1
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Martins FH, Rosay T, Rajan A, Carter HE, Turocy T, Mejia A, Crawford JM, Maresso AW, Sperandio V. Enterococcus faecalis-derived adenine enhances enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli Type 3 Secretion System-dependent virulence. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:2448-2461. [PMID: 38965331 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01747-1] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Interactions between microbiota and enteric pathogens can promote colonization resistance or enhance pathogenesis. The pathobiont Enterococcus faecalis increases enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) virulence by upregulating Type 3 Secretion System (T3SS) expression, effector translocation, and attaching and effacing (AE) lesion formation on enterocytes, but the mechanisms underlying this remain unknown. Using co-infection of organoids, metabolomics, supplementation experiments and bacterial genetics, here we show that co-culture of EHEC with E. faecalis increases the xanthine-hypoxanthine pathway activity and adenine biosynthesis. Adenine or E. faecalis promoted T3SS gene expression, while transcriptomics showed upregulation of adeP expression, which encodes an adenine importer. Mechanistically, adenine relieved High hemolysin activity (Hha)-dependent repression of T3SS gene expression in EHEC and promoted AE lesion formation in an AdeP-dependent manner. Microbiota-derived purines, such as adenine, support multiple beneficial host responses; however, our data show that this metabolite also increases EHEC virulence, highlighting the complexity of pathogen-microbiota-host interactions in the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando H Martins
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Thibaut Rosay
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anubama Rajan
- TAILOR Labs, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hannah E Carter
- TAILOR Labs, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tayah Turocy
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Institute of Biomolecular Design and Discovery, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Andres Mejia
- Research Animal Resources and Compliance, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jason M Crawford
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Institute of Biomolecular Design and Discovery, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Anthony W Maresso
- TAILOR Labs, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vanessa Sperandio
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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2
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Woodward SE, Neufeld LMP, Peña-Díaz J, Feng W, Serapio-Palacios A, Tarrant I, Deng W, Finlay BB. Both pathogen and host dynamically adapt pH responses along the intestinal tract during enteric bacterial infection. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002761. [PMID: 39146372 PMCID: PMC11349234 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002761] [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: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Enteric pathogens navigate distinct regional microenvironments within the intestine that cue important adaptive behaviors. We investigated the response of Citrobacter rodentium, a model of human pathogenic Escherichia coli infection in mice, to regional gastrointestinal pH. We found that small intestinal pH (4.4-4.8) triggered virulence gene expression and altered cell morphology, supporting initial intestinal attachment, while higher pH, representative of C. rodentium's replicative niches further along the murine intestine, supported pathogen growth. Gastric pH, a key barrier to intestinal colonization, caused significant accumulation of intra-bacterial reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibiting growth of C. rodentium and related human pathogens. Within-host adaptation increased gastric acid survival, which may be due to a robust acid tolerance response (ATR) induced at colonic pH. However, the intestinal environment changes throughout the course of infection. We found that murine gastric pH decreases postinfection, corresponding to increased serum gastrin levels and altered host expression of acid secretion-related genes. Similar responses following Salmonella infection may indicate a protective host response to limit further pathogen ingestion. Together, we highlight interlinked bacterial and host adaptive pH responses as an important component of host-pathogen coevolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Woodward
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Laurel M. P. Neufeld
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jorge Peña-Díaz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Wenny Feng
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Antonio Serapio-Palacios
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Isabel Tarrant
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Wanyin Deng
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - B. Brett Finlay
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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3
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Gonyar LA, Sauder AB, Mortensen L, Willsey GG, Kendall MM. The yad and yeh fimbrial loci influence gene expression and virulence in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7. mSphere 2024; 9:e0012424. [PMID: 38904402 PMCID: PMC11287998 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00124-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Fimbriae are essential virulence factors for many bacterial pathogens. Fimbriae are extracellular structures that attach bacteria to surfaces. Thus, fimbriae mediate a critical step required for any pathogen to establish infection by anchoring a bacterium to host tissue. The human pathogen enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7encodes 16 fimbriae that may be important for EHEC to initiate infection and allow for productive expression of virulence traits important in later stages of infection, including a type III secretion system (T3SS) and Shiga toxin; however, the roles of most EHEC fimbriae are largely uncharacterized. Here, we provide evidence that two EHEC fimbriae, Yad and Yeh, modulate expression of diverse genes including genes encoding T3SS and Shiga toxin and that these fimbriae are required for robust colonization of the gastrointestinal tract. These findings reveal a significant and previously unappreciated role for fimbriae in bacterial pathogenesis as important determinants of virulence gene expression.IMPORTANCEFimbriae are extracellular proteinaceous structures whose defining role is to anchor bacteria to surfaces. This is a fundamental step for bacterial pathogens to establish infection in a host. Here, we show that the contributions of fimbriae to pathogenesis are more complex. Specifically, we demonstrate that fimbriae influence expression of virulence traits essential for disease progression in the intestinal pathogen enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria express multiple fimbriae; therefore, these findings may have broad implications for understanding how pathogens use fimbriae, beyond adhesion, to initiate infection and coordinate gene expression, which ultimately results in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. Gonyar
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Amber B. Sauder
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Lindsay Mortensen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Graham G. Willsey
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Melissa M. Kendall
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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4
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Li L, Yang B, Wang J, Wei Y, Xiang B, Liu Y, Wu P, Li W, Wang Y, Zhao X, Qin J, Liu M, Liu R, Ma G, Fu T, Wang M, Liu B. CobB-mediated deacetylation of the chaperone CesA regulates Escherichia coli O157:H7 virulence. Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2331435. [PMID: 38502202 PMCID: PMC10956630 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2331435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 is a common food-borne pathogen that can cause acute diseases. Lysine acetylation is a post-translational modification (PTM) that occurs in various prokaryotes and is regulated by CobB, the only deacetylase found in bacteria. Here, we demonstrated that CobB plays an important role in the virulence of EHEC O157:H7 and that deletion of cobB significantly decreased the intestinal colonization ability of bacteria. Using acetylation proteomic studies, we systematically identified several proteins that could be regulated by CobB in EHEC O157:H7. Among these CobB substrates, we found that acetylation at the K44 site of CesA, a chaperone for the type-III secretion system (T3SS) translocator protein EspA, weakens its binding to EspA, thereby reducing the stability of this virulence factor; this PTM ultimately attenuating the virulence of EHEC O157:H7. Furthermore, we showed that deacetylation of the K44 site, which is deacetylated by CobB, promotes the interaction between CesA and EspA, thereby increasing bacterial virulence in vitro and in animal experiments. In summary, we showed that acetylation influences the virulence of EHEC O157:H7, and uncovered the mechanism by which CobB contributes to bacterial virulence based on the regulation of CesA deacetylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linxing Li
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Bin Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jing Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yi Wei
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Binbin Xiang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yutao Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Pan Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wanwu Li
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanling Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingliang Qin
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Miaomiao Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ruiying Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Guozhen Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Tian Fu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Min Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Nankai University, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, China
- Nankai International Advanced Research Institute, Nankai University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bin Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Nankai University, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, China
- Nankai International Advanced Research Institute, Nankai University, Shenzhen, China
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5
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Burns L, Le Mauff F, Gruenheid S. Direct evidence of host-mediated glycosylation of NleA and its dependence on interaction with the COPII complex. Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2305477. [PMID: 38298145 PMCID: PMC10841024 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2305477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-LEE-encoded Effector A (NleA) is a type III secreted effector protein of enterohaemorrhagic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli as well as the related mouse pathogen Citrobacter rodentium. NleA translocation into host cells is essential for virulence. We previously published several lines of evidence indicating that NleA is modified by host-mediated mucin-type O-linked glycosylation, the first example of a bacterial effector protein modified in this way. In this study, we use lectins to provide direct evidence for the modification of NleA by O-linked glycosylation and determine that the interaction of NleA with the COPII complex is necessary for this modification to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Burns
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - François Le Mauff
- Infectious Disease and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Glyco-NET Integrated Services, Microbial Glycomic Node, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Samantha Gruenheid
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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6
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Neetu N, Mahto JK, Sharma M, Katiki M, Dhaka P, Roy P, Tomar S, Narayan A, Yernool D, Kumar P. Sulisobenzone is a potent inhibitor of the global transcription factor Cra. J Struct Biol 2023; 215:108034. [PMID: 37805153 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2023.108034] [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: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Transcription is carried out by the RNA polymerase and is regulated through a series of interactions with transcription factors. Catabolite activator repressor (Cra), a LacI family transcription factor regulates the virulence gene expression in Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and thus is a promising drug target for the discovery of antivirulence molecules. Here, we report the crystal structure of the effector molecule binding domain of Cra from E. coli (EcCra) in complex with HEPES molecule. Based on the EcCra-HEPES complex structure, ligand screening was performed that identified sulisobenzone as an potential inhibitor of EcCra. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and in vitro transcription assay validated the sulisobenzone binding to EcCra. Moreover, the isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments demonstrated a 40-fold higher binding affinity of sulisobenzone (KD 360 nM) compared to the HEPES molecule. Finally, the sulisobenzone bound EcCra complex crystal structure was determined to elucidate the binding mechanism of sulisobenzone to the effector binding pocket of EcCra. Together, this study suggests that sulisobenzone may be a promising candidate that can be studied and developed as an effective antivirulence agent against EHEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neetu Neetu
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Jai Krishna Mahto
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Monica Sharma
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Madhusudhanarao Katiki
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Preeti Dhaka
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Partha Roy
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Shailly Tomar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Anoop Narayan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Dinesh Yernool
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | - Pravindra Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India.
