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Strange N, Luu L, Ong V, Wee BA, Phillips MJA, McCaughey L, Steele JR, Barlow CK, Cranfield CG, Myers G, Mazraani R, Rock C, Timms P, Huston WM. HtrA, fatty acids, and membrane protein interplay in Chlamydia trachomatis to impact stress response and trigger early cellular exit. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0037123. [PMID: 38445896 PMCID: PMC11025325 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00371-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is an intracellular bacterial pathogen that undergoes a biphasic developmental cycle, consisting of intracellular reticulate bodies and extracellular infectious elementary bodies. A conserved bacterial protease, HtrA, was shown previously to be essential for Chlamydia during the reticulate body phase, using a novel inhibitor (JO146). In this study, isolates selected for the survival of JO146 treatment were found to have polymorphisms in the acyl-acyl carrier protein synthetase gene (aasC). AasC encodes the enzyme responsible for activating fatty acids from the host cell or synthesis to be incorporated into lipid bilayers. The isolates had distinct lipidomes with varied fatty acid compositions. A reduction in the lipid compositions that HtrA prefers to bind to was detected, yet HtrA and MOMP (a key outer membrane protein) were present at higher levels in the variants. Reduced progeny production and an earlier cellular exit were observed. Transcriptome analysis identified that multiple genes were downregulated in the variants especially stress and DNA processing factors. Here, we have shown that the fatty acid composition of chlamydial lipids, HtrA, and membrane proteins interplay and, when disrupted, impact chlamydial stress response that could trigger early cellular exit. IMPORTANCE Chlamydia trachomatis is an important obligate intracellular pathogen that has a unique biphasic developmental cycle. HtrA is an essential stress or virulence protease in many bacteria, with many different functions. Previously, we demonstrated that HtrA is critical for Chlamydia using a novel inhibitor. In the present study, we characterized genetic variants of Chlamydia trachomatis with reduced susceptibility to the HtrA inhibitor. The variants were changed in membrane fatty acid composition, outer membrane proteins, and transcription of stress genes. Earlier and more synchronous cellular exit was observed. Combined, this links stress response to fatty acids, membrane proteins, and HtrA interplay with the outcome of disrupted timing of chlamydial cellular exit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Strange
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Laurence Luu
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vanissa Ong
- Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bryan A. Wee
- Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J. A. Phillips
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Laura McCaughey
- Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Joel R. Steele
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Proteomics and Metabolomics Platform, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher K. Barlow
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Proteomics and Metabolomics Platform, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Charles G. Cranfield
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Garry Myers
- Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rami Mazraani
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Charles Rock
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Peter Timms
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
| | - Wilhelmina M. Huston
- Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
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2
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Phillips MJA, Huston WM, McDonagh AM, Rawling T. 4-Chloroisocoumarins as Chlamydial Protease Inhibitors and Anti-Chlamydial Agents. Molecules 2024; 29:1519. [PMID: 38611800 PMCID: PMC11013143 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29071519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
4-Chloroisocoumarin compounds have broad inhibitory properties against serine proteases. Here, we show that selected 3-alkoxy-4-chloroisocoumarins preferentially inhibit the activity of the conserved serine protease High-temperature requirement A of Chlamydia trachomatis. The synthesis of a new series of isocoumarin-based scaffolds has been developed, and their anti-chlamydial properties were investigated. The structure of the alkoxy substituent was found to influence the potency of the compounds against High-temperature requirement A, and modifications to the C-7 position of the 3-alkoxy-4-chloroisocoumarin structure attenuate anti-chlamydial properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. A. Phillips
- School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia;
| | - Wilhelmina M. Huston
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia;
| | - Andrew M. McDonagh
- School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia;
| | - Tristan Rawling
- School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia;
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Torzyk-Jurowska K, Ciekot J, Winiarski L. Targeted Library of Phosphonic-Type Inhibitors of Human Neutrophil Elastase. Molecules 2024; 29:1120. [PMID: 38474630 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29051120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite many years of research, human neutrophil elastase (HNE) still remains an area of interest for many researchers. This multifunctional representative of neutrophil serine proteases is one of the most destructive enzymes found in the human body which can degrade most of the extracellular matrix. Overexpression or dysregulation of HNE may lead to the development of several inflammatory diseases. Previously, we presented the HNE inhibitor with kinact/KI value over 2,000,000 [M-1s-1]. In order to optimize its structure, over 100 novel tripeptidyl derivatives of α-aminoalkylphosphonate diaryl esters were synthesized, and their activity toward HNE was checked. To confirm the selectivity of the resultant compounds, several of the most active were additionally checked against the two other neutrophil proteases: proteinase 3 and cathepsin G. The developed modifications allowed us to obtain a compound with significantly increased inhibitory activity against human neutrophil elastase with high selectivity toward cathepsin G, but none toward proteinase 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Torzyk-Jurowska
- Division of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jaroslaw Ciekot
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Lukasz Winiarski
- Division of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
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4
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Jury B, Fleming C, Huston WM, Luu LDW. Molecular pathogenesis of Chlamydia trachomatis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1281823. [PMID: 37920447 PMCID: PMC10619736 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1281823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is a strict intracellular human pathogen. It is the main bacterial cause of sexually transmitted infections and the etiologic agent of trachoma, which is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Despite over 100 years since C. trachomatis was first identified, there is still no vaccine. However in recent years, the advancement of genetic manipulation approaches for C. trachomatis has increased our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of C. trachomatis and progress towards a vaccine. In this mini-review, we aimed to outline the factors related to the developmental cycle phase and specific pathogenesis activity of C. trachomatis in order to focus priorities for future genetic approaches. We highlight the factors known to be critical for developmental cycle stages, gene expression regulatory factors, type III secretion system and their effectors, and individual virulence factors with known impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Jury
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Charlotte Fleming
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Laurence Don Wai Luu
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
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5
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C AM, Wessler S, Ponnuraj K. Inhibition of Listeria Monocytogenes HtrA Protease with Camostat, Gabexate and Nafamostat Mesylates and the Binding Mode of the Inhibitors. Protein J 2023:10.1007/s10930-023-10114-8. [PMID: 37093417 PMCID: PMC10123570 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-023-10114-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
In many bacteria, the High Temperature requirement A (HtrA) protein functions as a chaperone and protease. HtrA is an important factor in stress tolerance and plays a significant role in the virulence of several pathogenic bacteria. Camostat, gabexate and nafamostat mesylates are serine protease inhibitors and have recently shown a great impact in the inhibition studies of SARS-CoV2. In this study, the inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes HtrA (LmHtrA) protease activity was analysed using these three inhibitors. The cleavage assay, using human fibrinogen and casein as substrates, revealed that the three inhibitors effectively inhibit the protease activity of LmHtrA. The agar plate assay and spectrophotometric analysis concluded that the inhibition of nafamostat (IC50 value of 6.6 ± 0.4 µM) is more effective compared to the other two inhibitors. Previous studies revealed that at the active site of the protease, these inhibitors are hydrolysed and one of the hydrolysates is covalently bound to the active site serine. To understand the mode of binding of these inhibitors at the active site of LmHtrA, docking of the inhibitors followed by molecular dynamics simulations were carried out. Analysis of the LmHtrA-inhibitor complex structures revealed that the covalently bound inhibitor is unable to occupy the S1 pocket of the LmHtrA which is in contrast to the previously determined camostat and nafamostat complex structures. This observation provides the first glimpse of the substrate specificity of LmHtrA which is not known. The obtained results also suggest that the development of novel inhibitors of LmHtrA and its homologs with active site architecture similar to LmHtrA can be pursued with suitable modification of these inhibitors. To date, only a very few studies have been carried out on identifying the inhibitors of HtrA proteolytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrutha M C
- Centre of Advanced Study in Crystallography and Biophysics, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, 600 025, India
| | - Silja Wessler
- Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Str. 34, Salzburg, A-5020, Austria
| | - Karthe Ponnuraj
- Centre of Advanced Study in Crystallography and Biophysics, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, 600 025, India.
