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Ribeiro HG, Nilsson A, Melo LDR, Oliveira A. Analysis of intact prophages in genomes of Paenibacillus larvae: An important pathogen for bees. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:903861. [PMID: 35923395 PMCID: PMC9341999 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.903861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Paenibacillus larvae is the etiological agent of American Foulbrood (AFB), a highly contagious and worldwide spread bacterial disease that affects honeybee brood. In this study, all complete P. larvae genomes available on the NCBI database were analyzed in order to detect presence of prophages using the PHASTER software. A total of 55 intact prophages were identified in 11 P. larvae genomes (5.0 ± 2.3 per genome) and were further investigated for the presence of genes encoding relevant traits related to P. larvae. A closer look at the prophage genomes revealed the presence of several putative genes such as metabolic and antimicrobial resistance genes, toxins or bacteriocins, potentially influencing host performance. Some of the coding DNA sequences (CDS) were present in all ERIC-genotypes, while others were only found in a specific genotype. While CDS encoding toxins and antitoxins such as HicB and MazE were found in prophages of all bacterial genotypes, others, from the same category, were provided by prophages particularly to ERIC I (enhancin-like toxin), ERIC II (antitoxin SocA) and ERIC V strains (subunit of Panton-Valentine leukocidin system (PVL) LukF-PV). This is the first in-depth analysis of P. larvae prophages. It provides better knowledge on their impact in the evolution of virulence and fitness of P. larvae, by discovering new features assigned by the viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique G. Ribeiro
- LIBRO – Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS – Associate Laboratory on Biotechnology and Bioengineering, and Electromechanical Systems, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Anna Nilsson
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Luís D. R. Melo
- LIBRO – Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS – Associate Laboratory on Biotechnology and Bioengineering, and Electromechanical Systems, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Luís D. R. Melo,
| | - Ana Oliveira
- LIBRO – Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS – Associate Laboratory on Biotechnology and Bioengineering, and Electromechanical Systems, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- Ana Oliveira,
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2
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Molecular basis of antibiotic self-resistance in a bee larvae pathogen. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2349. [PMID: 35487884 PMCID: PMC9054821 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29829-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of the devastating honey-bee disease American Foulbrood, produces the cationic polyketide-peptide hybrid paenilamicin that displays antibacterial and antifungal activity. Its biosynthetic gene cluster contains a gene coding for the N-acetyltransferase PamZ. We show that PamZ acts as self-resistance factor in Paenibacillus larvae by deactivation of paenilamicin. Using tandem mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and synthetic diastereomers, we identified the N-terminal amino group of the agmatinamic acid as the N-acetylation site. These findings highlight the pharmacophore region of paenilamicin, which we very recently identified as a ribosome inhibitor. Here, we further determined the crystal structure of PamZ:acetyl-CoA complex at 1.34 Å resolution. An unusual tandem-domain architecture provides a well-defined substrate-binding groove decorated with negatively-charged residues to specifically attract the cationic paenilamicin. Our results will help to understand the mode of action of paenilamicin and its role in pathogenicity of Paenibacillus larvae to fight American Foulbrood. The authors show that the N-acetyltransferase PamZ acts as a self-resistance factor disabling the antibacterial paenilamicin that is produced by the honey bee larvae pathogen Paenibacillus larvae.
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3
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Vandhana TM, Reyre JL, Sushmaa D, Berrin JG, Bissaro B, Madhuprakash J. On the expansion of biological functions of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 233:2380-2396. [PMID: 34918344 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) constitute an enigmatic class of enzymes, the discovery of which has opened up a new arena of riveting research. LPMOs can oxidatively cleave the glycosidic bonds found in carbohydrate polymers enabling the depolymerisation of recalcitrant biomasses, such as cellulose or chitin. While most studies have so far mainly explored the role of LPMOs in a (plant) biomass conversion context, alternative roles and paradigms begin to emerge. In the present review, we propose a historical perspective of LPMO research providing a succinct overview of the major achievements of LPMO research over the past decade. This journey through LPMOs landscape leads us to dive into the emerging biological functions of LPMOs and LPMO-like proteins. We notably highlight roles in fungal and oomycete plant pathogenesis (e.g. potato late blight), but also in mutualistic/commensalism symbiosis (e.g. ectomycorrhizae). We further present the potential importance of LPMOs in other microbial pathogenesis including diseases caused by bacteria (e.g. pneumonia), fungi (e.g. human meningitis), oomycetes and viruses (e.g. entomopox), as well as in (micro)organism development (including several plant pests). Our assessment of the literature leads to the formulation of outstanding questions, promising for the coming years exciting research and discoveries on these moonlighting proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theruvothu Madathil Vandhana
- Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Jean-Lou Reyre
- INRAE, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, Aix Marseille University, 13009, Marseille, France
- IFP Energies Nouvelles, 1 et 4 avenue de Bois-Préau, 92852, Rueil-Malmaison, France
| | - Dangudubiyyam Sushmaa
- Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Jean-Guy Berrin
- INRAE, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, Aix Marseille University, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Bastien Bissaro
- INRAE, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, Aix Marseille University, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Jogi Madhuprakash
- Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India
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Anti-Virulence Strategy against the Honey Bee Pathogenic Bacterium Paenibacillus larvae via Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Bacterial Toxin Plx2A. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13090607. [PMID: 34564612 PMCID: PMC8470879 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13090607] [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: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
American Foulbrood, caused by Paenibacillus larvae, is the most devastating bacterial honey bee brood disease. Finding a treatment against American Foulbrood would be a huge breakthrough in the battle against the disease. Recently, small molecule inhibitors against virulence factors have been suggested as candidates for the development of anti-virulence strategies against bacterial infections. We therefore screened an in-house library of synthetic small molecules and a library of flavonoid natural products, identifying the synthetic compound M3 and two natural, plant-derived small molecules, Acacetin and Baicalein, as putative inhibitors of the recently identified P. larvae toxin Plx2A. All three inhibitors were potent in in vitro enzyme activity assays and two compounds were shown to protect insect cells against Plx2A intoxication. However, when tested in exposure bioassays with honey bee larvae, no effect on mortality could be observed for the synthetic or the plant-derived inhibitors, thus suggesting that the pathogenesis strategies of P. larvae are likely to be too complex to be disarmed in an anti-virulence strategy aimed at a single virulence factor. Our study also underscores the importance of not only testing substances in in vitro or cell culture assays, but also testing the compounds in P. larvae-infected honey bee larvae.
