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Fang L, Cosgriff C, Alonzo F. Determinants of maturation of the Staphylococcus aureus autoinducing peptide. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0019524. [PMID: 39177535 PMCID: PMC11412329 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00195-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The accessory gene regulatory (Agr) system is required for virulence factor gene expression and pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus. The Agr system is activated in response to the accumulation of a cyclic autoinducing peptide (AIP), which is matured and secreted by the bacterium. The precursor of AIP, AgrD, consists of the AIP flanked by an N-terminal [Formula: see text]-helical Leader and a charged C-terminal tail. AgrD is matured to AIP by the action of two proteases, AgrB and MroQ. AgrB cleaves the C-terminal tail and promotes the formation of a thiolactone ring, whereas MroQ cleaves the N-terminal Leader in a manner that depends on the four-amino acid linker immediately following a conserved IG helix breaker motif. However, the attributes of AgrD that dictate the sequence of events in peptide maturation are not fully defined. Here, we used engineered AgrD peptide intermediates to ascertain the sufficiency of MroQ for N-terminal peptide cleavage, peptide export, and generation of mature AIP. We found that MroQ promotes the removal of the N-terminal Leader peptide from both linear and cyclic peptide intermediates, while peptide cyclization remained essential for signaling. The expression of the Leader peptide in isolation was sufficient for MroQ-dependent cleavage proximal to the four-amino-acid linker. In addition, active site mutations within AgrB destabilized full-length AgrD and thiolactone-containing intermediates and prevented the release of the Leader peptide. Altogether, our data support a tandem peptide maturation event involving both MroQ and AgrB that appears to couple protease activity and export of bioactive AIP.IMPORTANCEThe accessory gene regulatory (Agr) system is important for S. aureus pathogenesis. Activation of the Agr system requires recognition of a cyclic peptide pheromone, which must be fully matured to exert its biological activity. The complete events in cyclic peptide maturation and export from the bacterial cell remain to be fully defined. We and others recently discovered that the membrane peptidase MroQ is required for pheromone maturation. This study builds off the identification of MroQ and considers the attributes of the pheromone pro-peptide that are required for MroQ-mediated processing as well as uncovers features important for peptide stability and export. Overall, the findings in this study have implications for understanding bacterial pheromone maturation and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Fang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Chance Cosgriff
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Francis Alonzo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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2
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Brasino M, Wagnell E, Ozdemir ES, Ranganathan S, Merritt J. Mutation of the peptide-regulated transcription factor ComR for amidated peptide specificity and heterologous function in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WCFS1. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0051724. [PMID: 38687019 PMCID: PMC11237612 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00517-24] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a growing interest in the use of probiotic bacteria as biosensors for the detection of disease. However, there is a lack of bacterial receptors developed for specific disease biomarkers. Here, we have investigated the use of the peptide-regulated transcription factor ComR from Streptococcus spp. for specific peptide biomarker detection. ComR exhibits a number of attractive features that are potentially exploitable to create a biomolecular switch for engineered biosensor circuitry within the probiotic organism Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WCFS1. Through iterative design-build-test cycles, we developed a genomically integrated, ComR-based biosensor circuit that allowed WCFS1 to detect low nanomolar concentrations of ComR's cognate peptide XIP. By screening a library of ComR proteins with mutant residues substituted at the K100 position, we identified mutations that increased the specificity of ComR toward an amidated version of its cognate peptide, demonstrating the potential for ComR to detect this important class of biomarker.IMPORTANCEUsing bacteria to detect disease is an exciting possibility under active study. Detecting extracellular peptides with specific amino acid sequences would be particularly useful as these are important markers of health and disease (biomarkers). In this work, we show that a probiotic bacteria (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum) can be genetically engineered to detect specific extracellular peptides using the protein ComR from Streptococcus bacteria. In its natural form, ComR allowed the probiotic bacteria to detect a specific peptide, XIP. We then modified XIP to be more like the peptide biomarkers found in humans and engineered ComR so that it activated with this modified XIP and not the original XIP. This newly engineered ComR also worked in the probiotic bacteria, as expected. This suggests that with additional engineering, ComR might be able to activate with human peptide biomarkers and be used by genetically engineered probiotic bacteria to better detect disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Brasino
- Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research (CEDAR) Center, Knight Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Eli Wagnell
- Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research (CEDAR) Center, Knight Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - E. Sila Ozdemir
- Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research (CEDAR) Center, Knight Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Srivathsan Ranganathan
- Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research (CEDAR) Center, Knight Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Justin Merritt
- Department of Biomaterial and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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3
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Podkowik M, Perault AI, Putzel G, Pountain A, Kim J, DuMont AL, Zwack EE, Ulrich RJ, Karagounis TK, Zhou C, Haag AF, Shenderovich J, Wasserman GA, Kwon J, Chen J, Richardson AR, Weiser JN, Nowosad CR, Lun DS, Parker D, Pironti A, Zhao X, Drlica K, Yanai I, Torres VJ, Shopsin B. Quorum-sensing agr system of Staphylococcus aureus primes gene expression for protection from lethal oxidative stress. eLife 2024; 12:RP89098. [PMID: 38687677 PMCID: PMC11060713 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The agr quorum-sensing system links Staphylococcus aureus metabolism to virulence, in part by increasing bacterial survival during exposure to lethal concentrations of H2O2, a crucial host defense against S. aureus. We now report that protection by agr surprisingly extends beyond post-exponential growth to the exit from stationary phase when the agr system is no longer turned on. Thus, agr can be considered a constitutive protective factor. Deletion of agr resulted in decreased ATP levels and growth, despite increased rates of respiration or fermentation at appropriate oxygen tensions, suggesting that Δagr cells undergo a shift towards a hyperactive metabolic state in response to diminished metabolic efficiency. As expected from increased respiratory gene expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated more in the agr mutant than in wild-type cells, thereby explaining elevated susceptibility of Δagr strains to lethal H2O2 doses. Increased survival of wild-type agr cells during H2O2 exposure required sodA, which detoxifies superoxide. Additionally, pretreatment of S. aureus with respiration-reducing menadione protected Δagr cells from killing by H2O2. Thus, genetic deletion and pharmacologic experiments indicate that agr helps control endogenous ROS, thereby providing resilience against exogenous ROS. The long-lived 'memory' of agr-mediated protection, which is uncoupled from agr activation kinetics, increased hematogenous dissemination to certain tissues during sepsis in ROS-producing, wild-type mice but not ROS-deficient (Cybb-/-) mice. These results demonstrate the importance of protection that anticipates impending ROS-mediated immune attack. The ubiquity of quorum sensing suggests that it protects many bacterial species from oxidative damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Podkowik
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Andrew I Perault
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Gregory Putzel
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Microbial Computational Genomic Core Lab, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Andrew Pountain
- Institute for Systems Genetics; NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Jisun Kim
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical SchoolNewarkUnited States
| | - Ashley L DuMont
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Erin E Zwack
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Robert J Ulrich
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Theodora K Karagounis
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology; NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Chunyi Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Andreas F Haag
- School of Medicine, University of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUnited Kingdom
| | - Julia Shenderovich
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Gregory A Wasserman
- Department of Surgery, Northwell Health Lenox Hill HospitalNew YorkUnited States
| | - Junbeom Kwon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - John Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Anthony R Richardson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
| | - Jeffrey N Weiser
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Carla R Nowosad
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Desmond S Lun
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology and Department of Computer Science, Rutgers UniversityCamdenUnited States
| | - Dane Parker
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical SchoolNewarkUnited States
| | - Alejandro Pironti
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Microbial Computational Genomic Core Lab, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Xilin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Karl Drlica
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers UniversityNew YprkUnited States
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers UniversityNewarkUnited States
| | - Itai Yanai
- Institute for Systems Genetics; NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Victor J Torres
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Bo Shopsin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
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4
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Ulrich RJ, Podkowik M, Tierce R, Irnov I, Putzel G, Samhadaneh N, Lacey KA, Boff D, Morales SM, Makita S, Karagounis TK, Zwack EE, Zhou C, Kim R, Drlica K, Pironti A, van Bakel H, Torres VJ, Shopsin B. Prophage-encoded methyltransferase drives adaptation of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.17.589803. [PMID: 38659881 PMCID: PMC11042277 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.17.589803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
