Structural insight in histo-blood group binding by the F18 fimbrial adhesin FedF

Seed-specific expression of porcine verotoxigenic Escherichia coli antigens in tobacco plants as a potential model of edible vaccines

Vaccines can reduce the use of antibiotics by preventing specific infective diseases in pigs. Plant-based edible vaccines are particularly attractive because, upon oral ingestion via feed, they can elicit the local immune system against a foreign disease-causing organism. The aim of this study was to engineer two different independent lines of tobacco plants for the seed-specific expression of immunogenic proteins of VTEC as a model of an edible vaccine. For each antigen, fifty Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Xanthi leaf disks were transformed by agroinfection for the seed-specific expression of the structural parts of the fimbrial subunit FedF of F18 and the B-subunit of Vt2e genes. The synthetic genes, optimized by the codon adaptation index for their expression in tobacco, were inserted into expression cassettes under the control of β-conglycinin promoter. Regenerated tobacco plants (T0) were characterized by molecular and immunoenzymatic techniques. Our results showed that both FedF and Vt2eB genes were integrated into tobacco genome efficiently (> 80%) and they are also maintained in the second generation (T1). Western blotting analyses carried out on the positive producing lines, showed the tissue-specific expression in seeds and the temporal protein accumulation in the mid-late maturation phases. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed seed expression levels of 0.09 to 0.29% (from 138 to 444 µg/g of seeds) and 0.21 to 0.43% (from 321 to 658 µg/g of seeds) of total soluble protein for the FedF and Vt2eB antigens, respectively. This study confirmed the seed-specific expression of the selected antigens in plant seeds. The expression level is suitable for seed-based edible vaccination systems, which could represent a cost-effective way to prevent VTEC infection. Our findings encourage further in vivo studies focused on the activation of the local immune response.

Colonization factors of human and animal-specific enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)

Colonization factors (CFs) are major virulence factors of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). This pathogen is among the most common causes of bacterial diarrhea in children in low- and middle-income countries, travelers, and livestock. CFs are major candidate antigens in vaccines under development as preventive measures against ETEC infections in humans and livestock. Recent molecular studies have indicated that newly identified CFs on human ETEC are closely related to animal ETEC CFs. Increased knowledge of pathogenic mechanisms, immunogenicity, regulation, and expression of ETEC CFs, as well as the possible spread of animal ETEC to humans, may facilitate the future development of ETEC vaccines for humans and animals. Here, we present an updated review of CFs in ETEC.

ArcA positively regulates the expression of virulence genes and contributes to virulence of porcine Shiga toxin-producing enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

IMPORTANCE

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) cause severe diarrhea in humans and animals, leading to death and huge economic loss worldwide. Thus, elucidation of ETEC's pathogenic mechanisms will provide powerful data for the discovery of drugs serving as prevention or therapeutics against ETEC-caused diarrheal diseases. Here, we report that ArcA plays an essential role in the pathogenicity and virulence regulation in ETEC by positively regulating the expression of several key virulence factors including F18 fimbriae, heat-labile and heat-stable toxins, Shiga toxin 2e, and hemolysin, under microaerobic conditions and in vivo. Moreover, we found that positive regulation of several virulence genes by ArcA requires a global repressor H-NS (histone-like nucleoid structuring), implying that ArcA may exert positive effects by antagonizing H-NS. Collectively, our data established a key role for ArcA in the pathogenicity of porcine ETEC and ETEC strains isolated from human infections. Moreover, our work reveals another layer of regulation in relation to oxygen control of virulence factors in ETEC.

Effect and Mechanism Analysis of Pig FUT8 Gene on Resistance to Escherichia coli F18 Infection

Post-weaning diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F18 (E. coli F18) causes significant economic losses for pig producers. Fucosyltransferase 8 (FUT8) is a glycosyltransferase that catalyzes core fucosylation; however, its role in mediating the resistance to E. coli F18 infection in pigs remains unknown. In this study, we systematically verified the relationship between FUT8 expression and E. coli resistance. The results showed that FUT8 was expressed in all detected tissues of Meishan piglets and that its expression was significantly increased in the duodenum and jejunum of E. coli F18-sensitive individuals when compared to E. coli F18-resistant individuals. FUT8 expression increased after exposure to E. coli F18 (p < 0.05) and decreased significantly after LPS induction for 6 h (p < 0.01). Then, the IPEC-J2 stable cell line with FUT8 interference was constructed, and FUT8 knockdown decreased the adhesion of E. coli F18ac to IPEC-J2 cells (p < 0.05). Moreover, we performed a comparative transcriptome study of IPEC-J2 cells after FUT8 knockdown via RNA-seq. In addition, further expression verification demonstrated the significant effect of FUT8 on the glycosphingolipid biosynthesis and Toll-like signaling pathways. Moreover, the core promoter of FUT8, which was located at −1213 bp to −673 bp, was identified via luciferase assay. Interestingly, we found a 1 bp C base insertion mutation at the −774 bp region, which could clearly inhibit the transcriptional binding activity of C/EBPα to an FUT8 promoter. Therefore, it is speculated that FUT8 acts in a critical role in the process of E. coli infection; furthermore, the low expression of FUT8 is conducive to the enhancement of E. coli resistance in piglets. Our findings revealed the mechanism of pig FUT8 in regulating E. coli resistance, which provided a theoretical basis for the screening of E. coli resistance in Chinese local pig breeds.