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7
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Matsumoto K, Fukuda Y, Inoue T. Crystal structures of QseE and QseG: elements of a three-component system from Escherichia coli. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2023; 79:285-293. [PMID: 37877621 PMCID: PMC10619210 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x23009123] [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: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria regulate virulence by using two-component systems (TCSs) composed of a histidine kinase (HK) and a response regulator (RR). TCSs respond to environmental signals and change gene-expression levels. The HK QseE and the RR QseF regulate the virulence of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria such as enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. The operon encoding QseE/QseF also contains a gene encoding an outer membrane lipoprotein, qseG. The protein product QseG interacts with QseE in the periplasmic space to control the activity of QseE and constitutes a unique QseE/F/G three-component system. However, the structural bases of their functions are unknown. Here, crystal structures of the periplasmic regions of QseE and QseG were determined with the help of AlphaFold models. The periplasmic region of QseE has a helix-bundle structure as found in some HKs. The QseG structure is composed of an N-terminal globular domain and a long C-terminal helix forming a coiled-coil-like structure that contributes to dimerization. Comparison of QseG structures obtained from several crystallization conditions shows that QseG has structural polymorphisms at the C-terminus of the coiled-coil structure, indicating that the C-terminus is flexible. The C-terminal flexibility is derived from conserved hydrophilic residues that reduce the hydrophobic interaction at the coiled-coil interface. Electrostatic surface analysis suggests that the C-terminal coiled-coil region can interact with QseE. The observed structural fluctuation of the C-terminus of QseG is probably important for interaction with QseE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koki Matsumoto
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 1-6, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yohta Fukuda
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 1-6, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Integrated Frontier Research for Medical Science Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI), Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 1-6, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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8
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Muche S, El-Fenej J, Mihaita A, Mrozek Z, Cleary S, Critelli B, Marino M, Yu W, Amos B, Hunter T, Riga M, Buerkert T, Bhatt S. The two sRNAs OmrA and OmrB indirectly repress transcription from the LEE1 promoter of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2023; 68:415-430. [PMID: 36547806 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-022-01025-9] [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: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a diarrheagenic bacterium that predominantly infects infants in developing countries. EPEC forms attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions on the apical surface of the small intestine, leading to diarrhea. The locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) is both necessary and sufficient for A/E lesion morphogenesis by EPEC. Gene expression from this virulence determinant is controlled by an elaborate regulatory web that extends beyond protein-based transcriptional regulators and includes small regulatory RNA (sRNA) that exert their effects posttranscriptionally. To date, only 4 Hfq-dependent sRNAs-MgrR, RyhB, McaS, and Spot42-have been identified that affect the LEE of EPEC by diverse mechanisms and elicit varying regulatory outcomes. In this study, we demonstrate that the paralogous Hfq-dependent sRNAs OmrA and OmrB globally silence the LEE to diminish the ability of EPEC to form A/E lesions. Interestingly, OmrA and OmrB do not appear to directly target a LEE-encoded gene; rather, they repress transcription from the LEE1 promoter indirectly, by means of an as-yet-unidentified transcriptional factor that binds within 200 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site to reduce the expression of the LEE master regulator Ler, which, in turn, leads to reduced morphogenesis of A/E lesions. Additionally, OmrA and OmrB also repress motility in EPEC by targeting the 5' UTR of the flagellar master regulator, flhD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Muche
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Jihad El-Fenej
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation and Department of Pathology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Alexa Mihaita
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Zoe Mrozek
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Sean Cleary
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 4170 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Brian Critelli
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Mary Marino
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Wenlan Yu
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Brianna Amos
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Tressa Hunter
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Michael Riga
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Thomas Buerkert
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Shantanu Bhatt
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, SC124, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA.
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9
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Tsai YY, Franca M, Camus A, Stabler LJ, Barbieri N, Logue CM. Laser Capture Microdissection, Culture Analysis, and Bacterial Sequencing to Evaluate the Microbiota of Focal Duodenal Necrosis in Egg Layers. Avian Dis 2023; 67:177-185. [PMID: 37556297 DOI: 10.1637/aviandiseases-d-22-00088] [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: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Focal duodenal necrosis (FDN) is a common intestinal disease of table egg layers. In this research we aimed to identify the bacteria commonly found in FDN lesions as seen with histopathological analysis. Fifty-nine ethanol-fixed duodenum samples were collected from egg layers on eight FDN-affected farms, and 42 samples had typical FDN lesions. Excision of bacteria-containing lesions using laser capture microdissection was performed, followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing of extracted DNA for bacterial identification. Bacterial sequencing analysis revealed no consistent bacterial species identified from samples with FDN. However, analysis of the relative phylum abundance revealed differences in the duodenal microbiota between layers with FDN and healthy birds. There were differences in the abundance of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria between FDN-positive and FDN-negative control samples compatible with intestinal dysbiosis. In addition, 10 duodenal samples with FDN lesions were collected for bacteriological analysis, yielding 47 colonies on tryptone soy agar, MacConkey agar, and blood agar plates. Using 16S rRNA gene PCR, 39/47 (53.8%) colonies were identified as Escherichia coli. PCR for E. coli virulence genes identified 21/39 (53.8%) E. coli isolates as avian pathogenic E. coli-like. PCR analysis for 19 E. coli virulence genes associated with intestinal disease strains including inflammatory bowel disease found 11/39 (28.2%) isolates containing more than 10 of these virulence genes. In conclusion, FDN appears to be a multifactorial inflammatory intestinal disease associated with intestinal dysbiosis, and Gram-negative bacteria including E. coli may contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Yang Tsai
- Department of Population Health, Athens GA 30602
| | | | - Alvin Camus
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
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10
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Rodriguez-Valverde D, Giron JA, Hu Y, Nataro JP, Ruiz-Perez F, Santiago AE. Highly-conserved regulatory activity of the ANR family in the virulence of diarrheagenic bacteria through interaction with master and global regulators. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7024. [PMID: 37120613 PMCID: PMC10148876 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33997-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
ANR (AraC negative regulators) are a novel class of small regulatory proteins commonly found in enteric pathogens. Aar (AggR-activated regulator), the best-characterized member of the ANR family, regulates the master transcriptional regulator of virulence AggR and the global regulator HNS in enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) by protein-protein interactions. On the other hand, Rnr (RegA-negative regulator) is an ANR homolog identified in attaching and effacing (AE) pathogens, including Citrobacter rodentium and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), sharing only 25% identity with Aar. We previously found that C. rodentium lacking Rnr exhibits prolonged shedding and increased gut colonization in mice compared to the parental strain. To gain mechanistic insights into this phenomenon, we characterized the regulatory role of Rnr in the virulence of prototype EPEC strain E2348/69 by genetic, biochemical, and human organoid-based approaches. Accordingly, RNA-seq analysis revealed more than 500 genes differentially regulated by Rnr, including the type-3 secretion system (T3SS). The abundance of EspA and EspB in whole cells and bacterial supernatants confirmed the negative regulatory activity of Rnr on T3SS effectors. We found that besides HNS and Ler, twenty-six other transcriptional regulators were also under Rnr control. Most importantly, the deletion of aar in EAEC or rnr in EPEC increases the adherence of these pathogens to human intestinal organoids. In contrast, the overexpression of ANR drastically reduces bacterial adherence and the formation of AE lesions in the intestine. Our study suggests a conserved regulatory mechanism and a central role of ANR in modulating intestinal colonization by these enteropathogens despite the fact that EAEC and EPEC evolved with utterly different virulence programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Rodriguez-Valverde
- Child Health Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, 409 Lane Road, MR-4 Building, P.O. Box 801326, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Jorge A Giron
- Centro de Detección Biomolecular, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, 445 N. 5th St, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Yang Hu
- CD Genomics, Shirley, NY, USA
| | - James P Nataro
- Child Health Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, 409 Lane Road, MR-4 Building, P.O. Box 801326, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Fernando Ruiz-Perez
- Child Health Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, 409 Lane Road, MR-4 Building, P.O. Box 801326, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Araceli E Santiago
- Child Health Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, 409 Lane Road, MR-4 Building, P.O. Box 801326, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA.
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11
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Melchior K, Salgaço MK, Sivieri K, Moreira CG. QseC sensor kinase modulates the human microbiota during enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection in the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®). Braz J Microbiol 2023; 54:1-14. [PMID: 36469301 PMCID: PMC9943815 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-022-00877-0] [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: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is an important gastrointestinal pathogen known for its ability to cause hemorrhagic colitis and induce hemolytic-uremic syndrome. The inner membrane QseC histidine kinase sensor has shown to be an important regulator of the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) island, where important EHEC key virulence genes are located. However, the QseC role during EHEC infection in human microbiota remains unknown. Herein, using the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®), we investigated whether the QseC sensor has a role in human microbiota modulation by EHEC in a dynamic model. Our data demonstrated that the QseC sensor modulates human microbiota during EHEC infection, and its absence leads to an increase in Lactobacillaceae and Bifidobacterium genus predominance, although non-effect on Bacteroides genus by EHEC strains was observed. In co-culture, the Lactobacillus acidophilus has affected EHEC growth and impaired the EHEC growth under space-niche competition, although no growth difference was observed in the QseC sensor presence. Also, differences in EHEC growth were not detected in competition with Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and EHEC strains did not affect B. thetaiotaomicron growth either. When investigating the mechanisms behind the SHIME results, we found that hcp-2 expression for the type 6 secretion system, known to be involved in bacterial competition, is under QseC sensor regulation beneath different environmental signals, such as glucose and butyrate. Our findings broaden the knowledge about the QseC sensor in modulating the human microbiota and its importance for EHEC pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Melchior
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil
| | - Mateus Kawata Salgaço
- Department of Food and Nutrition, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of São Paulo (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Katia Sivieri
- Department of Food and Nutrition, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of São Paulo (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Cristiano Gallina Moreira
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil.
