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McGarry N, Roe D, Smith SGJ. Synergy between Group 2 capsules and lipopolysaccharide underpins serum resistance in extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2024; 170:001493. [PMID: 39177453 PMCID: PMC11342863 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a major cause of urinary tract infections, bacteraemia, and sepsis. CFT073 is a prototypic, urosepsis isolate of sequence type (ST) 73. This laboratory, among others, has shown that strain CFT073 is resistant to serum, with capsule and other extracellular polysaccharides imparting resistance. The interplay of such polysaccharides remains under-explored. This study has shown that CFT073 mutants deficient in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-antigen and capsule display exquisite serum sensitivity. Additionally, O-antigen and LPS outer core mutants displayed significantly decreased surface K2 capsule, coupled with increased unbound K2 capsule being detected in the supernatant. The R1 core and O6 antigen are involved in the tethering of K2 capsule to the CFT073 cell surface, highlighting the importance of the R1 core in serum resistance. The dependence of capsule on LPS was shown to be post-transcriptional and related to changes in cell surface hydrophobicity. Furthermore, immunofluorescence microscopy suggested that the surface pattern of capsule is altered in such LPS core mutants, which display a punctate capsule pattern. Finally, targeting LPS biosynthesis using sub-inhibitory concentrations of a WaaG inhibitor resulted in increased serum sensitivity and decreased capsule in CFT073. Interestingly, the dependency of capsule on LPS has been observed previously in other Enterobacteria, indicating that the synergy between these polysaccharides is not just strain, serotype or species-specific but may be conserved across several pathogenic Gram-negative species. Therefore, using WaaG inhibitor derivatives to target LPS is a promising therapeutic strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality by reducing or eliminating surface capsule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoise McGarry
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Domhnall Roe
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Stephen G. J. Smith
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
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2
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Poteete O, Cox P, Ruffin F, Sutton G, Brinkac L, Clarke TH, Fouts DE, Fowler VG, Thaden JT. Serum susceptibility of Escherichia coli and its association with patient clinical outcomes. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0307968. [PMID: 39074102 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The innate immune system eliminates bloodstream pathogens such as Escherichia coli in part through complement protein deposition and subsequent bacterial death (i.e., "serum killing"). Some E. coli strains have developed mechanisms to resist serum killing, though the extent of variation in serum killing among bloodstream infection (BSI) isolates and the clinical impact of this variation is not well understood. To address this issue, we developed a novel assay that uses flow cytometry to perform high throughput serum bactericidal assays (SBAs) with E. coli BSI isolates (n = 183) to define the proportion of surviving bacteria after exposure to serum. We further determined whether E. coli resistance to serum killing is associated with clinical outcomes (e.g., in-hospital attributable mortality, in-hospital total mortality, septic shock) and bacterial genotype in the corresponding patients with E. coli BSI. Our novel flow cytometry-based SBA performed similarly to a traditional SBA, though with significantly decreased hands-on bench work. Among E. coli BSI isolates, the mean proportion that survived exposure to 25% serum was 0.68 (Standard deviation 0.02, range 0.57-0.93). We did not identify associations between E. coli resistance to serum killing and clinical outcomes in our adjusted models. Together, this study describes a novel flow cytometry-based approach to the bacterial SBA that allowed for high-throughput testing of E. coli BSI isolates and identified high variability in resistance to serum killing among a large set of BSI isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orianna Poteete
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Phillip Cox
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Felicia Ruffin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Granger Sutton
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, MD, United States of America
| | - Lauren Brinkac
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, MD, United States of America
| | - Thomas H Clarke
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, MD, United States of America
| | - Derrick E Fouts
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, MD, United States of America
| | - Vance G Fowler
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Joshua T Thaden
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
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Usein CR, Oprea M, Dinu S, Popa LI, Cristea D, Militaru CM, Ghiță A, Costin M, Popa IL, Croitoru A, Bologa C, Rusu LC. Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains from Romania: A Whole Genome-Based Description. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1469. [PMID: 39065242 PMCID: PMC11278934 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12071469] [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: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The zoonotic Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) group is unanimously regarded as exceptionally hazardous for humans. This study aimed to provide a genomic perspective on the STEC recovered sporadically from humans and have a foundation of internationally comparable data. Fifty clinical STEC isolates, representing the culture-confirmed infections reported by the STEC Reference Laboratory between 2016 and 2023, were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis and sequences were interpreted using both commercial and public free bioinformatics tools. The WGS analysis revealed a genetically diverse population of STEC dominated by non-O157 serogroups commonly reported in human STEC infections in the European Union. The O26:H11 strains of ST21 lineage played a major role in the clinical disease resulting in hospitalisation and cases of paediatric HUS in Romania surpassing the O157:H7 strains. The latter were all clade 7 and mostly ST1804. Notably, among the Romanian isolates was a stx2a-harbouring cryptic clade I strain associated with a HUS case, stx2f- and stx2e-positive strains, and hybrid strains displaying a mixture of intestinal and extraintestinal virulence genes were found. As a clearer picture emerges of the STEC strains responsible for infections in Romania, further surveillance efforts are needed to uncover their prevalence, sources, and reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Codruța-Romanița Usein
- Cantacuzino National Military Medical Institute of Research and Development, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (M.O.); (S.D.); (L.-I.P.); (D.C.); (C.-M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Mihaela Oprea
- Cantacuzino National Military Medical Institute of Research and Development, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (M.O.); (S.D.); (L.-I.P.); (D.C.); (C.-M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Sorin Dinu
- Cantacuzino National Military Medical Institute of Research and Development, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (M.O.); (S.D.); (L.-I.P.); (D.C.); (C.-M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Laura-Ioana Popa
- Cantacuzino National Military Medical Institute of Research and Development, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (M.O.); (S.D.); (L.-I.P.); (D.C.); (C.-M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Daniela Cristea
- Cantacuzino National Military Medical Institute of Research and Development, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (M.O.); (S.D.); (L.-I.P.); (D.C.); (C.-M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Cornelia-Mădălina Militaru
- Cantacuzino National Military Medical Institute of Research and Development, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (M.O.); (S.D.); (L.-I.P.); (D.C.); (C.-M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Andreea Ghiță
- Cantacuzino National Military Medical Institute of Research and Development, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (M.O.); (S.D.); (L.-I.P.); (D.C.); (C.-M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Mariana Costin
- Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children “M.S. Curie”, 041451 Bucharest, Romania; (M.C.); (I.-L.P.); (A.C.); (C.B.)
- Discipline Pediatrics—Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children M.S. Curie, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ionela-Loredana Popa
- Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children “M.S. Curie”, 041451 Bucharest, Romania; (M.C.); (I.-L.P.); (A.C.); (C.B.)
- Discipline Pediatrics—Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children M.S. Curie, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Anca Croitoru
- Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children “M.S. Curie”, 041451 Bucharest, Romania; (M.C.); (I.-L.P.); (A.C.); (C.B.)
- Discipline Pediatrics—Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children M.S. Curie, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristina Bologa
- Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children “M.S. Curie”, 041451 Bucharest, Romania; (M.C.); (I.-L.P.); (A.C.); (C.B.)
| | - Lavinia-Cipriana Rusu
- National Centre for Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control, National Public Health Institute, 050463 Bucharest, Romania;
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Lê-Bury P, Echenique-Rivera H, Pizarro-Cerdá J, Dussurget O. Determinants of bacterial survival and proliferation in blood. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2024; 48:fuae013. [PMID: 38734892 PMCID: PMC11163986 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuae013] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Bloodstream infection is a major public health concern associated with high mortality and high healthcare costs worldwide. Bacteremia can trigger fatal sepsis whose prevention, diagnosis, and management have been recognized as a global health priority by the World Health Organization. Additionally, infection control is increasingly threatened by antimicrobial resistance, which is the focus of global action plans in the framework of a One Health response. In-depth knowledge of the infection process is needed to develop efficient preventive and therapeutic measures. The pathogenesis of bloodstream infection is a dynamic process resulting from the invasion of the vascular system by bacteria, which finely regulate their metabolic pathways and virulence factors to overcome the blood immune defenses and proliferate. In this review, we highlight our current understanding of determinants of bacterial survival and proliferation in the bloodstream and discuss their interactions with the molecular and cellular components of blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Lê-Bury
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Autoimmune, Hematological and Bacterial Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), 18 route du Panorama, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Hebert Echenique-Rivera
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Javier Pizarro-Cerdá
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Yersinia National Reference Laboratory, WHO Collaborating Research & Reference Centre for Plague FRA-146, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Olivier Dussurget
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
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Moni CA, Dias ME, Lopes CE, Siqueira FM. Escherichia coli isolated from pyometra and cystitis in the same animal exhibit a wide phenotypic similarity. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae108. [PMID: 38692849 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Pyometra and cystitis caused by Escherichia coli are common diseases identified in canine or feline females. The origin of pyometra infection remains uncertain, and effective prevention strategies for this disease are still unknown. This study aimed to provide a phenotypic characterization, including antimicrobial resistance and virulence profiles, of endometrial pathogenic (EnPEC) and uropathogenic (UPEC) E. coli strains isolated simultaneously from the same animal. METHODS AND RESULTS Sixteen E. coli strains, from eight different animals, were analyzed in this study. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of EnPEC and UPEC strains was determined using the disc diffusion method, which showed a similar susceptibility profile among strains (EnPEC and UPEC) from the same animal. The virulence profile of the strains was assessed through biofilm formation, as well as serum resistance abilities. EnPEC and UPEC strains from the same animal exhibited slight variations in their virulence and antimicrobial resistance capabilities. Overall, most of the strain pairs showed a high similarity in their ability to establish biofilms and survive in serum complement activity. CONCLUSIONS Overall, strains of E. coli isolated from both pyometra and cystitis in the same animal, despite presenting distinct clinical diseases, exhibit a wide phenotypic similarity, suggesting a common origin for the strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Azevedo Moni
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9090, 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Maria Eduarda Dias
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9090, 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Cassiane Elisabete Lopes
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9090, 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9090, 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Franciele Maboni Siqueira
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9090, 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9090, 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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6
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Abe R, Ram-Mohan N, Yang S. Re-visiting humoral constitutive antibacterial heterogeneity in bloodstream infections. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2024; 24:e245-e251. [PMID: 37944543 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00494-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Although cellular immunity has garnered much attention in the era of single-cell technologies, humoral innate immunity has receded in priority due to its presumed limited roles. Hence, despite the long-recognised bactericidal activity of serum-a functional characteristic of constitutive humoral immunity-much remains unclear regarding mechanisms underlying its inter-individual heterogeneity and clinical implications in bloodstream infections. Recent work suggests that the immediate antimicrobial effect of humoral innate immunity contributes to suppression of the excessive inflammatory responses to infection by reducing the amount of pathogen-associated molecular patterns. In this Personal View, we propose the need to re-explore factors underlying the inter-individual heterogeneity in serum antibacterial competence as a new approach to better understand humoral innate immunity and revisit the clinical use of measuring serum antibacterial activity in the management of bacterial bloodstream infections. Given the current emphasis on subtyping sepsis, a serum bactericidal assay might prove useful in defining a distinct sepsis endotype, to enable more personalised management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuichiro Abe
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Nikhil Ram-Mohan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Samuel Yang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
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7
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Chick HM, Rees ME, Lewis ML, Williams LK, Bodger O, Harris LG, Rushton S, Wilkinson TS. Using the Traditional Ex Vivo Whole Blood Model to Discriminate Bacteria by Their Inducible Host Responses. Biomedicines 2024; 12:724. [PMID: 38672079 PMCID: PMC11047930 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040724] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Whole blood models are rapid and versatile for determining immune responses to inflammatory and infectious stimuli, but they have not been used for bacterial discrimination. Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis and Escherichia coli are the most common causes of invasive disease, and rapid testing strategies utilising host responses remain elusive. Currently, immune responses can only discriminate between bacterial 'domains' (fungi, bacteria and viruses), and very few studies can use immune responses to discriminate bacteria at the species and strain level. Here, whole blood was used to investigate the relationship between host responses and bacterial strains. Results confirmed unique temporal profiles for the 10 parameters studied: IL-6, MIP-1α, MIP-3α, IL-10, resistin, phagocytosis, S100A8, S100A8/A9, C5a and TF3. Pairwise analysis confirmed that IL-6, resistin, phagocytosis, C5a and S100A8/A9 could be used in a discrimination scheme to identify to the strain level. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) confirmed that (i) IL-6, MIP-3α and TF3 could predict genera with 95% accuracy; (ii) IL-6, phagocytosis, resistin and TF3 could predict species at 90% accuracy and (iii) phagocytosis, S100A8 and IL-10 predicted strain at 40% accuracy. These data are important because they confirm the proof of concept that host biomarker panels could be used to identify bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M. Chick
- Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (H.M.C.); (M.E.R.); (M.L.L.); (L.K.W.); (L.G.H.)
| | - Megan E. Rees
- Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (H.M.C.); (M.E.R.); (M.L.L.); (L.K.W.); (L.G.H.)
| | - Matthew L. Lewis
- Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (H.M.C.); (M.E.R.); (M.L.L.); (L.K.W.); (L.G.H.)
| | - Lisa K. Williams
- Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (H.M.C.); (M.E.R.); (M.L.L.); (L.K.W.); (L.G.H.)
