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Man-Bovenkerk S, Schipper K, van Sorge NM, Speijer D, van der Ende A, Pannekoek Y. Neisseria meningitidis Sibling Small Regulatory RNAs Connect Metabolism with Colonization by Controlling Propionate Use. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0046222. [PMID: 36856428 PMCID: PMC10029713 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00462-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) colonizes the human nasopharynx, primarily as a commensal, but sporadically causing septicemia and meningitis. During colonization and invasion, it encounters different niches with specific nutrient compositions. Small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) are used to fine-tune expression of genes, allowing adaptation to their physiological differences. We have previously characterized sRNAs (Neisseria metabolic switch regulators [NmsRs]) controlling switches between cataplerotic and anaplerotic metabolism. Here, we extend the NmsR regulon by studying methylcitrate lyase (PrpF) and propionate kinase (AckA-1) involved in the methylcitrate cycle and serine hydroxymethyltransferase (GlyA) and 3-hydroxyacid dehydrogenase (MmsB) involved in protein degradation. These proteins were previously shown to be dysregulated in a ΔnmsRs strain. Levels of transcription of target genes and NmsRs were assessed by reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). We also used a novel gene reporter system in which the 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) of the target gene is fused to mcherry to study NmsRs-target gene interaction in the meningococcus. Under nutrient-rich conditions, NmsRs downregulate expression of PrpF and AckA-1 by direct interaction with the 5' UTR of their mRNA. Overexpression of NmsRs impaired growth under nutrient-limiting growth conditions with pyruvate and propionic acid as the only carbon sources. Our data strongly suggest that NmsRs downregulate propionate metabolism by lowering methylcitrate enzyme activity under nutrient-rich conditions. Under nutrient-poor conditions, NmsRs are downregulated, increasing propionate metabolism, resulting in higher tricarboxylic acid (TCA) activities. IMPORTANCE Neisseria meningitidis colonizes the human nasopharynx, forming a reservoir for the sporadic occurrence of epidemic invasive meningococcal disease like septicemia and meningitis. Propionic acid generated by other bacteria that coinhabit the human nasopharynx can be utilized by meningococci for replication in this environment. Here, we showed that sibling small RNAs, designated NmsRs, riboregulate propionic acid utilization by meningococci and, thus, colonization. Under conditions mimicking the nasopharyngeal environment, NmsRs are downregulated. This leads to the conversion of propionic acid to pyruvate and succinate, resulting in higher tricarboxylic acid cycle activity, allowing colonization of the nasopharynx. NmsRs link metabolic state with colonization, which is a crucial step on the trajectory to invasive meningococcal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Man-Bovenkerk
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kim Schipper
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nina M. van Sorge
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dave Speijer
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arie van der Ende
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne Pannekoek
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Pritt BS, Wang P, Nuzzo J, Zimmermann S, Burnham CAD. Deadly Pathogens, Transformative Technologies, and Protracted Pandemics: Challenges and Opportunities in Laboratory Medicine. Clin Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/hvab244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bobbi S Pritt
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer Nuzzo
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stefan Zimmermann
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carey-Ann D Burnham
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
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