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Yalkut K, Ben Ali Hassine S, Basaran E, Kula C, Ozcan A, Avci FG, Keskin O, Sariyar Akbulut B, Ozbek P. Attenuation of Type IV pili activity by natural products. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38305801 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2310781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
The virulence factor Type IV pili (T4P) are surface appendages used by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa for twitching motility and adhesion in the environment and during infection. Additionally, the use of these appendages by P. aeruginosa for biofilm formation increases its virulence and drug resistance. Therefore, attenuation of the activity of T4P would be desirable to control P. aeruginosa infections. Here, a computational approach has been pursued to screen natural products that can be used for this purpose. PilB, the elongation ATPase of the T4P machinery in P. aeruginosa, has been selected as the target subunit and virtual screening of FDA-approved drugs has been conducted. Screening identified two natural compounds, ergoloid and irinotecan, as potential candidates for inhibiting this T4P-associated ATPase in P. aeruginosa. These candidate compounds underwent further rigorous evaluation through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and then through in vitro twitching motility and biofilm inhibition assays. Notably, ergoloid emerged as a particularly promising candidate for weakening the T4P activity by inhibiting the elongation ATPases associated with T4P. This repurposing study paves the way for the timely discovery of antivirulence drugs as an alternative to classical antibiotic treatments to help combat infections caused by P. aeruginosa and related pathogens.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerem Yalkut
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Soumaya Ben Ali Hassine
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Uskudar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Esra Basaran
- Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ceyda Kula
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aslıhan Ozcan
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Fatma Gizem Avci
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Uskudar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ozlem Keskin
- Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Berna Sariyar Akbulut
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Pemra Ozbek
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Prüßner T, Meinderink D, Zhu S, Orive AG, Kielar C, Huck M, Steinrück HG, Keller A, Grundmeier G. Molecular Adhesion of a Pilus-Derived Peptide Involved in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Formation on Non-Polar ZnO-Surfaces. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202302464. [PMID: 37909474 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202302464] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces are initiated by the adhesion of peptides and proteins. Understanding the adhesion of such peptides and proteins at a molecular level thus represents an important step toward controlling and suppressing biofilm formation on technological and medical materials. This study investigates the molecular adhesion of a pilus-derived peptide that facilitates biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogen frequently encountered in healthcare settings. Single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) was performed on chemically etched ZnO11 2 ‾ 0 ${\left(11\bar{2}0\right)}$ surfaces to gather insights about peptide adsorption force and its kinetics. Metal-free click chemistry for the fabrication of peptide-terminated SMFS cantilevers was performed on amine-terminated gold cantilevers and verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and polarization-modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and XPS analyses reveal stable topographies and surface chemistries of the substrates that are not affected by SMFS. Rupture events described by the worm-like chain model (WLC) up to 600 pN were detected for the non-polar ZnO surfaces. The dissociation barrier energy at zero force ΔG(0), the transition state distance xb and bound-unbound dissociation rate at zero force koff (0) for the single crystalline substrate indicate that coordination and hydrogen bonds dominate the peptide/surface interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Prüßner
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Dennis Meinderink
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Siqi Zhu
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Alejandro G Orive
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Nanotechnology Institute, University of La Laguna, Avda. Astrofisico Francisco Sánchez s/n, 38206, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Charlotte Kielar
- Insitute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marten Huck
- Chemistry Department, Paderborn University, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | | | - Adrian Keller
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Guido Grundmeier
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
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Guilvout I, Samsudin F, Huber RG, Bond PJ, Bardiaux B, Francetic O. Membrane platform protein PulF of the Klebsiella type II secretion system forms a trimeric ion channel essential for endopilus assembly and protein secretion. mBio 2024; 15:e0142323. [PMID: 38063437 PMCID: PMC10790770 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01423-23] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Type IV pili and type II secretion systems are members of the widespread type IV filament (T4F) superfamily of nanomachines that assemble dynamic and versatile surface fibers in archaea and bacteria. The assembly and retraction of T4 filaments with diverse surface properties and functions require the plasma membrane platform proteins of the GspF/PilC superfamily. Generally considered dimeric, platform proteins are thought to function as passive transmitters of the mechanical energy generated by the ATPase motor, to somehow promote insertion of pilin subunits into the nascent pilus fibers. Here, we generate and experimentally validate structural predictions that support the trimeric state of a platform protein PulF from a type II secretion system. The PulF trimers form selective proton or sodium channels which might energize pilus assembly using the membrane potential. The conservation of the channel sequence and structural features implies a common mechanism for all T4F assembly systems. We propose a model of the oligomeric PulF-PulE ATPase complex that provides an essential framework to investigate and understand the pilus assembly mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Guilvout
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3528, Biochemistry of Macromolecular Interactions Unit, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Peter J. Bond
- Bioinformatics Institute (A-STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Benjamin Bardiaux
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3528, Structural Bioinformatics Unit, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3528, Bacterial Transmembrane Systems Unit, Paris, France
| | - Olivera Francetic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3528, Biochemistry of Macromolecular Interactions Unit, Paris, France
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4
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Izadi-Pruneyre N, Karami Y, Nilges M. Structure and Dynamics of Type 4a Pili and Type 2 Secretion System Endopili. Subcell Biochem 2024; 104:549-563. [PMID: 38963500 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-58843-3_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Within the highly diverse type four filament (TFF or T4F) superfamily, the machineries of type IVa pili (T4aP) and the type 2 secretion system (T2SS) in diderm bacteria exhibit a substantial sequence similarity despite divergent functions and distinct appearances: T4aP can extend micrometers beyond the outer membrane, whereas the endopili in the T2SS are restricted to the periplasm. The determination of the structure of individual components and entire filaments is crucial to understand how their structure enables them to serve different functions. However, the dynamics of these filaments poses a challenge for their high-resolution structure determination. This review presents different approaches that have been used to study the structure and dynamics of T4aP and T2SS endopili by means of integrative structural biology, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), and molecular dynamics simulations. Their conserved features and differences are presented. The non-helical stretch in the long-conserved N-terminal helix which is characteristic of all members of the TFF and the impact of calcium on structure, function, and dynamics of these filaments are discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Izadi-Pruneyre
- Bacterial Transmembrane Systems Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR, Paris, France
| | - Yasaman Karami
- Structural Bioinformatics Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR, Paris, France
| | - Michael Nilges
- Structural Bioinformatics Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR, Paris, France.
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5
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Walsh L, Clark SA, Derrick JP, Borrow R. Beyond the usual suspects: Reviewing infections caused by typically-commensal Neisseria species. J Infect 2023; 87:479-489. [PMID: 37797844 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Few data outside of individual case reports are available on non-meningococcal, non-gonococcal species of Neisseria as causative agents of invasive disease. This review collates disease, organism and patient information from case reports on the topic. METHODS A literature search was performed examining articles describing diseases caused by non-meningococcal and non-gonococcal Neisseria. FINDINGS Neisseria present as opportunistic pathogens causing a wide variety of diseases including serious presentations, endocarditis being the most common condition described and N. mucosa the most commonly presenting pathogen overall. Disease may occur in otherwise healthy patients, although risk factors for infection include recent surgery, an immunocompromised state, poor oral health, and intravenous drug use. CONCLUSIONS Commensal Neisseria infections are rare but can present serious invasive diseases. Further research is required to determine why some species cause disease more than others or why some are inclined towards particular manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lloyd Walsh
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester M13 9WL, United Kingdom.
