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Anjou C, Lotoux A, Zhukova A, Royer M, Caulat LC, Capuzzo E, Morvan C, Martin-Verstraete I. The multiplicity of thioredoxin systems meets the specific lifestyles of Clostridia. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012001. [PMID: 38330058 PMCID: PMC10880999 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cells are unceasingly confronted by oxidative stresses that oxidize proteins on their cysteines. The thioredoxin (Trx) system, which is a ubiquitous system for thiol and protein repair, is composed of a thioredoxin (TrxA) and a thioredoxin reductase (TrxB). TrxAs reduce disulfide bonds of oxidized proteins and are then usually recycled by a single pleiotropic NAD(P)H-dependent TrxB (NTR). In this work, we first analyzed the composition of Trx systems across Bacteria. Most bacteria have only one NTR, but organisms in some Phyla have several TrxBs. In Firmicutes, multiple TrxBs are observed only in Clostridia, with another peculiarity being the existence of ferredoxin-dependent TrxBs. We used Clostridioides difficile, a pathogenic sporulating anaerobic Firmicutes, as a model to investigate the biological relevance of TrxB multiplicity. Three TrxAs and three TrxBs are present in the 630Δerm strain. We showed that two systems are involved in the response to infection-related stresses, allowing the survival of vegetative cells exposed to oxygen, inflammation-related molecules and bile salts. A fourth TrxB copy present in some strains also contributes to the stress-response arsenal. One of the conserved stress-response Trx system was found to be present both in vegetative cells and in the spores and is under a dual transcriptional control by vegetative cell and sporulation sigma factors. This Trx system contributes to spore survival to hypochlorite and ensure proper germination in the presence of oxygen. Finally, we found that the third Trx system contributes to sporulation through the recycling of the glycine-reductase, a Stickland pathway enzyme that allows the consumption of glycine and contributes to sporulation. Altogether, we showed that Trx systems are produced under the control of various regulatory signals and respond to different regulatory networks. The multiplicity of Trx systems and the diversity of TrxBs most likely meet specific needs of Clostridia in adaptation to strong stress exposure, sporulation and Stickland pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Anjou
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, UMR CNRS 6047, Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, Paris, France
| | - Aurélie Lotoux
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, UMR CNRS 6047, Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, Paris, France
| | - Anna Zhukova
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | - Marie Royer
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, UMR CNRS 6047, Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, Paris, France
| | - Léo C. Caulat
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, UMR CNRS 6047, Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, Paris, France
| | - Elena Capuzzo
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, UMR CNRS 6047, Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, Paris, France
| | - Claire Morvan
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, UMR CNRS 6047, Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Martin-Verstraete
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, UMR CNRS 6047, Laboratoire Pathogenèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, Paris, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
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2
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Serrano M, Martins D, Henriques AO. Clostridioides difficile Sporulation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1435:273-314. [PMID: 38175480 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-42108-2_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Some members of the Firmicutes phylum, including many members of the human gut microbiota, are able to differentiate a dormant and highly resistant cell type, the endospore (hereinafter spore for simplicity). Spore-formers can colonize virtually any habitat and, because of their resistance to a wide variety of physical and chemical insults, spores can remain viable in the environment for long periods of time. In the anaerobic enteric pathogen Clostridioides difficile the aetiologic agent is the oxygen-resistant spore, while the toxins produced by actively growing cells are the main cause of the disease symptoms. Here, we review the regulatory circuits that govern entry into sporulation. We also cover the role of spores in the infectious cycle of C. difficile in relation to spore structure and function and the main control points along spore morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Serrano
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - Diogo Martins
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Adriano O Henriques
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Oeiras, Portugal
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Marini E, Olivença C, Ramalhete S, Aguirre AM, Ingle P, Melo MN, Antunes W, Minton NP, Hernandez G, Cordeiro TN, Sorg JA, Serrano M, Henriques AO. A sporulation signature protease is required for assembly of the spore surface layers, germination and host colonization in Clostridioides difficile. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011741. [PMID: 37956166 PMCID: PMC10681294 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A genomic signature for endosporulation includes a gene coding for a protease, YabG, which in the model organism Bacillus subtilis is involved in assembly of the spore coat. We show that in the human pathogen Clostridioidesm difficile, YabG is critical for the assembly of the coat and exosporium layers of spores. YabG is produced during sporulation under the control of the mother cell-specific regulators σE and σK and associates with the spore surface layers. YabG shows an N-terminal SH3-like domain and a C-terminal domain that resembles single domain response regulators, such as CheY, yet is atypical in that the conserved phosphoryl-acceptor residue is absent. Instead, the CheY-like domain carries residues required for activity, including Cys207 and His161, the homologues of which form a catalytic diad in the B. subtilis protein, and also Asp162. The substitution of any of these residues by Ala, eliminates an auto-proteolytic activity as well as interdomain processing of CspBA, a reaction that releases the CspB protease, required for proper spore germination. An in-frame deletion of yabG or an allele coding for an inactive protein, yabGC207A, both cause misassemby of the coat and exosporium and the formation of spores that are more permeable to lysozyme and impaired in germination and host colonization. Furthermore, we show that YabG is required for the expression of at least two σK-dependent genes, cotA, coding for a coat protein, and cdeM, coding for a key determinant of exosporium assembly. Thus, YabG also impinges upon the genetic program of the mother cell possibly by eliminating a transcriptional repressor. Although this activity has not been described for the B. subtilis protein and most of the YabG substrates vary among sporeformers, the general role of the protease in the assembly of the spore surface is likely to be conserved across evolutionary distance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Marini