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de Campos LJ, Seleem MA, Feng J, Pires de Oliveira KM, de Andrade Dos Santos JV, Hayer S, Clayton JB, Kathi S, Fisher DJ, Ouellette SP, Conda-Sheridan M. Design, Biological Evaluation, and Computer-Aided Analysis of Dihydrothiazepines as Selective Antichlamydial Agents. J Med Chem 2023; 66:2116-2142. [PMID: 36696579 PMCID: PMC10056257 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) causes the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial disease in the United States. The lack of drug selectivity is one of the main challenges of the current antichlamydial pharmacotherapy. The metabolic needs of CT are controlled, among others, by cylindrical proteases and their chaperones (e.g., ClpX). It has been shown that dihydrothiazepines can disrupt CT-ClpXP. Based on this precedent, we synthesized a dihydrothiazepine library and characterized its antichlamydial activity using a modified semi-high-throughput screening assay. Then, we demonstrated their ability to inhibit ClpX ATPase activity in vitro, supporting ClpX as a target. Further, our lead compound displayed a promising selectivity profile against CT, acceptable cytotoxicity, no mutagenic potential, and good in vitro stability. A two-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (2D QSAR) model was generated as a support tool in the identification of more potent antichlamydial molecules. This study suggests dihydrothiazepines are a promising starting point for the development of new and selective antichlamydial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Janaína de Campos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Mohamed A Seleem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Jiachen Feng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Kelly Mari Pires de Oliveira
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS 79804-970, Brazil
| | | | - Shivdeep Hayer
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska 68182, United States
| | - Jonathan B Clayton
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska 68182, United States
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
- Nebraska Food for Health Center, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508, United States
| | - Sharvath Kathi
- School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois 62901, United States
| | - Derek J Fisher
- School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois 62901, United States
| | - Scot P Ouellette
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Martin Conda-Sheridan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
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7
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Hou C, Jin Y, Wu H, Li P, Liu L, Zheng K, Wang C. Alternative strategies for Chlamydia treatment: Promising non-antibiotic approaches. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:987662. [PMID: 36504792 PMCID: PMC9727249 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.987662] [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: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia is an obligate intracellular bacterium where most species are pathogenic and infectious, causing various infectious diseases and complications in humans and animals. Antibiotics are often recommended for the clinical treatment of chlamydial infections. However, extensive research has shown that antibiotics may not be sufficient to eliminate or inhibit infection entirely and have some potential risks, including antibiotic resistance. The impact of chlamydial infection and antibiotic misuse should not be underestimated in public health. This study explores the possibility of new therapeutic techniques, including a review of recent studies on preventing and suppressing chlamydial infection by non-antibiotic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Hou
- School of Basic Medicine, Hengyang Medical College, Institute of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yingqi Jin
- School of Basic Medicine, Hengyang Medical College, Institute of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Hua Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hengyang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Hengyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, China
| | - Pengyi Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Hengyang Medical College, Institute of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Longyun Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Hengyang Medical College, Institute of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Kang Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hengyang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Hengyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, China,*Correspondence: Kang Zheng
| | - Chuan Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Hengyang Medical College, Institute of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China,Chuan Wang
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8
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Huston WM, Lawrence A, Wee BA, Thomas M, Timms P, Vodstrcil LA, McNulty A, McIvor R, Worthington K, Donovan B, Phillips S, Chen MY, Fairley CK, Hocking JS. Repeat infections with chlamydia in women may be more transcriptionally active with lower responses from some immune genes. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1012835. [PMID: 36299763 PMCID: PMC9589431 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1012835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis, the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide, is responsible for considerable health burden due to its significant sequelae. There are growing concerns about chlamydial treatment and management due to widely documented increasing burden of repeat infections. In the current study, a cohort study design of 305 women with urogenital chlamydial infections demonstrated that 11.8% of women experienced repeat infections after treatment with azithromycin. The chlamydial DNA load measured by quantitative PCR was higher in women who experienced a repeat infection (p = 0.0097) and repeat infection was associated with sexual contact. There was no genomic or phenotypic evidence of azithromycin resistance within the chlamydial isolates. During repeat infection, or repeat positive tests during follow up, vaginal chlamydial gene expression (ompA, euo, omcB, htrA, trpAB) was markedly higher compared to baseline, and two of the selected immune genes analyzed had significantly lower expression at the time of repeat infection. Overall, there are two implications of these results. The results could be generalized to all recent infections, or repeat positive events, and indicate that chlamydial infections are have higher transcriptional activity of select genes early in the infection in women. Alternatively, after azithromycin treatment, repeat infections of Chlamydia may be more transcriptionally active at certain genes, and there may be post-treatment immunological alterations that interplay into repeat exposures establishing an active infection. The potential that recent infections may involve a higher level of activity from the organism may have implications for management by more regular testing of the most at risk women to reduce the risk of sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilhelmina M. Huston
- Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia,*Correspondence: Wilhelmina M. Huston
| | - Amba Lawrence
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Bryan A. Wee
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Mark Thomas
- Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- Bioinnovation Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Lenka A. Vodstrcil
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Carlton, VIC, Australia,Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Anna McNulty
- Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ruthy McIvor
- Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Karen Worthington
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Basil Donovan
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Samuel Phillips
- Bioinnovation Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Marcus Y. Chen
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia,Australia and Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Jane S. Hocking
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia,Jane S. Hocking
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9
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Differential Effects of Small Molecule Inhibitors on the Intracellular Chlamydia Infection. mBio 2022; 13:e0107622. [PMID: 35703434 PMCID: PMC9426518 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01076-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia are obligate intracellular bacteria that reside within a membrane-bound compartment called the chlamydial inclusion inside a eukaryotic host cell. These pathogens have a complex biphasic developmental cycle, which involves conversion between a replicating, but noninfectious, reticulate body (RB) and an infectious elementary body (EB). Small molecule inhibitors have been reported to have deleterious effects on the intracellular Chlamydia infection, but these studies have typically been limited in terms of assays and time points of analysis. We compared published and novel inhibitors and showed that they can differentially alter inclusion size, chlamydial number and infectious EB production, and that these effects can vary over the course of the intracellular infection. Our results provide the justification for analysis with multiple assays performed either at the end of the infection or over a time course. We also show that this approach has the potential to identify the particular step in the developmental cycle that is impacted by the inhibitor. We furthermore propose that the magnitude of inhibitor-induced progeny defects are best quantified and compared by using a new value called maximal progeny production (Progenymax). As a demonstration of the validity of this systematic approach, we applied it to inhibitors of Akt and AMPK, which are host kinases involved in lipid synthesis and cholesterol trafficking pathways. Both inhibitors reduced EB production, but Akt disruption primarily decreased RB-to-EB conversion while AMPK inhibition paradoxically enhanced RB replication.