Comprehensive Analysis Revealed the Potential Roles of N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) Mediating E. coli F18 Susceptibility in IPEC-J2 Cells

Post-weaning diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F18 (E. coli F18) causes significant economic losses for pig producers. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a highly abundant epitranscriptomic marker that has been found to be involved in regulating the resistance of host cells to pathogenic infection, but its potential role in E. coli F18-exposed intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) remains undetermined. Here, we demonstrated that m6A and its regulators modulate E. coli F18 susceptibility. Briefly, we revealed that the Wilms’ tumor 1-associating protein (WTAP) expressions were markedly elevated in IPEC-J2 cells upon E. coli F18 exposure. WTAP are required for the regulation of E. coli F18 adhesion in IPEC-J2 cells. Additionally, WTAP knockdown significantly suppressed m6A level at N-acetyllactosaminide beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase (GCNT2) 3′UTR, resulting in the enhancement of TH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 2 (YTHDF2)-mediated GCNT2 mRNA stability. Subsequently, the altered GCNT2 expressions could inhibit the glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, thus improving resistance to E. coli F18 infection in IPEC-J2. Collectively, our analyses highlighted the mechanism behind the m6A-mediated management of E. coli F18 susceptibility, which will aid in the development of novel approaches that protect against bacterial diarrhea in piglets.

Insight into mechanisms of pig lncRNA FUT3-AS1 regulating E. coli F18-bacterial diarrhea

Escherichia coli F18 is a common conditional pathogen that is associated with a variety of infections in humans and animals. LncRNAs have emerged as critical players in pathogen infection, but their role in the resistance of the host to bacterial diarrhea remains unknown. Here, we used piglets as animal model and identified an antisense lncRNA termed FUT3-AS1 as a host regulator related to E. coli F18 infection by RNA sequencing. Downregulation of FUT3-AS1 expression contributed to the enhancement of E. coli F18 resistance in IPEC-J2 cells. FUT3-AS1 knockdown reduced FUT3 expression via decreasing the H4K16ac level of FUT3 promoter. Besides, the FUT3-AS1/miR-212 axis could act as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate FUT3 expression. Functional analysis demonstrated that target FUT3 plays a vital role in the resistance of IPEC-J2 cells to E. coli F18 invasion. A Fut3-knockout mice model was established and Fut3-knockout mice obviously improved the ability of resistance to bacterial diarrhea. Interestingly, FUT3 could enhance E. coli F18 susceptibility by activating glycosphingolipid biosynthesis and toll-like receptor signaling which are related to receptor formation and immune response, respectively. In summary, we have identified a novel biomarker FUT3-AS1 that modulates E. coli F18 susceptibility via histone H4 modifications or miR-212/FUT3 axis, which will provide theoretical guidance to develop novel strategies for combating bacterial diarrhea in piglets.

Supplementation of oligosaccharide-based polymer enhanced growth and disease resistance of weaned pigs by modulating intestinal integrity and systemic immunity

Background

There is a great demand for antibiotic alternatives to maintain animal health and productivity. The objective of this experiment was to determine the efficacy of dietary supplementation of a blood group A6 type 1 antigen oligosaccharides-based polymer (Coligo) on growth performance, diarrhea severity, intestinal health, and systemic immunity of weaned pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), when compared with antibiotics.

Results

Pigs in antibiotic carbadox or Coligo treatment groups had greater (P < 0.05) body weight on d 5 or d 11 post-inoculation (PI) than pigs in the control group, respectively. Supplementation of antibiotics or Coligo enhanced (P < 0.05) feed efficiency from d 0 to 5 PI and reduced (P < 0.05) frequency of diarrhea throughout the experiment, compared with pigs in the control group. Supplementation of antibiotics reduced (P < 0.05) fecal β-hemolytic coliforms on d 2, 5, and 8 PI. Pigs in antibiotics or Coligo groups had reduced (P < 0.05) neutrophil counts and serum haptoglobin concentration compared to pigs in the control group on d 2 and 5 PI. Pigs in Coligo had reduced (P < 0.05) total coliforms in mesenteric lymph nodes on d 5 and 11 PI, whereas pigs in antibiotics or Coligo groups had reduced (P < 0.05) total coliforms in spleen on d 11 PI compared with pigs in the control group. On d 5 PI, pigs in the Coligo group had greater (P < 0.05) gene expression of ZO1 in jejunal mucosa, but less (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of IL1B, IL6, and TNF in ileal mucosa, in comparison with pigs in the control group. Supplementation of antibiotics enhanced (P < 0.05) the gene expression of OCLN in jejunal mucosa but decreased (P < 0.05) IL1B and IL6 gene expression in ileal mucosa, compared with the control. On d 11 PI, supplementation of antibiotics or Coligo up-regulated (P < 0.05) gene expression of CLDN1 in jejunal mucosa, but Coligo reduced (P < 0.05) IL6 gene expression in ileal mucosa compared to pigs in the control group.

