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Quispe Haro JJ, Chen F, Los R, Shi S, Sun W, Chen Y, Idema T, Wegner SV. Optogenetic Control of Bacterial Cell-Cell Adhesion Dynamics: Unraveling the Influence on Biofilm Architecture and Functionality. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2310079. [PMID: 38613837 PMCID: PMC11187914 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202310079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
The transition of bacteria from an individualistic to a biofilm lifestyle profoundly alters their biology. During biofilm development, the bacterial cell-cell adhesions are a major determinant of initial microcolonies, which serve as kernels for the subsequent microscopic and mesoscopic structure of the biofilm, and determine the resulting functionality. In this study, the significance of bacterial cell-cell adhesion dynamics on bacterial aggregation and biofilm maturation is elucidated. Using photoswitchable adhesins between bacteria, modifying the dynamics of bacterial cell-cell adhesions with periodic dark-light cycles is systematic. Dynamic cell-cell adhesions with liquid-like behavior improve bacterial aggregation and produce more compact microcolonies than static adhesions with solid-like behavior in both experiments and individual-based simulations. Consequently, dynamic cell-cell adhesions give rise to earlier quorum sensing activation, better intermixing of different bacterial populations, improved biofilm maturation, changes in the growth of cocultures, and higher yields in fermentation. The here presented approach of tuning bacterial cell-cell adhesion dynamics opens the door for regulating the structure and function of biofilms and cocultures with potential biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan José Quispe Haro
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and PathobiochemistryUniversity of MünsterMünsterGermany
| | - Fei Chen
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and PathobiochemistryUniversity of MünsterMünsterGermany
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Rachel Los
- Department of BionanoscienceKavli Institute of NanoscienceDelft University of TechnologyDelftThe Netherlands
| | - Shuqi Shi
- National Engineering Research Center for BiotechnologyCollege of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Materials‐Oriented Chemical EngineeringCollege of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Wenjun Sun
- National Engineering Research Center for BiotechnologyCollege of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Materials‐Oriented Chemical EngineeringCollege of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yong Chen
- National Engineering Research Center for BiotechnologyCollege of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Materials‐Oriented Chemical EngineeringCollege of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Timon Idema
- Department of BionanoscienceKavli Institute of NanoscienceDelft University of TechnologyDelftThe Netherlands
| | - Seraphine V. Wegner
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and PathobiochemistryUniversity of MünsterMünsterGermany
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2
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Rhodes KA, Rendón MA, Ma MC, Agellon A, Johnson AC, So M. Type IV pilus retraction is required for Neisseria musculi colonization and persistence in a natural mouse model of infection. mBio 2024; 15:e0279223. [PMID: 38084997 PMCID: PMC10790696 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02792-23] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE We describe the importance of Type IV pilus retraction to colonization and persistence by a mouse commensal Neisseria, N. musculi, in its native host. Our findings have implications for the role of Tfp retraction in mediating interactions of human-adapted pathogenic and commensal Neisseria with their human host due to the relatedness of these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Rhodes
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - María A. Rendón
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Man Cheong Ma
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Al Agellon
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Andrew C.E. Johnson
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Magdalene So
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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3
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Prabhukhot GS, Eggleton CD, Patel J. Multispecies Bacterial Biofilms and Their Evaluation Using Bioreactors. Foods 2023; 12:4495. [PMID: 38137299 PMCID: PMC10742677 DOI: 10.3390/foods12244495] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic biofilm formation within food processing industries raises a serious public health and safety concern, and places burdens on the economy. Biofilm formation on equipment surfaces is a rather complex phenomenon, wherein multiple steps are involved in bacterial biofilm formation. In this review we discuss the stages of biofilm formation, the existing literature on the impact of surface properties and shear stress on biofilms, types of bioreactors, and antimicrobial coatings. The review underscores the significance of prioritizing biofilm prevention strategies as a first line of defense, followed by control measures. Utilizing specific biofilm eradication strategies as opposed to a uniform approach is crucial because biofilms exhibit different behavioral outcomes even amongst the same species when the environmental conditions change. This review is geared towards biofilm researchers and food safety experts, and seeks to derive insights into the scope of biofilm formation, prevention, and control. The use of suitable bioreactors is paramount to understanding the mechanisms of biofilm formation. The findings provide useful information to researchers involved in bioreactor selection for biofilm investigation, and food processors in surfaces with novel antimicrobial coatings, which provide minimal bacterial attachment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grishma S. Prabhukhot
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA; (G.S.P.); (C.D.E.)
