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Ballesteros-Monrreal MG, Mendez-Pfeiffer P, Ortíz B, Bolado-Martínez E, Álvarez-Ainza ML, Enciso-Martínez Y, Arenas-Hernández MMP, Diaz-Murrieta B, Barrios-Villa E, Valencia D. Uropathogenic E. coli and Hybrid Pathotypes in Mexican Women with Urinary Tract Infections: A Comprehensive Molecular and Phenotypic Overview. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:5909-5928. [PMID: 38921024 PMCID: PMC11202577 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46060353] [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: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the main cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and carries virulence and resistance factors often found in mobilizable genetic elements, such as plasmids or pathogenicity islands (PAIs). UPEC is part of the extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), but hybrid strains possessing both diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) and ExPEC traits, termed "hypervirulent", present a significant health threat. This study assessed the prevalence of UPEC PAIs, ExPEC sequence types (ST), DEC genes, carbapenemase and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) phenotypes, resistance genotypes, and plasmids in 40 clinical isolates of UPEC. Results showed that 72.5% of isolates had PAIs, mainly PAI IV536 (53%). ESBL phenotypes were found in 65% of β-lactam-resistant isolates, with 100% of carbapenem-resistant isolates producing carbapenemase. The predominant ESBL gene was blaCTX-M-2 (60%), and the most common resistance gene in fluoroquinolone and aminoglycoside-resistant isolates was aac(6')Ib (93%). Plasmids were present in 57% of isolates, and 70% belonged to the ST131 clonal group. Molecular markers for DEC pathotypes were detected in 20 isolates, with 60% classified as hybrid pathotypes. These findings indicate significant pathogenic potential and the presence of hybrid pathotypes in E. coli UTI clinical isolates in the Mexican population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel G. Ballesteros-Monrreal
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Caborca CP 83621, Sonora, Mexico; (M.G.B.-M.); (P.M.-P.); (Y.E.-M.); (B.D.-M.)
| | - Pablo Mendez-Pfeiffer
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Caborca CP 83621, Sonora, Mexico; (M.G.B.-M.); (P.M.-P.); (Y.E.-M.); (B.D.-M.)
| | - Bryan Ortíz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras;
| | - Enrique Bolado-Martínez
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo CP 83000, Sonora, Mexico; (E.B.-M.); (M.L.Á.-A.)
| | - Maritza Lizeth Álvarez-Ainza
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo CP 83000, Sonora, Mexico; (E.B.-M.); (M.L.Á.-A.)
| | - Yessica Enciso-Martínez
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Caborca CP 83621, Sonora, Mexico; (M.G.B.-M.); (P.M.-P.); (Y.E.-M.); (B.D.-M.)
| | - Margarita M. P. Arenas-Hernández
- Posgrado en Microbiología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Microbiológicas, Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Ciudad Universitaria, Puebla CP 72570, Pue, Mexico
| | - Betsaida Diaz-Murrieta
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Caborca CP 83621, Sonora, Mexico; (M.G.B.-M.); (P.M.-P.); (Y.E.-M.); (B.D.-M.)
| | - Edwin Barrios-Villa
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Caborca CP 83621, Sonora, Mexico; (M.G.B.-M.); (P.M.-P.); (Y.E.-M.); (B.D.-M.)
| | - Dora Valencia
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Caborca CP 83621, Sonora, Mexico; (M.G.B.-M.); (P.M.-P.); (Y.E.-M.); (B.D.-M.)
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De R, Jani M, Azad RK. DICEP: An integrative approach to augmenting genomic island detection. J Biotechnol 2024; 388:49-58. [PMID: 38641137 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2024.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Mobilization of clusters of genes called genomic islands (GIs) across bacterial lineages facilitates dissemination of traits, such as, resistance against antibiotics, virulence or hypervirulence, and versatile metabolic capabilities. Robust delineation of GIs is critical to understanding bacterial evolution that has a vast impact on different life forms. Methods for identification of GIs exploit different evolutionary features or signals encoded within the genomes of bacteria, however, the current state-of-the-art in GI detection still leaves much to be desired. Here, we have taken a combinatorial approach that accounted for GI specific features such as compositional bias, aberrant phyletic pattern, and marker gene enrichment within an integrative framework to delineate GIs in bacterial genomes. Our GI prediction tool, DICEP, was assessed on simulated genomes and well-characterized bacterial genomes. DICEP compared favorably with current GI detection tools on real and synthetic datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronika De
- Department of Biological Sciences and BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, United States
| | - Mehul Jani
- Department of Biological Sciences and BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, United States
| | - Rajeev K Azad
- Department of Biological Sciences and BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, United States; Department of Mathematics, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, United States.
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Traglia GM, Betancor L, Yim L, Iriarte A, Chabalgoity JA. Genotypic and phenotypic analysis of Salmonella enterica serovar Derby, looking for clues explaining the impairment of egg isolates to cause human disease. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1357881. [PMID: 38903793 PMCID: PMC11186997 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1357881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica serovar Derby causes foodborne disease (FBD) outbreaks worldwide, mainly from contaminated pork but also from chickens. During a major epidemic of FBD in Uruguay due to S. enteritidis from poultry, we conducted a large survey of commercially available eggs, where we isolated many S. enteritidis strains but surprisingly also a much larger number (ratio 5:1) of S. Derby strains. No single case of S. Derby infection was detected in that period, suggesting that the S. Derby egg strains were impaired for human infection. We sequenced fourteen of these egg isolates, as well as fifteen isolates from pork or human infection that were isolated in Uruguay before and after that period, and all sequenced strains had the same sequence type (ST40). Phylogenomic analysis was conducted using more than 3,500 genomes from the same sequence type (ST), revealing that Uruguayan isolates clustered into four distantly related lineages. Population structure analysis (BAPS) suggested the division of the analyzed genomes into nine different BAPS1 groups, with Uruguayan strains clustering within four of them. All egg isolates clustered together as a monophyletic group and showed differences in gene content with the strains in the other clusters. Differences included variations in the composition of mobile genetic elements, such as plasmids, insertion sequences, transposons, and phages, between egg isolates and human/pork isolates. Egg isolates showed an acid susceptibility phenotype, reduced ability to reach the intestine after oral inoculation of mice, and reduced induction of SPI-2 ssaG gene, compared to human isolates from other monophyletic groups. Mice challenge experiments showed that mice infected intraperitoneally with human/pork isolates died between 1-7 days p.i., while all animals infected with the egg strain survived the challenge. Altogether, our results suggest that loss of genes functions, the insertion of phages and the absence of plasmids in egg isolates may explain why these S. Derby were not capable of producing human infection despite being at that time, the main serovar recovered from eggs countrywide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Andrés Iriarte
- Departamento de Desarrollo Biotecnológico, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - José Alejandro Chabalgoity
- Departamento de Desarrollo Biotecnológico, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Manisha Y, Srinivasan M, Jobichen C, Rosenshine I, Sivaraman J. Sensing for survival: specialised regulatory mechanisms of Type III secretion systems in Gram-negative pathogens. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:837-863. [PMID: 38217090 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
For centuries, Gram-negative pathogens have infected the human population and been responsible for numerous diseases in animals and plants. Despite advancements in therapeutics, Gram-negative pathogens continue to evolve, with some having developed multi-drug resistant phenotypes. For the successful control of infections caused by these bacteria, we need to widen our understanding of the mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions. Gram-negative pathogens utilise an array of effector proteins to hijack the host system to survive within the host environment. These proteins are secreted into the host system via various secretion systems, including the integral Type III secretion system (T3SS). The T3SS spans two bacterial membranes and one host membrane to deliver effector proteins (virulence factors) into the host cell. This multifaceted process has multiple layers of regulation and various checkpoints. In this review, we highlight the multiple strategies adopted by these pathogens to regulate or maintain virulence via the T3SS, encompassing the regulation of small molecules to sense and communicate with the host system, as well as master regulators, gatekeepers, chaperones, and other effectors that recognise successful host contact. Further, we discuss the regulatory links between the T3SS and other systems, like flagella and metabolic pathways including the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, anaerobic metabolism, and stringent cell response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadav Manisha
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Mahalashmi Srinivasan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Chacko Jobichen
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Ilan Rosenshine
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - J Sivaraman
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
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Li X, Brejnrod A, Trivedi U, Russel J, Thorsen J, Shah SA, Vestergaard GA, Rasmussen MA, Nesme J, Bisgaard H, Stokholm J, Sørensen SJ. Co-localization of antibiotic resistance genes is widespread in the infant gut microbiome and associates with an immature gut microbial composition. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:87. [PMID: 38730321 PMCID: PMC11084089 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01800-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In environmental bacteria, the selective advantage of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) can be increased through co-localization with genes such as other ARGs, biocide resistance genes, metal resistance genes, and virulence genes (VGs). The gut microbiome of infants has been shown to contain numerous ARGs, however, co-localization related to ARGs is unknown during early life despite frequent exposures to biocides and metals from an early age. RESULTS We conducted a comprehensive analysis of genetic co-localization of resistance genes in a cohort of 662 Danish children and examined the association between such co-localization and environmental factors as well as gut microbial maturation. Our study showed that co-localization of ARGs with other resistance and virulence genes is common in the early gut microbiome and is associated with gut bacteria that are indicative of low maturity. Statistical models showed that co-localization occurred mainly in the phylum Proteobacteria independent of high ARG content and contig length. We evaluated the stochasticity of co-localization occurrence using enrichment scores. The most common forms of co-localization involved tetracycline and fluoroquinolone resistance genes, and, on plasmids, co-localization predominantly occurred in the form of class 1 integrons. Antibiotic use caused a short-term increase in mobile ARGs, while non-mobile ARGs showed no significant change. Finally, we found that a high abundance of VGs was associated with low gut microbial maturity and that VGs showed even higher potential for mobility than ARGs. CONCLUSIONS We found that the phenomenon of co-localization between ARGs and other resistance and VGs was prevalent in the gut at the beginning of life. It reveals the diversity that sustains antibiotic resistance and therefore indirectly emphasizes the need to apply caution in the use of antimicrobial agents in clinical practice, animal husbandry, and daily life to mitigate the escalation of resistance. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanji Li
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Asker Brejnrod
- Section of Bioinformatics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Urvish Trivedi
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jakob Russel
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jonathan Thorsen
- COPSAC, Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shiraz A Shah
- COPSAC, Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gisle Alberg Vestergaard
- Section of Bioinformatics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Morten Arendt Rasmussen
- COPSAC, Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Joseph Nesme
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hans Bisgaard
- COPSAC, Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jakob Stokholm
- COPSAC, Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Johannes Sørensen