We recently described the evolution of a community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) USA300 variant responsible for an outbreak of skin and soft tissue infections. Acquisition of a mosaic version of the Φ11 prophage (mΦ11) that increases skin abscess size was an early step in CA-MRSA adaptation that primed the successful spread of the clone. The present report shows how prophage mΦ11 exerts its effect on virulence for skin infection without encoding a known toxin or fitness genes. Abscess size and skin inflammation were associated with DNA methylase activity of an mΦ11-encoded adenine methyltransferase (designated pamA). pamA increased expression of fibronectin-binding protein A (fnbA; FnBPA), and inactivation of fnbA eliminated the effect of pamA on abscess virulence without affecting strains lacking pamA. Thus, fnbA is a pamA-specific virulence factor. Mechanistically, pamA was shown to promote biofilm formation in vivo in skin abscesses, a phenotype linked to FnBPA's role in biofilm formation. Collectively, these data reveal a novel mechanism-epigenetic regulation of staphylococcal gene expression-by which phage can regulate virulence to drive adaptive leaps by S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Ulrich
- Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Magdalena Podkowik
- Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca Tierce
- Division of Comparative Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Irnov Irnov
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gregory Putzel
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nora Samhadaneh
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Keenan A. Lacey
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daiane Boff
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sabrina M. Morales
- Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sohei Makita
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Theodora K. Karagounis
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erin E. Zwack
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chunyi Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Randie Kim
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karl Drlica
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alejandro Pironti
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harm van Bakel
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Victor J. Torres
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Host-Microbe Interactions, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Bo Shopsin
- Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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5
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Podkowik M, Perault AI, Putzel G, Pountain A, Kim J, Dumont A, Zwack E, Ulrich RJ, Karagounis TK, Zhou C, Haag AF, Shenderovich J, Wasserman GA, Kwon J, Chen J, Richardson AR, Weiser JN, Nowosad CR, Lun DS, Parker D, Pironti A, Zhao X, Drlica K, Yanai I, Torres VJ, Shopsin B. Quorum-sensing agr system of Staphylococcus aureus primes gene expression for protection from lethal oxidative stress. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.06.08.544038. [PMID: 37333372 PMCID: PMC10274873 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.08.544038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
The agr quorum-sensing system links Staphylococcus aureus metabolism to virulence, in part by increasing bacterial survival during exposure to lethal concentrations of H2O2, a crucial host defense against S. aureus. We now report that protection by agr surprisingly extends beyond post-exponential growth to the exit from stationary phase when the agr system is no longer turned on. Thus, agr can be considered a constitutive protective factor. Deletion of agr increased both respiration and fermentation but decreased ATP levels and growth, suggesting that Δagr cells assume a hyperactive metabolic state in response to reduced metabolic efficiency. As expected from increased respiratory gene expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated more in the agr mutant than in wild-type cells, thereby explaining elevated susceptibility of Δagr strains to lethal H2O2 doses. Increased survival of wild-type agr cells during H2O2 exposure required sodA, which detoxifies superoxide. Additionally, pretreatment of S. aureus with respiration-reducing menadione protected Δagr cells from killing by H2O2. Thus, genetic deletion and pharmacologic experiments indicate that agr helps control endogenous ROS, thereby providing resilience against exogenous ROS. The long-lived "memory" of agr-mediated protection, which is uncoupled from agr activation kinetics, increased hematogenous dissemination to certain tissues during sepsis in ROS-producing, wild-type mice but not ROS-deficient (Nox2-/-) mice. These results demonstrate the importance of protection that anticipates impending ROS-mediated immune attack. The ubiquity of quorum sensing suggests that it protects many bacterial species from oxidative damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Podkowik
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew I. Perault
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gregory Putzel
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Microbial Computational Genomic Core Lab, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew Pountain
- Institute for Systems Genetics; NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jisun Kim
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Ashley Dumont
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erin Zwack
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert J. Ulrich
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Theodora K. Karagounis
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology; NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chunyi Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andreas F. Haag
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Julia Shenderovich
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Junbeom Kwon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - John Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anthony R. Richardson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey N. Weiser
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carla R. Nowosad
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Desmond S. Lun
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology and Department of Computer Science, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Dane Parker
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Alejandro Pironti
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Microbial Computational Genomic Core Lab, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xilin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China
| | - Karl Drlica
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Itai Yanai
- Institute for Systems Genetics; NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Victor J. Torres
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bo Shopsin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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6
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Lawther K, Santos FG, Oyama LB, Huws SA. - Invited Review - Chemical signalling within the rumen microbiome. Anim Biosci 2024; 37:337-345. [PMID: 38186253 PMCID: PMC10838665 DOI: 10.5713/ab.23.0374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Ruminants possess a specialized four-compartment forestomach, consisting of the reticulum, rumen, omasum, and abomasum. The rumen, the primary fermentative chamber, harbours a dynamic ecosystem comprising bacteria, protozoa, fungi, archaea, and bacteriophages. These microorganisms engage in diverse ecological interactions within the rumen microbiome, primarily benefiting the host animal by deriving energy from plant material breakdown. These interactions encompass symbiosis, such as mutualism and commensalism, as well as parasitism, predation, and competition. These ecological interactions are dependent on many factors, including the production of diverse molecules, such as those involved in quorum sensing (QS). QS is a density-dependent signalling mechanism involving the release of autoinducer (AIs) compounds, when cell density increases AIs bind to receptors causing the altered expression of certain genes. These AIs are classified as mainly being N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL; commonly used by Gram-negative bacteria) or autoinducer-2 based systems (AI-2; used by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria); although other less common AI systems exist. Most of our understanding of QS at a gene-level comes from pure culture in vitro studies using bacterial pathogens, with much being unknown on a commensal bacterial and ecosystem level, especially in the context of the rumen microbiome. A small number of studies have explored QS in the rumen using 'omic' technologies, revealing a prevalence of AI-2 QS systems among rumen bacteria. Nevertheless, the implications of these signalling systems on gene regulation, rumen ecology, and ruminant characteristics are largely uncharted territory. Metatranscriptome data tracking the colonization of perennial ryegrass by rumen microbes suggest that these chemicals may influence transitions in bacterial diversity during colonization. The likelihood of undiscovered chemicals within the rumen microbial arsenal is high, with the identified chemicals representing only the tip of the iceberg. A comprehensive grasp of rumen microbial chemical signalling is crucial for addressing the challenges of food security and climate targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Lawther
- School of Biological Sciences/Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5DL,
UK
| | - Fernanda Godoy Santos
- School of Biological Sciences/Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5DL,
UK
| | - Linda B Oyama
- School of Biological Sciences/Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5DL,
UK
| | - Sharon A Huws
- School of Biological Sciences/Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5DL,
UK
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7
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Vinodhini V, Kavitha M. Deciphering agr quorum sensing in Staphylococcus aureus: insights and therapeutic prospects. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:155. [PMID: 38252331 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08930-3] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of superbugs like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus exposed the limitations of treating microbial infections using antibiotics. At present, the discovery of novel and convincing therapeutic methods are being executed increasingly as possible substitutes to conventional antibiotic therapies. The quorum sensing helps Staphylococcus aureus become more viable through their signaling mechanisms. In recent years, targeting the prominent factors of quorum sensing has obtained remarkable attention as a futuristic approach to dealing with bacterial pathogenicity. The standard antibiotic therapy intends to inhibit the organism by targeting specific molecules and afford a chance for the evolution of antibiotic resistance. This prompts the development of novel therapeutic strategies like inhibiting quorum sensing that can limit bacterial virulence by decreasing the selective pressure, thereby restricting antibiotic resistance evolution. This review furnishes new insights into the accessory gene regulator quorum sensing in Staphylococcus aureus and its inhibition by targeting the genes that regulate the operon. Further, this review comprehensively explores the inhibitors reported up to date and their specific targets and discusses their potentially ineffective alternative therapy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Vinodhini
- School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India
| | - M Kavitha
- School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India.
