1
|
Sakuma C, Shizukuishi S, Ogawa M, Honjo Y, Takeyama H, Guan JL, Weiser J, Sasai M, Yamamoto M, Ohnishi M, Akeda Y. Individual Atg8 paralogs and a bacterial metabolite sequentially promote hierarchical CASM-xenophagy induction and transition. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114131. [PMID: 38656870 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114131] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Atg8 paralogs, consisting of LC3A/B/C and GBRP/GBRPL1/GATE16, function in canonical autophagy; however, their function is controversial because of functional redundancy. In innate immunity, xenophagy and non-canonical single membranous autophagy called "conjugation of Atg8s to single membranes" (CASM) eliminate bacteria in various cells. Previously, we reported that intracellular Streptococcus pneumoniae can induce unique hierarchical autophagy comprised of CASM induction, shedding, and subsequent xenophagy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes and the biological significance of transient CASM induction remain unknown. Herein, we profile the relationship between Atg8s, autophagy receptors, poly-ubiquitin, and Atg4 paralogs during pneumococcal infection to understand the driving principles of hierarchical autophagy and find that GATE16 and GBRP sequentially play a pivotal role in CASM shedding and subsequent xenophagy induction, respectively, and LC3A and GBRPL1 are involved in CASM/xenophagy induction. Moreover, we reveal ingenious bacterial tactics to gain intracellular survival niches by manipulating CASM-xenophagy progression by generating intracellular pneumococci-derived H2O2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chisato Sakuma
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Sayaka Shizukuishi
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Michinaga Ogawa
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
| | - Yuko Honjo
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan; Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan
| | - Haruko Takeyama
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan; Computational Bio Big-Data Open Innovation Laboratory, AIST-Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0072, Japan; Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, 513 Wasedatsurumaki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0041, Japan; Institute for Advanced Research of Biosystem Dynamics, Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan
| | - Jun-Lin Guan
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, CARE/Crawley Building, Suite E-870 3230 Eden Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Jeffery Weiser
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Miwa Sasai
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Department of Immunoparasitology, Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masahiro Yamamoto
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Department of Immunoparasitology, Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Makoto Ohnishi
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Akeda
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
George JL, Agbavor C, Cabo LF, Cahoon LA. Streptococcus pneumoniae secretion chaperones PrsA, SlrA, and HtrA are required for competence, antibiotic resistance, colonization, and invasive disease. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0049023. [PMID: 38226817 PMCID: PMC10863415 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00490-23] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive bacterium and a significant health threat with the populations most at risk being children, the elderly, and the immuno-compromised. To colonize and transition into an invasive infectious organism, S. pneumoniae secretes virulence factors that are translocated across the bacterial membrane and destined for surface exposure, attachment to the cell wall, or secretion into the host. The surface exposed protein chaperones PrsA, SlrA, and HtrA facilitate S. pneumoniae protein secretion; however, the distinct roles contributed by each of these secretion chaperones have not been well defined. Tandem Mass-Tagged Mass Spectrometry and virulence, adhesion, competence, and cell wall integrity assays were used to interrogate the individual and collective contributions of PrsA, SlrA, and HtrA to multiple aspects of S. pneumoniae physiology and virulence. PrsA, SlrA, and HtrA were found to play critical roles in S. pneumoniae host cell infection and competence, and the absence of each of these secretion chaperones significantly altered the S. pneumoniae secretome in distinct ways. PrsA and SlrA were additionally found to contribute to cell wall assembly and resistance to cell wall-active antimicrobials and were important for enabling S. pneumoniae host cell adhesion during colonization and invasive infection. These findings serve to further illustrate the pivotal contributions of PrsA, SlrA, and HtrA to S. pneumoniae protein secretion and virulence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jada L. George
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Charles Agbavor
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Leah F. Cabo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laty A. Cahoon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lane JR, Tata M, Yasmin R, Im H, Briles DE, Orihuela CJ. PspA-mediated aggregation protects Streptococcus pneumoniae against desiccation on fomites. mBio 2023; 14:e0263423. [PMID: 37982608 PMCID: PMC10746202 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02634-23] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Spn is a dangerous human pathogen capable of causing pneumonia and invasive disease. The virulence factor PspA has been studied for nearly four decades with well-established roles in pneumococcal evasion of C-reactive protein and neutralization of lactoferricin. Herein, we show that mammalian (m)GAPDH in mucosal secretions promotes aggregation of pneumococci in a PspA-dependent fashion, whereas lactoferrin counters this effect. PspA-mediated GAPDH-dependent bacterial aggregation protected Spn in nasal lavage elutes and grown in vitro from desiccation on fomites. Furthermore, surviving pneumococci within these aggregates retained their ability to colonize naïve hosts after desiccation. We report that Spn binds to and forms protein complexes on its surface composed of PspA, mGAPDH, and lactoferrin. Changes in the levels of these proteins therefore most likely have critical implications on Spn colonization, survival on fomites, and transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R. Lane
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Muralidhar Tata
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Rahena Yasmin
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Hansol Im
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - David E. Briles
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Carlos J. Orihuela
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lane JR, Tata M, Yasmin R, Im H, Briles DE, Orihuela CJ. PspA-mediated aggregation protects Streptococcus pneumoniae against desiccation on fomites. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.27.559802. [PMID: 37808718 PMCID: PMC10557681 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.27.559802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) resides in the nasopharynx where it can disseminate to cause disease. One key Spn virulence factor is pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), which promotes survival by blocking the antimicrobial peptide lactoferricin. PspA has also been shown to mediate attachment to dying epithelial cells in the lower airway due to its binding of cell surface-bound mammalian (m)GAPDH. Importantly, the role of PspA during colonization is not well understood. Wildtype Spn was present in nasal lavage elutes collected from asymptomatically colonized mice at levels ~10-fold higher that its isogenic PspA-deficient mutant (ΔpspA). Wildtype Spn also formed aggregates in mucosal secretions composed of sloughed epithelial cells and hundreds of pneumococci, whereas ΔpspA did not. Spn within the center of these aggregates better survived prolonged desiccation on fomites than individual pneumococci and were capable of infecting naïve mice, indicating PspA-mediated aggregation conferred a survival/transmission advantage. Incubation of Spn in saline containing mGAPDH also enhanced tolerance to desiccation, but only for wildtype Spn. mGAPDH was sufficient to cause low-level aggregation of wildtype Spn but not ΔpspA. In strain WU2, the subdomain of PspA responsible for binding GAPDH (aa230-281) is ensconced within the lactoferrin (LF)-binding domain (aa167-288). We observed that LF inhibited GAPDH-mediated aggregation and desiccation tolerance. Using surface plasmon resonance, we determined that Spn forms multimeric complexes of PspA-GAPDH-LF on its surface and that LF dislodges GAPDH. Our findings have important implications regarding pneumococcal colonization/transmission processes and ongoing PspA-focused immunization efforts for this deadly pathogen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R. Lane
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35209, United States
| | - Muralidhar Tata
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35209, United States
| | - Rahena Yasmin
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35209, United States
| | - Hansol Im
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35209, United States
| | - David E. Briles
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35209, United States
| | - Carlos J. Orihuela
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35209, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ogawa M, Shizukuishi S, Akeda Y, Ohnishi M. Molecular mechanism of Streptococcus pneumoniae-targeting xenophagy recognition and evasion: Reinterpretation of pneumococci as intracellular bacteria. Microbiol Immunol 2023; 67:224-227. [PMID: 36872456 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.13060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major, encapsulated Gram-positive pathogen that causes diseases including community-acquired pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. This pathogen colonizes the nasopharyngeal epithelia asymptomatically but can often migrate to sterile tissues and cause life-threatening invasive infections (invasive pneumococcal disease). Although multivalent pneumococcal polysaccharides and conjugate vaccines are available and effective, they also have major shortcomings with respect to the emergence of vaccine-resistant serotypes. Therefore, alternative therapeutic approaches are needed, and the molecular analysis of host-pathogen interactions and their applications to pharmaceutical development and clinical practice has recently received increased attention. In this review, we introduce pneumococcal surface virulence factors involved in pathogenicity and highlight recent advances in our understanding of host autophagy recognition mechanisms against intracellular S. pneumoniae and pneumococcal evasion from autophagy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michinaga Ogawa
- Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sayaka Shizukuishi
- Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Microbiology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Akeda
- Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Ohnishi
- Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
- Chubu Regional Public Health Center, Okinawa, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Leprince A, Mahillon J. Phage Adsorption to Gram-Positive Bacteria. Viruses 2023; 15:196. [PMID: 36680236 PMCID: PMC9863714 DOI: 10.3390/v15010196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The phage life cycle is a multi-stage process initiated by the recognition and attachment of the virus to its bacterial host. This adsorption step depends on the specific interaction between bacterial structures acting as receptors and viral proteins called Receptor Binding Proteins (RBP). The adsorption process is essential as it is the first determinant of phage host range and a sine qua non condition for the subsequent conduct of the life cycle. In phages belonging to the Caudoviricetes class, the capsid is attached to a tail, which is the central player in the adsorption as it comprises the RBP and accessory proteins facilitating phage binding and cell wall penetration prior to genome injection. The nature of the viral proteins involved in host adhesion not only depends on the phage morphology (i.e., myovirus, siphovirus, or podovirus) but also the targeted host. Here, we give an overview of the adsorption process and compile the available information on the type of receptors that can be recognized and the viral proteins taking part in the process, with the primary focus on phages infecting Gram-positive bacteria.
