1
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Zhu L, Huang C, Li L, Wang S, Wu X, Shan G, Tian Y. Innovative insights into organic nitrogen degradation through protein family domains analysis in chicken and pig manure composting using metagenomic sequencing. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 406:131048. [PMID: 38945501 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
The nitrogen loss in composting is primarily driven by the transformation of organic nitrogen, yet the mechanisms underlying the degradation process remain incompletely understood. This study employed protein family domains (Pfams) analysis based on metagenomic sequencing to investigate the functional characteristics, key microorganisms, and environmental parameters influencing organic nitrogen degradation in chicken manure and pig manure composting. 154 Pfams associated with ammonification function were identified. Predominant Pfams: proteolytic peptidase, followed by chitin/cell wall degraders, least involved in nucleic acid degradation. Ammonifying microbial diversity was basically consistent among compost types, particularly in the thermophilic stage with the peak of abundance of dominant ammonifying microorganisms. Viruses played an important role in ammonification process, especially Uroviricota. 26 key ammonifying genera were identified by the microbial network. pH dominated the metabolic activity of ammonifying microorganisms in various manure compost types, primarily consisting of protein-degrading bacteria with stable community structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Ecological Effect and Risk Assessment of Chemicals, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Caihong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Ecological Effect and Risk Assessment of Chemicals, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Lipin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Simiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Ecological Effect and Risk Assessment of Chemicals, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Xinxin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Ecological Effect and Risk Assessment of Chemicals, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Guangchun Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Yu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
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2
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Jaffal H, Kortebi M, Misson P, Tavares P, Ouldali M, Leh H, Lautru S, Lioy VS, Lecointe F, Bury-Moné SG. Prophage induction can facilitate the in vitro dispersal of multicellular Streptomyces structures. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002725. [PMID: 39052683 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptomyces are renowned for their prolific production of specialized metabolites with applications in medicine and agriculture. These multicellular bacteria present a sophisticated developmental cycle and play a key role in soil ecology. Little is known about the impact of Streptomyces phage on bacterial physiology. In this study, we investigated the conditions governing the expression and production of "Samy", a prophage found in Streptomyces ambofaciens ATCC 23877. This siphoprophage is produced simultaneously with the activation of other mobile genetic elements. Remarkably, the presence and production of Samy increases bacterial dispersal under in vitro stress conditions. Altogether, this study unveiled a new property of a bacteriophage infection in the context of multicellular aggregate dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoda Jaffal
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Mounia Kortebi
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Pauline Misson
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Paulo Tavares
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Malika Ouldali
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Hervé Leh
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Sylvie Lautru
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Virginia S Lioy
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - François Lecointe
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Stéphanie G Bury-Moné
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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3
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Engel DR, Wagenlehner FME, Shevchuk O. Scientific Advances in Understanding the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Prevention of Urinary Tract Infection in the Past 10 Years. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2024; 38:229-240. [PMID: 38575493 DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2024.03.002] [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] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a very common disease that is accompanied by various complications in the affected person. UTI triggers diverse inflammatory reactions locally in the infected urinary bladder and kidney, causing tissue destruction and organ failure. Moreover, systemic responses in the entire body carry the risk of urosepsis with far-reaching consequences. Understanding the cell-, organ-, and systemic mechanisms in UTI are crucial for prevention, early intervention, and current therapeutic approaches. This review summarizes the scientific advances over the last 10 years concerning pathogenesis, prevention, rapid diagnosis, and new treatment approaches. We also highlight the impact of the immune system and potential new therapies to reduce progressive and recurrent UTI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Engel
- Department of Immunodynamics, University Duisburg-Essen, University Hospital Essen, Institute of Experimental Immunology and Imaging, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Florian M E Wagenlehner
- Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Clinic for Urology, Paediatric Urology and Andrology, Rudolf-Buchheim Straße 7, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Olga Shevchuk
- Department of Immunodynamics, University Duisburg-Essen, University Hospital Essen, Institute of Experimental Immunology and Imaging, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147 Essen, Germany.
