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Wu R, Nahm M, Yang J, Bush CA, Wu H. Identification and genetic engineering of pneumococcal capsule-like polysaccharides in commensal oral streptococci. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0188523. [PMID: 38488366 PMCID: PMC10986556 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01885-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Capsular polysaccharides (CPS) in Streptococcus pneumoniae are pivotal for bacterial virulence and present extensive diversity. While oral streptococci show pronounced antigenicity toward pneumococcal capsule-specific sera, insights into evolution of capsule diversity remain limited. This study reports a pneumococcal CPS-like genetic locus in Streptococcus parasanguinis, a predominant oral Streptococcus. The discovered locus comprises 15 genes, mirroring high similarity to those from the Wzy-dependent CPS locus of S. pneumoniae. Notably, S. parasanguinis elicited a reaction with pneumococcal 19B antiserum. Through nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, we ascertained that its CPS structure matches the chemical composition of the pneumococcal 19B capsule. By introducing the glucosyltransferase gene cps19cS from a pneumococcal serotype 19C, we successfully transformed S. parasanguinis antigenicity from 19B to 19C. Furthermore, substituting serotype-specific genes, cpsI and cpsJ, with their counterparts from pneumococcal serotype 19A and 19F enabled S. parasanguinis to generate 19A- and 19F-specific CPS, respectively. These findings underscore that S. parasanguinis harbors a versatile 19B-like CPS adaptable to other serotypes. Remarkably, after deleting the locus's initial gene, cpsE, responsible for sugar transfer, we noted halted CPS production, elongated bacterial chains, and diminished biofilm formation. A similar phenotype emerged with the removal of the distinct gene cpsZ, which encodes a putative autolysin. These data highlight the importance of S. parasanguinis CPS for biofilm formation and propose a potential shared ancestry of its CPS locus with S. pneumoniae. IMPORTANCE Diverse capsules from Streptococcus pneumoniae are vital for bacterial virulence and pathogenesis. Oral streptococci show strong responses to a wide range of pneumococcal capsule-specific sera. Yet, the evolution of this capsule diversity in relation to microbe-host interactions remains underexplored. Our research delves into the connection between commensal oral streptococcal and pneumococcal capsules, highlighting the potential for gene transfer and evolution of various capsule types. Understanding the genetic and evolutionary factors that drive capsule diversity in S. pneumoniae and its related oral species is essential for the development of effective pneumococcal vaccines. The present findings provide fresh perspectives on the cross-reactivity between commensal streptococci and S. pneumoniae, its influence on bacteria-host interactions, and the development of new strategies to manage and prevent pneumococcal illnesses by targeting and modulating commensal streptococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ren Wu
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Dentistry, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Moon Nahm
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Jinghua Yang
- Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - C. Allen Bush
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hui Wu
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Dentistry, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Division of Biomaterial and Biomedical Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry, Portland, Oregon, USA
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2
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Smorodin EP. Prospects and Challenges of the Study of Anti-Glycan Antibodies and Microbiota for the Monitoring of Gastrointestinal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111608. [PMID: 34769037 PMCID: PMC8584091 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, a large amount of data has been accumulated in various subfields of glycobiology. However, much clinically relevant data and many tools are still not widely used in medicine. Synthetic glycoconjugates with the known structure of glycans are an accurate tool for the study of glycan-binding proteins. We used polyacrylamide glycoconjugates (PGs) including PGs with tumour-associated glycans (TAGs) in immunoassays to assess the prognostic potential of the serum level of anti-glycan antibodies (AG Abs) in gastrointestinal cancer patients and found an association of AG Abs with survival. The specificity of affinity-isolated AG Abs was investigated using synthetic and natural glycoconjugates. AG Abs showed mainly a low specificity to tumour-associated and tumour-derived mucins; therefore, the protective role of the examined circulating AG Abs against cancer remains a challenge. In this review, our findings are analysed and discussed in the context of the contribution of bacteria to the AG Abs stimulus and cancer progression. Examples of the influence of pathogenic bacteria colonising tumours on cancer progression and patient survival through mechanisms of interaction with tumours and dysregulated immune response are considered. The possibilities and problems of the integrative study of AG Abs and the microbiome using high-performance technologies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugeniy P Smorodin
- Department of Virology and Immunology, National Institute for Health Development, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia
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3
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Jakubovics NS, Goodman SD, Mashburn-Warren L, Stafford GP, Cieplik F. The dental plaque biofilm matrix. Periodontol 2000 2021; 86:32-56. [PMID: 33690911 PMCID: PMC9413593 DOI: 10.1111/prd.12361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Steven D Goodman
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Lauren Mashburn-Warren
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Graham P Stafford
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Fabian Cieplik
- Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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4
