1
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Jain S, Chakravortty D, Basu S. Interfacial Stresses within Droplets and Channels Influence Bacterial Physiology: A Perspective. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024. [PMID: 39101817 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c01923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial cells frequently experience fluid motion in their natural environments, like water bodies, aerosols, fomites, human capillaries, etc., a phenomenon that researchers have largely overlooked. Nevertheless, some reports have suggested that the interfacial stresses caused by fluid motion inside evaporating droplets or shear flows within capillaries may trigger physiological and morphological changes in the bacterial cells. Remarkably, the virulence of bacterial cells exhibits significant alterations in response to fluctuations in stress levels and external environmental factors. The dynamics of bacterial systems are analogous to colloidal systems but with the distinction that bacterial systems exhibit responsiveness, necessitating thorough exploration in dynamic environments. In this perspective, we discuss the important issue pertaining to bacterial survival, virulence, and disease transmission. Furthermore, we delineate a pathway and underscore emerging opportunities that demand exploration to unveil new avenues in the domains of bacterial pathogenicity, drug development, and strategies for disease mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddhant Jain
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
| | - Dipshikha Chakravortty
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
| | - Saptarshi Basu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
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2
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Green R, Wang H, Botchey C, Zhang SNN, Wadsworth C, Tyrrell F, Letton J, McBain AJ, Paszek P, Krašovec R, Knight CG. Collective peroxide detoxification determines microbial mutation rate plasticity in E. coli. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002711. [PMID: 39008532 PMCID: PMC11272383 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutagenesis is responsive to many environmental factors. Evolution therefore depends on the environment not only for selection but also in determining the variation available in a population. One such environmental dependency is the inverse relationship between mutation rates and population density in many microbial species. Here, we determine the mechanism responsible for this mutation rate plasticity. Using dynamical computational modelling and in culture mutation rate estimation, we show that the negative relationship between mutation rate and population density arises from the collective ability of microbial populations to control concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. We demonstrate a loss of this density-associated mutation rate plasticity (DAMP) when Escherichia coli populations are deficient in the degradation of hydrogen peroxide. We further show that the reduction in mutation rate in denser populations is restored in peroxide degradation-deficient cells by the presence of wild-type cells in a mixed population. Together, these model-guided experiments provide a mechanistic explanation for DAMP, applicable across all domains of life, and frames mutation rate as a dynamic trait shaped by microbial community composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Green
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science & Engineering, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Hejie Wang
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Carol Botchey
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Siu Nam Nancy Zhang
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Wadsworth
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca Tyrrell
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - James Letton
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J. McBain
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Pawel Paszek
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
- Department of Biosystems and Soft Matter, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rok Krašovec
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher G. Knight
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science & Engineering, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
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3
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Sharma A, Shuppara AM, Padron GC, Sanfilippo JE. Combining multiple stressors unexpectedly blocks bacterial migration and growth. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.27.595753. [PMID: 38853869 PMCID: PMC11160647 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.27.595753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
In nature, organisms experience combinations of stressors. However, laboratory studies typically simplify reality and focus on the effects of an individual stressor. Here, we use a microfluidic approach to simultaneously provide a physical stressor (shear flow) and a chemical stressor (H 2 O 2 ) to the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa . By treating cells with levels of flow and H 2 O 2 that commonly co-occur in nature, we discover that previous reports significantly overestimate the H 2 O 2 levels required to block bacterial growth. Specifically, we establish that flow increases H 2 O 2 effectiveness 50-fold, explaining why previous studies lacking flow required much higher concentrations. Using natural H 2 O 2 levels, we identify the core H 2 O 2 regulon, characterize OxyR-mediated dynamic regulation, and dissect the redundant roles of multiple H 2 O 2 scavenging systems. By examining single-cell behavior, we serendipitously discover that the combined effects of H 2 O 2 and flow block pilus-driven surface migration. Thus, our results counter previous studies and reveal that natural levels of H 2 O 2 and flow synergize to restrict bacterial colonization and survival. By studying two stressors at once, our research highlights the limitations of oversimplifying nature and demonstrates that physical and chemical stress can combine to yield unpredictable effects.
