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Mao Y, Yang Y, Lin F, Chu H, Zhou L, Han J, Zhou J, Su X. Functional Analysis of Stress Resistance of Bacillus cereus SCL10 Strain Based on Whole-Genome Sequencing. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1168. [PMID: 38930550 PMCID: PMC11206075 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A Gram-positive, rod-shaped, aerobic, motile, and spore-forming bacterium, designated SCL10, was isolated from Acaudina molpadioides exposure to Co-60 radiation. In this study, whole-genome sequencing was performed to identify the strain as Bacillus cereus and functional characterization, with a focus on stress resistance. The genome of the B. cereus SCL10 strain was sequenced and assembled, revealing a size of 4,979,182 bp and 5167 coding genes. The genes involved in biological functions were annotated by using the GO, COG, KEGG, NR, and Swiss-Prot databases. The results showed that genes related to alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (ahpC, ahpF), DNA-binding proteins from starved cells (dps), spore and biofilm formation (spoVG, spo0A, gerP), cold shock-like protein (cspC, cspE), ATP-dependent chaperone (clpB), and photolyase, small, acid-soluble spore protein (SASP) and DNA repair protein (recA, radD) could explain the stress resistance. These findings suggest that antioxidant activity, sporulation, biofilm formation, and DNA protection may be considered as the main resistance mechanisms under exposure to radiation in the B. cereus SCL10 strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanzhen Mao
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China; (Y.M.); (Y.Y.); (F.L.); (H.C.); (L.Z.); (J.H.); (X.S.)
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Ye Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China; (Y.M.); (Y.Y.); (F.L.); (H.C.); (L.Z.); (J.H.); (X.S.)
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Fu Lin
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China; (Y.M.); (Y.Y.); (F.L.); (H.C.); (L.Z.); (J.H.); (X.S.)
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Hanyu Chu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China; (Y.M.); (Y.Y.); (F.L.); (H.C.); (L.Z.); (J.H.); (X.S.)
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Lijie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China; (Y.M.); (Y.Y.); (F.L.); (H.C.); (L.Z.); (J.H.); (X.S.)
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Jiaojiao Han
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China; (Y.M.); (Y.Y.); (F.L.); (H.C.); (L.Z.); (J.H.); (X.S.)
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Jun Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China; (Y.M.); (Y.Y.); (F.L.); (H.C.); (L.Z.); (J.H.); (X.S.)
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Xiurong Su
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China; (Y.M.); (Y.Y.); (F.L.); (H.C.); (L.Z.); (J.H.); (X.S.)
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
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Schuerger AC, Headrick EL. Microbial Protocols for Spacecraft: 3. Spore Monolayer Preparation Methods for Ultraviolet Irradiation Exposures. ASTROBIOLOGY 2023; 23:908-920. [PMID: 36946872 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2022.0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Developing robust microbial survival models for interplanetary and planetary spacecraft requires precise inactivation kinetics for vehicle bioburdens. To generate such data, reliable protocols are required for preparing, testing, and assaying microbial cells or spores on simulated spacecraft materials. New data are presented on the utility of the liquid droplet protocol for applying Bacillus subtilis spores to aluminum coupons. Results indicate that low-density spore monolayers should be created between 2 and 5 × 106 spores per cm2 on individual coupons to prevent the formation of aggregates or multilayers of spores. Such aggregation or multilayers will interfere with the precision of characterizing the effects of UV irradiation on spore survival. Optimum spore monolayers are defined as spore monolayers without overlapping or clustered cells and in which all spores will receive UV photons during assays. The best spore monolayers were created with sterile deionized water (SDIW) on uncoated aluminum coupons, or with SDIW + Triton X-100 (at 0.5 × of the critical micellar concentration) on either uncoated Al-coupons or on Chemfilm Class 1A-coated coupons. The Triton X-100 surfactant improved the uniformity of the monolayers without affecting the sensitivity of the spores to UV irradiation. Furthermore, spore layers created at either 2 × 107 or 2 × 108 spores/cm2 created multi-stacking effects that clearly reduced the precision of the UV irradiation assays. A set of standardized protocols is suggested for spacecraft processing and planetary protection communities to permit directly comparing results from divergent labs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Schuerger
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Space Life Sciences Lab, Merritt Island, Florida, USA
| | - Erika L Headrick
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Space Life Sciences Lab, Merritt Island, Florida, USA
- Bionano, San Diego, California, USA
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Setlow P, Christie G. New Thoughts on an Old Topic: Secrets of Bacterial Spore Resistance Slowly Being Revealed. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2023; 87:e0008022. [PMID: 36927044 PMCID: PMC10304885 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00080-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The quest for bacterial survival is exemplified by spores formed by some Firmicutes members. They turn up everywhere one looks, and their ubiquity reflects adaptations to the stresses bacteria face. Spores are impactful in public health, food safety, and biowarfare. Heat resistance is the hallmark of spores and is countered principally by a mineralized gel-like protoplast, termed the spore core, with reduced water which minimizes macromolecular movement/denaturation/aggregation. Dry heat, however, introduces mutations into spore DNA. Spores have countermeasures to extreme conditions that are multifactorial, but the fact that spore DNA is in a crystalline-like nucleoid in the spore core, likely due to DNA saturation with small acid-soluble spore proteins (SASPs), suggests that reduced macromolecular motion is also critical in spore dry heat resistance. SASPs are also central in the radiation resistance characteristic of spores, where the contributions of four spore features-SASP; Ca2+, with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (CaDPA); photoproduct lyase; and low water content-minimize DNA damage. Notably, the spore environment steers UV photochemistry toward a product that germinated spores can repair without significant mutagenesis. This resistance extends to chemicals and macromolecules that could damage spores. Macromolecules are excluded by the spore coat which impedes the passage of moieties of ≥10 kDa. Additionally, damaging chemicals may be degraded or neutralized by coat enzymes/proteins. However, the principal protective mechanism here is the inner membrane, a compressed structure lacking lipid fluidity and presenting a barrier to the diffusion of chemicals into the spore core; SASP saturation of DNA also protects against genotoxic chemicals. Spores are also resistant to other stresses, including high pressure and abrasion. Regardless, overarching mechanisms associated with resistance seem to revolve around reduced molecular motion, a fine balance between rigidity and flexibility, and perhaps efficient repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Setlow
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Graham Christie
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Buko T, Tuczko N, Ishikawa T. DNA Data Storage. BIOTECH 2023; 12:44. [PMID: 37366792 DOI: 10.3390/biotech12020044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The demand for data storage is growing at an unprecedented rate, and current methods are not sufficient to accommodate such rapid growth due to their cost, space requirements, and energy consumption. Therefore, there is a need for a new, long-lasting data storage medium with high capacity, high data density, and high durability against extreme conditions. DNA is one of the most promising next-generation data carriers, with a storage density of 10¹⁹ bits of data per cubic centimeter, and its three-dimensional structure makes it about eight orders of magnitude denser than other storage media. DNA amplification during PCR or replication during cell proliferation enables the quick and inexpensive copying of vast amounts of data. In addition, DNA can possibly endure millions of years if stored in optimal conditions and dehydrated, making it useful for data storage. Numerous space experiments on microorganisms have also proven their extraordinary durability in extreme conditions, which suggests that DNA could be a durable storage medium for data. Despite some remaining challenges, such as the need to refine methods for the fast and error-free synthesis of oligonucleotides, DNA is a promising candidate for future data storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Buko
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, PL-02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Nella Tuczko
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, PL-02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Takao Ishikawa
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, PL-02-096 Warsaw, Poland
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Revealing intrinsic changes of DNA induced by spore photoproduct lesion through computer simulation. Biophys Chem 2023; 296:106992. [PMID: 36933500 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.106992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
In bacterial endospores, a cross-linked thymine dimer, 5-thyminyl-5,6-dihydrothymine, commonly referred to as the spore photoproduct (SP), is found as the dominant DNA photo lesion under UV radiation. During spore germination, SP is faithfully repaired by the spore photoproduct lyase (SPL) for normal DNA replication to resume. Despite this general mechanism, the exact way in which SP modifies the duplex DNA structure so that the damaged site can be recognized by SPL to initiate the repair process is still unclear. A previous X-ray crystallographic study, which used a reverse transcriptase as a DNA host template, captured a protein-bound duplex oligonucleotide containing two SP lesions; the study showed shortened hydrogen bonds between the AT base pairs involved in the lesions and widened minor grooves near the damaged sites. However, it remains to be determined whether the results accurately reflect the conformation of SP-containing DNA (SP-DNA) in its fully hydrated pre-repair form. To uncover the intrinsic changes in DNA conformation caused by SP lesions, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of SP-DNA duplexes in aqueous solution, using the nucleic acid portion of the previously determined crystal structure as a template. After MD relaxation, our simulated SP-DNAs showed weakened hydrogen bonds at the damaged sites compared to those in the undamaged DNA. Our analyses of the MD trajectories revealed a range of local and global structural distortions of DNA induced by SP. Specifically, the SP region displays a greater tendency to adopt an A-like-DNA conformation, and curvature analysis revealed an increase in the global bending compared to the canonical B-DNA. Although these SP-induced DNA conformational changes are relatively minor, they may provide a sufficient structural basis for SP to be recognized by SPL during the lesion repair process.