Conclusions

Supplementation of Coligo improved growth performance, alleviated diarrhea severity, and enhanced gut health in weaned pigs infected with ETEC F18 in a manner similar to in-feed antibiotics.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40104-021-00655-2.

DNA Methylation of Pig FUT3 Promoter Alters mRNA Expression to Regulate E. coli F18 Susceptibility

Post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) is frequently associated with E. coli F18 infections in piglets. However, the underlying molecular mechanism concerning the resistance of E. coli F18 in local weaned piglets in China is not clearly understood. In the present study, by a comparative analysis of the transcriptome, a-1,3-fucosyltransferase (FUT3) was evaluated as a key candidate correlated with resistance to E. coli F18 in Sutai and Meishan piglets. Functional analysis demonstrated that FUT3 acts as a key positive regulator of E. coli F18 susceptibility in newly food accustomed piglets. However, the core promoter of FUT3 was present at −500–(−206) bp (chr.2: g.73171117–g.73171616), comprising of 9 methylated CpG sites. Among these, the methylation levels of the two CpG sites (mC-3, mC-5) located in HIF1A and Sp1 transcription factor (TF) considerably associated with mRNA expression of FUT3 (p < 0.05). Our findings indicated that the methylation of mC-3 and mC-5 sites has certain inhibitory effect on FUT3 expression and promotes the resistance of E. coli F18 in piglets. The underlined study may explore FUT3 as a new candidate target in E. coli F18 infection in Chinese local weaned piglets.

Exploiting pilus-mediated bacteria-host interactions for health benefits

Surface pili (or fimbriae) are an important but conspicuous adaptation of several genera and species of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. These long and non-flagellar multi-subunit adhesins mediate the initial contact that a bacterium has with a host or environment, and thus have come to be regarded as a key colonization factor for virulence activity in pathogens or niche adaptation in commensals. Pili in pathogenic bacteria are well recognized for their roles in the adhesion to host cells, colonization of tissues, and establishment of infection. As an 'anti-adhesive' ploy, targeting pilus-mediated attachment for disruption has become a potentially effective alternative to using antibiotics. In this review, we give a description of the several structurally distinct bacterial pilus types thus far characterized, and as well offer details about the intricacy of their individual structure, assembly, and function. With a molecular understanding of pilus biogenesis and pilus-mediated host interactions also provided, we go on to describe some of the emerging new approaches and compounds that have been recently developed to prevent the adhesion, colonization, and infection of piliated bacterial pathogens.

Slimy partners: the mucus barrier and gut microbiome in ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic recurrent intestinal inflammatory disease characterized by high incidence and young onset age. Recently, there have been some interesting findings in the pathogenesis of UC. The mucus barrier, which is composed of a mucin complex rich in O-glycosylation, not only provides nutrients and habitat for intestinal microbes but also orchestrates the taming of germs. In turn, the gut microbiota modulates the production and secretion of mucins and stratification of the mucus layers. Active bidirectional communication between the microbiota and its 'slimy' partner, the mucus barrier, seems to be a continually performed concerto, maintaining homeostasis of the gut ecological microenvironment. Any abnormalities may induce a disorder in the gut community, thereby causing inflammatory damage. Our review mainly focuses on the complicated communication between the mucus barrier and gut microbiome to explore a promising new avenue for UC therapy.

Burkholderia cenocepacia BCAM2418-induced antibody inhibits bacterial adhesion, confers protection to infection and enables identification of host glycans as adhesin targets

Trimeric Autotransporter Adhesins (TAA) found in Gram-negative bacteria play a key role in virulence. This is the case of Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), a group of related bacteria able to cause infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. These bacteria use TAAs, among other virulence factors, to bind to host protein receptors and their carbohydrate ligands. Blocking such contacts is an attractive approach to inhibit Bcc infections. In this study, using an antibody produced against the TAA BCAM2418 from the epidemic strain Burkholderia cenocepacia K56-2, we were able to uncover its roles as an adhesin and the type of host glycan structures that serve as recognition targets. The neutralisation of BCAM2418 was found to cause a reduction in the adhesion of the bacteria to bronchial cells and mucins. Moreover, in vivo studies have shown that the anti-BCAM2418 antibody exerted an inhibitory effect during infection in Galleria mellonella. Finally, inferred by glycan arrays, we were able to predict for the first time, host glycan epitopes for a TAA. We show that BCAM2418 favoured binding to 3'sialyl-3-fucosyllactose, histo-blood group A, α-(1,2)-linked Fuc-containing structures, Lewis structures and GM1 gangliosides. In addition, the glycan microarrays demonstrated similar specificities of Burkholderia species for their most intensely binding carbohydrates.