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4
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Shuppara AM, Padron GC, Sharma A, Modi Z, Koch MD, Sanfilippo JE. Fluid flow overcomes antimicrobial resistance by boosting delivery. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.08.591722. [PMID: 38766052 PMCID: PMC11100760 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.08.591722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging global threat to humanity. As resistance outpaces development, new perspectives are required. For decades, scientists have prioritized chemical optimization, while largely ignoring the physical process of delivery. Here, we used biophysical simulations and microfluidic experiments to explore how fluid flow delivers antimicrobials into communities of the highly resistant pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa . We discover that increasing flow overcomes bacterial resistance towards three chemically distinct antimicrobials: hydrogen peroxide, gentamicin, and carbenicillin. Without flow, resistant P. aeruginosa cells generate local zones of depletion by neutralizing all three antimicrobials through degradation or chemical modification. As flow increases, delivery overwhelms neutralization, allowing antimicrobials to regain effectiveness against resistant bacteria. Additionally, we discover that cells on the edge of a community shield internal cells, and cell-cell shielding is abolished in higher flow regimes. Collectively, our quantitative experiments reveal the unexpected result that physical flow and chemical dosage are equally important to antimicrobial effectiveness. Thus, our results should inspire the incorporation of flow into the discovery, development, and implementation of antimicrobials, and could represent a new strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance.
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5
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Mittelheisser V, Gensbittel V, Bonati L, Li W, Tang L, Goetz JG. Evidence and therapeutic implications of biomechanically regulated immunosurveillance in cancer and other diseases. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 19:281-297. [PMID: 38286876 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01535-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Disease progression is usually accompanied by changes in the biochemical composition of cells and tissues and their biophysical properties. For instance, hallmarks of cancer include the stiffening of tissues caused by extracellular matrix remodelling and the softening of individual cancer cells. In this context, accumulating evidence has shown that immune cells sense and respond to mechanical signals from the environment. However, the mechanisms regulating these mechanical aspects of immune surveillance remain partially understood. The growing appreciation for the 'mechano-immunology' field has urged researchers to investigate how immune cells sense and respond to mechanical cues in various disease settings, paving the way for the development of novel engineering strategies that aim at mechanically modulating and potentiating immune cells for enhanced immunotherapies. Recent pioneer developments in this direction have laid the foundations for leveraging 'mechanical immunoengineering' strategies to treat various diseases. This Review first outlines the mechanical changes occurring during pathological progression in several diseases, including cancer, fibrosis and infection. We next highlight the mechanosensitive nature of immune cells and how mechanical forces govern the immune responses in different diseases. Finally, we discuss how targeting the biomechanical features of the disease milieu and immune cells is a promising strategy for manipulating therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Mittelheisser
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France
| | - Valentin Gensbittel
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France
| | - Lucia Bonati
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Weilin Li
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Li Tang
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Jacky G Goetz
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France.
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France.
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.
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6
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Zhu X, Wang K, Liu C, Wu Y, Wu E, Lv J, Xiao X, Zhu X, Chu C, Chen B. Natural Disinfection-like Process Unveiled in Soil Microenvironments by Enzyme-Catalyzed Chlorination. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:3838-3848. [PMID: 38351523 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Substantial natural chlorination processes are a growing concern in diverse terrestrial ecosystems, occurring through abiotic redox reactions or biological enzymatic reactions. Among these, exoenzymatically mediated chlorination is suggested to be an important pathway for producing organochlorines and converting chloride ions (Cl-) to reactive chlorine species (RCS) in the presence of reactive oxygen species like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). However, the role of natural enzymatic chlorination in antibacterial activity occurring in soil microenvironments remains unexplored. Here, we conceptualized that heme-containing chloroperoxidase (CPO)-catalyzed chlorination functions as a naturally occurring disinfection process in soils. Combining antimicrobial experiments and microfluidic chip-based fluorescence imaging, we showed that the enzymatic chlorination process exhibited significantly enhanced antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis compared to H2O2. This enhancement was primarily attributed to in situ-formed RCS. Based on semiquantitative imaging of RCS distribution using a fluorescence probe, the effective distance of this antibacterial effect was estimated to be approximately 2 mm. Ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry analysis showed over 97% similarity between chlorine-containing formulas from CPO-catalyzed chlorination and abiotic chlorination (by sodium hypochlorite) of model dissolved organic matter, indicating a natural source of disinfection byproduct analogues. Our findings unveil a novel natural disinfection process in soils mediated by indigenous enzymes, which effectively links chlorine-carbon interactions and reactive species dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Zhu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311215, China
