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Nickerson CA, McLean RJC, Barrila J, Yang J, Thornhill SG, Banken LL, Porterfield DM, Poste G, Pellis NR, Ott CM. Microbiology of human spaceflight: microbial responses to mechanical forces that impact health and habitat sustainability. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0014423. [PMID: 39158275 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00144-23] [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] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYUnderstanding the dynamic adaptive plasticity of microorganisms has been advanced by studying their responses to extreme environments. Spaceflight research platforms provide a unique opportunity to study microbial characteristics in new extreme adaptational modes, including sustained exposure to reduced forces of gravity and associated low fluid shear force conditions. Under these conditions, unexpected microbial responses occur, including alterations in virulence, antibiotic and stress resistance, biofilm formation, metabolism, motility, and gene expression, which are not observed using conventional experimental approaches. Here, we review biological and physical mechanisms that regulate microbial responses to spaceflight and spaceflight analog environments from both the microbe and host-microbe perspective that are relevant to human health and habitat sustainability. We highlight instrumentation and technology used in spaceflight microbiology experiments, their limitations, and advances necessary to enable next-generation research. As spaceflight experiments are relatively rare, we discuss ground-based analogs that mimic aspects of microbial responses to reduced gravity in spaceflight, including those that reduce mechanical forces of fluid flow over cell surfaces which also simulate conditions encountered by microorganisms during their terrestrial lifecycles. As spaceflight mission durations increase with traditional astronauts and commercial space programs send civilian crews with underlying health conditions, microorganisms will continue to play increasingly critical roles in health and habitat sustainability, thus defining a new dimension of occupational health. The ability of microorganisms to adapt, survive, and evolve in the spaceflight environment is important for future human space endeavors and provides opportunities for innovative biological and technological advances to benefit life on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl A Nickerson
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Robert J C McLean
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
| | - Jennifer Barrila
- Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Jiseon Yang
- Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Laura L Banken
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - D Marshall Porterfield
- Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - George Poste
- Complex Adaptive Systems Initiative, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | | | - C Mark Ott
- Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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O'Hara MT, Shimozono TM, Dye KJ, Harris D, Yang Z. Surface hydrophilicity promotes bacterial twitching motility. mSphere 2024; 9:e0039024. [PMID: 39194233 PMCID: PMC11423576 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00390-24] [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: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Twitching motility is a form of bacterial surface translocation powered by the type IV pilus (T4P). It is frequently analyzed by interstitial colony expansion between agar and the polystyrene surfaces of petri dishes. In such assays, the twitching motility of Acinetobacter nosocomialis was observed with MacConkey but not Luria-Bertani (LB) agar media. One difference between these two media is the presence of bile salts as a selective agent in MacConkey but not in LB. Here, we demonstrate that the addition of bile salts to LB allowed A. nosocomialis to display twitching. Similarly, bile salts enhanced the twitching of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in LB. These observations suggest that there is a common mechanism, whereby bile salts enhance bacterial twitching and promote interstitial colony expansion. Bile salts disrupt lipid membranes and apply envelope stress as detergents. Surprisingly, their stimulatory effect on twitching appears not to be related to a bacterial physiological response to stressors. Rather, it is due to their ability to alter the physicochemical properties of a twitching surface. We observed that while other detergents promoted twitching like bile salts, stresses applied by antibiotics, including the outer membrane-targeting polymyxin B, did not enhance twitching motility. More importantly, bacteria displayed increased twitching on hydrophilic surfaces such as those of glass and tissue culture-treated polystyrene plastics, and bile salts no longer stimulated twitching on these surfaces. Together, our results show that altering the hydrophilicity of a twitching surface significantly impacts T4P functionality. IMPORTANCE The bacterial type IV pilus (T4P) is a critical virulence factor for many medically important pathogens, some of which are prioritized by the World Health Organization for their high levels of antibiotic resistance. The T4P is known to propel bacterial twitching motility, the analysis of which provides a convenient assay for T4P functionality. Here, we show that bile salts and other detergents augment the twitching of multiple bacterial pathogens. We identified the underlying mechanism as the alteration of surface hydrophilicity by detergents. Consequently, hydrophilic surfaces like those of glass or plasma-treated polystyrene promote bacterial twitching, bypassing the requirement for detergents. The implication is that surface properties, such as those of tissues and medical implants, significantly impact the functionality of bacterial T4P as a virulence determinant. This offers valuable insights for developing countermeasures against the colonization and infection by bacterial pathogens of critical importance to human health on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan T O'Hara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Tori M Shimozono
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Keane J Dye
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - David Harris
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Zhaomin Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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3
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Marogi JG, Murphy CT, Myhrvold C, Gitai Z. Pseudomonas aeruginosa modulates both Caenorhabditis elegans attraction and pathogenesis by regulating nitrogen assimilation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7927. [PMID: 39256376 PMCID: PMC11387622 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52227-3] [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: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Detecting chemical signals is important for identifying food sources and avoiding harmful agents. Like many animals, C. elegans use olfaction to chemotax towards their main food source, bacteria. However, little is known about the bacterial compounds governing C. elegans attraction to bacteria and the physiological importance of these compounds to bacteria. Here, we address these questions by investigating the function of a small RNA, P11, in the pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, that was previously shown to mediate learned pathogen avoidance. We discovered that this RNA also affects the attraction of untrained C. elegans to P. aeruginosa and does so by controlling production of ammonia, a volatile odorant produced during nitrogen assimilation. We describe the complex regulation of P. aeruginosa nitrogen assimilation, which is mediated by a partner-switching mechanism involving environmental nitrates, sensor proteins, and P11. In addition to mediating C. elegans attraction, we demonstrate that nitrogen assimilation mutants perturb bacterial fitness and pathogenesis during C. elegans infection by P. aeruginosa. These studies define ammonia as a major mediator of trans-kingdom signaling, implicate nitrogen assimilation as important for both bacteria and host organisms, and highlight how a bacterial metabolic pathway can either benefit or harm a host in different contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob G Marogi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Coleen T Murphy
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis Sigler Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Cameron Myhrvold
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Zemer Gitai
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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4
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Li M, Xiong L, Chen W, Li Y, Khan A, Powell CA, Chen B, Zhang M. VirB11, a traffic ATPase, mediated flagella assembly and type IV pilus morphogenesis to control the motility and virulence of Xanthomonas albilineans. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2024; 25:e70001. [PMID: 39223938 PMCID: PMC11369208 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.70001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Xanthomonas albilineans (Xal) is a gram-negative bacterial pathogen responsible for developing sugarcane leaf scald disease, which engenders significant economic losses within the sugarcane industry. In the current study, homologous recombination exchange was carried out to induce mutations within the virB/D4-like type IV secretion system (T4SS) genes of Xal. The results revealed that the virB11-deletion mutant (ΔvirB11) exhibited a loss in swimming and twitching motility. Application of transmission electron microscopy analysis further demonstrated that the ΔvirB11 failed to develop flagella formation and type IV pilus morphology and exhibited reduced swarming behaviour and virulence. However, these alterations had no discernible impact on bacterial growth. Comparative transcriptome analysis between the wild-type Xal JG43 and the deletion-mutant ΔvirB11 revealed 123 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 28 and 10 DEGs were notably associated with flagellar assembly and chemotaxis, respectively. In light of these findings, we postulate that virB11 plays an indispensable role in regulating the processes related to motility and chemotaxis in Xal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meilin Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Sugarcane Biology & State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization for Subtropical Agri‐Biological ResourcesGuangxi UniversityNanningGuangxiChina
| | - Liya Xiong
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Sugarcane Biology & State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization for Subtropical Agri‐Biological ResourcesGuangxi UniversityNanningGuangxiChina
| | - Wenhan Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Sugarcane Biology & State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization for Subtropical Agri‐Biological ResourcesGuangxi UniversityNanningGuangxiChina
| | - YiSha Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Sugarcane Biology & State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization for Subtropical Agri‐Biological ResourcesGuangxi UniversityNanningGuangxiChina
| | - Abdullah Khan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Sugarcane Biology & State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization for Subtropical Agri‐Biological ResourcesGuangxi UniversityNanningGuangxiChina
| | | | - Baoshan Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Sugarcane Biology & State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization for Subtropical Agri‐Biological ResourcesGuangxi UniversityNanningGuangxiChina
| | - Muqing Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Sugarcane Biology & State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization for Subtropical Agri‐Biological ResourcesGuangxi UniversityNanningGuangxiChina
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5
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Wheeler JHR, Foster KR, Durham WM. Individual bacterial cells can use spatial sensing of chemical gradients to direct chemotaxis on surfaces. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:2308-2322. [PMID: 39227714 PMCID: PMC11371657 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01729-3] [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: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Swimming bacteria navigate chemical gradients using temporal sensing to detect changes in concentration over time. Here we show that surface-attached bacteria use a fundamentally different mode of sensing during chemotaxis. We combined microfluidic experiments, massively parallel cell tracking and fluorescent reporters to study how Pseudomonas aeruginosa senses chemical gradients during pili-based 'twitching' chemotaxis on surfaces. Unlike swimming cells, we found that temporal changes in concentration did not induce motility changes in twitching cells. We then quantified the chemotactic behaviour of stationary cells by following changes in the sub-cellular localization of fluorescent proteins as cells are exposed to a gradient that alternates direction. These experiments revealed that P. aeruginosa cells can directly sense differences in concentration across the lengths of their bodies, even in the presence of strong temporal fluctuations. Our work thus overturns the widely held notion that bacterial cells are too small to directly sense chemical gradients in space.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H R Wheeler
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kevin R Foster
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - William M Durham
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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6
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Gonyar LA, Sauder AB, Mortensen L, Willsey GG, Kendall MM. The yad and yeh fimbrial loci influence gene expression and virulence in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7. mSphere 2024; 9:e0012424. [PMID: 38904402 PMCID: PMC11287998 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00124-24] [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: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Fimbriae are essential virulence factors for many bacterial pathogens. Fimbriae are extracellular structures that attach bacteria to surfaces. Thus, fimbriae mediate a critical step required for any pathogen to establish infection by anchoring a bacterium to host tissue. The human pathogen enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7encodes 16 fimbriae that may be important for EHEC to initiate infection and allow for productive expression of virulence traits important in later stages of infection, including a type III secretion system (T3SS) and Shiga toxin; however, the roles of most EHEC fimbriae are largely uncharacterized. Here, we provide evidence that two EHEC fimbriae, Yad and Yeh, modulate expression of diverse genes including genes encoding T3SS and Shiga toxin and that these fimbriae are required for robust colonization of the gastrointestinal tract. These findings reveal a significant and previously unappreciated role for fimbriae in bacterial pathogenesis as important determinants of virulence gene expression.IMPORTANCEFimbriae are extracellular proteinaceous structures whose defining role is to anchor bacteria to surfaces. This is a fundamental step for bacterial pathogens to establish infection in a host. Here, we show that the contributions of fimbriae to pathogenesis are more complex. Specifically, we demonstrate that fimbriae influence expression of virulence traits essential for disease progression in the intestinal pathogen enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria express multiple fimbriae; therefore, these findings may have broad implications for understanding how pathogens use fimbriae, beyond adhesion, to initiate infection and coordinate gene expression, which ultimately results in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. Gonyar
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Amber B. Sauder
