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Xu Q, Ali S, Afzal M, Nizami AS, Han S, Dar MA, Zhu D. Advancements in bacterial chemotaxis: Utilizing the navigational intelligence of bacteria and its practical applications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 931:172967. [PMID: 38705297 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172967] [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: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
The fascinating world of microscopic life unveils a captivating spectacle as bacteria effortlessly maneuver through their surroundings with astonishing accuracy, guided by the intricate mechanism of chemotaxis. This review explores the complex mechanisms behind this behavior, analyzing the flagellum as the driving force and unraveling the intricate signaling pathways that govern its movement. We delve into the hidden costs and benefits of this intricate skill, analyzing its potential to propagate antibiotic resistance gene while shedding light on its vital role in plant colonization and beneficial symbiosis. We explore the realm of human intervention, considering strategies to manipulate bacterial chemotaxis for various applications, including nutrient cycling, algal bloom and biofilm formation. This review explores the wide range of applications for bacterial capabilities, from targeted drug delivery in medicine to bioremediation and disease control in the environment. Ultimately, through unraveling the intricacies of bacterial movement, we can enhance our comprehension of the intricate web of life on our planet. This knowledge opens up avenues for progress in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and environmental conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Xu
- International Joint Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Biomass Biorefinery, Biofuels Institute, School of Emergency Management, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Shehbaz Ali
- International Joint Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Biomass Biorefinery, Biofuels Institute, School of Emergency Management, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, PR China
| | - Muhammad Afzal
- Soil & Environmental Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Abdul-Sattar Nizami
- Sustainable Development Study Centre, Government College University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Song Han
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, PR China
| | - Mudasir A Dar
- International Joint Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Biomass Biorefinery, Biofuels Institute, School of Emergency Management, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Daochen Zhu
- International Joint Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Biomass Biorefinery, Biofuels Institute, School of Emergency Management, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, PR China.
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Otto SB, Servajean R, Lemopoulos A, Bitbol AF, Blokesch M. Interactions between pili affect the outcome of bacterial competition driven by the type VI secretion system. Curr Biol 2024; 34:2403-2417.e9. [PMID: 38749426 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
The bacterial type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a widespread, kin-discriminatory weapon capable of shaping microbial communities. Due to the system's dependency on contact, cellular interactions can lead to either competition or kin protection. Cell-to-cell contact is often accomplished via surface-exposed type IV pili (T4Ps). In Vibrio cholerae, these T4Ps facilitate specific interactions when the bacteria colonize natural chitinous surfaces. However, it has remained unclear whether and, if so, how these interactions affect the bacterium's T6SS-mediated killing. In this study, we demonstrate that pilus-mediated interactions can be harnessed by T6SS-equipped V. cholerae to kill non-kin cells under liquid growth conditions. We also show that the naturally occurring diversity of pili determines the likelihood of cell-to-cell contact and, consequently, the extent of T6SS-mediated competition. To determine the factors that enable or hinder the T6SS's targeted reduction of competitors carrying pili, we developed a physics-grounded computational model for autoaggregation. Collectively, our research demonstrates that T4Ps involved in cell-to-cell contact can impose a selective burden when V. cholerae encounters non-kin cells that possess an active T6SS. Additionally, our study underscores the significance of T4P diversity in protecting closely related individuals from T6SS attacks through autoaggregation and spatial segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon B Otto
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Richard Servajean
- Laboratory of Computational Biology and Theoretical Biophysics, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Lemopoulos
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Florence Bitbol
- Laboratory of Computational Biology and Theoretical Biophysics, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Blokesch
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Grognot M, Nam JW, Elson LE, Taute KM. Physiological adaptation in flagellar architecture improves Vibrio alginolyticus chemotaxis in complex environments. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2301873120. [PMID: 37579142 PMCID: PMC10450658 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2301873120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria navigate natural habitats with a wide range of mechanical properties, from the ocean to the digestive tract and soil, by rotating helical flagella like propellers. Species differ in the number, position, and shape of their flagella, but the adaptive value of these flagellar architectures is unclear. Many species traverse multiple types of environments, such as pathogens inside and outside a host. We investigate the hypothesis that flagellar architectures mediate environment-specific benefits in the marine pathogen Vibrio alginolyticus which exhibits physiological adaptation to the mechanical environment. In addition to its single polar flagellum, the bacterium produces lateral flagella in environments that differ mechanically from water. These are known to facilitate surface motility and attachment. We use high-throughput 3D bacterial tracking to quantify chemotactic performance of both flagellar architectures in three archetypes of mechanical environments relevant to the bacterium's native habitats: water, polymer solutions, and hydrogels. We reveal that lateral flagella impede chemotaxis in water by lowering the swimming speed but improve chemotaxis in both types of complex environments. Statistical trajectory analysis reveals two distinct underlying behavioral mechanisms: In viscous solutions of the polymer PVP K90, lateral flagella increase the swimming speed. In agar hydrogels, lateral flagella improve overall chemotactic performance, despite lowering the swimming speed, by preventing trapping in pores. Our findings show that lateral flagella are multipurpose tools with a wide range of applications beyond surfaces. They implicate flagellar architecture as a mediator of environment-specific benefits and point to a rich space of bacterial navigation behaviors in complex environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Grognot