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Yuan C, Jiang X, Liu M, Yang S, Deng S, Hou C. An Investigation of Honey Bee Viruses Prevalence in Managed Honey Bees (Apis mellifera and Apis cerana) Undergone Colony Decline. Open Microbiol J 2021. [DOI: 10.2174/1874285802115010058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective:
In the absence of known clinical symptoms, viruses were considered to be the most probable key pathogens of honey bee. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and distribution of honey bee viruses in managed Apis mellifera and Apis cerana in China.
Methods:
We conducted a screening of 8 honey bee viruses on A. mellifera and A. cerana samples collected from 54 apiaries from 13 provinces in China using RT-PCR.
Results:
We found that the types and numbers of viral species significantly differed between A. mellifera and A. cerana. Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV), Apis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV), and Kakugo virus (DWV-A/KV) were the primary viruses found in A. mellifera colonies, whereas Chinese Sacbrood Bee Virus (CSBV) and Sacbrood Bee Virus (SBV) were the primary viruses found in A. cerana. The percentage infection of BQCV and CSBV were 84.6% and 61.6% in all detected samples. We first detected the occurrences of Varroa destructor virus-1 (VDV-1 or DWV-B) and DWV-A/KV in China but not ABPV in both A. mellifera and A. cerana.
Conclusion:
This study showed that BQCV and CSBV are the major threat to investigated A. mellifera and A. cerana colonies.
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Characteristics of the Peritrophic Matrix of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori and Factors Influencing Its Formation. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12060516. [PMID: 34199436 PMCID: PMC8227122 DOI: 10.3390/insects12060516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The insect midgut is an important digestive organ with the peritrophic matrix (PM) being a semi-permeable membrane secreted by the midgut cells. The PM plays an important role in improving midgut digestion efficiency and protecting the midgut from food particles and exogenous pathogens. The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is an economically important insect. Understanding the structure of the PM is necessary for studying its function, but characteristics of PM in B. mori have been rarely reported. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive study on the PM structure of the PM in silkworms and found its thickness increased gradually during growth, but there was no difference in the thickness comparing the anterior, middle, and posterior regions. Permeability of the PM gradually decreased from the anterior to posterior regions. In addition, we found the formation of the PM was influenced by food ingestion and the gut microbiota. Abstract The peritrophic matrix (PM) secreted by the midgut cells of insects is formed by the binding of PM proteins to chitin fibrils. The PM envelops the food bolus, serving as a barrier between the content of the midgut lumen and its epithelium, and plays a protective role for epithelial cells against mechanical damage, pathogens, toxins, and other harmful substances. However, few studies have investigated the characteristics and synthesis factors of the PM in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Here, we examined the characteristics of the PM in the silkworms. The PM thickness of the silkworms increased gradually during growth, while there was no significant difference in thickness along the entire PM region. Permeability of the PM decreased gradually from the anterior to posterior PM. We also found that PM synthesis was affected by food ingestion and the gut microbiota. Our results are beneficial for future studies regarding the function of the PM in silkworms.
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Peritrophic matrix-degrading proteins are dispensable virulence factors in a virulent Melissococcus plutonius strain. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8798. [PMID: 33888837 PMCID: PMC8062581 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88302-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
European foulbrood (EFB) caused by Melissococcus plutonius is a major bacterial disease of honey bees. Strains of the causative agent exhibit genetic heterogeneity, and the degree of virulence varies among strains. In bee larvae orally infected with the highly virulent strains, ingested bacterial cells colonize the larval midgut and proliferate within the sac of the peritrophic matrix (PM), a barrier lining the midgut epithelium. However, the barrier is degraded during the course of infection, and M. plutonius cells eventually directly interact with the midgut epithelium. As M. plutonius possesses genes encoding putative PM-degrading proteins (enhancin, a chitin-binding domain-containing protein and endo-α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase), we constructed PM-degrading protein gene-knockout mutants from a highly virulent M. plutonius strain and investigated their role in the pathogenesis of EFB. In larvae infected with the triple-knockout mutant, which has no PM-degrading protein genes, M. plutonius that proliferated in the larval midguts was confined to the sac of the PM. However, the midgut epithelial cells degenerated over time, and the mutant killed approximately 70-80% of bee brood, suggesting that although the PM-degrading proteins are involved in the penetration of the PM by M. plutonius, they are not indispensable virulence factors in the highly virulent M. plutonius strain.
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8
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The Buzz about ADP-Ribosylation Toxins from Paenibacillus larvae, the Causative Agent of American Foulbrood in Honey Bees. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13020151. [PMID: 33669183 PMCID: PMC7919650 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13020151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae is the etiological agent of American Foulbrood, a highly contagious and often fatal honey bee brood disease. The species P. larvae comprises five so-called ERIC-genotypes which differ in virulence and pathogenesis strategies. In the past two decades, the identification and characterization of several P. larvae virulence factors have led to considerable progress in understanding the molecular basis of pathogen-host-interactions during P. larvae infections. Among these virulence factors are three ADP-ribosylating AB-toxins, Plx1, Plx2, and C3larvin. Plx1 is a phage-born toxin highly homologous to the pierisin-like AB-toxins expressed by the whites-and-yellows family Pieridae (Lepidoptera, Insecta) and to scabin expressed by the plant pathogen Streptomyces scabiei. These toxins ADP-ribosylate DNA and thus induce apoptosis. While the presumed cellular target of Plx1 still awaits final experimental proof, the classification of the A subunits of the binary AB-toxins Plx2 and C3larvin as typical C3-like toxins, which ADP-ribosylate Rho-proteins, has been confirmed experimentally. Normally, C3-exoenzymes do not occur together with a B subunit partner, but as single domain toxins. Interestingly, the B subunits of the two P. larvae C3-like toxins are homologous to the B-subunits of C2-like toxins with striking structural similarity to the PA-63 protomer of Bacillus anthracis.
