Edwardsiella tarda TraT is an anti-complement factor and a cellular infection promoter

Haemolysins are essential to the pathogenicity of deep-sea Vibrio fluvialis

Vibrio fluvialis is an emerging foodborne pathogen that produces VFH (Vibrio fluvialis hemolysin) and δVFH (delta-Vibrio fluvialis hemolysin). The function of δVFH is unclear. Currently, no pathogenic V. fluvialis from deep sea has been reported. In this work, a deep-sea V. fluvialis isolate (V13) was examined for pathogenicity. V13 was most closely related to V. fluvialis ATCC 33809, a human isolate, but possessed 262 unique genes. V13 caused lethal infection in fish and induced pyroptosis involving activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, caspase 1 (Casp1), and gasdermin D (GSDMD). V13 defective in VFH or VFH plus δVFH exhibited significantly weakened cytotoxicity. Recombinant δVFH induced NLRP3-Casp1-GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis in a manner that depended on K+ efflux and intracellular Ca2+ accumulation. δVFH bound several plasma membrane lipids, and these bindings were crucial for δVFH cytotoxicity. Together these results provided new insights into the function of δVFH and the virulence mechanism of V. fluvialis.

Chromosomal and plasmid-encoded virulence and multidrug resistance of Escherichia coli ST58/24 infecting a 2-year-old sickle cell patient with sepsis in Kampala Uganda, East Africa

Sepsis and drug resistance represent a complex of the most common global causes of mortality in intensive care units (ICUs) especially among patients with comorbidities. Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) strains are highly implicated in systemic infections, with multidrug resistance exacerbating the risk of chronic conditions and patient mortality. The diversity of virulence and evolution of multidrug resistance are yet to be fully deciphered. In this work, we aimed at unveiling the pathogens and their genomic determinants of virulence and drug resistance relevant to increased sepsis in a sickle cell child admitted to ICU. From a rectal swab, we isolated a strain of E. coli from the patient and phenotypically tested it against a panel of selected beta lactams, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, aminoglycosides and colistin. We then sequenced the entire genome and integrated multiple bioinformatic pipelines to divulge the virulence and multidrug resistance profiles of the isolate. Our results revealed that the isolate belongs to the sequence type (ST) 58/24, which (ST58), is a known ExPEC. With the use of PathogenFinder, we were able to confirm that this isolate is a human pathogen (p = 0.936). The assembled chromosome and two plasmids encode virulence factors related to capsule (antiphagocytosis), serum survival and resistance, type 6 secretion system (T6SS), multiple siderophores (iron acquisition), and biosynthetic gene clusters for polyketides and nonribosomal peptides exhibiting host cell damaging activity in silico. The genome also harbors multidrug resistance genotypes including extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) genes such as blaTEM-1A/B, sulfonamide resistance genes sul1/2, fluoroquinolone resistance genes dfrA5 and nonsynonymous mutations of the gene pmrB, conferring intrinsic colistin resistance. Conclusively, this pathogen holds the potential to cause systemic infection and might exacerbate sickle cell anemia in the patient. The virulence and multidrug resistance profiles are encoded by both the chromosome and plasmids. Genomic surveillance of pathogens with multidrug resistance among patients with commodities is crucial for effective disease management.

Intestinal epithelial cells of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) as an in vitro model for studying intestine immune function based on transcriptome analysis

Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) is an economically crucial marine species, but diseases like hemorrhagic septicemia caused by Edwardsiella tarda have resulted in significant economic losses. E. tarda infects various hosts, and its pathogenicity in fish is not fully understood. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and are representative of typical PAMP molecules that cause activation of the immune system. The PoIEC cell line is a newly established intestinal epithelial cell line from P. olivaceus. In order to investigate whether it can be used as an in vitro model for studying the pathogenesis of E. tarda and LPS stimulation, we conducted RNA-seq experiments for the PoIECs model of E. tarda infection and LPS stimulation. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was carried out in the PoIEC cell line after treatment with LPS and E. tarda. A total of 62.52G of high-quality data from transcriptome sequencing results were obtained in nine libraries, of which an average of 87.96% data could be aligned to the P. olivaceus genome. Data analysis showed that 283 and 414 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the LPS versus Control (LPS-vs-Con) and E. tarda versus Control groups (Et-vs-Con), respectively, of which 60 DEGs were shared in two comparation groups. The GO terms were predominantly enriched in the extracellular space, inflammatory response, and cytokine activity in the LPS-vs-Con group, whereas GO terms were predominantly enriched in nucleus and positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II in the Et-vs-Con group. KEGG analysis revealed that three immune-related pathways were co-enriched in both comparison groups, including the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, and Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Five genes were randomly screened to confirm the validity and accuracy of the transcriptome data. These results suggest that PoIEC cell line can be an ideal in vitro model for studies of marine fish gut immunity and pathogenesis of Edwardsiellosis.

