1
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Nascimento Filho EG, Vieira ML, Dias M, Mendes MA, Sanchez FB, Setubal JC, Heinemann MB, Souza GO, Pimenta DC, Nascimento ALTO. Global proteome of the saprophytic strain Leptospira biflexa and comparative analysis with pathogenic strain Leptospira interrogans uncover new pathogenesis mechanisms. J Proteomics 2024; 297:105125. [PMID: 38364905 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2024.105125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Leptospira is a genus of bacteria that includes free-living saprophytic species found in water or soil, and pathogenic species, which are the etiologic agents of leptospirosis. Besides all the efforts, there are only a few proteins described as virulence factors in the pathogenic strain L. interrogans. This work aims to perform L. biflexa serovar Patoc1 strain Paris global proteome and to compare with the proteome database of pathogenic L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni strain Fiocruz L1-130. We identified a total of 2327 expressed proteins of L. biflexa by mass spectrometry. Using the Get Homologues software with the global proteome of L. biflexa and L. interrogans, we found orthologous proteins classified into conserved, low conserved, and specific proteins. Comparative bioinformatic analyses were performed to understand the biological functions of the proteins, subcellular localization, the presence of signal peptide, structural domains, and motifs using public softwares. These results lead to the selection of 182 low conserved within the saprophyte, and 176 specific proteins of L. interrogans. It is anticipated that these findings will indicate further studies to uncover virulence factors in the pathogenic strain. This work presents for the first time the global proteome of saprophytic strain L. biflexa serovar Patoc, strain Patoc1. SIGNIFICANCE: The comparative analysis established an array of specific proteins in pathogenic strain that will narrow down the identification of immune protective proteins that will help fight leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edson G Nascimento Filho
- Laboratorio de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biotecnologia, USP-IBU-IPT, SP, Brazil
| | - Mônica L Vieira
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, UFMG, MG, Brazil
| | - Meriellen Dias
- Laboratorio Dempster, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Escola Politécnica, USP, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria A Mendes
- Laboratorio Dempster, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Escola Politécnica, USP, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcos B Heinemann
- Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas do VPS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, USP, SP, Brazil
| | - Gisele O Souza
- Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas do VPS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, USP, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Ana L T O Nascimento
- Laboratorio de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biotecnologia, USP-IBU-IPT, SP, Brazil.
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2
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Phukan H, Sarma A, Rex DA, Rai AB, Prasad TS, Madanan MG. Unique Posttranslational Modification Sites of Acetylation, Citrullination, Glutarylation, and Phosphorylation Are Found to Be Specific to the Proteins Partitioned in the Triton X-114 Fractions of Leptospira. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:18569-18576. [PMID: 35694507 PMCID: PMC9178745 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) are decisive factors in the structure, function, and localization of proteins in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. However, prokaryotic organisms lack subcellular organelles, and protein localization based on subcellular locations like cytoplasm, inner membrane, periplasm, and outer membrane can be accounted for functional characterization. We have identified 131 acetylated, 1182 citrullinated, 72 glutarylated, 5 palmitoylated, and 139 phosphorylated proteins from Triton X-114 fractionated proteins of Leptospira, the pathogen of re-emerging zoonotic disease leptospirosis. In total, 74.7% of proteins were found exclusively in different Triton X-114 fractions. Additionally, 21.9% of proteins in multiple fractions had one or more PTM specific to different Triton X-114 fractions. Altogether, 96.6% of proteins showed exclusiveness to different Triton X-114 fractions either due to the presence of the entire protein or with a specific PTM type or position. Further, the PTM distribution within Triton X-114 fractions showed higher acetylation in aqueous, glutarylation in detergent, phosphorylation in pellet, and citrullination in wash fractions representing cytoplasmic, outer membrane, inner membrane, and extracellular locations, respectively. Identification of PTMs in proteins with respect to the subcellular localization will help to characterize candidate proteins before developing novel drugs and vaccines rationally to combat leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homen Phukan
- ICMR-Regional
Medical Research Centre, Port Blair 744103, Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, India
| | - Abhijit Sarma
- ICMR-Regional
Medical Research Centre, Port Blair 744103, Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, India
| | - Devasahayam Arokia
Balaya Rex
- Center
for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru 575018, Karnataka, India
| | - Akhila Balakrishna Rai
- Center
for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru 575018, Karnataka, India
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3