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10
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Hwang J, Mros S, Gamble AB, Tyndall JDA, McDowell A. Improving Antibacterial Activity of a HtrA Protease Inhibitor JO146 against Helicobacter pylori: A Novel Approach Using Microfluidics-Engineered PLGA Nanoparticles. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020348. [PMID: 35214080 PMCID: PMC8875321 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanoparticle drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising strategy for overcoming limitations of antimicrobial drugs such as stability, bioavailability, and insufficient exposure to the hard-to-reach bacterial drug targets. Although size is a vital colloidal feature of nanoparticles that governs biological interactions, the absence of well-defined size control technology has hampered the investigation of optimal nanoparticle size for targeting bacterial cells. Previously, we identified a lead antichlamydial compound JO146 against the high temperature requirement A (HtrA) protease, a promising antibacterial target involved in protein quality control and virulence. Here, we reveal that JO146 was active against Helicobacter pylori with a minimum bactericidal concentration of 18.8–75.2 µg/mL. Microfluidic technology using a design of experiments approach was utilized to formulate JO146-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid nanoparticles and explore the effect of the nanoparticle size on drug delivery. JO146-loaded nanoparticles of three different sizes (90, 150, and 220 nm) were formulated with uniform particle size distribution and drug encapsulation efficiency of up to 25%. In in vitro microdilution inhibition assays, 90 nm nanoparticles improved the minimum bactericidal concentration of JO146 two-fold against H. pylori compared to the free drug alone, highlighting that controlled engineering of nanoparticle size is important in drug delivery optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimin Hwang
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; (J.H.); (A.B.G.); (J.D.A.T.)
| | - Sonya Mros
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand;
| | - Allan B. Gamble
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; (J.H.); (A.B.G.); (J.D.A.T.)
| | - Joel D. A. Tyndall
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; (J.H.); (A.B.G.); (J.D.A.T.)
| | - Arlene McDowell
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; (J.H.); (A.B.G.); (J.D.A.T.)
- Correspondence:
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11
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Hwang J, Strange N, Mazraani R, Phillips MJ, Gamble AB, Huston WM, Tyndall JDA. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of P2-modified proline analogues targeting the HtrA serine protease in Chlamydia. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 230:114064. [PMID: 35007862 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.114064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
High temperature requirement A (HtrA) serine proteases have emerged as a novel class of antibacterial target, which are crucial in protein quality control and are involved in the pathogenesis of a wide array of bacterial infections. Previously, we demonstrated that HtrA in Chlamydia is essential for bacterial survival, replication and virulence. Here, we report a new series of proline (P2)-modified inhibitors of Chlamydia trachomatis HtrA (CtHtrA) developed by proline ring expansion and Cγ-substitutions. The structure-based drug optimization process was guided by molecular modelling and in vitro pharmacological evaluation of inhibitory potency, selectivity and cytotoxicity. Compound 25 from the first-generation 4-substituted proline analogues increased antiCtHtrA potency and selectivity over human neutrophil elastase (HNE) by approximately 6- and 12-fold, respectively, relative to the peptidic lead compound 1. Based on this compound, second-generation substituted proline residues containing 1,2,3-triazole moieties were synthesized by regioselective azide-alkyne click chemistry. Compound 49 demonstrated significantly improved antichlamydial activity in whole cell assays, diminishing the bacterial infectious progeny below the detection limit at the lowest dose tested. Compound 49 resulted in approximately 9- and 22-fold improvement in the inhibitory potency and selectivity relative to 1, respectively. To date, compound 49 is the most potent HtrA inhibitor developed against Chlamydia spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimin Hwang
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Natalie Strange
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rami Mazraani
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew J Phillips
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Allan B Gamble
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - Wilhelmina M Huston
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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12
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Optimization of peptide-based inhibitors targeting the HtrA serine protease in Chlamydia: Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of pyridone-based and N-Capping group-modified analogues. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 224:113692. [PMID: 34265463 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is responsible for the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection and is the leading cause of preventable blindness, representing a major global health burden. While C. trachomatis infection is currently treatable with broad-spectrum antibiotics, there would be many benefits of a chlamydia-specific therapy. Previously, we have identified a small-molecule lead compound JO146 [Boc-Val-Pro-ValP(OPh)2] targeting the bacterial serine protease HtrA, which is essential in bacterial replication, virulence and survival, particularly under stress conditions. JO146 is highly efficacious in attenuating infectivity of both human (C. trachomatis) as well as koala (C. pecorum) species in vitro and in vivo, without host cell toxicity. Herein, we present our continuing efforts on optimizing JO146 by modifying the N-capping group as well as replacing the parent peptide structure with the 2-pyridone scaffold at P3/P2. The drug optimization process was guided by molecular modelling, enzyme and cell-based assays. Compound 18b from the pyridone series showed improved inhibitory activity against CtHtrA by 5-fold and selectivity over human neutrophil elastase (HNE) by 109-fold compared to JO146, indicating that 2-pyridone is a suitable bioisostere of the P3/P2 amide/proline for developing CtHtrA inhibitors. Most pyridone-based inhibitors showed superior anti-chlamydial potency to JO146 especially at lower doses (25 and 50 μM) in C. trachomatis and C. pecorum cell culture assays. Modifications of the N-capping group of the peptidyl inhibitors did not have much influence on the anti-chlamydial activities, providing opportunities for more versatile alterations and future optimization. In summary, we present 2-pyridone based analogues as a new generation of non-peptidic CtHtrA inhibitors, which hold better promise as anti-chlamydial drug candidates.
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The Small Molecule H89 Inhibits Chlamydia Inclusion Growth and Production of Infectious Progeny. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e0072920. [PMID: 33820812 PMCID: PMC8373235 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00729-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia is an obligate intracellular bacterium and the most common reportable cause of human infection in the United States. This pathogen proliferates inside a eukaryotic host cell, where it resides within a membrane-bound compartment called the chlamydial inclusion. It has an unusual developmental cycle, marked by conversion between a replicating form, the reticulate body (RB), and an infectious form, the elementary body (EB). We found that the small molecule H89 slowed inclusion growth and decreased overall RB replication by 2-fold but caused a 25-fold reduction in infectious EBs. This disproportionate effect on EB production was mainly due to a defect in RB-to-EB conversion and not to the induction of chlamydial persistence, which is an altered growth state. Although H89 is a known inhibitor of specific protein kinases and vesicular transport to and from the Golgi apparatus, it did not cause these anti-chlamydial effects by blocking protein kinase A or C or by inhibiting protein or lipid transport. Thus, H89 is a novel anti-chlamydial compound that has a unique combination of effects on an intracellular Chlamydia infection.
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14
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HtrA family proteases of bacterial pathogens: pros and cons for their therapeutic use. Clin Microbiol Infect 2021; 27:559-564. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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15
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In Silico Structural and Functional Characterization of HtrA Proteins of Leptospira spp.: Possible Implications in Pathogenesis. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020; 5:tropicalmed5040179. [PMID: 33260771 PMCID: PMC7709667 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed5040179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by the pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The identification of conserved outer membrane proteins among pathogenic strains is a major research target in elucidating mechanisms of pathogenicity. Surface-exposed proteins are most probably the ones involved in the interaction of leptospires with the environment. Some spirochetes use outer membrane proteases as a way to penetrate host tissues. HtrA is a family of proteins found in various cell types, from prokaryotes to primates. They are a set of proteases usually composed of a serine protease and PDZ domains, and they are generally transported to the periplasm. Here, we identified four genes—annotated as HtrA, LIC11111, LIC20143, LIC20144 and LIC11037—and another one annotated as a serine protease, LIC11112. It is believed that the last forms a functional heterodimer with LIC11111, since they are organized in one operon. Our analyses showed that these proteins are highly conserved among pathogenic strains. LIC11112, LIC20143, and LIC11037 have the serine protease domain with the conserved catalytic triad His-Asp-Ser. This is the first bioinformatics analysis of HtrA proteins from Leptospira that suggests their proteolytic activity potential. Experimental studies are warranted to elucidate this possibility.