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4
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Ralhan K, Iyer KA, Diaz LL, Bird R, Maind A, Zhou QA. Navigating Antibacterial Frontiers: A Panoramic Exploration of Antibacterial Landscapes, Resistance Mechanisms, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1483-1519. [PMID: 38691668 PMCID: PMC11091902 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00115] [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: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The development of effective antibacterial solutions has become paramount in maintaining global health in this era of increasing bacterial threats and rampant antibiotic resistance. Traditional antibiotics have played a significant role in combating bacterial infections throughout history. However, the emergence of novel resistant strains necessitates constant innovation in antibacterial research. We have analyzed the data on antibacterials from the CAS Content Collection, the largest human-curated collection of published scientific knowledge, which has proven valuable for quantitative analysis of global scientific knowledge. Our analysis focuses on mining the CAS Content Collection data for recent publications (since 2012). This article aims to explore the intricate landscape of antibacterial research while reviewing the advancement from traditional antibiotics to novel and emerging antibacterial strategies. By delving into the resistance mechanisms, this paper highlights the need to find alternate strategies to address the growing concern.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Leilani Lotti Diaz
- CAS,
A Division of the American Chemical Society, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Robert Bird
- CAS,
A Division of the American Chemical Society, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Ankush Maind
- ACS
International India Pvt. Ltd., Pune 411044, India
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5
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Netter Z, Dunham DT, Seed KD. Adaptation to bile and anaerobicity limits Vibrio cholerae phage adsorption. mBio 2023; 14:e0198523. [PMID: 37882540 PMCID: PMC10746206 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01985-23] [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: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Vibrio cholerae is the bacterial pathogen responsible for cholera, a diarrheal disease that impacts people in areas without access to potable water. In regions that lack such infrastructure, cholera represents a large proportion of disease outbreaks. Bacteriophages (phages, viruses that infect bacteria) have recently been examined as potential therapeutic and prophylactic agents to treat and prevent bacterial disease outbreaks like cholera due to their specificity and stability. This work examines the interaction between V. cholerae and vibriophages in consideration for a cholera prophylaxis regimen (M. Yen, L. S. Cairns, and A. Camilli, Nat Commun 8:14187, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14187) in the context of stimuli found in the intestinal environment. We discover that common signals in the intestinal environment induce cell surface modifications in V. cholerae that also restrict some phages from binding and initiating infection. These findings could impact considerations for the design of phage-based treatments, as phage infection appears to be limited by bacterial adaptations to the intestinal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Netter
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Drew T. Dunham
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Kimberley D. Seed
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
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6
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Ongenae V, Kempff A, van Neer V, Shomar H, Tesson F, Rozen D, Briegel A, Claessen D. Genome sequence and characterization of Streptomyces phages Vanseggelen and Verabelle, representing two new species within the genus Camvirus. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20153. [PMID: 37978256 PMCID: PMC10656467 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47634-3] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the rising interest in bacteriophages, little is known about their infection cycle and lifestyle in a multicellular host. Even in the model system Streptomyces, only a small number of phages have been sequenced and well characterized so far. Here, we report the complete characterization and genome sequences of Streptomyces phages Vanseggelen and Verabelle isolated using Streptomyces coelicolor as a host. A wide range of Streptomyces strains could be infected by both phages, but neither of the two phages was able to infect members of the closely related sister genus Kitasatospora. The phages Vanseggelen and Verabelle have a double-stranded DNA genome with lengths of 48,720 and 48,126 bp, respectively. Both phage genomes contain 72 putative genes, and the presence of an integrase encoding protein indicates a lysogenic lifestyle. Characterization of the phages revealed their stability over a wide range of temperatures (30-45 °C) and pH values (4-10). In conclusion, Streptomyces phage Vanseggelen and Streptomyces phage Verabelle are newly isolated phages that can be classified as new species in the genus Camvirus, within the subfamily Arquattrovirinae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique Ongenae
- Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Annabel Kempff
- Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Vera van Neer
- Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Helena Shomar
- MDM Lab, Department Genomes and Genetics, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France
- INSERM, U1284, Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| | | | - Daniël Rozen
- Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Ariane Briegel
- Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Dennis Claessen
- Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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7
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Georjon H, Bernheim A. The highly diverse antiphage defence systems of bacteria. Nat Rev Microbiol 2023; 21:686-700. [PMID: 37460672 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00934-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 65.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria and their viruses have coevolved for billions of years. This ancient and still ongoing arms race has led bacteria to develop a vast antiphage arsenal. The development of high-throughput screening methods expanded our knowledge of defence systems from a handful to more than a hundred systems, unveiling many different molecular mechanisms. These findings reveal that bacterial immunity is much more complex than previously thought. In this Review, we explore recently discovered bacterial antiphage defence systems, with a particular focus on their molecular diversity, and discuss the ecological and evolutionary drivers and implications of the existing diversity of antiphage defence mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héloïse Georjon
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Aude Bernheim
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, Paris, France.