Collapse
|
7
|
Kopenhagen A, Ramming I, Camp B, Hammerschmidt S, Fulde M, Müsken M, Steinert M, Bergmann S. Streptococcus pneumoniae Affects Endothelial Cell Migration in Microfluidic Circulation. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:852036. [PMID: 35401456 PMCID: PMC8990767 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.852036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Bloodstream infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae induce strong inflammatory and procoagulant cellular responses and affect the endothelial barrier of the vascular system. Bacterial virulence determinants, such as the cytotoxic pore-forming pneumolysin, increase the endothelial barrier permeability by inducing cell apoptosis and cell damage. As life-threatening consequences, disseminated intravascular coagulation followed by consumption coagulopathy and low blood pressure is described. With the aim to decipher the role of pneumolysin in endothelial damage and leakage of the vascular barrier in more detail, we established a chamber-separation cell migration assay (CSMA) used to illustrate endothelial wound healing upon bacterial infections. We used chambered inlets for cell cultivation, which, after removal, provide a cell-free area of 500 μm in diameter as a defined gap in primary endothelial cell layers. During the process of wound healing, the size of the cell-free area is decreasing due to cell migration and proliferation, which we quantitatively determined by microscopic live cell monitoring. In addition, differential immunofluorescence staining combined with confocal microscopy was used to morphologically characterize the effect of bacterial attachment on cell migration and the velocity of gap closure. In all assays, the presence of wild-type pneumococci significantly inhibited endothelial gap closure. Remarkably, even in the presence of pneumolysin-deficient pneumococci, cell migration was significantly retarded. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of pneumococci on the proportion of cell proliferation versus cell migration within the process of endothelial gap closure was assessed by implementation of a fluorescence-conjugated nucleoside analogon. We further combined the endothelial CSMA with a microfluidic pump system, which for the first time enabled the microscopic visualization and monitoring of endothelial gap closure in the presence of circulating bacteria at defined vascular shear stress values for up to 48 h. In accordance with our CSMA results under static conditions, the gap remained cell free in the presence of circulating pneumococci in flow. Hence, our combined endothelial cultivation technique represents a complex in vitro system, which mimics the vascular physiology as close as possible by providing essential parameters of the blood flow to gain new insights into the effect of pneumococcal infection on endothelial barrier integrity in flow.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kopenhagen
- Institut für Mikrobiologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Isabell Ramming
- Institut für Mikrobiologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Belinda Camp
- Institut für Mikrobiologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.,Department of Pneumology, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Marcus Fulde
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mathias Müsken
- Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Steinert
- Institut für Mikrobiologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.,Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Simone Bergmann
- Institut für Mikrobiologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Cabezas A, Costas MJ, Canales J, Pinto RM, Rodrigues JR, Ribeiro JM, Cameselle JC. Enzyme Characterization of Pro-virulent SntA, a Cell Wall-Anchored Protein of Streptococcus suis, With Phosphodiesterase Activity on cyclic-di-AMP at a Level Suited to Limit the Innate Immune System. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:843068. [PMID: 35391727 PMCID: PMC8981391 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.843068] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus suis and Streptococcus agalactiae evade the innate immune system of the infected host by mechanisms mediated by cell wall-anchored proteins: SntA and CdnP, respectively. The former has been reported to interfere with complement responses, and the latter dampens STING-dependent type-I interferon (IFN) response by hydrolysis of bacterial cyclic-di-AMP (c-di-AMP). Both proteins are homologous but, while CdnP has been studied as a phosphohydrolase, the enzyme activities of SntA have not been investigated. The core structure of SntA was expressed in Escherichia coli as a GST-tagged protein that, after affinity purification, was characterized as phosphohydrolase with a large series of substrates. This included 3′-nucleotides, 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotides, cyclic and linear dinucleotides, and a variety of phosphoanhydride or phosphodiester compounds, most of them previously considered as substrates of E. coli CpdB, a periplasmic protein homologous to SntA and CdnP. Catalytic efficiency was determined for each SntA substrate, either by dividing parameters kcat/KM obtained from saturation curves or directly from initial rates at low substrate concentrations when saturation curves could not be obtained. SntA is concluded to act as phosphohydrolase on two groups of substrates with efficiencies higher or lower than ≈ 105 M–1 s–1 (average value of the enzyme universe). The group with kcat/KM ≥ 105 M–1 s–1 (good substrates) includes 3′-nucleotides, 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotides, and linear and cyclic dinucleotides (notably c-di-AMP). Compounds showing efficiencies <104 M–1 s–1 are considered poor substrates. Compared with CpdB, SntA is more efficient with its good substrates and less efficient with its poor substrates; therefore, the specificity of SntA is more restrictive. The efficiency of the SntA activity on c-di-AMP is comparable with the activity of CdnP that dampens type-I IFN response, suggesting that this virulence mechanism is also functional in S. suis. SntA modeling revealed that Y530 and Y633 form a sandwich with the nitrogen base of nucleotidic ligands in the substrate-binding site. Mutants Y530A-SntA, Y633A-SntA, and Y530A+Y633A-SntA were obtained and kinetically characterized. For orientation toward the catalytic site, one tyrosine is enough, although this may depend on the substrate being attacked. On the other hand, both tyrosines are required for the efficient binding of good SntA substrates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Cabezas
- Grupo de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - María Jesús Costas
- Grupo de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - José Canales
- Grupo de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Rosa María Pinto
- Grupo de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Joaquim Rui Rodrigues
- Laboratório Associado Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
| | - João Meireles Ribeiro
- Grupo de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - José Carlos Cameselle
- Grupo de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Jahn K, Kohler TP, Swiatek LS, Wiebe S, Hammerschmidt S. Platelets, Bacterial Adhesins and the Pneumococcus. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071121. [PMID: 35406684 PMCID: PMC8997422 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic infections with pathogenic or facultative pathogenic bacteria are associated with activation and aggregation of platelets leading to thrombocytopenia and activation of the clotting system. Bacterial proteins leading to platelet activation and aggregation have been identified, and while platelet receptors are recognized, induced signal transduction cascades are still often unknown. In addition to proteinaceous adhesins, pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae also produce toxins such as pneumolysin and alpha-hemolysin. They bind to cellular receptors or form pores, which can result in disturbance of physiological functions of platelets. Here, we discuss the bacteria-platelet interplay in the context of adhesin–receptor interactions and platelet-activating bacterial proteins, with a main emphasis on S. aureus and S. pneumoniae. More importantly, we summarize recent findings of how S. aureus toxins and the pore-forming toxin pneumolysin of S. pneumoniae interfere with platelet function. Finally, the relevance of platelet dysfunction due to killing by toxins and potential treatment interventions protecting platelets against cell death are summarized.
Collapse
|
10
|
Banahene N, Kavunja HW, Swarts BM. Chemical Reporters for Bacterial Glycans: Development and Applications. Chem Rev 2022; 122:3336-3413. [PMID: 34905344 PMCID: PMC8958928 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria possess an extraordinary repertoire of cell envelope glycans that have critical physiological functions. Pathogenic bacteria have glycans that are essential for growth and virulence but are absent from humans, making them high-priority targets for antibiotic, vaccine, and diagnostic development. The advent of metabolic labeling with bioorthogonal chemical reporters and small-molecule fluorescent reporters has enabled the investigation and targeting of specific bacterial glycans in their native environments. These tools have opened the door to imaging glycan dynamics, assaying and inhibiting glycan biosynthesis, profiling glycoproteins and glycan-binding proteins, and targeting pathogens with diagnostic and therapeutic payload. These capabilities have been wielded in diverse commensal and pathogenic Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and mycobacterial species─including within live host organisms. Here, we review the development and applications of chemical reporters for bacterial glycans, including peptidoglycan, lipopolysaccharide, glycoproteins, teichoic acids, and capsular polysaccharides, as well as mycobacterial glycans, including trehalose glycolipids and arabinan-containing glycoconjugates. We cover in detail how bacteria-targeting chemical reporters are designed, synthesized, and evaluated, how they operate from a mechanistic standpoint, and how this information informs their judicious and innovative application. We also provide a perspective on the current state and future directions of the field, underscoring the need for interdisciplinary teams to create novel tools and extend existing tools to support fundamental and translational research on bacterial glycans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Banahene
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
- Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Program, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Herbert W. Kavunja
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
- Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Program, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lane JR, Tata M, Briles DE, Orihuela CJ. A Jack of All Trades: The Role of Pneumococcal Surface Protein A in the Pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:826264. [PMID: 35186799 PMCID: PMC8847780 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.826264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), or the pneumococcus, is a Gram-positive bacterium that colonizes the upper airway. Spn is an opportunistic pathogen capable of life-threatening disease should it become established in the lungs, gain access to the bloodstream, or disseminate to vital organs including the central nervous system. Spn is encapsulated, allowing it to avoid phagocytosis, and current preventative measures against infection include polyvalent vaccines composed of capsular polysaccharide corresponding to its most prevalent serotypes. The pneumococcus also has a plethora of surface components that allow the bacteria to adhere to host cells, facilitate the evasion of the immune system, and obtain vital nutrients; one family of these are the choline-binding proteins (CBPs). Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is one of the most abundant CBPs and confers protection against the host by inhibiting recognition by C-reactive protein and neutralizing the antimicrobial peptide lactoferricin. Recently our group has identified two new roles for PspA: binding to dying host cells via host-cell bound glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and co-opting of host lactate dehydrogenase to enhance lactate availability. These properties have been shown to influence Spn localization and enhance virulence in the lower airway, respectively. Herein, we review the impact of CBPs, and in particular PspA, on pneumococcal pathogenesis. We discuss the potential and limitations of using PspA as a conserved vaccine antigen in a conjugate vaccine formulation. PspA is a vital component of the pneumococcal virulence arsenal - therefore, understanding the molecular aspects of this protein is essential in understanding pneumococcal pathogenesis and utilizing PspA as a target for treating or preventing pneumococcal pneumonia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Carlos J. Orihuela
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ali MQ, Kohler TP, Schulig L, Burchhardt G, Hammerschmidt S. Pneumococcal Extracellular Serine Proteases: Molecular Analysis and Impact on Colonization and Disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:763152. [PMID: 34790590 PMCID: PMC8592123 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.763152] [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: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathobiont Streptococcus pneumoniae causes life-threatening diseases, including pneumonia, sepsis, meningitis, or non-invasive infections such as otitis media. Serine proteases are enzymes that have been emerged during evolution as one of the most abundant and functionally diverse group of proteins in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. S. pneumoniae expresses up to four extracellular serine proteases belonging to the category of trypsin-like or subtilisin-like family proteins: HtrA, SFP, PrtA, and CbpG. These serine proteases have recently received increasing attention because of their immunogenicity and pivotal role in the interaction with host proteins. This review is summarizing and focusing on the molecular and functional analysis of pneumococcal serine proteases, thereby discussing their contribution to pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Murtadha Q Ali
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Thomas P Kohler
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lukas Schulig
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Gerhard Burchhardt
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kurono Y. The mucosal immune system of the upper respiratory tract and recent progress in mucosal vaccines. Auris Nasus Larynx 2021; 49:1-10. [PMID: 34304944 DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The mucosal immune system prevents microorganism invasion through mucosal surfaces and consists of inductive and effector sites. Nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) functions as an inductive site, inducing mucosal immune responses in the upper respiratory tract. It follows that intranasal vaccines may prevent upper respiratory infections. To induce and enhance the immune response by administering inactivated antigens intranasally, mucosal adjuvants have been developed, including mutant cholera toxin and cationic cholesteryl pullulan nanogel, which do not accumulate in the central nervous system. Moreover, multivalent pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccines are used to prevent invasive pneumococcal infections and otitis media, although they only provide moderate protection against acute otitis media because non-vaccine serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae also cause this infection. To address this problem, pneumococcal surface protein A of S. pneumoniae and P6 of H. influenzae are used as broad-spectrum vaccine antigens. Alternatively, phosphorylcholine (PC) is present in the cell walls of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and induces immune responses through antigenic activity. The significant effects of PC as a mucosal vaccine have been demonstrated through intranasal and sublingual immunization in mice. Furthermore, intranasal administration of PC reverses increases in IgE levels and prevents allergic rhinitis. After immunization with pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine, intranasal immunization with PC boosts immune responses to vaccine strains and to PC itself. Thus, PC may be useful as a mucosal vaccine to prevent upper respiratory infections and allergic rhinitis, and it could be used as a booster to the currently used pneumococcal vaccine as it protects against non-vaccine strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuichi Kurono
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hu Y, Park N, Seo KS, Park JY, Somarathne RP, Olivier AK, Fitzkee NC, Thornton JA. Pneumococcal surface adhesion A protein (PsaA) interacts with human Annexin A2 on airway epithelial cells. Virulence 2021; 12:1841-1854. [PMID: 34233589 PMCID: PMC8274441 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1947176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a normal colonizer of the human nasopharynx capable of causing serious invasive disease. Since colonization of the nasopharynx is a prerequisite for progression to invasive diseases, the development of future protein-based vaccines requires an understanding of the intimate interaction of bacterial adhesins with host receptors. In this study, we identified that pneumococcal surface adhesin A (PsaA), a highly conserved pneumococcal protein known to play an important role in colonization of pneumococcus, can interact with Annexin A2 (ANXA2) on Detroit 562 nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. Lentiviral expression of ANXA2 in HEK 293 T/17 cells, which normally express minimal ANXA2, significantly increased pneumococcal adhesion. Blocking of ANXA2 with recombinant PsaA negatively impacted pneumococcal adherence to ANXA2-transduced HEK cells. These results suggest that ANXA2 is an important host cellular receptor for pneumococcal colonization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoonsung Hu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, USA
| | - Nogi Park
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, USA
| | - Keun Seok Seo
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, USA
| | - Joo Youn Park
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, USA
| | - Radha P Somarathne
- Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, USA
| | - Alicia K Olivier
- Department of Population and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, MS, USA
| | - Nicholas C Fitzkee
- Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, USA
| | - Justin A Thornton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hirschmann S, Gómez-Mejia A, Kohler TP, Voß F, Rohde M, Brendel M, Hammerschmidt S. The Two-Component System 09 of Streptococcus pneumoniae Is Important for Metabolic Fitness and Resistance during Dissemination in the Host. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9071365. [PMID: 34201716 PMCID: PMC8306541 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9071365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The two-component regulatory system 09 of Streptococcus pneumoniae has been shown to modulate resistance against oxidative stress as well as capsule expression. These data and the implication of TCS09 in cell wall integrity have been shown for serotype 2 strain D39. Other data have suggested strain-specific regulatory effects of TCS09. Contradictory data are known on the impact of TCS09 on virulence, but all have been explored using only the rr09-mutant. In this study, we have therefore deleted one or both components of the TCS09 (SP_0661 and SP_0662) in serotype 4 S. pneumoniae TIGR4. In vitro growth assays in chemically defined medium (CDM) using sucrose or lactose as a carbon source indicated a delayed growth of nonencapsulated tcs09-mutants, while encapsulated wild-type TIGR4 and tcs09-mutants have reduced growth in CDM with glucose. Using a set of antigen-specific antibodies, immunoblot analysis showed that only the pilus 1 backbone protein RrgB is significantly reduced in TIGR4ΔcpsΔhk09. Electron microscopy, adherence and phagocytosis assays showed no impact of TCS09 on the TIGR4 cell morphology and interaction with host cells. In contrast, in vivo infections and in particular competitive co-infection experiments demonstrated that TCS09 enhances robustness during dissemination in the host by maintaining bacterial fitness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Hirschmann
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany; (S.H.); (A.G.-M.); (T.P.K.); (F.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Alejandro Gómez-Mejia
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany; (S.H.); (A.G.-M.); (T.P.K.); (F.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Thomas P. Kohler
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany; (S.H.); (A.G.-M.); (T.P.K.); (F.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Franziska Voß
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany; (S.H.); (A.G.-M.); (T.P.K.); (F.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Manfred Rohde
- Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany;
| | - Max Brendel
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany; (S.H.); (A.G.-M.); (T.P.K.); (F.V.); (M.B.)
| | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany; (S.H.); (A.G.-M.); (T.P.K.); (F.V.); (M.B.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Martín-Galiano AJ, Escolano-Martínez MS, Corsini B, de la Campa AG, Yuste J. Immunization with SP_1992 (DiiA) Protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae Reduces Nasopharyngeal Colonization and Protects against Invasive Disease in Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9030187. [PMID: 33668195 PMCID: PMC7995960 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9030187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge-based vaccinology can reveal uncharacterized antigen candidates for a new generation of protein-based anti-pneumococcal vaccines. DiiA, encoded by the sp_1992 locus, is a surface protein containing either one or two repeats of a 37mer N-terminal motif that exhibits low interstrain variability. DiiA belongs to the core proteome, contains several conserved B-cell epitopes, and is associated with colonization and pathogenesis. Immunization with DiiA protein via the intraperitoneal route induced a strong IgG response, including different IgG subtypes. Vaccination with DiiA increased bacterial clearance and induced protection against sepsis, conferring 70% increased survival at 48 h post-infection when compared to the adjuvant control. The immunogenic response and survival rates in mice immunized with a truncated DiiA version lacking 119 N-terminal residues were remarkably lower, confirming the relevance of the repeat zone in the immunoprotection by DiiA. Intranasal immunization of mice with the entire recombinant protein elicited mucosal IgG and IgA responses that reduced bacterial colonization of the nasopharynx, confirming that this protein might be a vaccine candidate for reducing the carrier rate. DiiA constitutes an example of how functionally unannotated proteins may still represent promising candidates that can be used in prophylactic strategies against the pneumococcal carrier state and invasive disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio J. Martín-Galiano
- Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (M.S.E.-M.); (B.C.); (A.G.d.l.C.)
- Correspondence: (A.J.M.-G.); (J.Y.); Tel.: +34-918223976 (A.J.M.-G.); +34-918223620 (J.Y.)
| | - María S. Escolano-Martínez
- Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (M.S.E.-M.); (B.C.); (A.G.d.l.C.)
| | - Bruno Corsini
- Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (M.S.E.-M.); (B.C.); (A.G.d.l.C.)
| | - Adela G. de la Campa
- Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (M.S.E.-M.); (B.C.); (A.G.d.l.C.)
- Presidencia Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Yuste
- Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (M.S.E.-M.); (B.C.); (A.G.d.l.C.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (A.J.M.-G.); (J.Y.); Tel.: +34-918223976 (A.J.M.-G.); +34-918223620 (J.Y.)
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Yamaguchi M, Win HPM, Higashi K, Ono M, Hirose Y, Motooka D, Okuzaki D, Aye MM, Htun MM, Thu HM, Kawabata S. Epidemiological analysis of pneumococcal strains isolated at Yangon Children's Hospital in Myanmar via whole-genome sequencing-based methods. Microb Genom 2021; 7:000523. [PMID: 33565958 PMCID: PMC8208701 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae causes over one million deaths from lower respiratory infections per annum worldwide. Although mortality is very high in Southeast Asian countries, molecular epidemiological information remains unavailable for some countries. In this study, we report, for the first time, the whole-genome sequences and genetic profiles of pneumococcal strains isolated in Myanmar. We isolated 60 streptococcal strains from 300 children with acute respiratory infection at Yangon Children's Hospital in Myanmar. We obtained whole-genome sequences and identified the species, serotypes, sequence types, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles, virulence factor profiles and pangenome structure using sequencing-based analysis. Average nucleotide identity analysis indicated that 58 strains were S. pneumoniae and the other 2 strains were Streptococcus mitis. The major serotype was 19F (11 strains), followed by 6E (6B genetic variant; 7 strains) and 15 other serotypes; 5 untypable strains were also detected. Multilocus sequence typing analysis revealed 39 different sequence types, including 11 novel ones. In addition, genetic profiling indicated that AMR genes and mutations spread among pneumococcal strains in Myanmar. A minimum inhibitory concentration assay indicated that several pneumococcal strains had acquired azithromycin and tetracycline resistance, whereas no strains were found to be resistant against levofloxacin and high-dose penicillin G. Phylogenetic and pangenome analysis showed various pneumococcal lineages and that the pneumococcal strains contain a rich and mobile gene pool, providing them with the ability to adapt to selective pressures. This molecular epidemiological information can help in tracking global infection and supporting AMR control in addition to public health interventions in Myanmar.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Yamaguchi
- Department of Oral and Molecular Microbiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hpoo Pwint Myo Win
- Bacteriology Research Division, Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Sports, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Kotaro Higashi
- Department of Oral and Molecular Microbiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masayuki Ono
- Department of Oral and Molecular Microbiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yujiro Hirose
- Department of Oral and Molecular Microbiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daisuke Motooka
- Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daisuke Okuzaki
- Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mya Mya Aye
- Bacteriology Research Division, Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Sports, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Moh Moh Htun
- Bacteriology Research Division, Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Sports, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Hlaing Myat Thu
- Bacteriology Research Division, Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Sports, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Shigetada Kawabata
- Department of Oral and Molecular Microbiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Panagiotou S, Chaguza C, Yahya R, Audshasai T, Baltazar M, Ressel L, Khandaker S, Alsahag M, Mitchell TJ, Prudhomme M, Kadioglu A, Yang M. Hypervirulent pneumococcal serotype 1 harbours two pneumolysin variants with differential haemolytic activity. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17313. [PMID: 33057054 PMCID: PMC7560715 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73454-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a devastating global pathogen. Prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, pneumococcal serotype 1 is atypical in that it is rarely found as a nasopharyngeal coloniser, yet is described as one of the most common causes of invasive pneumococcal disease. Clonal sequence type (ST)-306 and ST615 are representative of the two major serotype 1 lineages A and C, respectively. Here we investigated the virulence properties and haemolytic activities of these 2 clonal types using in vivo mouse models and in vitro assays. A lethal dose of ST615 administered intranasally to mice led to the rapid onset of disease symptoms and resulted in 90% mortality. In contrast, mice exposed to the same infection dose of ST306 or a pneumolysin (Ply)-deficient ST615 failed to develop any disease symptoms. Interestingly, the 2 strains did not differ in their ability to bind the immune complement or to undergo neutrophil-mediated phagocytosis. Upon comparative genomic analysis, we found higher within-ST sequence diversity in ST615 compared with ST306 and determined that ZmpA, ZmpD proteins, and IgA protease, were uniquely found in ST615. Using cell fractionation and cell contact-dependent assay, we made the unexpected finding that ST615 harbours the expression of two haemolytic variants of Ply: a cell-wall restricted fully haemolytic Ply, and a cytosolic pool of Ply void of any detectable haemolytic activity. This is the first time such a phenomenon has been described. We discuss the biological significance of our observation in relation to the aptitude of the pneumococcus for sustaining its human reservoir.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stavros Panagiotou
- Department of Clinical Infection Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, The Ronald Ross Building, 8 West Derby St, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
| | - Chrispin Chaguza
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK
- Darwin College, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge, CB3 9EU, UK
| | - Reham Yahya
- College of sciences and health professions, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Teerawit Audshasai
- Department of Clinical Infection Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, The Ronald Ross Building, 8 West Derby St, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
| | - Murielle Baltazar
- Department of Clinical Infection Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, The Ronald Ross Building, 8 West Derby St, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
| | - Lorenzo Ressel
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Shadia Khandaker
- Department of Clinical Infection Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, The Ronald Ross Building, 8 West Derby St, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
| | - Mansoor Alsahag
- Department of Clinical Infection Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, The Ronald Ross Building, 8 West Derby St, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
- Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Albaha University, Albaha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Tim J Mitchell
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Marc Prudhomme
- Université Paul Sabatier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Aras Kadioglu
- Department of Clinical Infection Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, The Ronald Ross Building, 8 West Derby St, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK.
