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Antoine C, Laforêt F, Fall A, Blasdel B, Delcenserie V, Thiry D. K1 capsule-dependent phage-driven evolution in Escherichia coli leading to phage resistance and biofilm production. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae109. [PMID: 38688866 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae109] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Understanding bacterial phage resistance mechanisms has implications for developing phage-based therapies. This study aimed to explore the development of phage resistance in Escherichia coli K1 isolates' to K1-ULINTec4, a K1-dependent bacteriophage. METHODS AND RESULTS Resistant colonies were isolated from two different strains (APEC 45 and C5), both previously exposed to K1-ULINTec4. Genome analysis and several parameters were assessed, including growth capacity, phage adsorption, phenotypic impact at capsular level, biofilm production, and virulence in the in vivo Galleria mellonella larvae model. One out of the six resistant isolates exhibited a significantly slower growth rate, suggesting the presence of a resistance mechanism altering its fitness. Comparative genomic analysis revealed insertion sequences in the region 2 of the kps gene cluster involved in the capsule biosynthesis. In addition, an immunoassay targeting the K1 capsule showed a very low positive reaction compared to the control. Nevertheless, microscopic images of resistant strains revealed the presence of capsules with a clustered organization of bacterial cells and biofilm assessment showed an increased biofilm production compared to the sensitive strains. In the G. mellonella model, larvae infected with phage-resistant isolates showed better survival rates than larvae infected with phage-sensitive strains. CONCLUSIONS A phage resistance mechanism was identified at the genomic level and had a negative impact on the K1 capsule production. The resistant isolates showed an increased biofilm production and a decreased virulence in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Antoine
- Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Veterinary bacteriology, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
- Food Science Department, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Fanny Laforêt
- Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Veterinary bacteriology, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
- Food Science Department, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Bob Blasdel
- Vésale Bioscience, Vésale Pharmaceutica, 5310 Noville-sur-Mehaigne, Belgium
| | - Véronique Delcenserie
- Food Science Department, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Damien Thiry
- Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Veterinary bacteriology, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
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2
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Kang D, Bagchi D, Chen IA. Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution of Phages and their Current Applications in Antimicrobial Therapy. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2024; 7:2300355. [PMID: 38933919 PMCID: PMC11198966 DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202300355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance remains a critical global health concern, necessitating the investigation of alternative therapeutic approaches. With the diminished efficacy of conventional small molecule drugs due to the emergence of highly resilient bacterial strains, there is growing interest in the potential for alternative therapeutic modalities. As naturally occurring viruses of bacteria, bacteriophage (or phage) are being re-envisioned as a platform to engineer properties that can be tailored to target specific bacterial strains and employ diverse antibacterial mechanisms. However, limited understanding of key pharmacological properties of phage is a major challenge to translating its use from preclinical to clinical settings. Here, we review modern advancements in phage-based antimicrobial therapy and discuss the in vivo pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of phage, addressing critical challenges in their application that must be overcome for successful clinical implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayeon Kang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 90024 USA
| | - Damayanti Bagchi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 90024 USA
| | - Irene A. Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 90024 USA
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3
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Wang H, Liu Y, Bai C, Leung SSY. Translating bacteriophage-derived depolymerases into antibacterial therapeutics: Challenges and prospects. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:155-169. [PMID: 38239242 PMCID: PMC10792971 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Predatory bacteriophages have evolved a vast array of depolymerases for bacteria capture and deprotection. These depolymerases are enzymes responsible for degrading diverse bacterial surface carbohydrates. They are exploited as antibiofilm agents and antimicrobial adjuvants while rarely inducing bacterial resistance, making them an invaluable asset in the era of antibiotic resistance. Numerous depolymerases have been investigated preclinically, with evidence indicating that depolymerases with appropriate dose regimens can safely and effectively combat different multidrug-resistant pathogens in animal infection models. Additionally, some formulation approaches have been developed for improved stability and activity of depolymerases. However, depolymerase formulation is limited to liquid dosage form and remains in its infancy, posing a significant hurdle to their clinical translation, compounded by challenges in their applicability and manufacturing. Future development must address these obstacles for clinical utility. Here, after unravelling the history, diversity, and therapeutic use of depolymerases, we summarized the preclinical efficacy and existing formulation findings of recombinant depolymerases. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of depolymerases as therapeutics for humans were assessed to provide insights for their further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglan Wang
- School of Pharmacy, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yannan Liu
- Emergency Medicine Clinical Research Center, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China
| | - Changqing Bai
- Department of Respiratory, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Guangdong 518055, China
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4
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Guo Z, Liu M, Zhang D. Potential of phage depolymerase for the treatment of bacterial biofilms. Virulence 2023; 14:2273567. [PMID: 37872768 PMCID: PMC10621286 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2273567] [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: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a major concern in medicine and veterinary science. The bacterial biofilm structures not only prevent the penetration of drugs into cells within the biofilm's interior but also aid in evasion of the host immune system. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapeutic approaches against bacterial biofilms. One potential strategy to counter biofilms is to use phage depolymerases that degrade the matrix structure of the bacteria and enable access to bacterial cells. This review mainly discusses the methods by which phage depolymerases enhance the efficacy of the human immune system and the therapeutic applications of some phage depolymerases, such as single phage depolymerase application, combined therapy with phage depolymerase and antibiotics, and phage depolymerase cocktails, for treating bacterial biofilms. This review also summarizes the relationship between bacterial biofilms and antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Biology Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Mengmeng Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Department of Hepatological Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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5
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Antoine C, Laforêt F, Goya-Jorge E, Gonza I, Lebrun S, Douny C, Duprez JN, Fall A, Taminiau B, Scippo ML, Daube G, Thiry D, Delcenserie V. Phage Targeting Neonatal Meningitis E. coli K1 In Vitro in the Intestinal Microbiota of Pregnant Donors and Impact on Bacterial Populations. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10580. [PMID: 37445758 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310580] [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: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli K1 is a leading cause of neonatal meningitis. The asymptomatic carriage of these strains in the maternal intestinal microbiota constitutes a risk of vertical transmission to the infant at birth. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of phage therapy against E. coli K1 in an intestinal environment and its impact on the intestinal microbiota. For this purpose, three independent experiments were conducted on the SHIME® system, the first one with only the phage vB_EcoP_K1_ULINTec4, the second experiment with only E. coli K1 and the last experiment with both E. coli K1 and the phage. Microbiota monitoring was performed using metagenetics, qPCR, SCFA analysis and the induction of AhR. The results showed that phage vB_EcoP_K1_ULINTec4, inoculated alone, was progressively cleared by the system and replicates in the presence of its host. E. coli K1 persisted in the microbiota but decreased in the presence of the phage. The impact on the microbiota was revealed to be donor dependent, and the bacterial populations were not dramatically affected by vB_K1_ULINTec4, either alone or with its host. In conclusion, these experiments showed that the phage was able to infect the E. coli K1 in the system but did not completely eliminate the bacterial load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Antoine
- Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
- Laboratory of Food Quality Management, Food Science Department, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Fanny Laforêt
- Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
- Laboratory of Food Quality Management, Food Science Department, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Elizabeth Goya-Jorge
- Laboratory of Food Quality Management, Food Science Department, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Irma Gonza
- Laboratory of Food Quality Management, Food Science Department, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Sarah Lebrun
- Laboratory of Food Quality Management, Food Science Department, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Caroline Douny
- Laboratory of Food Analysis, Department of Food Sciences, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Jean-Noël Duprez
- Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Abdoulaye Fall
- FoodChain ID Genomics, En Hayeneux 62, 4040 Herstal, Belgium
| | - Bernard Taminiau
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Food Sciences, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Marie-Louise Scippo
- Laboratory of Food Analysis, Department of Food Sciences, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Georges Daube
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Food Sciences, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Damien Thiry
- Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Véronique Delcenserie
- Laboratory of Food Quality Management, Food Science Department, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
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6
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Arredondo-Alonso S, Blundell-Hunter G, Fu Z, Gladstone RA, Fillol-Salom A, Loraine J, Cloutman-Green E, Johnsen PJ, Samuelsen Ø, Pöntinen AK, Cléon F, Chavez-Bueno S, De la Cruz MA, Ares MA, Vongsouvath M, Chmielarczyk A, Horner C, Klein N, McNally A, Reis JN, Penadés JR, Thomson NR, Corander J, Taylor PW, McCarthy AJ. Evolutionary and functional history of the Escherichia coli K1 capsule. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3294. [PMID: 37322051 PMCID: PMC10272209 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39052-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli is a leading cause of invasive bacterial infections in humans. Capsule polysaccharide has an important role in bacterial pathogenesis, and the K1 capsule has been firmly established as one of the most potent capsule types in E. coli through its association with severe infections. However, little is known about its distribution, evolution and functions across the E. coli phylogeny, which is fundamental to elucidating its role in the expansion of successful lineages. Using systematic surveys of invasive E. coli isolates, we show that the K1-cps locus is present in a quarter of bloodstream infection isolates and has emerged in at least four different extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) phylogroups independently in the last 500 years. Phenotypic assessment demonstrates that K1 capsule synthesis enhances E. coli survival in human serum independent of genetic background, and that therapeutic targeting of the K1 capsule re-sensitizes E. coli from distinct genetic backgrounds to human serum. Our study highlights that assessing the evolutionary and functional properties of bacterial virulence factors at population levels is important to better monitor and predict the emergence of virulent clones, and to also inform therapies and preventive medicine to effectively control bacterial infections whilst significantly lowering antibiotic usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Arredondo-Alonso
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Zuyi Fu
- Department of Infectious Disease, Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca A Gladstone
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alfred Fillol-Salom
- Department of Infectious Disease, Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Elaine Cloutman-Green
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Pål J Johnsen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ørjan Samuelsen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anna K Pöntinen
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - François Cléon
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Susana Chavez-Bueno
- University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City, UMKC School of Medicine, Kansas City, USA
| | - Miguel A De la Cruz
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
- Facultad de Medicina, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Miguel A Ares
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Manivanh Vongsouvath
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU), Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR
| | - Agnieszka Chmielarczyk
- Faculty of Medicine, Chair of Microbiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta str. 18, 31-121, Kraków, Poland
| | - Carolyne Horner
- British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Birmingham, UK
| | - Nigel Klein
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alan McNally
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Joice N Reis
- Laboratory of Pathology and Molecular Biology (LPBM), Gonçalo Moniz Research Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - José R Penadés
- Department of Infectious Disease, Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Nicholas R Thomson
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jukka Corander
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway.
