The Pseudomonas aeruginosa multidrug efflux regulator MexR uses an oxidation-sensing mechanism

Non-antibiotic pharmaceutical phenylbutazone binding to MexR reduces the antibiotic susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Antimicrobial resistance has been an increasingly serious threat to global public health. The contribution of non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals to the development of antibiotic resistance has been overlooked. Our study found that the anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone could protect P. aeruginosa against antibiotic mediated killing by binding to the efflux pump regulator MexR. In this study, antibiotic activity against P. aeruginosa alone or in combination with phenylbutazone was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Resazurin accumulation assay, transcriptomic sequencing, and PISA assay were conducted to explore the underlying mechanism for the reduced antibiotic susceptibility caused by phenylbutazone. Then EMSA, ITC, molecular dynamic simulations, and amino acid substitutions were used to investigate the interactions between phenylbutazone and MexR. We found that phenylbutazone could reduce the susceptibility of P. aeruginosa to multiple antibiotics, including parts of β-lactams, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, and macrolides. Phenylbutazone could directly bind to MexR, then promote MexR dissociating from the mexA-mexR intergenic region and de-repress the expression of MexAB-OprM efflux pump. The overexpressed MexAB-OprM pump resulted in the reduced antibiotic susceptibility. And the His41 and Arg21 residues of MexR were involved in the phenylbutazone-MexR interaction. We hope this study would imply the potential risk of antibiotic resistance caused by non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals.

MarR family proteins sense sulfane sulfur in bacteria

Members of the multiple antibiotic resistance regulator (MarR) protein family are ubiquitous in bacteria and play critical roles in regulating cellular metabolism and antibiotic resistance. MarR family proteins function as repressors, and their interactions with modulators induce the expression of controlled genes. The previously characterized modulators are insufficient to explain the activities of certain MarR family proteins. However, recently, several MarR family proteins have been reported to sense sulfane sulfur, including zero-valent sulfur, persulfide (R-SSH), and polysulfide (R-SnH, n ≥ 2). Sulfane sulfur is a common cellular component in bacteria whose levels vary during bacterial growth. The changing levels of sulfane sulfur affect the expression of many MarR-controlled genes. Sulfane sulfur reacts with the cysteine thiols of MarR family proteins, causing the formation of protein thiol persulfide, disulfide bonds, and other modifications. Several MarR family proteins that respond to reactive oxygen species (ROS) also sense sulfane sulfur, as both sulfane sulfur and ROS induce the formation of disulfide bonds. This review focused on MarR family proteins that sense sulfane sulfur. However, the sensing mechanisms reviewed here may also apply to other proteins that detect sulfane sulfur, which is emerging as a modulator of gene regulation.

RND Efflux Pump Induction: A Crucial Network Unveiling Adaptive Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms of Gram-Negative Bacteria

The rise of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) pathogenic bacteria presents a grave challenge to global public health, with antimicrobial resistance ranking as the third leading cause of mortality worldwide. Understanding the mechanisms underlying antibiotic resistance is crucial for developing effective treatments. Efflux pumps, particularly those of the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) superfamily, play a significant role in expelling molecules from bacterial cells, contributing to the emergence of multi-drug resistance. These are transmembrane transporters naturally produced by Gram-negative bacteria. This review provides comprehensive insights into the modulation of RND efflux pump expression in bacterial pathogens by numerous and common molecules (bile, biocides, pharmaceuticals, additives, plant extracts, etc.). The interplay between these molecules and efflux pump regulators underscores the complexity of antibiotic resistance mechanisms. The clinical implications of efflux pump induction by non-antibiotic compounds highlight the challenges posed to public health and the urgent need for further investigation. By addressing antibiotic resistance from multiple angles, we can mitigate its impact and preserve the efficacy of antimicrobial therapies.

Antibiotic influx and efflux in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Regulation and therapeutic implications

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a notorious multidrug-resistant pathogen that poses a serious and growing threat to the worldwide public health. The expression of resistance determinants is exquisitely modulated by the abundant regulatory proteins and the intricate signal sensing and transduction systems in this pathogen. Downregulation of antibiotic influx porin proteins and upregulation of antibiotic efflux pump systems owing to mutational changes in their regulators or the presence of distinct inducing molecular signals represent two of the most efficient mechanisms that restrict intracellular antibiotic accumulation and enable P. aeruginosa to resist multiple antibiotics. Treatment of P. aeruginosa infections is extremely challenging due to the highly inducible mechanism of antibiotic resistance. This review comprehensively summarizes the regulatory networks of the major porin proteins (OprD and OprH) and efflux pumps (MexAB-OprM, MexCD-OprJ, MexEF-OprN, and MexXY) that play critical roles in antibiotic influx and efflux in P. aeruginosa. It also discusses promising therapeutic approaches using safe and efficient adjuvants to enhance the efficacy of conventional antibiotics to combat multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa by controlling the expression levels of porins and efflux pumps. This review not only highlights the complexity of the regulatory network that induces antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa but also provides important therapeutic implications in targeting the inducible mechanism of resistance.

The redox-sensing mechanism of Agrobacterium tumefaciens NieR as a thiol-based oxidation sensor for hypochlorite stress

NieR is a TetR family transcriptional repressor previously shown to regulate the NaOCl-inducible efflux pump NieAB in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. NieR is an ortholog of Escherichia coli NemR that specifically senses hypochlorite through the redox switch of a reversible sulfenamide bond between C106 and K175. The amino acid sequence of NieR contains only one cysteine. NieR has C104 and R166, which correspond to C106 and K175 of NemR, respectively. The aim of this study was to investigate the redox-sensing mechanism of NieR under NaOCl stress. C104 and R166 were subjected to mutagenesis to determine their roles. Although the substitution of R166 by alanine slightly reduced its DNA-binding activity, NieR retained its repressor function. By contrast, the DNA-binding and repression activities of NieR were completely lost when C104 was replaced by alanine. C104 substitution with serine only partially impaired the repressor function. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed an intermolecular disulfide bond between the C104 residues of NieR monomers. This study demonstrates the engagement of C104 in the mechanism of NaOCl sensing. C104 oxidation induced the formation of a disulfide-linked dimer that was likely to alter conformation, thus abolishing the DNA-binding ability of NieR and derepressing the target genes.

Sensing and regulation of reactive sulfur species (RSS) in bacteria

The infected host deploys generalized oxidative stress caused by small inorganic reactive molecules as antibacterial weapons. An emerging consensus is that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and forms of sulfur with sulfur-sulfur bonds termed reactive sulfur species (RSS) provide protection against oxidative stressors and antibiotics, as antioxidants. Here, we review our current understanding of RSS chemistry and its impact on bacterial physiology. We start by describing the basic chemistry of these reactive species and the experimental approaches developed to detect them in cells. We highlight the role of thiol persulfides in H2S-signaling and discuss three structural classes of ubiquitous RSS sensors that tightly regulate cellular H2S/RSS levels in bacteria, with a specific focus on the chemical specificity of these sensors.

Nisin Z Potential for the Control of Diabetic Foot Infections Promoted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Persisters

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a major complication of diabetes mellitus and a public health concern worldwide. The ability of P. aeruginosa to form biofilms is a key factor responsible for the chronicity of diabetic foot infections (DFIs) and frequently associated with the presence of persister cells. These are a subpopulation of phenotypic variants highly tolerant to antibiotics for which new therapeutic alternatives are urgently needed, such as those based on antimicrobial peptides. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of nisin Z on P. aeruginosa DFI persisters. To induce the development of a persister state in both planktonic suspensions and biofilms, P. aeruginosa DFI isolates were exposed to carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) and ciprofloxacin, respectively. After RNA extraction from CCCP-induced persisters, transcriptome analysis was performed to evaluate the differential gene expression between the control, persisters, and persister cells exposed to nisin Z. Nisin Z presented a high inhibitory effect against P. aeruginosa persister cells but was unable to eradicate them when present in established biofilms. Transcriptome analysis revealed that persistence was associated with downregulation of genes related to metabolic processes, cell wall synthesis, and dysregulation of stress response and biofilm formation. After nisin Z treatment, some of the transcriptomic changes induced by persistence were reversed. In conclusion, nisin Z could be considered as a potential complementary therapy for treating P. aeruginosa DFI, but it should be applied as an early treatment or after wound debridement.