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16
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Hayward RJ, Marsh JW, Humphrys MS, Huston WM, Myers GSA. Chromatin accessibility dynamics of Chlamydia-infected epithelial cells. Epigenetics Chromatin 2020; 13:45. [PMID: 33109274 PMCID: PMC7590614 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-020-00368-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia are Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens responsible for a broad spectrum of human and animal diseases. In humans, Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide and is the causative agent of trachoma (infectious blindness) in disadvantaged populations. Over the course of its developmental cycle, Chlamydia extensively remodels its intracellular niche and parasitises the host cell for nutrients, with substantial resulting changes to the host cell transcriptome and proteome. However, little information is available on the impact of chlamydial infection on the host cell epigenome and global gene regulation. Regions of open eukaryotic chromatin correspond to nucleosome-depleted regions, which in turn are associated with regulatory functions and transcription factor binding. We applied formaldehyde-assisted isolation of regulatory elements enrichment followed by sequencing (FAIRE-Seq) to generate temporal chromatin maps of C. trachomatis-infected human epithelial cells in vitro over the chlamydial developmental cycle. We detected both conserved and distinct temporal changes to genome-wide chromatin accessibility associated with C. trachomatis infection. The observed differentially accessible chromatin regions include temporally-enriched sets of transcription factors, which may help shape the host cell response to infection. These regions and motifs were linked to genomic features and genes associated with immune responses, re-direction of host cell nutrients, intracellular signalling, cell-cell adhesion, extracellular matrix, metabolism and apoptosis. This work provides another perspective to the complex response to chlamydial infection, and will inform further studies of transcriptional regulation and the epigenome in Chlamydia-infected human cells and tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regan J Hayward
- The ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - James W Marsh
- Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Michael S Humphrys
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Wilhelmina M Huston
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Garry S A Myers
- The ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. .,School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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17
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Dong X, Zhang W, Hou J, Ma M, Zhu C, Wang H, Hou S. Chlamydial-Secreted Protease Chlamydia High Temperature Requirement Protein A (cHtrA) Degrades Human Cathelicidin LL-37 and Suppresses Its Anti-Chlamydial Activity. Med Sci Monit 2020; 26:e923909. [PMID: 32634134 PMCID: PMC7366784 DOI: 10.12659/msm.923909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular pathogen that can cause severe reproductive tract complications while ascending infection occurs. When spreading from cell to cell in a host, C. trachomatis utilizes various survival strategies to offset host defense mechanisms. One such strategy is to degrade host antimicrobial defense proteins before they can attack the invading C. trachomatis cells. Material/Methods We expressed and purified recombinant chlamydia high temperature requirement protein A (cHtrA) including 2 cHtrA mutants (MT-H143A and MT-S247A), and also extracted endogenous cHtrA. Proteins were identified and their purity evaluated by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The anti-chlamydial activity and degradation of 5 antimicrobial peptides (cathelicidin LL-37, α-defensin-1 and -3, and β-defensin-2 and -4) by cHtrA and 2 cHtrA mutants (MT-H143A and MT-S247A) were tested by immunoassay and Western blot. Results Of the 5 antimicrobial peptides (cathelicidin LL-37, α-defensin-1 and -3, and β-defensin-2 and -4) tested, cathelicidin LL-37 showed the strongest anti-chlamydial activity. Interestingly, cHtrA effectively and specifically degraded LL-37, suppressing its anti-chlamydial activity. The 2 cHtrA mutants (MT-H143A and MT-S247A) were unable to degrade LL-37. Comparison of cHtrA activity from C. trachomatis D, L2, and MoPn strains on LL-37 showed similar responses. Conclusions cHtrA may contribute to C. trachomatis pathogenicity by clearing the passage of invasion by specific LL-37 degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Dong
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, Hebei, China (mainland)
| | - Wanxing Zhang
- Department of Dermatovenereology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Jianmei Hou
- Department of Pharmacy, Chinese Traditional Medicine Hospital of Lanling County, Linyi, Shandong, China (mainland)
| | - Miaomiao Ma
- Department of Dermatovenereology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Congzhong Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Huiping Wang
- Department of Dermatovenereology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Shuping Hou
- Department of Dermatovenereology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China (mainland)
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18
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Agbowuro AA, Hwang J, Peel E, Mazraani R, Springwald A, Marsh JW, McCaughey L, Gamble AB, Huston WM, Tyndall JD. Structure-activity analysis of peptidic Chlamydia HtrA inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:4185-4199. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.07.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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19
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Zhou Y, Lu X, Huang D, Lu Y, Zhang H, Zhang L, Yu P, Wang F, Wang Y. A novel protease inhibitor causes inclusion vacuole reduction and disrupts the intracellular growth of Chlamydia trachomatis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 516:157-162. [PMID: 31202460 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.05.184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis, characterized by a unique biphasic life cycle, is an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen which is responsible for the highest number of sexually transmitted bacterial infections globally. However, its pathogenic mechanisms have not been fully elucidated because of its unique developmental cycle and obligate intracellular nature. High temperature requirement (HtrA), a critical protease and chaperone, has been previously demonstrated to be essential for several functions and the replicative phase in the C. trachomatis developmental cycle. In the current study, we designed and synthesized a novel peptidomimetic inhibitor targeting C. trachomatis HtrA (CtHtrA) using homology modeling and chemical synthesis. The inhibitor was tested in chlamydia in the mid-replicative phase and resulted in a significant loss of viable infectious progeny and diminishing inclusion size and number at a relatively low concentration. This finding not only indicates that CtHtrA plays a critical role during the replicative phase of the chlamydial developmental cycle but also reveals a useful target for the design of novel anti-chlamydial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yachun Zhou
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaofang Lu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Dong Huang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yuying Lu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Urinary Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ping Yu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Fuyan Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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20
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Zhang Z, Huang Q, Tao X, Song G, Zheng P, Li H, Sun H, Xia W. The unique trimeric assembly of the virulence factor HtrA from Helicobacter pylori occurs via N-terminal domain swapping. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:7990-8000. [PMID: 30936204 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.007387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of specific bacterial virulence factors can significantly contribute to antibacterial drug discovery. Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative microaerophilic bacterium that infects almost half of the world's population, leading to gastric disorders and even gastric cancer. H. pylori expresses a series of virulence factors in the host, among which high-temperature requirement A (HpHtrA) is a newly identified serine protease secreted by H. pylori. HpHtrA cleaves the extracellular domain of the epithelial cell surface adhesion protein E-cadherin and disrupts gastric epithelial cell junctions, allowing H. pylori to access the intercellular space. Here we report the first crystal structure of HpHtrA at 3.0 Å resolution. The structure revealed a new type of HtrA protease trimer stabilized by unique N-terminal domain swapping distinct from other known HtrA homologs. We further observed that truncation of the N terminus completely abrogates HpHtrA trimer formation as well as protease activity. In the presence of unfolded substrate, HpHtrA assembled into cage-like 12-mers or 24-mers. Combining crystallographic, biochemical, and mutagenic data, we propose a mechanistic model of how HpHtrA recognizes and cleaves the well-folded E-cadherin substrate. Our study provides a fundamental basis for the development of anti-H. pylori agents by using a previously uncharacterized HtrA protease as a target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhemin Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Qi Huang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Xuan Tao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Guobing Song
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Peng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Hongyan Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hongzhe Sun
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wei Xia
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
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21
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Neddermann M, Backert S. How many protein molecules are secreted by single
Helicobacter pylori
cells: Quantification of serine protease HtrA. Cell Microbiol 2019; 21:e13022. [DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Neddermann
- Department of Biology, Division of MicrobiologyFriedrich Alexander University Erlangen Erlangen Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of MicrobiologyFriedrich Alexander University Erlangen Erlangen Germany
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22
