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Ullah H, Shi X, Taj A, Cheng L, Yan Q, Sha S, Ahmad, Kang J, Haris M, Ma X, Ma Y. Mycobacterium tuberculosis PE_PGRS38 Enhances Intracellular Survival of Mycobacteria by Inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB-Dependent Inflammation and Apoptosis of the Host. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:313. [PMID: 38785795 PMCID: PMC11118070 DOI: 10.3390/biology13050313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) ranks as the most lethal human pathogen, able to fend off repeated attacks by the immune system or medications. PE_PGRS proteins are hallmarks of the pathogenicity of Mtb and contribute to its antigenic diversity, virulence, and persistence during infection. M. smegmatis is a nonpathogenic mycobacterium that naturally lacks PE_PGRS and is used as a model to express Mtb proteins. PE_PGRS has the capability to evade host immune responses and enhance the intracellular survival of M. smegmatis. Despite the intense investigations into PE_PGRS proteins, their role in tuberculosis remains elusive. We engineered the recombinant M. smegmatis strain Ms-PE_PGRS38. The result shows that PE_PGRS38 is expressed in the cell wall of M. smegmatis. PE_PGRS38 contributes to biofilm formation, confers permeability to the cell wall, and shows variable responses to exogenous stresses. PE_PGRS38 downregulated TLR4/NF-κB signaling in RAW264.7 macrophages and lung tissues of infected mice. In addition, PE_PGRS38 decreased NLRP3-dependent IL-1β release and limited pathogen-mediated inflammasome activity during infection. Moreover, PE_PGRS38 inhibited the apoptosis of RAW264.7 cells by downregulating the expression of apoptotic markers including Bax, cytochrome c, caspase-3, and caspase-9. In a nutshell, our findings demonstrate that PE_PGRS38 is a virulence factor for Mtb that enables recombinant M. smegmatis to survive by resisting and evading the host's immune responses during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayan Ullah
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; (H.U.); (A.T.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (J.K.); (M.H.)
- Department of Microbiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China;
| | - Xiaoxia Shi
- Department of Experimental Teaching Center of Public Health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China;
| | - Ayaz Taj
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; (H.U.); (A.T.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (J.K.); (M.H.)
| | - Lin Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; (H.U.); (A.T.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (J.K.); (M.H.)
| | - Qiulong Yan
- Department of Microbiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China;
| | - Shanshan Sha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; (H.U.); (A.T.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (J.K.); (M.H.)
| | - Ahmad
- Department of Immunology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China;
| | - Jian Kang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; (H.U.); (A.T.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (J.K.); (M.H.)
| | - Muhammad Haris
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; (H.U.); (A.T.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (J.K.); (M.H.)
| | - Xiaochi Ma
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yufang Ma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; (H.U.); (A.T.); (L.C.); (S.S.); (J.K.); (M.H.)