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Dikec J, Bechoua N, Winckler P, Perrier-Cornet JM. Effects of pulsed near infrared light (NIR) on Bacillus subtilis spores. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 2022; 234:112530. [PMID: 35930949 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2022.112530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we develop a characterization of bacterial spore resistance to NIR pulsed light under modalities traditionally used in multiphoton microscopy. Energy dose and laser power are both key parameters in spore and bacterial cell inactivation. Surprisingly, spores and vegetative cells seem to show a similar sensitivity to pulsed NIR, spores being only 2-fold more resistant than their vegetative counterparts. This work enables us to eliminate certain hypotheses concerning the main driver of spore inactivation processes. Our findings suggest that damage leading to inactivation is mainly caused by photochemical reactions characterized by multiple possible pathways, including DNA damage or oxidation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Dikec
- UMR Procédés Alimentaires et Microbiologiques, L'Institut Agro Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 1, Esplanade Erasme, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - N Bechoua
- UMR Procédés Alimentaires et Microbiologiques, L'Institut Agro Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 1, Esplanade Erasme, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - P Winckler
- UMR Procédés Alimentaires et Microbiologiques, L'Institut Agro Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 1, Esplanade Erasme, 21000 Dijon, France; Dimacell Imaging Facility, L'Institut Agro Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 1 Esplanade Erasme, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - J M Perrier-Cornet
- UMR Procédés Alimentaires et Microbiologiques, L'Institut Agro Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 1, Esplanade Erasme, 21000 Dijon, France; Dimacell Imaging Facility, L'Institut Agro Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 1 Esplanade Erasme, 21000 Dijon, France.
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Ichikawa S, Okazaki M, Okamura M, Nishimura N, Miyake H. Rare UV-resistant cells in clonal populations of Escherichia coli. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 2022; 231:112448. [PMID: 35490545 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2022.112448] [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: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Water disinfection is one of the most important applications of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs), though bacterial regrowth remains a serious problem. In this study, we showed that UV-resistant cells, though rare, exist in an Escherichia coli clonal population. The UV-resistance of stationary phase cells was higher than that of exponential phase cells. Regrowth cell populations showed identical UV sensitivity before and after UV treatment, indicating that UV resistance is not acquired genetically, but is generated stochastically. The characteristics of these UV-resistant cells are similar to those of non-heritable antibiotic-resistant cells, termed persisters. The induction of persister formation increased the number of viable cells after UV treatment. The toxin-antitoxin system gene hipA (high persistence A) is a key factor in persister cell formation. We observed that hipA was strongly expressed in the stationary phase cells, while regrowth cells after UV treatment lost hipA expression, suggesting that the regrowth cells lost their persistence. Compared to UV batch radiation, we demonstrated that intermittent UV irradiation, which included the induction of regrowth between UV treatments, significantly reduced the number of viable E. coli cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Ichikawa
- Faculty of Education, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya-cho Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
| | - Mika Okazaki
- Strategic Planning Office for Regional Revitalization, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya-cho Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
| | - Mina Okamura
- Strategic Planning Office for Regional Revitalization, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya-cho Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
| | - Norihiro Nishimura
- Graduate School of Regional Innovation Studies, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya-cho Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
| | - Hideto Miyake
- Graduate School of Regional Innovation Studies, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya-cho Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
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UV Light Application as a Mean for Disinfection Applied in the Dairy Industry. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11167285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Thermal treatment is the most popular decontamination technique used in the dairy industry to ensure food protection and prolong shelf life. But it also causes nutrient and aroma degradation, non-enzymatic browning, and organoleptic changes of dairy products. Non-thermal solutions, on the other hand, have been extensively explored in a response to rising market demand for more sustainable and safe goods. For a long time, the use of ultraviolet (UV) light in the food industry has held great promise. Irradiation with shortwave UV light has excellent germicidal properties, which can destroy a variety of microbial pathogens (for example bacteria, fungi, molds, yeasts, and viruses), at low maintenance and installation costs with minimal use of energy to preserve food without undesirable effects of heat treatment. The purpose of this review is to update the studies made on the possibilities of UV-C radiation while also addressing the essential processing factors involved in the disinfection. It also sheds light on the promise of UV light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) as a microbial inactivation alternative to conventional UV lamps.
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Wood JP, Archer J, Calfee MW, Serre S, Mickelsen L, Mikelonis A, Oudejans L, Hu M, Hurst S, Rastogi VK. Inactivation of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus atrophaeus spores on different surfaces with ultraviolet light produced with a low-pressure mercury vapor lamp or light emitting diodes. J Appl Microbiol 2020; 131:2257-2269. [PMID: 32692423 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To obtain quantitative efficacy data of two ultraviolet light (UVC) technologies for surface inactivation of Bacillus anthracis Ames and Bacillus atrophaeus spores. METHODS AND RESULTS Spores were deposited onto test coupons and controls of four different materials, via liquid suspension or aerosol deposition. The test coupons were then exposed to UVC light from either a low-pressure mercury vapor lamp or a system comprised of light emitting diodes, with a range of dosages. Positive controls were held at ambient conditions and not exposed to UVC light. Following exposure to UVC, spores were recovered from the coupons and efficacy was quantified in terms of log10 reduction (LR) in the number of viable spores compared to that from positive controls. CONCLUSIONS Decontamination efficacy varied by material and UVC dosage (efficacy up to 5·7 LR was demonstrated). There was no statistical difference in efficacy between the two species or between inoculation methods. Efficacy improved for the LED lamp at lower relative humidity, but this effect was not observed with the mercury vapor lamp. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This study will be useful in determining whether UVC could be used for the inactivation of B. anthracis spores on different surface types.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Wood
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - J Archer
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - M W Calfee
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - S Serre
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Land and Emergency Management, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - L Mickelsen
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Land and Emergency Management, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - A Mikelonis
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - L Oudejans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - M Hu
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.,Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - S Hurst
- Excet Inc., Springfield, VA, USA
| | - V K Rastogi
- U.S. Army Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA
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Predominance of Anaerobic, Spore-Forming Bacteria in Metabolically Active Microbial Communities from Ancient Siberian Permafrost. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:AEM.00560-19. [PMID: 31152014 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00560-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of microbial life in permafrost up to several million years (Ma) old has been well documented. However, the long-term survivability, evolution, and metabolic activity of the entombed microbes over this time span remain underexplored. We integrated aspartic acid (Asp) racemization assays with metagenomic sequencing to characterize the microbial activity, phylogenetic diversity, and metabolic functions of indigenous microbial communities across a ∼0.01- to 1.1-Ma chronosequence of continuously frozen permafrost from northeastern Siberia. Although Asp in the older bulk sediments (0.8 to 1.1 Ma) underwent severe racemization relative to that in the youngest sediment (∼0.01 Ma), the much lower d-Asp/l-Asp ratio (0.05 to 0.14) in the separated cells from all samples suggested that indigenous microbial communities were viable and metabolically active in ancient permafrost up to 1.1 Ma. The microbial community in the youngest sediment was the most diverse and was dominated by the phyla Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria In contrast, microbial diversity decreased dramatically in the older sediments, and anaerobic, spore-forming bacteria within Firmicutes became overwhelmingly dominant. In addition to the enrichment of sporulation-related genes, functional genes involved in anaerobic metabolic pathways such as fermentation, sulfate reduction, and methanogenesis were more abundant in the older sediments. Taken together, the predominance of spore-forming bacteria and associated anaerobic metabolism in the older sediments suggest that a subset of the original indigenous microbial community entrapped in the permafrost survived burial over geological time.IMPORTANCE Understanding the long-term survivability and associated metabolic traits of microorganisms in ancient permafrost frozen millions of years ago provides a unique window into the burial and preservation processes experienced in general by subsurface microorganisms in sedimentary deposits because of permafrost's hydrological isolation and exceptional DNA preservation. We employed aspartic acid racemization modeling and metagenomics to determine which microbial communities were metabolically active in the 1.1-Ma permafrost from northeastern Siberia. The simultaneous sequencing of extracellular and intracellular genomic DNA provided insight into the metabolic potential distinguishing extinct from extant microorganisms under frozen conditions over this time interval. This in-depth metagenomic sequencing advances our understanding of the microbial diversity and metabolic functions of extant microbiomes from early Pleistocene permafrost. Therefore, these findings extend our knowledge of the survivability of microbes in permafrost from 33,000 years to 1.1 Ma.
