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Afonso AC, Botting J, Gomes IB, Saavedra MJ, Simões LC, Liu J, Simões M. Elucidating bacterial coaggregation through a physicochemical and imaging surface characterization. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 948:174872. [PMID: 39032752 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial coaggregation is a highly specific type of cell-cell interaction, well-documented among oral bacteria, and involves specific characteristics of the cell surface of the coaggregating strains. However, the understanding of the mechanisms promoting coaggregation in aquatic systems remains limited. This gap is critical to address, given the broad implications of coaggregation for multispecies biofilm formation, water quality, the performance of engineered systems, and diverse biotechnological applications. Therefore, this study aims to comprehensively characterize the cell surface of the coaggregating strain Delftia acidovorans 005P, isolated from drinking water, alongside a non-coaggregating strain, D. acidovorans 009P. By analyzing two strains of the same species, we aim to identify the factors contributing to the coaggregation ability of strain 005P. To achieve this, we employed a combination of physicochemical characterization, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and advancing imaging techniques [transmission electron microscopy and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET)]. The coaggregating strain (005P) exhibited higher surface hydrophobicity, negative surface charge, and cell surface and co-adhesion energies than the non-coaggregating strain (009P). The chemical characterization of bacterial surfaces through FTIR revealed subtle differences, particularly in spectral regions linked to carbohydrates and phosphodiesters/amide III of proteins (860-930 cm-1 and 1212-1240 cm-1, respectively). Cryo-ET highlighted significant differences in pili structures between the strains, such as variations in length, frequency, and arrangement. The pili in the 005P strain, identified as pili-like adhesins, serve as key mediators of coaggregation. By integrating physicochemical analyses and high-resolution imaging techniques, this study conclusively links the coaggregation ability of D. acidovorans 005P to its unique pili characteristics, emphasizing their crucial role in microbial coaggregation in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C Afonso
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; CITAB, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; CEB-LABBELS, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Jack Botting
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06536, United States; New Haven Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06516, United States
| | - Inês B Gomes
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria J Saavedra
- CITAB, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Lúcia C Simões
- CEB-LABBELS, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06536, United States; New Haven Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06516, United States
| | - Manuel Simões
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
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2
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Böhning J, Tarafder AK, Bharat TA. The role of filamentous matrix molecules in shaping the architecture and emergent properties of bacterial biofilms. Biochem J 2024; 481:245-263. [PMID: 38358118 PMCID: PMC10903470 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210301] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Numerous bacteria naturally occur within spatially organised, multicellular communities called biofilms. Moreover, most bacterial infections proceed with biofilm formation, posing major challenges to human health. Within biofilms, bacterial cells are embedded in a primarily self-produced extracellular matrix, which is a defining feature of all biofilms. The biofilm matrix is a complex, viscous mixture primarily composed of polymeric substances such as polysaccharides, filamentous protein fibres, and extracellular DNA. The structured arrangement of the matrix bestows bacteria with beneficial emergent properties that are not displayed by planktonic cells, conferring protection against physical and chemical stresses, including antibiotic treatment. However, a lack of multi-scale information at the molecular level has prevented a better understanding of this matrix and its properties. Here, we review recent progress on the molecular characterisation of filamentous biofilm matrix components and their three-dimensional spatial organisation within biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Böhning
- Structural Studies Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, U.K
| | - Abul K. Tarafder
- Structural Studies Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, U.K
| | - Tanmay A.M. Bharat
- Structural Studies Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, U.K
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3
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Nazeer RR, Wang M, Welch M. More than just a gel: the extracellular matrixome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1307857. [PMID: 38028553 PMCID: PMC10679415 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1307857] [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: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Armed with an arsenal of protein secretion systems, antibiotic efflux pumps, and the occasional proclivity for explosive self-destruction, Pseudomonas aeruginosa has become a model for the study of bacterial pathogenesis and biofilm formation. There is accruing evidence to suggest that the biofilm matrix-the bioglue that holds the structure together-acts not only in a structural capacity, but is also a molecular "net" whose function is to capture and retain certain secreted products (including proteins and small molecules). In this perspective, we argue that the biofilm matrixome is a distinct extracellular compartment, and one that is differentiated from the bulk secretome. Some of the points we raise are deliberately speculative, but are becoming increasingly accessible to experimental investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Martin Welch
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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4
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Ochner H, Bharat TAM. Charting the molecular landscape of the cell. Structure 2023; 31:1297-1305. [PMID: 37699393 PMCID: PMC7615466 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Biological function of macromolecules is closely tied to their cellular location, as well as to interactions with other molecules within the native environment of the cell. Therefore, to obtain detailed mechanistic insights into macromolecular functionality, one of the outstanding targets for structural biology is to produce an atomic-level understanding of the cell. One structural biology technique that has already been used to directly derive atomic models of macromolecules from cells, without any additional external information, is electron cryotomography (cryoET). In this perspective article, we discuss possible routes to chart the molecular landscape of the cell by advancing cryoET imaging as well as by embedding cryoET into correlative imaging workflows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Ochner
- Structural Studies Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CB2 0QH Cambridge, UK
| | - Tanmay A M Bharat
- Structural Studies Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CB2 0QH Cambridge, UK.