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK.
- Helsinki Institute of Information Technology, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Peter W Taylor
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Alex J McCarthy
- Department of Infectious Disease, Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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7
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Danis-Wlodarczyk KM, Wozniak DJ, Abedon ST. Treating Bacterial Infections with Bacteriophage-Based Enzybiotics: In Vitro, In Vivo and Clinical Application. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:1497. [PMID: 34943709 PMCID: PMC8698926 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10121497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past few decades, we have witnessed a surge around the world in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This global health threat arose mainly due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics as well as a relative lack of new drug classes in development pipelines. Innovative antibacterial therapeutics and strategies are, therefore, in grave need. For the last twenty years, antimicrobial enzymes encoded by bacteriophages, viruses that can lyse and kill bacteria, have gained tremendous interest. There are two classes of these phage-derived enzymes, referred to also as enzybiotics: peptidoglycan hydrolases (lysins), which degrade the bacterial peptidoglycan layer, and polysaccharide depolymerases, which target extracellular or surface polysaccharides, i.e., bacterial capsules, slime layers, biofilm matrix, or lipopolysaccharides. Their features include distinctive modes of action, high efficiency, pathogen specificity, diversity in structure and activity, low possibility of bacterial resistance development, and no observed cross-resistance with currently used antibiotics. Additionally, and unlike antibiotics, enzybiotics can target metabolically inactive persister cells. These phage-derived enzymes have been tested in various animal models to combat both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and in recent years peptidoglycan hydrolases have entered clinical trials. Here, we review the testing and clinical use of these enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel J. Wozniak
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Stephen T. Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
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8
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Antoine C, Laforêt F, Blasdel B, Fall A, Duprez JN, Mainil J, Delcenserie V, Thiry D. In Vitro Characterization and In Vivo Efficacy Assessment in Galleria mellonella Larvae of Newly Isolated Bacteriophages against Escherichia coli K1. Viruses 2021; 13:2005. [PMID: 34696434 PMCID: PMC8541614 DOI: 10.3390/v13102005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Extra-intestinal Escherichia coli express several virulence factors that increase their ability to colonize and survive in different localizations. The K1 capsular type is involved in several infections, including meningitis, urinary tract, and bloodstream infections. The aims of this work were to isolate, characterize, and assess the in vivo efficacy of phages targeting avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) O18:K1, which shares many similarities with the human strains responsible for neonatal meningitis. Eleven phages were isolated against APEC O18:K1, and four of them presenting a narrow spectrum targeting E. coli K1 strains were further studied. The newly isolated phages vB_EcoS_K1-ULINTec2 were similar to the Siphoviridae family, and vB_EcoP_K1-ULINTec4, vB_EcoP_K1-ULINTec6, and vB_EcoP_K1-ULINTec7 to the Autographiviridae family. They are capsular type (K1) dependent and present several advantages characteristic of lytic phages, such as a short adsorption time and latent period. vB_EcoP_K1-ULINTec7 is able to target both K1 and K5 strains. This study shows that these phages replicate efficiently, both in vitro and in vivo in the Galleria mellonella model. Phage treatment increases the larvae survival rates, even though none of the phages were able to eliminate the bacterial load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Antoine
- Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (C.A.); (F.L.); (J.-N.D.); (J.M.)
- Food Science Department, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
| | - Fanny Laforêt
- Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (C.A.); (F.L.); (J.-N.D.); (J.M.)
- Food Science Department, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
| | - Bob Blasdel
- Vésale Bioscience, Vésale Pharmaceutica, 5310 Noville-sur-Mehaigne, Belgium;
| | - Abdoulaye Fall
- Genalyse Partner SA, En Hayeneux 62, 4040 Herstal, Belgium;
| | - Jean-Noël Duprez
- Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (C.A.); (F.L.); (J.-N.D.); (J.M.)
| | - Jacques Mainil
- Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (C.A.); (F.L.); (J.-N.D.); (J.M.)
| | - Véronique Delcenserie
- Food Science Department, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
| | - Damien Thiry
- Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, FARAH and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (C.A.); (F.L.); (J.-N.D.); (J.M.)
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9
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Xie Y, Thompson T, O'Leary C, Crosby S, Nguyen QX, Liu M, Gill JJ. Differential Bacteriophage Efficacy in Controlling Salmonella in Cattle Hide and Soil Models. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:657524. [PMID: 34262535 PMCID: PMC8273493 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.657524] [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] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Asymptomatic Salmonella carriage in beef cattle is a food safety concern and the beef feedlot environment and cattle hides are reservoirs of this pathogen. Bacteriophages present an attractive non-antibiotic strategy for control of Salmonella in beef. In this study, four diverse and genetically unrelated Salmonella phages, Sergei, Season12, Sw2, and Munch, were characterized and tested alone and in combination for their ability to control Salmonella in cattle hide and soil systems, which are relevant models for Salmonella control in beef production. Phage Sergei is a member of the genus Sashavirus, phage Season12 was identified as a member of the Chivirus genus, Sw2 was identified as a member of the T5-like Epseptimavirus genus, and Munch was found to be a novel “jumbo” myovirus. Observed pathogen reductions in the model systems ranged from 0.50 to 1.75 log10 CFU/cm2 in hides and from 0.53 to 1.38 log10 CFU/g in soil, with phages Sergei and Sw2 producing greater reductions (∼1 log10 CFU/cm2 or CFU/g) than Season12 and Munch. These findings are in accordance with previous observations of phage virulence, suggesting the simple ability of a phage to form plaques on a bacterial strain is not a strong indicator of antimicrobial activity, but performance in liquid culture assays provides a better predictor. The antimicrobial efficacies of phage treatments were found to be phage-specific across model systems, implying that a phage capable of achieving bacterial reduction in one model is more likely to perform well in another. Phage combinations did not produce significantly greater efficacy than single phages even after 24 h in the soil model, and phage-insensitive colonies were not isolated from treated samples, suggesting that the emergence of phage resistance was not a major factor limiting efficacy in this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yicheng Xie
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.,Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Tyler Thompson
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Chandler O'Leary
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Stephen Crosby
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Quang X Nguyen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Mei Liu
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Jason J Gill
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.,Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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10
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Blundell-Hunter G, Enright MC, Negus D, Dorman MJ, Beecham GE, Pickard DJ, Wintachai P, Voravuthikunchai SP, Thomson NR, Taylor PW. Characterisation of Bacteriophage-Encoded Depolymerases Selective for Key Klebsiella pneumoniae Capsular Exopolysaccharides. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:686090. [PMID: 34222050 PMCID: PMC8253255 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.686090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Capsular polysaccharides enable clinically important clones of Klebsiella pneumoniae to cause severe systemic infections in susceptible hosts. Phage-encoded capsule depolymerases have the potential to provide an alternative treatment paradigm in patients when multiple drug resistance has eroded the efficacy of conventional antibiotic chemotherapy. An investigation of 164 K. pneumoniae from intensive care patients in Thailand revealed a large number of distinct K types in low abundance but four (K2, K51, K1, K10) with a frequency of at least 5%. To identify depolymerases with the capacity to degrade capsules associated with these common K-types, 62 lytic phage were isolated from Thai hospital sewage water using K1, K2 and K51 isolates as hosts; phage plaques, without exception, displayed halos indicative of the presence of capsule-degrading enzymes. Phage genomes ranged in size from 41-348 kb with between 50 and 535 predicted coding sequences (CDSs). Using a custom phage protein database we were successful in applying annotation to 30 - 70% (mean = 58%) of these CDSs. The largest genomes, of so-called jumbo phage, carried multiple tRNAs as well as CRISPR repeat and spacer sequences. One of the smaller phage genomes was found to contain a putative Cas type 1E gene, indicating a history of host DNA acquisition in these obligate lytic phage. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) indicated that some phage displayed an extended host range due to the presence of multiple depolymerase genes; in total, 42 candidate depolymerase genes were identified with up to eight in a single genome. Seven distinct virions were selected for further investigation on the basis of host range, phage morphology and WGS. Candidate genes for K1, K2 and K51 depolymerases were expressed and purified as his6-tagged soluble protein and enzymatic activity demonstrated against K. pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides by gel electrophoresis and Anton-Paar rolling ball viscometry. Depolymerases completely removed the capsule in K-type-specific fashion from K. pneumoniae cells. We conclude that broad-host range phage carry multiple enzymes, each with the capacity to degrade a single K-type, and any future use of these enzymes as therapeutic agents will require enzyme cocktails for utility against a range of K. pneumoniae infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark C. Enright
- Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - David Negus
- School of Science & Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J. Dorman
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma E. Beecham
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Derek J. Pickard
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Nicholas R. Thomson
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter W. Taylor
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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11
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Genomic Profiling Reveals Distinct Routes To Complement Resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00043-20. [PMID: 32513855 PMCID: PMC7375759 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00043-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The serum complement system is a first line of defense against bacterial invaders. Resistance to killing by serum enhances the capacity of Klebsiella pneumoniae to cause infection, but it is an incompletely understood virulence trait. Identifying and characterizing the factors responsible for preventing activation of, and killing by, serum complement could inform new approaches to treatment of K. pneumoniae infections. Here, we used functional genomic profiling to define the genetic basis of complement resistance in four diverse serum-resistant K. pneumoniae strains (NTUH-K2044, B5055, ATCC 43816, and RH201207), and explored their recognition by key complement components. The serum complement system is a first line of defense against bacterial invaders. Resistance to killing by serum enhances the capacity of Klebsiella pneumoniae to cause infection, but it is an incompletely understood virulence trait. Identifying and characterizing the factors responsible for preventing activation of, and killing by, serum complement could inform new approaches to treatment of K. pneumoniae infections. Here, we used functional genomic profiling to define the genetic basis of complement resistance in four diverse serum-resistant K. pneumoniae strains (NTUH-K2044, B5055, ATCC 43816, and RH201207), and explored their recognition by key complement components. More than 90 genes contributed to resistance in one or more strains, but only three, rfaH, lpp, and arnD, were common to all four strains. Deletion of the antiterminator rfaH, which controls the expression of capsule and O side chains, resulted in dramatic complement resistance reductions in all strains. The murein lipoprotein gene lpp promoted capsule retention through a mechanism dependent on its C-terminal lysine residue; its deletion led to modest reductions in complement resistance. Binding experiments with the complement components C3b and C5b-9 showed that the underlying mechanism of evasion varied in the four strains: B5055 and NTUH-K2044 appeared to bypass recognition by complement entirely, while ATCC 43816 and RH201207 were able to resist killing despite being associated with substantial levels of C5b-9. All rfaH and lpp mutants bound C3b and C5b-9 in large quantities. Our findings show that, even among this small selection of isolates, K. pneumoniae adopts differing mechanisms and utilizes distinct gene sets to avoid complement attack.