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12
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Vogt SL, Serapio-Palacios A, Woodward SE, Santos AS, de Vries SP, Daigneault MC, Brandmeier LV, Grant AJ, Maskell DJ, Allen-Vercoe E, Finlay BB. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli responds to gut microbiota metabolites by altering metabolism and activating stress responses. Gut Microbes 2023; 15:2190303. [PMID: 36951510 PMCID: PMC10038027 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2190303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is a major cause of severe bloody diarrhea, with potentially lethal complications, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome. In humans, EHEC colonizes the colon, which is also home to a diverse community of trillions of microbes known as the gut microbiota. Although these microbes and the metabolites that they produce represent an important component of EHEC's ecological niche, little is known about how EHEC senses and responds to the presence of gut microbiota metabolites. In this study, we used a combined RNA-Seq and Tn-Seq approach to characterize EHEC's response to metabolites from an in vitro culture of 33 human gut microbiota isolates (MET-1), previously demonstrated to effectively resolve recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection in human patients. Collectively, the results revealed that EHEC adjusts to growth in the presence of microbiota metabolites in two major ways: by altering its metabolism and by activating stress responses. Metabolic adaptations to the presence of microbiota metabolites included increased expression of systems for maintaining redox balance and decreased expression of biotin biosynthesis genes, reflecting the high levels of biotin released by the microbiota into the culture medium. In addition, numerous genes related to envelope and oxidative stress responses (including cpxP, spy, soxS, yhcN, and bhsA) were upregulated during EHEC growth in a medium containing microbiota metabolites. Together, these results provide insight into the molecular mechanisms by which pathogens adapt to the presence of competing microbes in the host environment, which ultimately may enable the development of therapies to enhance colonization resistance and prevent infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie L. Vogt
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Sarah E. Woodward
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Andrew S. Santos
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stefan P.W. de Vries
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michelle C. Daigneault
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lisa V. Brandmeier
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Andrew J. Grant
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Duncan J. Maskell
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emma Allen-Vercoe
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - B. Brett Finlay
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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13
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Guzmán-Herrador DL, Fernández-Gómez A, Llosa M. Recruitment of heterologous substrates by bacterial secretion systems for transkingdom translocation. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1146000. [PMID: 36949816 PMCID: PMC10025392 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1146000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial secretion systems mediate the selective exchange of macromolecules between bacteria and their environment, playing a pivotal role in processes such as horizontal gene transfer or virulence. Among the different families of secretion systems, Type III, IV and VI (T3SS, T4SS and T6SS) share the ability to inject their substrates into human cells, opening up the possibility of using them as customized injectors. For this to happen, it is necessary to understand how substrates are recruited and to be able to engineer secretion signals, so that the transmembrane machineries can recognize and translocate the desired substrates in place of their own. Other factors, such as recruiting proteins, chaperones, and the degree of unfolding required to cross through the secretion channel, may also affect transport. Advances in the knowledge of the secretion mechanism have allowed heterologous substrate engineering to accomplish translocation by T3SS, and to a lesser extent, T4SS and T6SS into human cells. In the case of T4SS, transport of nucleoprotein complexes adds a bonus to its biotechnological potential. Here, we review the current knowledge on substrate recognition by these secretion systems, the many examples of heterologous substrate translocation by engineering of secretion signals, and the current and future biotechnological and biomedical applications derived from this approach.
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14
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Woodward SE, Vogt SL, Peña-Díaz J, Melnyk RA, Cirstea M, Serapio-Palacios A, Neufeld LMP, Huus KE, Wang MA, Haney CH, Finlay BB. Gastric acid and escape to systemic circulation represent major bottlenecks to host infection by Citrobacter rodentium. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:36-46. [PMID: 36153406 PMCID: PMC9751147 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01321-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal (GI) environment plays a critical role in shaping enteric infections. Host environmental factors create bottlenecks, restrictive events that reduce the genetic diversity of invading bacterial populations. However, the identity and impact of bottleneck events on bacterial infection are largely unknown. We used Citrobacter rodentium infection of mice, a model of human pathogenic Escherichia coli infections, to examine bacterial population dynamics and quantify bottlenecks to host colonization. Using Sequence Tag-based Analysis of Microbial Populations (STAMP) we characterized the founding population size (Nb') and relatedness of C. rodentium populations at relevant tissue sites during early- and peak-infection. We demonstrate that the GI environment severely restricts the colonizing population, with an average Nb' of only 12-43 lineages (of 2,000+ inoculated) identified regardless of time or biogeographic location. Passage through gastric acid and escape to the systemic circulation were identified as major bottlenecks during C. rodentium colonization. Manipulating such events by increasing gastric pH dramatically increased intestinal Nb'. Importantly, removal of the stomach acid barrier had downstream consequences on host systemic colonization, morbidity, and mortality. These findings highlight the capability of the host GI environment to limit early pathogen colonization, controlling the population of initial founders with consequences for downstream infection outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Woodward
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stefanie L Vogt
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jorge Peña-Díaz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ryan A Melnyk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mihai Cirstea
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Laurel M P Neufeld
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kelsey E Huus
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Madeline A Wang
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cara H Haney
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - B Brett Finlay
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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15
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Research Progress on Small Molecular Inhibitors of the Type 3 Secretion System. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27238348. [PMID: 36500441 PMCID: PMC9740592 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238348] [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: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The overuse of antibiotics has led to severe bacterial drug resistance. Blocking pathogen virulence devices is a highly effective approach to combating bacterial resistance worldwide. Type three secretion systems (T3SSs) are significant virulence factors in Gram-negative pathogens. Inhibition of these systems can effectively weaken infection whilst having no significant effect on bacterial growth. Therefore, T3SS inhibitors may be a powerful weapon against resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, and there has been increasing interest in the research and development of T3SS inhibitors. This review outlines several reported small-molecule inhibitors of the T3SS, covering those of synthetic and natural origin, including their sources, structures, and mechanisms of action.
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16
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Escherichia coli O157:H7 senses microbiota-produced riboflavin to increase its virulence in the gut. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2212436119. [PMID: 36409903 PMCID: PMC9860305 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2212436119] [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] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Riboflavin is produced by most commensal bacteria in the human colon, where enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) colonizes and causes diseases. Sensing environmental signals to site-specifically express the type-III secretion system (T3SS), which injects effectors into host cells leading to intestinal colonization and disease, is key to the pathogenesis of EHEC. Here, we reveal that EHEC O157:H7, a dominant EHEC serotype frequently associated with severe diseases, acquired a previously uncharacterized two-component regulatory system rbfSR, which senses microbiota-produced riboflavin to directly activate the expression of LEE genes encoding the T3SS in the colon. rbfSR is present in O157:H7 and O145:H28 but absent from other EHEC serotypes. The binding site of RbfR through which it regulates LEE gene expression was identified and is conserved in all EHEC serotypes and Citrobacter rodentium, a surrogate for EHEC in mice. Introducing rbfSR into C. rodentium enabled bacteria to sense microbiota-produced riboflavin in the mouse colon to increase the expression of LEE genes, causing increased disease severity in mice. Phylogenic analysis showed that the O55:H7 ancestor of O157:H7 obtained rbfSR which has been kept in O157:H7 since then. Thus, acquiring rbfSR represents an essential step in the evolution of the highly pathogenic O157:H7. The expression of LEE genes and cell attachment ability of other EHEC serotypes in the presence of riboflavin significantly increased when rbfSR was introduced into them, indicating that those serotypes are ready to use RbfSR to increase their pathogenicity. This may present a potential public health issue as horizontal gene transfer is frequent in enteric bacteria.
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Indole Sensing Regulator (IsrR) Promotes Virulence Gene Expression in Enteric Pathogens. mBio 2022; 13:e0193922. [PMID: 35916401 PMCID: PMC9426417 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01939-22] [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] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric pathogens such as enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) and its surrogate murine model Citrobacter rodentium sense indole levels within the gut to navigate its biogeography and modulate virulence gene expression. Indole is a microbiota-derived signal that is more abundant in the intestinal lumen, with its concentration decreasing at the epithelial lining where it is absorbed. E. coli, but not C. rodentium, produces endogenous indole because it harbors the tnaA gene. Microbiota-derived exogenous indole is sensed by the CpxAR two-component system, where CpxA is a membrane-bound histidine-sensor-kinase (HK) and CpxR is a response regulator (RR). Indole inhibits CpxAR function leading to decreased expression of the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) pathogenicity island, which is essential for these pathogens to form lesions on enterocytes. In our transcriptome studies comparing wild-type (WT) EHEC and ΔtnaA ± indole, one of the most upregulated genes by indole is ygeV, which is a predicted orphan RR. Because of the role YgeV plays in the indole signaling cascade, we renamed this gene indole sensing regulator (isrR). In the absence of endogenous indole, IsrR activates LEE gene expression. IsrR only responds to endogenous indole, with exogenous indole still blocking virulence gene expression independently from IsrR. Notably, a C. rodentiumisrR mutant is attenuated for murine infection, depicting delayed death, lower intestinal colonization, and LEE gene expression. IsrR aids in discriminating between microbiota-derived (exogenous) and endogenous self-produced indole in fine-tuning virulence gene expression by enteric pathogens in the intestine.