- Department of Animal and Agriculture, Hartpury University, Hartpury, Gloucestershire GL19 3BE, UK
| | - Owen Bodger
- Patient and Population Health an Informatics Research, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;
| | - Llinos G. Harris
- Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (H.M.C.); (M.E.R.); (M.L.L.); (L.K.W.); (L.G.H.)
| | - Steven Rushton
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK;
| | - Thomas S. Wilkinson
- Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (H.M.C.); (M.E.R.); (M.L.L.); (L.K.W.); (L.G.H.)
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Motta RG, Motta LSAM, Bertolini AB, Prado AM, Thyssen PJ, Hernandes RT, Orsi H, Rall VLM, Gouvea FLR, Guerra ST, Guimarães FF, Joaquim SF, Pantoja JC, Langoni H, Ribeiro MG. Identification of Escherichia coli isolated from flies (Insecta: Diptera) that inhabit the environment of dairy farms harboring extraintestinal virulence markers. J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:lxad301. [PMID: 38086616 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad301] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
AIMS We investigate extraintestinal pathogenic genes (ExPEC) related to virulence of Escherichia coli in flies from the dairy environment. METHODS AND RESULTS We collected 217 flies from nine dairy farms, which were submitted to microbiological culture. Fifty-one E. coli were identified using mass spectrometry. Eleven dipteran families were identified, with a predominance of Muscidae, and a minor frequency of Tachinidae, Drosophilidae, Sphaeroceridae, Ulidiidae, Syrphidae, Chloropidae, Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, and Piophilidae. A panel of 16 virulence-encoding genes related to ExPEC infections were investigated, which revealed predominance of serum resistance (traT, 31/51 = 60.8%; ompT, 29/51 = 56.9%), iron uptake (irp2, 17/51 = 33.3%, iucD 11/51 = 21.6%), and adhesins (papC, 6/51 = 11.8%; papA, 5/51 = 9.8%). CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal Dipterans from milking environment carrying ExPEC virulence-encoding genes also identified in clinical bovine E. coli-induced infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo G Motta
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State University of Maringa, Umuarama, PR, 87507-190, Brazil
| | - Lorrayne S A M Motta
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-681, Brazil
| | - Amanda B Bertolini
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-681, Brazil
| | - Aline M Prado
- Department of Animal Biology, Biology Institute, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Patricia J Thyssen
- Department of Animal Biology, Biology Institute, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo T Hernandes
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-689, Brazil
| | - Henrique Orsi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-689, Brazil
| | - Vera L M Rall
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-689, Brazil
| | - Fábio L R Gouvea
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-681, Brazil
| | - Simony T Guerra
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-681, Brazil
| | - Felipe F Guimarães
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-681, Brazil
| | - Sâmea F Joaquim
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-681, Brazil
| | - José C Pantoja
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-681, Brazil
| | - Helio Langoni
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-681, Brazil
| | - Márcio G Ribeiro
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-681, Brazil
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9
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Mao Z, Zhang H, Cai W, Yang Y, Zhang X, Jiang F, Li G. NhaA facilitates the maintenance of bacterial envelope integrity and the evasion of complement attack contributing to extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli virulence. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0003923. [PMID: 37815368 PMCID: PMC10652942 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00039-23] [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: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is responsible for severe bloodstream infections in humans and animals. However, the mechanisms underlying ExPEC's serum resistance remain incompletely understood. Through the transposon-directed insertion-site sequencing approach, our previous study identified nhaA, the gene encoding a Na+/H+ antiporter, as a crucial factor for infection in vivo. In this study, we investigated the role of NhaA in ExPEC virulence utilizing both in vitro models and systemic infection models involving avian and mammalian animals. Genetic mutagenesis analysis revealed that nhaA deletion resulted in filamentous bacterial morphology and rendered the bacteria more susceptible to sodium dodecyl sulfate, suggesting the role of nhaA in maintaining cell envelope integrity. The nhaA mutant also displayed heightened sensitivity to complement-mediated killing compared to the wild-type strain, attributed to augmented deposition of complement components (C3b and C9). Remarkably, NhaA played a more crucial role in virulence compared to several well-known factors, including Iss, Prc, NlpI, and OmpA. Our findings revealed that NhaA significantly enhanced virulence across diverse human ExPEC prototype strains within B2 phylogroups, suggesting widespread involvement in virulence. Given its pivotal role, NhaA could serve as a potential drug target for tackling ExPEC infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Mao
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Ministry of Agriculture, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Haobo Zhang
- National Animal Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Division of Zoonoses Surveillance, China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
- Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Wentong Cai
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Ministry of Agriculture, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Ministry of Agriculture, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Xinyang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Ministry of Agriculture, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Fengwei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Ministry of Agriculture, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Ganwu Li
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Ministry of Agriculture, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
- Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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Brown AN, Anderson MT, Smith SN, Bachman MA, Mobley HLT. Conserved metabolic regulator ArcA responds to oxygen availability, iron limitation, and cell envelope perturbations during bacteremia. mBio 2023; 14:e0144823. [PMID: 37681955 PMCID: PMC10653796 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01448-23] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Infections of the bloodstream are life-threatening and can result in sepsis. Gram-negative bacteria cause a significant portion of bloodstream infections, which is also referred to as bacteremia. The long-term goal of our work is to understand how such bacteria establish and maintain infection during bacteremia. We have previously identified the transcription factor ArcA, which promotes fermentation in bacteria, as a likely contributor to the growth and survival of bacteria in this environment. Here, we study ArcA in the Gram-negative species Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Serratia marcescens. Our findings aid in determining how these bacteria sense their environment, utilize nutrients, and generate energy while countering the host immune system. This information is critical for developing better models of infection to inform future therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aric N. Brown
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mark T. Anderson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Sara N. Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Michael A. Bachman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Harry L. T. Mobley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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11
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Abdullah S, Almusallam A, Li M, Mahmood MS, Mushtaq MA, Eltai NO, Toleman MA, Mohsin M. Whole genome-based genetic insights of blaNDM producing clinical E. coli isolates in hospital settings of Pakistan. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0058423. [PMID: 37668386 PMCID: PMC10581159 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00584-23] [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: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Carbapenem resistance among Enterobacterales has become a global health concern. Clinical Escherichia coli isolates producing the metallo β-lactamase NDM have been isolated from two hospitals in Faisalabad, Pakistan. These E. coli strains were characterized by MALDI-TOF, PCR, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, XbaI and S1 nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), conjugation assay, DNA hybridization, whole genome sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, and Galleria mellonella experiments. Thirty-four blaNDM producing E. coli strains were identified among 52 nonduplicate carbapenem-resistant strains. More than 90% of the isolates were found to be multidrug resistant by antimicrobial susceptibility testing. S1 PFGE confirmed the presence of blaNDM gene on plasmids ranging from 40 kbps to 250 kbps, and conjugation assays demonstrated transfer frequencies of blaNDM harboring plasmids ranging from 1.59 × 10-1 to 6.46 × 10-8 per donor. Whole genome sequencing analysis revealed blaNDM-5 as the prominent NDM subtype with the highest prevalence of blaOXA-1, blaCTX-M-15, aadA2, aac(6')-Ib-cr, and tet(A) associated resistant determinants. E. coli sequence types: ST405, ST361, and ST167 were prominent, and plasmid Inc types: FII, FIA, FIB, FIC, X3, R, and Y, were observed among all isolates. The genetic environment of blaNDM region on IncF plasmids included partial ISAba125, the bleomycin ble gene, and a class I integron. The virulence genes terC, traT, gad, fyuA, irp2, capU, and sitA were frequently observed, and G. mellonella experiments showed that virulence correlated with the number of virulence determinants. A strong infection control management in the hospital is necessary to check the emergence of carbapenem resistance in Gram-negative bacteria.IMPORTANCEWe describe a detailed analysis of highly resistant clinical E. coli isolates from two tertiary care centers in Pakistan including carbapenem resistance as well as common co-resistance mechanisms. South Asia has a huge problem with highly resistant E. coli. However, we find that though these isolates are very difficult to treat they are of low virulence. Thus the Western world has an increasing problem with virulent E. coli that are mostly of low antibiotic resistance, whereas, South Asia has an increasing problem with highly resistant E. coli that are of low virulence potential. These observations allow us to start to devise methodologies to limit both virulence and resistance and combat problems in developing nations as well as the Western world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabahat Abdullah
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Abdulrahman Almusallam
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Mei Li
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Nahla O. Eltai
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mark A. Toleman
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Mashkoor Mohsin
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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12
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Milani G, Belloso Daza MV, Cortimiglia C, Bassi D, Cocconcelli PS. Genome engineering of Stx1-and Stx2-converting bacteriophages unveils the virulence of the dairy isolate Escherichia coli O174:H2 strain UC4224. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1156375. [PMID: 37426006 PMCID: PMC10326431 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1156375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The past decade witnessed the emergence in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections linked to the consumption of unpasteurized milk and raw milk cheese. The virulence of STEC is primarily attributed to the presence of Shiga toxin genes (stx1 and stx2) carried by Stx-converting bacteriophages, along with the intimin gene eae. Most of the available information pertains to the "Top 7" serotypes associated with STEC infections. The objectives of this study were to characterize and investigate the pathogenicity potential of E. coli UC4224, a STEC O174:H2 strain isolated from semi-hard raw milk cheese and to develop surrogate strains with reduced virulence for use in food-related studies. Complete genome sequence analysis of E. coli UC4224 unveiled the presence of a Stx1a bacteriophage, a Stx2a bacteriophage, the Locus of Adhesion and Autoaggregation (LAA) pathogenicity island, plasmid-encoded virulence genes, and other colonization facilitators. In the Galleria mellonella animal model, E. coli UC4224 demonstrated high pathogenicity potential with an LD50 of 6 CFU/10 μL. Upon engineering E. coli UC4224 to generate single and double mutant derivatives by inactivating stx1a and/or stx2a genes, the LD50 increased by approximately 1 Log-dose in the single mutants and 2 Log-doses in the double mutants. However, infectivity was not completely abolished, suggesting the involvement of other virulence factors contributing to the pathogenicity of STEC O174:H2. Considering the possibility of raw milk cheese serving as a reservoir for STEC, cheesemaking model was developed to evaluate the survival of UC4224 and the adequacy of the respective mutants as reduced-virulence surrogates. All tested strains exhibited the ability to survive the curd cooking step at 48°C and multiplied (3.4 Log CFU) in cheese within the subsequent 24 h. These findings indicate that genomic engineering did not exert any unintended effect on the double stx1-stx2 mutant behaviour, making it as a suitable less-virulent surrogate for conducting studies during food processing.