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9
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Al-Ghamdi AA, Al-Ghamdi MS, Ahmed AM, Mohamed ASA, Shaker GH, Ansari MJ, Dorrah MA, Khan KA, Ayaad TH. Immune investigation of the honeybee Apis mellifera jemenitica broods: A step toward production of a bee-derived antibiotic against the American foulbrood. Saudi J Biol Sci 2020; 28:1528-1538. [PMID: 33732036 PMCID: PMC7938142 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Keeping honeybees healthy is essential, as bees are not only important for honey production but also cross-pollination of agricultural and horticultural crops; therefore, bees have a significant economic impact worldwide. Recently, the lethal disease, the American foulbrood (AFB), caused great losses of honeybee and decline of global apiculture. Recent studies have focused on using natural insect-derived antibiotics to overcome recently emerged AFB-resistance to conventional antibiotics. In support of these studies, here we investigate the possibility of producing bee-derived anti-AFB antibiotics from an indigenous honeybee, Apis mellifera jemenitica. The immune responses of the third instar stage were first induced against the standards Micrococcus luteus and Escherichia coli compared with the indigenous Paenibacillus larvae (ksuPL5). Data indicated a strong immune response against M. luteus, E. coli and P. larvae 24 h post-P. larvae-injection as revealed by the detection of lysozyme-like, cecropin-like and prophenoloxidase (PO) activities in the plasma of P. larvae-injected third instars. Nodulation activity against injected P. larvae as early as 4 h and peaking 48 h post-P. larvae injection were observed. Potentially active anti-P. larvae immune peptide fractions purified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed significant in vivo therapeutic effects on P. larvae-infected first instars. Mass spectrophotometric analysis and Orbitrap measurements of P. larvae-injected plasma indicated the expression of PO (Mr: 80 kDa), beta-1,3-glucan-binding protein (Mr: 52 kDa) and serine protease 44 isoform X1 (Mr: 46 kDa). This suggests that one or all of these immune peptides contribute to significant survivorship of P. larvae-infected broods, and could be a valuable clue in the search for honeybee-derived anti-AFB natural therapeutic agents. Further molecular characterization and description of the functional roles of these predicted antimicrobial peptides from both broods and adult honeybee may enrich the arsenal of insect-derived antibiotics of therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad A Al-Ghamdi
- Engineer Abdullah Bugshan Chair for Bee Research, Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mariam S Al-Ghamdi
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Biology, College of Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashraf M Ahmed
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt
| | - Abdel Salam A Mohamed
- Engineer Abdullah Bugshan Chair for Bee Research, Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt
| | - Ghada H Shaker
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Mohammad Javed Ansari
- Engineer Abdullah Bugshan Chair for Bee Research, Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Botany, Hindu College Moradabad (M.J.P. Rohilkhand University Bareilly), India
| | - Moataza A Dorrah
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, P.O. Box 12613, Orman, Giza, Egypt
| | - Khalid Ali Khan
- Engineer Abdullah Bugshan Chair for Bee Research, Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), Unit of Bee Research and Honey Production, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tahany H Ayaad
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, P.O. Box 12613, Orman, Giza, Egypt
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Turner M, Tremblay O, Heney K, Lugo M, Ebeling J, Genersch E, Merrill A. Characterization of C3larvinA, a novel RhoA-targeting ADP-ribosyltransferase toxin produced by the honey bee pathogen, Paenibacillus larvae. Biosci Rep 2020; 40:BSR20193405. [PMID: 31844879 PMCID: PMC6954368 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20193405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
C3larvinA is a putative virulence factor produced by Paenibacillus larvae enterobacterial-repetitive-intergenic-consensus (ERIC) III/IV (strain 11-8051). Biochemical, functional and structural analyses of C3larvinA revealed that it belongs to the C3-like mono-ADP-ribosylating toxin subgroup. Mammalian RhoA was the target substrate for its transferase activity suggesting that it may be the biological target of C3larvinA. The kinetic parameters of the NAD+ substrate for the transferase (KM = 75 ± 10 µM) and glycohydrolase (GH) (KM = 107 ± 20 µM) reactions were typical for a C3-like bacterial toxin, including the Plx2A virulence factor from Paenibacillus larvae ERIC I. Upon cytoplasmic expression in yeast, C3larvinA caused a growth-defective phenotype indicating that it is an active C3-like toxin and is cytotoxic to eukaryotic cells. The catalytic variant of the Q187-X-E189 motif in C3larvinA showed no cytotoxicity toward yeast confirming that the cytotoxicity of this factor depends on its enzymatic activity. A homology consensus model of C3larvinA with NAD+ substrate was built on the structure of Plx2A, provided additional confirmation that C3larvinA is a member of the C3-like mono-ADP-ribosylating toxin subgroup. A homology model of C3larvinA with NADH and RhoA was built on the structure of the C3cer-NADH-RhoA complex which provided further evidence that C3larvinA is a C3-like toxin that shares an identical catalytic mechanism with C3cer from Bacillus cereus. C3larvinA induced actin cytoskeleton reorganization in murine macrophages, whereas in insect cells, vacuolization and bi-nucleated cells were observed. These cellular effects are consistent with C3larvinA disrupting RhoA function by covalent modification that is shared among C3-like bacterial toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison Turner
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Olivier Tremblay
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Kayla A. Heney
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Miguel R. Lugo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Julia Ebeling
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf 16540, Germany
| | - Elke Genersch
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf 16540, Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Institut für Mikrobiologie und Tierseuchen, Berlin 14163, Germany
| | - A. Rod Merrill
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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11
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Krongdang S, Evans JD, Chen Y, Mookhploy W, Chantawannakul P. Comparative susceptibility and immune responses of Asian and European honey bees to the American foulbrood pathogen, Paenibacillus larvae. INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 26:831-842. [PMID: 29578641 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