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A small molecule, C24H17ClN4O2S, inhibits the function of the type III secretion system in Salmonella Typhimurium. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2022; 20:54. [PMID: 35380331 PMCID: PMC8982747 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-022-00336-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) causes gastroenteritis and diarrhea in humans and food-producing animals. The type III secretion system (T3SS) has been known to be a potent virulence mechanism by injecting effector proteins into the cytosol of host cells. S. Typhimurium encodes two T3SSs by Salmonella pathogenicity islands 1 and 2. Previous studies showed that T3SS shared a potent virulence mechanism and molecular structure among several gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, T3SS has been identified as an attractive target in the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of bacterial infections. Several studies reported that small-molecule compounds are able to inhibit functions of bacterial T3SSs. A small molecule, C24H17ClN4O2S, has been shown the ability to inhibit the activity of Yersinia pestis T3SS ATPase, YscN, resulting to block the secretion of effector proteins. In this study, we studied the effects and mechanism for SPI-1 T3SS inhibition of this compound in S. Typhimurium. Results We demonstrated that this compound prohibited the secretion of effector proteins from Salmonella via SPI-1 T3SS at 100 μM. As the result, bacterial invasion ability into epithelial cell cultures was reduced. In contrast with previous study, the C24H17ClN4O2S molecule did not inactivate the activity of SPI-1 T3SS ATPase, InvC, in Salmonella. However, we studied the global cellular effects of S. Typhimurium after being treated with this compound using a quantitative proteomic technique. These proteomic results showed that the main SPI-1 transcription regulator, InvF, and two effector proteins, SipA and SipC, were reduced in bacterial cells treated with the compound. Conclusions It may explain that action of the small-molecule compound, C24H17ClN4O2S, for blocking the secretion of SPI-1 T3SS in Salmonella is through inhibition of SPI-1 regulator, InvF, expression. Further studies are necessary to identify specific mechanisms for inhibition between this small-compound and InvF SPI-1 regulator protein.
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Flagellin outer domain dimerization modulates motility in pathogenic and soil bacteria from viscous environments. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1422. [PMID: 35301306 PMCID: PMC8931119 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29069-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Flagellar filaments function as the propellers of the bacterial flagellum and their supercoiling is key to motility. The outer domains on the surface of the filament are non-critical for motility in many bacteria and their structures and functions are not conserved. Here, we show the atomic cryo-electron microscopy structures for flagellar filaments from enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7, enteropathogenic E. coli O127:H6, Achromobacter, and Sinorhizobium meliloti, where the outer domains dimerize or tetramerize to form either a sheath or a screw-like surface. These dimers are formed by 180° rotations of half of the outer domains. The outer domain sheath (ODS) plays a role in bacterial motility by stabilizing an intermediate waveform and prolonging the tumbling of E. coli cells. Bacteria with these ODS and screw-like flagellar filaments are commonly found in soil and human intestinal environments of relatively high viscosity suggesting a role for the dimerization in these environments. It has been suggested that the outer domains of bacterial flagellins are not needed for motility. Here, the authors show that flagellar filament outer domains from some bacteria have unique structures which can alter the motility of the bacteria.
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Jiang L, Yang W, Jiang X, Yao T, Wang L, Yang B. Virulence-related O islands in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7. Gut Microbes 2022; 13:1992237. [PMID: 34711138 PMCID: PMC8565820 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2021.1992237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 is a principally foodborne pathogen linked to serious diseases, including bloody diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Comparative genomics analysis revealed that EHEC O157 contains 177 unique genomic islands, termed O islands, compared with the nonpathogenic E. coli K-12 laboratory strain. These O islands contribute largely to the pathogenicity of EHEC O157:H7 by providing numerous virulence factors, effectors, virulence regulatory proteins, and virulence regulatory sRNAs. The present review aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the research progress on the function of O islands, especially focusing on virulence-related O islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyan Jiang
- TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, TEDA, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Wen Yang
- TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, TEDA, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Xinlei Jiang
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Ting Yao
- TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, TEDA, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Lu Wang
- TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, TEDA, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Bin Yang
- TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, TEDA, Tianjin, P. R. China,CONTACT Bin Yang TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, TEDA, Tianjin300457, P. R. China
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uvrY deletion and acetate reduce gut colonization of Crohn's disease-associated adherent-invasive Escherichia coli by decreasing expression of type 1 fimbriae. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0066221. [PMID: 34978926 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00662-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) is involved in onset and/or exacerbation of Crohn's disease. AIEC adapts to the gut environment by altering gene-expression programs, leading to successful gut-lumen colonization. However, the underlying mechanism of gut colonization is still far from clarified. Here, we show the role of UvrY, a response regulator of bacterial two-component signal transduction systems, in AIEC gut colonization. An AIEC mutant lacking the uvrY gene exhibited impairment of competitive colonization in the murine intestinal tract. UvrY contributes to functional expression of type 1 fimbriae by activating expression of small RNA CsrB, which confers adherence and invasion into epithelial cells on AIEC. In contrast, acetate suppresses the UvrY-dependent expression of type 1 fimbriae, resulting in less efficient cell invasion and attenuated gut colonization. Our findings might lead to therapeutic interventions for CD, in which inhibitions of UvrY activation and acetate supplementation reduce the colonization levels of AIEC by decreasing type-1 fimbriae expression.
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Loss of an Intimin-Like Protein Encoded on a Uropathogenic E. coli Pathogenicity Island Reduces Inflammation and Affects Interactions with the Urothelium. Infect Immun 2021; 90:e0027521. [PMID: 34871042 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00275-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) causes the majority of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI), which affect nearly half of women worldwide. Many UPEC strains encode an annotated intimin-like adhesin (ila) locus in their genome related to a well-characterized virulence factor in diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes. Its role in UPEC uropathogenesis, however, remains unknown. In prototype UPEC strain CFT073, there is an ila locus that encodes three predicted intimin-like genes sinH, sinI, and ratA. We used in silico approaches to determine the phylogeny and genomic distribution of this locus among uropathogens. We found that the currently annotated intimin-encoding proteins in CFT073 are more closely related to invasin proteins found in Salmonella. Deletion of the individual sinH, sinI, and ratA genes did not result in measurable effects on growth, biofilm formation, or motility in vitro. On average, sinH was more highly expressed in clinical strains during active human UTI than in human urine ex vivo. Unexpectedly, we found that strains lacking this ila locus had increased adherence to bladder cells in vitro, coupled with a decrease in bladder cell invasion and death. The sinH mutant displayed a significant fitness defect in the murine model of ascending UTI including reduced inflammation in the bladder. These data confirmed an inhibitory role in bladder cell adherence to facilitate invasion and inflammation; therefore, the ila locus should be termed invasin-like, rather than intimin-like. Collectively, our data suggest that loss of this locus mediates measurable interactions with bladder cells in vitro and contributes to fitness during UTI.
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Control of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Motility and Biofilm Formation by Salicylate and Decanoate: MarA/SoxS/Rob and pchE Interactions. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 88:e0189121. [PMID: 34788062 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01891-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prophage-encoded Escherichia coli O157:H7 transcription factor (TF), PchE, inhibits biofilm formation and attachment to cultured epithelial cells by reducing curli fimbriae expression and increasing flagella expression. To identify pchE regulators that might be used in intervention strategies to reduce environmental persistence or host infections, we performed a computational search of O157:H7 strain PA20 pchE promoter sequences for binding sites used by known TFs. A common site shared by MarA/SoxS/Rob TFs was identified and the typical MarA/Rob inducers, salicylate and decanoate, were tested for biofilm and motility effects. Sodium salicylate, a proven biofilm inhibitor, but not sodium decanoate, strongly reduced O157:H7 biofilms by a pchE-independent mechanism. Both salicylate and decanoate enhanced O157:H7 motility dependent on pchE using media and incubation temperatures optimum for culturing human epithelial cells. However, induction of pchE by salicylate did not activate the SOS response. MarA/SoxS/Rob inducers provide new potential agents for controlling O157:H7 interactions with the host and its persistence in the environment. IMPORTANCE There is a need to develop E. coli serotype O157:H7 non-antibiotic interventions that do not precipitate the release and activation of virulence factor-encoded prophage and transferrable genetic elements. One method is to stimulate existing regulatory pathways that repress bacterial persistence and virulence genes. Here we show that certain inducers of MarA and Rob have that ability, working through both pchE-dependent and -independent pathways.
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Smallets S, Kendall MM. Post-transcriptional regulation in attaching and effacing pathogens: integration of environmental cues and the impact on gene expression and host interactions. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 63:238-243. [PMID: 34450388 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
To establish infection, enteric pathogens integrate environmental cues to navigate the gastrointestinal tract and precisely control expression of virulence determinants. Emerging data indicate that post-transcriptional and post-translational gene regulation plays a key role in virulence regulation and pathogen adaptation to the host environment. Here, we highlight recent studies that reveal how physiologically relevant signals initiate post-transcriptional and post-translational regulatory circuits and the impact on virulence gene expression in the attaching and effacing pathogens, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7, and Citrobacter rodentium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Smallets
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, 485 McCormick Rd., Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Melissa M Kendall
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, 1340 Jefferson Park Ave., Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA.