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Wood JP, Adrion AC. Review of Decontamination Techniques for the Inactivation of Bacillus anthracis and Other Spore-Forming Bacteria Associated with Building or Outdoor Materials. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:4045-4062. [PMID: 30901213 PMCID: PMC6547374 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b05274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Since the intentional release of Bacillus anthracis spores through the U.S. Postal Service in the fall of 2001, research and development related to decontamination for this biological agent have increased substantially. This review synthesizes the advances made relative to B. anthracis spore decontamination science and technology since approximately 2002, referencing the open scientific literature and publicly available, well-documented scientific reports. In the process of conducting this review, scientific knowledge gaps have also been identified. This review focuses primarily on techniques that are commercially available and that could potentially be used in the large-scale decontamination of buildings and other structures, as well as outdoor environments. Since 2002, the body of scientific data related to decontamination and microbial sterilization has grown substantially, especially in terms of quantifying decontamination efficacy as a function of several factors. Specifically, progress has been made in understanding how decontaminant chemistry, the materials the microorganisms are associated with, environmental factors, and microbiological methods quantitatively impact spore inactivation. While advancement has been made in the past 15 years to further the state of the science in the inactivation of bacterial spores in a decontamination scenario, further research is warranted to close the scientific gaps that remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph P. Wood
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Offce of Research and Development, National Homeland Security Research Center, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina United States
- Corresponding Author: Phone: (919) 541-5029;
| | - Alden Charles Adrion
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Offce of Research and Development, National Homeland Security Research Center, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina United States
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Postdoctoral Fellow, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States
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12
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Cortesão M, Fuchs FM, Commichau FM, Eichenberger P, Schuerger AC, Nicholson WL, Setlow P, Moeller R. Bacillus subtilis Spore Resistance to Simulated Mars Surface Conditions. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:333. [PMID: 30863384 PMCID: PMC6399134 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In a Mars exploration scenario, knowing if and how highly resistant Bacillus subtilis spores would survive on the Martian surface is crucial to design planetary protection measures and avoid false positives in life-detection experiments. Therefore, in this study a systematic screening was performed to determine whether B. subtilis spores could survive an average day on Mars. For that, spores from two comprehensive sets of isogenic B. subtilis mutant strains, defective in DNA protection or repair genes, were exposed to 24 h of simulated Martian atmospheric environment with or without 8 h of Martian UV radiation [M(+)UV and M(-)UV, respectively]. When exposed to M(+)UV, spore survival was dependent on: (1) core dehydration maintenance, (2) protection of DNA by α/β-type small acid soluble proteins (SASP), and (3) removal and repair of the major UV photoproduct (SP) in spore DNA. In turn, when exposed to M(-)UV, spore survival was mainly dependent on protection by the multilayered spore coat, and DNA double-strand breaks represent the main lesion accumulated. Bacillus subtilis spores were able to survive for at least a limited time in a simulated Martian environment, both with or without solar UV radiation. Moreover, M(-)UV-treated spores exhibited survival rates significantly higher than the M(+)UV-treated spores. This suggests that on a real Martian surface, radiation shielding of spores (e.g., by dust, rocks, or spacecraft surface irregularities) might significantly extend survival rates. Mutagenesis were strongly dependent on the functionality of all structural components with small acid-soluble spore proteins, coat layers and dipicolinic acid as key protectants and efficiency DNA damage removal by AP endonucleases (ExoA and Nfo), non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), mismatch repair (MMR) and error-prone translesion synthesis (TLS). Thus, future efforts should focus on: (1) determining the DNA damage in wild-type spores exposed to M(+/-)UV and (2) assessing spore survival and viability with shielding of spores via Mars regolith and other relevant materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cortesão
- Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Felix M Fuchs
- Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Fabian M Commichau
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Patrick Eichenberger
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Andrew C Schuerger
- Department of Plant Pathology, Space Life Sciences Laboratory, University of Florida, Merritt Island, FL, United States
| | - Wayne L Nicholson
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Space Life Sciences Laboratory, University of Florida, Merritt Island, FL, United States
| | - Peter Setlow
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
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Role of DNA Repair and Protective Components in Bacillus subtilis Spore Resistance to Inactivation by 400-nm-Wavelength Blue Light. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.01604-18. [PMID: 30054368 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01604-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The high intrinsic decontamination resistance of Firmicutes spores is important medically (disease) and commercially (food spoilage). Effective methods of spore eradication would be of considerable interest in the health care and medical product industries, particularly if the decontamination method effectively killed spores while remaining benign to both humans and sensitive equipment. Intense blue light at a ∼400 nm wavelength is one such treatment that has drawn significant interest. This work has determined the resistance of spores to blue light in an extensive panel of Bacillus subtilis strains, including wild-type strains and mutants that (i) lack protective components such as the spore coat and its pigment(s) or the DNA protective α/β-type small, acid-soluble spore proteins (SASP); (ii) have an elevated spore core water content; or (iii) lack enzymes involved in DNA repair, including those for homologous recombination and nonhomologous end joining (HR and NHEJ), apurinic/apyrimidinic endonucleases, nucleotide and base excision repair (NER and BER), translesion synthesis (TLS) by Y-family DNA polymerases, and spore photoproduct (SP) removal by SP lyase (SPL). The most important factors in spore blue light resistance were determined to be spore coats/pigmentation, α/β-type SASP, NER, BER, TLS, and SP repair. A major conclusion from this work is that blue light kills spores by DNA damage, and the results in this work indicate at least some of the specific DNA damage. It appears that high-intensity blue light could be a significant addition to the agents used to kill bacterial spores in applied settings.IMPORTANCE Effective methods of spore inactivation would be of considerable interest in the health care and medical products industries, particularly if the decontamination method effectively killed spores while remaining benign to both humans and sensitive equipment. Intense blue light radiation is one such treatment that has drawn significant interest. In this work, all known spore-protective features, as well as universal and spore-specific DNA repair mechanisms, were tested in a systematic fashion for their contribution to the resistance of spores to blue light radiation.
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Wadsworth J, Cockell CS. The Janus face of iron on anoxic worlds: iron oxides are both protective and destructive to life on the early Earth and present-day Mars. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2017; 93:3778240. [PMID: 28460085 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fix056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The surface of the early Earth was probably subjected to a higher flux of ultraviolet (UV) radiation than today. UV radiation is known to severely damage DNA and other key molecules of life. Using a liquid culture and a rock analogue system, we investigated the interplay of protective and deleterious effects of iron oxides under UV radiation on the viability of the model organism, Bacillus subtilis. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide, there exists a fine balance between iron oxide's protective effects against this radiation and its deleterious effects caused by Photo-Fenton reactions. The maximum damage was caused by a concentration of hematite of ∼1 mg/mL. Concentrations above this confer increasing protection by physical blockage of the UV radiation, concentrations below this cause less effective UV radiation blockage, but also a correspondingly less effective Photo-Fenton reaction, providing an overall advantage. These results show that on anoxic worlds, surface habitability under a high UV flux leaves life precariously poised between the beneficial and deleterious effects of iron oxides. These results have relevance to the Archean Earth, but also the habitability of the Martian surface, where high levels of UV radiation in combination with iron oxides and hydrogen peroxide can be found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Wadsworth
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH10 4EP, UK
| | - Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH10 4EP, UK
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15
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Yang L, Jian Y, Setlow P, Li L. Spore photoproduct within DNA is a surprisingly poor substrate for its designated repair enzyme-The spore photoproduct lyase. DNA Repair (Amst) 2017; 53:31-42. [PMID: 28320593 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2016.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
DNA repair enzymes typically recognize their substrate lesions with high affinity to ensure efficient lesion repair. In UV irradiated endospores, a special thymine dimer, 5-thyminyl-5,6-dihydrothymine, termed the spore photoproduct (SP), is the dominant DNA photolesion, which is rapidly repaired during spore outgrowth mainly by spore photoproduct lyase (SPL) using an unprecedented protein-harbored radical transfer process. Surprisingly, our in vitro studies using SP-containing short oligonucleotides, pUC 18 plasmid DNA, and E. coli genomic DNA found that they are all poor substrates for SPL in general, exhibiting turnover numbers of 0.01-0.2min-1. The faster turnover numbers are reached under single turnover conditions, and SPL activity is low with oligonucleotide substrates at higher concentrations. Moreover, SP-containing oligonucleotides do not go past one turnover. In contrast, the dinucleotide SP TpT exhibits a turnover number of 0.3-0.4min-1, and the reaction may reach up to 10 turnovers. These observations distinguish SPL from other specialized DNA repair enzymes. To the best of our knowledge, SPL represents an unprecedented example of a major DNA repair enzyme that cannot effectively repair its substrate lesion within the normal DNA conformation adopted in growing cells. Factors such as other DNA binding proteins, helicases or an altered DNA conformation may cooperate with SPL to enable efficient SP repair in germinating spores. Therefore, both SP formation and SP repair are likely to be tightly controlled by the unique cellular environment in dormant and outgrowing spore-forming bacteria, and thus SP repair may be extremely slow in non-spore-forming organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), 402 North Blackford Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Yajun Jian
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), 402 North Blackford Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Peter Setlow
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT 06030, United States
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), 402 North Blackford Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States; Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States.
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Headd B, Bradford SA. Use of aerobic spores as a surrogate for cryptosporidium oocysts in drinking water supplies. WATER RESEARCH 2016; 90:185-202. [PMID: 26734779 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Revised: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Waterborne illnesses are a growing concern among health and regulatory agencies worldwide. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has established several rules to combat the contamination of water supplies by cryptosporidium oocysts, however, the detection and study of cryptosporidium oocysts is hampered by methodological and financial constraints. As a result, numerous surrogates for cryptosporidium oocysts have been proposed by the scientific community and efforts are underway to evaluate many of the proposed surrogates. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the suitability of aerobic bacterial spores to serve as a surrogate for cryptosporidium oocysts in identifying contaminated drinking waters. To accomplish this we present a comparison of the biology and life cycles of aerobic spores and oocysts and compare their physical properties. An analysis of their surface properties is presented along with a review of the literature in regards to the transport, survival, and prevalence of aerobic spores and oocysts in the saturated subsurface environment. Aerobic spores and oocysts share many commonalities with regard to biology and survivability, and the environmental prevalence and ease of detection make aerobic spores a promising surrogate for cryptosporidium oocysts in surface and groundwater. However, the long-term transport and release of aerobic spores still needs to be further studied, and compared with available oocyst information. In addition, the surface properties and environmental interactions of spores are known to be highly dependent on the spore taxa and purification procedures, and additional research is needed to address these issues in the context of transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Headd
- U.S. Salinity Lab USDA, ARS, 450 W. Big Springs Road, Riverside, CA 92507-4617, USA
| | - Scott A Bradford
- U.S. Salinity Lab USDA, ARS, 450 W. Big Springs Road, Riverside, CA 92507-4617, USA.