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Harvey KL, Jarocki VM, Charles IG, Djordjevic SP. The Diverse Functional Roles of Elongation Factor Tu (EF-Tu) in Microbial Pathogenesis. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2351. [PMID: 31708880 PMCID: PMC6822514 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Elongation factor thermal unstable Tu (EF-Tu) is a G protein that catalyzes the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to the A-site of the ribosome inside living cells. Structural and biochemical studies have described the complex interactions needed to effect canonical function. However, EF-Tu has evolved the capacity to execute diverse functions on the extracellular surface of both eukaryote and prokaryote cells. EF-Tu can traffic to, and is retained on, cell surfaces where can interact with membrane receptors and with extracellular matrix on the surface of plant and animal cells. Our structural studies indicate that short linear motifs (SLiMs) in surface exposed, non-conserved regions of the molecule may play a key role in the moonlighting functions ascribed to this ancient, highly abundant protein. Here we explore the diverse moonlighting functions relating to pathogenesis of EF-Tu in bacteria and examine putative SLiMs on surface-exposed regions of the molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate L Harvey
- The ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Veronica M Jarocki
- The ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Ian G Charles
- Quadram Institute, Norwich, United Kingdom.,Norwich Medical School, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Steven P Djordjevic
- The ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
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4
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Hillman C, Stewart PE, Strnad M, Stone H, Starr T, Carmody A, Evans TJ, Carracoi V, Wachter J, Rosa PA. Visualization of Spirochetes by Labeling Membrane Proteins With Fluorescent Biarsenical Dyes. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:287. [PMID: 31482073 PMCID: PMC6710359 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous methods exist for fluorescently labeling proteins either as direct fusion proteins (GFP, RFP, YFP, etc.—attached to the protein of interest) or utilizing accessory proteins to produce fluorescence (SNAP-tag, CLIP-tag), but the significant increase in size that these accompanying proteins add may hinder or impede proper protein folding, cellular localization, or oligomerization. Fluorescently labeling proteins with biarsenical dyes, like FlAsH, circumvents this issue by using a short 6-amino acid tetracysteine motif that binds the membrane-permeable dye and allows visualization of living cells. Here, we report the successful adaptation of FlAsH dye for live-cell imaging of two genera of spirochetes, Leptospira and Borrelia, by labeling inner or outer membrane proteins tagged with tetracysteine motifs. Visualization of labeled spirochetes was possible by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. A subsequent increase in fluorescent signal intensity, including prolonged detection, was achieved by concatenating two copies of the 6-amino acid motif. Overall, we demonstrate several positive attributes of the biarsenical dye system in that the technique is broadly applicable across spirochete genera, the tetracysteine motif is stably retained and does not interfere with protein function throughout the B. burgdorferi infectious cycle, and the membrane-permeable nature of the dyes permits fluorescent detection of proteins in different cellular locations without the need for fixation or permeabilization. Using this method, new avenues of investigation into spirochete morphology and motility, previously inaccessible with large fluorescent proteins, can now be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chadwick Hillman
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Philip E Stewart
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Martin Strnad
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States.,Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Hunter Stone
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Tregei Starr
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Aaron Carmody
- Research Technologies Section, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Tyler J Evans
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Valentina Carracoi
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Jenny Wachter
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Patricia A Rosa
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
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5
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Abstract
This chapter covers the progress made in the Leptospira field since the application of mutagenesis techniques and how they have allowed the study of virulence factors and, more generally, the biology of Leptospira. The last decade has seen advances in our ability to perform molecular genetic analysis of Leptospira. Major achievements include the generation of large collections of mutant strains and the construction of replicative plasmids, enabling complementation of mutations. However, there are still no practical tools for routine genetic manipulation of pathogenic Leptospira strains, slowing down advances in pathogenesis research. This review summarizes the status of the molecular genetic toolbox for Leptospira species and highlights new challenges in the nascent field of Leptospira genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Picardeau
- Biology of Spirochetes Unit, Institut Pasteur, 28 Rue Du Docteur Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France.