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Carmen Olivença
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Sara Ramalhete
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Andrea Martinez Aguirre
- Texas A&M University, Department of Biology, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Patrick Ingle
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Manuel N Melo
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Wilson Antunes
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Nigel P Minton
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Guillem Hernandez
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Tiago N Cordeiro
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Joseph A Sorg
- Texas A&M University, Department of Biology, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mónica Serrano
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Adriano O Henriques
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República EAN, Oeiras, Portugal
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Devlin JR, Behnsen J. Bacterial Chitinases and Their Role in Human Infection. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0054922. [PMID: 37255426 PMCID: PMC10353426 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00549-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been widely appreciated that numerous bacterial species express chitinases for the purpose of degrading environmental chitin. However, chitinases and chitin-binding proteins are also expressed by pathogenic bacterial species during infection even though mammals do not produce chitin. Alternative molecular targets are therefore likely present within the host. Here, we will describe our current understanding of chitinase/chitin-binding proteins as virulence factors that promote bacterial colonization and infection. The targets of these chitinases in the host have been shown to include immune system components, mucins, and surface glycans. Bacterial chitinases have also been shown to interact with other microorganisms, targeting the peptidoglycan or chitin in the bacterial and fungal cell wall, respectively. This review highlights that even though the name "chitinase" implies activity toward chitin, chitinases can have a wide diversity of targets, including ones relevant to host infection. Chitinases may therefore be useful as a target of future anti-infective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R. Devlin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Judith Behnsen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Role of the Spore Coat Proteins CotA and CotB, and the Spore Surface Protein CDIF630_02480, on the Surface Distribution of Exosporium Proteins in Clostridioides difficile 630 Spores. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10101918. [DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10101918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is Gram-positive spore-former bacterium and the leading cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhea. During disease, C. difficile forms metabolically dormant spores that persist in the host and contribute to recurrence of the disease. The outermost surface of C. difficile spores, termed the exosporium, plays an essential role in interactions with host surfaces and the immune system. The main exosporium proteins identified to date include three orthologues of the BclA family of collagen-like proteins, and three cysteine-rich proteins. However, how the underlying spore coat influences exosporium assembly remains unclear. In this work, we explore the contribution of spore coat proteins cotA and cotB, and the spore surface protein, CDIF630_02480, to the exosporium ultrastructure, formation of the polar appendage and the surface accessibility of exosporium proteins. Transmission electron micrographs of spores of insertional inactivation mutants demonstrate that while cotB contributes to the formation of thick-exosporium spores, cotA and CDIF630_02480 contribute to maintain proper thickness of the spore coat and exosporium layers, respectively. The effect of the absence of cotA, cotB and CDIF630_02480 on the surface accessibility of the exosporium proteins CdeA, CdeC, CdeM, BclA2 and BclA3 to antibodies was affected by the presence of the spore appendage, suggesting that different mechanisms of assembly of the exosporium layer might be implicated in each spore phenotype. Collectively, this work contributes to our understanding of the associations between spore coat and exosporium proteins, and how these associations affect the assembly of the spore outer layers. These results have implications for the development of anti-infecting agents targeting C. difficile spores.
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Zeng J, Wang H, Dong M, Tian GB. Clostridioides difficile spore: coat assembly and formation. Emerg Microbes Infect 2022; 11:2340-2349. [PMID: 36032037 PMCID: PMC9542656 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2119168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, toxin-producing, obligate anaerobic bacterium. C. difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of healthcare-associated infective diarrhoea. The infection is mediated by the spore, a metabolically inactive form of C. difficile. The spore coat acts as a physical barrier to defend against chemical insults from hosts and natural environments. The composition of spore coat has already been revealed; therefore, the interactive networks of spore coat proteins and the dynamic process of coat assembly are the keys to design strategies to control and cure CDI. This review gives a brief discussion of the signal processing and transcriptional regulation of C. difficile sporulation initiation. Following the discussion, the spore formation is also introduced. Finally, this review mainly focuses on the spore coat assembly, a poorly understood process in C. difficile, and important proteins that have been studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Zeng
- School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Hao Wang
- School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Min Dong
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guo-Bao Tian
- Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong 510080, China
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
- School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, Shaanxi 712082, China
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7