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Maldonado N, López-Hernández I, García-Montaner A, López-Cortés LE, Pérez-Crespo PMM, Retamar-Gentil P, Sousa-Domínguez A, Goikoetxea J, Pulido-Navazo Á, Labayru-Echeverría C, Natera-Kindelán C, Jover-Sáenz A, Del Arco-Jiménez A, Armiñanzas-Castillo C, Aller AI, Fernández-Suárez J, Marrodán-Ciordia T, Boix-Palop L, Smithson-Amat A, Reguera-Iglesias JM, Galán-Sánchez F, Bahamonde A, Sánchez Calvo JM, Gea-Lázaro I, Pérez-Camacho I, Reyes-Bertos A, Becerril-Carral B, Rodríguez-Baño J, Pascual Á. Whole-genome characterisation of Escherichia coli isolates from patients with bacteraemia presenting with sepsis or septic shock in Spain: a multicentre cross-sectional study. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2024; 5:e390-e399. [PMID: 38547882 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00369-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Escherichia coli is the most frequent cause of bloodstream infections (BSIs). About one-third of patients with BSIs due to E coli develop sepsis or shock. The objective of this study is to characterise the microbiological features of E coli blood isolates causing sepsis or septic shock to provide exploratory information for future diagnostic, preventive, or therapeutic interventions. METHODS E coli blood isolates from a multicentre cross-sectional study of patients older than 14 years presenting with sepsis or septic shock (according to the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock criteria) from hospitals in Spain between Oct 4, 2016, and Oct 15, 2017, were studied by whole-genome sequencing. Phylogroups, sequence types (STs), serotype, FimH types, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, pathogenicity islands, and virulence factors were identified. Susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution. The main outcome of this study was the characterisation of the E coli blood isolates in terms of population structure by phylogroups, groups (group 1: phylogroups B2, F, and G; group 2: A, B1, and C; group 3: D), and STs and distribution by geographical location and bloodstream infection source. Other outcomes were virulence score and prevalence of virulence-associated genes, pathogenicity islands, AMR, and AMR-associated genes. Frequencies were compared using χ² or Fisher's exact tests, and continuous variables using the Mann-Whitney test, with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. FINDINGS We analysed 224 isolates: 140 isolates (63%) were included in phylogenetic group 1, 52 (23%) in group 2, and 32 (14%) in group 3. 85 STs were identified, with four comprising 44% (n=98) of the isolates: ST131 (38 [17%]), ST73 (25 [11%]), ST69 (23 [10%]), and ST95 (12 [5%]). No significant differences in phylogroup or ST distribution were found according to geographical areas or source of bloodstream infection, except for ST95, which was more frequent in urinary tract infections than in other sources (11 [9%] of 116 vs 1 [1%] of 108, p=0·0045). Median virulence score was higher in group 1 (median 25·0 [IQR 20·5-29·0) than in group 2 (median 14·5 [9·0-20·0]; p<0·0001) and group 3 (median 21 [16·5-23·0]; p<0·0001); prevalence of several pathogenicity islands was higher in group 1. No significant differences were found between phylogenetic groups in proportions of resistance to antibiotics. ST73 had higher median virulence score (32 [IQR 29-35]) than the other predominant clones (median range 21-28). Some virulence genes and pathogenicity islands were significantly associated with each ST. ST131 isolates had higher prevalence of AMR and a higher proportion of AMR genes, notably blaCTX-M-15 and blaOXA-1. INTERPRETATION In this exploratory study, the population structure of E coli causing sepsis or shock was similar to previous studies that included all bacteraemic isolates. Virulence genes, pathogenicity islands, and AMR genes were not randomly distributed among phylogroups or STs. These results provide a comprehensive characterisation of invasive E coli isolates causing severe response syndrome. Future studies are required to determine the contribution of these microbiological factors to severe clinical presentation and worse outcomes in patients with E coli bloodstream infection. FUNDING Instituto de Salud Carlos III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Maldonado
- Unidad Clínica de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Departamentos de Medicina y Microbiología, Universidad de Sevilla, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS)/CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Inmaculada López-Hernández
- Unidad Clínica de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Departamentos de Medicina y Microbiología, Universidad de Sevilla, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS)/CSIC, Sevilla, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrea García-Montaner
- Unidad Clínica de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Departamentos de Medicina y Microbiología, Universidad de Sevilla, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS)/CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Luis Eduardo López-Cortés
- Unidad Clínica de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Departamentos de Medicina y Microbiología, Universidad de Sevilla, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS)/CSIC, Sevilla, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Pilar Retamar-Gentil
- Unidad Clínica de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Departamentos de Medicina y Microbiología, Universidad de Sevilla, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS)/CSIC, Sevilla, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Clara Natera-Kindelán
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
| | | | | | - Carlos Armiñanzas-Castillo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Hospital Universitario de Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
| | | | - Jonathan Fernández-Suárez
- Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
| | | | | | | | - José Mª Reguera-Iglesias
- Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina (IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND), Málaga, Spain
| | | | | | - Juan Manuel Sánchez Calvo
- Hospital Universitario de Jerez, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Jesús Rodríguez-Baño
- Unidad Clínica de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Departamentos de Medicina y Microbiología, Universidad de Sevilla, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS)/CSIC, Sevilla, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Álvaro Pascual
- Unidad Clínica de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Departamentos de Medicina y Microbiología, Universidad de Sevilla, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS)/CSIC, Sevilla, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Moazeni S, Askari Badouei M, Hashemitabar G, Rezatofighi SE, Mahmoodi F. Detection and characterization of potentially hybrid enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) strains isolated from urinary tract infection. Braz J Microbiol 2024; 55:1-9. [PMID: 38036848 PMCID: PMC10920591 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-01195-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) have the potential to receive the virulence markers of intestinal pathotypes and transform into various important hybrid pathotypes. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and characteristics of hybrid enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC)/UPEC strains. Out of 202 UPEC strains, nine (4.5%) were detected as hybrid EAEC/UPEC. These strains carried one to four iron uptake systems. Among nine investigated pathogenicity islands (PAIs), PAI IV536, PAI II536, and PAI ICFT073 were found in 9 (100%), 3 (33.3%), and 1 (11.1%) strains, respectively. The chuA and sitA genes were detected in 5 (55.5%) and 3 (33.3%) hybrid strains, respectively. Six hybrid strains were found to be typical extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) according to their virulence traits. Most of the hybrid strains belonged to the phylogenetic group E (6/9). Among the hybrid strains, seven (7/9) were able to form biofilm and adhere to cells; however, only two strains penetrated into the HeLa cells. Our findings reveal some of the virulence characteristics of hybrid strains that lead to fitness and infection in the urinary tract. These strains, with virulence factors of intestinal and non-intestinal pathotypes, may become emerging pathogens in clinical settings; therefore, further studies are needed to reveal their pathogenicity mechanisms and so that preventive measures can be taken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shima Moazeni
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahdi Askari Badouei
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Gholamreza Hashemitabar
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Fahimeh Mahmoodi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
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Lyu B, Song Q. The intricate relationship of G-Quadruplexes and bacterial pathogenicity islands. eLife 2024; 12:RP91985. [PMID: 38391174 PMCID: PMC10942614 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The dynamic interplay between guanine-quadruplex (G4) structures and pathogenicity islands (PAIs) represents a captivating area of research with implications for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenicity. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of a large-scale dataset from reported 89 pathogenic strains of bacteria to investigate the potential interactions between G4 structures and PAIs. G4 structures exhibited an uneven and non-random distribution within the PAIs and were consistently conserved within the same pathogenic strains. Additionally, this investigation identified positive correlations between the number and frequency of G4 structures and the GC content across different genomic features, including the genome, promoters, genes, tRNA, and rRNA regions, indicating a potential relationship between G4 structures and the GC-associated regions of the genome. The observed differences in GC content between PAIs and the core genome further highlight the unique nature of PAIs and underlying factors, such as DNA topology. High-confidence G4 structures within regulatory regions of Escherichia coli were identified, modulating the efficiency or specificity of DNA integration events within PAIs. Collectively, these findings pave the way for future research to unravel the intricate molecular mechanisms and functional implications of G4-PAI interactions, thereby advancing our understanding of bacterial pathogenicity and the role of G4 structures in pathogenic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Lyu
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of MissouriColumbiaUnited States
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of MissouriColumbiaUnited States
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Soni J, Sinha S, Pandey R. Understanding bacterial pathogenicity: a closer look at the journey of harmful microbes. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1370818. [PMID: 38444801 PMCID: PMC10912505 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1370818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria are the most prevalent form of microorganisms and are classified into two categories based on their mode of existence: intracellular and extracellular. While most bacteria are beneficial to human health, others are pathogenic and can cause mild to severe infections. These bacteria use various mechanisms to evade host immunity and cause diseases in humans. The susceptibility of a host to bacterial infection depends on the effectiveness of the immune system, overall health, and genetic factors. Malnutrition, chronic illnesses, and age-related vulnerabilities are the additional confounders to disease severity phenotypes. The impact of bacterial pathogens on public health includes the transmission of these pathogens from healthcare facilities, which contributes to increased morbidity and mortality. To identify the most significant threats to public health, it is crucial to understand the global burden of common bacterial pathogens and their pathogenicity. This knowledge is required to improve immunization rates, improve the effectiveness of vaccines, and consider the impact of antimicrobial resistance when assessing the situation. Many bacteria have developed antimicrobial resistance, which has significant implications for infectious diseases and favors the survival of resilient microorganisms. This review emphasizes the significance of understanding the bacterial pathogens that cause this health threat on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Soni
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, Integrative Genomics of Host Pathogen Laboratory, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, India
| | - Sristi Sinha
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, Integrative Genomics of Host Pathogen Laboratory, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India
- School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology University, Vellore, India
| | - Rajesh Pandey
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, Integrative Genomics of Host Pathogen Laboratory, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, India
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10
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Ilyas M, Purkait D, Atmakuri K. Genomic islands and their role in fitness traits of two key sepsis-causing bacterial pathogens. Brief Funct Genomics 2024; 23:55-68. [PMID: 36528816 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elac051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
To survive and establish a niche for themselves, bacteria constantly evolve. Toward that, they not only insert point mutations and promote illegitimate recombinations within their genomes but also insert pieces of 'foreign' deoxyribonucleic acid, which are commonly referred to as 'genomic islands' (GEIs). The GEIs come in several forms, structures and types, often providing a fitness advantage to the harboring bacterium. In pathogenic bacteria, some GEIs may enhance virulence, thus altering disease burden, morbidity and mortality. Hence, delineating (i) the GEIs framework, (ii) their encoded functions, (iii) the triggers that help them move, (iv) the mechanisms they exploit to move among bacteria and (v) identification of their natural reservoirs will aid in superior tackling of several bacterial diseases, including sepsis. Given the vast array of comparative genomics data, in this short review, we provide an overview of the GEIs, their types and the compositions therein, especially highlighting GEIs harbored by two important pathogens, viz. Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which prominently trigger sepsis in low- and middle-income countries. Our efforts help shed some light on the challenges these pathogens pose when equipped with GEIs. We hope that this review will provoke intense research into understanding GEIs, the cues that drive their mobility across bacteria and the ways and means to prevent their transfer, especially across pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Ilyas