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6
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Wunder EA, Slamti L, Suwondo DN, Gibson KH, Shang Z, Sindelar CV, Trajtenberg F, Buschiazzo A, Ko AI, Picardeau M. FcpB Is a Surface Filament Protein of the Endoflagellum Required for the Motility of the Spirochete Leptospira. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:130. [PMID: 29868490 PMCID: PMC5953323 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The spirochete endoflagellum is a unique motility apparatus among bacteria. Despite its critical importance for pathogenesis, the full composition of the flagellum remains to be determined. We have recently reported that FcpA is a novel flagellar protein and a major component of the sheath of the filament of the spirochete Leptospira. By screening a library of random transposon mutants in the spirochete Leptospira biflexa, we found a motility-deficient mutant harboring a disruption in a hypothetical gene of unknown function. Here, we show that this gene encodes a surface component of the endoflagellar filament and is required for typical hook- and spiral-shaped ends of the cell body, coiled structure of the endoflagella, and high velocity phenotype. We therefore named the gene fcpB for flagellar-coiling protein B. fcpB is conserved in all members of the Leptospira genus, but not present in other organisms including other spirochetes. Complementation of the fcpB- mutant restored the wild-type morphology and motility phenotypes. Immunoblotting with anti-FcpA and anti-FcpB antisera and cryo-electron microscopy of the filament indicated that FcpB assembled onto the surface of the sheath of the filament and mostly located on the outer (convex) side of the coiled filament. We provide evidence that FcpB, together with FcpA, are Leptospira-specific novel components of the sheath of the filament, key determinants of the coiled and asymmetric structure of the endoflagella and are essential for high velocity. Defining the components of the endoflagella and their functions in these atypical bacteria should greatly enhance our understanding of the mechanisms by which these bacteria produce motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsio A Wunder
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States.,Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Leyla Slamti
- Institut Pasteur, Biology of Spirochetes Unit, Paris, France
| | - David N Suwondo
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Kimberley H Gibson
- Departments of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Zhiguo Shang
- Departments of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Charles V Sindelar
- Departments of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Felipe Trajtenberg
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Laboratory of Molecular and Structural Microbiology, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Alejandro Buschiazzo
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Laboratory of Molecular and Structural Microbiology, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Albert I Ko
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States.,Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Salvador, Brazil
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7
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Zhang JJ, Hu WL, Yang Y, Li H, Picardeau M, Yan J, Yang XF. The sigma factor σ 54 is required for the long-term survival of Leptospira biflexa in water. Mol Microbiol 2018; 109:10.1111/mmi.13967. [PMID: 29633391 PMCID: PMC6174002 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Leptospira spp. comprise both pathogenic and free-living saprophytic species. Little is known about the environmental adaptation and survival mechanisms of Leptospira. Alternative sigma factor, σ54 (RpoN) is known to play an important role in environmental and host adaptation in many bacteria. In this study, we constructed an rpoN mutant by allele exchange, and the complemented strain in saprophytic L. biflexa. Transcriptome analysis revealed that expression of several genes involved in nitrogen uptake and metabolism, including amtB1, glnB-amtB2, ntrX and narK, were controlled by σ54 . While wild-type L. biflexa could not grow under nitrogen-limiting conditions but was able to survive under such conditions and recover rapidly, the rpoN mutant was not. The rpoN mutant also had dramatically reduced ability to survive long-term in water. σ54 appears to regulate expression of amtB1, glnK-amtB2, ntrX and narK in an indirect manner. However, we identified a novel nitrogen-related gene, LEPBI_I1011, whose expression was directly under the control of σ54 (herein renamed as rcfA for RpoN-controlled factor A). Taken together, our data reveal that the σ54 regulatory network plays an important role in the long-term environmental survival of Leptospira spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Jie Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Wei-Lin Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Youyun Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Hongxia Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Jie Yan
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - X. Frank Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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8
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Nascimento Filho EG, Vieira ML, Teixeira AF, Santos JC, Fernandes LGV, Passalia FJ, Daroz BB, Rossini A, Kochi LT, Cavenague MF, Pimenta DC, Nascimento ALTO. Proteomics as a tool to understand Leptospira physiology and virulence: Recent advances, challenges and clinical implications. J Proteomics 2018; 180:80-87. [PMID: 29501847 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2018.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Edson G Nascimento Filho
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Monica L Vieira
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Aline F Teixeira
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jademilson C Santos
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Luis G V Fernandes
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe J Passalia
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pos-Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Brenda B Daroz
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pos-Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Amanda Rossini
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pos-Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leandro T Kochi