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Holt KE, Lassalle F, Wyres KL, Wick R, Mostowy RJ. Diversity and evolution of surface polysaccharide synthesis loci in Enterobacteriales. THE ISME JOURNAL 2020; 14:1713-1730. [PMID: 32249276 PMCID: PMC7305143 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-0628-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial capsules and lipopolysaccharides are diverse surface polysaccharides (SPs) that serve as the frontline for interactions with the outside world. While SPs can evolve rapidly, their diversity and evolutionary dynamics across different taxonomic scales has not been investigated in detail. Here, we focused on the bacterial order Enterobacteriales (including the medically relevant Enterobacteriaceae), to carry out comparative genomics of two SP locus synthesis regions, cps and kps, using 27,334 genomes from 45 genera. We identified high-quality cps loci in 22 genera and kps in 11 genera, around 4% of which were detected in multiple species. We found SP loci to be highly dynamic genetic entities: their evolution was driven by high rates of horizontal gene transfer (HGT), both of whole loci and component genes, and relaxed purifying selection, yielding large repertoires of SP diversity. In spite of that, we found the presence of (near-)identical locus structures in distant taxonomic backgrounds that could not be explained by recent exchange, pointing to long-term selective preservation of locus structures in some populations. Our results reveal differences in evolutionary dynamics driving SP diversity within different bacterial species, with lineages of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter hormaechei and Klebsiella aerogenes most likely to share SP loci via recent exchange; and lineages of Salmonella enterica, Citrobacter sakazakii and Serratia marcescens most likely to share SP loci via other mechanisms such as long-term preservation. Overall, the evolution of SP loci in Enterobacteriales is driven by a range of evolutionary forces and their dynamics and relative importance varies between different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Holt
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Florent Lassalle
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Kelly L Wyres
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ryan Wick
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rafał J Mostowy
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
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5
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Sahana TG, Rekha PD. A novel exopolysaccharide from marine bacterium Pantoea sp. YU16-S3 accelerates cutaneous wound healing through Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Carbohydr Polym 2020; 238:116191. [PMID: 32299547 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Natural polysaccharides with versatile properties are the potential candidates for wound healing applications. In this study, an exopolysaccharide, EPS-S3, isolated from a marine bacteria Pantoea sp. YU16-S3 was evaluated for its wound-healing abilities by studying the key molecular mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. Basic characterisation showed EPS-S3 as a heteropolysaccharide with glucose, galactose, N-acetyl galactosamine and glucosamine. The molecular weight of EPS-S3 was estimated to be 1.75 × 105 Da. It showed thermal stability up to 200 °C and shear-thickening non-Newtonian behaviour. It was biocompatible with dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes and showed cell adhesion and cell proliferation properties. EPS-S3 facilitated cell migration in fibroblasts, induced rapid transition of cell cycle phases and also activated macrophages. In vivo experiments in rats showed the re-epithelialization of injured tissue with increased expression of HB-EGF, FGF, E-cadherin and β-catenin in EPS-S3 treatment. The results indicate that EPS-S3 modulates healing process through Wnt/β-catenin pathway due to its unique characteristics. In conclusion, EPS-S3 biosynthesized by the marine bacterium is a potential biomolecule for cutaneous wound healing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- T G Sahana
- Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya Deemed to be University, University Road, Deralakatte, Mangalore, India.
| | - P D Rekha
- Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya Deemed to be University, University Road, Deralakatte, Mangalore, India.
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6
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Streptococcus oralis subsp. dentisani Produces Monolateral Serine-Rich Repeat Protein Fibrils, One of Which Contributes to Saliva Binding via Sialic Acid. Infect Immun 2019; 87:IAI.00406-19. [PMID: 31308084 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00406-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Our studies reveal that the oral colonizer and cause of infective endocarditis Streptococcus oralis subsp. dentisani displays a striking monolateral distribution of surface fibrils. Furthermore, our data suggest that these fibrils impact the structure of adherent bacterial chains. Mutagenesis studies indicate that these fibrils are dependent on three serine-rich repeat proteins (SRRPs), here named fibril-associated protein A (FapA), FapB, and FapC, and that each SRRP forms a different fibril with a distinct distribution. SRRPs are a family of bacterial adhesins that have diverse roles in adhesion and that can bind to different receptors through modular nonrepeat region domains. Amino acid sequence and predicted structural similarity searches using the nonrepeat regions suggested that FapA may contribute to interspecies interactions, that FapA and FapB may contribute to intraspecies interactions, and that FapC may contribute to sialic acid binding. We demonstrate that a fapC mutant was significantly reduced in binding to saliva. We confirmed a role for FapC in sialic acid binding by demonstrating that the parental strain was significantly reduced in adhesion upon addition of a recombinantly expressed, sialic acid-specific, carbohydrate binding module, while the fapC mutant was not reduced. However, mutation of a residue previously shown to be essential for sialic acid binding did not decrease bacterial adhesion, leaving the precise mechanism of FapC-mediated adhesion to sialic acid to be defined. We also demonstrate that the presence of any one of the SRRPs is sufficient for efficient biofilm formation. Similar structures were observed on all infective endocarditis isolates examined, suggesting that this distribution is a conserved feature of this S. oralis subspecies.
