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Oliveira M, Cunha E, Tavares L, Serrano I. P. aeruginosa interactions with other microbes in biofilms during co-infection. AIMS Microbiol 2023; 9:612-646. [PMID: 38173971 PMCID: PMC10758579 DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2023032] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
This review addresses the topic of biofilms, including their development and the interaction between different counterparts. There is evidence that various diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, otitis media, diabetic foot wound infections, and certain cancers, are promoted and aggravated by the presence of polymicrobial biofilms. Biofilms are composed by heterogeneous communities of microorganisms protected by a matrix of polysaccharides. The different types of interactions between microorganisms gives rise to an increased resistance to antimicrobials and to the host's defense mechanisms, with the consequent worsening of disease symptoms. Therefore, infections caused by polymicrobial biofilms affecting different human organs and systems will be discussed, as well as the role of the interactions between the gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is at the base of major polymicrobial infections, and other bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the establishment of human infections and diseases. Considering that polymicrobial biofilms are key to bacterial pathogenicity, it is fundamental to evaluate which microbes are involved in a certain disease to convey an appropriate and efficacious antimicrobial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Oliveira
- CIISA—Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Eva Cunha
- CIISA—Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luís Tavares
- CIISA—Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Isa Serrano
- CIISA—Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
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2
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Samir S. Phages for treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infection. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 200:275-302. [PMID: 37739558 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Combating multi-drug resistant bacterial infections should be a universal urgency. The gram- positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria are generally harmless; healthy people frequently have them on their skin and nose. These bacteria, for the most part, produce no difficulties or only minor skin diseases. Antibiotics and cleansing of the affected region are usually the treatments of choice. S. aureus can become virulent causing serious infections that may lead to pustules to sepsis or death. Normally, it is thought that antibiotics may solve problems concerning bacterial infection; but unfortunately, Staphylococci have evolved mechanisms to resist drugs. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); both in hospitals and in the community, infections are evolving into dangerous pathogens. Health care practitioners may need to use antibiotics with more adverse effects to treat antibiotic-resistant S. aureus infections. Amid existing efforts to resolve this problem, phage therapy proposes a hopeful alternate to face Staphylococcal infections. When the majority of antibiotics have failed to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus, phage therapy may be an option. Here, we appraise the potential efficacy, current knowledge on bacteriophages for S. aureus, experimental research and information on their clinical application, and limitations of phage therapy for S. aureus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safia Samir
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt.
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3
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Lazenby JJ, Li ES, Whitchurch CB. Cell wall deficiency - an alternate bacterial lifestyle? MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2022; 168. [PMID: 35925044 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Historically, many species of bacteria have been reported to produce viable, cell wall deficient (CWD) variants. A variety of terms have been used to refer to CWD bacteria and a plethora of methods described in which to induce, cultivate and propagate them. In this review, we will examine the long history of scientific research on CWD bacteria examining the methods by which CWD bacteria are generated; the requirements for survival in a CWD state; the replicative processes within a CWD state; and the reversion of CWD bacteria into a walled state, or lack thereof. In doing so, we will present evidence that not all CWD variants are alike and that, at least in some cases, CWD variants arise through an adaptive lifestyle switch that enables them to live and thrive without a cell wall, often to avoid antimicrobial activity. Finally, the implications of CWD bacteria in recurring infections, tolerance to antibiotic therapy and antimicrobial resistance will be examined to illustrate the importance of greater understanding of the CWD bacteria in human health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Lazenby
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UQ, UK
| | - Erica S Li
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UQ, UK
| | - Cynthia B Whitchurch
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UQ, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TK, UK
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4