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Esbelin J, Malléa S, Clair G, Carlin F. Inactivation by Pulsed Light ofBacillus subtilisSpores with Impaired Protection Factors. Photochem Photobiol 2016; 92:301-307. [DOI: 10.1111/php.12568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Esbelin
- UMR408 Sécurité et Qualité des Produits d'Origine Végétale; INRA; Avignon France
- UMR408 Sécurité et Qualité des Produits d'Origine Végétale; Avignon Université; Avignon France
| | - Sabine Malléa
- UMR408 Sécurité et Qualité des Produits d'Origine Végétale; INRA; Avignon France
- UMR408 Sécurité et Qualité des Produits d'Origine Végétale; Avignon Université; Avignon France
| | - Gérémy Clair
- UMR408 Sécurité et Qualité des Produits d'Origine Végétale; INRA; Avignon France
- UMR408 Sécurité et Qualité des Produits d'Origine Végétale; Avignon Université; Avignon France
| | - Frédéric Carlin
- UMR408 Sécurité et Qualité des Produits d'Origine Végétale; INRA; Avignon France
- UMR408 Sécurité et Qualité des Produits d'Origine Végétale; Avignon Université; Avignon France
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Setlow P, Li L. Photochemistry and Photobiology of the Spore Photoproduct: A 50-Year Journey. Photochem Photobiol 2015; 91:1263-90. [PMID: 26265564 PMCID: PMC4631623 DOI: 10.1111/php.12506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Fifty years ago, a new thymine dimer was discovered as the dominant DNA photolesion in UV-irradiated bacterial spores [Donnellan, J. E. & Setlow R. B. (1965) Science, 149, 308-310], which was later named the spore photoproduct (SP). Formation of SP is due to the unique environment in the spore core that features low hydration levels favoring an A-DNA conformation, high levels of calcium dipicolinate that acts as a photosensitizer, and DNA saturation with small, acid-soluble proteins that alters DNA structure and reduces side reactions. In vitro studies reveal that any of these factors alone can promote SP formation; however, SP formation is usually accompanied by the production of other DNA photolesions. Therefore, the nearly exclusive SP formation in spores is due to the combined effects of these three factors. Spore photoproduct photoreaction is proved to occur via a unique H-atom transfer mechanism between the two involved thymine residues. Successful incorporation of SP into an oligonucleotide has been achieved via organic synthesis, which enables structural studies that reveal minor conformational changes in the SP-containing DNA. Here, we review the progress on SP photochemistry and photobiology in the past 50 years, which indicates a very rich SP photobiology that may exist beyond endospores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Setlow
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology & Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
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Wood JP, Meyer KM, Kelly TJ, Choi YW, Rogers JV, Riggs KB, Willenberg ZJ. Environmental Persistence of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus subtilis Spores. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138083. [PMID: 26372011 PMCID: PMC4570822 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a lack of data for how the viability of biological agents may degrade over time in different environments. In this study, experiments were conducted to determine the persistence of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus subtilis spores on outdoor materials with and without exposure to simulated sunlight, using ultraviolet (UV)-A/B radiation. Spores were inoculated onto glass, wood, concrete, and topsoil and recovered after periods of 2, 14, 28, and 56 days. Recovery and inactivation kinetics for the two species were assessed for each surface material and UV exposure condition. Results suggest that with exposure to UV, decay of spore viability for both Bacillus species occurs in two phases, with an initial rapid decay, followed by a slower inactivation period. The exception was with topsoil, in which there was minimal loss of spore viability in soil over 56 days, with or without UV exposure. The greatest loss in viable spore recovery occurred on glass with UV exposure, with nearly a four log10 reduction after just two days. In most cases, B. subtilis had a slower rate of decay than B. anthracis, although less B. subtilis was recovered initially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph P. Wood
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Homeland Security Research Center, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Kathryn M. Meyer
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States of America
| | - Thomas J. Kelly
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Young W. Choi
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - James V. Rogers
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Karen B. Riggs
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
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Omotade TO, Bernhards RC, Klimko CP, Matthews ME, Hill AJ, Hunter MS, Webster WM, Bozue JA, Welkos SL, Cote CK. The impact of inducing germination of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus thuringiensis spores on potential secondary decontamination strategies. J Appl Microbiol 2014; 117:1614-33. [PMID: 25196092 DOI: 10.1111/jam.12644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Decontamination and remediation of a site contaminated by the accidental or intentional release of fully virulent Bacillus anthracis spores are difficult, costly and potentially damaging to the environment. Development of novel decontamination strategies that have minimal environmental impacts remains a high priority. Although ungerminated spores are amongst the most resilient organisms known, once exposed to germinants, the germinating spores, in some cases, become susceptible to antimicrobial environments. We evaluated the concept that once germinated, B. anthracis spores would be less hazardous and significantly easier to remediate than ungerminated dormant spores. METHODS AND RESULTS Through in vitro germination and sensitivity assays, we demonstrated that upon germination, B. anthracis Ames spores and Bacillus thuringiensis Al Hakam spores (serving as a surrogate for B. anthracis) become susceptible to environmental stressors. The majority of these germinated B. anthracis and B. thuringiensis spores were nonviable after exposure to a defined minimal germination-inducing solution for prolonged periods of time. Additionally, we examined the impact of potential secondary disinfectant strategies including bleach, hydrogen peroxide, formaldehyde and artificial UV-A, UV-B and UV-C radiation, employed after a 60-min germination-induction step. Each secondary disinfectant employs a unique mechanism of killing; as a result, germination-induction strategies are better suited for some secondary disinfectants than others. CONCLUSIONS These results provide evidence that the deployment of an optimal combination strategy of germination-induction/secondary disinfection may be a promising aspect of wide-area decontamination following a B. anthracis contamination event. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY By inducing spores to germinate, our data confirm that the resulting cells exhibit sensitivities that can be leveraged when paired with certain decontamination measures. This increased susceptibility could be exploited to devise more efficient and safe decontamination measures and may obviate the need for more stringent methods that are currently in place.
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Affiliation(s)
- T O Omotade
- Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Frederick, MD, USA
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Tirumalai MR, Rastogi R, Zamani N, O’Bryant Williams E, Allen S, Diouf F, Kwende S, Weinstock GM, Venkateswaran KJ, Fox GE. Candidate genes that may be responsible for the unusual resistances exhibited by Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032 spores. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66012. [PMID: 23799069 PMCID: PMC3682946 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The spores of several Bacillus species, including Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032 and B. safensis FO-36b, which were isolated from the spacecraft assembly facility at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, are unusually resistant to UV radiation and hydrogen peroxide. In order to identify candidate genes that might be associated with these resistances, the whole genome of B. pumilus SAFR-032, and the draft genome of B. safensis FO-36b were compared in detail with the very closely related type strain B. pumilus ATCC7061(T). 170 genes are considered characteristic of SAFR-032, because they are absent from both FO-36b and ATCC7061(T). Forty of these SAFR-032 characteristic genes are entirely unique open reading frames. In addition, four genes are unique to the genomes of the resistant SAFR-032 and FO-36b. Fifty three genes involved in spore coat formation, regulation and germination, DNA repair, and peroxide resistance, are missing from all three genomes. The vast majority of these are cleanly deleted from their usual genomic context without any obvious replacement. Several DNA repair and peroxide resistance genes earlier reported to be unique to SAFR-032 are in fact shared with ATCC7061(T) and no longer considered to be promising candidates for association with the elevated resistances. Instead, several SAFR-032 characteristic genes were identified, which along with one or more of the unique SAFR-032 genes may be responsible for the elevated resistances. These new candidates include five genes associated with DNA repair, namely, BPUM_0608 a helicase, BPUM_0652 an ATP binding protein, BPUM_0653 an endonuclease, BPUM_0656 a DNA cytosine-5- methyltransferase, and BPUM_3674 a DNA helicase. Three of these candidate genes are in immediate proximity of two conserved hypothetical proteins, BPUM_0654 and BPUM_0655 that are also absent from both FO-36b and ATCC7061(T). This cluster of five genes is considered to be an especially promising target for future experimental work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhan R. Tirumalai
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rajat Rastogi
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nader Zamani
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Elisha O’Bryant Williams
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Shamail Allen
- Department of Biology, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Fatma Diouf
- Department of Biology, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sharon Kwende
- Department of Biology, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - George M. Weinstock
- The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Kasthuri J. Venkateswaran
- Biotechnology & Planetary Protection Group, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratories, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - George E. Fox
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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Alternative excision repair of ultraviolet B- and C-induced DNA damage in dormant and developing spores of Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 2012; 194:6096-104. [PMID: 22961846 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01340-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The nucleotide excision repair (NER) and spore photoproduct lyase DNA repair pathways are major determinants of Bacillus subtilis spore resistance to UV radiation. We report here that a putative ultraviolet (UV) damage endonuclease encoded by ywjD confers protection to developing and dormant spores of B. subtilis against UV DNA damage. In agreement with its predicted function, a His(6)-YwjD recombinant protein catalyzed the specific incision of UV-irradiated DNA in vitro. The maximum expression of a reporter gene fusion to the ywjD opening reading frame occurred late in sporulation, and this maximal expression was dependent on the forespore-specific RNA polymerase sigma factor, σ(G). Although the absence of YwjD and/or UvrA, an essential protein of the NER pathway, sensitized developing spores to UV-C, this effect was lower when these cells were treated with UV-B. In contrast, UV-B but not UV-C radiation dramatically decreased the survival of dormant spores deficient in both YwjD and UvrA. The distinct range of lesions generated by UV-C and UV-B and the different DNA photochemistry in developing and dormant spores may cause these differences. We postulate that in addition to the UvrABC repair system, developing and dormant spores of B. subtilis also rely on an alternative excision repair pathway involving YwjD to deal with the deleterious effects of various UV photoproducts.