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7
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Matsumoto Y, Miyake K, Ozawa K, Baba Y, Kusube T. Bicarbonate and unsaturated fatty acids enhance capsular polysaccharide synthesis gene expression in oral streptococci, Streptococcus anginosus. J Biosci Bioeng 2019; 128:511-517. [PMID: 31130336 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We recently reported on the capsular polysaccharide (CP) synthesis (cps) genes of the oral streptococci, Streptococcus anginosus. In this study, we investigate the effects of carbon dioxide (CO2), bicarbonate (HCO3-) and unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) on CP synthesis of S. anginosus. We found that CP production increased when bacteria were exposed to high concentrations of CO2. This increase was similarly observed in the presence of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) under atmospheric condition. Since ectopic expression of carbonic anhydrase, which converts CO2 to HCO3-, eliminated the requirement for CO2 in CP production and growth of S. anginosus lacking this enzyme, it seemed that HCO3- is an essential factor for CP production. Furthermore, UFAs also stimulated the CP production. Promoter-reporter assay and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis confirmed that stimulation of CP production occurs at the transcription level. The results of the promoter assays suggest that the expression and stimulation of cps genes by HCO3- or UFAs require the cpsA gene, which is located in the first position of the cps operon. With respect to the relationship between HCO3-and UFAs, HCO3- may stimulate UFA synthesis pathway at transcription level. Therefore, it is possible that UFAs are definitive signals for the CP production in S. anginosus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Matsumoto
- Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Nonoichi, Ishikawa 921-8836, Japan
| | - Katsuhide Miyake
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Meijo University, 1-501 Shiogamaguchi, Tenpaku, Nagoya, Aichi 468-8502, Japan.
| | - Kento Ozawa
- Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Nonoichi, Ishikawa 921-8836, Japan
| | - Yasunori Baba
- Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Nonoichi, Ishikawa 921-8836, Japan
| | - Takasei Kusube
- Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Nonoichi, Ishikawa 921-8836, Japan
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8
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Mostowy RJ, Holt KE. Diversity-Generating Machines: Genetics of Bacterial Sugar-Coating. Trends Microbiol 2018; 26:1008-1021. [PMID: 30037568 PMCID: PMC6249986 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2018.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens and commensals are surrounded by diverse surface polysaccharides which include capsules and lipopolysaccharides. These carbohydrates play a vital role in bacterial ecology and interactions with the environment. Here, we review recent rapid advancements in this field, which have improved our understanding of the roles, structures, and genetics of bacterial polysaccharide antigens. Genetic loci encoding the biosynthesis of these antigens may have evolved as bacterial diversity-generating machines, driven by selection from a variety of forces, including host immunity, bacteriophages, and cell-cell interactions. We argue that the high adaptive potential of polysaccharide antigens should be taken into account in the design of polysaccharide-targeting medical interventions like conjugate vaccines and phage-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał J Mostowy
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Kathryn E Holt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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9
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Streptococcus oralis Neuraminidase Modulates Adherence to Multiple Carbohydrates on Platelets. Infect Immun 2017; 85:IAI.00774-16. [PMID: 27993975 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00774-16] [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: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Adherence to host surfaces is often mediated by bacterial binding to surface carbohydrates. Although it is widely appreciated that some bacterial species express glycosidases, previous studies have not considered whether bacteria bind to multiple carbohydrates within host glycans as they are modified by bacterial glycosidases. Streptococcus oralis is a leading cause of subacute infective endocarditis. Binding to platelets is a critical step in disease; however, the mechanisms utilized by S. oralis remain largely undefined. Studies revealed that S. oralis, like Streptococcus gordonii and Streptococcus sanguinis, binds platelets via terminal sialic acid. However, unlike those organisms, S. oralis produces a neuraminidase, NanA, which cleaves terminal sialic acid. Further studies revealed that following NanA-dependent removal of terminal sialic acid, S. oralis bound exposed β-1,4-linked galactose. Adherence to both these carbohydrates required Fap1, the S. oralis member of the serine-rich repeat protein (SRRP) family of adhesins. Mutation of a conserved residue required for sialic acid binding by other SRRPs significantly reduced platelet binding, supporting the hypothesis that Fap1 binds this carbohydrate. The mechanism by which Fap1 contributes to β-1,4-linked galactose binding remains to be defined; however, binding may occur via additional domains of unknown function within the nonrepeat region, one of which shares some similarity with a carbohydrate binding module. This study is the first demonstration that an SRRP is required to bind β-1,4-linked galactose and the first time that one of these adhesins has been shown to be required for binding of multiple glycan receptors.