| | - Stephen A Clark
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester M13 9WL, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy P Derrick
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester M13 9WL, United Kingdom
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6
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Vo N, Sidner BS, Yu Y, Piepenbrink KH. Type IV Pilus-Mediated Inhibition of Acinetobacter baumannii Biofilm Formation by Phenothiazine Compounds. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0102323. [PMID: 37341603 PMCID: PMC10433872 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01023-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections by pathogenic Acinetobacter species represent a significant burden on the health care system, despite their relative rarity, due to the difficulty of treating infections through oral antibiotics. Multidrug resistance is commonly observed in clinical Acinetobacter infections and multiple molecular mechanisms have been identified for this resistance, including multidrug efflux pumps, carbapenemase enzymes, and the formation of bacterial biofilm in persistent infections. Phenothiazine compounds have been identified as a potential inhibitor of type IV pilus production in multiple Gram-negative bacterial species. Here, we report the ability of two phenothiazines to inhibit type IV pilus-dependent surface (twitching) motility and biofilm formation in multiple Acinetobacter species. Biofilm formation was inhibited in both static and continuous flow models at micromolar concentrations without significant cytotoxicity, suggesting that type IV pilus biogenesis was the primary molecular target for these compounds. These results suggest that phenothiazines may be useful lead compounds for the development of biofilm dispersal agents against Gram-negative bacterial infections. IMPORTANCE Acinetobacter infections are a growing burden on health care systems worldwide due to increasing antimicrobial resistance through multiple mechanisms. Biofilm formation is an established mechanism of antimicrobial resistance, and its inhibition has the potential to potentiate the use of existing drugs against pathogenic Acinetobacter. Additionally, as discussed in the manuscript, anti-biofilm activity by phenothiazines has the potential to help to explain their known activity against other bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nam Vo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Benjamin S. Sidner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Yafan Yu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Kurt H. Piepenbrink
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
- Nebraska Food for Health Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
- Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
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7
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Girgis MM, Christodoulides M. Vertebrate and Invertebrate Animal and New In Vitro Models for Studying Neisseria Biology. Pathogens 2023; 12:782. [PMID: 37375472 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12060782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The history of Neisseria research has involved the use of a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate animal models, from insects to humans. In this review, we itemise these models and describe how they have made significant contributions to understanding the pathophysiology of Neisseria infections and to the development and testing of vaccines and antimicrobials. We also look ahead, briefly, to their potential replacement by complex in vitro cellular models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael M Girgis
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Myron Christodoulides
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
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8
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Ozcan A, Keskin O, Sariyar Akbulut B, Ozbek P. Piperidine-based natural products targeting Type IV pili antivirulence: A computational approach. J Mol Graph Model 2023; 119:108382. [PMID: 36463631 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2022.108382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Type IV (T4) pilus is among the virulence factors with a key role in serious bacterial diseases. Specifically, in Neisseria meningitidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, it determines pathogenicity and causes infection. Here, a computational approach has been pursued to find piperidine-based inhibitor molecules against the elongation ATPase of T4 pili in these two selected pathogens. Using the modeled structures of the PilF and PilB ATPases of N. meningitidis and P. aeruginosa, virtual library screening via molecular docking has returned inhibitor molecule candidates. The dynamics of the best three binders have further been investigated in detail via molecular dynamic simulations. Among these, ligands with COCONUT IDs CNP0030078 and CNP0051517 were found to have higher potential in the inhibition of ATPases based on molecular dynamic simulation analysis and biological activity information. The obtained results will guide future efforts in antivirulence drug development against T4 pili of N. meningitidis and P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslihan Ozcan
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ozlem Keskin
- College of Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Berna Sariyar Akbulut
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Pemra Ozbek
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
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9
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Auranofin inhibits virulence pathways in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 79:117167. [PMID: 36682225 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is widely attributed as the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. Due to intrinsic antibiotic resistance mechanisms and the ability to form biofilms, P. aeruginosa infections are challenging to treat. P. aeruginosa employs multiple virulence mechanisms to establish infections, many of which are controlled by the global virulence regulator Vfr. An attractive strategy to combat P. aeruginosa infections is thus the use of anti-virulence compounds. Here, we report the discovery that FDA-approved drug auranofin attenuates virulence pathways in P. aeruginosa, including quorum sensing (QS) and Type IV pili (TFP). We show that auranofin acts via multiple targets, one of which being Vfr. Consistent with inhibition of QS and TFP expression, we show that auranofin attenuates biofilm maturation, and when used in combination with colistin, displays strong synergy in eradicating P. aeruginosa biofilms. Auranofin may have immediate applications as an anti-virulence drug against P. aeruginosa infections.
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10
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Discovery of Two Inhibitors of the Type IV Pilus Assembly ATPase PilB as Potential Antivirulence Compounds. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0387722. [PMID: 36377931 PMCID: PMC9769694 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03877-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
With the pressing antibiotic resistance pandemic, antivirulence has been increasingly explored as an alternative strategy against bacterial infections. The bacterial type IV pilus (T4P) is a well-documented virulence factor and an attractive target for small molecules for antivirulence purposes. The PilB ATPase is essential for T4P biogenesis because it catalyzes the assembly of monomeric pilins into the polymeric pilus filament. Here, we describe the identification of two PilB inhibitors by a high-throughput screen (HTS) in vitro and their validation as effective inhibitors of T4P assembly in vivo. We used Chloracidobacterium thermophilum PilB as a model enzyme to optimize an ATPase assay for the HTS. From a library of 2,320 compounds, benserazide and levodopa, two approved drugs for Parkinson's disease, were identified and confirmed biochemically to be PilB inhibitors. We demonstrate that both compounds inhibited the T4P-dependent motility of the bacteria Myxoccocus xanthus and Acinetobacter nosocomialis. Additionally, benserazide and levodopa were shown to inhibit A. nosocomialis biofilm formation, a T4P-dependent process. Using M. xanthus as a model, we showed that both compounds inhibited T4P assembly in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that these two compounds are effective against the PilB protein in vivo. The potency of benserazide and levodopa as PilB inhibitors both in vitro and in vivo demonstrate potentials of the HTS and its two hits here for the development of anti-T4P chemotherapeutics. IMPORTANCE Many bacterial pathogens use their type IV pilus (T4P) to facilitate and maintain an infection in a human host. Small-molecule inhibitors of the production or assembly of the T4P are promising for the treatment and prevention of infections by these bacteria, especially in our fight against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Here, we report the development and implementation of a method to identify anti-T4P chemicals from compound libraries by high-throughput screen. This led to the identification and validation of two T4P inhibitors both in the test tubes and in bacteria. The discovery and validation pipeline reported here as well as the confirmation of two anti-T4P inhibitors provide new venues and leads for the development of chemotherapeutics against antibiotic-resistant infections.
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11
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Type IV Pili Are a Critical Virulence Factor in Clinical Isolates of Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus. mBio 2022; 13:e0268822. [PMID: 36374038 PMCID: PMC9765702 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02688-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrocephalus, the leading indication for childhood neurosurgery worldwide, is particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. Hydrocephalus preceded by an infection, or postinfectious hydrocephalus, accounts for up to 60% of hydrocephalus in these areas. Since many children with hydrocephalus suffer poor long-term outcomes despite surgical intervention, prevention of hydrocephalus remains paramount. Our previous studies implicated a novel bacterial pathogen, Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus, as a causal agent of neonatal sepsis and postinfectious hydrocephalus in Uganda. Here, we report the isolation of three P. thiaminolyticus strains, Mbale, Mbale2, and Mbale3, from patients with postinfectious hydrocephalus. We constructed complete genome assemblies of the clinical isolates as well as the nonpathogenic P. thiaminolyticus reference strain and performed comparative genomic and proteomic analyses to identify potential virulence factors. All three isolates carry a unique beta-lactamase gene, and two of the three isolates exhibit resistance in culture to the beta-lactam antibiotics penicillin and ampicillin. In addition, a cluster of genes carried on a mobile genetic element that encodes a putative type IV pilus operon is present in all three clinical isolates but absent in the reference strain. CRISPR-mediated deletion of the gene cluster substantially reduced the virulence of the Mbale strain in mice. Comparative proteogenomic analysis identified various additional potential virulence factors likely acquired on mobile genetic elements in the virulent strains. These results provide insight into the emergence of virulence in P. thiaminolyticus and suggest avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of this novel bacterial pathogen. IMPORTANCE Postinfectious hydrocephalus, a devastating sequela of neonatal infection, is associated with increased childhood mortality and morbidity. A novel bacterial pathogen, Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus, is highly associated with postinfectious hydrocephalus in an African cohort. Whole-genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and proteomics of clinical isolates and a reference strain in combination with CRISPR editing identified type IV pili as a critical virulence factor for P. thiaminolyticus infection. Acquisition of a type IV pilus-encoding mobile genetic element critically contributed to converting a nonpathogenic strain of P. thiaminolyticus into a pathogen capable of causing devastating diseases. Given the widespread presence of type IV pilus in pathogens, the presence of the type IV pilus operon could serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic target in P. thiaminolyticus and related bacteria.
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Savitskaya VY, Monakhova MV, Iakushkina IV, Borovikova II, Kubareva EA. Neisseria gonorrhoeae: DNA Repair Systems and Their Role in Pathogenesis. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2022; 87:965-982. [PMID: 36180987 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922090097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (a Gram-negative diplococcus) is a human pathogen and causative agent of gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection. The bacterium uses various approaches for adapting to environmental conditions and multiplying efficiently in the human body, such as regulation of expression of gene expression of surface proteins and lipooligosaccharides (e.g., expression of various forms of pilin). The systems of DNA repair play an important role in the bacterium ability to survive in the host body. This review describes DNA repair systems of N. gonorrhoeae and their role in the pathogenicity of this bacterium. A special attention is paid to the mismatch repair system (MMR) and functioning of the MutS and MutL proteins, as well as to the role of these proteins in regulation of the pilin antigenic variation of the N. gonorrhoeae pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mayya V Monakhova
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Iuliia V Iakushkina
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Irina I Borovikova
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Elena A Kubareva
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
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13
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The Structures and Binding Modes of Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Elastase LasB. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11081060. [PMID: 36009930 PMCID: PMC9404851 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11081060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastase B (LasB) is a zinc metalloprotease and a crucial virulence factor of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As the need for new strategies to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR) constantly rises, this protein has become a key target in the development of novel antivirulence agents. The extensive knowledge of the structure of its active site, containing two subpockets and a zinc atom, led to various structure-based medicinal chemistry programs and the optimization of several chemical classes of inhibitors. This review provides a brief reminder of the structure of the active site and a summary of the disclosed P. aeruginosa LasB inhibitors. We specifically focused on the analysis of their binding modes with a detailed representation of them, hence giving an overview of the strategies aiming at targeting LasB by small molecules.