American foulbrood (AFB) disease is caused by Paenibacillus larvae. Currently, this pathogen is widespread in the European honey bee-Apis mellifera. However, little is known about infectivity and pathogenicity of P. larvae in the Asiatic cavity-nesting honey bees, Apis cerana. Moreover, comparative knowledge of P. larvae infectivity and pathogenicity between both honey bee species is scarce. In this study, we examined susceptibility, larval mortality, survival rate and expression of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) including defensin, apidaecin, abaecin, and hymenoptaecin in A. mellifera and A. cerana when infected with P. larvae. Our results showed similar effects of P. larvae on the survival rate and patterns of AMP gene expression in both honey bee species when bee larvae are infected with spores at the median lethal concentration (LC50 ) for A. mellifera. All AMPs of infected bee larvae showed significant upregulation compared with noninfected bee larvae in both honey bee species. However, larvae of A. cerana were more susceptible than A. mellifera when the same larval ages and spore concentration of P. larvae were used. It also appears that A. cerana showed higher levels of AMP expression than A. mellifera. This research provides the first evidence of survival rate, LC50 and immune response profiles of Asian honey bees, A. cerana, when infected by P. larvae in comparison with the European honey bee, A. mellifera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasiprapa Krongdang
- Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Interdisciplinary Program in Biotechnology, Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Jay D Evans
- USDA-ARS, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
| | - Yanping Chen
- USDA-ARS, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
| | - Wannapha Mookhploy
- Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Panuwan Chantawannakul
- Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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12
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Tauber JP, Nguyen V, Lopez D, Evans JD. Effects of a Resident Yeast from the Honeybee Gut on Immunity, Microbiota, and Nosema Disease. INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10090296. [PMID: 31540209 PMCID: PMC6780889 DOI: 10.3390/insects10090296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The western honeybee (Apis mellifera) has a core bacterial microbiota that is well described and important for health. Honeybees also host a yeast community that is poorly understood with respect to host nutrition and immunity, and also the symbiotic bacterial microbiota. In this work, we present two studies focusing on the consequences of dysbiosis when honeybees were control-fed a yeast that was isolated from a honeybee midgut, Wickerhamomyces anomalus. Yeast augmentation for bees with developed microbiota appeared immunomodulatory (lowered immunity and hormone-related gene expression) and affected the microbial community, while yeast augmentation for newly emerged bees without an established bacterial background did not lead to decreased immunity— and hormone—related gene expression. In newly emerged bees that had a naturally occurring baseline level of W. anomalus, we observed that the addition of N. ceranae led to a decrease in yeast levels. Overall, we show that yeasts can affect the microbiome, immunity, and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Tauber
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
| | - Vy Nguyen
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
| | - Dawn Lopez
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
| | - Jay D Evans
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
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13
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Ebeling J, Knispel H, Fünfhaus A, Genersch E. The biological role of the enigmatic C3larvinAB toxin of the honey bee pathogenic bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:3091-3106. [PMID: 31187922 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of the notifiable epizootic American foulbrood, a fatal bacterial disease of honey bee larvae. The species P. larvae has been classified into four differentially virulent and prevalent genotypes (ERIC I-IV), which also differ in their virulence factor equipment. Recently, a novel P. larvae toxin, the C3-like C3larvin, has been described. Genome analysis now revealed that the C3larvin gene is actually a part of a toxin locus encompassing two genes encoding a binary AB toxin with the A subunit being C3larvin (C3larvinA) and a putative B subunit (C3larvinB) encoded by the second gene. Sequence and structural analyses demonstrated that C3larvinB is a homologue of the Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA), the B subunit of anthrax toxin. The C3larvinAB toxin locus was interrupted by point mutations in all analysed P. larvae ERIC I and ERIC II strains. Only one P. larvae ERIC III/IV strain harboured an uninterrupted toxin locus comprising full-length genes for C3larvinA and B. Exposure bioassays did not substantiate a role as virulence factor for C3larvinAB in P. larvae ERIC I/II. However, the PA homologue C3larvinB had an influence on the virulence of the unique P. larvae strain expressing the functional C3larvinAB locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Ebeling
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, 16540, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Henriette Knispel
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, 16540, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Anne Fünfhaus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, 16540, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Elke Genersch
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, 16540, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany.,Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Institut für Mikrobiologie und Tierseuchen, 14163, Berlin, Germany
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Comparative Genomics and Description of Putative Virulence Factors of Melissococcus plutonius, the Causative Agent of European Foulbrood Disease in Honey Bees. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9080419. [PMID: 30127293 PMCID: PMC6116112 DOI: 10.3390/genes9080419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In Europe, approximately 84% of cultivated crop species depend on insect pollinators, mainly bees. Apis mellifera (the Western honey bee) is the most important commercial pollinator worldwide. The Gram-positive bacterium Melissococcus plutonius is the causative agent of European foulbrood (EFB), a global honey bee brood disease. In order to detect putative virulence factors, we sequenced and analyzed the genomes of 14 M. plutonius strains, including two reference isolates. The isolates do not show a high diversity in genome size or number of predicted protein-encoding genes, ranging from 2.021 to 2.101 Mbp and 1589 to 1686, respectively. Comparative genomics detected genes that might play a role in EFB pathogenesis and ultimately in the death of the honey bee larvae. These include bacteriocins, bacteria cell surface- and host cell adhesion-associated proteins, an enterococcal polysaccharide antigen, an epsilon toxin, proteolytic enzymes, and capsule-associated proteins. In vivo expression of three putative virulence factors (endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, enhancin and epsilon toxin) was verified using naturally infected larvae. With our strain collection, we show for the first time that genomic differences exist between non-virulent and virulent typical strains, as well as a highly virulent atypical strain, that may contribute to the virulence of M. plutonius. Finally, we also detected a high number of conserved pseudogenes (75 to 156) per genome, which indicates genomic reduction during evolutionary host adaptation.
