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Teteneva N, Sanches-Medeiros A, Sourjik V. Genome-wide screen of genetic determinants that govern Escherichia coli growth and persistence in lake water. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae096. [PMID: 38874171 PMCID: PMC11188689 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Although enteric bacteria normally reside within the animal intestine, the ability to persist extraintestinally is an essential part of their overall lifestyle, and it might contribute to transmission between hosts. Despite this potential importance, few genetic determinants of extraintestinal growth and survival have been identified, even for the best-studied model, Escherichia coli. In this work, we thus used a genome-wide library of barcoded transposon insertions to systematically identify functional clusters of genes that are crucial for E. coli fitness in lake water. Our results revealed that inactivation of pathways involved in maintaining outer membrane integrity, nucleotide biosynthesis, and chemotaxis negatively affected E. coli growth or survival in this extraintestinal environment. In contrast, inactivation of another group of genes apparently benefited E. coli growth or persistence in filtered lake water, resulting in higher abundance of these mutants. This group included rpoS, which encodes the general stress response sigma factor, as well as genes encoding several other global transcriptional regulators and RNA chaperones, along with several poorly annotated genes. Based on this co-enrichment, we identified these gene products as novel positive regulators of RpoS activity. We further observed that, despite their enhanced growth, E. coli mutants with inactive RpoS had reduced viability in lake water, and they were not enriched in the presence of the autochthonous microbiota. This highlights the duality of the general stress response pathway for E. coli growth outside the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataliya Teteneva
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Ananda Sanches-Medeiros
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Victor Sourjik
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), D-35043 Marburg, Germany
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2
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Detert K, Währer J, Nieselt K, Schmidt H. Broad time-dependent transcriptional activity of metabolic genes of E. coli O104:H4 strain C227/11Φcu in a soil microenvironment at low temperature. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2023; 15:582-596. [PMID: 37644642 PMCID: PMC10667640 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
In the current study, metabolic genes and networks that influence the persistence of pathogenic Escherichia coli O104:H4 strain C227/11Φcu in agricultural soil microenvironments at low temperature were investigated. The strain was incubated in alluvial loam (AL) and total RNA was prepared from samples at time point 0, and after 1 and 4 weeks. Differential transcriptomic analysis was performed by RNA sequencing analysis and values obtained at weeks 1 and 4 were compared to those of time point 0. We found differential expression of more than 1500 genes for either time point comparison. The two lists of differentially expressed genes were then subjected to gene set enrichment of Gene Ontology terms. In total, 17 GO gene sets and 3 Pfam domains were found to be enriched after 1 week. After 4 weeks, 17 GO gene sets and 7 Pfam domains were statistically enriched. Especially stress response genes and genes of the primary metabolism were particularly affected at both time points. Genes and gene sets for uptake of carbohydrates, amino acids were strongly upregulated, indicating adjustment to a low nutrient environment. The results of this transcriptome analysis show that persistence of C227/11Φcu in soils is associated with a complex interplay of metabolic networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Detert
- Department of Food Microbiology and Hygiene, Institute of Food Science and BiotechnologyUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | - Jonathan Währer
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical InformaticsUniversity of TübingenTübingenGermany
| | - Kay Nieselt
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical InformaticsUniversity of TübingenTübingenGermany
| | - Herbert Schmidt
- Department of Food Microbiology and Hygiene, Institute of Food Science and BiotechnologyUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
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3
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Migration Rates on Swim Plates Vary between Escherichia coli Soil Isolates: Differences Are Associated with Variants in Metabolic Genes. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0172722. [PMID: 36695629 PMCID: PMC9972950 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01727-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigates migration phenotypes of 265 Escherichia coli soil isolates from the Buffalo River basin in Minnesota, USA. Migration rates on semisolid tryptone swim plates ranged from nonmotile to 190% of the migration rate of a highly motile E. coli K-12 strain. The nonmotile isolate, LGE0550, had mutations in flagellar and chemotaxis genes, including two IS3 elements in the flagellin-encoding gene fliC. A genome-wide association study (GWAS), associating the migration rates with genetic variants in specific genes, yielded two metabolic variants (rygD-serA and metR-metE) with previous implications in chemotaxis. As a novel way of confirming GWAS results, we used minimal medium swim plates to confirm the associations. Other variants in metabolic genes and genes that are associated with biofilm were positively or negatively associated with migration rates. A determination of growth phenotypes on Biolog EcoPlates yielded differential growth for the 10 tested isolates on d-malic acid, putrescine, and d-xylose, all of which are important in the soil environment. IMPORTANCE E. coli is a Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic bacterium whose life cycle includes extra host environments in addition to human, animal, and plant hosts. The bacterium has the genomic capability of being motile. In this context, the significance of this study is severalfold: (i) the great diversity of migration phenotypes that we observed within our isolate collection supports previous (G. NandaKafle, A. A. Christie, S. Vilain, and V. S. Brözel, Front Microbiol 9:762, 2018, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00762; Y. Somorin, F. Abram, F. Brennan, and C. O'Byrne, Appl Environ Microbiol 82:4628-4640, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01175-16) ideas of soil promoting phenotypic heterogeneity, (ii) such heterogeneity may facilitate bacterial growth in the many different soil niches, and (iii) such heterogeneity may enable the bacteria to interact with human, animal, and plant hosts.
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Influence of Nutrients and the Native Community on E. coli Survival in the Beach Environment. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0104322. [PMID: 36218359 PMCID: PMC9642020 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01043-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research has identified E. coli populations that persist in freshwater beach sand distinct from fecal pollution events. This work identifies factors that influence the survival of E. coli in sand using laboratory microcosms to replicate beach conditions. Microcosms were deployed to examine the effect of genetic background, competition with native microbial community, and increased nutrient concentrations on E. coli survival. Survival was comparable between the phylotypes B1 and B2, however, deficiency of stress response greatly reduced survival. In the absence of the native community under nutrient conditions comparable to those observed in sand, E. coli cell densities remained within an order of magnitude of initial concentrations after 5 weeks of incubation. Increased nitrogen was associated with decreased decay rates in the first 2 weeks, and increased carbon appeared to provide an advantage at later time points. However, the highest survival was found with the addition of both carbon and nitrogen. Native sand seeded with fresh Cladophora maintained higher concentrations of E. coli, compared to sand containing decayed Cladophora or no Cladophora. Our findings demonstrate persistent E. coli populations in sand can be affected by the availability of carbon and nitrogen, the ability to regulate stress, and the presence of algal mats (i.e., Cladophora). Further, this work suggests that the native microbial communities may modulate survival by outcompeting E. coli for nutrients. IMPORTANCE Current monitoring for fecal pollution does not account for persistent E. coli populations in freshwater sand, which can result in higher concentrations in water when no threat to human health is present. This work examined the drivers for persistent E. coli populations in sand to aid beach management techniques. We examined the influence of nutrients, including localized sources such as stranded Cladophora, on E. coli populations. We found the major determinant of E. coli survival in freshwater beach sand was the addition of nutrients, specifically carbon and nitrogen concentrations 10-fold higher than baseline concentrations on beaches. This work provides the framework for identifying pollution sources that can promote E. coli survival in sand through the characterization of carbon and nitrogen content, which can be incorporated into beach management techniques. Through this improved knowledge, we can begin to understand E. coli fluctuations in water due to resuspension from sand into water.
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5
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Piveteau P, Druilhe C, Aissani L. What on earth? The impact of digestates and composts from farm effluent management on fluxes of foodborne pathogens in agricultural lands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 840:156693. [PMID: 35700775 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The recycling of biomass is the cornerstone of sustainable development in the bioeconomy. In this context, digestates and composts from processed agricultural residues and biomasses are returned to the soil. Whether or not the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in these processed biomasses is a threat to the sustainability of the current on-farm practices is still the subject of debate. In this review, we describe the microbial pathogens that may be present in digestates and composts. We then provide an overview of the current European regulation designed to mitigate health hazards linked to the use of organic fertilisers and soil improvers produced from farm biomasses and residues. Finally, we discuss the many factors that underlie the fate of microbial pathogens in the field. We argue that incorporating land characteristics in the management of safety issues connected with the spreading of organic fertilisers and soil improvers can improve the sustainability of biomass recycling.
