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Castillo-Zeledón A, Rivas-Solano O, Villalta-Romero F, Gómez-Espinoza O, Moreno E, Chaves-Olarte E, Guzmán-Verri C. The Brucella abortus two-component system response regulator BvrR binds to three DNA regulatory boxes in the upstream region of omp25. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1241143. [PMID: 37779712 PMCID: PMC10538546 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1241143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucella abortus is a facultative extracellular-intracellular bacterial zoonotic pathogen worldwide. It is also a major cause of abortion in bovines, generating economic losses. The two-component regulatory system BvrR/BvrS modulates the expression of genes required to transition from extracellular to intracellular lifestyles. However, few regulatory regions of BvrR direct target genes have been studied. In this study, we characterized the regulatory region of omp25, a gene encoding an outer membrane protein that is positively regulated by TCS BvrR/BvrS. By omp25-lacZ reporter fusions and β-galactosidase activity assays, we found that the region between-262 and + 127 is necessary for transcriptional activity, particularly a 111-bp long fragment located from-262 to -152. In addition, we demonstrated the binding of P-BvrR to three sites within the -140 to +1 region. Two of these sites were delimited between -18 to +1 and - 99 to -76 by DNase I footprinting and called DNA regulatory boxes 1 and 2, respectively. The third binding site (box 3) was delimited from -140 to -122 by combining EMSA and fluorescence anisotropy results. A molecular docking analysis with HDOCK predicted BvrR-DNA interactions between 11, 13, and 12 amino acid residue-nucleotide pairs in boxes 1, 2, and 3, respectively. A manual sequence alignment of the three regulatory boxes revealed the presence of inverted and non-inverted repeats of five to eight nucleotides, partially matching DNA binding motifs previously described for BvrR. We propose that P-BvrR binds directly to up to three regulatory boxes and probably interacts with other transcription factors to regulate omp25 expression. This gene regulation model could apply to other BvrR target genes and to orthologs of the TCS BvrR/BvrS and Omp25 in phylogenetically closed Rhizobiales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Castillo-Zeledón
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Olga Rivas-Solano
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Escuela de Biología, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Campus Tecnológico Central Cartago, Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - Fabián Villalta-Romero
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Escuela de Biología, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Campus Tecnológico Central Cartago, Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - Olman Gómez-Espinoza
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Escuela de Biología, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Campus Tecnológico Central Cartago, Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - Edgardo Moreno
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Esteban Chaves-Olarte
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Caterina Guzmán-Verri
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica
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2
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Bulashev A, Eskendirova S. Brucellosis detection and the role of Brucella spp. cell wall proteins. Vet World 2023; 16:1390-1399. [PMID: 37621538 PMCID: PMC10446727 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.1390-1399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucellosis remains an endemic zoonotic disease in many developing countries, causing great harm to public health and devastating losses to livestock. One of the main reasons for the low effectiveness of anti-brucellosis measures is the lack of reliable methods for diagnosing infected animals throughout their lifespan. Classical serological tests, such as the tube agglutination test, rose Bengal plate test, and complement fixation test, as well as commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits, are based on the detection of antibodies to the cell wall polysaccharide antigens of Brucella spp. smooth strains. As a result, they do not exclude cross-reactions with related bacteria and fail to differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals. Over the past decades, many attempts have been made to identify immunoreactive and pathogen-specific protein antigens. To date, several studies have investigated Brucella spp. recombinant proteins, including cell wall proteins, as the best antigens for diagnosing brucellosis in animals and humans. However, the available results on the specificity and sensitivity of serological tests based on cell wall proteins are ambiguous and sometimes contradictory. This review aims to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge of the diagnostic value of outer membrane and/or periplasmic proteins of Brucella spp. The goal is to identify future developments that may lead to reliable antigens for serological tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aitbay Bulashev
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University, Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Saule Eskendirova