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St. John A, Perault AI, Giacometti SI, Sommerfield AG, DuMont AL, Lacey KA, Zheng X, Sproch J, Petzold C, Dancel-Manning K, Gonzalez S, Annavajhala M, Beckford C, Zeitouni N, Liang FX, van Bakel H, Shopsin B, Uhlemann AC, Pironti A, Torres VJ. Capsular Polysaccharide Is Essential for the Virulence of the Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogen Enterobacter hormaechei. mBio 2023; 14:e0259022. [PMID: 36779722 PMCID: PMC10127600 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02590-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC) pathogens are on the rise. However, the virulence strategies employed by these pathogens remain elusive. Here, we study the interaction of ECC clinical isolates with human serum to define how this pathogen evades the antimicrobial action of complement, one of the first lines of host-mediated immune defense. We identified a small number of serum-sensitive strains, including Enterobacter hormaechei strain NR3055, which we exploited for the in vitro selection of serum-resistant clones. Comparative genomics between the serum-sensitive NR3055 strain and the isolated serum-resistant clones revealed a premature stop codon in the wzy gene of the capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis locus of NR3055. The complementation of wzy conferred serum resistance to NR3055, prevented the deposition of complement proteins on the bacterial surface, inhibited phagocytosis by human neutrophils, and rendered the bacteria virulent in a mouse model of peritonitis. Mice exposed to a nonlethal dose of encapsulated NR3055 were protected from subsequent lethal infections by encapsulated NR3055, whereas mice that were previously exposed to unencapsulated NR3055 succumbed to infection. Thus, capsule is a key immune evasion determinant for E. hormaechei, and it is a potential target for prophylactics and therapeutics to combat these increasingly MDR human pathogens. IMPORTANCE Infections caused by antimicrobial resistant bacteria are of increasing concern, especially those due to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae pathogens. Included in this group are species of the Enterobacter cloacae complex, regarding which there is a paucity of knowledge on the infection biology of the pathogens, despite their clinical relevance. In this study, we combine techniques in comparative genomics, bacterial genetics, and diverse models of infection to establish capsule as an important mechanism of Enterobacter pathogens to resist the antibacterial activity of serum, a first line of host defense against bacterial infections. We also show that immune memory targeting the Enterobacter capsule protects against lethal infection. The further characterization of Enterobacter infection biology and the immune response to infection are needed for the development of therapies and preventative interventions targeting these highly antibiotic resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia St. John
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrew I. Perault
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sabrina I. Giacometti
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alexis G. Sommerfield
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ashley L. DuMont
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Keenan A. Lacey
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Xuhui Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Julia Sproch
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Chris Petzold
- Microscopy Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kristen Dancel-Manning
- Microscopy Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sandra Gonzalez
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Medini Annavajhala
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Colleen Beckford
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nathalie Zeitouni
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Feng-Xia Liang
- Microscopy Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Harm van Bakel
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Bo Shopsin
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anne-Catrin Uhlemann
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alejandro Pironti
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Microbial Computational Genomic Core Lab, Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Victor J. Torres
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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14
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Bavlovic J, Pavkova I, Balonova L, Benada O, Stulik J, Klimentova J. Intact O-antigen is critical structure for the exceptional tubular shape of outer membrane vesicles in Francisella tularensis. Microbiol Res 2023; 269:127300. [PMID: 36641863 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious Gram-negative coccobacillus which causes the disease tularemia. The potential for its misuse as a biological weapon has led disease control and prevention centers to classify this bacterium as a category A agent. Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are spherical particles 20-250 nm in size produced by all Gram-negative bacteria and constitute one of the major secretory pathways. Bacteria use them in interacting with both other bacterial cells and eukaryotic (host) cells. OMVs of Francisella contain number of its so far described virulence factors and immunomodulatory proteins. Their role in host-pathogen interactions can therefore be presumed, and the possibility exists also for their potential use in a subunit vaccine. Moreover, Francisella microbes produce both usual spherical and unusual tubular OMVs. Because OMVs emerge from the outermost surface of the bacterial cell, we focused on the secretion of OMVs in several mutant Francisella strains with disrupted surface structures (namely the O-antigen). O-antigen in Francisella is not only the structural component of LPS but also forms another important virulence factor: the O-antigen polysaccharide capsule. Mutant strain phenotypes were evaluated by growth curves, vesiculation rates, their sensitivity to the complement contained in serum, and proliferation inside murine bone marrow macrophages. Morphologies of both OMVs and the bacteria were visualized by electron microscopy. The O-antigen mutant strains were considerably attenuated in serum resistance and intracellular proliferation. All the strains showed lower ability to form the tubular OMVs. Some strains formed tubular protrusions from their outer membrane but their stability was weak. Some hypervesiculating strains were revealed that will serve as source of OMVs for further studies of their protective potential. Our results suggest the presence of LPS and the O-antigen capsule on the surface of Francisella to be critical not only for its virulence but also for the exceptional tubular shape of its OMVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Bavlovic
- University of Defense, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Třebešská 1575, 500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Ivona Pavkova
- University of Defense, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Třebešská 1575, 500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Balonova
- University of Defense, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Třebešská 1575, 500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Oldrich Benada
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Krč, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Stulik
- University of Defense, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Třebešská 1575, 500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Klimentova
- University of Defense, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Třebešská 1575, 500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
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15
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Santos ACM, Santos-Neto JF, Trovão LO, Romano RFT, Silva RM, Gomes TAT. Characterization of unconventional pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from bloodstream infection: virulence beyond the opportunism. Braz J Microbiol 2023; 54:15-28. [PMID: 36480121 PMCID: PMC9943985 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-022-00884-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is the leading cause of urinary tract infection worldwide and a critical bloodstream infection agent. There are more than 50 virulence factors (VFs) related to ExPEC pathogenesis; however, many strains isolated from extraintestinal infections are devoid of these factors. Since opportunistic infections may occur in immunocompromised patients, E. coli strains that lack recognized VFs are considered opportunist, and their virulence potential is neglected. We assessed eleven E. coli strains isolated from bloodstream infections and devoid of the most common ExPEC VFs to understand their pathogenic potential. The strains were evaluated according to their capacity to interact in vitro with human eukaryotic cell lineages (Caco-2, T24, HEK293T, and A549 cells), produce type 1 fimbriae and biofilm in diverse media, resist to human sera, and be lethal to Galleria mellonella. One strain displaying all phenotypic traits was sequenced and evaluated. Ten strains adhered to Caco-2 (colon), eight to T24 (bladder), five to HEK-293 T (kidney), and four to A549 (lung) cells. Eight strains produced type 1 fimbriae, ten adhered to abiotic surfaces, nine were serum resistant, and seven were virulent in the G. mellonella model. Six of the eleven E. coli strains displayed traits compatible with pathogens, five of which were isolated from an immune-competent host. The genome of the EC175 strain, isolated from a patient with urosepsis, reveals that the strain belonged to ST504-A, and serotype O11:H11; harbors thirteen VFs genes, including genes encoding UpaG and yersiniabactin as the only ExPEC VFs identified. Together, our results suggest that the ExPEC pathotype includes pathogens from phylogroups A and B1, which harbor VFs that remain to be uncovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina M Santos
- Laboratório Experimental de Patogenicidade de Enterobactérias, Disciplina de Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 862, Edifício Prof. Dr. Antônio C. Mattos Paiva, 3º Andar. Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04023-062, Brazil.
| | - José F Santos-Neto
- Laboratório Experimental de Patogenicidade de Enterobactérias, Disciplina de Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 862, Edifício Prof. Dr. Antônio C. Mattos Paiva, 3º Andar. Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Liana O Trovão
- Laboratório Experimental de Patogenicidade de Enterobactérias, Disciplina de Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 862, Edifício Prof. Dr. Antônio C. Mattos Paiva, 3º Andar. Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Ricardo F T Romano
- Laboratório de Patogênese de Enterobacterales, Disciplina de Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Diagnóstico Por Imagem, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rosa Maria Silva
- Laboratório de Patogênese de Enterobacterales, Disciplina de Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tânia A T Gomes
- Laboratório Experimental de Patogenicidade de Enterobactérias, Disciplina de Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 862, Edifício Prof. Dr. Antônio C. Mattos Paiva, 3º Andar. Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04023-062, Brazil.
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16
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Cho THS, Pick K, Raivio TL. Bacterial envelope stress responses: Essential adaptors and attractive targets. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2023; 1870:119387. [PMID: 36336206 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Millions of deaths a year across the globe are linked to antimicrobial resistant infections. The need to develop new treatments and repurpose of existing antibiotics grows more pressing as the growing antimicrobial resistance pandemic advances. In this review article, we propose that envelope stress responses, the signaling pathways bacteria use to recognize and adapt to damage to the most vulnerable outer compartments of the microbial cell, are attractive targets. Envelope stress responses (ESRs) support colonization and infection by responding to a plethora of toxic envelope stresses encountered throughout the body; they have been co-opted into virulence networks where they work like global positioning systems to coordinate adhesion, invasion, microbial warfare, and biofilm formation. We highlight progress in the development of therapeutic strategies that target ESR signaling proteins and adaptive networks and posit that further characterization of the molecular mechanisms governing these essential niche adaptation machineries will be important for sparking new therapeutic approaches aimed at short-circuiting bacterial adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy H S Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Kat Pick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Tracy L Raivio
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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17
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Martins LDSA, Motta RG, Martinez AC, Orsi H, Hernandes RT, Rall VLM, Pantoja JCF, Nardi Júnior GD, Ribeiro MG. Virulence-encoding genes related to extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli and multidrug resistant pattern of strains isolated from neonatal calves with different severity scores of umbilical infections. Microb Pathog 2023; 174:105861. [PMID: 36427660 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Umbilical infections in calves comprise a major cause of neonatal mortality and have been related to a variety of microorganisms. E. coli is an opportunistic enteropathogen characterized by a diversity of virulence factors (VF). Nonetheless, the gene profiles that encode VF associated with umbilical infections in calves and their effect on the clinical severity remains unclear. In this scenario, microbial identification (with an emphasis on E. coli), was carried out among 150 neonatal calves (≤30 days of age) with umbilical infections, where the omphalopathies were clinically scored as mild, moderate, or severe. Also, a panel of 16 virulence-encoding genes related to extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) were investigated, i.e., fimbriae/adhesins (sfa/focDEa, papA, papC, afaBC), toxins (hlyA, sat, cnf1, cdt), siderophores (iroN, irp2, iucD, ireA), invasins (ibeA), and serum resistance (ompT, traT, kpsMT II). Bacteria and yeasts isolates were identified using mass spectrometry. Bacteria, yeasts, and fungi were isolated in 94.7% (142/150) of neonatal calves sampled. E. coli was the agent most frequently isolated (59/150 = 39.3%), in pure culture (27/59 = 45.8%) and combined infections (32/59 = 54.2%), although a great variety (n = 83) of other species of microorganisms were identified. Clinical severity scores of 1, 2, and 3 were observed in 32.2% (19/59), 23.7% (14/59), and 44.1% (26/59) of E. coli infections, respectively. The ExPEC genes detected were related to serum resistance (traT, 42/59 = 72.2%; ompT, 35/59 = 59.3%, kpsMTII, 10/59 = 17%), invasins (ibeA, 11/59 = 18.6%), siderophores (iucD, 9/59 = 15.3%; iroN, 8/59 = 13.6%), and adhesins/fimbriae (papA, 8/59 = 13.6%; papC, 15/59 = 9.6%). The presence of each virulence gene was not associated with the case's clinical score. Among all isolates, 89.8% (53/59) showed in vitro resistance to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and 59.3% to ampicillin (35/59), while 94.1% (55/59) revealed a multidrug resistant profile. Great complexity of bacteria, yeast, and fungi species was identified, reinforcing the umbilical infections of neonatal calves as a polymicrobial disorder. The high occurrence of E. coli (39.3%) highlights the role of this pathogen in the etiology of umbilical infections in calves. Furthermore, a panel of ExPEC genes was investigated for the first time among calves that were clinically scored for case severity. The high prevalence of traT and ompT indicates that these serum resistance-related genes could be used as biomarkers for further investigations of ExPEC isolates from umbilical infections. Our results contribute to the etiological investigation, clinical severity scoring, antimicrobial resistance pattern, and virulence-related to ExPEC genes involved in umbilical infections of neonatal calves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorrayne de Souza A Martins
