1
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Wulff TF, Hahnke K, Lécrivain AL, Schmidt K, Ahmed-Begrich R, Finstermeier K, Charpentier E. Dynamics of diversified A-to-I editing in Streptococcus pyogenes is governed by changes in mRNA stability. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae629. [PMID: 39087550 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing plays an important role in the post-transcriptional regulation of eukaryotic cell physiology. However, our understanding of the occurrence, function and regulation of A-to-I editing in bacteria remains limited. Bacterial mRNA editing is catalysed by the deaminase TadA, which was originally described to modify a single tRNA in Escherichia coli. Intriguingly, several bacterial species appear to perform A-to-I editing on more than one tRNA. Here, we provide evidence that in the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes, tRNA editing has expanded to an additional tRNA substrate. Using RNA sequencing, we identified more than 27 editing sites in the transcriptome of S. pyogenes SF370 and demonstrate that the adaptation of S. pyogenes TadA to a second tRNA substrate has also diversified the sequence context and recoding scope of mRNA editing. Based on the observation that editing is dynamically regulated in response to several infection-relevant stimuli, such as oxidative stress, we further investigated the underlying determinants of editing dynamics and identified mRNA stability as a key modulator of A-to-I editing. Overall, our findings reveal the presence and diversification of A-to-I editing in S. pyogenes and provide novel insights into the plasticity of the editome and its regulation in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas F Wulff
- Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Karin Hahnke
- Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Katja Schmidt
- Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Emmanuelle Charpentier
- Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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2
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Hart MT, Rom JS, Le Breton Y, Hause LL, Belew AT, El-Sayed NM, McIver KS. The Streptococcus pyogenes stand-alone regulator RofA exhibits characteristics of a PRD-containing virulence regulator. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0008324. [PMID: 38712951 PMCID: PMC11237776 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00083-24] [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: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes [group A streptococcus (GAS)] is a human pathogen capable of infecting diverse tissues. To successfully infect these sites, GAS must detect available nutrients and adapt accordingly. The phosphoenolpyruvate transferase system (PTS) mediates carbohydrate uptake and metabolic gene regulation to adapt to the nutritional environment. Regulation by the PTS can occur through phosphorylation of transcriptional regulators at conserved PTS-regulatory domains (PRDs). GAS has several PRD-containing stand-alone regulators with regulons encoding both metabolic genes and virulence factors [PRD-containing virulence regulators (PCVRs)]. One is RofA, which regulates the expression of virulence genes in multiple GAS serotypes. It was hypothesized that RofA is phosphorylated by the PTS in response to carbohydrate levels to coordinate virulence gene expression. In this study, the RofA regulon of M1T1 strain 5448 was determined using RNA sequencing. Two operons were consistently differentially expressed across growth in the absence of RofA; the pilus operon was downregulated, and the capsule operon was upregulated. This correlated with increased capsule production and decreased adherence to keratinocytes. Purified RofA-His was phosphorylated in vitro by PTS proteins EI and HPr, and phosphorylated RofA-FLAG was detected in vivo when GAS was grown in low-glucose C medium. Phosphorylated RofA was not observed when C medium was supplemented 10-fold with glucose. Mutations of select histidine residues within the putative PRDs contributed to the in vivo phosphorylation of RofA, although phosphorylation of RofA was still observed, suggesting other phosphorylation sites exist in the protein. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that RofA is a PCVR that may couple sugar metabolism with virulence regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan T Hart
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph S Rom
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Yoann Le Breton
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Lara L Hause
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Ashton T Belew
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Najib M El-Sayed
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Kevin S McIver
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
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3
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Zhu Y, Mou X, Song Y, Zhang Q, Sun B, Liu H, Tang H, Bao R. Molecular mechanism of the one-component regulator RccR on bacterial metabolism and virulence. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:3433-3449. [PMID: 38477394 PMCID: PMC11014249 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The regulation of carbon metabolism and virulence is critical for the rapid adaptation of pathogenic bacteria to host conditions. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, RccR is a transcriptional regulator of genes involved in primary carbon metabolism and is associated with bacterial resistance and virulence, although the exact mechanism is unclear. Our study demonstrates that PaRccR is a direct repressor of the transcriptional regulator genes mvaU and algU. Biochemical and structural analyses reveal that PaRccR can switch its DNA recognition mode through conformational changes triggered by KDPG binding or release. Mutagenesis and functional analysis underscore the significance of allosteric communication between the SIS domain and the DBD domain. Our findings suggest that, despite its overall structural similarity to other bacterial RpiR-type regulators, RccR displays a more complex regulatory element binding mode induced by ligands and a unique regulatory mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Zhu
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Xingyu Mou
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yingjie Song
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Centre for Artificial Intelligence Driven Drug Discovery, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao 999078, China
| | - Bo Sun
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Huanxiang Liu
- Centre for Artificial Intelligence Driven Drug Discovery, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao 999078, China
| | - Hong Tang
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Rui Bao
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
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4
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Schiavolin L, Deneubourg G, Steinmetz J, Smeesters PR, Botteaux A. Group A Streptococcus adaptation to diverse niches: lessons from transcriptomic studies. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:241-265. [PMID: 38140809 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2294905] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a major human pathogen, causing diseases ranging from mild superficial infections of the skin and pharyngeal epithelium to severe systemic and invasive diseases. Moreover, post infection auto-immune sequelae arise by a yet not fully understood mechanism. The ability of GAS to cause a wide variety of infections is linked to the expression of a large set of virulence factors and their transcriptional regulation in response to various physiological environments. The use of transcriptomics, among others -omics technologies, in addition to traditional molecular methods, has led to a better understanding of GAS pathogenesis and host adaptation mechanisms. This review focusing on bacterial transcriptomic provides new insight into gene-expression patterns in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo with an emphasis on metabolic shifts, virulence genes expression and transcriptional regulators role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Schiavolin
- Microbiology Laboratory, European Plotkin Institute of Vaccinology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Geoffrey Deneubourg
- Microbiology Laboratory, European Plotkin Institute of Vaccinology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jenny Steinmetz
- Microbiology Laboratory, European Plotkin Institute of Vaccinology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre R Smeesters
- Microbiology Laboratory, European Plotkin Institute of Vaccinology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Paediatrics, Brussels University Hospital, Academic Children Hospital Queen Fabiola, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anne Botteaux
- Microbiology Laboratory, European Plotkin Institute of Vaccinology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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5
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Yakubu I, Kong HG. The Relationship between the Sugar Preference of Bacterial Pathogens and Virulence on Plants. THE PLANT PATHOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 39:529-537. [PMID: 38081313 PMCID: PMC10721386 DOI: 10.5423/ppj.rw.06.2023.0081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Plant pathogenic bacteria colonize plant surfaces and inner tissues to acquire essential nutrients. Nonstructural sugars hold paramount significance among these nutrients, as they serve as pivotal carbon sources for bacterial sustenance. They obtain sugar from their host by diverting nonstructural carbohydrates en route to the sink or enzymatic breakdown of structural carbohydrates within plant tissues. Despite the prevalence of research in this domain, the area of sugar selectivity and preferences exhibited by plant pathogenic bacteria remains inadequately explored. Within this expository framework, our present review endeavors to elucidate the intricate variations characterizing the distribution of simple sugars within diverse plant tissues, thus influencing the virulence dynamics of plant pathogenic bacteria. Subsequently, we illustrate the apparent significance of comprehending the bacterial preference for specific sugars and sugar alcohols, postulating this insight as a promising avenue to deepen our comprehension of bacterial pathogenicity. This enriched understanding, in turn, stands to catalyze the development of more efficacious strategies for the mitigation of plant diseases instigated by bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismaila Yakubu
- Department of Plant Medicine, College of Agriculture, Life and Environment Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture/Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810211, Nigeria
| | - Hyun Gi Kong
- Department of Plant Medicine, College of Agriculture, Life and Environment Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
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6
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Chen M, Ren G, Zhang X, Yang L, Ding Q, Sun J, Xia J, Xu J, Jiang L, Fang W, Cheng C, Song H. DegU-mediated suppression of carbohydrate uptake in Listeria monocytogenes increases adaptation to oxidative stress. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0101723. [PMID: 37787570 PMCID: PMC10617591 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01017-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The foodborne bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes exhibits remarkable survival capabilities under challenging conditions, severely threatening food safety and human health. The orphan regulator DegU is a pleiotropic regulator required for bacterial environmental adaptation. However, the specific mechanism of how DegU participates in oxidative stress tolerance remains unknown in L. monocytogenes. In this study, we demonstrate that DegU suppresses carbohydrate uptake under stress conditions by altering global transcriptional profiles, particularly by modulating the transcription of the phosphoenolpyruvate-carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS)-related genes, such as ptsH, ptsI, and hprK. Specifically, in the absence of degU, the transcripts of ptsI are significantly upregulated and those of hprK are significantly downregulated in response to copper ion-induced stress. Overexpression of ptsI significantly increases bacterial growth in vitro, while overexpression of hprK leads to a decrease in growth. We further demonstrate that DegU directly senses oxidative stress, downregulates ptsI transcription, and upregulates hprK transcription. Additionally, through an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we demonstrate that DegU directly regulates the transcription of ptsI and hprK by binding to specific regions within their respective promoter sequences. Notably, the putative pivotal DegU binding sequence for ptsI is located from 38 to 68 base pairs upstream of the ptsH transcription start site (TSS), whereas for hprK, it is mapped from 36 to 124 base pairs upstream of the hprK TSS. In summary, we elucidate that DegU plays a significant role in suppressing carbohydrate uptake in response to oxidative stress through the direct regulation of ptsI and hprK.ImportanceUnderstanding the adaptive mechanisms employed by Listeria monocytogenes in harsh environments is of great significance. This study focuses on investigating the role of DegU in response to oxidative stress by examining global transcriptional profiles. The results highlight the noteworthy involvement of DegU in this stress response. Specifically, DegU acts as a direct sensor of oxidative stress, leading to the modulation of gene transcription. It downregulates ptsI transcription while it upregulates hprK transcription through direct binding to their promoters. Consequently, these regulatory actions impede bacterial growth, providing a defense mechanism against stress-induced damage. These findings gained from this study may have broader implications, serving as a reference for studying adaptive mechanisms in other pathogenic bacteria and aiding in the development of targeted strategies to control L. monocytogenes and ensure food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mianmian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Gengjia Ren
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xian Zhang
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lifeng Yang
- Ningbo College of Health Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | - Qiang Ding
- Ningbo College of Health Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jing Xia
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiali Xu
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lingli Jiang
- Ningbo College of Health Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | - Weihuan Fang
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Changyong Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Houhui Song
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
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7
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Toledo AG, Bratanis E, Velásquez E, Chowdhury S, Olofsson B, Sorrentino JT, Karlsson C, Lewis NE, Esko JD, Collin M, Shannon O, Malmström J. Pathogen-driven degradation of endogenous and therapeutic antibodies during streptococcal infections. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6693. [PMID: 37872209 PMCID: PMC10593946 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42572-0] [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: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a major bacterial pathogen responsible for both local and systemic infections in humans. The molecular mechanisms that contribute to disease heterogeneity remain poorly understood. Here we show that the transition from a local to a systemic GAS infection is paralleled by pathogen-driven alterations in IgG homeostasis. Using animal models and a combination of sensitive proteomics and glycoproteomics readouts, we documented the progressive accumulation of IgG cleavage products in plasma, due to extensive enzymatic degradation triggered by GAS infection in vivo. The level of IgG degradation was modulated by the route of pathogen inoculation, and mechanistically linked to the combined activities of the bacterial protease IdeS and the endoglycosidase EndoS, upregulated during infection. Importantly, we show that these virulence factors can alter the structure and function of exogenous therapeutic IgG in vivo. These results shed light on the role of bacterial virulence factors in shaping GAS pathogenesis, and potentially blunting the efficacy of antimicrobial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Gomez Toledo
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Eleni Bratanis
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Erika Velásquez