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12
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Khazaei Z, Ghorbani P, Namaei MH, Rezaei Y, Yousefi M. Prevalence of Escherichia coli K1 Rectovaginal Colonization Among Pregnant Women in Iran: Virulence Factors and Antibiotic Resistance Properties. Microb Drug Resist 2020; 26:1201-1207. [PMID: 32354254 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2020.0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neonatal invasive infections caused by Escherichia coli K1 are still major health problems and effective preventive strategies at the maternal level can be a concern. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of rectovaginal colonization, related risk factors, virulence factors, and antibiotic resistance properties of E. coli K1 among pregnant women. In this cross-sectional study, vaginal and rectal swabs were collected from 400 pregnant women. The identification of E. coli isolates was performed by microbiological tests. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to identify the E. coli K1 strains. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion. Two duplex PCR assays were developed separately to detect genes encoding virulence determinants (fimH, hlyF, ibeA, and iucC) in the E. coli strains. The vaginal and rectal maternal E. coli K1 colonization rates were 3.7% and 19.25%, respectively. There is no significant association between demographic-obstetric factors and vaginal E. coli colonization in pregnant women. The most effective antibiotics against E. coli K1 strains were imipenem, gentamycin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime. In our study, the E. coli K1 strains were significantly more likely to possess the fimH (90.9% vs. 60.7%) and iucC (90.9% vs. 53.6%) than the E. coli non-K1 strains. This study demonstrates that E. coli K1 seems to be more virulent than non-K1 strains. Our findings highlight the importance of screening pregnant women for vaginal colonization by E. coli K1 and of the appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of early-onset E. coli neonatal infection and comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Khazaei
- Department of Gynecology, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Parvin Ghorbani
- Faulty of Medicine, and Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hasan Namaei
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Yasaman Rezaei
- Faulty of Medicine, and Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Masoud Yousefi
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
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13
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Chen Y, Li X, Wang S, Guan L, Li X, Hu D, Gao D, Song J, Chen H, Qian P. A Novel Tail-Associated O91-Specific Polysaccharide Depolymerase from a Podophage Reveals Lytic Efficacy of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:e00145-20. [PMID: 32111587 PMCID: PMC7170472 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00145-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains are important zoonotic foodborne pathogens, causing diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. However, antibiotic treatment of STEC infection is associated with an increased risk of HUS. Therefore, there is an urgent need for early and effective therapeutic strategies. Here, we isolated lytic T7-like STEC phage PHB19 and identified a novel O91-specific polysaccharide depolymerase (Dep6) in the C terminus of the PHB19 tailspike protein. Dep6 exhibited strong hydrolase activity across wide ranges of pH (pH 4 to 8) and temperature (20 to 60°C) and degraded polysaccharides on the surface of STEC strain HB10. In addition, both Dep6 and PHB19 degraded biofilms formed by STEC strain HB10. In a mouse STEC infection model, delayed Dep6 treatment (3 h postinfection) resulted in only 33% survival, compared with 83% survival when mice were treated simultaneously with infection. In comparison, pretreatment with Dep6 led to 100% survival compared with that of the control group. Surprisingly, a single PHB19 treatment resulted in 100% survival in all three treatment protocols. Moreover, a significant reduction in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines was observed at 24 h postinfection in Dep6- or PHB19-treated mice. These results demonstrated that Dep6 or PHB19 might be used as a potential therapeutic agent to prevent STEC infection.IMPORTANCE Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an important foodborne pathogen worldwide. The Shiga-like toxin causes diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. Although antibiotic therapy is still used for STEC infections, this approach may increase the risk of HUS. Phages or phage-derived depolymerases have been used to treat bacterial infections in animals and humans, as in the case of the "San Diego patient" treated with a phage cocktail. Here, we showed that phage PHB19 and its O91-specific polysaccharide depolymerase Dep6 degraded STEC biofilms and stripped the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from STEC strain HB10, which was subsequently killed by serum complement in vitro In a mouse model, PHB19 and Dep6 protected against STEC infection and caused a significant reduction in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines. This study reports the use of an O91-specific polysaccharide depolymerase for the treatment of STEC infection in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiangmin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- International Research Center for Animal Disease, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shuang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lingyu Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xinxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Dayue Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Dongyang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jiaoyang Song
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- International Research Center for Animal Disease, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ping Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- International Research Center for Animal Disease, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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14
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Loraine J, Heinz E, Soontarach R, Blackwell GA, Stabler RA, Voravuthikunchai SP, Srimanote P, Kiratisin P, Thomson NR, Taylor PW. Genomic and Phenotypic Analyses of Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates From Three Tertiary Care Hospitals in Thailand. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:548. [PMID: 32328045 PMCID: PMC7153491 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii are responsible for a large and increasing burden of nosocomial infections in Thailand and other countries of Southeast Asia. New approaches to their control and treatment are urgently needed and an attractive strategy is to remove the bacterial polysaccharide capsule, and thus the protection from the host's immune system. To examine phylogenetic relationships, distribution of capsule chemotypes, acquired antibiotic resistance determinants, susceptibility to complement and other traits associated with systemic infection, we sequenced 191 isolates from three tertiary referral hospitals in Thailand and used phenotypic assays to characterize key aspects of infectivity. Several distinct lineages were circulating in three hospitals and the majority belonged to global clonal group 2 (GC2). Very high levels of resistance to carbapenems and other front-line antibiotics were found, as were a number of widespread plasmid replicons. A high diversity of capsule genotypes was encountered, with only three of these (KL6, KL10, and KL47) showing more than 10% frequency. Almost 90% of GC2 isolates belonged to the most common capsule genotypes and were fully resistant to the bactericidal action of human serum complement, most likely protected by their polysaccharide capsule, which represents a key determinant of virulence for systemic infection. Our study further highlights the importance to develop therapeutic strategies to remove the polysaccharide capsule from extensively drug-resistant A. baumanii during the course of systemic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Loraine
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Heinz
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Grace A Blackwell
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,European Bioinformatics Institute, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Richard A Stabler
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Potjanee Srimanote
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathumtanee, Thailand
| | | | - Nicholas R Thomson
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter W Taylor
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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15
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Chauhan AK, Jang M, Kim Y. Phloretin Protects Macrophages from E. coli-Induced Inflammation through the TLR4 Signaling Pathway. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 30:333-340. [PMID: 31893612 PMCID: PMC9728332 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.1910.10063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Macrophages are the cells of the first-line defense system, which protect the body from foreign invaders such as bacteria. However, Gram-negative bacteria have always been the major challenge for macrophages due to the presence of lipopolysaccharides on their outer cell membrane. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of phloretin, a flavonoid commonly found in apple, on the protection of macrophages from Escherichia coli infection. RAW 264.7 cells infected with standard E. coli, or virulent E. coli K1 strain were treated with phloretin in a dose-dependent manner to examine its efficacy in protection of macrophages. Our results revealed that phloretin treatment reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO) and generation of reactive oxygen species along with reducing the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines induced by the E. coli and E. coli K1 strains in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, treatment of phloretin downregulated the expression of E. coli-induced major inflammatory markers i.e. cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, the TLR4-mediated NF-κB pathway was activated in E. coli-infected macrophages but was potentially downregulated by phloretin at the transcriptional and translational levels. Collectively, our data suggest that phloretin treatment protects macrophages from infection of virulent E. coli K1 strain by downregulating the TLR4-mediated signaling pathway and inhibiting NO and cytokine production, eventually protecting macrophages from E. coli-induced inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Kumar Chauhan
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Mihee Jang
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Yangmee Kim
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea,Corresponding author Phone: +82-2-450-3421 Fax: +82-2-447-5987 E-mail:
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16
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Welch TJ. Characterization of a novel Yersinia ruckeri serotype O1-specific bacteriophage with virulence-neutralizing activity. JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES 2020; 43:285-293. [PMID: 31828808 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.13124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A lytic bacteriophage (φNC10) specific to serotype O1 Yersinia ruckeri has been identified and evaluated as a model to assess the potential use of bacteriophages and their products for disease control in aquaculture. Electron microscopy of purified φNC10 revealed a virion particle with a small (70 nm) polyhedral head and short tail. φNC10 infected only serotype O1 strains of Y. ruckeri and failed to bind a defined Y. ruckeri mutant strain lacking O1 lipopolysaccharides (O1-LPS), suggesting that φNC10 uses O1-LPS as its receptor. In addition, spontaneous φNC10-resistant mutants of Y. ruckeri exhibited defects in O1-LPS production and were sensitive to rainbow trout serum. Purified φNC10 displayed a polysaccharide depolymerase activity capable of degrading Y. ruckeri O1-LPS and thereby sensitizing Y. ruckeri to the bactericidal effects of rainbow trout serum. The φNC10-associated polysaccharide depolymerase activity also reduced the ability of Y. ruckeri cells to cause mortality following intraperitoneal injection into rainbow trout. These data demonstrate a potential utility of φNC10 and its associated polysaccharide depolymerase activity for Y. ruckeri disease prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Welch
- Agricultural Research Service/U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, Kearneysville, West Virginia
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17
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Knecht LE, Veljkovic M, Fieseler L. Diversity and Function of Phage Encoded Depolymerases. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:2949. [PMID: 31998258 PMCID: PMC6966330 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages of the Podoviridae family often exhibit so-called depolymerases as structural components of the virion. These enzymes appear as tail spike proteins (TSPs). After specific binding to capsular polysaccharides (CPS), exopolysaccharides (EPS) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the host bacteria, polysaccharide-repeating units are specifically cleaved. Finally, the phage reaches the last barrier, the cell wall, injects its DNA, and infects the cell. Recently, similar enzymes from bacteriophages of the Ackermannviridae, Myoviridae, and Siphoviridae families were also described. In this mini-review the diversity and function of phage encoded CPS-, EPS-, and LPS-degrading depolymerases is summarized. The function of the enzymes is described in terms of substrate specificity and applications in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandra E Knecht
- Institute of Food and Beverage Innovation, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Marjan Veljkovic
- Institute of Food and Beverage Innovation, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Lars Fieseler
- Institute of Food and Beverage Innovation, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Wädenswil, Switzerland
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18
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Wu Y, Wang R, Xu M, Liu Y, Zhu X, Qiu J, Liu Q, He P, Li Q. A Novel Polysaccharide Depolymerase Encoded by the Phage SH-KP152226 Confers Specific Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae via Biofilm Degradation. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2768. [PMID: 31849905 PMCID: PMC6901502 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae necessitates the development of alternative therapies. Here, we isolated, characterized, and sequenced a K. pneumoniae bacteriophage (SH-KP152226) that specifically infects and lyses K. pneumoniae capsular type K47. The phage SH-KP152226 contains a genome of 41,420 bp that encodes 48 predicted proteins. Among these proteins, Dep42, the gene product of ORF42, is a putative tail fiber protein and hypothetically possesses depolymerase activity. We demonstrated that recombinant Dep42 showed specific enzymatic activities in the depolymerization of the K47 capsule of K. pneumoniae and was able to significantly inhibit biofilm formation and/or degrade formed biofilms. We also showed that Dep42 could enhance polymyxin activity against K. pneumoniae biofilms when used in combination with antibiotics. These results suggest that combination of the identified novel depolymerase Dep42, encoded by the phage SH-KP152226, with antibiotics may represent a promising strategy to combat infections caused by drug-resistant and biofilm-forming K. pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunqiang Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Research, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengsha Xu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanan Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianchao Zhu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shanghai Ruizhou Biotech Co. Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Jiangfeng Qiu