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Sao Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618 681, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo G Motta
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State University of Maringá, Umuarama, PR, 87507 190, Brazil
| | - Antonio C Martinez
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State University of Maringá, Umuarama, PR, 87507 190, Brazil
| | - Henrique Orsi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, 18618 689, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo T Hernandes
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, 18618 689, Brazil
| | - Vera L M Rall
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, 18618 689, Brazil
| | - José C F Pantoja
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Sao Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618 681, Brazil
| | | | - Márcio G Ribeiro
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Sao Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618 681, Brazil
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18
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Zakaria AS, Edward EA, Mohamed NM. Pathogenicity Islands in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Clinical Isolate of the Globally Disseminated O25:H4-ST131 Pandemic Clonal Lineage: First Report from Egypt. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:1620. [PMID: 36421264 PMCID: PMC9686529 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11111620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the main etiological agent of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The pathogenesis of UTIs relies upon UPEC's acquisition of virulence determinants that are commonly inserted into large chromosomal blocks which are termed 'pathogenicity islands' (PAIs). In this study, we investigated the virulence-associated genes embedded in the chromosome of a UPEC Egyptian strain, EC14142. Additionally, we present a detailed characterization of the PAIs in the EGY_EC14142 chromosome. The isolate displayed a multidrug-resistant phenotype, and whole genome sequencing indicated that it belonged to the globally disseminated O25:H4-ST131 pandemic lineage and the H30-Rx clade. EGY_EC14142 carried genes that are responsible for resistance to aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, extended-spectrum β-lactams, macrolides, folate pathway antagonists, and tetracyclines. It encoded five PAIs with a high similarity to PAI II536, PAI IV536, PAI V536, PAI-536-icd, and PAIusp. The genome analysis of EGY_EC14142 with other closely related UPEC strains revealed that they have a high nucleotide sequence identity. The constructed maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree showed the close clonality of EGY_EC14142 with the previously published ST131 UPEC international isolates, thus endorsing the broad geographical distribution of this clone. This is the first report characterizing PAIs in a UPEC Egyptian strain belonging to the globally disseminated pandemic clone O25:H4-ST131.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azza S. Zakaria
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria 25435, Egypt
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19
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Kou TS, Wu JH, Chen XW, Chen ZG, Zheng J, Peng B. Exogenous glycine promotes oxidation of glutathione and restores sensitivity of bacterial pathogens to serum-induced cell death. Redox Biol 2022; 58:102512. [PMID: 36306677 PMCID: PMC9615314 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic strains of bacteria are often highly adept at evading serum-induced cell death, which is an essential complement-mediated component of the innate immune response. This phenomenon, known as serum-resistance, is poorly understood, and as a result, no effective clinical tools are available to restore serum-sensitivity to pathogenic bacteria. Here, we provide evidence that exogenous glycine reverses defects in glycine, serine and threonine metabolism associated with serum resistance, restores susceptibility to serum-induced cell death, and alters redox balance and glutathione (GSH) metabolism. More specifically, in Vibrio alginolyticus and Escherichia coli, exogenous glycine promotes oxidation of GSH to GSH disulfide (GSSG), disrupts redox balance, increases oxidative stress and reduces membrane integrity, leading to increased binding of complement. Antioxidant or ROS scavenging agents abrogate this effect and agents that generate or potentiate oxidation stimulate serum-mediated cell death. Analysis of several clinical isolates of E. coli demonstrates that glutathione metabolism is repressed in serum-resistant bacteria. These data suggest a novel mechanism underlying serum-resistance in pathogenic bacteria, characterized by an induced shift in the GSH/GSSG ratio impacting redox balance. The results could potentially lead to novel approaches to manage infections caused by serum-resistant bacteria both in aquaculture and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-shun Kou
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Jia-han Wu
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Xuan-wei Chen
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Zhuang-gui Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jun Zheng
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Bo Peng
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China,Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Escherichia coli Isolated from Vegans, Vegetarians and Omnivores: Antibiotic Resistance, Virulence Factors, Pathogenicity Islands and Phylogenetic Classification. MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/microbiolres13040058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli have acquired virulence factors, which confer an increased ability to cause a broad spectrum of enteric diseases and extraintestinal infections. The aim of this study was to analyze the antimicrobial resistance profile of and the presence of virulence-associated genes (VAGs) in E. coli fecal isolates from omnivores, vegetarians and vegans. A control group of 60 isolates from omnivores, as well as a study group with 41 isolates from vegetarians and 17 from vegans, were analyzed. Isolates from both groups showed a high rate of resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and nalidixic acid, and some of them were positive for the ESBL test (12% of isolates from vegetarians/vegans and 5% of isolates from omnivores). The most predominant VAGs detected in isolates from omnivores were fimH (70%), iutA (32%), fyuA (32%) and traT (32%), while among isolates from vegetarians or vegans, the most predominant were traT (62%), kpsMT k1 (28%) and iutA (22%). Most isolates from omnivores (55%) were positive for PAI I536, while most of those from vegetarians/vegans (59%) were positive for PAI IV536. Phylogenetic group A, composed of commensal non-pathogenic isolates that survive in the intestinal tract, was the most prevalent in both control and study groups. Some VAGs were found in only one of the groups, such as the pathogenicity island PAI III536, found in 12% of the isolates from omnivores, while the kpsMT III gene (15%) was detected only among isolates from vegetarians/vegans. Interestingly, this gene codes for a polysaccharide capsule found mainly in E. coli isolates causing intestinal infections, including EPEC, ETEC and EHEC. Finally, our results show that there were no advantages in vegetarian or vegan diets compared to the omnivorous diet, as in both groups we detected isolates harboring VAGs and displaying resistance to antibiotics, especially those most commonly used to treat urinary tract infections.
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21
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Naini A, Bartetzko MP, Sanapala SR, Broecker F, Wirtz V, Lisboa MP, Parameswarappa SG, Knopp D, Przygodda J, Hakelberg M, Pan R, Patel A, Chorro L, Illenberger A, Ponce C, Kodali S, Lypowy J, Anderson AS, Donald RGK, von Bonin A, Pereira CL. Semisynthetic Glycoconjugate Vaccine Candidates against Escherichia coli O25B Induce Functional IgG Antibodies in Mice. JACS AU 2022; 2:2135-2151. [PMID: 36186572 PMCID: PMC9516715 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.2c00401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is a major health concern due to emerging antibiotic resistance. Along with O1A, O2, and O6A, E. coli O25B is a major serotype within the ExPEC group, which expresses a unique O-antigen. Clinical studies with a glycoconjugate vaccine of the above-mentioned O-types revealed O25B as the least immunogenic component, inducing relatively weak IgG titers. To evaluate the immunological properties of semisynthetic glycoconjugate vaccine candidates against E. coli O25B, we here report the chemical synthesis of an initial set of five O25B glycan antigens differing in length, from one to three repeat units, and frameshifts of the repeat unit. The oligosaccharide antigens were conjugated to the carrier protein CRM197. The resulting semisynthetic glycoconjugates induced functional IgG antibodies in mice with opsonophagocytic activity against E. coli O25B. Three of the oligosaccharide-CRM197 conjugates elicited functional IgGs in the same order of magnitude as a conventional CRM197 glycoconjugate prepared with native O25B O-antigen and therefore represent promising vaccine candidates for further investigation. Binding studies with two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) revealed nanomolar anti-O25B IgG responses with nanomolar K D values and with varying binding epitopes. The immunogenicity and mAb binding data now allow for the rational design of additional synthetic antigens for future preclinical studies, with expected further improvements in the functional antibody responses. Moreover, acetylation of a rhamnose residue was shown to be likely dispensable for immunogenicity, as a deacylated antigen was able to elicit strong functional IgG responses. Our findings strongly support the feasibility of a semisynthetic glycoconjugate vaccine against E. coli O25B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Naini
- Vaxxilon
Deutschland GmbH, Part of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Magnusstr. 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Max Peter Bartetzko
- Vaxxilon
Deutschland GmbH, Part of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Magnusstr. 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Someswara Rao Sanapala
- Vaxxilon
Deutschland GmbH, Part of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Magnusstr. 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Felix Broecker
- Vaxxilon
Deutschland GmbH, Part of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Magnusstr. 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Victoria Wirtz
- Vaxxilon
Deutschland GmbH, Part of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Magnusstr. 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marilda P. Lisboa
- Vaxxilon
Deutschland GmbH, Part of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Magnusstr. 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Daniel Knopp
- Vaxxilon
Deutschland GmbH, Part of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Magnusstr. 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jessica Przygodda
- Vaxxilon
Deutschland GmbH, Part of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Magnusstr. 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Hakelberg
- Vaxxilon
Deutschland GmbH, Part of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Magnusstr. 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rosalind Pan
- Pfizer
Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York 10965, United States
| | - Axay Patel
- Pfizer
Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York 10965, United States
| | - Laurent Chorro
- Pfizer
Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York 10965, United States
| | - Arthur Illenberger
- Pfizer
Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York 10965, United States
| | - Christopher Ponce
- Pfizer
Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York 10965, United States
| | - Srinivas Kodali
- Pfizer
Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York 10965, United States
| | - Jacqueline Lypowy
- Pfizer
Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York 10965, United States
| | | | - Robert G. K. Donald
- Pfizer
Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York 10965, United States
| | - Arne von Bonin
- Vaxxilon
Deutschland GmbH, Part of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Magnusstr. 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Claney L. Pereira
- Vaxxilon
Deutschland GmbH, Part of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Magnusstr. 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
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22
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CspZ FH-Binding Sites as Epitopes Promote Antibody-Mediated Lyme Borreliae Clearance. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0006222. [PMID: 35861564 PMCID: PMC9302089 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00062-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmitted by ticks, the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is the causative agent of Lyme disease (LD), the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern hemisphere. No effective vaccines are currently available. B. burgdorferi sensu lato produces the CspZ protein that binds to the complement inhibitor, factor H (FH), promoting evasion of the host complement system. We previously showed that while vaccination with CspZ did not protect mice from B. burgdorferi infection, mice can be protected after immunization with CspZ-Y207A/Y211A (CspZ-YA), a CspZ mutant protein without FH-binding activity. To further study the mechanism of this protection, herein we evaluated both poly- and monoclonal antibodies recognizing CspZ FH-binding or non-FH-binding sites. We found that the anti-CspZ antibodies that recognize the FH-binding sites (i.e., block FH-binding activity) eliminate B. burgdorferi sensu lato in vitro more efficiently than those that bind to the non-FH-binding sites, and passive inoculation with anti-FH-binding site antibodies eradicated B. burgdorferi sensu lato in vivo. Antibodies against non-FH-binding sites did not have the same effect. These results emphasize the importance of CspZ FH-binding sites in triggering a protective antibody response against B. burgdorferi sensu lato in future LD vaccines.