- Department of Microbiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China;
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2
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Arega AM, Dhal AK, Pattanaik KP, Nayak S, Mahapatra RK. An Immunoinformatics-Based Study of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Region of Difference-2 Uncharacterized Protein (Rv1987) as a Potential Subunit Vaccine Candidate for Preliminary Ex Vivo Analysis. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2024; 196:2367-2395. [PMID: 37498378 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-023-04658-9] [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] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the pathogen that causes tuberculosis and develops resistance to many of the existing drugs. The sole licensed TB vaccine, BCG, is unable to provide a comprehensive defense. So, it is crucial to maintain the immunological response to eliminate tuberculosis. Our previous in silico study reported five uncharacterized proteins as potential vaccine antigens. In this article, we considered the uncharacterized Mtb H37Rv regions of difference (RD-2) Rv1987 protein as a promising vaccine candidate. The vaccine quality of the protein was analyzed using reverse vaccinology and immunoinformatics-based quality-checking parameters followed by an ex vivo preliminary investigation. In silico analysis of Rv1987 protein predicted it as surface localized, secretory, single helix, antigenic, non-allergenic, and non-homologous to the host protein. Immunoinformatics analysis of Rv1987 by CD4 + and CD8 + T-cells via MHC-I and MHC-II binding affinity and presence of B-cell epitope predicted its immunogenicity. The docked complex analysis of the 3D model structure of the protein with immune cell receptor TLR-4 revealed the protein's capability for potential interaction. Furthermore, the target protein-encoded gene Rv1987 was cloned, over-expressed, purified, and analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS) to report the target peptides. The qRT-PCR gene expression analysis shows that it is capable of activating macrophages and significantly increasing the production of a number of key cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10). Our in-silico analysis and ex vivo preliminary investigations revealed the immunogenic potential of the target protein. These findings suggest that the Rv1987 be undertaken as a potent subunit vaccine antigen and that further animal model immuno-modulation studies would boost the novel TB vaccine discovery and/or BCG vaccine supplement pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aregitu Mekuriaw Arega
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
- National Veterinary Institute, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia
| | - Ajit Kumar Dhal
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | | | - Sasmita Nayak
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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3
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Lin H, Xing J, Wang H, Wang S, Fang R, Li X, Li Z, Song N. Roles of Lipolytic enzymes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1329715. [PMID: 38357346 PMCID: PMC10865251 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1329715] [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: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a bacterial pathogen that can endure for long periods in an infected patient, without causing disease. There are a number of virulence factors that increase its ability to invade the host. One of these factors is lipolytic enzymes, which play an important role in the pathogenic mechanism of Mtb. Bacterial lipolytic enzymes hydrolyze lipids in host cells, thereby releasing free fatty acids that are used as energy sources and building blocks for the synthesis of cell envelopes, in addition to regulating host immune responses. This review summarizes the relevant recent studies that used in vitro and in vivo models of infection, with particular emphasis on the virulence profile of lipolytic enzymes in Mtb. A better understanding of these enzymes will aid the development of new treatment strategies for TB. The recent work done that explored mycobacterial lipolytic enzymes and their involvement in virulence and pathogenicity was highlighted in this study. Lipolytic enzymes are expected to control Mtb and other intracellular pathogenic bacteria by targeting lipid metabolism. They are also potential candidates for the development of novel therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Lin
- Weifang Key Laboratory of Respiratory Tract Pathogens and Drug Therapy, School of Life Science and Technology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Jiayin Xing
- Weifang Key Laboratory of Respiratory Tract Pathogens and Drug Therapy, School of Life Science and Technology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Weifang Key Laboratory of Respiratory Tract Pathogens and Drug Therapy, School of Life Science and Technology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Shuxian Wang
- Weifang Key Laboratory of Respiratory Tract Pathogens and Drug Therapy, School of Life Science and Technology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Ren Fang
- Weifang Key Laboratory of Respiratory Tract Pathogens and Drug Therapy, School of Life Science and Technology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Xiaotian Li
- Weifang Key Laboratory of Respiratory Tract Pathogens and Drug Therapy, School of Life Science and Technology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Zhaoli Li
- SAFE Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Ningning Song
- Weifang Key Laboratory of Respiratory Tract Pathogens and Drug Therapy, School of Life Science and Technology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
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4
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Xu A, Yang K, Xu J, Meng X, Liang Q, Huang B, Yang Y, Song H. Mycobacterial PE12 protein promotes bacterial survival through inhibiting cell apoptosis. Vet Microbiol 2024; 288:109922. [PMID: 38086162 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109922] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Mycobacterial PE_PGRS family proteins play key roles in pathogen-host interaction. However, the function of most PE_PGRS proteins remains unknown. In this study, we characterized the role of PE12 of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) on bacterial growth, bacterial survival, and host cell apoptosis. Transcriptome sequencing of infected THP-1 cells was also performed. Compared to Ms_Vec, we found that M. bovis PE12 did not alter the colony morphology of M. smegmatis. The survival of Ms_PE12 was obviously higher than that of Ms_Vec. Furthermore, PE12 significantly suppressed the apoptosis of THP-1 induced by M. smegmatis infection. Transcriptome analysis results showed that there were 70 downregulated genes in the Ms_PE12 infection group in comparison with the Ms_Vec infection group, and these differentially expressed genes were enriched in 240 downregulated GO terms and 6 KEGG pathways. The downregulated expression genes are involved in cell adhesion, phagocytosis, apoptosis, inflammatory response, glycolysis and transmembrane transporter activity. Taken together, our study reveals that PE12 can suppress apoptosis and inhibit proinflammatory cytokine response. We propose that PE12 is related to macrophage phagocytosis and apoptosis, providing useful information to the pathogenic mechanisms of M. bovis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahui Xu
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, 666 Wusu Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 311300, China
| | - Ke Yang
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, 666 Wusu Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 311300, China
| | - Jinxia Xu
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, 666 Wusu Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 311300, China
| | - Xiangmiao Meng
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, 666 Wusu Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 311300, China
| | - Qiuyun Liang
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, 666 Wusu Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 311300, China
| | - Bei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, 666 Wusu Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 311300, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, 666 Wusu Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 311300, China.