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Mojica SA, Eriksson AU, Davis RA, Bahnan W, Elofsson M, Gylfe Å. Red Fluorescent Chlamydia trachomatis Applied to Live Cell Imaging and Screening for Antibacterial Agents. Front Microbiol 2019; 9:3151. [PMID: 30619216 PMCID: PMC6305398 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we describe the application of a transformed Chlamydia trachomatis strain constitutively expressing the red fluorescent protein mCherry, to allow real-time monitoring of the infection cycle and screening for agents that block replication of C. trachomatis. The red fluorescent C. trachomatis strain was detected autonomously without antibody staining and was equally susceptible to doxycycline as the wild type strain. A high-throughput screening assay was developed using the transformed strain and automated fluorescence microscopy. The assay was used in a pilot screen of a 349 compound library containing natural products from Australian flora and fauna. Compounds with anti-chlamydial activity were tested for dose response and toxicity to host cells and two non-toxic compounds had 50% effective concentration (EC50) values in the low micromolar range. Natural products are valuable sources for drug discovery and the identified Chlamydia growth inhibition may be starting points for future drug development. Live cell imaging was used to visualize growth of the red fluorescent C. trachomatis strain over time. The screening assay reduced workload and reagents compared to an assay requiring immunostaining and could further be used to monitor the development of Chlamydia inclusions and anti-chlamydial effect in real time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio A Mojica
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anna U Eriksson
- Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden, Laboratories of Chemical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Wael Bahnan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mikael Elofsson
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Åsa Gylfe
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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23
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Backert S, Bernegger S, Skórko-Glonek J, Wessler S. Extracellular HtrA serine proteases: An emerging new strategy in bacterial pathogenesis. Cell Microbiol 2018; 20:e12845. [PMID: 29582532 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The HtrA family of chaperones and serine proteases is important for regulating stress responses and controlling protein quality in the periplasm of bacteria. HtrA is also associated with infectious diseases since inactivation of htrA genes results in significantly reduced virulence properties by various bacterial pathogens. These virulence features of HtrA can be attributed to reduced fitness of the bacteria, higher susceptibility to environmental stress and/or diminished secretion of virulence factors. In some Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens, HtrA itself can be exposed to the extracellular environment promoting bacterial colonisation and invasion of host tissues. Most of our knowledge on the function of exported HtrAs stems from research on Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter jejuni, Borrelia burgdorferi, Bacillus anthracis, and Chlamydia species. Here, we discuss recent progress showing that extracellular HtrAs are able to cleave cell-to-cell junction factors including E-cadherin, occludin, and claudin-8, as well as extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin, aggrecan, and proteoglycans, disrupting the epithelial barrier and producing substantial host cell damage. We propose that the export of HtrAs is a newly discovered strategy, also applied by additional bacterial pathogens. Consequently, exported HtrA proteases represent highly attractive targets for antibacterial treatment by inhibiting their proteolytic activity or application in vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sabine Bernegger
- Department of Biosciences, Division of Microbiology, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Joanna Skórko-Glonek
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Silja Wessler
- Department of Biosciences, Division of Microbiology, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
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24
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Albrecht N, Tegtmeyer N, Sticht H, Skórko-Glonek J, Backert S. Amino-Terminal Processing of Helicobacter pylori Serine Protease HtrA: Role in Oligomerization and Activity Regulation. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:642. [PMID: 29713313 PMCID: PMC5911493 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The HtrA family of serine proteases is found in most bacteria, and plays an essential role in the virulence of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Secreted H. pylori HtrA (HtrA Hp ) cleaves various junctional proteins such as E-cadherin disrupting the epithelial barrier, which is crucial for bacterial transmigration across the polarized epithelium. Recent studies indicated the presence of two characteristic HtrA Hp forms of 55 and 52 kDa (termed p55 and p52, respectively), in worldwide strains. In addition, p55 and p52 were produced by recombinant HtrA Hp , indicating auto-cleavage. However, the cleavage sites and their functional importance are yet unclear. Here, we determined the amino-terminal ends of p55 and p52 by Edman sequencing. Two proteolytic cleavage sites were identified (H46/D47 and K50/D51). Remarkably, the cleavage site sequences are conserved in HtrA Hp from worldwide isolates, but not in other Gram-negative pathogens, suggesting a highly specific assignment in H. pylori. We analyzed the role of the amino-terminal cleavage sites on activity, secretion and function of HtrA Hp . Three-dimensional modeling suggested a trimeric structure and a role of amino-terminal processing in oligomerization and regulation of proteolytic activity of HtrA Hp . Furthermore, point and deletion mutants of these processing sites were generated in the recently reported Campylobacter jejuni ΔhtrA/htrAHp genetic complementation system and the minimal sequence requirements for processing were determined. Polarized Caco-2 epithelial cells were infected with these strains and analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy. The results indicated that HtrA Hp processing strongly affected the ability of the protease to disrupt the E-cadherin-based cell-to-cell junctions. Casein zymography confirmed that the amino-terminal region is required for maintaining the proteolytic activity of HtrA Hp . Furthermore, we demonstrated that this cleavage influences the secretion of HtrA Hp in the extracellular space as an important prerequisite for its virulence activity. Taken together, our data demonstrate that amino-terminal cleavage of HtrA Hp is conserved in this pathogen and affects oligomerization and thus, secretion and regulatory activities, suggesting an important role in the pathogenesis of H. pylori.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Albrecht
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Heinrich Sticht
- Division of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Joanna Skórko-Glonek
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Steffen Backert
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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25
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Stereochemical basis for the anti-chlamydial activity of the phosphonate protease inhibitor JO146. Tetrahedron 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2017.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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26
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Natural product inspired library synthesis - Identification of 2,3-diarylbenzofuran and 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran based inhibitors of Chlamydia trachomatis. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 143:1077-1089. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.11.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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27
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Kovalyova Y, Hatzios SK. Activity-Based Protein Profiling at the Host-Pathogen Interface. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2018; 420:73-91. [PMID: 30203396 DOI: 10.1007/82_2018_129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) is a technique for selectively detecting reactive amino acids in complex proteomes with the aid of chemical probes. Using probes that target catalytically active enzymes, ABPP can rapidly define the functional proteome of a biological system. In recent years, this approach has been increasingly applied to globally profile enzymes active at the host-pathogen interface of microbial infections. From in vitro co-culture systems to animal models of infection, these studies have revealed enzyme-mediated mechanisms of microbial pathogenicity, host immunity, and metabolic adaptation that dynamically shape pathogen interactions with the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yekaterina Kovalyova
- Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Stavroula K Hatzios
- Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA. .,Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA. .,Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
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Hafner LM, Timms P. Development of a Chlamydia trachomatis vaccine for urogenital infections: novel tools and new strategies point to bright future prospects. Expert Rev Vaccines 2017; 17:57-69. [PMID: 29264970 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2018.1417044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The "cloaked" bacterial pathogen that is Chlamydia trachomatis continues to cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that adversely affect the health and well-being of children, adolescents and adults globally. The reproductive disease sequelae follow unresolved or untreated chronic or recurrent asymptomatic C.trachomatis infections of the lower female genital tract (FGT) and can include pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and ectopic pregnancy. Tubal Factor Infertility (TFI) can also occur since protective and long-term natural immunity to chlamydial infection is incomplete, allowing for ascension of the organism to the upper FGT. Developing countries including the WHO African (8.3 million cases) and South-East Asian regions (7.2 million cases) bear the highest burden of chlamydial STIs. AREAS COVERED Genetic advances for Chlamydia have provided tools for transformation (including dendrimer-enabled transformation), lateral gene transfer and chemical mutagenesis. Recent progress in these areas is reviewed with a focus on vaccine development for Chlamydia infections of the female genital tract. EXPERT COMMENTARY A vaccine that can elicit immuno-protective responses whilst avoiding adverse immuno-pathologic host responses is required. The current technological advances in chlamydial genetics and proteomics, as well as novel and improved adjuvants and delivery systems, provide new hope that the elusive chlamydial vaccine is an imminent and realistic goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise M Hafner
- a School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- b Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering , University of the Sunshine Coast , Maroochydore DC , Australia