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Abbasi BA, Dharan A, Mishra A, Saraf D, Ahamad I, Suravajhala P, Valadi J. In Silico Characterization of Uncharacterized Proteins From Multiple Strains of Clostridium Difficile. Front Genet 2022; 13:878012. [PMID: 36035185 PMCID: PMC9403866 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.878012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a multi-strain, spore-forming, Gram-positive, opportunistic enteropathogen bacteria, majorly associated with nosocomial infections, resulting in severe diarrhoea and colon inflammation. Several antibiotics including penicillin, tetracycline, and clindamycin have been employed to control C. difficile infection, but studies have suggested that injudicious use of antibiotics has led to the development of resistance in C. difficile strains. However, many proteins from its genome are still considered uncharacterized proteins that might serve crucial functions and assist in the biological understanding of the organism. In this study, we aimed to annotate and characterise the 6 C. difficile strains using in silico approaches. We first analysed the complete genome of 6 C. difficile strains using standardised approaches and analysed hypothetical proteins (HPs) employing various bioinformatics approaches coalescing, including identifying contigs, coding sequences, phage sequences, CRISPR-Cas9 systems, antimicrobial resistance determination, membrane helices, instability index, secretory nature, conserved domain, and vaccine target properties like comparative homology analysis, allergenicity, antigenicity determination along with structure prediction and binding-site analysis. This study provides crucial supporting information about the functional characterization of the HPs involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. Moreover, this information also aims to assist in mechanisms associated with bacterial pathogenesis and further design candidate inhibitors and bona fide pharmaceutical targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Prashanth Suravajhala
- Bioclues.org, Hyderabad, India
- Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Clappana, India
- *Correspondence: Prashanth Suravajhala, ; Jayaraman Valadi,
| | - Jayaraman Valadi
- Bioclues.org, Hyderabad, India
- School of Computational and Data Sciences, Vidyashilp University, Bengaluru, India
- Department of Computer Science, FLAME University, Pune, India
- *Correspondence: Prashanth Suravajhala, ; Jayaraman Valadi,
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Ferreira WT, Hong HA, Adams JRG, Hess M, Kotowicz NK, Tan S, Ferrari E, Brisson A, Zentek J, Soloviev M, Cutting SM. Environmentally Acquired Bacillus and Their Role in C. difficile Colonization Resistance. Biomedicines 2022; 10:930. [PMID: 35625667 PMCID: PMC9138776 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10050930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is an environmentally acquired, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium which ordinarily causes disease following antibiotic-mediated dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota. Although much is understood regarding the life cycle of C. difficile, the fate of C. difficile spores upon ingestion remains unclear, and the underlying factors that predispose an individual to colonization and subsequent development of C. difficile infection (CDI) are not fully understood. Here, we show that Bacillus, a ubiquitous and environmentally acquired, spore-forming bacterium is associated with colonization resistance to C. difficile. Using animal models, we first provide evidence that animals housed under conditions that mimic reduced environmental exposure have an increased susceptibility to CDI, correlating with a loss in Bacillus. Lipopeptide micelles (~10 nm) produced by some Bacilli isolated from the gastro-intestinal (GI)-tract and shown to have potent inhibitory activity to C. difficile have recently been reported. We show here that these micelles, that we refer to as heterogenous lipopeptide lytic micelles (HELMs), act synergistically with components present in the small intestine to augment inhibitory activity against C. difficile. Finally, we show that provision of HELM-producing Bacillus to microbiota-depleted animals suppresses C. difficile colonization thereby demonstrating the significant role played by Bacillus in colonization resistance. In the wider context, our study further demonstrates the importance of environmental microbes on susceptibility to pathogen colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- William T. Ferreira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (W.T.F.); (H.A.H.); (J.R.G.A.); (M.H.)
| | - Huynh A. Hong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (W.T.F.); (H.A.H.); (J.R.G.A.); (M.H.)
| | - James R. G. Adams
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (W.T.F.); (H.A.H.); (J.R.G.A.); (M.H.)
| | - Mateusz Hess
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (W.T.F.); (H.A.H.); (J.R.G.A.); (M.H.)
| | - Natalia K. Kotowicz
- SporeGen Ltd., London Bioscience Innovation Centre, 2 Royal College Street, London NW1 0NH, UK;
| | - Sisareuth Tan
- Laboratoire d’Imagerie Moléculaire et Nano-Bio-Technologie, UMR-CBMN CNRS-Université de Bordeaux-IPB, 33607 Pessac, France; (S.T.); (A.B.)
| | - Enrico Ferrari
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK;
| | - Alain Brisson
- Laboratoire d’Imagerie Moléculaire et Nano-Bio-Technologie, UMR-CBMN CNRS-Université de Bordeaux-IPB, 33607 Pessac, France; (S.T.); (A.B.)
| | - Jurgen Zentek
- Institute for Animal Health, Freie University of Berlin, Berlin 14195, Germany;
| | - Mikhail Soloviev
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (W.T.F.); (H.A.H.); (J.R.G.A.); (M.H.)
| | - Simon M. Cutting
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (W.T.F.); (H.A.H.); (J.R.G.A.); (M.H.)
- SporeGen Ltd., London Bioscience Innovation Centre, 2 Royal College Street, London NW1 0NH, UK;
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Mechanisms and Applications of Bacterial Sporulation and Germination in the Intestine. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063405. [PMID: 35328823 PMCID: PMC8953710 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have suggested a major role for endospore forming bacteria within the gut microbiota, not only as pathogens but also as commensal and beneficial members contributing to gut homeostasis. In this review the sporulation processes, spore properties, and germination processes will be explained within the scope of the human gut. Within the gut, spore-forming bacteria are known to interact with the host’s immune system, both in vegetative cell and spore form. Together with the resistant nature of the spore, these characteristics offer potential for spores’ use as delivery vehicles for therapeutics. In the last part of the review, the therapeutic potential of spores as probiotics, vaccine vehicles, and drug delivery systems will be discussed.