| | - Charles D. Eggleton
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA; (G.S.P.); (C.D.E.)
| | - Jitendra Patel
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Environmental and Microbial Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
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4
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Cremin K, Duxbury SJN, Rosko J, Soyer OS. Formation and emergent dynamics of spatially organized microbial systems. Interface Focus 2023; 13:20220062. [PMID: 36789239 PMCID: PMC9912014 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2022.0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Spatial organization is the norm rather than the exception in the microbial world. While the study of microbial physiology has been dominated by studies in well-mixed cultures, there is now increasing interest in understanding the role of spatial organization in microbial physiology, coexistence and evolution. Where studied, spatial organization has been shown to influence all three of these aspects. In this mini review and perspective article, we emphasize that the dynamics within spatially organized microbial systems (SOMS) are governed by feedbacks between local physico-chemical conditions, cell physiology and movement, and evolution. These feedbacks can give rise to emergent dynamics, which need to be studied through a combination of spatio-temporal measurements and mathematical models. We highlight the initial formation of SOMS and their emergent dynamics as two open areas of investigation for future studies. These studies will benefit from the development of model systems that can mimic natural ones in terms of species composition and spatial structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey Cremin
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | - Jerko Rosko
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Orkun S. Soyer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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5
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Schwartzman JA, Ebrahimi A, Chadwick G, Sato Y, Roller BRK, Orphan VJ, Cordero OX. Bacterial growth in multicellular aggregates leads to the emergence of complex life cycles. Curr Biol 2022; 32:3059-3069.e7. [PMID: 35777363 PMCID: PMC9496226 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Facultative multicellular behaviors expand the metabolic capacity and physiological resilience of bacteria. Despite their ubiquity in nature, we lack an understanding of how these behaviors emerge from cellular-scale phenomena. Here, we show how the coupling between growth and resource gradient formation leads to the emergence of multicellular lifecycles in a marine bacterium. Under otherwise carbon-limited growth conditions, Vibrio splendidus 12B01 forms clonal multicellular groups to collectively harvest carbon from soluble polymers of the brown-algal polysaccharide alginate. As they grow, groups phenotypically differentiate into two spatially distinct sub-populations: a static "shell" surrounding a motile, carbon-storing "core." Differentiation of these two sub-populations coincides with the formation of a gradient in nitrogen-source availability within clusters. Additionally, we find that populations of cells containing a high proportion of carbon-storing individuals propagate and form new clusters more readily on alginate than do populations with few carbon-storing cells. Together, these results suggest that local metabolic activity and differential partitioning of resources leads to the emergence of reproductive cycles in a facultatively multicellular bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A Schwartzman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Ali Ebrahimi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Grayson Chadwick
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Yuya Sato
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Environmental Management Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan
| | - Benjamin R K Roller
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Center for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, Vienna 1030, Austria; Department of Environmental Systems Sciences, ETH Zürich, Universitätsstrasse 16, Zürich 8092, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Microbiology, Eawag, Ueberlandstrasse 133, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | - Victoria J Orphan
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Otto X Cordero
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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6
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Baerentsen R, Tang CM, Exley RM. Et tu, Neisseria? Conflicts of Interest Between Neisseria Species. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:913292. [PMID: 35811666 PMCID: PMC9263626 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.913292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are two obligate human pathogens that have evolved to be uniquely adapted to their host. The meningococcus is frequently carried asymptomatically in the nasopharynx, while gonococcal infection of the urogenital tract usually elicits a marked local inflammatory response. Other members of the Neisseria genus are abundant in the upper airway where they could engage in co-operative or competitive interactions with both these pathogens. Here, we briefly outline the potential sites of contact between Neisseria spp. in the body, with emphasis on the upper airway, and describe the growing yet circumstantial evidence for antagonism from carriage studies and human volunteer challenge models with Neisseria lactamica. Recent laboratory studies have characterized antagonistic mechanisms that enable competition between Neisseria species. Several of these mechanisms, including Multiple Adhesin family (Mafs), Two Partner Secretion Systems, and Type VI secretion system, involve direct contact between bacteria; the genetic organisation of these systems, and the domain structure of their effector molecules have striking similarities. Additionally, DNA from one species of Neisseria can be toxic to another species, following uptake. More research is needed to define the full repertoire of antagonistic mechanisms in Neisseria spp., their distribution in strains, their range of activity, and contribution to survival in vivo. Understanding the targets of effectors could reveal how antagonistic relationships between close relatives shape subsequent interactions between pathogens and their hosts.