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14
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Yang L, Zhang T, Li L, Zheng C, Tan D, Wu N, Wang M, Zhu T. Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteriophage L5 Which Requires Type IV Pili for Infection. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:907958. [PMID: 35847060 PMCID: PMC9284122 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.907958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common opportunistic human pathogen. With the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical infection of P. aeruginosa, phage therapy has received renewed attention in treating P. aeruginosa infections. Moreover, a detailed understanding of the host receptor of lytic phage is crucial for selecting proper phages for therapy. Here, we describe the characterization of the P. aeruginosa bacteriophage L5 with a double-stranded DNA genome of 42,925 bp. The genomic characteristics indicate that L5 is a lytic bacteriophage belonging to the subfamily Autographivirinae. In addition, the phage receptors for L5 were also identified as type IV pili, because the mutation of pilZ, which is involved in pili synthesis, resists phage infection, while the complementation of pilZ restored its phage sensitivity. This research reveals that L5 is a potential phage therapy candidate for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Yang
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, School of Biology and Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Linlin Li
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Zheng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Jiangbei District People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Demeng Tan
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nannan Wu
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- CreatiPhage Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyang Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Jiangbei District People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Mingyang Wang,
| | - Tongyu Zhu
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Tongyu Zhu,
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15
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Peng H, Rossetto D, Mansy SS, Jordan MC, Roos KP, Chen IA. Treatment of Wound Infections in a Mouse Model Using Zn 2+-Releasing Phage Bound to Gold Nanorods. ACS NANO 2022; 16:4756-4774. [PMID: 35239330 PMCID: PMC8981316 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria, particularly Gram-negative organisms, are increasingly difficult to treat using antibiotics. A potential alternative is "phage therapy", in which phages infect and lyse the bacterial host. However, phage therapy poses serious drawbacks and safety concerns, such as the risk of genetic transduction of antibiotic resistance genes, inconsistent pharmacokinetics, and unknown evolutionary potential. In contrast, metallic nanoparticles possess precise, tunable properties, including efficient conversion of electronic excitation into heat. In this work, we demonstrate that engineered phage-nanomaterial conjugates that target the Gram-negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa are highly effective as a treatment of infected wounds in mice. Photothermal heating, performed as a single treatment (15 min) or as two treatments on consecutive days, rapidly reduced the bacterial load and released Zn2+ to promote wound healing. The phage-nanomaterial treatment was significantly more effective than systemic standard-of-care antibiotics, with a >10× greater reduction in bacterial load and ∼3× faster healing as measured by wound size reduction when compared to fluoroquinolone treatment. Notably, the phage-nanomaterial was also effective against a P. aeruginosa strain resistant to polymyxins, a last-line antibiotic therapy. Unlike these antibiotics, the phage-nanomaterial showed no detectable toxicity or systemic effects in mice, consistent with the short duration and localized nature of phage-nanomaterial treatment. Our results demonstrate that phage therapy controlled by inorganic nanomaterials can be a safe and effective antimicrobial strategy in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Peng
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Daniele Rossetto
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
- CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Povo, Trento, Italy
| | - Sheref S. Mansy
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
- CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Povo, Trento, Italy
| | - Maria C. Jordan
- Department
of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine
at the University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Kenneth P. Roos
- Department
of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine
at the University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Irene A. Chen
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
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16
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Kraus-Römer S, Wielert I, Rathmann I, Grossbach J, Maier B. External Stresses Affect Gonococcal Type 4 Pilus Dynamics. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:839711. [PMID: 35283813 PMCID: PMC8914258 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.839711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial type 4 pili (T4P) are extracellular polymers that serve both as adhesins and molecular motors. Functionally, they are involved in adhesion, colony formation, twitching motility, and horizontal gene transfer. T4P of the human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae have been shown to enhance survivability under treatment with antibiotics or hydrogen peroxide. However, little is known about the effect of external stresses on T4P production and motor properties. Here, we address this question by directly visualizing gonococcal T4P dynamics. We show that in the absence of stress gonococci produce T4P at a remarkably high rate of ∼200 T4P min–1. T4P retraction succeeds elongation without detectable time delay. Treatment with azithromycin or ceftriaxone reduces the T4P production rate. RNA sequencing results suggest that reduced piliation is caused by combined downregulation of the complexes required for T4P extrusion from the cell envelope and cellular energy depletion. Various other stresses including inhibitors of cell wall synthesis and DNA replication, as well as hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid, inhibit T4P production. Moreover, hydrogen peroxide and acidic pH strongly affect pilus length and motor function. In summary, we show that gonococcal T4P are highly dynamic and diverse external stresses reduce piliation despite the protective effect of T4P against some of these stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabelle Wielert
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Isabel Rathmann
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jan Grossbach
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, CECAD, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Berenike Maier
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- *Correspondence: Berenike Maier,
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17
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Contou D, Urbina T, de Prost N. Understanding purpura fulminans in adult patients. Intensive Care Med 2022; 48:106-110. [PMID: 34846563 DOI: 10.1007/s00134-021-06580-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Damien Contou
- Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, Centre Hospitalier Victor Dupouy, 69, Rue du Lieutenant-Colonel Prud'hon, 95100, Argenteuil, France.
| | - Tomas Urbina
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas de Prost
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Groupe de Recherche CARMAS, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 51, Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94010, Créteil, France
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18
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Marullo S, Scott MGH, Enslen H, Coureuil M. Mechanical Activation of the β 2-Adrenergic Receptor by Meningococcus: A Historical and Future Perspective Analysis of How a Bacterial Probe Can Reveal Signalling Pathways in Endothelial Cells, and a Unique Mode of Receptor Activation Involving Its N-Terminal Glycan Chains. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:883568. [PMID: 35586623 PMCID: PMC9108228 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.883568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 12 years have passed since the seminal observation that meningococcus, a pathogen causing epidemic meningitis in humans, occasionally associated with infectious vasculitis and septic shock, can promote the translocation of β-arrestins to the cell surface beneath bacterial colonies. The cellular receptor used by the pathogen to induce signalling in host cells and allowing it to open endothelial cell junctions and reach meninges was unknown. The involvement of β-arrestins, which are scaffolding proteins regulating G protein coupled receptor signalling and function, incited us to specifically investigate this class of receptors. In this perspective article we will summarize the events leading to the discovery that the β2-adrenergic receptor is the receptor that initiates the signalling cascades induced by meningococcus in host cells. This receptor, however, cannot mediate cell infection on its own. It needs to be pre-associated with an "early" adhesion receptor, CD147, within a hetero-oligomeric complex, stabilized by the cytoskeletal protein α-actinin 4. It then required several years to understand how the pathogen actually activates the signalling receptor. Once bound to the N-terminal glycans of the β2-adrenergic receptor, meningococcus provides a mechanical stimulation that induces the biased activation of β-arrestin-mediated signalling pathways. This activating mechanical stimulus can be reproduced in the absence of any pathogen by applying equivalent forces on receptor glycans. Mechanical activation of the β2-adrenergic receptor might have a physiological role in signalling events promoted in the context of cell-to-cell interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Marullo
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Stefano Marullo,
| | - Mark G. H. Scott
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Paris, France
| | - Hervé Enslen
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Paris, France
| | - Mathieu Coureuil
- Université de Paris, Institut-Necker-Enfants-Malades, INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
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19
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Faleye OS, Sathiyamoorthi E, Lee JH, Lee J. Inhibitory Effects of Cinnamaldehyde Derivatives on Biofilm Formation and Virulence Factors in Vibrio Species. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13122176. [PMID: 34959457 PMCID: PMC8708114 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13122176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is considered one of the most relevant pathogenic marine bacteria with a range of virulence factors to establish food-related gastrointestinal infections in humans. Cinnamaldehyde (CNMA) and some of its derivatives have antimicrobial and antivirulence activities against several bacterial pathogens. This study examined the inhibitory effects of CNMA and its derivatives on biofilm formation and the virulence factors in Vibrio species, particularly V. parahaemolyticus. CNMA and ten of its derivatives were initially screened against V. parahaemolyticus biofilm formation, and their effects on the production of virulence factors and gene expression were studied. Among the CNMA derivatives tested, 4-nitrocinnamaldehyde, 4-chlorocinnamaldehyde, and 4-bromocinnamaldehyde displayed antibacterial and antivirulence activities, while the backbone CNMA had weak effects. The derivatives could prevent the adhesion of V. parahaemolyticus to surfaces by the dose-dependent inhibition of cell surface hydrophobicity, fimbriae production, and flagella-mediated swimming and swarming phenotypes. They also decreased the protease secretion required for virulence and indole production, which could act as an important signal molecule. The expression of QS and biofilm-related genes (aphA, cpsA, luxS, and opaR), virulence genes (fliA, tdh, and vopS), and membrane integrity genes (fadL, and nusA) were downregulated in V. parahaemolyticus by these three CNMA analogs. Interestingly, they eliminated V. parahaemolyticus and reduced the background flora from the squid surface. In addition, they exhibited similar antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against Vibrio harveyi. This study identified CNMA derivatives as potential broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents to treat biofilm-mediated Vibrio infections and for surface disinfection in food processing facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jin-Hyung Lee
- Correspondence: (J.-H.L.); (J.L.); Tel.: +82-53-810-3812 (J.-H.L.); +82-53-810-2533 (J.L.); Fax: +82-53-810-4631 (J.-H.L. & J.L.)
| | - Jintae Lee
- Correspondence: (J.-H.L.); (J.L.); Tel.: +82-53-810-3812 (J.-H.L.); +82-53-810-2533 (J.L.); Fax: +82-53-810-4631 (J.-H.L. & J.L.)