| | - Houhui Song
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Animal Health Diagnostics & Advanced Technology, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine of Zhejiang A&F University, 666 Wusu Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 311300, China.
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Xu T, Wang C, Li M, Wei J, He Z, Qian Z, Wang X, Wang H. Mycobacterium tuberculosis PE_PGRS45 (Rv2615c) Promotes Recombinant Mycobacteria Intracellular Survival via Regulation of Innate Immunity, and Inhibition of Cell Apoptosis. J Microbiol 2024; 62:49-62. [PMID: 38337112 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-023-00101-0] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), a bacterial infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), is a significant global public health problem. Mycobacterium tuberculosis expresses a unique family of PE_PGRS proteins that have been implicated in pathogenesis. Despite numerous studies, the functions of most PE_PGRS proteins in the pathogenesis of mycobacterium infections remain unclear. PE_PGRS45 (Rv2615c) is only found in pathogenic mycobacteria. In this study, we successfully constructed a recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis (M. smegmatis) strain which heterologously expresses the PE_PGRS45 protein. We found that overexpression of this cell wall-associated protein enhanced bacterial viability under stress in vitro and cell survival in macrophages. MS_PE_PGRS45 decreased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p40, and TNF-α. We also found that MS_PE_PGRS45 increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and altered macrophage-mediated immune responses. Furthermore, PE_PGRS45 enhanced the survival rate of M. smegmatis in macrophages by inhibiting cell apoptosis. Collectively, our findings show that PE_PGRS45 is a virulent factor actively involved in the interaction with the host macrophage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Xu
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Immunology in Chronic Diseases, Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, 233030, People's Republic of China
| | - Chutong Wang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Immunology in Chronic Diseases, Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, 233030, People's Republic of China
| | - Minying Li
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Immunology in Chronic Diseases, Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, 233030, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Wei
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Immunology in Chronic Diseases, Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, 233030, People's Republic of China
| | - Zixuan He
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Immunology in Chronic Diseases, Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, 233030, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongqing Qian
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Immunology in Chronic Diseases, Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, 233030, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojing Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Clinical and Preclinical Research in Respiratory Disease, Molecular Diagnosis Center, First Affiliated Hospital, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, 233030, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongtao Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Clinical and Preclinical Research in Respiratory Disease, Molecular Diagnosis Center, First Affiliated Hospital, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, 233030, People's Republic of China.