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7
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Oriola D, Marin-Riera M, Anlaş K, Gritti N, Sanaki-Matsumiya M, Aalderink G, Ebisuya M, Sharpe J, Trivedi V. Arrested coalescence of multicellular aggregates. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:3771-3780. [PMID: 35511111 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00063f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Multicellular aggregates are known to exhibit liquid-like properties. The fusion process of two cell aggregates is commonly studied as the coalescence of two viscous drops. However, tissues are complex materials and can exhibit viscoelastic behaviour. It is known that elastic effects can prevent the complete fusion of two drops, a phenomenon known as arrested coalescence. Here we study this phenomenon in stem cell aggregates and provide a theoretical framework which agrees with the experiments. In addition, agent-based simulations show that active cell fluctuations can control a solid-to-fluid phase transition, revealing that arrested coalescence can be found in the vicinity of an unjamming transition. By analysing the dynamics of the fusion process and combining it with nanoindentation measurements, we obtain the effective viscosity, shear modulus and surface tension of the aggregates. More generally, our work provides a simple, fast and inexpensive method to characterize the mechanical properties of viscoelastic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Oriola
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Barcelona, Dr. Aiguader 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Miquel Marin-Riera
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Barcelona, Dr. Aiguader 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Kerim Anlaş
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Barcelona, Dr. Aiguader 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Nicola Gritti
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Barcelona, Dr. Aiguader 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marina Sanaki-Matsumiya
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Barcelona, Dr. Aiguader 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Germaine Aalderink
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Barcelona, Dr. Aiguader 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Miki Ebisuya
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Barcelona, Dr. Aiguader 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - James Sharpe
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Barcelona, Dr. Aiguader 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, 08010, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vikas Trivedi
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Barcelona, Dr. Aiguader 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Developmental Biology Unit, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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8
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Bender N, Hennes M, Maier B. Mobility of extracellular DNA within gonococcal colonies. Biofilm 2022; 4:100078. [PMID: 35647521 PMCID: PMC9136125 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2022.100078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Transformation enables bacteria to acquire genetic information from extracellular DNA (eDNA). Close proximity between bacteria in colonies and biofilms may inhibit escape of eDNA from the colony but it also hinders its diffusion between donor and recipient. In this study, we investigate the mobility of DNA within colonies formed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and relate it to transformation efficiency. We characterize the penetration dynamics of fluorescent DNA into the colony at a time scale of hours and find that 300 bp fragments diffuse through the colony without hindrance. For DNA length exceeding 3 kbp, a concentration gradient between the edge and the center of the colony develops, indicating hindered diffusion. Accumulation of DNA within the colony increases with increasing DNA length. The presence of the gonococcal DNA uptake sequence (DUS), which mediates specific binding to type 4 pili (T4P) and uptake into the cell, steepens the radial concentration gradient within the colony, suggesting that the DUS reduces DNA mobility. In particular, DNA of N. gonorrhoeae containing multiple DUS is trapped at the periphery. Under conditions, where DUS containing DNA fragments readily enter the colony center, we investigate the efficiency of transformation. We show that despite rapid diffusion of DNA, the transformation is limited to the edge of young colonies. We conclude that DNA mobility depends on DNA length and specific binding mediated by the DUS, resulting in restricted mobility of gonococcal DNA. Yet gonococcal colonies accumulate DNA, and may therefore act as a reservoir for eDNA. DNA fragments encompassing the length of a typical operon efficiently penetrate bacterial colonies. Bacterial colonies accumulate eDNA with an efficiency that depends on the length and the DNA uptake sequence. Genomic DNA from a distinct species spreads efficiently through gonococcal colonies, while gonococcal DNA and DNA from a closely related species are trapped. Transformation is most efficient at the periphery of freshly assembled gonococcal colonies.