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Lindsay Mortensen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Graham G. Willsey
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Melissa M. Kendall
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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7
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Liu S, Li Y, Xu H, Kearns DB, Wu Y. Active interface bulging in Bacillus subtilis swarms promotes self-assembly and biofilm formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2322025121. [PMID: 39052827 PMCID: PMC11295035 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322025121] [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: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbial communities such as biofilms are commonly found at interfaces. However, it is unclear how the physical environment of interfaces may contribute to the development and behavior of surface-associated microbial communities. Combining multimode imaging, single-cell tracking, and numerical simulations, here, we found that activity-induced interface bulging promotes colony biofilm formation in Bacillus subtilis swarms presumably via segregation and enrichment of sessile cells in the bulging area. Specifically, the diffusivity of passive particles is ~50% lower inside the bulging area than elsewhere, which enables a diffusion-trapping mechanism for self-assembly and may account for the enrichment of sessile cells. We also uncovered a quasilinear relation between cell speed and surface-packing density that underlies the process of active interface bulging. Guided by the speed-density relation, we demonstrated reversible formation of liquid bulges by manipulating the speed and local density of cells with light. Over the course of development, the active bulges turned into striped biofilm structures, which eventually give rise to a large-scale ridge pattern. Our findings reveal a unique physical mechanism of biofilm formation at air-solid interface, which is pertinent to engineering living materials and directed self-assembly in active fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Liu
- Department of Physics and Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ye Li
- Department of Physics and Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
- Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong518055, China
| | - Haoran Xu
- Department of Physics and Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Daniel B. Kearns
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN47405-7005
| | - Yilin Wu
- Department of Physics and Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
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8
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Geiger CJ, Wong GCL, O'Toole GA. A bacterial sense of touch: T4P retraction motor as a means of surface sensing by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0044223. [PMID: 38832786 PMCID: PMC11270903 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00442-23] [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] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Most microbial cells found in nature exist in matrix-covered, surface-attached communities known as biofilms. This mode of growth is initiated by the ability of the microbe to sense a surface on which to grow. The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) PA14 utilizes a single polar flagellum and type 4 pili (T4P) to sense surfaces. For Pa, T4P-dependent "twitching" motility is characterized by effectively pulling the cell across a surface through a complex process of cooperative binding, pulling, and unbinding. T4P retraction is powered by hexameric ATPases. Pa cells that have engaged a surface increase production of the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) over multiple generations via the Pil-Chp system. This rise in cAMP allows cells and their progeny to become better adapted for surface attachment and activates virulence pathways through the cAMP-binding transcription factor Vfr. While many studies have focused on mechanisms of T4P twitching and regulation of T4P production and function by the Pil-Chp system, the mechanism by which Pa senses and relays a surface-engagement signal to the cell is still an open question. Here we review the current state of the surface sensing literature for Pa, with a focus on T4P, and propose an integrated model of surface sensing whereby the retraction motor PilT senses and relays the signal to the Pil-Chp system via PilJ to drive cAMP production and adaptation to a surface lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. J. Geiger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - G. C. L. Wong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - G. A. O'Toole
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
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9
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Swart AL, Laventie BJ, Sütterlin R, Junne T, Lauer L, Manfredi P, Jakonia S, Yu X, Karagkiozi E, Okujava R, Jenal U. Pseudomonas aeruginosa breaches respiratory epithelia through goblet cell invasion in a microtissue model. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:1725-1737. [PMID: 38858595 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01718-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a leading cause of severe hospital-acquired pneumonia, causes infections with up to 50% mortality rates in mechanically ventilated patients. Despite some knowledge of virulence factors involved, it remains unclear how P. aeruginosa disseminates on mucosal surfaces and invades the tissue barrier. Using infection of human respiratory epithelium organoids, here we observed that P. aeruginosa colonization of apical surfaces is promoted by cyclic di-GMP-dependent asymmetric division. Infection with mutant strains revealed that Type 6 Secretion System activities promote preferential invasion of goblet cells. Type 3 Secretion System activity by intracellular bacteria induced goblet cell death and expulsion, leading to epithelial rupture which increased bacterial translocation and dissemination to the basolateral epithelium. These findings show that under physiological conditions, P. aeruginosa uses coordinated activity of a specific combination of virulence factors and behaviours to invade goblet cells and breach the epithelial barrier from within, revealing mechanistic insight into lung infection dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tina Junne
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Luisa Lauer
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Xiao Yu
- Cardiovascular, Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology (CMI2O), Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Evdoxia Karagkiozi
- Cardiovascular, Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology (CMI2O), Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rusudan Okujava
- Cardiovascular, Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology (CMI2O), Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Urs Jenal
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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10
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Beaussart A, Paiva TO, Geiger CJ, Baker AE, O'Toole GA, Dufrêne YF. Atomic force microscopy analysis of Pel polysaccharide- and type IV pili-mediated adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 to an abiotic surface. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:12134-12141. [PMID: 38832761 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr01415d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Type IV pili (TFP) contribute to the ability of microbes such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa to engage with and move across surfaces. We reported previously that P. aeruginosa TFP generate retractive forces of ∼30 pN and provided indirect evidence that TFP-mediated surface attachment was enhanced in the presence of the Pel polysaccharide. Here, we use different mutants defective in flagellar, Pel production or TFP production - alone or in combination - to decipher the relative contribution of these biofilm-promoting factors for P. aeruginosa adhesion. By means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), we show that mutating the flagellum (ΔflgK mutant) results in an increase in Pel polysaccharide production, but this increase in Pel does not result in an increase in surface adhesive properties compared to those previously described for the WT strain. By blocking Pel production in the ΔflgK mutant (ΔflgKΔpel), we directly show that TFP play a major role in the adhesion of the bacteria to hydrophobic AFM tips, but that the adhesion force is only slightly impaired by the absence of Pel. Inversely, performing single-cell force spectroscopy measurements with the mutant lacking TFP (ΔflgKΔpilA) reveals that the Pel can modulate the attachment of the bacteria to a hydrophobic substrate in a time-dependent manner. Finally, little adhesion was detected for the ΔflgKΔpilAΔpelA triple mutant, suggesting that both TFP and Pel polysaccharide make a substantial contribution to bacteria-substratum interaction events. Altogether, our data allow us to decipher the relative contribution of Pel and TFP in the early attachment by P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Beaussart
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, L7.07.07, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
| | - Telmo O Paiva
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, L7.07.07, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
| | - Christopher J Geiger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, USA.
| | - Amy E Baker
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, USA.
| | - George A O'Toole
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, USA.
| | - Yves F Dufrêne
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, L7.07.07, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
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11
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Jackson M, Vineberg S, Theis KR. The Epistemology of Bacterial Virulence Factor Characterization. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1272. [PMID: 39065041 PMCID: PMC11278562 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12071272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The field of microbial pathogenesis seeks to identify the agents and mechanisms responsible for disease causation. Since Robert Koch introduced postulates that were used to guide the characterization of microbial pathogens, technological advances have substantially increased the capacity to rapidly identify a causative infectious agent. Research efforts currently focus on causation at the molecular level with a search for virulence factors (VFs) that contribute to different stages of the infectious process. We note that the quest to identify and characterize VFs sometimes lacks scientific rigor, and this suggests a need to examine the epistemology of VF characterization. We took this premise as an opportunity to explore the epistemology of VF characterization. In this perspective, we discuss how the characterization of various gene products that evolved to facilitate bacterial survival in the broader environment have potentially been prematurely mischaracterized as VFs that contribute to pathogenesis in the context of human biology. Examples of the reasoning that can affect misinterpretation, or at least a premature assignment of mechanistic causation, are provided. Our aim is to refine the categorization of VFs by emphasizing a broader biological view of their origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Jackson
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Susan Vineberg
- Department of Philosophy, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA;
| | - Kevin R. Theis
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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12
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Rashtchi P, Sudmalis D, van der Linden E, Abee T, Habibi M. Colonization and spreading dynamics of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum spoilage isolates on wet surfaces. Microbiol Res 2024; 283:127674. [PMID: 38461572 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127674] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The role of lactic acid bacteria, including Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, in food spoilage is well recognized, while the behavior of these non-motile bacteria on wet surfaces, such as those encountered in food processing environments has gained relatively little attention. Here, we observed a fast colony spreading of non-motile L. plantarum spoilage isolates on wet surfaces via passive sliding using solid BHI agar media as a model. We investigated the effect of physical properties of agar hydrogel substrate on the surface spreading of six L. plantarum food isolates FBR1-6 and a model strain WCFS1, using increasing concentrations of agar from 0.25 up to 1.5% (w/v). Our results revealed that L. plantarum strain FBR2 spreads significantly on low agar concentration plates compared to the other strains studied here (with a factor of 50-60 folds higher surface coverage), due to the formation of very soft biofilms with high water content that can float on the surface. The fast-spreading of FBR2 colonies is accompanied by an increased number of cells, elongated cell morphology, and a higher amount of extracellular components. Our finding highlights colonization dynamics and the spreading capacity of non-motile bacteria on surfaces that are relatively wet, thereby revealing an additional hitherto unnoticed parameter for non-motile bacteria that may contribute to contamination of foods by fast surface spreading of these bacteria in food processing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Rashtchi
- Physics and Physical Chemistry of Foods, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708WG, the Netherlands; Food Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708WG, the Netherlands
| | - D Sudmalis
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708WG, the Netherlands
| | - E van der Linden
- Physics and Physical Chemistry of Foods, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708WG, the Netherlands
| | - T Abee
- Food Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708WG, the Netherlands
| | - Mehdi Habibi
- Physics and Physical Chemistry of Foods, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708WG, the Netherlands.
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13
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Shuppara AM, Padron GC, Sharma A, Modi Z, Koch MD, Sanfilippo JE. Fluid flow overcomes antimicrobial resistance by boosting delivery. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.08.591722. [PMID: 38766052 PMCID: PMC11100760 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.08.591722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging global threat to humanity. As resistance outpaces development, new perspectives are required. For decades, scientists have prioritized chemical optimization, while largely ignoring the physical process of delivery. Here, we used biophysical simulations and microfluidic experiments to explore how fluid flow delivers antimicrobials into communities of the highly resistant pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa . We discover that increasing flow overcomes bacterial resistance towards three chemically distinct antimicrobials: hydrogen peroxide, gentamicin, and carbenicillin. Without flow, resistant P. aeruginosa cells generate local zones of depletion by neutralizing all three antimicrobials through degradation or chemical modification. As flow increases, delivery overwhelms neutralization, allowing antimicrobials to regain effectiveness against resistant bacteria. Additionally, we discover that cells on the edge of a community shield internal cells, and cell-cell shielding is abolished in higher flow regimes. Collectively, our quantitative experiments reveal the unexpected result that physical flow and chemical dosage are equally important to antimicrobial effectiveness. Thus, our results should inspire the incorporation of flow into the discovery, development, and implementation of antimicrobials, and could represent a new strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance.
