1
|
Gao S, Jin W, Quan Y, Li Y, Shen Y, Yuan S, Yi L, Wang Y, Wang Y. Bacterial capsules: Occurrence, mechanism, and function. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2024; 10:21. [PMID: 38480745 PMCID: PMC10937973 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-024-00497-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
In environments characterized by extended multi-stress conditions, pathogens develop a variety of immune escape mechanisms to enhance their ability to infect the host. The capsules, polymers that bacteria secrete near their cell wall, participates in numerous bacterial life processes and plays a crucial role in resisting host immune attacks and adapting to their niche. Here, we discuss the relationship between capsules and bacterial virulence, summarizing the molecular mechanisms of capsular regulation and pathogenesis to provide new insights into the research on the pathogenesis of pathogenic bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuji Gao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China
- Henan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Detection and Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Livestock and Poultry, Luoyang, 471003, China
| | - Wenjie Jin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China
- Henan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Detection and Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Livestock and Poultry, Luoyang, 471003, China
| | - Yingying Quan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China
- Henan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Detection and Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Livestock and Poultry, Luoyang, 471003, China
| | - Yue Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China
- Henan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Detection and Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Livestock and Poultry, Luoyang, 471003, China
| | - Yamin Shen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China
- Henan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Detection and Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Livestock and Poultry, Luoyang, 471003, China
| | - Shuo Yuan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China
- Henan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Detection and Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Livestock and Poultry, Luoyang, 471003, China
| | - Li Yi
- Henan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Detection and Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Livestock and Poultry, Luoyang, 471003, China
- College of Life Science, Luoyang Normal University, Luoyang, 471934, China
| | - Yuxin Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China.
- Henan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Detection and Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Livestock and Poultry, Luoyang, 471003, China.
| | - Yang Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China.
- Henan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Detection and Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Livestock and Poultry, Luoyang, 471003, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Key FM, Khadka VD, Romo-González C, Blake KJ, Deng L, Lynn TC, Lee JC, Chiu IM, García-Romero MT, Lieberman TD. On-person adaptive evolution of Staphylococcus aureus during treatment for atopic dermatitis. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:593-603.e7. [PMID: 37054679 PMCID: PMC10263175 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
The opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus aureus frequently colonizes the inflamed skin of people with atopic dermatitis (AD) and worsens disease severity by promoting skin damage. Here, we show, by longitudinally tracking 23 children treated for AD, that S. aureus adapts via de novo mutations during colonization. Each patient's S. aureus population is dominated by a single lineage, with infrequent invasion by distant lineages. Mutations emerge within each lineage at rates similar to those of S. aureus in other contexts. Some variants spread across the body within months, with signatures of adaptive evolution. Most strikingly, mutations in capsule synthesis gene capD underwent parallel evolution in one patient and across-body sweeps in two patients. We confirm that capD negativity is more common in AD than in other contexts, via reanalysis of S. aureus genomes from 276 people. Together, these findings highlight the importance of the mutation level when dissecting the role of microbes in complex disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felix M Key
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Veda D Khadka
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Carolina Romo-González
- Experimental Bacteriology Laboratory, National Institute for Pediatrics, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Kimbria J Blake
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liwen Deng
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tucker C Lynn
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jean C Lee
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Isaac M Chiu
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Tami D Lieberman
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Ragon Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Giulieri SG, Guérillot R, Duchene S, Hachani A, Daniel D, Seemann T, Davis JS, Tong SYC, Young BC, Wilson DJ, Stinear TP, Howden BP. Niche-specific genome degradation and convergent evolution shaping Staphylococcus aureus adaptation during severe infections. eLife 2022; 11:77195. [PMID: 35699423 PMCID: PMC9270034 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During severe infections, Staphylococcus aureus moves from its colonising sites to blood and tissues and is exposed to new selective pressures, thus, potentially driving adaptive evolution. Previous studies have shown the key role of the agr locus in S. aureus pathoadaptation; however, a more comprehensive characterisation of genetic signatures of bacterial adaptation may enable prediction of clinical outcomes and reveal new targets for treatment and prevention of these infections. Here, we measured adaptation using within-host evolution analysis of 2590 S. aureus genomes from 396 independent episodes of infection. By capturing a comprehensive repertoire of single nucleotide and structural genome variations, we found evidence of a distinctive evolutionary pattern within the infecting populations compared to colonising