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10
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Zhang W, Wang Y, Bougouffa S, Tian R, Cao H, Li Y, Cai L, Wong YH, Zhang G, Zhou G, Zhang X, Bajic VB, Al-Suwailem A, Qian PY. Synchronized dynamics of bacterial niche-specific functions during biofilm development in a cold seep brine pool. Environ Microbiol 2015; 17:4089-104. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Revised: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Weipeng Zhang
- KAUST Global Partnership Program; Division of Life Science; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Clear Water Bay Hong Kong China
| | - Yong Wang
- Sanya Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Sanya Hainan China
| | - Salim Bougouffa
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Thuwal The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Renmao Tian
- KAUST Global Partnership Program; Division of Life Science; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Clear Water Bay Hong Kong China
| | - Huiluo Cao
- KAUST Global Partnership Program; Division of Life Science; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Clear Water Bay Hong Kong China
| | - Yongxin Li
- KAUST Global Partnership Program; Division of Life Science; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Clear Water Bay Hong Kong China
| | - Lin Cai
- KAUST Global Partnership Program; Division of Life Science; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Clear Water Bay Hong Kong China
| | - Yue Him Wong
- KAUST Global Partnership Program; Division of Life Science; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Clear Water Bay Hong Kong China
| | - Gen Zhang
- KAUST Global Partnership Program; Division of Life Science; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Clear Water Bay Hong Kong China
| | - Guowei Zhou
- KAUST Global Partnership Program; Division of Life Science; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Clear Water Bay Hong Kong China
| | - Xixiang Zhang
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Thuwal The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Vladimir B. Bajic
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Thuwal The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Thuwal The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- KAUST Global Partnership Program; Division of Life Science; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Clear Water Bay Hong Kong China
- Sanya Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Sanya Hainan China
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11
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Yang J, Yoshida Y, Cisar JO. Genetic basis of coaggregation receptor polysaccharide biosynthesis in Streptococcus sanguinis and related species. Mol Oral Microbiol 2015; 29:24-31. [PMID: 24397790 DOI: 10.1111/omi.12042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Interbacterial adhesion between streptococci and actinomyces promotes early dental plaque biofilm development. Recognition of coaggregation receptor polysaccharides (RPS) on strains of Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus gordonii and Streptococcus oralis by Actinomyces spp. type 2 fimbriae is the principal mechanism of these interactions. Previous studies of genetic loci for synthesis of RPS (rps) and RPS precursors (rml, galE1 and galE2) in S. gordonii 38 and S. oralis 34 revealed differences between these strains. To determine whether these differences are strain-specific or species-specific, we identified and compared loci for polysaccharide biosynthesis in additional strains of these species and in several strains of the previously unstudied species, S. sanguinis. Genes for synthesis of RPS precursors distinguished the rps loci of different streptococci. Hence, rml genes for synthesis of TDP-L-Rha were in rps loci of S. oralis strains but at other loci in S. gordonii and S. sanguinis. Genes for two distinct galactose epimerases were also distributed differently. Hence, galE1 for epimerization of UDP-Glc and UDP-Gal was in galactose operons of S. gordonii and S. sanguinis strains but surprisingly, this gene was not present in S. oralis. Moreover, galE2 for epimerization of both UDP-Glc and UDP-Gal and UDP-GlcNAc and UDP-GalNAc was at a different locus in each species, including rps operons of S. sanguinis. The findings provide insight into cell surface properties that distinguish different RPS-producing streptococci and open an approach for identifying these bacteria based on the arrangement of genes for synthesis of polysaccharide precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Yang
- Microbial Receptors Section, Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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12
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Yoshida Y, Yang J, Nagano K, Yoshimura F, Cisar JO. Cell surface coaggregation receptor polysaccharide of oral streptococci. J Oral Biosci 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.job.2014.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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13
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Chemical structures of Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide type 39 (CPS39), CPS47F, and CPS34 characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and their relation to CPS10A. J Bacteriol 2014; 196:3271-8. [PMID: 25002537 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01731-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides (CPS) is a prerequisite for unraveling both antigenic and genetic relationships that exist between different serotypes. In the current study, comparative structural studies of S. pneumoniae CPS serogroup 10 (CPS10) were extended to include genetically related S. pneumoniae CPS34, CPS39, and CPS47F. High-resolution heteronuclear nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed the published structure of CPS34 and, in conjunction with glycosyl composition analyses, revealed the following repeat unit structures of the other serotypes, which have not been previously characterized: [structure: see text] Common and unique structural features of these polysaccharides, including different positions of O-acetylation, were unambiguously associated with specific genes in each corresponding cps locus. The only exception involved the gene designated wcrC, which is associated with the α1-2 transfer of Gal pyranoside (Galp) to ribitol-5-phosphate in the synthesis of CPS10A, CPS47F, and CPS34 but with α1-1 transfer of Gal to ribitol-5-phosphate in the synthesis of CPS39. The corresponding gene in the cps39 locus, although related to wcrC, more closely resembled a previously identified gene (i.e., wefM) of Streptococcus oralis that is associated with α1-1 transfer of Galp to ribitol-5-phosphate. These and other recent findings identify linkages from α-Galp to ribitol-5-phosphate and from this residue to adjacent Gal furanoside (Galf) as important sites of CPS structural and genetic diversity.