- IPSC Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sounak Chowdhury
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Berit Olofsson
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - James T Sorrentino
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Christofer Karlsson
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Nathan E Lewis
- Departments of Pediatrics and Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Esko
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mattias Collin
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Oonagh Shannon
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Johan Malmström
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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8
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Merriman JA, Xu W, Caparon MG. Central carbon flux controls growth/damage balance for Streptococcus pyogenes. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011481. [PMID: 37384800 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial pathogens balance growth against tissue damage to achieve maximum fitness. Central carbon metabolism is connected to growth, but how it influences growth/damage balance is largely unknown. Here we examined how carbon flux through the exclusively fermentative metabolism of the pathogenic lactic acid bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes impacts patterns of growth and tissue damage. Using a murine model of soft tissue infection, we systematically examined single and pair-wise mutants that constrained carbon flux through the three major pathways that S. pyogenes employs for reduction of the glycolytic intermediate pyruvate, revealing distinct disease outcomes. Its canonical lactic acid pathway (via lactate dehydrogenase) made a minimal contribution to virulence. In contrast, its two parallel pathways for mixed-acid fermentation played important, but non-overlapping roles. Anaerobic mixed acid fermentation (via pyruvate formate lyase) was required for growth in tissue, while aerobic mixed-acid pathway (via pyruvate dehydrogenase) was not required for growth, but instead regulated levels of tissue damage. Infection of macrophages in vitro revealed that pyruvate dehydrogenase was required to prevent phagolysosomal acidification, which altered expression of the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10. Infection of IL-10 deficient mice confirmed that the ability of aerobic metabolism to regulate levels of IL-10 plays a key role in the ability of S. pyogenes to modulate levels of tissue damage. Taken together, these results show critical non-overlapping roles for anaerobic and aerobic metabolism in soft tissue infection and provide a mechanism for how oxygen and carbon flux act coordinately to regulate growth/damage balance. Therapies targeting carbon flux could be developed to mitigate tissue damage during severe S. pyogenes infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Merriman
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Michael G Caparon
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
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9
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Budziaszek J, Pilarczyk-Zurek M, Dobosz E, Kozinska A, Nowicki D, Obszanska K, Szalewska-Pałasz A, Kern-Zdanowicz I, Sitkiewicz I, Koziel J. Studies of Streptococcus anginosus Virulence in Dictyostelium discoideum and Galleria mellonella Models. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0001623. [PMID: 37097148 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00016-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
For many years, Streptococcus anginosus has been considered a commensal colonizing the oral cavity, as well as the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. However, recent epidemiological and clinical data designate this bacterium as an emerging opportunistic pathogen. Despite the reported pathogenicity of S. anginosus, the molecular mechanism underpinning its virulence is poorly described. Therefore, our goal was to develop and optimize efficient and simple infection models that can be applied to examine the virulence of S. anginosus and to study host-pathogen interactions. Using 23 S. anginosus isolates collected from different infections, including severe and superficial infections, as well as an attenuated strain devoid of CppA, we demonstrate for the first time that Dictyostelium discoideum is a suitable model for initial, fast, and large-scale screening of virulence. Furthermore, we found that another nonvertebrate animal model, Galleria mellonella, can be used to study the pathogenesis of S. anginosus infection, with an emphasis on the interactions between the pathogen and host innate immunity. Examining the profile of immune defense genes, including antimicrobial peptides, opsonins, regulators of nodulation, and inhibitors of proteases, by quantitative PCR (qPCR) we identified different immune response profiles depending on the S. anginosus strain. Using these models, we show that S. anginosus is resistant to the bactericidal activity of phagocytes, a phenomenon confirmed using human neutrophils. Notably, since we found that the data from these models corresponded to the clinical severity of infection, we propose their further application to studies of the virulence of S. anginosus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Budziaszek
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Magdalena Pilarczyk-Zurek
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Ewelina Dobosz
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Kozinska
- Department of Drug Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, National Medicines Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dariusz Nowicki
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Obszanska
- Department of Drug Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, National Medicines Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Izabela Sitkiewicz
- Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Koziel
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
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10
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Dresen M, Valentin-Weigand P, Berhanu Weldearegay Y. Role of Metabolic Adaptation of Streptococcus suis to Host Niches in Bacterial Fitness and Virulence. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12040541. [PMID: 37111427 PMCID: PMC10144218 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus suis, both a common colonizer of the porcine upper respiratory tract and an invasive pig pathogen, successfully adapts to different host environments encountered during infection. Whereas the initial infection mainly occurs via the respiratory tract, in a second step, the pathogen can breach the epithelial barrier and disseminate within the whole body. Thereby, the pathogen reaches other organs such as the heart, the joints, or the brain. In this review, we focus on the role of S. suis metabolism for adaptation to these different in vivo host niches to encounter changes in nutrient availability, host defense mechanisms and competing microbiota. Furthermore, we highlight the close link between S. suis metabolism and virulence. Mutants deficient in metabolic regulators often show an attenuation in infection experiments possibly due to downregulation of virulence factors, reduced resistance to nutritive or oxidative stress and to phagocytic activity. Finally, metabolic pathways as potential targets for new therapeutic strategies are discussed. As antimicrobial resistance in S. suis isolates has increased over the last years, the development of new antibiotics is of utmost importance to successfully fight infections in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muriel Dresen
- Institute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter Valentin-Weigand
- Institute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30173 Hannover, Germany
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11
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Zeng L, Walker AR, Burne RA, Taylor ZA. Glucose Phosphotransferase System Modulates Pyruvate Metabolism, Bacterial Fitness, and Microbial Ecology in Oral Streptococci. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0035222. [PMID: 36468868 PMCID: PMC9879115 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00352-22] [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: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous mutants with defects in the primary glucose phosphotransferase permease (manLMNO) of Streptococcus sanguinis SK36 showed enhanced fitness at low pH. Transcriptomics and metabolomics with a manL deletion mutant (SK36/manL) revealed redirection of pyruvate to production of acetate and formate, rather than lactate. These observations were consistent with measurements of decreased lactic acid accumulation and increased excretion of acetate, formate, pyruvate, and H2O2. Genes showing increased expression in SK36/manL included those encoding carbohydrate transporters, extracellular glycosidases, intracellular polysaccharide metabolism, and arginine deiminase and pathways for metabolism of acetoin, ethanolamine, ascorbate, and formate, along with genes required for membrane biosynthesis and adhesion. Streptococcus mutans UA159 persisted much better in biofilm cocultures with SK36/manL than with SK36, an effect that was further enhanced by culturing the biofilms anaerobically but dampened by adding arginine to the medium. We posited that the enhanced persistence of S. mutans with SK36/manL was in part due to excess excretion of pyruvate by the latter, as addition of pyruvate to S. mutans-S. sanguinis cocultures increased the proportions of UA159 in the biofilms. Reducing the buffer capacity or increasing the concentration of glucose benefited UA159 when cocultured with SK36, but not with SK36/manL, likely due to the altered metabolism and enhanced acid tolerance of the mutant. When manL was deleted in S. mutans or Streptococcus gordonii, the mutants presented altered fitness characteristics. Our study demonstrated that phosphotransferase system (PTS)-dependent modulation of central metabolism can profoundly affect streptococcal fitness and metabolic interactions, revealing another dimension in commensal-pathogen relationships influencing dental caries development. IMPORTANCE Dental caries is underpinned by a dysbiotic microbiome and increased acid production. As beneficial bacteria that can antagonize oral pathobionts, oral streptococci such as S. sanguinis and S. gordonii can ferment many carbohydrates, despite their relative sensitivity to low pH. We characterized the molecular basis for why mutants of glucose transporter ManLMNO of S. sanguinis showed enhanced production of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia and improved persistence under acidic conditions. A metabolic shift involving more than 300 genes required for carbohydrate transport, energy production, and envelope biogenesis was observed. Significantly, manL mutants engineered in three different oral streptococci displayed altered capacities for acid production and interspecies antagonism, highlighting the potential for targeting the glucose-PTS to modulate the pathogenicity of oral biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zeng
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Alejandro R. Walker
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Robert A. Burne
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Zachary A. Taylor
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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12
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Roux AE, Robert S, Bastat M, Rosinski-Chupin I, Rong V, Holbert S, Mereghetti L, Camiade E. The Role of Regulator Catabolite Control Protein A (CcpA) in Streptococcus agalactiae Physiology and Stress Response. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0208022. [PMID: 36264242 PMCID: PMC9784791 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02080-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae is a leading cause of infections in neonates. This opportunistic pathogen colonizes the vagina, where it has to cope with acidic pH and hydrogen peroxide produced by lactobacilli. Thus, in the host, this bacterium possesses numerous adaptation mechanisms in which the pleiotropic regulators play a major role. The transcriptional regulator CcpA (catabolite control protein A) has previously been shown to be the major regulator involved in carbon catabolite repression in Gram-positive bacteria but is also involved in other functions. By transcriptomic analysis, we characterized the CcpA-dependent gene regulation in S. agalactiae. Approximately 13.5% of the genome of S. agalactiae depends on CcpA for regulation and comprises genes involved in sugar uptake and fermentation, confirming the role of CcpA in carbon metabolism. We confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) that the DNA binding site called cis-acting catabolite responsive element (cre) determined for other streptococci was effective in S. agalactiae. We also showed that CcpA is of capital importance for survival under acidic and oxidative stresses and is implicated in macrophage survival by regulating several genes putatively or already described as involved in stress response. Among them, we focused our study on SAK_1689, which codes a putative UspA protein. We demonstrated that SAK_1689, highly downregulated by CcpA, is overexpressed under oxidative stress conditions, this overexpression being harmful for the bacterium in a ΔccpA mutant. IMPORTANCE Streptococcus agalactiae is a major cause of disease burden leading to morbidity and mortality in neonates worldwide. Deciphering its adaptation mechanisms is essential to understand how this bacterium manages to colonize its host. Here, we determined the regulon of the pleiotropic regulator CcpA in S. agalactiae. Our findings reveal that CcpA is not only involved in carbon catabolite repression, but is also important for acidic and oxidative stress resistance and survival in macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Isabelle Rosinski-Chupin
- Unité Écologie et Évolution de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques, CNRS UMR3525, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Laurent Mereghetti
- ISP, Université de Tours, INRAE, Tours, France
- CHRU Tours, Service de Bactériologie-Virologie-Hygiène, Tours, France
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13
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Rostami N, Shields RC, Serrage HJ, Lawler C, Brittan JL, Yassin S, Ahmed H, Treumann A, Thompson P, Waldron KJ, Nobbs AH, Jakubovics NS. Interspecies competition in oral biofilms mediated by Streptococcus gordonii extracellular deoxyribonuclease SsnA. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2022; 8:96. [PMID: 36509765 PMCID: PMC9744736 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-022-00359-z] [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: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular DNA (eDNA) is a key component of many microbial biofilms including dental plaque. However, the roles of extracellular deoxyribonuclease (DNase) enzymes within biofilms are poorly understood. Streptococcus gordonii is a pioneer colonizer of dental plaque. Here, we identified and characterised SsnA, a cell wall-associated protein responsible for extracellular DNase activity of S. gordonii. The SsnA-mediated extracellular DNase activity of S. gordonii was suppressed following growth in sugars. SsnA was purified as a recombinant protein and shown to be inactive below pH 6.5. SsnA inhibited biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans in a pH-dependent manner. Further, SsnA inhibited the growth of oral microcosm biofilms in human saliva. However, inhibition was ameliorated by the addition of sucrose. Together, these data indicate that S. gordonii SsnA plays a key role in interspecies competition within oral biofilms. Acidification of the medium through sugar catabolism could be a strategy for cariogenic species such as S. mutans to prevent SsnA-mediated exclusion from biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Rostami
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212School of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Robert C. Shields
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212School of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK ,grid.252381.f0000 0001 2169 5989Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR USA
| | - Hannah J. Serrage
- grid.5337.20000 0004 1936 7603Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Catherine Lawler
- grid.5337.20000 0004 1936 7603Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jane L. Brittan
- grid.5337.20000 0004 1936 7603Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sufian Yassin
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212School of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK ,grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Restorative Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL USA
| | - Halah Ahmed