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14
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Chakkour M, Hammoud Z, Farhat S, El Roz A, Ezzeddine Z, Ghssein G. Overview of Proteus mirabilis pathogenicity and virulence. Insights into the role of metals. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1383618. [PMID: 38646633 PMCID: PMC11026637 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1383618] [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: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Proteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative bacterium with exclusive molecular and biological features. It is a versatile pathogen acclaimed for its distinct urease production, swarming behavior, and rapid multicellular activity. Clinically, P. mirabilis is a frequent pathogen of the human urinary system where it causes urinary tract infections (UTIs) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). This review explores the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and treatment of P. mirabilis infections, emphasizing its association with UTIs. The bacterium's genome analysis revealed the presence of resistance genes against commonly used antibiotics, an antibiotic-resistant phenotype that poses a serious clinical challenge. Particularly, the emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemases resistant P. mirabilis strains. On a molecular level, P. mirabilis possesses a wide array of virulence factors including the production of fimbriae, urease, hemolysins, metallophores, and biofilm formation. This review thoroughly tackles a substantial gap in understanding the role of metallophores in shaping the virulence factors of P. mirabilis virulence. Siderophores, iron metal chelating and transporting metallophores, particularly contribute to the complex pathogenic strategies, displaying a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Chakkour
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Zeinab Hammoud
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Solay Farhat
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ali El Roz
- Laboratory Sciences Department, Faculty of Public Health, Islamic University of Lebanon (IUL), Khalde, Lebanon
| | - Zeinab Ezzeddine
- Laboratory Sciences Department, Faculty of Public Health, Islamic University of Lebanon (IUL), Khalde, Lebanon
| | - Ghassan Ghssein
- Laboratory Sciences Department, Faculty of Public Health, Islamic University of Lebanon (IUL), Khalde, Lebanon
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15
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Verma RK, Gondu P, Saha T, Chatterjee S. The Global Transcription Regulator XooClp Governs Type IV Pili System-Mediated Bacterial Virulence by Directly Binding to TFP-Chp Promoters to Coordinate Virulence Associated Functions. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2024; 37:357-369. [PMID: 38105438 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-07-23-0100-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Type IV pili (TFP) play a crucial role in the sensing of the external environment for several bacteria. This surface sensing is essential for the lifestyle transitions of several bacteria and involvement in pathogenesis. However, the precise mechanisms underlying TFP's integration of environmental cues, particularly in regulating the TFP-Chp system and its effects on Xanthomonas physiology, social behavior, and virulence, remain poorly understood. In this study, we focused on investigating Clp, a global transcriptional regulator similar to CRP-like proteins, in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, a plant pathogen. Our findings reveal that Clp integrates environmental cues detected through diffusible signaling factor (DSF) quorum sensing into the TFP-Chp regulatory system. It accomplishes this by directly binding to TFP-Chp promoters in conjunction with intracellular levels of cyclic-di-GMP, a ubiquitous bacterial second messenger, thereby controlling TFP expression. Moreover, Clp-mediated regulation is involved in regulating several cellular processes, including the production of virulence-associated functions. Collectively, these processes contribute to host colonization and disease initiation. Our study elucidates the intricate regulatory network encompassing Clp, environmental cues, and the TFP-Chp system, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms that drive bacterial virulence in Xanthomonas spp. These findings offer valuable knowledge regarding Xanthomonas pathogenicity and present new avenues for innovative strategies aimed at combating plant diseases caused by these bacteria. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kumar Verma
- Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Uppal, Hyderabad 500039, India
| | - Parimala Gondu
- Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Uppal, Hyderabad 500039, India
| | - Tirthankar Saha
- Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Uppal, Hyderabad 500039, India
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16
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Alseth EO, Custodio R, Sundius SA, Kuske RA, Brown SP, Westra ER. The impact of phage and phage resistance on microbial community dynamics. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002346. [PMID: 38648198 PMCID: PMC11034675 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002346] [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: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Where there are bacteria, there will be bacteriophages. These viruses are known to be important players in shaping the wider microbial community in which they are embedded, with potential implications for human health. On the other hand, bacteria possess a range of distinct immune mechanisms that provide protection against bacteriophages, including the mutation or complete loss of the phage receptor, and CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity. While our previous work showed how a microbial community may impact phage resistance evolution, little is known about the inverse, namely how interactions between phages and these different phage resistance mechanisms affect the wider microbial community in which they are embedded. Here, we conducted a 10-day, fully factorial evolution experiment to examine how phage impact the structure and dynamics of an artificial four-species bacterial community that includes either Pseudomonas aeruginosa wild-type or an isogenic mutant unable to evolve phage resistance through CRISPR-Cas. Additionally, we used mathematical modelling to explore the ecological interactions underlying full community behaviour, as well as to identify general principles governing the impacts of phage on community dynamics. Our results show that the microbial community structure is drastically altered by the addition of phage, with Acinetobacter baumannii becoming the dominant species and P. aeruginosa being driven nearly extinct, whereas P. aeruginosa outcompetes the other species in the absence of phage. Moreover, we find that a P. aeruginosa strain with the ability to evolve CRISPR-based resistance generally does better when in the presence of A. baumannii, but that this benefit is largely lost over time as phage is driven extinct. Finally, we show that pairwise data alone is insufficient when modelling our microbial community, both with and without phage, highlighting the importance of higher order interactions in governing multispecies dynamics in complex communities. Combined, our data clearly illustrate how phage targeting a dominant species allows for the competitive release of the strongest competitor while also contributing to community diversity maintenance and potentially preventing the reinvasion of the target species, and underline the importance of mapping community composition before therapeutically applying phage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellinor O. Alseth
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Rafael Custodio
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah A. Sundius
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- School of Math, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Program in Quantitative Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Rachel A. Kuske
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- School of Math, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Sam P. Brown
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Edze R. Westra
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
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17
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Sankari S, Lovelace AH. Deciphering Molecular Orchestrations: XooClp Integrates Environmental Sensing and Virulence Regulation in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2024; 37:355-356. [PMID: 38691773 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-03-24-0023-cm] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Siva Sankari
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, U.S.A
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18
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Qiu X, Wang B, Ren S, Liu X, Wang Y. Regulation of quorum sensing for the manipulation of conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment system. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 253:121222. [PMID: 38335841 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The emergence and transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through plasmid-mediated conjugation has become a significant worldwide public health threat. Biofilms are widely recognized as the primary reservoirs for ARGs, providing favorable conditions for horizontal gene transfer. Quorum sensing (QS) plays a critical role in bacterial biofilm formation, which further influences the spread of bacterial resistance. In this study, we examined the effects of vanillin, a QS inhibitor (QSI), at subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) ranging from 0 - 0.1 g/L, on the transfer of ARGs between Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Our findings indicated that vanillin at sub-MICs inhibited the conjugative transfer frequency of the RP4 plasmid. This inhibition was supported by the downregulation of plasmid transfer genes. The suppression of conjugation can mainly be attributed to the inhibition of biofilm formation, the synthesis of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and the secretion of virulence factors, all of which are regulated by the bacterial QS system. On the other hand, the levels of ROS and cell membrane permeability were not primary explanations for this phenomenon. Furthermore, vanillin also reduced the conjugative transfer frequency of ARGs in wastewater effluent, providing a potential approach to alleviate bacterial resistance in water environments. These findings underscore the regulatory role of QSI in controlling ARGs transfer and have significant implications for manipulating the dissemination of bacterial resistance in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Qiu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Bingjie Wang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Shaojie Ren
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yunkun Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
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19
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Patino R, Kühn MJ, Macmillan H, Inclan YF, Chavez I, Von Dollen J, Johnson JR, Swaney DL, Krogan NJ, Persat A, Engel JN. Spatial control of sensory adaptation modulates mechanosensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.27.582188. [PMID: 38464290 PMCID: PMC10925122 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.27.582188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Sensory signaling pathways use adaptation to dynamically respond to changes in their environment. Here, we report the mechanism of sensory adaptation in the Pil-Chp mechanosensory system, which the important human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses to sense mechanical stimuli during surface exploration. Using biochemistry, genetics, and cell biology, we discovered that the enzymes responsible for adaptation, a methyltransferase and a methylesterase, are segregated to opposing cell poles as P. aeruginosa explore surfaces. By coordinating the localization of both enzymes, we found that the Pil-Chp response regulators influence local receptor methylation, the molecular basis of bacterial sensory adaptation. We propose a model in which adaptation during mechanosensing spatially resets local receptor methylation, and thus Pil-Chp signaling, to modulate the pathway outputs, which are involved in P. aeruginosa virulence. Despite decades of bacterial sensory adaptation studies, our work has uncovered an unrecognized mechanism that bacteria use to achieve adaptation to sensory stimuli.