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14
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Yoshida Y, Konno H, Nagano K, Abiko Y, Nakamura Y, Tanaka Y, Yoshimura F. The influence of a glucosyltransferase, encoded bygtfP, on biofilm formation byStreptococcus sanguinisin a dual-species model. APMIS 2014; 122:951-60. [DOI: 10.1111/apm.12238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2013] [Accepted: 11/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuo Yoshida
- Department of Microbiology; Aichi Gakuin University School of Dentistry; Nagoya Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Konno
- Department of Microbiology; Aichi Gakuin University School of Dentistry; Nagoya Japan
- Department of Removable Prosthodontics; Aichi Gakuin University School of Dentistry; Nagoya Japan
| | - Keiji Nagano
- Department of Microbiology; Aichi Gakuin University School of Dentistry; Nagoya Japan
| | - Yuki Abiko
- Department of Microbiology; Aichi Gakuin University School of Dentistry; Nagoya Japan
| | - Yoshinori Nakamura
- Department of Removable Prosthodontics; Aichi Gakuin University School of Dentistry; Nagoya Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Tanaka
- Department of Removable Prosthodontics; Aichi Gakuin University School of Dentistry; Nagoya Japan
| | - Fuminobu Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology; Aichi Gakuin University School of Dentistry; Nagoya Japan
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15
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Jakubovics NS, Yassin SA, Rickard AH. Community interactions of oral streptococci. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2014; 87:43-110. [PMID: 24581389 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800261-2.00002-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
It is now clear that the most common oral diseases, dental caries and periodontitis, are caused by mixed-species communities rather than by individual pathogens working in isolation. Oral streptococci are central to these disease processes since they are frequently the first microorganisms to colonize oral surfaces and they are numerically the dominant microorganisms in the human mouth. Numerous interactions between oral streptococci and other bacteria have been documented. These are thought to be critical for the development of mixed-species oral microbial communities and for the transition from oral health to disease. Recent metagenomic studies are beginning to shed light on the co-occurrence patterns of streptococci with other oral bacteria. Refinements in microscopy techniques and biofilm models are providing detailed insights into the spatial distribution of streptococci in oral biofilms. Targeted genetic manipulation is increasingly being applied for the analysis of specific genes and networks that modulate interspecies interactions. From this work, it is clear that streptococci produce a range of extracellular factors that promote their integration into mixed-species communities and enable them to form social networks with neighboring taxa. These "community integration factors" include coaggregation-mediating adhesins and receptors, small signaling molecules such as peptides or autoinducer-2, bacteriocins, by-products of metabolism including hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid, and a range of extracellular enzymes. Here, we provide an overview of various types of community interactions between oral streptococci and other microorganisms, and we consider the possibilities for the development of new technologies to interfere with these interactions to help control oral biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas S Jakubovics
- Oral Biology, School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
| | - Sufian A Yassin
- Oral Biology, School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander H Rickard
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Carvalho MDG, Pimenta FC, Moura I, Roundtree A, Gertz RE, Li Z, Jagero G, Bigogo G, Junghae M, Conklin L, Feikin DR, Breiman RF, Whitney CG, Beall BW. Non-pneumococcal mitis-group streptococci confound detection of pneumococcal capsular serotype-specific loci in upper respiratory tract. PeerJ 2013; 1:e97. [PMID: 23825797 PMCID: PMC3698467 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 06/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We performed culture-based and PCR-based tests for pneumococcal identification and serotyping from carriage specimens collected in rural and urban Kenya. Nasopharyngeal specimens from 237 healthy children <5 years old (C-NPs) and combined nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal specimens from 158 adults (A-NP/OPs, 118 HIV-positive) were assessed using pneumococcal isolation (following broth culture enrichment) with Quellung-based serotyping, real-time lytA-PCR, and conventional multiplexed PCR-serotyping (cmPCR). Culture-based testing from C-NPs, HIV-positive A-NP/OPs, and HIV-negative A-NP/OPs revealed 85.2%, 40.7%, and 12.5% pneumococcal carriage, respectively. In contrast, cmPCR serotypes were found in 93.2%, 98.3%, and 95.0% of these sets, respectively. Two of 16 lytA-negative C-NPs and 26 of 28 lytA-negative A-NP/OPs were cmPCR-positive for 1–10 serotypes (sts) or serogroups (sgs). A-NP/OPs averaged 5.5 cmPCR serotypes/serogroups (5.2 in HIV-positive, 7.1 in HIV-negative) and C-NPs averaged 1.5 cmPCR serotypes/serogroups. cmPCR serotypes/serogroups from lytA-negative A-NP/OPs included st2, st4, sg7F/7A, sg9N/9L, st10A, sg10F/10C/33C, st13, st17F, sg18C/18A/18B/18F, sg22F/22A, and st39. Nine strains of three non-pneumococcal species (S. oralis, S. mitis, and S. parasanguinis) (7 from A-OP, 1 from both A-NP and A-OP, and 1 from C-NP) were each cmPCR-positive for one of 7 serotypes/serogroups (st5, st13, sg15A/15F, sg10F/10C/33C, sg33F/33A/37, sg18C/18A/18B/18F, sg12F/12A/12B/ 44/46) with amplicons revealing 83.6–99.7% sequence identity to pneumococcal