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8
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Georjon H, Tesson F, Shomar H, Bernheim A. Genomic characterization of the antiviral arsenal of Actinobacteria. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169:001374. [PMID: 37531269 PMCID: PMC10482375 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Phages are ubiquitous in nature, and bacteria with very different genomics, metabolisms, and lifestyles are subjected to their predation. Yet, the defence systems that allow bacteria to resist their phages have rarely been explored experimentally outside a very limited number of model organisms. Actinobacteria (Actinomycetota) are a phylum of GC-rich Gram-positive bacteria, which often produce an important diversity of secondary metabolites. Despite being ubiquitous in a wide range of environments, from soil to fresh and sea water but also the gut microbiome, relatively little is known about the anti-phage arsenal of Actinobacteria. In this work, we used DefenseFinder to systematically detect 131 anti-phage defence systems in 22803 fully sequenced prokaryotic genomes, among which are 2253 Actinobacteria of more than 700 species. We show that, like other bacteria, Actinobacteria encode many diverse anti-phage systems that are often encoded on mobile genetic elements. We further demonstrate that most detected defence systems are absent or rarer in Actinobacteria than in other bacteria, while a few rare systems are enriched (notably gp29-gp30 and Wadjet). We characterize the spatial distribution of anti-phage systems on Streptomyces chromosomes and show that some defence systems (e.g. RM systems) tend to be encoded in the core region, while others (e.g. Lamassu and Wadjet) are enriched towards the extremities. Overall, our results suggest that Actinobacteria might be a source of novel anti-phage systems and provide clues to characterize mechanistic aspects of known anti-phage systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héloïse Georjon
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1284, Paris, France
| | - Florian Tesson
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1284, Paris, France
- UMR 1137, IAME, Université de Paris, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Helena Shomar
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1284, Paris, France
| | - Aude Bernheim
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1284, Paris, France
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9
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Luthe T, Kever L, Thormann K, Frunzke J. Bacterial multicellular behavior in antiviral defense. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 74:102314. [PMID: 37030144 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Multicellular behavior benefits seemingly simple organisms such as bacteria, by improving nutrient uptake, resistance to stresses, or by providing advantages in predatory interactions. Several recent studies have shown that this also extends to the defense against bacteriophages, which are omnipresent in almost all habitats. In this review, we summarize strategies conferring protection against phage infection at the multicellular level, covering secretion of small antiphage molecules or membrane vesicles, the role of quorum sensing in phage defense, the development of transient phage resistance, and the impact of biofilm components and architecture. Recent studies focusing on these topics push the boundaries of our understanding of the bacterial immune system and set the ground for an appreciation of bacterial multicellular behavior in antiviral defense.