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8
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Lin H, Song L, Zhou S, Fan C, Zhang M, Huang R, Zhou R, Qiu J, Ma S, He J. A Hybrid Antimicrobial Peptide Targeting Staphylococcus aureus with a Dual Function of Inhibiting Quorum Sensing Signaling and an Antibacterial Effect. J Med Chem 2023; 66:17105-17117. [PMID: 38099725 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is now a major cause of bacterial infection. Antivirulence therapy does not stimulate evolution of a pathogen toward a resistant phenotype, providing a novel method to treat infectious diseases. Here, we used a cyclic peptide of CP7, an AIP-III variant that specifically inhibited the virulence and biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in a nonbiocidal manner, to conjugate with a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide (AMP) via two N-termini to obtain a hybrid AMP called CP7-FP13-2. This peptide not only specifically inhibited the production of virulence of S. aureus at low micromolar concentrations but also killed S. aureus, including MRSA, by disrupting the integrity of the bacterial cell membrane. In addition, CP7-FP13-2 inhibited the formation of the S. aureus biofilm and showed good antimicrobial efficacy against the S. aureus-infected Kunming mice model. Therefore, this study provides a promising strategy against the resistance and virulence of S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixing Lin
- Group of peptides and natural products Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
- Department of Urology, Tongren Municipal People's Hospital, 120 Taoyuan Avenue, Tongren, Guizhou 554300, P. R. China
| | - Li Song
- Group of peptides and natural products Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
| | - Shaofen Zhou
- Group of peptides and natural products Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
| | - Cuiqiong Fan
- Group of peptides and natural products Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
| | - Minna Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Tongren Municipal People's Hospital, 120 Taoyuan Avenue, Tongren, Guizhou 554300, P. R. China
| | - Ruifeng Huang
- Group of peptides and natural products Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
| | - Runhong Zhou
- Group of peptides and natural products Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
| | - Jingnan Qiu
- Group of peptides and natural products Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
| | - Shuaiqi Ma
- Group of peptides and natural products Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
| | - Jian He
- Group of peptides and natural products Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
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9
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Williams P, Hill P, Bonev B, Chan WC. Quorum-sensing, intra- and inter-species competition in the staphylococci. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169:001381. [PMID: 37578829 PMCID: PMC10482373 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
In Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and the coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), the accessory gene regulator (agr) is a highly conserved but polymorphic quorum-sensing system involved in colonization, virulence and biofilm development. Signalling via agr depends on the interaction of an autoinducing peptide (AIP) with AgrC, a transmembrane sensor kinase that, once phosphorylated activates the response regulator AgrA. This in turn autoinduces AIP biosynthesis and drives target gene expression directly via AgrA or via the post-transcriptional regulator, RNAIII. In this review we describe the molecular mechanisms underlying the agr-mediated generation of, and response to, AIPs and the molecular basis of AIP-dependent activation and inhibition of AgrC. How the environment impacts on agr functionality is considered and the consequences of agr dysfunction for infection explored. We also discuss the concept of AIP-driven competitive interference between S. aureus and the CoNS and its anti-infective potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Williams
- Biodiscovery Institute and School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Phil Hill
- School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Boyan Bonev
- Biodiscovery Institute and School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Weng C. Chan
- School of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
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10
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Polaske TJ, West KHJ, Zhao K, Widner DL, York JT, Blackwell HE. Chemical and biomolecular insights into the Staphylococcus aureus agr quorum sensing system: Current progress and ongoing challenges. Isr J Chem 2023; 63:e202200096. [PMID: 38765792 PMCID: PMC11101167 DOI: 10.1002/ijch.202200096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a ubiquitous bacterium that has become a major threat to human health due to its extensive toxin production and tremendous capacity for antibiotic resistance (e.g., MRSA "superbug" infections). Amid a worsening antibiotic resistance crisis, new strategies to combat this deadly microbe that remove the selective pressure of traditional approaches are in high demand. S. aureus utilizes an accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum sensing network to monitor its local cellular population and trigger a devastating communal attack, like an invading horde, once a threshold cell density has been reached. The role of the agr system in a range of disease types is still being unraveled. Herein, we discuss the present-day biochemical understanding of agr along with unresolved details, describe its connection to the progression of infection, and review how chemical strategies have been implemented to study and intercept this signaling pathway. This research is illuminating the potential of agr as an anti-virulence target in S. aureus and should inform the study of similar, yet less studied, agr systems in related bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. Polaske
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Korbin H. J. West
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Ke Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Danielle L. Widner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Jordan T. York
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Helen E. Blackwell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
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11
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Biofilms and Benign Colonic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214259. [PMID: 36430737 PMCID: PMC9698058 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214259] [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: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The colon has a very large surface area that is covered by a dense mucus layer. The biomass in the colon includes 500-1000 bacterial species at concentrations of ~1012 colony-forming units per gram of feces. The intestinal epithelial cells and the commensal bacteria in the colon have a symbiotic relationship that results in nutritional support for the epithelial cells by the bacteria and maintenance of the optimal commensal bacterial population by colonic host defenses. Bacteria can form biofilms in the colon, but the exact frequency is uncertain because routine methods to undertake colonoscopy (i.e., bowel preparation) may dislodge these biofilms. Bacteria in biofilms represent a complex community that includes living and dead bacteria and an extracellular matrix composed of polysaccharides, proteins, DNA, and exogenous debris in the colon. The formation of biofilms occurs in benign colonic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. The development of a biofilm might serve as a marker for ongoing colonic inflammation. Alternatively, the development of biofilms could contribute to the pathogenesis of these disorders by providing sanctuaries for pathogenic bacteria and reducing the commensal bacterial population. Therapeutic approaches to patients with benign colonic diseases could include the elimination of biofilms and restoration of normal commensal bacteria populations. However, these studies will be extremely difficult unless investigators can develop noninvasive methods for measuring and identifying biofilms. These methods that might include the measurement of quorum sensing molecules, measurement of bile acids, and identification of bacteria uniquely associated with biofilms in the colon.
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12
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Role of Staphylococcus aureus Formate Metabolism during Prosthetic Joint Infection. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0042822. [PMID: 36286525 PMCID: PMC9670962 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00428-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are bacterial communities characterized by antibiotic tolerance.
Staphylococcus aureus
is a leading cause of biofilm infections on medical devices, including prosthetic joints, which represent a significant health care burden. The major leukocyte infiltrate associated with
S. aureus
prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (G-MDSCs), which produce IL-10 to promote biofilm persistence by inhibiting monocyte and macrophage proinflammatory activity.
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13
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Characterization of MroQ-Dependent Maturation and Export of the Staphylococcus aureus Accessory Gene Regulatory System Autoinducing Peptide. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0026322. [PMID: 36073934 PMCID: PMC9584314 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00263-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Gram-positive bacteria produce small autoinducing peptides (AIPs), which act to regulate expression of genes that promote adaptive traits, including virulence. The Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus generates a cyclic AIP that controls expression of virulence factors via the accessory gene regulatory (Agr) system. S. aureus strains belong to one of four Agr groups (Agr-I, -II, -III, and -IV); each group harbors allelic variants of AgrD, the precursor of AIP. In a prior screen for S. aureus virulence factors, we identified MroQ, a putative peptidase. A ΔmroQ mutant closely resembled a Δagr mutant and had significant defects in AIP production in an Agr-I strain. Here, we show that expression of AgrD-I in a ΔmroQ mutant leads to accumulation of an AIP processing intermediate at the membrane that coincides with a loss of secreted mature AIP, indicating that MroQ promotes maturation of AgrD-I. MroQ is conserved in all Agr sequence variants, suggesting either identical function among all Agr types or activity specific to Agr-I strains. Our data indicate that MroQ is required for AIP maturation and activity in Agr-I, -II, and -IV strains irrespective of background. However, MroQ is not required for Agr-III activity despite an identifiable role in peptide maturation. Isogenic Δagr and Δagr ΔmroQ strains complemented with Agr-I to -IV validated the critical role of MroQ in the generation of active AIP-I, -II, and -IV but not AIP-III. These findings were reinforced by skin infection studies with mice. Our data substantiate the prevailing model that MroQ is a mediator of cyclic peptide maturation.
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14
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Ongpipattanakul C, Desormeaux EK, DiCaprio A, van der Donk WA, Mitchell DA, Nair SK. Mechanism of Action of Ribosomally Synthesized and Post-Translationally Modified Peptides. Chem Rev 2022; 122:14722-14814. [PMID: 36049139 PMCID: PMC9897510 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a natural product class that has undergone significant expansion due to the rapid growth in genome sequencing data and recognition that they are made by biosynthetic pathways that share many characteristic features. Their mode of actions cover a wide range of biological processes and include binding to membranes, receptors, enzymes, lipids, RNA, and metals as well as use as cofactors and signaling molecules. This review covers the currently known modes of action (MOA) of RiPPs. In turn, the mechanisms by which these molecules interact with their natural targets provide a rich set of molecular paradigms that can be used for the design or evolution of new or improved activities given the relative ease of engineering RiPPs. In this review, coverage is limited to RiPPs originating from bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chayanid Ongpipattanakul
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Emily K. Desormeaux
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Adam DiCaprio
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Wilfred A. van der Donk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Department of Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Departments of Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Douglas A. Mitchell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Departments of Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Satish K. Nair
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Departments of Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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15
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Design, synthesis and molecular modeling study of substituted indoline-2-ones and spiro[indole-heterocycles] with potential activity against Gram-positive bacteria. ACTA PHARMACEUTICA (ZAGREB, CROATIA) 2022; 72:79-95. [PMID: 36651522 DOI: 10.2478/acph-2022-0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Longstanding and firsthand infectious diseases are challenging community health threats. A new series of isatin derivatives bearing β-hydroxy ketone, chalcone, or spiro-heterocycle moiety, was synthesized in a good yield. Chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis. Antibacterial activities of the compounds were then evaluated in vitro and by in silico modeling. The compounds were more active against Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 0.026-0.226 mmol L-1) and Bacillus subtilis (MIC = 0.348-1.723 mmol L-1) than against Gram-negative bacteria (MIC = 0.817-7.393 mmol L-1). Only 3-hydroxy-3-(2-(2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)-2-oxoethyl)indolin-2-one (1b) was found as active as imipenem against S. aureus (MIC = 0.026 mmol L-1). In silico docking of the compounds in the binding sites of a homology modeled structure of S. aureus histidine kinase-Walk allowed us to shed light on the binding mode of these novel inhibitors. The highest antibacterial activity of 1b is consistent with its highest docking score values against S. aureus histidine kinase.