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212School of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Achim Treumann
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212Protein and Proteome Analysis Facility, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK ,KBI Biopharma BV, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul Thompson
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212Protein and Proteome Analysis Facility, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Kevin J. Waldron
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Angela H. Nobbs
- grid.5337.20000 0004 1936 7603Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Nicholas S. Jakubovics
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212School of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
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14
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Platt MP, Lin YH, Penix T, Wiscovitch-Russo R, Vashee I, Mares CA, Rosch JW, Yu Y, Gonzalez-Juarbe N. A multiomics analysis of direct interkingdom dynamics between influenza A virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae uncovers host-independent changes to bacterial virulence fitness. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1011020. [PMID: 36542660 PMCID: PMC9815659 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND For almost a century, it has been recognized that influenza A virus (IAV) infection can promote the development of secondary bacterial infections (SBI) mainly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn). Recent observations have shown that IAV is able to directly bind to the surface of Spn. To gain a foundational understanding of how direct IAV-Spn interaction alters bacterial biological fitness we employed combinatorial multiomic and molecular approaches. RESULTS Here we show IAV significantly remodels the global transcriptome, proteome and phosphoproteome profiles of Spn independently of host effectors. We identified Spn surface proteins that interact with IAV proteins (hemagglutinin, nucleoprotein, and neuraminidase). In addition, IAV was found to directly modulate expression of Spn virulence determinants such as pneumococcal surface protein A, pneumolysin, and factors associated with antimicrobial resistance among many others. Metabolic pathways were significantly altered leading to changes in Spn growth rate. IAV was also found to drive Spn capsule shedding and the release of pneumococcal surface proteins. Released proteins were found to be involved in evasion of innate immune responses and actively reduced human complement hemolytic and opsonizing activity. IAV also led to phosphorylation changes in Spn proteins associated with metabolism and bacterial virulence. Validation of proteomic data showed significant changes in Spn galactose and glucose metabolism. Furthermore, supplementation with galactose rescued bacterial growth and promoted bacterial invasion, while glucose supplementation led to enhanced pneumolysin production and lung cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Here we demonstrate that IAV can directly modulate Spn biology without the requirement of host effectors and support the notion that inter-kingdom interactions between human viruses and commensal pathobionts can promote bacterial pathogenesis and microbiome dysbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryann P. Platt
- Infectious Diseases and Genomic Medicine Group, J Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yi-Han Lin
- Infectious Diseases and Genomic Medicine Group, J Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Trevor Penix
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Rosana Wiscovitch-Russo
- Infectious Diseases and Genomic Medicine Group, J Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Isha Vashee
- Infectious Diseases and Genomic Medicine Group, J Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Chris A. Mares
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jason W. Rosch
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Yanbao Yu
- Infectious Diseases and Genomic Medicine Group, J Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Norberto Gonzalez-Juarbe
- Infectious Diseases and Genomic Medicine Group, J Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
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15
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Gasser C, Garault P, Chervaux C, Monnet V, Faurie JM, Rul F. Co-utilization of saccharides in mixtures: Moving toward a new understanding of carbon metabolism in Streptococcus thermophilus. Food Microbiol 2022; 107:104080. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2022.104080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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16
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Han AR, Kim H, Park JT, Kim JW. Characterization of a cold-adapted debranching enzyme and its role in glycogen metabolism and virulence of Vibrio vulnificus MO6-24/O. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY (SEOUL, KOREA) 2022; 60:375-386. [PMID: 35157220 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-022-1507-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Vibrio vulnificus MO6-24/O has three genes annotated as debranching enzymes or pullulanase genes. Among them, the gene encoded by VVMO6_03032 (vvde1) shares a higher similarity at the amino acid sequence level to the glycogen debranching enzymes, AmyX of Bacillus subtilis (40.5%) and GlgX of Escherichia coli (55.5%), than those encoded by the other two genes. The vvde1 gene encoded a protein with a molecular mass of 75.56 kDa and purified Vvde1 efficiently hydrolyzed glycogen and pullulan to shorter chains of maltodextrin and maltotriose (G3), respectively. However, it hydrolyzed amylopectin and soluble starch far less efficiently, and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) only rarely. The optimal pH and temperature of Vvde1 was 6.5 and 25°C, respectively. Vvde1 was a cold-adapted debranching enzyme with more than 60% residual activity at 5°C. It could maintain stability for 2 days at 25°C and 1 day at 35°C, but it destabilized drastically at 40°C. The Vvde1 activity was inhibited considerably by Cu2+, Hg2+, and Zn2+, while it was slightly enhanced by Co2+, Ca2+, Ni2+, and Fe2+. The vvde1 knock-out mutant accumulated more glycogen than the wild-type in media supplemented with 1.0% maltodextrin; however, the side chain length distribution of glycogen was similar to that of the wild-type except G3, which was much more abundant in the mutant. Therefore, Vvde1 seemed to debranch glycogen with the degree of polymerization 3 (DP3) as the specific target branch length. Virulence of the pathogen against Caenorhabditis elegans was attenuated significantly by the vvde1 mutation. These results suggest that Vvde1 might be a unique glycogen debranching enzyme that is involved in both glycogen utilization and shaping of glycogen molecules, and contributes toward virulence of the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ah-Reum Han
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Incheon National University, Incheon, 22102, Republic of Korea
| | - Haeyoung Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Incheon National University, Incheon, 22102, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Tae Park
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Wan Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Incheon National University, Incheon, 22102, Republic of Korea. .,Division of Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, 22102, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Cheng C, Han X, Xu J, Sun J, Li K, Han Y, Chen M, Song H. YjbH mediates the oxidative stress response and infection by regulating SpxA1 and the phosphoenolpyruvate-carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) in Listeria monocytogenes. Gut Microbes 2022; 13:1-19. [PMID: 33573432 PMCID: PMC7889195 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2021.1884517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes relies on its ability to fine-tune the expression of virulence factors and stress regulators in response to rapidly changing environments. Here, we reveal that YjbH, a putative thioredoxin family oxidoreductase, plays a pivotal role in bacterial adaption to oxidative stress and host infection. YjbH directly interacts with SpxA1, an ArsC family oxidative stress response regulator, and the deletion of YjbH compromised the oxidative stress tolerance of L. monocytogenes. Also, YjbH is required for the bacterial spread in host cells and proliferation in mouse organs, thereby contributing to virulence. Transcriptomic analysis of strains treated with Cd2+ revealed that most virulence genes and phosphoenolpyruvate-carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) genes were significantly downregulated in the absence of YjbH. However, YjbH inhibits PrfA expression when bacteria were grown in the media, suggesting that YjbH participates in regulating the virulence genes via a complicated regulatory network involving PrfA and PTS. Collectively, these findings provide a valuable model for clarifying the roles of thioredoxins from foodborne pathogens regarding improving survival in the external environment and, more importantly, successfully establishing infection within the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyong Cheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Xiao Han
- College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Jiali Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Jing Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Kang Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Yue Han
- College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Mianmian Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Houhui Song
- College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China,CONTACT Houhui Song College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang311300, P. R. China
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18
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Indraratna AD, Everest-Dass A, Skropeta D, Sanderson-Smith M. OUP accepted manuscript. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6519265. [PMID: 35104861 PMCID: PMC9075583 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac001] [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: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Host carbohydrates, or glycans, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many bacterial infections. Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a Gram-positive bacterium that readily colonises the skin and oropharynx, and is a significant cause of mortality in humans. While the glycointeractions orchestrated by many other pathogens are increasingly well-described, the understanding of the role of human glycans in GAS disease remains incomplete. Although basic investigation into the mechanisms of GAS disease is ongoing, several glycointeractions have been identified and are examined herein. The majority of research in this context has focussed on bacterial adherence, however, glycointeractions have also been implicated in carbohydrate metabolism; evasion of host immunity; biofilm adaptations; and toxin-mediated haemolysis. The involvement of human glycans in these diverse avenues of pathogenesis highlights the clinical value of understanding glycointeractions in combatting GAS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuk D Indraratna
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Northfields Ave, Keiraville New South Wales 2522, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Keiraville, New South Wales, 2522, Australia
| | - Arun Everest-Dass
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Parklands Drive, Southport, Queensland, 4215, Australia
| | - Danielle Skropeta
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Northfields Ave, Keiraville New South Wales 2522, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Keiraville, New South Wales, 2522, Australia
| | - Martina Sanderson-Smith
- Corresponding author: Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Bld 32, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Keiraville, New South Wales, 2522, Australia. Tel: +61 2 42981935; E-mail:
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19
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Chang JD, Vaughan EE, Liu CG, Jelinski JW, Terwilliger AL, Maresso AW. Metabolic profiling reveals nutrient preferences during carbon utilization in Bacillus species. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23917. [PMID: 34903830 PMCID: PMC8669014 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03420-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Bacillus includes species with diverse natural histories, including free-living nonpathogenic heterotrophs such as B. subtilis and host-dependent pathogens such as B. anthracis (the etiological agent of the disease anthrax) and B. cereus, a cause of food poisoning. Although highly similar genotypically, the ecological niches of these three species are mutually exclusive, which raises the untested hypothesis that their metabolism has speciated along a nutritional tract. Here, we developed a pipeline for quantitative total assessment of the use of diverse sources of carbon for general metabolism to better appreciate the "culinary preferences" of three distinct Bacillus species, as well as related Staphylococcus aureus. We show that each species has widely varying metabolic ability to utilize diverse sources of carbon that correlated to their ecological niches. This approach was applied to the growth and survival of B. anthracis in a blood-like environment and find metabolism shifts from sugar to amino acids as the preferred source of energy. Finally, various nutrients in broth and host-like environments are identified that may promote or interfere with bacterial metabolism during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Chang
- The Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ellen E Vaughan
- The Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Carmen Gu Liu
- The Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joseph W Jelinski
- The Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Austen L Terwilliger
- The Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anthony W Maresso
- The Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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20
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Cellular Mn/Zn Ratio Influences Phosphoglucomutase Activity and Capsule Production in Streptococcus pneumoniae D39. J Bacteriol 2021; 203:e0060220. [PMID: 33875543 PMCID: PMC8316032 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00602-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) is a major virulence determinant for many human-pathogenic bacteria. Although the essential functional roles for CPS in bacterial virulence have been established, knowledge of how CPS production is regulated remains limited. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) CPS expression levels and overall thickness change in response to available oxygen and carbohydrate. These nutrients in addition to transition metal ions can vary significantly between host environmental niches and infection stage. Since the pneumococcus must modulate CPS expression among various host niches during disease progression, we examined the impact of the nutritional transition metal availability of manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) on CPS production. We demonstrate that increased Mn/Zn ratios increase CPS production via Mn-dependent activation of the phosphoglucomutase Pgm, an enzyme that functions at the branch point between glycolysis and the CPS biosynthetic pathway in a transcription-independent manner. Furthermore, we find that the downstream CPS protein CpsB, an Mn-dependent phosphatase, does not promote aberrant dephosphorylation of its target capsule-tyrosine kinase CpsD during Mn stress. Together, these data reveal a direct role for cellular Mn/Zn ratios in the regulation of CPS biosynthesis via the direct activation of Pgm. We propose a multilayer mechanism used by the pneumococcus in regulating CPS levels across various host niches. IMPORTANCE Evolving evidence strongly indicates that maintenance of metal homeostasis is essential for establishing colonization and continued growth of bacterial pathogens in the vertebrate host. In this study, we demonstrate the impact of cellular manganese/zinc (Mn/Zn) ratios on bacterial capsular polysaccharide (CPS) production, an important virulence determinant of many human-pathogenic bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae. We show that higher Mn/Zn ratios increase CPS production via the Mn-dependent activation of the phosphoglucomutase Pgm, an enzyme that functions at the branch point between glycolysis and the CPS biosynthetic pathway. The findings provide a direct role for Mn/Zn homeostasis in the regulation of CPS expression levels and further support the ability of metal cations to act as important cellular signaling mediators in bacteria.