| | - Congcong Liu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Yajing Wu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Enhui Wu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Jitao Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xin Xiao
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Xiaoying Zhu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Chiheng Chu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Baoliang Chen
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang 311400, China
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7
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El Husseini N, Mekonnen SA, Hall CL, Cole SJ, Carter JA, Belew AT, El-Sayed NM, Lee VT. Characterization of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa catheter-associated urinary tract infections. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0036123. [PMID: 38047680 PMCID: PMC10809998 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00361-23] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen responsible for a subset of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). In a murine model of P. aeruginosa CAUTI, we previously demonstrated that urea within urine suppresses quorum sensing and induces the Entner-Doudoroff (E-D) pathway. The E-D pathway consists of the genes zwf, pgl, edd, and eda. Zwf and Pgl convert glucose-6-phosphate into 6-phosphogluconate. Edd hydrolyzes 6-phosphogluconate to 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate (KDPG). Finally, Eda cleaves KDPG to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and pyruvate, which enters the citric acid cycle. Here, we generated in-frame E-D mutants in the strain PA14 and assessed their growth phenotypes on chemically defined and complex media. These E-D mutants have a growth defect when grown on glucose or gluconate as the sole carbon source, which is similar to results previously reported for PAO1 mutants lacking E-D genes. RNA-sequencing following short exposure to urine revealed minimal gene regulation differences compared to the wild type. In a murine CAUTI model, virulence testing of E-D mutants revealed that two mutants lacking zwf and pgl showed minor fitness defects. Infection with the ∆pgl strain exhibited a 20% increase in host survival, and the ∆zwf strain displayed decreased colonization of the catheter and kidneys. Consequently, our findings suggest that the E-D pathway in P. aeruginosa is dispensable in this model of CAUTI. IMPORTANCE Prior studies have shown that the Entner-Doudoroff pathway is up-regulated when Pseudomonas aeruginosa is grown in urine. Pseudomonads use the Entner-Doudoroff (E-D) pathway to metabolize glucose instead of glycolysis, which led us to ask whether this pathway is required for urinary tract infection. Here, single-deletion mutants of each gene in the pathway were tested for growth on chemically defined media with single-carbon sources as well as complex media. The effect of each mutant on global gene expression in laboratory media and urine was characterized. The virulence of these mutants in a murine model of catheter-associated urinary tract infection revealed that these mutants had similar levels of colonization indicating that glucose is not the primary carbon source utilized in the urinary tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour El Husseini
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Solomon A. Mekonnen
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Cherisse L. Hall
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephanie J. Cole
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Jared A. Carter
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Ashton T. Belew
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Najib M. El-Sayed
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Vincent T. Lee
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA
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8
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Hayes JA, Lunger AW, Sharma AS, Fernez MT, Carrier RL, Koppes AN, Koppes R, Woolston BM. Engineered bacteria titrate hydrogen sulfide and induce concentration-dependent effects on the host in a gut microphysiological system. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113481. [PMID: 37980564 PMCID: PMC10791167 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous microbial metabolite whose role in gut diseases is debated, with contradictory results stemming from experimental difficulties associated with accurate dosing and measuring H2S and the use of model systems that do not accurately represent the human gut environment. Here, we engineer Escherichia coli to titrate H2S across the physiological range in a gut microphysiological system (chip) supportive of the co-culture of microbes and host cells. The chip is engineered to maintain H2S gas tension and enables visualization of co-culture in real time with confocal microscopy. Engineered strains colonize the chip and are metabolically active for 2 days, during which they produce H2S across a 16-fold range and induce changes in host gene expression and metabolism in an H2S-concentration-dependent manner. These results validate a platform for studying the mechanisms underlying microbe-host interactions by enabling experiments that are infeasible with current animal and in vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin A Hayes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anna W Lunger
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aayushi S Sharma
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Matthew T Fernez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rebecca L Carrier