Fulminant necrotizing fasciitis by Edwardsiella tarda in a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis: A case report

We herein present a unique and extremely rare fulminant case of Edwardsiella tarda infection-related necrotizing fasciitis. The patient had alcoholic cirrhosis and preferred to consume raw fish. He experienced painful swelling of the right forearm one day after he got a minor injury when falling from the ladder, and visited our hospital. His accompanied symptoms were diarrhea and general fatigue. His consciousness got deteriorated after the admission. The lesion of the right forearm had spread and the color had deteriorated with epidermolysis in a few hours. Necrotizing soft-tissue infection was suspected, and emergency debridement of the swollen forearm was performed 4 hours after the admission. However, unfortunately, he died of sepsis approximately 5 hours later. Histological examination of the biopsy specimen revealed features consistent with those of necrotizing fasciitis. The bacterial cultures of blood and the wound identified E. tarda. Since this microorganism is usually isolated from aquatic environments and can cause intestinal infection, sometimes followed by bacteremia especially in immunocompromised hosts, two possible infection routes were suspected. One route was from the skin injury, leading to bacteremia. Another possible route was per oral: orally taken E. tarda invaded deeper tissues from the intestine and reach the bloodstream, leading to extraintestinal infections, although direct evidence remains elusive. Raw fish eaten 1 week prior is considered to be the most possible contaminated food. Overall mortality rate of E. tarda bacteremia is very high and the clinician should pay attention on characteristic clinical findings of E. tarda infection on cirrhotic patients.

Type III secretion system effector YfiD inhibits the activation of host poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 to promote bacterial infection

Modulation of cell death is a powerful strategy employed by pathogenic bacteria to evade host immune clearance and occupy profitable replication niches during infection. Intracellular pathogens employ the type III secretion system (T3SS) to deliver effectors, which interfere with regulated cell death pathways to evade immune defenses. Here, we reveal that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1)-dependent cell death restrains Edwardsiella piscicida's proliferation in mouse monocyte macrophages J774A.1, of which PARP1 activation results in the accumulation of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) and enhanced inflammatory response. Moreover, E. piscicida, an important intracellular pathogen, leverages a T3SS effector YfiD to impair PARP1's activity and inhibit PAR accumulation. Once translocated into the host nucleus, YfiD binds to the ADP-ribosyl transferase (ART) domain of PARP1 to suppress its PARylation ability as the pharmacological inhibitor of PARP1 behaves. Furthermore, the interaction between YfiD and ART mainly relies on the complete unfolding of the helical domain, which releases the inhibitory effect on ART. In addition, YfiD impairs the inflammatory response and cell death in macrophages and promotes in vivo colonization and virulence of E. piscicida. Collectively, our results establish the functional mechanism of YfiD as a potential PARP1 inhibitor and provide more insights into host defense against bacterial infection.

Genomic investigation unveils high-risk ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae within a rural environmental water body

Antimicrobial resistance is regarded as a global threat to public health, animals, and the environment, emerging in response to extensive utilization of antimicrobials. The determinants of antimicrobial resistance are transported to susceptible bacterial populations through genetic recombination or through gene transfer, mediated by bacteriophages, plasmids, transposons, and insertion sequences. To determine the penetration of antimicrobial resistance into the bacterial population of the Thiruvandarkoil Lake, a water body located in the rural settings of Puducherry, India, culture-based microbiological and genomic approaches were used. Resistant bacterial isolates obtained from microbiological screening were subjected to whole genome sequencing and the genetic determinants of antimicrobial resistance were identified using in silico genomic tools. Cephalosporin-resistant isolates were found to produce extended spectrum beta lactamases, encoded by blaVEB-6 (in Proteus mirabilis PS01), blaSHV-12 and ompK36 mutation (in Klebsiella quasipneumoniae PS02) and blaSHV-12, blaACT-16, blaCTX-M and blaNDM-1 in (Enterobacter hormaechei PS03). Genes encoding heavy metal resistance, virulence and resistance to detergents were also detected in these resistant isolates. Among ESBL-producing organisms, one mcr-9-positive Enterobacter hormaechei was also identified in this study. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mcr-9 carrying bacterium in the environment in India. This study seeks the immediate attention of policy makers, researchers, government officials and environmental activists in India, to develop surveillance programs to monitor the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in the environment.

Japanese Flounder pol-miR-155 Is Involved in Edwardsiella tarda Infection via ATG3

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that function in the post-transcriptionally regulation of the expression of diverse genes, including those involved in immune defense. Edwardsiella tarda can infect a broad range of hosts and cause severe disease in aquatic species, including Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). In this study, we examined the regulation mechanism of a flounder miRNA, pol-miR-155, during the infection of E. tarda. Pol-miR-155 was identified to target flounder ATG3. Overexpression of pol-miR-155 or knockdown of ATG3 expression suppressed autophagy and promoted the intracellular replication of E. tarda in flounder cells. Overexpression of pol-miR-155 activated the NF-κB signaling pathway and further promoted the expression of downstream immune related genes of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8. These results unraveled the regulatory effect of pol-miR-155 in autophagy and in E. tarda infection.

Tongue sole creatine kinases function as DAMP and activate antimicrobial immunity via TLR2

Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme that regulates adenosine triphosphate (ATP) metabolism to maintain energy homeostasis. Although CK has been reported to be involved in pathogen infection, the immune function of CK remains elusive. In this study, we identified two muscle-type CK from the teleost tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis (designated CsCKM-1 and CsCKM-2). Bacterial infection modulated CsCKM-1/2 expression in tongue sole tissues and induced the release of CsCKM-1/2 into serum. Recombinant CsCKM-1/2 (rCsCKM-1/2) exhibited robust kinase activity and bound to bacterial pathogens and pathogen-associated molecular patterns. rCsCKM-1/2 also bound to tongue sole peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) and promoted PBLs to uptake bacterial pathogens, inhibit bacterial proliferation, and express proinflammatory cytokines. When co-expressed in HEK293T cells, CsCKM-1/2 were found to interact with the leucine rich domain of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). The presence of TLR2 antagonist significantly reduced CsCKM-1/2-induced immune response and antibacterial effect. Taken together, these results indicated that tongue sole creatine kinases function as damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecules and play an important role in antimicrobial immunity via TLR2.