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Zou J, Peng B, Qu J, Zheng J. Are Bacterial Persisters Dormant Cells Only? Front Microbiol 2022; 12:708580. [PMID: 35185807 PMCID: PMC8847742 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.708580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial persisters are a sub-population of phenotypic variants that tolerate high concentrations of antibiotics within the genetically homogeneous cells. They resume division upon the removal of drugs. Bacterial persistence is one of major causes of antibiotic treatment failure and recurrent infection. Cell dormancy, triggered by toxin/antitoxin pair, (p)ppGpp, SOS response and ATP levels, is known to be the mechanistic basis for persistence. However, recent studies have demonstrated that bacteria with active metabolism can maintain persistence by lowering intracellular antibiotic concentration via an efflux pump. Additionally, others and our work have showed that cell wall deficient bacteria (CWDB), including both L-form and spheroplasts that produced by β-lactam antibiotics, are associated with antibiotic persistence. They are not dormant cells as their cell walls have been completely damaged. In this review, we discuss the various types of persisters and highlight the contribution of non-walled bacteria on bacterial persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Southern University of Science and Technology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen, China.,Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Zhuhai, Macau SAR, China
| | - Bo Peng
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiuxin Qu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Southern University of Science and Technology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jun Zheng
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Zhuhai, Macau SAR, China.,Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Macau, Zhuhai, Macau SAR, China
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5
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Biswas L, Götz F. Molecular Mechanisms of Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas Interactions in Cystic Fibrosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:824042. [PMID: 35071057 PMCID: PMC8770549 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.824042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that is characterized by recurrent and chronic infections of the lung predominantly by the opportunistic pathogens, Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa. While S. aureus is the main colonizing bacteria of the CF lungs during infancy and early childhood, its incidence declines thereafter and infections by P. aeruginosa become more prominent with increasing age. The competitive and cooperative interactions exhibited by these two pathogens influence their survival, antibiotic susceptibility, persistence and, consequently the disease progression. For instance, P. aeruginosa secretes small respiratory inhibitors like hydrogen cyanide, pyocyanin and quinoline N-oxides that block the electron transport pathway and suppress the growth of S. aureus. However, S. aureus survives this respiratory attack by adapting to respiration-defective small colony variant (SCV) phenotype. SCVs cause persistent and recurrent infections and are also resistant to antibiotics, especially aminoglycosides, antifolate antibiotics, and to host antimicrobial peptides such as LL-37, human β-defensin (HBD) 2 and HBD3; and lactoferricin B. The interaction between P. aeruginosa and S. aureus is multifaceted. In mucoid P. aeruginosa strains, siderophores and rhamnolipids are downregulated thus enhancing the survival of S. aureus. Conversely, protein A from S. aureus inhibits P. aeruginosa biofilm formation while protecting both P. aeruginosa and S. aureus from phagocytosis by neutrophils. This review attempts to summarize the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive the competitive and cooperative interactions between S. aureus and P. aeruginosa in the CF lungs that could influence the disease outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalitha Biswas
- Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India
| | - Friedrich Götz
- Microbial Genetics, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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6
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Price JR, Yokoyama M, Cole K, Sweetman J, Behar L, Stoneham S, Cantillon D, Waddell SJ, Hyde J, Alam R, Crook D, Paul J, Llewelyn MJ. Undetected carriage explains apparent Staphylococcus aureus acquisition in a non-outbreak healthcare setting. J Infect 2021; 83:332-338. [PMID: 34303737 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.07.016] [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: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous studies have been unable to identify patient or staff reservoirs for the majority of the nosocomial S. aureus acquisitions which occur in the presence of good infection control practice. We set out to establish the extent to which undetected pre-existing carriage explains apparent nosocomial S. aureus acquisition. METHODS Over two years elective cardiothoracic admissions were screened for S. aureus carriage before and during hospital admission. Routine screening (nose/groin/wound sampling), was supplemented by sampling additional body sites (axilla/throat/rectum) and culture-based methods optimised to detect fastidious phenotypes (small colony variants, cell wall deficient variants) and molecular identification by PCR. RESULTS 35% of participants (53/151) were S. aureus carriers according to routine pre-healthcare screening; increasing to 42% (63/151) when additional body sites and enhanced cultures were employed. 71% (5/7) of apparent acquisitions were explained by pre-existing carriage using augmented measures. Enhanced culture identified a minority of colonised individuals (3/151 including 1 MRSA carrier) who were undetected by routine and additional screening cultures. 4/14 (29%) participants who became culture-negative during admission had S. aureus genomic material detected at discharge. CONCLUSIONS Conventional sampling under-estimates carriage of S. aureus and this explains the majority of apparent S. aureus acquisitions among elective cardiothoracic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Price
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PS, United Kingdom.