- Bacterial Pathogenesis Lab, Infection and Immunity Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana 121001, India
| | - Dyuti Purkait
- Bacterial Pathogenesis Lab, Infection and Immunity Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana 121001, India
| | - Krishnamohan Atmakuri
- Bacterial Pathogenesis Lab, Infection and Immunity Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana 121001, India
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11
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Danov A, Segev O, Bograd A, Ben Eliyahu Y, Dotan N, Kaplan T, Levy A. Toxinome-the bacterial protein toxin database. mBio 2024; 15:e0191123. [PMID: 38117054 PMCID: PMC10790787 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01911-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Microbes use protein toxins as important tools to attack neighboring cells, microbial or eukaryotic, and for self-killing when attacked by viruses. These toxins work through different mechanisms to inhibit cell growth or kill cells. Microbes also use antitoxin proteins to neutralize the toxin activities. Here, we developed a comprehensive database called Toxinome of nearly two million toxins and antitoxins that are encoded in 59,475 bacterial genomes. We described the distribution of bacterial toxins and identified that they are depleted by bacteria that live in hot and cold temperatures. We found 5,161 cases in which toxins and antitoxins are densely clustered in bacterial genomes and termed these areas "Toxin Islands." The Toxinome database is a useful resource for anyone interested in toxin biology and evolution, and it can guide the discovery of new toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleks Danov
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Science, The Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ofir Segev
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Science, The Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Avi Bograd
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Science, The Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yedidya Ben Eliyahu
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noam Dotan
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tommy Kaplan
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Asaf Levy
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Science, The Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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12
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Anderson AJG, Morrell B, Lopez Campos G, Valvano MA. Distribution and diversity of type VI secretion system clusters in Enterobacter bugandensis and Enterobacter cloacae. Microb Genom 2023; 9:001148. [PMID: 38054968 PMCID: PMC10763514 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gram-negative bacteria use type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) to antagonize neighbouring cells. Although primarily involved in bacterial competition, the T6SS is also implicated in pathogenesis, biofilm formation and ion scavenging. Enterobacter species belong to the ESKAPE pathogens, and while their antibiotic resistance has been well studied, less is known about their pathogenesis. Here, we investigated the distribution and diversity of T6SS components in isolates of two clinically relevant Enterobacter species, E. cloacae and E. bugandensis. T6SS clusters are grouped into four types (T6SSi-T6SSiv), of which type i can be further divided into six subtypes (i1, i2, i3, i4a, i4b, i5). Analysis of a curated dataset of 31 strains demonstrated that most of them encode T6SS clusters belonging to the T6SSi type. All T6SS-positive strains possessed a conserved i3 cluster, and many harboured one or two additional i2 clusters. These clusters were less conserved, and some strains displayed evidence of deletion. We focused on a pathogenic E. bugandensis clinical isolate for comprehensive in silico effector prediction, with comparative analyses across the 31 isolates. Several new effector candidates were identified, including an evolved VgrG with a metallopeptidase domain and a Tse6-like protein. Additional effectors included an anti-eukaryotic catalase (KatN), M23 peptidase, PAAR and VgrG proteins. Our findings highlight the diversity of Enterobacter T6SSs and reveal new putative effectors that may be important for the interaction of these species with neighbouring cells and their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy J. G. Anderson
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Becca Morrell
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Guillermo Lopez Campos
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Miguel A. Valvano
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
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13
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Sanderlin AG, Margolis HK, Meyer AF, Lamason RL. Cell-selective proteomics reveal novel effectors secreted by an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.17.567466. [PMID: 38014272 PMCID: PMC10680844 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.17.567466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic bacteria secrete protein effectors to hijack host machinery and remodel their infectious niche. Rickettsia spp. are obligate intracellular bacteria that can cause life-threatening disease, but their absolute dependence on the host cell environment has impeded discovery of rickettsial effectors and their host targets. We implemented bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) during R. parkeri infection to selectively label, isolate, and identify secreted effectors. As the first use of BONCAT in an obligate intracellular bacterium, our screen more than doubles the number of experimentally validated effectors for R. parkeri. The novel secreted rickettsial factors (Srfs) we identified include Rickettsia-specific proteins of unknown function that localize to the host cytoplasm, mitochondria, and ER. We further show that one such effector, SrfD, interacts with the host Sec61 translocon. Altogether, our work uncovers a diverse set of previously uncharacterized rickettsial effectors and lays the foundation for a deeper exploration of the host-pathogen interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen G. Sanderlin
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hannah K. Margolis
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Abigail F. Meyer
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Lamason
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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14
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Ghalavand Z, Taheri M, Eslami G, Karimi-Yazdi M, Sadredinamin M. Invasion of HeLa Cells by Shigella Species Clinical Isolates Recovered from Pediatric Diarrhea. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2023; 20:509-513. [PMID: 37738332 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2023.0066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Shigella is considered a major public health concern, especially for children younger than 5 years of age in developing countries. The pathogenicity of Shigella is a complex process that involves the interplay of multiple genes located on a large, unstable virulence plasmid as well as chromosomal pathogenicity islands. Since various factors (including virulence and antibiotic resistance genes) are associated with the severity and duration of shigellosis, in this article, we aim to evaluate whether the invasion of HeLa cells is affected by Shigella spp. isolates with different characteristics (including serogroups, virulence gene profiles, and antibiotic resistance patterns) recovered from pediatric patients in Tehran, Iran. Cell invasion ability of 10 Shigella isolates with different serogroups (Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei), gene profiling (virA, sen, ipgD, ipaD, ipaC, ipaB, and ipaH), and antibiotic resistance phenotyping (ampicillin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cefixime, cefotaxime, minocycline, and levofloxacin) were measured by plaque-forming assay in HeLa cell lines. The results show that all the selected Shigella spp. isolates recovered from pediatric patients were able to invade HeLa cells, but the total number and average size of plaques were different between the isolates. The higher invasion ability of S. flexneri isolates in HeLa cells compared to S. sonnei isolates was attributed to the presence of particular virulence genes; however, the role of each of these virulence factors remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Ghalavand
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marzieh Taheri
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Gita Eslami
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mehrzad Sadredinamin
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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15
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Alotaibi K, Khan AA. Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli from Food and Clinical Samples. Pathogens 2023; 12:1302. [PMID: 38003767 PMCID: PMC10675443 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111302] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is one of the most prominent food-borne pathogens in humans. The current study aims to detect and to analyze the virulence factors, antibiotic resistance, and plasmid profiles for forty-six STEC strains, isolated from clinical and food strains. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to determine the genetic relatedness between different serotypes and sources of samples. The clinical samples were found to be resistant to Nb (100%), Tet (100%), Amp (20%), SXT (15%), and Kan (15%) antibiotics. In contrast, the food strains were found to be resistant to Nb (100%), Tet (33%), Amp (16.6%), and SXT (16.6%) antibiotics. The PFGE typing of the forty-six isolates was grouped into more than ten clusters, each with a similarity between 30% and 70%. Most of the isolates were found positive for more than five virulence genes (eae, hlyA, stx1, stx2, stx2f, stx2c, stx2e, stx2, nelB, pagC, sen, toxB, irp, efa, and efa1). All the isolates carried different sizes of the plasmids. The isolates were analyzed for plasmid replicon type by PCR, and 72.5% of the clinical isolates were found to contain X replicon-type plasmid, 50% of the clinical isolates contained FIB replicon-type plasmid, and 17.5% of the clinical isolates contained Y replicon-type plasmid. Three clinical isolates contained both I1 and Hi1 replicon-type plasmid. Only two food isolates contained B/O and W replicon-type plasmid. These results indicate that STEC strains have diverse clonal populations among food and clinical strains that are resistant to several antimicrobials. In conclusion, our findings indicate that food isolates of STEC strains harbor virulence, antimicrobial resistance, plasmid replicon typing determinants like those of other STEC strains from clinical strains. These results suggest that these strains are unique and may contribute to the virulence of the isolates. Therefore, surveillance and characterization of STEC strains can provide useful information about the prevalence of STEC in food and clinical sources. Furthermore, it will help to identify STEC serotypes that are highly pathogenic to humans and may emerge as a threat to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khulud Alotaibi
- Division of Microbiology, National Center for Toxicological Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA;
- Department of Biology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Ashraf A. Khan
- Division of Microbiology, National Center for Toxicological Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA;
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16
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Schwarz MGA, Corrêa PR, Mendonça-Lima L. Transcriptional Profiling of Homologous Recombination Pathway Genes in Mycobacterium bovis BCG Moreau. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2534. [PMID: 37894192 PMCID: PMC10609372 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102534] [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: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium bovis BCG Moreau is the main Brazilian strain for vaccination against tuberculosis. It is considered an early strain, more like the original BCG, whereas BCG Pasteur, largely used as a reference, belongs to the late strain clade. BCG Moreau, contrary to Pasteur, is naturally deficient in homologous recombination (HR). In this work, using a UV exposure test, we aimed to detect differences in the survival of various BCG strains after DNA damage. Transcription of core and regulatory HR genes was further analyzed using RT-qPCR, aiming to identify the molecular agent responsible for this phenotype. We show that early strains share the Moreau low survival rate after UV exposure, whereas late strains mimic the Pasteur phenotype, indicating that this increase in HR efficiency is linked to the evolutionary clade history. Additionally, RT-qPCR shows that BCG Moreau has an overall lower level of these transcripts than Pasteur, indicating a correlation between this gene expression profile and HR efficiency. Further assays should be performed to fully identify the molecular mechanism that may explain this differential phenotype between early and late BCG strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Aplicada à Micobactérias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (P.R.C.); (L.M.-L.)