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Paredes-Sabja D, Cid-Rojas F, Pizarro-Guajardo M. Assembly of the exosporium layer in Clostridioides difficile spores. Curr Opin Microbiol 2022; 67:102137. [PMID: 35182899 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive, spore-forming obligate anaerobe and a major threat to the healthcare system world-wide. Because of its strict anaerobic requirements, the infectious and transmissible morphotype is the dormant spore. During infection, C. difficile produces spores that can persist in the host and are responsible for disease recurrence and transmission, especially between hospitalized patients. Although the C. difficile spore surface mediates critical interactions with host surfaces, this outermost layer, known as the exosporium, is poorly conserved when compared to members of the Bacillus genus. Notably, the exosporium has been shown to be important for the persistence of C. difficile in the host. In this review, the ultrastructural properties, composition, and morphogenesis of the exosporium will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Paredes-Sabja
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Francisca Cid-Rojas
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marjorie Pizarro-Guajardo
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile
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Chandra H, Sharma KK, Tuovinen OH, Sun X, Shukla P. Pathobionts: mechanisms of survival, expansion, and interaction with host with a focus on Clostridioides difficile. Gut Microbes 2022; 13:1979882. [PMID: 34724858 PMCID: PMC8565823 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2021.1979882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathobionts are opportunistic microbes that emerge as a result of perturbations in the healthy microbiome due to complex interactions of various genetic, exposomal, microbial, and host factors that lead to their selection and expansion. Their proliferations can aggravate inflammatory manifestations, trigger autoimmune diseases, and lead to severe life-threatening conditions. Current surge in microbiome research is unwinding these complex interplays between disease development and protection against pathobionts. This review summarizes the current knowledge of pathobiont emergence with a focus on Clostridioides difficile and the recent findings on the roles of immune cells such as iTreg cells, Th17 cells, innate lymphoid cells, and cytokines in protection against pathobionts. The review calls for adoption of innovative tools and cutting-edge technologies in clinical diagnostics and therapeutics to provide insights in identification and quantification of pathobionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harish Chandra
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India,Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Krishna Kant Sharma
- Laboratory of Enzymology and Recombinant DNA Technology, Department of Microbiology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | - Olli H. Tuovinen
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Xingmin Sun
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA,Xingmin Sun Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Pratyoosh Shukla
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India,Enzyme Technology and Protein Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India,CONTACT Pratyoosh Shukla School of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
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Monaghan TM, Seekatz AM, Mullish BH, Moore-Gillon CCER, Dawson LF, Ahmed A, Kao D, Chan WC. Clostridioides difficile: innovations in target discovery and potential for therapeutic success. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:949-963. [PMID: 34793686 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.2008907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) remains a worldwide clinical problem. Increased incidence of primary infection, occurrence of hypertoxigenic ribotypes, and more frequent occurrence of drug resistant, recurrent, and non-hospital CDI, emphasizes the urgent unmet need of discovering new therapeutic targets. AREAS COVERED We searched PubMed and Web of Science databases for articles identifying novel therapeutic targets or treatments for C. difficile from 2001 to 2021. We present an updated review on current preclinical efforts on designing inhibitory compounds against these drug targets and indicate how these could become the focus of future therapeutic approaches. We also evaluate the increasing exploitability of gut microbial-derived metabolites and host-derived therapeutics targeting VEGF-A, immune targets and pathways, ion transporters, and microRNAs as anti-C. difficile therapeutics, which have yet to reach clinical trials. Our review also highlights the therapeutic potential of re-purposing currently available agents . We conclude by considering translational hurdles and possible strategies to mitigate these problems. EXPERT OPINION Considerable progress has been made in the development of new anti-CDI drug candidates. Nevertheless, a greater comprehension of CDI pathogenesis and host-microbe interactions is beginning to uncover potential novel therapeutic targets, which can be exploited to plug gaps in the CDI drug discovery pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya M Monaghan
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Anna M Seekatz
- Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Benjamin H Mullish
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Departments of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Claudia C E R Moore-Gillon
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Departments of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Lisa F Dawson
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ammar Ahmed
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Dina Kao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zeidler Ledcor Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Weng C Chan
- School of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK
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13
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In silico designing of vaccine candidate against Clostridium difficile. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14215. [PMID: 34244557 PMCID: PMC8271013 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93305-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is a spore-forming gram-positive bacterium, recognized as the primary cause of antibiotic-associated nosocomial diarrhoea. Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has emerged as a major health-associated infection with increased incidence and hospitalization over the years with high mortality rates. Contamination and infection occur after ingestion of vegetative spores, which germinate in the gastro-intestinal tract. The surface layer protein and flagellar proteins are responsible for the bacterial colonization while the spore coat protein, is associated with spore colonization. Both these factors are the main concern of the recurrence of CDI in hospitalized patients. In this study, the CotE, SlpA and FliC proteins are chosen to form a multivalent, multi-epitopic, chimeric vaccine candidate using the immunoinformatics approach. The overall reliability of the candidate vaccine was validated in silico and the molecular dynamics simulation verified the stability of the vaccine designed. Docking studies showed stable vaccine interactions with Toll‐Like Receptors of innate immune cells and MHC receptors. In silico codon optimization of the vaccine and its insertion in the cloning vector indicates a competent expression of the modelled vaccine in E. coli expression system. An in silico immune simulation system evaluated the effectiveness of the candidate vaccine to trigger a protective immune response.
