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Zhang K, Potter RF, Marino J, Muenks CE, Lammers MG, Dien Bard J, Dingle TC, Humphries R, Westblade LF, Burnham CAD, Dantas G. Comparative genomics reveals the correlations of stress response genes and bacteriophages in developing antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus saprophyticus. mSystems 2023; 8:e0069723. [PMID: 38051037 PMCID: PMC10734486 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00697-23] [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: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Staphylococcus saprophyticus is the second most common bacteria associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women. The antimicrobial treatment regimen for uncomplicated UTI is normally nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), or a fluoroquinolone without routine susceptibility testing of S. saprophyticus recovered from urine specimens. However, TMP-SMX-resistant S. saprophyticus has been detected recently in UTI patients, as well as in our cohort. Herein, we investigated the understudied resistance patterns of this pathogenic species by linking genomic antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) content to susceptibility phenotypes. We describe ARG associations with known and novel SCCmec configurations as well as phage elements in S. saprophyticus, which may serve as intervention or diagnostic targets to limit resistance transmission. Our analyses yielded a comprehensive database of phenotypic data associated with the ARG sequence in clinical S. saprophyticus isolates, which will be crucial for resistance surveillance and prediction to enable precise diagnosis and effective treatment of S. saprophyticus UTIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kailun Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Robert F. Potter
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jamie Marino
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Carol E. Muenks
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Matthew G. Lammers
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jennifer Dien Bard
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Tanis C. Dingle
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Romney Humphries
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Lars F. Westblade
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Carey-Ann D. Burnham
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Gautam Dantas
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Shoaib M, Shehzadi I, Asif MU, Shen Y, Ni J. Identification of fungus-growing termite-associated halogenated-PKS maduralactomycin a as a potential inhibitor of MurF protein of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1183073. [PMID: 37152898 PMCID: PMC10160657 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1183073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections have become a major public health concern globally. Inhibition of its essential MurF protein has been proposed as a potential target for broad-spectrum drugs. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of a novel ecological niche of 374 fungus-growing termite associated Natural Products (NPs). The molecular docking and computational pharmacokinetics screened four compounds, i.e., Termstrin B, Fridamycin A, Maduralactomycin A, and Natalenamide C, as potential compounds that have higher binding affinities and favourable protein-ligand interactions. The compound Maduralactomycin A induced more stability based on its lowest average RMSD value (2.31 Å) and low standard deviation (0.35) supported by the consistent flexibility and β-factor during the protein's time-dependent motion. While hydrogen bond analysis indicated that Termstrin B has formed the strongest intra-protein interaction, solvent accessibility was in good agreement with Maduralactomycin A compactness. Maduralactomycin A has the strongest binding energy among all the compounds (-348.48 kcal/mol) followed by Termstrin B (-321.19 kcal/mol). Since these findings suggest Maduralactomycin A and Termstrin B as promising candidates for inhibition of MurF protein, the favourable binding energies of Maduralactomycin A make it a more important compound to warrant further investigation. However, experimental validation using animal models and clinical trials is recommended before reaching any final conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Shoaib
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | | | | | - Yulong Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- *Correspondence: Yulong Shen, ; Jinfeng Ni,
| | - Jinfeng Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- *Correspondence: Yulong Shen, ; Jinfeng Ni,
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3
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Portela R, A. Faria N, Mwangi M, Miragaia M, de Lencastre H, Tomasz A, Gonçalves Sobral R. Analysis of a Cell Wall Mutant Highlights Rho-Dependent Genome Amplification Events in Staphylococcus aureus. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0248321. [PMID: 36094182 PMCID: PMC9603463 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02483-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In a study of antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, specific cell wall mutants were previously generated for the peptidoglycan biosynthesis gene murF, by the insertion of an integrative plasmid. A collection of 30 independent mutants was obtained, and all harbored a variable number of copies of the inserted plasmid, arranged in tandem in the chromosome. Of the 30 mutants, only 3, F9, F20 and F26, with a lower number of plasmid copies, showed an altered peptidoglycan structure, lower resistance to β-lactams and a different loss-of-function mutation in rho gene, that encodes a transcription termination factor. The rho mutations were found to correlate with the level of oxacillin resistance, since genetic complementation with rho gene reestablished the resistance and cell wall parental profile in F9, F20 and F26 strains. Furthermore, complementation with rho resulted in the amplification of the number of plasmid tandem repeats, suggesting that Rho enabled events of recombination that favored a rearrangement in the chromosome in the region of the impaired murF gene. Although the full mechanism of reversion of the cell wall damage was not fully elucidated, we showed that Rho is involved in the recombination process that mediates the tandem amplification of exogeneous DNA fragments inserted into the chromosome. IMPORTANCE The cell wall of bacteria, namely, peptidoglycan, is the target of several antibiotic classes such as β-lactams. Staphylococcus aureus is well known for its capacity to adapt to antibiotic stress and develop resistance strategies, namely, to β-lactams. In this context, the construction of cell wall mutants provides useful models to study the development of such resistance mechanisms. Here, we characterized a collection of independent mutants, impaired in the same peptidoglycan biosynthetic step, obtained through the insertion of a plasmid in the coding region of murF gene. S. aureus demonstrated the capacity to overcome the cell wall damage by amplifying the copy number of the inserted plasmid, through an undescribed mechanism that involves the Rho transcription termination factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Portela
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of Bacterial Pathogens, UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Nuno A. Faria
- Laboratory of Bacterial Evolution and Molecular Epidemiology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB NOVA), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Michael Mwangi
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Maria Miragaia
- Laboratory of Bacterial Evolution and Molecular Epidemiology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB NOVA), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Hermínia de Lencastre
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB NOVA), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Alexander Tomasz
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rita Gonçalves Sobral
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of Bacterial Pathogens, UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
