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Igonina O, Samsonov V, Stoynova N. One-step cloning and targeted duplication of Pantoea ananatis chromosomal fragments. J Microbiol Methods 2024; 224:106999. [PMID: 39033856 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2024.106999] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we describe a novel method for one-step cloning and targeted duplication of P. ananatis chromosomal fragments. According to this method, the chromosomal region of interest is subcloned in vivo via λ Red recombination into the short synthetic non-replicable DNA fragment containing the excisable antibiotic-resistance marker gene and φ80 att-P site. The resulting circular non-replicating DNA molecule was immediately inserted into an alternative chromosomal locus due to φ80-integrase activity. To this end, the specially designed helper plasmid pONI, which can provide both the λ Red recombineering and φ80-integrase-mediated insertion, was constructed. In the described method, PCR amplification of the cloning fragment is unnecessary, making it convenient for manipulation of long-length DNA. Additionally, the possibility of spontaneous mutations occurring is completely precluded. This method was effectively used for the targeted chromosomal integration of additional copies of individual genes and operons up to 16 kb in size.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Igonina
- Ajinomoto-Genetika Research Institute, 1(st) Dorozhny pr., Moscow 117545, Russian Federation
| | - V Samsonov
- Ajinomoto-Genetika Research Institute, 1(st) Dorozhny pr., Moscow 117545, Russian Federation
| | - N Stoynova
- Ajinomoto-Genetika Research Institute, 1(st) Dorozhny pr., Moscow 117545, Russian Federation.
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2
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Lariviere PJ, Ashraf AHMZ, Navarro-Escalante L, Leonard SP, Miller LG, Moran NA, Barrick JE. One-step genome engineering in bee gut bacterial symbionts. mBio 2024:e0139224. [PMID: 39105596 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01392-24] [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: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanistic understanding of interactions in many host-microbe systems, including the honey bee microbiome, is limited by a lack of easy-to-use genome engineering approaches. To this end, we demonstrate a one-step genome engineering approach for making gene deletions and insertions in the chromosomes of honey bee gut bacterial symbionts. Electroporation of linear or non-replicating plasmid DNA containing an antibiotic resistance cassette flanked by regions with homology to a symbiont genome reliably results in chromosomal integration. This lightweight approach does not require expressing any exogenous recombination machinery. The high concentrations of large DNAs with long homology regions needed to make the process efficient can be readily produced using modern DNA synthesis and assembly methods. We use this approach to knock out genes, including genes involved in biofilm formation, and insert fluorescent protein genes into the chromosome of the betaproteobacterial bee gut symbiont Snodgrassella alvi. We are also able to engineer the genomes of multiple strains of S. alvi and another species, Snodgrassella communis, which is found in the bumble bee gut microbiome. Finally, we use the same method to engineer the chromosome of another bee symbiont, Bartonella apis, which is an alphaproteobacterium. As expected, gene knockout in S. alvi using this approach is recA-dependent, suggesting that this straightforward procedure can be applied to other microbes that lack convenient genome engineering methods. IMPORTANCE Honey bees are ecologically and economically important crop pollinators with bacterial gut symbionts that influence their health. Microbiome-based strategies for studying or improving bee health have utilized wild-type or plasmid-engineered bacteria. We demonstrate that a straightforward, single-step method can be used to insert cassettes and replace genes in the chromosomes of multiple bee gut bacteria. This method can be used for investigating the mechanisms of host-microbe interactions in the bee gut community and stably engineering symbionts that benefit pollinator health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Lariviere
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - A H M Zuberi Ashraf
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | | | - Sean P Leonard
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Laurel G Miller
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Nancy A Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Jeffrey E Barrick
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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3
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Saunders SH, Ahmed AM. ORBIT for E. coli: kilobase-scale oligonucleotide recombineering at high throughput and high efficiency. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:e43. [PMID: 38587185 PMCID: PMC11077079 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbiology and synthetic biology depend on reverse genetic approaches to manipulate bacterial genomes; however, existing methods require molecular biology to generate genomic homology, suffer from low efficiency, and are not easily scaled to high throughput. To overcome these limitations, we developed a system for creating kilobase-scale genomic modifications that uses DNA oligonucleotides to direct the integration of a non-replicating plasmid. This method, Oligonucleotide Recombineering followed by Bxb-1 Integrase Targeting (ORBIT) was pioneered in Mycobacteria, and here we adapt and expand it for Escherichia coli. Our redesigned plasmid toolkit for oligonucleotide recombineering achieved significantly higher efficiency than λ Red double-stranded DNA recombineering and enabled precise, stable knockouts (≤134 kb) and integrations (≤11 kb) of various sizes. Additionally, we constructed multi-mutants in a single transformation, using orthogonal attachment sites. At high throughput, we used pools of targeting oligonucleotides to knock out nearly all known transcription factor and small RNA genes, yielding accurate, genome-wide, single mutant libraries. By counting genomic barcodes, we also show ORBIT libraries can scale to thousands of unique members (>30k). This work demonstrates that ORBIT for E. coli is a flexible reverse genetic system that facilitates rapid construction of complex strains and readily scales to create sophisticated mutant libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott H Saunders
- Green Center for Systems Biology - Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75320, USA
| | - Ayesha M Ahmed
- Green Center for Systems Biology - Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75320, USA
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4
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Perreault M, Means J, Gerson E, James M, Cotton S, Bergeron CG, Simon M, Carlin DA, Schmidt N, Moore TC, Blasbalg J, Sondheimer N, Ndugga-Kabuye K, Denney WS, Isabella VM, Lubkowicz D, Brennan A, Hava DL. The live biotherapeutic SYNB1353 decreases plasma methionine via directed degradation in animal models and healthy volunteers. Cell Host Microbe 2024; 32:382-395.e10. [PMID: 38309259 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.01.005] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Methionine is an essential proteinogenic amino acid, but its excess can lead to deleterious effects. Inborn errors of methionine metabolism resulting from loss of function in cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) cause classic homocystinuria (HCU), which is managed by a methionine-restricted diet. Synthetic biotics are gastrointestinal tract-targeted live biotherapeutics that can be engineered to replicate the benefits of dietary restriction. In this study, we assess whether SYNB1353, an E. coli Nissle 1917 derivative, impacts circulating methionine and homocysteine levels in animals and healthy volunteers. In both mice and nonhuman primates (NHPs), SYNB1353 blunts the appearance of plasma methionine and plasma homocysteine in response to an oral methionine load. A phase 1 clinical study conducted in healthy volunteers subjected to an oral methionine challenge demonstrates that SYNB1353 is well tolerated and blunts plasma methionine by 26%. Overall, SYNB1353 represents a promising approach for methionine reduction with potential utility for the treatment of HCU.
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5
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Choi SY, Romero-Calle DX, Cho HG, Bae HW, Cho YH. Use of Cas9 Targeting and Red Recombination for Designer Phage Engineering. J Microbiol 2024; 62:1-10. [PMID: 38300409 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-024-00107-2] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are natural antibiotics and biological nanoparticles, whose application is significantly boosted by recent advances of synthetic biology tools. Designer phages are synthetic phages created by genome engineering in a way to increase the benefits or decrease the drawbacks of natural phages. Here we report the development of a straightforward genome engineering method to efficiently obtain engineered phages in a model bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This was achieved by eliminating the wild type phages based on the Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) and facilitating the recombinant generation based on the Red recombination system of the coliphage λ (λRed). The producer (PD) cells of P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 was created by miniTn7-based chromosomal integration of the genes for SpCas9 and λRed under an inducible promoter. To validate the efficiency of the recombinant generation, we created the fluorescent phages from a temperate phage MP29. A plasmid bearing the single guide RNA (sgRNA) gene for selectively targeting the wild type gp35 gene and the editing template for tagging the Gp35 with superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) was introduced into the PD cells by electroporation. We found that the targeting efficiency was affected by the position and number of sgRNA. The fluorescent phage particles were efficiently recovered from the culture of the PD cells expressing dual sgRNA molecules. This protocol can be used to create designer phages in P. aeruginosa for both application and research purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Yae Choi
- Program of Biopharmaceutical Science and Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CHA University, Gyeonggi, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Danitza Xiomara Romero-Calle
- Program of Biopharmaceutical Science and Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CHA University, Gyeonggi, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Gyu Cho
- Program of Biopharmaceutical Science and Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CHA University, Gyeonggi, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Won Bae
- Program of Biopharmaceutical Science and Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CHA University, Gyeonggi, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - You-Hee Cho
- Program of Biopharmaceutical Science and Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CHA University, Gyeonggi, 13488, Republic of Korea.