| | - Maho Yokoyama
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PS, United Kingdom.
| | - Kevin Cole
- Public Health England, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, BN2 5BE, United Kingdom.
| | - Jonathan Sweetman
- Clinical Investigation Research Unit, Brighton and Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust, Brighton, BN2 5BE, United Kingdom.
| | - Laura Behar
- Clinical Investigation Research Unit, Brighton and Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust, Brighton, BN2 5BE, United Kingdom.
| | - Simon Stoneham
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PS, United Kingdom.
| | - Daire Cantillon
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PS, United Kingdom.
| | - Simon J Waddell
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PS, United Kingdom.
| | - Jonathan Hyde
- Clinical Investigation Research Unit, Brighton and Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust, Brighton, BN2 5BE, United Kingdom.
| | - Ruhina Alam
- Clinical Investigation Research Unit, Brighton and Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust, Brighton, BN2 5BE, United Kingdom.
| | - Derrick Crook
- Department of Experimental Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom.
| | - John Paul
- Public Health England, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, BN2 5BE, United Kingdom.
| | - Martin J Llewelyn
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PS, United Kingdom.
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Minasyan H. Sepsis: mechanisms of bacterial injury to the patient. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 2019; 27:19. [PMID: 30764843 PMCID: PMC6376788 DOI: 10.1186/s13049-019-0596-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In bacteremia the majority of bacterial species are killed by oxidation on the surface of erythrocytes and digested by local phagocytes in the liver and the spleen. Sepsis-causing bacteria overcome this mechanism of human innate immunity by versatile respiration, production of antioxidant enzymes, hemolysins, exo- and endotoxins, exopolymers and other factors that suppress host defense and provide bacterial survival. Entering the bloodstream in different forms (planktonic, encapsulated, L-form, biofilm fragments), they cause different types of sepsis (fulminant, acute, subacute, chronic, etc.). Sepsis treatment includes antibacterial therapy, support of host vital functions and restore of homeostasis. A bacterium killing is only one of numerous aspects of antibacterial therapy. The latter should inhibit the production of bacterial antioxidant enzymes and hemolysins, neutralize bacterial toxins, modulate bacterial respiration, increase host tolerance to bacterial products, facilitate host bactericidal mechanism and disperse bacterial capsule and biofilm.
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8
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Mother-to-newborn transmission of mycobacterial L-forms and Vδ2 T-cell response in placentobiome of BCG-vaccinated pregnant women. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17366. [PMID: 29234108 PMCID: PMC5727158 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17644-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of bacteria to exist as a population of self-replicating forms with defective or entirely missing cell wall (L-forms) is an adaptive mechanism for their survival and reproduction under unfavorable conditions. Bacterial mother-to-fetus transfer is a universal phenomenon in the animal kingdom. However, data about vertical transfer of L bacterial forms are extremely scarce. Bacille Calmette-Guérin is an attenuated strain of M. bovis and the only licensed vaccine used for tuberculosis prevention. We already have shown that filterable L-forms of BCG exist freely in the vaccine and are able to reproduce and to form colonies. The present study was focused on the placental microbiome in the context of mother's BCG vaccination. Here we report an isolation of filterable mycobacterial L-form cultures from gestational tissues and blood of healthy newborns delivered by healthy BCG-vaccinated mothers after normal pregnancy. Of note, vertically transmitted mycobacterial L-forms as a part of placentobiome of the pregnant women didn't influence the number of resident pathogen-reactive Vδ2 cells. Placenta colonization with mycobacterial L-forms occurs by maternal blood-to-decidua transfer very early in gestation. Together, these data showed that BCG L-forms have the capacity to pass trans-placental barrier and that maternal BCG vaccination affects the placentobiome.