Small-angle x-ray and neutron scattering of MexR and its complex with DNA supports a conformational selection binding model

In this work, we used small-angle x-ray and neutron scattering to reveal the shape of the protein-DNA complex of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa transcriptional regulator MexR, a member of the multiple antibiotics resistance regulator (MarR) family, when bound to one of its native DNA binding sites. Several MarR-like proteins, including MexR, repress the expression of efflux pump proteins by binding to DNA on regulatory sites overlapping with promoter regions. When expressed, efflux proteins self-assemble to form multiprotein complexes and actively expel highly toxic compounds out of the host organism. The mutational pressure on efflux-regulating MarR family proteins is high since deficient DNA binding leads to constitutive expression of efflux pumps and thereby supports acquired multidrug resistance. Understanding the functional outcome of such mutations and their effects on DNA binding has been hampered by the scarcity of structural and dynamic characterization of both free and DNA-bound MarR proteins. Here, we show how combined neutron and x-ray small-angle scattering of both states in solution support a conformational selection model that enhances MexR asymmetry in binding to one of its promoter-overlapping DNA binding sites.

Sulfane Sulfur Is an Intrinsic Signal for the Organic Peroxide Sensor OhrR of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Sulfane sulfur, including organic persulfide and polysulfide, is a normal cellular component, and its level varies during growth. It is emerging as a signaling molecule in bacteria, regulating the gene regulator MarR in Escherichia coli, MexR in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and MgrA of Staphylococcus aureus. They are MarR-family regulators and are often repressors for multiple antibiotic resistance genes. Here, we report that another MarR-type regulator OhrR that represses the expression of itself and a thiol peroxidase gene ohr in P. aeruginosa PAO1 also responded to sulfane sulfur. PaOhrR formed disulfide bonds between three Cys residues within a dimer after polysulfide treatment. The modification reduced its affinity to its cognate DNA binding site. An Escherichia coli reporter system, in which mKate was under the repression of OhrR, showed that PaOhrR derepressed its controlled gene when polysulfide was added, whereas the mutant PaOhrR with two Cys residues changed to Ser residues did not respond to polysulfide. The expression of the PaOhrR-repressed mKate was significantly increased when the cells enter the late log phase when cellular sulfane sulfur reached a maximum, but the mKate expression under the control of the PaOhrR-C9SC19S double mutant was not increased. Furthermore, the expression levels of ohrR and ohr in P. aeruginosa PAO1 were significantly increased when cellular sulfane sulfur was high. Thus, PaOhrR senses both exogenous and intrinsic sulfane sulfur to derepress its controlled genes. The finding also suggests that sulfane sulfur may be a common inducer of the MarR-type regulators, which may confer the bacteria to resist certain stresses without being exposed to the stresses.

The TetR-type regulator AtsR is involved in multidrug response in Corynebacterium glutamicum

Background

The TetR (tetracycline repressor) family is one of the major transcription factor families that regulate expression of genes involved in bacterial antimicrobial resistance systems. NCgl0886 protein, designated as AtsR, is a member of the TetR family identified in Corynebacterium glutamicum, which is conserved in several species of the genera Corynebacterium, also including the well-known pathogen C. diphtheriae. AtsR is located at no far upstream of the identically oriented ncgl0884 gene, encoding a putative multidrug efflux pump protein, and in the same operon with ncgl0887, encoding a resistance, nodulation and cell division (RND) superfamily drug exporter. However, the role of AtsR is not clearly understood.

Results

Here we showed that dimeric AtsR directly repressed the expression of the ncgl0887-atsR operon, as well as indirectly controlled the ncgl0884 transcription. Antibiotics and toxic compounds induced the expression of ncgl0887-atsR operon. A perfect palindromic motif (5΄-TGCAA-N₂-TTGCA-3΄; 12 bp) was identified in the upstream region of ncgl0887-atsR operon. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) demonstrated specific binding of AtsR to this motif, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) blocked binding. H₂O₂ oxidized cysteine residues to form Cys123-Cys187 intermolecular disulfide bonds between two subunits in AtsR dimer, which altered its DNA-binding characteristics and caused its dissociation, thereby leading to derepression of the drug efflux protein. Deletion of ncgl0884 and ncgl0887 increased the susceptibilities of C. glutamicum for several toxic compounds, but overexpression of atsR decreased the drug tolerance of C. glutamicum.

Conclusions

Our study revealed that AtsR was a redox regulator that sensed oxidative stress via thiol modification. The results obtained here will contribute to our understanding of the drug response mechanism not only in C. glutamicum but also in the related bacteria C. diphtheriae.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-022-01850-0.

Mechanism of transcription regulation by Acinetobacter baumannii HpaR in the catabolism of p-hydroxyphenylacetate

HpaR is a transcription regulator in the MarR family that controls the expression of the gene cluster responsible for conversion of p-hydroxyphenylacetate to pyruvate and succinate for cellular metabolism. Here, we report the biochemical and structural characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii HpaR (AbHpaR) and its complex with cognate DNA. Our study revealed that AbHpaR binds upstream of the divergently transcribed hpaA gene and the meta-cleavage operon, as well as the hpaR gene, thereby repressing their transcription by blocking access of RNA polymerase. Structural analysis of AbHpaR-DNA complex revealed that the DNA binding specificity can be achieved via a combination of both direct and indirect DNA sequence readouts. DNA binding of AbHpaR is weakened by 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate (DHPA), which is the substrate of the meta-cleavage reactions; this likely leads to expression of the target genes. Based on our findings, we propose a model for how A. baumannii controls transcription of HPA-metabolizing genes, which highlights the independence of global catabolite repression and could be beneficial for metabolic engineering towards bioremediation applications.

PmtA Regulates Pyocyanin Expression and Biofilm Formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa expresses a small molecular weight, cysteine-rich protein (PmtA), identified as a metallothionein (MT) protein family member. The MT family proteins have been well-characterized in eukaryotes as essential for zinc and copper homeostasis, protection against oxidative stress, and the ability to modify a variety of immune activities. Bacterial MTs share sequence homology, antioxidant chemistry, and heavy metal-binding capacity with eukaryotic MTs, however, the impact of bacterial MTs on virulence and infection have not been well-studied. In the present study, we investigated the role of PmtA in P. aeruginosa PAO1 using a PmtA-deficient strain (ΔpmtA). Here we demonstrated the virulence factor, pyocyanin, relies on the expression of PmtA. We showed that PmtA may be protective against oxidative stress, as an alternative antioxidant, glutathione, can rescue pyocyanin expression. Furthermore, the expression of phzM, which encodes a pyocyanin precursor enzyme, was decreased in the ΔpmtA mutant during early stationary phase. Upregulated pmtA expression was previously detected in confluent biofilms, which are essential for chronic infection, and we observed that the ΔpmtA mutant was disrupted for biofilm formation. As biofilms also modulate antibiotic susceptibility, we examined the ΔpmtA mutant susceptibility to antibiotics and found that the ΔpmtA mutant is more susceptible to cefepime and ciprofloxacin than the wild-type strain. Finally, we observed that the deletion of pmtA results in decreased virulence in a waxworm model. Taken together, our results support the conclusion that PmtA is necessary for the full virulence of P. aeruginosa and may represent a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