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25
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Distribution of Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Genes within the Prophage-Associated Regions in Nosocomial Pathogens. mSphere 2021; 6:e0045221. [PMID: 34232073 PMCID: PMC8386436 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00452-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Prophages are often involved in host survival strategies and contribute toward increasing the genetic diversity of the host genome. Prophages also drive horizontal propagation of various genes as vehicles. However, there are few retrospective studies contributing to the propagation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence factor (VF) genes by prophage. We extracted the complete genome sequences of seven pathogens, including ESKAPE bacteria and Escherichia coli from a public database, and examined the distribution of both the AMR and VF genes in prophage-like regions. We found that the ratios of AMR and VF genes greatly varied among the seven species. More than 70% of Enterobacter cloacae strains had VF genes, but only 1.2% of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains had VF genes from prophages. AMR and VF genes are unlikely to exist together in the same prophage region except in E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and the distribution patterns of prophage types containing AMR genes are distinct from those of VF gene-carrying prophage types. AMR genes in the prophage were located near transposase and/or integrase. The prophage containing class 1 integrase possessed a significantly greater number of AMR genes than did prophages with no class 1 integrase. The results of this study present a comprehensive picture of AMR and VF genes present within, or close to, prophage-like elements and different prophage patterns between AMR- or VF-encoding prophage-like elements. IMPORTANCE Although we believe phages play an important role in horizontal gene transfer in exchanging genetic material, we do not know the distribution of the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and/or virulence factor (VF) genes in prophages. We collected different prophage elements from the complete genome sequences of seven species—Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, and Escherichia coli—and characterized the distribution of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes located in the prophage region. While virulence genes in prophage were species specific, antimicrobial resistance genes in prophages were highly conserved in various species. An integron structure was detected within specific prophage regions such as P1-like prophage element. Maximum of 10 antimicrobial resistance genes were found in a single prophage region, suggesting that prophages act as a reservoir for antimicrobial resistance genes. The results of this study show the different characteristic structures between AMR- or VF-encoding prophages.
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26
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Citrobacter rodentium infection at the gut-brain axis interface. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 63:59-65. [PMID: 34217915 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The gut-brain axis plays a critical role in the maintenance of the gastrointestinal tract homeostasis. Several enteric pathogens have developed strategies to sense neurochemical molecules to regulate their virulence in the gut. Additionally, there is growing evidence that gut dysbiosis can strongly affect host brain responses. Here we review different mechanisms that have been proposed to mediate gut-brain axis communication using Citrobacter rodentium, a natural murine enteric pathogen and one of the most widely used small animal models for studying host-microbe interactions. We highlight studies that have identified-specific pathways used by C. rodentium to sense host neurochemicals during colonization as well as behavioral responses and brain pathologies affected by pathogen colonization of the gut.
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27
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Robinson L, Liaw J, Omole Z, Xia D, van Vliet AHM, Corcionivoschi N, Hachani A, Gundogdu O. Bioinformatic Analysis of the Campylobacter jejuni Type VI Secretion System and Effector Prediction. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:694824. [PMID: 34276628 PMCID: PMC8285248 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.694824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Type VI Secretion System (T6SS) has important roles relating to bacterial antagonism, subversion of host cells, and niche colonisation. Campylobacter jejuni is one of the leading bacterial causes of human gastroenteritis worldwide and is a commensal coloniser of birds. Although recently discovered, the T6SS biological functions and identities of its effectors are still poorly defined in C. jejuni. Here, we perform a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of the C. jejuni T6SS by investigating the prevalence and genetic architecture of the T6SS in 513 publicly available genomes using C. jejuni 488 strain as reference. A unique and conserved T6SS cluster associated with the Campylobacter jejuni Integrated Element 3 (CJIE3) was identified in the genomes of 117 strains. Analyses of the T6SS-positive 488 strain against the T6SS-negative C. jejuni RM1221 strain and the T6SS-positive plasmid pCJDM202 carried by C. jejuni WP2-202 strain defined the “T6SS-containing CJIE3” as a pathogenicity island, thus renamed as Campylobacter jejuni Pathogenicity Island-1 (CJPI-1). Analysis of CJPI-1 revealed two canonical VgrG homologues, CJ488_0978 and CJ488_0998, harbouring distinct C-termini in a genetically variable region downstream of the T6SS operon. CJPI-1 was also found to carry a putative DinJ-YafQ Type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) module, conserved across pCJDM202 and the genomic island CJIE3, as well as several open reading frames functionally predicted to encode for nucleases, lipases, and peptidoglycan hydrolases. This comprehensive in silico study provides a framework for experimental characterisation of T6SS-related effectors and TA modules in C. jejuni.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Robinson
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Janie Liaw
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zahra Omole
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dong Xia
- Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Arnoud H M van Vliet
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolae Corcionivoschi
- Bacteriology Branch, Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, United Kingdom.,Bioengineering of Animal Science Resources, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine - King Michael the I of Romania, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Abderrahman Hachani
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ozan Gundogdu
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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28
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Hotinger JA, Pendergrass HA, May AE. Molecular Targets and Strategies for Inhibition of the Bacterial Type III Secretion System (T3SS); Inhibitors Directly Binding to T3SS Components. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11020316. [PMID: 33669653 PMCID: PMC7922566 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a virulence apparatus used by many Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria to cause infections. Pathogens utilizing a T3SS are responsible for millions of infections yearly. Since many T3SS knockout strains are incapable of causing systemic infection, the T3SS has emerged as an attractive anti-virulence target for therapeutic design. The T3SS is a multiprotein molecular syringe that enables pathogens to inject effector proteins into host cells. These effectors modify host cell mechanisms in a variety of ways beneficial to the pathogen. Due to the T3SS’s complex nature, there are numerous ways in which it can be targeted. This review will be focused on the direct targeting of components of the T3SS, including the needle, translocon, basal body, sorting platform, and effector proteins. Inhibitors will be considered a direct inhibitor if they have a binding partner that is a T3SS component, regardless of the inhibitory effect being structural or functional.
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The Canonical Long-Chain Fatty Acid Sensing Machinery Processes Arachidonic Acid To Inhibit Virulence in Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.03247-20. [PMID: 33468701 PMCID: PMC7845647 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03247-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play important roles in host immunity. Manipulation of lipid content in host tissues through diet or pharmacological interventions is associated with altered severity of various inflammatory diseases. The mammalian gastrointestinal tract is a complex biochemical organ that generates a diverse milieu of host- and microbe-derived metabolites. In this environment, bacterial pathogens sense and respond to specific stimuli, which are integrated into the regulation of their virulence programs. Previously, we identified the transcription factor FadR, a long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) sensor, as a novel virulence regulator in the human foodborne pathogen enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). Here, we demonstrate that exogenous LCFAs directly inhibit the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) pathogenicity island in EHEC through sensing by FadR. Moreover, in addition to LCFAs that are 18 carbons in length or shorter, we introduce host-derived arachidonic acid (C20:4) as an additional LCFA that is recognized by the FadR system in EHEC. We show that arachidonic acid is processed by the acyl-CoA synthetase FadD, which permits binding to FadR and decreases FadR affinity for its target DNA sequences. This interaction enables the transcriptional regulation of FadR-responsive operons by arachidonic acid in EHEC, including the LEE. Finally, we show that arachidonic acid inhibits hallmarks of EHEC disease in a FadR-dependent manner, including EHEC attachment to epithelial cells and the formation of attaching and effacing lesions. Together, our findings delineate a molecular mechanism demonstrating how LCFAs can directly inhibit the virulence of an enteric bacterial pathogen. More broadly, our findings expand the repertoire of ligands sensed by the canonical LFCA sensing machinery in EHEC to include arachidonic acid, an important bioactive lipid that is ubiquitous within host environments.