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17
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Han R, Hong Y, Xu R, Guo W, Zhang M, Lu Z, Han Q, Mo Z, Dan X, Li Y. Genomic evidence of genetic diversity and functional evolution in Flavobacterium columnare. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1240471. [PMID: 37840739 PMCID: PMC10568018 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1240471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Flavobacterium columnare is the causative agent of columnaris disease in freshwater fish. Columnaris disease can cause heavy economic losses in aquaculture. In this study, whole-genome sequencing was used to characterize this pathogen. F. columnare isolate AH-01 had a circular chromosome and plasmid that encoded a total of 3,022 genes. Isolate GX-01 only had a circular chromosome and encoded 2,965 genes. Genomic islands, prophage regions, and CRISPR/Cas systems were identified in both genomes. Both genomes presented evidence of gene variation and horizontal transfer, both of which are the essential components of genetic diversity, genome plasticity, and functional evolution. Single-gene phylogeny and comparative genome analyses were performed to investigate the variation and evolution of this pathogen. Genetic analysis of 16S rRNA and housekeeping gene sequences significantly clustered 55 F. columnare isolates into four clades. The intragroup identity of the 16S rRNA gene exceeded 99%, while the intergroup identity was below the species delineation threshold. We discovered significant translocation, inversion, and rearrangement events that influenced local synteny within each group. Notably, the observed alignments varied considerably among all the studied groups. The core genomes of all strains with available sequences comprised 747 genes, corresponding to approximately 25% of the genome. Core genome multilocus sequence typing, genome-wide orthology and phylogenetic analyses, and average nucleotide identity suggested that the currently existing F. columnare was an assemblage of several distinct species, with levels of divergence at least equivalent to those between recognized bacterial species. The present investigation provided genomic evidence of gene variation and horizontal transfer, which were the basis of genetic diversity, genome plasticity, and functional evolution. The findings supported a proposed new taxonomic perspective on F. columnare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Han
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Nansha-South China Agricultural University Fishery Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhao Hong
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruilong Xu
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenjie Guo
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingshu Zhang
- School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zijun Lu
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qing Han
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zequan Mo
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Nansha-South China Agricultural University Fishery Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xueming Dan
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Nansha-South China Agricultural University Fishery Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanwei Li
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Nansha-South China Agricultural University Fishery Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
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18
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Chatterjee R, Chowdhury AR, Mukherjee D, Chakravortty D. From Eberthella typhi to Salmonella Typhi: The Fascinating Journey of the Virulence and Pathogenicity of Salmonella Typhi. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:25674-25697. [PMID: 37521659 PMCID: PMC10373206 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi), the invasive typhoidal serovar of Salmonella enterica that causes typhoid fever in humans, is a severe threat to global health. It is one of the major causes of high morbidity and mortality in developing countries. According to recent WHO estimates, approximately 11-21 million typhoid fever illnesses occur annually worldwide, accounting for 0.12-0.16 million deaths. Salmonella infection can spread to healthy individuals by the consumption of contaminated food and water. Typhoid fever in humans sometimes is accompanied by several other critical extraintestinal complications related to the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, pulmonary system, and hepatobiliary system. Salmonella Pathogenicity Island-1 and Salmonella Pathogenicity Island-2 are the two genomic segments containing genes encoding virulent factors that regulate its invasion and systemic pathogenesis. This Review aims to shed light on a comparative analysis of the virulence and pathogenesis of the typhoidal and nontyphoidal serovars of S. enterica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritika Chatterjee
- Department
of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
| | - Atish Roy Chowdhury
- Department
of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
| | - Debapriya Mukherjee
- Department
of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
| | - Dipshikha Chakravortty
- Department
of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
- Centre
for Biosystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
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19
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Ikeda R, Laforêt F, Antoine C, Adachi M, Nakamura K, Habets A, Kler C, De Rauw K, Hayashi T, Mainil JG, Thiry D. Virulence of Shigatoxigenic and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O80:H2 in Galleria mellonella Larvae: Comparison of the Roles of the pS88 Plasmids and STX2d Phage. Vet Sci 2023; 10:420. [PMID: 37505826 PMCID: PMC10385740 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10070420] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The invasiveness properties of Shigatoxigenic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (STEC and EPEC) O80:H2 in humans and calves are encoded by genes located on a pS88-like ColV conjugative plasmid. The main objectives of this study in larvae of the Galleria mellonella moth were therefore to compare the virulence of eight bovine STEC and EPEC O80:H2, of two E. coli pS88 plasmid transconjugant and STX2d phage transductant K12 DH10B, of four E. coli O80:non-H2, and of the laboratory E. coli K12 DH10B strains. Thirty larvae per strain were inoculated in the last proleg with 10 μL of tenfold dilutions of each bacterial culture corresponding to 10 to 106 colony-forming units (CFUs). The larvae were kept at 37 °C and their mortality rate was followed daily for four days. The main results were that: (i) not only the STEC and EPEC O80:H2, but also different E. coli O80:non-H2 were lethal for the larvae at high concentrations (from 104 to 106 CFU) with some variation according to the strain; (ii) the Stx2d toxin and partially the pS88 plasmid were responsible for the lethality caused by the E. coli O80:H2; (iii) the virulence factors of E. coli O80:non-H2 were not identified. The general conclusions are that, although the Galleria mellonella larvae represent a useful first-line model to study the virulence of bacterial pathogens, they are more limited in identifying their actual virulence properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rie Ikeda
- Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), University of Liège, B-4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Fanny Laforêt
- Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), University of Liège, B-4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Céline Antoine
- Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), University of Liège, B-4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Mare Adachi
- Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), University of Liège, B-4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Keiji Nakamura
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Audrey Habets
- Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), University of Liège, B-4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Cassandra Kler
- Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), University of Liège, B-4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Klara De Rauw
- Belgium National Reference Center of STEC (NRC STEC), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), B-1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tetsuya Hayashi
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Jacques G Mainil
- Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), University of Liège, B-4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Damien Thiry
- Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), University of Liège, B-4000 Liege, Belgium
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D'Amico F, Casalino G, Dinardo FR, Schiavitto M, Camarda A, Romito D, Bove A, Circella E. Antimicrobial Efficacy of Phyto-L, Thiosulfonate from Allium spp. Containing Supplement, against Escherichia Coli Strains from Rabbits. Vet Sci 2023; 10:411. [PMID: 37505817 PMCID: PMC10384763 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10070411] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Colibacillosis, caused by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), is one of the most common diseases in rabbit farms, resulting in economic losses due to mortality and decrease in production. Until recently, antimicrobials were used to both treat and prevent disease on livestock farms, leading to the possible risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the selection of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Therefore, interest in alternative control methods, such as the use of natural substances, has increased in the scientific community. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of Phyto-L (Pro Tech s.r.l.), a product containing organosulfur compounds (OSCs) such as propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO) from Allium spp., against 108 strains of E. coli isolated from rabbits with colibacillosis from 19 farms. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of Phyto-L were assessed. Bacterial suspensions with a charge of 108 CFU/mL, corresponding to those found in the rabbit gut under pathologic conditions, were tested with different concentrations from 20 to 0.15 μL/mL of Phyto-L. For each strain, the MIC and concentrations above the MIC were plated on Tryptic Soy agar (TSA) without Phyto-L to assess the MBCs. MIC and MBC values ranged from 1.25 to 5 μL/mL and 1.25 to 20 μL/mL, respectively, depending on the strain tested. The data showed an interesting antibacterial activity of Phyto-L against EPEC strains. Therefore, this product could be effective in preventing colibacillosis in field application, especially considering that 104-105 CFU/g of feces is the amount of E. coli usually found in the gut contents of rabbits under physiological condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco D'Amico
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Gaia Casalino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Francesca Rita Dinardo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Michele Schiavitto
- Italian Rabbit Breeders Association-ANCI, Contrada Giancola snc, 71030 Volturara Appula, FG, Italy
| | - Antonio Camarda
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Diana Romito
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Antonella Bove
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Elena Circella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
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Kim JJ, Seong HJ, Johnson TA, Cha CJ, Sul WJ, Chae JC. Persistence of antibiotic resistance from animal agricultural effluents to surface water revealed by genome-centric metagenomics. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 457:131761. [PMID: 37290355 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Concerns about antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) released from wastewaters of livestock or fish farming into the natural environment are increasing, but studies on unculturable bacteria related to the dissemination of antibiotic resistance are limited. Here, we reconstructed 1100 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) to assess the impact of microbial antibiotic resistome and mobilome in wastewaters discharged to Korean rivers. Our results indicate that ARGs harbored in the MAGs were disseminated from wastewater effluents into downstream rivers. Moreover, it was found that ARGs are more commonly co-localized with mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in agricultural wastewater than in river water. Among the effluent-derived phyla, uncultured members of the superphylum Patescibacteria possessed a high number of MGEs, along with co-localized ARGs. Our findings suggest that members of the Patesibacteria are a potential vector for propagating ARGs into the environmental community. Therefore, we propose that the dissemination of ARGs by uncultured bacteria should be further investigated in multiple environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Ju Kim
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoon Je Seong
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Republic of Korea; Korean Medicine Data Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Republic of Korea
| | - Timothy A Johnson
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States
| | - Chang-Jun Cha
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Jun Sul
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jong-Chan Chae
- Division of Biotechnology, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan 54596, Republic of Korea.
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22
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Kushwaha SK, Kumar AA, Gupta H, Marathe SA. The Phylogenetic Study of the CRISPR-Cas System in Enterobacteriaceae. Curr Microbiol 2023; 80:196. [PMID: 37118221 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03298-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated (Cas) system is a bacterial and archaeal adaptive immune system undergoing rapid multifaceted evolution. This evolution plausibly occurs due to the genetic exchanges of complete loci or individual entities. Here, we systematically investigate the evolutionary framework of the CRISPR-Cas system in six Enterobacteriaceae species and its evolutionary association with housekeeping genes as determined by the gyrB phenogram. The strains show high variability in the cas3 gene and the CRISPR1 locus among the closely related Enterobacteriaceae species, hinting at a series of genetic exchanges. The CRISPR leader is conserved, especially toward the distal end, and could be a core region of the leader. The spacers are conserved within the strains of most species, while some strains show unique sets of spacers. However, inter-species spacer conservation was rarely observed. For a considerable proportion of these spacers, protospacer sources were not detected. These results advance our understanding of the dynamics of the CRISPR-Cas system; however, the biological functions are yet to be characterised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simran Krishnakant Kushwaha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty Division-III, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, 3277-B, Pilani Campus, Pilani, Rajasthan, 333031, India
| | - Aryahi A Kumar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty Division-III, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, 3277-B, Pilani Campus, Pilani, Rajasthan, 333031, India
| | - Hardik Gupta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty Division-III, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, 3277-B, Pilani Campus, Pilani, Rajasthan, 333031, India
| | - Sandhya Amol Marathe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty Division-III, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, 3277-B, Pilani Campus, Pilani, Rajasthan, 333031, India.
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23
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Gebauer J, Tesařík R, Králová N, Havlíčková H, Matiašovic J. Salmonella Typhimurium-based inactivated vaccine containing a wide spectrum of bacterial antigens which mimics protein expression changes during different stages of an infection process. Vet Microbiol 2023; 282:109756. [PMID: 37141806 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109756] [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: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Salmonella infections are still considered a persistent problem in veterinary medicine. Vaccination is one of the tools for decreasing the burden of many pathogens on animals. However, the efficiency of available commercial or experimental vaccines against non-typhoid Salmonella strains is not yet sufficient. We followed the path of an inactivated vaccine that is safe and well accepted, but whose presented antigen spectrum is limited. We improved this issue by using diverse cultivation conditions mimicking bacterial protein expression during the natural infection process. The cultivation process was set up to simulate the host environment to enhance the expression of SPI-1 (Salmonella pathogenicity island) proteins, SPI-2 proteins, siderophore-related proteins, and flagellar proteins. Three different cultivation media were used and subsequent cultures were mixed together, inactivated, and used for the immunization of post-weaned piglets. A mixture of recombinant Salmonella proteins was also used as a recombinant vaccine for comparison. The clinical symptoms during the subsequent experimental infection, antibody response, and organ bacterial loads were examined. One day after the infection, we observed an increased rectal temperature in the group of unvaccinated animals and the animals vaccinated with the recombinant vaccine. The increase in the temperature of the pigs vaccinated with the inactivated Salmonella mixture was significantly lower. In the same group, we also found lower bacterial loads in the ileum content and the colon wall. The IgG response to several Salmonella antigens was enhanced in this group, but it did not reach the titers of the group vaccinated with the recombinant vaccine. To summarize, the pigs vaccinated with an inactivated mixture of Salmonella cultures mimicking protein expression changes during the natural infection exhibited less serious clinical symptoms and lower bacterial load in the body after the experimental infection compared to the unvaccinated pigs and the pigs vaccinated with a mixture of recombinant Salmonella proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Gebauer
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, Brno, 62100, Czech Republic.