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Isbary G, Heinlin J, Shimizu T, Zimmermann JL, Morfill G, Schmidt HU, Monetti R, Steffes B, Bunk W, Li Y, Klaempfl T, Karrer S, Landthaler M, Stolz W. Successful and safe use of 2 min cold atmospheric argon plasma in chronic wounds: results of a randomized controlled trial. Br J Dermatol 2012; 167:404-10. [PMID: 22385038 PMCID: PMC7161860 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.10923.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 241] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background The development of antibiotic resistance by microorganisms is an increasing problem in medicine. In chronic wounds, bacterial colonization is associated with impaired healing. Cold atmospheric plasma is an innovative promising tool to deal with these problems. Objectives The 5‐min argon plasma treatment has already demonstrated efficacy in reducing bacterial numbers in chronic infected wounds in vivo. In this study we investigated a 2‐min plasma treatment with the same device and the next‐generation device, to assess safety and reduction in bacterial load, regardless of the kind of bacteria and their resistance level in chronic wounds. Methods Twenty‐four patients with chronic infected wounds were treated in a prospective randomized controlled phase II study with 2 min of cold atmospheric argon plasma every day: 14 with MicroPlaSter alpha device, 10 with MicroPlaSter beta device (next‐generation device) in addition to standard wound care. The patient acted as his/her own control. Bacterial species were detected by standard bacterial swabs and bacterial load by semiquantitative count on nitrocellulose filters. The plasma settings were the same as in the previous phase II study in which wounds were exposed for 5 min to argon plasma. Results Analysis of 70 treatments in 14 patients with the MicroPlaSter alpha device revealed a significant (40%, P < 0·016) reduction in bacterial load in plasma‐treated wounds, regardless of the species of bacteria. Analysis of 137 treatments in 10 patients with the MicroPlaSter beta device showed a highly significant reduction (23·5%, P < 0·008) in bacterial load. No side‐effects occurred and the treatment was well tolerated. Conclusions A 2‐min treatment with either of two cold atmospheric argon plasma devices is a safe, painless and effective technique to decrease the bacterial load in chronic wounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Isbary
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Environmental Medicine, Hospital Munich Schwabing, Koelner Platz 1, D-80804 Munich, Germany.
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Increased fitness and alteration of metabolic pathways during Bacillus subtilis evolution in the laboratory. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 77:4105-18. [PMID: 21531833 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00374-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Five batch cultures of Bacillus subtilis were subjected to evolution in the laboratory for 6,000 generations under conditions repressing sporulation in complex liquid medium containing glucose. Between generations 1,000 and 2,000, variants with a distinct small-colony morphology arose and swept through four of the five populations that had been previously noted for their loss of sporulation (H. Maughan et al., Genetics 177:937-948, 2007). To better understand the nature of adaptation in these variants, individual strains were isolated from one population before (WN715) and after (WN716) the sweep. In addition to colony morphology, strains WN715 and WN716 differed in their motility, aerotaxis, and cell morphology. Competition experiments showed that strain WN716 had evolved a distinct fitness advantage over the ancestral strain and strain WN715 during growth and the transition to the postexponential growth phase, which was more pronounced when WN715 was present in the coculture. Microarray analyses revealed candidate genes in which mutations may have produced some of the observed phenotypes. For example, loss of motility in WN716 was accompanied by decreased transcription of all flagellar, motility, and chemotaxis genes on the microarray. Transcription of alsS and alsD was also lower in strain WN716, and the predicted loss of acetoin production and enhanced acetate production was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The results suggested that the derived colony morphology of strain WN716 was associated with increased fitness, the alteration of several metabolic pathways, and the loss of a typical postexponential-phase response.
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Zoulalian V, Zürcher S, Tosatti S, Textor M, Monge S, Robin JJ. Self-assembly of poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(alkyl phosphonate) terpolymers on titanium oxide surfaces: synthesis, interface characterization, investigation of nonfouling properties, and long-term stability. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2010; 26:74-82. [PMID: 19691273 DOI: 10.1021/la902110j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
This contribution deals with the self-assembling of a terpolymer on titanium oxide (TiO(2)) surface. The polymer structure was obtained by polymerization of different methacrylates, i.e., alkyl-phosphonated, butyl and PEG methacrylate, in the presence of a chain transfer agent. The resulting PEG-poly(alkyl phosphonate) material, characterized mainly by SEC and NMR, self-organized at the interface of TiO(2). AR-XPS demonstrated the binding of phosphonate groups to TiO(2) substrate and the formation of a PEG-brush layer at the outermost part of the system. The stability of this terpolymer adlayer, after exposure to solutions of pH 2, 7.4, and 9 up to 3 weeks, was evaluated quantitatively by XPS and ellipsometry. We demonstrated an overall stability improvements of this coating against desorption in contact with aqueous solutions in comparison with reference self-assembly systems. Finally, the PEG-terpolymer adlayer proved to impart to TiO(2) substrate antifouling properties when exposed to full blood serum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Zoulalian
- Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 10, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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Desnous C, Guillaume D, Clivio P. Spore Photoproduct: A Key to Bacterial Eternal Life. Chem Rev 2009; 110:1213-32. [DOI: 10.1021/cr0781972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Céline Desnous
- ICSN, UPR CNRS 2301, 1 Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France and UMR CNRS 6229, 51 Rue Cognacq Jay, 51096 Reims Cedex, France
| | - Dominique Guillaume
- ICSN, UPR CNRS 2301, 1 Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France and UMR CNRS 6229, 51 Rue Cognacq Jay, 51096 Reims Cedex, France
| | - Pascale Clivio
- ICSN, UPR CNRS 2301, 1 Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France and UMR CNRS 6229, 51 Rue Cognacq Jay, 51096 Reims Cedex, France
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Coohill TP, Sagripanti JL. Bacterial inactivation by solar ultraviolet radiation compared with sensitivity to 254 nm radiation. Photochem Photobiol 2009; 85:1043-52. [PMID: 19659922 DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2009.00586.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Our goal was to derive a quantitative factor that would allow us to predict the solar sensitivity of vegetative bacterial cells to natural solar radiation from the wealth of data collected for cells exposed to UVC (254 nm) radiation. We constructed a solar effectiveness spectrum for inactivation of vegetative bacterial cells by combining the available action spectra for vegetative cell killing in the solar range with the natural sunlight spectrum that reaches the ground. We then analyzed previous studies reporting the effects of solar radiation on vegetative bacterial cells and on bacterial spores. Although UVC-sensitive cells were also more sensitive to solar radiation, we found no absolute numerical correlation between the relative solar sensitivity of vegetative cells and their sensitivity to 254 nm radiation. The sensitivity of bacterial spores to solar exposure during both summer and winter correlated closely to their UVC sensitivity. The estimates presented here should make it possible to reasonably predict the time it would take for natural solar UV to kill bacterial spores or with a lesser degree of accuracy, vegetative bacterial cells after dispersion from an infected host or after an accidental or intentional release.
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Roles of small, acid-soluble spore proteins and core water content in survival of Bacillus subtilis spores exposed to environmental solar UV radiation. Appl Environ Microbiol 2009; 75:5202-8. [PMID: 19542328 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00789-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Spores of Bacillus subtilis contain a number of small, acid-soluble spore proteins (SASP) which comprise up to 20% of total spore core protein. The multiple alpha/beta-type SASP have been shown to confer resistance to UV radiation, heat, peroxides, and other sporicidal treatments. In this study, SASP-defective mutants of B. subtilis and spores deficient in dacB, a mutation leading to an increased core water content, were used to study the relative contributions of SASP and increased core water content to spore resistance to germicidal 254-nm and simulated environmental UV exposure (280 to 400 nm, 290 to 400 nm, and 320 to 400 nm). Spores of strains carrying mutations in sspA, sspB, and both sspA and sspB (lacking the major SASP-alpha and/or SASP-beta) were significantly more sensitive to 254-nm and all polychromatic UV exposures, whereas the UV resistance of spores of the sspE strain (lacking SASP-gamma) was essentially identical to that of the wild type. Spores of the dacB-defective strain were as resistant to 254-nm UV-C radiation as wild-type spores. However, spores of the dacB strain were significantly more sensitive than wild-type spores to environmental UV treatments of >280 nm. Air-dried spores of the dacB mutant strain had a significantly higher water content than air-dried wild-type spores. Our results indicate that alpha/beta-type SASP and decreased spore core water content play an essential role in spore resistance to environmentally relevant UV wavelengths whereas SASP-gamma does not.
