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Yin Z, Lv Z, Yang L, Li C, Teng F, Liang W. The nuclear receptor coactivator 4 regulates ferritinophagy induced by vibrio splendidus in coelomocytes of Apostichopus japonicus. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 151:109745. [PMID: 38960105 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109745] [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: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Iron homeostasis is vital for the host's defense against pathogenic invasion and the ferritinophagy is a crucial mechanism in maintaining intracellular iron homeostasis by facilitating the degradation and recycling of stored iron. The nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) serves as a ferritinophagy receptor, facilitating the binding and delivery of ferritin to the autophagosome and lysosome. However, NCOA4 of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (AjNCOA4) has not been reported until now. In this study, we identified and characterized AjNCOA4 in A. japonicus. This gene encodes a polypeptide containing 597 amino acids with an open reading frame of 1794 bp. The inferred amino acid sequence of AjNCOA4 comprises an ARA70 domain. Furthermore, a multiple sequence alignment demonstrated varying degrees of sequence homology between AjNCOA4 from A. japonicus and other NCOA4 orthologs. The phylogenetic tree of NCOA4 correlates with the established timeline of metazoan evolution. Expression analysis revealed that AjNCOA4 is expressed in all tested tissues, including the body wall, muscle, intestine, respiratory tree, and coelomocytes. Following challenge with Vibrio splendidus, the coelomocytes exhibited a significant increase in AjNCOA4 mRNA levels, peaking at 24 h. We successfully obtained recombinant AjNCOA4 protein through prokaryotic expression and prepared a specific polyclonal antibody. Immunofluorescence and co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated an interaction between AjNCOA4 and AjFerritin in coelomocytes. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of AjNCOA4 expression resulted in elevated iron ion levels in coelomocytes. Bacterial stimulation enhanced ferritinophagy in coelomocytes, while knockdown of AjNCOA4 reduced the occurrence of ferritinophagy. These findings suggest that AjNCOA4 modulates ferritinophagy induced by V. splendidus in coelomocytes of A. japonicus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqun Yin
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China
| | - Zhimeng Lv
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China
| | - Lei Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China.
| | - Chenghua Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China.
| | - Fei Teng
- College of Mathematics and Computer, Jilin Normal University, Siping, Jilin, China
| | - Weikang Liang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China.
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Cobe BL, Dey S, Minasov G, Inniss N, Satchell KJF, Cianciotto NP. Bactericidal effectors of the Stenotrophomonas maltophilia type IV secretion system: functional definition of the nuclease TfdA and structural determination of TfcB. mBio 2024; 15:e0119824. [PMID: 38832773 PMCID: PMC11253643 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01198-24] [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: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia expresses a type IV protein secretion system (T4SS) that promotes contact-dependent killing of other bacteria and does so partly by secreting the effector TfcB. Here, we report the structure of TfcB, comprising an N-terminal domain similar to the catalytic domain of glycosyl hydrolase (GH-19) chitinases and a C-terminal domain for recognition and translocation by the T4SS. Utilizing a two-hybrid assay to measure effector interactions with the T4SS coupling protein VirD4, we documented the existence of five more T4SS substrates. One of these was protein 20845, an annotated nuclease. A S. maltophilia mutant lacking the gene for 20845 was impaired for killing Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Moreover, the cloned 20845 gene conferred robust toxicity, with the recombinant E. coli being rescued when 20845 was co-expressed with its cognate immunity protein. The 20845 effector was an 899 amino-acid protein, comprised of a GHH-nuclease domain in its N-terminus, a large central region of indeterminant function, and a C-terminus for secretion. Engineered variants of the 20845 gene that had mutations in the predicted catalytic site did not impede E. coli, indicating that the antibacterial effect of 20845 involves its nuclease activity. Using flow cytometry with DNA staining, we determined that 20845, but not its mutant variants, confers a loss in DNA content of target bacteria. Database searches revealed that uncharacterized homologs of 20845 occur within a range of bacteria. These data indicate that the S. maltophilia T4SS promotes interbacterial competition through the action of multiple toxic effectors, including a potent, novel DNase.IMPORTANCEStenotrophomonas maltophilia is a multi-drug-resistant, Gram-negative bacterium that is an emerging pathogen of humans. Patients with cystic fibrosis are particularly susceptible to S. maltophilia infection. In hospital water systems and various types of infections, S. maltophilia co-exists with other bacteria, including other pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We previously demonstrated that S. maltophilia has a functional VirB/D4 type VI protein secretion system (T4SS) that promotes contact-dependent killing of other bacteria. Since most work on antibacterial systems involves the type VI secretion system, this observation remains noteworthy. Moreover, S. maltophilia currently stands alone as a model for a human pathogen expressing an antibacterial T4SS. Using biochemical, genetic, and cell biological approaches, we now report both the discovery of a novel antibacterial nuclease (TfdA) and the first structural determination of a bactericidal T4SS effector (TfcB).
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandi L. Cobe
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Supratim Dey
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - George Minasov
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Nicole Inniss
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Karla J. F. Satchell
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Nicholas P. Cianciotto
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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3
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Le Y, Liu Q, Yang Y, Wu J. The emerging role of nuclear receptor coactivator 4 in health and disease: a novel bridge between iron metabolism and immunity. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:312. [PMID: 38961066 PMCID: PMC11222541 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-02075-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) has recently been recognized as a selective cargo receptor of ferritinophagy participating in ferroptosis. However, NCOA4 is also a coactivator that modulates the transcriptional activity of many vital nuclear receptors. Recent novel studies have documented the role of NCOA4 in healthy and pathogenic conditions via its modulation of iron- and non-iron-dependent metabolic pathways. NCOA4 exhibits non-ferritinophagic and iron-independent features such as promoting tumorigenesis and erythropoiesis, immunomodulation, regulating autophagy, and participating in DNA replication and mitosis. Full-length human-NCOA4 is composed of 614 amino acids, of which the N-terminal (1-237) contains nuclear-receptor-binding domains, while the C-terminal (238-614) principally contains a ferritin-binding domain. The exploration of the protein structure of NCOA4 suggests that NCOA4 possesses additional significant and complex functions based on its structural domains. Intriguingly, another three isoforms of NCOA4 that are produced by alternative splicing have been identified, which may also display disparate activities in physiological and pathological processes. Thus, NCOA4 has become an important bridge that encompasses interactions between immunity and metabolism. In this review, we outline the latest advances in the important regulating mechanisms underlying NCOA4 actions in health and disease conditions, providing insights into potential therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Le
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Qinjie Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Jie Wu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
- Research Center of Surgery, BenQ Medical Center, the Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210021, China.
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Zhang G, Hu H, Yin Y, Tian M, Bu Z, Ding C, Yu S. Brucella Manipulates Host Cell Ferroptosis to Facilitate Its Intracellular Replication and Egress in RAW264.7 Macrophages. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:577. [PMID: 38790682 PMCID: PMC11118192 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13050577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Brucella virulence relies on its successful intracellular life cycle. Modulating host cell death is a strategy for Brucella to survive and replicate intracellularly. Ferroptosis is a novel regulated cell death characterized by iron-triggered excessive lipid peroxidation, which has been proven to be associated with pathogenic bacteria infection. Thus, we attempted to explore if smooth-type Brucella infection triggers host cell ferroptosis and what role it plays in Brucella infection. We assessed the effects of Brucella infection on the lactate dehydrogenase release and lipid peroxidation levels of RAW264.7 macrophages; subsequently, we determined the effect of Brucella infection on the expressions of ferroptosis defense pathways. Furthermore, we determined the role of host cell ferroptosis in the intracellular replication and egress of Brucella. The results demonstrated that Brucella M5 could induce ferroptosis of macrophages by inhibiting the GPX4-GSH axis at the late stage of infection but mitigated ferroptosis by up-regulating the GCH1-BH4 axis at the early infection stage. Moreover, elevating host cell ferroptosis decreased Brucella intracellular survival and suppressing host cell ferroptosis increased Brucella intracellular replication and egress. Collectively, Brucella may manipulate host cell ferroptosis to facilitate its intracellular replication and egress, extending our knowledge about the underlying mechanism of how Brucella completes its intracellular life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangdong Zhang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China; (G.Z.); (H.H.); (Y.Y.); (M.T.)
- Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin 150069, China;
| | - Hai Hu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China; (G.Z.); (H.H.); (Y.Y.); (M.T.)
| | - Yi Yin
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China; (G.Z.); (H.H.); (Y.Y.); (M.T.)
| | - Mingxing Tian
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China; (G.Z.); (H.H.); (Y.Y.); (M.T.)
| | - Zhigao Bu
- Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin 150069, China;
| | - Chan Ding
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China; (G.Z.); (H.H.); (Y.Y.); (M.T.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Shengqing Yu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China; (G.Z.); (H.H.); (Y.Y.); (M.T.)
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5
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Lehman SS, Verhoeve VI, Driscoll TP, Beckmann JF, Gillespie JJ. Metagenome diversity illuminates the origins of pathogen effectors. mBio 2024; 15:e0075923. [PMID: 38564675 PMCID: PMC11077975 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00759-23] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) analyses have profoundly impacted Rickettsiology systematics. The discovery of basal lineages (novel families Mitibacteraceae and Athabascaceae) with predicted extracellular lifestyles exposed an evolutionary timepoint for the transition to host dependency, which seemingly occurred independent of mitochondrial evolution. Notably, these basal rickettsiae carry the Rickettsiales vir homolog (rvh) type IV secretion system and purportedly use rvh to kill congener microbes rather than parasitize host cells as described for later-evolving rickettsial pathogens. MAG analysis also substantially increased diversity for the genus Rickettsia and delineated a sister lineage (the novel genus Tisiphia) that stands to inform on the emergence of human pathogens from protist and invertebrate endosymbionts. Herein, we probed Rickettsiales MAG and genomic diversity for the distribution of Rickettsia rvh effectors to ascertain their origins. A sparse distribution of most Rickettsia rvh effectors outside of Rickettsiaceae lineages illuminates unique rvh evolution from basal extracellular species and other rickettsial families. Remarkably, nearly every effector was found in multiple divergent forms with variable architectures, indicating profound roles for gene duplication and recombination in shaping effector repertoires in Rickettsia pathogens. Lateral gene transfer plays a prominent role in shaping the rvh effector landscape, as evinced by the discovery of many effectors on plasmids and conjugative transposons, as well as pervasive effector gene exchange between Rickettsia and Legionella species. Our study exemplifies how MAGs can yield insight into pathogen effector origins, particularly how effector architectures might become tailored to the discrete host cell functions of different eukaryotic hosts.IMPORTANCEWhile rickettsioses are deadly vector-borne human diseases, factors distinguishing Rickettsia pathogens from the innumerable bevy of environmental rickettsial endosymbionts remain lacking. Recent metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) studies revealed evolutionary timepoints for rickettsial transitions to host dependency. The rvh type IV secretion system was likely repurposed from congener killing in basal extracellular species to parasitizing host cells in later-evolving pathogens. Our analysis of MAG diversity for over two dozen rvh effectors unearthed their presence in some non-pathogens. However, most effectors were found in multiple divergent forms with variable architectures, indicating gene duplication and recombination-fashioned effector repertoires of Rickettsia pathogens. Lateral gene transfer substantially shaped pathogen effector arsenals, evinced by the discovery of effectors on plasmids and conjugative transposons, as well as pervasive effector gene exchanges between Rickettsia and Legionella species. Our study exemplifies how MAGs yield insight into pathogen effector origins and evolutionary processes tailoring effectors to eukaryotic host cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie S. Lehman
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Victoria I. Verhoeve
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Timothy P. Driscoll
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - John F. Beckmann
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
| | - Joseph J. Gillespie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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6
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Ren J, Ma X, Hu H, Wang D, Sun H, Liu J, Wang X, Zhou H. Edwardsiella piscicida causes iron storage disorders by an autophagy pathway in fish monocytes/macrophages. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 146:109417. [PMID: 38301814 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109417] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Edwardsiella piscicida (E. piscicida) is a gram-negative pathogen that survives in intracellular environment. Currently, the interplay between E. piscicida and host cells has not been completely explored. In this study, we found that E. piscicida disturbed iron homeostasis in grass carp monocytes/macrophages to maintain its own growth. Further investigation revealed the bacteria induced an increase of intracellular iron, which was subjected to the degradation of ferritin. Moreover, the autophagy inhibitor impeded the degradation of ferritin and increase of intracellular iron in E. piscicida-infected monocytes/macrophages, implying possible involvement of autophagy response in the process of E. piscicida-broken iron homeostasis. Along this line, confocal microscopy observed that E. piscicida elicited the colocalization of ferritin with LC3-positive autophagosome in the monocytes/macrophages, indicating that E. piscicida mediated the degradation of ferritin possibly through the autophagic pathway. These results deepened our understanding of the interaction between E. piscicida and fish cells, hinting that the disruption of iron homeostasis was an important factor for pathogenicity of E. piscicida. They also indicated that autophagy was a possible mechanism governing intracellular iron metabolism in response to E. piscicida infection and might offer a new avenue for anti-E. piscicida strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingqi Ren
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyu Ma
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Hengyi Hu
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Sun
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaxi Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyan Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Zhou
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
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7
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Yang N, Li M, Qin S, Duan N, Li X, Zhou Y, Wang M, Jin Y, Wu W, Cheng Z. Ehrlichia chaffeensis Etf-3 Induces Host RAB15 Upregulation for Bacterial Intracellular Growth. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2551. [PMID: 38473798 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichia chaffeensis infects human monocytes or macrophages and causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME), an emerging life-threatening zoonosis. After internalization, E. chaffeensis resides in membrane-bound inclusions, E. chaffeensis-containing vesicles (ECVs), which have early endosome-like characteristics and fuse with early autophagosomes but not lysosomes, to evade host innate immune microbicidal mechanisms and obtain nutrients for bacterial intracellular growth. The mechanisms exploited by E. chaffeensis to modulate intracellular vesicle trafficking in host cells have not been comprehensively studied. Here, we demonstrate that E. chaffeensis type IV secretion system (T4SS) effector Etf-3 induces RAB15 upregulation in host cells and that RAB15, which is localized on ECVs, inhibits ECV fusion with lysosomes and induces autophagy. We found that E. chaffeensis infection upregulated RAB15 expression using qRT-PCR, and RAB15 was colocalized with E. chaffeensis using confocal microscopy. Silence of RAB15 using siRNA enhanced ECV maturation to late endosomes and fusion with lysosomes, as well as inhibited host cell autophagy. Overexpression of Etf-3 in host cells specifically induced RAB15 upregulation and autophagy. Our findings deepen the understanding of E. chaffeensis pathogenesis and adaptation in hosts as well as the function of RAB15 and facilitate the development of new therapeutics for HME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Meifang Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Shanhua Qin
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Nan Duan
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yuhong Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Mengyao Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yongxin Jin
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Weihui Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Zhihui Cheng
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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8
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Galy B, Conrad M, Muckenthaler M. Mechanisms controlling cellular and systemic iron homeostasis. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:133-155. [PMID: 37783783 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00648-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
In mammals, hundreds of proteins use iron in a multitude of cellular functions, including vital processes such as mitochondrial respiration, gene regulation and DNA synthesis or repair. Highly orchestrated regulatory systems control cellular and systemic iron fluxes ensuring sufficient iron delivery to target proteins is maintained, while limiting its potentially deleterious effects in iron-mediated oxidative cell damage and ferroptosis. In this Review, we discuss how cells acquire, traffick and export iron and how stored iron is mobilized for iron-sulfur cluster and haem biogenesis. Furthermore, we describe how these cellular processes are fine-tuned by the combination of various sensory and regulatory systems, such as the iron-regulatory protein (IRP)-iron-responsive element (IRE) network, the nuclear receptor co-activator 4 (NCOA4)-mediated ferritinophagy pathway, the prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD)-hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) axis or the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) regulatory hub. We further describe how these pathways interact with systemic iron homeostasis control through the hepcidin-ferroportin axis to ensure appropriate iron fluxes. This knowledge is key for the identification of novel therapeutic opportunities to prevent diseases of cellular and/or systemic iron mismanagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Galy
