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Coppolino F, De Gaetano GV, Claverie C, Sismeiro O, Varet H, Legendre R, Pellegrini A, Berbiglia A, Tavella L, Lentini G, Famà A, Barbieri G, Pietrocola G, Teti G, Firon A, Beninati C. The SaeRS two-component system regulates virulence gene expression in group B Streptococcus during invasive infection. mBio 2024:e0197524. [PMID: 39158291 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01975-24] [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: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a pathobiont responsible for invasive infections in neonates and the elderly. The transition from a commensal to an invasive pathogen relies on the timely regulation of virulence factors. In this study, we characterized the role of the SaeRS two-component system in GBS pathogenesis. Loss-of-function mutations in the SaeR response regulator decrease virulence in mouse models of invasive infection by hindering the ability of bacteria to persist at the inoculation site and to spread to distant organs. Transcriptome and in vivo analysis reveal a specialized regulatory system specifically activated during infection to control the expression of only two virulence factors: the PbsP adhesin and the BvaP secreted protein. The in vivo surge in SaeRS-regulated genes is complemented by fine-tuning mediated by the repressor of virulence CovRS system to establish a coordinated response. Constitutive activation of the SaeRS regulatory pathway increases PbsP-dependent adhesion and invasion of epithelial and endothelial barriers, though at the cost of reduced virulence. In conclusion, SaeRS is a dynamic, highly specialized regulatory system enabling GBS to express a restricted set of virulence factors that promote invasion of host barriers and allow these bacteria to persist inside the host during lethal infection. IMPORTANCE Group B Streptococcus (or GBS) is a normal inhabitant of the human gastrointestinal and genital tracts that can also cause deadly infections in newborns and elderly people. The transition from a harmless commensal to a dangerous pathogen relies on the timely expression of bacterial molecules necessary for causing disease. In this study, we characterize the two-component system SaeRS as a key regulator of such virulence factors. Our analysis reveals a specialized regulatory system that is activated only during infection to dynamically adjust the production of two virulence factors involved in interactions with host cells. Overall, our findings highlight the critical role of SaeRS in GBS infections and suggest that targeting this system may be useful for developing new antibacterial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cosme Claverie
- Department of Microbiology, Biology of Gram-Positive Pathogens, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Odile Sismeiro
- Department of Microbiology, Biology of Gram-Positive Pathogens, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Hugo Varet
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | - Rachel Legendre
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | | | - Alessia Berbiglia
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Luca Tavella
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Germana Lentini
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Agata Famà
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giulia Barbieri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | - Arnaud Firon
- Department of Microbiology, Biology of Gram-Positive Pathogens, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Zhang W, Ge Z, Xiao Y, Liu D, Du J. Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Polymer Vesicles for Effective Diabetic Wound Treatment through ROS Scavenging and Immune Modulating. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:9494-9504. [PMID: 39058893 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c01869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Chronic diabetic wound patients usually show high glucose levels and systemic immune disorder, resulting in high reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and immune cell dysfunction, prolonged inflammation, and delayed wound healing. Herein, we prepared an antioxidant and immunomodulatory polymer vesicle for diabetic wound treatment. This vesicle is self-assembled from poly(ε-caprolactone)36-block-poly[lysine4-stat-(lysine-mannose)22-stat-tyrosine)16] ([PCL36-b-P[Lys4-stat-(Lys-Man)22-stat-Tyr16]). Polytyrosine is an antioxidant polypeptide that can scavenge ROS. d-Mannose was introduced to afford immunomodulatory functions by promoting macrophage transformation and Treg cell activation through inhibitory cytokines. The mice treated with polymer vesicles showed 23.7% higher Treg cell levels and a 91.3% higher M2/M1 ratio than those treated with PBS. Animal tests confirmed this vesicle accelerated healing and achieved complete healing of S. aureus-infected diabetic wounds within 8 days. Overall, this is the first antioxidant and immunomodulatory vesicle for diabetic wound healing by scavenging ROS and regulating immune homeostasis, opening new avenues for effective diabetic wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqing Zhang
- Department of Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road, Shanghai 201804, China
| | - Zhenghong Ge
- Department of Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road, Shanghai 201804, China
| | - Yufen Xiao
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200434, China
| | - Danqing Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Jianzhong Du
- Department of Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road, Shanghai 201804, China