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23
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Freire CA, Silva RM, Ruiz RC, Pimenta DC, Bryant JA, Henderson IR, Barbosa AS, Elias WP. Secreted Autotransporter Toxin (Sat) Mediates Innate Immune System Evasion. Front Immunol 2022; 13:844878. [PMID: 35251044 PMCID: PMC8891578 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.844878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Several strategies are used by Escherichia coli to evade the host innate immune system in the blood, such as the cleavage of complement system proteins by secreted proteases. Members of the Serine Proteases Autotransporters of Enterobacteriaceae (SPATE) family have been described as presenting proteolytic effects against complement proteins. Among the SPATE-encoding genes sat (secreted autotransporter toxin) has been detected in high frequencies among strains of E. coli isolated from bacteremia. Sat has been characterized for its cytotoxic action, but the possible immunomodulatory effects of Sat have not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the proteolytic effects of Sat on complement proteins and the role in pathogenesis of BSI caused by extraintestinal E. coli (ExPEC). E. coli EC071 was selected as a Sat-producing ExPEC strain. Whole-genome sequencing showed that sat sequences of EC071 and uropathogenic E. coli CFT073 present 99% identity. EC071 was shown to be resistant to the bactericidal activity of normal human serum (NHS). Purified native Sat was used in proteolytic assays with proteins of the complement system and, except for C1q, all tested substrates were cleaved by Sat in a dose and time-dependent manner. Moreover, E. coli DH5α survived in NHS pre-incubated with Sat. EC071-derivative strains harboring sat knockout and in trans complementations producing either active or non-active Sat were tested in a murine sepsis model. Lethality was reduced by 50% when mice were inoculated with the sat mutant strain. The complemented strain producing active Sat partially restored the effect caused by the wild-type strain. The results presented in this study show that Sat presents immunomodulatory effects by cleaving several proteins of the three complement system pathways. Therefore, Sat plays an important role in the establishment of bloodstream infections and sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia A Freire
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil.,Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rosa M Silva
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rita C Ruiz
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel C Pimenta
- Laboratório de Bioquímica, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jack A Bryant
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ian R Henderson
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Angela S Barbosa
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Waldir P Elias
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
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24
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Yang WT, Chiu IJ, Huang YT, Liu PY. Comparative Genomics Revealed Fluoroquinolone Resistance Determinants and OmpF Deletion in Carbapenem-Resistant Escherichia coli. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:886428. [PMID: 35516434 PMCID: PMC9062692 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.886428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a major causative organism of complicated urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia. With the widespread use of antimicrobial agents, the prevalence of carbapenem resistance in E. coli has been increasing with limited therapeutic options. Fluoroquinolone remains a choice in carbapenem-resistant E. coli (CREc) that were once susceptible to the drug. Despite robust studies on the fluoroquinolone-resistant mechanisms of E. coli, few studies focused specifically on the group of CREc. In this study, we used comparative genomics to identify the fluoroquinolone-resistant mechanisms of CREc and detected gyrA D87N mutation in all the fluoroquinolone-resistant and CREc. Moreover, to investigate the mechanism underlying non-carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant E. coli, we targeted the complete genome sequences for in-depth analysis and found a deletion in OmpF (DEL264-269) that might contribute to carbapenem resistance, which has not been reported before. Further studies focusing on the impact of these mutations on the expression levels are warranted. We further investigate the MLST, serotype, fimH type, phylogroup, and clinical characteristics of the CREc. Combination analysis of clinical and genomic characteristics suggests the polyclonal and highly diverse nature of the CREc in Taiwan. This study provides an insight into the molecular epidemiology of CREc in Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Ting Yang
- Division of Infection, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - I-Ju Chiu
- Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Ting Huang
- Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi, Taiwan,Yao-Ting Huang
| | - Po-Yu Liu
- Division of Infection, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan,Ph.D. Program in Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan,Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan,*Correspondence: Po-Yu Liu
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25
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Easler M, Cheney C, Johnson JD, Zadeh MK, Nguyen JN, Yiu SY, Waite-Cusic J, Radniecki TS, Navab-Daneshmand T. Resistome characterization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli isolated from wastewater treatment utilities in Oregon. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2022; 20:670-679. [PMID: 35482383 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2022.292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Infections resistant to broad spectrum antibiotics due to the emergence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae is of global concern. This study characterizes the resistome (i.e., entire ecology of resistance determinants) of 11 ESBL-producing Escherichia coli isolates collected from eight wastewater treatment utilities across Oregon. Whole genome sequencing was performed to identify the most abundant antibiotic resistance genes including ESBL-associated genes, virulence factors, as well as their sequence types. Moreover, the phenotypes of antibiotic resistance were characterized. ESBL-associated genes (i.e., blaCMY, blaCTX, blaSHV, blaTEM) were found in all but one of the isolates with five isolates carrying two of these genes (four with blaCTX and blaTEM; one with blaCMY and blaTEM). The ampC gene and virulence factors were present in all the E. coli isolates. Across all the isolates, 31 different antibiotic resistance genes were identified. Additionally, all E. coli isolates harbored phenotypic resistance to beta-lactams (penicillins and cephalosporins), while 8 of the 11 isolates carried multidrug resistance phenotypes (resistance to three or more classes of antibiotics). Findings highlight the risks associated with the presence of ESBL-producing E. coli isolates in wastewater systems that have the potential to enter the environment and may pose direct or indirect risks to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maeghan Easler
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, 105 SW 26th St, 116 Johnson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA E-mail: ; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Clinton Cheney
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, 105 SW 26th St, 116 Johnson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA E-mail: ; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Jared D Johnson
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, 3051 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Marjan Khorshidi Zadeh
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, 105 SW 26th St, 116 Johnson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA E-mail:
| | - Jacquelynn N Nguyen
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, 105 SW 26th St, 116 Johnson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA E-mail:
| | - Sue Yee Yiu
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, 105 SW 26th St, 116 Johnson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA E-mail:
| | - Joy Waite-Cusic
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, 3051 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Tyler S Radniecki
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, 105 SW 26th St, 116 Johnson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA E-mail:
| | - Tala Navab-Daneshmand
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, 105 SW 26th St, 116 Johnson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA E-mail:
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26
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Doorduijn DJ, Heesterbeek DAC, Ruyken M, de Haas CJC, Stapels DAC, Aerts PC, Rooijakkers SHM, Bardoel BW. Polymerization of C9 enhances bacterial cell envelope damage and killing by membrane attack complex pores. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010051. [PMID: 34752492 PMCID: PMC8604303 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Complement proteins can form membrane attack complex (MAC) pores that directly kill Gram-negative bacteria. MAC pores assemble by stepwise binding of C5b, C6, C7, C8 and finally C9, which can polymerize into a transmembrane ring of up to 18 C9 monomers. It is still unclear if the assembly of a polymeric-C9 ring is necessary to sufficiently damage the bacterial cell envelope to kill bacteria. In this paper, polymerization of C9 was prevented without affecting binding of C9 to C5b-8, by locking the first transmembrane helix domain of C9. Using this system, we show that polymerization of C9 strongly enhanced damage to both the bacterial outer and inner membrane, resulting in more rapid killing of several Escherichia coli and Klebsiella strains in serum. By comparing binding of wildtype and ‘locked’ C9 by flow cytometry, we also show that polymerization of C9 is impaired when the amount of available C9 per C5b-8 is limited. This suggests that an excess of C9 is required to efficiently form polymeric-C9. Finally, we show that polymerization of C9 was impaired on complement-resistant E. coli strains that survive killing by MAC pores. This suggests that these bacteria can specifically block polymerization of C9. All tested complement-resistant E. coli expressed LPS O-antigen (O-Ag), compared to only one out of four complement-sensitive E. coli. By restoring O-Ag expression in an O-Ag negative strain, we show that the O-Ag impairs polymerization of C9 and results in complement-resistance. Altogether, these insights are important to understand how MAC pores kill bacteria and how bacterial pathogens can resist MAC-dependent killing. In this paper, we focus on how complement proteins, an essential part of the immune system, kill Gram-negative bacteria via so-called membrane attack complex (MAC) pores. The MAC is a large pore that consists of five different proteins. The final component, C9, assembles a ring of up to 18 C9 molecules that damages the bacterial cell envelope. Here, we aimed to better understand if this polymeric-C9 ring is necessary to kill bacteria and if bacteria can interfere in its assembly. We uncover that polymerization of C9 increased the damage to the entire bacterial cell envelope, which resulted in more rapid killing of several Gram-negative species. We also show that some clinical Escherichia coli strains can block polymerization of C9 and survive MAC-dependent killing by modifying sugars in the bacterial cell envelope, namely the O-antigen of lipopolysaccharide. These insights help us to better understand how the immune system kills bacteria and how pathogenic bacteria can survive killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis J. Doorduijn
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dani A. C. Heesterbeek
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maartje Ruyken
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Carla J. C. de Haas
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Daphne A. C. Stapels
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Piet C. Aerts
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Suzan H. M. Rooijakkers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bart W. Bardoel
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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27
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An Updated review on production of food derived bioactive peptides; focus on the psychrotrophic bacterial proteases. BIOCATALYSIS AND AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcab.2021.102051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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28
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Kowarik M, Wetter M, Haeuptle MA, Braun M, Steffen M, Kemmler S, Ravenscroft N, De Benedetto G, Zuppiger M, Sirena D, Cescutti P, Wacker M. The development and characterization of an E. coli O25B bioconjugate vaccine. Glycoconj J 2021; 38:421-435. [PMID: 33730261 PMCID: PMC8260533 DOI: 10.1007/s10719-021-09985-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) cause a wide range of clinical diseases such as bacteremia and urinary tract infections. The increase of multidrug resistant ExPEC strains is becoming a major concern for the treatment of these infections and E. coli has been identified as a critical priority pathogen by the WHO. Therefore, the development of vaccines has become increasingly important, with the surface lipopolysaccharide constituting a promising vaccine target. This study presents genetic and structural analysis of clinical urine isolates from Switzerland belonging to the serotype O25. Approximately 75% of these isolates were shown to correspond to the substructure O25B only recently described in an emerging clone of E. coli sequence type 131. To address the high occurrence of O25B in clinical isolates, an O25B glycoconjugate vaccine was prepared using an E. coli glycosylation system. The O antigen cluster was integrated into the genome of E. coli W3110, thereby generating an E. coli strain able to synthesize the O25B polysaccharide on a carrier lipid. The polysaccharide was enzymatically conjugated to specific asparagine side chains of the carrier protein exotoxin A (EPA) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the PglB oligosaccharyltransferase from Campylobacter jejuni. Detailed characterization of the O25B-EPA conjugate by use of physicochemical methods including NMR and GC-MS confirmed the O25B polysaccharide structure in the conjugate, opening up the possibility to develop a multivalent E. coli conjugate vaccine containing O25B-EPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kowarik
- GlycoVaxyn AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland.
- LimmaTech Biologics AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland.
| | - Michael Wetter
- GlycoVaxyn AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Micha A Haeuptle
- GlycoVaxyn AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Molecular Partners AG, Wagistrasse 14, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Martin Braun
- GlycoVaxyn AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
- LimmaTech Biologics AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Michael Steffen
- GlycoVaxyn AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
- LimmaTech Biologics AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Kemmler
- GlycoVaxyn AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Numab Therapeutics AG, Einsiedlerstrasse 34, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Neil Ravenscroft
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Gianluigi De Benedetto
- Dip. di Scienze della Vita, University di Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Matthias Zuppiger
- GlycoVaxyn AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
- LimmaTech Biologics AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Sirena
- GlycoVaxyn AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
- LimmaTech Biologics AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
- GlycoEra AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Paola Cescutti
- Dip. di Scienze della Vita, University di Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Michael Wacker
- GlycoVaxyn AG, Grabenstrasse 3, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Wacker Biotech Consulting AG, Heuelstrasse 22, 8800, Thalwil, Switzerland
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Comparative Pathogenomics of Escherichia coli: Polyvalent Vaccine Target Identification through Virulome Analysis. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e0011521. [PMID: 33941580 PMCID: PMC8281228 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00115-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Comparative genomics of bacterial pathogens has been useful for revealing potential virulence factors. Escherichia coli is a significant cause of human morbidity and mortality worldwide but can also exist as a commensal in the human gastrointestinal tract. With many sequenced genomes, it has served as a model organism for comparative genomic studies to understand the link between genetic content and potential for virulence. To date, however, no comprehensive analysis of its complete “virulome” has been performed for the purpose of identifying universal or pathotype-specific targets for vaccine development. Here, we describe the construction of a pathotype database of 107 well-characterized completely sequenced pathogenic and nonpathogenic E. coli strains, which we annotated for major virulence factors (VFs). The data are cross referenced for patterns against pathotype, phylogroup, and sequence type, and the results were verified against all 1,348 complete E. coli chromosomes in the NCBI RefSeq database. Our results demonstrate that phylogroup drives many of the “pathotype-associated” VFs, and ExPEC-associated VFs are found predominantly within the B2/D/F/G phylogenetic clade, suggesting that these phylogroups are better adapted to infect human hosts. Finally, we used this information to propose polyvalent vaccine targets with specificity toward extraintestinal strains, targeting key invasive strategies, including immune evasion (group 2 capsule), iron acquisition (FyuA, IutA, and Sit), adherence (SinH, Afa, Pap, Sfa, and Iha), and toxins (Usp, Sat, Vat, Cdt, Cnf1, and HlyA). While many of these targets have been proposed before, this work is the first to examine their pathotype and phylogroup distribution and how they may be targeted together to prevent disease.