| | - Marie Yang
- Department of Clinical Infection Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, The Ronald Ross Building, 8 West Derby St, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Hanachi M, Kiran A, Cornick J, Harigua-Souiai E, Everett D, Benkahla A, Souiai O. Genomic Characteristics of Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 1 in New Caledonia Prior to the Introduction of PCV13. Bioinform Biol Insights 2020; 14:1177932220962106. [PMID: 33088176 PMCID: PMC7545519 DOI: 10.1177/1177932220962106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 is a common cause of global invasive pneumococcal disease. In New Caledonia, serotype 1 is the most prevalent serotype and led to two major outbreaks reported in the 2000s. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13 (PCV13) was introduced into the vaccination routine, intending to prevent the expansion of serotype 1 in New Caledonia. Aiming to provide a baseline for monitoring the post-PCV13 changes, we performed a whole-genome sequence analysis on 67 serotype 1 isolates collected prior to the PCV13 introduction. To highlight the S. pneumoniae serotype 1 population structure, we performed a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis revealing that NC serotype 1 consisted of 2 sequence types: ST3717 and the highly dominant ST306. Both sequence types harbored the same resistance genes to beta-lactams, macrolide, streptogramin B, fluoroquinolone, and lincosamide antibiotics. We have also identified 36 virulence genes that were ubiquitous to all the isolates. Among these virulence genes, the pneumolysin sequence presented an allelic profile associated with disease outbreaks and reduced hemolytic activity. Moreover, recombination hotspots were identified in 4 virulence genes and more notably in the cps locus (cps2L), potentially leading to capsular switching, a major mechanism of the emergence of nonvaccine types. In summary, this study represents the first overview of the genomic characteristics of S. pneumoniae serotype 1 in New Caledonia prior to the introduction of PCV13. This preliminary description represents a baseline to assess the impact of PCV13 on serotype 1 population structure and genomic diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariem Hanachi
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics-LR16IPT09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis, Tunisia.,Faculty of Science of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna, Tunisia
| | - Anmol Kiran
- Queens Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Jennifer Cornick
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi.,Departement of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Emna Harigua-Souiai
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology-LR16IPT04, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Dean Everett
- Queens Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Alia Benkahla
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics-LR16IPT09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Oussama Souiai
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics-LR16IPT09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis, Tunisia.,Institut Supérieur des Technologies Médicales de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Afshar D, Rafiee F, Kheirandish M, Ohadian Moghadam S, Azarsa M. Autolysin (lytA) recombinant protein: a potential target for developing vaccines against pneumococcal infections. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2020; 9:76-80. [PMID: 32864363 PMCID: PMC7445314 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2020.9.2.76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase known as lytA, is an immunogenic protein that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is highly conserved among S. pneumoniae strains and is absent among other Streptococcus species. In the present study, the level of antibodies against the lytA recombinant protein was evaluated in healthy individuals' sera. Materials and Methods DNA was extracted from S. pneumoniae ATCC 49619 to amplify lytA gene by polymerase chain reaction assay. The lytA amplicon and pET28a vector were separately double digested using Nde-1 and Xho1 restriction enzymes and then ligated together with ligase enzyme. The recombinant plasmid was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 strain and the lytA recombinant protein purified using nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity chromatography. Western blot was carried to detect lytA recombinant protein. Sixty healthy individual's sera (at three age groups: group 1, <2; group 2, 2–40; and group 3, 60–90 years old) were collected and the titers of anti-lytA antibodies were determined. Results The lytA gene was highly expressed in E. coli BL21 host. The recombinant lytA protein was purified and confirmed by western blotting. Tukey test analysis showed that there were no significant differences among the age groups considering the anti-lytA titer of 10. However, at the anti-lytA titer of 60, significant differences were observed between group 1 vs. group 2 (p<0.001); group 1 vs. group 3 (p=0.003), and group 2 vs. group 3 (p=0.024). Conclusion The lytA protein seems to be a highly immunogenic antigen and a potential target for developing vaccines against pneumococcal infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davoud Afshar
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Rafiee
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Mozhgan Kheirandish
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Azarsa
- Department of Microbiology, Khoy University of Medical Sciences, Khoy, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Ghotekar BK, Podilapu AR, Kulkarni SS. Total Synthesis of the Lipid-Anchor-Attached Core Trisaccharides of Lipoteichoic Acids of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus oralis Uo5. Org Lett 2020; 22:537-541. [PMID: 31887057 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.9b04264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Herein we report an efficient total synthesis of lipid-anchor-appended core trisaccharides of lipoteichoic acids of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus oralis Uo5. The key features include the expedient synthesis of the rare sugar 2,4,6-trideoxy-2-acetamido-4-amino-d-Galp building block via one-pot sequential SN2 reactions and the α-selective coupling of d-thioglucoside with the diacyl glycerol acceptor to construct a common disaccharide acceptor, which was utilized in the total synthesis of target molecules 1 and 2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Balasaheb K Ghotekar
- Department of Chemistry , Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , Mumbai 400076 , India
| | - Ananda Rao Podilapu
- Department of Chemistry , Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , Mumbai 400076 , India
| | - Suvarn S Kulkarni
- Department of Chemistry , Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , Mumbai 400076 , India
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Shokeen B, Park J, Duong E, Rambhia S, Paul M, Weinberg A, Shi W, Lux R. Role of FAD-I in Fusobacterial Interspecies Interaction and Biofilm Formation. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E70. [PMID: 31906541 PMCID: PMC7023056 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8010070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
: RadD, a major adhesin of oral fusobacteria, is part of a four-gene operon encoding the small lipoprotein FAD-I and two currently uncharacterized small proteins encoded by the rapA and rapB genes. Previously, we described a role for FAD-I in the induction of human B-defensin 2 (hBD2) upon contact with oral epithelial cells. Here, we investigated potential roles for fad-I, rapA, and rapB in interspecies interaction and biofilm formation. Gene inactivation mutants were generated for each of these genes in the nucleatum and polymorphum subspecies of Fusobacterium nucleatum and characterized for their adherence to partner species, biofilm formation, and operon transcription. Binding to Streptococcus gordonii was increased in all mutant strains with Δfad-I having the most significant effect. This increased adherence was directly proportional to elevated radD transcript levels and resulted in significantly different architecture and height of the biofilms formed by Δfad-I and S. gordonii compared to the wild-type parent. In conclusion, FAD-I is important for fusobacterial interspecies interaction as its lack leads to increased production of the RadD adhesin suggesting a role of FAD-I in its regulation. This regulatory effect does not require the presence of functional RadD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bhumika Shokeen
- Section of Periodontics, Division of Constitutive & Regenerative Sciences, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jane Park
- Section of Periodontics, Division of Constitutive & Regenerative Sciences, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Emily Duong
- Section of Periodontics, Division of Constitutive & Regenerative Sciences, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Sonam Rambhia
- Section of Periodontics, Division of Constitutive & Regenerative Sciences, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Manash Paul
- David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Aaron Weinberg
- Department of Biological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4905, USA
| | - Wenyuan Shi
- The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Renate Lux
- Section of Periodontics, Division of Constitutive & Regenerative Sciences, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Devraj G, Guérit S, Seele J, Spitzer D, Macas J, Khel MI, Heidemann R, Braczynski AK, Ballhorn W, Günther S, Ogunshola OO, Mittelbronn M, Ködel U, Monoranu CM, Plate KH, Hammerschmidt S, Nau R, Devraj K, Kempf VAJ. HIF-1α is involved in blood-brain barrier dysfunction and paracellular migration of bacteria in pneumococcal meningitis. Acta Neuropathol 2020; 140:183-208. [PMID: 32529267 PMCID: PMC7360668 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-020-02174-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial meningitis is a deadly disease most commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, leading to severe neurological sequelae including cerebral edema, seizures, stroke, and mortality when untreated. Meningitis is initiated by the transfer of S. pneumoniae from blood to the brain across the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier or the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Current treatment strategies include adjuvant dexamethasone for inflammation and cerebral edema, followed by antibiotics. The success of dexamethasone is however inconclusive, necessitating new therapies for controlling edema, the primary reason for neurological complications. Since we have previously shown a general activation of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-1α) in bacterial infections, we hypothesized that HIF-1α, via induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in transmigration of pathogens across the BBB. In human, murine meningitis brain samples, HIF-1α activation was observed by immunohistochemistry. S. pneumoniae infection in brain endothelial cells (EC) resulted in in vitro upregulation of HIF-1α/VEGF (Western blotting/qRT-PCR) associated with increased paracellular permeability (fluorometry, impedance measurements). This was supported by bacterial localization at cell-cell junctions in vitro and in vivo in brain ECs from mouse and humans (confocal, super-resolution, electron microscopy, live-cell imaging). Hematogenously infected mice showed increased permeability, S. pneumoniae deposition in the brain, along with upregulation of genes in the HIF-1α/VEGF pathway (RNA sequencing of brain microvessels). Inhibition of HIF-1α with echinomycin, siRNA in bEnd5 cells or using primary brain ECs from HIF-1α knock-out mice revealed reduced endothelial permeability and transmigration of S. pneumoniae. Therapeutic rescue using the HIF-1α inhibitor echinomycin resulted in increased survival and improvement of BBB function in S. pneumoniae-infected mice. We thus demonstrate paracellular migration of bacteria across BBB and a critical role for HIF-1α/VEGF therein and hence propose targeting this pathway to prevent BBB dysfunction and ensuing brain damage in infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gayatri Devraj
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sylvaine Guérit
- Edinger Institute/Neurological Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jana Seele
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany ,Department of Geriatrics, Evangelisches Krankenhaus, Göttingen-Weende, Germany
| | - Daniel Spitzer
- Edinger Institute/Neurological Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany ,Department of Neurology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jadranka Macas
- Edinger Institute/Neurological Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Maryam I. Khel
- Edinger Institute/Neurological Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Roxana Heidemann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anne K. Braczynski
- Edinger Institute/Neurological Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany ,Department of Neurology, Technische Hochschule University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Wibke Ballhorn
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stefan Günther
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | | | - Michel Mittelbronn
- Edinger Institute/Neurological Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany ,Luxembourg Centre of Neuropathology (LCNP), Luxembourg, Luxembourg ,Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange, Luxembourg ,Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg ,NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Uwe Ködel
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Camelia M. Monoranu
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Karl H. Plate
- Edinger Institute/Neurological Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany ,Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Roland Nau
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kavi Devraj
- Edinger Institute/Neurological Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. .,Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Volkhard A. J. Kempf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
In vivo proteomics identifies the competence regulon and AliB oligopeptide transporter as pathogenic factors in pneumococcal meningitis. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007987. [PMID: 31356624 PMCID: PMC6687184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci) is a leading cause of severe bacterial meningitis in many countries worldwide. To characterize the repertoire of fitness and virulence factors predominantly expressed during meningitis we performed niche-specific analysis of the in vivo proteome in a mouse meningitis model, in which bacteria are directly inoculated into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cisterna magna. We generated a comprehensive mass spectrometry (MS) spectra library enabling bacterial proteome analysis even in the presence of eukaryotic proteins. We recovered 200,000 pneumococci from CSF obtained from meningitis mice and by MS we identified 685 pneumococci proteins in samples from in vitro filter controls and 249 in CSF isolates. Strikingly, the regulatory two-component system ComDE and substrate-binding protein AliB of the oligopeptide transporter system were exclusively detected in pneumococci recovered from the CSF. In the mouse meningitis model, AliB-, ComDE-, or AliB-ComDE-deficiency resulted in attenuated meningeal inflammation and disease severity when compared to wild-type pneumococci indicating the crucial role of ComDE and AliB in pneumococcal meningitis. In conclusion, we show here mechanisms of pneumococcal adaptation to a defined host compartment by a proteome-based approach. Further, this study provides the basis of a promising strategy for the identification of protein antigens critical for invasive disease caused by pneumococci and other meningeal pathogens. Pneumococci are one of the most common and aggressive meningitis pathogens associated with mortality rates between 10% and 30%. Due to severe complications during therapeutic intervention, prevention strategies to combat pneumococcal meningitis (PM) are preferred. The vaccines available are so far suboptimal and inefficient to prevent serious PM. Hence, deciphering the mechanisms employed by pneumococci to encounter and survive in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) will pave the way for the development of new antimicrobial strategies. This work used an in vivo proteome-based approach to identify pneumococcal proteins expressed in the CSF during acute meningitis. This strategy identified a nutrient uptake system and regulatory system to be highly expressed in the CSF and being crucial for PM. Knocking out two of the highly in vivo expressed proteins (AliA and ComDE) in S. pneumoniae yields to a significant increase in survival and decrease in pathogen burden of infected mice. These host compartment specific expressed pneumococcal antigens represent promising candidates for antimicrobials or protein-based vaccines.