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6
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Abram F, Arcari T, Guerreiro D, O'Byrne CP. Evolutionary trade-offs between growth and survival: The delicate balance between reproductive success and longevity in bacteria. Adv Microb Physiol 2021; 79:133-162. [PMID: 34836610 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
All living cells strive to allocate cellular resources in a way that promotes maximal evolutionary fitness. While there are many competing demands for resources the main decision making process centres on whether to proceed with growth and reproduction or to "hunker down" and invest in protection and survival (or to strike an optimal balance between these two processes). The transcriptional programme active at any given time largely determines which of these competing processes is dominant. At the top of the regulatory hierarchy are the sigma factors that commandeer the transcriptional machinery and determine which set of promoters are active at any given time. The regulatory inputs controlling their activity are therefore often highly complex, with multiple layers of regulation, allowing relevant environmental information to produce the most beneficial response. The tension between growth and survival is also evident in the developmental programme necessary to promote biofilm formation, which is typically associated with low growth rates and enhanced long-term survival. Nucleotide second messengers and energy pools (ATP/ADP levels) play critical roles in determining the fate of individual cells. Regulatory small RNAs frequently play important roles in the decision making processes too. In this review we discuss the trade-off that exists between reproduction and persistence in bacteria and discuss some of the recent advances in this fascinating field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Abram
- Microbiology & Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Talia Arcari
- Microbiology & Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Duarte Guerreiro
- Microbiology & Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Conor P O'Byrne
- Microbiology & Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
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7
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Detert K, Schmidt H. Survival of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O104:H4 Strain C227/11Φcu in Agricultural Soils Depends on rpoS and Environmental Factors. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111443. [PMID: 34832598 PMCID: PMC8620961 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The consumption of contaminated fresh produce caused outbreaks of enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) Escherichia coli. Agricultural soil might be a reservoir for EHEC strains and represent a contamination source for edible plants. Furthermore, the application of manure as fertilizer is an important contamination route. Thus, the German fertilizer ordinance prohibits the use of manure 12 weeks before crop harvest to avoid pathogen transmission into the food chain. In this study, the survival of E. coli O104:H4 strain C227/11Φcu in soil microenvironments with either diluvial sand or alluvial loam at two temperatures was investigated for more than 12 weeks. It was analyzed whether the addition of cattle manure extends EHEC survival in these microenvironments. The experiments were additionally performed with isogenic ΔrpoS and ΔfliC deletion mutants of C227/11Φcu. The survival of C227/11Φcu was highest at 4 °C, whereas the soil type had a minor influence. The addition of cattle manure increased the survival at 22 °C. Deletion of rpoS significantly decreased the survival period under all cultivation conditions, whereas fliC deletion did not have any influence. The results of our study demonstrate that EHEC C227/11Φcu is able to survive for more than 12 weeks in soil microenvironments and that RpoS is an important determinant for survival.
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8
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Tomato Domestication Affects Potential Functional Molecular Pathways of Root-Associated Soil Bacteria. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10091942. [PMID: 34579474 PMCID: PMC8472556 DOI: 10.3390/plants10091942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
While it has been well evidenced that plant domestication affects the structure of the root-associated microbiome, there is a poor understanding of how domestication-mediated differences between rhizosphere microorganisms functionally affect microbial ecosystem services. In this study, we explore how domestication influenced functional assembly patterns of bacterial communities in the root-associated soil of 27 tomato accessions through a transect of evolution, from plant ancestors to landraces to modern cultivars. Based on molecular analysis, functional profiles were predicted and co-occurrence networks were constructed based on the identification of co-presences of functional units in the tomato root-associated microbiome. The results revealed differences in eight metabolic pathway categories and highlighted the influence of the host genotype on the potential functions of soil bacterial communities. In general, wild tomatoes differed from modern cultivars and tomato landraces which showed similar values, although all ancestral functional characteristics have been conserved across time. We also found that certain functional groups tended to be more evolutionarily conserved in bacterial communities associated with tomato landraces than those of modern varieties. We hypothesize that the capacity of soil bacteria to provide ecosystem services is affected by agronomic practices linked to the domestication process, particularly those related to the preservation of soil organic matter.