Effects of HSP27 gene expression on the resistance to Escherichia coli infection in piglets

Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) plays an important role in protecting cells from various stress factors. This study aimed to investigate the function of HSP27 gene and its regulatory mechanism as infected by Escherichia coli (E. coli) at the tissue and cellular levels. Real-time PCR was used to detect the differential expression of HSP27 gene in F18 resistant and sensitive Sutai pigs and the differential expression upon E. coli F18ab, F18ac, K88ac bacterial supernatant, thallus infection and LPS induction in IPEC-J2. In addition, the HSP27 gene overexpression vector was constructed to detect the effect of the HSP27 gene overexpression on the adhesion of E. coli F18 to IPEC-J2, secretion of pro-inflammatory factors, and the expression of the upstream key genes in Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK2) is an important protein in the MAPK pathway. Therefore, the RSK2 gene overexpression vector was constructed and the number of colonies was counted after co-transfection of HSP27 and RSK2 gene. Results revealed that the expression level of HSP27 gene in resistant individuals in 11 tissues was higher than sensitive type. At the cellular level, the relative expression levels of HSP27 gene were increased after F18ab, F18ac bacterial supernatant, F18ab thallus infection, and LPS induction for 4 h (P < 0.01). The adhesion ability of E. coli F18ab to IPEC-J2 was significantly reduced after HSP27 gene overexpression (P < 0.01), and the concentration of pro-inflammatory factors in the HSP27 gene overexpression group was significantly reduced compared with the control group after F18ab infection (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the expression of RSK2 was significantly increased in HSP27 overexpression group upon F18ab infection (P < 0.01). The colonies quantitative results also showed that the number of colonies was significantly reduced after co-transfection of HSP27 and RSK2 gene. We indicated that the high expression of HSP27 gene may resist the inflammatory response caused by exogenous stress and enhance the ability of IPEC-J2 to resist E. coli F18 infection. RSK2 gene in the MAPK pathway may cooperate with HSP27 gene to participate in the immune response of the organism, which provides a theoretical basis for the study of the mechanism of anti-E. coli infection in piglets.

Trimeric structure of the mouse Kupffer cell C-type lectin receptor Clec4f

The C-type lectin receptor Clec4f has been identified as a specific surface marker for Kupffer cells, although its ortholog is absent in humans and its biological function remains elusive. Here, we report the crystal structure of a truncated mouse trimeric Clec4f. The orientation between the carbohydrate-recognition domain of Clec4f and its neck region differs from other C-type lectins, resulting in an observed distance of 45 Å between the glycan-binding sites within the Clec4f trimer. Interestingly, the trimeric coiled-coil interface within its heptad neck region contains multiple polyglutamine interactions instead of the predominantly hydrophobic leucine zipper found in other C-type lectin receptors. The Clec4f trimeric structure displays unique features regarding its assembly and ligand recognition, shedding light on the evolution and diversity of the C-type lectin family.

How genomics can be used to understand host susceptibility to enteric infection, aiding in the development of vaccines and immunotherapeutic interventions

Thanks to the modern sequencing era, the extent to which infectious disease imposes selective pressures on the worldwide human population is being revealed. This is aiding our understanding of the underlying immunological and host mechanistic defenses against these pathogens, as well as potentially assisting in the development of vaccines and therapeutics to control them. As a consequence, the workshop "How genomics can be used to understand host susceptibility to enteric infection, aiding in the development of vaccines and immunotherapeutic interventions" at the VASE 2018 meeting, aimed to discuss how genomics and related tools could be used to assist Shigella and ETEC vaccine development. The workshop featured four short presentations which highlighted how genomic applications can be used to assist in the identification of genetic patterns related to the virulence of disease, or host genetic factors that could contribute to immunity or successful vaccine responses. Following the presentations, there was an open debate with workshop attendees to discuss the best ways to utilise such genomic studies, to improve or accelerate the process of both Shigella and ETEC vaccine development. The workshop concluded by making specific recommendations on how genomic research methods could be strengthened and harmonised within the ETEC and Shigella research communities.

Archaic and alternative chaperones preserve pilin folding energy by providing incomplete structural information

Adhesive pili are external component of fibrous adhesive organelles and help bacteria attach to biotic or abiotic surfaces. The biogenesis of adhesive pili via the chaperone-usher pathway (CUP) is independent of external energy sources. In the classical CUP, chaperones transport assembly-competent pilins in a folded but expanded conformation. During donor-strand exchange, pilins subsequently collapse, producing a tightly packed hydrophobic core and releasing the necessary free energy to drive fiber formation. Here, we show that pilus biogenesis in non-classical, archaic, and alternative CUPs uses a different source of conformational energy. High-resolution structures of the archaic Csu-pili system from Acinetobacter baumannii revealed that non-classical chaperones employ a short donor strand motif that is insufficient to fully complement the pilin fold. This results in chaperone-bound pilins being trapped in a substantially unfolded intermediate. The exchange of this short motif with the longer donor strand from adjacent pilin provides the full steric information essential for folding, and thereby induces a large unfolded-to-folded conformational transition to drive assembly. Our findings may inform the development of anti-adhesion drugs (pilicides) to combat bacterial infections.