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Agbowuro AA, Huston WM, Gamble AB, Tyndall JDA. Proteases and protease inhibitors in infectious diseases. Med Res Rev 2017; 38:1295-1331. [PMID: 29149530 DOI: 10.1002/med.21475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 09/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
There are numerous proteases of pathogenic organisms that are currently targeted for therapeutic intervention along with many that are seen as potential drug targets. This review discusses the chemical and biological makeup of some key druggable proteases expressed by the five major classes of disease causing agents, namely bacteria, viruses, fungi, eukaryotes, and prions. While a few of these enzymes including HIV protease and HCV NS3-4A protease have been targeted to a clinically useful level, a number are yet to yield any clinical outcomes in terms of antimicrobial therapy. A significant aspect of this review discusses the chemical and pharmacological characteristics of inhibitors of the various proteases discussed. A total of 25 inhibitors have been considered potent and safe enough to be trialed in humans and are at different levels of clinical application. We assess the mechanism of action and clinical performance of the protease inhibitors against infectious agents with their developmental strategies and look to the next frontiers in the use of protease inhibitors as anti-infective agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wilhelmina M Huston
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Allan B Gamble
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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30
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Novel peptidyl α-aminoalkylphosphonates as inhibitors of hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease. Antiviral Res 2017; 144:286-298. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Harrer A, Boehm M, Backert S, Tegtmeyer N. Overexpression of serine protease HtrA enhances disruption of adherens junctions, paracellular transmigration and type IV secretion of CagA by Helicobacter pylori. Gut Pathog 2017; 9:40. [PMID: 28770008 PMCID: PMC5526239 DOI: 10.1186/s13099-017-0189-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The serine protease HtrA is an important factor for regulating stress responses and protein quality control in bacteria. In recent studies, we have demonstrated that the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori can secrete HtrA into the extracellular environment, where it cleaves-off the ectodomain of the tumor suppressor and adherens junction protein E-cadherin on gastric epithelial cells. RESULTS E-cadherin cleavage opens cell-to-cell junctions, allowing paracellular transmigration of the bacteria across polarized monolayers of MKN-28 and Caco-2 epithelial cells. However, rapid research progress on HtrA function is mainly hampered by the lack of ΔhtrA knockout mutants, suggesting that htrA may represent an essential gene in H. pylori. To circumvent this major handicap and to investigate the role of HtrA further, we overexpressed HtrA by introducing a second functional htrA gene copy in the chromosome and studied various virulence properties of the bacteria. The resulting data demonstrate that overexpression of HtrA in H. pylori gives rise to elevated rates of HtrA secretion, cleavage of E-cadherin, bacterial transmigration and delivery of the type IV secretion system (T4SS) effector protein CagA into polarized epithelial cells, but did not affect IL-8 chemokine production or the secretion of vacuolating cytotoxin VacA and γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase GGT. CONCLUSIONS These data provide for the first time genetic evidence in H. pylori that HtrA is a novel major virulence factor controlling multiple pathogenic activities of this important microbe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen Harrer
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Manja Boehm
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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32
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Marsh JW, Ong VA, Lott WB, Timms P, Tyndall JDA, Huston WM. CtHtrA: the lynchpin of the chlamydial surface and a promising therapeutic target. Future Microbiol 2017; 12:817-829. [PMID: 28593794 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2017-0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infection worldwide and the leading cause of preventable blindness. Reports have emerged of treatment failure, suggesting a need to develop new antibiotics to battle Chlamydia infection. One possible candidate for a new treatment is the protease inhibitor JO146, which is an effective anti-Chlamydia agent that targets the CtHtrA protein. CtHtrA is a lynchpin on the chlamydial cell surface due to its essential and multifunctional roles in the bacteria's stress response, replicative phase of development, virulence and outer-membrane protein assembly. This review summarizes the current understanding of CtHtrA function and presents a mechanistic model that highlights CtHtrA as an effective target for anti-Chlamydia drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- James W Marsh
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, 2007, NSW, Australia
| | - Vanissa A Ong
- Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, 4059, QLD, Australia
| | - William B Lott
- Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, 4059, QLD, Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education & Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, 4558, QLD, Australia
| | - Joel DA Tyndall
- National School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Wilhelmina M Huston
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, 2007, NSW, Australia
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33
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Progress and prospects for small-molecule probes of bacterial imaging. Nat Chem Biol 2017; 12:472-8. [PMID: 27315537 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.2109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Fluorescence microscopy is an essential tool for the exploration of cell growth, division, transcription and translation in eukaryotes and prokaryotes alike. Despite the rapid development of techniques to study bacteria, the size of these organisms (1-10 μm) and their robust and largely impenetrable cell envelope present major challenges in imaging experiments. Fusion-based strategies, such as attachment of the protein of interest to a fluorescent protein or epitope tag, are by far the most common means for examining protein localization and expression in prokaryotes. While valuable, the use of genetically encoded tags can result in mislocalization or altered activity of the desired protein, does not provide a readout of the catalytic state of enzymes and cannot enable visualization of many other important cellular components, such as peptidoglycan, lipids, nucleic acids or glycans. Here, we highlight the use of biomolecule-specific small-molecule probes for imaging in bacteria.
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Wessler S, Schneider G, Backert S. Bacterial serine protease HtrA as a promising new target for antimicrobial therapy? Cell Commun Signal 2017; 15:4. [PMID: 28069057 PMCID: PMC5223389 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-017-0162-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated that the bacterial chaperone and serine protease high temperature requirement A (HtrA) is closely associated with the establishment and progression of several infectious diseases. HtrA activity enhances bacterial survival under stress conditions, but also has direct effects on functions of the cell adhesion protein E-cadherin and extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectin and proteoglycans. Although HtrA cannot be considered as a pathogenic factor per se, it exhibits favorable characteristics making HtrA a potentially attractive drug target to combat various bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silja Wessler
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Microbiology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Gisbert Schneider
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, CH-8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Steffen Backert
- Division of Microbiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany
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35
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Abfalter CM, Schubert M, Götz C, Schmidt TP, Posselt G, Wessler S. HtrA-mediated E-cadherin cleavage is limited to DegP and DegQ homologs expressed by gram-negative pathogens. Cell Commun Signal 2016; 14:30. [PMID: 27931258 PMCID: PMC5146865 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-016-0153-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The serine proteases HtrA/DegP secreted by the human gastrointestinal pathogens Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) cleave the mammalian cell adhesion protein E-cadherin to open intercellular adhesions. A wide range of bacteria also expresses the HtrA/DegP homologs DegQ and/or DegS, which significantly differ in structure and function. Methods E-cadherin shedding was investigated in infection experiments with the Gram-negative pathogens H. pylori, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), Salmonella enterica subsp. Enterica (S. Typhimurium), Yersinia enterocolitica (Y. enterocolitica), and Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis), which express different combinations of HtrAs. Annotated wild-type htrA/degP, degQ and degS genes were cloned and proteolytically inactive mutants were generated by a serine—to—alanine exchange in the active center. All HtrA variants were overexpressed and purified to compare their proteolytic activities in casein zymography and in vitro E-cadherin cleavage experiments. Results Infection of epithelial cells resulted in a strong E-cadherin ectodomain shedding as reflected by the loss of full length E-cadherin in whole cell lysates and formation of the soluble 90 kDa extracellular domain of E-cadherin (NTF) in the supernatants of infected cells. Importantly, comparing the caseinolytic and E-cadherin cleavage activities of HtrA/DegP, DegQ and DegS proteins revealed that DegP and DegQ homologs from H. pylori, S. Typhimurium, Y. enterocolitica, EPEC and P. mirabilis, but not activated DegS, cleaved E-cadherin as a substrate in vitro. Conclusions These data indicate that E-cadherin cleavage is confined to HtrA/DegP and DegQ proteins representing an important prevalent step in bacterial pathogenesis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12964-016-0153-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen M Abfalter
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Maria Schubert
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Camilla Götz
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Thomas P Schmidt
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Gernot Posselt
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Silja Wessler
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria.