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14
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Castro-Córdova P, Mora-Uribe P, Reyes-Ramírez R, Cofré-Araneda G, Orozco-Aguilar J, Brito-Silva C, Mendoza-León MJ, Kuehne SA, Minton NP, Pizarro-Guajardo M, Paredes-Sabja D. Entry of spores into intestinal epithelial cells contributes to recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1140. [PMID: 33602902 PMCID: PMC7893008 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21355-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile spores produced during infection are important for the recurrence of the disease. Here, we show that C. difficile spores gain entry into the intestinal mucosa via pathways dependent on host fibronectin-α5β1 and vitronectin-αvβ1. The exosporium protein BclA3, on the spore surface, is required for both entry pathways. Deletion of the bclA3 gene in C. difficile, or pharmacological inhibition of endocytosis using nystatin, leads to reduced entry into the intestinal mucosa and reduced recurrence of the disease in a mouse model. Our findings indicate that C. difficile spore entry into the intestinal barrier can contribute to spore persistence and infection recurrence, and suggest potential avenues for new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Castro-Córdova
- Microbiota-Host Interactions and Clostridia Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paola Mora-Uribe
- Microbiota-Host Interactions and Clostridia Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Reyes-Ramírez
- Microbiota-Host Interactions and Clostridia Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile
| | - Glenda Cofré-Araneda
- Microbiota-Host Interactions and Clostridia Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Josué Orozco-Aguilar
- Microbiota-Host Interactions and Clostridia Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian Brito-Silva
- Microbiota-Host Interactions and Clostridia Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile
| | - María José Mendoza-León
- Microbiota-Host Interactions and Clostridia Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sarah A Kuehne
- School of Dentistry and Institute for Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Nigel P Minton
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Marjorie Pizarro-Guajardo
- Microbiota-Host Interactions and Clostridia Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Daniel Paredes-Sabja
- Microbiota-Host Interactions and Clostridia Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile.
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile.
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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15
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Role of SpoIVA ATPase Motifs during Clostridioides difficile Sporulation. J Bacteriol 2020; 202:JB.00387-20. [PMID: 32817091 PMCID: PMC7549369 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00387-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The major pathogen Clostridioides difficile depends on its spore form to transmit disease. However, the mechanism by which C. difficile assembles spores remains poorly characterized. We previously showed that binding between the spore morphogenetic proteins SpoIVA and SipL regulates assembly of the protective coat layer around the forespore. In this study, we determined that mutations in the C. difficile SpoIVA ATPase motifs result in relatively minor defects in spore formation, in contrast with Bacillus subtilis. Nevertheless, our data suggest that SipL preferentially recognizes the ATP-bound form of SpoIVA and identify a specific residue in the SipL C-terminal LysM domain that is critical for recognizing the ATP-bound form of SpoIVA. These findings advance our understanding of how SpoIVA-SipL interactions regulate C. difficile spore assembly. The nosocomial pathogen Clostridioides difficile is a spore-forming obligate anaerobe that depends on its aerotolerant spore form to transmit infections. Functional spore formation depends on the assembly of a proteinaceous layer known as the coat around the developing spore. In C. difficile, coat assembly depends on the conserved spore protein SpoIVA and the clostridial-organism-specific spore protein SipL, which directly interact. Mutations that disrupt their interaction cause the coat to mislocalize and impair spore formation. In Bacillus subtilis, SpoIVA is an ATPase that uses ATP hydrolysis to drive its polymerization around the forespore. Loss of SpoIVA ATPase activity impairs B. subtilis SpoIVA encasement of the forespore and activates a quality control mechanism that eliminates these defective cells. Since this mechanism is lacking in C. difficile, we tested whether mutations in the C. difficile SpoIVA ATPase motifs impact functional spore formation. Disrupting C. difficile SpoIVA ATPase motifs resulted in phenotypes that were typically >104-fold less severe than the equivalent mutations in B. subtilis. Interestingly, mutation of ATPase motif residues predicted to abrogate SpoIVA binding to ATP decreased the SpoIVA-SipL interaction, whereas mutation of ATPase motif residues predicted to disrupt ATP hydrolysis but maintain ATP binding enhanced the SpoIVA-SipL interaction. When a sipL mutation known to reduce binding to SpoIVA was combined with a spoIVA mutation predicted to prevent SpoIVA binding to ATP, spore formation was severely exacerbated. Since this phenotype is allele specific, our data imply that SipL recognizes the ATP-bound form of SpoIVA and highlight the importance of this interaction for functional C. difficile spore formation. IMPORTANCE The major pathogen Clostridioides difficile depends on its spore form to transmit disease. However, the mechanism by which C. difficile assembles spores remains poorly characterized. We previously showed that binding between the spore morphogenetic proteins SpoIVA and SipL regulates assembly of the protective coat layer around the forespore. In this study, we determined that mutations in the C. difficile SpoIVA ATPase motifs result in relatively minor defects in spore formation, in contrast with Bacillus subtilis. Nevertheless, our data suggest that SipL preferentially recognizes the ATP-bound form of SpoIVA and identify a specific residue in the SipL C-terminal LysM domain that is critical for recognizing the ATP-bound form of SpoIVA. These findings advance our understanding of how SpoIVA-SipL interactions regulate C. difficile spore assembly.