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200434, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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Uberoi A, McCready-Vangi A, Grice EA. The wound microbiota: microbial mechanisms of impaired wound healing and infection. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:507-521. [PMID: 38575708 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-024-01035-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The skin barrier protects the human body from invasion by exogenous and pathogenic microorganisms. A breach in this barrier exposes the underlying tissue to microbial contamination, which can lead to infection, delayed healing, and further loss of tissue and organ integrity. Delayed wound healing and chronic wounds are associated with comorbidities, including diabetes, advanced age, immunosuppression and autoimmune disease. The wound microbiota can influence each stage of the multi-factorial repair process and influence the likelihood of an infection. Pathogens that commonly infect wounds, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, express specialized virulence factors that facilitate adherence and invasion. Biofilm formation and other polymicrobial interactions contribute to host immunity evasion and resistance to antimicrobial therapies. Anaerobic organisms, fungal and viral pathogens, and emerging drug-resistant microorganisms present unique challenges for diagnosis and therapy. In this Review, we explore the current understanding of how microorganisms present in wounds impact the process of skin repair and lead to infection through their actions on the host and the other microbial wound inhabitants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aayushi Uberoi
- Departments of Dermatology and Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amelia McCready-Vangi
- Departments of Dermatology and Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Grice
- Departments of Dermatology and Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Akbari MS, Joyce LR, Spencer BL, McIver KS, Doran KS. Identification of Glyoxalase A in Group B Streptococcus and its contribution to methylglyoxal tolerance and virulence. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.30.605887. [PMID: 39131367 PMCID: PMC11312555 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.30.605887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a Gram-positive pathobiont that commonly colonizes the gastrointestinal and lower female genital tracts but can cause sepsis and pneumonia in newborns and is a leading cause of neonatal meningitis. Despite the resulting disease severity, the pathogenesis of GBS is not completely understood, especially during the early phases of infection. To investigate GBS factors necessary for blood stream survival, we performed a transposon (Tn) mutant screen in our bacteremia infection model using a GBS mariner transposon mutant library previously developed by our group. We identified significantly underrepresented mutations in 628 genes that contribute to survival in the blood, including those encoding known virulence factors such as capsule, the β-hemolysin, and inorganic metal ion transport systems. Most of the underrepresented genes have not been previously characterized or studied in GBS, including gloA and gloB, which are homologs for genes involved in methylglyoxal (MG) detoxification. MG is a byproduct of glycolysis and a highly reactive toxic aldehyde that is elevated in immune cells during infection. Here, we observed MG sensitivity across multiple GBS isolates and confirm that gloA contributes to MG tolerance and invasive GBS infection. We show specifically that gloA contributes to GBS survival in the presence of neutrophils and depleting neutrophils in mice abrogates the decreased survival and infection of the gloA mutant. The requirement of the glyoxalase pathway during GBS infection suggests that MG detoxification is important for bacterial survival during host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline S. Akbari
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado USA
| | - Luke R. Joyce
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado USA
| | - Brady L. Spencer
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado USA
| | - Kevin S. McIver
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Kelly S. Doran
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado USA
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Han Z, Li A, Xue Z, Guan SB, Yin G, Zheng X. Eugenol-loaded polyurethane gelatin dressing for efficient angiogenesis and antibacterial effects in refractory diabetic wound defect healing. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 271:132619. [PMID: 38795896 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132619] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
The amelioration of refractory diabetic ulcers presents a formidable conundrum on a global scale, attributable to the elevated peril of contagion and protracted convalescence durations. Within the purlieus of this reparative epoch, the deployment of efficacious wound coverings endowed with both angiogenesis and antibacterial attributes is of paramount significance. Hydrogel wound dressings are distinguished by their elevated biocompatibility, adhesive tenacity, and innate regenerative capacity. Eugenol, a substance distilled from the blossoms of the lilac, serves as a precursor to metformin and is known to impede the genesis of reactive oxygen species. Although its antibacterial effects have been extensively chronicled, the angiogenic ramifications of eugenol within the context of wound remediation remain under-investigated. This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of eugenol-infused hydrogel as a wound dressing material. In this context, polyurethane gelatin (PG) was combined with eugenol at concentrations of 0.5% and 1%, creating PG-eugenol hydrogel mixtures with specific mass ratios for both in vivo and in vitro assessments. The in vivo studies indicated that hydrogels infused with eugenol expedited diabetic wound healing by fostering angiogenesis. Enhanced healing was noted, attributed to improved antibacterial and angiogenic properties, increased cell proliferation, tissue regeneration, and re-epithelialization. The in vitro analyses revealed that eugenol-enriched hydrogels stimulated the growth of fibroblasts (HFF-1) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and exhibited antibacterial characteristics. This investigation confirms the potential of eugenol-laden hydrogels in effectively treating diabetic wound defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengzhe Han
- National Center for Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Ang Li
- National Center for Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Zichao Xue
- Department of Sports Medicine, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Shi-Bing Guan
- Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, China.