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16
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Bleul L, Francois P, Wolz C. Two-Component Systems of S. aureus: Signaling and Sensing Mechanisms. Genes (Basel) 2021; 13:34. [PMID: 35052374 PMCID: PMC8774646 DOI: 10.3390/genes13010034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus encodes 16 two-component systems (TCSs) that enable the bacteria to sense and respond to changing environmental conditions. Considering the function of these TCSs in bacterial survival and their potential role as drug targets, it is important to understand the exact mechanisms underlying signal perception. The differences between the sensing of appropriate signals and the transcriptional activation of the TCS system are often not well described, and the signaling mechanisms are only partially understood. Here, we review present insights into which signals are sensed by histidine kinases in S. aureus to promote appropriate gene expression in response to diverse environmental challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Bleul
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tubingen, Germany;
- Cluster of Excellence EXC 2124 “Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections”, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 6, 72076 Tubingen, Germany
| | - Patrice Francois
- Genomic Research Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Service, University Hospitals of Geneva University Medical Center, Michel Servet 1, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland;
| | - Christiane Wolz
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tubingen, Germany;
- Cluster of Excellence EXC 2124 “Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections”, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 6, 72076 Tubingen, Germany
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17
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Diversity in Sensing and Signaling of Bacterial Sensor Histidine Kinases. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11101524. [PMID: 34680156 PMCID: PMC8534201 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Two-component signal transduction systems (TCSs) are widely conserved in bacteria to respond to and adapt to the changing environment. Since TCSs are also involved in controlling the expression of virulence, biofilm formation, quorum sensing, and antimicrobial resistance in pathogens, they serve as candidates for novel drug targets. TCSs consist of a sensor histidine kinase (HK) and its cognate response regulator (RR). Upon perception of a signal, HKs autophosphorylate their conserved histidine residues, followed by phosphotransfer to their partner RRs. The phosphorylated RRs mostly function as transcriptional regulators and control the expression of genes necessary for stress response. HKs sense their specific signals not only in their extracytoplasmic sensor domain but also in their cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains. The signals are sensed either directly or indirectly via cofactors and accessory proteins. Accumulating evidence shows that a single HK can sense and respond to multiple signals in different domains. The underlying molecular mechanisms of how HK activity is controlled by these signals have been extensively studied both biochemically and structurally. In this article, we introduce the wide diversity of signal perception in different domains of HKs, together with their recently clarified structures and molecular mechanisms.
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18
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Silva MA, Salgueiro CA. Multistep Signaling in Nature: A Close-Up of Geobacter Chemotaxis Sensing. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22169034. [PMID: 34445739 PMCID: PMC8396549 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22169034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental changes trigger the continuous adaptation of bacteria to ensure their survival. This is possible through a variety of signal transduction pathways involving chemoreceptors known as methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCP) that allow the microorganisms to redirect their mobility towards favorable environments. MCP are two-component regulatory (or signal transduction) systems (TCS) formed by a sensor and a response regulator domain. These domains synchronize transient protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation events to convert the stimuli into an appropriate cellular response. In this review, the variability of TCS domains and the most common signaling mechanisms are highlighted. This is followed by the description of the overall cellular topology, classification and mechanisms of MCP. Finally, the structural and functional properties of a new family of MCP found in Geobacter sulfurreducens are revisited. This bacterium has a diverse repertoire of chemosensory systems, which represents a striking example of a survival mechanism in challenging environments. Two G. sulfurreducens MCP—GSU0582 and GSU0935—are members of a new family of chemotaxis sensor proteins containing a periplasmic PAS-like sensor domain with a c-type heme. Interestingly, the cellular location of this domain opens new routes to the understanding of the redox potential sensing signaling transduction pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta A. Silva
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal;
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Carlos A. Salgueiro
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal;
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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19
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Meng F, Lu F, Du H, Nie T, Zhu X, Connerton IF, Zhao H, Bie X, Zhang C, Lu Z, Lu Y. Acetate and auto-inducing peptide are independent triggers of quorum sensing in Lactobacillus plantarum. Mol Microbiol 2021; 116:298-310. [PMID: 33660340 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The synthesis of plantaricin in Lactobacillus plantarum is regulated by quorum sensing. However, the nature of the extra-cytoplasmic (EC) sensing domain of the histidine kinase (PlnB1) and the ability to recognize the auto-inducing peptide PlnA1 is not known. We demonstrate the key motif Ile-Ser-Met-Leu of auto-inducing peptide PlnA1 binds to the hydrophobic region Phe-Ala-Ser-Gln-Phe of EC loop 2 of PlnB1 via hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding. Moreover, we identify a new inducer, acetate, that regulates the synthesis of plantaricin by binding to a positively charged region (Arg-Arg-Tyr-Ser-His-Lys) in loop 4 of PlnB1 via electrostatic interaction. The side chain of Phe143 on loop 4 determined the specificity and affinity of PlnB1 to recognize acetate. PlnA1 activates quorum sensing in log phase growth and acetate in stationary phase to maintain the synthesis of plantaricin under conditions of reduced growth. Acetate activation of PlnB was also evident in four types of PlnB present in different Lb. plantarum strains. Finally, we proposed a model to explain the developmental regulation of plantaricin synthesis by PlnA and acetate. These results have potential applications in improving food fermentation and bacteriocin production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanqiang Meng
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fengxia Lu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hechao Du
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ting Nie
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ian F Connerton
- Division of Microbiology, Brewing and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, UK
| | - Haizhen Zhao
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaomei Bie
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chong Zhang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhaoxin Lu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yingjian Lu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing, China
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20
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Huang Q, Xie Y, Yang Z, Cheng D, He L, Wang H, Liu Q, Li M. The cytoplasmic loops of AgrC contribute to the quorum-sensing activity of Staphylococcus aureus. J Microbiol 2020; 59:92-100. [PMID: 33201435 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-021-0274-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In Staphylococcus aureus, the accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum-sensing system is thought to play an important role in biofilm formation. The histidine kinase AgrC is one of the agr system components and activated by the self-generated auto-inducing peptide (AIP), which is released continuously into the extracellular environment during bacterial growth. The extracellular loops (Extra-loops) of AgrC are crucial for AIP binding. Here, we reported that the cytoplasmic loops (Cyto-loops) of AgrC are also involved in Agr activity. We identified S. aureus ST398 clinical isolates containing a naturally occurring single amino acid substitution (lysine to isoleucine) at position 73 of an AgrC Cyto-loop that exhibited significantly stronger biofilm formation and decreased Agr activity compared to the wild-type strain. A constructed strain containing the K73I point mutation in AgrC Cyto-loop continued to show a growth dependent induction of the agr system, although the growth dependent induction was delayed by about 6 h compared to the wild-type. In addition, a series of strains containing deletion mutants of the AgrC Cyto- and Extra-loops were constructed and revealed that the removal of the two Cyto-loops and Extra-loops 2 and 3 totally abolished the Agr activity and the growth-dependence on the agr system induction. Remarkably, the Extra-loop 1 deletion did not affect the Agr activity. In conclusion, the AgrC Cyto-loops play a crucial role in the S. aureus quorum-sensing activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, P. R. China
| | - Yihui Xie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, P. R. China
| | - Ziyu Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, P. R. China
| | - Danhong Cheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, P. R. China
| | - Lei He
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, P. R. China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, P. R. China
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, P. R. China.
| | - Min Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, P. R. China.