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Virus-associated Carcinogenesis (F170), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcus Conrad
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Metabolism and Cell Death, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Martina Muckenthaler
- Department of Paediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Giengkam S, Kullapanich C, Wongsantichon J, Adcox HE, Gillespie JJ, Salje J. Orientia tsutsugamushi: comprehensive analysis of the mobilome of a highly fragmented and repetitive genome reveals the capacity for ongoing lateral gene transfer in an obligate intracellular bacterium. mSphere 2023; 8:e0026823. [PMID: 37850800 PMCID: PMC10732058 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00268-23] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Obligate intracellular bacteria, or those only capable of growth inside other living cells, have limited opportunities for horizontal gene transfer with other microbes due to their isolated replicative niche. The human pathogen Ot, an obligate intracellular bacterium causing scrub typhus, encodes an unusually high copy number of a ~40 gene mobile genetic element that typically facilitates genetic transfer across microbes. This proliferated element is heavily degraded in Ot and previously assumed to be inactive. Here, we conducted a detailed analysis of this element in eight Ot strains and discovered two strains with at least one intact copy. This implies that the element is still capable of moving across Ot populations and suggests that the genome of this bacterium may be even more dynamic than previously appreciated. Our work raises questions about intracellular microbial evolution and sounds an alarm for gene-based efforts focused on diagnosing and combatting scrub typhus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suparat Giengkam
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chitrasak Kullapanich
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jantana Wongsantichon
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Haley E. Adcox
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Joseph J. Gillespie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeanne Salje
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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10
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Wang B, Zhang Z, Xu F, Yang Z, Li Z, Shen D, Wang L, Wu H, Li T, Yan Q, Wei Q, Shao X, Qian G. Soil bacterium manipulates antifungal weapons by sensing intracellular type IVA secretion system effectors of a competitor. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:2232-2246. [PMID: 37838821 PMCID: PMC10689834 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01533-7] [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: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Soil beneficial bacteria can effectively inhibit bacterial pathogens by assembling contact-dependent killing weapons, such as the type IVA secretion system (T4ASS). It's not clear whether these antibacterial weapons are involved in biotrophic microbial interactions in soil. Here we showed that an antifungal antibiotic 2,4-DAPG production of the soil bacterium, Pseudomonas protegens can be triggered by another soil bacterium, Lysobacter enzymogenes, via T4ASS by co-culturing on agar plates to mimic cell-to-cell contact. We demonstrated that the induced 2,4-DAPG production of P. protegens is achieved by intracellular detection of the T4ASS effector protein Le1519 translocated from L. enzymogenes. We defined Le1519 as LtaE (Lysobacter T4E triggering antifungal effects), which specifically stimulates the expression of 2,4-DAPG biosynthesis genes in P. protegens, thereby protecting soybean seedlings from infection by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. We further found that LtaE directly bound to PhlF, a pathway-specific transcriptional repressor of the 2,4-DAPG biosynthesis, then activated the 2,4-DAPG production. Our results highlight a novel pattern of microbial interspecies and interkingdom interactions, providing a unique case for expanding the diversity of soil microbial interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingxin Wang
- College of Plant Protection (State Key Laboratory of Biological interactions and Crop Health; Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Zeyu Zhang
- College of Plant Protection (State Key Laboratory of Biological interactions and Crop Health; Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Fugui Xu
- College of Plant Protection (State Key Laboratory of Biological interactions and Crop Health; Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Zixiang Yang
- College of Plant Protection (State Key Laboratory of Biological interactions and Crop Health; Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Zihan Li
- College of Plant Protection (State Key Laboratory of Biological interactions and Crop Health; Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Danyu Shen
- College of Plant Protection (State Key Laboratory of Biological interactions and Crop Health; Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Limin Wang
- College of Plant Protection (State Key Laboratory of Biological interactions and Crop Health; Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Huijun Wu
- College of Plant Protection (State Key Laboratory of Biological interactions and Crop Health; Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Tao Li
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, PR China
| | - Qing Yan
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Qi Wei
- Industrial Crops Institute, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Xiaolong Shao
- College of Plant Protection (State Key Laboratory of Biological interactions and Crop Health; Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Guoliang Qian
- College of Plant Protection (State Key Laboratory of Biological interactions and Crop Health; Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China.
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11
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Che Y, Li J, Wang P, Yu W, Lin J, Su Z, Ye F, Zhang Z, Xu P, Xie Z, Wu Y, Shen H. Iron deficiency-induced ferritinophagy impairs skeletal muscle regeneration through RNF20-mediated H2Bub1 modification. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf4345. [PMID: 37976359 PMCID: PMC10656073 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf4345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Iron deficiency (ID) is a widespread condition concomitant with disease and results in systemic dysfunction of target tissues including skeletal muscle. Activated by ID, ferritinophagy is a recently found type of selective autophagy, which plays an important role in various physiological and pathological conditions. In this study, we demonstrated that ID-mediated ferritinophagy impeded myogenic differentiation. Mechanistically, ferritinophagy induced RNF20 degradation through the autophagy-lysosomal pathway and then negatively regulated histone H2B monoubiquitination at lysine-120 in the promoters of the myogenic markers MyoD and MyoG, which inhibited myogenic differentiation and regeneration. Conditional knockout of NCOA4 in satellite cells, overexpression of RNF20 or treatment with 3-methyladenine restored skeletal muscle regenerative potential under ID conditions. In patients with ID, RNF20 and H2Bub1 protein expression is downregulated in skeletal muscle. In conclusion, our study indicated that the ferritinophagy-RNF20-H2Bub1 axis is a pathological molecular mechanism underlying ID-induced skeletal muscle impairment, suggesting potential therapeutic prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunshu Che
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518033, P.R. China
| | - Jinteng Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518033, P.R. China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518033, P.R. China
| | - Wenhui Yu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518033, P.R. China
| | - Jiajie Lin
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518033, P.R. China
| | - Zepeng Su
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518033, P.R. China
| | - Feng Ye
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, P.R. China
| | - Zhaoqiang Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518033, P.R. China
| | - Peitao Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518033, P.R. China
| | - Zhongyu Xie
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518033, P.R. China
| | - Yanfeng Wu
- Center for Biotherapy, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 3025# Shennan Road, Shenzhen 518000, P.R. China
| | - Huiyong Shen
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518033, P.R. China
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12
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Park JM, Genera BM, Fahy D, Swallow KT, Nelson CM, Oliver JD, Shaw DK, Munderloh UG, Brayton KA. An Anaplasma phagocytophilum T4SS effector, AteA, is essential for tick infection. mBio 2023; 14:e0171123. [PMID: 37747883 PMCID: PMC10653876 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01711-23] [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: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Ticks are the number one vector of pathogens for livestock worldwide and for humans in the United States. The biology of tick transmission is an understudied area. Understanding this critical interaction could provide opportunities to affect the course of disease spread. In this study, we examined the zoonotic tick-borne agent Anaplasma phagocytophilum and identified a secreted protein, AteA, which is expressed in a tick-specific manner. These secreted proteins, termed effectors, are the first proteins to interact with the host environment. AteA is essential for survival in ticks and appears to interact with cortical actin. Most effector proteins are studied in the context of the mammalian host; however, understanding how this unique set of proteins affects tick transmission is critical to developing interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M. Park
- Program in Vector-borne Disease, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Brittany M. Genera
- Program in Vector-borne Disease, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Deirdre Fahy
- Program in Vector-borne Disease, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Kyle T. Swallow
- Program in Vector-borne Disease, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Curtis M. Nelson
- Department of Entomology, College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jonathan D. Oliver
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Dana K. Shaw
- Program in Vector-borne Disease, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Ulrike G. Munderloh
- Department of Entomology, College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kelly A. Brayton
- Program in Vector-borne Disease, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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13