- Department of Research, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiming Liu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping He
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingtian Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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19
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Promises and Pitfalls of In Vivo Evolution to Improve Phage Therapy. Viruses 2019; 11:v11121083. [PMID: 31766537 PMCID: PMC6950294 DOI: 10.3390/v11121083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy is the use of bacterial viruses (phages) to treat bacterial infections, a medical intervention long abandoned in the West but now experiencing a revival. Currently, therapeutic phages are often chosen based on limited criteria, sometimes merely an ability to plate on the pathogenic bacterium. Better treatment might result from an informed choice of phages. Here we consider whether phages used to treat the bacterial infection in a patient may specifically evolve to improve treatment on that patient or benefit subsequent patients. With mathematical and computational models, we explore in vivo evolution for four phage properties expected to influence therapeutic success: generalized phage growth, phage decay rate, excreted enzymes to degrade protective bacterial layers, and growth on resistant bacteria. Within-host phage evolution is strongly aligned with treatment success for phage decay rate but only partially aligned for phage growth rate and growth on resistant bacteria. Excreted enzymes are mostly not selected for treatment success. Even when evolution and treatment success are aligned, evolution may not be rapid enough to keep pace with bacterial evolution for maximum benefit. An informed use of phages is invariably superior to naive reliance on within-host evolution.
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20
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Jang M, Kim J, Choi Y, Bang J, Kim Y. Antiseptic Effect of Ps-K18: Mechanism of Its Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Activities. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E4895. [PMID: 31581682 PMCID: PMC6801626 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20194895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, bioactive peptides have attracted attention for their therapeutic applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Among them, antimicrobial peptides are candidates for new antibiotic drugs. Since pseudin-2 (Ps), isolated from the skin of the paradoxical frog Pseudis paradoxa, shows broad-spectrum antibacterial activity with high cytotoxicity, we previously designed Ps-K18 with a Lys substitution for Leu18 in Ps, which showed high antibacterial activity and low toxicity. Here, we examined the potency of Ps-K18, aiming to develop antibiotics derived from bioactive peptides for the treatment of Gram-negative sepsis. We first investigated the antibacterial mechanism of Ps-K18 based on confocal micrographs and field emission scanning electron microscopy, confirming that Ps-K18 targets the bacterial membrane. Anti-inflammatory mechanism of Ps-K18 was investigated by secreted alkaline phosphatase reporter gene assays and RT-PCR, which revealed that Ps-K18 activates innate defense via Toll-like receptor 4-mediated nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathways. Moreover, we investigated the antiseptic effect of Ps-K18 using a lipopolysaccharide or Escherichia coli K1-induced septic shock mouse model. Ps-K18 significantly reduced bacterial growth and inflammatory responses in the septic shock model. Ps-K18 showed low renal and liver toxicity and attenuated lung damage effectively. This study suggests that Ps-K18 is a potent peptide antibiotic that could be applied therapeutically to Gram-negative sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihee Jang
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Research Institute for Bioactive-Metabolome Network, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.
| | - Jieun Kim
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Research Institute for Bioactive-Metabolome Network, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.
| | - Yujin Choi
- Chuncheon Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Chuncheon 24341, Korea.
| | - JeongKyu Bang
- Protein Structure Group, Korea Basic Science Institute, Ochang, Cheongju, Chung-Buk 28199, Korea.
| | - Yangmee Kim
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Research Institute for Bioactive-Metabolome Network, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.
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21
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Loss of Trefoil Factor 2 Sensitizes Rat Pups to Systemic Infection with the Neonatal Pathogen Escherichia coli K1. Infect Immun 2019; 87:IAI.00878-18. [PMID: 30833331 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00878-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) colonization of 2-day-old (P2) rat pups with Escherichia coli K1 results in translocation of the colonizing bacteria across the small intestine, bacteremia, and invasion of the meninges, with animals frequently succumbing to lethal infection. Infection, but not colonization, is strongly age dependent; pups become progressively less susceptible to infection over the P2-to-P9 period. Colonization leads to strong downregulation of the gene encoding trefoil factor 2 (Tff2), preventing maturation of the protective mucus barrier in the small intestine. Trefoil factors promote mucosal homeostasis. We investigated the contribution of Tff2 to protection of the neonatal rat from E. coli K1 bacteremia and tissue invasion. Deletion of tff2, using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9, sensitized P9 pups to E. coli K1 bacteremia. There were no differences between tff2-/ - homozygotes and the wild type with regard to the dynamics of GI colonization. Loss of the capacity to elaborate Tff2 did not impact GI tract integrity or the thickness of the small-intestinal mucus layer but, in contrast to P9 wild-type pups, enabled E. coli K1 bacteria to gain access to epithelial surfaces in the distal region of the small intestine and exploit an intracellular route across the epithelial monolayer to enter the blood circulation via the mesenteric lymphatic system. Although primarily associated with the mammalian gastric mucosa, we conclude that loss of Tff2 in the developing neonatal small intestine enables the opportunistic neonatal pathogen E. coli K1 to enter the compromised mucus layer in the distal small intestine prior to systemic invasion and infection.
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22
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Liu Y, Leung SSY, Guo Y, Zhao L, Jiang N, Mi L, Li P, Wang C, Qin Y, Mi Z, Bai C, Gao Z. The Capsule Depolymerase Dpo48 Rescues Galleria mellonella and Mice From Acinetobacter baumannii Systemic Infections. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:545. [PMID: 30936862 PMCID: PMC6431613 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has made it difficult to treat and control infections caused by this bacterium. Thus, alternatives to conventional antibiotics for management of severe A. baumannii infections is urgently needed. In our previous study, we found that a capsule depolymerase Dpo48 could strip bacterial capsules, and the non-capsuled A. baumannii were significantly decreased in the presence of serum complement in vitro. Here, we further explored its potential as a therapeutic agent for controlling systemic infections caused by extensively drug-resistant A. baumannii. Prior to mammalian studies, the anti-virulence efficacy of Dpo48 was first tested in a Galleria mellonella infection model. Survival rate of Dpo48-pretreated bacteria or Dpo48 treatment group was significantly increased compared to the infective G. mellonella without treatment. Furthermore, the safety and therapeutic efficacy of Dpo48 to mice were evaluated. The mice treated with Dpo48 displayed normal serum levels of TBIL, AST, ALT, ALP, Cr, BUN and LDH, while no significant histopathology changes were observed in tissues of liver, spleen, lung, and kidney. Treatment with Dpo48 could rescue normal and immunocompromised mice from lethal peritoneal sepsis, with the bacterial counts in blood, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney significantly reduced by 1.4-3.3 log colony-forming units at 4 h posttreatment. Besides, the hemolysis and cytotoxicity assays showed that Dpo48 was non-homolytic to human red blood cells and non-toxic to human lung, liver and kidney cell lines. Overall, the present study demonstrated the promising potential of capsule depolymerases as therapeutic agents to prevent antibiotic-resistant A. baumannii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannan Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.,Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 307th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China
| | | | - Yatao Guo
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lili Zhao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Liyuan Mi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Puyuan Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 307th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China
| | - Can Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 307th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China
| | - Yanhong Qin
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 307th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Mi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Changqing Bai
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 307th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China
| | - Zhancheng Gao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
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23
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Wang C, Li P, Niu W, Yuan X, Liu H, Huang Y, An X, Fan H, Zhangxiang L, Mi L, Zheng J, Liu Y, Tong Y, Mi Z, Bai C. Protective and therapeutic application of the depolymerase derived from a novel KN1 genotype of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteriophage in mice. Res Microbiol 2019; 170:156-164. [PMID: 30716390 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the major Gram-negative bacterial pathogens causing hospital-acquired multidrug-resistant infections, and the antimicrobial treatment options are scarce. The lack of available antimicrobials has prompted the development of alternative strategies for the treatment of these infections. In this study, a K. pneumoniae bacteriophage (vB_KpnP_IME321) targeting a KN1 capsular type strain, Kp409, was isolated, characterized and sequenced. This bacteriophage has a latent period of 20 min and a burst size of approximately 410 pfu/cell. It contained 49 predicted open reading frames, of which ORF42 was identified as encoding the putative capsule depolymerase. The enzyme expressed and purified in the Escherichia coli BL21 system, namely Dp42, could depolymerize the capsular polysaccharide of Kp409 and form translucent halos on the plates. The phage-encoded depolymerase could increase the inhibitory effect of serum on the growth of bacteria in vitro. Pre-treated with Dp42 rescued 100% of mice following lethal Kp409 challenge, and administration of this enzyme after infection significantly increased survival rates of infected mice in the animal experiment. In conclusion, the phage-encoded depolymerase Dp42 represents a potential alternative strategy for controlling infections mediated by K. pneumoniae expressing the KN1 capsular polysaccharide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 307 Hospital of PLA, 307 Clinical College, Anhui Medical University, No. 8 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Puyuan Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Diseases, 307th Hospital of PLA, No. 8 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Wenkai Niu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Diseases, 307th Hospital of PLA, No. 8 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Xin Yuan
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Diseases, 307th Hospital of PLA, No. 8 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Huiying Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Diseases, 307th Hospital of PLA, No. 8 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Yong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Xiaoping An
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Hang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Lilan Zhangxiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Liyuan Mi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Jing Zheng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Diseases, 307th Hospital of PLA, No. 8 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Yannan Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Diseases, 307th Hospital of PLA, No. 8 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Yigang Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Mi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Changqing Bai
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Diseases, 307th Hospital of PLA, No. 8 Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
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24
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Antibiotic Therapy Using Phage Depolymerases: Robustness Across a Range of Conditions. Viruses 2018; 10:v10110622. [PMID: 30424521 PMCID: PMC6266388 DOI: 10.3390/v10110622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Phage-derived depolymerases directed against bacterial capsules are showing therapeutic promise in various animal models of infection. However, individual animal model studies are often constrained by use of highly specific protocols, such that results may not generalize to even slight modifications. Here we explore the robustness of depolymerase therapies shown to succeed in a previous study of mice. Treatment success rates were reduced by treatment delay, more so for some enzymes than others: K1- and K5 capsule-degrading enzymes retained partial efficacy on delay, while K30 depolymerase did not. Phage were superior to enzymes under delayed treatment only for K1. Route of administration (intramuscular versus intraperitoneal) mattered for success of K1E, possibly for K1F, not for K1H depolymerase. Significantly, K1 capsule-degrading enzymes proved highly successful when using immune-suppressed, leukopenic mice, even with delayed treatment. Evolution of bacteria resistant to K1-degrading enzymes did not thwart therapeutic success in leukopenic mice, likely because resistant bacteria were avirulent. In combination with previous studies these results continue to support the efficacy of depolymerases as antibacterial agents in vivo, but system-specific details are becoming evident.