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21
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Aframian N, Eldar A. A Bacterial Tower of Babel: Quorum-Sensing Signaling Diversity and Its Evolution. Annu Rev Microbiol 2020; 74:587-606. [PMID: 32680450 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-012220-063740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Quorum sensing is a process in which bacteria secrete and sense a diffusible molecule, thereby enabling bacterial groups to coordinate their behavior in a density-dependent manner. Quorum sensing has evolved multiple times independently, utilizing different molecular pathways and signaling molecules. A common theme among many quorum-sensing families is their wide range of signaling diversity-different variants within a family code for different signal molecules with a cognate receptor specific to each variant. This pattern of vast allelic polymorphism raises several questions-How do different signaling variants interact with one another? How is this diversity maintained? And how did it come to exist in the first place? Here we argue that social interactions between signaling variants can explain the emergence and persistence of signaling diversity throughout evolution. Finally, we extend the discussion to include cases where multiple diverse systems work in concert in a single bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitzan Aframian
- Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Tel-Aviv University, 6997801 Tel-Aviv, Israel; ,
| | - Avigdor Eldar
- Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Tel-Aviv University, 6997801 Tel-Aviv, Israel; ,
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22
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Abstract
Performing genetic manipulation is often key to understanding bacterial gene function. In this chapter, we present the method of allelic exchange using temperature-sensitive plasmids to generate mutations in Staphylococcus, including single-nucleotide mutations, insertions, and gene deletions. In addition, this chapter summarizes other key genetic technologies used for the manipulation of S. aureus, including the CRISPR/Cas9 system and complementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal M Austin
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Bose
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
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23
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Cosgriff CJ, White CR, Teoh WP, Grayczyk JP, Alonzo F. Control of Staphylococcus aureus Quorum Sensing by a Membrane-Embedded Peptidase. Infect Immun 2019; 87:e00019-19. [PMID: 30833334 PMCID: PMC6479040 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00019-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gram-positive bacteria process and release small peptides, or pheromones, that act as signals for the induction of adaptive traits, including those involved in pathogenesis. One class of small signaling pheromones is the cyclic autoinducing peptides (AIPs), which regulate expression of genes that orchestrate virulence and persistence in a range of microbes, including staphylococci, listeriae, clostridia, and enterococci. In a genetic screen for Staphylococcus aureus secreted virulence factors, we identified an S. aureus mutant containing an insertion in the gene SAUSA300_1984 (mroQ), which encodes a putative membrane-embedded metalloprotease. A ΔmroQ mutant exhibited impaired induction of Toll-like receptor 2-dependent inflammatory responses from macrophages but elicited greater production of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β and was attenuated in a murine skin and soft tissue infection model. The ΔmroQ mutant phenocopies an S. aureus mutant containing a deletion of the accessory gene regulatory system (Agr), wherein both strains have significantly reduced production of secreted toxins and virulence factors but increased surface protein A abundance. The Agr system controls virulence factor gene expression in S. aureus by sensing the accumulation of AIP via the histidine kinase AgrC and the response regulator AgrA. We provide evidence to suggest that MroQ acts within the Agr pathway to facilitate the optimal processing or export of AIP for signal amplification through AgrC/A and induction of virulence factor gene expression. Mutation of MroQ active-site residues significantly reduces AIP signaling and attenuates virulence. Altogether, this work identifies a new component of the Agr quorum-sensing circuit that is critical for the production of S. aureus virulence factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chance J Cosgriff
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Chelsea R White
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Wei Ping Teoh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - James P Grayczyk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Francis Alonzo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
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24
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Mull RW, Harrington A, Sanchez LA, Tal-Gan Y. Cyclic Peptides that Govern Signal Transduction Pathways: From Prokaryotes to Multi-Cellular Organisms. Curr Top Med Chem 2018; 18:625-644. [PMID: 29773060 DOI: 10.2174/1568026618666180518090705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cyclic peptide scaffolds are key components of signal transduction pathways in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms since they act as chemical messengers that activate or inhibit specific cognate receptors. In prokaryotic organisms these peptides are utilized in non-essential pathways, such as quorum sensing, that are responsible for virulence and pathogenicity. In the more evolved eukaryotic systems, cyclic peptide hormones play a key role in the regulation of the overall function of multicellular organisms, mainly through the endocrine system. This review will highlight several prokaryote and eukaryote systems that use cyclic peptides as their primary signals and the potential associated with utilizing these scaffolds for the discovery of novel therapeutics for a wide range of diseases and illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan W Mull
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Anthony Harrington
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Lucia A Sanchez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Yftah Tal-Gan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, United States
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25
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Abstract
Strains of the Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus can be divided into four quorum sensing (QS) groups. Membership of each group is defined by the amino acid sequence of the autoinducing peptide (AIP) QS signal molecule that is encoded within the agrBDCA genetic locus and specifically within agrD. This chapter describes the use of simple, in-cell, lux-based, bio-reporters that can be used to identify/confirm the specific agr group to which a particular S. aureus isolate belongs, as well as to assess the timing and quantity of AIP produced.
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26
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Choudhary KS, Mih N, Monk J, Kavvas E, Yurkovich JT, Sakoulas G, Palsson BO. The Staphylococcus aureus Two-Component System AgrAC Displays Four Distinct Genomic Arrangements That Delineate Genomic Virulence Factor Signatures. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1082. [PMID: 29887846 PMCID: PMC5981134 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Two-component systems (TCSs) consist of a histidine kinase and a response regulator. Here, we evaluated the conservation of the AgrAC TCS among 149 completely sequenced Staphylococcus aureus strains. It is composed of four genes: agrBDCA. We found that: (i) AgrAC system (agr) was found in all but one of the 149 strains, (ii) the agr positive strains were further classified into four agr types based on AgrD protein sequences, (iii) the four agr types not only specified the chromosomal arrangement of the agr genes but also the sequence divergence of AgrC histidine kinase protein, which confers signal specificity, (iv) the sequence divergence was reflected in distinct structural properties especially in the transmembrane region and second extracellular binding domain, and (v) there was a strong correlation between the agr type and the virulence genomic profile of the organism. Taken together, these results demonstrate that bioinformatic analysis of the agr locus leads to a classification system that correlates with the presence of virulence factors and protein structural properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumari S Choudhary
- Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Nathan Mih
- Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.,Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jonathan Monk
- Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Erol Kavvas
- Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - James T Yurkovich
- Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.,Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - George Sakoulas
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Bernhard O Palsson
- Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.,Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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27
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Lubkowicz D, Ho CL, Hwang IY, Yew WS, Lee YS, Chang MW. Reprogramming Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri as a Biosensor for Staphylococcus aureus Derived AIP-I Detection. ACS Synth Biol 2018; 7:1229-1237. [PMID: 29652493 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.8b00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus infection that results in pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and in severe cases, sepsis, has recently been classified as a serious threat to public health. Rapid and cost-effective detection of these infections are costly and time-consuming. Here, we present probiotic lactic acid bacteria engineered to detect autoinducer peptide-I (AIP-I), a quorum sensing molecule produced by Staphylococcus sp. during pathogenesis. We achieved this by adapting the well-characterized agr quorum sensing ( agrQS) from Staphylococcus aureus into Lactobacillus reuteri. The engineered biosensor is able to detect AIP-I levels in the nanomolar to micromolar range. We further investigated the function of the biosensor to detect real-time changes in AIP-I levels to understand the dynamics of Staphylococcus aureus under various strenuous conditions. The developed sensors would be useful for detection of Staphylococcus contamination in hospital settings and for high-throughput drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Lubkowicz
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore
| | - Chun Loong Ho
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore
| | - In Young Hwang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore
| | - Wen Shan Yew
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore
| | - Yung Seng Lee
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore
| | - Matthew Wook Chang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore
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28
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Tan L, Li SR, Jiang B, Hu XM, Li S. Therapeutic Targeting of the Staphylococcus aureus Accessory Gene Regulator ( agr) System. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:55. [PMID: 29422887 PMCID: PMC5789755 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus can cause numerous different diseases, which has been attributed to its large repertoire of virulence factors, many of which are under the control of the accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum sensing system. Under conditions of high cell density, agr increases the production of many virulence factors, decreases expression of several colonization factors, and is intimately associated with the pathogenesis and biofilm formation of S. aureus. This review summarizes our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying agr quorum sensing and the regulation of agr expression. The discussion also examines subgroups of agr and their association with different diseases, and concludes with an analysis of strategies for designing drugs and vaccines that target agr to combat S. aureus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Tan
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Si Rui Li
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bei Jiang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao Mei Hu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shu Li
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
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29
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Zhao X, Liu X, Xu X, Fu YV. Microbe social skill: the cell-to-cell communication between microorganisms. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2017; 62:516-524. [PMID: 36659262 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2017.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Although microbes primarily are single-cell organisms, they are not isolated individuals. Microbes use various means to communicate with one another. Based on the communication, microbes establish a social interaction with their neighbors in a specific ecological niche, and cooperative behaviors are normally performed to provide benefits on the population and species levels. In the microbiome era, in order to better understand the behaviors of microbes, deep understanding of the social communication between microbes hence becomes a key to interpret microbe behaviors. Here we summarize the molecular mechanisms that underlie the cell-to-cell communication in prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, the recent discoveries and novel technologies in understanding the interspecies and interkingdom communication, and discuss new concepts of the sociomicrobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yu V Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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30
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Accessory Gene Regulator-1 Locus Is Essential for Virulence and Pathogenesis of Clostridium difficile. mBio 2016; 7:mBio.01237-16. [PMID: 27531912 PMCID: PMC4992976 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01237-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is responsible for most of the definable cases of antibiotic- and hospital-associated diarrhea worldwide and is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in older patients. C. difficile, a multidrug-resistant anaerobic pathogen, causes disease by producing toxins A and B, which are controlled by an accessory gene regulator (Agr) quorum signaling system. Some C. difficile strains encode two Agr loci in their genomes, designated agr1 and agr2 The agr1 locus is present in all of the C. difficile strains sequenced to date, whereas the agr2 locus is present in a few strains. The functional roles of agr1 and agr2 in C. difficile toxin regulation and pathogenesis were unknown until now. Using allelic exchange, we deleted components of both agr loci and examined the mutants for toxin production and virulence. The results showed that the agr1 mutant cannot produce toxins A and B; toxin production can be restored by complementation with wild-type agr1 Furthermore, the agr1 mutant is able to colonize but unable to cause disease in a murine CDI model. These findings have profound implications for CDI treatment because we have uncovered a promising therapeutic target for the development of nonantibiotic drugs to treat this life-threatening emerging pathogen by targeting the toxins directly responsible for disease. IMPORTANCE Within the last decade, the number of cases of C. difficile infections has been increasing exponentially in the United States, resulting in about 4.8 billion U.S. dollars in health care costs annually. As a multidrug-resistant, spore-forming, anaerobic pathogen, C. difficile overpopulates the colon after the gut microbiota has been altered by antibiotic therapy. With increasing resistance to antibiotic treatment of C. difficile infections, patients are experiencing higher costs of health care and a lower quality of life as treatment options decrease. During infection, C. difficile produces toxins A and B, which directly cause disease. As a result, the toxins have become promising nonantibiotic treatment targets. Here, we have identified a pathway responsible for activating the production of the toxins. This important finding opens up a unique therapeutic target for the development of a novel nonantibiotic therapy for C. difficile infections.