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9
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Xu T, Wang XY, Cui P, Zhang YM, Zhang WH, Zhang Y. The Agr Quorum Sensing System Represses Persister Formation through Regulation of Phenol Soluble Modulins in Staphylococcus aureus. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2189. [PMID: 29163457 PMCID: PMC5681930 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus aureus has become an increasing threat to public health. While the Agr quorum sensing (QS) system is a master regulator of S. aureus virulence, its dysfunction has been frequently reported to promote bacteremia and mortality in clinical infections. Here we show that the Agr system is involved in persister formation in S. aureus. Mutation of either agrCA or agrD but not RNAIII resulted in increased persister formation of stationary phase cultures. RNA-seq analysis showed that in stationary phase AgrCA/AgrD and RNAIII mutants showed consistent up-regulation of virulence associated genes (lip and splE, etc.) and down-regulation of metabolism genes (bioA and nanK, etc.). Meanwhile, though knockout of agrCA or agrD strongly repressed expression of phenol soluble modulin encoding genes psmα1-4, psmβ1-2 and phenol soluble modulins (PSM) transporter encoding genes in the pmt operon, mutation of RNAIII enhanced expression of the genes. We further found that knockout of psmα1-4 or psmβ1-2 augmented persister formation and that co-overexpression of PSMαs and PSMβs reversed the effects of AgrCA mutation on persister formation. We also detected the effects on persister formation by mutations of metabolism genes (arcA, hutU, narG, nanK, etc.) that are potentially regulated by Agr system. It was found that deletion of the ManNAc kinase encoding gene nanK decreased persister formation. Taken together, these results shed new light on the PSM dependent regulatory role of Agr system in persister formation and may have implications for clinical treatment of MRSA persistent infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu-Yang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Cui
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Meng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Hong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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10
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Fluorescence Reporter in Staphylococcus aureus as a Useful Tool for Studying L-forms and Virulence. Jundishapur J Microbiol 2017. [DOI: 10.5812/jjm.57238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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11
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Figueiredo AMS, Ferreira FA, Beltrame CO, Côrtes MF. The role of biofilms in persistent infections and factors involved in ica-independent biofilm development and gene regulation in Staphylococcus aureus. Crit Rev Microbiol 2017; 43:602-620. [PMID: 28581360 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2017.1282941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus biofilms represent a unique micro-environment that directly contribute to the bacterial fitness within hospital settings. The accumulation of this structure on implanted medical devices has frequently caused the development of persistent and chronic S. aureus-associated infections, which represent an important social and economic burden worldwide. ica-independent biofilms are composed of an assortment of bacterial products and modulated by a multifaceted and overlapping regulatory network; therefore, biofilm composition can vary among S. aureus strains. In the microniches formed by biofilms-produced by a number of bacterial species and composed by different structural components-drug refractory cell subpopulations with distinct physiological characteristics can emerge and result in therapeutic failures in patients with recalcitrant bacterial infections. In this review, we highlight the importance of biofilms in the development of persistence and chronicity in some S. aureus diseases, the main molecules associated with ica-independent biofilm development and the regulatory mechanisms that modulate ica-independent biofilm production, accumulation, and dispersion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Marie Sá Figueiredo
- a Departamento de Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes , Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Fabienne Antunes Ferreira
- b Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia , Campus Universitário Setor F, Bloco A. Florianópolis, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina , Florianopolis , Brazil
| | - Cristiana Ossaille Beltrame
- a Departamento de Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes , Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Marina Farrel Côrtes
- a Departamento de Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes , Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
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12
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Han J, Shi W, Xu X, Wang S, Zhang S, He L, Sun X, Zhang Y. Conditions and mutations affecting Staphylococcus aureus L-form formation. Microbiology (Reading) 2015; 161:57-66. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.082354-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jian Han
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Wanliang Shi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xiaogang Xu
- Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Sen Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lili He
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Xudong Sun
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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13