| | - Gang Yin
- Trauma Center, Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201620, China.
| | - Xianyou Zheng
- National Center for Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China.
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Keogh RA, Huyvaert S, Moore GD, Horswill AR, Doran KS. Virulence characteristics of Gram-positive bacteria isolated from diabetic foot ulcers. FEMS MICROBES 2024; 5:xtae013. [PMID: 38783991 PMCID: PMC11114470 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtae013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Diabetic wound infections including diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a major global health concern and a leading cause of non-traumatic amputations. Numerous bacterial species establish infection in DFUs, and treatment with antibiotics often fails due to widespread antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation. Determination of bacterial species that reside in DFU and their virulence potential is critical to inform treatment options. Here, we isolate bacteria from debridement tissues from patients with diabetes at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center. The most frequent species were Gram-positive including Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus agalactiae, also known as Group B Streptococcus (GBS). Most tissues had more than one species isolated with E. faecalis and GBS frequently occurring in polymicrobial infection with S. aureus. S. aureus was the best biofilm producing species with E. faecalis and GBS isolates exhibiting little to no biofilm formation. Antibiotic susceptibility varied amongst strains with high levels of penicillin resistance amongst S. aureus, clindamycin resistance amongst GBS and intermediate vancomycin resistance amongst E. faecalis. Finally, we utilized a murine model of diabetic wound infection and found that the presence of S. aureus led to significantly higher recovery of GBS and E. faecalis compared to mice challenged in mono-infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Keogh
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Savannah Huyvaert
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Garrett D Moore
- Department of Orthopedics, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Alexander R Horswill
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Kelly S Doran
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
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7
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Darwitz BP, Genito CJ, Thurlow LR. Triple threat: how diabetes results in worsened bacterial infections. Infect Immun 2024:e0050923. [PMID: 38526063 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00509-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus, characterized by impaired insulin signaling, is associated with increased incidence and severity of infections. Various diabetes-related complications contribute to exacerbated bacterial infections, including hyperglycemia, innate immune cell dysfunction, and infection with antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. One defining symptom of diabetes is hyperglycemia, resulting in elevated blood and tissue glucose concentrations. Glucose is the preferred carbon source of several bacterial pathogens, and hyperglycemia escalates bacterial growth and virulence. Hyperglycemia promotes specific mechanisms of bacterial virulence known to contribute to infection chronicity, including tissue adherence and biofilm formation. Foot infections are a significant source of morbidity in individuals with diabetes and consist of biofilm-associated polymicrobial communities. Bacteria perform complex interspecies behaviors conducive to their growth and virulence within biofilms, including metabolic cross-feeding and altered phenotypes more tolerant to antibiotic therapeutics. Moreover, the metabolic dysfunction caused by diabetes compromises immune cell function, resulting in immune suppression. Impaired insulin signaling induces aberrations in phagocytic cells, which are crucial mediators for controlling and resolving bacterial infections. These aberrancies encompass altered cytokine profiles, the migratory and chemotactic mechanisms of neutrophils, and the metabolic reprogramming required for the oxidative burst and subsequent generation of bactericidal free radicals. Furthermore, the immune suppression caused by diabetes and the polymicrobial nature of the diabetic infection microenvironment may promote the emergence of novel strains of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. This review focuses on the "triple threat" linked to worsened bacterial infections in individuals with diabetes: (i) altered nutritional availability in diabetic tissues, (ii) diabetes-associated immune suppression, and (iii) antibiotic treatment failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin P Darwitz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Christopher J Genito
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lance R Thurlow