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16
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Whittingham JL, Hanai S, Brannigan JA, Ferreira WT, Dodson EJ, Turkenburg JP, Cartwright J, Cutting SM, Wilkinson AJ. Crystal structures of the GH18 domain of the bifunctional peroxiredoxin-chitinase CotE from Clostridium difficile. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2020; 76:241-249. [PMID: 32510464 PMCID: PMC7278498 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x20006147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
CotE is a coat protein that is present in the spores of Clostridium difficile, an obligate anaerobic bacterium and a pathogen that is a leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in hospital patients. Spores serve as the agents of disease transmission, and CotE has been implicated in their attachment to the gut epithelium and subsequent colonization of the host. CotE consists of an N-terminal peroxiredoxin domain and a C-terminal chitinase domain. Here, a C-terminal fragment of CotE comprising residues 349-712 has been crystallized and its structure has been determined to reveal a core eight-stranded β-barrel fold with a neighbouring subdomain containing a five-stranded β-sheet. A prominent groove running across the top of the barrel is lined by residues that are conserved in family 18 glycosyl hydrolases and which participate in catalysis. Electron density identified in the groove defines the pentapeptide Gly-Pro-Ala-Met-Lys derived from the N-terminus of the protein following proteolytic cleavage to remove an affinity-purification tag. These observations suggest the possibility of designing peptidomimetics to block C. difficile transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean L. Whittingham
- Structural Biology Laboratory, York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Shumpei Hanai
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - James A. Brannigan
- Structural Biology Laboratory, York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - William T. Ferreira
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor J. Dodson
- Structural Biology Laboratory, York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Johan P. Turkenburg
- Structural Biology Laboratory, York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Jared Cartwright
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Simon M. Cutting
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony J. Wilkinson
- Structural Biology Laboratory, York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
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17
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Aubry A, Zou W, Vinogradov E, Williams D, Chen W, Harris G, Zhou H, Schur MJ, Gilbert M, Douce GR, Logan SM. In vitro Production and Immunogenicity of a Clostridium Difficile Spore-Specific BclA3 Glycopeptide Conjugate Vaccine. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8010073. [PMID: 32046000 PMCID: PMC7157674 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8010073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract: The BclA3 glycoprotein is a major component of the exosporangial layer of Clostridium difficile spores and in this study we demonstrate that this glycoprotein is a major spore surface associated antigen. Here, we confirm the role of SgtA glycosyltransferase (SgtA GT) in BclA3 glycosylation and recapitulate this process by expressing and purifying SgtA GT fused to MalE, the maltose binding protein from Escherichia coli. In vitro assays using the recombinant enzyme and BclA3 synthetic peptides demonstrated that SgtA GT was responsible for the addition of β-O-linked GlcNAc to threonine residues of each synthetic peptide. These peptide sequences were selected from the central, collagen repeat region of the BclA3 protein. Following optimization of SgtA GT activity, we generated sufficient glycopeptide (10 mg) to allow conjugation to KLH (keyhole limpet hemocyanin) protein. Glycosylated and unglycosylated versions of these conjugates were then used as antigens to immunize rabbits and mice. Immune responses to each of the conjugates were examined by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ELISA. Additionally, the BclA3 conjugated peptide and glycopeptide were used as antigens in an ELISA assay with serum raised against formalin-killed spores. Only the glycopeptide was recognized by anti-spore polyclonal immune serum demonstrating that the glycan moiety is a predominant spore-associated surface antigen. To determine whether antibodies to these peptides could modify persistence of spores within the gut, animals immunized intranasally with either the KLH-glycopeptide or KLH-peptide conjugate in the presence of cholera toxin, were challenged with R20291 spores. Although specific antibodies were raised to both antigens, immunization did not provide any protection against acute or recurrent disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Aubry
- Vaccine Program, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada; (A.A.); (W.Z.); (E.V.); (D.W.); (W.C.); (G.H.); (H.Z.); (M.J.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Wei Zou
- Vaccine Program, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada; (A.A.); (W.Z.); (E.V.); (D.W.); (W.C.); (G.H.); (H.Z.); (M.J.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Evguenii Vinogradov
- Vaccine Program, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada; (A.A.); (W.Z.); (E.V.); (D.W.); (W.C.); (G.H.); (H.Z.); (M.J.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Dean Williams
- Vaccine Program, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada; (A.A.); (W.Z.); (E.V.); (D.W.); (W.C.); (G.H.); (H.Z.); (M.J.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Wangxue Chen
- Vaccine Program, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada; (A.A.); (W.Z.); (E.V.); (D.W.); (W.C.); (G.H.); (H.Z.); (M.J.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Greg Harris
- Vaccine Program, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada; (A.A.); (W.Z.); (E.V.); (D.W.); (W.C.); (G.H.); (H.Z.); (M.J.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Hongyan Zhou
- Vaccine Program, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada; (A.A.); (W.Z.); (E.V.); (D.W.); (W.C.); (G.H.); (H.Z.); (M.J.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Melissa J. Schur
- Vaccine Program, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada; (A.A.); (W.Z.); (E.V.); (D.W.); (W.C.); (G.H.); (H.Z.); (M.J.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Michel Gilbert
- Vaccine Program, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada; (A.A.); (W.Z.); (E.V.); (D.W.); (W.C.); (G.H.); (H.Z.); (M.J.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Gillian R. Douce
- Institute of Infection, Immunity, Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, Scotland, UK;
| | - Susan M. Logan
- Vaccine Program, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada; (A.A.); (W.Z.); (E.V.); (D.W.); (W.C.); (G.H.); (H.Z.); (M.J.S.); (M.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +613-990-0839
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18
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Shen A, Edwards AN, Sarker MR, Paredes-Sabja D. Sporulation and Germination in Clostridial Pathogens. Microbiol Spectr 2019; 7:10.1128/microbiolspec.GPP3-0017-2018. [PMID: 31858953 PMCID: PMC6927485 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0017-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