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25
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Complement Susceptibility in Relation to Genome Sequence of Recent Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates from Thai Hospitals. mSphere 2018; 3:3/6/e00537-18. [PMID: 30404929 PMCID: PMC6222052 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00537-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The capacity to resist the bactericidal action of complement (C') is a strong but poorly understood virulence trait in Klebsiella spp. Killing requires activation of one or more C' pathways, assembly of C5b-9 membrane attack complexes (MACs) on the surface of the outer membrane (OM), and penetration of MACs into the target bilayer. We interrogated whole-genome sequences of 164 Klebsiella isolates from three tertiary hospitals in Thailand for genes encoding surface-located macromolecules considered to play a role in determination of C' resistance. Most isolates (154/164) were identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the collection conformed to previously established population structures and antibiotic resistance patterns. The distribution of sequence types (STs) and capsular (K) types were also typical of global populations. The majority (64%) of isolates were resistant to C', and the remainder were either rapidly or slowly killed. All isolates carried genes encoding capsular polysaccharides (K antigens), which have been strongly linked to C' resistance. In contrast to previous reports, there were no differences in the amount of capsule produced by C'-resistant isolates compared to C'-susceptible isolates, nor was there any correlation between serum reactivity and the presence of hypermucoviscous capsules. Similarly, there were no correlations between the presence of genes specifying lipopolysaccharide O-side chains or major OM proteins. Some virulence factors were found more frequently in C'-resistant isolates but were considered to reflect clonal ST expansion. Thus, no single gene accounts for the C' resistance of the isolates sequenced in this study.IMPORTANCE Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is responsible for an increasing proportion of nosocomial infections, and emerging hypervirulent K. pneumoniae clones now cause severe community-acquired infections in otherwise healthy individuals. These bacteria are adept at circumventing immune defenses, and most survive and grow in serum; their capacity to avoid C'-mediated destruction is correlated with their invasive potential. Killing of Gram-negative bacteria occurs following activation of the C' cascades and stable deposition of C5b-9 MACs onto the OM. For Klebsiella, studies with mutants and conjugants have invoked capsules, lipopolysaccharide O-side chains, and OM proteins as determinants of C' resistance, although the precise roles of the macromolecules are unclear. In this study, we sequenced 164 Klebsiella isolates with different C' susceptibilities to identify genes involved in resistance. We conclude that no single OM constituent can account for resistance, which is likely to depend on biophysical properties of the target bilayer.
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26
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Chen Y, Sun E, Yang L, Song J, Wu B. Therapeutic Application of Bacteriophage PHB02 and Its Putative Depolymerase Against Pasteurella multocida Capsular Type A in Mice. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1678. [PMID: 30131774 PMCID: PMC6090149 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Phage PHB02 specifically infects Pasteurella multocida capsular serogroup A strains. In this study, we found that capsule deletion mutants were not lysed by PHB02, suggesting that the capsule of P. multocida serogroup A strains might be the primary receptor. Based on sequence analysis, a gene encoding a phage-associated putative depolymerase was identified. The corresponding recombinant depolymerase demonstrated specific activity against capsular serogroup A strains but did not strip capsule deletion mutants. In vivo experiments showed that PHB02 was retained at detectable levels in the liver, spleen, kidneys, lung, and blood, at 24 h post-administration in mice. Depolymerase plus serum significantly reduced the number of viable wild-type P. multocida strain HB03 cells (3.5–4.5 log decrease in colony-forming units). Moreover, treatment with phage or purified depolymerase resulted in significantly increased survival of mice infected with P. multocida HB03, and an absence of increase of eosinophils and basophils or other pathological changes when compared with the control group. These results show that phage PHB02 and its putative depolymerase represent a novel strategy for controlling P. multocida serogroup A strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Erchao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Lan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiaoyang Song
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
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27
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Schlieckau F, Schulz D, Fill Malfertheiner S, Entleutner K, Seelbach-Goebel B, Ernst W. A novel model to study neonatal Escherichia coli sepsis and the effect of treatment on the human immune system using humanized mice. Am J Reprod Immunol 2018; 80:e12859. [PMID: 29672989 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Neonatal sepsis is a serious threat especially for preterm infants. As existing in vitro and in vivo models have limitations, we generated a novel neonatal sepsis model using humanized mice and tested the effect of Betamethasone and Indomethacin which are used in the clinic in case of premature birth. METHOD OF STUDY Humanized mice were infected with Escherichia coli (E. coli). Subsequently, the effect of the infection itself, and treatment with Betamethasone and Indomethacin on survival, recovery, bacterial burden, leukocyte populations, and cytokine production, was analyzed. RESULTS The human immune system in the animals responded with leukocyte trafficking to the site of infection and granulopoiesis in the bone marrow. Treatment with Indomethacin had no pronounced effect on the immune system or bacterial burden. Betamethasone induced a decline of splenocytes. CONCLUSION The human immune system in humanized mice responds to the infection, making them a suitable model to study neonatal E. coli sepsis and the immune response of the neonatal immune system. Treatment with Betamethasone could have potential negative long-term effects for the immune system of the child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Schlieckau
- Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics St. Hedwig, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.,Institute of Immunology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Schulz
- Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics St. Hedwig, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.,Institute of Immunology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sara Fill Malfertheiner
- Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics St. Hedwig, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Entleutner
- Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics St. Hedwig, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Birgit Seelbach-Goebel
- Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics St. Hedwig, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Ernst
- Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics St. Hedwig, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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28
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Hernandez-Morales AC, Lessor LL, Wood TL, Migl D, Mijalis EM, Cahill J, Russell WK, Young RF, Gill JJ. Genomic and Biochemical Characterization of Acinetobacter Podophage Petty Reveals a Novel Lysis Mechanism and Tail-Associated Depolymerase Activity. J Virol 2018; 92:e01064-17. [PMID: 29298884 PMCID: PMC5827379 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01064-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The increased prevalence of drug-resistant, nosocomial Acinetobacter infections, particularly from pathogenic members of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex, necessitates the exploration of novel treatments such as phage therapy. In the present study, we characterized phage Petty, a novel podophage that infects multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter nosocomialis and Acinetobacter baumannii Genome analysis reveals that phage Petty is a 40,431-bp ϕKMV-like phage, with a coding density of 92.2% and a G+C content of 42.3%. Interestingly, the lysis cassette encodes a class I holin and a single-subunit endolysin, but it lacks canonical spanins to disrupt the outer membrane. Analysis of other ϕKMV-like genomes revealed that spaninless lysis cassettes are a feature of phages infecting Acinetobacter within this subfamily of bacteriophages. The observed halo surrounding Petty's large clear plaques indicated the presence of a phage-encoded depolymerase capable of degrading capsular exopolysaccharides (EPS). The product of gene 39, a putative tail fiber, was hypothesized to possess depolymerase activity based on weak homology to previously reported phage tail fibers. The 101.4-kDa protein gene product 39 (gp39) was cloned and expressed, and its activity against Acinetobacter EPS in solution was determined. The enzyme degraded purified EPS from its host strain A. nosocomialis AU0783, reducing its viscosity, and generated reducing ends in solution, indicative of hydrolase activity. Given that the accessibility to cells within a biofilm is enhanced by degradation of EPS, phages with depolymerases may have enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic potential against drug-resistant Acinetobacter strains.IMPORTANCE Bacteriophage therapy is being revisited as a treatment for difficult-to-treat infections. This is especially true for Acinetobacter infections, which are notorious for being resistant to antimicrobials. Thus, sufficient data need to be generated with regard to phages with therapeutic potential, if they are to be successfully employed clinically. In this report, we describe the isolation and characterization of phage Petty, a novel lytic podophage, and its depolymerase. To our knowledge, it is the first phage reported to be able to infect both A. baumannii and A. nosocomialis The lytic phage has potential as an alternative therapeutic agent, and the depolymerase could be used for modulating EPS both during infections and in biofilms on medical equipment, as well as for capsular typing. We also highlight the lack of predicted canonical spanins in the phage genome and confirm that, unlike the rounding of lambda lysogens lacking functional spanin genes, A. nosocomialis cells infected with phage Petty lyse by bursting. This suggests that phages like Petty employ a different mechanism to disrupt the outer membrane of Acinetobacter hosts during lysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Hernandez-Morales
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - L L Lessor
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - T L Wood
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - D Migl
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - E M Mijalis
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - J Cahill
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - W K Russell
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - R F Young
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - J J Gill
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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29
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Genome-Wide Identification by Transposon Insertion Sequencing of Escherichia coli K1 Genes Essential for In Vitro Growth, Gastrointestinal Colonizing Capacity, and Survival in Serum. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:JB.00698-17. [PMID: 29339415 PMCID: PMC5847654 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00698-17] [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: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli K1 strains are major causative agents of invasive disease of newborn infants. The age dependency of infection can be reproduced in neonatal rats. Colonization of the small intestine following oral administration of K1 bacteria leads rapidly to invasion of the blood circulation; bacteria that avoid capture by the mesenteric lymphatic system and evade antibacterial mechanisms in the blood may disseminate to cause organ-specific infections such as meningitis. Some E. coli K1 surface constituents, in particular the polysialic acid capsule, are known to contribute to invasive potential, but a comprehensive picture of the factors that determine the fully virulent phenotype has not emerged so far. We constructed a library and constituent sublibraries of ∼775,000 Tn5 transposon mutants of E. coli K1 strain A192PP and employed transposon-directed insertion site sequencing (TraDIS) to identify genes required for fitness for infection of 2-day-old rats. Transposon insertions were lacking in 357 genes following recovery on selective agar; these genes were considered essential for growth in nutrient-replete medium. Colonization of the midsection of the small intestine was facilitated by 167 E. coli K1 gene products. Restricted bacterial translocation across epithelial barriers precluded TraDIS analysis of gut-to-blood and blood-to-brain transits; 97 genes were required for survival in human serum. This study revealed that a large number of bacterial genes, many of which were not previously associated with systemic E. coli K1 infection, are required to realize full invasive potential. IMPORTANCEEscherichia coli K1 strains cause life-threatening infections in newborn infants. They are acquired from the mother at birth and colonize the small intestine, from where they invade the blood and central nervous system. It is difficult to obtain information from acutely ill patients that sheds light on physiological and bacterial factors determining invasive disease. Key aspects of naturally occurring age-dependent human infection can be reproduced in neonatal rats. Here, we employ transposon-directed insertion site sequencing to identify genes essential for the in vitro growth of E. coli K1 and genes that contribute to the colonization of susceptible rats. The presence of bottlenecks to invasion of the blood and cerebrospinal compartments precluded insertion site sequencing analysis, but we identified genes for survival in serum.