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6
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Li F, Guo X, Bi Y, Jia R, Pitt ME, Pan S, Li S, Gasser RB, Coin LJ, Song J. Digerati - A multipath parallel hybrid deep learning framework for the identification of mycobacterial PE/PPE proteins. Comput Biol Med 2023; 163:107155. [PMID: 37356289 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
The genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis contains a relatively high percentage (10%) of genes that are poorly characterised because of their highly repetitive nature and high GC content. Some of these genes encode proteins of the PE/PPE family, which are thought to be involved in host-pathogen interactions, virulence, and disease pathogenicity. Members of this family are genetically divergent and challenging to both identify and classify using conventional computational tools. Thus, advanced in silico methods are needed to identify proteins of this family for subsequent functional annotation efficiently. In this study, we developed the first deep learning-based approach, termed Digerati, for the rapid and accurate identification of PE and PPE family proteins. Digerati was built upon a multipath parallel hybrid deep learning framework, which equips multi-layer convolutional neural networks with bidirectional, long short-term memory, equipped with a self-attention module to effectively learn the higher-order feature representations of PE/PPE proteins. Empirical studies demonstrated that Digerati achieved a significantly better performance (∼18-20%) than alignment-based approaches, including BLASTP, PHMMER, and HHsuite, in both prediction accuracy and speed. Digerati is anticipated to facilitate community-wide efforts to conduct high-throughput identification and analysis of PE/PPE family members. The webserver and source codes of Digerati are publicly available at http://web.unimelb-bioinfortools.cloud.edu.au/Digerati/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuyi Li
- College of Information Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia.
| | - Xudong Guo
- College of Information Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Yue Bi
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Runchang Jia
- College of Information Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Miranda E Pitt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Shirui Pan
- School of Information and Communication Technology, Griffith University, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Shuqin Li
- College of Information Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Lachlan Jm Coin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia.
| | - Jiangning Song
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
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7
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Medha, Priyanka, Sharma S, Sharma M. PE_PGRS45 (Rv2615c) protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis perturbs mitochondria of macrophages. Immunol Cell Biol 2023. [PMID: 37565603 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12677] [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: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
The PE_PGRS proteins have coevolved with the antigenic ESX-V secretory system and are abundant in pathogenic Mycobacterium. Only a few PE_PGRS proteins have been characterized, and research suggests their role in organelle targeting, cell death pathways, calcium (Ca2+ ) homeostasis and disease pathogenesis. The PE_PGRS45 (Rv2615c) protein was predicted to contain mitochondria targeting sequences by in silico evaluation. Therefore, we investigated the targeting of the Rv2615c protein to host mitochondria and its effect on mitochondrial functions. In vitro experiments showed the Rv2615c protein colocalized with the mitochondria and led to morphological mitochondrial perturbations. Recombinant Rv2615c was observed to cause increased levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and the adenosine diphosphate-to-adenosine triphosphate ratio. The Rv2615c protein also induced mitochondrial membrane depolarization and the generation of mitochondrial superoxide. We observed the release of cytochrome C into the cytoplasm and increased expression of proapoptotic genes Bax and Bim with no significant change in anti-apoptotic Bcl2 in Rv2615c-stimulated THP1 macrophages. Ca2+ is a key signaling molecule in tuberculosis pathogenesis, modulating host cell responses. As reported for other PE_PGRS proteins, Rv2615c also has Ca2+ -binding motifs and thus can modulate calcium homeostasis in the host. We also observed a high level of Ca2+ influx in THP1 macrophages stimulated with Rv2615c. Based on these findings, we suggest that Rv2615c may be an effector protein that could contribute to disease pathogenesis by targeting host mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Medha