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36
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Lawrence A, Fraser T, Gillett A, Tyndall JDA, Timms P, Polkinghorne A, Huston WM. Chlamydia Serine Protease Inhibitor, targeting HtrA, as a New Treatment for Koala Chlamydia infection. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31466. [PMID: 27530689 PMCID: PMC4987629 DOI: 10.1038/srep31466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The koala, an iconic marsupial native to Australia, is a threatened species in many parts of the country. One major factor in the decline is disease caused by infection with Chlamydia. Current therapeutic strategies to treat chlamydiosis in the koala are limited. This study examines the effectiveness of an inhibitor, JO146, which targets the HtrA serine protease for treatment of C. pecorum and C. pneumoniae in vitro and ex vivo with the aim of developing a novel therapeutic for koala Chlamydia infections. Clinical isolates from koalas were examined for their susceptibility to JO146. In vitro studies demonstrated that treatment with JO146 during the mid-replicative phase of C. pecorum or C. pneumoniae infections resulted in a significant loss of infectious progeny. Ex vivo primary koala tissue cultures were used to demonstrate the efficacy of JO146 and the non-toxic nature of this compound on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and primary cell lines established from koala tissues collected at necropsy. Our results suggest that inhibition of the serine protease HtrA could be a novel treatment strategy for chlamydiosis in koalas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amba Lawrence
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Tamieka Fraser
- Centre for Animal Health Innovation, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydoore, QLD, 4558, Australia
| | - Amber Gillett
- Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Beerwah, QLD, 4519, Australia
| | - Joel D A Tyndall
- New Zealand's National School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
| | - Peter Timms
- Centre for Animal Health Innovation, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydoore, QLD, 4558, Australia
| | - Adam Polkinghorne
- Centre for Animal Health Innovation, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydoore, QLD, 4558, Australia
| | - Wilhelmina M Huston
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia.,School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
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Hatzios SK, Abel S, Martell J, Hubbard T, Sasabe J, Munera D, Clark L, Bachovchin DA, Qadri F, Ryan ET, Davis BM, Weerapana E, Waldor MK. Chemoproteomic profiling of host and pathogen enzymes active in cholera. Nat Chem Biol 2016; 12:268-274. [PMID: 26900865 PMCID: PMC4765928 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.2025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) is a chemoproteomic tool for detecting active enzymes in complex biological systems. We used ABPP to identify secreted bacterial and host serine hydrolases that are active in animals infected with the cholera pathogen Vibrio cholerae. Four V. cholerae proteases were consistently active in infected rabbits, and one, VC0157 (renamed IvaP), was also active in human choleric stool. Inactivation of IvaP influenced the activity of other secreted V. cholerae and rabbit enzymes in vivo, and genetic disruption of all four proteases increased the abundance of intelectin, an intestinal lectin, and its binding to V. cholerae in infected rabbits. Intelectin also bound to other enteric bacterial pathogens, suggesting that it may constitute a previously unrecognized mechanism of bacterial surveillance in the intestine that is inhibited by pathogen-secreted proteases. Our work demonstrates the power of activity-based proteomics to reveal host-pathogen enzymatic dialog in an animal model of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavroula K. Hatzios
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sören Abel
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Tromsø (UiT), The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Troy Hubbard
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jumpei Sasabe
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Diana Munera
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lars Clark
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Firdausi Qadri
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Edward T. Ryan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brigid M. Davis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Matthew K. Waldor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
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Tegtmeyer N, Moodley Y, Yamaoka Y, Pernitzsch SR, Schmidt V, Traverso FR, Schmidt TP, Rad R, Yeoh KG, Bow H, Torres J, Gerhard M, Schneider G, Wessler S, Backert S. Characterisation of worldwide Helicobacter pylori strains reveals genetic conservation and essentiality of serine protease HtrA. Mol Microbiol 2015; 99:925-44. [PMID: 26568477 PMCID: PMC4832355 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
HtrA proteases and chaperones exhibit important roles in periplasmic protein quality control and stress responses. The genetic inactivation of htrA has been described for many bacterial pathogens. However, in some cases such as the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori, HtrA is secreted where it cleaves the tumour‐suppressor E‐cadherin interfering with gastric disease development, but the generation of htrA mutants is still lacking. Here, we show that the htrA gene locus is highly conserved in worldwide strains. HtrA presence was confirmed in 992 H. pylori isolates in gastric biopsy material from infected patients. Differential RNA‐sequencing (dRNA‐seq) indicated that htrA is encoded in an operon with two subsequent genes, HP1020 and HP1021. Genetic mutagenesis and complementation studies revealed that HP1020 and HP1021, but not htrA, can be mutated. In addition, we demonstrate that suppression of HtrA proteolytic activity with a newly developed inhibitor is sufficient to effectively kill H. pylori, but not other bacteria. We show that Helicobacter
htrA is an essential bifunctional gene with crucial intracellular and extracellular functions. Thus, we describe here the first microbe in which htrA is an indispensable gene, a situation unique in the bacterial kingdom. HtrA can therefore be considered a promising new target for anti‐bacterial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany.,Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Yoshan Moodley
- Department of Zoology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa.,Konrad-Lorenz-Institut für Vergleichende Verhaltensforschung, Department für Integrative Biologie und Evolution, Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien, Savoyenstr. 1a, A-1160, Wien, Austria
| | - Yoshio Yamaoka
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Dept. Medicine-Gastroenterology, Houston, TX, USA.,Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Dept. Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Yufu, Japan
| | - Sandy Ramona Pernitzsch
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases (ZINF), University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2/Bau D15, D-97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Vanessa Schmidt
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Francisco Rivas Traverso
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thomas P Schmidt
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Microbiology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Roland Rad
- II Medical Department, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Khay Guan Yeoh
- Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ho Bow
- Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Javier Torres
- Unidad de Investigacion en Enfermedades Infecciosas, UMAE Pediatria, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Markus Gerhard
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, 81675, Germany
| | - Gisbert Schneider
- ETH Zürich, Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, CH-8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Silja Wessler
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Microbiology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Steffen Backert
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany.,Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120, Magdeburg, Germany
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39
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Russell TM, Tang X, Goldstein JM, Bagarozzi D, Johnson BJB. The salt-sensitive structure and zinc inhibition of Borrelia burgdorferi protease BbHtrA. Mol Microbiol 2015; 99:586-96. [PMID: 26480895 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
HtrA serine proteases are highly conserved and essential ATP-independent proteases with chaperone activity. Bacteria express a variable number of HtrA homologues that contribute to the virulence and pathogenicity of bacterial pathogens. Lyme disease spirochetes possess a single HtrA protease homologue, Borrelia burgdorferi HtrA (BbHtrA). Previous studies established that, like the human orthologue HtrA1, BbHtrA is proteolytically active against numerous extracellular proteins in vitro. In this study, we utilized size exclusion chromatography and blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) to demonstrate BbHtrA oligomeric structures that were substrate independent and salt sensitive. Examination of the influence of transition metals on the activity of BbHtrA revealed that this protease is inhibited by Zn(2+) > Cu(2+) > Mn(2+). Extending this analysis to two other HtrA proteases, E. coli DegP and HtrA1, revealed that all three HtrA proteases were reversibly inhibited by ZnCl2 at all micro molar concentrations examined. Commercial inhibitors for HtrA proteases are not available and physiologic HtrA inhibitors are unknown. Our observation of conserved zinc inhibition of HtrA proteases will facilitate structural and functional studies of additional members of this important class of proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa M Russell
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Xiaoling Tang
- Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jason M Goldstein
- Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Dennis Bagarozzi
- Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Barbara J B Johnson
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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In vitro susceptibility of recent Chlamydia trachomatis clinical isolates to the CtHtrA inhibitor JO146. Microbes Infect 2015; 17:738-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2015.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Revised: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Marsh JW, Wee BA, Tyndall JDA, Lott WB, Bastidas RJ, Caldwell HD, Valdivia RH, Kari L, Huston WM. A Chlamydia trachomatis strain with a chemically generated amino acid substitution (P370L) in the cthtrA gene shows reduced elementary body production. BMC Microbiol 2015; 15:194. [PMID: 26424482 PMCID: PMC4590699 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-015-0533-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis is the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide and the leading cause of preventable blindness. Genetic approaches to investigate C. trachomatis have been only recently developed due to the organism’s intracellular developmental cycle. HtrA is a critical stress response serine protease and chaperone for many bacteria and in C. trachomatis has been previously shown to be important for heat stress and the replicative phase of development using a chemical inhibitor of the CtHtrA activity. In this study, chemically-induced SNVs in the cthtrA gene that resulted in amino acid substitutions (A240V, G475E, and P370L) were identified and characterized. Methods SNVs were initially biochemically characterized in vitro using recombinant protein techniques to confirm a functional impact on proteolysis. The C. trachomatis strains containing the SNVs with marked reductions in proteolysis were investigated in cell culture to identify phenotypes that could be linked to CtHtrA function. Results The strain harboring the SNV with the most marked impact on proteolysis (cthtrAP370L) was detected to have a significant reduction in the production of infectious elementary bodies. Conclusions This provides genetic evidence that CtHtrA is critical for the C. trachomatis developmental cycle. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-015-0533-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- James W Marsh
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia.