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Clauss M, Grotjohann N. Comparative mutagenesis of Escherichia coli strains with different repair deficiencies irradiated with 222-nm and 254-nm ultraviolet light. Mutat Res 2009; 673:83-6. [PMID: 19146982 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2008.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2008] [Revised: 11/17/2008] [Accepted: 11/30/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Photoinactivation and reversion to tryptophan prototrophy were studied in four Escherichia coli strains with different repair deficiencies. Cells were irradiated with 222-nm wavelength UV emitted by an excimer lamp and with 254-nm wavelength UV emitted by a low-pressure mercury lamp. Strain DSM 9494 (trp(-)uvrA(+)) turned out to be most resistant while the strain DSM 9495 (trp(-)uvrA(-)), which is defective in nucleotide-excision repair (NER) was most sensitive to both wavelengths. UV-fluence rates for a respective inactivation were twice as high for 222-nm wavelength UV than for 254-nm UV. No clear difference in efficiency of inactivation could be observed between the two wavelengths in strains DSM 9496 (trp(-)uvrA(+) pKM101) and DSM 9497 (trp(-)uvrA(-) pKM101). In general, more revertants were induced by 254-nm wavelength UV, which corroborates the hypothesis that a higher amount of DNA damage was induced by this wavelength than by 222-nm UV, except for DSM 9497 where no clear difference could be observed regarding the number of revertants induced by both wavelengths. This strain DSM 9497 has a high sensitivity to certain oxidative mutagens compared with other strains, which is indicative of formation of reactive oxygen species during irradiation with 222-nm wavelength UV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Clauss
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bielefeld, Universitätsstrasse 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
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Coohill TP, Sagripanti JL. Overview of the inactivation by 254 nm ultraviolet radiation of bacteria with particular relevance to biodefense. Photochem Photobiol 2009; 84:1084-90. [PMID: 18627518 DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2008.00387.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Our goal was to ultimately predict the sensitivity of untested bacteria (including those of biodefense interest) to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In this study, we present an overview and analysis of the relevant 254 nm data previously reported and available in the literature. The amount of variability in this data prevented us from determining an "average" response for any bacterium. Therefore, we developed particular selection criteria to include the data in our analysis and suggested future guidelines for reporting UV sensitivity results. We then compiled a table of the sensitivity to 254 nm UV for 38 bacteria and three bacterial spores. The UV sensitivity was quite similar (within 10%) among the spores of Bacillus anthracis (strains Vollum 1B and Sterne), Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus megaterium. These data indicate that spores of B. subtilis and B. megaterium could be adequate simulants of B. anthracis spores in UVC experiments. Spores of B. anthracis, B. subtilis and B. megaterium were 5-10 times more resistant to UV than were their corresponding vegetative cells. The vegetative cells of B. anthracis showed similar UV sensitivity to those of Burkholderia pseudomallei, Shigella sonnei, and a wild-type strain of Escherichia coli. Yersinia enterocolitica and Vibrio cholerae appeared more sensitive to UV and Salmonella typhi slightly more resistant to UV than E. coli. The sensitivity (at 254 nm) of all vegetative bacteria ranged from 11 to 80 Jm(2) for a 1 Log(10) kill and from 25-200 Jm(2) for 4 Log(10) kill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas P Coohill
- Physics Department, Siena College, Loudon Road, Loudonville, NY, USA
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Hadapad AB, Vijayalakshmi N, Hire RS, Dongre TK. Effect of ultraviolet radiation on spore viability and mosquitocidal activity of an indigenous ISPC-8 Bacillus sphaericus Neide strain. Acta Trop 2008; 107:113-6. [PMID: 18538292 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2008.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2007] [Revised: 03/28/2008] [Accepted: 04/28/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Effects of UV-A, UV-B and their combination on spore viability and larvicidal activity of an indigenous isolate of Bacillus sphaericus Neide, ISPC-8 were studied under laboratory conditions. The UV sensitivity of ISPC-8 was compared with standard strain 1593 and larvicidal activity was tested against third instar larvae of mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say. No significant adverse effects on viability as well as larvicidal activity of both strains were observed when spores were exposed to UV-A for 6h. However, exposure to UV-B for a few minutes adversely affected the spore viability as well as larvicidal activity and this adverse effect was more pronounced on spore viability. In both strains about 50% larvicidal activity was retained after exposure of the spores to UV-B for 8h. However, spore viability at this exposure of time was drastically reduced to 2.5% in ISPC-8 and 0.3% in 1593. The spore viability and larvicidal activity patterns were found to be similar to UV-B treatment when spores were exposed to a combination of UV-A and UV-B. Our study hence, shows the adverse effect of UV radiation on ISPC-8 and 1593 indicating the need to incorporate eco-friendly UV protectants in formulations so that the efficacy of biopesticides based on these entomopathogens can be prolonged under field conditions, especially in tropical countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Hadapad
- Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, India
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Roles of the major, small, acid-soluble spore proteins and spore-specific and universal DNA repair mechanisms in resistance of Bacillus subtilis spores to ionizing radiation from X rays and high-energy charged-particle bombardment. J Bacteriol 2007; 190:1134-40. [PMID: 18055591 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01644-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of DNA repair by nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ), homologous recombination, spore photoproduct lyase, and DNA polymerase I and genome protection via alpha/beta-type small, acid-soluble spore proteins (SASP) in Bacillus subtilis spore resistance to accelerated heavy ions (high-energy charged [HZE] particles) and X rays has been studied. Spores deficient in NHEJ and alpha/beta-type SASP were significantly more sensitive to HZE particle bombardment and X-ray irradiation than were the recA, polA, and splB mutant and wild-type spores, indicating that NHEJ provides an efficient DNA double-strand break repair pathway during spore germination and that the loss of the alpha/beta-type SASP leads to a significant radiosensitivity to ionizing radiation, suggesting the essential function of these spore proteins as protectants of spore DNA against ionizing radiation.
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Mamane H, Shemer H, Linden KG. Inactivation of E. coli, B. subtilis spores, and MS2, T4, and T7 phage using UV/H2O2 advanced oxidation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2007; 146:479-86. [PMID: 17532124 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.04.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential of an advanced oxidation process (AOP) for microbiocidal and virucidal inactivation. The viruses chosen for this study were bacteriophage MS2, T4, and T7. In addition, Bacillus subtilis spores and Escherichia coli were studied. By using H(2)O(2) in the presence of filtered ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (UV/H(2)O(2)) to generate wavelengths above 295nm, the direct UV photolysis disinfection mechanism was minimized, while disinfection by H(2)O(2) was also negligible. Virus T4 and E. coli in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were sensitive to >295nm filtered UV irradiation (without H(2)O(2)), while MS2 was very resistant. Addition of H(2)O(2) at 25mg/l in the presence of filtered UV irradiation over a 15min reaction time did not result in any additional disinfection of virus T4, while an additional one log inactivation for T7 and 2.5 logs for MS2 were obtained. With E. coli, only a slight additional effect was observed when H(2)O(2) was added. B. subtilis spores did not show any inactivation at any of the conditions used in this study. The OH radical exposure (CT value) was calculated to present the relationship between the hydroxyl radical dose and microbial inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadas Mamane
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Porter School of Environmental Studies, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel.
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35
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Douki T, Setlow B, Setlow P. Effects of the Binding of α/β-type Small, Acid-soluble Spore Proteins on the Photochemistry of DNA in Spores of Bacillus subtilis and In Vitro¶. Photochem Photobiol 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2005.tb01536.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Nadkar A, Pungaliya C, Drake K, Zajac E, Singhal SS, Awasthi S. Therapeutic resistance in lung cancer. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2006; 2:753-77. [PMID: 17014393 DOI: 10.1517/17425255.2.5.753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Despite considerable progress over the last 25 years in the systemic therapy of lung cancer, intrinsic and acquired resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and radiation remains a vexing problem. The number of mechanisms of therapeutic resistance in lung cancer has expanded considerably over the past three decades, and the crucial role of stress resistance pathways is increasingly recognised as a cause of intrinsic and acquired chemo- and radiotherapy resistance. This paper reviews recent evidence for stress defence proteins, particularly RALBP1/RLIP76, in mediating intrinsic and acquired chemotherapy and radiation resistance in human lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aalok Nadkar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, 700 Planetarium Place, CPB # 351, 76019-0065, USA.