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6
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Asin-Garcia E, Garcia-Morales L, Bartholet T, Liang Z, Isaacs F, Martins dos Santos VP. Metagenomics harvested genus-specific single-stranded DNA-annealing proteins improve and expand recombineering in Pseudomonas species. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:12522-12536. [PMID: 37941137 PMCID: PMC10711431 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The widespread Pseudomonas genus comprises a collection of related species with remarkable abilities to degrade plastics and polluted wastes and to produce a broad set of valuable compounds, ranging from bulk chemicals to pharmaceuticals. Pseudomonas possess characteristics of tolerance and stress resistance making them valuable hosts for industrial and environmental biotechnology. However, efficient and high-throughput genetic engineering tools have limited metabolic engineering efforts and applications. To improve their genome editing capabilities, we first employed a computational biology workflow to generate a genus-specific library of potential single-stranded DNA-annealing proteins (SSAPs). Assessment of the library was performed in different Pseudomonas using a high-throughput pooled recombinase screen followed by Oxford Nanopore NGS analysis. Among different active variants with variable levels of allelic replacement frequency (ARF), efficient SSAPs were found and characterized for mediating recombineering in the four tested species. New variants yielded higher ARFs than existing ones in Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and expanded the field of recombineering in Pseudomonas taiwanensisand Pseudomonas fluorescens. These findings will enhance the mutagenesis capabilities of these members of the Pseudomonas genus, increasing the possibilities for biotransformation and enhancing their potential for synthetic biology applications. .
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Asin-Garcia
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen 6708 WE, The Netherlands
- Bioprocess Engineering Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen 6700 AA, The Netherlands
| | - Luis Garcia-Morales
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen 6708 WE, The Netherlands
| | - Tessa Bartholet
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen 6708 WE, The Netherlands
| | - Zhuobin Liang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Farren J Isaacs
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Vitor A P Martins dos Santos
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen 6708 WE, The Netherlands
- Bioprocess Engineering Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen 6700 AA, The Netherlands
- LifeGlimmer GmbH, Berlin 12163, Germany
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7
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Zhang Q, Zhang J, Shao Y, Shang G. Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) optimized deletion mutant as the host for whole-cell biotransformation of N‑acetyl‑D‑neuraminic acid. Biotechnol Lett 2023; 45:1521-1528. [PMID: 37688676 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-023-03426-3] [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] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
N‑Acetyl‑D‑neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) is the crucial compound for the chemical synthesis of antiflu medicine Zanamivir. Chemoenzymatic synthesis of Neu5Ac involves N-acetyl-D-glucosamine 2-epimerase (AGE)-catalyzed epimerization of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) to N-acetyl-D-mannosamine (ManNAc), and aldolase-catalyzed condensation between ManNAc and pyruvate. Host optimization plays an important role in the whole-cell biotransformation of value-added compounds. In this study, via single-plasmid biotransformation system, we showed that the AGE gene BT0453, cloned from human gut microorganism Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI-5482, showed the highest biotransformation yield among the AGE genes tested; and there is no clear Neu5Ac yield difference between the BT0453 coupled with one aldolase coding nanA gene and two nanA genes. Next, Escherichia coli chromosomal genes involved in substrate degradation, product exportation and pH change were deleted via recombineering and CRISPR/Cas9. With the final E. coli BL21(DE3) ΔnanA Δnag ΔpoxB as host, a significant 16.5% yield improvement was obtained. Furthermore, precursor (pyruvate) feeding resulted in 3.2% yield improvement, reaching 66.8% molar biotransformation. The result highlights the importance of host optimization, and set the stage for further metabolic engineering of whole-cell biotransformation of Neu5Ac.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No. 1 Wenyuan Rd., Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiao Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No. 1 Wenyuan Rd., Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanhong Shao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No. 1 Wenyuan Rd., Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangdong Shang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No. 1 Wenyuan Rd., Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
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8
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Wozniak CE, Hughes KT, Liou TG. Mutations in the C-terminal region of the bacteriophage exclusion protein PglX can selectively inactivate restriction in Salmonella. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0020723. [PMID: 37730541 PMCID: PMC10601704 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00207-23] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain LT2 is protected by two DNA restriction-modification systems (HsdRMS and Mod-Res) and a Type I bacteriophage exclusion (BREX) system (BrxA-L). The LB5000 strain was constructed to inactivate restriction but not methylation in all three systems and has been available for decades (L. R. Bullas and J. I. Ryu, J Bacteriol 156:471-474, 1983, https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.156.1.471-474.1983). However, this strain had been heavily mutagenized and contains hundreds of other mutations, including a few in DNA repair genes. Here, we describe the development of a strain that is only mutated for DNA restriction by the three systems and remains competent for DNA modification. We transferred mutations specific to DNA restriction from LB5000 to a wild-type LT2 background. The hsdR and res mutations affected only restriction in the wild-type background, but the brxC and pglZ mutations for the poorly understood BREX system also reduced modification. Amino acids in an unannotated conserved region of PglX in the BREX system were then randomized. Mutations were identified that specifically affected restriction at 37°C but were found to be temperature sensitive for restriction and methylation when tested at 30°C and 42°C. These mutations in PglX are consistent with a domain that communicates DNA methylation information to other BREX effector proteins. Finally, mutations generated in the specificity domain of PglX may have changed the DNA binding site recognized by the BREX system. IMPORTANCE The restriction system mutants constructed in this study will be useful for cloning DNA and transferring plasmids from other bacterial species into Salmonella. We verified which mutations in strain LB5000 resulted in loss of restriction for each restriction-modification system and the BREX system by moving these mutations to a wild-type Salmonella background. The methylase PglX was then mutagenized, which adds to our knowledge of the BREX system that is found in many bacteria but is not well understood. These PglX mutations affected restriction and methylation at different temperatures, which suggests that the C-terminal region of PglX may coordinate interactions between the methylase and other BREX system proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kelly T. Hughes
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Theodore G. Liou
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Center for Quantitative Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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9
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Lariviere PJ, Ashraf AHMZ, Leonard SP, Miller LG, Moran NA, Barrick JE. Single-step genome engineering in the bee gut symbiont Snodgrassella alvi. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.19.558440. [PMID: 37786689 PMCID: PMC10541602 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.19.558440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Honey bees are economically relevant pollinators experiencing population declines due to a number of threats. As in humans, the health of bees is influenced by their microbiome. The bacterium Snodgrassella alvi is a key member of the bee gut microbiome and has a role in excluding pathogens. Despite this importance, there are not currently any easy-to-use methods for modifying the S. alvi chromosome to study its genetics. To solve this problem, we developed a one-step procedure that uses electroporation and homologous recombination, which we term SnODIFY (Snodgrassella-specific One-step gene Deletion or Insertion to alter FunctionalitY). We used SnODIFY to create seven single-gene knockout mutants and recovered mutants for all constructs tested. Nearly all transformants had the designed genome modifications, indicating that SnODIFY is highly accurate. Mutant phenotypes were validated through knockout of Type 4 pilus genes, which led to reduced biofilm formation. We also used SnODIFY to insert heterologous sequences into the genome by integrating fluorescent protein-coding genes. Finally, we confirmed that genome modification is dependent on S. alvi's endogenous RecA protein. Because it does not require expression of exogenous recombination machinery, SnODIFY is a straightforward, accurate, and lightweight method for genome editing in S. alvi. This workflow can be used to study the functions of S. alvi genes and to engineer this symbiont for applications including protection of honey bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J. Lariviere
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - A. H. M. Zuberi Ashraf
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Sean P. Leonard
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Laurel G. Miller
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Nancy A. Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jeffrey E. Barrick
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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10
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Abstract
The ability to manipulate the bacterial genome is an obligatory premise for the study of gene function and regulation in bacterial cells. The λ red recombineering technique allows modification of chromosomal sequences with base-pair precision without the need of intermediate molecular cloning steps. Initially conceived to construct insertion mutants, the technique lends itself to a wide variety of applications including the creation of point mutants, seamless deletions, reporter, and epitope tag fusions and chromosomal rearrangements. Here, we introduce some of the most common implementations of the method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nara Figueroa-Bossi
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC), 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Roberto Balbontín
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41080 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Lionello Bossi
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC), 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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11
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Lv S, Wang Y, Jiang K, Guo X, Zhang J, Zhou F, Li Q, Jiang Y, Yang C, Teng T. Genetic Engineering and Biosynthesis Technology: Keys to Unlocking the Chains of Phage Therapy. Viruses 2023; 15:1736. [PMID: 37632078 PMCID: PMC10457950 DOI: 10.3390/v15081736] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Phages possess the ability to selectively eliminate pathogenic bacteria by recognizing bacterial surface receptors. Since their discovery, phages have been recognized for their potent bactericidal properties, making them a promising alternative to antibiotics in the context of rising antibiotic resistance. However, the rapid emergence of phage-resistant strains (generally involving temperature phage) and the limited host range of most phage strains have hindered their antibacterial efficacy, impeding their full potential. In recent years, advancements in genetic engineering and biosynthesis technology have facilitated the precise engineering of phages, thereby unleashing their potential as a novel source of antibacterial agents. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the diverse strategies employed for phage genetic engineering, as well as discuss their benefits and drawbacks in terms of bactericidal effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sixuan Lv
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yuhan Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Kaixin Jiang
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Xinge Guo
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Fang Zhou
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Qiming Li
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yuan Jiang
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Changyong Yang
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Tieshan Teng
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
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12