As obligate anaerobes, clostridial pathogens depend on their metabolically dormant, oxygen-tolerant spore form to transmit disease. However, the molecular mechanisms by which those spores germinate to initiate infection and then form new spores to transmit infection remain poorly understood. While sporulation and germination have been well characterized in Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus anthracis, striking differences in the regulation of these processes have been observed between the bacilli and the clostridia, with even some conserved proteins exhibiting differences in their requirements and functions. Here, we review our current understanding of how clostridial pathogens, specifically Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium botulinum, and Clostridioides difficile, induce sporulation in response to environmental cues, assemble resistant spores, and germinate metabolically dormant spores in response to environmental cues. We also discuss the direct relationship between toxin production and spore formation in these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Shen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Adrianne N Edwards
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Mahfuzur R Sarker
- Department of Microbiology, College of Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
| | - Daniel Paredes-Sabja
- Department of Gut Microbiota and Clostridia Research Group, Departamento de Ciencias Biolo gicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
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Kotowicz N, Bhardwaj R, Ferreira W, Hong H, Olender A, Ramirez J, Cutting S. Safety and probiotic evaluation of two Bacillus strains producing antioxidant compounds. Benef Microbes 2019; 10:759-771. [DOI: 10.3920/bm2019.0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus species are becoming increasingly relevant for use as probiotics or feed additives where their heat stability can ensure survival in the food matrix or enable long-term storage at ambient temperature. Some Bacillus species are pigmented and in this study, we have examined two strains, one Bacillus pumilus (pigmented red) and the other Bacillus megaterium (pigmented yellow) for their safety for potential use in humans as dietary supplements. In addition, we have set out to determine if they might confer any potential health benefits. Both strains produce C30 carotenoids while the B. pumilus strain also produced large quantities of riboflavin equivalent to genetically modified Bacillus strains and most probably contributing to this strain’s pigmentation. Riboflavin’s and carotenoids are antioxidants, and we have evaluated the ability of vegetative cells and/or spores to influence populations of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the colon of mice. While both strains increased levels of F. prausnitzii, spores of the B. pumilus strain produced a significant increase in F. prausnitzii levels. If found to be reproducible in humans such an effect might, potentially, confer health benefits particularly for those suffering from inflammatory bowel disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Kotowicz
- SporeGen Ltd., Bourne Labs, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, United Kingdom
| | - R.K. Bhardwaj
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, United Kingdom
| | - W.T. Ferreira
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, United Kingdom
| | - H.A. Hong
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, United Kingdom
| | - A. Olender
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 1 Street, Lublin, 20-093, Poland
| | - J. Ramirez
- Enviromedica, 2301 Scarbrough Drive, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78728, USA
| | - S.M. Cutting
- SporeGen Ltd., Bourne Labs, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, United Kingdom
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, United Kingdom
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20
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Ribis JW, Fimlaid KA, Shen A. Differential requirements for conserved peptidoglycan remodeling enzymes during Clostridioides difficile spore formation. Mol Microbiol 2019; 110:370-389. [PMID: 30066347 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Spore formation is essential for the bacterial pathogen and obligate anaerobe, Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile, to transmit disease. Completion of this process depends on the mother cell engulfing the developing forespore, but little is known about how engulfment occurs in C. difficile. In Bacillus subtilis, engulfment is mediated by a peptidoglycan degradation complex consisting of SpoIID, SpoIIP and SpoIIM, which are all individually required for spore formation. Using genetic analyses, we determined the functions of these engulfment-related proteins along with the putative endopeptidase, SpoIIQ, during C. difficile sporulation. While SpoIID, SpoIIP and SpoIIQ were critical for engulfment, loss of SpoIIM minimally impacted C. difficile spore formation. Interestingly, a small percentage of ∆spoIID and ∆spoIIQ cells generated heat-resistant spores through the actions of SpoIIQ and SpoIID, respectively. Loss of SpoIID and SpoIIQ also led to unique morphological phenotypes: asymmetric engulfment and forespore distortions, respectively. Catalytic mutant complementation analyses revealed that these phenotypes depend on the enzymatic activities of SpoIIP and SpoIID, respectively. Lastly, engulfment mutants mislocalized polymerized coat even though the basement layer coat proteins, SpoIVA and SipL, remained associated with the forespore. Collectively, these findings advance our understanding of several stages during infectious C. difficile spore assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Ribis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Kelly A Fimlaid
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Aimee Shen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
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21
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Anonye BO, Hassall J, Patient J, Detamornrat U, Aladdad AM, Schüller S, Rose FRAJ, Unnikrishnan M. Probing Clostridium difficile Infection in Complex Human Gut Cellular Models. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:879. [PMID: 31114553 PMCID: PMC6503005 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions of anaerobic gut bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile, with the intestinal mucosa have been poorly studied due to challenges in culturing anaerobes with the oxygen-requiring gut epithelium. Although gut colonization by C. difficile is a key determinant of disease outcome, precise mechanisms of mucosal attachment and spread remain unclear. Here, using human gut epithelial monolayers co-cultured within dual environment chambers, we demonstrate that C. difficile adhesion to gut epithelial cells is accompanied by a gradual increase in bacterial numbers. Prolonged infection causes redistribution of actin and loss of epithelial integrity, accompanied by production of C. difficile spores, toxins, and bacterial filaments. This system was used to examine C. difficile interactions with the commensal Bacteroides dorei, and interestingly, C. difficile growth is significantly reduced in the presence of B. dorei. Subsequently, we have developed novel models containing a myofibroblast layer, in addition to the epithelium, grown on polycarbonate or three-dimensional (3D) electrospun scaffolds. In these more complex models, C. difficile adheres more efficiently to epithelial cells, as compared to the single epithelial monolayers, leading to a quicker destruction of the epithelium. Our study describes new controlled environment human gut models that enable host-anaerobe and pathogen-commensal interaction studies in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blessing O Anonye