- Laboratory of Stem Cell, National Center for Biotechnology, Astana, Kazakhstan
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3
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Zhang T, Wang Y, Li Y, Qi T, Yue Z, Cao L, Zhou B, Jiao H. The outer membrane proteins based seroprevalence strategy for Brucella ovis natural infection in sheep. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1189368. [PMID: 37389214 PMCID: PMC10302724 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1189368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The diagnosis of brucellosis largely relies on tiger red plate agglutination test (RBPT). However, it is difficult to distinguish between natural infection antibody positive and vaccination antibody positive, nevertheless, the identification of specific Brucella species natural infection. Methods Here, we analyzed the structure of main outer membrane proteins (OMPs), OMP25 and OMP31 from Brucella ovis (B. ovis) and Brucella melitensis (B. melitensis), which are the main pathogens of sheep brucellosis, and found the OMP25 and OMP31 could be used as the differential antigens for B. ovis and B. melitensis antibody. Then we expressed the OMP25 from B. ovis (OMP25o) and OMP31 from B. melitensis (OMP31m). Results They have equally efficiency in antibody detection of vaccinated sheep serum, consistent with the RBPT results. However, through epidemiological investigations, we found some RBPT positive samples were negative by the OMP31m based serum antibody detection, but these samples gave positive results by the OMP25o. We verified these OMP31m negative but OMP25o positive samples by B. ovis and B. melitensis specific primers based PCR detection, and all these samples were B. melitensis negative. However, four out of six samples are B. ovis positive. These results showed that we could use the OMP25o and OMP31m to diagnose sheep brucellosis antibody, especially to discriminate the infection of the B. ovis. Discussion Currently, China has not yet approved a vaccine based on B. ovis and B. ovis positive samples should be naturally infected. There should be some implicit transmission of B. ovis in Jilin province. Further epidemiological investigation should be conducted to monitor the B. ovis natural infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yu Wang
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yin Li
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Tingting Qi
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhirong Yue
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lili Cao
- Institute of Zoonosis, Jilin Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Bo Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Institute of Military Veterinary, The Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Huping Jiao
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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4
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Roop RM, Barton IS, Hopersberger D, Martin DW. Uncovering the Hidden Credentials of Brucella Virulence. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2021; 85:e00021-19. [PMID: 33568459 PMCID: PMC8549849 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00021-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria in the genus Brucella are important human and veterinary pathogens. The abortion and infertility they cause in food animals produce economic hardships in areas where the disease has not been controlled, and human brucellosis is one of the world's most common zoonoses. Brucella strains have also been isolated from wildlife, but we know much less about the pathobiology and epidemiology of these infections than we do about brucellosis in domestic animals. The brucellae maintain predominantly an intracellular lifestyle in their mammalian hosts, and their ability to subvert the host immune response and survive and replicate in macrophages and placental trophoblasts underlies their success as pathogens. We are just beginning to understand how these bacteria evolved from a progenitor alphaproteobacterium with an environmental niche and diverged to become highly host-adapted and host-specific pathogens. Two important virulence determinants played critical roles in this evolution: (i) a type IV secretion system that secretes effector molecules into the host cell cytoplasm that direct the intracellular trafficking of the brucellae and modulate host immune responses and (ii) a lipopolysaccharide moiety which poorly stimulates host inflammatory responses. This review highlights what we presently know about how these and other virulence determinants contribute to Brucella pathogenesis. Gaining a better understanding of how the brucellae produce disease will provide us with information that can be used to design better strategies for preventing brucellosis in animals and for preventing and treating this disease in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Martin Roop
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ian S Barton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dariel Hopersberger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Daniel W Martin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
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5
