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McCarlie SJ, du Preez LL, Hernandez JC, Boucher CE, Bragg RR. Transcriptomic signature of bacteria exposed to benzalkonium chloride. Res Microbiol 2024; 175:104151. [PMID: 37952705 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104151] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted our reliance on biocides, the increasing prevalence of resistance to biocides is a risk to public health. Bacterial exposure to the biocide, benzalkonium chloride (BAC), resulted in a unique transcriptomic profile, characterised by both a short and long-term response. Differential gene expression was observed in four main areas: motility, membrane composition, proteostasis, and the stress response. A metabolism shift to protect the proteome and the stress response were prioritised suggesting these are main resistance mechanisms. Whereas "well-established" mechanisms, such as biofilm formation, were not found to be differentially expressed after exposure to BAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J McCarlie
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, South Africa
| | - Louis L du Preez
- Research & HPC: ICT Services, University of the Free State, South Africa
| | | | - Charlotte E Boucher
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, South Africa
| | - Robert R Bragg
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, South Africa.
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Maillard JY, Pascoe M. Disinfectants and antiseptics: mechanisms of action and resistance. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:4-17. [PMID: 37648789 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00958-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Chemical biocides are used for the prevention and control of infection in health care, targeted home hygiene or controlling microbial contamination for various industrial processes including but not limited to food, water and petroleum. However, their use has substantially increased since the implementation of programmes to control outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridioides difficile and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Biocides interact with multiple targets on the bacterial cells. The number of targets affected and the severity of damage will result in an irreversible bactericidal effect or a reversible bacteriostatic one. Most biocides primarily target the cytoplasmic membrane and enzymes, although the specific bactericidal mechanisms vary among different biocide chemistries. Inappropriate usage or low concentrations of a biocide may act as a stressor while not killing bacterial pathogens, potentially leading to antimicrobial resistance. Biocides can also promote the transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes. In this Review, we explore our current understanding of the mechanisms of action of biocides, the bacterial resistance mechanisms encompassing both intrinsic and acquired resistance and the influence of bacterial biofilms on resistance. We also consider the impact of bacteria that survive biocide exposure in environmental and clinical contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Yves Maillard
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.
| | - Michael Pascoe
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Wales, UK
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Menard G, Silard C, Suriray M, Rouillon A, Augagneur Y. Thirty Years of sRNA-Mediated Regulation in Staphylococcus aureus: From Initial Discoveries to In Vivo Biological Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137346. [PMID: 35806357 PMCID: PMC9266662 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a widespread livestock and human pathogen that colonizes diverse microenvironments within its host. Its adaptation to the environmental conditions encountered within humans relies on coordinated gene expression. This requires a sophisticated regulatory network, among which regulatory RNAs (usually called sRNAs) have emerged as key players over the last 30 years. In S. aureus, sRNAs regulate target genes at the post-transcriptional level through base–pair interactions. The functional characterization of a subset revealed that they participate in all biological processes, including virulence, metabolic adaptation, and antibiotic resistance. In this review, we report 30 years of S. aureus sRNA studies, from their discovery to the in-depth characterizations of some of them. We also discuss their actual in vivo contribution, which is still lagging behind, and their place within the complex regulatory network. These shall be key aspects to consider in order to clearly uncover their in vivo biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Menard
- CHU Rennes, INSERM, BRM (Bacterial Regulatory RNAs and Medicine), SB2H (Service de Bactériologie Hygiène-Hospitalière), University Rennes, UMR_S 1230, F-35000 Rennes, France; (G.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Chloé Silard
- INSERM, BRM (Bacterial Regulatory RNAs and Medicine), University Rennes, UMR_S 1230, F-35000 Rennes, France; (C.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Marie Suriray
- CHU Rennes, INSERM, BRM (Bacterial Regulatory RNAs and Medicine), SB2H (Service de Bactériologie Hygiène-Hospitalière), University Rennes, UMR_S 1230, F-35000 Rennes, France; (G.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Astrid Rouillon
- INSERM, BRM (Bacterial Regulatory RNAs and Medicine), University Rennes, UMR_S 1230, F-35000 Rennes, France; (C.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Yoann Augagneur
- INSERM, BRM (Bacterial Regulatory RNAs and Medicine), University Rennes, UMR_S 1230, F-35000 Rennes, France; (C.S.); (A.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-223234631
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Enterococcus Virulence and Resistant Traits Associated with Its Permanence in the Hospital Environment. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11070857. [PMID: 35884110 PMCID: PMC9311936 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11070857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus are opportunistic pathogens that have been gaining importance in the clinical setting, especially in terms of hospital-acquired infections. This problem has mainly been associated with the fact that these bacteria are able to present intrinsic and extrinsic resistance to different classes of antibiotics, with a great deal of importance being attributed to vancomycin-resistant enterococci. However, other aspects, such as the expression of different virulence factors including biofilm-forming ability, and its capacity of trading genetic information, makes this bacterial genus more capable of surviving harsh environmental conditions. All these characteristics, associated with some reports of decreased susceptibility to some biocides, all described in this literary review, allow enterococci to present a longer survival ability in the hospital environment, consequently giving them more opportunities to disseminate in these settings and be responsible for difficult-to-treat infections.