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Coupri D, Verneuil N, Hartke A, Liebaut A, Lequeux T, Pfund E, Budin-Verneuil A. Inhibition of d-alanylation of teichoic acids overcomes resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 76:2778-2786. [PMID: 34450626 PMCID: PMC8521394 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkab287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background MRSA are high-priority multidrug-resistant pathogens. Although there are still some antibiotics active against MRSA, continuous efforts to discover new antibiotics and treatment strategies are needed because resistance to these new drugs has already been reported. Objectives Here we explore if d-alanylation of teichoic acids (TAs) mediated by the dlt operon gene products might be a druggable target to overcome β-lactam-resistance of MRSA. Methods MICs and bactericidal effects of several β-lactam antibiotics were monitored in a panel of clinical MRSA strains with genetic or chemically induced deficiency in d-alanylation of TAs. Efficiency of the chemical inhibitor to rescue MRSA-infected larvae of Galleria mellonella as well as its ability to prevent or eradicate biofilms of S. aureus were analysed. Results Genetic inactivation of the Dlt system or its chemical inhibition re-sensitizes MRSA to β-lactams. Among the 13 strains, the most pronounced effect was obtained using the inhibitor with imipenem, reducing the median MIC from 16 to 0.25 mg/L. This combination was also bactericidal in some strains and significantly protected G. mellonella larvae from lethal MRSA infections. Finally, inactivation of d-alanylation potentiated the effect of imipenem on inhibition and/or eradication of biofilm. Conclusions Our combined results show that highly efficient inhibitors of d-alanylation of TAs targeting enzymes of the Dlt system should be promising therapeutic adjuvants, especially in combination with carbapenems, for restoring the therapeutic efficacy of this class of antibiotics against MRSA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Axel Hartke
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, U2RM, 14000 Caen, France
| | | | - Thierry Lequeux
- Normandie Université, Laboratoire de Chimie Moléculaire et Thioorganique UMR 6507, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CNRS, 6 Bd. du Maréchal Juin, 14050 Caen, France
| | - Emmanuel Pfund
- Normandie Université, Laboratoire de Chimie Moléculaire et Thioorganique UMR 6507, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CNRS, 6 Bd. du Maréchal Juin, 14050 Caen, France
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5
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Wang W, Sun B. VraCP regulates cell wall metabolism and antibiotic resistance in vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus strain Mu50. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 76:1712-1723. [PMID: 33948657 PMCID: PMC8212773 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkab113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) is increasingly being reported. Previous studies have shown that vraC and vraP may be involved in vancomycin resistance, although the molecular mechanism remains elusive. Methods The vraC (SAV0577), vraP (SAV0578) and vraCP mutants were constructed in Mu50 by allelic replacement. Some common VISA phenotypes were assessed in mutants, such as, susceptibility to the cell wall-associated antibiotics, cell wall thickness, autolysis activity and growth rate. RT-qPCR was performed to reveal the differential genes associated with these phenotypes. The binding abilities of VraC and VraCP to the promoters of target genes were determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Results VraP forms a stable complex with VraC to preserve their own stability. The vraC, vraP and vraCP mutants exhibited increased susceptibility to the cell wall-associated antibiotics and thinner cell walls compared with the WT strain. Consistent with these phenotypes, RT-qPCR revealed downregulated transcription of glyS, sgtB, ddl and alr2, which are involved in cell wall biosynthesis. Moreover, the transcription of cell wall hydrolysis genes, including sceD, lytM and isaA, was significantly downregulated, supporting the finding that mutants exhibited reduced autolysis rates. EMSA confirmed that both VraC and VraCP can directly bind to the sceD, lytM and isaA promoter regions containing the consensus sequence (5′-TTGTAAN2AN3TGTAA-3′), which is crucial for the binding of VraCP with target genes. GFP-reporter assays further revealed VraC and VraCP can enhance promoter activity of sceD to positively regulate its expression. Conclusions vraCP plays a significant role in cell wall metabolism and antibiotic resistance in Mu50.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanying Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Baolin Sun
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People's Republic of China
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6
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Gallagher LA, Shears RK, Fingleton C, Alvarez L, Waters EM, Clarke J, Bricio-Moreno L, Campbell C, Yadav AK, Razvi F, O'Neill E, O'Neill AJ, Cava F, Fey PD, Kadioglu A, O'Gara JP. Impaired Alanine Transport or Exposure to d-Cycloserine Increases the Susceptibility of MRSA to β-lactam Antibiotics. J Infect Dis 2020; 221:1000-1016. [PMID: 31628459 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Prolonging the clinical effectiveness of β-lactams, which remain first-line antibiotics for many infections, is an important part of efforts to address antimicrobial resistance. We report here that inactivation of the predicted d-cycloserine (DCS) transporter gene cycA resensitized methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to β-lactam antibiotics. The cycA mutation also resulted in hypersusceptibility to DCS, an alanine analogue antibiotic that inhibits alanine racemase and d-alanine ligase required for d-alanine incorporation into cell wall peptidoglycan. Alanine transport was impaired in the cycA mutant, and this correlated with increased susceptibility to oxacillin and DCS. The cycA mutation or exposure to DCS were both associated with the accumulation of muropeptides with tripeptide stems lacking the terminal d-ala-d-ala and reduced peptidoglycan cross-linking, prompting us to investigate synergism between β-lactams and DCS. DCS resensitized MRSA to β-lactams in vitro and significantly enhanced MRSA eradication by oxacillin in a mouse bacteremia model. These findings reveal alanine transport as a new therapeutic target to enhance the susceptibility of MRSA to β-lactam antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Gallagher
- School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Rebecca K Shears
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Fingleton
- School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Laura Alvarez
- Molecular Infection Medicine, Sweden, Molecular Biology Department, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Elaine M Waters
- School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.,Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny Clarke
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Bricio-Moreno
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Akhilesh K Yadav
- Molecular Infection Medicine, Sweden, Molecular Biology Department, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Fareha Razvi
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Eoghan O'Neill
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Connolly Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alex J O'Neill
- Antimicrobial Research Centre, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Felipe Cava
- Molecular Infection Medicine, Sweden, Molecular Biology Department, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Paul D Fey
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Aras Kadioglu
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - James P O'Gara
- School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
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7
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Role of MurT C-Terminal Domain in the Amidation of Staphylococcus aureus Peptidoglycan. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.00957-19. [PMID: 31358586 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00957-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate amidation, a secondary modification of the peptidoglycan, was first identified in Staphylococcus aureus It is catalyzed by the protein products of the murT and gatD genes, which are conserved and colocalized in the genomes of most sequenced Gram-positive bacterial species. The MurT-GatD complex is required for cell viability, full resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, and resistance to human lysozyme and is recognized as an attractive target for new antimicrobials. Great effort has been invested in the study of this step, culminating recently in three independent reports addressing the structural elucidation of the MurT-GatD complex. In this work, we demonstrate through the use of nonstructural approaches the critical and multiple roles of the C-terminal domain of MurT, annotated as DUF1727, in the MurT-GatD enzymatic complex. This domain provides the physical link between the two enzymatic activities and is essential for the amidation reaction. Copurification of recombinant MurT and GatD proteins and bacterial two-hybrid assays support the observation that the MurT-GatD interaction occurs through this domain. Most importantly, we provide in vivo evidence of the effect of substitutions at specific residues in DUF1727 on cell wall peptidoglycan amidation and on the phenotypes of oxacillin resistance and bacterial growth.