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21
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Hirose Y, Yamaguchi M, Sumitomo T, Nakata M, Hanada T, Okuzaki D, Motooka D, Mori Y, Kawasaki H, Coady A, Uchiyama S, Hiraoka M, Zurich RH, Amagai M, Nizet V, Kawabata S. Streptococcus pyogenes upregulates arginine catabolism to exert its pathogenesis on the skin surface. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108924. [PMID: 33789094 PMCID: PMC9214650 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The arginine deiminase (ADI) pathway has been found in many kinds of bacteria and functions to supplement energy production and provide protection against acid stress. The Streptococcus pyogenes ADI pathway is upregulated upon exposure to various environmental stresses, including glucose starvation. However, there are several unclear points about the advantages to the organism for upregulating arginine catabolism. We show that the ADI pathway contributes to bacterial viability and pathogenesis under low-glucose conditions. S. pyogenes changes global gene expression, including upregulation of virulence genes, by catabolizing arginine. In a murine model of epicutaneous infection, S. pyogenes uses the ADI pathway to augment its pathogenicity by increasing the expression of virulence genes, including those encoding the exotoxins. We also find that arginine from stratum-corneum-derived filaggrin is a key substrate for the ADI pathway. In summary, arginine is a nutrient source that promotes the pathogenicity of S. pyogenes on the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujiro Hirose
- Department of Oral and Molecular Microbiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Masaya Yamaguchi
- Department of Oral and Molecular Microbiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tomoko Sumitomo
- Department of Oral and Molecular Microbiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masanobu Nakata
- Department of Oral Microbiology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan
| | - Tomoki Hanada
- Department of Oral and Molecular Microbiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Daisuke Okuzaki
- Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Daisuke Motooka
- Department of Infection Metagenomics, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yasushi Mori
- Department of Oral and Molecular Microbiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kawasaki
- Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Immunology Data Integration Unit, RIKEN Medical Sciences Innovation Hub Program, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; Laboratory for Skin Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Alison Coady
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Satoshi Uchiyama
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Masanobu Hiraoka
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan
| | - Raymond H Zurich
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Masayuki Amagai
- Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Laboratory for Skin Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Victor Nizet
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Skaggs School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Shigetada Kawabata
- Department of Oral and Molecular Microbiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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22
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Metier C, Dow J, Wootton H, Lynham S, Wren B, Wagner GK. Profiling of Haemophilus influenzae strain R2866 with carbohydrate-based covalent probes. Org Biomol Chem 2021; 19:476-485. [PMID: 33355321 DOI: 10.1039/d0ob01971b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrate the application of four covalent probes based on anomerically pure d-galactosamine and d-glucosamine scaffolds for the profiling of Haemophilus influenzae strain R2866. The probes have been used successfully for the labelling of target proteins not only in cell lysates, but also in intact cells. Differences in the labelling patterns between lysates and intact cells indicate that the probes can penetrate into the periplasm, but not the cytoplasm of H. influenzae. Analysis of selected target proteins by LC-MS/MS suggests predominant labelling of nucleotide-binding proteins, including several known antibacterial drug targets. Our protocols will aid the identification of molecular determinants of bacterial pathogenicity in Haemophilus influenzae and other bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Metier
- King's College London, Department of Chemistry, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DB, UK
| | - Jennifer Dow
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Department of Infection Biology, Keppel Street, London, WC1E, 7HT, UK
| | - Hayley Wootton
- King's College London, Department of Chemistry, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DB, UK
| | - Steven Lynham
- Proteomics Facility, Centre of Excellence for Mass Spectrometry, King's College London, The James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Brendan Wren
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Department of Infection Biology, Keppel Street, London, WC1E, 7HT, UK
| | - Gerd K Wagner
- Queen's University Belfast, School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
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23
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DebRoy S, Aliaga-Tobar V, Galvez G, Arora S, Liang X, Horstmann N, Maracaja-Coutinho V, Latorre M, Hook M, Flores AR, Shelburne SA. Genome-wide analysis of in vivo CcpA binding with and without its key co-factor HPr in the major human pathogen group A Streptococcus. Mol Microbiol 2020; 115:1207-1228. [PMID: 33325565 PMCID: PMC8359418 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Catabolite control protein A (CcpA) is a master regulator of carbon source utilization and contributes to the virulence of numerous medically important Gram‐positive bacteria. Most functional assessments of CcpA, including interaction with its key co‐factor HPr, have been performed in nonpathogenic bacteria. In this study we aimed to identify the in vivo DNA binding profile of CcpA and assess the extent to which HPr is required for CcpA‐mediated regulation and DNA binding in the major human pathogen group A Streptococcus (GAS). Using a combination RNAseq/ChIP‐seq approach, we found that CcpA affects transcript levels of 514 of 1667 GAS genes (31%) whereas direct DNA binding was identified for 105 GAS genes. Three of the directly regulated genes encode the key GAS virulence factors Streptolysin S, PrtS (IL‐8 degrading proteinase), and SpeB (cysteine protease). Mutating CcpA Val301 to Ala (strain 2221‐CcpA‐V301A) abolished interaction between CcpA and HPr and impacted the transcript levels of 205 genes (40%) in the total CcpA regulon. By ChIP‐seq analysis, CcpAV301A bound to DNA from 74% of genes bound by wild‐type CcpA, but generally with lower affinity. These data delineate the direct CcpA regulon and clarify the HPr‐dependent and independent activities of CcpA in a key pathogenic bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sruti DebRoy
- Department of Infectious Diseases Infection Control and Employee Health, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Victor Aliaga-Tobar
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases-ACCDiS, Universidad de Chile, Independencia, Chile.,Laboratorio de Bioingeniería, Instituto de Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad de O'Higgins, Rancagua, Chile
| | - Gabriel Galvez
- Laboratorio de Bioingeniería, Instituto de Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad de O'Higgins, Rancagua, Chile
| | - Srishtee Arora
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xiaowen Liang
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nicola Horstmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases Infection Control and Employee Health, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vinicius Maracaja-Coutinho
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases-ACCDiS, Universidad de Chile, Independencia, Chile.,Centro de Modelamiento Molecular, Biofísica y Bioinformática (CM2B2), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio Latorre
- Laboratorio de Bioingeniería, Instituto de Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad de O'Higgins, Rancagua, Chile.,Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Expresión Génica, INTA, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Mathomics, Center for Mathematical Modeling, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Center for Genome Regulation (Fondap 15090007), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Magnus Hook
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anthony R Flores
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Genomics, University of Texas Health Science Center McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Samuel A Shelburne
- Department of Infectious Diseases Infection Control and Employee Health, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Genomics, University of Texas Health Science Center McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Genomic Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston TX, USA
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24
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Bernard PE, Duarte A, Bogdanov M, Musser JM, Olsen RJ. Single Amino Acid Replacements in RocA Disrupt Protein-Protein Interactions To Alter the Molecular Pathogenesis of Group A Streptococcus. Infect Immun 2020; 88:e00386-20. [PMID: 32817331 PMCID: PMC7573446 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00386-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a human-specific pathogen and major cause of disease worldwide. The molecular pathogenesis of GAS, like many pathogens, is dependent on the coordinated expression of genes encoding different virulence factors. The control of virulence regulator/sensor (CovRS) two-component system is a major virulence regulator of GAS that has been extensively studied. More recent investigations have also involved regulator of Cov (RocA), a regulatory accessory protein to CovRS. RocA interacts, in some manner, with CovRS; however, the precise molecular mechanism is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that RocA is a membrane protein containing seven transmembrane helices with an extracytoplasmically located N terminus and cytoplasmically located C terminus. For the first time, we demonstrate that RocA directly interacts with itself (RocA) and CovS, but not CovR, in intact cells. Single amino acid replacements along the entire length of RocA disrupt RocA-RocA and RocA-CovS interactions to significantly alter the GAS virulence phenotype as defined by secreted virulence factor activity in vitro and tissue destruction and mortality in vivo In summary, we show that single amino acid replacements in a regulatory accessory protein can affect protein-protein interactions to significantly alter the virulence of a major human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Bernard
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Amey Duarte
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mikhail Bogdanov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - James M Musser
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Randall J Olsen
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Bryan, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
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25
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Zeng L, Burne RA. Subpopulation behaviors in lactose metabolism by Streptococcus mutans. Mol Microbiol 2020; 115:58-69. [PMID: 32881164 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
When Streptococcus mutans is transferred from a preferred carbohydrate (glucose or fructose) to lactose, initiation of growth can take several hours, and substantial amounts of glucose are released during growth. Here, S. mutans strains UA159 and GS-5 were examined for stochastic behaviors in transcription of the lac operon. Using a gfp reporter fusion, we demonstrated that induction of the lac operon occurs in only a fraction of the population, with prior exposure to carbohydrate source and strain influencing the magniture of the sub-population response. Lower glucokinase activity in GS-5 was associated with release of substantially more glucose than UA159 and significantly lower lac expression. Mutants unable to use lactose grew on lactose as the sole carbohydrate when strains with an intact lac operon were also present in the cultures, indicative of the potential for population cheating. Utilizing a set of engineered obligate cheating and non-cheating strains, we confirmed that cheating can sustain a heterogeneous population. Futher, obligate cheaters of GS-5 competed well with the non-cheaters and showed a high degree of competitive fitness in a human-derived consortium biofilm model. The results show that bet-hedging behaviors in carbohydrate metabolism may substantially influence the composition and pathogenic potential of oral biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zeng
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Robert A Burne
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL, USA
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26
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Phosphotransferase System Uptake and Metabolism of the β-Glucoside Salicin Impact Group A Streptococcal Bloodstream Survival and Soft Tissue Infection. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00346-20. [PMID: 32719156 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00346-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]), a major human-specific pathogen, relies on efficient nutrient acquisition for successful infection within its host. The phosphotransferase system (PTS) couples the import of carbohydrates with their phosphorylation prior to metabolism and has been linked to GAS pathogenesis. In a screen of an insertional mutant library of all 14 annotated PTS permease (EIIC) genes in MGAS5005, the annotated β-glucoside PTS transporter (bglP) was found to be crucial for GAS growth and survival in human blood and was validated in another M1T1 GAS strain, 5448. In 5448, bglP was shown to be in an operon with a putative phospho-β-glucosidase (bglB) downstream and a predicted antiterminator (licT) upstream. Using defined nonpolar mutants of the β-glucoside permease (bglP) and β-glucosidase enzyme (bglB) in 5448, we showed that bglB, not bglP, was important for growth in blood. Furthermore, transcription of the licT-blgPB operon was found to be repressed by glucose and induced by the β-glucoside salicin as the sole carbon source. Investigation of the individual bglP and bglB mutants determined that they influence in vitro growth in the β-glucoside salicin; however, only bglP was necessary for growth in other non-β-glucoside PTS sugars, such as fructose and mannose. Additionally, loss of BglP and BglB suggests that they are important for the regulation of virulence-related genes that control biofilm formation, streptolysin S (SLS)-mediated hemolysis, and localized ulcerative lesion progression during subcutaneous infections in mice. Thus, our results indicate that the β-glucoside PTS transports salicin and its metabolism can differentially influence GAS pathophysiology during soft tissue infection.