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15
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Fünfhaus A, Göbel J, Ebeling J, Knispel H, Garcia-Gonzalez E, Genersch E. Swarming motility and biofilm formation of Paenibacillus larvae, the etiological agent of American Foulbrood of honey bees (Apis mellifera). Sci Rep 2018; 8:8840. [PMID: 29892084 PMCID: PMC5995878 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27193-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
American Foulbrood is a worldwide distributed, fatal disease of the brood of the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera). The causative agent of this fatal brood disease is the Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, which can be classified into four different genotypes (ERIC I-IV), with ERIC I and II being the ones isolated from contemporary AFB outbreaks. P. larvae is a peritrichously flagellated bacterium and, hence, we hypothesized that P. larvae is capable of coordinated and cooperative multicellular behaviors like swarming motility and biofilm formation. In order to analyze these behaviors of P. larvae, we firstly established appropriate functional assays. Using these assays we demonstrated that P. larvae ERIC II, but not P. larvae ERIC I, was capable of swarming. Swarming motility was hampered in a P. larvae ERIC II-mutant lacking production of paenilarvin, an iturin-like lipopeptide exclusively expressed by this genotype. Both genotypes were able to form free floating biofilm aggregates loosely attached to the walls of the culture wells. Visualizing the biofilms by Congo red and thioflavin S staining suggested structural differences between the biofilms formed. Biofilm formation was shown to be independent from paenilarvin production because the paenilarvin deficient mutant was comparably able to form a biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Fünfhaus
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Josefine Göbel
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Julia Ebeling
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Henriette Knispel
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Eva Garcia-Gonzalez
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Elke Genersch
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany.
- Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Institut für Mikrobiologie und Tierseuchen, Berlin, Germany.
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16
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Physiological and Molecular Understanding of Bacterial Polysaccharide Monooxygenases. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2017; 81:81/3/e00015-17. [PMID: 28659491 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00015-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria have long been known to secrete enzymes that degrade cellulose and chitin. The degradation of these two polymers predominantly involves two enzyme families that work synergistically with one another: glycoside hydrolases (GHs) and polysaccharide monooxygenases (PMOs). Although bacterial PMOs are a relatively recent addition to the known biopolymer degradation machinery, there is an extensive amount of literature implicating PMO in numerous physiological roles. This review focuses on these diverse and physiological aspects of bacterial PMOs, including facilitating endosymbiosis, conferring a nutritional advantage, and enhancing virulence in pathogenic organisms. We also discuss the correlation between the presence of PMOs and bacterial lifestyle and speculate on the advantages conferred by PMOs under these conditions. In addition, the molecular aspects of bacterial PMOs, as well as the mechanisms regulating PMO expression and the function of additional domains associated with PMOs, are described. We anticipate that increasing research efforts in this field will continue to expand our understanding of the molecular and physiological roles of bacterial PMOs.
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Grady EN, MacDonald J, Liu L, Richman A, Yuan ZC. Current knowledge and perspectives of Paenibacillus: a review. Microb Cell Fact 2016; 15:203. [PMID: 27905924 PMCID: PMC5134293 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-016-0603-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 433] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Isolated from a wide range of sources, the genus Paenibacillus comprises bacterial species relevant to humans, animals, plants, and the environment. Many Paenibacillus species can promote crop growth directly via biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, production of the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and release of siderophores that enable iron acquisition. They can also offer protection against insect herbivores and phytopathogens, including bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and viruses. This is accomplished by the production of a variety of antimicrobials and insecticides, and by triggering a hypersensitive defensive response of the plant, known as induced systemic resistance (ISR). Paenibacillus-derived antimicrobials also have applications in medicine, including polymyxins and fusaricidins, which are nonribosomal lipopeptides first isolated from strains of Paenibacillus polymyxa. Other useful molecules include exo-polysaccharides (EPS) and enzymes such as amylases, cellulases, hemicellulases, lipases, pectinases, oxygenases, dehydrogenases, lignin-modifying enzymes, and mutanases, which may have applications for detergents, food and feed, textiles, paper, biofuel, and healthcare. On the negative side, Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of American Foulbrood, a lethal disease of honeybees, while a variety of species are opportunistic infectors of humans, and others cause spoilage of pasteurized dairy products. This broad review summarizes the major positive and negative impacts of Paenibacillus: its realised and prospective contributions to agriculture, medicine, process manufacturing, and bioremediation, as well as its impacts due to pathogenicity and food spoilage. This review also includes detailed information in Additional files 1, 2, 3 for major known Paenibacillus species with their locations of isolation, genome sequencing projects, patents, and industrially significant compounds and enzymes. Paenibacillus will, over time, play increasingly important roles in sustainable agriculture and industrial biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot Nicholas Grady
- London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON N5V 4T3 Canada
| | - Jacqueline MacDonald
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Dental Science Building Rm. 3014, London, ON N6A 5C1 Canada
| | - Linda Liu
- London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON N5V 4T3 Canada
| | - Alex Richman
- London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON N5V 4T3 Canada
| | - Ze-Chun Yuan
- London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON N5V 4T3 Canada
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Dental Science Building Rm. 3014, London, ON N6A 5C1 Canada
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18
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Hertlein G, Seiffert M, Gensel S, Garcia-Gonzalez E, Ebeling J, Skobalj R, Kuthning A, Süssmuth RD, Genersch E. Biological Role of Paenilarvins, Iturin-Like Lipopeptide Secondary Metabolites Produced by the Honey Bee Pathogen Paenibacillus larvae. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0164656. [PMID: 27760211 PMCID: PMC5070912 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram-positive bacterium Paenibacillus larvae (P. larvae) is the causative agent of a deadly honey bee brood disease called American Foulbrood (AFB). AFB is a notifiable epizootic in most countries and, hence, P. larvae is of considerable relevance for veterinarians and apiculturists alike. Over the last decade, much progress has been made in the understanding of the (patho)biology of P. larvae. Recently, several non-ribosomally produced peptides (NRP) and peptide/polyketide (NRP/PK) hybrids produced by P. larvae were identified. Among these NRPs were iturin-like lipopeptides, the paenilarvins A-C. Iturins are known to exhibit strong anti-fungal activity; for some iturins, cytotoxic activity towards mammalian erythrocytes and human cancer cell lines are described. We here present our results on the analysis of the natural function of the paenilarvins during pathogenesis of P. larvae infections. We demonstrated production of paenilarvins in infected larvae. However, we could neither demonstrate cytotoxicity of paenilarvins towards cultured insect cells nor towards larvae in feeding assays. Accordingly, exposure bioassays performed with larvae infected by wild-type P. larvae and a knockout mutant of P. larvae lacking production of paenilarvins did not substantiate a role for the paenilarvins as virulence factor. Further experiments are necessary to analyze the relevance of the paenilarvins' anti-fungal activity for P. larvae infections in the presence of fungal competitors in the larval midgut or cadaver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian Hertlein
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Marlene Seiffert