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20
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Yarrington KD, Shendruk TN, Limoli DH. The type IV pilus chemoreceptor PilJ controls chemotaxis of one bacterial species towards another. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002488. [PMID: 38349934 PMCID: PMC10896506 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002488] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria live in social communities, where the ability to sense and respond to interspecies and environmental signals is critical for survival. We previously showed the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa detects secreted peptides from bacterial competitors and navigates through interspecies signal gradients using pilus-based motility. Yet, it was unknown whether P. aeruginosa utilizes a designated chemosensory system for this behavior. Here, we performed a systematic genetic analysis of a putative pilus chemosensory system, followed by high-speed live-imaging and single-cell tracking, to reveal behaviors of mutants that retain motility but are blind to interspecies signals. The enzymes predicted to methylate (PilK) and demethylate (ChpB) the putative pilus chemoreceptor, PilJ, are necessary for cells to control the direction of migration. While these findings implicate PilJ as a bona fide chemoreceptor, such function had yet to be experimentally defined, as full-length PilJ is essential for motility. Thus, we constructed systematic genetic modifications of PilJ and found that without the predicted ligand binding domains or predicted methylation sites, cells lose the ability to detect competitor gradients, despite retaining pilus-mediated motility. Chemotaxis trajectory analysis revealed that increased probability and size of P. aeruginosa pilus-mediated steps towards S. aureus peptides, versus steps away, determines motility bias in wild type cells. However, PilJ mutants blind to interspecies signals take less frequent steps towards S. aureus or steps of equal size towards and away. Collectively, this work uncovers the chemosensory nature of PilJ, provides insight into how cell movements are biased during pilus-based chemotaxis, and identifies chemotactic interactions necessary for bacterial survival in polymicrobial communities, revealing putative pathways where therapeutic intervention might disrupt bacterial communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin D. Yarrington
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Tyler N. Shendruk
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Dominique H. Limoli
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
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21
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Little JI, Singh PK, Zhao J, Dunn S, Matz H, Donnenberg MS. Type IV pili of Enterobacteriaceae species. EcoSal Plus 2024:eesp00032023. [PMID: 38294234 DOI: 10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0003-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Type IV pili (T4Ps) are surface filaments widely distributed among bacteria and archaea. T4Ps are involved in many cellular functions and contribute to virulence in some species of bacteria. Due to the diversity of T4Ps, different properties have been observed for homologous proteins that make up T4Ps in various organisms. In this review, we highlight the essential components of T4Ps, their functions, and similarities to related systems. We emphasize the unique T4Ps of enteric pathogens within the Enterobacteriaceae family, which includes pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella. These include the bundle-forming pilus (BFP) of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), longus (Lng) and colonization factor III (CFA/III) of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), T4P of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, Colonization Factor Citrobacter (CFC) of Citrobacter rodentium, T4P of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, a ubiquitous T4P that was characterized in enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), and the R64 plasmid thin pilus. Finally, we highlight areas for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janay I Little
- School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Pradip K Singh
- School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jinlei Zhao
- School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Shakeera Dunn
- Internal Medicine Residency, Bayhealth Medical Center, Dover, Delaware, USA
| | - Hanover Matz
- Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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22
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Rhodes KA, Rendón MA, Ma MC, Agellon A, Johnson AC, So M. Type IV pilus retraction is required for Neisseria musculi colonization and persistence in a natural mouse model of infection. mBio 2024; 15:e0279223. [PMID: 38084997 PMCID: PMC10790696 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02792-23] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE We describe the importance of Type IV pilus retraction to colonization and persistence by a mouse commensal Neisseria, N. musculi, in its native host. Our findings have implications for the role of Tfp retraction in mediating interactions of human-adapted pathogenic and commensal Neisseria with their human host due to the relatedness of these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Rhodes
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - María A. Rendón
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Man Cheong Ma
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Al Agellon
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Andrew C.E. Johnson
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Magdalene So
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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23
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Ruhluel D, Fisher L, Barton TE, Leighton H, Kumar S, Amores Morillo P, O’Brien S, Fothergill JL, Neill DR. Secondary messenger signalling influences Pseudomonas aeruginosa adaptation to sinus and lung environments. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae065. [PMID: 38647527 PMCID: PMC11102083 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a cause of chronic respiratory tract infections in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), non-CF bronchiectasis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Prolonged infection allows the accumulation of mutations and horizontal gene transfer, increasing the likelihood of adaptive phenotypic traits. Adaptation is proposed to arise first in bacterial populations colonizing upper airway environments. Here, we model this process using an experimental evolution approach. Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, which is not airway adapted, was serially passaged, separately, in media chemically reflective of upper or lower airway environments. To explore whether the CF environment selects for unique traits, we separately passaged PAO1 in airway-mimicking media with or without CF-specific factors. Our findings demonstrated that all airway environments-sinus and lungs, under CF and non-CF conditions-selected for loss of twitching motility, increased resistance to multiple antibiotic classes, and a hyper-biofilm phenotype. These traits conferred increased airway colonization potential in an in vivo model. CF-like conditions exerted stronger selective pressures, leading to emergence of more pronounced phenotypes. Loss of twitching was associated with mutations in type IV pili genes. Type IV pili mediate surface attachment, twitching, and induction of cAMP signalling. We additionally identified multiple evolutionary routes to increased biofilm formation involving regulation of cyclic-di-GMP signalling. These included the loss of function mutations in bifA and dipA phosphodiesterase genes and activating mutations in the siaA phosphatase. These data highlight that airway environments select for traits associated with sessile lifestyles and suggest upper airway niches support emergence of phenotypes that promote establishment of lung infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilem Ruhluel
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Ronald Ross Building, 8 West Derby Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lewis Fisher
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas E Barton
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Hollie Leighton
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Ronald Ross Building, 8 West Derby Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sumit Kumar
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Paula Amores Morillo
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Ronald Ross Building, 8 West Derby Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Siobhan O’Brien
- Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, 2, Ireland
| | - Joanne L Fothergill
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Ronald Ross Building, 8 West Derby Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel R Neill
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, United Kingdom
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24
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Parmar S, Gajera G, Thakkar N, Palep HS, Kothari V. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying anti-pathogenic potential of a polyherbal formulation Enteropan® against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Drug Target Insights 2024; 18:54-69. [PMID: 39224464 PMCID: PMC11367655 DOI: 10.33393/dti.2024.3082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Anti-pathogenic potential of a polyherbal formulation Enteropan® was investigated against a multidrug-resistant strain of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods Growth, pigment production, antibiotic susceptibility, etc., were assessed through appropriate in vitro assays. Virulence of the test pathogen was assessed employing the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans as a model host. Molecular mechanisms underlining the anti-pathogenic activity of the test formulation were elucidated through whole transcriptome analysis of the extract-exposed bacterial culture. Results Enteropan-pre-exposed P. aeruginosa displayed reduced (~70%↓) virulence towards the model host C. elegans. Enteropan affected various traits like biofilm formation, protein synthesis and secretion, quorum-modulated pigment production, antibiotic susceptibility, nitrogen metabolism, etc., in this pathogen. P. aeruginosa could not develop complete resistance to the virulence-attenuating activity of Enteropan even after repeated exposure to this polyherbal formulation. Whole transcriptome analysis showed 17% of P. aeruginosa genome to get differentially expressed under influence of Enteropan. Major mechanisms through which Enteropan exerted its anti-virulence activity were found to be generation of nitrosative stress, oxidative stress, envelop stress, quorum modulation, disturbance of protein homeostasis and metal homeostasis. Network analysis of the differently expressed genes resulted in identification of 10 proteins with high network centrality as potential targets from among the downregulated genes. Differential expression of genes coding for five (rpoA, tig, rpsB, rpsL, and rpsJ) of these targets was validated through real-time polymerase chain reaction too, and they can further be pursued as potential targets by various drug discovery programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sweety Parmar
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad - India
| | - Gemini Gajera
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad - India
| | - Nidhi Thakkar
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad - India
| | | | - Vijay Kothari
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad - India
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25
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Marra D, Karapantsios T, Caserta S, Secchi E, Holynska M, Labarthe S, Polizzi B, Ortega S, Kostoglou M, Lasseur C, Karapanagiotis I, Lecuyer S, Bridier A, Noirot-Gros MF, Briandet R. Migration of surface-associated microbial communities in spaceflight habitats. Biofilm 2023; 5:100109. [PMID: 36909662 PMCID: PMC9999172 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Astronauts are spending longer periods locked up in ships or stations for scientific and exploration spatial missions. The International Space Station (ISS) has been inhabited continuously for more than 20 years and the duration of space stays by crews could lengthen with the objectives of human presence on the moon and Mars. If the environment of these space habitats is designed for the comfort of astronauts, it is also conducive to other forms of life such as embarked microorganisms. The latter, most often associated with surfaces in the form of biofilm, have been implicated in significant degradation of the functionality of pieces of equipment in space habitats. The most recent research suggests that microgravity could increase the persistence, resistance and virulence of pathogenic microorganisms detected in these communities, endangering the health of astronauts and potentially jeopardizing long-duration manned missions. In this review, we describe the mechanisms and dynamics of installation and propagation of these microbial communities associated with surfaces (spatial migration), as well as long-term processes of adaptation and evolution in these extreme environments (phenotypic and genetic migration), with special reference to human health. We also discuss the means of control envisaged to allow a lasting cohabitation between these vibrant microscopic passengers and the astronauts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Marra
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering (DICMaPi), University of Naples, Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE, Advanced Biotechnologies, Via Gaetano Salvatore, 486, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - Thodoris Karapantsios
- Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sergio Caserta
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering (DICMaPi), University of Naples, Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE, Advanced Biotechnologies, Via Gaetano Salvatore, 486, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - Eleonora Secchi
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Simon Labarthe
- University of Bordeaux, IMB, UMR 5251, CNRS, IMB, Memphis Team, INRIA, Talence, France
| | - Bastien Polizzi
- Laboratoire de Mathématiques de Besançon, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, CNRS UMR-6623, Besançon, France
| | | | - Margaritis Kostoglou
- Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Ioannis Karapanagiotis
- Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Arnaud Bridier
- Fougères Laboratory, Antibiotics, Biocides, Residues and Resistance Unit, ANSES, Fougères, France
| | | | - Romain Briandet
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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Marogi JG, Murphy CT, Myhrvold C, Gitai Z. P. aeruginosa controls both C. elegans attraction and pathogenesis by regulating nitrogen assimilation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.29.569279. [PMID: 38077073 PMCID: PMC10705433 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.29.569279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2024]
Abstract
Detecting chemical signals is important for identifying food sources and avoiding harmful agents. Like most animals, C. elegans use olfaction to chemotax towards their main food source, bacteria. However, little is known about the bacterial compounds governing C. elegans attraction to bacteria and the physiological importance of these compounds to bacteria. Here, we address these questions by investigating the function of a small RNA, P11, in the pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, that was previously shown to mediate learned pathogen avoidance. We discovered that this RNA also affects the attraction of untrained C. elegans to P. aeruginosa and does so by controlling production of ammonia, a volatile odorant produced during nitrogen assimilation. We untangle the complex regulation of P. aeruginosa nitrogen assimilation, which is mediated by a partner-switching mechanism involving environmental nitrates, sensor proteins, and P11. In addition to mediating C. elegans attraction, nitrogen assimilation is important for bacterial fitness and pathogenesis during C. elegans infection by P. aeruginosa . These studies define ammonia as a major mediator of trans-kingdom signaling, reveal the physiological importance of nitrogen assimilation for both bacteria and host organisms, and highlight how a bacterial metabolic pathway can either benefit or harm a host in different contexts.