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Abstract
Dating back to the 1960s, initial studies on the staphylococcal cell wall were driven by the need to clarify the mode of action of the first antibiotics and the resistance mechanisms developed by the bacteria. During the following decades, the elucidation of the biosynthetic path and primary composition of staphylococcal cell walls was propelled by advances in microbial cell biology, specifically, the introduction of high-resolution analytical techniques and molecular genetic approaches. The field of staphylococcal cell wall gradually gained its own significance as the complexity of its chemical structure and involvement in numerous cellular processes became evident, namely its versatile role in host interactions, coordination of cell division and environmental stress signaling.This chapter includes an updated description of the anatomy of staphylococcal cell walls, paying particular attention to information from the last decade, under four headings: high-resolution analysis of the Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan; variations in peptidoglycan composition; genetic determinants and enzymes in cell wall synthesis; and complex functions of cell walls. The latest contributions to a more precise picture of the staphylococcal cell envelope were possible due to recently developed state-of-the-art microscopy and spectroscopy techniques and to a wide combination of -omics approaches, that are allowing to obtain a more integrative view of this highly dynamic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Sobral
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
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9
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Ahmad S, Raza S, Uddin R, Azam SS. Binding mode analysis, dynamic simulation and binding free energy calculations of the MurF ligase from Acinetobacter baumannii. J Mol Graph Model 2017; 77:72-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2017.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Pensinger DA, Schaenzer AJ, Sauer JD. Do Shoot the Messenger: PASTA Kinases as Virulence Determinants and Antibiotic Targets. Trends Microbiol 2017; 26:56-69. [PMID: 28734616 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2017.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
All domains of life utilize protein phosphorylation as a mechanism of signal transduction. In bacteria, protein phosphorylation was classically thought to be mediated exclusively by histidine kinases as part of two-component signaling systems. However, it is now well appreciated that eukaryotic-like serine/threonine kinases (eSTKs) control essential processes in bacteria. A subset of eSTKs are single-pass transmembrane proteins that have extracellular penicillin-binding-protein and serine/threonine kinase-associated (PASTA) domains which bind muropeptides. In a variety of important pathogens, PASTA kinases have been implicated in regulating biofilms, antibiotic resistance, and ultimately virulence. Although there are limited examples of direct regulation of virulence factors, PASTA kinases are critical for virulence due to their roles in regulating bacterial physiology in the context of stress. This review focuses on the role of PASTA kinases in virulence for a variety of important Gram-positive pathogens and concludes with a discussion of current efforts to develop kinase inhibitors as novel antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Pensinger
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Adam J Schaenzer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Doctoral Training Program, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - John-Demian Sauer
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Doctoral Training Program, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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Mkize N, Zishiri OT, Mukaratirwa S. Genetic characterisation of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> isolated from commercial broiler chickens in the Durban metropolitan area, South Africa. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2017; 88:e1-e7. [PMID: 28470080 PMCID: PMC6138211 DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v88i0.1416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Revised: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus in human and veterinary medicine is a serious worldwide problem. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of S. aureus in commercial broiler chickens as well as to establish antimicrobial susceptibility and the distribution of genetic determinants conferring resistance and virulence. One hundred and ninety-four samples were aseptically collected from broiler chicken slaughterhouses and retail outlets around the Durban metropolitan area in South Africa. Microbiological and molecular methods were used to detect the presence of S. aureus as well as its resistance- and virulence-associated genes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to confirm the presence of S. aureus by amplifying the nuc gene. Approximately 54% of 194 samples were positive for S. aureus. The disc diffusion technique was used to investigate antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the S. aureus isolates to a battery of 10 antimicrobial agents, namely ampicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, erythromycin, cefoxitin, kanamycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, vancomycin and trimethoprim. The results demonstrated that S. aureus isolates of abattoir origin had a high level (79.4%) of resistance to tetracycline, followed by ampicillin, vancomycin, cefoxitin, trimethoprim, erythromycin and streptomycin with resistance rates of 65.1%, 61.9%, 60.3%, 58.7%, 57.1% and 46.0%, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus isolates of retail origin exhibited higher antimicrobial resistance prevalence rates than those of abattoir origin. Tetracycline had the highest resistance rate (100%), followed by cefoxitin (91.7%), erythromycin (83.3%), streptomycin (83.3%) and kanamycin (66.7%). All isolates were resistant to two or more antimicrobial agents. Out of the four virulence genes that were screened, only two were detected (coagulase and protein A); however, their prevalence rates were very low. All antimicrobial resistance genes screened were detected (mecA, BlaZ and tetK), although their prevalence did not correspond with antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
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12
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Pensinger DA, Boldon KM, Chen GY, Vincent WJB, Sherman K, Xiong M, Schaenzer AJ, Forster ER, Coers J, Striker R, Sauer JD. The Listeria monocytogenes PASTA Kinase PrkA and Its Substrate YvcK Are Required for Cell Wall Homeostasis, Metabolism, and Virulence. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1006001. [PMID: 27806131 PMCID: PMC5091766 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Obstacles to bacterial survival and replication in the cytosol of host cells, and the mechanisms used by bacterial pathogens to adapt to this niche are not well understood. Listeria monocytogenes is a well-studied Gram-positive foodborne pathogen that has evolved to invade and replicate within the host cell cytosol; yet the mechanisms by which it senses and responds to stress to survive in the cytosol are largely unknown. To assess the role of the L. monocytogenespenicillin-binding-protein and serine/threonine associated (PASTA) kinase PrkA in stress responses, cytosolic survival and virulence, we constructed a ΔprkA deletion mutant. PrkA was required for resistance to cell wall stress, growth on cytosolic carbon sources, intracellular replication, cytosolic survival, inflammasome avoidance and ultimately virulence in a murine model of Listeriosis. In Bacillus subtilis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, homologues of PrkA phosphorylate a highly conserved protein of unknown function, YvcK. We found that, similar to PrkA, YvcK is also required for cell wall stress responses, metabolism of glycerol, cytosolic survival, inflammasome avoidance and virulence. We further demonstrate that similar to other organisms, YvcK is directly phosphorylated by PrkA, although the specific site(s) of phosphorylation are not highly conserved. Finally, analysis of phosphoablative and phosphomimetic mutants of YvcK in vitro and in vivo demonstrate that while phosphorylation of YvcK is irrelevant to metabolism and cell wall stress responses, surprisingly, a phosphomimetic, nonreversible negative charge of YvcK is detrimental to cytosolic survival and virulence in vivo. Taken together our data identify two novel virulence factors essential for cytosolic survival and virulence of L. monocytogenes. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that regulation of YvcK phosphorylation is tightly controlled and is critical for virulence. Finally, our data suggest that yet to be identified substrates of PrkA are essential for cytosolic survival and virulence of L. monocytogenes and illustrate the importance of studying protein phosphorylation in the context of infection. Infection with intracellular pathogens causes a majority of the global infectious disease associated mortality. A number of intracellular pathogens must directly access the host cytosol in order to cause disease; however, non-cytosol adapted bacteria do not survive or replicate upon access to the cytosol. The mechanisms cytosolic pathogens use to adapt to this niche are largely unknown. The model cytosolic bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes contains a single penicillin-binding-protein and serine/threonine associated (PASTA) kinase, PrkA. In other bacteria, PASTA kinases bind cell wall fragments and phosphorylate downstream effectors involved in cell wall synthesis, central metabolism, virulence, cell division, and biofilm formation. We demonstrate that in L. monocytogenes, PrkA is required for cell wall homeostasis, growth under nutrient limiting conditions, survival and replication in host cells, and virulence in vivo. Furthermore, we identify a highly conserved protein of unknown function, YvcK, as a PrkA substrate. We demonstrate that L. monocytogenes YvcK is similarly required for cell wall stress responses, growth on glycerol, cytosolic survival and virulence in vivo. Surprisingly, a phosphomimetic, nonreversible negative charge at the phosphorylation sites on YvcK inactivates functions of the protein related to intracellular survival and virulence, suggesting that the identification of PASTA kinase substrates phosphorylated during infection will be critical to our understanding of this central regulator metabolism, cell wall homeostasis and ultimately virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A. Pensinger
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Kyle M. Boldon
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Grischa Y. Chen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - William J. B. Vincent
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Kyle Sherman
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Meng Xiong
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Adam J. Schaenzer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Emily R. Forster
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Jörn Coers
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Rob Striker
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
- W. S. Middleton Memorial Veteran’s Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - John-Demian Sauer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
- * E-mail:
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13
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Lou Q, Ma Y, Qu D. Two-component signal transduction system SaeRS is involved in competence and penicillin susceptibility in Staphylococcus epidermidis. J Basic Microbiol 2016; 56:358-68. [PMID: 26898187 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201500488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis, which is a causative pathogen of nosocomial infection, expresses its virulent traits such as biofilm and autolysis regulated by two-component signal transduction system SaeRS. In this study, the S. epidermidis SaeRS was identified to negatively regulate the expression of genes involved in competence (comF, murF), cytolysis (lrgA), and autolysis (lytS) by DNA microarray or real-time RT-PCR analysis. In addition, saeRS mutant showed increased competence and higher susceptibility to antibiotics such as penicillin and oxacillin than the wild-type strain. The study will be helpful for understanding the characterization of the SaeRS in S. epidermidis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Lou
- Henan Engineering Lab of Antibody Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yuanfang Ma
- Henan Engineering Lab of Antibody Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Di Qu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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14