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20
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Karami Y, López-Castilla A, Ori A, Thomassin JL, Bardiaux B, Malliavin T, Izadi-Pruneyre N, Francetic O, Nilges M. Computational and biochemical analysis of type IV pilus dynamics and stability. Structure 2021; 29:1397-1409.e6. [PMID: 34520738 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2021.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Type IV pili (T4P) are distinctive dynamic filaments at the surface of many bacteria that can rapidly extend and retract and withstand strong forces. T4P are important virulence factors in many human pathogens, including Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). The structure of the EHEC T4P has been determined by integrating nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and cryo-electron microscopy data. To better understand pilus assembly, stability, and function, we performed a total of 108 ms all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of wild-type and mutant T4P. Extensive characterization of the conformational landscape of T4P in different conditions of temperature, pH, and ionic strength is complemented with targeted mutagenesis and biochemical analyses. Our simulations and NMR experiments reveal a conserved set of residues defining a calcium-binding site at the interface between three pilin subunits. Calcium binding enhances T4P stability ex vivo and in vitro, supporting the role of this binding site as a potential pocket for drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasaman Karami
- Structural Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3528, Paris, France
| | - Aracelys López-Castilla
- Structural Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3528, Paris, France; NMR of Biomolecules Unit, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3528, Paris, France
| | - Andrea Ori
- Biochemistry of Macromolecular Interactions Unit, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3528, Paris, France
| | - Jenny-Lee Thomassin
- Biochemistry of Macromolecular Interactions Unit, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3528, Paris, France
| | - Benjamin Bardiaux
- Structural Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3528, Paris, France
| | - Therese Malliavin
- Structural Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3528, Paris, France
| | - Nadia Izadi-Pruneyre
- Structural Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3528, Paris, France; NMR of Biomolecules Unit, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3528, Paris, France
| | - Olivera Francetic
- Biochemistry of Macromolecular Interactions Unit, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3528, Paris, France
| | - Michael Nilges
- Structural Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3528, Paris, France.
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21
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Contou D, de Prost N. Clinical phenotype and outcomes of pneumococcal versus meningococcal purpura fulminans: a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Crit Care 2021; 25:386. [PMID: 34763715 PMCID: PMC8582106 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-021-03812-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Damien Contou
- Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, Centre Hospitalier Victor Dupouy, 69, rue du Lieutenant-Colonel Prudhon, 95100, Argenteuil, France.
| | - Nicolas de Prost
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Groupe de Recherche CARMAS, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 51, avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94010, Créteil, France
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22
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Barnier JP, Meyer J, Kolappan S, Bouzinba-Ségard H, Gesbert G, Jamet A, Frapy E, Schönherr-Hellec S, Capel E, Virion Z, Dupuis M, Bille E, Morand P, Schmitt T, Bourdoulous S, Nassif X, Craig L, Coureuil M. The minor pilin PilV provides a conserved adhesion site throughout the antigenically variable meningococcal type IV pilus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2109364118. [PMID: 34725157 PMCID: PMC8609321 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2109364118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis utilizes type IV pili (T4P) to adhere to and colonize host endothelial cells, a process at the heart of meningococcal invasive diseases leading to meningitis and sepsis. T4P are polymers of an antigenically variable major pilin building block, PilE, plus several core minor pilins that initiate pilus assembly and are thought to be located at the pilus tip. Adhesion of N. meningitidis to human endothelial cells requires both PilE and a conserved noncore minor pilin PilV, but the localization of PilV and its precise role in this process remains to be clarified. Here, we show that both PilE and PilV promote adhesion to endothelial vessels in vivo. The substantial adhesion defect observed for pilV mutants suggests it is the main adhesin. Consistent with this observation, superresolution microscopy showed the abundant distribution of PilV throughout the pilus. We determined the crystal structure of PilV and modeled it within the pilus filament. The small size of PilV causes it to be recessed relative to adjacent PilE subunits, which are dominated by a prominent hypervariable loop. Nonetheless, we identified a conserved surface-exposed adhesive loop on PilV by alanine scanning mutagenesis. Critically, antibodies directed against PilV inhibit N. meningitidis colonization of human skin grafts. These findings explain how N. meningitidis T4P undergo antigenic variation to evade the humoral immune response while maintaining their adhesive function and establish the potential of this highly conserved minor pilin as a vaccine and therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of N. meningitidis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Philippe Barnier
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
- Service de Microbiologie, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Centre-Université de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
| | - Julie Meyer
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
| | - Subramania Kolappan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 3Y6, Canada
| | - Haniaa Bouzinba-Ségard
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Institut Cochin, Paris 75014, France
| | - Gaël Gesbert
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
| | - Anne Jamet
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
- Service de Microbiologie, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Centre-Université de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
| | - Eric Frapy
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
| | - Sophia Schönherr-Hellec
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
| | - Elena Capel
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
| | - Zoé Virion
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
| | - Marion Dupuis
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
| | - Emmanuelle Bille
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
- Service de Microbiologie, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Centre-Université de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
| | - Philippe Morand
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
- Service de Bactériologie, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Centre-Université de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, Paris 75014, France
| | - Taliah Schmitt
- Service de Chirurgie Reconstructrice et Plastique, Groupe Hospitalier Paris Saint-Joseph, Paris 75014, France
| | - Sandrine Bourdoulous
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Institut Cochin, Paris 75014, France
| | - Xavier Nassif
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France
- INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
- Service de Microbiologie, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Centre-Université de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
| | - Lisa Craig
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 3Y6, Canada;
| | - Mathieu Coureuil
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris 75006, France;
- INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris 75015, France
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23
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Exploiting pilus-mediated bacteria-host interactions for health benefits. Mol Aspects Med 2021; 81:100998. [PMID: 34294411 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2021.100998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Surface pili (or fimbriae) are an important but conspicuous adaptation of several genera and species of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. These long and non-flagellar multi-subunit adhesins mediate the initial contact that a bacterium has with a host or environment, and thus have come to be regarded as a key colonization factor for virulence activity in pathogens or niche adaptation in commensals. Pili in pathogenic bacteria are well recognized for their roles in the adhesion to host cells, colonization of tissues, and establishment of infection. As an 'anti-adhesive' ploy, targeting pilus-mediated attachment for disruption has become a potentially effective alternative to using antibiotics. In this review, we give a description of the several structurally distinct bacterial pilus types thus far characterized, and as well offer details about the intricacy of their individual structure, assembly, and function. With a molecular understanding of pilus biogenesis and pilus-mediated host interactions also provided, we go on to describe some of the emerging new approaches and compounds that have been recently developed to prevent the adhesion, colonization, and infection of piliated bacterial pathogens.