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30
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Ledwaba SE, Costa DVS, Bolick DT, Giallourou N, Medeiros PHQS, Swann JR, Traore AN, Potgieter N, Nataro JP, Guerrant RL. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection Induces Diarrhea, Intestinal Damage, Metabolic Alterations, and Increased Intestinal Permeability in a Murine Model. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:595266. [PMID: 33392105 PMCID: PMC7773950 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.595266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) are recognized as one of the leading bacterial causes of infantile diarrhea worldwide. Weaned C57BL/6 mice pretreated with antibiotics were challenged orally with wild-type EPEC or escN mutant (lacking type 3 secretion system) to determine colonization, inflammatory responses and clinical outcomes during infection. Antibiotic disruption of intestinal microbiota enabled efficient colonization by wild-type EPEC resulting in growth impairment and diarrhea. Increase in inflammatory biomarkers, chemokines, cellular recruitment and pro-inflammatory cytokines were observed in intestinal tissues. Metabolomic changes were also observed in EPEC infected mice with changes in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates, increased creatine excretion and shifts in gut microbial metabolite levels. In addition, by 7 days after infection, although weights were recovering, EPEC-infected mice had increased intestinal permeability and decreased colonic claudin-1 levels. The escN mutant colonized the mice with no weight loss or increased inflammatory biomarkers, showing the importance of the T3SS in EPEC virulence in this model. In conclusion, a murine infection model treated with antibiotics has been developed to mimic clinical outcomes seen in children with EPEC infection and to examine potential roles of selected virulence traits. This model can help in further understanding mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of EPEC infections and potential outcomes and thus assist in the development of potential preventive or therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solanka E. Ledwaba
- Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | - Deiziane V. S. Costa
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - David T. Bolick
- Center for Global Health, Division of Infectious Disease and International Health, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Natasa Giallourou
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London, England
| | | | - Jonathan R. Swann
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London, England
| | - Afsatou N. Traore
- Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | - Natasha Potgieter
- Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | - James P. Nataro
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Richard L. Guerrant
- Center for Global Health, Division of Infectious Disease and International Health, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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31
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Romão FT, Martins FH, Hernandes RT, Ooka T, Santos FF, Yamamoto D, Bonfim-Melo A, Jones N, Hayashi T, Elias WP, Sperandio V, Gomes TAT. Genomic Properties and Temporal Analysis of the Interaction of an Invasive Escherichia albertii With Epithelial Cells. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:571088. [PMID: 33392102 PMCID: PMC7772469 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.571088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Diarrhea is one of the main causes of infant mortality worldwide, mainly in the developing world. Among the various etiologic agents, Escherichia albertii is emerging as an important human enteropathogen. E. albertii promote attaching and effacing (AE) lesions due to the presence of the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) that encodes a type three secretion system (T3SS), the afimbrial adhesin intimin and its translocated receptor, Tir, and several effector proteins. We previously showed that E. albertii strain 1551-2 invades several epithelial cell lineages by a process that is dependent on the intimin-Tir interaction. To understand the contribution of T3SS-dependent effectors present in E. albertii 1551-2 during the invasion process, we performed a genetic analysis of the LEE and non-LEE genes and evaluated the expression of the LEE operons in various stages of bacterial interaction with differentiated intestinal Caco-2 cells. The kinetics of the ability of the 1551-2 strain to colonize and form AE lesions was also investigated in epithelial HeLa cells. We showed that the LEE expression was constant during the early stages of infection but increased at least 4-fold during bacterial persistence in the intracellular compartment. An in silico analysis indicated the presence of a new tccP/espFU subtype, named tccP3. We found that the encoded protein colocalizes with Tir and polymerized F-actin during the infection process in vitro. Moreover, assays performed with Nck null cells demonstrated that the 1551-2 strain can trigger F-actin polymerization in an Nck-independent pathway, despite the fact that TccP3 is not required for this phenotype. Our study highlights the importance of the T3SS during the invasion process and for the maintenance of E. albertii 1551-2 inside the cells. In addition, this work may help to elucidate the versatility of the T3SS for AE pathogens, which are usually considered extracellular and rarely reach the intracellular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiano T Romão
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Fernando H Martins
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.,Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo T Hernandes
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Tadasuke Ooka
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Fernanda F Santos
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Denise Yamamoto
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Universidade Santo Amaro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexis Bonfim-Melo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nina Jones
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Tetsuya Hayashi
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Waldir P Elias
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Sperandio
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Tânia A T Gomes
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
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Pendergrass HA, Johnson AL, Hotinger JA, May AE. Fluorescence Detection of Type III Secretion Using a Glu-CyFur Reporter System in Citrobacter rodentium. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8121953. [PMID: 33316970 PMCID: PMC7764322 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a major cause of infantile diarrhea worldwide. EPEC and the closely related murine model of EPEC infection, Citrobacter rodentium, utilize a type III secretion system (T3SS) to propagate the infection. Since the T3SS is not essential for the bacteria to survive or propagate, inhibiting the virulence factor with a therapeutic would treat the infection without causing harm to commensal bacteria. Studying inhibitors of the T3SS usually requires a BSL-2 laboratory designation and eukaryotic host cells while not indicating the mechanism of inhibition. We have designed a BSL-1 assay using the murine model C. rodentium that does not require mammalian cell culture. This CPG2-reporter assay allows for more rapid analysis of secretion efficiency than Western blotting and is sensitive enough to differentiate between partial and total inhibition of the T3SS. Here we present our method and the results of a small collection of compounds we have screened, including known T3SS inhibitors EGCG, regacin, and aurodox and related quorum sensing inhibitors tannic acid and ellagic acid. We have further characterized EGCG as a T3SS inhibitor and established its IC50 of 1.8 ± 0.4 μM. We also establish tannic acid as a potent inhibitor of the T3SS with an IC50 of 0.65 ± 0.09 μM.
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33
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Riley LW. Distinguishing Pathovars from Nonpathovars: Escherichia coli. Microbiol Spectr 2020; 8:10.1128/microbiolspec.ame-0014-2020. [PMID: 33385193 PMCID: PMC10773148 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.ame-0014-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli is one of the most well-adapted and pathogenically versatile bacterial organisms. It causes a variety of human infections, including gastrointestinal illnesses and extraintestinal infections. It is also part of the intestinal commensal flora of humans and other mammals. Groups of E. coli that cause diarrhea are often described as intestinal pathogenic E. coli (IPEC), while those that cause infections outside of the gut are called extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC). IPEC can cause a variety of diarrheal illnesses as well as extraintestinal syndromes such as hemolytic-uremic syndrome. ExPEC cause urinary tract infections, bloodstream infection, sepsis, and neonatal meningitis. IPEC and ExPEC have thus come to be referred to as pathogenic variants of E. coli or pathovars. While IPEC can be distinguished from commensal E. coli based on their characteristic virulence factors responsible for their associated clinical manifestations, ExPEC cannot be so easily distinguished. IPEC most likely have reservoirs outside of the human intestine but it is unclear if ExPEC represent nothing more than commensal E. coli that breach a sterile barrier to cause extraintestinal infections. This question has become more complicated by the advent of whole genome sequencing (WGS) that has raised a new question about the taxonomic characterization of E. coli based on traditional clinical microbiologic and phylogenetic methods. This review discusses how molecular epidemiologic approaches have been used to address these questions, and how answers to these questions may contribute to our better understanding of the epidemiology of infections caused by E. coli. *This article is part of a curated collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee W Riley
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
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34
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Ellermann M, Pacheco AR, Jimenez AG, Russell RM, Cuesta S, Kumar A, Zhu W, Vale G, Martin SA, Raj P, McDonald JG, Winter SE, Sperandio V. Endocannabinoids Inhibit the Induction of Virulence in Enteric Pathogens. Cell 2020; 183:650-665.e15. [PMID: 33031742 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Endocannabinoids are host-derived lipid hormones that fundamentally impact gastrointestinal (GI) biology. The use of cannabis and other exocannabinoids as anecdotal treatments for various GI disorders inspired the search for mechanisms by which these compounds mediate their effects, which led to the discovery of the mammalian endocannabinoid system. Dysregulated endocannabinoid signaling was linked to inflammation and the gut microbiota. However, the effects of endocannabinoids on host susceptibility to infection has not been explored. Here, we show that mice with elevated levels of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) are protected from enteric infection by Enterobacteriaceae pathogens. 2-AG directly modulates pathogen function by inhibiting virulence programs essential for successful infection. Furthermore, 2-AG antagonizes the bacterial receptor QseC, a histidine kinase encoded within the core Enterobacteriaceae genome that promotes the activation of pathogen-associated type three secretion systems. Taken together, our findings establish that endocannabinoids are directly sensed by bacteria and can modulate bacterial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Ellermann
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Alline R Pacheco
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Angel G Jimenez
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Regan M Russell
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Santiago Cuesta
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Aman Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Wenhan Zhu
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Gonçalo Vale
- Center for Human Nutrition, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Sarah A Martin
- Department of Molecular Genetics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Prithvi Raj
- Microbiome Research Lab, Department of Immunology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jeffrey G McDonald
- Center for Human Nutrition, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Sebastian E Winter
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Vanessa Sperandio
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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The Ethanolamine-Sensing Transcription Factor EutR Promotes Virulence and Transmission during Citrobacter rodentium Intestinal Infection. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00137-20. [PMID: 32631916 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00137-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric pathogens exploit chemical and nutrient signaling to gauge their location within a host and control expression of traits important for infection. Ethanolamine-containing molecules are essential in host physiology and play important roles in intestinal processes. The transcription factor EutR is conserved in the Enterobacteriaceae and is required for ethanolamine sensing and metabolism. In enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7, EutR responds to ethanolamine to activate expression of traits required for host colonization and disease; however, the importance of EutR to EHEC intestinal infection has not been examined. Because EHEC does not naturally colonize or cause disease in mice, we employed the natural murine pathogen Citrobacter rodentium as a model of EHEC virulence to investigate the importance of EutR in vivo EHEC and C. rodentium possess the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE), which is the canonical virulence trait of attaching and effacing pathogens. Our findings demonstrate that ethanolamine sensing and EutR-dependent regulation of the LEE are conserved in C. rodentium Moreover, during infection, EutR is required for maximal LEE expression, colonization, and transmission efficiency. These findings reveal that EutR not only is important for persistence during the primary host infection cycle but also is required for maintenance in a host population.
