animal and Food Hygiene, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Shinya Ikeda
- Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.,Current address: Department of Life and Food Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Daiki Murayama
- Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Hiroki Bochimoto
- Health Care Administration Center, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.,Current address: Division of Aerospace Medicine, Department of Cell Physiology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinpei Matsumoto
- Department of Animal and Food Hygiene, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Haruki Kitazawa
- Food and Feed Immunology Group, Laboratory of Animal Products Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 984-0051, Japan
| | - Tadasu Urashima
- Department of Life and Food Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Kenji Fukuda
- Research Center for Global Agromedicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
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48
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Li FKK, Rosell FI, Gale RT, Simorre JP, Brown ED, Strynadka NCJ. Crystallographic analysis of Staphylococcus aureus LcpA, the primary wall teichoic acid ligase. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:2629-2639. [PMID: 31969390 PMCID: PMC7049971 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.011469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gram-positive bacteria, including major clinical pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, are becoming increasingly drug-resistant. Their cell walls are composed of a thick layer of peptidoglycan (PG) modified by the attachment of wall teichoic acid (WTA), an anionic glycopolymer that is linked to pathogenicity and regulation of cell division and PG synthesis. The transfer of WTA from lipid carriers to PG, catalyzed by the LytR-CpsA-Psr (LCP) enzyme family, offers a unique extracellular target for the development of new anti-infective agents. Inhibitors of LCP enzymes have the potential to manage a wide range of bacterial infections because the target enzymes are implicated in the assembly of many other bacterial cell wall polymers, including capsular polysaccharide of streptococcal species and arabinogalactan of mycobacterial species. In this study, we present the first crystal structure of S. aureus LcpA with bound substrate at 1.9 Å resolution and those of Bacillus subtilis LCP enzymes, TagT, TagU, and TagV, in the apo form at 1.6-2.8 Å resolution. The structures of these WTA transferases provide new insight into the binding of lipid-linked WTA and enable assignment of the catalytic roles of conserved active-site residues. Furthermore, we identified potential subsites for binding the saccharide core of PG using computational docking experiments, and multiangle light-scattering experiments disclosed novel oligomeric states of the LCP enzymes. The crystal structures and modeled substrate-bound complexes of the LCP enzymes reported here provide insights into key features linked to substrate binding and catalysis and may aid the structure-guided design of specific LCP inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco K K Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Federico I Rosell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Robert T Gale
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Simorre
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Eric D Brown
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Natalie C J Strynadka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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49
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Do T, Page JE, Walker S. Uncovering the activities, biological roles, and regulation of bacterial cell wall hydrolases and tailoring enzymes. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:3347-3361. [PMID: 31974163 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev119.010155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria account for 1000-fold more biomass than humans. They vary widely in shape and size. The morphological diversity of bacteria is due largely to the different peptidoglycan-based cell wall structures that encase bacterial cells. Although the basic structure of peptidoglycan is highly conserved, consisting of long glycan strands that are cross-linked by short peptide chains, the mature cell wall is chemically diverse. Peptidoglycan hydrolases and cell wall-tailoring enzymes that regulate glycan strand length, the degree of cross-linking, and the addition of other modifications to peptidoglycan are central in determining the final architecture of the bacterial cell wall. Historically, it has been difficult to biochemically characterize these enzymes that act on peptidoglycan because suitable peptidoglycan substrates were inaccessible. In this review, we discuss fundamental aspects of bacterial cell wall synthesis, describe the regulation and diverse biochemical and functional activities of peptidoglycan hydrolases, and highlight recently developed methods to make and label defined peptidoglycan substrates. We also review how access to these substrates has now enabled biochemical studies that deepen our understanding of how bacterial cell wall enzymes cooperate to build a mature cell wall. Such improved understanding is critical to the development of new antibiotics that disrupt cell wall biogenesis, a process essential to the survival of bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Truc Do
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Julia E Page
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Suzanne Walker
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
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50
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Booth S, Lewis RJ. Structural basis for the coordination of cell division with the synthesis of the bacterial cell envelope. Protein Sci 2019; 28:2042-2054. [PMID: 31495975 PMCID: PMC6863701 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria are surrounded by a complex cell envelope made up of one or two membranes supplemented with a layer of peptidoglycan (PG). The envelope is responsible for the protection of bacteria against lysis in their oft-unpredictable environments and it contributes to cell integrity, morphology, signaling, nutrient/small-molecule transport, and, in the case of pathogenic bacteria, host-pathogen interactions and virulence. The cell envelope requires considerable remodeling during cell division in order to produce genetically identical progeny. Several proteinaceous machines are responsible for the homeostasis of the cell envelope and their activities must be kept coordinated in order to ensure the remodeling of the envelope is temporally and spatially regulated correctly during multiple cycles of cell division and growth. This review aims to highlight the complexity of the components of the cell envelope, but focusses specifically on the molecular apparatuses involved in the synthesis of the PG wall, and the degree of cross talk necessary between the cell division and the cell wall remodeling machineries to coordinate PG remodeling during division. The current understanding of many of the proteins discussed here has relied on structural studies, and this review concentrates particularly on this structural work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Booth
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Richard J. Lewis
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
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