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Yu Y, Zhang T, Lu D, Wang J, Xu Z, Zhang Y, Liu Q. Genome-wide nonessential gene identification of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus. Gene 2023; 863:147239. [PMID: 36736504 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147239] [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: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The Baculovirus Expression Vector System (BEVS) is an insect cell-based heterologous protein expression system that possesses powerful potential in the development of protein drugs and vaccines. Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) is the most widely-used vector in BEVS with 151 open reading frames (ORFs) containing essential and nonessential genes. Deletion of nonessential genes has many advantages including increased foreign gene insertion. In this study, the λ red recombination system was used to knock out genes in a modified AcMNPV that carried an enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) at the Ac126-Ac127 locus. Eighty genes were almost completely deleted respectively and 69 gene knockout AcMNPVs (KOVs) were obtained to evaluate their infection efficiency. After infecting Spodoptera frugiperda 9 (Sf9) cells, 51 KOVs including 62 genes showed similar infectivity as wide type (WT) and hence were defined as nonessential genes. However, 18 KOVs produced fewer infectious virions, indicating that these genes were influential in the production of progeny viruses. Combining our research with previous studies, a desired minimal AcMNPV genome containing 86 ORFs and all of the homologous regions (hrs) was brought up, facilitating genetic modification of baculovirus vectors and improvement of recombinant protein expression in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Dongbo Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Zhenhe Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yuanxing Zhang
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Qin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
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13
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Hussain W, Yang X, Ullah M, Wang H, Aziz A, Xu F, Asif M, Ullah MW, Wang S. Genetic engineering of bacteriophages: Key concepts, strategies, and applications. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 64:108116. [PMID: 36773707 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entity in the world and hold a tremendous amount of unexplored genetic information. Since their discovery, phages have drawn a great deal of attention from researchers despite their small size. The development of advanced strategies to modify their genomes and produce engineered phages with desired traits has opened new avenues for their applications. This review presents advanced strategies for developing engineered phages and their potential antibacterial applications in phage therapy, disruption of biofilm, delivery of antimicrobials, use of endolysin as an antibacterial agent, and altering the phage host range. Similarly, engineered phages find applications in eukaryotes as a shuttle for delivering genes and drugs to the targeted cells, and are used in the development of vaccines and facilitating tissue engineering. The use of phage display-based specific peptides for vaccine development, diagnostic tools, and targeted drug delivery is also discussed in this review. The engineered phage-mediated industrial food processing and biocontrol, advanced wastewater treatment, phage-based nano-medicines, and their use as a bio-recognition element for the detection of bacterial pathogens are also part of this review. The genetic engineering approaches hold great potential to accelerate translational phages and research. Overall, this review provides a deep understanding of the ingenious knowledge of phage engineering to move them beyond their innate ability for potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wajid Hussain
- Advanced Biomaterials & Tissues Engineering Center, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- Advanced Biomaterials & Tissues Engineering Center, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Mati Ullah
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Advanced Biomaterials & Tissues Engineering Center, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Ayesha Aziz
- Advanced Biomaterials & Tissues Engineering Center, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Fang Xu
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology Hospital, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Muhammad Asif
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China
| | - Muhammad Wajid Ullah
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
| | - Shenqi Wang
- Advanced Biomaterials & Tissues Engineering Center, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
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14
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Zhang G, Wang J, Li Y, Shang G. CRISPR/Cas9-assisted ssDNA recombineering for site-directed mutagenesis and saturation mutagenesis of plasmid-encoded genes. Biotechnol Lett 2023; 45:629-637. [PMID: 36930400 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-023-03363-1] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Site-directed and saturation mutagenesis are critical DNA methodologies for studying protein structure and function. For plasmid-based gene mutation, PCR and overlap-extension PCR involve tedious cloning steps. When the plasmid size is large, PCR yield may be too low for cloning; and for saturation mutagenesis of a single codon, one experiment may not enough to generate all twenty coding variants. Oligo-mediated recombineering sidesteps the complicated cloning process by homologous recombination between a mutagenic oligo and its target site. However, the low recombineering efficiency and inability to select for the recombinant makes it necessary to screen a large number of clones. Herein, we describe two plasmid-based mutagenic strategies: CRISPR/Cas9-assisted ssDNA recombineering for site-directed mutagenesis (CRM) and saturation mutagenesis (CRSM). CRM and CRSM involve co-electroporation of target plasmid, sgRNA expression plasmid and mutagenic oligonucleotide into Escherichia coli cells with induced expression of λ-Red recombinase and Cas9, followed by plasmid extraction and characterization. We established CRM and CRSM via ampicillin resistance gene repair and mutagenesis of N-acetyl‑D‑neuraminic acid aldolase. The mutational efficiency was between 80 and 100% and all twenty amino acid coding variants were obtained at a target site via a single CRSM strategy. CRM and CRSM have the potential to be general plasmid-based gene mutagenesis tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoyi Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No.1 Wenyuan Rd., Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Junyu Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No.1 Wenyuan Rd., Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiwen Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No.1 Wenyuan Rd., Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangdong Shang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No.1 Wenyuan Rd., Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
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15
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The genome editing revolution. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:396-409. [PMID: 36709094 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
A series of spectacular scientific discoveries and technological advances in the second half of the 20th century have provided the basis for the ongoing genome editing revolution. The elucidation of structural and functional features of DNA and RNA was followed by pioneering studies on genome editing: Molecular biotechnology was born. Since then, four decades followed during which progress of scientific insights and technological methods continued at an overwhelming pace. Fundamental insights into microbial host-virus interactions led to the development of tools for genome editing using restriction enzymes or the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas technology. In this review, we provide a historical overview of milestones that led to the genome editing revolution and speculate about future trends in biotechnology.
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16
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Zhang G, Zhang Q, Wang J, Zhang J, Shang G. Characterization of a novel Escherichia coli recombineering selection/counterselection cassette. Biotechnol Lett 2023; 45:191-197. [PMID: 36495358 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-022-03333-z] [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: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recombineering is a highly efficient DNA cloning and modification technique by using the recombinase-mediated homologous recombination. Selection/counterselection cassette is often used in chromosomal DNA or large episomal DNA manipulation, in which the selection marker is used for the first step cassette selection while deleting the target gene via allelic exchange, and the counterselection marker is used for the second step replacement of the cassette by the foreign DNA fragment. A variety of selection/counterselection cassettes are reported, however, the cassettes suffer from the shortcomings of the requirement of pre-engineered strain or specific culture medium. Herein, we report a novel S-tetR- PtetA-ccdB-aacC1-S selection/counterselection cassette that sidesteps the disadvantages. As a proof-of-concept, one-step gene cloning (0.7, 1.7, and 4.2 kb) and two-step Escherichia coli chromosomal gene knock-in (0.7 and 4.2 kb) were performed. The gene cloning and gene knock-in efficiencies are high up to 90%. The novel selection/counterselection cassette adds a powerful tool to the recombineering repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoyi Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No.1 Wenyuan Rd Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No.1 Wenyuan Rd Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Junyu Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No.1 Wenyuan Rd Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiao Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No.1 Wenyuan Rd Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangdong Shang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No.1 Wenyuan Rd Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Yang J, Zhang Q, Zhang G, Shang G. Recombineering-Mediated Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021 Gene Deletion. Curr Microbiol 2023; 80:76. [PMID: 36650293 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03188-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021 (S. meliloti Rm1021) is a Gram-negative, soil-dwelling α-proteobacterium which serves as a model microorganism for the studies of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The S. meliloti Rm1021 genome consists of one chromosome and two megaplasmids, pSymA and pSymB. Gene deletion is an essential tool for the elucidation of gene function and generation of mutants with improved properties. However, only two gene deletion methods, counterselectable marker sacB-based and FLP/FRT, Cre/loxP site-specific recombination, have been reported for S. meliloti Rm1021 gene deletion. Both methods require time-consuming and tedious gene cloning and conjugation steps. Herein, a λ Red recombineering-mediated gene deletion strategy is reported. The mutant was obtained via electroporating overlap-extension PCR-generated linear targeting DNA into Red-proficient cells. One gene each from the S. meliloti Rm1021 chromosome, megaplasmid SymA and pSymB was deleted, with deletion efficiency up to 100%. The straightforward and highly efficient recombineering procedure holds the promise to be a general gene manipulation method for S. meliloti Rm1021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No. 1 Wenyuan Rd., Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No. 1 Wenyuan Rd., Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoyi Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No. 1 Wenyuan Rd., Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangdong Shang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, No. 1 Wenyuan Rd., Xixia District, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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18
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Bednarek A, Giermasińska-Buczek K, Łobocka M. Efficient traceless modification of the P1 bacteriophage genome through homologous recombination with enrichment in double recombinants: A new perspective on the functional annotation of uncharacterized phage genes. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1135870. [PMID: 37020717 PMCID: PMC10067587 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1135870] [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: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The advent of high-throughput omic technologies has caused unprecedented progress in research on bacteriophages, the most abundant and still the least explored entities on earth. Despite the growing number of phage genomes sequenced and the rejuvenation of interest in phage therapy, the progress in the functional analysis of phage genes is slow. Simple and efficient techniques of phage genome targeted mutagenesis that would allow one to knock out particular genes precisely without polar effects in order to study the effect of these knock-outs on phage functions are lacking. Even in the case of model phages, the functions of approximately half of their genes are unknown. P1 is an enterobacterial temperate myophage of clinical significance, which lysogenizes cells as a plasmid. It has a long history of studies, serves as a model in basic research, is a gene transfer vector, and is a source of genetic tools. Its gene products have structural homologs in several other phages. In this perspective article, we describe a simple and efficient procedure of traceless P1 genome modification that could also serve to acquire targeted mutations in the genomes of certain other temperate phages and speed up functional annotations of phage genes.