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24
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Huebinger RM, Do DH, Carlson DL, Yao X, Stones DH, De Souza Santos M, Vaz DP, Keen E, Wolf SE, Minei JP, Francis KP, Orth K, Krachler AM. Bacterial adhesion inhibitor prevents infection in a rodent surgical incision model. Virulence 2021; 11:695-706. [PMID: 32490711 PMCID: PMC7550027 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1772652] [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] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Surgical site infection risk continues to increase due to lack of efficacy in current standard of care drugs. New methods to treat or prevent antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are needed. Multivalent Adhesion Molecules (MAM) are bacterial adhesins required for virulence. We developed a bacterial adhesion inhibitor using recombinant MAM fragment bound to polymer scaffold, mimicking MAM7 display on the bacterial surface. Here, we test MAM7 inhibitor efficacy to prevent Gram-positive and Gram-negative infections. Using a rodent model of surgical infection, incision sites were infected with antibiotic-resistant bioluminescent strains of Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Infections were treated with MAM7 inhibitor or control suspension. Bacterial abundance was quantified for nine days post infection. Inflammatory responses and histology were characterized using fixed tissue sections. MAM7 inhibitor treatment decreased burden of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa below detection threshold. Bacterial load of groups treated with control were significantly higher than MAM7 inhibitor-treated groups. Treatment with inhibitor reduced colonization of clinically-relevant pathogens in an in vivo model of surgical infection. Use of MAM7 inhibitor to block initial adhesion of bacteria to tissue in surgical incisions may reduce infection rates, presenting a strategy to mitigate overuse of antibiotics to prevent surgical site infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Huebinger
- Department of Surgery, Division of General and Acute Care Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX, USA
| | - D H Do
- Department of Surgery, Division of General and Acute Care Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX, USA
| | - D L Carlson
- Department of Surgery, Division of General and Acute Care Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX, USA
| | - X Yao
- Department of Surgery, Division of General and Acute Care Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX, USA
| | - D H Stones
- School of Biosciences, Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK.,University of Gloucestershire, School of Natural and Social Sciences , Cheltenham, UK
| | - M De Souza Santos
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX, USA
| | - D P Vaz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School , Houston, TX, USA
| | - E Keen
- School of Biosciences, Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK
| | - S E Wolf
- Department of Surgery, Division of General and Acute Care Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX, USA.,UTMB Department of Surgery, Shriners Hospitals for Children , Galveston, TX, USA
| | - J P Minei
- Department of Surgery, Division of General and Acute Care Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - K Orth
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX, USA
| | - A M Krachler
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School , Houston, TX, USA
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25
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Dos Santos Souza I, Ziveri J, Bouzinba-Segard H, Morand P, Bourdoulous S. Meningococcus, this famous unknown. C R Biol 2021; 344:127-143. [PMID: 34213851 DOI: 10.5802/crbiol.56] [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] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) is a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for two devastating forms of invasive diseases: purpura fulminans and meningitis. Since the first description of the epidemic nature of the illness at the dawn of the nineteenth century, the scientific knowledge of meningococcal infection has increased greatly. Major advances have been made in the management of the disease with the advent of antimicrobial therapy and the implementation of meningococcal vaccines. More recently, an extensive knowledge has been accumulated on meningococcal interaction with its human host, revealing key processes involved in disease progression and new promising therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Dos Santos Souza
- CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France.,Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Faculté de Santé, France
| | - Jason Ziveri
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Faculté de Santé, France
| | - Haniaa Bouzinba-Segard
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Faculté de Santé, France
| | - Philippe Morand
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Faculté de Santé, France
| | - Sandrine Bourdoulous
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Faculté de Santé, France
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26
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Wong GCL, Antani JD, Lele PP, Chen J, Nan B, Kühn MJ, Persat A, Bru JL, Høyland-Kroghsbo NM, Siryaporn A, Conrad JC, Carrara F, Yawata Y, Stocker R, V Brun Y, Whitfield GB, Lee CK, de Anda J, Schmidt WC, Golestanian R, O'Toole GA, Floyd KA, Yildiz FH, Yang S, Jin F, Toyofuku M, Eberl L, Nomura N, Zacharoff LA, El-Naggar MY, Yalcin SE, Malvankar NS, Rojas-Andrade MD, Hochbaum AI, Yan J, Stone HA, Wingreen NS, Bassler BL, Wu Y, Xu H, Drescher K, Dunkel J. Roadmap on emerging concepts in the physical biology of bacterial biofilms: from surface sensing to community formation. Phys Biol 2021; 18. [PMID: 33462162 PMCID: PMC8506656 DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/abdc0e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are communities of bacteria that exist as aggregates that can adhere to surfaces or be free-standing. This complex, social mode of cellular organization is fundamental to the physiology of microbes and often exhibits surprising behavior. Bacterial biofilms are more than the sum of their parts: single-cell behavior has a complex relation to collective community behavior, in a manner perhaps cognate to the complex relation between atomic physics and condensed matter physics. Biofilm microbiology is a relatively young field by biology standards, but it has already attracted intense attention from physicists. Sometimes, this attention takes the form of seeing biofilms as inspiration for new physics. In this roadmap, we highlight the work of those who have taken the opposite strategy: we highlight the work of physicists and physical scientists who use physics to engage fundamental concepts in bacterial biofilm microbiology, including adhesion, sensing, motility, signaling, memory, energy flow, community formation and cooperativity. These contributions are juxtaposed with microbiologists who have made recent important discoveries on bacterial biofilms using state-of-the-art physical methods. The contributions to this roadmap exemplify how well physics and biology can be combined to achieve a new synthesis, rather than just a division of labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard C L Wong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, CA 90095, United States of America.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, CA 90095, United States of America.,California NanoSystems Institute, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, CA 90095, United States of America
| | - Jyot D Antani
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
| | - Pushkar P Lele
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA24061, United States of America
| | - Beiyan Nan
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, TX 77845, United States of America
| | - Marco J Kühn
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Persat
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Louis Bru
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California-Irvine, California, CA 92697, United States of America
| | | | - Albert Siryaporn
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California-Irvine, California, CA 92697, United States of America.,Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of California-Irvine, California, CA 92697, United States of America
| | - Jacinta C Conrad
- William A Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, TX 77204, United States of America
| | - Francesco Carrara
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yutaka Yawata
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan.,Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, 305-8572 Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Roman Stocker
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yves V Brun
- University of Montreal, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Gregory B Whitfield
- University of Montreal, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Calvin K Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, CA 90095, United States of America.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, CA 90095, United States of America.,California NanoSystems Institute, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, CA 90095, United States of America
| | - Jaime de Anda
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, CA 90095, United States of America.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, CA 90095, United States of America.,California NanoSystems Institute, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, CA 90095, United States of America
| | - William C Schmidt
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, CA 90095, United States of America.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, CA 90095, United States of America.,California NanoSystems Institute, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, CA 90095, United States of America
| | - Ramin Golestanian
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), D-37077 Göttingen, Germany.,Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - George A O'Toole
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, United States of America
| | - Kyle A Floyd
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, CA 95060, United States of America
| | - Fitnat H Yildiz
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, CA 95060, United States of America
| | - Shuai Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Jin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Masanori Toyofuku
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan.,Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, 305-8572 Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Leo Eberl
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Nobuhiko Nomura
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan.,Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, 305-8572 Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Lori A Zacharoff
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, CA 90089, United States of America.,Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, CA 90089, United States of America
| | - Mohamed Y El-Naggar
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, CA 90089, United States of America.,Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, CA 90089, United States of America.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, CA 90089, United States of America
| | - Sibel Ebru Yalcin
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, CT 06516, United States of America.,Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, CT 06516, United States of America
| | - Nikhil S Malvankar
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, CT 06516, United States of America.,Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, CT 06516, United States of America
| | - Mauricio D Rojas-Andrade
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California CA 92697, United States of America
| | - Allon I Hochbaum
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California-Irvine, California, CA 92697, United States of America.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California CA 92697, United States of America.,Department of Chemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California, CA 92697, United States of America.,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California, CA 92697, United States of America
| | - Jing Yan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, CT 06511, United States of America
| | - Howard A Stone
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, NJ 08544, United States of America
| | - Ned S Wingreen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, NJ 08544, United States of America.,Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, NJ 08544, United States of America
| | - Bonnie L Bassler
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, NJ 08544, United States of America.,The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland MD 20815, United States of America
| | - Yilin Wu
- Department of Physics and Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Haoran Xu
- Department of Physics and Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Knut Drescher
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany.,Department of Physics, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Jörn Dunkel
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, MA 02139-4307, United States of America
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27
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Mignolet J, Mathelié-Guinlet M, Viljoen A, Dufrêne YF. AFM force-clamp spectroscopy captures the nanomechanics of the Tad pilus retraction. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2021; 6:489-496. [PMID: 33982737 DOI: 10.1039/d1nh00158b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Motorization of bacterial pili is key to generate traction forces to achieve cellular function. The Tad (or Type IVc) pilus from Caulobacter crescentus is a widespread motorized nanomachine crucial for bacterial survival, evolution and virulence. An unusual bifunctional ATPase motor drives Tad pilus retraction, which helps the bacteria to land on target surfaces. Here, we use a novel platform combining a fluorescence-based screening of piliated bacteria and atomic force microscopy (AFM) force-clamp spectroscopy, to monitor over time (30 s) the nanomechanics and dynamics of the Tad nanofilament retraction under a high constant tension (300 pN). We observe striking transient variations of force and height originating from two phenomena: active pilus retraction and passive hydrophobic interactions between the pilus and the hydrophobic substrate. That the Tad pilus is able to retract under high tensile loading - at a velocity of ∼150 nm s-1 - indicates that this nanomachine is stronger than previously anticipated. Our findings show that pilus retraction and hydrophobic interactions work together to mediate bacterial cell landing and surface adhesion. The motorized pilus retraction actively triggers the cell to approach the substrate. At short distances, passive hydrophobic interactions accelerate the approach phenomenon and promote strong cell-substrate adhesion. This mechanism could provide a strategy to save ATP-based energy by the retraction ATPase. Our force-clamp AFM methodology offers promise to decipher the physics of bacterial nanomotors with high sensitivity and temporal resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann Mignolet
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte, L7.07.07, Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium.
| | - Marion Mathelié-Guinlet
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte, L7.07.07, Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium.
| | - Albertus Viljoen
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte, L7.07.07, Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium.
| | - Yves F Dufrêne
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte, L7.07.07, Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium.