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10
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Schlimpert S, Elliot MA. The Best of Both Worlds-Streptomyces coelicolor and Streptomyces venezuelae as Model Species for Studying Antibiotic Production and Bacterial Multicellular Development. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0015323. [PMID: 37347176 PMCID: PMC10367585 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00153-23] [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] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptomyces bacteria have been studied for more than 80 years thanks to their ability to produce an incredible array of antibiotics and other specialized metabolites and their unusual fungal-like development. Their antibiotic production capabilities have ensured continual interest from both academic and industrial sectors, while their developmental life cycle has provided investigators with unique opportunities to address fundamental questions relating to bacterial multicellular growth. Much of our understanding of the biology and metabolism of these fascinating bacteria, and many of the tools we use to manipulate these organisms, have stemmed from investigations using the model species Streptomyces coelicolor and Streptomyces venezuelae. Here, we explore the pioneering work in S. coelicolor that established foundational genetic principles relating to specialized metabolism and development, alongside the genomic and cell biology developments that led to the emergence of S. venezuelae as a new model system. We highlight key discoveries that have stemmed from studies of these two systems and discuss opportunities for future investigations that leverage the power and understanding provided by S. coelicolor and S. venezuelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Schlimpert
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Marie A. Elliot
- Department of Biology and M. G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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11
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Pan J, You W, Lu X, Wang S, You Z, Sun Y. GSPHI: A novel deep learning model for predicting phage-host interactions via multiple biological information. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:3404-3413. [PMID: 37397626 PMCID: PMC10314231 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that due to the misuse of antibiotics, bacteriophage (phage) therapy has been recognized as one of the most promising strategies for treating human diseases infected by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Identification of phage-host interactions (PHIs) can help to explore the mechanisms of bacterial response to phages and provide new insights into effective therapeutic approaches. Compared to conventional wet-lab experiments, computational models for predicting PHIs can not only save time and cost, but also be more efficient and economical. In this study, we developed a deep learning predictive framework called GSPHI to identify potential phage and target bacterium pairs through DNA and protein sequence information. More specifically, GSPHI first initialized the node representations of phages and target bacterial hosts via a natural language processing algorithm. Then a graph embedding algorithm structural deep network embedding (SDNE) was utilized to extract local and global information from the interaction network, and finally, a deep neural network (DNN) was applied to accurately detect the interactions between phages and their bacterial hosts. In the drug-resistant bacteria dataset ESKAPE, GSPHI achieved a prediction accuracy of 86.65 % and AUC of 0.9208 under the 5-fold cross-validation technique, significantly better than other methods. In addition, case studies in Gram-positive and negative bacterial species demonstrated that GSPHI is competent in detecting potential Phage-host interactions. Taken together, these results indicate that GSPHI can provide reasonable candidate sensitive bacteria to phages for biological experiments. The webserver of the GSPHI predictor is freely available at http://120.77.11.78/GSPHI/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Pan
- Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
| | - Wencai You
- Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
| | - Xiaoliang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
| | - Shiwei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
| | - Zhuhong You
- School of Computer Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710129, China
| | - Yanmei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
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12
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Stojowska-Swędrzyńska K, Kuczyńska-Wiśnik D, Laskowska E. New Strategies to Kill Metabolically-Dormant Cells Directly Bypassing the Need for Active Cellular Processes. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1044. [PMID: 37370363 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12061044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic therapy failure is often caused by the presence of persister cells, which are metabolically-dormant bacteria capable of surviving exposure to antimicrobials. Under favorable conditions, persisters can resume growth leading to recurrent infections. Moreover, several studies have indicated that persisters may promote the evolution of antimicrobial resistance and facilitate the selection of specific resistant mutants; therefore, in light of the increasing numbers of multidrug-resistant infections worldwide, developing efficient strategies against dormant cells is of paramount importance. In this review, we present and discuss the efficacy of various agents whose antimicrobial activity is independent of the metabolic status of the bacteria as they target cell envelope structures. Since the biofilm-environment is favorable for the formation of dormant subpopulations, anti-persister strategies should also include agents that destroy the biofilm matrix or inhibit biofilm development. This article reviews examples of selected cell wall hydrolases, polysaccharide depolymerases and antimicrobial peptides. Their combination with standard antibiotics seems to be the most promising approach in combating persistent infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Stojowska-Swędrzyńska
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Dorota Kuczyńska-Wiśnik
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Ewa Laskowska
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
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13
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Bacteria can shed a layer when phages turn up the heat. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:367-368. [PMID: 36797486 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01332-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
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14
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A Flexible and Efficient Microfluidics Platform for the Characterization and Isolation of Novel Bacteriophages. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0159622. [PMID: 36602353 PMCID: PMC9888219 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01596-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. This property makes them highly suitable for varied uses in industry or in the development of the treatment of bacterial infections. However, the conventional methods that are used to isolate and analyze these bacteriophages from the environment are generally cumbersome and time consuming. Here, we adapted a high-throughput microfluidic setup for long-term analysis of bacteriophage-bacteria interaction and demonstrate isolation of phages from environmental samples. IMPORTANCE Bacteriophages are gaining increased attention for their potential application as agents to combat antibiotic-resistant infections. However, isolation and characterization of new phages are time consuming and limited by currently used methods. The microfluidics platform presented here allows the isolation and long-term analysis of phages and their effect on host cells with fluorescent light microscopy imaging. Furthermore, this new workflow allows high-throughput characterization of environmental samples for the identification of phages alongside gaining detailed insight into the host response. Taken together, this microfluidics platform will be a valuable tool for phage research, enabling faster and more efficient screening and characterization of host-phage interactions.