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37
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Gunasekera TS, Sundin GW. Role of nucleotide excision repair and photoreactivation in the solar UVB radiation survival of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae B728a. J Appl Microbiol 2006; 100:1073-83. [PMID: 16630008 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2006.02841.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To assess the role of DNA repair and photoreactivation in the solar radiation survival of the plant pathogen and leaf surface epiphyte Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Pss). METHODS AND RESULTS Mutants of Pss B728a, with insertional mutations within the nucleotide excision repair gene uvrA, photolyase gene phr, or uvrA phr double mutants, were constructed to examine the importance of individual repair mechanisms in solar UV radiation (UVR) survival. The survival of either the uvrA mutant or the phr mutant was reduced by approx. 10(2)-fold following exposure to a dose of 4.5 kJ m(-2) solar UVB (290-320 nm wavelengths) while the uvrA phr double mutant was reduced >10(6)-fold by the same dose. We constructed a transcriptional fusion between the Pss recA promoter and gfp to examine the induction of the SOS response in wild-type and mutant strains. Initiation of the recA mediated SOS response was more rapid and peaked at higher levels in mutant strains suggesting both increased DNA damage in mutant strains and also that photoreactivation and nucleotide excision repair remove DNA damage as it is incurred which is reflected in a delay of recA expression. Visualization of expression of B728a cells containing the recA::gfp reporter on UVB-irradiated bean leaves highlighted the movement of cells to intercellular spaces over time and that SOS induction was detectable when leaves were irradiated 48 h following leaf inoculation. CONCLUSIONS This study indicated that solar UVB is detrimental to Pss B728a, DNA repair mechanisms play an important role in strain survival and expression of the SOS regulon on leaf surfaces contributes to survival of UVR-exposed cells during plant colonization. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This work links previous laboratory-based UVR analyses with solar UVB dose-response analyses and highlights the role of photoreactivation in delaying induction of the SOS response following solar irradiation. Knowledge of population dynamics following direct solar irradiation will enhance our understanding of the biology of Pss in the phyllosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- T S Gunasekera
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Department of Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Tauscher C, Schuerger AC, Nicholson WL. Survival and germinability of Bacillus subtilis spores exposed to simulated Mars solar radiation: implications for life detection and planetary protection. ASTROBIOLOGY 2006; 6:592-605. [PMID: 16916285 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2006.6.592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial spores have been considered as microbial life that could survive interplanetary transport by natural impact processes or human spaceflight activity. Deposition of terrestrial microbes or their biosignature molecules onto the surface of Mars could negatively impact life detection experiments and planetary protection measures. Simulated Mars solar radiation, particularly the ultraviolet component, has been shown to reduce spore viability, but its effect on spore germination and resulting production of biosignature molecules has not been explored. We examined the survival and germinability of Bacillus subtilis spores exposed to simulated martian conditions that include solar radiation. Spores of B. subtilis that contain luciferase resulting from expression of an sspB-luxAB gene fusion were deposited on aluminum coupons to simulate deposition on spacecraft surfaces and exposed to simulated Mars atmosphere and solar radiation. The equivalent of 42 min of simulated Mars solar radiation exposure reduced spore viability by nearly 3 logs, while germination-induced bioluminescence, a measure of germination metabolism, was reduced by less than 1 log. The data indicate that spores can retain the potential to initiate germination-associated metabolic processes and produce biological signature molecules after being rendered nonviable by exposure to Mars solar radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Tauscher
- Department of Microbiology, University of Florida, Space Life Sciences Laboratory, Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899, USA
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Newcombe DA, Schuerger AC, Benardini JN, Dickinson D, Tanner R, Venkateswaran K. Survival of spacecraft-associated microorganisms under simulated martian UV irradiation. Appl Environ Microbiol 2006; 71:8147-56. [PMID: 16332797 PMCID: PMC1317311 DOI: 10.1128/aem.71.12.8147-8156.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Spore-forming microbes recovered from spacecraft surfaces and assembly facilities were exposed to simulated Martian UV irradiation. The effects of UVA (315 to 400 nm), UVA+B (280 to 400 nm), and the full UV spectrum (200 to 400 nm) on the survival of microorganisms were studied at UV intensities expected to strike the surfaces of Mars. Microbial species isolated from the surfaces of several spacecraft, including Mars Odyssey, X-2000 (avionics), and the International Space Station, and their assembly facilities were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Forty-three Bacillus spore lines were screened, and 19 isolates showed resistance to UVC irradiation (200 to 280 nm) after exposure to 1,000 J m(-2) of UVC irradiation at 254 nm using a low-pressure mercury lamp. Spores of Bacillus species isolated from spacecraft-associated surfaces were more resistant than a standard dosimetric strain, Bacillus subtilis 168. In addition, the exposure time required for UVA+B irradiation to reduce the viable spore numbers by 90% was 35-fold longer than the exposure time required for the full UV spectrum to do this, confirming that UVC is the primary biocidal bandwidth. Among the Bacillus species tested, spores of a Bacillus pumilus strain showed the greatest resistance to all three UV bandwidths, as well as the total spectrum. The resistance to simulated Mars UV irradiation was strain specific; B. pumilus SAFR-032 exhibited greater resistance than all other strains tested. The isolation of organisms like B. pumilus SAFR-032 and the greater survival of this organism (sixfold) than of the standard dosimetric strains should be considered when the sanitation capabilities of UV irradiation are determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Newcombe
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
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Moeller R, Horneck G, Facius R, Stackebrandt E. Role of pigmentation in protecting Bacillus sp. endospores against environmental UV radiation. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2005; 51:231-6. [PMID: 16329871 DOI: 10.1016/j.femsec.2004.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2004] [Revised: 08/23/2004] [Accepted: 08/26/2004] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus endospores show different kinds of pigmentation. Red-pigmented spores of Bacillus atrophaeus DSM 675, dark-gray spores of B. atrophaeus(T) DSM 7264 and light-gray spores of B. subtilis DSM 5611 were used to study the protective role of the pigments in their resistance to defined ranges of environmental UV radiation. Spores of B. atrophaeus DSM 675 possessing a dark-red pigment were 10 times more resistant to UV-A radiation than those of the other two investigated strains, whereas the responses to the more energetic UV-B and UV-C radiation were identical in all three strains. The methanol fraction of the extracted pigment from the spores absorbs in the associated wavelength area. These results indicate that the carotene-like pigment of spores of B. atrophaeus DSM 675 affects the resistance of spores to environmental UV-A radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Moeller
- Department of Radiation Biology, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehem D-51147 Cologne, Germany.
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Rochelle PA, Fallar D, Marshall MM, Montelone BA, Upton SJ, Woods K. Irreversible UV inactivation of Cryptosporidium spp. despite the presence of UV repair genes. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2005; 51:553-62. [PMID: 15537090 DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2004.tb00291.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ultraviolet light is being considered as a disinfectant by the water industry because it appears to be very effective for inactivating pathogens, including Cryptosporidium parvum. However, many organisms have mechanisms for repairing ultraviolet light-induced DNA damage, which may limit the utility of this disinfection technology. Inactivation of C. parvum was assessed by measuring infectivity in cells of the human ileocecal adenocarcinoma HCT-8 cell line, with an assay targeting a heat shock protein gene and using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to detect infections. Oocysts of five different isolates displayed similar sensitivity to ultraviolet light. An average dosage of 7.6 mJ/cm2 resulted in 99.9% inactivation, providing the first evidence that multiple isolates of C. parvum are equally sensitive to ultraviolet disinfection. Irradiated oocysts were unable to regain pre-irradiation levels of infectivity, following exposure to a broad array of potential repair conditions, such as prolonged incubation, pre-infection excystation triggers, and post-ultraviolet holding periods. A combination of data-mining and sequencing was used to identify genes for all of the major components of a nucleotide excision repair complex in C. parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis. The average similarity between the two organisms for the various genes was 96.4% (range, 92-98%). Thus, while Cryptosporidum spp. may have the potential to repair ultraviolet light-induced damage, oocyst reactivation will not occur under the standard conditions used for storage and distribution of treated drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Rochelle
- Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Water Quality Laboratory, La Verne, California 91750, USA.
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Douki T, Setlow B, Setlow P. Effects of the Binding of α/β-type Small, Acid-soluble Spore Proteins on the Photochemistry of DNA in Spores of Bacillus subtilis and In Vitro¶. Photochem Photobiol 2005. [DOI: 10.1562/2004-08-18-ra-278.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Maughan H, Galeano B, Nicholson WL. Novel rpoB mutations conferring rifampin resistance on Bacillus subtilis: global effects on growth, competence, sporulation, and germination. J Bacteriol 2004; 186:2481-6. [PMID: 15060052 PMCID: PMC412138 DOI: 10.1128/jb.186.8.2481-2486.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, spontaneous rifampin resistance mutations were isolated in cluster I of the rpoB gene, resulting in amino acid replacements (Q469R, H482R, H482Y, or S487L) in the Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase beta subunit (W. L. Nicholson and H. Maughan, J. Bacteriol. 184:4936-4940, 2002). In this study, each amino acid change in the beta subunit was observed to result in its own unique spectrum of effects on growth and various developmental events, including sporulation, germination, and competence for transformation. The results thus establish the important role played by the RNA polymerase beta subunit, not only in the catalytic aspect of transcription, but also in the regulation of major developmental events in B. subtilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Maughan
- Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
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Schuerger AC, Mancinelli RL, Kern RG, Rothschild LJ, McKay CP. Survival of endospores of Bacillus subtilis on spacecraft surfaces under simulated martian environments: implications for the forward contamination of Mars. ICARUS 2003; 165:253-276. [PMID: 14649627 DOI: 10.1016/s0019-1035(03)00200-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Experiments were conducted in a Mars simulation chamber (MSC) to characterize the survival of endospores of Bacillus subtilis under high UV irradiation and simulated martian conditions. The MSC was used to create Mars surface environments in which pressure (8.5 mb), temperature (-80, -40, -10, or +23 degrees C), gas composition (Earth-normal N2/O2 mix, pure N2, pure CO2, or a Mars gas mix), and UV-VIS-NIR fluence rates (200-1200 nm) were maintained within tight limits. The Mars gas mix was composed of CO2 (95.3%), N2 (2.7%), Ar (1.7%), O2 (0.2%), and water vapor (0.03%). Experiments were conducted to measure the effects of pressure, gas composition, and temperature alone or in combination with Mars-normal UV-VIS-NIR light environments. Endospores of B. subtilis, were deposited on aluminum coupons as monolayers in which the average density applied to coupons was 2.47 x 10(6) bacteria per sample. Populations of B. subtilis placed on aluminum coupons and subjected to an Earth-normal temperature (23 degrees C), pressure (1013 mb), and gas mix (normal N2/O2 ratio) but illuminated with a Mars-normal UV-VIS-NIR spectrum were reduced by over 99.9% after 30 sec exposure to Mars-normal UV fluence rates. However, it required at least 15 min of Mars-normal UV exposure to reduce bacterial populations on aluminum coupons to non-recoverable levels. These results were duplicated when bacteria were exposed to Mars-normal environments of temperature (-10 degrees C), pressure (8.5 mb), gas composition (pure CO2), and UV fluence rates. In other experiments, results indicated that the gas composition of the atmosphere and the temperature of the bacterial monolayers at the time of Mars UV exposure had no effects on the survival of bacterial endospores. But Mars-normal pressures (8.5 mb) were found to reduce survival by approximately 20-35% compared to Earth-normal pressures (1013 mb). The primary implications of these results are (a) that greater than 99.9% of bacterial populations on sun-exposed surfaces of spacecraft are likely to be inactivated within a few tens of seconds to a few minutes on the surface of Mars, and (b) that within a single Mars day under clear-sky conditions bacterial populations on sun-exposed surfaces of spacecraft will be sterilized. Furthermore, these results suggest that the high UV fluence rates on the martian surface can be an important resource in minimizing the forward contamination of Mars.