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Ullah I, Lang M. Key players in the regulation of iron homeostasis at the host-pathogen interface. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1279826. [PMID: 37942316 PMCID: PMC10627961 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1279826] [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: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Iron plays a crucial role in the biochemistry and development of nearly all living organisms. Iron starvation of pathogens during infection is a striking feature utilized by a host to quell infection. In mammals and some other animals, iron is essentially obtained from diet and recycled from erythrocytes. Free iron is cytotoxic and is readily available to invading pathogens. During infection, most pathogens utilize host iron for their survival. Therefore, to ensure limited free iron, the host's natural system denies this metal in a process termed nutritional immunity. In this fierce battle for iron, hosts win over some pathogens, but others have evolved mechanisms to overdrive the host barriers. Production of siderophores, heme iron thievery, and direct binding of transferrin and lactoferrin to bacterial receptors are some of the pathogens' successful strategies which are highlighted in this review. The intricate interplay between hosts and pathogens in iron alteration systems is crucial for understanding host defense mechanisms and pathogen virulence. This review aims to elucidate the current understanding of host and pathogen iron alteration systems and propose future research directions to enhance our knowledge in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inam Ullah
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Minglin Lang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding, China
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14
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Hop HT, Huy TXN, Lee HJ, Kim S. Intracellular growth of Brucella is mediated by Dps-dependent activation of ferritinophagy. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e55376. [PMID: 37503678 PMCID: PMC10481649 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202255376] [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: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria of the genus Brucella cause brucellosis, one of the world's most common zoonotic diseases. A major contributor to Brucella's virulence is the ability to circumvent host immune defense mechanisms. Here, we find that the DNA-binding protein Dps from Brucella is secreted within the macrophage cytosol, modulating host iron homeostasis and mediating intracellular growth of Brucella. In addition to dampening iron-dependent production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), a key immune effector required for immediate bacterial clearance, cytosolic Dps mediates ferritinophagy activation to elevate intracellular free-iron levels, thereby promoting Brucella growth and inducing host cell necrosis. Inactivation of the ferritinophagy pathway by Ncoa4 gene knockout significantly inhibits intracellular growth of Brucella and host cell death. Our study uncovers an unconventional role of bacterial Dps, identifying a crucial virulence mechanism used by Brucella to adapt to the harsh environment inside macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huynh Tan Hop
- University Center for Bioscience and BiotechnologyNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan
| | | | - Hu Jang Lee
- College of Veterinary MedicineGyeongsang National UniversityJinjuKorea
| | - Suk Kim
- College of Veterinary MedicineGyeongsang National UniversityJinjuKorea
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15
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Hanson EK, Whelan RJ. Application of the Nicoya OpenSPR to Studies of Biomolecular Binding: A Review of the Literature from 2016 to 2022. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:4831. [PMID: 37430747 DOI: 10.3390/s23104831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
The Nicoya OpenSPR is a benchtop surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instrument. As with other optical biosensor instruments, it is suitable for the label-free interaction analysis of a diverse set of biomolecules, including proteins, peptides, antibodies, nucleic acids, lipids, viruses, and hormones/cytokines. Supported assays include affinity/kinetics characterization, concentration analysis, yes/no assessment of binding, competition studies, and epitope mapping. OpenSPR exploits localized SPR detection in a benchtop platform and can be connected with an autosampler (XT) to perform automated analysis over an extended time period. In this review article, we provide a comprehensive survey of the 200 peer-reviewed papers published between 2016 and 2022 that use the OpenSPR platform. We highlight the range of biomolecular analytes and interactions that have been investigated using the platform, provide an overview on the most common applications for the instrument, and point out some representative research that highlights the flexibility and utility of the instrument.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza K Hanson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Rebecca J Whelan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
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16
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Giengkam S, Kullapanich C, Wongsantichon J, Adcox HE, Gillespie JJ, Salje J. Orientia tsutsugamushi: analysis of the mobilome of a highly fragmented and repetitive genome reveals ongoing lateral gene transfer in an obligate intracellular bacterium. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.11.540415. [PMID: 37215039 PMCID: PMC10197636 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.11.540415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The rickettsial human pathogen Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot) is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium with one of the most highly fragmented and repetitive genomes of any organism. Around 50% of its ~2.3 Mb genome is comprised of repetitive DNA that is derived from the highly proliferated Rickettsiales amplified genetic element (RAGE). RAGE is an integrative and conjugative element (ICE) that is present in a single Ot genome in up to 92 copies, most of which are partially or heavily degraded. In this report, we analysed RAGEs in eight fully sequenced Ot genomes and manually curated and reannotated all RAGE-associated genes, including those encoding DNA mobilisation proteins, P-type (vir) and F-type (tra) type IV secretion system (T4SS) components, Ankyrin repeat- and tetratricopeptide repeat-containing effectors, and other piggybacking cargo. Originally, the heavily degraded Ot RAGEs led to speculation that they are remnants of historical ICEs that are no longer active. Our analysis, however, identified two Ot genomes harbouring one or more intact RAGEs with complete F-T4SS genes essential for mediating ICE DNA transfer. As similar ICEs have been identified in unrelated rickettsial species, we assert that RAGEs play an ongoing role in lateral gene transfer within the Rickettsiales. Remarkably, we also identified in several Ot genomes remnants of prophages with no similarity to other rickettsial prophages. Together these findings indicate that, despite their obligate intracellular lifestyle and host range restricted to mites, rodents and humans, Ot genomes are highly dynamic and shaped through ongoing invasions by mobile genetic elements and viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suparat Giengkam
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chitrasak Kullapanich
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jantana Wongsantichon
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Haley E. Adcox
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Joseph J. Gillespie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Jeanne Salje
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pathology, Department of Biochemistry, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, UK
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17
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Gao M, Zhao T, Zhang C, Li P, Wang J, Han J, Zhang N, Pang B, Liu S. Ferritinophagy-mediated iron competition in RUTIs: Tug-of-war between UPEC and host. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 163:114859. [PMID: 37167722 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the main pathogen of recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs). Urinary tract infection is a complicated interaction between UPEC and the host. During infection, UPEC can evade the host's immune response and retain in bladder epithelial cells, which requires adequate nutritional support. Iron is the first necessary trace element in life and a key nutritional factor, making it an important part of the competition between UPEC and the host. On the one hand, UPEC grabs iron to satisfy its reproduction, on the other hand, the host relies on iron to build nutritional immunity defenses against UPEC. Ferritinophagy is a selective autophagy of ferritin mediated by nuclear receptor coactivator 4, which is not only a way for the host to regulate iron metabolism to maintain iron homeostasis, but also a key point of competition between the host and UPEC. Although recent studies have confirmed the role of ferritinophagy in the progression of many diseases, the mechanism of potential interactions between ferritinophagy in UPEC and the host is poorly understood. In this paper, we reviewed the potential mechanisms of ferritinophagy-mediated iron competition in the UPEC-host interactions. This competitive relationship, like a tug-of-war, is a confrontation between the capability of UPEC to capture iron and the host's nutritional immunity defense, which could be the trigger for RUTIs. Therefore, understanding ferritinophagy-mediated iron competition may provide new strategies for exploring effective antibiotic alternative therapies to prevent and treat RUTIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqi Gao
- Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China
| | - Tingting Zhao
- Department of Nephrology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Immune-Mediated Inflammatory 9 Diseases, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Chuanlong Zhang
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Nephrology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Immune-Mediated Inflammatory 9 Diseases, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jiazhe Wang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jiatong Han
- Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China
| | - Bo Pang
- International Medical Department of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
| | - Shiwei Liu
- Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China.