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19
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Zürcher JF, Robertson WE, Kappes T, Petris G, Elliott TS, Salmond GPC, Chin JW. Refactored genetic codes enable bidirectional genetic isolation. Science 2022; 378:516-523. [PMID: 36264827 PMCID: PMC7614150 DOI: 10.1126/science.add8943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The near-universal genetic code defines the correspondence between codons in genes and amino acids in proteins. We refactored the structure of the genetic code in Escherichia coli and created orthogonal genetic codes that restrict the escape of synthetic genetic information into natural life. We developed orthogonal and mutually orthogonal horizontal gene transfer systems, which permit the transfer of genetic information between organisms that use the same genetic code but restrict the transfer of genetic information between organisms that use different genetic codes. Moreover, we showed that locking refactored codes into synthetic organisms completely blocks invasion by mobile genetic elements, including viruses, which carry their own translation factors and successfully invade organisms with canonical and compressed genetic codes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme F. Zürcher
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Tomás Kappes
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gianluca Petris
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Thomas S. Elliott
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Jason W. Chin
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK,Correspondence to:
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20
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Strobel HM, Stuart EC, Meyer JR. A Trait-Based Approach to Predicting Viral Host-Range Evolvability. Annu Rev Virol 2022; 9:139-156. [PMID: 36173699 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-091919-092003] [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: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Predicting the evolution of virus host range has proven to be extremely difficult, in part because of the sheer diversity of viruses, each with unique biology and ecological interactions. We have not solved this problem, but to make the problem more tractable, we narrowed our focus to three traits intrinsic to all viruses that may play a role in host-range evolvability: mutation rate, recombination rate, and phenotypic heterogeneity. Although each trait should increase evolvability, they cannot do so unbounded because fitness trade-offs limit the ability of all three traits to maximize evolvability. By examining these constraints, we can begin to identify groups of viruses with suites of traits that make them especially concerning, as well as ecological and environmental conditions that might push evolution toward accelerating host-range expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Strobel
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA;
| | - Elizabeth C Stuart
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA;
| | - Justin R Meyer
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA;
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21
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Past, Present, and Future of Genome Modification in Escherichia coli. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091835. [PMID: 36144436 PMCID: PMC9504249 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091835] [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: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli K-12 is one of the most well-studied species of bacteria. This species, however, is much more difficult to modify by homologous recombination (HR) than other model microorganisms. Research on HR in E. coli has led to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HR, resulting in technical improvements and rapid progress in genome research, and allowing whole-genome mutagenesis and large-scale genome modifications. Developments using λ Red (exo, bet, and gam) and CRISPR-Cas have made E. coli as amenable to genome modification as other model microorganisms, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus subtilis. This review describes the history of recombination research in E. coli, as well as improvements in techniques for genome modification by HR. This review also describes the results of large-scale genome modification of E. coli using these technologies, including DNA synthesis and assembly. In addition, this article reviews recent advances in genome modification, considers future directions, and describes problems associated with the creation of cells by design.
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22
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Wang X, Tang B, Liu G, Wang M, Sun J, Tan R, Pan T, Qu J, Liu J, Ou HY, Qu H. Transmission of Nonconjugative Virulence or Resistance Plasmids Mediated by a Self-Transferable IncN3 Plasmid from Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0136422. [PMID: 35863038 PMCID: PMC9430514 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01364-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a critical challenge to clinical and public health. Along with conjugative plasmids, nonconjugative resistance or virulence plasmids associated with carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP), hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKP), and even carbapenem-resistant and hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (CR-hvKP) strains have been spreading globally. In this study, a clinical CRKP strain KP2648 was isolated, and the transferability of its plasmids was assessed using conjugation experiments. The transconjugants were characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection, XbaI and S1-pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and/or whole-genome sequencing. Genetically modified IncN3 plasmids were employed to elucidate the self-transferability and the mobilization mechanisms. KP2648 has three natural plasmids: a nonconjugative IncFIB/IncHI3B virulence plasmid, a nonconjugative IncFII/IncR carbapenem-resistant plasmid, and a self-transferable IncN3 plasmid with a high conjugation frequency (7.54 ± 1.06) × 10-1. The IncN3 plasmid could mobilize the coexisting nonconjugative virulence/resistance plasmids either directly or by employing intermediate E. coli with two forms: a hybrid plasmid fused with IncN3 or a cotransfer with the helper plasmid, IncN3. Various mobile genetic elements, including ISKpn74, ISKpn14, IS26, ISShes11, ISAba11, and Tn3, are involved in the genetic transposition of diverse hybrid plasmids and the cotransfer process during the intra/interspecies transmission. IMPORTANCE Nowadays, the underlying mobilization mechanism and evolutionary processes of nonconjugative virulence or resistance plasmids in Klebsiella pneumoniae remain poorly understood. Our study revealed the high conjugation ability of IncN3 plasmid isolated from carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae and confirmed its capability to mobilize the nonconjugative virulence or resistance plasmids. The self-transferable IncN3 plasmid could facilitate the transmission of pathogenicity and genetic evolution of carbapenem-resistant and hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, including hv-CRKP (virulence plasmid obtained by carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae) and CR-hvKP (resistance plasmid obtained by hypervirulent K. pneumoniae), warranting further monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Tang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guitian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Shanghai-Islamabad-Belgrade Joint Innovation Center on Antibacterial Resistances, Joint International Laboratory on Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Meng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Shanghai-Islamabad-Belgrade Joint Innovation Center on Antibacterial Resistances, Joint International Laboratory on Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingyong Sun
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruoming Tan
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Pan
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jieming Qu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jialin Liu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong-Yu Ou
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Shanghai-Islamabad-Belgrade Joint Innovation Center on Antibacterial Resistances, Joint International Laboratory on Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongping Qu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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23
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Peng L, Dumevi RM, Chitto M, Haarmann N, Berger P, Koudelka G, Schmidt H, Mellmann A, Dobrindt U, Berger M. A Robust One-Step Recombineering System for Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091689. [PMID: 36144292 PMCID: PMC9504302 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091689] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) can cause severe diarrheic in humans. To improve therapy options, a better understanding of EHEC pathogenicity is essential. The genetic manipulation of EHEC with classical one-step methods, such as the transient overexpression of the phage lambda (λ) Red functions, is not very efficient. Here, we provide a robust and reliable method for increasing recombineering efficiency in EHEC based on the transient coexpression of recX together with gam, beta, and exo. We demonstrate that the genetic manipulation is 3–4 times more efficient in EHEC O157:H7 EDL933 Δstx1/2 with our method when compared to the overexpression of the λ Red functions alone. Both recombineering systems demonstrated similar efficiencies in Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655. Coexpression of recX did not enhance the Gam-mediated inhibition of sparfloxacin-mediated SOS response. Therefore, the additional inhibition of the RecFOR pathway rather than a stronger inhibition of the RecBCD pathway of SOS response induction might have resulted in the increased recombineering efficiency by indirectly blocking phage induction. Even though additional experiments are required to unravel the precise mechanistic details of the improved recombineering efficiency, we recommend the use of our method for the robust genetic manipulation of EHEC and other prophage-carrying E. coli isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang Peng
- Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | | | - Marco Chitto
- Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Nadja Haarmann
- Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Petya Berger
- Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- National Consulting Laboratory for Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Gerald Koudelka
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Herbert Schmidt
- Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Alexander Mellmann
- Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- National Consulting Laboratory for Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Ulrich Dobrindt
- Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Michael Berger
- Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-251-83-35403
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24
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Characterization and Comparative Genomics Analysis of a New Bacteriophage BUCT610 against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Efficacy Assessment in Galleria mellonella Larvae. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23148040. [PMID: 35887393 PMCID: PMC9321532 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23148040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The spread of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-KP) has become an emerging threat as a result of the overuse of antibiotics. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy is considered to be a promising alternative treatment for MDR-KP infection compared with antibiotic therapy. In this research, a lytic phage BUCT610 was isolated from hospital sewage. The assembled genome of BUCT610 was 46,774 bp in length, with a GC content of 48%. A total of 83 open reading frames (ORFs) and no virulence or antimicrobial resistance genes were annotated in the BUCT610 genome. Comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses showed that BUCT610 was most closely linked with the Vibrio phage pYD38-A and shared 69% homology. In addition, bacteriophage BUCT610 exhibited excellent thermal stability (4–75 °C) and broad pH tolerance (pH 3–12) in the stability test. In vivo investigation results showed that BUCT610 significantly increased the survival rate of Klebsiella pneumonia-infected Galleria mellonella larvae from 13.33% to 83.33% within 72 h. In conclusion, these findings indicate that phage BUCT610 holds great promise as an alternative agent with excellent stability for the treatment of MDR-KP infection.