- DSKC BioDiscovery Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Priyanka
- DSKC BioDiscovery Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Sadhna Sharma
- DSKC BioDiscovery Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Monika Sharma
- DSKC BioDiscovery Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
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8
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Ruaro-Moreno M, Monterrubio-López GP, Reyes-Gastellou A, Castelán-Vega JA, Jiménez-Alberto A, Aparicio-Ozores G, Delgadillo-Gutiérrez K, González-Y-Merchand JA, Ribas-Aparicio RM. Design of a Multi-Epitope Vaccine against Tuberculosis from Mycobacterium tuberculosis PE_PGRS49 and PE_PGRS56 Proteins by Reverse Vaccinology. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1647. [PMID: 37512820 PMCID: PMC10385543 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071647] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis is a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, representing the second leading cause of death by an infectious agent worldwide. The available vaccine against this disease has insufficient coverage and variable efficacy, accounting for a high number of cases worldwide. In fact, an estimated third of the world's population has a latent infection. Therefore, developing new vaccines is crucial to preventing it. In this study, the highly antigenic PE_PGRS49 and PE_PGRS56 proteins were analyzed. These proteins were used for predicting T- and B-cell epitopes and for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) protein binding efficiency. Epitopes GGAGGNGSLSS, FAGAGGQGGLGG, GIGGGTQSATGLG (PE_PGRS49), and GTGWNGGKGDTG (PE_PGRS56) were selected based on their best physicochemical, antigenic, non-allergenic, and non-toxic properties and coupled to HLA I and HLA II structures for in silico assays. A construct with an adjuvant (RS09) plus each epitope joined by GPGPG linkers was designed, and the stability of the HLA-coupled construct was further evaluated by molecular dynamics simulations. Although experimental and in vivo studies are still necessary to ensure its protective effect against the disease, this study shows that the vaccine construct is dynamically stable and potentially effective against tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maritriny Ruaro-Moreno
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico; (M.R.-M.); (G.P.M.-L.); (A.R.-G.); (G.A.-O.); (K.D.-G.)
- Posgrado en Biomedicina y Biotecnología Molecular, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico;
| | - Gloria Paulina Monterrubio-López
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico; (M.R.-M.); (G.P.M.-L.); (A.R.-G.); (G.A.-O.); (K.D.-G.)
| | - Abraham Reyes-Gastellou
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico; (M.R.-M.); (G.P.M.-L.); (A.R.-G.); (G.A.-O.); (K.D.-G.)
| | - Juan Arturo Castelán-Vega
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico; (M.R.-M.); (G.P.M.-L.); (A.R.-G.); (G.A.-O.); (K.D.-G.)
- Posgrado en Biomedicina y Biotecnología Molecular, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico;
| | - Alicia Jiménez-Alberto
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico; (M.R.-M.); (G.P.M.-L.); (A.R.-G.); (G.A.-O.); (K.D.-G.)
- Posgrado en Biomedicina y Biotecnología Molecular, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico;
| | - Gerardo Aparicio-Ozores
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico; (M.R.-M.); (G.P.M.-L.); (A.R.-G.); (G.A.-O.); (K.D.-G.)
- Posgrado en Biomedicina y Biotecnología Molecular, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico;
| | - Karen Delgadillo-Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico; (M.R.-M.); (G.P.M.-L.); (A.R.-G.); (G.A.-O.); (K.D.-G.)
| | - Jorge Alberto González-Y-Merchand
- Posgrado en Biomedicina y Biotecnología Molecular, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico;
| | - Rosa María Ribas-Aparicio
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico; (M.R.-M.); (G.P.M.-L.); (A.R.-G.); (G.A.-O.); (K.D.-G.)