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Figueiredo TA, Ludovice AM, Sobral RG. Contribution of peptidoglycan amidation to beta-lactam and lysozyme resistance in different genetic lineages of Staphylococcus aureus. Microb Drug Resist 2014; 20:238-49. [PMID: 24799330 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2014.0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The enzymes responsible for peptidoglycan amidation in Staphylococcus aureus, MurT and GatD, were recently identified and shown to be required for optimal expression of resistance to beta-lactams, bacterial growth, and resistance to lysozyme. In this study, we analyzed the impact of peptidoglycan amidation in representative strains of the most widespread clones of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The inhibition of the expression of murT-gatD operon resulted in different phenotypes of resistance to beta-lactams and lysozyme according to the different genetic backgrounds. Further, clonal lineages CC1 and CC398 (community-acquired MRSA [CA-MRSA]) showed a stronger dependency on MurT-GatD for resistance to beta-lactams, when compared to the impact of the impairment of the cell wall step catalyzed by MurF. In the remaining backgrounds similar phenotypes of beta-lactam resistance were observed upon the impairment of both cell-wall-related genes. Therefore, for CA-related backgrounds, the predominant beta-lactam resistance mechanism seems to involve genes associated with secondary modifications of peptidoglycan. On the other hand, the lack of glutamic acid amidation had a more substantial impact on lysozyme resistance for cells of CA-MRSA backgrounds, than for hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA). However, no significant differences were found in the resistance level of the respective peptidoglycan structure, suggesting that the lysozyme resistance mechanism involves other factors. Taken together, these results suggested that the different genetic lineages of MRSA were able to develop different molecular strategies to overcome the selective pressures experienced during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa A Figueiredo
- 1 Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa , Oeiras, Portugal
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15
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Thioridazine induces major changes in global gene expression and cell wall composition in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64518. [PMID: 23691239 PMCID: PMC3656896 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Subinhibitory concentrations of the neuroleptic drug thioridazine (TDZ) are well-known to enhance the killing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by β-lactam antibiotics, however, the mechanism underlying the synergy between TDZ and β-lactams is not fully understood. In the present study, we have examined the effect of a subinhibitory concentration of TDZ on antimicrobial resistance, the global transcriptome, and the cell wall composition of MRSA USA300. We show that TDZ is able to sensitize the bacteria to several classes of antimicrobials targeting the late stages of peptidoglycan (PGN) synthesis. Furthermore, our microarray analysis demonstrates that TDZ modulates the expression of genes encoding membrane and surface proteins, transporters, and enzymes involved in amino acid biosynthesis. Interestingly, resemblance between the transcriptional profile of TDZ treatment and the transcriptomic response of S. aureus to known inhibitors of cell wall synthesis suggests that TDZ disturbs PGN biosynthesis at a stage that precedes transpeptidation by penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). In support of this notion, dramatic changes in the muropeptide profile of USA300 were observed following growth in the presence of TDZ, indicating that TDZ can interfere with the formation of the pentaglycine branches. Strikingly, the addition of glycine to the growth medium relieved the effect of TDZ on the muropeptide profile. Furthermore, exogenous glycine offered a modest protective effect against TDZ-induced β-lactam sensitivity. We propose that TDZ exposure leads to a shortage of intracellular amino acids, including glycine, which is required for the production of normal PGN precursors with pentaglycine branches, the correct substrate of S. aureus PBPs. Collectively, this work demonstrates that TDZ has a major impact on the cell wall biosynthesis pathway in S. aureus and provides new insights into how MRSA may be sensitized towards β-lactam antibiotics.
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16
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Farha MA, Leung A, Sewell EW, D’Elia MA, Allison SE, Ejim L, Pereira PM, Pinho MG, Wright GD, Brown ED. Inhibition of WTA synthesis blocks the cooperative action of PBPs and sensitizes MRSA to β-lactams. ACS Chem Biol 2013; 8:226-33. [PMID: 23062620 PMCID: PMC3552485 DOI: 10.1021/cb300413m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Rising drug resistance is limiting treatment options
for infections
by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Herein we provide new evidence that wall teichoic acid (WTA) biogenesis
is a remarkable antibacterial target with the capacity to destabilize
the cooperative action of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) that
underlie β-lactam resistance in MRSA. Deletion of gene tarO, encoding the first step of WTA synthesis, resulted
in the restoration of sensitivity of MRSA to a unique profile of β-lactam
antibiotics with a known selectivity for penicillin binding protein
2 (PBP2). Of these, cefuroxime was used as a probe to screen for previously
approved drugs with a cryptic capacity to potentiate its activity
against MRSA. Ticlopidine, the antiplatelet drug Ticlid, strongly
potentiated cefuroxime, and this synergy was abolished in strains
lacking tarO. The combination was also effective
in a Galleria mellonella model of infection. Using
both genetic and biochemical strategies, we determined the molecular
target of ticlopidine as the N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate
transferase encoded in gene tarO and provide evidence
that WTA biogenesis represents an Achilles heel supporting the cooperative
function of PBP2 and PBP4 in creating highly cross-linked muropeptides
in the peptidoglycan of S. aureus. This approach
represents a new paradigm to tackle MRSA infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya A. Farha
- M. G. DeGroote
Institute for
Infectious Disease Research and Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical
Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5
| | - Alexander Leung
- M. G. DeGroote
Institute for
Infectious Disease Research and Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical
Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5
| | - Edward W. Sewell
- M. G. DeGroote
Institute for
Infectious Disease Research and Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical
Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5
| | - Michael A. D’Elia
- M. G. DeGroote
Institute for
Infectious Disease Research and Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical
Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5
| | - Sarah E. Allison
- M. G. DeGroote
Institute for
Infectious Disease Research and Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical
Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5
| | - Linda Ejim
- M. G. DeGroote
Institute for
Infectious Disease Research and Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical
Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5
| | - Pedro M. Pereira
- Laboratory of Bacterial Cell
Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Mariana G. Pinho
- Laboratory of Bacterial Cell
Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Gerard D. Wright
- M. G. DeGroote
Institute for
Infectious Disease Research and Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical
Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5
| | - Eric D. Brown
- M. G. DeGroote
Institute for
Infectious Disease Research and Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical
Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5
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17
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Arêde P, Milheiriço C, de Lencastre H, Oliveira DC. The anti-repressor MecR2 promotes the proteolysis of the mecA repressor and enables optimal expression of β-lactam resistance in MRSA. PLoS Pathog 2012; 8:e1002816. [PMID: 22911052 PMCID: PMC3406092 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2012] [Accepted: 06/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important human pathogen, which is cross-resistant to virtually all β-lactam antibiotics. MRSA strains are defined by the presence of mecA gene. The transcription of mecA can be regulated by a sensor-inducer (MecR1) and a repressor (MecI), involving a unique series of proteolytic steps. The induction of mecA by MecR1 has been described as very inefficient and, as such, it is believed that optimal expression of β-lactam resistance by MRSA requires a non-functional MecR1-MecI system. However, in a recent study, no correlation was found between the presence of functional MecR1-MecI and the level of β-lactam resistance in a representative collection of epidemic MRSA strains. Here, we demonstrate that the mecA regulatory locus consists, in fact, of an unusual three-component arrangement containing, in addition to mecR1-mecI, the up to now unrecognized mecR2 gene coding for an anti-repressor. The MecR2 function is essential for the full induction of mecA expression, compensating for the inefficient induction of mecA by MecR1 and enabling optimal expression of β-lactam resistance in MRSA strains with functional mecR1-mecI regulatory genes. Our data shows that MecR2 interacts directly with MecI, destabilizing its binding to the mecA promoter, which results in the repressor inactivation by proteolytic cleavage, presumably mediated by native cytoplasmatic proteases. These observations point to a revision of the current model for the transcriptional control of mecA and open new avenues for the design of alternative therapeutic strategies for the treatment of MRSA infections. Moreover, these findings also provide important insights into the complex evolutionary pathways of antibiotic resistance and molecular mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in bacteria. Methicillin-resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important human pathogen, causing a wide range of infections. MRSA strains are resistant to virtually all β-lactam antibiotics and often are also resistant to many other classes of antibiotics, leaving physicians with few therapeutic options. MRSA is defined by the presence of the mecA gene. The induction of mecA transcription in response to β-lactams involves a unique series of proteolytic steps and some critical details of this signal transduction mechanism are still illusive. For instance, it is not fully explained why the induction of mecA by its cognate regulatory genes mecR1-mecI appears to be very inefficient and it is not clear if the observed MecI repressor proteolysis is mediated directly by the activated MecR1 sensor-inducer. In this study, we demonstrate that the mecA regulatory locus is not a two-component system but instead it is a three-component system containing the previously unrecognized anti-repressor mecR2 gene. MecR2 disturbs the binding of the repressor MecI to the mecA promoter, which leads to its proteolytic inactivation independently from MecR1. Moreover, our data shows that in the presence of functional mecR1-mecI genes, mecR2 is essential for a robust induction of mecA transcription and, as consequence, for the optimal expression of β-lactam resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Arêde
- CREM, Department of Life Sciences, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Catarina Milheiriço
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Hermínia de Lencastre
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Duarte C. Oliveira
- CREM, Department of Life Sciences, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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18
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Identification of genetic determinants and enzymes involved with the amidation of glutamic acid residues in the peptidoglycan of Staphylococcus aureus. PLoS Pathog 2012; 8:e1002508. [PMID: 22303291 PMCID: PMC3267633 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2011] [Accepted: 12/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The glutamic acid residues of the peptidoglycan of Staphylococcus aureus and many other bacteria become amidated by an as yet unknown mechanism. In this communication we describe the identification, in the genome of S. aureus strain COL, of two co-transcribed genes, murT and gatD, which are responsible for peptidoglycan amidation. MurT and GatD have sequence similarity to substrate-binding domains in Mur ligases (MurT) and to the catalytic domain in CobB/CobQ-like glutamine amidotransferases (GatD). The amidation of glutamate residues in the stem peptide of S. aureus peptidoglycan takes place in a later step than the cytoplasmic phase--presumably the lipid phase--of the biosynthesis of the S. aureus cell wall precursor. Inhibition of amidation caused reduced growth rate, reduced resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and increased sensitivity to lysozyme which inhibited culture growth and caused degradation of the peptidoglycan.