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pos-Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria F Cavenague
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pos-Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel C Pimenta
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana L T O Nascimento
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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9
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Jackson KM, Schwartz C, Wachter J, Rosa PA, Stewart PE. A widely conserved bacterial cytoskeletal component influences unique helical shape and motility of the spirochete Leptospira biflexa. Mol Microbiol 2018; 108:77-89. [PMID: 29363884 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Leptospires and other members of the evolutionarily ancient phylum of Spirochaetes are bacteria often characterized by long, highly motile spiral- or wave-shaped cells. Morphology and motility are critical factors in spirochete physiology, contributing to the ability of these bacteria to successfully colonize diverse environments. However, the mechanisms conferring the helical structure of Leptospira spp. have yet to be fully elucidated. We have identified five Leptospira biflexa bactofilin proteins, a recently characterized protein family with cytoskeletal properties. These five bactofilins are conserved in all species of the Leptospiraceae, indicating that these proteins arose early in the evolution of this family. One member of this protein family, LbbD, confers the optimal pitch distance in the helical structure of L. biflexa. Mutants lacking lbbD display a unique compressed helical morphology, a reduced motility and a decreased ability to tolerate cell wall stressors. The change in the helical spacing, combined with the motility and cell wall integrity defects, showcases the intimate relationship and coevolution between shape and motility in these spirochetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina M Jackson
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Cindi Schwartz
- Research Technologies Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Jenny Wachter
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Patricia A Rosa
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Philip E Stewart
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
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10
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Nally JE, Grassmann AA, Planchon S, Sergeant K, Renaut J, Seshu J, McBride AJ, Caimano MJ. Pathogenic Leptospires Modulate Protein Expression and Post-translational Modifications in Response to Mammalian Host Signals. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:362. [PMID: 28848720 PMCID: PMC5553009 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic species of Leptospira cause leptospirosis, a bacterial zoonotic disease with a global distribution affecting over one million people annually. Reservoir hosts of leptospirosis, including rodents, dogs, and cattle, exhibit little to no signs of disease but shed large numbers of organisms in their urine. Transmission occurs when mucosal surfaces or abraded skin come into contact with infected urine or urine-contaminated water or soil. Whilst little is known about how Leptospira adapt to and persist within a reservoir host, in vitro studies suggest that leptospires alter their transcriptomic and proteomic profiles in response to environmental signals encountered during mammalian infection. We applied the dialysis membrane chamber (DMC) peritoneal implant model to compare the whole cell proteome of in vivo derived leptospires with that of leptospires cultivated in vitro at 30°C and 37°C by 2-dimensional difference in-gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE). Of 1,735 protein spots aligned across 9 2-D DIGE gels, 202 protein spots were differentially expressed (p < 0.05, fold change >1.25 or < −1.25) across all three conditions. Differentially expressed proteins were excised for identification by mass spectrometry. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD006995. The greatest differences were detected when DMC-cultivated leptospires were compared with IV30- or IV37-cultivated leptospires, including the increased expression of multiple isoforms of Loa22, a known virulence factor. Unexpectedly, 20 protein isoforms of LipL32 and 7 isoforms of LipL41 were uniformly identified by DIGE as differentially expressed, suggesting that unique post-translational modifications (PTMs) are operative in response to mammalian host conditions. To test this hypothesis, a rat model of persistent renal colonization was used to isolate leptospires directly from the urine of experimentally infected rats. Comparison of urinary derived leptospires to IV30 leptospires by 2-D immunoblotting confirmed that modification of proteins with trimethyllysine and acetyllysine occurs to a different degree in response to mammalian host signals encountered during persistent renal colonization. These results provide novel insights into differential protein and PTMs present in response to mammalian host signals which can be used to further define the unique equilibrium that exists between pathogenic leptospires and their reservoir host of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarlath E Nally
- Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research, National Animal Disease Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research ServiceAmes, IA, United States
| | - Andre A Grassmann
- Biotechnology Unit, Technological Development Center, Federal University of PelotasPelotas, Brazil.,Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut Health CenterFarmington, CT, United States
| | - Sébastien Planchon
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and TechnologyBelvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Kjell Sergeant
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and TechnologyBelvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Jenny Renaut
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and TechnologyBelvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Janakiram Seshu
- Department of Biology, University of Texas San AntoniaSan Antonia, TX, United States
| | - Alan J McBride
- Biotechnology Unit, Technological Development Center, Federal University of PelotasPelotas, Brazil.,Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of HealthSalvador, Brazil
| | - Melissa J Caimano
- Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut Health CenterFarmington, CT, United States
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