Structures of two fimbrial adhesins, AtfE and UcaD, from the uropathogenProteus mirabilis

The important uropathogenProteus mirabilisencodes a record number of chaperone/usher-pathway adhesive fimbriae. Such fimbriae, which are used for adhesion to cell surfaces/tissues and for biofilm formation, are typically important virulence factors in bacterial pathogenesis. Here, the structures of the receptor-binding domains of the tip-located two-domain adhesins UcaD (1.5 Å resolution) and AtfE (1.58 Å resolution) from twoP. mirabilisfimbriae (UCA/NAF and ATF) are presented. The structures of UcaD and AtfE are both similar to the F17G type of tip-located fimbrial receptor-binding domains, and the structures are very similar despite having only limited sequence similarity. These structures represent an important step towards a molecular-level understanding ofP. mirabilisfimbrial adhesins and their roles in the complex pathogenesis of urinary-tract infections.

Conformations of the type-1 lacto-N-biose I unit in protein complex structures

The lacto-N-biose I (Galβ1-3GlcNAc; LNB) disaccharide is present as a core unit of type-1 blood group antigens of animal glycoconjugates and milk oligosaccharides. Type-1 antigens often serve as cell-surface receptors for infection by pathogens. LNB in human milk oligosaccharides functions as a prebiotic for bifidobacteria and plays a key role in the symbiotic relationship of commensal gut microbes in infants. Protein Data Bank (PDB) entries exhibiting the LNB unit were investigated using the GlycoMapsDB web tool. There are currently 159 β-LNB and nine α-LNB moieties represented in ligands in the database. β-LNB and α-LNB moieties occur in 74 and six PDB entries, respectively, as NCS copies. The protein and enzyme structures are from various organisms including humans (galectins), viruses (haemagglutinin and capsid proteins), a pathogenic fungus, a parasitic nematode and protist, pathogenic bacteria (adhesins) and a symbiotic bacterium (a solute-binding protein of an ABC transporter). The conformations of LNB-containing glycans in enzymes vary significantly according to their mechanism of substrate recognition and catalysis. Analysis of glycosidic bond conformations indicated that the binding modes are significantly different in proteins adapted for modified or unmodified glycans.

A Sensitive and Rapid Method to Determin the Adhesion Capacity of Probiotics and Pathogenic Microorganisms to Human Gastrointestinal Mucins

Mucus is the habitat for the microorganisms, bacteria and yeast that form the commensal flora. Mucins, the main macromolecules of mucus, and more specifically, the glycans that cover them, play essential roles in microbial gastrointestinal colonization. Probiotics and pathogens must also colonize mucus to have lasting positive or deleterious effects. The question of which mucin-harboured glycan motifs favour the adhesion of specific microorganisms remains very poorly studied. In the current study, a simple test based on the detection of fluorescent-labeled microorganisms raised against microgram amounts of mucins spotted on nitrocellulose was developed. The adhesion of various probiotic, commensal and pathogenic microorganisms was evaluated on a panel of human purified gastrointestinal mucins and compared with that of commercially available pig gastric mucins (PGM) and of mucins secreted by the colonic cancer cell line HT29-MTX. The latter two proved to be very poor indicators of adhesion capacity on intestinal mucins. Our results show that the nature of the sialylated cores of O-glycans, determined by MALDI MS-MS analysis, potentially enables sialic acid residues to modulate the adhesion of microorganisms either positively or negatively. Other identified factors affecting the adhesion propensity were O-glycan core types and the presence of blood group motifs. This test should help to select probiotics with enhanced adhesion capabilities as well as deciphering the role of specific mucin glycotopes on microbial adhesion.

Structural basis for Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm formation

Nosocomial infections and infections of indwelling devices are major healthcare problems worldwide. These infections are strongly associated with the ability of pathogens to form biofilms on biotic and abiotic surfaces. Panantibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most troublesome pathogens, capable of colonizing medical devices by means of Csu pili, an adhesive organelle that belongs to the widespread class of archaic chaperone–usher pili. Here, we report an atomic-resolution insight into the mechanism of bacterial attachment to abiotic surfaces. We show that archaic pili use a binding mechanism that enables bacterial adhesion to structurally variable substrates. The results suggest a simple and cheap solution to reduce infections of A. baumannii and related pathogens.

Acinetobacter baumannii—a leading cause of nosocomial infections—has a remarkable capacity to persist in hospital environments and medical devices due to its ability to form biofilms. Biofilm formation is mediated by Csu pili, assembled via the “archaic” chaperone–usher pathway. The X-ray structure of the CsuC-CsuE chaperone–adhesin preassembly complex reveals the basis for bacterial attachment to abiotic surfaces. CsuE exposes three hydrophobic finger-like loops at the tip of the pilus. Decreasing the hydrophobicity of these abolishes bacterial attachment, suggesting that archaic pili use tip-fingers to detect and bind to hydrophobic cavities in substrates. Antitip antibody completely blocks biofilm formation, presenting a means to prevent the spread of the pathogen. The use of hydrophilic materials instead of hydrophobic plastics in medical devices may represent another simple and cheap solution to reduce pathogen spread. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the tip-fingers binding mechanism is shared by all archaic pili carrying two-domain adhesins. The use of flexible fingers instead of classical receptor-binding cavities is presumably more advantageous for attachment to structurally variable substrates, such as abiotic surfaces.