Functional asymmetry and chemical reactivity of CsoR family persulfide sensors

CstR is a persulfide-sensing member of the functionally diverse copper-sensitive operon repressor (CsoR) superfamily. While CstR regulates the bacterial response to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and more oxidized reactive sulfur species (RSS) in Gram-positive pathogens, other dithiol-containing CsoR proteins respond to host derived Cu(I) toxicity, sometimes in the same bacterial cytoplasm, but without regulatory crosstalk in cells. It is not clear what prevents this crosstalk, nor the extent to which RSS sensors exhibit specificity over other oxidants. Here, we report a sequence similarity network (SSN) analysis of the entire CsoR superfamily, which together with the first crystallographic structure of a CstR and comprehensive mass spectrometry-based kinetic profiling experiments, reveal new insights into the molecular basis of RSS specificity in CstRs. We find that the more N-terminal cysteine is the attacking Cys in CstR and is far more nucleophilic than in a CsoR. Moreover, our CstR crystal structure is markedly asymmetric and chemical reactivity experiments reveal the functional impact of this asymmetry. Substitution of the Asn wedge between the resolving and the attacking thiol with Ala significantly decreases asymmetry in the crystal structure and markedly impacts the distribution of species, despite adopting the same global structure as the parent repressor. Companion NMR, SAXS and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the structural and functional asymmetry can be traced to fast internal dynamics of the tetramer. Furthermore, this asymmetry is preserved in all CstRs and with all oxidants tested, giving rise to markedly distinct distributions of crosslinked products. Our exploration of the sequence, structural, and kinetic features that determine oxidant-specificity suggest that the product distribution upon RSS exposure is determined by internal flexibility.

Sulfane Sulfur Is a Strong Inducer of the Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Regulator MarR in Escherichia coli

Sulfane sulfur, including persulfide and polysulfide, is produced from the metabolism of sulfur-containing organic compounds or from sulfide oxidation. It is a normal cellular component, participating in signaling. In bacteria, it modifies gene regulators to activate the expression of genes involved in sulfur metabolism. However, to determine whether sulfane sulfur is a common signal in bacteria, additional evidence is required. The ubiquitous multiple antibiotic resistance regulator (MarR) family of regulators controls the expression of numerous genes, but the intrinsic inducers are often elusive. Recently, two MarR family members, Pseudomonas aeruginosa MexR and Staphylococcus aureus MgrA, have been reported to sense sulfane sulfur. Here, we report that Escherichia coli MarR, the prototypical member of the family, also senses sulfane sulfur to form one or two disulfide or trisulfide bonds between two dimers. Although the tetramer with two disulfide bonds does not bind to its target DNA, our results suggest that the tetramer with one disulfide bond does bind to its target DNA, with reduced affinity. An MarR-repressed mKate reporter is strongly induced by polysulfide in E. coli. Further investigation is needed to determine whether sulfane sulfur is a common signal of the family members, but three members sense cellular sulfane sulfur to turn on antibiotic resistance genes. The findings offer additional support for a general signaling role of sulfane sulfur in bacteria.

Oxidative Stress Response in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative environmental and human opportunistic pathogen highly adapted to many different environmental conditions. It can cause a wide range of serious infections, including wounds, lungs, the urinary tract, and systemic infections. The high versatility and pathogenicity of this bacterium is attributed to its genomic complexity, the expression of several virulence factors, and its intrinsic resistance to various antimicrobials. However, to thrive and establish infection, P. aeruginosa must overcome several barriers. One of these barriers is the presence of oxidizing agents (e.g., hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, and hypochlorous acid) produced by the host immune system or that are commonly used as disinfectants in a variety of different environments including hospitals. These agents damage several cellular molecules and can cause cell death. Therefore, bacteria adapt to these harsh conditions by altering gene expression and eliciting several stress responses to survive under oxidative stress. Here, we used PubMed to evaluate the current knowledge on the oxidative stress responses adopted by P. aeruginosa. We will describe the genes that are often differently expressed under oxidative stress conditions, the pathways and proteins employed to sense and respond to oxidative stress, and how these changes in gene expression influence pathogenicity and the virulence of P. aeruginosa. Understanding these responses and changes in gene expression is critical to controlling bacterial pathogenicity and developing new therapeutic agents.

Impact of spent engine oil contamination on the antibiotic resistome of a tropical agricultural soil

Profiling of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is becoming increasingly important due to emerging realities of their preponderance in hydrocarbon-inundated matrices. In this study, the antibiotic resistome of an agricultural soil (1S) and agricultural soil contaminated with spent engine oil (AB1) were evaluated via functional annotation of the open reading frames (ORFs) of their metagenomes using the comprehensive antibiotic database (CARD) and KEGG KofamKOALA. CARD analysis of AB1 metagenome revealed the detection of 24 AMR (antimicrobial resistance) gene families, 66 ARGs, and the preponderance (69.7%) of ARGs responsible for antibiotic efflux in AB1 metagenome. CARD analysis of 1S metagenome revealed four AMR gene families and five ARGs. Functional annotation of the two metagenomes using KofamKOALA showed 171 ARGs in AB1 and 29 ARGs in 1S, respectively. Majority of the detected ARGs in AB1 (121; 70.8%) and 1S (16; 55.2%) using KofamKOALA are responsible for antibiotic efflux while ARGs for other resistance mechanisms were also detected. All the five major antibiotic efflux pump systems were detected in AB1 metagenome, though majority of the ARGs for antibiotic efflux belong to the RND (resistance-nodulation-cell division) and MFS (major facilitator superfamily) efflux systems. Significant differences observed in the ARGs recovered from 1S and AB1 metagenomes were statistically validated (P < 0.05). SEO contamination is believed to be responsible for ARGs increase in AB1 metagenome via mechanisms of cross-resistance especially with efflux pumps. The detection of these ARGs is of great public health concern in this era of multidrug resistant isolates resurgence.

Coming from the Wild: Multidrug Resistant Opportunistic Pathogens Presenting a Primary, Not Human-Linked, Environmental Habitat

The use and misuse of antibiotics have made antibiotic-resistant bacteria widespread nowadays, constituting one of the most relevant challenges for human health at present. Among these bacteria, opportunistic pathogens with an environmental, non-clinical, primary habitat stand as an increasing matter of concern at hospitals. These organisms usually present low susceptibility to antibiotics currently used for therapy. They are also proficient in acquiring increased resistance levels, a situation that limits the therapeutic options for treating the infections they cause. In this article, we analyse the most predominant opportunistic pathogens with an environmental origin, focusing on the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance they present. Further, we discuss the functions, beyond antibiotic resistance, that these determinants may have in the natural ecosystems that these bacteria usually colonize. Given the capacity of these organisms for colonizing different habitats, from clinical settings to natural environments, and for infecting different hosts, from plants to humans, deciphering their population structure, their mechanisms of resistance and the role that these mechanisms may play in natural ecosystems is of relevance for understanding the dissemination of antibiotic resistance under a One-Health point of view.

The Effects of Natural Products and Environmental Conditions on Antimicrobial Resistance

Due to the extensive application of antibiotics in medical and farming practices, the continued diversification and development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has attracted serious public concern. With the emergence of AMR and the failure to treat bacterial infections, it has led to an increased interest in searching for novel antibacterial substances such as natural antimicrobial substances, including microbial volatile compounds (MVCs), plant-derived compounds, and antimicrobial peptides. However, increasing observations have revealed that AMR is associated not only with the use of antibacterial substances but also with tolerance to heavy metals existing in nature and being used in agriculture practice. Additionally, bacteria respond to environmental stresses, e.g., nutrients, oxidative stress, envelope stress, by employing various adaptive strategies that contribute to the development of AMR and the survival of bacteria. Therefore, we need to elucidate thoroughly the factors and conditions affecting AMR to take comprehensive measures to control the development of AMR.