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9
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Montealegre MC, Roy S, Böni F, Hossain MI, Navab-Daneshmand T, Caduff L, Faruque ASG, Islam MA, Julian TR. Risk Factors for Detection, Survival, and Growth of Antibiotic-Resistant and Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Household Soils in Rural Bangladesh. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:e01978-18. [PMID: 30315075 PMCID: PMC6275341 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01978-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Soils in household environments in low- and middle-income countries may play an important role in the persistence, proliferation, and transmission of Escherichia coli Our goal was to investigate the risk factors for detection, survival, and growth of E. coli in soils collected from household plots. E. coli was enumerated in soil and fecal samples from humans, chickens, and cattle from 52 households in rural Bangladesh. Associations between E. coli concentrations in soil, household-level risk factors, and soil physicochemical characteristics were investigated. Susceptibility to 16 antibiotics and the presence of intestinal pathotypes were evaluated for 175 E. coli isolates. The growth and survival of E. coli in microcosms using soil collected from the households were also assessed. E. coli was isolated from 44.2% of the soil samples, with an average of 1.95 log10 CFU/g dry soil. Soil moisture and clay content were associated with E. coli concentrations in soil, whereas no household-level risk factor was significantly correlated. Antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity were common among E. coli isolates, with 42.3% resistant to at least one antibiotic, 12.6% multidrug resistant (≥3 classes), and 10% potentially pathogenic. Soil microcosms demonstrate growth and/or survival of E. coli, including an enteropathogenic extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolate, in some, but not all, of the household soils tested. In rural Bangladesh, defined soil physicochemical characteristics appear more influential for E. coli detection in soils than household-level risk factors. Soils may act as reservoirs in the transmission of antibiotic-resistant and potentially pathogenic E. coli and therefore may impact the effectiveness of water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions.IMPORTANCE Soil may represent a direct source or act as an intermediary for the transmission of antibiotic-resistant and pathogenic Escherichia coli strains, particularly in low-income and rural settings. Thus, determining risk factors associated with detection, growth, and long-term survival of E. coli in soil environments is important for public health. Here, we demonstrate that household soils in rural Bangladesh are reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant and potentially pathogenic E. coli strains and can support E. coli growth and survival, and defined soil physicochemical characteristics are drivers of E. coli survival in this environment. In contrast, we found no evidence that household-level factors, including water, sanitation, and hygiene indicators, were associated with E. coli contamination of household soils.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Subarna Roy
- Enteric and Food Microbiology Laboratory, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Franziska Böni
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Muhammed Iqbal Hossain
- Enteric and Food Microbiology Laboratory, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tala Navab-Daneshmand
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Lea Caduff
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - A S G Faruque
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division (NCSD), International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Aminul Islam
- Enteric and Food Microbiology Laboratory, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Timothy R Julian
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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10
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Tymensen L, Zaheer R, Cook SR, Amoako KK, Goji N, Read R, Booker CW, Hannon SJ, Neumann N, McAllister TA. Clonal expansion of environmentally-adapted Escherichia coli contributes to propagation of antibiotic resistance genes in beef cattle feedlots. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 637-638:657-664. [PMID: 29758422 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Livestock wastewater lagoons represent important environmental reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), although factors contributing to their proliferation within these reservoirs remain poorly understood. Here, we characterized Escherichia coli from feedlot cattle feces and associated wastewater lagoons using CRISPR1 subtyping, and demonstrated that while generic E. coli were genetically diverse, populations were dominated by several 'feedlot-adapted' CRISPR types (CTs) that were widely distributed throughout the feedlot. Moreover, E. coli bearing beta-lactamase genes, which confer reduced susceptibility to third-generation cephalosporin's, predominantly belonged to these feedlot-adapted CTs. Remarkably, the genomic region containing the CRISPR1 allele was more frequently subject to genetic exchange among wastewater isolates compared to fecal isolates, implicating this region in environmental adaptation. This allele is proximal to the mutS-rpoS-nlpD region, which is involved in regulating recombination barriers and adaptive stress responses. There were no loss-of-function mutS or rpoS mutations or beneficial accessory genes present within the mutS-rpoS-nlpD region that would account for increased environmental fitness among feedlot-adapted isolates. However, comparative sequence analysis revealed that protein sequences within this region were conserved among most feedlot-adapted CTs, but not transient fecal CTs, and did not reflect phylogenetic relatedness, implying that adaptation to wastewater environments may be associated with genetic variation related to stress resistance. Collectively, our findings suggest adaptation of E. coli to feedlot environments may contribute to propagation of ARGs in wastewater lagoons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Tymensen
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Irrigation and Farm Water Branch, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4V6, Canada.
| | - Rahat Zaheer
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Shaun R Cook
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Irrigation and Farm Water Branch, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4V6, Canada
| | - Kingsley K Amoako
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, National Center for Animal Disease, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Noriko Goji
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, National Center for Animal Disease, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ron Read
- Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Alberta T1Y 6J4, Canada
| | - Calvin W Booker
- Feedlot Health Management Services, Ltd., Okotoks, Alberta T1S 2A2, Canada
| | - Sherry J Hannon
- Feedlot Health Management Services, Ltd., Okotoks, Alberta T1S 2A2, Canada
| | - Norman Neumann
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-300 Edmonton Clinic Health Authority, 11405-87 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Tim A McAllister
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1, Canada
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11
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Cruz-Loya M, Kang TM, Lozano NA, Watanabe R, Tekin E, Damoiseaux R, Savage VM, Yeh PJ. Stressor interaction networks suggest antibiotic resistance co-opted from stress responses to temperature. ISME JOURNAL 2018; 13:12-23. [PMID: 30171253 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-018-0241-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Environmental factors like temperature, pressure, and pH partly shaped the evolution of life. As life progressed, new stressors (e.g., poisons and antibiotics) arose as part of an arms race among organisms. Here we ask if cells co-opted existing mechanisms to respond to new stressors, or whether new responses evolved de novo. We use a network-clustering approach based purely on phenotypic growth measurements and interactions among the effects of stressors on population growth. We apply this method to two types of stressors-temperature and antibiotics-to discover the extent to which their cellular responses overlap in Escherichia coli. Our clustering reveals that responses to low and high temperatures are clearly separated, and each is grouped with responses to antibiotics that have similar effects to cold or heat, respectively. As further support, we use a library of transcriptional fluorescent reporters to confirm heat-shock and cold-shock genes are induced by antibiotics. We also show strains evolved at high temperatures are more sensitive to antibiotics that mimic the effects of cold. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that temperature stress responses have been co-opted to deal with antibiotic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Cruz-Loya
- Department of Biomathematics, University of California, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Tina Manzhu Kang
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Natalie Ann Lozano
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Rina Watanabe
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Elif Tekin
- Department of Biomathematics, University of California, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Robert Damoiseaux
- Department of Medical and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Van M Savage
- Department of Biomathematics, University of California, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, USA
| | - Pamela J Yeh
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. .,Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, USA.