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27
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Kumar S, Narayan KS, Shandilya S, Sood SK, Kapila S. Role of non-PTS dependent glucose permease (GlcU) in maintaining the fitness cost during acquisition of nisin resistance by Enterococcus faecalis. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2020; 366:5628326. [PMID: 31738414 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnz230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nisin is used for food preservation due to its antibacterial activity. However, some bacteria survive under the prevailing conditions owing to the acquisition of resistance. This study aimed to characterize nisin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis isolated from raw buffalo milk and investigate their fitness cost. FE-SEM, biofilm and cytochrome c assay were used for characterization. Growth kinetics, HPLC, qPCR and western blotting were performed to confer their fitness cost. Results revealed that nisin-resistant E. faecalis were morphologically different from sensitive strain and internalize more glucose. However, no significant difference was observed in the growth pattern of the resistant strain compared to that of the sensitive strain. A non-phosphotransferase glucose permease (GlcU) was found to be associated with enhanced glucose uptake. Conversely, Mpt, a major phosphotransferase system responsible for glucose uptake, did not play any role, as confirmed by gene expression studies and western blot analysis of HPr protein. The phosphorylation of His-15 residue of HPr phosphoprotein was reduced, while that of the Ser-46 residue increased with progression in nisin resistance, indicating that it may be involved in the regulation of pathogenicity. In conclusion, resistance imposes a significant fitness cost and GlcU plays a key role in maintaining the fitness cost in nisin-resistant variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Kumar
- Animal Biochemistry Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
| | - Kapil Singh Narayan
- Animal Biochemistry Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
| | - Shruti Shandilya
- Animal Biochemistry Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
| | - Shiv Kumar Sood
- Animal Biochemistry Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
| | - Suman Kapila
- Animal Biochemistry Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
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28
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Standish I, Erickson S, Leis E, Baumgartner W, Loch T, Knupp C, McCann R, Puzach C, Katona R, Lark E, Bailey J, Buening J, Edwards C, Phillips K. Vagococcus salmoninarum I-A chronic coldwater streptococcosis in broodstock brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in Wisconsin, USA. JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES 2020; 43:305-316. [PMID: 32030789 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.13123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In 2018, Vagococcus salmoninarum was isolated from two lots of broodstock "coaster" brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) containing ~1,500 fish at the Iron River National Fish Hatchery, at which time it was identified as the causative agent of a chronic coldwater streptococcosis epizootic. Clinical signs included exophthalmia, lethargy, erratic swimming and loss of equilibrium. Female fish experienced disproportionately higher morbidity and mortality than male co-inhabitants, and routinely retained eggs following spawning. The most consistent gross clinical sign was heart pallor and turbid pericardial effusion. An attempted treatment using florfenicol was ineffective at halting the epizootic, which spanned more than a year and resulted in >50% mortality before remaining fish were culled. As there is no previous documentation of V. salmoninarum at this hatchery or in this species, it is still unclear what circumstances led to this epizootic. The inability to treat this chronic disease led to the loss of valuable broodstock, hampering ongoing fishery conservation efforts in the Great Lakes Basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Standish
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, La Crosse Fish Health Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Sara Erickson
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, La Crosse Fish Health Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Eric Leis
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, La Crosse Fish Health Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Wes Baumgartner
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Pathobiology and Population Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, USA
| | - Thomas Loch
- College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Christopher Knupp
- College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Rebekah McCann
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, La Crosse Fish Health Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Corey Puzach
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, La Crosse Fish Health Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ryan Katona
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, La Crosse Fish Health Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ellen Lark
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, La Crosse Fish Health Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jennifer Bailey
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, La Crosse Fish Health Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jorge Buening
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Iron River National Fish Hatchery, Iron River, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Carey Edwards
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Iron River National Fish Hatchery, Iron River, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Kenneth Phillips
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, La Crosse Fish Health Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, USA
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29
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Baker MG, Gurney J, Oliver J, Moreland NJ, Williamson DA, Pierse N, Wilson N, Merriman TR, Percival T, Murray C, Jackson C, Edwards R, Foster Page L, Chan Mow F, Chong A, Gribben B, Lennon D. Risk Factors for Acute Rheumatic Fever: Literature Review and Protocol for a Case-Control Study in New Zealand. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E4515. [PMID: 31731673 PMCID: PMC6888501 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16224515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its sequela, rheumatic heart disease (RHD), have largely disappeared from high-income countries. However, in New Zealand (NZ), rates remain unacceptably high in indigenous Māori and Pacific populations. The goal of this study is to identify potentially modifiable risk factors for ARF to support effective disease prevention policies and programmes. A case-control design is used. Cases are those meeting the standard NZ case-definition for ARF, recruited within four weeks of hospitalisation for a first episode of ARF, aged less than 20 years, and residing in the North Island of NZ. This study aims to recruit at least 120 cases and 360 controls matched by age, ethnicity, gender, deprivation, district, and time period. For data collection, a comprehensive pre-tested questionnaire focussed on exposures during the four weeks prior to illness or interview will be used. Linked data include previous hospitalisations, dental records, and school characteristics. Specimen collection includes a throat swab (Group A Streptococcus), a nasal swab (Staphylococcus aureus), blood (vitamin D, ferritin, DNA for genetic testing, immune-profiling), and head hair (nicotine). A major strength of this study is its comprehensive focus covering organism, host and environmental factors. Having closely matched controls enables the examination of a wide range of specific environmental risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Baker
- Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6021, New Zealand; (J.G.); (J.O.); (N.P.); (R.E.)
| | - Jason Gurney
- Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6021, New Zealand; (J.G.); (J.O.); (N.P.); (R.E.)
| | - Jane Oliver
- Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6021, New Zealand; (J.G.); (J.O.); (N.P.); (R.E.)
| | - Nicole J Moreland
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand;
| | - Deborah A Williamson
- Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne 3010, Australia;
| | - Nevil Pierse
- Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6021, New Zealand; (J.G.); (J.O.); (N.P.); (R.E.)
| | - Nigel Wilson
- Green Lane Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Services, Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland 1023; New Zealand;
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand;
| | - Tony R Merriman
- Biochemistry Department, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand;
| | - Teuila Percival
- School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand;
- KidzFirst Children’s Hospital, Auckland 1640, New Zealand;
| | - Colleen Murray
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand (L.F.P.)
| | - Catherine Jackson
- Auckland Regional Public Health Service, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland 0622, New Zealand;
| | - Richard Edwards
- Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6021, New Zealand; (J.G.); (J.O.); (N.P.); (R.E.)
| | - Lyndie Foster Page
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand (L.F.P.)
| | | | - Angela Chong
- CBG Health Research Ltd, Auckland 0651, New Zealand; (A.C.); (B.G.)
| | - Barry Gribben
- CBG Health Research Ltd, Auckland 0651, New Zealand; (A.C.); (B.G.)