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18
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Dai Y, Zhu C, Xiao W, Huang K, Wang X, Shi C, Lin D, Zhang H, Liu X, Peng B, Gao Y, Liu CH, Ge B, Kaufmann SH, Feng CG, Chen X, Cai Y. Mycobacterium tuberculosis hijacks host TRIM21- and NCOA4-dependent ferritinophagy to enhance intracellular growth. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:159941. [PMID: 37066876 PMCID: PMC10104892 DOI: 10.1172/jci159941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferritin, a key regulator of iron homeostasis in macrophages, has been reported to confer host defenses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. Nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) was recently identified as a cargo receptor in ferritin degradation. Here, we show that Mtb infection enhanced NCOA4-mediated ferritin degradation in macrophages, which in turn increased the bioavailability of iron to intracellular Mtb and therefore promoted bacterial growth. Of clinical relevance, the upregulation of FTH1 in macrophages was associated with tuberculosis (TB) disease progression in humans. Mechanistically, Mtb infection enhanced NCOA4-mediated ferritin degradation through p38/AKT1- and TRIM21-mediated proteasomal degradation of HERC2, an E3 ligase of NCOA4. Finally, we confirmed that NCOA4 deficiency in myeloid cells expedites the clearance of Mtb infection in a murine model. Together, our findings revealed a strategy by which Mtb hijacks host ferritin metabolism for its own intracellular survival. Therefore, this represents a potential target for host-directed therapy against tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youchao Dai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Department of Pathogen Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
- Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuanzhi Zhu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Drug Resistance Tuberculosis Research, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Department of Pathogen Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kaisong Huang
- Zhuhai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, China
| | - Xin Wang
- First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chenyan Shi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Department of Pathogen Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dachuan Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Department of Pathogen Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huihua Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Department of Pathogen Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
- Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqian Liu
- Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Infectious Disease, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bin Peng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability & Disease Prevention and Carson International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yi Gao
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cui Hua Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Baoxue Ge
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Stefan He Kaufmann
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Hagler Institute for Advanced Study, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Carl G Feng
- Immunology and Host Defense Group, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Xinchun Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Department of Pathogen Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yi Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Department of Pathogen Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
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19
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Gillespie JJ, Salje J. Orientia and Rickettsia: different flowers from the same garden. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 74:102318. [PMID: 37080115 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Recent discoveries of basal extracellular Rickettsiales have illuminated divergent evolutionary paths to host dependency in later-evolving lineages. Family Rickettsiaceae, primarily comprised of numerous protist- and invertebrate-associated species, also includes human pathogens from two genera, Orientia and Rickettsia. Once considered sister taxa, these bacteria form distinct lineages with newly appreciated lifestyles and morphological traits. Contrasting other rickettsial human pathogens in Family Anaplasmataceae, Orientia and Rickettsia species do not reside in host-derived vacuoles and lack glycolytic potential. With only a few described mechanisms, strategies for commandeering host glycolysis to support cytosolic growth remain to be discovered. While regulatory systems for this unique mode of intracellular parasitism are unclear, conjugative transposons unique to Orientia and Rickettsia species provide insights that are critical for determining how these obligate intracellular pathogens overtake eukaryotic cytosol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Gillespie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, USA.
| | - Jeanne Salje
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Pathology, and Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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20
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Jin X, Jiang C, Zou Z, Huang H, Li X, Xu S, Tan R. Ferritinophagy in the etiopathogenic mechanism of related diseases. J Nutr Biochem 2023; 117:109339. [PMID: 37061010 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2023.109339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Iron is an essential trace element that is involved in a variety of physiological processes. Ferritinophagy is selective autophagy mediated by nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4), which regulates iron homeostasis in the body. Upon iron depletion or starvation, ferritinophagy is activated, releasing large amounts of Fe2+ and increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to ferroptosis. This plays a significant role in the etiopathogenesis of many diseases, such as metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, tumors, cardiomyopathy, and ischemia-reperfusion ischemia-reperfusion injury. Here, we first review the regulation and functions of ferritinophagy and then describe its involvement in different diseases, with hopes of providing new understanding and insights into iron metabolism and iron disorder-related diseases and the therapeutic opportunity for targeting ferritinophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Jin
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, China; Department of Clinical Nutrition, Guangzhou Institute of Disease-Oriented Nutritional Research, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunjie Jiang
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Guangzhou Institute of Disease-Oriented Nutritional Research, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhizhou Zou
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, China; Department of Clinical Nutrition, Guangzhou Institute of Disease-Oriented Nutritional Research, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - He Huang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, China; Department of Clinical Nutrition, Guangzhou Institute of Disease-Oriented Nutritional Research, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojian Li
- Department of Burn, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Songji Xu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
| | - Rongshao Tan
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Guangzhou Institute of Disease-Oriented Nutritional Research, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
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21
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Gehrer CM, Mitterstiller AM, Grubwieser P, Meyron-Holtz EG, Weiss G, Nairz M. Advances in Ferritin Physiology and Possible Implications in Bacterial Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:4659. [PMID: 36902088 PMCID: PMC10003477 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to its advantageous redox properties, iron plays an important role in the metabolism of nearly all life. However, these properties are not only a boon but also the bane of such life forms. Since labile iron results in the generation of reactive oxygen species by Fenton chemistry, iron is stored in a relatively safe form inside of ferritin. Despite the fact that the iron storage protein ferritin has been extensively researched, many of its physiological functions are hitherto unresolved. However, research regarding ferritin's functions is gaining momentum. For example, recent major discoveries on its secretion and distribution mechanisms have been made as well as the paradigm-changing finding of intracellular compartmentalization of ferritin via interaction with nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4). In this review, we discuss established knowledge as well as these new findings and the implications they may have for host-pathogen interaction during bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clemens M. Gehrer
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna-Maria Mitterstiller
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Philipp Grubwieser
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Esther G. Meyron-Holtz
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Günter Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Iron Metabolism and Anemia Research, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Manfred Nairz
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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22
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Verhoeve VI, Lehman SS, Driscoll TP, Beckmann JF, Gillespie JJ. Metagenome diversity illuminates origins of pathogen effectors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.26.530123. [PMID: 36909625 PMCID: PMC10002696 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.26.530123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent metagenome assembled genome (MAG) analyses have profoundly impacted Rickettsiology systematics. Discovery of basal lineages (Mitibacteraceae and Athabascaceae) with predicted extracellular lifestyles reveals an evolutionary timepoint for the transition to host dependency, which occurred independent of mitochondrial evolution. Notably, these basal rickettsiae carry the Rickettsiales vir homolog (rvh) type IV secretion system (T4SS) and purportedly use rvh to kill congener microbes rather than parasitize host cells as described for derived rickettsial pathogens. MAG analysis also substantially increased diversity for genus Rickettsia and delineated a basal lineage (Tisiphia) that stands to inform on the rise of human pathogens from protist and invertebrate endosymbionts. Herein, we probed Rickettsiales MAG and genomic diversity for the distribution of Rickettsia rvh effectors to ascertain their origins. A sparse distribution of most Rickettsia rvh effectors outside of Rickettsiaceae lineages indicates unique rvh evolution from basal extracellular species and other rickettsial families. Remarkably, nearly every effector was found in multiple divergent forms with variable architectures, illuminating profound roles for gene duplication and recombination in shaping effector repertoires in Rickettsia pathogens. Lateral gene transfer plays a prominent role shaping the rvh effector landscape, as evinced by the discover of many effectors on plasmids and conjugative transposons, as well as pervasive effector gene exchange between Rickettsia and Legionella species. Our study exemplifies how MAGs can provide incredible insight on the origins of pathogen effectors and how their architectural modifications become tailored to eukaryotic host cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria I Verhoeve