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12
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Somorin YM, Vollmerhausen T, Waters N, Pritchard L, Abram F, Brennan F, O'Byrne C. Absence of Curli in Soil-Persistent Escherichia coli Is Mediated by a C-di-GMP Signaling Defect and Suggests Evidence of Biofilm-Independent Niche Specialization. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1340. [PMID: 29997584 PMCID: PMC6029578 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli is commonly viewed as a gastrointestinal commensal or pathogen although an increasing body of evidence suggests that it can persist in non-host environments as well. Curli are a major component of biofilm in many enteric bacteria including E. coli and are important for adherence to different biotic and abiotic surfaces. In this study we investigated curli production in a unique collection of soil-persistent E. coli isolates and examined the role of curli formation in environmental persistence. Although most soil-persistent E. coli were curli-positive, 10% of isolates were curli-negative (17 out of 170). Curli-producing E. coli (COB583, COB585, and BW25113) displayed significantly more attachment to quartz sand than the curli-negative strains. Long-term soil survival experiments indicated that curli production was not required for long-term survival in live soil (over 110 days), as a curli-negative mutant BW25113ΔcsgB had similar survival compared to wild type BW25113. Mutations in two genes associated with c-di-GMP metabolism, dgcE and pdeR, correlated with loss of curli in eight soil-persistent strains, although this did not significantly impair their survival in soil compared to curli-positive strains. Overall, the data indicate that curli-deficient and biofilm-defective strains, that also have a defect in attachment to quartz sand, are able to reside in soil for long periods of time thus pointing to the possibility that niches may exist in the soil that can support long-term survival independently of biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinka M Somorin
- Discipline of Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, College of Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Tara Vollmerhausen
- Discipline of Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, College of Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Nicholas Waters
- Discipline of Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, College of Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Florence Abram
- Discipline of Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, College of Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Fiona Brennan
- Soil and Environmental Microbiology, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Ireland
| | - Conor O'Byrne
- Discipline of Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, College of Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
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13
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Landscape-Scale Factors Affecting the Prevalence of Escherichia coli in Surface Soil Include Land Cover Type, Edge Interactions, and Soil pH. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018. [PMID: 29523546 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02714-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli is deposited into soil with feces and exhibits subsequent population decline with concomitant environmental selection. Environmentally persistent strains exhibit longer survival times during this selection process, and some strains have adapted to soil and sediments. A georeferenced collection of E. coli isolates was developed comprising 3,329 isolates from 1,428 soil samples that were collected from a landscape spanning the transition from the grasslands to the eastern deciduous forest biomes. The isolate collection and sample database were analyzed together to discover how land cover, site characteristics, and soil chemistry influence the prevalence of cultivable E. coli in surface soil. Soils from forests and pasture lands had equally high prevalences of E. coli Edge interactions were also observed among land cover types, with proximity to forests and pastures affecting the likelihood of E. coli isolation from surrounding soils. E. coli is thought to be more prevalent in sediments with high moisture, but this was observed only in grass- or crop-dominated lands in this study. Because differing E. coli phylogroups are thought to have differing ecology profiles, isolates were also typed using a novel single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assay. Phylogroup B1 was the dominant group isolated from soil, as has been reported in all other surveys of environmental E. coli Although differences were small, isolates belonging to phylogroups B2 and D were associated with wooded areas, slightly more acidic soils, and soil sampling after rainfall events. In contrast, isolates from phylogroups B1 and E were associated with pasture lands.IMPORTANCE The consensus is that complex niches or life cycles should select for complex genomes in organisms. There is much unexplained biodiversity in E. coli, and its cycling through complex extrahost environments may be a cause. In order to understand the evolutionary processes that lead to adaptation for survival and growth in soil, an isolate collection that associates soil conditions and isolate genome sequences is required. An equally important question is whether traits selected in soil or other extrahost habitats can be transmitted to E. coli residing in hosts via gene flow. The new findings about the distribution of E. coli in soil at the landscape scale (i) enhance our capability to study how extrahost environments influence the evolution of E. coli and other bacteria, (ii) advance our knowledge of the environmental biology of this microbe, and (iii) further affirm the emerging scientific consensus that E. coli in waterways originates from nonpoint sources not associated with human activity or livestock farming.