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Lassalle F, Planel R, Penel S, Chapulliot D, Barbe V, Dubost A, Calteau A, Vallenet D, Mornico D, Bigot T, Guéguen L, Vial L, Muller D, Daubin V, Nesme X. Ancestral Genome Estimation Reveals the History of Ecological Diversification in Agrobacterium. Genome Biol Evol 2018; 9:3413-3431. [PMID: 29220487 PMCID: PMC5739047 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evx255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is considered as a major source of innovation in bacteria, and as such is expected to drive adaptation to new ecological niches. However, among the many genes acquired through HGT along the diversification history of genomes, only a fraction may have actively contributed to sustained ecological adaptation. We used a phylogenetic approach accounting for the transfer of genes (or groups of genes) to estimate the history of genomes in Agrobacterium biovar 1, a diverse group of soil and plant-dwelling bacterial species. We identified clade-specific blocks of cotransferred genes encoding coherent biochemical pathways that may have contributed to the evolutionary success of key Agrobacterium clades. This pattern of gene coevolution rejects a neutral model of transfer, in which neighboring genes would be transferred independently of their function and rather suggests purifying selection on collectively coded acquired pathways. The acquisition of these synapomorphic blocks of cofunctioning genes probably drove the ecological diversification of Agrobacterium and defined features of ancestral ecological niches, which consistently hint at a strong selective role of host plant rhizospheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Lassalle
- Ecologie Microbienne, CNRS, INRA, VetAgro Sup, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France.,Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France.,Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Rémi Planel
- Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Simon Penel
- Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - David Chapulliot
- Ecologie Microbienne, CNRS, INRA, VetAgro Sup, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Valérie Barbe
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA) Direction de la Recherche Fondamentale, Institut de Biologie Francois-Jacob (IBFJ), Genoscope, Evry, France
| | - Audrey Dubost
- Ecologie Microbienne, CNRS, INRA, VetAgro Sup, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Alexandra Calteau
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA) Direction de la Recherche Fondamentale, Institut de Biologie Francois-Jacob (IBFJ), Genoscope, Evry, France.,Laboratoire d'Analyse Bioinformatiques pour la Génomique et le Métabolisme, CNRS, UMR 8030, Evry, France.,UEVE, Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne, France
| | - David Vallenet
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA) Direction de la Recherche Fondamentale, Institut de Biologie Francois-Jacob (IBFJ), Genoscope, Evry, France.,Laboratoire d'Analyse Bioinformatiques pour la Génomique et le Métabolisme, CNRS, UMR 8030, Evry, France.,UEVE, Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne, France
| | - Damien Mornico
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA) Direction de la Recherche Fondamentale, Institut de Biologie Francois-Jacob (IBFJ), Genoscope, Evry, France.,Laboratoire d'Analyse Bioinformatiques pour la Génomique et le Métabolisme, CNRS, UMR 8030, Evry, France.,UEVE, Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne, France
| | - Thomas Bigot
- Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Laurent Guéguen
- Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Ludovic Vial
- Ecologie Microbienne, CNRS, INRA, VetAgro Sup, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Daniel Muller
- Ecologie Microbienne, CNRS, INRA, VetAgro Sup, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Vincent Daubin
- Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Xavier Nesme
- Ecologie Microbienne, CNRS, INRA, VetAgro Sup, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
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6
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Sidhu-Muñoz RS, Sancho P, Cloeckaert A, Zygmunt MS, de Miguel MJ, Tejedor C, Vizcaíno N. Characterization of Cell Envelope Multiple Mutants of Brucella ovis and Assessment in Mice of Their Vaccine Potential. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2230. [PMID: 30294312 PMCID: PMC6158377 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucella ovis is a non-zoonotic Brucella species lacking specific vaccine. It presents a narrow host range, a unique biology relative to other Brucella species, and important distinct surface properties. To increase our knowledge on its peculiar surface and virulence features, and seeking to develop a specific vaccine, multiple mutants for nine relevant cell-envelope-related genes were investigated. Mutants lacking Omp10 plus Omp19 could not be obtained, suggesting that at least one of these lipoproteins is required for viability. A similar result was obtained for the double deletion of omp31 and omp25 that encode two major surface proteins. Conversely, the absence of major Omp25c (proved essential for internalization in HeLa cells) together with Omp25 or Omp31 was tolerated by the bacterium. Although showing important in vitro and in vivo defects, the Δomp10Δomp31Δomp25c mutant was