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5
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Vo LH, Hong S, Stepler KE, Liyanaarachchi SM, Yang J, Nemes P, Poulin MB. Mapping protein-exopolysaccharide binding interaction in Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms by live cell proximity labeling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.29.555326. [PMID: 37693546 PMCID: PMC10491226 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.29.555326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms consist of cells encased in an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) composed of exopolysaccharides, extracellular DNA, and proteins that are critical for cell-cell adhesion and protect the cells from environmental stress, antibiotic treatments, and the host immune response. Degrading EPS components or blocking their production have emerged as promising strategies for prevention or dispersal of bacterial biofilms, but we still have little information about the specific biomolecular interactions that occur between cells and EPS components and how those interactions contribute to biofilm production. Staphylococcus epidermidis is a leading cause of nosocomial infections as a result of producing biofilms that use the exopolysaccharide poly-(1→6)-β-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG) as a major structural component. In this study, we have developed a live cell proximity labeling approach combined with quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics to map the PNAG interactome of live S. epidermidis biofilms. Through these measurements we discovered elastin-binding protein (EbpS) as a major PNAG-interacting protein. Using live cell binding measurements, we found that the lysin motif (LysM) domain of EbpS specifically binds to PNAG present in S. epidermidis biofilms. Our work provides a novel method for the rapid identification of exopolysaccharide-binding proteins in live biofilms that will help to extend our understanding of the biomolecular interactions that are required for bacterial biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luan H. Vo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Steven Hong
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Kaitlyn E. Stepler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Sureshee M. Liyanaarachchi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Jack Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Peter Nemes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Myles B. Poulin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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van Hoogstraten SWG, Kuik C, Arts JJC, Cillero-Pastor B. Molecular imaging of bacterial biofilms-a systematic review. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023:1-22. [PMID: 37452571 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2223704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The formation of bacterial biofilms in the human body and on medical devices is a serious human health concern. Infections related to bacterial biofilms are often chronic and difficult to treat. Detailed information on biofilm formation and composition over time is essential for a fundamental understanding of the underlying mechanisms of biofilm formation and its response to anti-biofilm therapy. However, information on the chemical composition, structural components of biofilms, and molecular interactions regarding metabolism- and communication pathways within the biofilm, such as uptake of administered drugs or inter-bacteria communication, remains elusive. Imaging these molecules and their distribution in the biofilm increases insight into biofilm development, growth, and response to environmental factors or drugs. This systematic review provides an overview of molecular imaging techniques used for bacterial biofilm imaging. The techniques included mass spectrometry-based techniques, fluorescence-labelling techniques, spectroscopic techniques, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), micro-computed tomography (µCT), and several multimodal approaches. Many molecules were imaged, such as proteins, lipids, metabolites, and quorum-sensing (QS) molecules, which are crucial in intercellular communication pathways. Advantages and disadvantages of each technique, including multimodal approaches, to study molecular processes in bacterial biofilms are discussed, and recommendations on which technique best suits specific research aims are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- S W G van Hoogstraten
- Laboratory for Experimental Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CAPHRI, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - C Kuik
- Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - J J C Arts
- Laboratory for Experimental Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CAPHRI, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - B Cillero-Pastor
- Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, The MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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7