references. In total, 150 cmPCR amplicons from carriage specimens were sequenced, including 25 from lytA-negative specimens. Amplicon sequences derived from specimens yielding a pneumococcal isolate with the corresponding serotype were identical or highly conserved (>98.7%) with the reference cmPCR amplicon for the st, while cmPCR amplicons from lytA-negative specimens were generally more divergent. Separate testing of 56 A-OPs and 56 A-NPs revealed that ∼94% of the positive cmPCR results from A-NP/OPs were from OP microbiota. In contrast, A-NPs yielded >2-fold more pneumococcal isolates than A-OPs. Verified and suspected non-pneumococcal cmPCR serotypes/serogroups appeared to be relatively rare in C-NPs and A-NPs compared to A-OPs. Our findings indicate that non-pneumococcal species can confound serotype-specific PCR and other sequence-based assays due to evolutionarily conserved genes most likely involved in biosynthesis of surface polysaccharide structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria da Gloria Carvalho
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta , USA
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Wiles TJ, Norton JP, Smith SN, Lewis AJ, Mobley HLT, Casjens SR, Mulvey MA. A phyletically rare gene promotes the niche-specific fitness of an E. coli pathogen during bacteremia. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003175. [PMID: 23459509 PMCID: PMC3573123 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2012] [Accepted: 12/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In bacteria, laterally acquired genes are often concentrated within chromosomal regions known as genomic islands. Using a recently developed zebrafish infection model, we set out to identify unique factors encoded within genomic islands that contribute to the fitness and virulence of a reference urosepsis isolate—extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli strain CFT073. By screening a series of deletion mutants, we discovered a previously uncharacterized gene, neaT, that is conditionally required by the pathogen during systemic infections. In vitro assays indicate that neaT can limit bacterial interactions with host phagocytes and alter the aggregative properties of CFT073. The neaT gene is localized within an integrated P2-like bacteriophage in CFT073, but was rarely found within other proteobacterial genomes. Sequence-based analyses revealed that neaT homologues are present, but discordantly conserved, within a phyletically diverse set of bacterial species. In CFT073, neaT appears to be unameliorated, having an exceptionally A+T-rich composition along with a notably altered codon bias. These data suggest that neaT was recently brought into the proteobacterial pan-genome from an extra-phyletic source. Interestingly, even in G+C-poor genomes, as found within the Firmicutes lineage, neaT-like genes are often unameliorated. Sequence-level features of neaT homologues challenge the common supposition that the A+T-rich nature of many recently acquired genes reflects the nucleotide composition of their genomes of origin. In total, these findings highlight the complexity of the evolutionary forces that can affect the acquisition, utilization, and assimilation of rare genes that promote the niche-dependent fitness and virulence of a bacterial pathogen. Bacterial pathogens, even those belonging to the same species, can be incredibly diverse with regard to the genes they carry. However, the design of vaccines and antibiotics typically relies upon identification of general molecular features shared by the targeted organisms. Thus, we have traditionally focused on broadly conserved characteristics of pathogenic bacteria, often ignoring the genes that account for their individuality. In this article we report the discovery of a unique gene, neaT, that promotes the fitness of a pathogenic Escherichia coli isolate in zebrafish and mouse models of systemic blood infections. Surprisingly, neaT is rarely found in other related strains of E. coli and appears to have been recently acquired from distant lineages of bacteria via a process known as ‘lateral gene transfer’ that is used by microbes to swap genetic material. Expression of the neaT gene appears to help pathogens avoid interactions with host immune cells, possibly by altering bacterial surface structures. This work provides an interesting example of how the lateral acquisition of a rare gene can impact the niche-specific virulence properties of a pathogen, shedding light on the mechanisms that drive pathogen evolution and diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis J. Wiles
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology Department, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - J. Paul Norton
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology Department, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Sara N. Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Adam J. Lewis
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology Department, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Harry L. T. Mobley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Sherwood R. Casjens
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology Department, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Matthew A. Mulvey