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Han J, He L, Shi W, Xu X, Wang S, Zhang S, Zhang Y. Glycerol uptake is important for L-form formation and persistence in Staphylococcus aureus. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108325. [PMID: 25251561 PMCID: PMC4177120 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
S. aureus is a significant human pathogen and has previously been shown to form cell wall deficient forms or L-forms in vitro and in vivo during infection. Despite many previous studies on S. aureus L-forms, the mechanisms of L-form formation in this organism remain unknown. Here we established the L-form model in S. aureus and constructed a transposon mutant library to identify genes involved in L-form formation. Screening of the library for mutants defective in L-form formation identified glpF involved in glycerol uptake being important for L-form formation in S. aureus. Consistent with this observation, glpF was found to be highly expressed in L-form S. aureus but hardly expressed in normal walled form. In addition, glpF mutant was found to be defective in antibiotic persistence. The defect in L-form formation and antibiotic persistence of the glpF mutant could be complemented by the wild type glpF gene. These findings provide new insight into the mechanisms of L-form formation and persistence in S. aureus and may have implications for development of new drugs targeting persisters for improved treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Han
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lili He
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wanliang Shi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Xiaogang Xu
- Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sen Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail:
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14
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Schnell B, Staubli T, Harris NL, Rogler G, Kopf M, Loessner MJ, Schuppler M. Cell-wall deficient L. monocytogenes L-forms feature abrogated pathogenicity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2014; 4:60. [PMID: 24904838 PMCID: PMC4033035 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2014.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Stable L-forms are cell wall-deficient bacteria which are able to multiply and propagate indefinitely, despite the absence of a rigid peptidoglycan cell wall. We investigated whether L-forms of the intracellular pathogen L. monocytogenes possibly retain pathogenicity, and if they could trigger an innate immune response. While phagocytosis of L. monocytogenes L-forms by non-activated macrophages sometimes resulted in an unexpected persistence of the bacteria in the phagocytes, they were effectively eliminated by IFN-γ preactivated or bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM). These findings were in line with the observed down-regulation of virulence factors in the cell-wall deficient L. monocytogenes. Absence of Interferon-β (IFN-β) triggering indicated inability of L-forms to escape from the phagosome into the cytosol. Moreover, abrogated cytokine response in MyD88-deficient dendritic cells (DC) challenged with L. monocytogenes L-forms suggested an exclusive TLR-dependent host response. Taken together, our data demonstrate a strong attenuation of Listeria monocytogenes L-form pathogenicity, due to diminished expression of virulence factors and innate immunity recognition, eventually resulting in elimination of L-form bacteria from phagocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Schnell
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Titu Staubli
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicola L Harris
- School of Life Sciences, The Global Health Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gerhard Rogler
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Manfred Kopf
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin J Loessner
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Schuppler
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) Zurich, Switzerland
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Cell envelope stress response in cell wall-deficient L-forms of Bacillus subtilis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012; 56:5907-15. [PMID: 22964256 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00770-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
L-forms are cell wall-deficient bacteria that can grow and proliferate in osmotically stabilizing media. Recently, a strain of the Gram-positive model bacterium Bacillus subtilis was constructed that allowed controlled switching between rod-shaped wild-type cells and corresponding L-forms. Both states can be stably maintained under suitable culture conditions. Because of the absence of a cell wall, L-forms are known to be insensitive to β-lactam antibiotics, but reports on the susceptibility of L-forms to other antibiotics that interfere with membrane-anchored steps of cell wall biosynthesis are sparse, conflicting, and strongly influenced by strain background and method of L-form generation. Here we investigated the response of B. subtilis to the presence of cell envelope antibiotics, with regard to both antibiotic resistance and the induction of the known LiaRS- and BceRS-dependent cell envelope stress biosensors. Our results show that B. subtilis L-forms are resistant to antibiotics that interfere with the bactoprenol cycle, such as bacitracin, vancomycin, and mersacidin, but are hypersensitive to nisin and daptomycin, which both affect membrane integrity. Moreover, we established a lacZ-based reporter gene assay for L-forms and provide evidence that LiaRS senses its inducers indirectly (damage sensing), while the Bce module detects its inducers directly (drug sensing).