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de Oliveira Pereira T, Groleau MC, Déziel E. Surface growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa reveals a regulatory effect of 3-oxo-C 12-homoserine lactone in the absence of its cognate receptor, LasR. mBio 2023; 14:e0092223. [PMID: 37732738 PMCID: PMC10653899 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00922-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonizes and thrives in many environments, in which it is typically found in surface-associated polymicrobial communities known as biofilms. Adaptation to this social behavior is aided by quorum sensing (QS), an intercellular communication system pivotal in the expression of social traits. Regardless of its importance in QS regulation, the loss of function of the master regulator LasR is now considered a conserved adaptation of P. aeruginosa, irrespective of the origin of the strains. By investigating the QS circuitry in surface-grown cells, we found an accumulation of QS signal 3-oxo-C12-HSL in the absence of its cognate receptor and activator, LasR. The current understanding of the QS circuit, mostly based on planktonic growing cells, is challenged by investigating the QS circuitry of surface-grown cells. This provides a new perspective on the beneficial aspects that underline the frequency of LasR-deficient isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thays de Oliveira Pereira
- Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Marie-Christine Groleau
- Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Eric Déziel
- Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval, Québec, Canada
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28
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Mi Y, He Y, Mi J, Huang Y, Fan H, Song L, An X, Xu S, Li M, Tong Y. Genetic and Phenotypic Analysis of Phage-Resistant Mutant Fitness Triggered by Phage-Host Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15594. [PMID: 37958578 PMCID: PMC10648725 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115594] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of phage-resistant bacterial strains is one of the biggest challenges for phage therapy. However, the emerging phage-resistant bacteria are often accompanied by adaptive trade-offs, which supports a therapeutic strategy called "phage steering". The key to phage steering is to guide the bacterial population toward an evolutionary direction that is favorable for treatment. Thus, it is important to systematically investigate the impacts of phages targeting different bacterial receptors on the fitness of the bacterial population. Herein, we employed 20 different phages to impose strong evolutionary pressure on the host Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and examined the genetic and phenotypic responses of their phage-resistant mutants. Among these strains with impaired adsorptions, four types of mutations associated with bacterial receptors were identified, namely, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), type IV pili (T4Ps), outer membrane proteins (OMPs), and exopolysaccharides (EPSs). PAO1, responding to LPS- and EPS-dependent phage infections, mostly showed significant growth impairment and virulence attenuation. Most mutants with T4P-related mutations exhibited a significant decrease in motility and biofilm formation ability, while the mutants with OMP-related mutations required the lowest fitness cost out of the bacterial populations. Apart from fitness costs, PAO1 strains might lose their resistance to antibiotics when counteracting with phages, such as the presence of large-fragment mutants in this study, which may inspire the usage of phage-antibiotic combination strategies. This work provides methods that leverage the merits of phage resistance relative to obtaining therapeutically beneficial outcomes with respect to phage-steering strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanze Mi
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Yile He
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Jinhui Mi
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Yunfei Huang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Huahao Fan
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Lihua Song
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Xiaoping An
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Shan Xu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Mengzhe Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Yigang Tong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering (BAIC-SM), Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
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29
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Zou H, Li Q, Su Y, Zhang L, Zhang X, Li C. Persistent ciprofloxacin exposure induced the transformation of Klebsiella pneumoniae small colony variant into mucous phenotype. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1259296. [PMID: 37928182 PMCID: PMC10625421 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1259296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Small colony variant (SCV) is a bacterial phenotype closely related to persistent and recurrent infections. SCVs are mutations that occur within bacterial populations, resulting in a change in bacterial morphology and the formation of small colonies. This morphological change may enhance bacterial resistance to antibiotics and contribute to persistent and recurrent infections. Methods We isolated Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPN) and its SCV from a child with recurrent respiratory tract infections. KPN and SCV were treated with subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics. growth curves, serum resistance experiments, macrophage phagocytosis experiments and whole genome sequencing were used to characterize KPN and SCV. Results After treating KPN and SCV with subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics, we found that ciprofloxacin induced the SCV transition to the mucoid phenotype. We found that the growth of mucoid Klebsiella pneumoniae was significantly slower than maternal strain and SCV though growth curves. Serum resistance experiments showed that mucoid strains had significantly higher serum resistance compared to maternal strain and SCV. Macrophage phagocytosis experiments revealed that SCV had significantly higher intracellular survival rates compared to maternal strain and mucoid strains. Differential gene analysis of three strains revealed that the mucoid strain contained DNA polymerase V subunit UmuC gene on the plasmid, while the SCV strain had an additional IcmK family IV secretion protein on its plasmid. Discussion Our study showed the SCV of KPN changed to a mucoid colony when exposed to subinhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin. The higher resistance of serum of mucoid colonies was possibly related to the UmuC gene, while the increased intracellular survival of SCV may be related to the IcmK family type IV secretion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Chunli Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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30
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Zhang Z, Liu Y, Zhao W, Ji M. Radiation impacts gene redundancy and biofilm regulation of cryoconite microbiomes in Northern Hemisphere glaciers. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:228. [PMID: 37848997 PMCID: PMC10583317 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01621-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glaciers harbor diverse microorganisms adapted to extreme conditions with high radiation, fluctuating temperature, and low nutrient availability. In glacial ecosystems, cryoconite granules are hotspots of microbial metabolic activity and could influences the biogeochemical cycle on glacier surface. Climate change could influence glacier dynamics by changing regional meteorological factors (e.g., radiation, precipitation, temperature, wind, and evaporation). Moreover, meteorological factors not only influence glacier dynamics but also directly or indirectly influence cryoconite microbiomes. However, the relationship of the meteorological factors and cryoconite microbiome are poorly understood. RESULTS Here, we collected 88 metagenomes from 26 glaciers distributed in the Northern Hemisphere with corresponding public meteorological data to reveal the relationship between meteorological factors and variation of cryoconite microbiome. Our results showed significant differences in taxonomic and genomic characteristics between cryoconite generalists and specialists. Additionally, we found that the biogeography of both generalists and specialists was influenced by solar radiation. Specialists with smaller genome size and lower gene redundancy were more abundant under high radiation stress, implying that streamlined genomes are more adapted to high radiation conditions. Network analysis revealed that biofilm regulation is a ubiquitous function in response to radiation stress, and hub genes were associated with the formation and dispersion of biofilms. CONCLUSION These findings enhance our understanding of glacier cryoconite microbiome variation on a hemispheric scale and indicate the response mechanisms to radiation stress, which will support forecasts of the ecological consequences of future climate change. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yongqin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Center for Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Weishu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- SJTU Yazhou Bay Institute of Deepsea Sci-Tech, Yongyou Industrial Park, Sanya, 572024, China
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Mukan Ji
- Center for Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
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31
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Zhao NL, Zhu ZQ, Feng HZ, Song YJ, Huang Q, Mou XY, Nong C, He YX, Bao R. Host-derived peptide signals regulate Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence stress via the ParRS and CprRS two-component systems. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 460:132512. [PMID: 37703740 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a versatile bacterium, has dual significance because of its beneficial roles in environmental soil processes and its detrimental effects as a nosocomial pathogen that causes clinical infections. Understanding adaptability to environmental stress is essential. This investigation delves into the complex interplay of two-component system (TCS), specifically ParRS and CprRS, as P. aeruginosa interprets host signals and navigates stress challenges. In this study, through phenotypic and proteomic analyses, the nuanced contributions of ParRS and CprRS to the pathogenesis and resilience mechanisms were elucidated. Furthermore, the indispensable roles of the ParS and CprS extracellular sensor domains in orchestrating signal perception remain unknown. Structural revelations imply a remarkable convergence of TCS sensors in interacting with host peptides, suggesting evolutionary strategies for bacterial adaptation. This pioneering work not only established links between cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) resistance-associated TCSs and virulence modulation in nosocomial bacteria, but also transcended conventional boundaries. These implications extend beyond clinical resistance, permeating into the realm of soil revitalization and environmental guardianship. As it unveils P. aeruginosa intricacies, this study assumes a mantle of guiding strategies to mitigate clinical hazards, harness environmental advantages, and propel sustainable solutions forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning-Lin Zhao
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zi-Qi Zhu
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Han-Zhong Feng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ying-Jie Song
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610101, China
| | - Qin Huang
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xing-Yu Mou
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Cheng Nong
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yong-Xing He
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Rui Bao
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases in State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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32
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Costa CM, Cardoso VF, Martins P, Correia DM, Gonçalves R, Costa P, Correia V, Ribeiro C, Fernandes MM, Martins PM, Lanceros-Méndez S. Smart and Multifunctional Materials Based on Electroactive Poly(vinylidene fluoride): Recent Advances and Opportunities in Sensors, Actuators, Energy, Environmental, and Biomedical Applications. Chem Rev 2023; 123:11392-11487. [PMID: 37729110 PMCID: PMC10571047 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
From scientific and technological points of view, poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, is one of the most exciting polymers due to its overall physicochemical characteristics. This polymer can crystalize into five crystalline phases and can be processed in the form of films, fibers, membranes, and specific microstructures, being the physical properties controllable over a wide range through appropriate chemical modifications. Moreover, PVDF-based materials are characterized by excellent chemical, mechanical, thermal, and radiation resistance, and for their outstanding electroactive properties, including high dielectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric response, being the best among polymer systems and thus noteworthy for an increasing number of technologies. This review summarizes and critically discusses the latest advances in PVDF and its copolymers, composites, and blends, including their main characteristics and processability, together with their tailorability and implementation in areas including sensors, actuators, energy harvesting and storage devices, environmental membranes, microfluidic, tissue engineering, and antimicrobial applications. The main conclusions, challenges and future trends concerning materials and application areas are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos M. Costa
- Physics
Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Laboratory
of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, LapMET, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Institute
of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Vanessa F. Cardoso
- CMEMS-UMinho, University of
Minho, DEI, Campus de
Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
- LABBELS-Associate
Laboratory, Campus de
Gualtar, 4800-058 Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Pedro Martins
- Physics
Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Laboratory
of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, LapMET, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Institute
of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | | | - Renato Gonçalves
- Center of
Chemistry, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Pedro Costa
- Physics
Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Laboratory
of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, LapMET, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Institute
for Polymers and Composites IPC, University
of Minho, 4804-533 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Vitor Correia
- CMEMS-UMinho, University of
Minho, DEI, Campus de
Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
- LABBELS-Associate
Laboratory, Campus de
Gualtar, 4800-058 Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Clarisse Ribeiro
- Physics
Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Laboratory
of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, LapMET, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Margarida M. Fernandes
- CMEMS-UMinho, University of
Minho, DEI, Campus de
Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
- LABBELS-Associate
Laboratory, Campus de
Gualtar, 4800-058 Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Pedro M. Martins
- Institute
of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Centre
of Molecular and Environmental Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez
- Physics
Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Laboratory
of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, LapMET, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- BCMaterials,