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephanie S Lehman
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Timothy P Driscoll
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - John F Beckmann
- Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Joseph J Gillespie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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23
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Park JM, Genera BM, Fahy D, Swallow KT, Nelson CM, Oliver JD, Shaw DK, Munderloh UG, Brayton KA. An Anaplasma phagocytophilum T4SS effector, AteA, is essential for tick infection. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.06.527355. [PMID: 36798287 PMCID: PMC9934581 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.06.527355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pathogens must adapt to disparate environments in permissive host species, a feat that is especially pronounced for vector-borne microbes, which transition between vertebrate hosts and arthropod vectors to complete their lifecycles. Most knowledge about arthropod-vectored bacterial pathogens centers on their life in the mammalian host, where disease occurs. However, disease outbreaks are driven by the arthropod vectors. Adapting to the arthropod is critical for obligate intracellular rickettsial pathogens, as they depend on eukaryotic cells for survival. To manipulate the intracellular environment, these bacteria use Type IV Secretion Systems (T4SS) to deliver effectors into the host cell. To date, few rickettsial T4SS translocated effectors have been identified and have only been examined in the context of mammalian infection. We identified an effector from the tick-borne rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum , HGE1_02492, as critical for survival in tick cells and acquisition by ticks in vivo . Conversely, HGE1_02492 was dispensable during mammalian cell culture and murine infection. We show HGE1_02492 is translocatable in a T4SS-dependent manner to the host cell cytosol. In eukaryotic cells, the HGE1_02492 localized with cortical actin filaments, which is dependent on multiple sub-domains of the protein. HGE1_02492 is the first arthropod-vector specific T4SS translocated effector identified from a rickettsial pathogen. Moreover, the subcellular target of HGE1_02492 suggests that A. phagocytophilum is manipulating actin to enable arthropod colonization. Based on these findings, we propose the name AteA for Anaplasma ( phagocytophilum ) tick effector A. Altogether, we show that A. phagocytophilum uses distinct strategies to cycle between mammals and arthropods. Importance Ticks are the number one vector of pathogens for livestock worldwide and for humans in the US. The biology of tick transmission is an understudied area. Understanding this critical interaction could provide opportunities to affect the course of disease spread. In this study we examined the zoonotic tick-borne agent Anaplasma phagocytophilum and identified a secreted protein, AteA, that is expressed in a tick-specific manner. These secreted proteins, termed effectors, are the first proteins to interact with the host environment. AteA is essential for survival in ticks and appears to interact with cortical actin. Most effector proteins are studied in the context of the mammalian host; however, understanding how this unique set of proteins affect tick transmission is critical to developing interventions.
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24
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Hortová-Kohoutková M, Skotáková M, Onyango IG, Slezáková M, Panovský R, Opatřil L, Slanina P, De Zuani M, Mrkva O, Andrejčinová I, Lázničková P, Dvončová M, Mýtniková A, Ostland V, Šitina M, Stokin GB, Šrámek V, Vlková M, Helán M, Frič J. Hepcidin and ferritin levels as markers of immune cell activation during septic shock, severe COVID-19 and sterile inflammation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1110540. [PMID: 36776891 PMCID: PMC9911830 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1110540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Major clinically relevant inflammatory events such as septic shock and severe COVID-19 trigger dynamic changes in the host immune system, presenting promising candidates for new biomarkers to improve precision diagnostics and patient stratification. Hepcidin, a master regulator of iron metabolism, has been intensively studied in many pathologies associated with immune system activation, however these data have never been compared to other clinical settings. Thus, we aimed to reveal the dynamics of iron regulation in various clinical settings and to determine the suitability of hepcidin and/or ferritin levels as biomarkers of inflammatory disease severity. Cohorts To investigate the overall predictive ability of hepcidin and ferritin, we enrolled the patients suffering with three different diagnoses - in detail 40 patients with COVID-19, 29 patients in septic shock and eight orthopedic patients who were compared to nine healthy donors and all cohorts to each other. Results We showed that increased hepcidin levels reflect overall immune cell activation driven by intrinsic stimuli, without requiring direct involvement of infection vectors. Contrary to hepcidin, ferritin levels were more strongly boosted by pathogen-induced inflammation - in septic shock more than four-fold and in COVID-19 six-fold in comparison to sterile inflammation. We also defined the predictive capacity of hepcidin-to-ferritin ratio with AUC=0.79 and P = 0.03. Discussion Our findings confirm that hepcidin is a potent marker of septic shock and other acute inflammation-associated pathologies and demonstrate the utility of the hepcidin-to-ferritin ratio as a predictor of mortality in septic shock, but not in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monika Skotáková
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
| | - Isaac G. Onyango
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
| | - Miriam Slezáková
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
| | - Roman Panovský
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia,1st Department of Internal Medicine/Cardioangiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Lukáš Opatřil
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia,1st Department of Internal Medicine/Cardioangiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Peter Slanina
- Institute of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Marco De Zuani
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ondřej Mrkva
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ivana Andrejčinová
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia,Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Petra Lázničková
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
| | - Martina Dvončová
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Alexandra Mýtniková
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia,Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | | | - Michal Šitina
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia,Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Gorazd B. Stokin
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia,Celica BIOMEDICAL, Ljubljana, Slovenia,Division of Neurology, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vladimír Šrámek
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Marcela Vlková
- Institute of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Martin Helán
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia,Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Frič
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia,Department of Modern Immunotherapy, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czechia,*Correspondence: Jan Frič,
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25
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Efficacy and Immune Correlates of OMP-1B and VirB2-4 Vaccines for Protection of Dogs from Tick Transmission of Ehrlichia chaffeensis. mBio 2022; 13:e0214022. [PMID: 36342170 PMCID: PMC9765013 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02140-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichia chaffeensis, an obligatory intracellular bacterium, causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis, an emerging disease transmitted by the Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum. Here, we investigated the vaccine potential of OMP-1B and VirB2-4. Among the highly expressed and immunodominant E. chaffeensis porin P28s/OMP-1s, OMP-1B is predominantly expressed by E. chaffeensis in A. americanum ticks, whereas VirB2-4 is a pilus protein of the type IV secretion system essential for E. chaffeensis infection of host cells. Immunization with recombinant OMP-1B (rOMP-1B) or recombinant VirB2-4 (rVirB2-4) protected mice from E. chaffeensis infection as effectively as Entry-triggering protein of Ehrlichia immunization. Dogs vaccinated with a nanoparticle vaccine composed of rOMP-1B or rVirB2-4 and an immunostimulating complex developed high antibody titers against the respective antigen. Upon challenge with E. chaffeensis-infected A. americanum ticks, E. chaffeensis was undetectable in the blood of rOMP-1B or rVirB2-4 immunized dogs on day 3 or 6 post-tick attachment and for the duration of the experiment, whereas dogs sham-vaccinated with the complex alone were persistently infected for the duration of the experiment. E. chaffeensis exponentially replicates in blood-feeding ticks to facilitate transmission. Previously infected ticks removed from OMP-1B-immunized dogs showed significantly lower bacterial load relative to ticks removed from sham-immunized dogs, suggesting in-tick neutralization. Peripheral blood leukocytes from rVirB2-4-vaccinated dogs secreted significantly elevated amounts of interferon-γ soon after tick attachment by ELISpot assay and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, suggesting interferon-γ-mediated Ehrlichia inhibition. Thus, Ehrlichia surface-exposed proteins OMP-1B and VirB2-4 represent new potential vaccine candidates for blocking tick-borne ehrlichial transmission. IMPORTANCE Ehrlichia are tick-borne pathogens that cause a potentially fatal illness-ehrlichiosis-in animals and humans worldwide. Currently, no vaccine is available for ehrlichiosis, and treatment options are limited. Ticks are biological vectors of Ehrlichia, i.e., Ehrlichia exponentially replicates in blood-sucking ticks before infecting animals. Ticks also inoculate immunomodulatory substances into animals. Thus, it is important to study effects of candidate vaccines on Ehrlichia infection in both animals and ticks and the immune responses of animals shortly after infected tick challenge. Here, we investigated the efficacy of vaccination with functionality-defined two surface-exposed outer membrane proteins of Ehrlichia chaffeensis, OMP-1B and VirB2-4, in a mouse infection model and then in a dog-tick transmission model. Our results begin to fill gaps in our understanding of Ehrlichia-derived protective antigens against tick-transmission and immune correlates and mechanisms that could help future development of vaccines for immunization of humans and animals to counter tick-transmitted ehrlichiosis.