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Abigail N Koppes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ryan Koppes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Benjamin M Woolston
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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9
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Heredia-Ponce Z, Secchi E, Toyofuku M, Marinova G, Savorana G, Eberl L. Genotoxic stress stimulates eDNA release via explosive cell lysis and thereby promotes streamer formation of Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 cultured in a microfluidic device. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2023; 9:96. [PMID: 38071361 PMCID: PMC10710452 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-023-00464-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA is a component of biofilms, but the triggers of DNA release during biofilm formation and how DNA contributes to biofilm development are poorly investigated. One key mechanism involved in DNA release is explosive cell lysis, which is a consequence of prophage induction. In this article, the role of explosive cell lysis in biofilm formation was investigated in the opportunistic human pathogen Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 (H111). Biofilm streamers, flow-suspended biofilm filaments, were used as a biofilm model in this study, as DNA is an essential component of their matrix. H111 contains three prophages on chromosome 1 of its genome, and the involvement of each prophage in causing explosive cell lysis of the host and subsequent DNA and membrane vesicle (MV) release, as well as their contribution to streamer formation, were studied in the presence and absence of genotoxic stress. The results show that two of the three prophages of H111 encode functional lytic prophages that can be induced by genotoxic stress and their activation causes DNA and MVs release by explosive cell lysis. Furthermore, it is shown that the released DNA enables the strain to develop biofilm streamers, and streamer formation can be enhanced by genotoxic stress. Overall, this study demonstrates the involvement of prophages in streamer formation and uncovers an often-overlooked problem with the use of antibiotics that trigger the bacterial SOS response for the treatment of bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaira Heredia-Ponce
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, 8008, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Eleonora Secchi
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Masanori Toyofuku
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Gabriela Marinova
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, 8008, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Savorana
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Leo Eberl
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, 8008, Zürich, Switzerland.
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10
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Husseini NE, Mekonnen SA, Hall CL, Cole SJ, Carter JA, Belew AT, El-Sayed N, Lee VT. Characterization of the Entner-Douderoff Pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.14.567044. [PMID: 38014081 PMCID: PMC10680737 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.14.567044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen responsible for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). In a murine model of P. aeruginosa CAUTI, we previously demonstrated that urea within urine suppresses quorum sensing and induces the Entner-Douderoff (E-D) pathway. The E-D pathway consists of the genes zwf, pgl, edd, and eda. Zwf and Pgl convert glucose-6-phosphate into 6-phosphogluconate. Edd hydrolyzes 6-phosphogluconate to 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate (KDPG). Finally, Eda cleaves KDPG to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and pyruvate, which enters the citric acid cycle. Here, we generated in-frame E-D mutants in strain PA14 and assessed their growth phenotypes on chemically defined media. These E-D mutants have a growth defect when grown on glucose or gluconate as sole carbon source which are similar to results previously reported for PAO1 mutants lacking E-D genes. RNA-sequencing following short exposure to urine revealed minimal gene regulation differences compared to the wild type. In a murine CAUTI model, virulence testing of E-D mutants revealed that two mutants lacking zwf and pgl showed minor fitness defects. Infection with the ∆pgl strain exhibited a 20% increase in host survival, and the ∆zwf strain displayed decreased colonization of the catheter and kidneys. Consequently, our findings suggest that the E-D pathway in P. aeruginosa is dispensable in this model of CAUTI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour El Husseini
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, MD 20742
| | - Solomon A. Mekonnen
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, MD 20742
| | - Cherisse L. Hall
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, MD 20742
| | - Stephanie J. Cole
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, MD 20742
| | - Jared A. Carter
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, MD 20742
| | - Ashton T. Belew
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, MD 20742
| | - Najib El-Sayed
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, MD 20742
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Vincent T. Lee
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland at College Park, MD 20742
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11