How do they stick together? Bacterial adhesins implicated in the binding of bacteria to the human gastrointestinal mucins

The gastrointestinal mucosal surface is the primary interface between internal host tissues and the vast microbiota. Mucins, key components of mucus, are high-molecular-weight glycoproteins characterized by the presence of many O-linked oligosaccharides to the core polypeptide. They play many biological functions, helping to maintain cellular homeostasis and to establish symbiotic relationships with complex microbiota. Mucin O-glycans exhibit a huge variety of peripheral sequences implicated in the binding of bacteria to the mucosal tissues, thereby playing a key role in the selection of specific species and in the tissue tropism displayed by commensal and pathogenic bacteria. Bacteria have evolved numerous strategies to colonize host mucosae, and among these are modulation of expression of cell surface adhesins which allow bacteria to bind to mucins. However, despite well structurally characterized adhesins and lectins, information on the nature and structure of oligosaccharides recognized by bacteria is still disparate. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the structure of epithelial mucin O-glycans and the interaction between host and commensal or pathogenic bacteria mediated by mucins.

Functional analysis of Escherichia coli Yad fimbriae reveals their potential role in environmental persistence

Initial adhesion of bacterial cells to surfaces or host tissues is a key step in colonisation and biofilm formation processes, and is mediated by cell surface appendages. It was previously demonstrated that Escherichia coli K-12 possesses an arsenal of silenced chaperone-usher fimbriae that were functional when constitutively expressed. Among them, production of prevalent Yad fimbriae induces adhesion to abiotic surfaces. Functional characterisation of Yad fimbriae were undertook, and YadN was identified as the most abundant and potential major pilin, and YadC as the potential tip-protein of Yad fimbriae. It was showed that Yad production participates to binding of E. coli K-12 to human eukaryotic cells (Caco-2) and inhibits macrophage phagocytosis, but also enhances E. coli K-12 binding to xylose, a major component of the plant cell wall, through its tip-lectin YadC. Consistently, it was demonstrated that Yad production provides E. coli with a competitive advantage in colonising corn seed rhizospheres. The latter phenotype is correlated with induction of Yad expression at temperatures below 37°C, and under anaerobic conditions, through a complex regulatory network. Taken together, these results suggest that Yad fimbriae are versatile adhesins that beyond potential capacities to modulate host-pathogen interactions might contribute to E. coli environmental persistence.

Animal Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the most common cause of E. coli diarrhea in farm animals. ETEC are characterized by the ability to produce two types of virulence factors: adhesins that promote binding to specific enterocyte receptors for intestinal colonization and enterotoxins responsible for fluid secretion. The best-characterized adhesins are expressed in the context of fimbriae, such as the F4 (also designated K88), F5 (K99), F6 (987P), F17, and F18 fimbriae. Once established in the animal small intestine, ETEC produce enterotoxin(s) that lead to diarrhea. The enterotoxins belong to two major classes: heat-labile toxins that consist of one active and five binding subunits (LT), and heat-stable toxins that are small polypeptides (STa, STb, and EAST1). This review describes the disease and pathogenesis of animal ETEC, the corresponding virulence genes and protein products of these bacteria, their regulation and targets in animal hosts, as well as mechanisms of action. Furthermore, vaccines, inhibitors, probiotics, and the identification of potential new targets by genomics are presented in the context of animal ETEC.

Structural basis for Myf and Psa fimbriae-mediated tropism of pathogenic strains of Yersinia for host tissues

Three pathogenic species of the genus Yersinia assemble adhesive fimbriae via the FGL-chaperone/usher pathway. Closely related Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis elaborate the pH6 antigen (Psa), which mediates bacterial attachment to alveolar cells of the lung. Y. enterocolitica, instead, assembles the homologous fimbriae Myf of unknown function. Here, we discovered that Myf, like Psa, specifically recognizes β1-3- or β1-4-linked galactose in glycosphingolipids, but completely lacks affinity for phosphatidylcholine, the main receptor for Psa in alveolar cells. The crystal structure of a subunit of Psa (PsaA) complexed with choline together with mutagenesis experiments revealed that PsaA has four phosphatidylcholine binding pockets that enable super-high-avidity binding of Psa-fibres to cell membranes. The pockets are arranged as six tyrosine residues, which are all missing in the MyfA subunit of Myf. Conversely, the crystal structure of the MyfA-galactose complex revealed that the galactose-binding site is more extended in MyfA, enabling tighter binding to lactosyl moieties. Our results suggest that during evolution, Psa has acquired a tyrosine-rich surface that enables it to bind to phosphatidylcholine and mediate adhesion of Y. pestis/pseudotuberculosis to alveolar cells, whereas Myf has specialized as a carbohydrate-binding adhesin, facilitating the attachment of Y. enterocolitica to intestinal cells.

Duality of β-glucan microparticles: antigen carrier and immunostimulants

Designing efficient recombinant mucosal vaccines against enteric diseases is still a major challenge. Mucosal delivery of recombinant vaccines requires encapsulation in potent immunostimulatory particles to induce an efficient immune response. This paper evaluates the capacity of β-glucan microparticles (GPs) as antigen vehicles and characterizes their immune-stimulatory effects. The relevant infectious antigen FedF was chosen to be loaded inside the microparticles. The incorporation of FedF inside the particles was highly efficient (roughly 85%) and occurred without antigen degradation. In addition, these GPs have immunostimulatory effects as well, demonstrated by the strong reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by porcine neutrophils upon their recognition. Although antigen-loaded GPs still induce ROS production, antigen loading decreases this production by neutrophils for reasons yet unknown. However, these antigen-loaded GPs are still able to bind their specific β-glucan receptor, demonstrated by blocking complement receptor 3, which is the major β-glucan receptor on porcine neutrophils. The dual character of these particles is confirmed by a T-cell proliferation assay. FedF-loaded particles induce a significantly higher FedF-specific T-cell proliferation than soluble FedF. Taken together, these results show that GPs are efficient antigen carriers with immune-stimulatory properties.