obtained, demonstrating that B. ovis PA survives to the simultaneous absence of Omp10 and four out seven proteins of the Omp25/Omp31 family (i.e., Omp31, Omp25c, Omp25b, and Omp31b, the two latter naturally absent in B. ovis). Three multiple mutants were selected for a detailed analysis of virulence in the mouse model. The Δomp31Δcgs and Δomp10Δomp31Δomp25c mutants were highly attenuated when inoculated at 106 colony forming units/mouse but they established a persistent infection when the infection dose was increased 100-fold. The Δomp10ΔugpBΔomp31 mutant showed a similar behavior until week 3 post-infection but was then totally cleared from spleen. Accordingly, it was retained as vaccine candidate for mice protection assays. When compared to classical B. melitensis Rev1 heterologous vaccine, the triple mutant induced limited splenomegaly, a significantly higher antibody response against whole B. ovis PA cells, an equivalent memory cellular response and, according to spleen colonization measurements, better protection against a challenge with virulent B. ovis PA. Therefore, it would be a good candidate to be evaluated in the natural host as a specific vaccine against B. ovis that would avoid the drawbacks of B. melitensis Rev1. In addition, the lack in this attenuated strain of Omp31, recognized as a highly immunogenic protein during B. ovis infection, would favor the differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals using Omp31 as diagnostic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Singh Sidhu-Muñoz
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Pilar Sancho
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Axel Cloeckaert
- Plasticité Génomique, Biodiversité, Antibiorésistance (PGBA), UR1282 - Infectiologie Animale, Santé Publique (IASP-311), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique Centre Val de Loire, Nouzilly, France
| | - Michel Stanislas Zygmunt
- Plasticité Génomique, Biodiversité, Antibiorésistance (PGBA), UR1282 - Infectiologie Animale, Santé Publique (IASP-311), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique Centre Val de Loire, Nouzilly, France
| | - María Jesús de Miguel
- Unidad de Producción y Sanidad Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Carmen Tejedor
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Nieves Vizcaíno
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
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7
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Paul S, Peddayelachagiri BV, Nagaraj S, Kingston JJ, Batra HV. Recombinant outer membrane protein 25c from Brucella abortus induces Th1 and Th2 mediated protection against Brucella abortus infection in mouse model. Mol Immunol 2018; 99:9-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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8
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Barbier T, Zúñiga-Ripa A, Moussa S, Plovier H, Sternon JF, Lázaro-Antón L, Conde-Álvarez R, De Bolle X, Iriarte M, Moriyón I, Letesson JJ. Brucella central carbon metabolism: an update. Crit Rev Microbiol 2017; 44:182-211. [PMID: 28604247 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2017.1332002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The brucellae are facultative intracellular pathogens causing brucellosis, an important zoonosis. Here, we review the nutritional, genetic, proteomic and transcriptomic studies on Brucella carbon uptake and central metabolism, information that is needed for a better understanding of Brucella virulence. There is no uniform picture across species but the studies suggest primary and/or secondary transporters for unknown carbohydrates, lactate, glycerol phosphate, erythritol, xylose, ribose, glucose and glucose/galactose, and routes for their incorporation to central metabolism, including an erythritol pathway feeding the pentose phosphate cycle. Significantly, all brucellae lack phosphoenolpyruvate synthase and phosphofructokinase genes, which confirms previous evidence on glycolysis absence, but carry all Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway and Krebs cycle (and glyoxylate pathway) genes. However, glucose catabolism proceeds through the pentose phosphate cycle in the classical species, and the ED pathway operates in some rodent-associated brucellae, suggesting an ancestral character for this pathway in this group. Gluconeogenesis is functional but does not rely exclusively on classical fructose bisphosphatases. Evidence obtained using infection models is fragmentary but suggests the combined or sequential use of hexoses/pentoses, amino acids and gluconeogenic substrates. We also discuss the role of the phosphotransferase system, stringent reponse, quorum sensing, BvrR/S and sRNAs in metabolism control, an essential aspect of the life style of facultative intracellular parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Barbier
- a Unité de Recherche en Biologie des Microorganismes , Laboratoire d'Immunologie et de Microbiologie, NARILIS, Université de Namur , Namur , Belgium
| | - A Zúñiga-Ripa
- b Instituto de Salud Tropical (ISTUN), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA) and Depto. Microbiología y Parasitología , Universidad de Navarra, Edificio de Investigación , Pamplona , Spain
| | - S Moussa
- a Unité de Recherche en Biologie des Microorganismes , Laboratoire d'Immunologie et de Microbiologie, NARILIS, Université de Namur , Namur , Belgium