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25
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Baas-Thomas MS, Oehm SB, Ostrov N, Church GM. Characterization of ColE1 Production for Robust tolC Plate Dual-Selection in E. coli. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:2009-2014. [PMID: 35666547 PMCID: PMC9208019 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00061] [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] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
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Bacterial selection
is an indispensable tool for E. coli genetic
engineering. Marker genes allow for mutant isolation even
at low editing efficiencies. TolC is an especially
useful E. coli marker: its presence can be selected
for with sodium dodecyl sulfate, while its absence can be selected
for with the bactericidal protein ColE1. However, utilization of this
selection system is greatly limited by the lack of commercially available
ColE1 protein. Here, we provide a simple, plate-based, ColE1 negative-selection
protocol that does not require purification of ColE1. Using agar plates
containing a nonpurified lysate from a ColE1-production strain, we
achieved a stringent negative selection with an escape rate of 10–7. Using this powerful negative-selection assay, we
then performed the scarless deletion of multiple, large genomic loci
(>10 kb), screening only 12 colonies each. We hope this accessible
protocol for ColE1 production will lower the barrier of entry for
any lab that wishes to harness tolC’s dual
selection for genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sebastian B Oehm
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Nili Ostrov
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - George M Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.,Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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Li Y, Mensah EO, Fordjour E, Bai J, Yang Y, Bai Z. Recent advances in high-throughput metabolic engineering: Generation of oligonucleotide-mediated genetic libraries. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 59:107970. [PMID: 35550915 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107970] [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: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The preparation of genetic libraries is an essential step to evolve microorganisms and study genotype-phenotype relationships by high-throughput screening/selection. As the large-scale synthesis of oligonucleotides becomes easy, cheap, and high-throughput, numerous novel strategies have been developed in recent years to construct high-quality oligo-mediated libraries, leveraging state-of-art molecular biology tools for genome editing and gene regulation. This review presents an overview of recent advances in creating and characterizing in vitro and in vivo genetic libraries, based on CRISPR/Cas, regulatory RNAs, and recombineering, primarily for Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These libraries' applications in high-throughput metabolic engineering, strain evolution and protein engineering are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Emmanuel Osei Mensah
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Eric Fordjour
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Jing Bai
- School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Yankun Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhonghu Bai
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
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27
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Development of a new recombineering system for Agrobacterium species. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0249921. [PMID: 35044833 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02499-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Discovery of new and efficient genetic engineering technologies for Agrobacterium will broaden the capacity for fundamental research on this genus and for its utilization as a transgenic vehicle. In this study, we aim to develop an efficient recombineering system for Agrobacterium species. We examined isolates of Agrobacterium and the closely related genus Rhizobium to identify pairs of ET-like recombinases that would aid in the recombineering of Agrobacterium species. Four pairs of ET-like recombinases, named RecETh1h2h3h4AGROB6, RecETh1h2P3RHI597, RecETRHI145, and RecEThRHI483, were identified in Agrobacterium tumefaciens str. B6, Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii WSM597, Rhizobium sp. LC145, and Rhizobium sp. Root483D2, respectively. Eight more candidate recombineering systems were generated by combining the new ET-like recombinases with Redγ or Pluγ. The PluγETRHI145 system, RecETh1h2h3h4AGROB6 system, and PluγEThRHI483 system were determined to be the most efficient recombineering system for the type strains A. tumefaciens C58, A. tumefaciens EHA105, and R. rhizogenes NBCR13257, respectively. The utility of these systems was demonstrated by knocking out the istB and istA fusion gene in C58, the celI gene in EHA105, and the 3'-5' exonuclease gene and endoglucanase gene in NBCR13257. Our work provides an effective genetic manipulation strategy for Agrobacterium species. IMPORTANCE Agrobacterium is a powerful transgenic vehicle for the genetic manipulation of numerous plant and fungal species and even animal cells. In addition to improving the utility of Agrobacterium as a transgenic vehicle, genetic engineering tools are important for revealing crucial components that are functionally involved in T-DNA translocation events. This work developed an efficient and versatile recombineering system for Agrobacterium. Successful genome modification of Agrobacterium strains revealed that this new recombineering system could be used for the genetic engineering of Agrobacterium.
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28
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Wilson A, Iniguez C, Ruiz N. Use of Mutagenesis and Functional Screens to Characterize Essential Genes Involved in Lipopolysaccharide Transport. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2548:3-19. [PMID: 36151488 PMCID: PMC9630823 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2581-1_1] [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: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Structure-function analysis is a powerful strategy to characterize the contribution of specific residues to the biogenesis and function of a protein. This approach requires the characterization of strains that express mutant alleles in the absence of the wild-type protein. When studying nonessential bacterial genes, collections of mutants can be easily constructed by introducing plasmid-encoded alleles of interest into a strain that already lacks the wild-type gene. However, this high-throughput approach is not applicable to studying essential genes since their respective null strains are not viable. While there are several tools currently available to modify essential genes, they can be greatly limited by the amount of effort it takes to build and analyze each mutant strain. Here, we describe a high-throughput system for the rapid structure-function analysis of essential genes involved in lipopolysaccharide transport in Escherichia coli. This method, which can be applied to study any essential gene, relies on the initial construction of a single bacterial strain that can be used to generate and functionally characterize multiple plasmid-encoded alleles in under 24 h. We will discuss the advantages and possible shortcomings of our protocol in comparison to other commonly used methods.
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29
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Backes N, Phillips GJ. Repurposing CRISPR-Cas Systems as Genetic Tools for the Enterobacteriales. EcoSal Plus 2021; 9:eESP00062020. [PMID: 34125584 PMCID: PMC11163844 DOI: 10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0006-2020] [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: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade, the study of CRISPR-Cas systems has progressed from a newly discovered bacterial defense mechanism to a diverse suite of genetic tools that have been applied across all domains of life. While the initial applications of CRISPR-Cas technology fulfilled a need to more precisely edit eukaryotic genomes, creative "repurposing" of this adaptive immune system has led to new approaches for genetic analysis of microorganisms, including improved gene editing, conditional gene regulation, plasmid curing and manipulation, and other novel uses. The main objective of this review is to describe the development and current state-of-the-art use of CRISPR-Cas techniques specifically as it is applied to members of the Enterobacteriales. While many of the applications covered have been initially developed in Escherichia coli, we also highlight the potential, along with the limitations, of this technology for expanding the availability of genetic tools in less-well-characterized non-model species, including bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Backes
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Gregory J. Phillips
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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30
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Asin-Garcia E, Martin-Pascual M, Garcia-Morales L, van Kranenburg R, Martins dos Santos VAP. ReScribe: An Unrestrained Tool Combining Multiplex Recombineering and Minimal-PAM ScCas9 for Genome Recoding Pseudomonas putida. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:2672-2688. [PMID: 34547891 PMCID: PMC8524654 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Genome recoding enables incorporating new functions into the DNA of microorganisms. By reassigning codons to noncanonical amino acids, the generation of new-to-nature proteins offers countless opportunities for bioproduction and biocontainment in industrial chassis. A key bottleneck in genome recoding efforts, however, is the low efficiency of recombineering, which hinders large-scale applications at acceptable speed and cost. To relieve this bottleneck, we developed ReScribe, a highly optimized recombineering tool enhanced by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated counterselection built upon the minimal PAM 5'-NNG-3' of the Streptococcus canis Cas9 (ScCas9). As a proof of concept, we used ReScribe to generate a minimally recoded strain of the industrial chassis Pseudomonas putida by replacing TAG stop codons (functioning as PAMs) of essential metabolic genes with the synonymous TAA. We showed that ReScribe enables nearly 100% engineering efficiency of multiple loci in P. putida, opening promising avenues for genome editing and applications thereof in this bacterium and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Asin-Garcia
- Laboratory
of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen
University & Research, Wageningen 6708 WE, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Martin-Pascual
- Laboratory
of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen
University & Research, Wageningen 6708 WE, The Netherlands
| | - Luis Garcia-Morales
- Laboratory
of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen
University & Research, Wageningen 6708 WE, The Netherlands
| | - Richard van Kranenburg
- Corbion, Gorinchem 4206 AC, The Netherlands
- Laboratory
of Microbiology, Wageningen University &
Research, Wageningen 6708 WE, The Netherlands
| | - Vitor A. P. Martins dos Santos
- Laboratory
of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen
University & Research, Wageningen 6708 WE, The Netherlands
- LifeGlimmer
GmbH, Berlin 12163, Germany
- Bioprocess
Engineering Group, Wageningen University
& Research, Wageningen 6700 AA, The Netherlands
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31
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Martino G, Holtappels D, Vallino M, Chiapello M, Turina M, Lavigne R, Wagemans J, Ciuffo M. Molecular Characterization and Taxonomic Assignment of Three Phage Isolates from a Collection Infecting Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae and P. syringae pv. phaseolicola from Northern Italy. Viruses 2021; 13:2083. [PMID: 34696512 PMCID: PMC8537276 DOI: 10.3390/v13102083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial kiwifruit vine disease (Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, Psa) and halo blight of bean (P. syringae pv. phaseolicola, Pph) are routinely treated with copper, leading to environmental pollution and bacterial copper resistance. An alternative sustainable control method could be based on bacteriophages, as phage biocontrol offers high specificity and does not result in the spread of toxic residues into the environment or the food chain. In this research, specific phages suitable for phage-based biocontrol strategies effective against Psa and Pph were isolated and characterized. In total, sixteen lytic Pph phage isolates and seven lytic Psa phage isolates were isolated from soil in Piedmont and Veneto in northern Italy. Genome characterization of fifteen selected phages revealed that the isolated Pph phages were highly similar and could be considered as isolates of a novel species, whereas the isolated Psa phages grouped into four distinct clades, two of which represent putative novel species. No lysogeny-, virulence- or toxin-related genes were found in four phages, making them suitable for potential biocontrol purposes. A partial biological characterization including a host range analysis was performed on a representative subset of these isolates. This analysis was a prerequisite to assess their efficacy in greenhouse and in field trials, using different delivery strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Martino
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, I-10135 Torino, Italy; (G.M.); (M.V.); (M.C.); (M.T.)
| | - Dominique Holtappels
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (D.H.); (R.L.); (J.W.)
| | - Marta Vallino
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, I-10135 Torino, Italy; (G.M.); (M.V.); (M.C.); (M.T.)
| | - Marco Chiapello
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, I-10135 Torino, Italy; (G.M.); (M.V.); (M.C.); (M.T.)
| | - Massimo Turina
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, I-10135 Torino, Italy; (G.M.); (M.V.); (M.C.); (M.T.)