| | - Radek Tesařík
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, Brno, 62100, Czech Republic
| | - Natálie Králová
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, Brno, 62100, Czech Republic; Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, 60200, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Havlíčková
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, Brno, 62100, Czech Republic
| | - Ján Matiašovic
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, Brno, 62100, Czech Republic
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24
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Gelfusa M, Murari A, Ludovici GM, Franchi C, Gelfusa C, Malizia A, Gaudio P, Farinelli G, Panella G, Gargiulo C, Casinelli K. On the Potential of Relational Databases for the Detection of Clusters of Infection and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12040784. [PMID: 37107146 PMCID: PMC10135313 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12040784] [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: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, several bacterial strains have acquired significant antibiotic resistance and can, therefore, become difficult to contain. To counteract such trends, relational databases can be a powerful tool for supporting the decision-making process. The case of Klebsiella pneumoniae diffusion in a central region of Italy was analyzed as a case study. A specific relational database is shown to provide very detailed and timely information about the spatial-temporal diffusion of the contagion, together with a clear assessment of the multidrug resistance of the strains. The analysis is particularized for both internal and external patients. Tools such as the one proposed can, therefore, be considered important elements in the identification of infection hotspots, a key ingredient of any strategy to reduce the diffusion of an infectious disease at the community level and in hospitals. These types of tools are also very valuable in the decision-making process related to antibiotic prescription and to the management of stockpiles. The application of this processing technology to viral diseases such as COVID-19 is under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Gelfusa
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Murari
- Consorzio RFX (CNR, ENEA, INFN), University of Padua, 35127 Padua, Italy
- Istituto per la Scienza e la Tecnologia dei Plasmi, CNR, 35100 Padua, Italy
| | - Gian Marco Ludovici
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiano Franchi
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Gelfusa
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Malizia
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Pasqualino Gaudio
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giacinto Panella
- ASL and Fabrizio Spaziani, Frosinone Hospital, 03100 Frosinone, Italy
| | - Carla Gargiulo
- ASL and Fabrizio Spaziani, Frosinone Hospital, 03100 Frosinone, Italy
| | - Katia Casinelli
- ASL and Fabrizio Spaziani, Frosinone Hospital, 03100 Frosinone, Italy
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25
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Aswal M, Singhal N, Kumar M. Comprehensive genomic analysis of hypocholesterolemic probiotic Enterococcus faecium LR13 reveals unique proteins involved in cholesterol-assimilation. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1082566. [PMID: 37081914 PMCID: PMC10110904 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1082566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Chemotherapeutic agents for CVDs exhibit several side effects. Specific probiotics with hypocholesterolemic effects can be safe and effective alternatives to chemotherapeutics. Here, we have analyzed and compared the genome of a novel rhizospheric Enterococcus faecium LR13 cholesterol-assimilating probiotic with other probiotic/pathogenic E. faecium strains to discern genetic factors underlying probiotic efficacy and cholesterol-assimilation. Genomic analyses of E. faecium probiotic strains revealed that LR13 and WEFA23 (cholesterol-assimilating probiotics) harbored 21 unique proteins absent in non-cholesterol-assimilating probiotics. Of these, 14 proteins could directly help in cholesterol-assimilation by producing short chain fatty acids, lipid (sterol) transport and membrane stabilization, and bile salt hydrolase activity. This suggests that cholesterol-assimilation is an intrinsic, strain-specific trait exhibited by probiotics with a specific genetic constitution. Moreover, the unique proteins identified in this study can serve as biomarkers for discerning/characterizing cholesterol-assimilating probiotics as novel biotherapeutics against CVDs.
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26
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Calder A, Snyder LAS. Diversity of the type VI secretion systems in the Neisseria spp. Microb Genom 2023; 9. [PMID: 37052605 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Complete Type VI Secretion Systems were identified in the genome sequence data of Neisseria subflava isolates sourced from throat swabs of human volunteers. The previous report was the first to describe two complete Type VI Secretion Systems in these isolates, both of which were distinct in terms of their gene organization and sequence homology. Since publication of the first report, Type VI Secretion System subtypes have been identified in Neisseria spp. The characteristics of each type in N. subflava are further investigated here and in the context of the other Neisseria spp., including identification of the lineages containing the different types and subtypes. Type VI Secretion Systems use VgrG for delivery of toxin effector proteins; several copies of vgrG and associated effector / immunity pairs are present in Neisseria spp. Based on sequence similarity between strains and species, these core Type VI Secretion System genes, vgrG, and effector / immunity genes may diversify via horizontal gene transfer, an instrument for gene acquisition and repair in Neisseria spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Calder
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Lori A S Snyder
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
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27
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Morawska LP, Kuipers OP. Cell-to-cell non-conjugative plasmid transfer between Bacillus subtilis and lactic acid bacteria. Microb Biotechnol 2023; 16:784-798. [PMID: 36547214 PMCID: PMC10034627 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis is a soil-dwelling bacterium that can interact with a plethora of other microorganisms in its natural habitat. Due to the versatile interactions and its ability to form nanotubes, i.e., recently described membrane structures that trade cytoplasmic content between neighbouring cells, we investigated the potential of HGT from B. subtilis to industrially-relevant members of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). To explore the interspecies HGT events, we developed a co-culturing protocol and provided proof of transfer of a small high copy non-conjugative plasmid from B. subtilis to LABs. Interestingly, the plasmid transfer did not involve conjugation nor activation of the competent state by B. subtilis. Moreover, our study shows for the first time non-conjugative cell-to-cell intraspecies plasmid transfer for non-competent Lactococcus lactis sp. cremoris strains. Our study indicates that cell-to-cell transformation is a ubiquitous form of HGT and can be potentially utilized as an alternative tool for natural (non-GMO) strain improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiza P Morawska
- Molecular Genetics Group, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Molecular Genetics Group, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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28
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Comparison of Phenotype and Genotype Virulence and Antimicrobial Factors of Salmonella Typhimurium Isolated from Human Milk. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065135. [PMID: 36982209 PMCID: PMC10048834 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Salmonella is a common foodborne infection. Many serovars belonging to Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica are present in the gut of various animal species. They can cause infection in human infants via breast milk or cross-contamination with powdered milk. In the present study, Salmonella BO was isolated from human milk in accordance with ISO 6579-1:2017 standards and sequenced using whole-genome sequencing (WGS), followed by serosequencing and genotyping. The results also allowed its pathogenicity to be predicted. The WGS results were compared with the bacterial phenotype. The isolated strain was found to be Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium 4:i:1,2_69M (S. Typhimurium 69M); it showed a very close similarity to S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium LT2. Bioinformatics sequence analysis detected eleven SPIs (SPI-1, SPI-2, SPI-3, SPI-4, SPI-5, SPI-9, SPI-12, SPI-13, SPI-14, C63PI, CS54_island). Significant changes in gene sequences were noted, causing frameshift mutations in yeiG, rfbP, fumA, yeaL, ybeU (insertion) and lpfD, avrA, ratB, yacH (deletion). The sequences of several proteins were significantly different from those coded in the reference genome; their three-dimensional structure was predicted and compared with reference proteins. Our findings indicate the presence of a number of antimicrobial resistance genes that do not directly imply an antibiotic resistance phenotype.
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29
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Feng A, Akter S, Leigh SA, Wang H, Pharr GT, Evans J, Branton SL, Landinez MP, Pace L, Wan XF. Genomic diversity, pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from poultry in the southern United States. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:15. [PMID: 36647025 PMCID: PMC9841705 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02721-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli (E. coli) are typically present as commensal bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract of most animals including poultry species, but some avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) strains can cause localized and even systematic infections in domestic poultry. Emergence and re-emergence of antimicrobial resistant isolates (AMR) constrain antibiotics usage in poultry production, and development of an effective vaccination program remains one of the primary options in E. coli disease prevention and control for domestic poultry. Thus, understanding genetic and pathogenic diversity of the enzootic E. coli isolates, particularly APEC, in poultry farms is the key to designing an optimal vaccine candidate and to developing an effective vaccination program. This study explored the genomic and pathogenic diversity among E. coli isolates in southern United States poultry. A total of nine isolates were recovered from sick broilers from Mississippi, and one from Georgia, with epidemiological variations among clinical signs, type of housing, and bird age. The genomes of these isolates were sequenced by using both Illumina short-reads and Oxford Nanopore long-reads, and our comparative analyses suggested data from both platforms were highly consistent. The 16 s rRNA based phylogenetic analyses showed that the 10 bacteria strains are genetically closer to each other than those in the public database. However, whole genome analyses showed that these 10 isolates encoded a diverse set of reported virulence and AMR genes, belonging to at least nine O:H serotypes, and are genetically clustered with at least five different groups of E. coli isolates reported by other states in the United States. Despite the small sample size, this study suggested that there was a large extent of genomic and serological diversity among E. coli isolates in southern United States poultry. A large-scale comprehensive study is needed to understand the overall genomic diversity and the associated virulence, and such a study will be important to develop a broadly protective E. coli vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aijing Feng
- grid.134936.a0000 0001 2162 3504Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO USA ,grid.134936.a0000 0001 2162 3504Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA ,grid.134936.a0000 0001 2162 3504Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Sadia Akter
- grid.134936.a0000 0001 2162 3504Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO USA ,grid.134936.a0000 0001 2162 3504Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA ,grid.134936.a0000 0001 2162 3504Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Spencer A. Leigh
- Poultry Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Mississippi State, MS USA
| | - Hui Wang
- grid.260120.70000 0001 0816 8287Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS USA
| | - G. Todd Pharr
- grid.260120.70000 0001 0816 8287Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS USA
| | - Jeff Evans
- Poultry Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Mississippi State, MS USA
| | - Scott L. Branton
- Poultry Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Mississippi State, MS USA
| | - Martha Pulido Landinez
- grid.260120.70000 0001 0816 8287Poultry Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Pearl, MS USA
| | - Lanny Pace
- grid.260120.70000 0001 0816 8287Mississippi Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Laboratory System, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Pearl, MS USA
| | - Xiu-Feng Wan
- grid.134936.a0000 0001 2162 3504Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO USA ,grid.134936.a0000 0001 2162 3504Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA ,grid.134936.a0000 0001 2162 3504Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
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30
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Sun Y, Su Y, Hussain A, Xiong L, Li C, Zhang J, Meng Z, Dong Z, Yu G. Complete genome sequence of the Pogostemon cablin bacterial wilt pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum strain SY1. Genes Genomics 2023; 45:123-134. [PMID: 35670995 PMCID: PMC9171469 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-022-01270-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ralstonia solanacearum causes bacterial wilt of Pogostemon cablin which is an important aromatic herb and also the main materials of COVID-19 therapeutic traditional drugs. However, we are lacking the information on the genomic sequences of R. solanacearum isolated from P. cablin. OBJECTIVE The acquisition and analysis of this whole-genome sequence of the P. cablin bacterial wilt pathogen. METHODS An R. solanacearum strain, named SY1, was isolated from infected P. cablin plants, and the complete genome sequence was sequenced and analyzed. RESULTS The SY1 strain contains a 3.70-Mb chromosome and a 2.18-Mb megaplasmid, with GC contents of 67.57% and 67.41%, respectively. A total of 3308 predicted genes were located on the chromosome and 1657 genes were located in the megaplasmid. SY1 strain has 273 unique genes compared with five representative R. solanacearum strains, and these genes were enriched in the plant-pathogen interaction pathway. SY1 possessed a higher syntenic relationship with phylotype I strains, and the arsenal of type III effectors predicted in SY1 were also more closely related to those of phylotype I strains. SY1 contained 14 and 5 genomic islands in its chromosome and megaplasmid, respectively, and two prophage sequences in its chromosome. In addition, 215 and 130 genes were annotated as carbohydrate-active enzymes and antibiotic resistance genes, respectively. CONCLUSION This is the first genome-scale assembly and annotation for R. solanacearum which isolated from infected P. cablin plants. The arsenal of virulence and antibiotic resistance may as the determinants in SY1 for infection of P. cablin plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhao Sun
- Innovative Institute for Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, People's Republic of China
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yutong Su
- Innovative Institute for Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, People's Republic of China
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ansar Hussain
- Innovative Institute for Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, People's Republic of China
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lina Xiong
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunji Li
- Innovative Institute for Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, People's Republic of China
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Innovative Institute for Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, People's Republic of China
- College of Resources and Environment, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhen Meng
- Innovative Institute for Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, People's Republic of China
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhangyong Dong
- Innovative Institute for Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, People's Republic of China.