Collapse
|
25
|
Abstract
S. pseudopneumoniae is an overlooked pathogen emerging as the causative agent of lower-respiratory-tract infections and associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and exacerbation of COPD. However, much remains unknown on its clinical importance and epidemiology, mainly due to the lack of specific markers to distinguish it from S. pneumoniae. Here, we provide a new molecular marker entirely specific for S. pseudopneumoniae and offer a comprehensive view of the virulence and colonization genes found in this species. Finally, our results pave the way for further studies aiming at understanding the pathogenesis and epidemiology of S. pseudopneumoniae. Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae is a close relative of the major human pathogen S. pneumoniae. It is increasingly associated with lower-respiratory-tract infections (LRTI) and a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). S. pseudopneumoniae is difficult to identify using traditional typing methods due to similarities with S. pneumoniae and other members of the mitis group (SMG). Using whole-genome sequencing of LRTI isolates and a comparative genomic approach, we found that a large number of pneumococcal virulence and colonization genes are present in the core S. pseudopneumoniae genome. We also reveal an impressive number of novel surface-exposed proteins encoded by the genome of this species. In addition, we propose a new and entirely specific molecular marker useful for the identification of S. pseudopneumoniae. Phylogenetic analyses of S. pseudopneumoniae show that specific clades are associated with allelic variants of core proteins. Resistance to tetracycline and macrolides, the two most common types of resistance, were found to be encoded by Tn916-like integrating conjugative elements and Mega-2. Overall, we found a tight association of genotypic determinants of AMR and phenotypic AMR with a specific lineage of S. pseudopneumoniae. Taken together, our results shed light on the distribution in S. pseudopneumoniae of genes known to be important during invasive disease and colonization and provide insight into features that could contribute to virulence, colonization, and adaptation.
Collapse
|
26
|
Ohori J, Jimura T, Kurono Y. Role of Phosphorylcholine-Specific Immunoglobulin M in Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infections. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2019; 128:111S-116S. [PMID: 31092031 DOI: 10.1177/0003489419835568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to clarify the role of serum phosphorylcholine (PC)-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) as a natural antibody against infectious diseases. METHODS The relationship between serum PC-specific IgM level and C-reactive protein level or white blood cell counts was examined in patients with severe upper respiratory tract infections (ie, acute epiglottitis and peritonsillar abscess). RESULTS PC-specific IgM level was significantly negatively correlated with C-reactive protein level and white blood cell count. In addition, C-reactive protein level and white blood cell count was significantly lower in women than in men, whereas PC-specific IgM level was significantly higher in women. CONCLUSIONS PC-specific IgM is suggested to have protective and suppressive effects against the progression of infectious and inflammatory reactions. Higher levels of PC-specific IgM in women might be one of the reasons why the incidence and severity of acute epiglottitis and peritonsillar abscess are lower in women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junichiro Ohori
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Jimura
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yuichi Kurono
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Crystal structure of the choline-binding protein CbpJ from Streptococcus pneumoniae. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 514:1192-1197. [PMID: 31104766 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.05.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The choline-binding proteins play essential roles in pneumococcal colonization and virulence. It has been suggested that the choline-binding protein J (termed CbpJ; encoded by the gene sp_0378) from Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4 involves in the colonization in host and contributes to evasion of neutrophil killing. Here we report the 2.0 Å crystal structure of CbpJ in complex with choline. CbpJ consists of an N-terminal putative functional domain (N-domain) followed by a C-terminal choline-binding domain (CBD). The N-domain harbors four degenerated choline-binding repeats (CBRs) that lose the capacity of binding to choline, whereas the CBD is composed of seven typical CBRs. Further functional assays showed that the CBD contributes to the pneumococcal adhesion to human lung epithelial cell A549. These findings provide insights into the pneumococcal pathogenesis and broaden our understanding on the functions of choline-binding proteins.
Collapse
|
28
|
Jagau H, Behrens IK, Lahme K, Lorz G, Köster RW, Schneppenheim R, Obser T, Brehm MA, König G, Kohler TP, Rohde M, Frank R, Tegge W, Fulde M, Hammerschmidt S, Steinert M, Bergmann S. Von Willebrand Factor Mediates Pneumococcal Aggregation and Adhesion in Blood Flow. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:511. [PMID: 30972039 PMCID: PMC6443961 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of community acquired pneumonia and septicaemia in humans. These diseases are frequently associated with thromboembolic cardiovascular complications. Pneumococci induce the exocytosis of endothelial Weibel-Palade Bodies and thereby actively stimulate the release of von Willebrand factor (VWF), which is an essential glycoprotein of the vascular hemostasis. Both, the pneumococcus induced pulmonary inflammation and the thromboembolytic complications are characterized by a dysbalanced hemostasis including a marked increase in VWF plasma concentrations. Here, we describe for the first time VWF as a novel interaction partner of capsulated and non-encapsulated pneumococci. Moreover, cell culture infection analyses with primary endothelial cells characterized VWF as bridging molecule that mediates bacterial adherence to endothelial cells in a heparin-sensitive manner. Due to the mechanoresponsive changes of the VWF protein conformation and multimerization status, which occur in the blood stream, we used a microfluidic pump system to generate shear flow-induced multimeric VWF strings on endothelial cell surfaces and analyzed attachment of RFP-expressing pneumococci in flow. By applying immunofluorescence visualization and additional electron microscopy, we detected a frequent and enduring bacterial attachment to the VWF strings. Bacterial attachment to the endothelium was confirmed in vivo using a zebrafish infection model, which is described in many reports and acknowledged as suitable model to study hemostasis mechanisms and protein interactions of coagulation factors. Notably, we visualized the recruitment of zebrafish-derived VWF to the surface of pneumococci circulating in the blood stream and detected a VWF-dependent formation of bacterial aggregates within the vasculature of infected zebrafish larvae. Furthermore, we identified the surface-exposed bacterial enolase as pneumococcal VWF binding protein, which interacts with the VWF domain A1 and determined the binding kinetics by surface plasmon resonance. Subsequent epitope mapping using an enolase peptide array indicates that the peptide 181YGAEIFHALKKILKS195 might serve as a possible core sequence of the VWF interaction site. In conclusion, we describe a VWF-mediated mechanism for pneumococcal anchoring within the bloodstream via surface-displayed enolase, which promotes intravascular bacterial aggregation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hilger Jagau
- Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ina-Kristin Behrens
- Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Karen Lahme
- Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Georgina Lorz
- Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Reinhard W Köster
- Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Reinhard Schneppenheim
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE Hamburg), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Obser
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE Hamburg), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria A Brehm
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE Hamburg), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gesa König
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE Hamburg), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas P Kohler
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Manfred Rohde
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Central Facility for Microscopy, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ronald Frank
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Werner Tegge
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Marcus Fulde
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michael Steinert
- Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.,Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Simone Bergmann
- Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Tarahomjoo S, Ghaderi S. In silico Design of a Novel Serotype Independent Vaccine Against Streptococcus pneumoniae Based on B-cell Epitope Regions of Fibronectin Binding Protein, Choline Binding Protein D, and D-alanyl-D-alanine Carboxypeptidase. LETT DRUG DES DISCOV 2019. [DOI: 10.2174/1570180815666180815150600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background:Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in the past, have been constructed via chemical coupling of pneumococcal capsules to immunogenic carrier proteins. The PCVs implementation in developing countries was prevented by their high manufacturing costs. This issue can be overcome via the development of protein-based vaccines against pneumococci. Choline binding protein D (CBPD), fibronectin binding protein (FBP), and D-alanyl-D-alanine-carboxy peptidase (DDCP) were already identified as pneumococcal surface proteins able to elicit protection against S. pneumoniae serotype 19F.Methods:As antibody responses are necessary for protection against pneumococci, the aim of this study is, therefore, to design computationally a chimeric pneumococcal vaccine using B-cell epitope regions of CBPD, FBP, and DDCP. These regions were determined using results of Bepipred, BCPreds and CBTope programs. The most probable immunoprotective B-cell epitope region (MIBR) of each protein was identified using VaxiJen. MIBRs were highly conserved in common S. pneumoniae serotypes causing invasive pneumococcal disease worldwide. The conserved MIBRs were joined together using either flexible (Gly4Ser)2 linker or the rigid AspProArgValProSerSer linker to form antigens with molecular weights of 22.53 kDa and 22.74 kDa, respectively.Results and Discussion:The codon optimization was done for the chimeric antigens. Analysis of mRNAs secondary structures revealed no stable hairpins at 5' ends that could interfere with antigen expression. The 3D model of the antigen possessing the flexible linker contained alpha helix, whereas several beta sheets were observed in the tertiary structure of the antigen possessing the rigid linker and it did not have any alpha helixes. Moreover, the antigen-containing the rigid linker included a beta sheet in the C-terminus of DDCP MIBR, which showed 60% residue identity to the beta sheet in the same region of the partial structure of DDCP obtained from protein data bank. However, the other antigen did not contain any similar structural elements in DDCP MIBR.Conclusion:In silico analyses of physicochemical properties indicated that inclusion of the rigid linker instead of the flexible linker resulted in better stability of the chimeric antigen. In addition, using the rigid linker increased the probability of the protein soluble expression in Escherichia coli. Therefore, the chimeric antigen composed of conserved MIBRs joining via the rigid linker is predicted to be a suitable vaccine candidate, which could elicit protection against common pneumococcal serotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Tarahomjoo
- Division of Genomics and Genetic Engineering, Department of Biotechnology and Central Laboratory, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj 31975/148, Iran
| | - Soheila Ghaderi
- Division of Central Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Central Laboratory, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj 31975/148, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Morrin ST, Owens RA, Le Berre M, Gerlach JQ, Joshi L, Bode L, Irwin JA, Hickey RM. Interrogation of Milk-Driven Changes to the Proteome of Intestinal Epithelial Cells by Integrated Proteomics and Glycomics. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2019; 67:1902-1917. [PMID: 30663306 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b06484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Bovine colostrum is a rich source of bioactive components which are important in the development of the intestine, in stimulating gut structure and function and in preparing the gut surface for subsequent colonization of microbes. What is not clear, however, is how colostrum may affect the repertoire of receptors and membrane proteins of the intestinal surface and the post-translational modifications associated with them. In the present work, we aimed to characterize the surface receptor and glycan profile of human HT-29 intestinal cells after exposure to a bovine colostrum fraction (BCF) by means of proteomic and glycomic analyses. Integration of label-free quantitative proteomic analysis and lectin array profiles confirmed that BCF exposure results in changes in the levels of glycoproteins present at the cell surface and also changes to their glycosylation pattern. This study contributes to our understanding of how milk components may regulate intestinal cells and prime them for bacterial interaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sinead T Morrin
- Teagasc Food Research Centre , Moorepark , Fermoy, P61C996 , County Cork , Ireland
- Veterinary Sciences Centre, School of Veterinary Medicine , University College Dublin , Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8 , Ireland
| | - Rebecca A Owens
- Department of Biology , Maynooth University , Maynooth , W23 F2H6 , County Kildare , Ireland
| | - Marie Le Berre
- Glycoscience Group, Advanced Glycoscience Research Cluster, National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science , National University of Ireland Galway , H91TK33 , Galway , Ireland
| | - Jared Q Gerlach
- Glycoscience Group, Advanced Glycoscience Research Cluster, National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science , National University of Ireland Galway , H91TK33 , Galway , Ireland
| | - Lokesh Joshi
- Glycoscience Group, Advanced Glycoscience Research Cluster, National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science , National University of Ireland Galway , H91TK33 , Galway , Ireland
| | - Lars Bode
- Department of Pediatrics and Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence , University of California, San Diego , La Jolla , California 92093 , United States
| | - Jane A Irwin
- Veterinary Sciences Centre, School of Veterinary Medicine , University College Dublin , Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8 , Ireland
| | - Rita M Hickey
- Teagasc Food Research Centre , Moorepark , Fermoy, P61C996 , County Cork , Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
PepN is a non-essential, cell wall-localized protein that contributes to neutrophil elastase-mediated killing of Streptococcus pneumoniae. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211632. [PMID: 30707714 PMCID: PMC6358159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is an asymptomatic colonizer of the human nasopharynx but can also cause disease in the inner ear, meninges, lung and blood. Although various mechanisms contribute to the effective clearance of Spn, opsonophagocytosis by neutrophils is perhaps most critical. Upon phagocytosis, Spn is exposed to various degradative molecules, including a family of neutrophil serine proteases (NSPs) that are stored within intracellular granules. Despite the critical importance of NSPs in killing Spn, the bacterial proteins that are degraded by NSPs leading to Spn death are still unknown. In this report, we identify a 90kDa protein in a purified cell wall (CW) preparation, aminopeptidase N (PepN) that is degraded by the NSP neutrophil elastase (NE). Since PepN lacked a canonical signal sequence or LPxTG motif, we created a mutant expressing a FLAG tagged version of the protein and confirmed its localization to the CW compartment. We determined that not only is PepN a CW-localized protein, but also is a substrate of NE in the context of intact Spn cells. Furthermore, in comparison to wild-type TIGR4 Spn, a mutant strain lacking PepN demonstrated a significant hyper-resistance phenotype in vitro in the presence of purified NE as well as in opsonophagocytic assays with purified human neutrophils ex vivo. Taken together, this is the first study to demonstrate that PepN is a CW-localized protein and a substrate of NE that contributes to the effective killing of Spn by NSPs and human neutrophils.