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (D.H.); (R.L.); (J.W.)
| | - Jeroen Wagemans
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (D.H.); (R.L.); (J.W.)
| | - Marina Ciuffo
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, I-10135 Torino, Italy; (G.M.); (M.V.); (M.C.); (M.T.)
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32
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Optimization of a Lambda-RED Recombination Method for Rapid Gene Deletion in Human Cytomegalovirus. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910558. [PMID: 34638896 PMCID: PMC8508972 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910558] [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: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) continues to be a major cause of morbidity in transplant patients and newborns. However, the functions of many of the more than 282 genes encoded in the HCMV genome remain unknown. The development of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) technology contributes to the genetic manipulation of several organisms including HCMV. The maintenance of the HCMV BAC in E. coli cells permits the rapid generation of recombinant viral genomes that can be used to produce viral progeny in cell cultures for the study of gene function. We optimized the Lambda-Red Recombination system to construct HCMV gene deletion mutants rapidly in the complete set of tested genes. This method constitutes a useful tool that allows for the quick generation of a high number of gene deletion mutants, allowing for the analysis of the whole genome to improve our understanding of HCMV gene function. This may also facilitate the development of novel vaccines and therapeutics.
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33
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Zaworski J, Dagva O, Kingston AW, Fomenkov A, Morgan RD, Bossi L, Raleigh EA. Genome archaeology of two laboratory Salmonella enterica enterica sv Typhimurium. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2021; 11:jkab226. [PMID: 34544129 PMCID: PMC8496262 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The Salmonella research community has used strains and bacteriophages over decades, exchanging useful new isolates among laboratories for the study of cell surface antigens, metabolic pathways and restriction-modification (RM) studies. Here we present the sequences of two laboratory Salmonella strains (STK005, an isolate of LB5000; and its descendant ER3625). In the ancestry of LB5000, segments of ∼15 and ∼42 kb were introduced from Salmonella enterica sv Abony 803 into S. enterica sv Typhimurium LT2, forming strain SD14; this strain is thus a hybrid of S. enterica isolates. Strains in the SD14 lineage were used to define flagellar antigens from the 1950s to the 1970s, and to define three RM systems from the 1960s to the 1980s. LB5000 was also used as a host in phage typing systems used by epidemiologists. In the age of cheaper and easier sequencing, this resource will provide access to the sequence that underlies the extensive literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Zaworski
- Research Department, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA 01938-2723, USA
| | - Oyut Dagva
- Research Department, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA 01938-2723, USA
| | | | - Alexey Fomenkov
- Research Department, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA 01938-2723, USA
| | - Richard D Morgan
- Research Department, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA 01938-2723, USA
| | - Lionello Bossi
- CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), University Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette 91198, France
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34
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CRISPR-Cas, a Revolution in the Treatment and Study of ESKAPE Infections: Pre-Clinical Studies. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10070756. [PMID: 34206474 PMCID: PMC8300728 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10070756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the biggest threats we face globally is the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria, which runs in parallel with the lack in the development of new antimicrobials. Among these AMR bacteria pathogens belonging to the ESKAPE group can be highlighted (Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp.) due to their profile of drug resistance and virulence. Therefore, innovative lines of treatment must be developed for these bacteria. In this review, we summarize the different strategies for the treatment and study of molecular mechanisms of AMR in the ESKAPE pathogens based on the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins’ technologies: loss of plasmid or cellular viability, random mutation or gene deletion as well directed mutations that lead to a gene’s loss of function.
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35
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Ziegler M, Zieringer J, Döring CL, Paul L, Schaal C, Takors R. Engineering of a robust Escherichia coli chassis and exploitation for large-scale production processes. Metab Eng 2021; 67:75-87. [PMID: 34098100 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2021.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In large-scale bioprocesses microbes are exposed to heterogeneous substrate availability reducing the overall process performance. A series of deletion strains was constructed from E. coli MG1655 aiming for a robust phenotype in heterogeneous fermentations with transient starvation. Deletion targets were hand-picked based on a list of genes derived from previous large-scale simulation runs. Each gene deletion was conducted on the premise of strict neutrality towards growth parameters in glucose minimal medium. The final strain of the series, named E. coli RM214, was cultivated continuously in an STR-PFR (stirred tank reactor - plug flow reactor) scale-down reactor. The scale-down reactor system simulated repeated passages through a glucose starvation zone. When exposed to nutrient gradients, E. coli RM214 had a significantly lower maintenance coefficient than E. coli MG1655 (Δms = 0.038 gGlucose/gCDW/h, p < 0.05). In an exemplary protein production scenario E. coli RM214 remained significantly more productive than E. coli MG1655 reaching 44% higher eGFP yield after 28 h of STR-PFR cultivation. This study developed E. coli RM214 as a robust chassis strain and demonstrated the feasibility of engineering microbial hosts for large-scale applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Ziegler
- University of Stuttgart - Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Julia Zieringer
- University of Stuttgart - Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Clarissa-Laura Döring
- University of Stuttgart - Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Liv Paul
- University of Stuttgart - Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Christoph Schaal
- University of Stuttgart - Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Ralf Takors
- University of Stuttgart - Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
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36
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Schubert MG, Goodman DB, Wannier TM, Kaur D, Farzadfard F, Lu TK, Shipman SL, Church GM. High-throughput functional variant screens via in vivo production of single-stranded DNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2018181118. [PMID: 33906944 PMCID: PMC8106316 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018181118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Creating and characterizing individual genetic variants remains limited in scale, compared to the tremendous variation both existing in nature and envisioned by genome engineers. Here we introduce retron library recombineering (RLR), a methodology for high-throughput functional screens that surpasses the scale and specificity of CRISPR-Cas methods. We use the targeted reverse-transcription activity of retrons to produce single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) in vivo, incorporating edits at >90% efficiency and enabling multiplexed applications. RLR simultaneously introduces many genomic variants, producing pooled and barcoded variant libraries addressable by targeted deep sequencing. We use RLR for pooled phenotyping of synthesized antibiotic resistance alleles, demonstrating quantitative measurement of relative growth rates. We also perform RLR using the sheared genomic DNA of an evolved bacterium, experimentally querying millions of sequences for causal variants, demonstrating that RLR is uniquely suited to utilize large pools of natural variation. Using ssDNA produced in vivo for pooled experiments presents avenues for exploring variation across the genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max G Schubert
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115;
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Daniel B Goodman
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | | | - Divjot Kaur
- Department of Zoology, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Fahim Farzadfard
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Seth L Shipman
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - George M Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
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37
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Lambda Red-Mediated Recombination in Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 33704752 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1339-9_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
The bacteriophage Lambda (λ) "Red" recombination system has enabled the development of efficient methods for engineering bacterial chromosomes. This system has been particularly important to the field of bacterial pathogenesis, where it has advanced the study of virulence factors from Shiga toxin-producing and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (STEC and EPEC). Transient plasmid-driven expression of Lambda Red allows homologous recombination between PCR-derived linear DNA substrates and target loci in the STEC/EPEC chromosomes. Red-associated techniques can be used to create individual gene knockouts, generate deletions of large pathogenicity islands, and make markerless allelic exchanges. This chapter describes specific strategies and procedures for performing Lambda Red-mediated genome engineering in STEC.