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Nicholson WL, Maughan H. The spectrum of spontaneous rifampin resistance mutations in the rpoB gene of Bacillus subtilis 168 spores differs from that of vegetative cells and resembles that of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J Bacteriol 2002; 184:4936-40. [PMID: 12169622 PMCID: PMC135274 DOI: 10.1128/jb.184.17.4936-4940.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations causing rifampin resistance in vegetative cells of Bacillus subtilis 168 have thus far been mapped to a rather restricted set of alterations at either Q469 or H482 within cluster I of the rpoB gene encoding the beta subunit of RNA polymerase. In this study, we demonstrated that spores of B. subtilis 168 exhibit a spectrum of spontaneous rifampin resistance mutations distinct from that of vegetative cells. In addition to the rpoB mutations Q469K, Q469R, and H482Y previously characterized in vegetative cells, we isolated a new mutation of rpoB, H482R, from vegetative cells. Additional new rifampin resistance mutations arising from spores were detected at A478N and most frequently at S487L. The S487L change is the predominant change found in rpoB mutations sequenced from rifampin-resistant clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The observations are discussed in terms of the underlying differences of the DNA environment within dormant cells and vegetatively growing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne L Nicholson
- Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
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Xu Z, Chen ZP, Malapetsa A, Alaoui-Jamali M, Bergeron J, Monks A, Myers TG, Mohr G, Sausville EA, Scudiero DA, Aloyz R, Panasci LC. DNA repair protein levels vis-à-vis anticancer drug resistance in the human tumor cell lines of the National Cancer Institute drug screening program. Anticancer Drugs 2002; 13:511-9. [PMID: 12045463 DOI: 10.1097/00001813-200206000-00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a multi-enzyme DNA repair pathway in eukaryotes. Several NER genes in this pathway including XPB, XPD, XPA and ERCC-1 have been implicated in anticancer drug resistance in human tumor cells. In this study, we assessed the levels of the above-mentioned proteins in the NCI panel of 60 human tumor cell lines in relation to the cytotoxicity patterns of 170 compounds that constitute the standard agent (SA) database. The database consists of drugs used in the clinic for which a mechanism of action has been at least partially defined. The ERCC-1, XPD and XPB protein expression patterns yielded significant negative Pearson correlations with 13, 32 and 17 out of the 170 compounds, respectively (using p<0.05). XPA produced a random assortment of negative and positive correlations, and did not appear to confer an overall resistance or sensitivity to these drugs. Protein expression was also compared with a pre-defined categorization of the standard agents into six mechanism-of-action groups resulting in an inverse association between XPD and alkylating agent sensitivity. Our present data demonstrate that XPD protein levels correlate with resistance to alkylating agents in human tumor cell lines suggesting that XPD is implicated in the development of this resistance. NER activity, using the in vitro cell-free system repair assay, revealed no correlation between NER activity and the level of XPD protein in four cell lines with widely varying XPD protein levels. This lack of correlation may be due to the contribution of XPD to other functions including interactions with the Rad51 repair pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Xu
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Sir Mortimer B Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E2, Canada
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Pandey R, Mehrotra S, Ray RS, Joshi PC, Hans RK. Evaluation of UV-radiation induced singlet oxygen generation potential of selected drugs. Drug Chem Toxicol 2002; 25:215-25. [PMID: 12024804 DOI: 10.1081/dct-120003261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Photosensitization reaction of drugs leading to the formation of reactive oxygen species under ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can cause tissue injury, resulting in damage to various cellular macromolecules. The aim of this study was to determine the singlet oxygen generation potential of some commonly used antibiotics so that due precautions can be exercised to minimize their photosensitizing action and oxidative stress potential. The selected antibiotics were examined for their ability to produce singlet oxygen (1O2) under artificial UVA (320-400 nm). Singlet oxygen generation of various screened antibiotics under UVA is of the following order: Nalidixic acid > Amphotericin-B > Cephradine > Cefazolin > Nafcillin > Cephalothin > Ampicillin > Cephalexin > Puromycin > Kanamycin > Lincomycin > Tetracycline > Nystatin > Gentamicin sulphate. Nalidixic acid, the most potent generator of 1O2 among the screened antibiotics, was selected to carry out further studies. Certain specific quenchers of 1O2 such as beta-carotene, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2] octane (DABCO), and sodium azide (NaN3) accorded significant inhibition in the production of 1O2. The results suggest that precautions are necessary to avoid ultraviolet radiation after the intake of photoreactive drugs, especially in tropical countries such as India. These findings are significant because UVB radiation is reportedly increasing on earth surface in part due to depletion of stratospheric ozone layer. The selected drugs are commonly used for the treatment of various diseases. Thus, the synergistic action of both can lead to undesirable phototoxic responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Pandey
- Department of Biochemistry, Dr. R. M. L. Avadh University, Faizabad 224 001, U.P., India
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Kim JJ, Sundin GW. Construction and analysis of photolyase mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas syringae: contribution of photoreactivation, nucleotide excision repair, and mutagenic DNA repair to cell survival and mutability following exposure to UV-B radiation. Appl Environ Microbiol 2001; 67:1405-11. [PMID: 11282583 PMCID: PMC92747 DOI: 10.1128/aem.67.4.1405-1411.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on nucleotide sequence homology with the Escherichia coli photolyase gene (phr), the phr sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 was identified from the genome sequence, amplified by PCR, cloned, and shown to complement a known phr mutation following expression in Escherichia coli SY2. Stable, insertional phr mutants containing a tetracycline resistance gene cassette were constructed in P. aeruginosa PAO1 and P. syringae pv. syringae FF5 by homologous recombination and sucrose-mediated counterselection. These mutants showed a decrease in survival compared to the wild type of as much as 19-fold after irradiation at UV-B doses of 1,000 to 1,550 J m(-2) followed by a recovery period under photoreactivating conditions. A phr uvrA mutant of P. aeruginosa PAO1 was markedly sensitive to UV-B irradiation exhibiting a decrease in survival of 6 orders of magnitude following a UV-B dose of 250 J m(-2). Complementation of the phr mutations in P. aeruginosa PAO1 and P. syringae pv. syringae FF5 using the cloned phr gene from strain PAO1 resulted in a restoration of survival following UV-B irradiation and recovery under photoreactivating conditions. The UV-B survival of the phr mutants could also be complemented by the P. syringae mutagenic DNA repair determinant rulAB. Assays for increases in the frequency of spontaneous rifampin-resistant mutants in UV-B-irradiated strains containing rulAB indicated that significant UV-B mutability (up to a 51-fold increase compared to a nonirradiated control strain) occurred even in the wild-type PAO1 background in which rulAB only enhanced the UV-B survival by 2-fold under photoreactivating conditions. The frequency of occurrence of spontaneous nalidixic acid-resistant mutants in the PAO1 uvrA and uvrA phr backgrounds complemented with rulAB were 3.8 x 10(-5) and 2.1 x 10(-3), respectively, following a UV-B dose of 1,550 J m(-2). The construction and characterization of phr mutants in the present study will facilitate the determination of the roles of light and dark repair systems in organisms exposed to solar radiation in their natural habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Kim
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2132, USA
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Slieman TA, Nicholson WL. Role of dipicolinic acid in survival of Bacillus subtilis spores exposed to artificial and solar UV radiation. Appl Environ Microbiol 2001; 67:1274-9. [PMID: 11229921 PMCID: PMC92724 DOI: 10.1128/aem.67.3.1274-1279.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2000] [Accepted: 01/09/2001] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (dipicolinic acid [DPA]) constitutes approximately 10% of Bacillus subtilis spore dry weight and has been shown to play a significant role in the survival of B. subtilis spores exposed to wet heat and to 254-nm UV radiation in the laboratory. However, to date, no work has addressed the importance of DPA in the survival of spores exposed to environmentally relevant solar UV radiation. Air-dried films of spores containing DPA or lacking DPA due to a null mutation in the DPA synthetase operon dpaAB were assayed for their resistance to UV-C (254 nm), UV-B (290 to 320 nm), full-spectrum sunlight (290 to 400 nm), and sunlight from which the UV-B portion was filtered (325 to 400 nm). In all cases, air-dried DPA-less spores were significantly more UV sensitive than their isogenic DPA-containing counterparts. However, the degree of difference in UV resistance between the two strains was wavelength dependent, being greatest in response to radiation in the UV-B portion of the spectrum. In addition, the inactivation responses of DPA-containing and DPA-less spores also depended strongly upon whether spores were exposed to UV as air-dried films or in aqueous suspension. Spores lacking the gerA, gerB, and gerK nutrient germination pathways, and which therefore rely on chemical triggering of germination by the calcium chelate of DPA (Ca-DPA), were also more UV sensitive than wild-type spores to all wavelengths tested, suggesting that the Ca-DPA-mediated spore germination pathway may consist of a UV-sensitive component or components.
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Affiliation(s)
- T A Slieman
- Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
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Setlow P. Resistance of spores of Bacillus species to ultraviolet light. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2001; 38:97-104. [PMID: 11746741 DOI: 10.1002/em.1058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Dormant spores of the various Bacillus species, including B. subtilis, are 5 to 50 times more resistant to UV radiation than are the corresponding growing cells. This elevated spore UV resistance is due to: a) the photochemistry of DNA within spores, as UV generates few if any cyclobutane dimers, but rather a photoproduct (Fig. 1) called spore photoproduct (SP; 5-thyminyl-5,6-dihydrothymine); and b) DNA repair, in particular SP-specific repair, during spore germination. The novel UV photochemistry of spore DNA is largely due to its saturation with a group of small, acid-soluble proteins (SASP), which are unique to spores and whose binding alters the DNA conformation and thus its photochemistry. SP-specific repair is also unique to spores and is carried out by a light-independent SP-lyase, an iron-sulfur protein that utilizes S-adenosylmethionine to catalyze SP monomerization without DNA backbone cleavage.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Setlow
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06032, USA.
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