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19
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Lee S, Jarantow L, Wang H, Sillaots S, Cheng H, Meredith T, Thompson J, Roemer T. Antagonism of Chemical Genetic Interaction Networks Resensitize MRSA to β-Lactam Antibiotics. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 18:1379-89. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2011.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2011] [Revised: 08/19/2011] [Accepted: 08/22/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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20
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Huber J, Donald RG, Lee SH, Jarantow LW, Salvatore MJ, Meng X, Painter R, Onishi RH, Occi J, Dorso K, Young K, Park YW, Skwish S, Szymonifka MJ, Waddell TS, Miesel L, Phillips JW, Roemer T. Chemical Genetic Identification of Peptidoglycan Inhibitors Potentiating Carbapenem Activity against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 16:837-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2009.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2009] [Revised: 05/25/2009] [Accepted: 05/28/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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21
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MurF inhibitors with antibacterial activity: effect on muropeptide levels. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2009; 53:3240-7. [PMID: 19470511 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00166-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
MurF catalyzes the last cytoplasmic step of bacterial cell wall synthesis and is essential for bacterial survival. Our previous studies used a pharmacophore model of a MurF inhibitor to identify additional inhibitors with improved properties. We now present the characterization of two such inhibitors, the diarylquinolines DQ1 and DQ2. DQ1 inhibited Escherichia coli MurF (50% inhibitory concentration, 24 microM) and had modest activity (MICs, 8 to 16 microg/ml) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-defective E. coli and wild-type E. coli rendered permeable with polymyxin B nonapeptide. DQ2 additionally displayed activity against gram-positive bacteria (MICs, 8 to 16 microg/ml), including methicillin (meticillin)-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates and vancomycin-susceptible and -resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium isolates. Treatment of LPS-defective E. coli cells with >or=2x MIC of DQ1 resulted in a 75-fold-greater accumulation of the MurF substrate compared to the control, a 70% decline in the amount of the MurF product, and eventual cell lysis, consistent with the inhibition of MurF within bacteria. DQ2 treatment of S. aureus resulted in similar effects on the MurF substrate and product quantities. At lower levels of DQ1 (<or=1x MIC), the level of accumulation of the substrate was less pronounced (15-fold greater compared to the amount for the control). However, a 50% increase in the amount of the MurF product compared to the control was reproducibly observed, consistent with the possible upregulation of muropeptide biosynthesis upon partial inhibition of this pathway. The overexpression of cloned MurF appeared to partly alleviate the DQ1-mediated inhibition of muropeptide synthesis. The identification of MurF inhibitors such as DQ1 and DQ2 that disrupt cell wall biosynthesis suggests that MurF remains a viable target for an antibacterial agent.
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22
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Hower S, Wolf K, Fields KA. Evidence that CT694 is a novel Chlamydia trachomatis T3S substrate capable of functioning during invasion or early cycle development. Mol Microbiol 2009; 72:1423-37. [PMID: 19460098 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2009.06732.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular parasite, occupies a membrane-bound vacuole throughout development and is capable of manipulating the eukaryotic host by translocating effector molecules via a type III secretion system (T3SS). The infectious chlamydial elementary body (EB) is metabolically inactive yet possesses a functional T3S apparatus capable of translocating effector proteins into the host cell to facilitate invasion and other early cycle events. We present evidence here that the C. trachomatis protein CT694 represents an early cycle-associated effector protein. CT694 is secreted by the Yersinia T3SS and immunodetection studies of infected HeLa cultures indicate that CT694-specific signal accumulates directly adjacent to, but not completely overlapping with EBs during invasion. Yeast two-hybrid analyses revealed an interaction of CT694 with the repeat region and C-terminus of human AHNAK. Immunolocalization studies of CT694 ectopically expressed in HeLa cells were consistent with an interaction with endogenous AHNAK. Additionally, expression of CT694 in HeLa cells resulted in alterations in the detection of stress fibres that correlated with the ability of CT694 to interact with AHNAK. These data indicate that CT694 is a novel T3S-dependent substrate unique to C. trachomatis, and that its interaction with host proteins such as AHNAK may be important for aspects of invasion or development particular to this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Hower
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33101, USA
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23
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Pereira SFF, Henriques AO, Pinho MG, de Lencastre H, Tomasz A. Evidence for a dual role of PBP1 in the cell division and cell separation of Staphylococcus aureus. Mol Microbiol 2009; 72:895-904. [PMID: 19400776 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2009.06687.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) catalyse the synthesis of cell wall peptidoglycan. PBP1 of Staphylococcus aureus is a high-molecular-weight monofunctional transpeptidase (TPase) and previous studies with a conditional mutant showed that this protein was essential for bacterial growth and survival: cells in which PBP1 was depleted stopped dividing but continued to enlarge in size, accompanied by rapid loss of viability. Also, cell walls produced under PBP1 depletion appeared to have normal composition. We describe here construction of a second PBP1 mutant in which the active site of the TPase domain was inactivated. Cells in which the wild-type PBP1 was replaced by the mutant protein were able to initiate and complete septa and undergo at least one or two cell divisions after which growth stopped accompanied by inhibition of cell separation, downregulation in the transcription of the autolytic system and production of cell walls with increased proportion of monomeric and dimeric muropeptides and decrease in oligomeric muropeptides. PBP1 seems to perform a dual role in the cell cycle of S. aureus: as a protein required for septation and also as a transpeptidase that generates a critical signal for cell separation at the end of cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandro F F Pereira
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica (ITQB) da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), 2780 Oeiras, Portugal
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Paradis-Bleau C, Lloyd A, Sanschagrin F, Clarke T, Blewett A, Bugg TDH, Levesque RC. Phage display-derived inhibitor of the essential cell wall biosynthesis enzyme MurF. BMC BIOCHEMISTRY 2008; 9:33. [PMID: 19099588 PMCID: PMC2626591 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2091-9-33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2008] [Accepted: 12/19/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To develop antibacterial agents having novel modes of action against bacterial cell wall biosynthesis, we targeted the essential MurF enzyme of the antibiotic resistant pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. MurF catalyzes the formation of a peptide bond between D-Alanyl-D-Alanine (D-Ala-D-Ala) and the cell wall precursor uridine 5'-diphosphoryl N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanyl-D-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelic acid (UDP-MurNAc-Ala-Glu-meso-A2pm) with the concomitant hydrolysis of ATP to ADP and inorganic phosphate, yielding UDP-N-acetylmuramyl-pentapeptide. As MurF acts on a dipeptide, we exploited a phage display approach to identify peptide ligands having high binding affinities for the enzyme. RESULTS Screening of a phage display 12-mer library using purified P. aeruginosa MurF yielded to the identification of the MurFp1 peptide. The MurF substrate UDP-MurNAc-Ala-Glumeso-A2pm was synthesized and used to develop a sensitive spectrophotometric assay to quantify MurF kinetics and inhibition. MurFp1 acted as a weak, time-dependent inhibitor of MurF activity but was a potent inhibitor when MurF was pre-incubated with UDP-MurNAc-Ala-Glu-meso-A2pm or ATP. In contrast, adding the substrate D-Ala-D-Ala during the pre-incubation nullified the inhibition. The IC50 value of MurFp1 was evaluated at 250 microM, and the Ki was established at 420 microM with respect to the mixed type of inhibition against D-Ala-D-Ala. CONCLUSION MurFp1 exerts its inhibitory action by interfering with the utilization of D-Ala-D-Ala by the MurF amide ligase enzyme. We propose that MurFp1 exploits UDP-MurNAc-Ala-Glu-meso-A2pm-induced structural changes for better interaction with the enzyme. We present the first peptide inhibitor of MurF, an enzyme that should be exploited as a target for antimicrobial drug development.