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Palalay JJS, Simsek AN, Reed JL, Koch MD, Sabass B, Sanfilippo JE. Shear force enhances adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by counteracting pilus-driven surface departure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2307718120. [PMID: 37788310 PMCID: PMC10576114 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307718120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluid flow is thought to prevent bacterial adhesion, but some bacteria use adhesins with catch bond properties to enhance adhesion under high shear forces. However, many studies on bacterial adhesion either neglect the influence of shear force or use shear forces that are not typically found in natural systems. In this study, we use microfluidics and single-cell imaging to examine how the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa interacts with surfaces when exposed to shear forces typically found in the human body (0.1 pN to 10 pN). Through cell tracking, we demonstrate that the angle between the cell and the surface predicts if a cell will depart the surface. We discover that at lower shear forces, type IV pilus retraction tilts cells away from the surface, promoting surface departure. Conversely, we show that higher shear forces counterintuitively enhance adhesion by counteracting type IV pilus retraction-dependent cell tilting. Thus, our results reveal that P. aeruginosa exhibits behavior reminiscent of a catch bond, without having a specific adhesin that is enhanced by force. Instead, P. aeruginosa couples type IV pilus dynamics and cell geometry to tune adhesion to its mechanical environment, which likely provides a benefit in dynamic host environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahmet N. Simsek
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich80752, Germany
| | - Jessie L. Reed
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX77843
| | - Matthias D. Koch
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX77843
| | - Benedikt Sabass
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich80752, Germany
| | - Joseph E. Sanfilippo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL61801
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Hayes JA, Lunger AW, Sharma AS, Fernez MT, Koppes AN, Koppes R, Woolston BM. Engineered bacteria titrate hydrogen sulfide and induce concentration-dependent effects on host in a gut microphysiological system. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.16.538950. [PMID: 37293009 PMCID: PMC10245736 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.16.538950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous microbial metabolite whose role in gut diseases is debated, largely due to the difficulty in controlling its concentration and the use of non-representative model systems in previous work. Here, we engineered E. coli to titrate H2S controllably across the physiological range in a gut microphysiological system (chip) supportive of the co-culture of microbes and host cells. The chip was designed to maintain H2S gas tension and enable visualization of co-culture in real-time with confocal microscopy. Engineered strains colonized the chip and were metabolically active for two days, during which they produced H2S across a sixteen-fold range and induced changes in host gene expression and metabolism in an H2S concentration-dependent manner. These results validate a novel platform for studying the mechanisms underlying microbe-host interactions, by enabling experiments that are infeasible with current animal and in vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin A. Hayes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anna W. Lunger
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aayushi S. Sharma
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Matthew T. Fernez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Abigail N. Koppes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ryan Koppes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Benjamin M. Woolston
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Palalay JJS, Simsek AN, Sabass B, Sanfilippo JE. Shear force enhances adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by counteracting pilus-driven surface departure. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.08.539440. [PMID: 37215027 PMCID: PMC10197566 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.08.539440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Fluid flow is thought to prevent bacterial adhesion, but some bacteria use adhesins with catch bond properties to enhance adhesion under high shear forces. However, many studies on bacterial adhesion either neglect the influence of shear force or use shear forces that are not typically found in natural systems. In this study, we use microfluidics and single-cell imaging to examine how the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa interacts with surfaces when exposed to shear forces typically found in the human body (0.1 pN to 10 pN). Through cell tracking, we demonstrate that the angle between the cell and the surface predicts if a cell will depart the surface. We discover that at lower shear forces, type IV pilus retraction tilts cells away from the surface, promoting surface departure. Conversely, we show that higher shear forces counterintuitively enhance adhesion by counteracting type IV pilus retraction-dependent cell tilting. Thus, our results reveal that P. aeruginosa exhibits behavior reminiscent of a catch bond, without having a specific adhesin that is enhanced by force. Instead, P. aeruginosa couples type IV pilus dynamics and cell geometry to tune adhesion to its mechanical environment, which likely provides a benefit in dynamic host environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica-Jae S. Palalay
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA, 61801
| | - Ahmet N. Simsek
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Faculty of Physics, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany, 80752
| | - Benedikt Sabass
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Faculty of Physics, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany, 80752
| | - Joseph E. Sanfilippo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA, 61801
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Du Toit A. Fluid flow stress. Nat Rev Microbiol 2023; 21:277. [PMID: 36949281 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00883-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
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