The MarR-Type Regulator PA3458 Is Involved in Osmoadaptation Control in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a facultative human pathogen, causing acute and chronic infections that are especially dangerous for immunocompromised patients. The eradication of P. aeruginosa is difficult due to its intrinsic antibiotic resistance mechanisms, high adaptability, and genetic plasticity. The bacterium possesses multilevel regulatory systems engaging a huge repertoire of transcriptional regulators (TRs). Among these, the MarR family encompasses a number of proteins, mainly acting as repressors, which are involved in response to various environmental signals. In this work, we aimed to decipher the role of PA3458, a putative MarR-type TR from P. aeruginosa. Transcriptional profiling of P. aeruginosa PAO1161 overexpressing PA3458 showed changes in the mRNA level of 133 genes; among them, 100 were down-regulated, suggesting the repressor function of PA3458. Concomitantly, ChIP-seq analysis identified more than 300 PA3458 binding sites in P. aeruginosa. The PA3458 regulon encompasses genes involved in stress response, including the PA3459–PA3461 operon, which is divergent to PA3458. This operon encodes an asparagine synthase, a GNAT-family acetyltransferase, and a glutamyl aminopeptidase engaged in the production of N-acetylglutaminylglutamine amide (NAGGN), which is a potent bacterial osmoprotectant. We showed that PA3458-mediated control of PA3459–PA3461 expression is required for the adaptation of P. aeruginosa growth in high osmolarity. Overall, our data indicate that PA3458 plays a role in osmoadaptation control in P. aeruginosa.

A Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) Efflux Pump, SCO4121, from Streptomyces coelicolor with Roles in Multidrug Resistance and Oxidative Stress Tolerance and Its Regulation by a MarR Regulator

Overexpression of efflux pumps is one of the major determinants of resistance in bacteria. Streptomyces species harbor a large array of efflux pumps that are transcriptionally silenced under laboratory conditions. However, their dissemination results in multidrug resistance in different clinical pathogens. In this study, we have identified an efflux pump from Streptomyces coelicolor, SCO4121, belonging to the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) family of transporters and characterized its role in antibiotic resistance. SCO4121 provided resistance to multiple dissimilar drugs upon overexpression in both native and heterologous hosts. Further, deletion of SCO4121 resulted in increased sensitivity toward ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol, suggesting the pump to be a major transporter of these substrates. Apart from providing multidrug resistance, SCO4121 imparted increased tolerance against the strong oxidant HOCl. In wild-type Streptomyces coelicolor cells, these drugs were found to transcriptionally regulate the pump in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, we identified SCO4122, a MarR regulator that positively regulates SCO4121 in response to various drugs and the oxidant HOCl. Thus, through these studies we present the multiple roles of SCO4121 in S. coelicolor and highlight the intricate mechanisms via which it is regulated in response to antibiotics and oxidative stress.IMPORTANCE One of the key mechanisms of drug resistance in bacteria is overexpression of efflux pumps. Streptomyces species are a reservoir of a large number of efflux pumps, potentially to provide resistance to both endogenous and nonendogenous antibiotics. While many of these pumps are not expressed under standard laboratory conditions, they result in resistance to multiple drugs when spread to other bacterial pathogens through horizontal gene transfer. In this study, we have identified a widely conserved efflux pump SCO4121 from Streptomyces coelicolor with roles in both multidrug resistance and oxidative stress tolerance. We also report the presence of an adjacent MarR regulator, SCO4122, which positively regulates SCO4121 in the presence of diverse substrates in a redox-responsive manner. This study highlights that soil bacteria such as Streptomyces can reveal novel mechanisms of antibiotic resistance that may potentially emerge in clinically important bacteria.

Integrated regulatory network in Pseudomonas syringae reveals dynamics of virulence

Pseudomonas syringae, a Gram-negative plant pathogen, expresses multitudinous transcriptional regulators to control the type III secretion system (T3SS) and response to diverse environmental challenges. Although the mechanisms of virulence-associated regulators of P. syringae have been studied for decades, the overall crosstalk underlying these regulators is still elusive. Here, we identify five T3SS regulators (EnvZ-OmpR, CbrAB2, PhoPQ, PilRS, and MgrA), and find that the two-component systems EnvZ-OmpR and CbrAB2 negatively regulate the T3SS. To elucidate crosstalk between 16 virulence-associated regulators in P. syringae, we map an online intricate network called "PSRnet" (Pseudomonas syringae regulatory network) by combining the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of these 16 regulators by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and their binding loci by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq). Consequently, we identify 238 and 153 functional genes involved in the T3SS and other virulence-related pathways in KB and MM media, respectively. Our results provide insights into the mechanism of plant infections caused by P. syringae.

The thiol oxidation-based sensing and regulation mechanism for the OasR-mediated organic peroxide and antibiotic resistance in C. glutamicum

Corynebacterium glutamicum, an important industrial and model microorganism, inevitably encountered stress environment during fermentative process. Therefore, the ability of C. glutamicum to withstand stress and maintain the cellular redox balance was vital for cell survival and enhancing fermentation efficiency. To robustly survive, C. glutamicum has been equipped with many types of redox sensors. Although cysteine oxidation-based peroxide-sensing regulators have been well described in C. glutamicum, redox sensors involving in multiple environmental stress response remained elusive. Here, we reported an organic peroxide- and antibiotic-sensing MarR (multiple antibiotics resistance regulators)-type regulator, called OasR (organic peroxide- and antibiotic-sensing regulator). The OasR regulator used Cys95 oxidation to sense oxidative stress to form S-mycothiolated monomer or inter-molecular disulfide-containing dimer, resulting in its dissociation from the target DNA promoter. Transcriptomics uncovered the strong up-regulation of many multidrug efflux pump genes and organic peroxide stress-involving genes in oasR mutant, consistent with the phenomenon that oasR mutant showed a reduction in sensitivity to antibiotic and organic peroxide. Importantly, the addition of stress-associated ligands such as cumene hydroperoxide and streptomycin induced oasR and multidrug efflux pump protein NCgl1020 expression in vivo. We speculated that cell resistance to antibiotics and organic peroxide correlated with stress response-induced up-regulation of genes expression. Together, the results revealed that OasR was a key MarR-type redox stress-responsive transcriptional repressor, and sensed oxidative stress generated through hydroxyl radical formation to mediate antibiotic resistance in C. glutamicum.

MsrR is a thiol-based oxidation-sensing regulator of the XRE family that modulates C. glutamicum oxidative stress resistance

Background

Corynebacterium glutamicum thrives under oxidative stress caused by the inevitably extreme environment during fermentation as it harbors antioxidative stress genes. Antioxidant genes are controlled by pathway-specific sensors that act in response to growth conditions. Although many families of oxidation-sensing regulators in C. glutamicum have been well described, members of the xenobiotic-response element (XRE) family, involved in oxidative stress, remain elusive.

Results

In this study, we report a novel redox-sensitive member of the XER family, MsrR (multiple stress resistance regulator). MsrR is encoded as part of the msrR-3-mst (3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase) operon; msrR-3-mst is divergent from multidrug efflux protein MFS. MsrR was demonstrated to bind to the intergenic region between msrR-3-mst and mfs. This binding was prevented by an MsrR oxidation-mediated increase in MsrR dimerization. MsrR was shown to use Cys62 oxidation to sense oxidative stress, resulting in its dissociation from the promoter. Elevated expression of msrR-3-mst and mfs was observed under stress. Furthermore, a ΔmsrR mutant strain displayed significantly enhanced growth, while the growth of strains lacking either 3-mst or mfs was significantly inhibited under stress.