- Posgrado en Biomedicina y Biotecnología Molecular, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico;
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9
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Priyanka, Medha, Bhatt P, Joshi H, Sharma S, Sharma M. Late stage specific Rv0109 (PE_PGRS1) protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis induces mitochondria mediated macrophage apoptosis. Microb Pathog 2023; 176:106021. [PMID: 36739922 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell and a critical cell signalling hub that decides the fate of the cell. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) being a successful pathogen targets and controls the host mitochondria for pathogenesis. Various effector proteins of Mtb are also known to target host mitochondria which include few proteins of a unique Proline-Glutamate/Proline-Proline-Glutamate (PE/PPE) family exclusively present in pathogenic mycobacteria, but many of them are still uncharacterized. The present study investigates one such late expressing Rv0109 (PE_PGRS1) protein of Mtb. In-silico analysis predicted the presence of mitochondria targeting signal sequences in Rv0109 and its role in regulation of cysteine type endopeptidase (caspase) activity during apoptosis. Recombinant Rv0109 gets localized to mitochondria of THP1 macrophages as shown by confocal microscopy. Rv0109 was observed to induce mitochondrial stress which resulted in mitochondrial membrane depolarization, upregulation of mitochondrial superoxides and release of Cytochrome-C in the cytoplasm through flow cytometry. Depleted intracellular ATP was observed in THP1 macrophages in response to Rv0109. This mitochondrial stress in response to Rv0109 was observed to culminate in increased expression of pro-apoptotic Bax and Bim factors and caspase activation leading to macrophage apoptosis. Since Rv0109 is a late stage specific protein expressed within granuloma; mitochondria mediated apoptosis induced by Rv0109 may be explored for its role in granuloma maintenance and pathogen persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka
- DSKC BioDiscovery Laboratory and Department of Zoology, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
| | - Medha
- DSKC BioDiscovery Laboratory and Department of Zoology, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Parul Bhatt
- DSKC BioDiscovery Laboratory and Department of Zoology, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Hemant Joshi
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India
| | - Sadhna Sharma
- DSKC BioDiscovery Laboratory and Department of Zoology, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Monika Sharma
- DSKC BioDiscovery Laboratory and Department of Zoology, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
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10
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Dong W, Wang G, Bai Y, Li Y, Huo X, Zhao J, Lu W, Lu H, Wang C, Wang X, Chen H, Tan C. Analysis of the noncoding RNA regulatory networks of H37Rv- and H37Rv△1759c-infected macrophages. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1106643. [PMID: 36992931 PMCID: PMC10042141 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1106643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Noncoding RNAs regulate the process of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) infecting the host, but there is no simultaneous transcriptional information of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) and the global regulatory networks of non-coding RNA. Rv1759c, a virulence factor, is a member of protein family containing the proline-glutamic acid (PE) in M. tb, which can increase M. tb survival. To reveal the noncoding RNA regulatory networks and the effect of Rv1759c on non-coding RNA expression during M. tb infection, we collected samples of H37Rv- and H37Rv△1759c-infected macrophages and explored the full transcriptome expression profile. We found 356 mRNAs, 433 lncRNAs, 168 circRNAs, and 12 miRNAs differentially expressed during H37Rv infection, 356 mRNAs, 433 lncRNAs, 168 circRNAs, and 12 miRNAs differentially expressed during H37Rv△1759c infection. We constructed lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks during H37Rv and H37Rv△1759c infection. We demonstrated the role of one of the hubs of the networks, hsa-miR-181b-3p, for H37Rv survival in macrophages. We discovered that the expression changes of 68 mRNAs, 92 lncRNAs, 26 circRNAs, and 3 miRNAs were only related to the deletion of Rv1759c by comparing the transcription profiles of H37Rv and H37Rv△1759c. Here, our study comprehensively characterizes the transcriptional profiles in THP1-derived-macrophages infected with H37Rv and H37Rv△1759c, which provides support and new directions for in-depth exploration of noncoding RNA and PE/PPE family functions during the infection process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqi Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Gaoyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yajuan Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yuxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xinyu Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- WuHan Animal Disease Control Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenjia Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chenchen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiangru Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chen Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- *Correspondence: Chen Tan,
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11