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Ling J, Hryckowian AJ. Re-framing the importance of Group B Streptococcus as a gut-resident pathobiont. Infect Immun 2024:e0047823. [PMID: 38436256 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00478-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is a Gram-positive bacterial species that causes disease in humans across the lifespan. While antibiotics are used to mitigate GBS infections, it is evident that antibiotics disrupt human microbiomes (which can predispose people to other diseases later in life), and antibiotic resistance in GBS is on the rise. Taken together, these unintended negative impacts of antibiotics highlight the need for precision approaches for minimizing GBS disease. One possible approach involves selectively depleting GBS in its commensal niches before it can cause disease at other body sites or be transmitted to at-risk individuals. One understudied commensal niche of GBS is the adult gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which may predispose colonization at other body sites in individuals at risk for GBS disease. However, a better understanding of the host-, microbiome-, and GBS-determined variables that dictate GBS GI carriage is needed before precise GI decolonization approaches can be developed. In this review, we synthesize current knowledge of the diverse body sites occupied by GBS as a pathogen and as a commensal. We summarize key molecular factors GBS utilizes to colonize different host-associated niches to inform future efforts to study GBS in the GI tract. We also discuss other GI commensals that are pathogenic in other body sites to emphasize the broader utility of precise de-colonization approaches for mitigating infections by GBS and other bacterial pathogens. Finally, we highlight how GBS treatments could be improved with a more holistic understanding of GBS enabled by continued GI-focused study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joie Ling
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Healthon, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Andrew J Hryckowian
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Healthon, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Wang Z, Yan B, Ni Y, Cao Y, Qiu J, He R, Dong Y, Hao M, Wang W, Wang C, Su H, Yi B, Chang L. A portable, integrated microfluidics for rapid and sensitive diagnosis of Streptococcus agalactiae in resource-limited environments. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 247:115917. [PMID: 38101186 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115917] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) has been the leading cause of infections in newborns. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of GBS in pregnant women is a deterministic strategy to prevent newborn infection. Conventional detection methods based on nucleic acid amplification assay have been applied in GBS diagnosis in central laboratories, with demonstrated high sensitivity. However, their heavy dependence on instrumentation and trained technicians forms remarkable obstacles to GBS detection in wide scenarios, including self-testing, and bedside-/community-screening. Furthermore, the structures of GBS bring about extra challenges to the nucleic acid extraction and purification. Novel GBS diagnosis platforms integrating sample processing, amplification, and read-out, are highly desired in clinical. Here, we report a portable, integrated microfluidics that enables rapid extraction of DNA from sampling swabs (<10 min), power-free DNA amplification (<30 min), and simple read-out in GBS detection. The platform works without an external pump, achieving rapid and highly efficient DNA extraction from clinical samples, with a significantly reduced time from 6 h to less than 50 min. Systematic clinical tests based on 47 patient samples validated the high performance of the platform, highlighted with a low limit of detection (LOD, 103 copies/ml), high sensitivity (100%), and specificity (100%). Head-to-head comparisons showed that the device improved the LOD by an order of magnitude than the traditional PCR method, showing a simple yet powerful POCT platform for home-/community-based testing towards GBS (and other pathogens) prevention in remote areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiying Wang
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Bo Yan
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China; Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Infertility, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Yali Ni
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China; Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Infertility, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Yafei Cao
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China; Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Infertility, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China; The First Clinical Medical College of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jie Qiu
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Rui He
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Yan Dong
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Man Hao
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Weikai Wang
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China; Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Pediatric, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Haixiang Su
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China.
| | - Bin Yi
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China; Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Pediatric, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China.