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Reichhardt C. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Matrix Protein CdrA Has Similarities to Other Fibrillar Adhesin Proteins. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0001923. [PMID: 37098957 PMCID: PMC10210978 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00019-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of bacteria to adhere to each other and both biotic and abiotic surfaces is key to biofilm formation, and one way that bacteria adhere is using fibrillar adhesins. Fibrillar adhesins share several key characteristics, including (i) they are extracellular, surface-associated proteins, (ii) they contain an adhesive domain as well as a repetitive stalk domain, and (iii) they are either a monomer or homotrimer (i.e., identical, coiled-coil) of a high molecular weight protein. Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses the fibrillar adhesin called CdrA to promote bacterial aggregation and biofilm formation. Here, the current literature on CdrA is reviewed, including its transcriptional and posttranslational regulation by the second messenger c-di-GMP as well as what is known about its structure and ability to interact with other molecules. I highlight its similarities to other fibrillar adhesins and discuss open questions that remain to be answered toward a better understanding of CdrA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Reichhardt
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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8
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Böhning J, Dobbelstein AW, Sulkowski N, Eilers K, von Kügelgen A, Tarafder AK, Peak-Chew SY, Skehel M, Alva V, Filloux A, Bharat TAM. Architecture of the biofilm-associated archaic Chaperone-Usher pilus CupE from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011177. [PMID: 37058467 PMCID: PMC10104325 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Chaperone-Usher Pathway (CUP) pili are major adhesins in Gram-negative bacteria, mediating bacterial adherence to biotic and abiotic surfaces. While classical CUP pili have been extensively characterized, little is known about so-called archaic CUP pili, which are phylogenetically widespread and promote biofilm formation by several human pathogens. In this study, we present the electron cryomicroscopy structure of the archaic CupE pilus from the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We show that CupE1 subunits within the pilus are arranged in a zigzag architecture, containing an N-terminal donor β-strand extending from each subunit into the next, where it is anchored by hydrophobic interactions, with comparatively weaker interactions at the rest of the inter-subunit interface. Imaging CupE pili on the surface of P. aeruginosa cells using electron cryotomography shows that CupE pili adopt variable curvatures in response to their environment, which might facilitate their role in promoting cellular attachment. Finally, bioinformatic analysis shows the widespread abundance of cupE genes in isolates of P. aeruginosa and the co-occurrence of cupE with other cup clusters, suggesting interdependence of cup pili in regulating bacterial adherence within biofilms. Taken together, our study provides insights into the architecture of archaic CUP pili, providing a structural basis for understanding their role in promoting cellular adhesion and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Böhning
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian W. Dobbelstein
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nina Sulkowski
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kira Eilers
- Department of Life Sciences, MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andriko von Kügelgen
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Abul K. Tarafder
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sew-Yeu Peak-Chew
- Cell Biology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Skehel
- Proteomics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vikram Alva
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alain Filloux
- Department of Life Sciences, MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tanmay A. M. Bharat
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Structural Studies Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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9
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Böhning J, Ghrayeb M, Pedebos C, Abbas DK, Khalid S, Chai L, Bharat TAM. Donor-strand exchange drives assembly of the TasA scaffold in Bacillus subtilis biofilms. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7082. [PMID: 36400765 PMCID: PMC9674648 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34700-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many bacteria in nature exist in multicellular communities termed biofilms, where cells are embedded in an extracellular matrix that provides rigidity to the biofilm and protects cells from chemical and mechanical stresses. In the Gram-positive model bacterium Bacillus subtilis, TasA is the major protein component of the biofilm matrix, where it has been reported to form functional amyloid fibres contributing to biofilm structure and stability. Here, we present electron cryomicroscopy structures of TasA fibres, which show that, rather than forming amyloid fibrils, TasA monomers assemble into fibres through donor-strand exchange, with each subunit donating a β-strand to complete the fold of the next subunit along the fibre. Combining electron cryotomography, atomic force microscopy, and mutational studies, we show how TasA fibres congregate in three dimensions to form abundant fibre bundles that are essential for B. subtilis biofilm formation. Our study explains the previously observed biochemical properties of TasA and shows how a bacterial extracellular globular protein can assemble from monomers into β-sheet-rich fibres, and how such fibres assemble into bundles in biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Böhning