Basque Center for Materials, Applications
and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU
Science Park, 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
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Palalay JJS, Simsek AN, Reed JL, Koch MD, Sabass B, Sanfilippo JE. Shear force enhances adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by counteracting pilus-driven surface departure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2307718120. [PMID: 37788310 PMCID: PMC10576114 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307718120] [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: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluid flow is thought to prevent bacterial adhesion, but some bacteria use adhesins with catch bond properties to enhance adhesion under high shear forces. However, many studies on bacterial adhesion either neglect the influence of shear force or use shear forces that are not typically found in natural systems. In this study, we use microfluidics and single-cell imaging to examine how the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa interacts with surfaces when exposed to shear forces typically found in the human body (0.1 pN to 10 pN). Through cell tracking, we demonstrate that the angle between the cell and the surface predicts if a cell will depart the surface. We discover that at lower shear forces, type IV pilus retraction tilts cells away from the surface, promoting surface departure. Conversely, we show that higher shear forces counterintuitively enhance adhesion by counteracting type IV pilus retraction-dependent cell tilting. Thus, our results reveal that P. aeruginosa exhibits behavior reminiscent of a catch bond, without having a specific adhesin that is enhanced by force. Instead, P. aeruginosa couples type IV pilus dynamics and cell geometry to tune adhesion to its mechanical environment, which likely provides a benefit in dynamic host environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahmet N. Simsek
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich80752, Germany
| | - Jessie L. Reed
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX77843
| | - Matthias D. Koch
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX77843
| | - Benedikt Sabass
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich80752, Germany
| | - Joseph E. Sanfilippo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL61801
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34
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Wang L, Wong YC, Correira JM, Wancura M, Geiger CJ, Webster SS, Touhami A, Butler BJ, O'Toole GA, Langford RM, Brown KA, Dortdivanlioglu B, Webb L, Cosgriff-Hernandez E, Gordon VD. The accumulation and growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on surfaces is modulated by surface mechanics via cyclic-di-GMP signaling. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2023; 9:78. [PMID: 37816780 PMCID: PMC10564899 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-023-00436-x] [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: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Attachment of bacteria onto a surface, consequent signaling, and accumulation and growth of the surface-bound bacterial population are key initial steps in the formation of pathogenic biofilms. While recent reports have hinted that surface mechanics may affect the accumulation of bacteria on that surface, the processes that underlie bacterial perception of surface mechanics and modulation of accumulation in response to surface mechanics remain largely unknown. We use thin and thick hydrogels coated on glass to create composite materials with different mechanics (higher elasticity for thin composites; lower elasticity for thick composites) but with the same surface adhesivity and chemistry. The mechanical cue stemming from surface mechanics is elucidated using experiments with the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa combined with finite-element modeling. Adhesion to thin composites results in greater changes in mechanical stress and strain in the bacterial envelope than does adhesion to thick composites with identical surface chemistry. Using quantitative microscopy, we find that adhesion to thin composites also results in higher cyclic-di-GMP levels, which in turn result in lower motility and less detachment, and thus greater accumulation of bacteria on the surface than does adhesion to thick composites. Mechanics-dependent c-di-GMP production is mediated by the cell-surface-exposed protein PilY1. The biofilm lag phase, which is longer for bacterial populations on thin composites than on thick composites, is also mediated by PilY1. This study shows clear evidence that bacteria actively regulate differential accumulation on surfaces of different stiffnesses via perceiving varied mechanical stress and strain upon surface engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyun Wang
- Department of Physics, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Yu-Chern Wong
- Department of Physics, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Joshua M Correira
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Megan Wancura
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Chris J Geiger
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | | | - Ahmed Touhami
- Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, One West University Blvd, Brownsville, TX, 78520, USA
| | - Benjamin J Butler
- Surfaces, Microstructure and Fracture Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | | | - Richard M Langford
- Surfaces, Microstructure and Fracture Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Katherine A Brown
- Surfaces, Microstructure and Fracture Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Berkin Dortdivanlioglu
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Lauren Webb
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | | | - Vernita D Gordon
- Department of Physics, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
- LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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35
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Hui C, Yu Q, Liu B, Zhu M, Long Y, Shen D. Microbial contamination risk of landfilled waste with different ages. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 170:297-307. [PMID: 37738757 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Landfills are reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogens, and humans are exposed to these pollutants during extensive excavation of old landfills. However, the microbial contamination risk of landfilled waste with different ages has not been assessed. In this study, human bacterial pathogens (HBPs), ARGs, and virulence factors (VFs) were systematically determined using metagenomic analysis. Results showed that the abundance of HBPs, ARGs, and VFs increased with landfill age, the percentage of HBPs in refuse with deposit age of 10-12 years (Y10) was 23.75 ± 0.49%, which was higher than that in fresh refuse (Y0, 17.99 ± 0.14%) and refuse with deposit age of 5-6 years (Y5, 19.14 ± 0.15%), indicating that old refuse had higher microbial contamination risk than fresh refuse. Multidrug, macrolide, lincosamide, streptogramine, and tetracycline resistance genes were the primary ARGs, whereas lipooligosaccharides, type IV pili, and polar flagella were the dominant VFs in refuse. The HBPs showed a significant positive correlation with ARGs and VFs. Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Escherichia coli possibly possess both multiple ARGs and VFs and could be listed as high-risk HBPs in refuse. Mobile genetic elements, especially transposons, showed positive correlations with most ARGs and VFs, and they were identified as the primary factors accounting for the variations in ARGs and VFs. These findings will help understand the spread of ARGs and VFs in landfills and evaluate the potential risk of microbiological contamination in refuse of different landfill ages, thus providing guidance for preventing disease infection during landfill excavations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai Hui
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Non-ferrous Metal Waste Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Qiang Yu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Non-ferrous Metal Waste Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Bing Liu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Min Zhu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Non-ferrous Metal Waste Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Yuyang Long
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Non-ferrous Metal Waste Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Dongsheng Shen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Non-ferrous Metal Waste Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China.
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36
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Geelhoed JS, Thorup CA, Bjerg JJ, Schreiber L, Nielsen LP, Schramm A, Meysman FJR, Marshall IPG. Indications for a genetic basis for big bacteria and description of the giant cable bacterium Candidatus Electrothrix gigas sp. nov. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0053823. [PMID: 37732806 PMCID: PMC10580974 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00538-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial cells can vary greatly in size, from a few hundred nanometers to hundreds of micrometers in diameter. Filamentous cable bacteria also display substantial size differences, with filament diameters ranging from 0.4 to 8 µm. We analyzed the genomes of cable bacterium filaments from 11 coastal environments of which the resulting 23 new genomes represent 10 novel species-level clades of Candidatus Electrothrix and two clades that putatively represent novel genus-level diversity. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with a species-level probe showed that large-sized cable bacteria belong to a novel species with the proposed name Ca. Electrothrix gigas. Comparative genome analysis suggests genes that play a role in the construction or functioning of large cable bacteria cells: the genomes of Ca. Electrothrix gigas encode a novel actin-like protein as well as a species-specific gene cluster encoding four putative pilin proteins and a putative type II secretion platform protein, which are not present in other cable bacteria. The novel actin-like protein was also found in a number of other giant bacteria, suggesting there could be a genetic basis for large cell size. This actin-like protein (denoted big bacteria protein, Bbp) may have a function analogous to other actin proteins in cell structure or intracellular transport. We contend that Bbp may help overcome the challenges of diffusion limitation and/or morphological complexity presented by the large cells of Ca. Electrothrix gigas and other giant bacteria. IMPORTANCE In this study, we substantially expand the known diversity of marine cable bacteria and describe cable bacteria with a large diameter as a novel species with the proposed name Candidatus Electrothrix gigas. In the genomes of this species, we identified a gene that encodes a novel actin-like protein [denoted big bacteria protein (Bbp)]. The bbp gene was also found in a number of other giant bacteria, predominantly affiliated to Desulfobacterota and Gammaproteobacteria, indicating that there may be a genetic basis for large cell size. Thus far, mostly structural adaptations of giant bacteria, vacuoles, and other inclusions or organelles have been observed, which are employed to overcome nutrient diffusion limitation in their environment. In analogy to other actin proteins, Bbp could fulfill a structural role in the cell or potentially facilitate intracellular transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanine S. Geelhoed
- Department of Biology, Research Group Geobiology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Casper A. Thorup
- Department of Biology, Center for Electromicrobiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jesper J. Bjerg
- Department of Biology, Research Group Geobiology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
- Department of Biology, Center for Electromicrobiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lars Schreiber
- Department of Biology, Center for Electromicrobiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lars Peter Nielsen
- Department of Biology, Center for Electromicrobiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Andreas Schramm
- Department of Biology, Center for Electromicrobiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Filip J. R. Meysman
- Department of Biology, Research Group Geobiology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Ian P. G. Marshall
- Department of Biology, Center for Electromicrobiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Geiger CJ, O’Toole GA. Evidence for the Type IV Pilus Retraction Motor PilT as a Component of the Surface Sensing System in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0017923. [PMID: 37382531 PMCID: PMC10367593 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00179-23] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilm formation begins when bacteria contacting a surface induce cellular changes to become better adapted for surface growth. One of the first changes to occur for Pseudomonas aeruginosa after surface contact is an increase in the nucleotide second messenger 3',5'-cyclic AMP (cAMP). It has been demonstrated that this increase in intracellular cAMP is dependent on functional type IV pili (T4P) relaying a signal to the Pil-Chp system, but the mechanism by which this signal is transduced remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the role of the type IV pilus retraction motor PilT in sensing a surface and relaying that signal to cAMP production. We show that mutations in PilT, and in particular those impacting the ATPase activity of this motor protein, reduce surface-dependent cAMP production. We identify a novel interaction between PilT and PilJ, a member of the Pil-Chp system, and propose a new model whereby P. aeruginosa uses its PilT retraction motor to sense a surface and to relay that signal via PilJ to increased production of cAMP. We discuss these findings in light of current T4P-dependent surface sensing models for P. aeruginosa. IMPORTANCE T4P are cellular appendages that allow P. aeruginosa to sense a surface, leading to the production of cAMP. This second messenger not only activates virulence pathways but leads to further surface adaptation and irreversible attachment of cells. Here, we demonstrate the importance of the retraction motor PilT in surface sensing. We also present a new surface sensing model in P. aeruginosa whereby the T4P retraction motor PilT senses and transmits the surface signal, likely via its ATPase domain and interaction with PilJ, to mediate production of the second messenger cAMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. J. Geiger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - G. A. O’Toole
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
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38
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Iruegas R, Pfefferle K, Göttig S, Averhoff B, Ebersberger I. Feature architecture aware phylogenetic profiling indicates a functional diversification of type IVa pili in the nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010646. [PMID: 37498819 PMCID: PMC10374093 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacterial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii is a major cause of hospital-acquired opportunistic infections. The increasing spread of pan-drug resistant strains makes A. baumannii top-ranking among the ESKAPE pathogens for which novel routes of treatment are urgently needed. Comparative genomics approaches have successfully identified genetic changes coinciding with the emergence of pathogenicity in Acinetobacter. Genes that are prevalent both in pathogenic and a-pathogenic Acinetobacter species were not considered ignoring that virulence factors may emerge by the modification of evolutionarily old and widespread proteins. Here, we increased the resolution of comparative genomics analyses to also include lineage-specific changes in protein feature architectures. Using type IVa pili (T4aP) as an example, we show that three pilus components, among them the pilus tip adhesin ComC, vary in their Pfam domain annotation within the genus Acinetobacter. In most pathogenic Acinetobacter isolates, ComC displays a von Willebrand Factor type A domain harboring a finger-like protrusion, and we provide experimental evidence that this finger conveys virulence-related functions in A. baumannii. All three genes are part of an evolutionary cassette, which has been replaced at least twice during A. baumannii diversification. The resulting strain-specific differences in T4aP layout suggests differences in the way how individual strains interact with their host. Our study underpins the hypothesis that A. baumannii uses T4aP for host infection as it was shown previously for other pathogens. It also indicates that many more functional complexes may exist whose precise functions have been adjusted by modifying individual components on the domain level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Iruegas