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Comparison of the essential cellular functions of the two murA genes of Bacillus anthracis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2008; 52:2009-13. [PMID: 18378720 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01594-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted antisense and gene replacement mutagenesis experiments demonstrate that only the murA1 gene and not the murA2 gene is required for the normal cellular growth of Bacillus anthracis. Antisense-based modulation of murA1 gene expression hypersensitizes cells to the MurA-specific antibiotic fosfomycin despite the normally high resistance of B. anthracis to this drug.
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Kedar GC, Brown-Driver V, Reyes DR, Hilgers MT, Stidham MA, Shaw KJ, Finn J, Haselbeck RJ. Evaluation of the metS and murB loci for antibiotic discovery using targeted antisense RNA expression analysis in Bacillus anthracis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2007; 51:1708-18. [PMID: 17339372 PMCID: PMC1855544 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01180-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The biowarfare-relevant bacterial pathogen Bacillus anthracis contains two paralogs each of the metS and murB genes, which encode the important antibiotic target functions methionyl-tRNA synthetase and UDP-N-acetylenolpyruvoylglucosamine reductase, respectively. Empirical screens were conducted to detect and characterize gene fragments of each of these four genes that could cause growth reduction of B. anthracis when inducibly expressed from a plasmid-borne promoter. Numerous such gene fragments that were overwhelmingly in the antisense orientation were identified for the metS1 and murB2 alleles, while no such orientation bias was seen for the metS2 and murB1 alleles. Gene replacement mutagenesis was used to confirm the essentiality of the metS1 and murB2 alleles, and the nonessentiality of the metS2 and murB1 alleles, for vegetative growth. Induced transcription of RNA from metS1 and murB2 antisense-oriented gene fragments resulted in specific reduction of mRNA of their cognate genes. Attenuation of MetS1 enzyme expression hypersensitized B. anthracis cells to a MetS-specific antimicrobial compound but not to other antibiotics that affect cell wall assembly, fatty acid biosynthesis, protein translation, or DNA replication. Antisense-dependent reduction of MurB2 enzyme expression caused hypersensitivity to beta-lactam antibiotics, a synergistic response that has also been noted for the MurA-specific antibiotic fosfomycin. These experiments form the basis of mode-of-action detection assays that can be used in the discovery of novel MetS- or MurB-specific antibiotic drugs that are effective against B. anthracis or other gram-positive bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- G C Kedar
- Trius Therapeutics Inc, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
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27
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Martins A, Couto I, Aagaard L, Martins M, Viveiros M, Kristiansen JE, Amaral L. Prolonged exposure of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) COL strain to increasing concentrations of oxacillin results in a multidrug-resistant phenotype. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2007; 29:302-5. [PMID: 17276037 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2006.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2006] [Revised: 10/16/2006] [Accepted: 10/17/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Our previous studies demonstrated that exposure of a bacterium to increasing concentrations of an antibiotic would increase resistance to that antibiotic as a consequence of activating efflux pumps. This study utilises the same approach; however, it employs the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) COL strain, which is highly resistant to oxacillin (OXA). MRSA COL was adapted to 3200 mg/L of OXA. Changes in resistance to other antibiotics were evaluated and efflux pump activity during the adaptation process was determined. MRSA COL was exposed to stepwise two-fold increases of OXA. At the end of each step, minimum inhibitory concentration determination for erythromycin (ERY) and other antibiotics was conducted. Reserpine (RES) was employed to evaluate whether resistance to ERY was dependent on efflux pump activity. Efflux pump activity was also evaluated using the ethidium bromide (EB) assay. DNA typing of the products of each culture step was conducted to assess purity. Serial exposure of MRSA COL to increasing concentrations of OXA resulted in increased resistance to ERY, which could be eliminated with RES. Evaluation of efflux pump activity by the EB method indicated increased efflux activity. Resistance to ERY was accompanied by resistance to kanamycin, amikacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin. This is the first time that a multidrug-resistant phenotype has been experimentally produced as a consequence of exposure of the organism to an antibiotic to which it is initially highly resistant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Martins
- Unit of Mycobacteriology, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 96, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
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Pereira SFF, Henriques AO, Pinho MG, de Lencastre H, Tomasz A. Role of PBP1 in cell division of Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol 2007; 189:3525-31. [PMID: 17307860 PMCID: PMC1855886 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00044-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We constructed a conditional mutant of pbpA in which transcription of the gene was placed under the control of an IPTG (isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside)-inducible promoter in order to explore the role of PBP1 in growth, cell wall structure, and cell division. A methicillin-resistant strain and an isogenic methicillin-susceptible strain, each carrying the pbpA mutation, were unable to grow in the absence of the inducer. Conditional mutants of pbpA transferred into IPTG-free medium underwent a four- to fivefold increase in cell mass, which was not accompanied by a proportional increase in viable titer. Examination of thin sections of such cells by transmission electron microscopy or fluorescence microscopy of intact cells with Nile red-stained membranes showed a morphologically heterogeneous population of bacteria with abnormally increased sizes, distorted axial ratios, and a deficit in the number of cells with completed septa. Immunofluorescence with an antibody specific for PBP1 localized the protein to sites of cell division. No alteration in the composition of peptidoglycan was detectable in pbpA conditional mutants grown in the presence of a suboptimal concentration of IPTG, which severely restricted the rate of growth, and the essential function of PBP1 could not be replaced by PBP2A present in methicillin-resistant cells. These observations suggest that PBP1 is not a major contributor to the cross-linking of peptidoglycan and that its essential function must be intimately integrated into the mechanism of cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- S F F Pereira
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
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29
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Sobral RG, Jones AE, Des Etages SG, Dougherty TJ, Peitzsch RM, Gaasterland T, Ludovice AM, de Lencastre H, Tomasz A. Extensive and genome-wide changes in the transcription profile of Staphylococcus aureus induced by modulating the transcription of the cell wall synthesis gene murF. J Bacteriol 2006; 189:2376-91. [PMID: 17194794 PMCID: PMC1899396 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01439-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A murF conditional mutant was used to evaluate the effect of suboptimal transcription of this gene on the transcriptome of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain COL. The mutant was grown in the presence of optimal and suboptimal concentrations of the inducer, and the relative levels of transcription of genes were evaluated genome wide with an Affymetrix DNA microarray that included all open reading frames (ORFs) as well as intergenic sequences derived from four sequenced S. aureus strains. Using a sensitivity threshold value of 1.5, suboptimal expression of murF altered the transcription of a surprisingly large number of genes, i.e., 668 out of the 2,740 ORFs (close to one-fourth of all ORFs), of the genome of S. aureus strain COL. The genes with altered transcription were distributed evenly around the S. aureus chromosome, and groups of genes involved with distinct metabolic functions responded in unique and operon-specific manners to modulation in murF transcription. For instance, all genes belonging to the isd operon and all but 2 of the 35 genes of prophage L54a were down-regulated, whereas all but one of the 21 members of the vraSR regulon and most of the 79 virulence-related genes (those for fibronectin binding proteins A and B, clumping factor A, gamma hemolysin, enterotoxin B, etc.) were up-regulated in cells with suboptimal expression of murF. Most importantly, the majority of these altered gene expression profiles were reversible by resupplying the optimal concentration of IPTG (isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside) to the culture. The observations suggest the coordinate regulation of a large sector of the S. aureus transcriptome in response to a disturbance in cell wall synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita G Sobral