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15
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Abedon ST. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of Hindering Phage Therapy: The Phage Tolerance vs. Phage Resistance of Bacterial Biofilms. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:245. [PMID: 36830158 PMCID: PMC9952518 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12020245] [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: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
As with antibiotics, we can differentiate various acquired mechanisms of bacteria-mediated inhibition of the action of bacterial viruses (phages or bacteriophages) into ones of tolerance vs. resistance. These also, respectively, may be distinguished as physiological insensitivities (or protections) vs. resistance mutations, phenotypic resistance vs. genotypic resistance, temporary vs. more permanent mechanisms, and ecologically vs. also near-term evolutionarily motivated functions. These phenomena can result from multiple distinct molecular mechanisms, many of which for bacterial tolerance of phages are associated with bacterial biofilms (as is also the case for the bacterial tolerance of antibiotics). The resulting inhibitions are relevant from an applied perspective because of their potential to thwart phage-based treatments of bacterial infections, i.e., phage therapies, as well as their potential to interfere more generally with approaches to the phage-based biological control of bacterial biofilms. In other words, given the generally low toxicity of properly chosen therapeutic phages, it is a combination of phage tolerance and phage resistance, as displayed by targeted bacteria, that seems to represent the greatest impediments to phage therapy's success. Here I explore general concepts of bacterial tolerance of vs. bacterial resistance to phages, particularly as they may be considered in association with bacterial biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH 44906, USA
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Wohlfarth JC, Feldmüller M, Schneller A, Kilcher S, Burkolter M, Meile S, Pilhofer M, Schuppler M, Loessner MJ. L-form conversion in Gram-positive bacteria enables escape from phage infection. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:387-399. [PMID: 36717719 PMCID: PMC9981463 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01317-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
At the end of a lytic bacteriophage replication cycle in Gram-positive bacteria, peptidoglycan-degrading endolysins that cause explosive cell lysis of the host can also attack non-infected bystander cells. Here we show that in osmotically stabilized environments, Listeria monocytogenes can evade phage predation by transient conversion to a cell wall-deficient L-form state. This L-form escape is triggered by endolysins disintegrating the cell wall from without, leading to turgor-driven extrusion of wall-deficient, yet viable L-form cells. Remarkably, in the absence of phage predation, we show that L-forms can quickly revert to the walled state. These findings suggest that L-form conversion represents a population-level persistence mechanism to evade complete eradication by phage attack. Importantly, we also demonstrate phage-mediated L-form switching of the urinary tract pathogen Enterococcus faecalis in human urine, which underscores that this escape route may be widespread and has important implications for phage- and endolysin-based therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan C. Wohlfarth
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Miki Feldmüller
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alissa Schneller
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Kilcher
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Burkolter
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Meile
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Pilhofer
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Schuppler
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin J. Loessner
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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17
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Lubbers M, van Wezel GP, Claessen D. Reproducible switching between a walled and cell wall-deficient lifestyle of actinomycetes using gradient agar plates. J Microbiol Methods 2023; 204:106660. [PMID: 36563750 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2022.106660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The cell wall is a shape-defining structure that envelopes almost all bacteria, protecting them from biotic and abiotic stresses. Paradoxically, some filamentous actinomycetes have a natural ability to shed their cell wall under influence of hyperosmotic stress. These wall-deficient cells can revert to their walled state when transferred to a medium without osmoprotection but often lyse due to their fragile nature. Here, we designed plates with an osmolyte gradient to reduce cell lysis and thereby facilitating the transition between a walled and wall-deficient state. These gradient plates allow determining of the osmolyte concentration where switching takes place, thereby enabling careful and reproducible comparison between mutants affected by switching. Exploring these transitions could give valuable insights into the ecology of actinomycetes and their biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten Lubbers
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Gilles P van Wezel
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Dennis Claessen
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands.