| | - Lingqian Chang
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Central Hospital), Lanzhou, 730050, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
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10
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Cai X, Yang S, Peng Y, Tan K, Xu P, Wu Z, Kwan KY, Jian J. Regulation of PhoB on biofilm formation and hemolysin gene hlyA and ciaR of Streptococcus agalactiae. Vet Microbiol 2024; 289:109961. [PMID: 38147806 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
PhoB is a response regulator protein that plays a key role in the PhoBR two-component signal transduction system. In this study, we used transcriptome and proteomics techniques to evaluate the detect the gene network regulated by PhoB of Streptococcus agalactiae. The results showed that expression of biofilm formation and virulence-related genes were changed after phoB deficiency. Crystal violet and CLSM assay confirmed that the deletion of the phoB increased the thickness of S. agalactiae biofilm. The results of lacZ reporter and the bacterial one-hybridization method showed that PhoB could directly bind to the promoter regions of hemolysin A and ciaR genes but not to the promoter regions of cylE and hemolysin III. Through the construction of an 18-base pair deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) random fragment library and the bacterial one-hybridization system, it was found that the conservative sequence of PhoB binding was TTGGAGAA(G/T). Our research has uncovered the virulence potential of the PhoBR two-component system of S. agalactiae. The findings of this study provide the theoretical foundation for in-depth research on the pathogenic mechanism of S. agalactiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Cai
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Biodiversity Conservation, Ocean College, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
| | - Shaoyu Yang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Biodiversity Conservation, Ocean College, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
| | - Yinhui Peng
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Biodiversity Conservation, Ocean College, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China; College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animal, Key Laboratory of Control for Disease of Aquatic Animals of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Kianann Tan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Biodiversity Conservation, Ocean College, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Biodiversity Conservation, Ocean College, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
| | - Zaohe Wu
- College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animal, Key Laboratory of Control for Disease of Aquatic Animals of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Kit Yue Kwan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Biodiversity Conservation, Ocean College, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China.
| | - Jichang Jian
- College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animal, Key Laboratory of Control for Disease of Aquatic Animals of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
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11
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Manzer HS, Brunetti T, Doran KS. Identification of a DNA-cytosine methyltransferase that impacts global transcription to promote group B streptococcal vaginal colonization. mBio 2023; 14:e0230623. [PMID: 37905908 PMCID: PMC10746215 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02306-23] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonizes the female reproductive tract (FRT) in one-third of women, and carriage leads to numerous adverse pregnancy outcomes including the preterm premature rupture of membranes, chorioamnionitis, and stillbirth. The presence of GBS in the FRT during pregnancy is also the largest predisposing factor for the transmission of GBS and invasive neonatal diseases, including pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. The factors contributing to GBS colonization are still being elucidated. Here, we show for the first time that GBS transcription is regulated by an orphan DNA cytosine methyltransferase (Dcm). Many GBS factors are regulated by Dcm, especially those involved in carbohydrate transport and metabolism. We show that GBS persistence in the FRT is dependent on the catabolism of sugars found on the vaginal mucin MUC5B. Collectively, this work highlights the regulatory importance of a DNA methyltransferase and identifies both host and bacterial factors required for GBS colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haider S. Manzer
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Tonya Brunetti
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Kelly S. Doran
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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12
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Wen H, Zhou W, Wu Y, Li Y, Zhu G, Zhang Z, Gu X, Wang C, Yang Z. Effective treatment of a broad-host-range lytic phage SapYZU15 in eliminating Staphylococcus aureus from subcutaneous infection. Microbiol Res 2023; 276:127484. [PMID: 37659336 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Multidrug resistance (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus is frequently isolated from food products, and can cause severe clinical infection. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy is a promising biocontrol agent against MDR S. aureus in food contamination and clinical infections. In this study, the antimicrobial susceptibility of 47 S. aureus isolates from three swine farms, two slaughterhouses, and four markets (Yangzhou, China) were evaluated. The biological characteristics of four lytic S. aureus phages were compared and the lytic activity of phage SapYZU15 against MDR S. aureus was assessed using milk, fresh pork and a mouse model of subcutaneous abscess. The results showed that 28 S. aureus isolates (59.6%, 28/47) exhibited multiple antibiotic resistance to at least three different classes of antibiotics. Compared to SapYZU01, SapYZU02, and SapYZU03, SapYZU15 had a shorter latent period (10 min), larger burst size (322.00 PFU/cell), broader host range, wider temperature stability (-80 to 50 °C), and pH stability. Furthermore, SapYZU15 significantly reduces the counts of S. aureus in milk and pork (5.69 and 1.16 log colony-forming unit/mL, respectively) at 25 °C and controls the growth of S. aureus at 4 °C. Compared to the mice infected with S. aureus MRSA JCSC 4744 and cocktail (S. aureus YZUsa1, YZUsa4, YZUsa12, YZUsa14, and MRSA JCSC 4744), treatment with SapYZU15 led to faster tissue healing, less weight loss, and lower viable S. aureus counts in the murine abscess model. Moreover, prevention with SapYZU15 effectively inhibited abscess formation through a synergistic effect with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Consequently, our results suggest that SapYZU15 is an effective strategy for controlling S. aureus contamination in food products, and possesses an immense potential to treat and prevent clinic infection caused by MDR S. aureus strains. The interactions and mechanisms between SapYZU15 and its bacterial host differed depending on the model, temperature, and multiplicity of infection (MOI).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Wen
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225127, China
| | - Wenyuan Zhou
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225127, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
| | - Ying Wu
- School of Public Health and Emergency Management, Southern University of Science and Technology, ShenZhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Yajie Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225127, China
| | - Guoqiang Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Zhenwen Zhang
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Xuewen Gu
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Cuimei Wang
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
| | - Zhenquan Yang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225127, China
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13
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Shen Y, Nie C, Pan T, Zhang W, Yang H, Ye Y, Wang X. A multifunctional cascade nanoreactor based on Fe-driven carbon nanozymes for synergistic photothermal/chemodynamic antibacterial therapy. Acta Biomater 2023; 168:580-592. [PMID: 37451659 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Healing bacterial chronic wounds caused by hyperglycemia is of great significance to protect the physical and mental health of diabetic patients. In this context, emerging chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) with broad antibacterial spectra and high spatiotemporal controllability have flourished. However, CDT was challenged by the near-neutral pH and inadequate H2O2 surrounding the chronic wound site, while PTT showed overheating-triggered side effects (e.g., damaging the normal tissue) and poor effects on thermotolerant bacterial biofilms. Therefore, we engineered an all-in-one glucose-responsive photothermal nanozyme, GOX/MPDA/Fe@CDs, consisting of glucose oxidase (GOX), Fe-doped carbon dots (Fe@CDs), and mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA), to efficiently treat chronic diabetic wound bacterial infections and eradicate biofilms without impacting the surrounding normal tissues. Specifically, GOX/MPDA/Fe@CDs produced a local temperature (∼ 45.0°C) to enhance the permeability of the pathogenic bacterium and its biofilm upon near-infrared (NIR) 808 nm laser irradiation, which was seized to initiate endogenous high blood glucose to activate the catalytic activity of GOX on the GOX/MPDA/Fe@CD surface to achieve the simultaneous self-supplying of H2O2 and H+, cascade catalyzing •OH production via a subsequent peroxidase-mimetic activity-induced Fenton/Fenton-like reaction. As such, the in vivo diabetic wound infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was effectively healed after 12.0 days of treatment. This work was expected to provide an innovative approach to the clinical treatment of bacterially infected diabetic chronic wounds. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: An all-in-one glucose-responsive photothermal nanozyme GOX/MPDA/Fe@CDs was constructed. Cascade nanozyme GOX/MPDA/Fe@CDs self-supply H2O2 and H+ to break H2O2 and pH limits to fight bacterial infections. Synergistic chemotherapy and photothermal therapy with nanozyme GOX/MPDA/Fe@CDs accelerates healing of biofilm-infected diabetic wounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhong Shen
- School of Food & Biological Engineering, Engineering Research Center of Bio-Process, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Agricultural Products Processing of Anhui Province, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Chao Nie
- School of Food & Biological Engineering, Engineering Research Center of Bio-Process, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Agricultural Products Processing of Anhui Province, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Ting Pan
- School of Food & Biological Engineering, Engineering Research Center of Bio-Process, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Agricultural Products Processing of Anhui Province, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Research and Engineering Center of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
| | - Hui Yang
- Guizhou Academy of Tobacco Science, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Yingwang Ye
- School of Food & Biological Engineering, Engineering Research Center of Bio-Process, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Agricultural Products Processing of Anhui Province, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China.