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Instituto de Technologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
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30
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Gardete S, Wu SW, Gill S, Tomasz A. Role of VraSR in antibiotic resistance and antibiotic-induced stress response in Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2006; 50:3424-34. [PMID: 17005825 PMCID: PMC1610096 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00356-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure of Staphylococcus aureus to cell wall inhibitors induces massive overexpression of a number of genes, provided that the VraSR two-component sensory regulatory system is intact. Inactivation of vraS blocks this transcriptional response and also causes a drastic reduction in the levels of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and vancomycin. We used an experimental system in which the essential cell wall synthesis gene of S. aureus, pbpB, was put under the control of an isopropyl-beta-d-thiogalactopyranoside-inducible promoter in order to induce reversible perturbations in cell wall synthesis without the use of any cell wall-active inhibitor. Changes in the level of transcription of pbpB were rapidly followed by parallel changes in the vraSR signal, and the abundance of the pbpB transcript was precisely mirrored by the abundance of the transcripts of vraSR and some additional genes that belong to the VraSR regulon. Beta-lactam resistance in S. aureus appears to involve a complex stress response in which VraSR performs the critical role of a sentinel system capable of sensing the perturbation of cell wall synthesis and allowing mobilization of genes that are essential for the generation of a highly resistant phenotype. One of the sites in cell wall synthesis "sensed" by the VraSR system appears to be a step catalyzed by PBP 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Gardete
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
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31
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Gardete S, de Lencastre H, Tomasz A. A link in transcription between the native pbpB and the acquired mecA gene in a strain of Staphylococcus aureus. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2006; 152:2549-2558. [PMID: 16946250 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.29078-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Conditional mutants of pbpB with an IPTG-inducible promoter were used to compare the effects of interrupted transcription of this gene in a meticillin-sensitive (MSSA) and a meticillin-resistant (MRSA) strain of Staphylococcus aureus. After 3 h growth following the removal of IPTG, multiplication of the MSSA strain stopped abruptly, cells began to lyse, and membrane preparations showed greatly decreased quantities of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2. In contrast, the MRSA strain continued to grow for at least 20 h in the IPTG-free medium, but with gradually increasing doubling times, which eventually reached 180 min. The peptidoglycan produced during this period of extremely slow growth showed only minor alterations, but cells with abnormal morphology accumulated in the culture, the abundance of mecA transcript gradually declined, and the cellular amounts of PBP2A were significantly decreased. Adding back the IPTG inducer caused rapid resumption in the transcription of pbpB, followed by an increase in the transcription of mecA. No changes were detected in the transcription of pbpA, C and D, the determinant of 16S rRNA or the housekeeping gene pta. Promoter fusion experiments suggested that the transcription of the resistance gene mecA may respond to some regulatory signal generated in the bacteria during changes in the transcription of pbpB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Gardete
- Laboratory of Microbiology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, NY 10021, USA
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Hermínia de Lencastre
- Laboratory of Microbiology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, NY 10021, USA
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Alexander Tomasz
- Laboratory of Microbiology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, NY 10021, USA
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Crisóstomo MI, Vollmer W, Kharat AS, Inhülsen S, Gehre F, Buckenmaier S, Tomasz A. Attenuation of penicillin resistance in a peptidoglycan O-acetyl transferase mutant of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Mol Microbiol 2006; 61:1497-509. [PMID: 16968223 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05340.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The level of penicillin resistance in clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae depends not only on the reduced affinity of penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) but also on the functioning of enzymes that modify the stem peptide structure of cell wall precursors. We used mariner mutagenesis in search of additional genetic determinants that may further attenuate the level of penicillin resistance in the bacteria. A mariner mutant of the highly penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae strain Pen6 showed reduction of the penicillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) from 6 to 0.75 microg ml(-1). Decrease in penicillin MIC was also observed upon introduction of the mutation (named provisionally adr, for attenuator of drug resistance) into representatives of major epidemic clones of penicillin-resistant pneumococci. Attenuation of resistance levels was specific for beta-lactams. The adr mutant has retained unchanged (low affinity) PBPs, unaltered murM gene and unchanged cell wall stem peptide composition, but the mutant became hypersensitive to exogenous lysozyme and complementation experiments showed that both phenotypes--reduced resistance and lysozyme sensitivity--were linked to the defective adr gene. DNA sequence comparison and chemical analysis of the cell wall identified adr as the structural gene of the pneumococcal peptidoglycan O-acetylase.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Inês Crisóstomo
- Laboratory of Microbiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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33
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Sobral RG, Ludovice AM, de Lencastre H, Tomasz A. Role of murF in cell wall biosynthesis: isolation and characterization of a murF conditional mutant of Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol 2006; 188:2543-53. [PMID: 16547042 PMCID: PMC1428427 DOI: 10.1128/jb.188.7.2543-2553.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Staphylococcus aureus murF gene was placed under the control of a promoter inducible by IPTG (isopropyl-beta-d-thiogalactopyranoside). It was demonstrated that murF is an essential gene; it is cotranscribed with ddlA and growth rate, level of beta-lactam antibiotic resistance, and rates of transcription of the mecA and pbpB genes paralleled the rates of transcription of murF. At suboptimal concentrations of the inducer, a UDP-linked muramyl tripeptide accumulated in the cytoplasm in parallel with the decline in the amounts of the normal pentapeptide cell wall precursor. The abnormal tripeptide component incorporated into the cell wall as a monomeric muropeptide, accompanied by a decrease in the oligomerization degree of the peptidoglycan. However, incorporation of the tripeptide into the cell wall was limited to a relatively low threshold value. Further reduction of the amounts of pentapeptide cell wall precursor caused a gradual decrease in the cellular amounts of peptidoglycan, the production of a thinner peripheral cell wall, aberrant septae, and an overall increase in the diameter of the cells. The observations suggest that the role of murF exceeds its primary function in peptidoglycan biosynthesis and may also be involved in the control of cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- R G Sobral
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780 Oeiras, Portugal