| | - Bryan A Wee
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia.
| | - Joel D A Tyndall
- National School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
| | - William B Lott
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia.
| | - Robert J Bastidas
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
| | - Harlan D Caldwell
- Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA.
| | - Raphael H Valdivia
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
| | - L Kari
- Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA.
| | - Wilhelmina M Huston
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia.
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Boehm M, Lind J, Backert S, Tegtmeyer N. Campylobacter jejuni serine protease HtrA plays an important role in heat tolerance, oxygen resistance, host cell adhesion, invasion, and transmigration. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2015; 5:68-80. [PMID: 25883795 DOI: 10.1556/eujmi-d-15-00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni is an important pathogen of foodborne illness. Transmigration across the intestinal epithelial barrier and invasion are considered as primary reasons for tissue damage triggered by C. jejuni. Using knockout mutants, it was shown that the serine protease HtrA may be important for stress tolerance and physiology of C. jejuni. HtrA is also secreted in the extra-cellular environment, where it can cleave junctional host cell proteins such as E-cadherin. Aim of the present study was to establish a genetic complementation system in two C. jejuni strains in order to introduce the wild-type htrA gene in trans, test known htrA phenotypes, and provide the basis to perform further mutagenesis. We confirm that reexpression of the htrA wild-type gene in ΔhtrA mutants restored the following phenotypes: 1) C. jejuni growth at high temperature (44 °C), 2) growth under high oxygen stress conditions, 3) expression of proteolytically active HtrA oligomers, 4) secretion of HtrA into the supernatant, 5) cell attachment and invasion, and 6) transmigration across polarized epithelial cells. These results establish a genetic complementation system for htrA in C. jejuni, exclude polar effects in the ΔhtrA mutants, confirm important HtrA properties, and permit the discovery and dissection of new functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manja Boehm
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Judith Lind
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen Germany
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Evidence of a conserved role for Chlamydia HtrA in the replication phase of the chlamydial developmental cycle. Microbes Infect 2014; 16:690-4. [PMID: 25066238 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2014.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Revised: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Identification of the HtrA inhibitor JO146 previously enabled us to demonstrate an essential function for HtrA during the mid-replicative phase of the Chlamydia trachomatis developmental cycle. Here we extend our investigations to other members of the Chlamydia genus. C. trachomatis isolates with distinct replicative phase growth kinetics showed significant loss of viable infectious progeny after HtrA was inhibited during the replicative phase. Mid-replicative phase addition of JO146 was also significantly detrimental to Chlamydia pecorum, Chlamydia suis and Chlamydia cavie. These data combined indicate that HtrA has a conserved critical role during the replicative phase of the chlamydial developmental cycle.
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Ong VA, Marsh JW, Lawrence A, Allan JA, Timms P, Huston WM. The protease inhibitor JO146 demonstrates a critical role for CtHtrA for Chlamydia trachomatis reversion from penicillin persistence. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2013; 3:100. [PMID: 24392355 PMCID: PMC3866801 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2013.00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Chlamydia trachomatis serine protease HtrA (CtHtrA) has recently been demonstrated to be essential during the replicative phase of the chlamydial developmental cycle. A chemical inhibition strategy (serine protease inhibitor JO146) was used to demonstrate this essential role and it was found that the chlamydial inclusions diminish in size and are lost from the cell after CtHtrA inhibition without formation of viable elementary bodies. The inhibitor (JO146) was used in this study to investigate the role of CtHtrA for penicillin persistence and heat stress conditions for Chlamydia trachomatis. JO146 addition during penicillin persistence resulted in only minor reductions (~1 log) in the final viable infectious yield after persistent Chlamydia were reverted from persistence. However, JO146 treatment during the reversion and recovery from penicillin persistence was completely lethal for Chlamydia trachomatis. JO146 was completely lethal when added either during heat stress conditions, or during the recovery from heat stress conditions. These data together indicate that CtHtrA has essential roles during some stress environments (heat shock), recovery from stress environments (heat shock and penicillin persistence), as well as the previously characterized essential role during the replicative phase of the chlamydial developmental cycle. Thus, CtHtrA is an essential protease with both replicative phase and stress condition functions for Chlamydia trachomatis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanissa A Ong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - James W Marsh
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Amba Lawrence
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - John A Allan
- The Wesley Research Institute, Wesley Hospital Auchenflower, QLD, Australia ; The Wesley Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Surgery Unit, The Wesley Hospital Auchenflower, QLD, Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Wilhelmina M Huston
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology Brisbane, QLD, Australia ; The Wesley Research Institute, Wesley Hospital Auchenflower, QLD, Australia
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Puri AW, Bogyo M. Applications of small molecule probes in dissecting mechanisms of bacterial virulence and host responses. Biochemistry 2013; 52:5985-96. [PMID: 23937332 DOI: 10.1021/bi400854d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Elucidating the molecular and biochemical details of bacterial infections can be challenging because of the many complex interactions that exist between a pathogen and its host. Consequently, many tools have been developed to aid the study of bacterial pathogenesis. Small molecules are a valuable complement to traditional genetic techniques because they can be used to rapidly perturb genetically intractable systems and to monitor post-translationally regulated processes. Activity-based probes are a subset of small molecules that covalently label an enzyme of interest based on its catalytic mechanism. These tools allow monitoring of enzyme activation within the context of a native biological system and can be used to dissect the biochemical details of enzyme function. This review describes the development and application of activity-based probes for examining aspects of bacterial infection on both sides of the host-pathogen interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron W Puri
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, ‡Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and §Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine , 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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