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26
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Liang Q, Yan J, Zhang S, Yang N, Li M, Jin Y, Bai F, Wu W, Cheng Z. CtrA activates the expression of glutathione S-transferase conferring oxidative stress resistance to Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1081614. [PMID: 36579340 PMCID: PMC9791040 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1081614] [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: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the causative agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME), is a Gram-negative obligatory intracellular bacterium, which infects and multiplies in human monocytes and macrophages. Host immune cells produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) to eliminate E. chaffeensis upon infection. E. chaffeensis global transcriptional regulator CtrA activates the expression of GshA and GshB to synthesize glutathione (GSH), the most potent natural antioxidant, upon oxidative stress to combat ROS damage. However, the mechanisms exploited by E. chaffeensis to utilize GSH are still unknown. Here, we found that in E. chaffeensis CtrA activated the expression of glutathione S-transferase (GST) upon oxidative stress, and E. chaffeensis GST utilizes GSH to eliminate ROS and confers the oxidative stress resistance to E. chaffeensis. We found that CtrA bound to the promoter regions of 211 genes, including gst, in E. chaffeensis using chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to deep sequencing (ChIP-seq). Recombinant E. chaffeensis CtrA directly bound to the gst promoter region determined with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and activated the gst expression determined with reporter assay. Recombinant GST showed GSH conjugation activity towards its typical substrate 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (CDNB) in vitro and peptide nucleic acid (PNA) transfection of E. chaffeensis, which can knock down the gst transcription level, reduced bacterial survival upon oxidative stress. Our results demonstrate that E. chaffeensis CtrA regulates GSH utilization, which plays a critical role in resistance to oxidative stress, and aid in the development of new therapeutics for HME.
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27
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Sun K, Li C, Liao S, Yao X, Ouyang Y, Liu Y, Wang Z, Li Z, Yao F. Ferritinophagy, a form of autophagic ferroptosis: New insights into cancer treatment. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1043344. [PMID: 36339539 PMCID: PMC9635757 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1043344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferritinophagy, a form of autophagy, is also an important part of ferroptosis, a type of regulated cell death resulting from abnormal iron metabolism involving the production of reactive oxygen species. As ferroptosis, autophagy and cancer have been revealed, ferritinophagy has attracted increasing attention in cancer development. In this review, we discuss the latest research progress on ferroptosis, autophagy-associated ferroptosis led by ferritinophagy, the regulators of ferritinophagy and promising cancer treatments that target ferritinophagy. Ferritinophagy is at the intersection of ferroptosis and autophagy and plays a significant role in cancer development. The discussed studies provide new insights into the mechanisms of ferritinophagy and promising related treatments for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Sun
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery. Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chenyuan Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery. Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shichong Liao
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery. Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinrui Yao
- School of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, NSW, Australia
| | - Yang Ouyang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery. Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery. Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery. Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiyu Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery. Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Yao
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery. Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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28
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He Z, Shen P, Feng L, Hao H, He Y, Fan G, Liu Z, Zhu K, Wang Y, Zhang N, Hu X, Fu Y, Wu J. Cadmium induces liver dysfunction and ferroptosis through the endoplasmic stress-ferritinophagy axis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 245:114123. [PMID: 36183427 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a type of high-risk heavy metal that can damage organs such as the liver, but its mechanism is not yet clear. Ferroptosis is a newly discovered mode of regulatory cell death. We explored whether ferroptosis is involved in Cd-induced liver damage and the underlying mechanism. Our research showed that Cd induced liver damage by inducing ferroptosis, and the use of ferroptosis inhibitors reduced the degree of liver damage. Moreover, the occurrence of ferroptosis was accompanied by the activation of the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP signaling pathway, and inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress reduced ferroptosis demonstrating that ferroptosis induced by Cd is dependent on ER stress. In addition, chloroquine, a common autophagy inhibitor, mitigated ferroptosis caused by Cd exposure. Then, the iron chelator deferoxamine reduced Cd-induced lipid peroxidation and cell death, demonstrating that the iron regulation disorder caused by ferritin phagocytosis contributes to the Cd-induced ferroptosis. In conclusion, our results show that Cd-induced liver toxicity is accompanied by ferroptosis, which contributes to Cd inducing oxidative stress to trigger autophagy and ER stress to promote the process of ferroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoqi He
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, People Republic of China
| | - Peng Shen
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, People Republic of China
| | - Lianjun Feng
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, People Republic of China
| | - Haoyang Hao
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, People Republic of China
| | - Yuhong He
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, People Republic of China
| | - Guyue Fan
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, People Republic of China
| | - Zhuoyu Liu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, People Republic of China
| | - Kun Zhu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, People Republic of China
| | - Yiqi Wang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, People Republic of China
| | - Naisheng Zhang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, People Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, People Republic of China
| | - Yunhe Fu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, People Republic of China
| | - Jiacheng Wu
- Department of Hepatolibiary Pancreatic Surgery, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, People Republic of China.