| | - H Plovier
- a Unité de Recherche en Biologie des Microorganismes , Laboratoire d'Immunologie et de Microbiologie, NARILIS, Université de Namur , Namur , Belgium
| | - J F Sternon
- a Unité de Recherche en Biologie des Microorganismes , Laboratoire d'Immunologie et de Microbiologie, NARILIS, Université de Namur , Namur , Belgium
| | - L Lázaro-Antón
- b Instituto de Salud Tropical (ISTUN), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA) and Depto. Microbiología y Parasitología , Universidad de Navarra, Edificio de Investigación , Pamplona , Spain
| | - R Conde-Álvarez
- b Instituto de Salud Tropical (ISTUN), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA) and Depto. Microbiología y Parasitología , Universidad de Navarra, Edificio de Investigación , Pamplona , Spain
| | - X De Bolle
- a Unité de Recherche en Biologie des Microorganismes , Laboratoire d'Immunologie et de Microbiologie, NARILIS, Université de Namur , Namur , Belgium
| | - M Iriarte
- b Instituto de Salud Tropical (ISTUN), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA) and Depto. Microbiología y Parasitología , Universidad de Navarra, Edificio de Investigación , Pamplona , Spain
| | - I Moriyón
- b Instituto de Salud Tropical (ISTUN), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA) and Depto. Microbiología y Parasitología , Universidad de Navarra, Edificio de Investigación , Pamplona , Spain
| | - J J Letesson
- b Instituto de Salud Tropical (ISTUN), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA) and Depto. Microbiología y Parasitología , Universidad de Navarra, Edificio de Investigación , Pamplona , Spain
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9
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Mancilla M. Smooth to Rough Dissociation in Brucella: The Missing Link to Virulence. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 5:98. [PMID: 26779449 PMCID: PMC4700419 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2015.00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dissociation encompasses changes in a series of phenotypes: colony and cell morphology, inmunological and biochemical reactions and virulence. The concept is generally associated to the in vitro transition between smooth (S) and rough (R) colonies, a phenotypic observation in Gram-negative bacteria commonly made since the beginning of microbiology as a science. It is also well known that the loss of the O-polysaccharide, the most external lipopolysaccharide (LPS) moiety, triggers the change in the colony phenotype. Although dissociation is related to one of the most basic features used to distinguish between species, i.e., colony morphology, and, in the case of pathogens, predict their virulence behavior, it has been considered a laboratory artifact and thus did not gain further attention. However, recent insights into genetics and pathogenesis of members of Brucella, causative agents of brucellosis, have brought a new outlook on this experimental fact, suggesting that it plays a role beyond the laboratory observations. In this perspective article, the current knowledge on Brucella LPS genetics and its connection with dissociation in the frame of evolution is discussed. Latest reports support the notion that, by means of a better understanding of genetic pathways linked to R phenotype and the biological impact of this intriguing "old" phenomenon, unexpected applications can be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Mancilla
- Research and Development Department, ADL Diagnostic Chile Ltd.Puerto Montt, Chile
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10
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Goolab S, Roth RL, van Heerden H, Crampton MC. Analyzing the molecular mechanism of lipoprotein localization in Brucella. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1189. [PMID: 26579096 PMCID: PMC4623201 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial lipoproteins possess diverse structure and functionality, ranging from bacterial physiology to pathogenic processes. As such many lipoproteins, originating from Brucella are exploited as potential vaccines to countermeasure brucellosis infection in the host. These membrane proteins are translocated from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane where they are anchored peripherally by a multifaceted targeting mechanism. Although much research has focused on the identification and classification of Brucella lipoproteins and their potential use as vaccine candidates for the treatment of Brucellosis, the underlying route for the translocation of these lipoproteins to the outer surface of the Brucella (and other pathogens) outer membrane (OM) remains mostly unknown. This is partly due to the complexity of the organism and evasive tactics used to escape the host immune system, the variation in biological structure and activity of lipoproteins, combined with the complex nature of the translocation machinery. The biosynthetic pathway of Brucella lipoproteins involves a distinct secretion system aiding translocation from the cytoplasm, where they are modified by lipidation, sorted by the lipoprotein localization machinery pathway and thereafter equipped for export to the OM. Surface localized lipoproteins in Brucella may employ a lipoprotein flippase or the β-barrel assembly complex for translocation. This review provides an overview of the characterized Brucella OM proteins that form part of the OM, including a handful of other characterized bacterial lipoproteins and their mechanisms of translocation. Lipoprotein localization pathways in gram negative bacteria will be used as a model to identify gaps in Brucella lipoprotein localization and infer a potential pathway. Of particular interest are the dual topology lipoproteins identified in Escherichia coli and Haemophilus influenza. The localization and topology of these lipoproteins from other gram negative bacteria are well characterized and may be useful to infer a solution to better understand the translocation process in Brucella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Goolab