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Mediati DG, Wong JL, Gao W, McKellar S, Pang CNI, Wu S, Wu W, Sy B, Monk IR, Biazik JM, Wilkins MR, Howden BP, Stinear TP, Granneman S, Tree JJ. RNase III-CLASH of multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus reveals a regulatory mRNA 3'UTR required for intermediate vancomycin resistance. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3558. [PMID: 35732665 PMCID: PMC9217812 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31177-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections is dependent on the efficacy of last-line antibiotics including vancomycin. Treatment failure is commonly linked to isolates with intermediate vancomycin resistance (termed VISA). These isolates have accumulated point mutations that collectively reduce vancomycin sensitivity, often by thickening the cell wall. Changes in regulatory small RNA expression have been correlated with antibiotic stress in VISA isolates however the functions of most RNA regulators is unknown. Here we capture RNA-RNA interactions associated with RNase III using CLASH. RNase III-CLASH uncovers hundreds of novel RNA-RNA interactions in vivo allowing functional characterisation of many sRNAs for the first time. Surprisingly, many mRNA-mRNA interactions are recovered and we find that an mRNA encoding a long 3' untranslated region (UTR) (termed vigR 3'UTR) functions as a regulatory 'hub' within the RNA-RNA interaction network. We demonstrate that the vigR 3'UTR promotes expression of folD and the cell wall lytic transglycosylase isaA through direct mRNA-mRNA base-pairing. Deletion of the vigR 3'UTR re-sensitised VISA to glycopeptide treatment and both isaA and vigR 3'UTR deletions impact cell wall thickness. Our results demonstrate the utility of RNase III-CLASH and indicate that S. aureus uses mRNA-mRNA interactions to co-ordinate gene expression more widely than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Mediati
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Julia L Wong
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stuart McKellar
- Centre for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Chi Nam Ignatius Pang
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sylvania Wu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Winton Wu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Brandon Sy
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ian R Monk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Joanna M Biazik
- Electron Microscopy Unit, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Marc R Wilkins
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Benjamin P Howden
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Timothy P Stinear
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sander Granneman
- Centre for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jai J Tree
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Antibacterial Effect and Mode of Action of Secondary Metabolites from Fungal Endophyte Associated with Aloe ferox Mill. MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/microbiolres13010007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The constant increase in drug resistance, occurrence of incurable diseases and high medical costs, have necessitated bio-prospecting of fungi as alternative sources of therapeutic compounds. This study aimed at assessing the antibacterial effect and mode of action of secondary metabolites from fungal endophyte associated with Aloe ferox Mill. Endophytic fungus was isolated from the gel of A. ferox and identified by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rRNA gene sequence analysis. The targets of antibacterial activity were assessed based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the effect of the extract on respiratory chain dehydrogenase (RCD) and membrane integrity. Fourier transform-infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) was employed to ascertain functional groups. The fungus with the most promising antibiotic-production was identified as Aspergillus welwitschiae MK450668.1. Its extract exhibited antibacterial activity with the MIC values of 0.5 and 1 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25925) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). It demonstrated the inhibitory effect on the RCD activity and destruction of membrane integrity on the test bacteria. FTIR spectrum revealed hydroxyl, amine and alkene groups. A. welwitschiae MK450668.1 serves as a potential source of effective compounds to combat the challenge of drug resistance.
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Reissier S, Le Neindre K, Bordeau V, Dejoies L, Le Bot A, Felden B, Cattoir V, Revest M. The Regulatory RNA ern0160 Confers a Potential Selective Advantage to Enterococcus faecium for Intestinal Colonization. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:757227. [PMID: 34858368 PMCID: PMC8631354 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.757227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the regulatory small RNA (sRNA) Ern0160 in gastrointestinal tract (GIT) colonization by Enterococcus faecium. For this purpose, four strains of E. faecium were used, Aus0004 (WT), an ern0160-deleted Aus0004 mutant (Δ0160), a trans-complemented Δ0160 strain overexpressing ern0160 (Δ0160_0160), and a strain Δ0160 with an empty pAT29 vector (Δ0160_pAT29). Strains were studied both in vitro and in vivo, alone and in competitive assays. In in vitro experiments, no difference was observed between WT and Δ0160 strains cultured single while Δ0160_0160 strain grew more slowly than Δ0160_pAT29. In competitive assays, the WT strain was predominant compared to the deleted strain Δ0160 at the end of the experiment. Then, in vivo experiments were performed using a GIT colonization mouse model. Several existing models of GIT colonization were compared while a novel one, combining ceftriaxone and amoxicillin, was developed. A GIT colonization was performed with each strain alone, and no significant difference was noticed. By contrast, significant results were obtained with co-colonization experiments. With WT + Δ0160 suspension, a significant advantage for the WT strain was observed from day 5 to the end of the protocol, suggesting the involvement of ern0160 in GIT colonization. With Δ0160_0160 + Δ0160_pAT29 suspension, the strain with the empty vector took the advantage from day 3 to the end of the protocol, suggesting a deleterious effect of ern0160 overexpression. Altogether, these findings demonstrate the potential implication of Ern0160 in GIT colonization of E. faecium. Further investigations are needed for the identification of sRNA target(s) in order to decipher underlying molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Killian Le Neindre
- Unité Inserm U1230, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France.,Service de Bactériologie-Hygiène Hospitalière & CNR de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques (Laboratoire Associé 'Entérocoques'), CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | | | - Loren Dejoies
- Unité Inserm U1230, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France.,Service de Bactériologie-Hygiène Hospitalière & CNR de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques (Laboratoire Associé 'Entérocoques'), CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Audrey Le Bot
- Unité Inserm U1230, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France.,Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Réanimation Médicale, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Brice Felden
- Unité Inserm U1230, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Vincent Cattoir
- Unité Inserm U1230, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France.,Service de Bactériologie-Hygiène Hospitalière & CNR de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques (Laboratoire Associé 'Entérocoques'), CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Matthieu Revest
- Unité Inserm U1230, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France.,Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Réanimation Médicale, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
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