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9
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Ellison CK, Whitfield GB, Brun YV. Type IV Pili: Dynamic Bacterial Nanomachines. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 46:6425739. [PMID: 34788436 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria and archaea rely on appendages called type IV pili (T4P) to participate in diverse behaviors including surface sensing, biofilm formation, virulence, protein secretion, and motility across surfaces. T4P are broadly distributed fibers that dynamically extend and retract, and this dynamic activity is essential for their function in broad processes. Despite the essentiality of dynamics in T4P function, little is known about the role of these dynamics and molecular mechanisms controlling them. Recent advances in microscopy have yielded insight into the role of T4P dynamics in their diverse functions and recent structural work has expanded what is known about the inner workings of the T4P motor. This review discusses recent progress in understanding the function, regulation, and mechanisms of T4P dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney K Ellison
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Gregory B Whitfield
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Yves V Brun
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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10
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An In Vitro Model System to Test Mechano-Microbiological Interactions Between Bacteria and Host Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 34542856 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1661-1_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
The aim of this chapter is to present an innovative technique to visualize changes of the F-actin cytoskeleton in response to locally applied force. We developed an in vitro system that combines micromanipulation of force by magnetic tweezers with simultaneous live cell fluorescence microscopy. We applied pulling forces to magnetic beads coated with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae Type IV pili in the same order of magnitude than the forces generated by live bacteria. We saw quick and robust F-actin accumulation in individual cells at the sites where pulling forces were applied. Using the magnetic tweezers, we were able to mimic the local response of the F-actin cytoskeleton to bacteria-generated forces. In this chapter, we describe our magnetic tweezers system and show how to control it in order to study cellular responses to force.
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11
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Custodio R, Ford RM, Ellison CJ, Liu G, Mickute G, Tang CM, Exley RM. Type VI secretion system killing by commensal Neisseria is influenced by expression of type four pili. eLife 2021; 10:63755. [PMID: 34232858 PMCID: PMC8263058 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Type VI Secretion Systems (T6SSs) are widespread in bacteria and can dictate the development and organisation of polymicrobial ecosystems by mediating contact dependent killing. In Neisseria species, including Neisseria cinerea a commensal of the human respiratory tract, interbacterial contacts are mediated by Type four pili (Tfp) which promote formation of aggregates and govern the spatial dynamics of growing Neisseria microcolonies. Here, we show that N. cinerea expresses a plasmid-encoded T6SS that is active and can limit growth of related pathogens. We explored the impact of Tfp on N. cinerea T6SS-dependent killing within a colony and show that pilus expression by a prey strain enhances susceptibility to T6SS compared to a non-piliated prey, by preventing segregation from a T6SS-wielding attacker. Our findings have important implications for understanding how spatial constraints during contact-dependent antagonism can shape the evolution of microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Custodio
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rhian M Ford
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Cara J Ellison
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Guangyu Liu
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Gerda Mickute
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph M Tang
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel M Exley
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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12
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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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13
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Abstract
Biofilms are structured communities formed by a single or multiple microbial species. Within biofilms, bacteria are embedded into extracellular matrix, allowing them to build macroscopic objects. Biofilm structure can respond to environmental changes such as the presence of antibiotics or predators. By adjusting expression levels of surface and extracellular matrix components, bacteria tune cell-to-cell interactions. One major challenge in the field is the fact that these components are very diverse among different species. Deciphering how physical interactions within biofilms are affected by changes in gene expression is a promising approach to obtaining a more unified picture of how bacteria modulate biofilms. This review focuses on recent advances in characterizing attractive and repulsive forces between bacteria in correlation with biofilm structure, dynamics, and spreading. How bacteria control physical interactions to maximize their fitness is an emerging theme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berenike Maier
- Institute for Biological Physics and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany;
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14