| | - Xianwen Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Research and Engineering Center of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
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14
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Akbari MS, Keogh RA, Radin JN, Sanchez-Rosario Y, Johnson MDL, Horswill AR, Kehl-Fie TE, Burcham LR, Doran KS. The impact of nutritional immunity on Group B streptococcal pathogenesis during wound infection. mBio 2023; 14:e0030423. [PMID: 37358277 PMCID: PMC10470527 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00304-23] [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: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a Gram-positive pathobiont that can cause adverse health outcomes in neonates and vulnerable adult populations. GBS is one of the most frequently isolated bacteria from diabetic (Db) wound infections but is rarely found in the non-diabetic (nDb) wound environment. Previously, RNA sequencing of wound tissue from Db wound infections in leprdb diabetic mice showed increased expression of neutrophil factors, and genes involved in GBS metal transport such as the zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and putative nickel (Ni) import systems. Here, we develop a Streptozotocin-induced diabetic wound model to evaluate the pathogenesis of two invasive strains of GBS, serotypes Ia and V. We observe an increase in metal chelators such as calprotectin (CP) and lipocalin-2 during diabetic wound infections compared to nDb. We find that CP limits GBS survival in wounds of non-diabetic mice but does not impact survival in diabetic wounds. Additionally, we utilize GBS metal transporter mutants and determine that the Zn, Mn, and putative Ni transporters in GBS are dispensable in diabetic wound infection but contributed to bacterial persistence in non-diabetic animals. Collectively, these data suggest that in non-diabetic mice, functional nutritional immunity mediated by CP is effective at mitigating GBS infection, whereas in diabetic mice, the presence of CP is not sufficient to control GBS wound persistence. IMPORTANCE Diabetic wound infections are difficult to treat and often become chronic due to an impaired immune response as well as the presence of bacterial species that establish persistent infections. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is one of the most frequently isolated bacterial species in diabetic wound infections and, as a result, is one of the leading causes of death from skin and subcutaneous infection. However, GBS is notoriously absent in non-diabetic wounds, and little is known about why this species thrives in diabetic infection. The work herein investigates how alterations in diabetic host immunity may contribute to GBS success during diabetic wound infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline S. Akbari
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Rebecca A. Keogh
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jana N. Radin
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Yamil Sanchez-Rosario
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Tucson, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Michael D. L. Johnson
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Tucson, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Tucson, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Tucson, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Tucson, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Alexander R. Horswill
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Thomas E. Kehl-Fie
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Lindsey R. Burcham
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Kelly S. Doran
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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15
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Mejia ME, Robertson CM, Patras KA. Interspecies Interactions within the Host: the Social Network of Group B Streptococcus. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0044022. [PMID: 36975791 PMCID: PMC10112235 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00440-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a pervasive neonatal pathogen accounting for a combined half a million deaths and stillbirths annually. The most common source of fetal or neonatal GBS exposure is the maternal microbiota. GBS asymptomatically colonizes the gastrointestinal and vaginal mucosa of 1 in 5 individuals globally, although its precise role in these niches is not well understood. To prevent vertical transmission, broad-spectrum antibiotics are administered to GBS-positive mothers during labor in many countries. Although antibiotics have significantly reduced GBS early-onset neonatal disease, there are several unintended consequences, including an altered neonatal microbiota and increased risk for other microbial infections. Additionally, the incidence of late-onset GBS neonatal disease remains unaffected and has sparked an emerging hypothesis that GBS-microbe interactions in developing neonatal gut microbiota may be directly involved in this disease process. This review summarizes our current understanding of GBS interactions with other resident microbes at the mucosal surface from multiple angles, including clinical association studies, agriculture and aquaculture observations, and experimental animal model systems. We also include a comprehensive review of in vitro findings of GBS interactions with other bacterial and fungal microbes, both commensal and pathogenic, along with newly established animal models of GBS vaginal colonization and in utero or neonatal infection. Finally, we provide a perspective on emerging areas of research and current strategies to design microbe-targeting prebiotic or probiotic therapeutic intervention strategies to prevent GBS disease in vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlyd E. Mejia
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Clare M. Robertson
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kathryn A. Patras
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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16
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A. Keogh
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Kelly S. Doran
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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