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Mechanisms and Applications of Bacterial Sporulation and Germination in the Intestine. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063405. [PMID: 35328823 PMCID: PMC8953710 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have suggested a major role for endospore forming bacteria within the gut microbiota, not only as pathogens but also as commensal and beneficial members contributing to gut homeostasis. In this review the sporulation processes, spore properties, and germination processes will be explained within the scope of the human gut. Within the gut, spore-forming bacteria are known to interact with the host’s immune system, both in vegetative cell and spore form. Together with the resistant nature of the spore, these characteristics offer potential for spores’ use as delivery vehicles for therapeutics. In the last part of the review, the therapeutic potential of spores as probiotics, vaccine vehicles, and drug delivery systems will be discussed.
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Andryukov BG, Karpenko AA, Lyapun IN. Learning from Nature: Bacterial Spores as a Target for Current Technologies in Medicine (Review). Sovrem Tekhnologii Med 2021; 12:105-122. [PMID: 34795986 PMCID: PMC8596247 DOI: 10.17691/stm2020.12.3.13] [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: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The capability of some representatives of Clostridium spp. and Bacillus spp. genera to form spores in extreme external conditions long ago became a subject of medico-biological investigations. Bacterial spores represent dormant cellular forms of gram-positive bacteria possessing a high potential of stability and the capability to endure extreme conditions of their habitat. Owing to these properties, bacterial spores are recognized as the most stable systems on the planet, and spore-forming microorganisms became widely spread in various ecosystems. Spore-forming bacteria have been attracted increased interest for years due to their epidemiological danger. Bacterial spores may be in the quiescent state for dozens or hundreds of years but after they appear in the favorable conditions of a human or animal organism, they turn into vegetative forms causing an infectious process. The greatest threat among the pathogenic spore-forming bacteria is posed by the causative agents of anthrax (B. anthracis), food toxicoinfection (B. cereus), pseudomembranous colitis (C. difficile), botulism (C. botulinum), gas gangrene (C. perfringens). For the effective prevention of severe infectious diseases first of all it is necessary to study the molecular structure of bacterial spores and the biochemical mechanisms of sporulation and to develop innovative methods of detection and disinfection of dormant cells. There is another side of the problem: the necessity to investigate exo- and endospores from the standpoint of obtaining similar artificially synthesized models in order to use them in the latest medical technologies for the development of thermostable vaccines, delivery of biologically active substances to the tissues and intracellular structures. In recent years, bacterial spores have become an interesting object for the exploration from the point of view of a new paradigm of unicellular microbiology in order to study microbial heterogeneity by means of the modern analytical tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- B G Andryukov
- Leading Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology; G.P. Somov Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, 1 Selskaya St., Vladivostok, 690087, Russia; Professor, Department of Fundamental Sciences; Far Eastern Federal University, 10 Village Ayaks, Island Russkiy, Vladivostok, 690922, Russia
| | - A A Karpenko
- Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Cell Biophysics; A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 17 Palchevskogo St., Vladivostok, 690041, Russia
| | - I N Lyapun
- Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology G.P. Somov Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, 1 Selskaya St., Vladivostok, 690087, Russia
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The "beauty in the beast"-the multiple uses of Priestia megaterium in biotechnology. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:5719-5737. [PMID: 34263356 PMCID: PMC8390425 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11424-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Abstract Over 30 years, the Gram-positive bacterium Priestia megaterium (previously known as Bacillus megaterium) was systematically developed for biotechnological applications ranging from the production of small molecules like vitamin B12, over polymers like polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) up to the in vivo and in vitro synthesis of multiple proteins and finally whole-cell applications. Here we describe the use of the natural vitamin B12 (cobalamin) producer P. megaterium for the elucidation of the biosynthetic pathway and the subsequent systematic knowledge-based development for production purposes. The formation of PHB, a natural product of P. megaterium and potential petro-plastic substitute, is covered and discussed. Further important biotechnological characteristics of P. megaterium for recombinant protein production including high protein secretion capacity and simple cultivation on value-added carbon sources are outlined. This includes the advanced system with almost 30 commercially available expression vectors for the intracellular and extracellular production of recombinant proteins at the g/L scale. We also revealed a novel P. megaterium transcription-translation system as a complementary and versatile biotechnological tool kit. As an impressive biotechnology application, the formation of various cytochrome P450 is also critically highlighted. Finally, whole cellular applications in plant protection are completing the overall picture of P. megaterium as a versatile giant cell factory. Key points • The use of Priestia megaterium for the biosynthesis of small molecules and recombinant proteins through to whole-cell applications is reviewed. • P. megaterium can act as a promising alternative host in biotechnological production processes.