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29
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Yan J, Liang Q, Chai Z, Duan N, Li X, Liu Y, Yang N, Li M, Jin Y, Bai F, Wu W, Cheng Z. Glutathione Synthesis Regulated by CtrA Protects Ehrlichia chaffeensis From Host Cell Oxidative Stress. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:846488. [PMID: 35432225 PMCID: PMC9005958 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.846488] [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: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichia chaffeensis, a small Gram-negative obligatory intracellular bacterium, infects human monocytes or macrophages, and causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis, one of the most prevalent, life-threatening emerging zoonoses. Reactive oxygen species are produced by the host immune cells in response to bacterial infections. The mechanisms exploited by E. chaffeensis to resist oxidative stress have not been comprehensively demonstrated. Here, we found that E. chaffeensis encodes two functional enzymes, GshA and GshB, to synthesize glutathione that confers E. chaffeensis the oxidative stress resistance, and that the expression of gshA and gshB is upregulated by CtrA, a global transcriptional regulator, upon oxidative stress. We found that in E. chaffeensis, the expression of gshA and gshB was upregulated upon oxidative stress using quantitative RT-PCR. Ehrlichia chaffeensis GshA or GshB restored the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa GshA or GshB mutant to cope with oxidative stress, respectively. Recombinant E. chaffeensis CtrA directly bound to the promoters of gshA and gshB, determined with electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and activated the expression of gshA and gshB determined with reporter assay. Peptide nucleic acid transfection of E. chaffeensis, which reduced the CtrA protein level, inhibited the oxidative stress-induced upregulation of gshA and gshB. Our findings provide insights into the function and regulation of the two enzymes critical for E. chaffeensis resistance to oxidative stress and may deepen our understanding of E. chaffeensis pathogenesis and adaptation in hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Yan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qi'an Liang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhouyi Chai
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Nan Duan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yajing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Nan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Meifang Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yongxin Jin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Fang Bai
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Weihui Wu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhihui Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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Wang M, Zhao J, Jiang H, Wang X. Tumor-targeted nano-delivery system of therapeutic RNA. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2022; 9:1111-1140. [PMID: 35134106 DOI: 10.1039/d1mh01969d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The birth of RNAi technology has pioneered actionability at the molecular level. Compared to DNA, RNA is less stable and therefore requires more demanding delivery vehicles. With their flexible size, shape, structure, and accessible surface modification, non-viral vectors show great promise for application in RNA delivery. Different non-viral vectors have different ways of binding to RNA. Low immunotoxicity gives RNA significant advantages in tumor treatment. However, the delivery of RNA still has many limitations in vivo. This manuscript summarizes the size-targeting dependence of different organs, followed by a summary of nanovesicles currently in or undergoing clinical trials. It also reviews all RNA delivery systems involved in the current study, including natural, bionic, organic, and inorganic systems. It summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of different delivery methods, which will be helpful for future RNA vehicle design. It is hoped that this will be helpful for gene therapy of clinical tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maonan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics (Chien-Shiung Wu Lab), School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Jingzhou Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics (Chien-Shiung Wu Lab), School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Hui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics (Chien-Shiung Wu Lab), School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Xuemei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics (Chien-Shiung Wu Lab), School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
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Iron Reduction in Dermacentor andersoni Tick Cells Inhibits Anaplasma marginale Replication. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073941. [PMID: 35409307 PMCID: PMC8999750 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073941] [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: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma spp. are obligate intracellular, tick-borne, bacterial pathogens that cause bovine and human anaplasmosis. We lack tools to prevent these diseases in part due to major knowledge gaps in our fundamental understanding of the tick-pathogen interface, including the requirement for and molecules involved in iron transport during tick colonization. We determine that iron is required for the pathogen Anaplasma marginale, which causes bovine anaplasmosis, to replicate in Dermacentor andersoni tick cells. Using bioinformatics and protein modeling, we identified three orthologs of the Gram-negative siderophore-independent iron uptake system, FbpABC. Am069, the A. marginale ortholog of FbpA, lacks predicted iron-binding residues according to the NCBI conserved domain database. However, according to protein modeling, the best structural orthologs of Am069 are iron transport proteins from Cyanobacteria and Campylobacterjejuni. We then determined that all three A. marginale genes are modestly differentially expressed in response to altered host cell iron levels, despite the lack of a Ferric uptake regulator or operon structure. This work is foundational for building a mechanistic understanding of iron uptake, which could lead to interventions to prevent bovine and human anaplasmosis.
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Rikihisa Y. The "Biological Weapons" of Ehrlichia chaffeensis: Novel Molecules and Mechanisms to Subjugate Host Cells. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:830180. [PMID: 35155275 PMCID: PMC8834651 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.830180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichia chaffeensis is an obligatory intracellular bacterium that causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis, an emerging, potentially fatal tick-borne infectious disease. The bacterium enters human cells via the binding of its unique outer-membrane invasin EtpE to the cognate receptor DNase X on the host-cell plasma membrane; this triggers actin polymerization and filopodia formation at the site of E. chaffeensis binding, and blocks activation of phagocyte NADPH oxidase that catalyzes the generation of microbicidal reactive oxygen species. Subsequently, the bacterium replicates by hijacking/dysregulating host-cell functions using Type IV secretion effectors. For example, the Ehrlichia translocated factor (Etf)-1 enters mitochondria and inhibits mitochondria-mediated apoptosis of host cells. Etf-1 also induces autophagy mediated by the small GTPase RAB5, the result being the liberation of catabolites for proliferation inside host cells. Moreover, Etf-2 competes with the RAB5 GTPase-activating protein, for binding to RAB5-GTP on the surface of E. chaffeensis inclusions, which blocks GTP hydrolysis and consequently prevents the fusion of inclusions with host-cell lysosomes. Etf-3 binds ferritin light chain to induce ferritinophagy to obtain intracellular iron. To enable E. chaffeensis to rapidly adapt to the host environment and proliferate, the bacterium must acquire host membrane cholesterol and glycerophospholipids for the purpose of producing large amounts of its own membrane. Future studies on the arsenal of unique Ehrlichia molecules and their interplay with host-cell components will undoubtedly advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of obligatory intracellular infection and may identify hitherto unrecognized signaling pathways of human hosts. Such data could be exploited for development of treatment and control measures for ehrlichiosis as well as other ailments that potentially could involve the same host-cell signaling pathways that are appropriated by E. chaffeensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuko Rikihisa
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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Ismail N, Sharma A, Soong L, Walker DH. Review: Protective Immunity and Immunopathology of Ehrlichiosis. ZOONOSES (BURLINGTON, MASS.) 2022; 2:10.15212/zoonoses-2022-0009. [PMID: 35876763 PMCID: PMC9300479 DOI: 10.15212/zoonoses-2022-0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Human monocytic ehrlichiosis, a tick transmitted infection, ranges in severity from apparently subclinical to a fatal toxic shock-like fatal disease. Models in immunocompetent mice range from an abortive infection to uniformly lethal depending on the infecting Ehrlichia species, dose of inoculum, and route of inoculation. Effective immunity is mediated by CD4+ T lymphocytes and gamma interferon. Lethal infection occurs with early overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines and overproduction of TNF alpha and IL-10 by CD8+ T lymphocytes. Furthermore, fatal ehrlichiosis is associated with signaling via TLR 9/MyD88 with upregulation of several inflammasome complexes and secretion of IL-1 beta, IL-1 alpha, and IL-18 by hepatic mononuclear cells, suggesting activation of canonical and noncanonical inflammasome pathways, a deleterious role for IL-18, and the protective role for caspase 1. Autophagy promotes ehrlichial infection, and MyD88 signaling hinders ehrlichial infection by inhibiting autophagy induction and flux. Activation of caspase 11 during infection of hepatocytes by the lethal ehrlichial species after interferon alpha receptor signaling results in the production of inflammasome-dependent IL-1 beta, extracellular secretion of HMGB1, and pyroptosis. The high level of HMGB1 in lethal ehrlichiosis suggests a role in toxic shock. Studies of primary bone marrow-derived macrophages infected by highly avirulent or mildly avirulent ehrlichiae reveal divergent M1 and M2 macrophage polarization that links with generation of pathogenic CD8 T cells, neutrophils, and excessive inflammation or with strong expansion of protective Th1 and NKT cells, resolution of inflammation and clearance of infection, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahed Ismail
- Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago-College of Medicine, University of Illinois Hospitals & Health Science System, Chicago, IL
| | - Aditya Sharma
- Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago-College of Medicine, University of Illinois Hospitals & Health Science System, Chicago, IL
| | - Lynn Soong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
- Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense & Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - David H. Walker
- Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense & Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
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