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Guohui Yu
- Innovative Institute for Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, People's Republic of China.
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China.
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Han B, Li Z, Li Z. Genome scale metabolic model combined with single molecule real-time sequencing to analyze Actinomycete chromosomal heterogeneity. Gene 2023; 850:146959. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
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Salmonella in Poultry and Other Birds. Infect Dis (Lond) 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2463-0_1092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
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Inhibition of the Type III Secretion System of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium via Treatment with Fraxetin. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0294922. [PMID: 36377917 PMCID: PMC9769827 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02949-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasingly serious problem of bacterial drug resistance has led to the development of antivirulence agents. The Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)-encoded type III secretion system (T3SS) and its effector proteins are important virulence factors for S. Typhimurium invasion and replication in host cells and for antivirulence drug screening. Fraxetin is isolated from Fraxinus spp. Extensive studies have reported its multiple pharmacological activities. However, it remains to be elucidated whether fraxetin affects the function of the S. Typhimurium T3SS. In this study, the anti-infection mechanism of fraxetin on S. Typhimurium and its T3SS was investigated. Fraxetin inhibited the S. Typhimurium invasion of HeLa cells without affecting the growth of bacteria in vitro. Further findings on the mechanism showed that fraxetin had an inhibitory effect on the S. Typhimurium T3SS by inhibiting the transcription of the pathogenesis-related SPI-1 transcriptional activator genes hilD, hilC, and rtsA. Animal experiments showed that fraxetin treatment protected mice against S. Typhimurium infection. Collectively, we provide the first demonstration that fraxetin may serve as an effective T3SS inhibitor for the development of treatments for Salmonella infection. IMPORTANCE The increasingly serious problem of bacterial antibiotic resistance limits the clinical application of antibiotics, which increases the need for the development of antivirulence agents. The type III secretion system (T3SS) plays a critical role in host cell invasion and pathogenesis of Salmonella and becomes a popular target for antivirulence agents screening. Our study found, for the first time, that fraxetin inhibited S. Typhimurium invasion by inhibiting the transcription of genes in a feed-forward regulatory loop. Further in vivo testing showed that fraxetin decreased bacterial burdens in the spleen and liver of S. Typhimurium-infected mice and improved survival outcomes in an in vivo mouse model of S. Typhimurium infection. Collectively, these results demonstrate that fraxetin inhibits S. Typhimurium infection by targeting the T3SS and may serve as a potential agent for the treatment of S. Typhimurium infection.
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An In Vitro Model of the Efficacy of Breast Implant Irrigant Solutions Against Gram-Negative Infections. Ann Plast Surg 2022; 89:679-683. [DOI: 10.1097/sap.0000000000003302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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35
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Zakaria AS, Edward EA, Mohamed NM. Pathogenicity Islands in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Clinical Isolate of the Globally Disseminated O25:H4-ST131 Pandemic Clonal Lineage: First Report from Egypt. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:1620. [PMID: 36421264 PMCID: PMC9686529 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11111620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the main etiological agent of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The pathogenesis of UTIs relies upon UPEC's acquisition of virulence determinants that are commonly inserted into large chromosomal blocks which are termed 'pathogenicity islands' (PAIs). In this study, we investigated the virulence-associated genes embedded in the chromosome of a UPEC Egyptian strain, EC14142. Additionally, we present a detailed characterization of the PAIs in the EGY_EC14142 chromosome. The isolate displayed a multidrug-resistant phenotype, and whole genome sequencing indicated that it belonged to the globally disseminated O25:H4-ST131 pandemic lineage and the H30-Rx clade. EGY_EC14142 carried genes that are responsible for resistance to aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, extended-spectrum β-lactams, macrolides, folate pathway antagonists, and tetracyclines. It encoded five PAIs with a high similarity to PAI II536, PAI IV536, PAI V536, PAI-536-icd, and PAIusp. The genome analysis of EGY_EC14142 with other closely related UPEC strains revealed that they have a high nucleotide sequence identity. The constructed maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree showed the close clonality of EGY_EC14142 with the previously published ST131 UPEC international isolates, thus endorsing the broad geographical distribution of this clone. This is the first report characterizing PAIs in a UPEC Egyptian strain belonging to the globally disseminated pandemic clone O25:H4-ST131.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azza S. Zakaria
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria 25435, Egypt
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36
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Fernandes A, Ramos C, Monteiro V, Santos J, Fernandes P. Virulence Potential and Antibiotic Susceptibility of S. aureus Strains Isolated from Food Handlers. Microorganisms 2022; 10:2155. [PMID: 36363746 PMCID: PMC9696720 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus spp. are common members of the normal human flora. However, some Staphylococcus species are recognised as human pathogens due to the production of several virulence factors and enterotoxins that are particularly worrisome in food poisoning. Since many of Staphylococcal food poisoning outbreaks are typically associated with cross-contamination, the detection of S. aureus on food handlers was performed. Hand swabs from 167 food handlers were analysed for the presence of S. aureus. More than 11% of the samples were positive for S. aureus. All S. aureus strains were isolated and analysed for the presence of virulence and enterotoxin genes, namely, sea, seb, sec, sed, seg, sei, tsst-1 and pvl. The same strains were phenotypically characterised in terms of antibiotic susceptibility using the disc diffusion method and antimicrobial agents from 12 different classes. A low prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains was found, with 55.6% of the strains being sensitive to all of the antimicrobial agents tested. However, a high prevalence of resistance to macrolides was found, with 44.4% of the strains showing resistance to erythromycin. At least one of the virulence or toxin genes was detected in 61.1% of the strains, and seg was the most prevalent toxin gene, being detected in 44.4% of the strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Fernandes
- Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Álvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
| | - Carla Ramos
- Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Álvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
| | - Victor Monteiro
- Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Álvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
| | - Joana Santos
- Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Álvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
- CISAS, Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Álvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
| | - Paulo Fernandes
- Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Álvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
- CISAS, Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Álvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
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Sokolovic M, Šimpraga B, Amšel-Zelenika T, Berendika M, Krstulović F. Prevalence and Characterization of Shiga Toxin Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Animal Feed in Croatia. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091839. [PMID: 36144441 PMCID: PMC9505133 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A survey on prevalence and number of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia (E.) coli (STEC) in animal feed was carried out over a period of nine years in the Republic of Croatia. A total of 1688 feed samples were collected from feed factories and poultry farms. Analysis included two standard procedures: sample enrichment and (a) immunomagnetic separation and plating on two selective media; or (b) plating on two selective media. Confirmation of STEC included morphological examination, biochemical tests, serotyping, and polymerase chain reaction. Morphological and biochemical characterization revealed 629 E. coli strains. Further serological screening method revealed 78 STEC and EPEC serotypes, while only 27 strains were confirmed as STEC with PCR. All positive samples (1.6%) originated from poultry farms and contained combination of virulence genes: eaeA, stx1, and/or stx2. Since the presence of stx (especially stx2) and eae are identified as risk factors for development of severe diseases in humans, results of this survey indicate that avian sources of STEC infections might be one of those “undefined sources” of human illnesses. Further research is necessary for evaluation of risks posed by contaminated feed, poultry, and environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Borka Šimpraga
- Correspondence: (M.S.); (B.Š.); (T.A.-Z.); Tel.: +385-12440214 (M.S.)
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Sadat A, Ramadan H, Elkady MA, Hammad AM, Soliman MM, Aboelenin SM, Al-Harthi HF, Abugomaa A, Elbadawy M, Awad A. Phylotypic Profiling, Distribution of Pathogenicity Island Markers, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Escherichia coli Isolated from Retail Chicken Meat and Humans. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11091197. [PMID: 36139976 PMCID: PMC9495032 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11091197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli (E.coli) found in retail chicken meat could be causing a wide range of infections in humans and constitute a potential risk. This study aimed to evaluate 60 E. coli isolates from retail chicken meat (n = 34) and human urinary tract infections (UTIs, n = 26) for phylogenetic diversity, presence of pathogenicity island (PAI) markers, antimicrobial susceptibility phenotypes, and antimicrobial resistance genes, and to evaluate their biofilm formation capacity. In that context, confirmed E.coli isolates were subjected to phylogrouping analysis using triplex PCR, antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method; PAI distribution was investigated by using two multiplex PCRs. Most of the chicken isolates (22/34, 64.7%) were identified as commensal E. coli (A and B1), while 12 isolates (35.3%) were classified as pathogenic virulent E. coli (B2 and D). Similarly, the commensal group dominated in human isolates. Overall, 23 PAIs were detected in the chicken isolates; among them, 39.1% (9/23) were assigned to group B1, 34.8% (8/23) to group A, 4.34% (1/23) to group B2, and 21.7% (5/23) to group D. However, 25 PAIs were identified from the human isolates. PAI IV536 was the most prevalent (55.9%, 69.2%) PAI detected in both sources. In total, 37 (61.7%) isolates of the chicken and human isolates were biofilm producers. Noticeably, 100% of E. coli isolates were resistant to penicillin and rifamycin. Markedly, all E. coli isolates displayed multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) phenotypes, and the multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) among E. coli isolates ranged between 0.5 and 1. Several antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were identified by a PCR assay; the sul2 gene was the most prevalent (38/60, 63.3%) from both sources. Interestingly, a significant positive association (r = 0.31) between biofilm production and resistance to quinolones by the qnr gene was found by the correlation analysis. These findings were suggestive of the transmission of PAI markers and antibiotic resistance genes from poultry to humans or humans to humans through the food chain. To avoid the spread of virulent and multidrug-resistant E. coli, intensive surveillance of retail chicken meat markets is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa Sadat
- Department of Bacteriology, Mycology, and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Hazem Ramadan
- Hygiene and Zoonoses Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A. Elkady
- Mansoura Veterinary Laboratory Branch, Microbiology Research Department, Animal Health Research Institute, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
| | - Amal Mahmoud Hammad
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine Damietta, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11651, Egypt
| | - Mohamed M. Soliman
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, Turabah University College, Taif University, Taif 21995, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salama M. Aboelenin
- Biology Department, Turabah University College, Taif University, Al Hawiyah 21995, Saudi Arabia
| | - Helal F. Al-Harthi
- Biology Department, Turabah University College, Taif University, Al Hawiyah 21995, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amira Abugomaa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Elbadawy
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh 13736, Egypt
| | - Amal Awad
- Department of Bacteriology, Mycology, and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +2-0102-127-6993
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Complete Genome Sequence of a Salmonella enterica subsp.
enterica
Serovar Tennessee Strain from Tahini. Microbiol Resour Announc 2022; 11:e0040722. [PMID: 35894624 PMCID: PMC9387254 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00407-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Salmonella sp. infections are associated with contaminated low-moisture foods (with high fat content) with increasing frequency. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Tennessee, which was isolated from tahini (a paste made from ground sesame seeds) purchased at a local retailer in Berlin, Germany.