Conclusion

This report is the first to demonstrate the critical role of MsrR-3-MST-MFS in bacterial stress resistance.

Sulfane Sulfur is an intrinsic signal activating MexR-regulated antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, an opportunistic human pathogen, deploys several strategies to resist antibiotics. It uses multidrug efflux pumps, including the MexAB-OprM pump, for antibiotic resistance, and it also produces hydrogen sulfide (H₂ S) that provides some defense against antibiotics. MexR functions as a transcriptional repressor of the mexAB-oprM operon. MexR responds to oxidative stresses caused by antibiotic exposure, and it also displays a growth phase-dependent derepression of the mexAB-oprM operon. However, the intrinsic inducer has not been identified. Here, we report that P. aeruginosa PAO1 produced sulfane sulfur, including glutathione persulfide and inorganic polysulfide, produced from either H₂ S oxidation or from L-cysteine metabolism. Sulfane sulfur directly reacted with MexR, forming di- and trisulfide cross-links between two Cys residues, to derepress the mexAB-oprM operon. Levels of cellular sulfane sulfur and mexAB-oprM expression varied during growth, and both reached the maximum during the stationary phase of growth. Thus, self-produced H₂ S and sulfane sulfur may facilitate antibiotic resistance via inducing the expression of antibiotic resistance genes.

CarR, a MarR-family regulator from Corynebacterium glutamicum, modulated antibiotic and aromatic compound resistance

MarR (multiple antibiotic resistance regulator) proteins are a family of transcriptional regulators that is prevalent in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Understanding the physiological and biochemical function of MarR homologs in C. glutamicum has focused on cysteine oxidation-based redox-sensing and substrate metabolism-involving regulators. In this study, we characterized the stress-related ligand-binding functions of the C. glutamicum MarR-type regulator CarR (C. glutamicum antibiotic-responding regulator). We demonstrate that CarR negatively regulates the expression of the carR (ncgl2886)-uspA (ncgl2887) operon and the adjacent, oppositely oriented gene ncgl2885, encoding the hypothetical deacylase DecE. We also show that CarR directly activates transcription of the ncgl2882-ncgl2884 operon, encoding the peptidoglycan synthesis operon (PSO) located upstream of carR in the opposite orientation. The addition of stress-associated ligands such as penicillin and streptomycin induced carR, uspA, decE, and PSO expression in vivo, as well as attenuated binding of CarR to operator DNA in vitro. Importantly, stress response-induced up-regulation of carR, uspA, and PSO gene expression correlated with cell resistance to β-lactam antibiotics and aromatic compounds. Six highly conserved residues in CarR were found to strongly influence its ligand binding and transcriptional regulatory properties. Collectively, the results indicate that the ligand binding of CarR induces its dissociation from the carR-uspA promoter to derepress carR and uspA transcription. Ligand-free CarR also activates PSO expression, which in turn contributes to C. glutamicum stress resistance. The outcomes indicate that the stress response mechanism of CarR in C. glutamicum occurs via ligand-induced conformational changes to the protein, not via cysteine oxidation-based thiol modifications.

Mechanisms for Rapid Evolution of Carbapenem Resistance in a Clinical Isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa are difficult to cure due to its high intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance. Once colonized the human host, and thanks to antibiotic treatment pressure, P. aeruginosa usually acquires genetic mutations which provide bacteria with antibiotic resistance as well as ability to better adapt to the host environment. Deciphering the evolutionary traits may provide important insights into the development of effective combinatory antibiotic therapy to treat P. aeruginosa infections. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which a clinical isolate (ISP50) yields a carbapenem-resistant derivative (IRP41). RNAseq and genomic DNA reference mapping were conducted to compare the transcriptional profiles and in vivo evolutionary trajectories between the two isolates. Our results demonstrated that oprD mutation together with ampC hyper-expression contributed to the increased resistance to carbapenem in the isolate IRP41. Furthermore, a ldcA (PA5198) gene, encoding murein tetrapeptide carboxypeptidase, has been demonstrated for the first time to negatively influence the ampC expression in P. aeruginosa.

The redox-sensing MarR-type repressor HypS controls hypochlorite and antimicrobial resistance in Mycobacterium smegmatis

MarR-family transcription factors often control antioxidant enzymes, multidrug efflux pumps or virulence factors in bacterial pathogens and confer resistance towards oxidative stress and antibiotics. In this study, we have characterized the function and redox-regulatory mechanism of the MarR-type regulator HypS in Mycobacterium smegmatis. RNA-seq transcriptomics and qRT-PCR analyses of the hypS mutant revealed that hypS is autoregulated and represses transcription of the co-transcribed hypO gene which encodes a multidrug efflux pump. DNA binding activity of HypS to the 8-5-8 bp inverted repeat sequence upstream of the hypSO operon was inhibited under NaOCl stress. However, the HypSC58S mutant protein was not impaired in DNA-binding under NaOCl stress in vitro, indicating an important role of Cys58 in redox sensing of NaOCl stress. HypS was shown to be inactivated by Cys58-Cys58' intersubunit disulfide formation under HOCl stress, resulting in derepression of hypO transcription. Phenotype results revealed that the HypS regulon confers resistance towards HOCl, rifampicin and erythromycin stress. In conclusion, HypS was identified as a novel redox-sensitive repressor that contributes to mycobacterial resistance towards HOCl stress and antibiotics.

The MarR-Type Repressor MhqR Confers Quinone and Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

Aims: Quinone compounds are electron carriers and have antimicrobial and toxic properties due to their mode of actions as electrophiles and oxidants. However, the regulatory mechanism of quinone resistance is less well understood in the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Results: Methylhydroquinone (MHQ) caused a thiol-specific oxidative and electrophile stress response in the S. aureus transcriptome as revealed by the induction of the PerR, QsrR, CstR, CtsR, and HrcA regulons. The SACOL2531-29 operon was most strongly upregulated by MHQ and was renamed as mhqRED operon based on its homology to the Bacillus subtilis locus. Here, we characterized the MarR-type regulator MhqR (SACOL2531) as quinone-sensing repressor of the mhqRED operon, which confers quinone and antimicrobial resistance in S. aureus. The mhqRED operon responds specifically to MHQ and less pronounced to pyocyanin and ciprofloxacin, but not to reactive oxygen species (ROS), hypochlorous acid, or aldehydes. The MhqR repressor binds specifically to a 9-9 bp inverted repeat (MhqR operator) upstream of the mhqRED operon and is inactivated by MHQ in vitro, which does not involve a thiol-based mechanism. In phenotypic assays, the mhqR deletion mutant was resistant to MHQ and quinone-like antimicrobial compounds, including pyocyanin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and rifampicin. In addition, the mhqR mutant was sensitive to sublethal ROS and 24 h post-macrophage infections but acquired an improved survival under lethal ROS stress and after long-term infections. Innovation: Our results provide a link between quinone and antimicrobial resistance via the MhqR regulon of S. aureus. Conclusion: The MhqR regulon was identified as a novel resistance mechanism towards quinone-like antimicrobials and contributes to virulence of S. aureus under long-term infections.

MarR family proteins are important regulators of clinically relevant antibiotic resistance

There has been a rapid spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria across the world. MDR efflux transporters are an important mechanism of antibiotic resistance in many pathogens among both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. These pumps can recognize a variety of chemically and structurally different compounds, including innate and clinically administered antibiotics. Intriguingly, these efflux pumps are often regulated by transcription factors that themselves bind a diverse set of substrates thereby allowing them to regulate the expression of their cognate MDR efflux pumps. One significant family of such transcription factors is the Multiple antibiotic resistance Repressor (MarR) family. Members of this family are well conserved across different bacterial species and in some cases are known to regulate vital bacterial functions. This review focusses on the role of MarR family transcriptional factors in antibiotic resistance within a select group of clinically relevant pathogens.