bacteria. These invasive strains had up to 20-fold enrichments for genome degradation signatures and displayed significantly convergent mutations in a distinctive set of genes, linked to antibiotic response and pathogenesis. In addition to agr-mediated adaptation, we identified non-canonical, genome-wide significant loci including sucA-sucB and stp1. The prevalence of adaptive changes increased with infection extent, emphasising the clinical significance of these signatures. These findings provide a high-resolution picture of the molecular changes when S. aureus transitions from colonisation to severe infection and may inform correlation of infection outcomes with adaptation signatures. The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus lives harmlessly on our skin and noses. However, occasionally, it gets into our blood and internal organs, such as our bones and joints, where it causes severe, long-lasting infections that are difficult to treat. Over time, S. aureus acquire characteristics that help them to adapt to different locations, such as transitioning from the nose to the blood, and avoid being killed by antibiotics. Previous studies have identified changes, or ‘mutations’, in genes that are likely to play an important role in this evolutionary process. One of these genes, called accessory gene regulator (or agr for short), has been shown to control the mechanisms S. aureus use to infect cells and disseminate in the body. However, it is unclear if there are changes in other genes that also help S. aureus adapt to life inside the human body. To help resolve this mystery, Giulieri et al. collected 2,500 samples of S. aureus from almost 400 people. This included bacteria harmlessly living on the skin or in the nose, as well as strains that caused an infection. Gene sequencing revealed a small number of genes, referred to as ‘adaptive genes’, that often acquire mutations during infection. Of these, agr was the most commonly altered. However, mutations in less well-known genes were also identified: some of these genes are related to resistance to antibiotics, while others are involved in chemical processes that help the bacteria to process nutrients. Most mutations were caused by random errors being introduced in to the bacteria’s genetic code which stopped genes from working. However, in some cases, genes were turned off by small fragments of DNA moving around and inserting themselves into different parts of the genome. This study highlights a group of genes that help S. aureus to thrive inside the body and cause severe and prolonged infections. If these results can be confirmed, it may help to guide which antibiotics are used to treat different infections. Furthermore, understanding which genes are important for infection could lead to new strategies for eliminating this dangerous bacterium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano G Giulieri
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Romain Guérillot
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sebastian Duchene
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Abderrahman Hachani
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Diane Daniel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Torsten Seemann
- Microbiological Diagnostic Unit, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Joshua S Davis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Steven Y C Tong
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | | | - Timothy P Stinear
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Benjamin P Howden
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Siegmund A, Afzal MA, Tetzlaff F, Keinhörster D, Gratani F, Paprotka K, Westermann M, Nietzsche S, Wolz C, Fraunholz M, Hübner CA, Löffler B, Tuchscherr L. Intracellular persistence of Staphylococcus aureus in endothelial cells is promoted by the absence of phenol-soluble modulins. Virulence 2021; 12:1186-1198. [PMID: 33843450 PMCID: PMC8043190 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1910455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A large proportion of clinical S. aureus isolates that carry an inactive Agr system are associated with persistent infection that is difficult to treat. Once S. aureus is inside the bloodstream, it can cross the endothelial barrier and invade almost every organ in the human body. Endothelial cells can either be lysed by this pathogen or they serve as a niche for its intracellular long-term survival. Following phagocytosis, several vesicles such as phagosomes and autophagosomes, target intracellular S. aureus for elimination. S. aureus can escape from these vesicles into the host cytoplasm through the activation of phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) αβ. Thereafter, it replicates and lyses the host cell to disseminate to adjacent tissues. Herein we demonstrate that staphylococcal strains which lack the expression of PSMs employ an alternative pathway to better persist within endothelial cells. The intracellular survival of S. aureus is associated with the co-localization of the autophagy marker LC3. In cell culture infection models, we found that the absence of psmαβ decreased the host cell lysis and increased staphylococcal long-term survival. This study explains the positive selection of agr-negative strains that lack the expression of psmαβ in chronic infection due to their advantage in surviving and evading the clearance system of the host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anke Siegmund
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Muhammad Awais Afzal
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller Universität, Jena, Germany
| | - Felix Tetzlaff
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller Universität, Jena, Germany
| | - Daniela Keinhörster
- Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Fabio Gratani
- Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Paprotka
- Biocenter, Chair of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Westermann
- Center for Electron Microscopy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Sandor Nietzsche
- Center for Electron Microscopy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Christiane Wolz
- Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Martin Fraunholz
- Biocenter, Chair of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian A Hübner
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller Universität, Jena, Germany
| | - Bettina Löffler
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Lorena Tuchscherr
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|