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE UK
| | - Mnar Ghrayeb
- grid.9619.70000 0004 1937 0538Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, 91904 Israel ,grid.9619.70000 0004 1937 0538The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, 91904 Israel
| | - Conrado Pedebos
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU UK
| | - Daniel K. Abbas
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE UK
| | - Syma Khalid
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU UK
| | - Liraz Chai
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel. .,The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
| | - Tanmay A. M. Bharat
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE UK ,grid.42475.300000 0004 0605 769XStructural Studies Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH UK
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10
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The long and the short of Periscope Proteins. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:1293-1302. [PMID: 36196877 DOI: 10.1042/bst20220194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria sense, interact with, and modify their environmental niche by deploying a molecular ensemble at the cell surface. The changeability of this exposed interface, combined with extreme changes in the functional repertoire associated with lifestyle switches from planktonic to adherent and biofilm states necessitate dynamic variability. Dynamic surface changes include chemical modifications to the cell wall; export of diverse extracellular biofilm components; and modulation of expression of cell surface proteins for adhesion, co-aggregation and virulence. Local enrichment for highly repetitive proteins with high tandem repeat identity has been an enigmatic phenomenon observed in diverse bacterial species. Preliminary observations over decades of research suggested these repeat regions were hypervariable, as highly related strains appeared to express homologues with diverse molecular mass. Long-read sequencing data have been interrogated to reveal variation in repeat number; in combination with structural, biophysical and molecular dynamics approaches, the Periscope Protein class has been defined for cell surface attached proteins that dynamically expand and contract tandem repeat tracts at the population level. Here, I review the diverse high-stability protein folds and coherent interdomain linkages culminating in the formation of highly anisotropic linear repeat arrays, so-called rod-like protein 'stalks', supporting roles in bacterial adhesion, biofilm formation, cell surface spatial competition, and immune system modulation. An understanding of the functional impacts of dynamic changes in repeat arrays and broader characterisation of the unusual protein folds underpinning this variability will help with the design of immunisation strategies, and contribute to synthetic biology approaches including protein engineering and microbial consortia construction.
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11
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Egorova DA, Solovyev AI, Polyakov NB, Danilova KV, Scherbakova AA, Kravtsov IN, Dmitrieva MA, Rykova VS, Tutykhina IL, Romanova YM, Gintsburg AL. Biofilm matrix proteome of clinical strain of P. aeruginosa isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage of patient in intensive care unit. Microb Pathog 2022; 170:105714. [PMID: 35973647 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular matrix plays a pivotal role in biofilm biology and proposed as a potential target for therapeutics development. As matrix is responsible for some extracellular functions and influence bacterial cytotoxicity against eukaryotic cells, it must have unique protein composition. P. aeruginosa is one of the most important pathogens with emerging antibiotic resistance, but only a few studies were devoted to matrix proteomes and there are no studies describing matrix proteome for any clinical isolates except reference strains PAO1 and ATCC27853. Here we report the first biofilm matrix proteome of P. aeruginosa isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage of patient in intensive care unit. We have identified the largest number of proteins in the matrix among all published studies devoted to P. aeruginosa biofilms. Comparison of matrix proteome with proteome from embedded cells let us to identify several enriched bioprocess groups. Bioprocess groups with the largest number of overrepresented in matrix proteins were oxidation-reduction processes, proteolysis, and transmembrane transport. The top three represented in matrix bioprocesses concerning the size of the GO annotated database were cell redox homeostasis, nucleoside metabolism, and fatty acid synthesis. Finally, we discuss the obtained data in a prism of antibiofilm therapeutics development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria A Egorova
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia(1).