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30
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Maciejewska B, Olszak T, Drulis-Kawa Z. Applications of bacteriophages versus phage enzymes to combat and cure bacterial infections: an ambitious and also a realistic application? Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:2563-2581. [PMID: 29442169 PMCID: PMC5847195 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8811-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria. The "predator-prey" interactions are recognized as a potentially effective way to treat infections. Phages, as well as phage-derived proteins, especially enzymes, are intensively studied to become future alternative or supportive antibacterials used alone or in combination with standard antibiotic regimens treatment. There are many publications presenting phage therapy aspects, and some papers focused separately on the application of phage-derived enzymes. In this review, we discuss advantages and limitations of both agents concerning their specificity, mode of action, structural issues, resistance development, pharmacokinetics, product preparation, and interactions with the immune system. Finally, we describe the current regulations for phage-based product application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Maciejewska
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, S. Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Olszak
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, S. Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, S. Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148, Wroclaw, Poland.
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31
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Lin H, Paff ML, Molineux IJ, Bull JJ. Therapeutic Application of Phage Capsule Depolymerases against K1, K5, and K30 Capsulated E. coli in Mice. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2257. [PMID: 29201019 PMCID: PMC5696595 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Capsule depolymerase enzymes offer a promising class of new antibiotics. In vivo studies are encouraging but it is unclear how well this type of phage product will generalize in therapeutics, or whether different depolymerases against the same capsule function similarly. Here, in vivo efficacy was tested using cloned bacteriophage depolymerases against Escherichia coli strains with three different capsule types: K1, K5, and K30. When treating infections with the cognate capsule type in a mouse thigh model, the previously studied K1E depolymerase rescued poorly, whereas K1F, K1H, K5, and K30 depolymerases rescued well. K30 gp41 was identified as the catalytically active protein. In contrast to the in vivo studies, K1E enzyme actively degraded K1 capsule polysaccharide in vitro and sensitized K1 bacteria to serum killing. The only in vitro correlate of poor K1E performance in vivo was that the purified enzyme did not form the expected trimer. K1E appeared as an 18-mer which might limit its in vivo distribution. Overall, depolymerases were easily identified, cloned from phage genomes, and as purified proteins they proved generally effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Lin
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Matthew L Paff
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.,Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Ian J Molineux
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.,Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - James J Bull
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.,Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.,Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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32
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Comparative genome analysis of novel Podoviruses lytic for hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae of K1, K2, and K57 capsular types. Virus Res 2017; 243:10-18. [PMID: 28988127 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2017.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Hypermucoviscous (HV) strains of capsular types K1, K2 and K57 are the most virulent representatives of the Klebsiella pneumoniae species. Eight novel bacteriophages lytic for HV K. pneumoniae were isolated and characterized. Three bacteriophages, KpV41, KpV475, and KpV71 were found to have a lytic activity against mainly K. pneumoniae of capsular type K1. Two phages, KpV74, and KpV763 were lytic for K2 capsular type K. pneumoniae, and the phage KpV767 was specific to K57-type K. pneumoniae only. Two more phages, KpV766, and KpV48 had no capsular specificity. The phage genomes consist of a linear double-stranded DNA of 40,395-44,623bp including direct terminal repeats of 180-246 bp. The G + C contents are 52.3-54.2 % that is slightly lower than that of genomes of K. pneumoniae strains being used for phage propagation. According to the genome structures, sequence similarity and phylogenetic data, the phages are classified within the genus Kp32virus and Kp34virus of subfamily Autographivirinae, family Podoviridae. In the phage genomes, genes encoding proteins with putative motifs of polysaccharide depolymerase were identified. Depolymerase genes of phages KpV71 and KpV74 lytic for hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae of K1 and K2 capsular type, respectively, were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant gene products were purified. The specificity and polysaccharide-degrading activity of the recombinant depolymerases were demonstrated.
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33
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Witcomb LA, Czupryna J, Francis KP, Frankel G, Taylor PW. Non-invasive three-dimensional imaging of Escherichia coli K1 infection using diffuse light imaging tomography combined with micro-computed tomography. Methods 2017; 127:62-68. [PMID: 28522324 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2017.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In contrast to two-dimensional bioluminescence imaging, three dimensional diffuse light imaging tomography with integrated micro-computed tomography (DLIT-μCT) has the potential to realise spatial variations in infection patterns when imaging experimental animals dosed with derivatives of virulent bacteria carrying bioluminescent reporter genes such as the lux operon from the bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens. The method provides an opportunity to precisely localise the bacterial infection sites within the animal and enables the generation of four-dimensional movies of the infection cycle. Here, we describe the use of the PerkinElmer IVIS SpectrumCT in vivo imaging system to investigate progression of lethal systemic infection in neonatal rats following colonisation of the gastrointestinal tract with the neonatal pathogen Escherichia coli K1. We confirm previous observations that these bacteria stably colonize the colon and small intestine following feeding of the infectious dose from a micropipette; invading bacteria migrate across the gut epithelium into the blood circulation and establish foci of infection in major organs, including the brain. DLIT-μCT revealed novel multiple sites of colonisation within the alimentary canal, including the tongue, oesophagus and stomach, with penetration of the non-keratinised oesophageal epithelial surface, providing strong evidence of a further major site for bacterial dissemination. We highlight technical issues associated with imaging of infections in new born rat pups and show that the whole-body and organ bioburden correlates with disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luci A Witcomb
- University College London School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.
| | | | | | - Gad Frankel
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - Peter W Taylor
- University College London School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.