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Zhu H, Yi Z, Afayibo DJA, Tao C, Li T, Tian M, Qi J, Ding C, Yu S, Wang S. DctR contributes to the virulence of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli through regulation of type III secretion system 2 expression. Vet Res 2021; 52:101. [PMID: 34229767 PMCID: PMC8259166 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-021-00970-6] [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: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogens could precisely alter their gene expression to facilitate their survival and successful infection. The LuxR family transcriptional regulator DctR (also known as YhiF) was shown to participate in the regulation of acid fitness and adhesion of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7. Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes significant economic losses to the poultry industries and also potentially threatens human health. However, the effects of DctR on the fitness and virulence of APEC have not been investigated yet. To assess the function of DctR in APEC, the dctR gene mutant and complemented strains were constructed and biologically characterized. Our results show that inactivation of the dctR gene led to decreased biofilm formation, diminished serum resistance, reduced adherence capacity, attenuated colonization and virulence of APEC in ducks. The altered capacities of the mutant strain were restored by genetic complementation. In addition, we found that DctR positively regulates the expression of E. coli type III secretion system 2 (ETT2) core genes in APEC. The expression of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-8 were decreased in HD-11 macrophages infected with the mutant strain compared with the wild-type strain. These observations indicate that regulator DctR contributes to the virulence of APEC through regulation of ETT2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaodong Zhang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Zhengfei Yi
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Dossêh Jean Apôtre Afayibo
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Chenglin Tao
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Tao Li
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Mingxing Tian
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jingjing Qi
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Chan Ding
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Shengqing Yu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| | - Shaohui Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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Surviving serum - the E. coli iss gene (increased serum survival) of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) is required for the synthesis of group 4 capsule. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e0031621. [PMID: 34181459 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00316-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli strains - ExPEC - constitute a serious and emerging clinical problem, as they cause a variety of infections and are usually highly antibiotic resistant. Many ExPEC - are capable of evading the bactericidal effects of serum and causing sepsis. One critical factor for the development of septicemia is the gene iss, increased serum survival, which is highly correlated with complement resistance and lethality. Although it is very important, the function of the iss gene has not been elucidated so far. We have been studying the serum survival of a septicemic strain of E. coli serotype O78, which has a group 4 capsule. Here we show that the iss gene is required for the synthesis of capsules, which protect the bacteria from the bactericidal effect of complement. Moreover, we show that the deletion of the iss gene results in significantly increased binding of the complement proteins that constitute the membrane attack complex to the bacterial surface.
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Singh S, Pathak A, Rahman M, Singh A, Nag S, Sahu C, Prasad KN. Genetic Characterisation of Colistin Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates From North India. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:666030. [PMID: 34235092 PMCID: PMC8256276 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.666030] [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] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Increasing use of colistin has led to the world-wide emergence of mobile colistin resistant gene (mcr). The present study aimed to identify and characterise mcr and other drug-resistant genes in colistin resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates. Methods Twenty-two colistin resistant K. pneumoniae were analysed for mcr and other drug-resistant genes, efflux pumps, and virulence genes, and for their biofilm forming ability. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) were performed for all mcr-1 positive isolates. S1-PFGE and Southern hybridisation were performed for localisation of mcr-1 and blaNDM. Results Nineteen colistin resistant K. pneumoniae harboured mcr-1 and 3 had mgrB disruption. All isolates harboured blaOXA-48-type and ESBL genes; eight strains (five with mcr-1 and three with mgrB disruption) co-harboured blaNDM. Efflux pumps genes AcrAB and mdtK were detected in all 22 and tol-C in 21 isolates. Virulence-related genes entB and irp-1 were detected in all 22, mrkD in 20, and fimH-1 in 18 isolates; 11 isolates were strong biofilm producers. PFGE clustered mcr-1 positive isolates into eight groups based on ≥90% similarity; MLST revealed diverse sequence types, predominant being ST-15 (n = 4) and ST-16 (n = 4). Both mcr-1 and blaNDM were localised on plasmid and chromosome; mcr-1 was present on IncFII type and blaNDM on IncFIB and IncA/C type plasmids. Conclusions Colistin resistance in K. pneumoniae was predominantly mediated by mcr-1. Co-existence of colistin, carbapenem, and other drug-resistant genes along with efflux pumps indicates towards enormous genomic plasticity in K. pneumoniae with ability to emerge as super-spreader of drug-resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Singh
- Department of Microbiology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Ashutosh Pathak
- Department of Microbiology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Mohibur Rahman
- Department of Microbiology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Avinash Singh
- Department of Microbiology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Soumyabrata Nag
- Department of Microbiology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Chinmoy Sahu
- Department of Microbiology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Kashi Nath Prasad
- Department of Microbiology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.,Department of Microbiology, Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospital, Lucknow, India
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Diversity and Adaptations of Escherichia coli Strains: Exploring the Intestinal Community in Crohn's Disease Patients and Healthy Individuals. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9061299. [PMID: 34203637 PMCID: PMC8232093 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061299] [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: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Crohn's disease (CD) is characterized by a chronic, progressive inflammation across the gastrointestinal tract with a series of exacerbations and remissions. A significant factor in the CD pathogenesis is an imbalance in gut microbiota composition, particularly the prevalence of Escherichia coli. In the present study, the genomes of sixty-three E. coli strains from the gut of patients with CD and healthy subjects were sequenced. In addition, eighteen E. coli-like metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed from the shotgun-metagenome sequencing data of fecal samples. The comparative analysis revealed the similarity of E. coli genomes regardless of the origin of the strain. The strains exhibited similar genetic patterns of virulence, antibiotic resistance, and bacteriocin-producing systems. The study showed antagonistic activity of E. coli strains and the metabolic features needed for their successful competition in the human gut environment. These observations suggest complex bacterial interactions within the gut which may affect the host and cause intestinal damage.
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34
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Suzuki E, Urushidani T, Maeda S. Bovine serum promotes the formation and phenotype memory retention of persister cells in Escherichia coli liquid cultures. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 37:110. [PMID: 34061238 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-021-03073-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Persister cells, or persisters, are a fraction of bacterial cells that have become temporarily tolerant to antibiotics despite their lack of typical antibiotic-resistant genes. In a previous study, we found that colony-biofilm culture (i.e., biofilm formed at an air-solid interface) promoted the formation and phenotype memory retention of persisters of Escherichia coli and other bacteria. To assess whether these same effects are caused by other types of stimuli that bacterial cells encounter in the environment, we examined the effects of bovine serum on the formation and phenotype retention of ampicillin-tolerant persisters in E. coli liquid culture. Bovine serum did indeed exert these effects significantly, and its effects were negated by heat treatment. Similar effects were observed with bovine serum albumin, albeit weaker than those of BS. Given that serum is a component of blood and lymph and is thus a general substance within animal and human bodies, our findings suggest that bacteria encountering these body fluids may enhance their abilities for persister formation and phenotype memory retention to allow their longer survival in antibiotic-containing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Suzuki
- Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Nara Women's University, Kitauoya-nishimachi, Nara, 630-8506, Japan.,Kozo Keikaku Engineering Inc., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoka Urushidani
- Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Nara Women's University, Kitauoya-nishimachi, Nara, 630-8506, Japan
| | - Sumio Maeda
- Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Nara Women's University, Kitauoya-nishimachi, Nara, 630-8506, Japan.
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Gu HJ, Li MF, Sun L. A deep-sea pathogenic Bacillus subtilis isolate employs different strategies to escape the killing of teleost and murine complements. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 119:104037. [PMID: 33545212 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2021.104037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis G7 was isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent and is pathogenic to pathogenic to fish (Japanese flounder) and mice. G7 is able to survive in host sera and phagocytes. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanism of G7 serum resistance. We found that (i) the remaining complement activity was very low in G7-incubated flounder serum but high in G7-incubated mouse serum; (ii) cleaved C3 and C5 components were detected on flounder serum-incubated G7 but not on mouse serum-incubated G7; (iii) abundant uncleaved C5 was localized in G7-incubated mouse, but not flounder, serum; (iv) G7-incubated flounder, but not mouse, serum exhibited strong chemotactic activity; (v) pre-treatment with low-dose lysozyme abolished the serum resistance of G7. Hence, G7 activates flounder complement but is protected from complement-mediated destruction by its cell wall structure, while G7 prevents the activation of mouse complement. These results indicate that G7 employs different mechanisms to avoid the complement killing of different hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Jie Gu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hainan Academy of Tropical Agricultural Resource, CATAS, Haikou, China
| | - Mo-Fei Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.
| | - Li Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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36
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Khalifa SM, Abd El-Aziz AM, Hassan R, Abdelmegeed ES. β-lactam resistance associated with β-lactamase production and porin alteration in clinical isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251594. [PMID: 34014957 PMCID: PMC8136739 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
β-lactam resistance represents a worldwide problem and a serious challenge for antimicrobial treatment. Hence this research was conducted to recognize several mechanisms mediating β-lactam resistance in E. coli and K. pneumoniae clinical isolates collected from Mansoura University hospitals, Egypt. A total of 80 isolates, 45 E. coli and 35 K. pneumoniae isolates, were collected and their antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the Disc diffusion method followed by phenotypic and genotypic detection of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), AmpC β-lactamase, carbapenemase enzymes. The outer membrane protein porins of all isolates were analyzed and their genes were examined using gene amplification and sequencing. Also, the resistance to complement-mediated serum killing was estimated. A significant percentage of isolates (93.8%) were multidrug resistance and showed an elevated resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. The presence of either ESBL or AmpC enzymes was high among isolates (83.75%). Also, 60% of the isolated strains were carbapenemase producers. The most frequently detected gene of ESBL among all tested isolates was blaCTX-M-15 (86.3%) followed by blaTEM-1 (81.3%) and blaSHV-1 (35%) while the Amp-C gene was present in 83.75%. For carbapenemase-producing isolates, blaNDM1 was the most common (60%) followed by blaVIM-1 (35%) and blaOXA-48 (13.8%). Besides, 73.3% and 40% of E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates respectively were serum resistant. Outer membrane protein analysis showed that 93.3% of E. coli and 95.7% of K. pneumoniae isolates lost their porins or showed modified porins. Furthermore, sequence analysis of tested porin genes in some isolates revealed the presence of frameshift mutations that produced truncated proteins of smaller size. β-lactam resistance in K. pneumoniae and E. coli isolates in our hospitals is due to a combination of β-lactamase activity and porin loss/alteration. Hence more restrictions should be applied on β-lactams usage to decrease the emergence of resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Khalifa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Abeer M. Abd El-Aziz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Ramadan Hassan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Eman S. Abdelmegeed
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
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Abstract
By evolving strains of E. coli that hyper-resist sedimentation, we discovered an uncharacterized mechanism that bacteria can use to remain in suspension indefinitely without expending energy. This unusual phenotype was traced to the anchoring of long colanic acid polymers (CAP) that project from the cell surface. Although each characterized mutant activated this same mechanism, the genes responsible and the strengths of the phenotypes varied. Mutations in rcsC, lpp, igaA, or the yjbEFGH operon were sufficient to stimulate sedimentation resistance, while mutations altering the cps promoter, cdgI, or yjbF provided phenotypic enhancements. The sedimentation resistances changed in response to temperature, growth phase, and carbon source and each mutant exhibited significantly reduced biofilm formation. We discovered that the degree of colony mucoidy exhibited by these mutants was not related to the degree of Rcs pathways activation or to the amount of CAP that was produced; rather, it was related to the fraction of CAP that was shed as a true exopolysaccharide. Therefore, these and other mutations that activate this phenotype are likely to be absent from genetic screens that relied on centrifugation to harvest bacteria. We also found that this anchored CAP form is not linked to LPS cores and may not be attached to the outer membrane.IMPORTANCEBacteria can partition in aqueous environments between surface-dwelling, planktonic, sedimentary, and biofilm forms. Residence in each location provides an advantage depending on nutritional and environmental stresses and a community of a single species is often observed to be distributed throughout two or more of these niches. Another adaptive strategy is to produce an extracellular capsule, which provides an environmental shield for the microbe and can allow escape from predators and immune systems. We discovered that bacteria can either shed or stably anchor capsules to dramatically alter their propensity to sediment. The degree to which the bacteria anchor their capsule is controlled by a stress sensing system, suggesting that anchoring may be used as an adaptive response to severe environmental challenges.