FUT1 genetic variants impact protein glycosylation of porcine intestinal mucosa

A massive use of antibiotics in industrial pig production is a major cause of the rapidly rising bacterial resistance to antibiotics. An enhanced understanding of infectious diseases and of host-microbe interactions has the potential to explore alternative ways to improve pig health and reduce the need for antibiotics. Host-microbe interactions depend on host-expressed glycans and microbe-carrying lectins. In this study, a G > A (nucleotide 307) missense mutation in the porcine α1,2fucosyltransferase 1 gene (FUT1), which has been reported to prevent infections by the common porcine enteric pathogen F18 fimbriated Escherichia coli, provided a unique opportunity to study glycan structures potentially involved in intestinal infections. N- and O-Linked glycans of the intestinal mucosa proteins were characterized in detail using LC-MS/MS. Relative abundances of all glycans were determined and compared between four heterozygous pigs (FUT1-307(A/G)) and four age-matched homozygous pigs from the same 2 litters carrying the missense FUT1 gene constellation (FUT1-307(A/A)). None of the characterized 48 N-linked glycans was found to be regulated by the FUT1 missense mutation, while 11 of the O-linked glycans showed significantly altered abundances between the two genotypes. The overall abundance of H-antigen carrying structures was decreased fivefold, while H-antigen precursors and sialylated structures were relatively more abundant in pigs with the FUT1 missense mutation. These results provide insight into the role of FUT1 on intestinal glycosylation, improve our understanding of how variation in FUT1 can modulate host-microbe interactions, and suggest that the FUT1 genetic variant may help to improve pig gut health.

Structural and adhesive properties of the long polar fimbriae protein LpfD from adherent-invasive Escherichia coli

Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by an exaggerated immune response to commensal microbiota in the intestines of patients. Metagenomic studies have identified specific bacterial species and strains with increased prevalence in CD patients, amongst which is the adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) strain LF82. AIEC strains express long polar fimbriae (LPF), which are known to target Peyer's patches in a mouse CD model. Here, the recombinant production of a soluble, self-complemented construct of the LpfD protein of E. coli LF82 is reported and it is demonstrated that it forms the adhesive tip subunit of LPF. The LpfD crystal reveals an N-terminal adhesin domain and a C-terminal pilin domain that connects the adhesin to the minor pilus subunit LpfE. Surface topology and sequence conservation in the adhesin domain hint at a putative receptor-binding pocket as found in the Klebsiella pneumoniae MrkD and E. coli F17-G (GafD) adhesins. Immunohistostaining of murine intestinal tissue sections revealed that LpfD specifically binds to the intestinal mucosa and submucosa. LpfD binding was found to be resistant to treatment with O- or N-glycosidases, but was lost in collagenase-treated tissue sections, indicating the possible involvement of an intestinal matrix-associated protein as the LpfD receptor. LpfD strongly adhered to isolated fibronectin in an in vitro assay, and showed lower levels of binding to collagen V and laminin and no binding to collagens I, III and IV.

Structural and functional insight into the carbohydrate receptor binding of F4 fimbriae-producing enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains are important causes of intestinal disease in humans and lead to severe production losses in animal farming. A range of fimbrial adhesins in ETEC strains determines host and tissue tropism. ETEC strains expressing F4 fimbriae are associated with neonatal and post-weaning diarrhea in piglets. Three naturally occurring variants of F4 fimbriae (F4ab, F4ac, and F4ad) exist that differ in the primary sequence of their major adhesive subunit FaeG, and each features a related yet distinct receptor binding profile. Here the x-ray structure of FaeGad bound to lactose provides the first structural insight into the receptor specificity and mode of binding by the poly-adhesive F4 fimbriae. A small D'-D″-α1-α2 subdomain grafted on the immunoglobulin-like core of FaeG hosts the carbohydrate binding site. Two short amino acid stretches Phe(150)-Glu(152) and Val(166)-Glu(170) of FaeGad bind the terminal galactose in the lactosyl unit and provide affinity and specificity to the interaction. A hemagglutination-based assay with E. coli expressing mutant F4ad fimbriae confirmed the elucidated co-complex structure. Interestingly, the crucial D'-α1 loop that borders the FaeGad binding site adopts a different conformation in the two other FaeG variants and hints at a heterogeneous binding pocket among the FaeG serotypes.