Collapse
|
32
|
Streptococcus pneumoniae two-component regulatory systems: The interplay of the pneumococcus with its environment. Int J Med Microbiol 2018; 308:722-737. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2017.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
|
33
|
Brooks LRK, Mias GI. Streptococcus pneumoniae's Virulence and Host Immunity: Aging, Diagnostics, and Prevention. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1366. [PMID: 29988379 PMCID: PMC6023974 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an infectious pathogen responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. Diseases caused by this bacterium are classified as pneumococcal diseases. This pathogen colonizes the nasopharynx of its host asymptomatically, but overtime can migrate to sterile tissues and organs and cause infections. Pneumonia is currently the most common pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal pneumonia is a global health concern and vastly affects children under the age of five as well as the elderly and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. S. pneumoniae has a large selection of virulence factors that promote adherence, invasion of host tissues, and allows it to escape host immune defenses. A clear understanding of S. pneumoniae's virulence factors, host immune responses, and examining the current techniques available for diagnosis, treatment, and disease prevention will allow for better regulation of the pathogen and its diseases. In terms of disease prevention, other considerations must include the effects of age on responses to vaccines and vaccine efficacy. Ongoing work aims to improve on current vaccination paradigms by including the use of serotype-independent vaccines, such as protein and whole cell vaccines. Extending our knowledge of the biology of, and associated host immune response to S. pneumoniae is paramount for our improvement of pneumococcal disease diagnosis, treatment, and improvement of patient outlook.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lavida R. K. Brooks
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - George I. Mias
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Lewis ML, Surewaard BGJ. Neutrophil evasion strategies by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. Cell Tissue Res 2017; 371:489-503. [PMID: 29204747 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-017-2737-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Humans are well equipped to defend themselves against bacteria. The innate immune system employs diverse mechanisms to recognize, control and initiate a response that can destroy millions of different microbes. Microbes that evade the sophisticated innate immune system are able to escape detection and could become pathogens. The pathogens Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus are particularly successful due to the development of a wide variety of virulence strategies for bacterial pathogenesis and they invest significant efforts towards mechanisms that allow for neutrophil evasion. Neutrophils are a primary cellular defense and can rapidly kill invading microbes, which is an indispensable function for maintaining host health. This review compares the key features of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus in epidemiology, with a specific focus on virulence mechanisms utilized to evade neutrophils in bacterial pathogenesis. It is important to understand the complex interactions between pathogenic bacteria and neutrophils so that we can disrupt the ability of pathogens to cause disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Lewis
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Bas G J Surewaard
- Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. .,Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4 Phase-Locked Opacity Variants Differ in Virulence Phenotypes. mSphere 2017; 2:mSphere00386-17. [PMID: 29152579 PMCID: PMC5687919 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00386-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a leading human pathogen that can cause serious localized and invasive diseases. Pneumococci can undergo a spontaneous and reversible phase variation that is reflected in colony opacity and which allows the population to adapt to different host environments. Generally, transparent variants are adapted for nasopharyngeal colonization, whereas opaque variants are associated with invasive disease. In recent work, colony phase variation was shown to occur by means of recombination events to generate multiple alleles of the hsdS targeting domain of a DNA methylase complex, which mediates epigenetic changes in gene expression. A panel of isogenic strains were created in the well-studied S. pneumoniae TIGR4 background that are "locked" in the transparent (n = 4) or opaque (n = 2) colony phenotype. The strains had significant differences in colony size which were stable over multiple passages in vitro and in vivo. While there were no significant differences in adherence for the phase-locked mutant strains to immortalized epithelial cells, biofilm formation and viability were reduced for the opaque variants in static assays. Nasopharyngeal colonization was stable for all strains, but the mortality rates differed between them. Transcript profiling by transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses revealed that the expression levels of certain virulence factors were increased in a phase-specific manner. As epigenetic regulation of phase variation (often referred to as "phasevarion") is emerging as a common theme for mucosal pathogens, these results serve as a model for future studies of host-pathogen interactions. IMPORTANCE A growing number of bacterial species undergo epigenetic phase variation due to variable expression or specificity of DNA-modifying enzymes. For pneumococci, this phase variation has long been appreciated as being revealed by changes in colony opacity, which are reflected in changes in expression or accessibility of factors on the bacterial surface. Recent work showed that recombination-generated variation in alleles of the HsdS DNA methylase specificity subunit mediated pneumococcal phase variation. We generated phase-locked populations of S. pneumoniae TIGR4 expressing a single nonvariant hsdS allele and observed significant differences in gene expression and virulence. These results highlight the importance of focused pathogenesis studies within specific phase types. Moreover, the generation of single-allele hsdS constructs will greatly facilitate such studies.
Collapse
|
36
|
Gene Acquisition by a Distinct Phyletic Group within Streptococcus pneumoniae Promotes Adhesion to the Ocular Epithelium. mSphere 2017; 2:mSphere00213-17. [PMID: 29085912 PMCID: PMC5656748 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00213-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) displays broad tissue tropism and infects multiple body sites in the human host. However, infections of the conjunctiva are limited to strains within a distinct phyletic group with multilocus sequence types ST448, ST344, ST1186, ST1270, and ST2315. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of six pneumococcal strains isolated from eye infections. The conjunctivitis isolates are grouped in a distinct phyletic group together with a subset of nasopharyngeal isolates. The keratitis (infection of the cornea) and endophthalmitis (infection of the vitreous body) isolates are grouped with the remainder of pneumococcal strains. Phenotypic characterization is consistent with morphological differences associated with the distinct phyletic group. Specifically, isolates from the distinct phyletic group form aggregates in planktonic cultures and chain-like structures in biofilms grown on abiotic surfaces. To begin to investigate the association between genotype and epidemiology, we focused on a predicted surface-exposed adhesin (SspB) encoded exclusively by this distinct phyletic group. Phylogenetic analysis of the gene encoding SspB in the context of a streptococcal species tree suggests that sspB was acquired by lateral gene transfer from Streptococcus suis. Furthermore, an sspB deletion mutant displays decreased adherence to cultured cells from the ocular epithelium compared to the isogenic wild-type and complemented strains. Together these findings suggest that acquisition of genes from outside the species has contributed to pneumococcal tissue tropism by enhancing the ability of a subset of strains to infect the ocular epithelium causing conjunctivitis. IMPORTANCE Changes in the gene content of pathogens can modify their ability to colonize and/or survive in different body sites in the human host. In this study, we investigate a gene acquisition event and its role in the pathogenesis of Streptococccus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). Our findings suggest that the gene encoding the predicted surface protein SspB has been transferred from Streptococcus suis (a distantly related streptococcal species) into a distinct set of pneumococcal strains. This group of strains distinguishes itself from the remainder of pneumococcal strains by extensive differences in genomic composition and by the ability to cause conjunctivitis. We find that the presence of sspB increases adherence of pneumococcus to the ocular epithelium. Thus, our data support the hypothesis that a subset of pneumococcal strains has gained genes from neighboring species that enhance their ability to colonize the epithelium of the eye, thus expanding into a new niche.