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38
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Zou Y, Chen T. Engineered Akkermansia muciniphila: A promising agent against diseases (Review). Exp Ther Med 2020; 20:285. [PMID: 33209129 PMCID: PMC7668130 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.9415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Achieving a harmonious gut microbial ecosystem has been hypothesized to be a successful method for alleviating metabolic disorders. The administration of probiotics, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria, is a known traditional and safe pathway to regulate human commensal microbes. With advancements in genetic sequencing and genetic editing tools, more bacteria are able to function as engineered probiotics with multiple therapeutic properties. As one of the next-generation probiotic candidates, Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) has been discovered to enhance the gut barrier function and moderate inflammatory responses, exhibit improved effects with pasteurization and display beneficial probiotic effects in individuals with obesity, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and autism-related gastrointestinal disturbances. In view of this knowledge, the present review aimed to summarize the effects of A. muciniphila in the treatment of metabolic disorders and to discuss several mature recombination systems for the genetic modification of A. muciniphila. From gaining an enhanced understanding of its genetic background, ingested A. muciniphila is expected to be used in various applications, including as a diagnostic tool, and in the site-specific delivery of therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Zou
- Institute of Translational Medicine, National Engineering Research Center for Bioengineering Drugs and Technologies, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, P.R. China
| | - Tingtao Chen
- Institute of Translational Medicine, National Engineering Research Center for Bioengineering Drugs and Technologies, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, P.R. China
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39
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Tryon JH, Rote JC, Chen L, Robey MT, Vega MM, Phua WC, Metcalf WW, Ju KS, Kelleher NL, Thomson RJ. Genome Mining and Metabolomics Uncover a Rare d-Capreomycidine Containing Natural Product and Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster. ACS Chem Biol 2020; 15:3013-3020. [PMID: 33151679 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We report the metabolomics-driven genome mining of a new cyclic-guanidino incorporating non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene cluster and full structure elucidation of its associated hexapeptide product, faulknamycin. Structural studies unveiled that this natural product contained the previously unknown (R,S)-stereoisomer of capreomycidine, d-capreomycidine. Furthermore, heterologous expression of the identified gene cluster successfully reproduces faulknamycin production without an observed homologue of VioD, the pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme found in all previous l-capreomycidine biosynthesis. An alternative NRPS-dependent pathway for d-capreomycidine biosynthesis is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H. Tryon
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Jennifer C. Rote
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Matthew T. Robey
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Marvin M. Vega
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Wan Cheng Phua
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - William W. Metcalf
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and The Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Kou-San Ju
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- The Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Center for Applied Plant Sciences, and Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Neil L. Kelleher
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Regan J. Thomson
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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40
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Roy D, Huguet KT, Grenier F, Burrus V. IncC conjugative plasmids and SXT/R391 elements repair double-strand breaks caused by CRISPR-Cas during conjugation. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:8815-8827. [PMID: 32556263 PMCID: PMC7498323 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria have evolved defence mechanisms against bacteriophages. Restriction-modification systems provide innate immunity by degrading invading DNAs that lack proper methylation. CRISPR-Cas systems provide adaptive immunity by sampling the genome of past invaders and cutting the DNA of closely related DNA molecules. These barriers also restrict horizontal gene transfer mediated by conjugative plasmids. IncC conjugative plasmids are important contributors to the global dissemination of multidrug resistance among pathogenic bacteria infecting animals and humans. Here, we show that IncC conjugative plasmids are highly resilient to host defence systems during entry into a new host by conjugation. Using a TnSeq strategy, we uncover a conserved operon containing five genes (vcrx089-vcrx093) that confer a novel host defence evasion (hde) phenotype. We show that vcrx089-vcrx090 promote resistance against type I restriction-modification, whereas vcrx091-vcxr093 promote CRISPR-Cas evasion by repairing double-strand DNA breaks via recombination between short sequence repeats. vcrx091, vcrx092 and vcrx093 encode a single-strand binding protein, and a single-strand annealing recombinase and double-strand exonuclease related to Redβ and λExo of bacteriophage λ, respectively. Homologous genes of the integrative and conjugative element R391 also provide CRISPR-Cas evasion. Hence, the conserved hde operon considerably broadens the host range of large families of mobile elements spreading multidrug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Roy
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke J1K 2R1, Québec, Canada
| | - Kevin T Huguet
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke J1K 2R1, Québec, Canada
| | - Frédéric Grenier
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke J1K 2R1, Québec, Canada
| | - Vincent Burrus
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke J1K 2R1, Québec, Canada
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41
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Jing W, Liu J, Wu S, Chen Q, Li X, Liu Y. Development of a Method for Simultaneous Generation of Multiple Genetic Modification in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium. Front Genet 2020; 11:563491. [PMID: 33193646 PMCID: PMC7544003 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.563491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
To comprehensively analyze bacterial gene function, it is important to simultaneously generate multiple genetic modifications within the target gene. However, current genetic engineering approaches, which mainly use suicide vector- or λ red homologous recombination-based systems, are tedious and technically difficult to perform. Here, we developed a flexible and easy method to simultaneously construct multiple modifications at the same locus on the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium chromosome. The method combines an efficient seamless assembly system in vitro, red homologous recombination in vivo, and counterselection marker sacB. To test this method, with the seamless assembly system, various modification fragments for target genes cpxR, cpxA, and acrB were rapidly and efficiently constructed in vitro. sacBKan cassettes generated via polymerase chain reaction were inserted into the target loci in the genome of Salmonella Typhimurium strain CVCC541. The resulting pKD46-containing kanamycin-resistant recombinants were selected and used as intermediate strains. Multiple target gene modifications were then carried out simultaneously via allelic exchange using various homologous recombinogenic DNA fragments to replace the sacBKan cassettes in the chromosomes of the intermediate strains. Using this method, we successfully carried out site-directed mutagenesis, seamless deletion, and 3 × FLAG tagging of the target genes. This method can be used in any bacterial species that supports sacB gene activity and λ red-mediated recombination, allowing in-depth functional analysis of bacterial genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxian Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Juan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shanshan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qiwei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuerui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yongsheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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42
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Lehner KM, Stella NA, Calvario RC, Shanks RMQ. mCloverBlaster: A tool to make markerless deletions and fusions using lambda red and I-SceI in Gram-negative bacterial genomes. J Microbiol Methods 2020; 178:106058. [PMID: 32931841 PMCID: PMC7952467 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2020.106058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study introduces mCloverBlaster as a genetic tool to create deletions and transcriptional and translational fusions in bacterial genomes using recombineering. The major advantage of this system is that it can be used to make deletions and fusions without leaving a selectable marker on the chromosome. mCloverBlaster has a kanamycin resistance cassette with an I-SceI restriction site flanked by fragments of the gene for the mClover3 fluorescent protein including direct repeats of mClover3 sequence on both sides of the kanamycin resistance gene. The mCloverBlaster sequence is introduced into the chromosome using lambda red recombineering, expression of I-SceI creates a double stranded break in the kanamycin resistance cassette that initiates a recombination event that can occur in the mClover3 repeats. This recombination results in the simultaneous removal of the kanamycin resistance gene and the restoration of a functional mClover3 gene that can be used as a reporter. Here, this system was used to replace the rcsB stress response gene in Serratia marcescens. The resulting strain was tested for mClover3 fluorescence as a reporter for rcsB gene expression and evaluated for pigment biosynthesis. In summary, mCloverBlaster is a molecular genetic tool to make markerless mClover3 fusions and gene deletions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara M Lehner
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charles T. Campbell Laboratory of Ophthalmic Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Nicholas A Stella
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charles T. Campbell Laboratory of Ophthalmic Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Rachel C Calvario
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charles T. Campbell Laboratory of Ophthalmic Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Robert M Q Shanks
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charles T. Campbell Laboratory of Ophthalmic Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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43
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Fels U, Gevaert K, Van Damme P. Bacterial Genetic Engineering by Means of Recombineering for Reverse Genetics. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:548410. [PMID: 33013782 PMCID: PMC7516269 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.548410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Serving a robust platform for reverse genetics enabling the in vivo study of gene functions primarily in enterobacteriaceae, recombineering -or recombination-mediated genetic engineering-represents a powerful and relative straightforward genetic engineering tool. Catalyzed by components of bacteriophage-encoded homologous recombination systems and only requiring short ∼40–50 base homologies, the targeted and precise introduction of modifications (e.g., deletions, knockouts, insertions and point mutations) into the chromosome and other episomal replicons is empowered. Furthermore, by its ability to make use of both double- and single-stranded linear DNA editing substrates (e.g., PCR products or oligonucleotides, respectively), lengthy subcloning of specific DNA sequences is circumvented. Further, the more recent implementation of CRISPR-associated endonucleases has allowed for more efficient screening of successful recombinants by the selective purging of non-edited cells, as well as the creation of markerless and scarless mutants. In this review we discuss various recombineering strategies to promote different types of gene modifications, how they are best applied, and their possible pitfalls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula Fels
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kris Gevaert
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Petra Van Damme
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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44
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Homing endonuclease I-SceI-mediated Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 genome engineering. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:3597-3609. [PMID: 32146493 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10517-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Corynebacterium glutamicum is widely used to produce amino acids and is a chassis for the production of value-added compounds. Effective genome engineering methods are crucial to metabolic engineering and synthetic biology studies of C. glutamicum. Herein, a homing endonuclease I-SceI-mediated genome engineering strategy was established for the model strain C. glutamicum ATCC 13032. A vegetative R6K replicon-based, suicide plasmid was employed. The plasmid, pLS3661, contains both tightly regulated, IPTG (isopropyl-β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside)-inducible I-SceI expression elements and two I-SceI recognition sites. Following cloning of the homologous arms into pLS3661 and transfer the recombinant vector into C. glutamicum ATCC 13032, through the homologous recombination between the cloned fragment and its chromosomal allele, a merodiploid was selected under kanamycin selection. Subsequently, a merodiploid was resolved by double-stranded break repair stimulated by IPTG-stimulated I-SceI expression, generating desired mutants. The protocol obviates a pre-generated strain, transfer of a second I-SceI expression plasmid, and there is not any strain, medium, and temperature restrictions. We validated the approach via deletions of five genes (up to ~ 13.0 kb) and knock-in of one DNA fragment. Furthermore, through kanamycin resistance repair, the ssDNA recombineering parameters were optimized. We hope the highly efficient method will be helpful for the studies of C. glutamicum, and potentially, to other bacteria. KEY POINTS: • Counterselection marker I-SceI-mediated C. glutamicum genome engineering • A suicide vector contains I-SceI expression elements and its recognition sites • Gene deletions and knock-in were conducted; efficiency was as high as 90% • Through antibiotic resistance repair, ssDNA recombineering parameters were optimized.