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Chen AI, Goulian M. A network of regulators promotes dehydration tolerance in Escherichia coli. Environ Microbiol 2018; 20:1283-1295. [PMID: 29457688 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 01/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The ability to survive conditions of low water activity is critical for the survival of many bacteria in the environment and facilitates disease transmission through food and contaminated surfaces. However, the molecular mechanisms that enable bacteria to withstand this condition remain poorly understood. Here we describe a network of regulators in Escherichia coli that are important for this bacterium to survive dehydration. We found that the transcriptional regulator DksA and the general stress response regulator RpoS play a critical role. From a plasmid genomic library screen, we identified two additional regulators, Crl and ArcZ, that promote dehydration tolerance through modulation of RpoS. We also found that LexA, RecA and ArcA contribute to survival. Our results identify key regulators that enable E. coli to tolerate dehydration and suggest a hierarchical network is involved in protection against cellular damage associated with this stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie I Chen
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mark Goulian
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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15
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Somorin Y, Bouchard G, Gallagher J, Abram F, Brennan F, O’Byrne C. Roles for RpoS in survival of Escherichia coli during protozoan predation and in reduced moisture conditions highlight its importance in soil environments. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2017; 364:4159366. [DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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16
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Somorin Y, O'Byrne C. Determination of Survival of Wildtype and Mutant Escherichia coli in Soil. Bio Protoc 2017; 7:e2414. [PMID: 34541144 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.2414] [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: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 04/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
E. coli resides in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and other warm-blooded animals but recent studies have shown that E. coli can persist and grow in various external environments including soil. The general stress response regulator, RpoS, helps E. coli overcome various stresses, however its role in soil survival was unknown. This soil survival assay protocol was developed and used to determine the role of the general stress response regulator, RpoS, in the survival of E. coli in soil. Using this soil survival assay, we demonstrated that RpoS was important for the survival of E. coli in soil. This protocol describes the development of the soil survival assay especially the recovery of E. coli inoculated into soil and can be adapted to allow further investigations into the survival of other bacteria in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinka Somorin
- Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Conor O'Byrne
- Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
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Villa L, Feudi C, Fortini D, Brisse S, Passet V, Bonura C, Endimiani A, Mammina C, Ocampo AM, Jimenez JN, Doumith M, Woodford N, Hopkins K, Carattoli A. Diversity, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance of the KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST307 clone. Microb Genom 2017; 3:e000110. [PMID: 28785421 PMCID: PMC5506382 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The global spread of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) has been mainly associated with the dissemination of high-risk clones. In the last decade, hospital outbreaks involving KPC-producing K. pneumoniae have been predominantly attributed to isolates belonging to clonal group (CG) 258. However, results of recent epidemiological analysis indicate that KPC-producing sequence type (ST) 307, is emerging in different parts of the world and is a candidate to become a prevalent high-risk clone in the near future. Here we show that the ST307 genome encodes genetic features that may provide an advantage in adaptation to the hospital environment and the human host. Sequence analysis revealed novel plasmid-located virulence factors, including a cluster for glycogen synthesis. Glycogen production is considered to be one of the possible adaptive responses to long-term survival and growth in environments outside the host. Chromosomally-encoded virulence traits in the clone comprised fimbriae, an integrative conjugative element carrying the yersiniabactin siderophore, and two different capsular loci. Compared with the ST258 clone, capsulated ST307 isolates showed higher resistance to complement-mediated killing. The acquired genetic features identified in the genome of this new emerging clone may contribute to increased persistence of ST307 in the hospital environment and shed light on its potential epidemiological success.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Andrea Endimiani
- 4Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Ana Maria Ocampo
- 5Grupo de Microbiología Básica y Aplicada, Escuela de Microbiología Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Judy Natalia Jimenez
- 5Grupo de Microbiología Básica y Aplicada, Escuela de Microbiología Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Michel Doumith
- 6Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Neil Woodford
- 6Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Katie Hopkins
- 6Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
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