| | - Diana Lennon
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand;
- KidzFirst Children’s Hospital, Auckland 1640, New Zealand;
- Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
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30
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Zorzoli A, Meyer BH, Adair E, Torgov VI, Veselovsky VV, Danilov LL, Uhrin D, Dorfmueller HC. Group A, B, C, and G Streptococcus Lancefield antigen biosynthesis is initiated by a conserved α-d-GlcNAc-β-1,4-l-rhamnosyltransferase. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:15237-15256. [PMID: 31506299 PMCID: PMC6802508 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.009894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Group A carbohydrate (GAC) is a bacterial peptidoglycan-anchored surface rhamnose polysaccharide (RhaPS) that is essential for growth of Streptococcus pyogenes and contributes to its ability to infect the human host. In this study, using molecular and synthetic biology approaches, biochemistry, radiolabeling techniques, and NMR and MS analyses, we examined the role of GacB, encoded in the S. pyogenes GAC gene cluster, in the GAC biosynthesis pathway. We demonstrate that GacB is the first characterized α-d-GlcNAc-β-1,4-l-rhamnosyltransferase that synthesizes the committed step in the biosynthesis of the GAC virulence determinant. Importantly, the substitution of S. pyogenes gacB with the homologous gene from Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus), Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (Group C Streptococcus), Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (Group G Streptococcus), or Streptococcus mutans complemented the GAC biosynthesis pathway. These results, combined with those from extensive in silico studies, reveal a common phylogenetic origin of the genes required for this priming step in >40 pathogenic species of the Streptococcus genus, including members from the Lancefield Groups B, C, D, E, G, and H. Importantly, this priming step appears to be unique to streptococcal ABC transporter-dependent RhaPS biosynthesis, whereas the Wzx/Wzy-dependent streptococcal capsular polysaccharide pathways instead require an α-d-Glc-β-1,4-l-rhamnosyltransferase. The insights into the RhaPS priming step obtained here open the door to targeting the early steps of the group carbohydrate biosynthesis pathways in species of the Streptococcus genus of high clinical and veterinary importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azul Zorzoli
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin H Meyer
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine Adair
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, United Kingdom
| | - Vladimir I Torgov
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Vladimir V Veselovsky
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Leonid L Danilov
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Dusan Uhrin
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, United Kingdom
| | - Helge C Dorfmueller
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
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31
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Streptococcus pyogenes Transcriptome Changes in the Inflammatory Environment of Necrotizing Fasciitis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:AEM.01428-19. [PMID: 31471300 PMCID: PMC6803311 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01428-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing fasciitis, a life-threatening subcutaneous soft-tissue infection, is principally caused by S. pyogenes. The inflammatory environment at the site of infection causes global gene expression changes for survival of the bacterium and pathogenesis. However, no known study regarding transcriptomic profiling of S. pyogenes in cases of necrotizing fasciitis has been presented. We identified 483 bacterial genes whose expression was consistently altered during infection. Our results showed that S. pyogenes infection induces drastic upregulation of the expression of virulence-associated genes and shifts metabolic pathway usage. In particular, high-level expression of toxins, such as cytolysins, proteases, and nucleases, was observed at infection sites. In addition, genes identified as consistently enriched included those related to metabolism of arginine and histidine as well as carbohydrate uptake and utilization. Conversely, genes associated with the oxidative stress response and cell division were consistently downregulated during infection. The present findings provide useful information for establishing novel treatment strategies. Streptococcus pyogenes is a major cause of necrotizing fasciitis, a life-threatening subcutaneous soft-tissue infection. At the host infection site, the local environment and interactions between the host and bacteria have effects on bacterial gene expression profiles, while the gene expression pattern of S. pyogenes related to this disease remains unknown. In this study, we used a mouse model of necrotizing fasciitis and performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of S. pyogenes M1T1 strain 5448 by isolating total RNA from infected hind limbs obtained at 24, 48, and 96 h postinfection. RNA-seq analysis results identified 483 bacterial genes whose expression was consistently altered in the infected hindlimbs compared to their expression under in vitro conditions. Genes showing consistent enrichment during infection included 306 encoding molecules involved in virulence, carbohydrate utilization, amino acid metabolism, trace-metal transport, and the vacuolar ATPase transport system. Surprisingly, drastic upregulation of 3 genes, encoding streptolysin S precursor (sagA), cysteine protease (speB), and secreted DNase (spd), was noted in the present mouse model (log2 fold change, >6.0, >9.4, and >7.1, respectively). Conversely, the number of consistently downregulated genes was 177, including those associated with the oxidative stress response and cell division. These results suggest that in necrotizing fasciitis, S. pyogenes shows an altered metabolism, decreased cell proliferation, and upregulation of expression of major toxins. Our findings are considered to provide critical information for developing novel treatment strategies and vaccines for necrotizing fasciitis. IMPORTANCE Necrotizing fasciitis, a life-threatening subcutaneous soft-tissue infection, is principally caused by S. pyogenes. The inflammatory environment at the site of infection causes global gene expression changes for survival of the bacterium and pathogenesis. However, no known study regarding transcriptomic profiling of S. pyogenes in cases of necrotizing fasciitis has been presented. We identified 483 bacterial genes whose expression was consistently altered during infection. Our results showed that S. pyogenes infection induces drastic upregulation of the expression of virulence-associated genes and shifts metabolic pathway usage. In particular, high-level expression of toxins, such as cytolysins, proteases, and nucleases, was observed at infection sites. In addition, genes identified as consistently enriched included those related to metabolism of arginine and histidine as well as carbohydrate uptake and utilization. Conversely, genes associated with the oxidative stress response and cell division were consistently downregulated during infection. The present findings provide useful information for establishing novel treatment strategies.
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32
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Thänert R, Itzek A, Hoßmann J, Hamisch D, Madsen MB, Hyldegaard O, Skrede S, Bruun T, Norrby-Teglund A, Medina E, Pieper DH. Molecular profiling of tissue biopsies reveals unique signatures associated with streptococcal necrotizing soft tissue infections. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3846. [PMID: 31451691 PMCID: PMC6710258 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11722-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are devastating infections caused by either a single pathogen, predominantly Streptococcus pyogenes, or by multiple bacterial species. A better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying these different NSTI types could facilitate faster diagnostic and more effective therapeutic strategies. Here, we integrate microbial community profiling with host and pathogen(s) transcriptional analysis in patient biopsies to dissect the pathophysiology of streptococcal and polymicrobial NSTIs. We observe that the pathogenicity of polymicrobial communities is mediated by synergistic interactions between community members, fueling a cycle of bacterial colonization and inflammatory tissue destruction. In S. pyogenes NSTIs, expression of specialized virulence factors underlies infection pathophysiology. Furthermore, we identify a strong interferon-related response specific to S. pyogenes NSTIs that could be exploited as a potential diagnostic biomarker. Our study provides insights into the pathophysiology of mono- and polymicrobial NSTIs and highlights the potential of host-derived signatures for microbial diagnosis of NSTIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Thänert
- Microbial Interactions and Processes Research Group, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Andreas Itzek
- Microbial Interactions and Processes Research Group, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jörn Hoßmann
- Microbial Interactions and Processes Research Group, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Domenica Hamisch
- Microbial Interactions and Processes Research Group, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Martin Bruun Madsen
- Department of Intensive Care, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ole Hyldegaard
- Department of Anaesthesia, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Steinar Skrede
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Trond Bruun
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anna Norrby-Teglund
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | | | - Eva Medina
- Infection Immunity Research Group, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Dietmar H Pieper
- Microbial Interactions and Processes Research Group, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.
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33
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Adaptation to Adversity: the Intermingling of Stress Tolerance and Pathogenesis in Enterococci. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2019; 83:83/3/e00008-19. [PMID: 31315902 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00008-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus is a diverse and rugged genus colonizing the gastrointestinal tract of humans and numerous hosts across the animal kingdom. Enterococci are also a leading cause of multidrug-resistant hospital-acquired infections. In each of these settings, enterococci must contend with changing biophysical landscapes and innate immune responses in order to successfully colonize and transit between hosts. Therefore, it appears that the intrinsic durability that evolved to make enterococci optimally competitive in the host gastrointestinal tract also ideally positioned them to persist in hospitals, despite disinfection protocols, and acquire new antibiotic resistances from other microbes. Here, we discuss the molecular mechanisms and regulation employed by enterococci to tolerate diverse stressors and highlight the role of stress tolerance in the biology of this medically relevant genus.
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34
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Naegeli A, Bratanis E, Karlsson C, Shannon O, Kalluru R, Linder A, Malmström J, Collin M. Streptococcus pyogenes evades adaptive immunity through specific IgG glycan hydrolysis. J Exp Med 2019; 216:1615-1629. [PMID: 31092533 PMCID: PMC6605743 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20190293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
EndoS from Streptococcus pyogenes hydrolyzes the functionally important glycan on the Fc portion of IgG during infections in humans. In mice with IgG mediated immunity against the M1 protein on the bacteria, EndoS is a virulence factor. Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A streptococcus; GAS) is a human pathogen causing diseases from uncomplicated tonsillitis to life-threatening invasive infections. GAS secretes EndoS, an endoglycosidase that specifically cleaves the conserved N-glycan on IgG antibodies. In vitro, removal of this glycan impairs IgG effector functions, but its relevance to GAS infection in vivo is unclear. Using targeted mass spectrometry, we characterized the effects of EndoS on host IgG glycosylation during the course of infections in humans. Substantial IgG glycan hydrolysis occurred at the site of infection and systemically in the severe cases. We demonstrated decreased resistance to phagocytic killing of GAS lacking EndoS in vitro and decreased virulence in a mouse model of invasive infection. This is the first described example of specific bacterial IgG glycan hydrolysis during infection and thereby verifies the hypothesis that EndoS modifies antibodies in vivo. This mechanisms of immune evasion could have implications for treatment of severe GAS infections and for future efforts at vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Naegeli
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Eleni Bratanis
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christofer Karlsson
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Oonagh Shannon
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Raja Kalluru
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Adam Linder
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Johan Malmström
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mattias Collin
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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35
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Menschner L, Falke U, Konrad P, Berner R, Toepfner N. Hydrogen Peroxide Production of Group A Streptococci (GAS) is emm-Type Dependent and Increased at Low Temperatures. Curr Microbiol 2019; 76:698-705. [PMID: 30955044 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-019-01683-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Group A streptococcus (GAS) is an important human pathogen whose clinical isolates differ in their ability to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). H2O2 is primarily produced by the enzyme lactate oxidase (LctO), an in depth in silico research revealed that all genome-sequenced GAS possess the required gene lctO. The importance of lctO for GAS is underlined by its highly conserved catabolite control element (cre box) as well as its perfect promotor sequence in comparison to the known consensus sequences of the Gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis. In this study, we provide further insight in the function and regulation of lactate oxidase by analyzing a large group of clinical GAS isolates. We found that H2O2 production increased over time in the late stationary phase; after 4 days of incubation, 5.4% of the isolates showed a positive result at 37 °C, while the rate increased to 16.4% at 20 °C. This correlation between H2O2 production and low temperatures suggests additional regulatory mechanisms for lctO besides catabolite control protein A (CcpA) and indicates that lctO might play a role for GAS energy metabolism at sub-body temperatures. Furthermore, we could identify that H2O2 production was different among clinical isolates; we could correlate H2O2 production to emm-types, indicating that emm-types 6 and 75 had the highest rate of H2O2 production. The emm-type- and temperature-dependent H2O2 production of clinical GAS isolates might contribute to their different survival strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonhard Menschner
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Uta Falke
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter Konrad
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Reinhard Berner
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicole Toepfner
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
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36
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Abranches J, Zeng L, Kajfasz JK, Palmer SR, Chakraborty B, Wen ZT, Richards VP, Brady LJ, Lemos JA. Biology of Oral Streptococci. Microbiol Spectr 2018; 6:10.1128/microbiolspec.GPP3-0042-2018. [PMID: 30338752 PMCID: PMC6287261 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0042-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria belonging to the genus Streptococcus are the first inhabitants of the oral cavity, which can be acquired right after birth and thus play an important role in the assembly of the oral microbiota. In this article, we discuss the different oral environments inhabited by streptococci and the species that occupy each niche. Special attention is given to the taxonomy of Streptococcus, because this genus is now divided into eight distinct groups, and oral species are found in six of them. Oral streptococci produce an arsenal of adhesive molecules that allow them to efficiently colonize different tissues in the mouth. Also, they have a remarkable ability to metabolize carbohydrates via fermentation, thereby generating acids as byproducts. Excessive acidification of the oral environment by aciduric species such as Streptococcus mutans is directly associated with the development of dental caries. However, less acid-tolerant species such as Streptococcus salivarius and Streptococcus gordonii produce large amounts of alkali, displaying an important role in the acid-base physiology of the oral cavity. Another important characteristic of certain oral streptococci is their ability to generate hydrogen peroxide that can inhibit the growth of S. mutans. Thus, oral streptococci can also be beneficial to the host by producing molecules that are inhibitory to pathogenic species. Lastly, commensal and pathogenic streptococci residing in the oral cavity can eventually gain access to the bloodstream and cause systemic infections such as infective endocarditis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Abranches
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL
| | - L Zeng
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL
| | - J K Kajfasz
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL
| | - S R Palmer
- Division of Biosciences, College of Dentistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - B Chakraborty
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL
| | - Z T Wen
- Department of Comprehensive Dentistry and Biomaterials and Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA
| | - V P Richards
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
| | - L J Brady
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL
| | - J A Lemos
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL
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37
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Paluscio E, Watson ME, Caparon MG. CcpA Coordinates Growth/Damage Balance for Streptococcus pyogenes Pathogenesis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14254. [PMID: 30250043 PMCID: PMC6155242 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32558-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To achieve maximum fitness, pathogens must balance growth with tissue damage, coordinating metabolism and virulence factor expression. In the gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, the DNA-binding transcriptional regulator Carbon Catabolite Protein A (CcpA) is a master regulator of both carbon catabolite repression and virulence, suggesting it coordinates growth/damage balance. To examine this, two murine models were used to compare the virulence of a mutant lacking CcpA with a mutant expressing CcpA locked into its high-affinity DNA-binding conformation (CcpAT307Y). In models of acute soft tissue infection and of long-term asymptomatic mucosal colonization, both CcpA mutants displayed altered virulence, albeit with distinct growth/damage profiles. Loss of CcpA resulted in a diminished ability to grow in tissue, leading to less damage and early clearance. In contrast, constitutive DNA-binding activity uncoupled the growth/damage relationship, such that high tissue burdens and extended time of carriage were achieved, despite reduced tissue damage. These data demonstrate that growth/damage balance can be actively controlled by the pathogen and implicate CcpA as a master regulator of this relationship. This suggests a model where the topology of the S. pyogenes virulence network has evolved to couple carbon source selection with growth/damage balance, which may differentially influence pathogenesis at distinct tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse Paluscio
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine St Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110-1093, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, United States
| | - Michael E Watson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine St Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110-1093, United States
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5624, United States
| | - Michael G Caparon
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine St Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110-1093, United States.