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28
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Moradali MF, Davey ME. Metabolic plasticity enables lifestyle transitions of Porphyromonas gingivalis. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2021; 7:46. [PMID: 34031416 PMCID: PMC8144566 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-021-00217-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of how the oral anaerobe Porphyromonas gingivalis can persist below the gum line, induce ecological changes, and promote polymicrobial infections remains limited. P. gingivalis has long been described as a highly proteolytic and asaccharolytic pathogen that utilizes protein substrates as the main source for energy production and proliferation. Here, we report that P. gingivalis displays a metabolic plasticity that enables the exploitation of non-proteinaceous substrates, specifically the monocarboxylates pyruvate and lactate, as well as human serum components, for colonization and biofilm formation. We show that anabolism of carbohydrates from pyruvate is powered by catabolism of amino acids. Concomitantly, the expression of fimbrial adhesion is upregulated, leading to the enhancement of biofilm formation, stimulation of multispecies biofilm development, and increase of colonization and invasion of the primary gingival epithelial cells by P. gingivalis. These studies provide the first glimpse into the metabolic plasticity of P. gingivalis and its adaptation to the nutritional condition of the host niche. Our findings support the model that in response to specific nutritional parameters, P. gingivalis has the potential to promote host colonization and development of a pathogenic community.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Fata Moradali
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, School of Dentistry, Room 355 B, Louisville, KY, USA.
| | - Mary E Davey
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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29
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Dos Santos Souza I, Maïssa N, Ziveri J, Morand PC, Coureuil M, Nassif X, Bourdoulous S. Meningococcal disease: A paradigm of type-IV pilus dependent pathogenesis. Cell Microbiol 2021; 22:e13185. [PMID: 32185901 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13185] [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] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) is a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for two devastating forms of invasive diseases: purpura fulminans and meningitis. Interaction with both peripheral and cerebral microvascular endothelial cells is at the heart of meningococcal pathogenesis. During the last two decades, an essential role for meningococcal type IV pili in vascular colonisation and disease progression has been unravelled. This review summarises 20 years of research on meningococcal type IV pilus-dependent virulence mechanisms, up to the identification of promising anti-virulence compounds that target type IV pili.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Dos Santos Souza
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France.,Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Nawal Maïssa
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France.,Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Jason Ziveri
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France.,Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Philippe C Morand
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France.,Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Mathieu Coureuil
- Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Inserm, U1151, Institut-Necker-Enfants-Malades, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR 8253, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Nassif
- Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Inserm, U1151, Institut-Necker-Enfants-Malades, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR 8253, Paris, France.,Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Bourdoulous
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France.,Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, Paris, France
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30
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Dufrêne YF, Viljoen A, Mignolet J, Mathelié-Guinlet M. AFM in cellular and molecular microbiology. Cell Microbiol 2021; 23:e13324. [PMID: 33710716 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The unique capabilities of the atomic force microscope (AFM), including super-resolution imaging, piconewton force-sensitivity, nanomanipulation and ability to work under physiological conditions, have offered exciting avenues for cellular and molecular biology research. AFM imaging has helped unravel the fine architectures of microbial cell envelopes at the nanoscale, and how these are altered by antimicrobial treatment. Nanomechanical measurements have shed new light on the elasticity, tensile strength and turgor pressure of single cells. Single-molecule and single-cell force spectroscopy experiments have revealed the forces and dynamics of receptor-ligand interactions, the nanoscale distribution of receptors on the cell surface and the elasticity and adhesiveness of bacterial pili. Importantly, recent force spectroscopy studies have demonstrated that extremely stable bonds are formed between bacterial adhesins and their cognate ligands, originating from a catch bond behaviour allowing the pathogen to reinforce adhesion under shear or tensile stress. Here, we survey how the versatility of AFM has enabled addressing crucial questions in microbiology, with emphasis on bacterial pathogens. TAKE AWAYS: AFM topographic imaging unravels the ultrastructure of bacterial envelopes. Nanomechanical mapping shows what makes cell envelopes stiff and resistant to drugs. Force spectroscopy characterises the molecular forces in pathogen adhesion. Stretching pili reveals a wealth of mechanical and adhesive responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yves F Dufrêne
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Albertus Viljoen
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Johann Mignolet
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Marion Mathelié-Guinlet
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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31
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Abstract
The bacterial type IV pilus (T4P) is a prominent virulence factor in many significant human pathogens, some of which have become increasingly antibiotic resistant. Antivirulence chemotherapeutics are considered a promising alternative to antibiotics because they target the disease process instead of bacterial viability. However, a roadblock to the discovery of anti-T4P compounds is the lack of a high-throughput screen (HTS) that can be implemented relatively easily and economically. Here, we describe the first HTS for the identification of inhibitors specifically against the T4P assembly ATPase PilB in vitro. Chloracidobacterium thermophilum PilB (CtPilB) had been demonstrated to have robust ATPase activity and the ability to bind its expected ligands in vitro. We utilized CtPilB and MANT-ATP, a fluorescent ATP analog, to develop a binding assay and adapted it for an HTS. As a proof of principle, we performed a pilot screen with a small compound library of kinase inhibitors and identified quercetin as a PilB inhibitor in vitro. Using Myxococcus xanthus as a model bacterium, we found quercetin to reduce its T4P-dependent motility and T4P assembly in vivo. These results validated our HTS as effective in identifying PilB inhibitors. This assay may prove valuable in seeking leads for the development of antivirulence chemotherapeutics against PilB, an essential and universal component of all bacterial T4P systems. IMPORTANCE Many bacterial pathogens use their type IV pili (T4P) to facilitate and maintain infection of a human host. Small chemical compounds that inhibit the production or assembly of T4P hold promise in the treatment and prevention of infections, especially in the era of increasing threats from antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, few chemicals are known to have inhibitory or anti-T4P activity. Their identification has not been easy due to the lack of a method for the screening of compound collections or libraries on a large scale. Here, we report the development of an assay that can be scaled up to screen compound libraries for inhibitors of a critical T4P assembly protein. We further demonstrate that it is feasible to use whole cells to examine potential inhibitors for their activity against T4P assembly in a bacterium.
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32
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Barnier JP, Euphrasie D, Join-Lambert O, Audry M, Schonherr-Hellec S, Schmitt T, Bourdoulous S, Coureuil M, Nassif X, El Behi M. Type IV pilus retraction enables sustained bacteremia and plays a key role in the outcome of meningococcal sepsis in a humanized mouse model. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009299. [PMID: 33592056 PMCID: PMC7909687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis (the meningococcus) remains a major cause of bacterial meningitis and fatal sepsis. This commensal bacterium of the human nasopharynx can cause invasive diseases when it leaves its niche and reaches the bloodstream. Blood-borne meningococci have the ability to adhere to human endothelial cells and rapidly colonize microvessels. This crucial step enables dissemination into tissues and promotes deregulated inflammation and coagulation, leading to extensive necrotic purpura in the most severe cases. Adhesion to blood vessels relies on type IV pili (TFP). These long filamentous structures are highly dynamic as they can rapidly elongate and retract by the antagonistic action of two ATPases, PilF and PilT. However, the consequences of TFP dynamics on the pathophysiology and the outcome of meningococcal sepsis in vivo have been poorly studied. Here, we show that human graft microvessels are replicative niches for meningococci, that seed the bloodstream and promote sustained bacteremia and lethality in a humanized mouse model. Intriguingly, although pilus-retraction deficient N. meningitidis strain (ΔpilT) efficiently colonizes human graft tissue, this mutant did not promote sustained bacteremia nor induce mouse lethality. This effect was not due to a decreased inflammatory response, nor defects in bacterial clearance by the innate immune system. Rather, TFP-retraction was necessary to promote the release of TFP-dependent contacts between bacteria and, in turn, the detachment from colonized microvessels. The resulting sustained bacteremia was directly correlated with lethality. Altogether, these results demonstrate that pilus retraction plays a key role in the occurrence and outcome of meningococcal sepsis by supporting sustained bacteremia. These findings open new perspectives on the role of circulating bacteria in the pathological alterations leading to lethal sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Philippe Barnier
- Université de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, Paris, France
- Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Inserm U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
- Service de microbiologie, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris. Centre–Université de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Daniel Euphrasie
- Université de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, Paris, France
- Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Inserm U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Join-Lambert
- Université de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, Paris, France
- Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Inserm U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
- Service de microbiologie, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris. Centre–Université de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Mathilde Audry
- Université de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, Paris, France
- Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Inserm U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
| | - Sophia Schonherr-Hellec
- Université de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, Paris, France
- Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Inserm U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
| | - Taliah Schmitt
- Service de chirurgie reconstructrice et plastique, Groupe Hospitalier Paris Saint-Joseph, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Bourdoulous
- Université de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, Paris, France
- Institut Cochin, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Paris, France
| | - Mathieu Coureuil
- Université de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, Paris, France
- Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Inserm U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Nassif
- Université de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, Paris, France
- Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Inserm U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
- Service de microbiologie, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris. Centre–Université de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Mohamed El Behi
- Université de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, Paris, France
- Institut Necker Enfants-Malades, Inserm U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
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Lim KYL, Mullally CA, Haese EC, Kibble EA, McCluskey NR, Mikucki EC, Thai VC, Stubbs KA, Sarkar-Tyson M, Kahler CM. Anti-Virulence Therapeutic Approaches for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10020103. [PMID: 33494538 PMCID: PMC7911339 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10020103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
While antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is seen in both Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis, the former has become resistant to commonly available over-the-counter antibiotic treatments. It is imperative then to develop new therapies that combat current AMR isolates whilst also circumventing the pathways leading to the development of AMR. This review highlights the growing research interest in developing anti-virulence therapies (AVTs) which are directed towards inhibiting virulence factors to prevent infection. By targeting virulence factors that are not essential for gonococcal survival, it is hypothesized that this will impart a smaller selective pressure for the emergence of resistance in the pathogen and in the microbiome, thus avoiding AMR development to the anti-infective. This review summates the current basis of numerous anti-virulence strategies being explored for N. gonorrhoeae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Y. L. Lim
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (K.Y.L.L.); (C.A.M.); (E.C.H.); (E.A.K.); (N.R.M.); (E.C.M.); (V.C.T.); (M.S.-T.)
| | - Christopher A. Mullally
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (K.Y.L.L.); (C.A.M.); (E.C.H.); (E.A.K.); (N.R.M.); (E.C.M.); (V.C.T.); (M.S.-T.)
| | - Ethan C. Haese
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (K.Y.L.L.); (C.A.M.); (E.C.H.); (E.A.K.); (N.R.M.); (E.C.M.); (V.C.T.); (M.S.-T.)
| | - Emily A. Kibble
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (K.Y.L.L.); (C.A.M.); (E.C.H.); (E.A.K.); (N.R.M.); (E.C.M.); (V.C.T.); (M.S.-T.)