- Microbiology and Infection Unit, Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Jack Hassall
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie Patient
- Division of Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Usanee Detamornrat
- Division of Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Afnan M Aladdad
- Division of Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie Schüller
- Norwich Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
- Gut Health and Food Safety Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Felicity R A J Rose
- Division of Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Meera Unnikrishnan
- Microbiology and Infection Unit, Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
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22
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Coullon H, Rifflet A, Wheeler R, Janoir C, Boneca IG, Candela T. N-Deacetylases required for muramic-δ-lactam production are involved in Clostridium difficile sporulation, germination, and heat resistance. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:18040-18054. [PMID: 30266804 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.004273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Spores are produced by many organisms as a survival mechanism activated in response to several environmental stresses. Bacterial spores are multilayered structures, one of which is a peptidoglycan layer called the cortex, containing muramic-δ-lactams that are synthesized by at least two bacterial enzymes, the muramoyl-l-alanine amidase CwlD and the N-deacetylase PdaA. This study focused on the spore cortex of Clostridium difficile, a Gram-positive, toxin-producing anaerobic bacterial pathogen that can colonize the human intestinal tract and is a leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Using ultra-HPLC coupled with high-resolution MS, here we found that the spore cortex of the C. difficile 630Δerm strain differs from that of Bacillus subtilis Among these differences, the muramic-δ-lactams represented only 24% in C. difficile, compared with 50% in B. subtilis CD630_14300 and CD630_27190 were identified as genes encoding the C. difficile N-deacetylases PdaA1 and PdaA2, required for muramic-δ-lactam synthesis. In a pdaA1 mutant, only 0.4% of all muropeptides carried a muramic-δ-lactam modification, and muramic-δ-lactams were absent in the cortex of a pdaA1-pdaA2 double mutant. Of note, the pdaA1 mutant exhibited decreased sporulation, altered germination, decreased heat resistance, and delayed virulence in a hamster infection model. These results suggest a much greater role for muramic-δ-lactams in C. difficile than in other bacteria, including B. subtilis In summary, the spore cortex of C. difficile contains lower levels of muramic-δ-lactams than that of B. subtilis, and PdaA1 is the major N-deacetylase for muramic-δ-lactam biosynthesis in C. difficile, contributing to sporulation, heat resistance, and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héloise Coullon
- From the EA4043 Unité Bactéries Pathogènes et Santé (UBaPS), Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 92290 Châtenay-Malabry
| | - Aline Rifflet
- the Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, 75724 Paris, and; INSERM, Équipe Avenir, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Richard Wheeler
- the Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, 75724 Paris, and; INSERM, Équipe Avenir, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Claire Janoir
- From the EA4043 Unité Bactéries Pathogènes et Santé (UBaPS), Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 92290 Châtenay-Malabry
| | - Ivo Gomperts Boneca
- the Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, 75724 Paris, and; INSERM, Équipe Avenir, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Thomas Candela
- From the EA4043 Unité Bactéries Pathogènes et Santé (UBaPS), Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 92290 Châtenay-Malabry,.
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23
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Pizarro-Guajardo M, Ravanal MC, Paez MD, Callegari E, Paredes-Sabja D. Identification of Clostridium difficile Immunoreactive Spore Proteins of the Epidemic Strain R20291. Proteomics Clin Appl 2018; 12:e1700182. [PMID: 29573213 DOI: 10.1002/prca.201700182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Clostridium difficile infections are the leading cause of diarrhea associated with the use of antibiotics. During infection, C. difficile initiates a sporulation cycle leading to the persistence of C. difficile spores in the host and disease dissemination. The development of vaccine and passive immunization therapies against C. difficile has focused on toxins A and B. In this study, an immunoproteome-based approach to identify immunogenic proteins located on the outer layers of C. difficile spores as potential candidates for the development of immunotherapy and/or diagnostic methods against this devastating infection is used. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN To identify potential immunogenic proteins on the surface of C. difficile R20291, spore coat/exosporium extracts are separated by 2D electrophoresis (2-DE) and analyzed for reactivity against C. difficile spore-specific goat sera. Finally, the selected spots are in-gel digested with chymotrypsin, peptides generated are separated by nanoUPLC followed by MS/MS using Quad-TOF-MS, corroborated by Ultimate 3000RS-nano-UHPLC coupled to Q-Exactive-Plus-Orbitrap MS. RESULTS The analysis identify five immunoreactive proteins: spore coat proteins CotE, CotA, and CotCB; exosporium protein CdeC; and a cytosolic methyltransferase. CONCLUSION This data provides a list of spore surface protein candidates as antigens for vaccine development against C. difficile infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjorie Pizarro-Guajardo
- Microbiota-Host Interactions and Clostridia Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, 8370146, Chile
| | - María Cristina Ravanal
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, 8370146, Chile.,Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Isla Teja, Valdivia, 5090000, Chile
| | - Maria Daniela Paez
- SD-BRIN Proteomics Core Facility, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota,, Vermillion, SD, 57069, USA
| | - Eduardo Callegari
- SD-BRIN Proteomics Core Facility, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota,, Vermillion, SD, 57069, USA
| | - Daniel Paredes-Sabja
- Microbiota-Host Interactions and Clostridia Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, 8370146, Chile
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