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16
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Markova N, Slavchev G, Michailova L. Filterable forms and L-forms of Mycobacterium bovis BCG: impact for live vaccine features. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2012; 8:759-64. [PMID: 22495116 DOI: 10.4161/hv.19698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial L-form conversion, or existence without cell walls, is assumed a universal phenomenon in nature. An interesting aspect of this phenomenon is occurrence of L-forms in vaccine strains. Since BCG is currently a widely used and extensively studied live vaccine for tuberculosis, understanding L-form conversion of M. bovis BCG bacilli can provide new insight into behavior of BCG vaccine. In this respect, specific features, concerning the ability of BCG vaccine to produce viable filterable forms and L-forms, were studied by filtration and starvation stress experiments in vitro. The filterable forms obtained after filtration of BCG suspension, grew on Middlebrook 7H9 semisolid agar and formed typical "fried eggs" L-form colonies. Electron microscopy clearly demonstrated presence of L-form elements with size smaller than the size of bacterial filter pores of 0.2 µm in M. bovis BCG strains. Development of L-form subpopulation with typical morphological appearance of self-replicating cell wall-defective forms was observed after filtration, as well as after starvation stress. Specific DNA detection of pncA gene in derived L-form cultures from filterable and stressed BCG strains verified their identity as M. bovis BCG. In conclusion, the results confirm existence of filterable forms in commercial BCG vaccine, which are able to develop L-form population under appropriate conditions. L-form transformation of BCG bacilli displays a new intriguing aspect concerning exhibition of unusual features and atypical behavior of live BCG vaccine. Further research is requested to explore the influence of L-form phenomenon on BCG vaccine effects in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadya Markova
- Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
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17
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A recombinant antimicrobial peptide inhibits the growth of oxacillin-induced L-forms of Staphylococcus aureus. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2011; 38:177-8. [PMID: 21676594 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2011.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2011] [Revised: 02/20/2011] [Accepted: 02/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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18
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Sayed SM, Abou El-Ella GA, Wahba NM, El Nisr NA, Raddad K, Abd El Rahman MF, Abd El Hafeez MM, Abd El Fattah Aamer A. Immune defense of rats immunized with fennel honey, propolis, and bee venom against induced staphylococcal infection. J Med Food 2009; 12:569-75. [PMID: 19627205 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2008.0171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this work was to evaluate the potency of bee product-immunized rats to overcome an induced Staphylococcus aureus infection. Forty rats were divided to eight groups: T1, T3, and T5 received, respectively, fennel honey, ethanol, and aqueous propolis extracts orally, and T2, T4, and T6 were administered the respective materials intraperitoneally; T7 received bee venom by the bee sting technique; and T8 was the control group. All groups were challenged by a bovine clinical mastitis isolate of S. aureus. Each rat received 2 mL of broth inoculated with 1 x 10(5) colony-forming units/mL intraperitoneally. Two weeks post-induced infection all rats were sacrificed and eviscerated for postmortem inspection and histopathological study. Three rats from T8 and one rat from T7 died before sacrifice. Another two rats, one each in T4 and T5, had morbidity manifestations. The remaining experimental animals showed apparently healthy conditions until time of sacrifice. Postmortem inspection revealed that all T8 rats showed different degrees of skeletal muscle and internal organ paleness with scattered focal pus nodules mainly on lungs and livers. All rats of the treated groups showed normal postmortem features except three rats. A dead rat in group T7 showed focal pus nodules on the lung surface only, whereas the affected two rats in groups T4 and T5 appeared normal except with some pus nodules, but much smaller than in the control, scattered on the hepatic surface and mesentery. Histopathological studies revealed that T8 rats had typical suppurative bronchopneumonia and or severe degenerative and necrobiotic changes in hepatic tissues. Three affected rats of the treated groups showed slight bronchopneumonia or degenerative hepatic changes only. The other animals of the treated groups showed completely normal parenchymatous organs with stimulated lymphatic tissues. It was concluded that all tested previously bee product-immunized rats could significantly challenge the induced S. aureus infection (P < .01). The effects were more pronounced in rats that had received fennel honey solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Sayed