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Nicolie R. McCluskey
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (K.Y.L.L.); (C.A.M.); (E.C.H.); (E.A.K.); (N.R.M.); (E.C.M.); (V.C.T.); (M.S.-T.)
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Edward C. Mikucki
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (K.Y.L.L.); (C.A.M.); (E.C.H.); (E.A.K.); (N.R.M.); (E.C.M.); (V.C.T.); (M.S.-T.)
| | - Van C. Thai
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (K.Y.L.L.); (C.A.M.); (E.C.H.); (E.A.K.); (N.R.M.); (E.C.M.); (V.C.T.); (M.S.-T.)
| | - Keith A. Stubbs
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia;
| | - Mitali Sarkar-Tyson
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (K.Y.L.L.); (C.A.M.); (E.C.H.); (E.A.K.); (N.R.M.); (E.C.M.); (V.C.T.); (M.S.-T.)
| | - Charlene M. Kahler
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (K.Y.L.L.); (C.A.M.); (E.C.H.); (E.A.K.); (N.R.M.); (E.C.M.); (V.C.T.); (M.S.-T.)
- Correspondence:
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Rozman V, Accetto T, Duncan SH, Flint HJ, Vodovnik M. Type IV pili are widespread among non-pathogenic Gram-positive gut bacteria with diverse carbohydrate utilization patterns. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:1527-1540. [PMID: 33331146 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Type IV pili (T4P) are bacterial surface-exposed appendages that have been extensively studied in Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Despite recent sequencing efforts, little is known regarding these structures in non-pathogenic anaerobic Gram-positive species, particularly commensals of the mammalian gut. Early studies revealed that T4P in two ruminal Gram-positive species are associated with growth on cellulose, suggesting possible associations of T4P with substrate utilization patterns. In the present study, genome sequences of 118 taxonomically diverse, mainly Gram-positive, bacterial strains isolated from anaerobic (gastrointestinal) environments, have been analysed. The genes likely to be associated with T4P biogenesis were analysed and grouped according to T4P genetic organization. In parallel, consortia of Carbohydrate Active enZYmes (CAZymes) were also analysed and used to predict carbohydrate utilization abilities of selected strains. The predictive power of this approach was additionally confirmed by experimental assessment of substrate-related growth patterns of selected strains. Our analysis revealed that T4P systems with diverse genetic organization are widespread among Gram-positive anaerobic non-pathogenic bacteria isolated from different environments, belonging to two phylogenetically distantly related phyla: Firmicutes and Actinobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vita Rozman
- Chair of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Domžale, Slovenia
| | - Tomaž Accetto
- Chair of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Domžale, Slovenia
| | - Sylvia H Duncan
- Gut Health Group, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Harry J Flint
- Gut Health Group, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Maša Vodovnik
- Chair of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Domžale, Slovenia
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa detachment from surfaces via a self-made small molecule. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100279. [PMID: 33450229 PMCID: PMC7949062 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100279] [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: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant threat in both healthcare and industrial biofouling. Surface attachment of P. aeruginosa is particularly problematic as surface association induces virulence and is necessary for the ensuing process of biofilm formation, which hampers antibiotic treatments. Previous efforts have searched for dispersal agents of mature biofilm collectives, but there are no known factors that specifically disperse individual surface-attached P. aeruginosa. In this study, we develop a quantitative single-cell surface-dispersal assay and use it to show that P. aeruginosa itself produces factors that can stimulate its dispersal. Through bioactivity-guided fractionation, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance, we elucidated the structure of one such factor, 2-methyl-4-hydroxyquinoline (MHQ). MHQ is an alkyl quinolone with a previously unknown activity and is synthesized by the PqsABC enzymes. Pure MHQ is sufficient to disperse P. aeruginosa, but the dispersal activity of natural P. aeruginosa conditioned media requires additional factors. Whereas other alkyl quinolones have been shown to act as antibiotics or membrane depolarizers, MHQ lacks these activities and known antibiotics do not induce dispersal. In contrast, we show that MHQ inhibits the activity of Type IV Pili (TFP) and that TFP targeting can explain its dispersal activity. Our work thus identifies single-cell surface dispersal as a new activity of P. aeruginosa-produced small molecules, characterizes MHQ as a promising dispersal agent, and establishes TFP inhibition as a viable mechanism for P. aeruginosa dispersal.
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Targeting bioenergetics is key to counteracting the drug-tolerant state of biofilm-grown bacteria. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1009126. [PMID: 33351859 PMCID: PMC7787680 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Embedded in an extracellular matrix, biofilm-residing bacteria are protected from diverse physicochemical insults. In accordance, in the human host the general recalcitrance of biofilm-grown bacteria hinders successful eradication of chronic, biofilm-associated infections. In this study, we demonstrate that upon addition of promethazine, an FDA approved drug, antibiotic tolerance of in vitro biofilm-grown bacteria can be abolished. We show that following the addition of promethazine, diverse antibiotics are capable of efficiently killing biofilm-residing cells at minimal inhibitory concentrations. Synergistic effects could also be observed in a murine in vivo model system. PMZ was shown to increase membrane potential and interfere with bacterial respiration. Of note, antibiotic killing activity was elevated when PMZ was added to cells grown under environmental conditions that induce low intracellular proton levels. Our results imply that biofilm-grown bacteria avoid antibiotic killing and become tolerant by counteracting intracellular alkalization through the adaptation of metabolic and transport functions. Abrogation of antibiotic tolerance by interfering with the cell’s bioenergetics promises to pave the way for successful eradication of biofilm-associated infections. Repurposing promethazine as a biofilm-sensitizing drug has the potential to accelerate the introduction of new treatments for recalcitrant, biofilm-associated infections into the clinic. At sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations, phenothiazines have been shown to inhibit virulence as well as the formation of biofilms in a wide range of different bacterial pathogens. In this study, we analyzed the anti-bacterial effect of the FDA-approved drug, promethazine, on biofilm-grown Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We demonstrate that PMZ interferes with bacterial bioenergetics and sensitizes biofilm-grown P. aeruginosa cells to bactericidal activity of several different classes of antibiotics by several orders of magnitude. This effect was most pronounced when cells were grown under environmental conditions that induce low intracellular proton levels. Thus, it seems that a reduced proton efflux in cells that exhibit decreased respiratory activity due to their biofilm mode of growth might explain their general antimicrobial tolerance. The use of PMZ as an antibiotic sensitizer holds promise that targeting tolerance mechanisms of biofilm-grown bacteria could become a practicable way to change the way physicians treat biofilm-associated infections.
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An Antivirulence Approach for Preventing Cryptococcus neoformans from Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier via Novel Natural Product Inhibitors of a Fungal Metalloprotease. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.01249-20. [PMID: 32694141 PMCID: PMC7374060 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01249-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections like cryptococcal meningitis are difficult to resolve because of the limited therapies available. The small arsenal of antifungal drugs reflect the difficulty in finding available targets in fungi because like mammalian cells, fungi are eukaryotes. The limited efficacy, toxicity, and rising resistance of antifungals contribute to the high morbidity and mortality of fungal infections and further underscore the dire but unmet need for new antifungal drugs. The traditional approach in antifungal drug development has been to target fungal growth, but an attractive alternative is to target mechanisms of pathogenesis. An important attribute of Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) pathogenesis is its ability to enter the central nervous system. Here, we describe a large-scale screen that identified three natural products that prevented Cn from crossing the blood-brain barrier by inhibiting the virulence factor Mpr1 without affecting the growth of Cn. We propose that compounds identified here could be further developed as antivirulence therapy that would be administered preemptively or serve as a prophylactic in patients at high risk for developing cryptococcal meningitis. Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) is the leading cause of fungal meningitis, a deadly disease with limited therapeutic options. Dissemination to the central nervous system hinges on the ability of Cn to breach the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and is considered an attribute of Cn virulence. Targeting virulence instead of growth for antifungal drug development has not been fully exploited despite the benefits of this approach. Mpr1 is a secreted fungal metalloprotease not required for fungal growth, but rather, it functions as a virulence factor by facilitating Cn migration across the BBB. This central role for Mpr1, its extracellular location, and lack of expression in mammalian cells make Mpr1 a high-value target for an antivirulence approach aimed at developing therapeutics for cryptococcal meningitis. To test this notion, we devised a large-scale screen to identify compounds that prohibited Cn from crossing the BBB by selectively blocking Mpr1 proteolytic activity, without inhibiting the growth of Cn. A phytochemical natural product-derived library was screened to identify new molecular scaffolds of prototypes unique to a Cn microecosystem. Of the 240 pure natural products examined, 3 lead compounds, abietic acid, diosgenin, and lupinine inhibited Mpr1 proteolytic activity with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of <10 μM, displayed little to no mammalian cell toxicity, and did not affect Cn growth. Notably, the lead compounds blocked Cn from crossing the BBB, without damaging the barrier integrity, suggesting the bioactive molecules had no off-target effects. We propose that these new drug scaffolds are promising candidates for the development of antivirulence therapy against cryptococcal meningitis.