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology Department, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Potential nonpneumococcal confounding of PCR-based determination of serotype in carriage. J Clin Microbiol 2012; 50:3146-7. [PMID: 22760044 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01505-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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de Toledo A, Nagata E, Yoshida Y, Oho T. Streptococcus oralis coaggregation receptor polysaccharides induce inflammatory responses in human aortic endothelial cells. Mol Oral Microbiol 2012; 27:295-307. [DOI: 10.1111/j.2041-1014.2012.00646.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Tsunashima H, Miyake K, Motono M, Iijima S. Organization of the capsule biosynthesis gene locus of the oral streptococcus Streptococcus anginosus. J Biosci Bioeng 2012; 113:271-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2011.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2011] [Revised: 10/13/2011] [Accepted: 10/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Kitada K, Oho T. Effect of saliva viscosity on the co-aggregation between oral streptococci and Actinomyces naeslundii. Gerodontology 2011; 29:e981-7. [PMID: 22077758 DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-2358.2011.00595.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The co-aggregation of oral bacteria leads to their clearance from the oral cavity. Poor oral hygiene and high saliva viscosity are common amongst the elderly; thus, they frequently suffer from pneumonia caused by the aspiration of oral microorganisms. OBJECTIVES To examine the direct effect of saliva viscosity on the co-aggregation of oral streptococci with actinomyces. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen oral streptococcal and a single actinomyces strain were used. Co-aggregation was assessed by a visual assay in phosphate buffer and a spectrophotometric assay in the same buffer containing 0-60% glycerol or whole saliva. RESULTS Nine oral streptococci co-aggregated with Actinomyces naeslundii ATCC12104 in the visual assay and were subsequently used for the spectrophotometric analysis. All tested strains displayed a decrease in co-aggregation with increasing amounts of glycerol in the buffer. The co-aggregation of Streptococcus oralis with A. naeslundii recovered to baseline level following the removal of glycerol. The per cent co-aggregation of S. oralis with A. naeslundii was significantly correlated with the viscosity in unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva samples (correlation coefficients: -0.52 and -0.48, respectively). CONCLUSION This study suggests that saliva viscosity affects the co-aggregation of oral streptococci with actinomyces and that bacterial co-aggregation decreases with increasing saliva viscosity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsuhiro Kitada
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, Japan
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Zähner D, Gandhi AR, Yi H, Stephens DS. Mitis group streptococci express variable pilus islet 2 pili. PLoS One 2011; 6:e25124. [PMID: 21966432 PMCID: PMC3178606 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2011] [Accepted: 08/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus mitis, and Streptococcus sanguinis are members of the Mitis group of streptococci and agents of oral biofilm, dental plaque and infective endocarditis, disease processes that involve bacteria-bacteria and bacteria-host interactions. Their close relative, the human pathogen S. pneumoniae uses pilus-islet 2 (PI-2)-encoded pili to facilitate adhesion to eukaryotic cells. Methodology/Principal Findings PI-2 pilus-encoding genetic islets were identified in S. oralis, S. mitis, and S. sanguinis, but were absent from other isolates of these species. The PI-2 islets resembled the genetic organization of the PI-2 islet of S. pneumoniae, but differed in the genes encoding the structural pilus proteins PitA and PitB. Two and three variants of pitA (a pseudogene in S. pneumoniae) and pitB, respectively, were identified that showed ≈20% difference in nucleotide as well as corresponding protein sequence. Species-independent combinations of pitA and pitB variants indicated prior intra- and interspecies horizontal gene transfer events. Polyclonal antisera developed against PitA and PitB of S. oralis type strain ATCC35037 revealed that PI-2 pili in oral streptococci were composed of PitA and PitB. Electronmicrographs showed pilus structures radiating >700 nm from the bacterial surface in the wild type strain, but not in an isogenic PI-2 deletion mutant. Anti-PitB-antiserum only reacted with pili containing the same PitB variant, whereas anti-PitA antiserum was cross-reactive with the other PitA variant. Electronic multilocus sequence analysis revealed that all PI-2-encoding oral streptococci were closely-related and cluster with non-PI-2-encoding S. oralis strains. Conclusions/Significance This is the first identification of PI-2 pili in Mitis group oral streptococci. The findings provide a striking example of intra- and interspecies horizontal gene transfer. The PI-2 pilus diversity provides a possible key to link strain-specific bacterial interactions and/or tissue tropisms with pathogenic traits in the Mitis group streptococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Zähner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
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Structure of type 3Gn coaggregation receptor polysaccharide from Streptococcus cristatus LS4. Carbohydr Res 2011; 346:1342-6. [PMID: 21601178 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2011.04.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2011] [Revised: 04/21/2011] [Accepted: 04/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The presence of a novel coaggregation receptor polysaccharide (RPS) on the dental plaque isolate Streptococcus cristatus LS4 was suggested by this strain's antigenic and coaggregation properties. Examination of RPS isolated from strain LS4 by a combination of 2-dimensional and pseudo 3-dimensional single quantum heteronuclear NMR methods that included detection of (13)C chemical shifts at high resolution revealed the following repeat unit structure: →6)-β-d-Galf-(1→6)-β-d-GalpNAc-(1→3)-α-d-Galp-(1→P→6)-α-d-Galp-(1→3)-β-L-Rhap-(1→4)-β-d-Glcp-(1→. The identification of this polysaccharide as RPS3Gn, a new structural type, was established by the α-d-Galp-containing epitope of RPS serotype 3 and Gn recognition motif (i.e., β-d-GalpNAc (1→3)-α-d-Galp) for coaggregation with other bacteria.