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40
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Sharma A, Sharma N, Gupta D, Lee HJ, Park YS. Comparative genome analysis of four Leuconostoc strains with a focus on carbohydrate-active enzymes and oligosaccharide utilization pathways. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:4771-4785. [PMID: 36147676 PMCID: PMC9465122 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative genomic analysis of four Leuconostoc strains was performed. Leuconostoc spp. shared genomic similarity, but their genetic content differed. Leuconostoc spp. showed different genes encoding CAZymes. Oligosaccharide’s utilization and folate biosynthesis pathways were investigated.
Leuconostoc is mostly found in food, plants, and dairy products. Due to their innate genomic features, such as the presence of carbohydrate-active enzymes, bacteriocins, and plasmids, Leuconostoc spp. have great biotechnological potential. In this study, four strains were isolated and identified as Leuconostoc mesenteroides SG315 (LA), L. citreum SG255 (LB), L. lactis CCK940 (LC), and L. lactis SBC001 (LD). Comparative analysis was performed using their draft genome sequences. Differences among the four strains were analyzed using the average nucleotide identity, dot plot, and multiple alignments of conserved genomic sequences. Functional profiling revealed 2134, 1917, 1751, and 1816 open reading frames; 2023, 1823, 1655, and 1699 protein-coding genes; 60, 57, 83, and 82 RNA-coding genes; and GC content of 37.5 %, 38.8 %, 43.3 %, and 43.2 %, in LA, LB, LC, and LD, respectively. The total number of genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes was 76 (LA), 73 (LB), 57 (LC), and 67 (LD). These results indicate that the four strains shared a large number of genes, but their gene content is different. Furthermore, most genes with unknown functions were observed in the prophage regions of the genome. This study also elucidated the oligosaccharide utilization and folate biosynthesis pathways in Leuconostoc spp. Taken together, our findings provide useful information on the genomic diversity of CAZymes in the four Leuconostoc strains and suggest that these species could be used for potent exploitation.
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Joshi M, Purohit M, Shah DP, Patel D, Depani P, Moryani P, Krishnakumar A. Pathogenomic in silico approach identifies NSP-A and Fe-IIISBP as possible drug targets in Neisseria Meningitidis MC58 and development of pharmacophores as novel therapeutic candidates. Mol Divers 2022:10.1007/s11030-022-10480-y. [PMID: 35879631 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-022-10480-y] [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: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Meningitis creates a life-threatening clinical crisis. Moreover, the administered antibiotics result into multi-drug resistance, thereby necessitating development of alternative therapeutic strategies. This study aimed at identifying novel-drug targets in Neisseria meningitidis and therapeutic molecules which can be exploited for the treatment of meningitis. Novel targets were identified by applying a pathogenomic approach involving protein data-set mining, subtractive channel analysis and subsequent qualitative analysis comprising of in silico pharmacokinetics, molecular docking and pharmacophore generation. Pathogenomic studies revealed Neisserial Surface Protein A (NSP-A) and Iron-III-Substrate Binding Protein (Fe-IIISBP) as potential targets. Two pharmacophore models comprising of 2-(biaryl) carbapenems, efavirenz, praziquantel and pyrimethamine for NSP-A and 2-(biaryl) carbapenems, trimipramine and pyrimethamine for Fe-IIISBP, showed successful docking, followed drug-likeness criteria and generated pharmacophore model with a score of 8.08 and 8.818, respectively, which had further been docked to the target stably. Thus, our study identifies NSP-A and Fe-IIISBP as novel targets in Neisseria meningitidis for which 2-(biaryl) carbapenems, efavirenz, praziquantel, trimipramine and pyrimethamine may be employed for effective treatment of meningitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhavi Joshi
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382 481, India
| | - Maitree Purohit
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382 481, India
| | - Dhriti P Shah
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382 481, India
| | - Devanshi Patel
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382 481, India
| | - Preksha Depani
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382 481, India
| | - Premkumar Moryani
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382 481, India
| | - Amee Krishnakumar
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382 481, India.
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Sarkar I, Dey P, Rathore SS, Singh GD, Singh RP. Global genomic and proteomic analysis indicates co-evolution of Neisseria species and with their human host. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 38:149. [PMID: 35773545 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-022-03338-w] [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: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Neisseria, a genus from the beta-proteobacteria class, is of potential clinical importance. This genus contains both pathogenic and commensal strains. Gonorrhea and meningitis are two major diseases caused by pathogens belonging to this genus. With the increased use of antimicrobial agents against these pathogens they have evolved the antimicrobial resistance capacity making these diseases nearly untreatable. The set of anti-bacterial resistance genes (resistome) and genes associated with signal processing (secretomes) are crucial for the host-microbial interaction. With the virtue of whole-genome sequences and computational biology, it is now possible to study the genomic and proteomic riddles of Neisseria along with their comprehensive evolutionary and metabolic profiling. We have studied relative synonymous codon usage, amino acid usage, reverse ecology, comparative genomics, evolutionary analysis and pathogen-host (Neisseria-human) interaction through bioinformatics analysis. Our analysis revealed the co-evolution of Neisseria genomes with the human host. Moreover, the co-occurrence of Neisseria and humans has been supported through reverse ecology analysis. A differential pattern of the evolutionary rate of resistomes and secretomes was evident among the pathogenic and commensal strains. Comparative genomics supported the presence of virulent genes in both pathogenic and commensal strains of the select genus. Our analysis also indicated a transition from commensal to pathogenic Neisseria strains through the long run of evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrani Sarkar
- Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641 108, India
| | - Prateek Dey
- Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641 108, India
| | | | | | - Ram Pratap Singh
- Department of Life Science, Central University of South Bihar, Gaya, Bihar, 824236, India.
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Tolstoganov I, Kamenev Y, Kruglikov R, Ochkalova S, Korobeynikov A. BinSPreader: refine binning results for fuller MAG reconstruction. iScience 2022; 25:104770. [PMID: 35992057 PMCID: PMC9386100 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the recent advances in high-throughput sequencing, metagenome analysis of microbial populations still remains a challenge. In particular, the metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) are often fragmented due to interspecies repeats, uneven coverage, and varying strain abundance. MAGs are constructed via a binning process that uses features of input data in order to cluster long contigs presumably belonging to the same species. In this work, we present BinSPreader—a binning refiner tool that exploits the assembly graph topology and other connectivity information to refine binning, correct binning errors, and propagate binning to shorter contigs. We show that BinSPreader could increase the completeness of the bins without sacrificing the purity and could predict contigs belonging to several MAGs. BinSPreader is effective in binning shorter contigs that often contain important conservative sequences that might be of great interest to researchers. We propose a novel method to refine the binning using the assembly graph connectivity Method could also use paired-end reads, Hi-C links, and other sources of connectivity It improves the completeness of the bins without sacrificing the purity BinSPreader could predict contigs belonging to several MAGs
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Genomic Analysis of Carbapenem-Resistant Comamonas in Water Matrices: Implications for Public Health and Wastewater Treatments. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0064622. [PMID: 35708324 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00646-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Comamonas spp. are Gram-negative bacteria that catabolize a wide range of organic and inorganic substrates. Comamonas spp. are abundant in aquatic and soil environments, including wastewater, and can cause opportunistic infections in humans. Because of their potential in wastewater bioaugmentation and bioremediation strategies, the identification of Comamonas species harboring genes encoding carbapenemases and other clinically important antibiotic resistance genes warrant further investigation. Here, we present an analysis of 39 whole-genome sequences comprising three Comamonas species from aquatic environments in South Australia that were recovered on media supplemented with carbapenems. The analysis includes a detailed description of 33 Comamonas denitrificans isolates, some of which carried chromosomally acquired blaGES-5, blaOXA, and aminoglycoside resistance (aadA) genes located on putative genomic islands (GIs). All blaGES-5- and blaOXA-containing GIs appear to be unique to this Australian collection of C. denitrificans. Notably, most open reading frames (ORFs) within the GIs, including all antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, had adjacent attC sites, indicating that these ORFs are mobile gene cassettes. One C. denitrificans isolate carried an IncP-1 plasmid with genes involved in xenobiotic degradation and response to oxidative stress. Our assessment of the sequences highlights the very distant nature of C. denitrificans to the other Comamonas species and its apparent disposition to acquire antimicrobial resistance genes on putative genomic islands. IMPORTANCE Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global public health threat, and the increase in resistance to "last-resort drugs," such as carbapenems, is alarming. Wastewater has been flagged as a hot spot for AMR evolution. Comamonas spp. are among the most common bacteria in wastewater and play a role in its bioaugmentation. While the ability of Comamonas species to catabolize a wide range of organic and inorganic substrates is well documented, some species are also opportunistic pathogens. However, data regarding AMR in Comamonas spp. are limited. Here, through the genomic analyses of 39 carbapenem-resistant Comamonas isolates, we make several key observations, including the identification of a subset of C. denitrificans isolates that harbored genomic islands encoding carbapenemase blaGES-5 or extended-spectrum β-lactamase blaOXA alleles. Given the importance of Comamonas species in potential wastewater bioaugmentation and bioremediation strategies, as well as their status as emerging pathogens, the acquisition of critically important antibiotic resistance genes on genomic islands warrants future monitoring.