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Dong W, Wang G, Feng J, Li P, Wang R, Lu H, Lu W, Wang C, Wang X, Chen H, Xiang Y, Tan C. MiR-25 blunts autophagy and promotes the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by regulating NPC1. iScience 2022; 25:104279. [PMID: 35586071 PMCID: PMC9108763 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104279] [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: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) evades host clearance by inhibiting autophagy. MicroRNA-25 (miR-25) expression was significantly up-regulated in the lung tissues of mice infected with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and macrophages infected with Mtb or BCG, especially in the early stages of infection. MiR-25 can significantly increase the survival of Mtb and BCG in macrophages. We validated that miR-25 targets the NPC1 protein located on the lysosomal membrane, resulting in damage to lysosomal function, thereby inhibiting autophagolysosome formation and promoting the survival of Mtb and BCG. Consistently, mice lacking miR-25 exhibited more resistant to BCG infection. In addition, we found that Rv1759c induces the expression of miR-25 through NFKB inhibitor zeta (NFKBIZ). This study demonstrates that the role of miR-25 during Mtb infection contributes to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of tuberculosis (TB). Mtb up-modulates miR-25 expression especially in the early stage of infection miR-25 targeting NPC1 impairs autophagic flux in macrophages Mice lacking miR-25 exhibits more resistant to BCG infection Rv1759c regulates miR-25 expression and Mtb survival via NFKBIZ
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqi Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Gaoyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jiajia Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Pei Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Experimental Animal Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenjia Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chenchen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiangru Wang
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yaozu Xiang
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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12
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Li F, Guo X, Xiang D, Pitt ME, Bainomugisa A, Coin LJ. Computational analysis and prediction of PE_PGRS proteins using machine learning. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:662-674. [PMID: 35140886 PMCID: PMC8804200 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PEPPER is the first machine learning-based predictor for PE_PGRS proteins. PEPPER is based on lightGBM and various sequence and physicochemical features. PEPPER can identify PE_PGRS proteins rapidly and accurately. The webserver of PEPPER and stand-alone tool are publicly available at http://web.unimelb-bioinfortools.cloud.edu.au/PEPPER/.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome comprises approximately 10% of two families of poorly characterised genes due to their high GC content and highly repetitive nature. The largest sub-group, the proline-glutamic acid polymorphic guanine-cytosine-rich sequence (PE_PGRS) family, is thought to be involved in host response and disease pathogenicity. Due to their high genetic variability and complexity of analysis, they are typically disregarded for further research in genomic studies. There are currently limited online resources and homology computational tools that can identify and analyse PE_PGRS proteins. In addition, they are computational-intensive and time-consuming, and lack sensitivity. Therefore, computational methods that can rapidly and accurately identify PE_PGRS proteins are valuable to facilitate the functional elucidation of the PE_PGRS family proteins. In this study, we developed the first machine learning-based bioinformatics approach, termed PEPPER, to allow users to identify PE_PGRS proteins rapidly and accurately. PEPPER was built upon a comprehensive evaluation of 13 popular machine learning algorithms with various sequence and physicochemical features. Empirical studies demonstrated that PEPPER achieved significantly better performance than alignment-based approaches, BLASTP and PHMMER, in both prediction accuracy and speed. PEPPER is anticipated to facilitate community-wide efforts to conduct high-throughput identification and analysis of PE_PGRS proteins.
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13
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Imidazole-Thiosemicarbazide Derivatives as Potent Anti- Mycobacterium tuberculosis Compounds with Antibiofilm Activity. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123476. [PMID: 34943984 PMCID: PMC8700351 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123476] [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: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is an intracellular pathogenic bacterium and the causative agent of tuberculosis. This disease is one of the most ancient and deadliest bacterial infections, as it poses major health, social and economic challenges at a global level, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. The lack of an effective vaccine, the long and expensive drug therapy, and the rapid spread of drug-resistant strains of Mtb have led to the re-emergence of tuberculosis as a global pandemic. Here, we assessed the in vitro activity of new imidazole-thiosemicarbazide derivatives (ITDs) against Mtb infection and their effects on mycobacterial biofilm formation. Cytotoxicity studies of the new compounds in cell lines and human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) were performed. The anti-Mtb activity of ITDs was evaluated by determining minimal inhibitory concentrations of resazurin, time-kill curves, bacterial intracellular growth and the effect on biofilm formation. Mutation frequency and whole-genome sequencing of mutants that were resistant to ITDs were performed. The antimycobacterial potential of ITDs with the ability to penetrate Mtb-infected human macrophages and significantly inhibit the intracellular growth of tubercle bacilli and suppress Mtb biofilm formation was observed.
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