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Cronenberg T, Hennes M, Wielert I, Maier B. Antibiotics modulate attractive interactions in bacterial colonies affecting survivability under combined treatment. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009251. [PMID: 33524048 PMCID: PMC7877761 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilm formation protects bacteria from antibiotics. Very little is known about the response of biofilm-dwelling bacteria to antibiotics at the single cell level. Here, we developed a cell-tracking approach to investigate how antibiotics affect structure and dynamics of colonies formed by the human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Antibiotics targeting different cellular functions enlarge the cell volumes and modulate within-colony motility. Focusing on azithromycin and ceftriaxone, we identify changes in type 4 pilus (T4P) mediated cell-to-cell attraction as the molecular mechanism for different effects on motility. By using strongly attractive mutant strains, we reveal that the survivability under ceftriaxone treatment depends on motility. Combining our results, we find that sequential treatment with azithromycin and ceftriaxone is synergistic. Taken together, we demonstrate that antibiotics modulate T4P-mediated attractions and hence cell motility and colony fluidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Cronenberg
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Marc Hennes
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Isabelle Wielert
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Berenike Maier
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
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15
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Kuan HS, Pönisch W, Jülicher F, Zaburdaev V. Continuum Theory of Active Phase Separation in Cellular Aggregates. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 126:018102. [PMID: 33480767 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.018102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Dense cellular aggregates are common in biology, ranging from bacterial biofilms to organoids, cell spheroids, and tumors. Their dynamics, driven by intercellular forces, is intrinsically out of equilibrium. Motivated by bacterial colonies as a model system, we present a continuum theory to study dense, active, cellular aggregates. We describe the process of aggregate formation as an active phase separation phenomenon, while the merging of aggregates is rationalized as a coalescence of viscoelastic droplets where the key timescales are linked to the turnover of the active force. Our theory provides a general framework for studying the rheology and nonequilibrium dynamics of dense cellular aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Shun Kuan
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolfram Pönisch
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, CB2 3DY Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Jülicher
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Vasily Zaburdaev
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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16
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Radulović O, Stanković S, Uzelac B, Tadić V, Trifunović-Momčilov M, Lozo J, Marković M. Phenol Removal Capacity of the Common Duckweed ( Lemna minor L.) and Six Phenol-Resistant Bacterial Strains From Its Rhizosphere: In Vitro Evaluation at High Phenol Concentrations. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9050599. [PMID: 32397144 PMCID: PMC7285011 DOI: 10.3390/plants9050599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The main topic of this study is the bioremediation potential of the common duckweed, Lemna minor L., and selected rhizospheric bacterial strains in removing phenol from aqueous environments at extremely high initial phenol concentrations. To that end, fluorescence microscopy, MIC tests, biofilm formation, the phenol removal test (4-AAP method), the Salkowski essay, and studies of multiplication rates of sterile and inoculated duckweed in MS medium with phenol (200, 500, 750, and 1000 mg L−1) were conducted. Out of seven bacterial strains, six were identified as epiphytes or endophytes that efficiently removed phenol. The phenol removal experiment showed that the bacteria/duckweed system was more efficient during the first 24 h compared to the sterile duckweed control group. At the end of this experiment, almost 90% of the initial phenol concentration was removed by both groups, respectively. The bacteria stimulated the duckweed multiplication even at a high bacterial population density (>105 CFU mL−1) over a prolonged period of time (14 days). All bacterial strains were sensitive to all the applied antibiotics and formed biofilms in vitro. The dual bacteria/duckweed system, especially the one containing strain 43-Hafnia paralvei C32-106/3, Accession No. MF526939, had a number of characteristics that are advantageous in bioremediation, such as high phenol removal efficiency, biofilm formation, safety (antibiotic sensitivity), and stimulation of duckweed multiplication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Radulović
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”–National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 142 Bulevar Despota Stefana, Belgrade 11060, Serbia; (B.U.); (M.T-M.); (M.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Slaviša Stanković
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 16 Studentski Trg, Belgrade 11000, Serbia; (S.S.); (J.L.)
| | - Branka Uzelac
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”–National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 142 Bulevar Despota Stefana, Belgrade 11060, Serbia; (B.U.); (M.T-M.); (M.M.)
| | - Vojin Tadić
- Mining and Metallurgy Institute Bor, 35 Zeleni Bulevar, Bor 19210, Serbia;
| | - Milana Trifunović-Momčilov
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”–National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 142 Bulevar Despota Stefana, Belgrade 11060, Serbia; (B.U.); (M.T-M.); (M.M.)
| | - Jelena Lozo
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 16 Studentski Trg, Belgrade 11000, Serbia; (S.S.); (J.L.)
| | - Marija Marković
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”–National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 142 Bulevar Despota Stefana, Belgrade 11060, Serbia; (B.U.); (M.T-M.); (M.M.)