Collapse
|
37
|
Kanwal S, Jensch I, Palm GJ, Brönstrup M, Rohde M, Kohler TP, Somplatzki D, Tegge W, Jenkinson HF, Hammerschmidt S. Mapping the recognition domains of pneumococcal fibronectin-binding proteins PavA and PavB demonstrates a common pattern of molecular interactions with fibronectin type III repeats. Mol Microbiol 2017; 105:839-859. [PMID: 28657670 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Colonization of mucosal respiratory surfaces is a prerequisite for the human pathobiont Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) to cause severe invasive infections. The arsenal of pneumococcal adhesins interacts with a multitude of extracellular matrix proteins. A paradigm for pneumococci is their interaction with the adhesive glycoprotein fibronectin, which facilitates bacterial adherence to host cells. Here, we deciphered the molecular interaction between fibronectin and pneumococcal fibronectin-binding proteins (FnBPs) PavA and PavB respectively. We show in adherence and binding studies that the pneumococcal interaction with fibronectin is a non-human specific trait. PavA and PavB target at least 13 out of 15 type III fibronectin domains as demonstrated in ligand overlay assays, surface plasmon resonance studies and SPOT peptide arrays. Strikingly, both pneumococcal FnBPs recognize similar peptides in targeted type III repeats. Structural comparisons revealed that the targeted type III repeat epitopes cluster on the inner strands of both β-sheets forming the fibronectin domains. Importantly, synthetic peptides of FnIII1 , FnIII5 or FnIII15 bind directly to FnBPs PavA and PavB respectively. In conclusion, our study suggests a common pattern of molecular interactions between pneumococcal FnBPs and fibronectin. The specific epitopes recognized in this study can potentially be tested as antimicrobial targets in further scientific endeavours.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sajida Kanwal
- Department Genetics of Microorganisms, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, D-17487, Germany
| | - Inga Jensch
- Department Genetics of Microorganisms, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, D-17487, Germany
| | - Gottfried J Palm
- Department of Structural Biology, Institute for Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, D-17487, Germany
| | - Mark Brönstrup
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, D-38124, Germany
| | - Manfred Rohde
- Central Facility for Microscopy, ZEIM, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, D-38124, Germany
| | - Thomas P Kohler
- Department Genetics of Microorganisms, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, D-17487, Germany
| | - Daniela Somplatzki
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, D-97070, Germany
| | - Werner Tegge
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, D-38124, Germany
| | - Howard F Jenkinson
- Department of Oral and Dental Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Department Genetics of Microorganisms, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, D-17487, Germany.,Research Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, D-97070, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Ferrando ML, Willemse N, Zaccaria E, Pannekoek Y, van der Ende A, Schultsz C. Streptococcal Adhesin P (SadP) contributes to Streptococcus suis adhesion to the human intestinal epithelium. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0175639. [PMID: 28407026 PMCID: PMC5391093 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Streptococcus suis is a zoonotic pathogen, causing meningitis and septicemia. We previously demonstrated that the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is an entry site for zoonotic S. suis infection. Here we studied the contribution of Streptococcal adhesin Protein (SadP) to host-pathogen interaction at GIT level. Methods SadP expression in presence of Intestinal Epithelial Cells (IEC) was compared with expression of other virulence factors by measuring transcript levels using quantitative Real Time PCR (qRT-PCR). SadP variants were identified by phylogenetic analysis of complete DNA sequences. The interaction of SadP knockout and complementation mutants with IEC was tested in vitro. Results Expression of sadP was significantly increased in presence of IEC. Sequence analysis of 116 invasive strains revealed five SadP sequence variants, correlating with genotype. SadP1, present in zoonotic isolates of clonal complex 1, contributed to binding to both human and porcine IEC and translocation across human IEC. Antibodies against the globotriaosylceramide Gb3/CD77 receptor significantly inhibited adhesion to human IEC. Conclusion SadP is involved in the host-pathogen interaction in the GIT. Differences between SadP variants may determine different affinities to the Gb3/CD77 host-receptor, contributing to variation in adhesion capacity to host IEC and thus to S. suis zoonotic potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Laura Ferrando
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Global Health-Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Niels Willemse
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Global Health-Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Edoardo Zaccaria
- Host-Microbe Interactomics, Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne Pannekoek
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arie van der Ende
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Constance Schultsz
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Global Health-Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
DnaJ (hsp40) of Streptococcus pneumoniae is involved in bacterial virulence and elicits a strong natural immune reaction via PI3K/JNK. Mol Immunol 2017; 83:137-146. [PMID: 28152394 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2017.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
As a heat shock protein, DnaJ plays an important role in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal infection. However, how the virulence factor-DnaJ elicits host natural immunity still remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of dnaJ deficiency in Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) on bacterial virulence, and further explored the related molecular mechanisms in vivo and in vitro. By generating dnaJ deficient mutant (ΔdnaJ), the virulence and colonization were detected in murine pneumonia and sepsis models in vivo. Compared with wild-type parent strain, the abilities of rapid colonization and induction of inflammatory responses of ΔdnaJ in mouse lungs were significantly impaired. Simultaneously, recombinant DnaJ purified from E. coli expression system (rDnaJ) induced macrophage strain RAW264.7 to secrete IL-6 by activation of PI3K and JNK signal pathways, which were confirmed by the specific signaling inhibitors. In conclusion, DnaJ, a novel virulence protein, was essential for the virulence and colonization of S. pneumoniae and induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in macrophages through PI3K/JNK.
Collapse
|
40
|
Spurbeck RR, Harris PT, Raghunathan K, Arvidson DN, Arvidson CG. A Moonlighting Enolase from Lactobacillus gasseri does not Require Enzymatic Activity to Inhibit Neisseria gonorrhoeae Adherence to Epithelial Cells. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2016; 7:193-202. [PMID: 25917402 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-015-9192-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Enolases are generally thought of as cytoplasmic enzymes involved in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. However, several bacteria have active forms of enolase associated with the cell surface and these proteins are utilized for functions other than central metabolism. Recently, a surface-associated protein produced by Lactobacillus gasseri ATCC 33323 with homology to enolase was found to inhibit the adherence of the sexually transmitted pathogen, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, to epithelial cells in culture. Here, we show that the protein is an active enolase in vitro. A recombinantly expressed, C-terminal His-tagged version of the protein, His6-Eno3, inhibited gonococcal adherence. Assays utilizing inhibitors of enolase enzymatic activity showed that this inhibitory activity required the substrate-binding site to be in an open conformation; however, the enolase enzymatic activity of the protein was not necessary for inhibition of gonococcal adherence. An L. gasseri strain carrying an insertional mutation in eno3 was viable, indicating that eno3 is not an essential gene in L. gasseri 33323. This observation, along with the results of the enzyme assays, is consistent with reports that this strain encodes more than one enolase. Here we show that the three L. gasseri genes annotated as encoding an enolase are expressed. The L. gasseri eno3 mutant exhibited reduced, but not abolished, inhibition of gonococcal adherence, which supports the hypothesis that L. gasseri inhibition of gonococcal adherence is a multifactorial process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel R Spurbeck
- The Genetics Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Choline Binding Proteins from Streptococcus pneumoniae: A Dual Role as Enzybiotics and Targets for the Design of New Antimicrobials. Antibiotics (Basel) 2016; 5:antibiotics5020021. [PMID: 27314398 PMCID: PMC4929436 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics5020021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2016] [Revised: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is an important pathogen responsible for acute invasive and non-invasive infections such as meningitis, sepsis and otitis media, being the major cause of community-acquired pneumonia. The fight against pneumococcus is currently hampered both by insufficient vaccine coverage and by rising antimicrobial resistances to traditional antibiotics, making necessary the research on novel targets. Choline binding proteins (CBPs) are a family of polypeptides found in pneumococcus and related species, as well as in some of their associated bacteriophages. They are characterized by a structural organization in two modules: a functional module (FM), and a choline-binding module (CBM) that anchors the protein to the choline residues present in the cell wall through non-covalent interactions. Pneumococcal CBPs include cell wall hydrolases, adhesins and other virulence factors, all playing relevant physiological roles for bacterial viability and virulence. Moreover, many pneumococcal phages also make use of hydrolytic CBPs to fulfill their infectivity cycle. Consequently, CBPs may play a dual role for the development of novel antipneumococcal drugs, both as targets for inhibitors of their binding to the cell wall and as active cell lytic agents (enzybiotics). In this article, we review the current state of knowledge about host- and phage-encoded pneumococcal CBPs, with a special focus on structural issues, together with their perspectives for effective anti-infectious treatments.
Collapse
|
42
|
Keller LE, Bradshaw JL, Pipkins H, McDaniel LS. Surface Proteins and Pneumolysin of Encapsulated and Nonencapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae Mediate Virulence in a Chinchilla Model of Otitis Media. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 6:55. [PMID: 27242973 PMCID: PMC4870244 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae infections result in a range of human diseases and are responsible for almost one million deaths annually. Pneumococcal disease is mediated in part through surface structures and an anti-phagocytic capsule. Recent studies have shown that nonencapsulated S. pneumoniae (NESp) make up a significant portion of the pneumococcal population and are able to cause disease. NESp lack some common surface proteins expressed by encapsulated pneumococci, but express surface proteins unique to NESp. A chinchilla model of otitis media (OM) was used to determine the effect various pneumococcal mutations have on pathogenesis in both NESp and encapsulated pneumococci. Epithelial cell adhesion and invasion assays were used to examine the effects in relation to deletion of intrinsic genes or expression of novel genes. A mouse model of colonization was also utilized for comparison of various pneumococcal mutants. It was determined that pneumococcal surface protein K (PspK) and pneumolysin (Ply) affect NESp middle ear pathogenesis, but only PspK affected epithelial cell adhesion. Experiments in an OM model were done with encapsulated strains testing the importance of native virulence factors and treatment of OM. First, a triple deletion of the common virulence factors PspA, PspC, and Ply, (ΔPAC), from an encapsulated background abolished virulence in an OM model while a PspC mutant had detectable, but reduced amounts of recoverable bacteria compared to wildtype. Next, treatment of OM was effective when starting antibiotic treatment within 24 h with resolution by 48 h post-treatment. Expression of NESp-specific virulence factor PspK in an encapsulated strain has not been previously studied, and we showed significantly increased adhesion and invasion of human epithelial cells by pneumococci. Murine colonization was not significantly increased when an encapsulated strain expressed PspK, but colonization was increased when a capsule mutant expressed PspK. The ability of PspK expression to increase colonization in a capsule mutant despite no increase in adhesion can be attributed to other functions of PspK, such as sIgA binding or immune modulation. OM is a substantial economic burden, thus a better understanding of both encapsulated pneumococcal pathogenesis and the emerging pathogen NESp is necessary for effective prevention and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lance E Keller
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Jessica L Bradshaw
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Haley Pipkins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Larry S McDaniel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, MS, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Domenech A, Moreno J, Ardanuy C, Liñares J, de la Campa AG, Martin-Galiano AJ. A Novel Typing Method for Streptococcus pneumoniae Using Selected Surface Proteins. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:420. [PMID: 27064593 PMCID: PMC4815138 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The diverse pneumococcal diseases are associated with different pneumococcal lineages, or clonal complexes. Nevertheless, intra-clonal genomic variability, which influences pathogenicity, has been reported for surface virulence factors. These factors constitute the communication interface between the pathogen and its host and their corresponding genes are subjected to strong selective pressures affecting functionality and immunogenicity. First, the presence and allelic dispersion of 97 outer protein families were screened in 19 complete pneumococcal genomes. Seventeen families were deemed variable and were then examined in 216 draft genomes. This procedure allowed the generation of binary vectors with 17 positions and the classification of strains into surfotypes. They represent the outer protein subsets with the highest inter-strain discriminative power. A total of 116 non-redundant surfotypes were identified. Those sharing a critical number of common protein features were hierarchically clustered into 18 surfogroups. Most clonal complexes with comparable epidemiological characteristics belonged to the same or similar surfogroups. However, the very large CC156 clonal complex was dispersed over several surfogroups. In order to establish a relationship between surfogroup and pathogenicity, the surfotypes of 95 clinical isolates with different serogroup/serotype combinations were analyzed. We found a significant correlation between surfogroup and type of pathogenic behavior (primary invasive, opportunistic invasive, and non-invasive). We conclude that the virulent behavior of S. pneumoniae is related to the activity of collections of, rather than individual, surface virulence factors. Since surfotypes evolve faster than MLSTs and directly reflect virulence potential, this novel typing protocol is appropriate for the identification of emerging clones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arnau Domenech
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, IDIBELLBarcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades RespiratoriasMadrid, Spain
| | - Javier Moreno
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, IDIBELLBarcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades RespiratoriasMadrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Ardanuy
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, IDIBELLBarcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades RespiratoriasMadrid, Spain
| | - Josefina Liñares
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, IDIBELLBarcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades RespiratoriasMadrid, Spain
| | - Adela G de la Campa
- Bacterial Genetics, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIMajadahonda, Spain; Presidencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasMadrid, Spain
| | - Antonio J Martin-Galiano
- Bacterial Genetics, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III Majadahonda, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Abstract
While significant protection from pneumococcal disease has been achieved by the use of polysaccharide and polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines, capsule-independent protection has been limited by serotype replacement along with disease caused by nonencapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae (NESp). NESp strains compose approximately 3% to 19% of asymptomatic carriage isolates and harbor multiple antibiotic resistance genes. Surface proteins unique to NESp enhance colonization and virulence despite the lack of a capsule even though the capsule has been thought to be required for pneumococcal pathogenesis. Genes for pneumococcal surface proteins replace the capsular polysaccharide (cps) locus in some NESp isolates, and these proteins aid in pneumococcal colonization and otitis media (OM). NESp strains have been isolated from patients with invasive and noninvasive pneumococcal disease, but noninvasive diseases, specifically, conjunctivitis (85%) and OM (8%), are of higher prevalence. Conjunctival strains are commonly of the so-called classical NESp lineages defined by multilocus sequence types (STs) ST344 and ST448, while sporadic NESp lineages such as ST1106 are more commonly isolated from patients with other diseases. Interestingly, sporadic lineages have significantly higher rates of recombination than classical lineages. Higher rates of recombination can lead to increased acquisition of antibiotic resistance and virulence factors, increasing the risk of disease and hindering treatment. NESp strains are a significant proportion of the pneumococcal population, can cause disease, and may be increasing in prevalence in the population due to effects on the pneumococcal niche caused by pneumococcal vaccines. Current vaccines are ineffective against NESp, and further research is necessary to develop vaccines effective against both encapsulated and nonencapsulated pneumococci.