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34
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Guo Z, Huang J, Yan G, Lei L, Wang S, Yu L, Zhou L, Gao A, Feng X, Han W, Gu J, Yang J. Identification and Characterization of Dpo42, a Novel Depolymerase Derived from the Escherichia coli Phage vB_EcoM_ECOO78. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1460. [PMID: 28824588 PMCID: PMC5539073 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilm formation, one of the most important virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria, protects bacteria against desiccation, antibiotics, phages and host immune responses. However, phage-derived depolymerases show antibiofilm activity and demonstrate great potential to treat infections caused by biofilm-forming bacteria. In this study, the Escherichia coli phage vB_EcoM_ECOO78 was isolated and characterised, and we observed its ability to lyse five out of 34 tested E. coli clinical isolates. The highest phage titre was observed at a multiplicity of infection of 10-5 and a burst size of approximately 74 plaque forming units (PFU)/infection. Electron micrographs indicated that vB_EcoM_ECOO78 belongs to the family Myoviridae. The presence of increasing halos surrounding the lysis plaques formed by vB_EcoM_ECOO78 indicated that this phage may encode a depolymerase. Based on a sequencing analysis, the complete genome of vB_EcoM_ECOO78 was found to be 41,289 bp in size, with a GC content of 53.07%. Additionally, vB_EcoM_ECOO78 has 56 predicted open reading frames, 51 (91.07%) of which are assumed to be functional. A BLAST analysis indicated that ORF42 of vB_EcoM_ECOO78 (Dpo42) has low identity with other reported phage-associated depolymerases. Dpo42 was expressed and purified as a soluble protein using E. coli BL21. The biofilm formation ability of E. coli isolates and the antibiofilm activity of Dpo42 were tested by performing spot assays and using a 96-well micro-titre plate method. Dpo42 degraded the capsular polysaccharides surrounding E. coli and exhibited dose-dependent biofilm-formation prevention activity. Based on these results, Dpo42 appears to be a novel phage-derived depolymerase that represents a new potential strategy for preventing E. coli biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Guo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchun, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchun, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchun, China
| | - Guangmou Yan
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityChangchun, China
| | - Liancheng Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityChangchun, China
| | - Shuang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityChangchun, China
| | - Ling Yu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityChangchun, China
| | - Liang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityChangchun, China
| | - Anchong Gao
- Agricultural Experiment Base, Jilin UniversityChangchun, China
| | - Xin Feng
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityChangchun, China
| | - Wenyu Han
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityChangchun, China
| | - Jingmin Gu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityChangchun, China
| | - Junling Yang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchun, China
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35
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Hsieh PF, Lin HH, Lin TL, Chen YY, Wang JT. Two T7-like Bacteriophages, K5-2 and K5-4, Each Encodes Two Capsule Depolymerases: Isolation and Functional Characterization. Sci Rep 2017; 7:4624. [PMID: 28676686 PMCID: PMC5496888 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04644-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Two Klebsiella bacteriophages K5-2 and K5-4, which are able to infect and grow on either capsular types K30/K69 and K5 or K8 and K5 of Klebsiella strains, were isolated and characterized. Each phage contained two open reading frames (ORFs), which encoded two putative capsule depolymerases, respectively. The first ORF encoded tail fiber proteins, which have K30/K69 depolymerase and K8 depolymerase activities. The second ORF encoded hypothetical proteins, which are almost identical in amino acid sequences, and have K5 depolymerase activity. Alcian blue staining of enzyme-treated capsular polysaccharides (CPS) showed that purified depolymerases can cleave purified Klebsiella CPS in vitro and liberate monosaccharaides. Capsule K5 deletion mutants were not lysed by either phage, suggesting that the capsule was essential for phage infection. Bacterial killing was observed when incubated Klebsiella strains with phages but not with purified depolymerases. Treatment with the K5-4 phage significantly increased the survival of mice infected with a K. pneumoniae K5 strain. In conclusion, two dual host-specific Klebsiella phages and their tailspikes exhibit capsule depolymerase activity were characterized. Each phage and phage-encoded depolymerase has specificity for capsular type K30/K69, K8 or K5, and could be used for the typing and treatment of K. pneumoniae infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Fang Hsieh
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Hsuan Lin
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Lung Lin
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Yin Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Jin-Town Wang
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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36
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Breland EJ, Eberly AR, Hadjifrangiskou M. An Overview of Two-Component Signal Transduction Systems Implicated in Extra-Intestinal Pathogenic E. coli Infections. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:162. [PMID: 28536675 PMCID: PMC5422438 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) infections are common in mammals and birds. The predominant ExPEC types are avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), neonatal meningitis causing E. coli/meningitis associated E. coli (NMEC/MAEC), and uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). Many reviews have described current knowledge on ExPEC infection strategies and virulence factors, especially for UPEC. However, surprisingly little has been reported on the regulatory modules that have been identified as critical in ExPEC pathogenesis. Two-component systems (TCSs) comprise the predominant method by which bacteria respond to changing environments and play significant roles in modulating bacterial fitness in diverse niches. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of manipulating signal transduction systems as a means to chemically re-wire bacterial pathogens, thereby reducing selective pressure and avoiding the emergence of antibiotic resistance. This review begins by providing a brief introduction to characterized infection strategies and common virulence factors among APEC, NMEC, and UPEC and continues with a comprehensive overview of two-component signal transduction networks that have been shown to influence ExPEC pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin J Breland
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, TN, USA
| | - Allison R Eberly
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, TN, USA
| | - Maria Hadjifrangiskou
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, TN, USA.,Department of Urology, Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, TN, USA
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37
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Novel therapeutics for bacterial infections. Emerg Top Life Sci 2017; 1:85-92. [PMID: 33525811 DOI: 10.1042/etls20160017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The relentless increase in antibiotic resistance among all major groups of bacterial pathogens shows no sign of abating. The situation is exacerbated by a marked decline in the number of new antibiotics entering the marketplace. It is essential that new ways to treat severe bacterial infections are investigated before the antibiotic well runs dry. This review covers many promising approaches, some novel and some based on old ideas that were not considered viable when clinicians were able to exploit a wide palette of cheap and effective antibacterial chemotherapeutics. These approaches include the use of photosensitive dyes, bacteriophage and phage-encoded proteins, and agents that compromise virulence and antibiotic-resistance machineries. I also make a case for continuing in some form with tried and trusted platforms for drug discovery that served society well in the past.
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38
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Potential biomarkers for effective screening of neonatal sepsis infections: An overview. Microb Pathog 2017; 107:234-242. [PMID: 28377234 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2017.03.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2016] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal sepsis, a clinical disorder developed by bacterial blood stream infections (BSI) in neonates, is one of the serious global public health problems that must be addressed. More than one million of the estimated global newborn deaths per year are occurred due to severe infections. The genesis of the infection is divided into early-onset sepsis (EOS) and late-onset sepsis (LOS) of the disease. The clinical complications of neonatal sepsis may be associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, ductus arteriosus and necrotizing enterocolitis. The clinical diagnosis and treatment of neonatal sepsis is highly complicated. Over the past few years distinct biomarkers have been identified. Most widely used biomarkers are C-reactive protein, Procalcitonin (PCT) and Serum amyloid A (SAA). Until recently, many potential biomarkers including Cell Surface antigens and Bacterial surface antigens and genetic biomarkers are being investigated. Protein biomarkers, cytokines and chemokines are getting much interest for identification of neonatal sepsis infection.
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39
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Latka A, Maciejewska B, Majkowska-Skrobek G, Briers Y, Drulis-Kawa Z. Bacteriophage-encoded virion-associated enzymes to overcome the carbohydrate barriers during the infection process. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 101:3103-3119. [PMID: 28337580 PMCID: PMC5380687 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8224-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are bacterial viruses that infect the host after successful receptor recognition and adsorption to the cell surface. The irreversible adherence followed by genome material ejection into host cell cytoplasm must be preceded by the passage of diverse carbohydrate barriers such as capsule polysaccharides (CPSs), O-polysaccharide chains of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules, extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) forming biofilm matrix, and peptidoglycan (PG) layers. For that purpose, bacteriophages are equipped with various virion-associated carbohydrate active enzymes, termed polysaccharide depolymerases and lysins, that recognize, bind, and degrade the polysaccharide compounds. We discuss the existing diversity in structural locations, variable architectures, enzymatic specificities, and evolutionary aspects of polysaccharide depolymerases and virion-associated lysins (VALs) and illustrate how these aspects can correlate with the host spectrum. In addition, we present methods that can be used for activity determination and the application potential of these enzymes as antibacterials, antivirulence agents, and diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Latka
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148, Wroclaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Department of Applied Biosciences, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Barbara Maciejewska
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Grazyna Majkowska-Skrobek
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Yves Briers
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Department of Applied Biosciences, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148, Wroclaw, Poland.
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40
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Birchenough GMH, Dalgakiran F, Witcomb LA, Johansson MEV, McCarthy AJ, Hansson GC, Taylor PW. Postnatal development of the small intestinal mucosa drives age-dependent, regio-selective susceptibility to Escherichia coli K1 infection. Sci Rep 2017; 7:83. [PMID: 28250440 PMCID: PMC5427930 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00123-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The strong age dependency of neonatal systemic infection with Escherichia coli K1 can be replicated in the neonatal rat. Gastrointestinal (GI) colonization of two-day-old (P2) rats leads to invasion of the blood within 48 h of initiation of colonization; pups become progressively less susceptible to infection over the P2-P9 period. We show that, in animals colonized at P2 but not at P9, E. coli K1 bacteria gain access to the enterocyte surface in the mid-region of the small intestine and translocate through the epithelial cell monolayer by an intracellular pathway to the submucosa. In this region of the GI tract, the protective mucus barrier is poorly developed but matures to full thickness over P2-P9, coincident with the development of resistance to invasion. At P9, E. coli K1 bacteria are physically separated from villi by the mucus layer and their numbers controlled by mucus-embedded antimicrobial peptides, preventing invasion of host tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- George M H Birchenough
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Fatma Dalgakiran
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Luci A Witcomb
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Malin E V Johansson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Alex J McCarthy
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Gunnar C Hansson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Peter W Taylor
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, WC1N 1AX, UK.
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41
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Majkowska-Skrobek G, Łątka A, Berisio R, Maciejewska B, Squeglia F, Romano M, Lavigne R, Struve C, Drulis-Kawa Z. Capsule-Targeting Depolymerase, Derived from Klebsiella KP36 Phage, as a Tool for the Development of Anti-Virulent Strategy. Viruses 2016; 8:v8120324. [PMID: 27916936 PMCID: PMC5192385 DOI: 10.3390/v8120324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Revised: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The rise of antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, a leading nosocomial pathogen, prompts the need for alternative therapies. We have identified and characterized a novel depolymerase enzyme encoded by Klebsiella phage KP36 (depoKP36), from the Siphoviridae family. To gain insights into the catalytic and structural features of depoKP36, we have recombinantly produced this protein of 93.4 kDa and showed that it is able to hydrolyze a crude exopolysaccharide of a K. pneumoniae host. Using in vitro and in vivo assays, we found that depoKP36 was also effective against a native capsule of clinical K. pneumoniae strains, representing the K63 type, and significantly inhibited Klebsiella-induced mortality of Galleria mellonella larvae in a time-dependent manner. DepoKP36 did not affect the antibiotic susceptibility of Klebsiella strains. The activity of this enzyme was retained in a broad range of pH values (4.0–7.0) and temperatures (up to 45 °C). Consistently, the circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy revealed a highly stability with melting transition temperature (Tm) = 65 °C. In contrast to other phage tailspike proteins, this enzyme was susceptible to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) denaturation and proteolytic cleavage. The structural studies in solution showed a trimeric arrangement with a high β-sheet content. Our findings identify depoKP36 as a suitable candidate for the development of new treatments for K. pneumoniae infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grażyna Majkowska-Skrobek
- Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Łątka
- Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Rita Berisio
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via Mezzocannone 16, I-80134 Naples, Italy.
| | - Barbara Maciejewska
- Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Flavia Squeglia
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via Mezzocannone 16, I-80134 Naples, Italy.
| | - Maria Romano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via Mezzocannone 16, I-80134 Naples, Italy.
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, box 2462, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Carsten Struve
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300S Copenhagen, Denmark.
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Escherichia and Klebsiella, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300S Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland.