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Fuda C, Hesek D, Lee M, Heilmayer W, Novak R, Vakulenko SB, Mobashery S. Mechanistic Basis for the Action of New Cephalosporin Antibiotics Effective against Methicillin- and Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:10035-41. [PMID: 16459335 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m508846200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has created challenges in treatment of nosocomial infections. The recent clinical emergence of vancomycin-resistant MRSA is a new disconcerting chapter in the evolution of these strains. S. aureus normally produces four PBPs, which are susceptible to modification by beta-lactam antibiotics, an event that leads to bacterial death. The gene product of mecA from MRSA is a penicillin-binding protein (PBP) designated PBP 2a. PBP 2a is refractory to the action of all commercially available beta-lactam antibiotics. Furthermore, PBP 2a is capable of taking over the functions of the other PBPs of S. aureus in the face of the challenge by beta-lactam antibiotics. Three cephalosporins (compounds 1-3) have been studied herein, which show antibacterial activities against MRSA, including the clinically important vancomycin-resistant strains. These cephalosporins exhibit substantially smaller dissociation constants for the preacylation complex compared with the case of typical cephalosporins, but their pseudo-second-order rate constants for encounter with PBP 2a (k(2)/K(s)) are not very large (< or =200 m(-1) s(-1)). It is documented herein that these cephalosporins facilitate a conformational change in PBP 2a, a process that is enhanced in the presence of a synthetic surrogate for cell wall, resulting in increases in the k(2)/K(s) parameter and in more facile enzyme inhibition. These findings argue that the novel cephalosporins are able to co-opt interactions between PBP 2a and the cell wall in gaining access to the active site in the inhibition process, a set of events that leads to effective inhibition of PBP 2a and the attendant killing of the MRSA strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosimo Fuda
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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35
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Baum EZ, Crespo-Carbone SM, Abbanat D, Foleno B, Maden A, Goldschmidt R, Bush K. Utility of muropeptide ligase for identification of inhibitors of the cell wall biosynthesis enzyme MurF. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2006; 50:230-6. [PMID: 16377691 PMCID: PMC1346814 DOI: 10.1128/aac.50.1.230-236.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
MurF is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall in both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. This enzyme has not been extensively exploited as a drug target, possibly due to the difficulty in obtaining one of the substrates, UDP-MurNAc-L-Ala-gamma-D-Glu-meso-diaminopimelate, which is usually purified from bacteria. We have identified putative inhibitors of Escherichia coli MurF by a binding assay, thus bypassing the need for substrate. Inhibition of enzymatic activity was demonstrated in a high-performance liquid chromatography-based secondary assay with UDP-MurNAc-L-Ala-gamma-D-Glu-diaminopimelate substrate prepared in a novel way by using muropeptide ligase enzyme to add UDP-MurNAc to synthetic L-Ala-gamma-D-Glu-diaminopimelate; the substrate specificity of muropeptide ligase for peptides containing L-Lys in place of diaminopimelate was also investigated. Using the muropeptide ligase-generated MurF substrate, a thiazolylaminopyrimidine series of MurF enzyme inhibitors with 50% inhibitory concentration values as low as 2.5 microM was identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Z Baum
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, LLC, 1000 Route 202, Raritan, New Jersey 08869, USA.
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Yao Y, Sturdevant DE, Villaruz A, Xu L, Gao Q, Otto M. Factors characterizing Staphylococcus epidermidis invasiveness determined by comparative genomics. Infect Immun 2005; 73:1856-60. [PMID: 15731088 PMCID: PMC1064939 DOI: 10.1128/iai.73.3.1856-1860.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Virulence mechanisms of the leading nosocomial pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis are poorly understood. We used microarray-based genome-wide comparison of clinical and commensal S. epidermidis strains to identify putative virulence determinants. Our study revealed high genetic variability of the S. epidermidis genome, new markers for invasiveness of S. epidermidis, and potential targets for drug development against S. epidermidis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Yao
- Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, The National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
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Gardete S, Ludovice AM, Sobral RG, Filipe SR, de Lencastre H, Tomasz A. Role of murE in the Expression of beta-lactam antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol 2004; 186:1705-13. [PMID: 14996801 PMCID: PMC355982 DOI: 10.1128/jb.186.6.1705-1713.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
It was shown earlier that Tn551 inserted into the C-terminal region of murE of parental methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain COL causes a drastic reduction in methicillin resistance, accompanied by accumulation of UDP-MurNAc dipeptide in the cell wall precursor pool and incorporation of these abnormal muropeptides into the peptidoglycan of the mutant. Methicillin resistance was recovered in a suppressor mutant. The murE gene of the same strain was then put under the control of the isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG)-inducible promoter P(spac). Bacteria grown in the presence of suboptimal concentrations of IPTG accumulated UDP-MurNAc dipeptide in the cell wall precursor pool. Both growth rates and methicillin resistance levels (but not resistance to other antibiotics) were a function of the IPTG concentration. Northern analysis showed a gradual increase in the transcription of murE and also in the transcription of pbpB and mecA, parallel with the increasing concentrations of IPTG in the medium. A similar increase in the transcription of pbpB and mecA, the structural genes of penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2) and PBP2A, was also detected in the suppressor mutant. The expression of these two proteins, which are known to play critical roles in the mechanism of staphylococcal methicillin resistance, appears to be-directly or indirectly-under the control of the murE gene. Our data suggest that the drastic reduction of the methicillin MIC seen in the murE mutant may be caused by the insufficient cellular amounts of these two PBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Gardete
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780 Oeiras, Portugal. Laboratory of Microbiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021
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Severin A, Tabei K, Tenover F, Chung M, Clarke N, Tomasz A. High level oxacillin and vancomycin resistance and altered cell wall composition in Staphylococcus aureus carrying the staphylococcal mecA and the enterococcal vanA gene complex. J Biol Chem 2003; 279:3398-407. [PMID: 14613936 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m309593200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, for the first time in the history of this bacterial species, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carrying the enterococcal vanA gene complex and expressing high level resistance to vancomycin was identified in clinical specimens (CDC (2002) MMWR 51, 565-567). The purpose of our studies was to understand how vanA is expressed in the heterologous background of S. aureus and how it interacts with the mecA-based resistance mechanism, which is also present in these strains and is targeted on cell wall biosynthesis. The vanA-containing staphylococcal plasmid was transferred from the clinical vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) strain HIP11714 (CDC (2002) MMWR 51, 565-567) to the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain COL for which extensive genetic and biochemical information is available on staphylococcal cell wall biochemistry and drug resistance mechanisms. The transconjugant named COLVA showed high and homogeneous resistance to both oxacillin and vancomycin. COLVA grown in vancomycin-containing medium produced an abnormal peptidoglycan: all pentapeptides were replaced by tetrapeptides, and the peptidoglycan contained at least 22 novel muropeptide species that frequently showed a deficit or complete absence of pentaglycine branches. The UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide, the major component of the cell wall precursor pool in vancomycin-sensitive cells was replaced by UDP-MurNAc-depsipeptide and UDP-MurNAc-tetrapeptide. Transposon inactivation of the beta-lactam resistance gene mecA caused complete loss of beta-lactam resistance but had no effect on the expression of vancomycin resistance. The two major antibiotic resistance mechanisms encoded by mecA and vanA residing in the same S. aureus appear to use different sets of enzymes for the assembly of cell walls.
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