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38
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Bauer R, Mauerer S, Spellerberg B. Regulation of the β-hemolysin gene cluster of Streptococcus anginosus by CcpA. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9028. [PMID: 29899560 PMCID: PMC5998137 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27334-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus anginosus is increasingly recognized as an opportunistic pathogen. However, our knowledge about virulence determinants in this species is scarce. One exception is the streptolysin-S (SLS) homologue responsible for the β-hemolytic phenotype of the S. anginosus type strain. In S. anginosus the expression of the hemolysin is reduced in the presence of high glucose concentrations. To investigate the genetic mechanism of the hemolysin repression we created an isogenic ccpA deletion strain. In contrast to the wild type strain, this mutant exhibits hemolytic activity in presence of up to 25 mM glucose supplementation, a phenotype that could be reverted by ccpA complementation. To further demonstrate that CcpA directly regulates the hemolysin expression, we performed an in silico analysis of the promoter of the SLS gene cluster and we verified the binding of CcpA to the promoter by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. This allowed us to define the CcpA binding site in the SLS promoter region of S. anginosus. In conclusion, we report for the first time the characterization of a potential virulence regulator in S. anginosus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Bauer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefanie Mauerer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Barbara Spellerberg
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
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39
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Makthal N, Do H, VanderWal AR, Olsen RJ, Musser JM, Kumaraswami M. Signaling by a Conserved Quorum Sensing Pathway Contributes to Growth Ex Vivo and Oropharyngeal Colonization of Human Pathogen Group A Streptococcus. Infect Immun 2018; 86:e00169-18. [PMID: 29531135 PMCID: PMC5913841 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00169-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial virulence factor production is a highly coordinated process. The temporal pattern of bacterial gene expression varies in different host anatomic sites to overcome niche-specific challenges. The human pathogen group A streptococcus (GAS) produces a potent secreted protease, SpeB, that is crucial for pathogenesis. Recently, we discovered that a quorum sensing pathway comprised of a leaderless short peptide, SpeB-inducing peptide (SIP), and a cytosolic global regulator, RopB, controls speB expression in concert with bacterial population density. The SIP signaling pathway is active in vivo and contributes significantly to GAS invasive infections. In the current study, we investigated the role of the SIP signaling pathway in GAS-host interactions during oropharyngeal colonization. The SIP signaling pathway is functional during growth ex vivo in human saliva. SIP-mediated speB expression plays a crucial role in GAS colonization of the mouse oropharynx. GAS employs a distinct pattern of SpeB production during growth ex vivo in saliva that includes a transient burst of speB expression during early stages of growth coupled with sustained levels of secreted SpeB protein. SpeB production aids GAS survival by degrading LL37, an abundant human antimicrobial peptide. We found that SIP signaling occurs during growth in human blood ex vivo. Moreover, the SIP signaling pathway is critical for GAS survival in blood. SIP-dependent speB regulation is functional in strains of diverse emm types, indicating that SIP signaling is a conserved virulence regulatory mechanism. Our discoveries have implications for future translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishanth Makthal
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Hackwon Do
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Arica R VanderWal
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Randall J Olsen
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - James M Musser
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Muthiah Kumaraswami
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
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40
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A Novel Dual- cre Motif Enables Two-Way Autoregulation of CcpA in Clostridium acetobutylicum. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.00114-18. [PMID: 29427432 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00114-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The master regulator CcpA (catabolite control protein A) manages a large and complex regulatory network that is essential for cellular physiology and metabolism in Gram-positive bacteria. Although CcpA can affect the expression of target genes by binding to a cis-acting catabolite-responsive element (cre), whether and how the expression of CcpA is regulated remain poorly explored. Here, we report a novel dual-cre motif that is employed by the CcpA in Clostridium acetobutylicum, a typical solventogenic Clostridium species, for autoregulation. Two cre sites are involved in CcpA autoregulation, and they reside in the promoter and coding regions of CcpA. In this dual-cre motif, creP, in the promoter region, positively regulates ccpA transcription, whereas creORF, in the coding region, negatively regulates this transcription, thus enabling two-way autoregulation of CcpA. Although CcpA bound creP more strongly than creORFin vitro, the in vivo assay showed that creORF-based repression dominates CcpA autoregulation during the entire fermentation. Finally, a synonymous mutation of creORF was made within the coding region, achieving an increased intracellular CcpA expression and improved cellular performance. This study provides new insights into the regulatory role of CcpA in C. acetobutylicum and, moreover, contributes a new engineering strategy for this industrial strain.IMPORTANCE CcpA is known to be a key transcription factor in Gram-positive bacteria. However, it is still unclear whether and how the intracellular CcpA level is regulated, which may be essential for maintaining normal cell physiology and metabolism. We discovered here that CcpA employs a dual-cre motif to autoregulate, enabling dynamic control of its own expression level during the entire fermentation process. This finding answers the questions above and fills a void in our understanding of the regulatory network of CcpA. Interference in CcpA autoregulation leads to improved cellular performance, providing a new useful strategy in genetic engineering of C. acetobutylicum Since CcpA is widespread in Gram-positive bacteria, including pathogens, this dual-cre-based CcpA autoregulation would be valuable for increasing our understanding of CcpA-based global regulation in bacteria.
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Valdes KM, Sundar GS, Belew AT, Islam E, El-Sayed NM, Le Breton Y, McIver KS. Glucose Levels Alter the Mga Virulence Regulon in the Group A Streptococcus. Sci Rep 2018; 8:4971. [PMID: 29563558 PMCID: PMC5862849 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23366-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Many bacterial pathogens coordinately regulate genes encoding important metabolic pathways during disease progression, including the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-phosphotransferase system (PTS) for uptake of carbohydrates. The Gram-positive Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a pathogen that infects multiple tissues in the human host. The virulence regulator Mga in GAS can be phosphorylated by the PTS, affecting Mga activity based on carbohydrate availability. Here, we explored the effects of glucose availability on the Mga regulon. RNA-seq was used to identify transcriptomic differences between the Mga regulon grown to late log phase in the presence of glucose (THY) or after glucose has been expended (C media). Our results revealed a correlation between the genes activated in C media with those known to be repressed by CcpA, indicating that C media mimics a non-preferred sugar environment. Interestingly, we found very little overlap in the Mga regulon from GAS grown in THY versus C media beyond the core virulence genes. We also observed an alteration in the phosphorylation status of Mga, indicating that the observed media differences in the Mga regulon may be directly attributed to glucose levels. Thus, these results support an in vivo link between glucose availability and virulence regulation in GAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla M Valdes
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics and Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Ganesh S Sundar
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics and Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Ashton T Belew
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computation Biology, UMCP, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Emrul Islam
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics and Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Najib M El-Sayed
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics and Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), College Park, Maryland, USA.,Center for Bioinformatics and Computation Biology, UMCP, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Yoann Le Breton
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics and Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), College Park, Maryland, USA.
| | - Kevin S McIver
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics and Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), College Park, Maryland, USA.
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Sundar GS, Islam E, Braza RD, Silver AB, Le Breton Y, McIver KS. Route of Glucose Uptake in the Group a Streptococcus Impacts SLS-Mediated Hemolysis and Survival in Human Blood. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:71. [PMID: 29594067 PMCID: PMC5861209 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The transport and metabolism of glucose has been shown to have far reaching consequences in the transcriptional profile of many bacteria. As glucose is most often the preferred carbon source for bacteria, its presence in the environment leads to the repression of many alternate carbohydrate pathways, a condition known as carbon catabolite repression (CCR). Additionally, the expression of many virulence factors is also dependent on the presence of glucose. Despite its importance, little is known about the transport routes of glucose in the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes. Considering that Streptococcus pyogenes is an important human pathogen responsible for over 500,000 deaths every year, we characterized the routes of glucose transport in an effort to understand its importance in GAS pathogenesis. Using a deletion of glucokinase (ΔnagC) to block utilization of glucose imported by non-PTS pathways, we determined that of the two glucose transport pathways in GAS (PTS and non-PTS), the non-PTS pathway played a more significant role in glucose transport. However, the expression of both pathways is linked by a currently unknown mechanism, as blocking the non-PTS uptake of glucose reduces ptsI (EI) expression. Similar to the effects of the deletion of the PTS pathway, lack of the non-PTS pathway also leads to the early activity of Streptolysin S. However, this early activity did not adversely or favorably affect survival of ΔnagC in whole human blood. In a subcutaneous murine infection model, ΔnagC-infected mice showed increased lesion severity at the local site of infection; although, lesion size and dissemination from the site of infection was similar to wild type. Here, we show that glucose transport in GAS is primarily via a non-PTS pathway. The route of glucose transport differentially affects the survival of GAS in whole human blood, as well as the lesion size at the local site of infection in a murine skin infection model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganesh S Sundar
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Emrul Islam
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Rezia D Braza
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Aliyah B Silver
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Yoann Le Breton
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Kevin S McIver
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
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Brockmeier SL, Loving CL, Nicholson TL, Wang J, Peters SE, Weinert L, Chaudhuri R, Seilly DJ, Langford PR, Rycroft A, Wren BW, Maskell DJ, Tucker AW. Use of Proteins Identified through a Functional Genomic Screen To Develop a Protein Subunit Vaccine That Provides Significant Protection against Virulent Streptococcus suis in Pigs. Infect Immun 2018; 86:e00559-17. [PMID: 29203546 PMCID: PMC5820948 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00559-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus suis is a bacterium that is commonly carried in the respiratory tract and that is also one of the most important invasive pathogens of swine, commonly causing meningitis, arthritis, and septicemia. Due to the existence of many serotypes and a wide range of immune evasion capabilities, efficacious vaccines are not readily available. The selection of S. suis protein candidates for inclusion in a vaccine was accomplished by identifying fitness genes through a functional genomics screen and selecting conserved predicted surface-associated proteins. Five candidate proteins were selected for evaluation in a vaccine trial and administered both intranasally and intramuscularly with one of two different adjuvant formulations. Clinical protection was evaluated by subsequent intranasal challenge with virulent S. suis While subunit vaccination with the S. suis proteins induced IgG antibodies to each individual protein and a cellular immune response to the pool of proteins and provided substantial protection from challenge with virulent S. suis, the immune response elicited and the degree of protection were dependent on the parenteral adjuvant given. Subunit vaccination induced IgG reactive against different S. suis serotypes, indicating a potential for cross protection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jinhong Wang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E Peters
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Weinert
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Roy Chaudhuri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - David J Seilly
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Paul R Langford
- Section of Paediatrics, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Rycroft
- The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Campus, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Brendan W Wren
- Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan J Maskell
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander W Tucker
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Choe Y, Park J, Yu JE, Oh JI, Kim S, Kang HY. Edwardsiella piscicida lacking the cyclic AMP receptor protein (Crp) is avirulent and immunogenic in fish. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 68:243-250. [PMID: 28668485 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.06.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Edwardsiella piscicida is a Gram-negative pathogen that generally causes lethal septicemia in marine and freshwater fish. We generated a E. piscicida CK216 Δcrp mutant to investigate various biological roles related to this organism, including pathogenesis. Lack of Crp in CK216 was demonstrated by immunoblotting using a Crp-specific antibody. Compared to the parental strain, the mutant exhibited changes in three biochemical phenotypes, including ornithine decarboxylation, citrate utilization, and H2S production. Complementation of crp deletion in trans rescued the phenotype of the parental strain. This study proved that hemolytic activity in E. piscicida is controlled by Crp. In addition, significantly reduced motility of E. piscicida CK216 was observed, which resulted from a lack of flagella synthesis. To examine the virulence in fish, E. piscicida cells were injected into the goldfish (Carassius auratus) via intraperitoneal route. The LD50 of CK216 was 9.25 × 108 CFU, while that of the CK108 parental strain was 9.24 × 105 CFU, attenuated 1000 fold in goldfish. Fish immunized with CK216 elicited IgM responses. Moreover, 80% of goldfish immunized with 1 × 106 CFU survived after administration of a lethal dose (1 × 107 CFU) of virulent E. piscicida CK41, suggesting the potential for E. piscicida CK216 to serve as a live attenuated vaccine in aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunjeong Choe
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, South Korea
| | - Junmo Park
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, South Korea
| | - Jong Earn Yu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, South Korea
| | - Jeong-Il Oh
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, South Korea
| | - Suhkmann Kim
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, South Korea
| | - Ho Young Kang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, South Korea.