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Kumar A, Russell RM, Pifer R, Menezes-Garcia Z, Cuesta S, Narayanan S, MacMillan JB, Sperandio V. The Serotonin Neurotransmitter Modulates Virulence of Enteric Pathogens. Cell Host Microbe 2020; 28:41-53.e8. [PMID: 32521224 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The gut-brain axis is crucial to microbial-host interactions. The neurotransmitter serotonin is primarily synthesized in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where it is secreted into the lumen and subsequently removed by the serotonin transporter, SERT. Here, we show that serotonin decreases virulence gene expression by enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) and Citrobacter rodentium, a murine model for EHEC. The membrane-bound histidine sensor kinase, CpxA, is a bacterial serotonin receptor. Serotonin induces dephosphorylation of CpxA, which inactivates the transcriptional factor CpxR controlling expression of virulence genes, notably those within the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE). Increasing intestinal serotonin by genetically or pharmacologically inhibiting SERT decreases LEE expression and reduces C. rodentium loads. Conversely, inhibiting serotonin synthesis increases pathogenesis and decreases host survival. As other enteric bacteria contain CpxA, this signal exploitation may be engaged by other pathogens. Additionally, repurposing serotonin agonists to inhibit CpxA may represent a potential therapeutic intervention for enteric bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Regan M Russell
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Reed Pifer
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Zelia Menezes-Garcia
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Santiago Cuesta
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Sanjeev Narayanan
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - John B MacMillan
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Vanessa Sperandio
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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Silva SS, Monfardini MV, Scaletsky ICA. Large plasmids encoding antibiotic resistance and localized-like adherence in atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains. BMC Microbiol 2020; 20:138. [PMID: 32471348 PMCID: PMC7257209 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-020-01809-4] [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: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In previous studies, we have shown that atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) strains are important diarrheal pathogens among Brazilian children. In the characterization of a collection of 126 aEPEC strains, we identified 29 strains expressing the localized-like adherence (LAL) pattern on HEp-2 cells and harboring large plasmids in the range of 60 to 98 MDa. In this study, we examined 18 of these strains for their ability to transfer the LAL phenotype to a E. coli K-12 C600 strain. Results In conjugation experiments, using eight strains which were resistant to one or more antimicrobials and positive for F-pili genes (traA), we were able to cotransfer antimicrobial resistance markers along with adhesion genes. By transforming E. coli DH5α with plasmid DNA from strains A46 (pIS46), A66 (pIS66) and A102 (pIS102), we were able to demonstrate that genes encoding ampicillin, tetracycline and LAL were encoded on a 98-MDa conjugative plasmid. To identify a gene responsible for LAL, we constructed a transposon mutant library of A102 strain. Among 18 mutants that did not adhere to HeLa cells, four carried insertions within fimbrial genes (fimA and traJ) and agglutinin genes (tia and hek). Using these Tn5 mutants as donors, we were able to obtain kanamycin-resistant E. coli MA3456 transconjugants. Sequence analysis of the plasmid genes revealed a region exhibit to 80 and 73% amino acid similarities to the agglutinins Tia and Hek, respectively. Conclusion In this study, we have identified three large conjugative plasmids, pIS46, pIS66 and pIS102, coding for antimicrobial resistance and localized-like adherence (LAL) to HeLa cells. In addition, we identified a tia/hek homolog encoded on the pIS102 plasmid, which seems to be involved in adhesion of A102 strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scarlat S Silva
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Rua Botucatu, 862, 3 andar, São Paulo, 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Mariane V Monfardini
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Rua Botucatu, 862, 3 andar, São Paulo, 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Isabel C A Scaletsky
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Rua Botucatu, 862, 3 andar, São Paulo, 04023-062, Brazil.
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Is Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O45 No Longer a Food Safety Threat? The Danger is Still Out There. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8050782. [PMID: 32455956 PMCID: PMC7285328 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8050782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Many Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains, including the serogroups of O157 and most of the top six non-O157 serotypes, are frequently associated with foodborne outbreaks. Therefore, they have been extensively studied using next-generation sequencing technology. However, related information regarding STEC O45 strains is scarce. In this study, three environmental E. coli O45:H16 strains (RM11911, RM13745, and RM13752) and one clinical E. coli O45:H2 strain (SJ7) were sequenced and used to characterize virulence factors using two reference E. coli O45:H2 strains of clinical origin. Subsequently, whole-genome-based phylogenetic analysis was conducted for the six STEC O45 strains and nine other reference STEC genomes, in order to evaluate their evolutionary relationship. The results show that one locus of enterocyte effacement pathogenicity island was found in all three STEC O45:H2 strains, but not in the STEC O45:H16 strains. Additionally, E. coli O45:H2 strains were evolutionarily close to E. coli O103:H2 strains, sharing high homology in terms of virulence factors, such as Stx prophages, but were distinct from E. coli O45:H16 strains. The findings show that E. coli O45:H2 may be as virulent as E. coli O103:H2, which is frequently associated with severe illness and can provide genomic evidence to facilitate STEC surveillance.
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Delivery of Heterologous Proteins, Enzymes, and Antigens via the Bacterial Type III Secretion System. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8050777. [PMID: 32455678 PMCID: PMC7285344 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8050777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Type III Secretion System (T3SS) is a multimeric protein complex composed of over 20 different proteins, utilized by Gram-negative bacteria to infect eukaryotic host cells. The T3SS has been implicated as a virulence factor by which pathogens cause infection and has recently been characterized as a communication tool between bacteria and plant cells in the rhizosphere. The T3SS has been repurposed to be used as a tool for the delivery of non-native or heterologous proteins to eukaryotic cells or the extracellular space for a variety of purposes, including drug discovery and drug delivery. This review covers the methodology of heterologous protein secretion as well as multiple cases of utilizing the T3SS to deliver heterologous proteins or artificial materials. The research covered in this review will serve to outline the scope and limitations of utilizing the T3SS as a tool for protein delivery.
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l-Arginine sensing regulates virulence gene expression and disease progression in enteric pathogens. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:12387-12393. [PMID: 32409599 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1919683117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbiota, host and dietary metabolites/signals compose the rich gut chemical environment, which profoundly impacts virulence of enteric pathogens. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) engages a syringe-like machinery named type-III secretion system (T3SS) to inject effectors within host cells that lead to intestinal colonization and disease. We previously conducted a high-throughput screen to identify metabolic pathways that affect T3SS expression. Here we show that in the presence of arginine, the arginine sensor ArgR, identified through this screen, directly activates expression of the genes encoding the T3SS. Exogenously added arginine induces EHEC virulence gene expression in vitro. Congruently, a mutant deficient in arginine transport (ΔartP) had decreased virulence gene expression. ArgR also augments murine disease caused by Citrobacter rodentium, which is a murine pathogen extensively employed as a surrogate animal model for EHEC. The source of arginine sensed by C. rodentium is not dietary. At the peak of C. rodentium infection, increased arginine concentration in the colon correlated with down-regulation of the host SLC7A2 transporter. This increase in the concentration of colonic arginine promotes virulence gene expression in C. rodentium Arginine is an important modulator of the host immune response to pathogens. Here we add that arginine also directly impacts bacterial virulence. These findings suggest that a delicate balance between host and pathogen responses to arginine occur during disease progression.
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EspFu-Mediated Actin Assembly Enhances Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Adherence and Activates Host Cell Inflammatory Signaling Pathways. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.00617-20. [PMID: 32291304 PMCID: PMC7157822 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00617-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
EPEC is among the leading causes of diarrheal disease worldwide. The colonization of the gut mucosa by EPEC results in actin pedestal formation at the site of bacterial attachment. These pedestals are referred to as attaching and effacing (AE) lesions. Here, we exploit the different molecular mechanisms used by EPEC to induce AE lesions on epithelial cells, showing that the effector EspFu is associated with increased bacterial attachment and enhanced epithelial colonization compared to the Tir-Nck pathway. Moreover, we also showed that actin pedestal formation can counterbalance the anti-inflammatory activity induced by EPEC, especially when driven by EspFu. Collectively, our findings provide new insights into virulence mechanisms employed by EPEC to colonize epithelial cells, as well as the host response to this enteric pathogen. The translocation of effectors into the host cell through type 3 secretion systems (T3SS) is a sophisticated strategy employed by pathogenic bacteria to subvert host responses and facilitate colonization. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) utilize the Tir and EspFu (also known as TccP) effectors to remodel the host cytoskeleton, culminating in the formation of attaching and effacing (AE) lesions on enterocytes. While some EPEC strains require tyrosine phosphorylation of Tir and recruitment of the host Nck to trigger actin polymerization, EHEC and certain EPEC strains, whose Tir is not phosphorylated, rely on the effector EspFu for efficient actin remodeling. Here, we investigated the role played by Tir-Nck and Tir-EspFu actin polymerization pathways during the infection of epithelial cells, as well as the host transcriptional response to the AE lesion formation induced by EPEC. We found that EspFu-mediated actin assembly promotes bacterial attachment and epithelial colonization more efficiently than Tir-Nck. Moreover, we showed that both actin polymerization mechanisms can activate inflammatory pathways and reverse the anti-inflammatory response induced by EPEC in epithelial cells. However, this activity is remarkably more evident in infections with EspFu-expressing EPEC strains. This study demonstrates the complex interactions between effector-mediated actin remodeling and inflammation. Different strains carry different combinations of these two effectors, highlighting the plasticity of pathogenic E. coli enteric infections.