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38
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Rodríguez-Rojas A, Baeder DY, Johnston P, Regoes RR, Rolff J. Bacteria primed by antimicrobial peptides develop tolerance and persist. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009443. [PMID: 33788905 PMCID: PMC8041211 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key components of innate immune defenses. Because of the antibiotic crisis, AMPs have also come into focus as new drugs. Here, we explore whether prior exposure to sub-lethal doses of AMPs increases bacterial survival and abets the evolution of resistance. We show that Escherichia coli primed by sub-lethal doses of AMPs develop tolerance and increase persistence by producing curli or colanic acid, responses linked to biofilm formation. We develop a population dynamic model that predicts that priming delays the clearance of infections and fuels the evolution of resistance. The effects we describe should apply to many AMPs and other drugs that target the cell surface. The optimal strategy to tackle tolerant or persistent cells requires high concentrations of AMPs and fast and long-lasting expression. Our findings also offer a new understanding of non-inherited drug resistance as an adaptive response and could lead to measures that slow the evolution of resistance. Animals and plants defend themselves with ancient molecules called antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) against pathogens. As more and more bacterial diseases have become drug resistant, these AMPs are considered as promising alternatives. In natural situation such as on the skin, bacteria are often exposed to low concentrations of AMPs that do no kill. Here we show that the bacterium Escherichia coli when exposed to such low concentrations becomes recalcitrant to killing concentrations of the same AMPs. We report the ways in which the bacteria alter their surface to do so. We then use a mathematical model to show that these effects caused by low concentrations can drive the evolution of resistance. From the perspective of an organism using AMPs in self-defense, the best option is to deploy high concentrations of AMPs for long. Our findings also offer a new understanding of similar drug resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Paul Johnston
- Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research, Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Roland R. Regoes
- Institute of Integrative Biology, Zürich, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (RRR); (JR)
| | - Jens Rolff
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Biologie, Evolutionary Biology, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail: (RRR); (JR)
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Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of Bacterial Disease: Prevalence, Mechanisms, and Treatment. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00054-21. [PMID: 33558319 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00054-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of viral disease has been demonstrated for infections caused by flaviviruses and influenza viruses; however, antibodies that enhance bacterial disease are relatively unknown. In recent years, a few studies have directly linked antibodies with exacerbation of bacterial disease. This ADE of bacterial disease has been observed in mouse models and human patients with bacterial infections. This antibody-mediated enhancement of bacterial infection is driven by various mechanisms that are disparate from those found in viral ADE. This review aims to highlight and discuss historic evidence, potential molecular mechanisms, and current therapies for ADE of bacterial infection. Based on specific case studies, we report how plasmapheresis has been successfully used in patients to ameliorate infection-related symptomatology associated with bacterial ADE. A greater understanding and appreciation of bacterial ADE of infection and disease could lead to better management of infections and inform current vaccine development efforts.
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40
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Ranjan M, Khokhani D, Nayaka S, Srivastava S, Keyser ZP, Ranjan A. Genomic diversity and organization of complex polysaccharide biosynthesis clusters in the genus Dickeya. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245727. [PMID: 33571209 PMCID: PMC7877592 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The pectinolytic genus Dickeya (formerly Erwinia chrysanthemi) comprises numerous pathogenic species which cause diseases in various crops and ornamental plants across the globe. Their pathogenicity is governed by complex multi-factorial processes of adaptive virulence gene regulation. Extracellular polysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides present on bacterial envelope surface play a significant role in the virulence of phytopathogenic bacteria. However, very little is known about the genomic location, diversity, and organization of the polysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide biosynthetic gene clusters in Dickeya. In the present study, we report the diversity and structural organization of the group 4 capsule (G4C)/O-antigen capsule, putative O-antigen lipopolysaccharide, enterobacterial common antigen, and core lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis clusters from 54 Dickeya strains. The presence of these clusters suggests that Dickeya has both capsule and lipopolysaccharide carrying O-antigen to their external surface. These gene clusters are key regulatory components in the composition and structure of the outer surface of Dickeya. The O-antigen capsule/group 4 capsule (G4C) coding region shows a variation in gene content and organization. Based on nucleotide sequence homology in these Dickeya strains, two distinct groups, G4C group I and G4C group II, exist. However, comparatively less variation is observed in the putative O-antigen lipopolysaccharide cluster in Dickeya spp. except for in Dickeya zeae. Also, enterobacterial common antigen and core lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis clusters are present mostly as conserved genomic regions. The variation in the O-antigen capsule and putative O-antigen lipopolysaccharide coding region in relation to their phylogeny suggests a role of multiple horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events. These multiple HGT processes might have been manifested into the current heterogeneity of O-antigen capsules and O-antigen lipopolysaccharides in Dickeya strains during its evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Ranjan
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Devanshi Khokhani
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Sanjeeva Nayaka
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Suchi Srivastava
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Zachary P. Keyser
- Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Ashish Ranjan
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Plant Sciences (SLS), University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
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41
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LaVere AA, Hamlin HJ, Lowers RH, Parrott BB, Ezenwa VO. Associations between testosterone and immune activity in alligators depend on bacteria species and temperature. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Russell H. Lowers
- Herndon Solutions Group, LLC, NASA Environmental and Medical Contract Kennedy Space Center FL USA
| | - Benjamin B. Parrott
- Odum School of Ecology University of Georgia Athens GA USA
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia Aiken SC USA
| | - Vanessa O. Ezenwa
- Odum School of Ecology University of Georgia Athens GA USA
- Department of Infectious Diseases College of Veterinary Medicine University of Georgia Athens GA USA
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42
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Javed M, Jentzsch B, Heinrich M, Ueltzhoeffer V, Peter S, Schoppmeier U, Angelov A, Schwarz S, Willmann M. Transcriptomic Basis of Serum Resistance and Virulence Related Traits in XDR P. aeruginosa Evolved Under Antibiotic Pressure in a Morbidostat Device. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:619542. [PMID: 33569046 PMCID: PMC7868568 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.619542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Colistin is a last resort antibiotic against the critical status pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Virulence and related traits such as biofilm formation and serum resistance after exposure to sub-inhibitory levels of colistin have been underexplored. We cultivated P. aeruginosa in a semi-automated morbidostat device with colistin, metronidazole and a combination of the two antibiotics for 21 days, and completed RNA-Seq to uncover the transcriptional changes over time. Strains became resistant to colistin within this time period. Colistin-resistant strains show significantly increased biofilm formation: the cell density in biofilm increases under exposure to colistin, while the addition of metronidazole can remove this effect. After 7 days of colistin exposure, strains develop an ability to grow in serum, suggesting that colistin drives bacterial modifications conferring a protective effect from serum complement factors. Of note, strains exposed to colistin showed a decrease in virulence, when measured using the Galleria mellonella infection model. These phenotypic changes were characterized by a series of differential gene expression changes, particularly those related to LPS modifications, spermidine synthesis (via speH and speE) and the major stress response regulator rpoS. Our results suggest a clinically important bacterial evolution under sub-lethal antibiotic concentration leading to potential for significant changes in the clinical course of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mumina Javed
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Benedikt Jentzsch
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Maximilian Heinrich
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Viola Ueltzhoeffer
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Silke Peter
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schoppmeier
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Angel Angelov
- NGS Competence Center Tübingen (NCCT), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sandra Schwarz
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Willmann
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Eurofins MVZ Medizinisches Labor Gelsenkirchen, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
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43
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Huang WC, Hashimoto M, Shih YL, Wu CC, Lee MF, Chen YL, Wu JJ, Wang MC, Lin WH, Hong MY, Teng CH. Peptidoglycan Endopeptidase Spr of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Contributes to Kidney Infections and Competitive Fitness During Bladder Colonization. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:586214. [PMID: 33391204 PMCID: PMC7774453 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.586214] [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: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common pathogen of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Antibiotic therapy is the conventional measure to manage such infections. However, the rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance has reduced the efficacy of antibiotic treatment. Given that the bacterial factors required for the full virulence of the pathogens are potential therapeutic targets, identifying such factors may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies against UPEC UTIs. The peptidoglycan (PG) endopeptidase Spr (also named MepS) is required for PG biogenesis in E. coli. In the present study, we found that Spr deficiency attenuated the ability of UPEC to infect kidneys and induced a fitness defect during bladder colonization in a mouse model of UTI. Based on the liquid chromatography (LC)/mass spectrometry (MS)/MS analysis of the bacterial envelope, spr deletion changed the levels of some envelope-associated proteins, suggesting that Spr deficiency interfere with the components of the bacterial structure. Among the proteins, FliC was significantly downregulated in the spr mutant, which is resulted in reduced motility. Lack of Spr might hinder the function of the flagellar transcriptional factor FlhDC to decrease FliC expression. The motility downregulation contributed to the reduced fitness in urinary tract colonization. Additionally, spr deletion compromised the ability of UPEC to evade complement-mediated attack and to resist intracellular killing of phagocytes, consequently decreasing UPEC bloodstream survival. Spr deficiency also interfered with the UPEC morphological switch from bacillary to filamentous shapes during UTI. It is known that bacterial filamentation protects UPEC from phagocytosis by phagocytes. In conclusion, Spr deficiency was shown to compromise multiple virulence properties of UPEC, leading to attenuation of the pathogen in urinary tract colonization and bloodstream survival. These findings indicate that Spr is a potential antimicrobial target for further studies attempting to develop novel strategies in managing UPEC UTIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Chun Huang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Masayuki Hashimoto
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ling Shih
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ching Wu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Feng Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Lei Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jiunn-Jong Wu
- Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Cheng Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Hung Lin
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Yuan Hong
- Department of Emergency Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hao Teng
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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44
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Meena PR, Yadav P, Hemlata H, Tejavath KK, Singh AP. Poultry-origin extraintestinal Escherichia coli strains carrying the traits associated with urinary tract infection, sepsis, meningitis and avian colibacillosis in India. J Appl Microbiol 2020; 130:2087-2101. [PMID: 33095966 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
AIM In-depth 'One Health' risk assessment of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) strains carrying the traits of urinary tract infection, sepsis, meningitis and avian colibacillosis in poultry of India. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 230 E. coli isolates were recovered from chicken samples representing the different sources (faeces vs caeca), stages (poultry farms vs retails butcher shop) or environments (rural vs urban) of poultry in India. Among all poultry-origin E. coli isolates, 49 (21·1%) strains were identified as ExPEC possessing multiple virulence determinants regardless of their association with any specific phylogenetic lineages. Of particular, potentially virulent ExPEC pathotypes, that is, uropathogenic E.coli (UPEC, 20·4%), avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC, 34·6%), septicaemia-associated E. coli (SEPEC, 47·0%) and neonatal meningitis-causing E.39 coli (NMEC, 2·0%) were also detected among all ExPEC strains. CONCLUSIONS Our study is the first to assess ExPEC strains circulating in the different settings of poultry in India and significantly demonstrates their potential ability to cause multiple extraintestinal infections both in humans and animals. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The data of our study are in favour of the possibility that poultry-origin putative virulent ExPEC pathotypes consequently constitute a threat risk to 'One Health' or for food safety and a great concern for poultry production of India.