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Sitkiewicz I. How to become a killer, or is it all accidental? Virulence strategies in oral streptococci. Mol Oral Microbiol 2017; 33:1-12. [PMID: 28727895 DOI: 10.1111/omi.12192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Streptococci are a diverse group of Gram-positive microorganisms sharing common virulence traits and similar strategies to escape the oral niche and establish an infection in other parts of the host organism. Invasive infection with oral streptococci is "a perfect storm" that requires the concerted action of multiple biotic and abiotic factors. Our understanding of streptococcal pathogenicity and infectivity should probably be less mechanistic and driven not only by the identification of novel virulence factors. The observed diversity of the genus, including the range of virulence and pathogenicity mechanisms, is most likely the result of interspecies interactions, a massive horizontal gene transfer between streptococci within a shared oral niche, recombination events, selection of specialized clones, and modification of regulatory circuits. Selective pressure by the host and bacterial communities is a driving force for the selection of virulence traits and shaping the streptococcal genome. Global regulatory events driving niche adaptation and interactions with bacterial communities and the host steer research interests towards attempts to define the oral interactome on the transcriptional level and define signal cross-feeding and co-expression and co-regulation of virulence genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Sitkiewicz
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, National Medicines Institute, Warsaw, Poland
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Use of a Phosphorylation Site Mutant To Identify Distinct Modes of Gene Repression by the Control of Virulence Regulator (CovR) in Streptococcus pyogenes. J Bacteriol 2017; 199:JB.00835-16. [PMID: 28289082 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00835-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Control of the virulence regulator/sensor kinase (CovRS) two-component system (TCS) serves as a model for investigating the impact of signaling pathways on the pathogenesis of Gram-positive bacteria. However, the molecular mechanisms by which CovR, an OmpR/PhoB family response regulator, controls virulence gene expression are poorly defined, partly due to the labile nature of its aspartate phosphorylation site. To better understand the regulatory effect of phosphorylated CovR, we generated the phosphorylation site mutant strain 10870-CovR-D53E, which we predicted to have a constitutive CovR phosphorylation phenotype. Interestingly, this strain showed CovR activity only for a subset of the CovR regulon, which allowed for classification of CovR-influenced genes into D53E-regulated and D53E-nonregulated groups. Inspection of the promoter sequences of genes belonging to each group revealed distinct promoter architectures with respect to the location and number of putative CovR-binding sites. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis demonstrated that recombinant CovR-D53E protein retains its ability to bind promoter DNA from both CovR-D53E-regulated and -nonregulated groups, implying that factors other than mere DNA binding are crucial for gene regulation. In fact, we found that CovR-D53E is incapable of dimerization, a process thought to be critical to OmpR/PhoB family regulator function. Thus, our global analysis of CovR-D53E indicates dimerization-dependent and dimerization-independent modes of CovR-mediated repression, thereby establishing distinct mechanisms by which this critical regulator coordinates virulence gene expression.IMPORTANCEStreptococcus pyogenes causes a wide variety of diseases, ranging from superficial skin and throat infections to life-threatening invasive infections. To establish these various disease manifestations, Streptococcus pyogenes requires tightly coordinated production of its virulence factor repertoire. Here, the response regulator CovR plays a crucial role. As an OmpR/PhoB family member, CovR is activated by phosphorylation on a conserved aspartate residue, leading to protein dimerization and subsequent binding to operator sites. Our transcriptome analysis using the monomeric phosphorylation mimic mutant CovR-D53E broadens this general notion by revealing dimerization-independent repression of a subset of CovR-regulated genes. Combined with promoter analyses, these data suggest distinct mechanisms of CovR transcriptional control, which allow for differential expression of virulence genes in response to environmental cues.
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Phosphotransferase systems in Enterococcus faecalis OG1RF enhance anti-stress capacity in vitro and in vivo. Res Microbiol 2017; 168:558-566. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2017.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Beattie SR, Mark KMK, Thammahong A, Ries LNA, Dhingra S, Caffrey-Carr AK, Cheng C, Black CC, Bowyer P, Bromley MJ, Obar JJ, Goldman GH, Cramer RA. Filamentous fungal carbon catabolite repression supports metabolic plasticity and stress responses essential for disease progression. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006340. [PMID: 28423062 PMCID: PMC5411099 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is responsible for a disproportionate number of invasive mycosis cases relative to other common filamentous fungi. While many fungal factors critical for infection establishment are known, genes essential for disease persistence and progression are ill defined. We propose that fungal factors that promote navigation of the rapidly changing nutrient and structural landscape characteristic of disease progression represent untapped clinically relevant therapeutic targets. To this end, we find that A. fumigatus requires a carbon catabolite repression (CCR) mediated genetic network to support in vivo fungal fitness and disease progression. While CCR as mediated by the transcriptional repressor CreA is not required for pulmonary infection establishment, loss of CCR inhibits fungal metabolic plasticity and the ability to thrive in the dynamic infection microenvironment. Our results suggest a model whereby CCR in an environmental filamentous fungus is dispensable for initiation of pulmonary infection but essential for infection maintenance and disease progression. Conceptually, we argue these data provide a foundation for additional studies on fungal factors required to support fungal fitness and disease progression and term such genes and factors, DPFs (disease progression factors).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R. Beattie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Kenneth M. K. Mark
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Arsa Thammahong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | | | - Sourabh Dhingra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Alayna K. Caffrey-Carr
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, United States of America
| | - Chao Cheng
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
- Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States of America
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Sciences, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Candice C. Black
- Department of Pathology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J. Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua J. Obar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Robert A. Cramer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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A Flexible Binding Site Architecture Provides New Insights into CcpA Global Regulation in Gram-Positive Bacteria. mBio 2017; 8:mBio.02004-16. [PMID: 28119470 PMCID: PMC5263246 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02004-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Catabolite control protein A (CcpA) is the master regulator in Gram-positive bacteria that mediates carbon catabolite repression (CCR) and carbon catabolite activation (CCA), two fundamental regulatory mechanisms that enable competitive advantages in carbon catabolism. It is generally regarded that CcpA exerts its regulatory role by binding to a typical 14- to 16-nucleotide (nt) consensus site that is called a catabolite response element (cre) within the target regions. However, here we report a previously unknown noncanonical flexible architecture of the CcpA-binding site in solventogenic clostridia, providing new mechanistic insights into catabolite regulation. This novel CcpA-binding site, named crevar, has a unique architecture that consists of two inverted repeats and an intervening spacer, all of which are variable in nucleotide composition and length, except for a 6-bp core palindromic sequence (TGTAAA/TTTACA). It was found that the length of the intervening spacer of crevar can affect CcpA binding affinity, and moreover, the core palindromic sequence of crevar is the key structure for regulation. Such a variable architecture of crevar shows potential importance for CcpA’s diverse and fine regulation. A total of 103 potential crevar sites were discovered in solventogenic Clostridium acetobutylicum, of which 42 sites were picked out for electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs), and 30 sites were confirmed to be bound by CcpA. These 30 crevar sites are associated with 27 genes involved in many important pathways. Also of significance, the crevar sites are found to be widespread and function in a great number of taxonomically different Gram-positive bacteria, including pathogens, suggesting their global role in Gram-positive bacteria. In Gram-positive bacteria, the global regulator CcpA controls a large number of important physiological and metabolic processes. Although a typical consensus CcpA-binding site, cre, has been identified, it remains poorly explored for the diversity of CcpA-mediated catabolite regulation. Here, we discovered a novel flexible CcpA-binding site architecture (crevar) that is highly variable in both length and base composition but follows certain principles, providing new insights into how CcpA can differentially recognize a variety of target genes to form a complicated regulatory network. A comprehensive search further revealed the wide distribution of crevar sites in Gram-positive bacteria, indicating it may have a universal function. This finding is the first to characterize such a highly flexible transcription factor-binding site architecture, which would be valuable for deeper understanding of CcpA-mediated global catabolite regulation in bacteria.
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Sarkar P, Sumby P. Regulatory gene mutation: a driving force behind group a Streptococcus strain- and serotype-specific variation. Mol Microbiol 2016; 103:576-589. [PMID: 27868255 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Data from multiple bacterial pathogens are consistent with regulator-encoding genes having higher mutation frequencies than the genome average. Such mutations drive both strain- and type- (e.g., serotype, haplotype) specific phenotypic heterogeneity, and may challenge public health due to the potential of variants to circumvent established treatment and/or preventative regimes. Here, using the human bacterial pathogen the group A Streptococcus (GAS; S. pyogenes) as a model organism, we review the types and regulatory-, phenotypic-, and disease-specific consequences of naturally occurring regulatory gene mutations. Strain-specific regulator mutations that will be discussed include examples that transform isolates into hyper-invasive forms by enhancing expression of immunomodulatory virulence factors, and examples that promote asymptomatic carriage of the organism. The discussion of serotype-specific regulator mutations focuses on serotype M3 GAS isolates, and how the identified rewiring of regulatory networks in this serotype may be contributing to a decades old epidemiological association of M3 isolates with particularly severe invasive infections. We conclude that mutation plays an outsized role in GAS pathogenesis and has clinical relevance. Given the phenotypic variability associated with regulatory gene mutations, the rapid examination of these genes in infecting isolates may inform with respect to potential patient complications and treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poulomee Sarkar
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Paul Sumby
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, USA
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