- Rowland Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02142
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule University Hospital Aachen, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule University, Aachen52074, Germany
| | - Jong Woo Nam
- Rowland Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02142
| | | | - Katja M. Taute
- Rowland Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02142
- Biozentrum, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried82152, Germany
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Walton MG, Cubillejo I, Nag D, Withey JH. Advances in cholera research: from molecular biology to public health initiatives. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1178538. [PMID: 37283925 PMCID: PMC10239892 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1178538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The aquatic bacterium Vibrio cholerae is the etiological agent of the diarrheal disease cholera, which has plagued the world for centuries. This pathogen has been the subject of studies in a vast array of fields, from molecular biology to animal models for virulence activity to epidemiological disease transmission modeling. V. cholerae genetics and the activity of virulence genes determine the pathogenic potential of different strains, as well as provide a model for genomic evolution in the natural environment. While animal models for V. cholerae infection have been used for decades, recent advances in this area provide a well-rounded picture of nearly all aspects of V. cholerae interaction with both mammalian and non-mammalian hosts, encompassing colonization dynamics, pathogenesis, immunological responses, and transmission to naïve populations. Microbiome studies have become increasingly common as access and affordability of sequencing has improved, and these studies have revealed key factors in V. cholerae communication and competition with members of the gut microbiota. Despite a wealth of knowledge surrounding V. cholerae, the pathogen remains endemic in numerous countries and causes sporadic outbreaks elsewhere. Public health initiatives aim to prevent cholera outbreaks and provide prompt, effective relief in cases where prevention is not feasible. In this review, we describe recent advancements in cholera research in these areas to provide a more complete illustration of V. cholerae evolution as a microbe and significant global health threat, as well as how researchers are working to improve understanding and minimize impact of this pathogen on vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jeffrey H. Withey
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
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Lloyd CJ, Klose KE. The Vibrio Polar Flagellum: Structure and Regulation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1404:77-97. [PMID: 36792872 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-22997-8_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Here we discuss the structure and regulation of the Vibrio flagellum and its role in the virulence of pathogenic species. We will cover some of the novel insights into the structure of this nanomachine that have recently been enabled by cryoelectron tomography. We will also highlight the recent genetic studies that have increased our understanding in flagellar synthesis specifically at the bacterial cell pole, temporal regulation of flagellar genes, and how the flagellum enables directional motility through Run-Reverse-Flick cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron J Lloyd
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Karl E Klose
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA. .,Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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Abstract
Enteric bacterial infections contribute substantially to global disease burden and mortality, particularly in the developing world. In vitro 2D monolayer cultures have provided critical insights into the fundamental virulence mechanisms of a multitude of pathogens, including Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Typhi, Vibrio cholerae, Shigella spp., Escherichia coli and Campylobacter jejuni, which have led to the identification of novel targets for antimicrobial therapy and vaccines. In recent years, the arsenal of experimental systems to study intestinal infections has been expanded by a multitude of more complex models, which have allowed to evaluate the effects of additional physiological and biological parameters on infectivity. Organoids recapitulate the cellular complexity of the human intestinal epithelium while 3D bioengineered scaffolds and microphysiological devices allow to emulate oxygen gradients, flow and peristalsis, as well as the formation and maintenance of stable and physiologically relevant microbial diversity. Additionally, advancements in ex vivo cultures and intravital imaging have opened new possibilities to study the effects of enteric pathogens on fluid secretion, barrier integrity and immune cell surveillance in the intact intestine. This review aims to present a balanced and updated overview of current intestinal in vitro and ex vivo methods for modeling of enteric bacterial infections. We conclude that the different paradigms are complements rather than replacements and their combined use promises to further our understanding of host-microbe interactions and their impacts on intestinal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayere Taebnia
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ute Römling
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- CONTACT Ute Römling Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Volker M. Lauschke
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany
- University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Volker M. Lauschke Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
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