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Grimsey EM, Piddock LJV. Do phenothiazines possess antimicrobial and efflux inhibitory properties? FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020; 43:577-590. [PMID: 31216574 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuz017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a global health concern; the rise of drug-resistant bacterial infections is compromising the medical advances that resulted from the introduction of antibiotics at the beginning of the 20th century. Considering that the presence of mutations within individuals in a bacterial population may allow a subsection to survive and propagate in response to selective pressure, as long as antibiotics are used in the treatment of bacterial infections, development of resistance is an inevitable evolutionary outcome. This, combined with the lack of novel antibiotics being released to the clinical market, means the need to develop alternative strategies to treat these resistant infections is critical. We discuss how the use of antibiotic adjuvants can minimise the appearance and impact of resistance. To this effect, several phenothiazine-derived drugs have been shown to potentiate the activities of antibiotics used to treat infections caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Outside of their role as antipsychotic medications, we review the evidence to suggest that phenothiazines possess inherent antibacterial and efflux inhibitory properties enabling them to potentially combat drug resistance. We also discuss that understanding their mode of action is essential to facilitate the design of new phenothiazine derivatives or novel agents for use as antibiotic adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Grimsey
- Institute of Microbiology & Infection, College of Medical & Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, United Kingdom
| | - Laura J V Piddock
- Institute of Microbiology & Infection, College of Medical & Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, United Kingdom
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Portilho AI, Trzewikoswki de Lima G, De Gaspari E. Neisseria meningitidis: analysis of pili and LPS in emerging Brazilian strains. Ther Adv Vaccines Immunother 2020; 8:2515135520919195. [PMID: 32435751 PMCID: PMC7225800 DOI: 10.1177/2515135520919195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neisseria meningitidis is the main cause of bacterial meningitis in Brazil, where the main serogroups isolated are B and C; however, the serogroup W has recently emerged. LPS and type IV pili are important virulence factors that increase meningococci pathogenicity. METHODS The characterization of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and type IV pili in 19 meningococci strains of serogroup B, 21 of serogroup C, 45 of serogroup W and 28 of serogroup Y, isolated in Brazil between 2011 and 2017, was conducted using the Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (Dot- ELISA) technique and monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS We would like to emphasize the importance of characterizing relevant antigens, such as pili and LPS, the use of monoclonal antibodies to support it, and how such studies improve vaccine development and monitoring. Most of the strains studied presented L3,7,9 LPS and type IV pili; both antigens are associated with the capacity to cause invasive disease. CONCLUSION Due to the impact of meningococcal disease, it is important to maintain and improve vaccine studies. Epitopes characterization provides data about the virulence of circulating strains. The use of monoclonal antibodies and serological techniques are relevant and support vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Izeli Portilho
- Departament of Immunology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil Post-Graduate Program Interunity in Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Trzewikoswki de Lima
- Departament of Immunology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil Post-Graduate Program Interunity in Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth De Gaspari
- Departament of Immunology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Dr Arnaldo Avenue 355, 11 floor, São Paulo, SP 01246-902, Brazil
- Post-Graduate Program Interunity in Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil
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40
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Sfera A, Osorio C, Diaz EL, Maguire G, Cummings M. The Other Obesity Epidemic-Of Drugs and Bugs. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:488. [PMID: 32849279 PMCID: PMC7411001 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic psychiatric patients with schizophrenia and related disorders are frequently treatment-resistant and may require higher doses of psychotropic drugs to remain stable. Prolonged exposure to these agents increases the risk of weight gain and cardiometabolic disorders, leading to poorer outcomes and higher medical cost. It is well-established that obesity has reached epidemic proportions throughout the world, however it is less known that its rates are two to three times higher in mentally ill patients compared to the general population. Psychotropic drugs have emerged as a major cause of weight gain, pointing to an urgent need for novel interventions to attenuate this unintended consequence. Recently, the gut microbial community has been linked to psychotropic drugs-induced obesity as these agents were found to possess antimicrobial properties and trigger intestinal dysbiosis, depleting Bacteroidetes phylum. Since germ-free animals exposed to psychotropics have not demonstrated weight gain, altered commensal flora composition is believed to be necessary and sufficient to induce dysmetabolism. Conversely, not only do psychotropics disrupt the composition of gut microbiota but the later alter the metabolism of the former. Here we review the role of gut bacterial community in psychotropic drugs metabolism and dysbiosis. We discuss potential biomarkers reflecting the status of Bacteroidetes phylum and take a closer look at nutritional interventions, fecal microbiota transplantation, and transcranial magnetic stimulation, strategies that may lower obesity rates in chronic psychiatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adonis Sfera
- Psychiatry, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Patton State Hospital, San Bernardino, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Adonis Sfera
| | - Carolina Osorio
- Department of Psychiatry, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Eddie Lee Diaz
- Department of Psychiatry, Patton State Hospital, San Bernardino, CA, United States
| | - Gerald Maguire
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Michael Cummings
- Department of Psychiatry, Patton State Hospital, San Bernardino, CA, United States
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McCallum M, Benlekbir S, Nguyen S, Tammam S, Rubinstein JL, Burrows LL, Howell PL. Multiple conformations facilitate PilT function in the type IV pilus. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5198. [PMID: 31729381 PMCID: PMC6858323 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13070-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Type IV pilus-like systems are protein complexes that polymerize pilin fibres. They are critical for virulence in many bacterial pathogens. Pilin polymerization and depolymerization are powered by motor ATPases of the PilT/VirB11-like family. This family is thought to operate with C2 symmetry; however, most of these ATPases crystallize with either C3 or C6 symmetric conformations. The relevance of these conformations is unclear. Here, we determine the X-ray structures of PilT in four unique conformations and use these structures to classify the conformation of available PilT/VirB11-like family member structures. Single particle electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM) structures of PilT reveal condition-dependent preferences for C2, C3, and C6 conformations. The physiologic importance of these conformations is validated by coevolution analysis and functional studies of point mutants, identifying a rare gain-of-function mutation that favours the C2 conformation. With these data, we propose a comprehensive model of PilT function with broad implications for PilT/VirB11-like family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew McCallum
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Program in Molecular Structure & Function, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Samir Benlekbir
- Program in Molecular Structure & Function, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Sheryl Nguyen
- Program in Molecular Structure & Function, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Stephanie Tammam
- Program in Molecular Structure & Function, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - John L Rubinstein
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
- Program in Molecular Structure & Function, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1l7, Canada.
| | - Lori L Burrows
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
| | - P Lynne Howell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
- Program in Molecular Structure & Function, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.
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Type IV Pili as a Therapeutic Target. Trends Microbiol 2019; 27:658-661. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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43
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Mucke HA. Drug Repurposing Patent Applications January–March 2019. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2019; 17:255-260. [DOI: 10.1089/adt.2019.938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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44
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Coureuil M, Jamet A, Bille E, Lécuyer H, Bourdoulous S, Nassif X. Molecular interactions between Neisseria meningitidis and its human host. Cell Microbiol 2019; 21:e13063. [PMID: 31167044 PMCID: PMC6899865 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram‐negative bacterium that asymptomatically colonises the nasopharynx of humans. For an unknown reason, N. meningitidis can cross the nasopharyngeal barrier and invade the bloodstream where it becomes one of the most harmful extracellular bacterial pathogen. This infectious cycle involves the colonisation of two different environments. (a) In the nasopharynx, N. meningitidis grow on the top of mucus‐producing epithelial cells surrounded by a complex microbiota. To survive and grow in this challenging environment, the meningococcus expresses specific virulence factors such as polymorphic toxins and MDAΦ. (b) Meningococci have the ability to survive in the extra cellular fluids including blood and cerebrospinal fluid. The interaction of N. meningitidis with human endothelial cells leads to the formation of typical microcolonies that extend overtime and promote vascular injury, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and acute inflammation. In this review, we will focus on the interplay between N. meningitidis and these two different niches at the cellular and molecular level and discuss the use of inhibitors of piliation as a potent therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Coureuil
- Inserm, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, U1151, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, UMR_S 1151, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR 8253, Paris, France
| | - Anne Jamet
- Inserm, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, U1151, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, UMR_S 1151, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR 8253, Paris, France.,Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Bille
- Inserm, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, U1151, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, UMR_S 1151, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR 8253, Paris, France.,Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Hervé Lécuyer
- Inserm, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, U1151, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, UMR_S 1151, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR 8253, Paris, France.,Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Bourdoulous
- Université de Paris, UMR_S 1151, Paris, France.,Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Nassif
- Inserm, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, U1151, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, UMR_S 1151, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR 8253, Paris, France.,Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France
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45
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Anti-psychotic drugs block meningococcal virulence. Nat Microbiol 2019; 4:906-907. [PMID: 31118504 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0467-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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