- Applied Bioinformatics Group, Inst of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Katharina Pfefferle
- Molecular Microbiology & Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stephan Göttig
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Beate Averhoff
- Molecular Microbiology & Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ingo Ebersberger
- Applied Bioinformatics Group, Inst of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (S-BIK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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39
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García-Diéguez L, Diaz-Tang G, Marin Meneses E, Cruise V, Barraza I, Craddock TJ, Smith RP. Periodically disturbing biofilms reduces expression of quorum sensing-regulated virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. iScience 2023; 26:106843. [PMID: 37255658 PMCID: PMC10225924 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses quorum sensing to regulate the expression of virulence factors. In static environments, spatial structures, such as biofilms, can increase the expression of these virulence factors. However, in natural settings, biofilms are exposed to physical forces that disrupt spatial structure, which may affect the expression of virulence factors regulated by quorum sensing. We show that periodically disturbing biofilms composed of P. aeruginosa using a physical force reduces the expression of quorum sensing-regulated virulence factors. At an intermediate disturbance frequency, the expression of virulence factors in the las, rhl, and pqs regulons is reduced. Mathematical modeling suggests that perturbation of the pqsR receptor is critical for this reduction. Removing the lasR receptor enhances the reduction in the expression of virulence factors as a result of disturbance. Our results allow identification of environments where virulence is reduced and implicate the lasR receptor as having a buffering role against disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura García-Diéguez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Halmos College of Arts and Science, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale FL 33314, USA
| | - Gabriela Diaz-Tang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Halmos College of Arts and Science, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale FL 33314, USA
| | - Estefania Marin Meneses
- Department of Biological Sciences, Halmos College of Arts and Science, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale FL 33314, USA
| | - Vanessa Cruise
- Department of Biological Sciences, Halmos College of Arts and Science, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale FL 33314, USA
| | - Ivana Barraza
- Department of Biological Sciences, Halmos College of Arts and Science, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale FL 33314, USA
| | - Travis J.A. Craddock
- Clinical Systems Biology Group, Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale FL 33314, USA
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale FL 33314, USA
- Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computing, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale FL 33314, USA
- Department of Clinical Immunology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale FL 33314, USA
| | - Robert P. Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Halmos College of Arts and Science, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale FL 33314, USA
- Cell Therapy Institute, Kiran Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale FL 33314, USA
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40
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Chekli Y, Stevick RJ, Kornobis E, Briolat V, Ghigo JM, Beloin C. Escherichia coli Aggregates Mediated by Native or Synthetic Adhesins Exhibit Both Core and Adhesin-Specific Transcriptional Responses. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0069023. [PMID: 37039668 PMCID: PMC10269875 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00690-23] [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: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria can rapidly tune their physiology and metabolism to adapt to environmental fluctuations. In particular, they can adapt their lifestyle to the close proximity of other bacteria or the presence of different surfaces. However, whether these interactions trigger transcriptomic responses is poorly understood. We used a specific setup of E. coli strains expressing native or synthetic adhesins mediating bacterial aggregation to study the transcriptomic changes of aggregated compared to nonaggregated bacteria. Our results show that, following aggregation, bacteria exhibit a core response independent of the adhesin type, with differential expression of 56.9% of the coding genome, including genes involved in stress response and anaerobic lifestyle. Moreover, when aggregates were formed via a naturally expressed E. coli adhesin (antigen 43), the transcriptomic response of the bacteria was more exaggerated than that of aggregates formed via a synthetic adhesin. This suggests that the response to aggregation induced by native E. coli adhesins could have been finely tuned during bacterial evolution. Our study therefore provides insights into the effect of self-interaction in bacteria and allows a better understanding of why bacterial aggregates exhibit increased stress tolerance. IMPORTANCE The formation of bacterial aggregates has an important role in both clinical and ecological contexts. Although these structures have been previously shown to be more resistant to stressful conditions, the genetic basis of this stress tolerance associated with the aggregate lifestyle is poorly understood. Surface sensing mediated by different adhesins can result in various changes in bacterial physiology. However, whether adhesin-adhesin interactions, as well as the type of adhesin mediating aggregation, affect bacterial cell physiology is unknown. By sequencing the transcriptomes of aggregated and nonaggregated cells expressing native or synthetic adhesins, we characterized the effects of aggregation and adhesin type on E. coli physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yankel Chekli
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 6047, Genetics of Biofilms Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Rebecca J. Stevick
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 6047, Genetics of Biofilms Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Etienne Kornobis
- Hub de Bioinformatique et Biostatistique-Département Biologie Computationnelle, Institut Pasteur, USR 3756 CNRS, Paris, France
- Plate-forme Technologique Biomics—Centre de Ressources et Recherches Technologiques, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Valérie Briolat
- Hub de Bioinformatique et Biostatistique-Département Biologie Computationnelle, Institut Pasteur, USR 3756 CNRS, Paris, France
- Plate-forme Technologique Biomics—Centre de Ressources et Recherches Technologiques, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Marc Ghigo
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 6047, Genetics of Biofilms Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Beloin
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 6047, Genetics of Biofilms Laboratory, Paris, France
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Asp ME, Thanh MTH, Dutta S, Comstock JA, Welch RD, Patteson AE. Mechanobiology as a tool for addressing the genotype-to-phenotype problem in microbiology. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:021304. [PMID: 38504926 PMCID: PMC10903382 DOI: 10.1063/5.0142121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
The central hypothesis of the genotype-phenotype relationship is that the phenotype of a developing organism (i.e., its set of observable attributes) depends on its genome and the environment. However, as we learn more about the genetics and biochemistry of living systems, our understanding does not fully extend to the complex multiscale nature of how cells move, interact, and organize; this gap in understanding is referred to as the genotype-to-phenotype problem. The physics of soft matter sets the background on which living organisms evolved, and the cell environment is a strong determinant of cell phenotype. This inevitably leads to challenges as the full function of many genes, and the diversity of cellular behaviors cannot be assessed without wide screens of environmental conditions. Cellular mechanobiology is an emerging field that provides methodologies to understand how cells integrate chemical and physical environmental stress and signals, and how they are transduced to control cell function. Biofilm forming bacteria represent an attractive model because they are fast growing, genetically malleable and can display sophisticated self-organizing developmental behaviors similar to those found in higher organisms. Here, we propose mechanobiology as a new area of study in prokaryotic systems and describe its potential for unveiling new links between an organism's genome and phenome.
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42
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de Sousa T, Hébraud M, Alves O, Costa E, Maltez L, Pereira JE, Martins Â, Igrejas G, Poeta P. Study of Antimicrobial Resistance, Biofilm Formation, and Motility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Derived from Urine Samples. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1345. [PMID: 37317319 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes urinary tract infections associated with catheters by forming biofilms on the surface of indwelling catheters. Therefore, controlling the spread of the bacteria is crucial to preventing its transmission in hospitals and the environment. Thus, our objective was to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of twenty-five P. aeruginosa isolates from UTIs at the Medical Center of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (CHTMAD). Biofilm formation and motility are also virulence factors studied in this work. Out of the twenty-five P. aeruginosa isolates, 16% exhibited multidrug resistance, being resistant to at least three classes of antibiotics. However, the isolates showed a high prevalence of susceptibility to amikacin and tobramycin. Resistance to carbapenem antibiotics, essential for treating infections when other antibiotics fail, was low in this study, Notably, 92% of the isolates demonstrated intermediate sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, raising concerns about its efficacy in controlling the disease. Genotypic analysis revealed the presence of various β-lactamase genes, with class B metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) being the most common. The blaNDM, blaSPM, and blaVIM-VIM2 genes were detected in 16%, 60%, and 12% of the strains, respectively. The presence of these genes highlights the emerging threat of MBL-mediated resistance. Additionally, virulence gene analysis showed varying prevalence rates among the strains. The exoU gene, associated with cytotoxicity, was found in only one isolate, while other genes such as exoS, exoA, exoY, and exoT had a high prevalence. The toxA and lasB genes were present in all isolates, whereas the lasA gene was absent. The presence of various virulence genes suggests the potential of these strains to cause severe infections. This pathogen demonstrated proficiency in producing biofilms, as 92% of the isolates were found to be capable of doing so. Currently, antibiotic resistance is one of the most serious public health problems, as options become inadequate with the continued emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant strains, combined with the high rate of biofilm production and the ease of dissemination. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the antibiotic resistance and virulence profiles of P. aeruginosa strains isolated from human urine infections, highlighting the need for continued surveillance and appropriate therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Telma de Sousa
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Microbiology and Antibiotic Resistance Team (MicroART), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics Unit, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV), Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Nova of Lisbon, 2829-516 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Michel Hébraud
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, UMR Microbiologie Environnement Digestif Santé (MEDiS), 60122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - Olimpia Alves
- Medical Centre of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Clinical Pathology Department, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Eliana Costa
- Medical Centre of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Clinical Pathology Department, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Luís Maltez
- Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - José Eduardo Pereira
- Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ângela Martins
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Department of Zootechnics, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Gilberto Igrejas
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics Unit, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV), Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Nova of Lisbon, 2829-516 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Patricia Poeta
- Microbiology and Antibiotic Resistance Team (MicroART), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV), Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Nova of Lisbon, 2829-516 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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43
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Simsek AN, Koch MD, Sanfilippo JE, Gitai Z, Gompper G, Sabass B. Type-IV pili tune an adhesion-migration trade-off during surface colonization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.09.538458. [PMID: 37215001 PMCID: PMC10197611 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.09.538458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial pathogenicity relies on both firm surface adhesion and cell dissemination. How twitching bacteria resolve the fundamental contradiction between adhesion and migration is unknown. To address this question, we employ live-cell imaging of type-IV pili (T4P) and therewith construct a comprehensive mathematical model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa migration. The data show that only 10% to 50% of T4P bind to substrates and contribute to migration through random extension and retraction. Individual T4P do not display a measurable sensory response to surfaces, but their number increases on cellular surface contact. Attachment to surfaces is mediated, besides T4P, by passive adhesive forces acting on the cell body. Passive adhesions slow down cell migration and result in local random motion on short time scales, which is followed by directionally persistent, superdiffusive motion on longer time scales. Moreover, passive adhesions strongly enhance surface attachment under shear flow. Δ pilA mutants, which produce no T4P, robustly stick to surfaces under shear flow. In contrast, rapidly migrating Δ pilH cells, which produce an excessive number of T4P, are easily detached by shear. Wild-type cells sacrifice migration speed for robust surface attachment by maintaining a low number of active pili. The different cell strains pertain to disjunct regimes in a generic adhesion-migration trait space. Depending on the nature of the adhesion structures, adhesion and migration are either compatible or a trade-off is required for efficient bacterial surface colonization under different conditions.