Novel Inducers of the Expression of Multidrug Efflux Pumps That Trigger Pseudomonas aeruginosa Transient Antibiotic Resistance

The study of the acquisition of antibiotic resistance (AR) has mainly focused on inherited processes, namely, mutations and acquisition of AR genes. However, inducible, noninheritable AR has received less attention, and most information in this field derives from the study of antibiotics as inducers of their associated resistance mechanisms. Less is known about nonantibiotic compounds or situations that can induce AR during infection. Multidrug resistance efflux pumps are a category of AR determinants characterized by the tight regulation of their expression. Their contribution to acquired AR relies in their overexpression. Here, we analyzed potential inducers of the expression of the chromosomally encoded Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinically relevant efflux pumps, MexCD-OprJ and MexAB-OprM. For this purpose, we developed a set of luxCDABE-based P. aeruginosa biosensor strains, which allows the high-throughput analysis of compounds able to modify the expression of these efflux pumps. Using these strains, we analyzed a set of 240 compounds present in Biolog phenotype microarrays. Several inducers of the expression of the genes that encode these efflux pumps were found. The study focused in dequalinium chloride, procaine, and atropine, compounds that can be found in clinical settings. Using real-time PCR, we confirmed that these compounds indeed induce the expression of the mexCD-oprJ operon. In addition, P. aeruginosa presents lower susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (a MexCD-OprJ substrate) when dequalinium chloride, procaine, or atropine are present. This study emphasizes the need to study compounds that can trigger transient AR during antibiotic treatment, a phenotype difficult to discover using classical susceptibility tests.

Cinnamaldehyde Induces Expression of Efflux Pumps and Multidrug Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Essential oils or their components are increasingly used to fight bacterial infections. Cinnamaldehyde (CNA), the main constituent of cinnamon bark oil, has demonstrated interesting properties in vitro against various pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms and possible therapeutic consequences of P. aeruginosa adaptation to CNA. Exposure of P. aeruginosa PA14 to subinhibitory concentrations of CNA caused a strong albeit transient increase in the expression of operons that encode the efflux systems MexAB-OprM, MexCD-OprJ, MexEF-OprN, and MexXY/OprM. This multipump activation enhanced from 2- to 8-fold the resistance (MIC) of PA14 to various antipseudomonal antibiotics, including meropenem, ceftazidime, tobramycin, and ciprofloxacin. CNA-induced production of pump MexAB-OprM was found to play a major role in the adaption of P. aeruginosa to the electrophilic biocide, through the NalC regulatory pathway. CNA was progressively transformed by bacteria into the less toxic metabolite cinnamic alcohol (CN-OH), via yet undetermined detoxifying mechanisms. In conclusion, the use of cinnamon bark oil or cinnamaldehyde as adjunctive therapy to treat P. aeruginosa infections may potentially have antagonistic effects if combined with antibiotics because of Mex pump activation.

Light-inducible carotenoid production controlled by a MarR-type regulator in Corynebacterium glutamicum

Carotenoid production in some non-phototropic bacteria occurs in a light-dependent manner to protect cells from photo-oxidants. Knowledge regarding the transcriptional regulator involved in the light-dependent production of carotenoids of non-phototrophic bacteria has been mainly confined to coenzyme B₁₂-based photo-sensitive regulator CarH/LitR family proteins belonging to a MerR family transcriptional regulator. In this study, we found that bacteria belonging to Micrococcales and Corynebacteriales exhibit light-dependent carotenoid-like pigment production including an amino acid-producer Corynebacterium glutamicum AJ1511. CrtR is a putative MarR family transcriptional regulator located in the divergent region of a carotenoid biosynthesis gene cluster in the genome of those bacteria. A null mutant for crtR of C. glutamicum AJ1511 exhibited constitutive production of carotenoids independent of light. A complemented strain of the crtR mutant produced carotenoids in a light-dependent manner. Transcriptional analysis revealed that the expression of carotenoid biosynthesis genes is regulated in a light-dependent manner in the wild type, while the transcription was upregulated in the crtR mutant irrespective of light. In vitro experiments demonstrated that a recombinant CrtR protein binds to the specific sequences within the intergenic region of crtR and crtE, which corresponds to −58 to −7 for crtE, and +26 to −28 for crtR with respect to the transcriptional start site, and serves as a repressor for crtE transcription directed by RNA polymerase containing SigA. Taken together, the results indicate that CrtR light-dependently controls the expression of the carotenoid gene cluster in C. glutamicum and probably closely related Actinobacteria.

Multidrug efflux pumps: structure, function and regulation

Infections arising from multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria are spreading rapidly throughout the world and threaten to become untreatable. The origins of resistance are numerous and complex, but one underlying factor is the capacity of bacteria to rapidly export drugs through the intrinsic activity of efflux pumps. In this Review, we describe recent advances that have increased our understanding of the structures and molecular mechanisms of multidrug efflux pumps in bacteria. Clinical and laboratory data indicate that efflux pumps function not only in the drug extrusion process but also in virulence and the adaptive responses that contribute to antimicrobial resistance during infection. The emerging picture of the structure, function and regulation of efflux pumps suggests opportunities for countering their activities.

Protein Promiscuity in H2O2 Signaling

SIGNIFICANCE

Decrypting the cellular response to oxidative stress relies on a comprehensive understanding of the redox signaling pathways stimulated under oxidizing conditions. Redox signaling events can be divided into upstream sensing of oxidants, midstream redox signaling of protein function, and downstream transcriptional redox regulation. Recent Advances: A more and more accepted theory of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) signaling is that of a thiol peroxidase redox relay, whereby protein thiols with low reactivity toward H₂O₂ are instead oxidized through an oxidative relay with thiol peroxidases.

CRITICAL ISSUES

These ultrareactive thiol peroxidases are the upstream redox sensors, which form the first cellular port of call for H₂O₂. Not all redox-regulated interactions between thiol peroxidases and cellular proteins involve a transfer of oxidative equivalents, and the nature of redox signaling is further complicated through promiscuous functions of redox-regulated "moonlighting" proteins, of which the precise cellular role under oxidative stress can frequently be obscured by "polygamous" interactions. An ultimate goal of redox signaling is to initiate a rapid response, and in contrast to prokaryotic oxidant-responsive transcription factors, mammalian systems have developed redox signaling pathways, which intersect both with kinase-dependent activation of transcription factors, as well as direct oxidative regulation of transcription factors through peroxiredoxin (Prx) redox relays.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

We highlight that both transcriptional regulation and cell fate can be modulated either through oxidative regulation of kinase pathways, or through distinct redox-dependent associations involving either Prxs or redox-responsive moonlighting proteins with functional promiscuity. These protein associations form systems of crossregulatory networks with multiple nodes of potential oxidative regulation for H₂O₂-mediated signaling.

OhsR acts as an organic peroxide-sensing transcriptional activator using an S-mycothiolation mechanism in Corynebacterium glutamicum

Background

Corynebacterium glutamicum is a well-known producer of various l-amino acids in industry. During the fermenting process, C. glutamicum unavoidably encounters oxidative stress due to a specific reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by consistent adverse conditions. To combat the ROS, C. glutamicum has developed many common disulfide bond-based regulatory devices to control a specific set of antioxidant genes. However, nothing is known about the mixed disulfide between the protein thiol groups and the mycothiol (MSH) (S-mycothiolation)-based sensor. In addition, no OhrR (organic hydroperoxide resistance regulator) homologs and none of the organic hydroperoxide reductase (Ohr) sensors have been described in the alkyl hydroperoxide reductase CF-missing C. glutamicum, while organic hydroperoxides (OHPs)-specific Ohr was a core detoxification system.