| | - Andrey I Solovyev
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia(1)
| | - Nikita B Polyakov
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia(1)
| | - Ksenya V Danilova
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia(1)
| | - Anastasya A Scherbakova
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia(1)
| | - Ivan N Kravtsov
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia(1)
| | - Maria A Dmitrieva
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia(1)
| | - Valentina S Rykova
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia(1)
| | - Irina L Tutykhina
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia(1)
| | - Yulia M Romanova
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia(1); I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, 119992, Russia(2)
| | - Alexander L Gintsburg
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia(1); I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, 119992, Russia(2)
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12
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Revealing bacterial cell biology using cryo-electron tomography. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2022; 75:102419. [PMID: 35820259 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2022.102419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Visualizing macromolecules inside bacteria at a high spatial resolution has remained a challenge owing to their small size and limited resolution of optical microscopy techniques. Recent advances in cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) imaging methods have revealed the spatial and temporal assemblies of many macromolecules involved in different cellular processes in bacteria at a resolution of a few nanometers in their native milieu. Specifically, the application of cryo-focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) milling to thin bacterial specimens makes them amenable for high-resolution cryo-ET data collection. In this review, we highlight recent research in three emerging areas of bacterial cell biology that have benefited from the cryo-FIB-ET technology - cytoskeletal filament assembly, intracellular organelles, and multicellularity.
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13
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Liedtke J, Depelteau JS, Briegel A. How advances in cryo-electron tomography have contributed to our current view of bacterial cell biology. J Struct Biol X 2022; 6:100065. [PMID: 35252838 PMCID: PMC8894267 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjsbx.2022.100065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Advancements in the field of cryo-electron tomography have greatly contributed to our current understanding of prokaryotic cell organization and revealed intracellular structures with remarkable architecture. In this review, we present some of the prominent advancements in cryo-electron tomography, illustrated by a subset of structural examples to demonstrate the power of the technique. More specifically, we focus on technical advances in automation of data collection and processing, sample thinning approaches, correlative cryo-light and electron microscopy, and sub-tomogram averaging methods. In turn, each of these advances enabled new insights into bacterial cell architecture, cell cycle progression, and the structure and function of molecular machines. Taken together, these significant advances within the cryo-electron tomography workflow have led to a greater understanding of prokaryotic biology. The advances made the technique available to a wider audience and more biological questions and provide the basis for continued advances in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Liedtke
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands.,Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jamie S Depelteau
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands.,Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ariane Briegel
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands.,Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
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Guo S, Zahiri H, Stevens C, Spaanderman DC, Milroy LG, Ottmann C, Brunsveld L, Voets IK, Davies PL. Molecular basis for inhibition of adhesin-mediated bacterial-host interactions through a peptide-binding domain. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110002. [PMID: 34788627 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Infections typically begin with pathogens adhering to host cells. For bacteria, this adhesion can occur through specific ligand-binding domains. We identify a 20-kDa peptide-binding domain (PBD) in a 1.5-MDa RTX adhesin of a Gram-negative marine bacterium that colonizes diatoms. The crystal structure of this Ca2+-dependent PBD suggests that it may bind the C termini of host cell-surface proteins. A systematic peptide library analysis reveals an optimal tripeptide sequence with 30-nM affinity for the PBD, and X-ray crystallography details its peptide-protein interactions. Binding of the PBD to the diatom partner of the bacteria can be inhibited or competed away by the peptide, providing a molecular basis for inhibiting bacterium-host interactions. We further show that this PBD is found in other bacteria, including human pathogens such as Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas veronii. Here, we produce the PBD ortholog from A. veronii and demonstrate, using the same peptide inhibitor, how pathogens may be prevented from adhering to their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaiqi Guo
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; Laboratory of Self-Organizing Soft Matter, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Hossein Zahiri
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Corey Stevens
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Daniel C Spaanderman
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Lech-Gustav Milroy
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Christian Ottmann
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Luc Brunsveld
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Ilja K Voets
- Laboratory of Self-Organizing Soft Matter, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Peter L Davies
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada.
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