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42
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Pathoadaptive Mutations of Escherichia coli K1 in Experimental Neonatal Systemic Infection. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166793. [PMID: 27861552 PMCID: PMC5115809 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Although Escherichia coli K1 strains are benign commensals in adults, their acquisition at birth by the newborn may result in life-threatening systemic infections, most commonly sepsis and meningitis. Key features of these infections, including stable gastrointestinal (GI) colonization and age-dependent invasion of the bloodstream, can be replicated in the neonatal rat. We previously increased the capacity of a septicemia isolate of E. coli K1 to elicit systemic infection following colonization of the small intestine by serial passage through two-day-old (P2) rat pups. The passaged strain, A192PP (belonging to sequence type 95), induces lethal infection in all pups fed 2–6 x 106 CFU. Here we use whole-genome sequencing to identify mutations responsible for the threefold increase in lethality between the initial clinical isolate and the passaged derivative. Only four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in genes (gloB, yjgV, tdcE) or promoters (thrA) involved in metabolic functions, were found: no changes were detected in genes encoding virulence determinants associated with the invasive potential of E. coli K1. The passaged strain differed in carbon source utilization in comparison to the clinical isolate, most notably its inability to metabolize glucose for growth. Deletion of each of the four genes from the E. coli A192PP chromosome altered the proteome, reduced the number of colonizing bacteria in the small intestine and increased the number of P2 survivors. This work indicates that changes in metabolic potential lead to increased colonization of the neonatal GI tract, increasing the potential for translocation across the GI epithelium into the systemic circulation.
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43
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Garcie C, Tronnet S, Garénaux A, McCarthy AJ, Brachmann AO, Pénary M, Houle S, Nougayrède JP, Piel J, Taylor PW, Dozois CM, Genevaux P, Oswald E, Martin P. The Bacterial Stress-Responsive Hsp90 Chaperone (HtpG) Is Required for the Production of the Genotoxin Colibactin and the Siderophore Yersiniabactin inEscherichia coli. J Infect Dis 2016; 214:916-24. [DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
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Drulis-Kawa Z, Majkowska-Skrobek G, Maciejewska B. Bacteriophages and phage-derived proteins--application approaches. Curr Med Chem 2016; 22:1757-73. [PMID: 25666799 PMCID: PMC4468916 DOI: 10.2174/0929867322666150209152851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Revised: 11/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Currently, the bacterial resistance, especially to most commonly used antibiotics has proved to be a severe therapeutic problem. Nosocomial and community-acquired infections are usually caused by multidrug resistant strains. Therefore, we are forced to develop an alternative or supportive treatment for successful cure of life-threatening infections. The idea of using natural bacterial pathogens such as bacteriophages is already well known. Many papers have been published proving the high antibacterial efficacy of lytic phages tested in animal models as well as in the clinic. Researchers have also investigated the application of non-lytic phages and temperate phages, with promising results. Moreover, the development of molecular biology and novel generation methods of sequencing has opened up new possibilities in the design of engineered phages and recombinant phage-derived proteins. Encouraging performances were noted especially for phage enzymes involved in the first step of viral infection responsible for bacterial envelope degradation, named depolymerases. There are at least five major groups of such enzymes – peptidoglycan hydrolases, endosialidases, endorhamnosidases, alginate lyases and hyaluronate lyases – that have application potential. There is also much interest in proteins encoded by lysis cassette genes (holins, endolysins, spanins) responsible for progeny release during the phage lytic cycle. In this review, we discuss several issues of phage and phage-derived protein application approaches in therapy, diagnostics and biotechnology in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland.
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Abstract
Sialic acids, or the more broad term nonulosonic acids, comprise a family of nine-carbon keto-sugars ubiquitous on mammalian mucous membranes as terminal modifications of mucin glycoproteins. Sialic acids have a limited distribution among bacteria, and the ability to catabolize sialic acids is mainly confined to pathogenic and commensal species. This ability to utilize sialic acid as a carbon source is correlated with bacterial virulence, especially, in the sialic acid rich environment of the oral cavity, respiratory, intestinal, and urogenital tracts. This chapter discusses the distribution of sialic acid catabolizers among the sequenced bacterial genomes and examines the studies that have linked sialic acid catabolism with increased in vivo fitness in a number of species using several animal models. This chapter presents the most recent findings in sialobiology with a focus on sialic acid catabolism, which demonstrates an important relationship between the catabolism of sialic acid and bacterial pathogenesis.
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Bacteriophage-encoded depolymerases: their diversity and biotechnological applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 100:2141-51. [PMID: 26767986 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-7247-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 260] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages), natural enemies of bacteria, can encode enzymes able to degrade polymeric substances. These substances can be found in the bacterial cell surface, such as polysaccharides, or are produced by bacteria when they are living in biofilm communities, the most common bacterial lifestyle. Consequently, phages with depolymerase activity have a facilitated access to the host receptors, by degrading the capsular polysaccharides, and are believed to have a better performance against bacterial biofilms, since the degradation of extracellular polymeric substances by depolymerases might facilitate the access of phages to the cells within different biofilm layers. Since the diversity of phage depolymerases is not yet fully explored, this is the first review gathering information about all the depolymerases encoded by fully sequenced phages. Overall, in this study, 160 putative depolymerases, including sialidases, levanases, xylosidases, dextranases, hyaluronidases, peptidases as well as pectate/pectin lyases, were found in 143 phages (43 Myoviridae, 47 Siphoviridae, 37 Podoviridae, and 16 unclassified) infecting 24 genera of bacteria. We further provide information about the main applications of phage depolymerases, which can comprise areas as diverse as medical, chemical, or food-processing industry.
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Witcomb LA, Collins JW, McCarthy AJ, Frankel G, Taylor PW. Bioluminescent imaging reveals novel patterns of colonization and invasion in systemic Escherichia coli K1 experimental infection in the neonatal rat. Infect Immun 2015; 83:4528-40. [PMID: 26351276 PMCID: PMC4645386 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00953-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Key features of Escherichia coli K1-mediated neonatal sepsis and meningitis, such as a strong age dependency and development along the gut-mesentery-blood-brain course of infection, can be replicated in the newborn rat. We examined temporal and spatial aspects of E. coli K1 infection following initiation of gastrointestinal colonization in 2-day-old (P2) rats after oral administration of E. coli K1 strain A192PP and a virulent bioluminescent derivative, E. coli A192PP-lux2. A combination of bacterial enumeration in the major organs, two-dimensional bioluminescence imaging, and three-dimensional diffuse light imaging tomography with integrated micro-computed tomography indicated multiple sites of colonization within the alimentary canal; these included the tongue, esophagus, and stomach in addition to the small intestine and colon. After invasion of the blood compartment, the bacteria entered the central nervous system, with restricted colonization of the brain, and also invaded the major organs, in line with increases in the severity of symptoms of infection. Both keratinized and nonkeratinized surfaces of esophagi were colonized to a considerably greater extent in susceptible P2 neonates than in corresponding tissues from infection-resistant 9-day-old rat pups; the bacteria appeared to damage and penetrate the nonkeratinized esophageal epithelium of infection-susceptible P2 animals, suggesting the esophagus represents a portal of entry for E. coli K1 into the systemic circulation. Thus, multimodality imaging of experimental systemic infections in real time indicates complex dynamic patterns of colonization and dissemination that provide new insights into the E. coli K1 infection of the neonatal rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luci A Witcomb
- University College London School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
| | - James W Collins
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alex J McCarthy
- University College London School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gadi Frankel
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter W Taylor
- University College London School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
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Parenteral Administration of Capsule Depolymerase EnvD Prevents Lethal Inhalation Anthrax Infection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015; 59:7687-92. [PMID: 26438506 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01547-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Left untreated, inhalation anthrax is usually fatal. Vegetative forms of Bacillus anthracis survive in blood and tissues during infection due to elaboration of a protective poly-γ-D-glutamic acid (PDGA) capsule that permits uncontrolled bacterial growth in vivo, eventually leading to overwhelming bacillosis and death. As a measure to counter threats from multidrug-resistant strains, we are evaluating the prophylactic and therapeutic potential of the PDGA depolymerase EnvD, a stable and potent enzyme which rapidly and selectively removes the capsule from the surface of vegetative cells. Repeated intravenous administration of 10 mg/kg recombinant EnvD (rEnvD) to mice infected with lethal doses of B. anthracis Ames spores by inhalation prevented the emergence of symptoms of anthrax and death; all animals survived the 5-day treatment period, and 70% survived to the end of the 14-day observation period. In contrast to results in sham-treated animals, the lungs and spleen of rEnvD-dosed animals were free of gross pathological changes. We conclude that rEnvD has potential as an agent to prevent the emergence of inhalation anthrax in infected animals and is likely to be effective against drug-resistant forms of the pathogen.
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Zhu-Ge XK, Pan ZH, Tang F, Mao X, Hu L, Wang SH, Xu B, Lu CP, Fan HJ, Dai JJ. The effects of upaB deletion and the double/triple deletion of upaB, aatA, and aatB genes on pathogenicity of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:10639-54. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6925-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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The Genotoxin Colibactin Is a Determinant of Virulence in Escherichia coli K1 Experimental Neonatal Systemic Infection. Infect Immun 2015; 83:3704-11. [PMID: 26150540 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00716-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli strains expressing the K1 capsule are a major cause of sepsis and meningitis in human neonates. The development of these diseases is dependent on the expression of a range of virulence factors, many of which remain uncharacterized. Here, we show that all but 1 of 34 E. coli K1 neonatal isolates carried clbA and clbP, genes contained within the pks pathogenicity island and required for the synthesis of colibactin, a polyketide-peptide genotoxin that causes genomic instability in eukaryotic cells by induction of double-strand breaks in DNA. Inactivation of clbA and clbP in E. coli A192PP, a virulent strain of serotype O18:K1 that colonizes the gastrointestinal tract and translocates to the blood compartment with very high frequency in experimental infection of the neonatal rat, significantly reduced the capacity of A192PP to colonize the gut, engender double-strand breaks in DNA, and cause invasive, lethal disease. Mutation of clbA, which encodes a pleiotropic enzyme also involved in siderophore synthesis, impacted virulence to a greater extent than mutation of clbP, encoding an enzyme specific to colibactin synthesis. Restoration of colibactin gene function by complementation reestablished the fully virulent phenotype. We conclude that colibactin contributes to the capacity of E. coli K1 to colonize the neonatal gastrointestinal tract and to cause invasive disease in the susceptible neonate.
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