- Animal Health Research, Cairo, Egypt
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19
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Perspectives on microbes as oncogenic infectious agents and implications for breast cancer. Med Hypotheses 2008; 71:302-6. [PMID: 18445513 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2008.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2008] [Revised: 02/05/2008] [Accepted: 02/08/2008] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Cancer management is partly based on weighing risk factors attributed to noninfectious agents, human genes and epigenetic factors. Infectious disease causation has largely been restricted to genes directly responsible for causing cancer after sustaining damage i.e. oncogenes. Lately, evidence has emerged linking infectious agents to a number of chronic diseases. These studies have recognized the influence that acute, atypical, latent and chronic infections may play in tricking the immune system and affecting disease etiology. Similar evidence is emerging in model systems with respect to the role of infectious agents in gastrointestinal, liver and lung cancers. Although viruses have been found in association with breast cancer, skepticism remains about a role for other infectious agents, notably microbes in the disease etiology. Improved experimental designs employed in different cancer studies and a less rigid definition of infectious causation may aid in confirming or refuting a microbe-breast cancer connection. Cancer recurrence could potentially be minimized and treatment options further tailored on a case by case basis if microbes/microbial components/strain variants associated with breast cancer are identified; probiotics are employed to reduce treatment side-effects and if microbes could effectively be harnessed in immunotherapy.
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20
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Hübscher J, Jansen A, Kotte O, Schäfer J, Majcherczyk PA, Harris LG, Bierbaum G, Heinemann M, Berger-Bächi B. Living with an imperfect cell wall: compensation of femAB inactivation in Staphylococcus aureus. BMC Genomics 2007; 8:307. [PMID: 17784943 PMCID: PMC2045680 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-8-307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2007] [Accepted: 09/04/2007] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Synthesis of the Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan pentaglycine interpeptide bridge is catalyzed by the nonribosomal peptidyl transferases FemX, FemA and FemB. Inactivation of the femAB operon reduces the interpeptide to a monoglycine, leading to a poorly crosslinked peptidoglycan. femAB mutants show a reduced growth rate and are hypersusceptible to virtually all antibiotics, including methicillin, making FemAB a potential target to restore β-lactam susceptibility in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Cis-complementation with wild type femAB only restores synthesis of the pentaglycine interpeptide and methicillin resistance, but the growth rate remains low. This study characterizes the adaptations that ensured survival of the cells after femAB inactivation. Results In addition to slow growth, the cis-complemented femAB mutant showed temperature sensitivity and a higher methicillin resistance than the wild type. Transcriptional profiling paired with reporter metabolite analysis revealed multiple changes in the global transcriptome. A number of transporters for sugars, glycerol, and glycine betaine, some of which could serve as osmoprotectants, were upregulated. Striking differences were found in the transcription of several genes involved in nitrogen metabolism and the arginine-deiminase pathway, an alternative for ATP production. In addition, microarray data indicated enhanced expression of virulence factors that correlated with premature expression of the global regulators sae, sarA, and agr. Conclusion Survival under conditions preventing normal cell wall formation triggered complex adaptations that incurred a fitness cost, showing the remarkable flexibility of S. aureus to circumvent cell wall damage. Potential FemAB inhibitors would have to be used in combination with other antibiotics to prevent selection of resistant survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Hübscher
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Jansen
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Oliver Kotte
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Paul A Majcherczyk
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Llinos G Harris
- AO Research Institute, Davos, Switzerland
- School of Medicine, University of Wales Swansea, Swansea, UK
| | - Gabriele Bierbaum
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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