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31
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Singh BN, Prateeksha, Upreti DK, Singh BR, Defoirdt T, Gupta VK, De Souza AO, Singh HB, Barreira JCM, Ferreira ICFR, Vahabi K. Bactericidal, quorum quenching and anti-biofilm nanofactories: a new niche for nanotechnologists. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2016; 37:525-540. [PMID: 27684212 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2016.1199010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite several conventional potent antibacterial therapies, bacterial infections pose a significant threat to human health because they are emerging as the leading cause of death worldwide. Due to the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, there is a pressing demand to discover novel approaches for developing more effective therapies to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial strains and biofilm-associated infections. Therefore, attention has been especially devoted to a new and emerging branch of science "nanotechnology" to design non-conventional antimicrobial chemotherapies. A range of nanomaterials and nano-sized carriers for conventional antimicrobial agents have fully justified their potential to combat bacterial diseases by reducing cell viability, by attenuating quorum sensing, and by inhibiting/or eradicating biofilms. This communication summarizes emerging nano-antimicrobial therapies in treating bacterial infections, particularly using antibacterial, quorum quenching, and anti-biofilm nanomaterials as new approaches to tackle the current challenges in combating infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brahma N Singh
- a Pharmacognosy & Ethnopharmacology Division , CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute , Lucknow , India
| | - Prateeksha
- a Pharmacognosy & Ethnopharmacology Division , CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute , Lucknow , India
| | - Dalip K Upreti
- b Lichenology laboratory , Plant Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute , Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh , India
| | - Braj Raj Singh
- c TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre, TERI Gram, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gurgaon , Haryana , India.,d Centre of Excellence in Materials Science (Nanomaterials), Z. H. College of Engineering and Technology , Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh , Uttar Pradesh , India
| | - Tom Defoirdt
- d Centre of Excellence in Materials Science (Nanomaterials), Z. H. College of Engineering and Technology , Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh , Uttar Pradesh , India.,e Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center , Ghent University , Gent , Belgium
| | - Vijai K Gupta
- f Molecular Glyco-biotechnology Group, Discipline of Biochemistry , School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway , Galway , Ireland
| | | | - Harikesh Bahadur Singh
- h Mycology & Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi , Uttar Pardesh , India
| | - João C M Barreira
- i Mountain Research Centre (CIMO), ESA, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança , Campus de Santa Apolónia , Bragança , Portugal
| | - Isabel C F R Ferreira
- i Mountain Research Centre (CIMO), ESA, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança , Campus de Santa Apolónia , Bragança , Portugal
| | - Khabat Vahabi
- j Biologisch-Pharmazeutische Fakultät , Institut für Allgemeine Botanik und Pflanzenphysiologie, Friedrich-Schiller Universität Jena , Jena , Germany
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32
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Hawver LA, Jung SA, Ng WL. Specificity and complexity in bacterial quorum-sensing systems. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2016; 40:738-52. [PMID: 27354348 PMCID: PMC5007282 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a microbial cell-to-cell communication process that relies on the production and detection of chemical signals called autoinducers (AIs) to monitor cell density and species complexity in the population. QS allows bacteria to behave as a cohesive group and coordinate collective behaviors. While most QS receptors display high specificity to their AI ligands, others are quite promiscuous in signal detection. How do specific QS receptors respond to their cognate signals with high fidelity? Why do some receptors maintain low signal recognition specificity? In addition, many QS systems are composed of multiple intersecting signaling pathways: what are the benefits of preserving such a complex signaling network when a simple linear ‘one-to-one’ regulatory pathway seems sufficient to monitor cell density? Here, we will discuss different molecular mechanisms employed by various QS systems that ensure productive and specific QS responses. Moreover, the network architectures of some well-characterized QS circuits will be reviewed to understand how the wiring of different regulatory components achieves different biological goals. This review focuses on the specificity and complexity of quorum-sensing circuits in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Hawver
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Sarah A Jung
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA Program in Molecular Microbiology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Wai-Leung Ng
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA Program in Molecular Microbiology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
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33
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Quorum Quenching Strategy Targeting Gram-Positive Pathogenic Bacteria. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 901:109-30. [PMID: 27167409 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2016_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell density-dependent regulatory system that orchestrates the group behavior of unicellular organisms by synchronizing the expression of certain gene(s) within the clonal community of same species. Bacterial pathogens often employ QS system to establish efficiently an infection. A large part of low GC Gram-positive bacteria belonging to phylum Firmicutes use thiolactone/lactone peptides as communication signals so-called autoinducing peptides (AIPs) to coordinate QS circuit. In particular, QS of staphylococci, enterococci, and clostridia have been intensively studied in terms of alternative target of anti-pathogenic chemotherapy independent of bactericidal antibiotics. Thus far, a number of quorum quenching (QQ) agents that targeting the QS circuit of these Gram-positive pathogens have been developed by random screening of natural compounds or rationale design of AIP antagonists. This review summarizes those QQ agents and previews their potential as post-antibiotic drugs.
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34
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Xiong W, Quan C, Zhang X, Wang L, Liu B, Jin L, Fan S. Quantitative analysis of protein orientation in membrane environments by kinase activity. J Biosci Bioeng 2015; 121:242-6. [PMID: 26560241 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Revised: 05/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
AgrC is an integral membrane receptor protein with histidine kinase activity in the accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum-sensing system of Staphylococcus aureus. In this study, proteoliposomes were used as a model to investigate AgrC orientation. Many approaches have been described to determine membrane protein orientation, but they are often complicated and time consuming. In this study, AgrC orientation in liposomes was determined by thiol-reactive reagent labeling and a kinase activity assay. Our results suggest use of a kinase activity assay could get an accurate percentage of functional protein orientation and only cost nearly one-sixth of the time compared with the method based on thiol-reactive reagent labeling. We present an effective and rapid method for determining the orientation of membrane protein kinases like AgrC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Xiong
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Resource Utilization, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China.
| | - Chunshan Quan
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Resource Utilization, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China.
| | - Xuning Zhang
- School of Biological Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, 1 Qinggongyuan, Dalian 116034, China.
| | - Lina Wang
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhong-shan Road, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Baoquan Liu
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Resource Utilization, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China.
| | - Liming Jin
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Resource Utilization, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China.
| | - Shengdi Fan
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Resource Utilization, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China.