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You Z, Li J, Wang Y, Wu D, Li F, Song H. Advances in mechanisms and engineering of electroactive biofilms. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 66:108170. [PMID: 37148984 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Electroactive biofilms (EABs) are electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) encased in conductive polymers that are secreted by EAMs and formed by the accumulation and cross-linking of extracellular polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and other components. EABs are present in the form of multicellular aggregates and play a crucial role in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) for diverse applications, including biosensors, microbial fuel cells for renewable bioelectricity production and remediation of wastewaters, and microbial electrosynthesis of valuable chemicals. However, naturally occurred EABs are severely limited owing to their low electrical conductivity that seriously restrict the electron transfer efficiency and practical applications. In the recent decade, synthetic biology strategies have been adopted to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of EABs, and to enhance the formation and electrical conductivity of EABs. Based on the formation of EABs and extracellular electron transfer (EET) mechanisms, the synthetic biology-based engineering strategies of EABs are summarized and reviewed as follows: (i) Engineering the structural components of EABs, including strengthening the synthesis and secretion of structural elements such as polysaccharides, eDNA, and structural proteins, to improve the formation of biofilms; (ii) Enhancing the electron transfer efficiency of EAMs, including optimizing the distribution of c-type cytochromes and conducting nanowire assembly to promote contact-based EET, and enhancing electron shuttles' biosynthesis and secretion to promote shuttle-mediated EET; (iii) Incorporating intracellular signaling molecules in EAMs, including quorum sensing systems, secondary messenger systems, and global regulatory systems, to increase the electron transfer flux in EABs. This review lays a foundation for the design and construction of EABs for diverse BES applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixuan You
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jianxun Li
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Yuxuan Wang
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Deguang Wu
- Department of Brewing Engineering, Moutai Institute, Luban Ave, Renhuai 564507, Guizhou, PR China
| | - Feng Li
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Hao Song
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
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Geiger CJ, O'Toole GA. Evidence for the Type IV Pili Retraction Motor PilT as a Component of the Surface Sensing System in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.02.539127. [PMID: 37205505 PMCID: PMC10187167 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.02.539127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Biofilm formation begins when bacteria contacting a surface induce cellular changes to become better adapted for surface growth. One of the first changes to occur for Pseudomonas aeruginosa after surface contact is an increase in the nucleotide second messenger 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). It has been demonstrated that this increase in intracellular cAMP is dependent on functional Type IV pili (T4P) relaying a signal to the Pil-Chp system, but the mechanism by which this signal is transduced remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the role of the Type IV pili retraction motor PilT in sensing a surface and relaying that signal to cAMP production. We show that mutations affecting the structure of PilT and in particular ATPase activity of this motor protein, reduce surface-dependent cAMP production. We identify a novel interaction between PilT and PilJ, a member of the Pil-Chp system, and propose a new model whereby P. aeruginosa uses its retraction motor to sense a surface and to relay that signal via PilJ to increased production of cAMP. We discuss these findings in light of current TFP-dependent surface sensing models for P. aeruginosa . Importance T4P are cellular appendages that allow P. aeruginosa to sense a surface leading to the production of cAMP. This second messenger not only activates virulence pathways but leads to further surface adaptation and irreversible attachment of cells. Here, we demonstrate the importance of the retraction motor PilT in surface sensing. We also present a new surface sensing model in P. aeruginosa whereby the T4P retraction motor PilT senses and transmits the surface signal, likely via its ATPase domain and interaction with PilJ, to mediate production of the second messenger cAMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Geiger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
| | - G A O'Toole
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
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Cont A, Vermeil J, Persat A. Material Substrate Physical Properties Control Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Architecture. mBio 2023; 14:e0351822. [PMID: 36786569 PMCID: PMC10127718 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03518-22] [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: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In the wild, bacteria are most frequently found in the form of multicellular structures called biofilms. Biofilms grow at the surface of abiotic and living materials with wide-ranging mechanical properties. The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa forms biofilms on indwelling medical devices and on soft tissues, including burn wounds and the airway mucosa. Despite the critical role of substrates in the foundation of biofilms, we still lack a clear understanding of how material mechanics regulate their architecture and the physiology of resident bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that physical properties of hydrogel material substrates define P. aeruginosa biofilm architecture. We show that hydrogel mesh size regulates twitching motility, a surface exploration mechanism priming biofilms, ultimately controlling the organization of single cells in the multicellular community. The resulting architectural transitions increase P. aeruginosa's tolerance to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic. In addition, mechanical regulation of twitching motility affects P. aeruginosa clonal lineages, so that biofilms are more mixed on relatively denser materials. Our results thereby establish material properties as a factor that dramatically affects biofilm architecture, antibiotic efficacy, and evolution of the resident population. IMPORTANCE The biofilm lifestyle is the most widespread survival strategy in the bacterial world. Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms cause chronic infections and are highly recalcitrant to antimicrobials. The genetic requirements allowing P. aeruginosa to grow into biofilms are known, but not the physical stimuli that regulate their formation. Despite colonizing biological tissues, investigations of biofilms on soft materials are limited. In this work, we show that biofilms take unexpected forms when growing on soft substrates. The physical properties of the material shape P. aeruginosa biofilms by regulating surface-specific twitching motility. Physical control of biofilm morphogenesis ultimately influences the resilience of biofilms to antimicrobials, linking physical environment with tolerance to treatment. Altogether, our work established that the physical properties of a surface are a critical environmental regulator of biofilm biogenesis and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Cont
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Joseph Vermeil
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Persat
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Makky S, Abdelrahman F, Rezk N, Easwaran M, El-Shibiny A. Phages for treatment Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 201:1-19. [PMID: 37770166 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is denoted as one of the highly threatening bacteria to the public health. It has acquired many virulent factors and resistant genes that make it difficult to control with conventional antibiotics. Thus, bacteriophage therapy (phage therapy) is a proposed alternative to antibiotics to fight against multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa. Many phages have been isolated that exhibit a broad spectrum of activity against P. aeruginosa. In this chapter, the common virulent factors and the prevalence of antibiotic-resistance genes in P. aeruginosa were reported. In addition, recent efforts in the field of phage therapy against P. aeruginosa were highlighted, including wild-type phages, genetically modified phages, phage cocktails, and phage in combination with antibiotics against P. aeruginosa in the planktonic and biofilm forms. Recent regulations on phage therapy were also covered in this chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salsabil Makky
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, Egypt
| | - Fatma Abdelrahman
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, Egypt
| | - Nouran Rezk
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, Egypt
| | - Maheswaran Easwaran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sethu Institute of Technology, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ayman El-Shibiny
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, Egypt; Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, Arish, Egypt.
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Kühn MJ, Macmillan H, Talà L, Inclan Y, Patino R, Pierrat X, Al‐Mayyah Z, Engel JN, Persat A. Two antagonistic response regulators control Pseudomonas aeruginosa polarization during mechanotaxis. EMBO J 2023; 42:e112165. [PMID: 36795017 PMCID: PMC10519157 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112165] [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: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa adapts to solid surfaces to enhance virulence and infect its host. Type IV pili (T4P), long and thin filaments that power surface-specific twitching motility, allow single cells to sense surfaces and control their direction of movement. T4P distribution is polarized to the sensing pole by the chemotaxis-like Chp system via a local positive feedback loop. However, how the initial spatially resolved mechanical signal is translated into T4P polarity is incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate that the two Chp response regulators PilG and PilH enable dynamic cell polarization by antagonistically regulating T4P extension. By precisely quantifying the localization of fluorescent protein fusions, we show that phosphorylation of PilG by the histidine kinase ChpA controls PilG polarization. Although PilH is not strictly required for twitching reversals, it becomes activated upon phosphorylation and breaks the local positive feedback mechanism established by PilG, allowing forward-twitching cells to reverse. Chp thus uses a main output response regulator, PilG, to resolve mechanical signals in space and employs a second regulator, PilH, to break and respond when the signal changes. By identifying the molecular functions of two response regulators that dynamically control cell polarization, our work provides a rationale for the diversity of architectures often found in non-canonical chemotaxis systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco J Kühn
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | | | - Lorenzo Talà
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Yuki Inclan
- Department of MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Ramiro Patino
- Department of MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Xavier Pierrat
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Zainebe Al‐Mayyah
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Joanne N Engel
- Department of MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Alexandre Persat
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
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Pelicic V. Mechanism of assembly of type 4 filaments: everything you always wanted to know (but were afraid to ask). MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169. [PMID: 36947586 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Type 4 filaments (T4F) are a superfamily of filamentous nanomachines - virtually ubiquitous in prokaryotes and functionally versatile - of which type 4 pili (T4P) are the defining member. T4F are polymers of type 4 pilins, assembled by conserved multi-protein machineries. They have long been an important topic for research because they are key virulence factors in numerous bacterial pathogens. Our poor understanding of the molecular mechanisms of T4F assembly is a serious hindrance to the design of anti-T4F therapeutics. This review attempts to shed light on the fundamental mechanistic principles at play in T4F assembly by focusing on similarities rather than differences between several (mostly bacterial) T4F. This holistic approach, complemented by the revolutionary ability of artificial intelligence to predict protein structures, led to an intriguing mechanistic model of T4F assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Pelicic
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, UMR 7283 CNRS/Aix-Marseille Université, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
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50
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Disturbing the Spatial Organization of Biofilm Communities Affects Expression of agr-Regulated Virulence Factors in Staphylococcus aureus. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0193222. [PMID: 36700647 PMCID: PMC9973005 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01932-22] [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: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus uses quorum sensing and nutrient availability to control the expression of agr-regulated virulence factors. Quorum sensing is mediated by autoinducing peptide (AIP), which at a high concentration reduces expression of surface attachment proteins (coa, fnbpA) and increases expression of exotoxins (lukS) and proteases (splA). Nutrient availability can be sensed through the saeS/saeR system. Low nutrients increase expression of saeR, which augments expression of coa and fnbpA, distinct from the activity of AIP. The formation of spatial structure, such as biofilms, can alter quorum sensing and nutrient acquisition. In natural environments, biofilms encounter forces that may alter their spatial structure. These forces may impact quorum sensing and/or nutrient acquisition and thus affect the expression of agr-regulated virulence factors. However, this has not been studied. We show that periodically disturbing biofilms composed of S. aureus using a physical force affected the expression of agr-regulated virulence factors. In nutrient-poor environments, disturbance increased the expression of coa, fnbpA, lukS, and splA. Disturbance in a nutrient-rich environment at low or high disturbance amplitudes moderately reduced expression of coa and fnbpA but increased expression of lukS and splA. Interestingly, at an intermediate amplitude, the overall expression of agr-regulated virulence factors was the lowest; expression of lukS and splA remained unchanged relative to an undisturbed biofilm, while expression of coa and fnbpA significantly decreased. We hypothesize that these changes are a result of disturbance-driven changes in access to AIP and nutrients. Our results may allow the identification of environments where virulence is enhanced, or reduced, owing to a disturbance. IMPORTANCE Bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, integrate signals from the environment to regulate genes encoding virulence factors. These signals include those produced by quorum-sensing systems and nutrient availability. We show that disturbing the spatial organization of S. aureus populations can lead to changes in the expression of virulence factors, likely by altering the ways in which S. aureus detects these signals. Our work may allow us to identify environments that increase or reduce the expression of virulence factors in S. aureus.
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