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Type III Secretion Effectors with Arginine N-Glycosyltransferase Activity. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8030357. [PMID: 32131463 PMCID: PMC7142665 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8030357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Type III secretion systems are used by many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens to inject proteins, known as effectors, into the cytosol of host cells. These virulence factors interfere with a diverse array of host signal transduction pathways and cellular processes. Many effectors have catalytic activities to promote post-translational modifications of host proteins. This review focuses on a family of effectors with glycosyltransferase activity that catalyze addition of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine to specific arginine residues in target proteins, leading to reduced NF-κB pathway activation and impaired host cell death. This family includes NleB from Citrobacter rodentium, NleB1 and NleB2 from enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, and SseK1, SseK2, and SseK3 from Salmonella enterica. First, we place these effectors in the general framework of the glycosyltransferase superfamily and in the particular context of the role of glycosylation in bacterial pathogenesis. Then, we provide detailed information about currently known members of this family, their role in virulence, and their targets.
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Jimenez AG, Ellermann M, Abbott W, Sperandio V. Diet-derived galacturonic acid regulates virulence and intestinal colonization in enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli and Citrobacter rodentium. Nat Microbiol 2019; 5:368-378. [PMID: 31873206 PMCID: PMC6992478 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0641-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Enteric pathogens sense the complex chemistry within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to efficiently compete with the resident microbiota and establish a colonization niche. Here we show that enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), and its surrogate murine infection model Citrobacter rodentium, sense galacturonic-acid to initiate a multi-layered program towards successful mammalian infection. Galacturonic-acid utilization as a carbon source aids the initial pathogen expansion. The main source of galacturonic-acid is dietary pectin, which is broken into galacturonic-acid by the prominent member of the microbiota, Bacteroides thetaiotamicron (Bt). This regulation occurs through the ExuR transcription factor. However, galacturonic-acid is also sensed as a signal through ExuR to modulate the expression of the genes encoding a molecular syringe known as a type three secretion system (T3SS) leading to infectious colitis and inflammation. Galacturonic-acid moonlights as a nutrient and a signal directing the exquisite microbiota-pathogen relationships within the GI tract. Importantly, this work highlights that differential dietary sugar availability impacts the relationship between the microbiota and enteric pathogens, as well as disease outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel G Jimenez
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Melissa Ellermann
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Wade Abbott
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Vanessa Sperandio
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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Hotinger JA, May AE. Animal Models of Type III Secretion System-Mediated Pathogenesis. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8040257. [PMID: 31766664 PMCID: PMC6963218 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8040257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a conserved virulence factor used by many Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria and has become an important target for anti-virulence drugs. Most T3SS inhibitors to date have been discovered using in vitro screening assays. Pharmacokinetics and other important characteristics of pharmaceuticals cannot be determined with in vitro assays alone. In vivo assays are required to study pathogens in their natural environment and are an important step in the development of new drugs and vaccines. Animal models are also required to understand whether T3SS inhibition will enable the host to clear the infection. This review covers selected animal models (mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, cat, dog, pig, cattle, primates, chicken, zebrafish, nematode, wax moth, flea, fly, and amoeba), where T3SS activity and infectivity have been studied in relation to specific pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas spp., Shigella spp., Bordetella spp., Vibrio spp., Chlamydia spp., and Yersinia spp.). These assays may be appropriate for those researching T3SS inhibition.
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45
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Woodward SE, Krekhno Z, Finlay BB. Here, there, and everywhere: How pathogenicEscherichia colisense and respond to gastrointestinal biogeography. Cell Microbiol 2019; 21:e13107. [DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Woodward
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Michael Smith LaboratoriesUniversity of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Zakhar Krekhno
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Michael Smith LaboratoriesUniversity of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - B. Brett Finlay
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Michael Smith LaboratoriesUniversity of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
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Pendergrass HA, May AE. Natural Product Type III Secretion System Inhibitors. Antibiotics (Basel) 2019; 8:antibiotics8040162. [PMID: 31554164 PMCID: PMC6963908 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics8040162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Many known inhibitors of the bacterial type III secretion system (T3SS), a virulence factor used by pathogenic bacteria to infect host cells, are natural products. These compounds, produced by bacteria, fungi, and plants, may have developed as prophylactic treatments for potential attack by bacterial pathogens or as an attempt by symbiotic organisms to protect their hosts. Regardless, better understanding of the structures and mechanisms of action of these compounds may open opportunities for drug development against diseases caused by pathogens utilizing the T3SS. This review will cover selected known natural products of the T3SS and detail what is known of their origin and mechanism of action. These inhibitors highlight nature’s ability to modulate interactions between organisms at a cellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather A Pendergrass
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.
| | - Aaron E May
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.
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Reply to Wood and Lee, “Precedence for the Role of Indole with Pathogens”. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.01787-19. [PMID: 31363037 PMCID: PMC6667627 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01787-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Dhanda AS, Yu C, Guttman JA. Distribution of CD147 During Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Infections. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2019; 302:2224-2232. [PMID: 31443124 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) are highly infectious gastrointestinal human pathogens. These microbes inject bacterial-derived effector proteins directly into the host cell cytosol as part of their disease processes. A common host subcellular target of these pathogens is the actin cytoskeleton, which is commandeered by the bacteria and is used during their attachment onto (EPEC) or invasion into (S. Typhimurium) the host cells. We previously demonstrated that the host enzyme cyclophilin A (CypA) is recruited to the actin-rich regions of EPEC pedestals and S. Typhimurium membrane ruffles. To further expand the growing catalogue of host proteins usurped by actin-hijacking bacteria, we examined the host plasma membrane protein and cognate receptor of CypA, CD147, during EPEC and S. Typhimurium infections. Here, we show that CD147 is enriched at the basolateral regions of pedestals but, unlike CypA, it is absent from their actin-rich core. We show that the CD147 recruitment to these areas requires EPEC pedestal formation and not solely bacteria-host cell contact. Additionally, we demonstrate that the depletion of CD147 by siRNA does not alter the formation of pedestals. Finally, we show that CD147 is also a component of actin-rich membrane ruffles generated during S. Typhimurium invasion of host cells. Collectively, our findings establish CD147 as another host component present at dynamic actin-rich structures formed during bacterial infections. Anat Rec, 302:2224-2232, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron S Dhanda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Cell Biology, Development, and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Connie Yu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Cell Biology, Development, and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Julian A Guttman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Cell Biology, Development, and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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Egan M, Critelli B, Cleary SP, Marino M, Upreti C, Kalman D, Bhatt S. Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of the locus of enterocyte effacement in Escherichia albertii. Microb Pathog 2019; 135:103643. [PMID: 31336143 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2019.103643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The diarrheic bacterium Escherichia albertii is a recent addition to the attaching and effacing (A/E) morphotype of pathogens. A/E pathogens cause disease by tightly attaching to intestinal cells, destroying their actin-rich microvilli, and triggering re-localization and repolymerization of actin at the bacterial-host interface to form actin-filled membranous protrusions, termed A/E lesions, beneath the adherent bacterium. The locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) is required for the biogenesis of these lesions. Whereas regulation of the LEE has been intensively investigated in EPEC and EHEC, it remains cryptic in E. albertii. In this study we characterized the very first transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulators of the LEE in this emerging pathogen. Our results suggest that Ler and GrlA globally activate transcription from the LEE, whereas GrlR negatively regulates the LEE. Additionally, we demonstrate that the RNA chaperone Hfq posttranscriptionally represses the LEE by specifically targeting the 5' UTR of grlR. In summary, our findings provide the very first glimpse of the regulatory landscape of the LEE in E. albertii - a bacterium that has been implicated in multiple diarrheal outbreaks worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Egan
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, 19131, PA, USA; Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, 3610 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, 19104, PA, USA
| | - Brian Critelli
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, 19131, PA, USA
| | - Sean P Cleary
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, 19131, PA, USA
| | - Mary Marino
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, 19131, PA, USA
| | - Chirag Upreti
- Department of Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, 10032, USA
| | - Daniel Kalman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, 30341, GA, USA
| | - Shantanu Bhatt
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, 19131, PA, USA.
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Abstract
Microbial establishment within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract requires surveillance of the gut biogeography. The gut microbiota coordinates behaviors by sensing host- or microbiota-derived signals. Here we show for the first time that microbiota-derived indole is highly prevalent in the lumen compared to the intestinal tissue. This difference in indole concentration plays a key role in modulating virulence gene expression of the enteric pathogens enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and Citrobacter rodentium Indole decreases expression of genes within the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) pathogenicity island, which is essential for these pathogens to form attaching and effacing (AE) lesions on enterocytes. We synthetically altered the concentration of indole in the GI tracts of mice by employing mice treated with antibiotics to deplete the microbiota and reconstituted with indole-producing commensal Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (B. theta) or a B. theta ΔtnaA mutant (does not produce indole) or by engineering an indole-producing C. rodentium strain. This allowed us to assess the role of self-produced versus microbiota-produced indole, and the results show that decreased indole concentrations promote bacterial pathogenesis, while increased levels of indole decrease bacterial virulence gene expression. Moreover, we identified the bacterial membrane-bound histidine sensor kinase (HK) CpxA as an indole sensor. Enteric pathogens sense a gradient of indole concentrations in the gut to probe different niches and successfully establish an infection.IMPORTANCE Pathogens sense and respond to several small molecules within the GI tract to modulate expression of their virulence repertoire. Indole is a signaling molecule produced by the gut microbiota. Here we show that indole concentrations are higher in the lumen, where the microbiota is present, than in the intestinal tissue. The enteric pathogens EHEC and C. rodentium sense indole to downregulate expression of their virulence genes, as a read-out of the luminal compartment. We also identified the bacterial membrane-bound HK CpxA as an indole sensor. This regulation ensures that EHEC and C. rodentium express their virulence genes only at the epithelial lining, which is the niche they colonize.
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