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Evolutionary Conservation, Variability, and Adaptation of Type III Secretion Systems. J Membr Biol 2022; 255:599-612. [PMID: 35695900 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-022-00247-9] [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: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Type III secretion (T3S) systems are complex bacterial structures used by many pathogens to inject proteins directly into the cytosol of the host cell. These secretion machines evolved from the bacterial flagella and they have been grouped into families by phylogenetic analysis. The T3S system is composed of more than 20 proteins grouped into five complexes: the cytosolic platform, the export apparatus, the basal body, the needle, and the translocon complex. While the proteins located inside the bacterium are conserved, those exposed to the external media present high variability among families. This suggests that the T3S systems have adapted to interact with different cells or tissues in the host, and/or have been subjected to the evolutionary pressure of the host immune defenses. Such adaptation led to changes in the sequence of the T3S needle tip and translocon suggesting differences in the mechanism of assembly and structure of this complex.
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Horizontal Transfer of Virulence Factors by Pathogenic Enterobacteria to Marine Saprotrophic Bacteria during Co-Cultivation in Biofilm. BIOTECH 2022; 11:biotech11020017. [PMID: 35822790 PMCID: PMC9264390 DOI: 10.3390/biotech11020017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental problems associated with marine pollution and climate warming create favorable conditions for the penetration and survival of pathogenic bacteria in marine ecosystems. These microorganisms have interspecific competitive interactions with marine bacteria. Co-culture, as an important research strategy that mimics the natural environment of bacteria, can activate silent genes or clusters through interspecies interactions. The authors used modern biotechnology of co-cultivation to dynamically study intercellular interactions between different taxa of bacteria—pathogenic enterobacteria Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Listeria monocytogenes and saprotrophic marine bacteria Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas japonica isolated in summer from the coastal waters of the recreational areas of the Sea of Japan. The results of the experiments showed that during the formation of polycultural biofilms, horizontal transfer of genes encoding some pathogenicity factors from Y. pseudotuberculosis and L. monocytogenes to marine saprotrophic bacteria with different secretion systems is possible. It was previously thought that this was largely prevented by the type VI secretion system (T6SS) found in marine saprotrophic bacteria. The authors showed for the first time the ability of marine bacteria Bacillus sp. and P. japonica to biofilm formation with pathogenic enterobacteria Y. pseudotuberculosis and L. monocytogenes, saprophytic bacteria with type III secretion system (T3SS). For the first time, a marine saprotrophic strain of Bacillus sp. Revealed manifestations of hyaluronidase, proteolytic and hemolytic activity after cultivation in a polycultural biofilm with listeria. Saprotrophic marine bacteria that have acquired virulence factors from pathogenic enterobacteria, including antibiotic resistance genes, could potentially play a role in altering the biological properties of other members of the marine microbial community. In addition, given the possible interdomain nature of intercellular gene translocation, acquired virulence factors can be transferred to marine unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes. The results obtained contribute to the paradigm of the epidemiological significance and potential danger of anthropogenic pollution of marine ecosystems, which creates serious problems for public health and the development of marine culture as an important area of economic activity in coastal regions.
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Occurrence, Serotypes and Virulence Characteristics of Shiga-Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Goats on Communal Rangeland in South Africa. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14050353. [PMID: 35622599 PMCID: PMC9147823 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14050353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli is a foodborne pathogen commonly associated with human disease characterized by mild or bloody diarrhea hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. This study investigated the occurrence of STEC in fecal samples of 289 goats in South Africa using microbiological culture and PCR. Furthermore, 628 goat STEC isolates were characterized by serotype (O:H) and major virulence factors by PCR. STEC was found in 80.2% (232/289) of goat fecal samples. Serotyping of 628 STEC isolates revealed 63 distinct serotypes including four of the major top seven STEC serogroups which were detected in 12.1% (35/289) of goats: O157:H7, 2.7% (8/289); O157:H8, 0.3%, (1/289); O157:H29, 0.3% (1/289); O103:H8, 7.6% (22/289); O103:H56, 0.3% (1/289); O26:H2, 0.3% (1/289); O111:H8, 0.3% (1/289) and 59 non-O157 STEC serotypes. Twenty-four of the sixty-three serotypes were previously associated with human disease. Virulence genes were distributed as follows: stx1, 60.6% (381/628); stx2, 72.7% (457/628); eaeA, 22.1% (139/628) and hlyA, 78.0% (490/628). Both stx1 and stx2 were found in 33.4% (210/628) of isolates. In conclusion, goats in South Africa are a reservoir and potential source of diverse STEC serotypes that are potentially virulent for humans. Further molecular characterization will be needed to fully assess the virulence potential of goat STEC isolates and their capacity to cause disease in humans.
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Pozdeev G, Beckett MC, Mogre A, Thomson NR, Dorman CJ. Reciprocally rewiring and repositioning the Integration Host Factor (IHF) subunit genes in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium: impacts on physiology and virulence. Microb Genom 2022; 8. [PMID: 35166652 PMCID: PMC8942017 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The Integration Host Factor (IHF) is a heterodimeric nucleoid-associated protein that plays roles in bacterial nucleoid architecture and genome-wide gene regulation. The ihfA and ihfB genes encode the subunits and are located 350 kbp apart, in the Right replichore of the Salmonella chromosome. IHF is composed of one IhfA and one IhfB subunit. Despite this 1 : 1 stoichiometry, MS revealed that IhfB is produced in 2-fold excess over IhfA. We re-engineered Salmonella to exchange reciprocally the protein-coding regions of ihfA and ihfB, such that each relocated protein-encoding region was driven by the expression signals of the other's gene. MS showed that in this 'rewired' strain, IhfA is produced in excess over IhfB, correlating with enhanced stability of the hybrid ihfB-ihfA mRNA that was expressed from the ihfB promoter. Nevertheless, the rewired strain grew at a similar rate to the wild-type and was similar in competitive fitness. However, compared to the wild-type, it was less motile, had growth-phase-specific reductions in SPI-1 and SPI-2 gene expression, and was engulfed at a higher rate by RAW macrophage. Our data show that while exchanging the physical locations of its ihf genes and the rewiring of their regulatory circuitry are well tolerated in Salmonella, genes involved in the production of type 3 secretion systems exhibit dysregulation accompanied by altered phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- German Pozdeev
- Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Michael C Beckett
- Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Aalap Mogre
- Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | | | - Charles J Dorman
- Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Shittu OB, Uzairue LI, Ojo OE, Obuotor TM, Folorunso JB, Raheem-Ademola RR, Olanipekun G, Ajose T, Medugu N, Ebruke B, Obaro SK. Antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in Salmonella enterica serovars isolated from droppings of layer chicken in two farms in Nigeria. J Appl Microbiol 2022; 132:3891-3906. [PMID: 35129256 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM This study aimed to investigate the isolation rate, antibiotic resistance, and virulence genes of Salmonella enterica serovar from two commercial farms in Nigeria. METHODS AND RESULTS Salmonella isolation was performed according to the United States Food and Drug Agency (USFDA) method. Serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, detection of resistance and virulence genes were done using the Kauffman-White Scheme, disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration, and real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques. Salmonella serovars were isolated from only farm A at 22/50 (44.0%) while none were isolated from farm B. Salmonella Typhi, 9 (40.9%); Salmonella Typhimurium, 2 (9.1%), Salmonella Enteritidis, 2 (9.1%), Salmonella Pullorum, 1 (4.5%), Salmonella Kentucky, 4 (18.2%) were identified while 4 (18.2%) were untypable. Sixteen isolates (72.7%) showed multiple drug resistance and 17 different resistance profile types with AMP-CHL-TRM-SXT as the most prevalent pattern. Resistance genes (blaTEM, 12/22 (54.5%) and virulence genes (InvA, sopB, mgtC, and spi4D, 22/22 (100.0%), ssaQ, 16/22 (72.7%), and spvC, 13/22 (59.1%) were found, while blaSHV, blaCTX-M, floR, tetA, tetB, tetG, and LJSGI-1 genes were absent. CONCLUSION Pathogenic Salmonella were isolated from the chicken droppings in this study. Most of these strains were resistant to antibiotics and possessed characteristics of virulence. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Chicken droppings from this study area contained pathogenic strains of Salmonella and a rare occurrence of Salmonella Typhi. The study revealed that the environment and the food chain could be at risk of contamination of highly virulent and antimicrobial-resistant strains of Salmonella. These could affect the profitability of the poultry industry and food consumption. There is a need for caution in indiscriminate disposal of poultry waste and the use of uncomposted chicken droppings in soil amendment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olufunke B Shittu
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Leonard I Uzairue
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.,International Foundation Against Infectious Disease in Nigeria(IFAIN), Abuja, Nigeria.,Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | - Olufemi E Ojo
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
| | - Tolulope M Obuotor
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Jamiu B Folorunso
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.,Department of Community Medicine, Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
| | | | - Grace Olanipekun
- International Foundation Against Infectious Disease in Nigeria(IFAIN), Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Theresa Ajose
- International Foundation Against Infectious Disease in Nigeria(IFAIN), Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Nubwa Medugu
- International Foundation Against Infectious Disease in Nigeria(IFAIN), Abuja, Nigeria.,Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Bernard Ebruke
- International Foundation Against Infectious Disease in Nigeria(IFAIN), Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Stephen K Obaro
- International Foundation Against Infectious Disease in Nigeria(IFAIN), Abuja, Nigeria.,Pediatric Infectious Division, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA
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Qian C, Huang M, Du Y, Song J, Mu H, Wei Y, Zhang S, Yin Z, Yuan C, Liu B, Liu B. Chemotaxis and Shorter O-Antigen Chain Length Contribute to the Strong Desiccation Tolerance of a Food-Isolated Cronobacter sakazakii Strain. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:779538. [PMID: 35058898 PMCID: PMC8764414 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.779538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic pathogen causing a lethality rate as high as 80% in infants. Desiccation tolerance ensures its survival in powdered infant formula (PIF) and contributes to the increased exposure to neonates, resulting in neonatal meningitis, septicemia, and necrotizing enterocolitis. This study showed that a food-isolated C. sakazakii G4023 strain exhibited a stronger desiccation tolerance than C. sakazakii ATCC 29544 strain. Considering the proven pathogenicity of G4023, it could be a big threat to infants. Transcriptome and proteome were performed to provide new insights into the desiccation adaptation mechanisms of G4023. Integrated analyses of these omics suggested that 331 genes were found regulated at both transcriptional and protein levels (≥2.0- and ≥1.5-fold, respectively). Deletion of chemotaxis system encoded genes cheA and cheW resulted in decreased tolerance in both short- and long-term desiccation. Reduced O-antigen chain length contributed to the biofilm formation and desiccation tolerance in the short term rather than the long term. In addition, biosynthesis of flagella, arginine and its transport system, and Fe/S cluster were also observed regulated in desiccated G4023. A better understanding of desiccation adaptation mechanisms of G4023 could in turn guide the operations during production and preservation of PIF or other food to reduce survival odds of G4023 and lower its exposure to get to infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengqian Qian
- TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Min Huang
- TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuhui Du
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjie Song
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huiqian Mu
- TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yi Wei
- TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Si Zhang
- TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhiqiu Yin
- National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Chao Yuan
- Department of Sanitary Toxicology and Chemistry, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Bin Liu
- TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Bin Liu
- TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.,The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Microbial Functional Genomics, Tianjin, China
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