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18
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L-Form Switching in Escherichia coli as a Common β-Lactam Resistance Mechanism. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0241922. [PMID: 36102643 PMCID: PMC9603335 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02419-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell wall deficient bacterial L-forms are induced by exposure to cell wall-targeting antibiotics and immune effectors such as lysozyme. L-forms of different bacteria (including Escherichia coli) have been reported in human infections, but whether this is a normal adaptive strategy or simply an artifact of antibiotic treatment in certain bacterial species remains unclear. Here we show that members of a representative, diverse set of pathogenic E. coli readily proliferate as L-forms in supratherapeutic concentrations of the broad-spectrum antibiotic meropenem. We report that they are completely resistant to antibiotics targeting any penicillin-binding proteins in this state, including PBP1A/1B, PBP2, PBP3, PBP4, and PBP5/6. Importantly, we observed that reversion to the cell-walled state occurs efficiently, less than 20 h after antibiotic cessation, with few or no changes in DNA sequence. We defined for the first time a logarithmic L-form growth phase with a doubling time of 80 to 190 min, followed by a stationary phase in late cultures. We further demonstrated that L-forms are metabolically active and remain normally susceptible to antibiotics that affect DNA torsion and ribosomal function. Our findings provide insights into the biology of L-forms and help us understand the risk of β-lactam failure in persistent infections in which L-forms may be common. IMPORTANCE Bacterial L-forms require specialized culture techniques and are neither widely reported nor well understood in human infections. To date, most of the studies have been conducted on Gram-positive and stable L-form bacteria, which usually require mutagenesis or long-term passages for their generation. Here, using an adapted osmoprotective growth media, we provide evidence that pathogenic E. coli can efficiently switch to L-forms and back to a cell-walled state, proliferating aerobically in supratherapeutic concentrations of antibiotics targeting cell walls with few or no changes in their DNA sequences. Our work demonstrates that L-form switching is an effective adaptive strategy in stressful environments and can be expected to limit the efficacy of β-lactam for many important infections.
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Igler C. Phenotypic flux: The role of physiology in explaining the conundrum of bacterial persistence amid phage attack. Virus Evol 2022; 8:veac086. [PMID: 36225237 PMCID: PMC9547521 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veac086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages, the viruses of bacteria, have been studied for over a century. They were not only instrumental in laying the foundations of molecular biology, but they are also likely to play crucial roles in shaping our biosphere and may offer a solution to the control of drug-resistant bacterial infections. However, it remains challenging to predict the conditions for bacterial eradication by phage predation, sometimes even under well-defined laboratory conditions, and, most curiously, if the majority of surviving cells are genetically phage-susceptible. Here, I propose that even clonal phage and bacterial populations are generally in a state of continuous 'phenotypic flux', which is caused by transient and nongenetic variation in phage and bacterial physiology. Phenotypic flux can shape phage infection dynamics by reducing the force of infection to an extent that allows for coexistence between phages and susceptible bacteria. Understanding the mechanisms and impact of phenotypic flux may be key to providing a complete picture of phage-bacteria coexistence. I review the empirical evidence for phenotypic variation in phage and bacterial physiology together with the ways they have been modeled and discuss the potential implications of phenotypic flux for ecological and evolutionary dynamics between phages and bacteria, as well as for phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Igler
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Institute of Integrative Biology, Universitätstrasse 16, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
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