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Qiu Y, Zhai C, Chen L, Liu X, Yeo J. Current Insights on the Diverse Structures and Functions in Bacterial Collagen-like Proteins. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021. [PMID: 33871954 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The dearth of knowledge on the diverse structures and functions in bacterial collagen-like proteins is in stark contrast to the deep grasp of structures and functions in mammalian collagen, the ubiquitous triple-helical scleroprotein that plays a central role in tissue architecture, extracellular matrix organization, and signal transduction. To fill and highlight existing gaps due to the general paucity of data on bacterial CLPs, we comprehensively reviewed the latest insight into their functional and structural diversity from multiple perspectives of biology, computational simulations, and materials engineering. The origins and discovery of bacterial CLPs were explored. Their genetic distribution and molecular architecture were analyzed, and their structural and functional diversity in various bacterial genera was examined. The principal roles of computational techniques in understanding bacterial CLPs' structural stability, mechanical properties, and biological functions were also considered. This review serves to drive further interest and development of bacterial CLPs, not only for addressing fundamental biological problems in collagen but also for engineering novel biomaterials. Hence, both biology and materials communities will greatly benefit from intensified research into the diverse structures and functions in bacterial collagen-like proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimin Qiu
- National Biopesticide Engineering Technology Research Center, Hubei Biopesticide Engineering Research Center, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Biopesticide Branch of Hubei Innovation Centre of Agricultural Science and Technology, Wuhan 430064, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, PR China
| | - Chenxi Zhai
- J2 Lab for Engineering Living Materials, Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, United States
| | - Ling Chen
- National Biopesticide Engineering Technology Research Center, Hubei Biopesticide Engineering Research Center, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Biopesticide Branch of Hubei Innovation Centre of Agricultural Science and Technology, Wuhan 430064, PR China
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- National Biopesticide Engineering Technology Research Center, Hubei Biopesticide Engineering Research Center, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Biopesticide Branch of Hubei Innovation Centre of Agricultural Science and Technology, Wuhan 430064, PR China
| | - Jingjie Yeo
- J2 Lab for Engineering Living Materials, Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, United States
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Secaira-Morocho H, Castillo JA, Driks A. Diversity and evolutionary dynamics of spore-coat proteins in spore-forming species of Bacillales. Microb Genom 2020; 6. [PMID: 33052805 PMCID: PMC7725329 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Among members of the Bacillales order, there are several species capable of forming a structure called an endospore. Endospores enable bacteria to survive under unfavourable growth conditions and germinate when environmental conditions are favourable again. Spore-coat proteins are found in a multilayered proteinaceous structure encasing the spore core and the cortex. They are involved in coat assembly, cortex synthesis and germination. Here, we aimed to determine the diversity and evolutionary processes that have influenced spore-coat genes in various spore-forming species of Bacillales using an in silico approach. For this, we used sequence similarity searching algorithms to determine the diversity of coat genes across 161 genomes of Bacillales. The results suggest that among Bacillales, there is a well-conserved core genome, composed mainly by morphogenetic coat proteins and spore-coat proteins involved in germination. However, some spore-coat proteins are taxa-specific. The best-conserved genes among different species may promote adaptation to changeable environmental conditions. Because most of the Bacillus species harbour complete or almost complete sets of spore-coat genes, we focused on this genus in greater depth. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed eight monophyletic groups in the Bacillus genus, of which three are newly discovered. We estimated the selection pressures acting over spore-coat genes in these monophyletic groups using classical and modern approaches and detected horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events, which have been further confirmed by scanning the genomes to find traces of insertion sequences. Although most of the genes are under purifying selection, there are several cases with individual sites evolving under positive selection. Finally, the HGT results confirm that sporulation is an ancestral feature in Bacillus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Secaira-Morocho
- School of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Yachay Tech University, San Miguel de Urcuquí, Imbabura, Ecuador
| | - José A Castillo
- School of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Yachay Tech University, San Miguel de Urcuquí, Imbabura, Ecuador
| | - Adam Driks
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Bartels J, Blüher A, López Castellanos S, Richter M, Günther M, Mascher T. The
Bacillus subtilis
endospore crust: protein interaction network, architecture and glycosylation state of a potential glycoprotein layer. Mol Microbiol 2019; 112:1576-1592. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Bartels
- Institute of Microbiology Technische Universität (TU) Dresden Dresden 01062Germany
| | - Anja Blüher
- School of Engineering Science Institute of Materials Science Technische Universität (TU) Dresden Dresden 01062Germany
| | | | - Marcus Richter
- Institute of Microbiology Technische Universität (TU) Dresden Dresden 01062Germany
| | - Markus Günther
- Institute of Botany Technische Universität (TU) Dresden Dresden 01062Germany
| | - Thorsten Mascher
- Institute of Microbiology Technische Universität (TU) Dresden Dresden 01062Germany
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Shuster B, Khemmani M, Abe K, Huang X, Nakaya Y, Maryn N, Buttar S, Gonzalez AN, Driks A, Sato T, Eichenberger P. Contributions of crust proteins to spore surface properties in Bacillus subtilis. Mol Microbiol 2019; 111:825-843. [PMID: 30582883 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Surface properties, such as adhesion and hydrophobicity, constrain dispersal of bacterial spores in the environment. In Bacillus subtilis, these properties are influenced by the outermost layer of the spore, the crust. Previous work has shown that two clusters, cotVWXYZ and cgeAB, encode the protein components of the crust. Here, we characterize the respective roles of these genes in surface properties using Bacterial Adherence to Hydrocarbons assays, negative staining of polysaccharides by India ink and Transmission Electron Microscopy. We showed that inactivation of crust genes caused increases in spore relative hydrophobicity, disrupted the spore polysaccharide layer, and impaired crust structure and attachment to the rest of the coat. We also found that cotO, previously identified for its role in outer coat formation, is necessary for proper encasement of the spore by the crust. In parallel, we conducted fluorescence microscopy experiments to determine the full network of genetic dependencies for subcellular localization of crust proteins. We determined that CotZ is required for the localization of most crust proteins, while CgeA is at the bottom of the genetic interaction hierarchy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bentley Shuster
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Mark Khemmani
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Kimihiro Abe
- Research Center for Micro-Nano Technology, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Xiaoyu Huang
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Yusei Nakaya
- Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nina Maryn
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Sally Buttar
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Adriana N Gonzalez
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Adam Driks
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Tsutomu Sato
- Research Center for Micro-Nano Technology, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Patrick Eichenberger
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
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