Nanobody mediated inhibition of attachment of F18 Fimbriae expressing Escherichia coli

Post-weaning diarrhea and edema disease caused by F18 fimbriated E. coli are important diseases in newly weaned piglets and lead to severe production losses in farming industry. Protective treatments against these infections have thus far limited efficacy. In this study we generated nanobodies directed against the lectin domain of the F18 fimbrial adhesin FedF and showed in an in vitro adherence assay that four unique nanobodies inhibit the attachment of F18 fimbriated E. coli bacteria to piglet enterocytes. Crystallization of the FedF lectin domain with the most potent inhibitory nanobodies revealed their mechanism of action. These either competed with the binding of the blood group antigen receptor on the FedF surface or induced a conformational change in which the CDR3 region of the nanobody displaces the D″-E loop adjacent to the binding site. This D″-E loop was previously shown to be required for the interaction between F18 fimbriated bacteria and blood group antigen receptors in a membrane context. This work demonstrates the feasibility of inhibiting the attachment of fimbriated pathogens by employing nanobodies directed against the adhesin domain.

Secretion and functional display of fusion proteins through the curli biogenesis pathway

Curli are functional amyloids expressed as fibres on the surface of Enterobacteriaceae. Contrary to the protein misfolding events associated with pathogenic amyloidosis, curli are the result of a dedicated biosynthetic pathway. A specialized transporter in the outer membrane, CsgG, operates in conjunction with the two accessory proteins CsgE and CsgF to secrete curlin subunits to the extracellular surface, where they nucleate into cross-beta strand fibres. Here we investigate the substrate tolerance of the CsgG transporter and the capability of heterologous sequences to be built into curli fibres. Non-native polypeptides ranging up to at least 260 residues were exported when fused to the curli subunit CsgA. Secretion efficiency depended on the folding properties of the passenger sequences, with substrates exceeding an approximately 2 nm transverse diameter blocking passage through the transport channel. Secretion of smaller passengers was compatible with prior DsbA-mediated disulphide bridge formation in the fusion partner, indicating that CsgG is capable of translocating non-linear polypeptide stretches. Using fusions we further demonstrate the exported or secreted heterologous passenger proteins can attain their native, active fold, establishing curli biogenesis pathway as a platform for the secretion and surface display of small heterologous proteins.

Suppression of type 1 pilus assembly in uropathogenic Escherichia coli by chemical inhibition of subunit polymerization

Objectives

To identify and to characterize small-molecule inhibitors that target the subunit polymerization of the type 1 pilus assembly in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC).

Methods

Using an SDS–PAGE-based assay, in silico pre-filtered small-molecule compounds were screened for specific inhibitory activity against the critical subunit polymerization step of the chaperone–usher pathway during pilus biogenesis. The biological activity of one of the compounds was validated in assays monitoring UPEC type 1 pilus biogenesis, type 1 pilus-dependent biofilm formation and adherence to human bladder epithelial cells. The time dependence of the in vivo inhibitory activity and the overall effect of the compound on UPEC growth were determined.

Results

N-(4-chloro-phenyl)-2-{5-[4-(pyrrolidine-1-sulfonyl)-phenyl]-[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl sulfanyl}-acetamide (AL1) inhibited in vitro pilus subunit polymerization. In bacterial cultures, AL1 disrupted UPEC type 1 pilus biogenesis and pilus-dependent biofilm formation, and resulted in the reduction of bacterial adherence to human bladder epithelial cells, without affecting bacterial cell growth. Bacterial exposure to the inhibitor led to an almost instantaneous loss of type 1 pili.

Conclusions

We have identified and characterized a small molecule that interferes with the assembly of type 1 pili. The molecule targets the polymerization step during the subunit incorporation cycle of the chaperone–usher pathway. Our discovery provides new insight into the design and development of novel anti-virulence therapies targeting key virulence factors of bacterial pathogens.

Structural Sampling of Glycan Interaction Profiles Reveals Mucosal Receptors for Fimbrial Adhesins of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Fimbriae are long, proteinaceous adhesion organelles expressed on the bacterial envelope, evolutionarily adapted by Escherichia coli strains for the colonization of epithelial linings. Using glycan arrays of the Consortium for Functional Glycomics (CFG), the lectin domains were screened of the fimbrial adhesins F17G and FedF from enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and of the FimH adhesin from uropathogenic E. coli. This has led to the discovery of a more specific receptor for F17G, GlcNAcβ1,3Gal. No significant differences emerged from the glycan binding profiles of the F17G lectin domains from five different E. coli strains. However, strain-dependent amino acid variations, predominantly towards the positively charged arginine, were indicated by sulfate binding in FedF and F17G crystal structures. For FedF, no significant binders could be observed on the CFG glycan array. Hence, a shotgun array was generated from microvilli scrapings of the distal jejunum of a 3-week old piglet about to be weaned. On this array, the blood group A type 1 hexasaccharide emerged as a receptor for the FedF lectin domain and remarkably also for F18-fimbriated E. coli. F17G was found to selectively recognize glycan species with a terminal GlcNAc, typifying intestinal mucins. In conclusion, F17G and FedF recognize long glycan sequences that could only be identified using the shotgun approach. Interestingly, ETEC strains display a large capacity to adapt their fimbrial adhesins to ecological niches via charge-driven interactions, congruent with binding to thick mucosal surfaces displaying an acidic gradient along the intestinal tract.