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Affiliation(s)
- P R Meena
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Rajasthan, India
| | - P Yadav
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Rajasthan, India
| | - H Hemlata
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Rajasthan, India
| | - K K Tejavath
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Rajasthan, India
| | - A P Singh
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Rajasthan, India
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45
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Meza-Segura M, Zaidi MB, Vera-Ponce de León A, Moran-Garcia N, Martinez-Romero E, Nataro JP, Estrada-Garcia T. New Insights Into DAEC and EAEC Pathogenesis and Phylogeny. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:572951. [PMID: 33178627 PMCID: PMC7593697 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.572951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Diarrheagenic E. coli can be separated into six distinct pathotypes, with enteroaggregative (EAEC) and diffusely-adherent E. coli (DAEC) among the least characterized. To gain additional insights into these two pathotypes we performed whole genome sequencing of ten DAEC, nine EAEC strains, isolated from Mexican children with diarrhea, and one EAEC plus one commensal E. coli strains isolated from an adult with diarrhea and a healthy child, respectively. These genome sequences were compared to 85 E. coli genomes available in public databases. The EAEC and DAEC strains segregated into multiple different clades; however, six clades were heavily or exclusively comprised of EAEC and DAEC strains, suggesting a phylogenetic relationship between these two pathotypes. EAEC strains harbored the typical virulence factors under control of the activator AggR, but also several toxins, bacteriocins, and other virulence factors. DAEC strains harbored several iron-scavenging systems, toxins, adhesins, and complement resistance or Immune system evasion factors that suggest a pathogenic paradigm for this poorly understood pathotype. Several virulence factors for both EAEC and DAEC were associated with clinical presentations, not only suggesting the importance of these factors, but also potentially indicating opportunities for intervention. Our studies provide new insights into two distinct but related diarrheagenic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Meza-Segura
- Molecular Biomedicine Department, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mussaret B Zaidi
- Infectious Diseases Research Unit, Hospital General O'Horan, Mérida, Mexico.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, United States
| | | | - Nadia Moran-Garcia
- Molecular Biomedicine Department, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - James P Nataro
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VI, United States
| | - Teresa Estrada-Garcia
- Molecular Biomedicine Department, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
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46
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Ohno M, Hasegawa M, Hayashi A, Caballero-Flores G, Alteri CJ, Lawley TD, Kamada N, Núñez G, Inohara N. Lipopolysaccharide O structure of adherent and invasive Escherichia coli regulates intestinal inflammation via complement C3. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008928. [PMID: 33027280 PMCID: PMC7571687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut dysbiosis associated with intestinal inflammation is characterized by the blooming of particular bacteria such as adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC). However, the precise mechanisms by which AIEC impact on colitis remain largely unknown. Here we show that antibiotic-induced dysbiosis worsened chemically-induced colitis in IL-22-deficient mice, but not in wild-type mice. The increase in intestinal inflammation was associated with the expansion of E. coli strains with genetic and functional features of AIEC. These E. coli isolates exhibited high ability to out compete related bacteria via colicins and resistance to the host complement system in vitro. Mutation of wzy, the lipopolysaccharide O polymerase gene, rendered AIEC more sensitive to the complement system and more susceptible to engulfment and killing by phagocytes while retaining its ability to outcompete related bacteria in vitro. The wzy AIEC mutant showed impaired fitness to colonize the intestine under colitic conditions, but protected mice from chemically-induced colitis. Importantly, the ability of the wzy mutant to protect from colitis was blocked by depletion of complement C3 which was associated with impaired intestinal eradication of AIEC in colitic mice. These studies link surface lipopolysaccharide O-antigen structure to the regulation of colitic activity in commensal AIEC via interactions with the complement system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Ohno
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Mizuho Hasegawa
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Atsushi Hayashi
- Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Miyarisan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Central Research Institute, Saitama, Japan
| | - Gustavo Caballero-Flores
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Christopher J. Alteri
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Trevor D. Lawley
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Nobuhiko Kamada
- Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Gabriel Núñez
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Naohiro Inohara
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
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Huang WC, Liao YJ, Hashimoto M, Chen KF, Chu C, Hsu PC, Wang S, Teng CH. cjrABC-senB hinders survival of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli in the bloodstream through triggering complement-mediated killing. J Biomed Sci 2020; 27:86. [PMID: 32762693 PMCID: PMC7412671 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-020-00677-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) is a common gram-negative organism causing various infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), bacteremia, and neonatal meningitis. The cjrABC-senB gene cluster of E. coli contributes to ExPEC virulence in the mouse model of UTIs. Consistently, the distribution of cjrABC-senB is epidemiologically associated with human UTIs caused by E. coli. cjrABC-senB, which has previously been proposed to encode an iron uptake system, may facilitate ExPEC survival in the iron availability-restricted urinary tract. Given that the bloodstream is also an iron limited environment to invading bacteria, the pathogenic role of cjrABC-senB in ExPEC bacteremia, however, remains to be investigated. METHODS The ability of ExPEC RS218 strains with and without cjrABC-senB to survive in the mouse bloodstream and human serum was evaluated. Subsequently, the role of this gene cluster in the ExPEC interaction with the complement system was evaluated. Finally, the distribution of cjrABC-senB in human clinical E. coli isolates was determined by PCR. The frequency of cjrABC-senB in bacteremia isolates that were not associated with UTIs (non-UTI bacteremia isolates) was compared with that in UTI-associated isolates and fecal isolates. RESULTS Expression of cjrABC-senB attenuated the survival of RS218 in the mouse bloodstream and human serum. The cjrABC-senB-harboring strains triggered enhanced classical- and alternative-complement pathway activation and became more vulnerable to complement-mediated killing in serum. cjrA was identified as the major gene responsible for the attenuated serum survival. Expressing cjrABC-senB and cjrA increased bacterial susceptibility to detergent and induced periplasmic protein leakage, suggesting that the expression of these genes compromises the integrity of the outer membrane of ExPEC. In addition, the frequency of cjrABC-senB in non-UTI bacteremia isolates was significantly lower than that in UTI-associated isolates, while the frequencies in non-UTI bacteremia isolates and fecal isolates showed no significant difference. Consistently, this epidemiological investigation suggests that cjrABC-senB does not contribute to E. coli bacteremia in humans. CONCLUSION The contribution of cjrABC-senB to the pathogenesis of ExPEC is niche dependent and contradictory because the genes facilitate ExPEC UTIs but hinder bacteremia. The contradictory niche-dependent characteristic may benefit the development of novel strategies against E. coli-caused infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Chun Huang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 4th F, 367 Sheng Li Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jyun Liao
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 4th F, 367 Sheng Li Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Masayuki Hashimoto
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 4th F, 367 Sheng Li Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
- Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Fu Chen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 4th F, 367 Sheng Li Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Chishih Chu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biopharmaceuticals, National Chiayi University, Chiayi City, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chuen Hsu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 4th F, 367 Sheng Li Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Shuying Wang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
- Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hao Teng
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 4th F, 367 Sheng Li Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan.
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan.
- Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan.
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Tn-Seq Analysis Identifies Genes Important for Yersinia pestis Adherence during Primary Pneumonic Plague. mSphere 2020; 5:5/4/e00715-20. [PMID: 32759339 PMCID: PMC7407073 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00715-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Colonization of the lung by Yersinia pestis is a critical first step in establishing infection during primary pneumonic plague, a disease characterized by high lethality. However, the mechanisms by which Y. pestis adheres in the lung after inhalation remain elusive. Here, we used Tn-seq to identify Y. pestis genes important for adherence early during primary pneumonic plague. Our mutant enrichment strategy resulted in the identification of genes important for regulation and assembly of genes and proteins rather than adhesin genes themselves. These results reveal that there may be multiple Y. pestis adhesins or redundancy among adhesins. Identifying the adhesins regulated by the genes identified in our enrichment screen may reveal novel therapeutic targets for preventing Y. pestis adherence and the subsequent development of pneumonic plague. Following inhalation, Yersinia pestis rapidly colonizes the lung to establish infection during primary pneumonic plague. Although several adhesins have been identified in Yersinia spp., the factors mediating early Y. pestis adherence in the lung remain unknown. To identify genes important for Y. pestis adherence during primary pneumonic plague, we used transposon insertion sequencing (Tn-seq). Wild-type and capsule mutant (Δcaf1) Y. pestis transposon mutant libraries were serially passaged in vivo to enrich for nonadherent mutants in the lung using a mouse model of primary pneumonic plague. Sequencing of the passaged libraries revealed six mutants that were significantly enriched in both the wild-type and Δcaf1Y. pestis backgrounds. The enriched mutants had insertions in genes that encode transcriptional regulators, chaperones, an endoribonuclease, and YPO3903, a hypothetical protein. Using single-strain infections and a transcriptional analysis, we identified a significant role for YPO3903 in Y. pestis adherence in the lung and showed that YPO3903 regulated transcript levels of psaA, which encodes a fimbria previously implicated in Y. pestis adherence in vitro. Deletion of psaA had a minor effect on Y. pestis adherence in the lung, suggesting that YPO3903 regulates other adhesins in addition to psaA. By enriching for mutations in genes that regulate the expression or assembly of multiple genes or proteins, we obtained screen results indicating that there may be not just one dominant adhesin but rather several factors that contribute to early Y. pestis adherence during primary pneumonic plague. IMPORTANCE Colonization of the lung by Yersinia pestis is a critical first step in establishing infection during primary pneumonic plague, a disease characterized by high lethality. However, the mechanisms by which Y. pestis adheres in the lung after inhalation remain elusive. Here, we used Tn-seq to identify Y. pestis genes important for adherence early during primary pneumonic plague. Our mutant enrichment strategy resulted in the identification of genes important for regulation and assembly of genes and proteins rather than adhesin genes themselves. These results reveal that there may be multiple Y. pestis adhesins or redundancy among adhesins. Identifying the adhesins regulated by the genes identified in our enrichment screen may reveal novel therapeutic targets for preventing Y. pestis adherence and the subsequent development of pneumonic plague.
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Maes M, Dyson ZA, Smith SE, Goulding DA, Ludden C, Baker S, Kellam P, Reece ST, Dougan G, Bartholdson Scott J. A novel therapeutic antibody screening method using bacterial high-content imaging reveals functional antibody binding phenotypes of Escherichia coli ST131. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12414. [PMID: 32709982 PMCID: PMC7382476 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69300-8] [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: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The increase of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and lack of new classes of licensed antimicrobials, have made alternative treatment options for AMR pathogens increasingly attractive. Recent studies have demonstrated anti-bacterial efficacy of a humanised monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting the O25b O-antigen of Escherichia coli ST131. To evaluate the phenotypic effects of antibody binding to diverse clinical E. coli ST131 O25b bacterial isolates in high-throughput, we designed a novel mAb screening method using high-content imaging (HCI) and image-based morphological profiling to screen a mAb targeting the O25b O-antigen. Screening the antibody against a panel of 86 clinical E. coli ST131 O25:H4 isolates revealed 4 binding phenotypes: no binding (18.60%), weak binding (4.65%), strong binding (69.77%) and strong agglutinating binding (6.98%). Impaired antibody binding could be explained by the presence of insertion sequences or mutations in O-antigen or lipopolysaccharide core biosynthesis genes, affecting the amount, structure or chain length of the O-antigen. The agglutinating binding phenotype was linked with lower O-antigen density, enhanced antibody-mediated phagocytosis and increased serum susceptibly. This study highlights the need to screen candidate mAbs against large panels of clinically relevant isolates, and that HCI can be used to evaluate mAb binding affinity and potential functional efficacy against AMR bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mailis Maes
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zoe A Dyson
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Stephen Baker
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paul Kellam
- Kymab Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Gordon Dougan
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Josefin Bartholdson Scott
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Genomic Profiling Reveals Distinct Routes To Complement Resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00043-20. [PMID: 32513855 PMCID: PMC7375759 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00043-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The serum complement system is a first line of defense against bacterial invaders. Resistance to killing by serum enhances the capacity of Klebsiella pneumoniae to cause infection, but it is an incompletely understood virulence trait. Identifying and characterizing the factors responsible for preventing activation of, and killing by, serum complement could inform new approaches to treatment of K. pneumoniae infections. Here, we used functional genomic profiling to define the genetic basis of complement resistance in four diverse serum-resistant K. pneumoniae strains (NTUH-K2044, B5055, ATCC 43816, and RH201207), and explored their recognition by key complement components. The serum complement system is a first line of defense against bacterial invaders. Resistance to killing by serum enhances the capacity of Klebsiella pneumoniae to cause infection, but it is an incompletely understood virulence trait. Identifying and characterizing the factors responsible for preventing activation of, and killing by, serum complement could inform new approaches to treatment of K. pneumoniae infections. Here, we used functional genomic profiling to define the genetic basis of complement resistance in four diverse serum-resistant K. pneumoniae strains (NTUH-K2044, B5055, ATCC 43816, and RH201207), and explored their recognition by key complement components. More than 90 genes contributed to resistance in one or more strains, but only three, rfaH, lpp, and arnD, were common to all four strains. Deletion of the antiterminator rfaH, which controls the expression of capsule and O side chains, resulted in dramatic complement resistance reductions in all strains. The murein lipoprotein gene lpp promoted capsule retention through a mechanism dependent on its C-terminal lysine residue; its deletion led to modest reductions in complement resistance. Binding experiments with the complement components C3b and C5b-9 showed that the underlying mechanism of evasion varied in the four strains: B5055 and NTUH-K2044 appeared to bypass recognition by complement entirely, while ATCC 43816 and RH201207 were able to resist killing despite being associated with substantial levels of C5b-9. All rfaH and lpp mutants bound C3b and C5b-9 in large quantities. Our findings show that, even among this small selection of isolates, K. pneumoniae adopts differing mechanisms and utilizes distinct gene sets to avoid complement attack.
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