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Molecular dissection of the secA2 locus of group B Streptococcus reveals that glycosylation of the Srr1 LPXTG protein is required for full virulence. J Bacteriol 2009; 191:4195-206. [PMID: 19395494 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01673-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In streptococci, the secA2 locus includes genes encoding the following: (i) the accessory Sec components (SecA2, SecY2, and at least three accessory secretion proteins), (ii) two essential glycosyltranferases (GTs) (GtfA and GtfB), (iii) a variable number of dispensable additional GTs, and (iv) a secreted serine-rich LPXTG protein which is glycosylated in the cytoplasm and transported to the cell surface by this accessory Sec system. The secA2 locus of Streptococcus agalactiae strain NEM316 is structurally related to those found in other streptococci and encodes the serine-rich surface protein Srr1. We demonstrated that expression of Srr1 but not that of the SecA2 components and the associated GTs is regulated by the standalone transcriptional regulator Rga. Srr1 is synthesized as a glycosylated precursor, secreted by the SecA2 system, and anchored to the cell wall by the housekeeping sortase A. Srr1 was localized preferentially at the old poles. GtfA and/or GtfB, but not the six additional GTs, is essential for the production of Srr1. These GTs are involved in the attachment of GlcNac and sialic acid to Srr1. Full glycosylation of Srr1 is associated with the cell surface display of a protein that is more resistant to proteolytic attack. Srr1 contributes to bacterial adherence to human epithelial cell lines and virulence in a neonatal rat model. The extent of Srr1 glycosylation by GtfC to -H modulates bacterial adherence and virulence.
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Comparative structural and molecular characterization of ribitol-5-phosphate-containing Streptococcus oralis coaggregation receptor polysaccharides. J Bacteriol 2009; 191:1891-900. [PMID: 19151140 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01532-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The antigenically related coaggregation receptor polysaccharides (RPS) of Streptococcus oralis strains C104 and SK144 mediate recognition of these bacteria by other members of the dental plaque biofilm community. In the present study, the structure of strain SK144 RPS was established by high resolution NMR spectroscopy as [6Galfbeta1-6GalNAcbeta1-3Galalpha1-2ribitol-5-PO(4)(-)-6Galfbeta1-3Galbeta1](n), thereby indicating that this polysaccharide and the previously characterized RPS of strain C104 are identical, except for the linkage between Gal and ribitol-5-phosphate, which is alpha1-2 in strain SK144 versus alpha1-1 in strain C104. Studies to define the molecular basis of RPS structure revealed comparable genes for six putative transferases and a polymerase in the rps loci of these streptococci. Cell surface RPS production was abolished by disrupting the gene for the first transferase of strain C104 with a nonpolar erm cassette. It was restored in the resulting mutant by plasmid-based expression of either wcjG, the corresponding gene of S. pneumoniae for serotype 10A capsular polysaccharide (CPS) biosynthesis or wbaP for the transferase of Salmonella enterica that initiates O-polysaccharide biosynthesis. Thus, WcjG, like WbaP, appears to initiate polysaccharide biosynthesis by transferring galactose-1-phosphate to a lipid carrier. In further studies, the structure of strain C104 RPS was converted to that of strain SK144 by replacing the gene (wefM) for the fourth transferase in the rps locus of strain C104 with the corresponding gene (wcrC) of strain SK144 or Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 10A. These findings identify genetic markers for the different ribitol-5-phosphate-containing types of RPS present in S. oralis and establish a close relationship between these polysaccharides and serogroup 10 CPSs of S. pneumoniae.
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Claus H, Stummeyer K, Batzilla J, Mühlenhoff M, Vogel U. Amino acid 310 determines the donor substrate specificity of serogroup W-135 and Y capsule polymerases of Neisseria meningitidis. Mol Microbiol 2008; 71:960-71. [PMID: 19170877 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2008.06580.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The capsular polysaccharides of serogroup W-135 and Y meningococci are sialic acid-containing heteropolymers, with either galactose or glucose as the second sugar residue. As shown previously, sequences of the predicted enzymes that catalyse capsule polymerization, i.e. SiaD(W-135) and SiaD(Y), differ in only a few amino acids. By in vitro assays with purified recombinant proteins, SiaD(W-135) and SiaD(Y) were now confirmed to be the capsule polymerases harbouring both hexosyltransferase and sialyltransferase activity. In order to identify amino acids crucial for substrate specificity of the capsule polymerases, polymorphic sites were narrowed down by DNA sequence comparisons and subsequent site-directed mutagenesis. Serogroup-specific amino acids were restricted to the N-terminal part of the proteins. Exclusively amino acid 310, located within the nucleotide recognition domain of the enzymes' predicted hexosyltransferase moiety, accounted for substrate specificity as shown by immunochemistry and in vitro activity assay. Pro-310 determined galactosyltransferase activity that resulted in a serogroup W-135 capsule and Gly-310 determined glucosyltransferase activity that resulted in a serogroup Y capsule. In silico analysis revealed a similar amino acid-based association in other members of the same glycosyltransferase family irrespective of the bacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heike Claus
- Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Universität Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
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