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45
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Choudhury A, Fenster JA, Fankhauser RG, Kaar JL, Tenaillon O, Gill RT. CRISPR/Cas9 recombineering-mediated deep mutational scanning of essential genes in Escherichia coli. Mol Syst Biol 2020; 16:e9265. [PMID: 32175691 PMCID: PMC7073797 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20199265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Deep mutational scanning can provide significant insights into the function of essential genes in bacteria. Here, we developed a high-throughput method for mutating essential genes of Escherichia coli in their native genetic context. We used Cas9-mediated recombineering to introduce a library of mutations, created by error-prone PCR, within a gene fragment on the genome using a single gRNA pre-validated for high efficiency. Tracking mutation frequency through deep sequencing revealed biases in the position and the number of the introduced mutations. We overcame these biases by increasing the homology arm length and blocking mismatch repair to achieve a mutation efficiency of 85% for non-essential genes and 55% for essential genes. These experiments also improved our understanding of poorly characterized recombineering process using dsDNA donors with single nucleotide changes. Finally, we applied our technology to target rpoB, the beta subunit of RNA polymerase, to study resistance against rifampicin. In a single experiment, we validate multiple biochemical and clinical observations made in the previous decades and provide insights into resistance compensation with the study of double mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaksh Choudhury
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCOUSA
- IAMEINSERMUniversité de ParisParisFrance
| | - Jacob A Fenster
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCOUSA
| | | | - Joel L Kaar
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCOUSA
| | | | - Ryan T Gill
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCOUSA
- Renewable & Sustainable Energy InstituteUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCOUSA
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for BiosustainabilityDanish Technical UniversityCopenhagenDenmark
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46
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Wirth NT, Kozaeva E, Nikel PI. Accelerated genome engineering of Pseudomonas putida by I-SceI-mediated recombination and CRISPR-Cas9 counterselection. Microb Biotechnol 2020; 13:233-249. [PMID: 30861315 PMCID: PMC6922521 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas species have become reliable platforms for bioproduction due to their capability to tolerate harsh conditions imposed by large-scale bioprocesses and their remarkable resistance to diverse physicochemical stresses. The last few years have brought forth a variety of synthetic biology tools for the genetic manipulation of pseudomonads, but most of them are either applicable only to obtain certain types of mutations, lack efficiency, or are not easily accessible to be used in different Pseudomonas species (e.g. natural isolates). In this work, we describe a versatile, robust and user-friendly procedure that facilitates virtually any kind of genomic manipulation in Pseudomonas species in 3-5 days. The protocol presented here is based on DNA recombination forced by double-stranded DNA cuts (through the activity of the I-SceI homing meganuclease from yeast) followed by highly efficient counterselection of mutants (aided by a synthetic CRISPR-Cas9 device). The individual parts of the genome engineering toolbox, tailored for knocking genes in and out, have been standardized to enable portability and easy exchange of functional gene modules as needed. The applicability of the procedure is illustrated both by eliminating selected genomic regions in the platform strain P. putida KT2440 (including difficult-to-delete genes) and by integrating different reporter genes (comprising novel variants of fluorescent proteins) into a defined landing site in the target chromosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas T. Wirth
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for BiosustainabilityTechnical University of Denmark2800Kongens LyngbyDenmark
| | - Ekaterina Kozaeva
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for BiosustainabilityTechnical University of Denmark2800Kongens LyngbyDenmark
| | - Pablo I. Nikel
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for BiosustainabilityTechnical University of Denmark2800Kongens LyngbyDenmark
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47
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Valderrama JA, Kulkarni SS, Nizet V, Bier E. A bacterial gene-drive system efficiently edits and inactivates a high copy number antibiotic resistance locus. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5726. [PMID: 31844051 PMCID: PMC6915771 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13649-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene-drive systems in diploid organisms bias the inheritance of one allele over another. CRISPR-based gene-drive expresses a guide RNA (gRNA) into the genome at the site where the gRNA directs Cas9-mediated cleavage. In the presence of Cas9, the gRNA cassette and any linked cargo sequences are copied via homology-directed repair (HDR) onto the homologous chromosome. Here, we develop an analogous CRISPR-based gene-drive system for the bacterium Escherichia coli that efficiently copies a gRNA cassette and adjacent cargo flanked with sequences homologous to the targeted gRNA/Cas9 cleavage site. This "pro-active" genetic system (Pro-AG) functionally inactivates an antibiotic resistance marker on a high copy number plasmid with ~ 100-fold greater efficiency than control CRISPR-based methods, suggesting an amplifying positive feedback loop due to increasing gRNA dosage. Pro-AG can likewise effectively edit large plasmids or single-copy genomic targets or introduce functional genes, foreshadowing potential applications to biotechnology or biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Andrés Valderrama
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0349, USA
- Collaborative to Halt Antibiotic-Resistant Microbes, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0760, USA
| | - Surashree S Kulkarni
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0349, USA
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0349, USA
| | - Victor Nizet
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0349, USA.
- Collaborative to Halt Antibiotic-Resistant Microbes, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0760, USA.
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0760, USA.
| | - Ethan Bier
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0349, USA.
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0349, USA.
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48
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Abstract
Recombineering inserts PCR products into DNA using homologous recombination. A pair of short homology arms (50 base pairs) on the ends of a PCR cassette target the cassette to its intended location. These homology arms can be easily introduced as 5' primer overhangs during the PCR reaction. The flexibility to choose almost any pair of homology arms enables the precise modification of virtually any DNA for purposes of sequence deletion, replacement, insertion, or point mutation. Recombineering often offers significant advantages relative to previous homologous recombination methods that require the construction of cassettes with large homology arms, and relative to traditional cloning methods that become intractable for large plasmids or DNA sequences. However, the tremendous number of variables, options, and pitfalls that can be encountered when designing and performing a recombineering protocol for the first time introduce barriers that can make recombineering a challenging technique for new users to adopt. This article focuses on three recombineering protocols we have found to be particularly robust, providing a detailed guide for choosing the simplest recombineering method for a given application and for performing and troubleshooting experiments. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis J Papa
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Matthew D Shoulders
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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49
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Gao X, Zhang F, Wu M, Wu Z, Shang G. Production of N-Acetyl-d-neuraminic Acid by Whole Cells Expressing Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine 2-Epimerase and Escherichia coli N-Acetyl-d-neuraminic Acid Aldolase. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2019; 67:6285-6291. [PMID: 31117501 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b01839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
N-Acetyl-d-neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) is a potential baby nutrient and the key precursor of antiflu medicine Zanamivir. The Neu5Ac chemoenzymatic synthesis consists of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine epimerase (AGE)-catalyzed epimerization of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc) to N-acetyl-d-mannosamine (ManNAc) and aldolase-catalyzed condensation between ManNAc and pyruvate. Herein, we cloned and characterized BT0453, a novel AGE, from a human gut symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. BT0453 shows the highest soluble fraction among the AGEs tested. With GlcNAc and sodium pyruvate as substrates, Neu5Ac production by coupling whole cells expressing BT0453 and Escherichia coli N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid aldolase was explored. After 36 h, a 53.6% molar yield, 3.6 g L-1 h-1 productivity and 42.9 mM titer of Neu5Ac were obtained. Furthermore, for the first time, the T7- BT0453-T7- nanA polycistronic unit was integrated into the E. coli genome, generating a chromosome-based biotransformation system. BT0453 protein engineering and metabolic engineering studies hold potential for the industrial production of Neu5Ac.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Gao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Feifei Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Meng Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Zhixin Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Guangdong Shang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
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50
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Jiang B, Li Z, Ou B, Duan Q, Zhu G. Targeting ideal oral vaccine vectors based on probiotics: a systematical view. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:3941-3953. [PMID: 30915504 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-09770-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Probiotics have great potential to be engineered into oral vaccine delivery systems, which can facilitate elicitation of mucosal immunity without latent risks of pathogenicity. Combined with the progressive understanding of probiotics and the mucosal immune system as well as the advanced biotechniques of genetic engineering, the development of promising oral vaccine vectors based on probiotics is available while complicated and demanding. Therefore, a systematical view on the design of practical probiotic vectors is necessary, which will help to logically analyze and resolve the problems that might be neglected during our exploration. Here, we attempt to systematically summarize several fundamental issues vital to the effectiveness of the vector of probiotics, including the stability of the engineered vectors, the optimization of antigen expression, the improvement of colonization, and the enhancement of immunoreactivity. We also compared the existent strategies and some developing ones, attempting to figure out an optimal strategy that might deserve to be referred in the future development of oral vaccine vectors based on probiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyu Jiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Zhendong Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Bingming Ou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,College of Life Science, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, 526061, China
| | - Qiangde Duan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. .,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
| | - Guoqiang Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. .,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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