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17
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Craig L, Forest KT, Maier B. Type IV pili: dynamics, biophysics and functional consequences. Nat Rev Microbiol 2020; 17:429-440. [PMID: 30988511 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-019-0195-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 222] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The surfaces of many bacteria are decorated with long, exquisitely thin appendages called type IV pili (T4P), dynamic filaments that are rapidly polymerized and depolymerized from a pool of pilin subunits. Cycles of pilus extension, binding and retraction enable T4P to perform a phenomenally diverse array of functions, including twitching motility, DNA uptake and microcolony formation. On the basis of recent developments, a comprehensive understanding is emerging of the molecular architecture of the T4P machinery and the filament it builds, providing mechanistic insights into the assembly and retraction processes. Combined microbiological and biophysical approaches have revealed how T4P dynamics influence self-organization of bacteria, how bacteria respond to external stimuli to regulate T4P activity for directed movement, and the role of T4P retraction in surface sensing. In this Review, we discuss the T4P machine architecture and filament structure and present current molecular models for T4P dynamics, with a particular focus on recent insights into T4P retraction. We also discuss the functional consequences of T4P dynamics, which have important implications for bacterial lifestyle and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Craig
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Katrina T Forest
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Berenike Maier
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany.
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18
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Pönisch W, Weber CA, Zaburdaev V. How bacterial cells and colonies move on solid substrates. Phys Rev E 2019; 99:042419. [PMID: 31108726 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.99.042419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Many bacteria rely on active cell appendages, such as type IV pili, to move over substrates and interact with neighboring cells. Here, we study the motion of individual cells and bacterial colonies, mediated by the collective interactions of multiple pili. It was shown experimentally that the substrate motility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae cells can be described as a persistent random walk with a persistence length that exceeds the mean pili length. Moreover, the persistence length increases for a higher number of pili per cell. With the help of a simple, tractable stochastic model, we test whether a tug of war without directional memory can explain the persistent motion of single Neisseria gonorrhoeae cells. While persistent motion of single cells indeed emerges naturally in the model, a tug of war alone is not capable of explaining the motility of microcolonies, which becomes weaker with increasing colony size. We suggest sliding friction between the microcolonies and the substrate as the missing ingredient. While such friction almost does not affect the general mechanism of single cell motility, it has a strong effect on colony motility. We validate the theoretical predictions by using a three-dimensional computational model that includes explicit details of the pili dynamics, force generation, and geometry of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfram Pönisch
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany.,MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph A Weber
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany.,Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - Vasily Zaburdaev
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany.,Institute of Supercomputing Technologies, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603140, Russia.,Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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19
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Ellison CK, Dalia TN, Dalia AB, Brun YV. Real-time microscopy and physical perturbation of bacterial pili using maleimide-conjugated molecules. Nat Protoc 2019; 14:1803-1819. [PMID: 31028374 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-019-0162-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria use surface-exposed, proteinaceous fibers called pili for diverse behaviors, including horizontal gene transfer, surface sensing, motility, and pathogenicity. Visualization of these filamentous nanomachines and their activity in live cells has proven challenging, largely due to their small size. Here, we describe a broadly applicable method for labeling and imaging pili and other surface-exposed nanomachines in live cells. This technique uses a combination of genetics and maleimide-based click chemistry in which a cysteine substitution is made in the major pilin subunit for subsequent labeling with thiol-reactive maleimide dyes. Large maleimide-conjugated molecules can also be used to physically interfere with the dynamic activity of filamentous nanomachines. We describe parameters for selecting cysteine substitution positions, optimized labeling conditions for epifluorescence imaging of pilus fibers, and methods for impeding pilus activity. After cysteine knock-in strains have been generated, this protocol can be completed within 30 min to a few hours, depending on the species and the experiment of choice. Visualization of extracellular nanomachines such as pili using this approach can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the role played by these structures in distinct bacterial behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Triana N Dalia
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Ankur B Dalia
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Yves V Brun
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA. .,Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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