Results

In this study, we showed that the C. glutamicum OhsR acted as an OHPs sensor that activated ohr expression. OhsR conferred resistance to cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) and t-butyl hydroperoxide but not H₂O₂, hypochlorous acid, and diamide; this outcome was substantiated by the fact that the ohsR-deficient mutant was sensitive to OHPs but not inorganic peroxides. The DNA binding activity of OhsR was specifically activated by CHP. Mutational analysis of the two cysteines (Cys125 and Cys261) showed that Cys125 was primarily responsible for the activation of DNA binding. The oxidation of Cys125 produced a sulfenic acid (C125-SOH) that subsequently reacted with MSH to generate S-mycothiolation that was required to activate the ohr expression. Therefore, OhsR regulated the ohr expression using an S-mycothiolation mechanism in vivo.

Conclusion

This is the first report demonstrating that the regulatory OhsR specifically sensed OHPs stress and responded to it by activating a specific ohr gene under its control using an S-mycothiolated mechanism.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12934-018-1048-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

CosR is an oxidative stress sensing a MarR-type transcriptional repressor in Corynebacterium glutamicum

The MarR family is unique to both bacteria and archaea. The members of this family, one of the most prevalent families of transcriptional regulators in bacteria, enable bacteria to adapt to changing environmental conditions, such as the presence of antibiotics, toxic chemicals, or reactive oxygen species (ROS), mainly by thiol-disulfide switches. Although the genome of Corynebacterium glutamicum encodes a large number of the putative MarR-type transcriptional regulators, their physiological and biochemical functions have so far been limited to only two proteins, regulator of oxidative stress response RosR and quinone oxidoreductase regulator QosR. Here, we report that the ncgl2617 gene (cosR) of C. glutamicum encoding an MarR-type transcriptional regulator plays an important role in oxidative stress resistance. The cosR null mutant is found to be more resistant to various oxidants and antibiotics, accompanied by a decrease in ROS production and protein carbonylation levels under various stresses. Protein biochemical function analysis shows that two Cys residues presenting at 49 and 62 sites in CosR are redox-active. They form intermolecular disulfide bonds in CosR under oxidative stress. This CosR oxidation leads to its dissociation from promoter DNA, depression of the target DNA, and increased oxidative stress resistance of C. glutamicum. Together, the results reveal that CosR is a redox-sensitive regulator that senses peroxide stress to mediate oxidative stress resistance in C. glutamicum.

MarR Family Transcription Factors from Burkholderia Species: Hidden Clues to Control of Virulence-Associated Genes

Species within the genus Burkholderia exhibit remarkable phenotypic diversity. Genomic plasticity, including genome reduction and horizontal gene transfer, has been correlated with virulence traits in several species. However, the conservation of virulence genes in species otherwise considered to have limited potential for infection suggests that phenotypic diversity may not be explained solely on the basis of genetic diversity. Instead, differential organization and control of gene regulatory networks may underlie many phenotypic differences. In this review, we evaluate how regulation of gene expression by members of the multiple antibiotic resistance regulator (MarR) family of transcription factors may contribute to shaping the physiological diversity of Burkholderia species, with a focus on the clinically relevant human pathogens. All Burkholderia species encode a relatively large number of MarR proteins, a feature common to bacteria that must respond to environmental changes such as those associated with host invasion. However, evolution of gene regulatory networks has likely resulted in orthologous transcription factors controlling disparate sets of genes. Adaptation to, and survival in, diverse habitats, including a human or plant host, is key to the success of Burkholderia species as (opportunistic) pathogens, and recent reports suggest that control of virulence-associated genes by MarR proteins features prominently among the survival strategies employed by these species. We suggest that identification of MarR regulons will contribute significantly to clarification of virulence determinants and phenotypic diversity.

EmrR-Dependent Upregulation of the Efflux Pump EmrCAB Contributes to Antibiotic Resistance in Chromobacterium violaceum

Chromobacterium violaceum is an environmental Gram-negative bacterium that causes infections in humans. Treatment of C. violaceum infections is difficult and little is known about the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in this bacterium. In this work, we identified mutations in the MarR family transcription factor EmrR and in the protein GyrA as key determinants of quinolone resistance in C. violaceum, and we defined EmrR as a repressor of the MFS-type efflux pump EmrCAB. Null deletion of emrR caused increased resistance to nalidixic acid, but not to other quinolones or antibiotics of different classes. Moreover, the ΔemrR mutant showed decreased production of the purple pigment violacein. Importantly, we isolated C. violaceum spontaneous nalidixic acid-resistant mutants with a point mutation in the DNA-binding domain of EmrR (R92H), with antibiotic resistance profile similar to that of the ΔemrR mutant. Other spontaneous mutants with high MIC values for nalidixic acid and increased resistance to fluoroquinolones presented point mutations in the gene gyrA. Using DNA microarray, Northern blot and EMSA assays, we demonstrated that EmrR represses directly a few dozen genes, including the emrCAB operon and other genes related to transport, oxidative stress and virulence. This EmrR repression on emrCAB was relieved by salicylate. Although mutation of the C. violaceum emrCAB operon had no effect in antibiotic susceptibility or violacein production, deletion of emrCAB in an emrR mutant background restored antibiotic susceptibility and violacein production in the ΔemrR mutant. Using a biosensor reporter strain, we demonstrated that the lack of pigment production in ΔemrR correlates with the accumulation of quorum-sensing molecules in the cell supernatant of this mutant strain. Therefore, our data revealed that overexpression of the efflux pump EmrCAB via mutation and/or derepression of EmrR confers quinolone resistance and alters quorum-sensing signaling in C. violaceum, and that point mutation in emrR can contribute to emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

An α-Lipoic acid derivative, and anti-ROS agent, prevents the acquisition of multi-drug resistance in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common causes of nosocomial infections, and its multi-drug resistance has been a serious problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether exposure to piperacillin and reactive oxygen species (ROS) could lead to multi-drug resistance for clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. The inhibition of this acquired resistance by the anti-ROS agent was also examined. In vitro inducement of multi-drug resistance was performed against 20 clinical isolates. These strains were incubated for 24 h and transferred 5 times after being exposed to 1 mM H₂O₂ (ROS) in addition to a sub-MIC of piperacillin by the agar dilution method. Each MIC of piperacillin and levofloxacin was determined. As the mechanism of levofloxacin resistance, mutation of QRDR was investigated. The expression level of genes encoding efflux pumps; mexA, mexY, mexC, and D2 porin; oprD were determined by real-time PCR. Multi-resistance to both piperacillin and levofloxacin was induced with 4 of 20 strains (20%). No amino acid change was confirmed in QRDR. These strains showed overexpression of mexA, mexY, mexC, and another one showed decrease of oprD expression. Resistance development in 4 strains was inhibited by the same method including the anti-ROS agent, sodium zinc histidine dithiooctanamide (DHL-His-Zn). In conclusion, stimulation by ROS promoted acquisition of multi-drug resistance in 20% of isolates of P. aeruginosa, and DHL-His-Zn completely inhibited this acquisition of resistance. Therefore, this anti-ROS agent may be useful to assist antimicrobial chemotherapy by preventing multi-drug resistance.

Aminoglycoside-inducible expression of the mexAB-oprM multidrug efflux operon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Involvement of the envelope stress-responsive AmgRS two-component system

Exposure of P. aeruginosa to the aminoglycoside (AG) paromomycin (PAR) induced expression of the PA3720-armR locus and the mexAB-oprM multidrug efflux operon that AmgR controls, although PAR induction of mexAB-oprM was independent of armR. Multiple AGs promoted mexAB-oprM expression and this was lost in the absence of the amgRS locus encoding an aminoglycoside-activated envelope stress-responsive 2-component system (TCS). Purified AmgR bound to the mexAB-oprM promoter region consistent with this response regulator directly regulating expression of the efflux operon. The thiol-active reagent, diamide, which, like AGs, promotes protein aggregation and cytoplasmic membrane damage also promoted AmgRS-dependent mexAB-oprM expression, a clear indication that the MexAB-OprM efflux system is recruited in response to membrane perturbation and/or circumstances that lead to this. Despite the AG and diamide induction of mexAB-oprM, however, MexAB-OprM does not appear to contribute to resistance to these agents.