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Sebastian Gensel
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva Garcia-Gonzalez
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Julia Ebeling
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Ranko Skobalj
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Kuthning
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Elke Genersch
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Institut für Mikrobiologie und Tierseuchen, Berlin, Germany
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19
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Vezeteu TV, Bobiş O, Moritz RFA, Buttstedt A. Food to some, poison to others - honeybee royal jelly and its growth inhibiting effect on European Foulbrood bacteria. Microbiologyopen 2016; 6. [PMID: 27743422 PMCID: PMC5300887 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera) serve as attractive hosts for a variety of pathogens providing optimal temperatures, humidity, and an abundance of food. Thus, honeybees have to deal with pathogens throughout their lives and, even as larvae they are affected by severe brood diseases like the European Foulbrood caused by Melissococcus plutonius. Accordingly, it is highly adaptive that larval food jelly contains antibiotic compounds. However, although food jelly is primarily consumed by bee larvae, studies investigating the antibiotic effects of this jelly have largely concentrated on bacterial human diseases. In this study, we show that royal jelly fed to queen larvae and added to the jelly of drone and worker larvae, inhibits not only the growth of European Foulbrood‐associated bacteria but also its causative agent M. plutonius. This effect is shown to be caused by the main protein (major royal jelly protein 1) of royal jelly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas V. Vezeteu
- Institut für BiologieZoologie – Molekulare ÖkologieMartin‐Luther‐Universität Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
| | - Otilia Bobiş
- Departamentul de Apiculturǎ şi SericiculturǎFacultatea de Zootehnie şi BiotehnologiiUniversitatea de Ştiinţe Agricole şi Medicinǎ VeterinarǎCluj‐NapocaRomania
| | - Robin F. A. Moritz
- Institut für BiologieZoologie – Molekulare ÖkologieMartin‐Luther‐Universität Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
| | - Anja Buttstedt
- Institut für BiologieZoologie – Molekulare ÖkologieMartin‐Luther‐Universität Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
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20
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Riessberger-Gallé U, Hernández-López J, Rechberger G, Crailsheim K, Schuehly W. Lysophosphatidylcholine acts in the constitutive immune defence against American foulbrood in adult honeybees. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30699. [PMID: 27480379 PMCID: PMC4969740 DOI: 10.1038/srep30699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Honeybee (Apis mellifera) imagines are resistant to the Gram-positive bacterium Paenibacillus larvae (P. larvae), causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB), whereas honeybee larvae show susceptibility against this pathogen only during the first 48 h of their life. It is known that midgut homogenate of adult honeybees as well as a homogenate of aged larvae exhibit strong anti-P. larvae activity. A bioactivity-guided LC-HRMS analysis of midgut homogenate resulted in the identification of 1-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (LPC) pointing to a yet unknown immune defence in adult honeybees against P. larvae. Antimicrobial activity of LPC was also demonstrated against Melissococcus plutonius, causative agent of European Foulbrood. To demonstrate an AFB-preventive effect of LPC in larvae, artificially reared larvae were supplemented with LPC to evaluate its toxicity and to assess whether, after infection with P. larvae spores, LPC supplementation prevents AFB infection. 10 μg LPC per larva applied for 3 d significantly lowered mortality due to AFB in comparison to controls. A potential delivery route of LPC to the larvae in a colony via nurse bees was assessed through a tracking experiment using fluorescent-labelled LPC. This yet undescribed and non-proteinous defense of honeybees against P. larvae may offer new perspectives for a treatment of AFB without the utilization of classic antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gerald Rechberger
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Humboldtstraße 50/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
- OMICS Centre Graz, BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Karl Crailsheim
- Institute of Zoology, Universitätsplatz 2, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Schuehly
- Institute of Zoology, Universitätsplatz 2, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacognosy, Universitätsplatz 4, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
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21
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Feng M, Fang Y, Han B, Xu X, Fan P, Hao Y, Qi Y, Hu H, Huo X, Meng L, Wu B, Li J. In-Depth N-Glycosylation Reveals Species-Specific Modifications and Functions of the Royal Jelly Protein from Western (Apis mellifera) and Eastern Honeybees (Apis cerana). J Proteome Res 2015; 14:5327-40. [PMID: 26496797 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Royal jelly (RJ), secreted by honeybee workers, plays diverse roles as nutrients and defense agents for honeybee biology and human health. Despite being reported to be glycoproteins, the glycosylation characterization and functionality of RJ proteins in different honeybee species are largely unknown. An in-depth N-glycoproteome analysis and functional assay of RJ produced by Apis mellifera lingustica (Aml) and Apis cerana cerana (Acc) were conducted. RJ produced by Aml yielded 80 nonredundant N-glycoproteins carrying 190 glycosites, of which 23 novel proteins harboring 35 glycosites were identified. For Acc, all 43 proteins glycosylated at 138 glycosites were reported for the first time. Proteins with distinct N-glycoproteomic characteristics in terms of glycoprotein species, number of N-glycosylated sites, glycosylation motif, abundance level of glycoproteins, and N-glycosites were observed in this two RJ samples. The fact that the low inhibitory efficiency of N-glycosylated major royal jelly protein 2 (MRJP2) against Paenibacillus larvae (P. larvae) and the absence of antibacterial related glycosylated apidaecin, hymenoptaecin, and peritrophic matrix in the Aml RJ compared to Acc reveal the mechanism for why the Aml larvae are susceptible to P. larvae, the causative agent of a fatal brood disease (American foulbrood, AFB). The observed antihypertension activity of N-glycosylated MRJP1 in two RJ samples and a stronger activity found in Acc than in Aml reveal that specific RJ protein and modification are potentially useful for the treatment of hypertensive disease for humans. Our data gain novel understanding that the western and eastern bees have evolved species-specific strategies of glycosylation to fine-tune protein activity for optimizing molecular function as nutrients and immune agents for the good of honeybee and influence on the health promoting activity for human as well. This serves as a valuable resource for the targeted probing of the biological functions of RJ proteins for honeybee and medical communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao Feng
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Beijing 100093, China
| | - Yu Fang
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Beijing 100093, China
| | - Bin Han
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Beijing 100093, China
| | - Xiang Xu
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Beijing 100093, China
| | - Pei Fan
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Beijing 100093, China.,College of Bioengineering, Henan University of Technology , Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yue Hao
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Beijing 100093, China
| | - Yuping Qi
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Beijing 100093, China
| | - Han Hu
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Beijing 100093, China
| | - Xinmei Huo
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Beijing 100093, China
| | - Lifeng Meng
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Beijing 100093, China
| | - Bin Wu
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Beijing 100093, China
| | - Jianke Li
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Beijing 100093, China
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22
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Takamatsu D, Sato M, Yoshiyama M. Infection of Melissococcus plutonius clonal complex 12 strain in European honeybee larvae is essentially confined to the digestive tract. J Vet Med Sci 2015; 78:29-34. [PMID: 26256232 PMCID: PMC4751113 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.15-0405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Melissococcus plutonius is an important pathogen that causes
European foulbrood (EFB) in honeybee larvae. Recently, we discovered a group of M.