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35
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Quave CL, Lyles JT, Kavanaugh JS, Nelson K, Parlet CP, Crosby HA, Heilmann KP, Horswill AR. Castanea sativa (European Chestnut) Leaf Extracts Rich in Ursene and Oleanene Derivatives Block Staphylococcus aureus Virulence and Pathogenesis without Detectable Resistance. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136486. [PMID: 26295163 PMCID: PMC4546677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Mediterranean is home to a rich history of medical traditions that have developed under the influence of diverse cultures over millennia. Today, many such traditions are still alive in the folk medical practices of local people. Investigation of botanical folk medicines used in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections led us to study Castanea sativa (European Chestnut) for its potential antibacterial activity. Here, we report the quorum sensing inhibitory activity of refined and chemically characterized European Chestnut leaf extracts, rich in oleanene and ursene derivatives (pentacyclic triterpenes), against all Staphylococcus aureus accessory gene regulator (agr) alleles. We present layers of evidence of agr blocking activity (IC50 1.56–25 μg mL-1), as measured in toxin outputs, reporter assays hemolytic activity, cytotoxicity studies, and an in vivo abscess model. We demonstrate the extract’s lack of cytotoxicity to human keratinocytes and murine skin, as well as lack of growth inhibitory activity against S. aureus and a panel of skin commensals. Lastly, we demonstrate that serial passaging of the extract does not result in acquisition of resistance to the quorum quenching composition. In conclusion, through disruption of quorum sensing in the absence of growth inhibition, this study provides insight into the role that non-biocide inhibitors of virulence may play in future antibiotic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra L. Quave
- Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - James T. Lyles
- Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jeffery S. Kavanaugh
- Department of Microbiology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Kate Nelson
- Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Corey P. Parlet
- Department of Microbiology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Heidi A. Crosby
- Department of Microbiology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Kristopher P. Heilmann
- Department of Microbiology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Alexander R. Horswill
- Department of Microbiology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
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The bicomponent pore-forming leucocidins of Staphylococcus aureus. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2015; 78:199-230. [PMID: 24847020 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00055-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to produce water-soluble proteins with the capacity to oligomerize and form pores within cellular lipid bilayers is a trait conserved among nearly all forms of life, including humans, single-celled eukaryotes, and numerous bacterial species. In bacteria, some of the most notable pore-forming molecules are protein toxins that interact with mammalian cell membranes to promote lysis, deliver effectors, and modulate cellular homeostasis. Of the bacterial species capable of producing pore-forming toxic molecules, the Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most notorious. S. aureus can produce seven different pore-forming protein toxins, all of which are believed to play a unique role in promoting the ability of the organism to cause disease in humans and other mammals. The most diverse of these pore-forming toxins, in terms of both functional activity and global representation within S. aureus clinical isolates, are the bicomponent leucocidins. From the first description of their activity on host immune cells over 100 years ago to the detailed investigations of their biochemical function today, the leucocidins remain at the forefront of S. aureus pathogenesis research initiatives. Study of their mode of action is of immediate interest in the realm of therapeutic agent design as well as for studies of bacterial pathogenesis. This review provides an updated perspective on our understanding of the S. aureus leucocidins and their function, specificity, and potential as therapeutic targets.
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Abstract
UNLABELLED Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is dramatically increasing as a cause of antibiotic- and hospital-associated diarrhea worldwide. C. difficile, a multidrug-resistant pathogen, flourishes in the colon after the gut microbiota has been altered by antibiotic therapy. Consequently, it produces toxins A and B that directly cause disease. Despite the enormous public health problem posed by this pathogen, the molecular mechanisms that regulate production of the toxins, which are directly responsible for disease, remained largely unknown until now. Here, we show that C. difficile toxin synthesis is regulated by an accessory gene regulator quorum-signaling system, which is mediated through a small (<1,000-Da) thiolactone that can be detected directly in stools of CDI patients. These findings provide direct evidence of the mechanism of regulation of C. difficile toxin synthesis and offer exciting new avenues both for rapid detection of C. difficile infection and development of quorum-signaling-based non-antibiotic therapies to combat this life-threatening emerging pathogen. IMPORTANCE Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the most common definable cause of hospital-acquired and antibiotic-associated diarrhea in the United States, with the total cost of treatment estimated between 1 and 4.8 billion U.S. dollars annually. C. difficile, a Gram-positive, spore-forming anaerobe, flourishes in the colon after the gut microbiota has been altered by antibiotic therapy. As a result, there is an urgent need for non-antibiotic CDI treatments that preserve the colonic microbiota. C. difficile produces toxins A and B, which are directly responsible for disease. Here, we report that C. difficile regulates its toxin synthesis by quorum signaling, in which a novel signaling peptide activates transcription of the disease-causing toxin genes. This finding provides new therapeutic targets to be harnessed for novel nonantibiotic therapy for C. difficile infections.
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Hildebrandt JP. Pore-forming virulence factors of Staphylococcus aureus destabilize epithelial barriers-effects of alpha-toxin in the early phases of airway infection. AIMS Microbiol 2015. [DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2015.1.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
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39
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Quave CL, Horswill AR. Flipping the switch: tools for detecting small molecule inhibitors of staphylococcal virulence. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:706. [PMID: 25566220 PMCID: PMC4264471 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 11/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Through the expression of the accessory gene regulator quorum sensing cascade, Staphylococcus aureus is able to produce an extensive array of enzymes, hemolysins and immunomodulators essential to its ability to spread through the host tissues and cause disease. Many have argued for the discovery and development of quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) to augment existing antibiotics as adjuvant therapies. Here, we discuss the state-of-the-art tools that can be used to conduct screens for the identification of such QSIs. Examples include fluorescent reporters, MS-detection of autoinducing peptide production, agar plate methods for detection of hemolysins and lipase, High performance liquid chromatography-detection of hemolysins from supernatants, and cell-toxicity assays for detecting damage (or relief thereof) against human keratinocyte cells. In addition to providing a description of these various approaches, we also discuss their amenability to low-, medium-, and high-throughput screening efforts for the identification of novel QSIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra L Quave
- Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA ; Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University College of Arts and Sciences Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alexander R Horswill
- Department of Microbiology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Iowa City, IA, USA
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Chen J, Yoong P, Ram G, Torres VJ, Novick RP. Single-copy vectors for integration at the SaPI1 attachment site for Staphylococcus aureus. Plasmid 2014; 76:1-7. [PMID: 25192956 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2014.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Revised: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 08/17/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
We have previously reported the construction of Staphylococcus aureus integration vectors based on the staphylococcal pathogenicity island 1 (SaPI1) site-specific recombination system. These are shuttle vectors that can be propagated in Escherichia coli, which allows for standard DNA manipulations. In S. aureus, these vectors are temperature-sensitive and can only be maintained at non-permissive (42 °C) temperatures by integrating into the chromosome. However, most S. aureus strains are sensitive to prolonged incubations at higher temperatures and will rapidly accumulate mutations, making the use of temperature-sensitive integration vectors impractical for single-copy applications. Here we describe improved versions of these vectors, which are maintained only in single-copy at the SaPI1 attachment site. In addition, we introduce several additional cassettes containing resistance markers, expanding the versatility of integrant selection, especially in strains that are resistant to multiple antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Chen
- Skirball Institute Program in Molecular Pathogenesis and Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Pauline Yoong
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Geeta Ram
- Skirball Institute Program in Molecular Pathogenesis and Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Victor J Torres
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Richard P Novick
- Skirball Institute Program in Molecular Pathogenesis and Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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Wang B, Zhao A, Novick RP, Muir TW. Activation and inhibition of the receptor histidine kinase AgrC occurs through opposite helical transduction motions. Mol Cell 2014; 53:929-40. [PMID: 24656130 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2014.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2013] [Revised: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus virulence is regulated when secreted autoinducing peptides (AIPs) are recognized by a membrane-bound receptor histidine kinase (RHK), AgrC. Some AIPs are agonists of virulence gene expression, while others are antagonists. It is unclear how AIP binding regulates AgrC activity. Here, we reconstitute an AgrC family member, AgrC-I, using nanometer-scale lipid bilayer discs. We show that AgrC-I requires membranes rich in anionic lipids to function. The agonist, AIP-I, binds AgrC-I noncooperatively in a 2:2 stoichiometry, while an antagonist ligand, AIP-II, functions as an inverse agonist of the kinase activity. We also demonstrate the kinase and sensor domains in AgrC are connected by a helical linker whose conformational state exercises rheostat-like control over the kinase activity. Binding of agonist or inverse-agonist peptides results in twisting of the linker in different directions. These two observations provide a view of the molecular motions triggered by ligand binding in an intact membrane-bound RHK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyuan Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Frick Chemistry Building, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Graduate Program, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Aishan Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Frick Chemistry Building, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Richard P Novick
- Skirball Institute, Department of Microbiology, NYU Medical Center, 540 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Tom W Muir
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Frick Chemistry Building, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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42
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Boon E, Meehan CJ, Whidden C, Wong DHJ, Langille MGI, Beiko RG. Interactions in the microbiome: communities of organisms and communities of genes. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2014; 38:90-118. [PMID: 23909933 PMCID: PMC4298764 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Revised: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A central challenge in microbial community ecology is the delineation of appropriate units of biodiversity, which can be taxonomic, phylogenetic, or functional in nature. The term 'community' is applied ambiguously; in some cases, the term refers simply to a set of observed entities, while in other cases, it requires that these entities interact with one another. Microorganisms can rapidly gain and lose genes, potentially decoupling community roles from taxonomic and phylogenetic groupings. Trait-based approaches offer a useful alternative, but many traits can be defined based on gene functions, metabolic modules, and genomic properties, and the optimal set of traits to choose is often not obvious. An analysis that considers taxon assignment and traits in concert may be ideal, with the strengths of each approach offsetting the weaknesses of the other. Individual genes also merit consideration as entities in an ecological analysis, with characteristics such as diversity, turnover, and interactions modeled using genes rather than organisms as entities. We identify some promising avenues of research that are likely to yield a deeper understanding of microbial communities that shift from observation-based questions of 'Who is there?' and 'What are they doing?' to the mechanistically driven question of 'How will they respond?'