Collapse
|
45
|
Streptococcus pneumoniae Cell-Wall-Localized Phosphoenolpyruvate Protein Phosphotransferase Can Function as an Adhesin: Identification of Its Host Target Molecules and Evaluation of Its Potential as a Vaccine. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150320. [PMID: 26990554 PMCID: PMC4798226 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In Streptococcus pneumonia, phosphoenolpyruvate protein phosphotransferase (PtsA) is an intracellular protein of the monosaccharide phosphotransferase systems. Biochemical and immunostaining methods were applied to show that PtsA also localizes to the bacterial cell-wall. Thus, it was suspected that PtsA has functions other than its main cytoplasmic enzymatic role. Indeed, recombinant PtsA and anti-rPtsA antiserum were shown to inhibit adhesion of S. pneumoniae to cultured human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Screening of a combinatorial peptide library expressed in a filamentous phage with rPtsA identified epitopes that were capable of inhibiting S. pneumoniae adhesion to A549 cells. The insert peptides in the phages were sequenced, and homologous sequences were found in human BMPER, multimerin1, protocadherin19, integrinβ4, epsin1 and collagen type VIIα1 proteins, all of which can be found in A549 cells except the latter. Six peptides, synthesized according to the homologous sequences in the human proteins, specifically bound rPtsA in the micromolar range and significantly inhibited pneumococcal adhesion in vitro to lung- and tracheal-derived cell lines. In addition, the tested peptides inhibited lung colonization after intranasal inoculation of mice with S. pneumoniae. Immunization with rPtsA protected the mice against a sublethal intranasal and a lethal intravenous pneumococcal challenge. In addition, mouse anti rPtsA antiserum reduced bacterial virulence in the intravenous inoculation mouse model. These findings showed that the surface-localized PtsA functions as an adhesin, PtsA binding peptides derived from its putative target molecules can be considered for future development of therapeutics, and rPtsA should be regarded as a candidate for vaccine development.
Collapse
|
46
|
Highly Variable Streptococcus oralis Strains Are Common among Viridans Streptococci Isolated from Primates. mSphere 2016; 1:mSphere00041-15. [PMID: 27303717 PMCID: PMC4863584 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00041-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a rare example of a human-pathogenic bacterium among viridans streptococci, which consist of commensal symbionts, such as the close relatives Streptococcus mitis and S. oralis. We have shown that S. oralis can frequently be isolated from primates and a variety of other viridans streptococci as well. Genes and genomic islands which are known pneumococcal virulence factors are present in S. oralis and S. mitis, documenting the widespread occurrence of these compounds, which encode surface and secreted proteins. The frequent occurrence of CRISP-Cas gene clusters and a surprising variation of a set of small noncoding RNAs are factors to be considered in future research to further our understanding of mechanisms involved in the genomic diversity driven by horizontal gene transfer among viridans streptococci. Viridans streptococci were obtained from primates (great apes, rhesus monkeys, and ring-tailed lemurs) held in captivity, as well as from free-living animals (chimpanzees and lemurs) for whom contact with humans is highly restricted. Isolates represented a variety of viridans streptococci, including unknown species. Streptococcus oralis was frequently isolated from samples from great apes. Genotypic methods revealed that most of the strains clustered on separate lineages outside the main cluster of human S. oralis strains. This suggests that S. oralis is part of the commensal flora in higher primates and evolved prior to humans. Many genes described as virulence factors in Streptococcus pneumoniae were present also in other viridans streptococcal genomes. Unlike in S. pneumoniae, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)–CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) gene clusters were common among viridans streptococci, and many S. oralis strains were type PI-2 (pilus islet 2) variants. S. oralis displayed a remarkable diversity of genes involved in the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan (penicillin-binding proteins and MurMN) and choline-containing teichoic acid. The small noncoding cia-dependent small RNAs (csRNAs) controlled by the response regulator CiaR might contribute to the genomic diversity, since we observed novel genomic islands between duplicated csRNAs, variably present in some isolates. All S. oralis genomes contained a β-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase gene absent in S. pneumoniae, which in contrast frequently harbors the neuraminidases NanB/C, which are absent in S. oralis. The identification of S. oralis-specific genes will help us to understand their adaptation to diverse habitats. IMPORTANCEStreptococcus pneumoniae is a rare example of a human-pathogenic bacterium among viridans streptococci, which consist of commensal symbionts, such as the close relatives Streptococcus mitis and S. oralis. We have shown that S. oralis can frequently be isolated from primates and a variety of other viridans streptococci as well. Genes and genomic islands which are known pneumococcal virulence factors are present in S. oralis and S. mitis, documenting the widespread occurrence of these compounds, which encode surface and secreted proteins. The frequent occurrence of CRISP-Cas gene clusters and a surprising variation of a set of small noncoding RNAs are factors to be considered in future research to further our understanding of mechanisms involved in the genomic diversity driven by horizontal gene transfer among viridans streptococci.
Collapse
|
47
|
Walker MM, Novak L, Widener R, Grubbs JA, King J, Hale JY, Ochs MM, Myers LE, Briles DE, Deshane J. PcpA Promotes Higher Levels of Infection and Modulates Recruitment of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells during Pneumococcal Pneumonia. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 196:2239-48. [PMID: 26829988 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1402518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We used two different infection models to investigate the kinetics of the PcpA-dependent pneumococcal disease in mice. In a bacteremic pneumonia model, we observed a PcpA-dependent increase in bacterial burden in the lungs, blood, liver, bronchoalveolar lavage, and spleens of mice at 24 h postinfection. This PcpA-dependent effect on bacterial burden appeared earlier (within 12 h) in the focal pneumonia model, which lacks bacteremia or sepsis. Histological changes show that the ability of pneumococci to make PcpA was associated with unresolved inflammation in both models of infection. Using our bacteremic pneumonia model we further investigated the effects of PcpA on recruitment of innate immune regulatory cells. The presence of PcpA was associated with increased IL-6 levels, suppressed production of TRAIL, and reduced infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells. The ability of pneumococci to make PcpA negatively modulated both the infiltration and apoptosis of macrophages and the recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor-like cells. The latter have been shown to facilitate the clearance and control of bacterial pneumonia. Taken together, the ability to make PcpA was strongly associated with increased bacterial burden, inflammation, and negative regulation of innate immune cell recruitment to the lung tissue during bacteremic pneumonia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa M Walker
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Lea Novak
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Rebecca Widener
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29203
| | - James Aaron Grubbs
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Janice King
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Joanetha Y Hale
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Martina M Ochs
- Sanofi Pasteur, Non-Clinical Product Performance, 69280 Marcy L'Etoile, France
| | - Lisa E Myers
- Sanofi Pasteur, Non-Clinical Product Performance, 69280 Marcy L'Etoile, France
| | - David E Briles
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294; Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294; Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294; and
| | - Jessy Deshane
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294; Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Current therapeutics and prophylactic approaches to treat pneumonia. THE MICROBIOLOGY OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM INFECTIONS 2016. [PMCID: PMC7150263 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-804543-5.00017-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae represents a frequent cause of mortality worldwide. The increased incidence of pneumococcal diseases in both developed and developing countries is alarmingly high, affecting infants and aged adult populations. The growing rate of antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation on medical device surfaces poses a greater challenge for treating respiratory infections. Over recent years, a better understanding of bacterial growth, metabolism, and virulence has offered several potential targets for developing therapeutics against bacterial pneumonia. This chapter will discuss the current and developing trends in treating bacterial pneumonia.
Collapse
|
49
|
Gisch N, Schwudke D, Thomsen S, Heß N, Hakenbeck R, Denapaite D. Lipoteichoic acid of Streptococcus oralis Uo5: a novel biochemical structure comprising an unusual phosphorylcholine substitution pattern compared to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16718. [PMID: 26577602 PMCID: PMC4649388 DOI: 10.1038/srep16718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the Mitis group of streptococci possess teichoic acids (TAs) as integral components of their cell wall that are unique among Gram-positive bacteria. Both, lipoteichoic (LTA) and wall teichoic acid, are formed by the same biosynthetic pathway, are of high complexity and contain phosphorylcholine (P-Cho) residues. These residues serve as anchors for choline-binding proteins (CBPs), some of which have been identified as virulence factors of the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. We investigated the LTA structure of its close relative Streptococcus oralis. Our analysis revealed that S. oralis Uo5 LTA has an overall architecture similar to pneumococcal LTA (pnLTA) and can be considered as a subtype of type IV LTA. Its structural complexity is even higher than that of pnLTA and its composition differs in number and type of carbohydrate moieties, inter-residue connectivities and especially the P-Cho substitution pattern. Here, we report the occurrence of a saccharide moiety substituted with two P-Cho residues, which is unique as yet in bacterial derived surface carbohydrates. Finally, we could link the observed important structural variations between S. oralis and S. pneumoniae LTA to the divergent enzymatic repertoire for their TA biosynthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Gisch
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Priority Area Infections, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz-Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Parkallee 1-40, 23845 Borstel, Germany
| | - Dominik Schwudke
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Priority Area Infections, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz-Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Parkallee 1-40, 23845 Borstel, Germany
| | - Simone Thomsen
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Priority Area Infections, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz-Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Parkallee 1-40, 23845 Borstel, Germany
| | - Nathalie Heß
- Department of Microbiology, University of Kaiserslautern, Paul-Ehrlich Straße 24, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Regine Hakenbeck
- Department of Microbiology, University of Kaiserslautern, Paul-Ehrlich Straße 24, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Dalia Denapaite
- Department of Microbiology, University of Kaiserslautern, Paul-Ehrlich Straße 24, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
de Gracia Retamosa M, Díez-Martínez R, Maestro B, García-Fernández E, de Waal B, Meijer EW, García P, Sanz JM. Aromatic Esters of Bicyclic Amines as Antimicrobials against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201505700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|