plutonius strains that are phenotypically and genetically distinct from other
strains. These strains belong to clonal complex (CC) 12, as determined by multilocus
sequence typing analysis, and show atypical cultural and biochemical characteristics
in vitro compared with strains of other CCs tested. Although EFB is
considered to be a purely intestinal infection according to early studies, it is unknown
whether the recently found CC12 strains cause EFB by the same pathomechanism. In this
study, to obtain a better understanding of EFB, we infected European honeybee
(Apis mellifera) larvae per os with a
well-characterized CC12 strain, DAT561, and analyzed the larvae histopathologically.
Ingested DAT561 was mainly localized in the midgut lumen surrounded by the peritrophic
matrix (PM) in the larvae. In badly affected larvae, the PM and midgut epithelial cells
degenerated, and some bacterial cells were detected outside of the midgut. However, they
did not proliferate in the deep tissues actively. By immunohistochemical analysis, the PM
was stained with anti-M. plutonius serum in most of the DAT561-infected
larvae. In some larvae, luminal surfaces of the PM were more strongly stained than the
inside. These results suggest that infection of CC12 strain in honeybee larvae is
essentially confined to the intestine. Moreover, our results imply the presence of
M. plutonius-derived substances diffusing into the larval tissues in
the course of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Takamatsu
- Bacterial and Parasitic Diseases Research Division, National Institute of Animal Health, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 3-1-5 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0856, Japan
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23
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Hedtke SM, Blitzer EJ, Montgomery GA, Danforth BN. Introduction of Non-Native Pollinators Can Lead to Trans-Continental Movement of Bee-Associated Fungi. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130560. [PMID: 26102072 PMCID: PMC4478036 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bees are essential pollinators for many flowering plants, including agriculturally important crops such as apple. As geographic ranges of bees or their host plants change as a result of human activities, we need to identify pathogens that could be transmitted among newly sympatric species to evaluate and anticipate their effects on bee communities. We used PCR screening and DNA sequencing to evaluate exposure to potentially disease-causing microorganisms in a pollinator of apple, the horned mason bee (Osmia cornifrons). We did not detect microsporidia, Wolbachia, or trypanosomes, which are common pathogens of bees, in any of the hundreds of mason bees screened. We did detect both pathogenic and apathogenic (saprophytic) fungal species in the genus Ascosphaera (chalkbrood), an unidentified species of Aspergillus fungus, and a strain of bacteria in the genus Paenibacillus that is probably apathogenic. We detected pathogenic fungal strains in asymptomatic adult bees that therefore may be carriers of disease. We demonstrate that fungi from the genus Ascosphaera have been transported to North America along with the bee from its native range in Japan, and that O. cornifrons is exposed to fungi previously only identified from nests of other related bee species. Further study will be required to quantify pathogenicity and health effects of these different microbial species on O. cornifrons and on closely-related native North American mason bees that may now be exposed to novel pathogens. A global perspective is required for pathogen research as geographic ranges of insects and microorganisms shift due to intentional or accidental introductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M. Hedtke
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Department of Ecology, Environment, and Evolution, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Eleanor J. Blitzer
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Graham A. Montgomery
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Bryan N. Danforth
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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24
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Garcia-Gonzalez E, Müller S, Hertlein G, Heid N, Süssmuth RD, Genersch E. Biological effects of paenilamicin, a secondary metabolite antibiotic produced by the honey bee pathogenic bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. Microbiologyopen 2014; 3:642-56. [PMID: 25044543 PMCID: PMC4234257 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Revised: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Paenibacillus larvae is the etiological agent of American Foulbrood (AFB) a world-wide distributed devastating disease of the honey bee brood. Previous comparative genome analysis and more recently, the elucidation of the bacterial genome, provided evidence that this bacterium harbors putative functional nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) and polyketide synthases (PKSs) and therefore, might produce nonribosomal peptides (NRPs) and polyketides (PKs). Such biosynthesis products have been shown to display a wide-range of biological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal or cytotoxic activity. Herein we present an in silico analysis of the first NRPS/PKS hybrid of P. larvae and we show the involvement of this cluster in the production of a compound named paenilamicin (Pam). For the characterization of its in vitro and in vivo bioactivity, a knock-out mutant strain lacking the production of Pam was constructed and subsequently compared to wild-type species. This led to the identification of Pam by mass spectrometry. Purified Pam-fractions showed not only antibacterial but also antifungal and cytotoxic activities. The latter suggested a direct effect of Pam on honey bee larval death which could, however, not be corroborated in laboratory infection assays. Bee larvae infected with the non-producing Pam strain showed no decrease in larval mortality, but a delay in the onset of larval death. We propose that Pam, although not essential for larval mortality, is a virulence factor of P. larvae influencing the time course of disease. These findings are not only of significance in elucidating and understanding host-pathogen interactions but also within the context of the quest for new compounds with antibiotic activity for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Garcia-Gonzalez
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee ResearchFriedrich-Engels-Str. 32, 16540, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Sebastian Müller
- Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin10623, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gillian Hertlein
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee ResearchFriedrich-Engels-Str. 32, 16540, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Nina Heid
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee ResearchFriedrich-Engels-Str. 32, 16540, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | | | - Elke Genersch
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee ResearchFriedrich-Engels-Str. 32, 16540, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität BerlinRobert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