Functional Mechanism of the Efflux Pumps Transcription Regulators From Pseudomonas aeruginosa Based on 3D Structures

Bacterial antibiotic resistance is a worldwide health problem that deserves important research attention in order to develop new therapeutic strategies. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified Pseudomonas aeruginosa as one of the priority bacteria for which new antibiotics are urgently needed. In this opportunistic pathogen, antibiotics efflux is one of the most prevalent mechanisms where the drug is efficiently expulsed through the cell-wall. This resistance mechanism is highly correlated to the expression level of efflux pumps of the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) family, which is finely tuned by gene regulators. Thus, it is worthwhile considering the efflux pump regulators of P. aeruginosa as promising therapeutical targets alternative. Several families of regulators have been identified, including activators and repressors that control the genetic expression of the pumps in response to an extracellular signal, such as the presence of the antibiotic or other environmental modifications. In this review, based on different crystallographic structures solved from archetypal bacteria, we will first focus on the molecular mechanism of the regulator families involved in the RND efflux pump expression in P. aeruginosa, which are TetR, LysR, MarR, AraC, and the two-components system (TCS). Finally, the regulators of known structure from P. aeruginosa will be presented.

Structure and mechanism of bacterial tripartite efflux pumps

Efflux pumps are membrane proteins which contribute to multi-drug resistance. In Gram-negative bacteria, some of these pumps form complex tripartite assemblies in association with an outer membrane channel and a periplasmic membrane fusion protein. These tripartite machineries span both membranes and the periplasmic space, and they extrude from the bacterium chemically diverse toxic substrates. In this chapter, we summarise current understanding of the structural architecture, functionality, and regulation of tripartite multi-drug efflux assemblies.

Revealing the dual role of gallic acid in modulating ampicillin sensitivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

Aim: To understand the effects of gallic acid (GA) on ampicillin (Amp) sensitive or resistant strain of Pseudomonas sp. and also in modulating the corresponding biofilms. Methodology: The cell viability was determined by broth dilution, dry weight and CFU assays. Biofilm formation was measured by crystal violet assay while oxygen consumption rate was measured to verify the metabolic status of the cells. The membrane damage and drug efflux/accumulation were studied by fluorimetric assays. Results: GA transformed the Amp resistant cells, both planktonic and biofilms, into highly sensitive one by inducing membrane damage and enhancing accumulation of drug, whereas the Amp sensitive cells gained resistance against Amp. Conclusion: Use of GA as an antimicrobial compound should be analyzed more critically depending on the drug dosages, drug sensitivity as well as types of bacterial strains being studied.

Design and Selection of a Synthetic Feedback Loop for Optimizing Biofuel Tolerance

Feedback control allows cells to dynamically sense and respond to environmental changes. However, synthetic controller designs can be challenging because of implementation issues, such as determining optimal expression levels for circuit components within a feedback loop. Here, we addressed this by coupling rational design with selection to engineer a synthetic feedback circuit to optimize tolerance of Escherichia coli to the biojet fuel pinene. E. coli can be engineered to produce pinene, but it is toxic to cells. Efflux pumps, such as the AcrAB-TolC pump, can improve tolerance, but pump expression impacts growth. To address this, we used feedback to dynamically regulate pump expression in response to stress. We developed a library with thousands of synthetic circuit variants and subjected it to three types of pinene treatment (none, constant, and varying pinene). We were able to select for strains that were biofuel tolerant without a significant growth cost in the absence of biofuel. Using next-generation sequencing, we found common characteristics in the designs and identified controllers that dramatically improved biofuel tolerance.

MarR family transcription factors: dynamic variations on a common scaffold

Members of the multiple antibiotic resistance regulator (MarR) family of transcription factors are critical for bacterial cells to respond to chemical signals and to convert such signals into changes in gene activity. Obligate dimers belonging to the winged helix-turn-helix protein family, they are critical for regulation of a variety of functions, including degradation of organic compounds and control of virulence gene expression. The conventional regulatory paradigm is based on a genomic locus in which the gene encoding the MarR protein is divergently oriented from a gene under its control; MarR binding to the intergenic region controls expression of both genes by changing the interaction of RNA polymerase with gene promoters. MarR protein oxidation or binding of a small molecule ligand adversely affects DNA binding, resulting in altered expression of the divergent genes. The generality of this simple paradigm, including the regulation of Escherichia coli MarR by direct binding of antibiotics, has been challenged by reports published in recent years. In addition, structural and biochemical analyses of ligand binding to numerous MarR homologs are converging to identify a shared ligand-binding "hot-spot". This review highlights recent research advances that point to shared features, yet at the same time highlights the remarkable flexibility with which members of this protein family implement responses to inducing signals. A more comprehensive understanding of protein function will pave the way towards the development of both antibacterial agents and biosensors that are based on MarR family proteins.

Structural Insights into the Redox-Sensing Mechanism of MarR-Type Regulator AbfR

As a master redox-sensing MarR-family transcriptional regulator, AbfR participates in oxidative stress responses and virulence regulations in Staphylococcus epidermidis. Here, we present structural insights into the DNA-binding mechanism of AbfR in different oxidation states by determining the X-ray crystal structures of a reduced-AbfR/DNA complex, an overoxidized (Cys13-SO₂H and Cys13-SO₃H) AbfR/DNA, and 2-disulfide cross-linked AbfR dimer. Together with biochemical analyses, our results suggest that the redox regulation of AbfR-sensing displays two novel features: (i) the reversible disulfide modification, but not the irreversible overoxidation, significantly abolishes the DNA-binding ability of the AbfR repressor; (ii) either 1-disulfide cross-linked or 2-disulfide cross-linked AbfR dimer is biologically significant. The overoxidized species of AbfR, resembling the reduced AbfR in conformation and retaining the DNA-binding ability, does not exist in biologically significant concentrations, however. The 1-disulfide cross-linked modification endows AbfR with significantly weakened capability for DNA-binding. The 2-disulfide cross-linked AbfR adopts a very "open" conformation that is incompatible with DNA-binding. Overall, the concise oxidation chemistry of the redox-active cysteine allows AbfR to sense and respond to oxidative stress correctly and efficiently.

Bile signalling promotes chronic respiratory infections and antibiotic tolerance

Despite aggressive antimicrobial therapy, many respiratory pathogens persist in the lung, underpinning the chronic inflammation and eventual lung decline that are characteristic of respiratory disease. Recently, bile acid aspiration has emerged as a major comorbidity associated with a range of lung diseases, shaping the lung microbiome and promoting colonisation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients. In order to uncover the molecular mechanism through which bile modulates the respiratory microbiome, a combination of global transcriptomic and phenotypic analyses of the P. aeruginosa response to bile was undertaken. Bile responsive pathways responsible for virulence, adaptive metabolism, and redox control were identified, with macrolide and polymyxin antibiotic tolerance increased significantly in the presence of bile. Bile acids, and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) in particular, elicited chronic biofilm behaviour in P. aeruginosa, while induction of the pro-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in lung epithelial cells by CDCA was Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) dependent. Microbiome analysis of paediatric CF sputum samples demonstrated increased colonisation by P. aeruginosa and other Proteobacterial pathogens in bile aspirating compared to non-aspirating patients. Together, these data suggest that bile acid signalling is a leading trigger for the development of chronic phenotypes underlying the pathophysiology of chronic respiratory disease.