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Boon
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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43
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Wang L, Quan C, Xiong W, Qu X, Fan S, Hu W. New insight into transmembrane topology of Staphylococcus aureus histidine kinase AgrC. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2013; 1838:988-93. [PMID: 24361366 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2013.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Revised: 12/08/2013] [Accepted: 12/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus accessory gene regulator (agr) locus controls the expression of virulence factors through a classical two-component signal transduction system that consists of a receptor histidine protein kinase AgrC and a cytoplasmic response regulator AgrA. An autoinducing peptide (AIP) encoded by agr locus activates AgrC, which transduces extracellular signals into the cytoplasm. Despite extensive investigations to identify AgrC-AIP interaction sites, precise signal recognition mechanisms remain unknown. This study aims to clarify the membrane topology of AgrC by applying the green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion technique and the substituted cysteine accessibility method (SCAM). However, our findings were inconsistent with profile obtained previously by alkaline phosphatase. We report the topology of AgrC shows seven transmembrane segments, a periplasmic N-terminus, and a cytoplasmic C-terminus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Wang
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhong-shan Road, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Chunshan Quan
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China.
| | - Wen Xiong
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China.
| | - Xiaojing Qu
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China.
| | - Shengdi Fan
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China.
| | - Wenzhong Hu
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China.
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44
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Wang L, Quan C, Liu B, Wang J, Xiong W, Zhao P, Fan S. Functional reconstitution of Staphylococcus aureus truncated AgrC histidine kinase in a model membrane system. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80400. [PMID: 24303011 PMCID: PMC3841183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Accepted: 10/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The integral membrane protein AgrC is a histidine kinase whose sensor domains interact with an autoinducing peptide, resulting in a series of downstream responses. In this study, truncated AgrCTM5-6C and AgrCTM5-6C-GFP with GFP as a reporter gene were produced using a bacterial system. Purified AgrCTM5-6C and AgrCTM5-6C-GFP were reconstituted into liposomes by a detergent-mediated method. To achieve high-yield protein incorporation, we investigated the effect of different detergents on protein reconstitution efficiency. The highest incorporation was found with N,N-dimethyldode-cylamine N-oxide during complete liposome solubilization, which resulted in a yield of 85±5%. The COOH-terminus of the protein AgrCTM5-6C was almost exclusively oriented towards the inside of the vesicles. AgrCTM5-6C in proteoliposomes exhibited approximately a 6-fold increase in constitutive activity compared with AgrCTM5-6C in detergent micelles. The reconstitution of AgrCTM5-6C or AgrCTM5-6C-GFP was characterized using dynamic light scattering, fluorescence microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Based on the results, the optimal conditions for protein incorporation were defined. These findings contribute to the study of membrane protein structure and function in vitro using a reconstitution system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Wang
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
| | - Chunshan Quan
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Dalian, China
- The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Dalian, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Baoquan Liu
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Dalian, China
- The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Dalian, China
| | - Jianfeng Wang
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Dalian, China
- The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Dalian, China
| | - Wen Xiong
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Dalian, China
- The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Dalian, China
| | - Pengchao Zhao
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
| | - Shengdi Fan
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Dalian, China
- The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Dalian, China
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45
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Melamed Yerushalmi S, Buck ME, Lynn DM, Lemcoff NG, Meijler MM. Multivalent alteration of quorum sensing in Staphylococcus aureus. Chem Commun (Camb) 2013; 49:5177-9. [PMID: 23628938 DOI: 10.1039/c3cc41645c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Virulence in Staphylococcus aureus is strongly and positively correlated with local cell density. Here we present an effective approach to modulate this group behaviour using multivalent peptide-polymer conjugates. Our results show that by attaching multiple AIP-4' units to macromolecular scaffolds, the agr QS response in S. aureus was affected strongly, while displaying a clear multivalency effect.
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46
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Arya R, Princy SA. An insight into pleiotropic regulators Agr and Sar: molecular probes paving the new way for antivirulent therapy. Future Microbiol 2013; 8:1339-53. [DOI: 10.2217/fmb.13.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis is an intricate process involving a diverse array of extracellular proteins, biofilm and cell wall components that are coordinately expressed in different stages of infection. The expression of two divergent loci, agr and sar, is increasingly recognized as a key regulator of virulence in S. aureus, and there is mounting evidence for the role of these loci in staphylococcal infections. The functional agr regulon is critical for the production of virulence factors, including α, β and δ hemolysins. The sar locus encodes SarA protein, which regulates the expression of cell wall-associated and certain extracellular proteins in agr-dependent and agr-independent pathways. Multidrug-resistant S. aureus is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world and its management, especially in community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections, has evolved comparatively little. In particular, no novel targets have been incorporated into its treatment to date. Hence, these loci appear to be the most significant and are currently at the attention of intense investigation regarding their therapeutic prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rekha Arya
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, SASTRA‘s Hub for Research & Innovation (SHRI), School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Tirumalaisamudrum 613401, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S Adline Princy
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, SASTRA‘s Hub for Research & Innovation (SHRI), School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Tirumalaisamudrum 613401, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
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47
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Wang L, Quan C, Liu B, Xu Y, Zhao P, Xiong W, Fan S. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based overexpression screening and characterization of AgrC, a Receptor protein of quorum sensing in Staphylococcus aureus. Int J Mol Sci 2013; 14:18470-87. [PMID: 24018890 PMCID: PMC3794790 DOI: 10.3390/ijms140918470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Revised: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 08/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus AgrC is an important component of the agr quorum-sensing system. AgrC is a membrane-embedded histidine kinase that is thought to act as a sensor for the recognition of environmental signals and the transduction of signals into the cytoplasm. However, the difficulty of expressing and purifying functional membrane proteins has drastically hindered in-depth understanding of the molecular structures and physiological functions of these proteins. Here, we describe the high-yield expression and purification of AgrC, and analyze its kinase activity. A C-terminal green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion to AgrC served as a reporter for monitoring protein expression levels in real time. Protein expression levels were analyzed by the microscopic assessment of the whole-cell fluorescence. The expressed AgrC-GFP protein with a C-terminal His-tagged was purified using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) at yields of ≥10 mg/L, following optimization. We also assessed the effects of different detergents on membrane solubilization and AgrC kinase activity, and polyoxyethylene-(23)-lauryl-ether (Brij-35) was identified as the most suitable detergent. Furthermore, the secondary structural stability of purified AgrC was analyzed using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. This study may serve as a general guide for improving the yields of other membrane protein preparations and selecting the appropriate detergent to stabilize membrane proteins for biophysical and biochemical analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Wang
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhong-shan Road, Dalian 116023, China; E-Mails: (L.W.); (P.Z.)
| | - Chunshan Quan
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; E-Mails: (B.L.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (S.F.)
- The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +86-411-8765-6219; Fax: +86-411-8764-4496
| | - Baoquan Liu
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; E-Mails: (B.L.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (S.F.)
- The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China
| | - Yongbin Xu
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; E-Mails: (B.L.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (S.F.)
- The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China
| | - Pengchao Zhao
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhong-shan Road, Dalian 116023, China; E-Mails: (L.W.); (P.Z.)
| | - Wen Xiong
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; E-Mails: (B.L.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (S.F.)
- The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China
| | - Shengdi Fan
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China; E-Mails: (B.L.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (S.F.)
- The State Ethnic Affairs Commission-Ministry of Education, Economical and Technological Development Zone, Dalian 116600, China
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48
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O'Connell KMG, Hodgkinson JT, Sore HF, Welch M, Salmond GPC, Spring DR. Die Bekämpfung multiresistenter Bakterien: aktuelle Strategien zur Entdeckung neuer Antibiotika. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201209979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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49
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O'Connell KMG, Hodgkinson JT, Sore HF, Welch M, Salmond GPC, Spring DR. Combating Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria: Current Strategies for the Discovery of Novel Antibacterials. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2013; 52:10706-33. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201209979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 310] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2012] [Revised: 02/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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50
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Marchand N, Collins CH. Peptide-based communication system enablesEscherichia colitoBacillus megateriuminterspecies signaling. Biotechnol Bioeng 2013; 110:3003-12. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.24975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2013] [Revised: 04/29/2013] [Accepted: 06/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Marchand
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; 110 8th Street Troy New York 12180
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York
| | - Cynthia H. Collins
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; 110 8th Street Troy New York 12180
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York
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