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Hertlein G, Müller S, Garcia-Gonzalez E, Poppinga L, Süssmuth RD, Genersch E. Production of the catechol type siderophore bacillibactin by the honey bee pathogen Paenibacillus larvae. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108272. [PMID: 25237888 PMCID: PMC4169593 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram-positive bacterium Paenibacillus larvae is the etiological agent of American Foulbrood. This bacterial infection of honey bee brood is a notifiable epizootic posing a serious threat to global honey bee health because not only individual larvae but also entire colonies succumb to the disease. In the recent past considerable progress has been made in elucidating molecular aspects of host pathogen interactions during pathogenesis of P. larvae infections. Especially the sequencing and annotation of the complete genome of P. larvae was a major step forward and revealed the existence of several giant gene clusters coding for non-ribosomal peptide synthetases which might act as putative virulence factors. We here present the detailed analysis of one of these clusters which we demonstrated to be responsible for the biosynthesis of bacillibactin, a P. larvae siderophore. We first established culture conditions allowing the growth of P. larvae under iron-limited conditions and triggering siderophore production by P. larvae. Using a gene disruption strategy we linked siderophore production to the expression of an uninterrupted bacillibactin gene cluster. In silico analysis predicted the structure of a trimeric trithreonyl lactone (DHB-Gly-Thr)3 similar to the structure of bacillibactin produced by several Bacillus species. Mass spectrometric analysis unambiguously confirmed that the siderophore produced by P. larvae is identical to bacillibactin. Exposure bioassays demonstrated that P. larvae bacillibactin is not required for full virulence of P. larvae in laboratory exposure bioassays. This observation is consistent with results obtained for bacillibactin in other pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian Hertlein
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Sebastian Müller
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva Garcia-Gonzalez
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Lena Poppinga
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | | | - Elke Genersch
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Berlin, Germany
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Paenibacillus larvae chitin-degrading protein PlCBP49 is a key virulence factor in American Foulbrood of honey bees. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004284. [PMID: 25080221 PMCID: PMC4117609 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Paenibacillus larvae, the etiological agent of the globally occurring epizootic American Foulbrood (AFB) of honey bees, causes intestinal infections in honey bee larvae which develop into systemic infections inevitably leading to larval death. Massive brood mortality might eventually lead to collapse of the entire colony. Molecular mechanisms of host-microbe interactions in this system and of differences in virulence between P. larvae genotypes are poorly understood. Recently, it was demonstrated that the degradation of the peritrophic matrix lining the midgut epithelium is a key step in pathogenesis of P. larvae infections. Here, we present the isolation and identification of PlCBP49, a modular, chitin-degrading protein of P. larvae and demonstrate that this enzyme is crucial for the degradation of the larval peritrophic matrix during infection. PlCBP49 contains a module belonging to the auxiliary activity 10 (AA10, formerly CBM33) family of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) which are able to degrade recalcitrant polysaccharides. Using chitin-affinity purified PlCBP49, we provide evidence that PlCBP49 degrades chitin via a metal ion-dependent, oxidative mechanism, as already described for members of the AA10 family. Using P. larvae mutants lacking PlCBP49 expression, we analyzed in vivo biological functions of PlCBP49. In the absence of PlCBP49 expression, peritrophic matrix degradation was markedly reduced and P. larvae virulence was nearly abolished. This indicated that PlCBP49 is a key virulence factor for the species P. larvae. The identification of the functional role of PlCBP49 in AFB pathogenesis broadens our understanding of this important family of chitin-binding and -degrading proteins, especially in those bacteria that can also act as entomopathogens.
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Djukic M, Brzuszkiewicz E, Fünfhaus A, Voss J, Gollnow K, Poppinga L, Liesegang H, Garcia-Gonzalez E, Genersch E, Daniel R. How to kill the honey bee larva: genomic potential and virulence mechanisms of Paenibacillus larvae. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90914. [PMID: 24599066 PMCID: PMC3944939 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Paenibacillus larvae, a Gram positive bacterial pathogen, causes American Foulbrood (AFB), which is the most serious infectious disease of honey bees. In order to investigate the genomic potential of P. larvae, two strains belonging to two different genotypes were sequenced and used for comparative genome analysis. The complete genome sequence of P. larvae strain DSM 25430 (genotype ERIC II) consisted of 4,056,006 bp and harbored 3,928 predicted protein-encoding genes. The draft genome sequence of P. larvae strain DSM 25719 (genotype ERIC I) comprised 4,579,589 bp and contained 4,868 protein-encoding genes. Both strains harbored a 9.7 kb plasmid and encoded a large number of virulence-associated proteins such as toxins and collagenases. In addition, genes encoding large multimodular enzymes producing nonribosomally peptides or polyketides were identified. In the genome of strain DSM 25719 seven toxin associated loci were identified and analyzed. Five of them encoded putatively functional toxins. The genome of strain DSM 25430 harbored several toxin loci that showed similarity to corresponding loci in the genome of strain DSM 25719, but were non-functional due to point mutations or disruption by transposases. Although both strains cause AFB, significant differences between the genomes were observed including genome size, number and composition of transposases, insertion elements, predicted phage regions, and strain-specific island-like regions. Transposases, integrases and recombinases are important drivers for genome plasticity. A total of 390 and 273 mobile elements were found in strain DSM 25430 and strain DSM 25719, respectively. Comparative genomics of both strains revealed acquisition of virulence factors by horizontal gene transfer and provided insights into evolution and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin Djukic
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elzbieta Brzuszkiewicz
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anne Fünfhaus
- Department for Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Jörn Voss
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kathleen Gollnow
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lena Poppinga
- Department for Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Heiko Liesegang
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eva Garcia-Gonzalez
- Department for Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Elke Genersch
- Department for Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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