- Protein Technologies, Biosciences, Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchPretoria, South Africa
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of PretoriaPretoria, South Africa
| | - Robyn L. Roth
- Protein Technologies, Biosciences, Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchPretoria, South Africa
| | - Henriette van Heerden
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of PretoriaPretoria, South Africa
| | - Michael C. Crampton
- Protein Technologies, Biosciences, Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchPretoria, South Africa
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11
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Wattam AR, Foster JT, Mane SP, Beckstrom-Sternberg SM, Beckstrom-Sternberg JM, Dickerman AW, Keim P, Pearson T, Shukla M, Ward DV, Williams KP, Sobral BW, Tsolis RM, Whatmore AM, O'Callaghan D. Comparative phylogenomics and evolution of the Brucellae reveal a path to virulence. J Bacteriol 2014; 196:920-30. [PMID: 24336939 PMCID: PMC3957692 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01091-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucella species include important zoonotic pathogens that have a substantial impact on both agriculture and human health throughout the world. Brucellae are thought of as "stealth pathogens" that escape recognition by the host innate immune response, modulate the acquired immune response, and evade intracellular destruction. We analyzed the genome sequences of members of the family Brucellaceae to assess its evolutionary history from likely free-living soil-based progenitors into highly successful intracellular pathogens. Phylogenetic analysis split the genus into two groups: recently identified and early-dividing "atypical" strains and a highly conserved "classical" core clade containing the major pathogenic species. Lateral gene transfer events brought unique genomic regions into Brucella that differentiated them from Ochrobactrum and allowed the stepwise acquisition of virulence factors that include a type IV secretion system, a perosamine-based O antigen, and systems for sequestering metal ions that are absent in progenitors. Subsequent radiation within the core Brucella resulted in lineages that appear to have evolved within their preferred mammalian hosts, restricting their virulence to become stealth pathogens capable of causing long-term chronic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice R. Wattam
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Jeffrey T. Foster
- Center for Microbial Genetics & Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg
- Center for Microbial Genetics & Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Pathogen Genomics Division, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - James M. Beckstrom-Sternberg
- Center for Microbial Genetics & Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Pathogen Genomics Division, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Allan W. Dickerman
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Paul Keim
- Center for Microbial Genetics & Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Pathogen Genomics Division, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Talima Pearson
- Center for Microbial Genetics & Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Maulik Shukla
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Doyle V. Ward
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kelly P. Williams
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Bruno W. Sobral
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Renee M. Tsolis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Adrian M. Whatmore
- Department of Bacteriology, Animal Health & Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - David O'Callaghan
- INSERM U1047, UFR Médecine, Nîmes, France
- Université Montpellier 1, UFR Médecine, Nîmes, France
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12
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16S rRNA and omp31 gene based molecular characterization of field strains of B. melitensis from aborted foetus of goats in India. ScientificWorldJournal 2013; 2013:160376. [PMID: 24453799 PMCID: PMC3881668 DOI: 10.1155/2013/160376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucellosis is a reemerging infectious zoonotic disease of worldwide importance. In human, it is mainly caused by Brucella melitensis, a natural pathogen for goats. In India, a large number of goats are reared in semi-intensive to intensive system within the close vicinity of human being. At present, there is no vaccination and control strategy for caprine brucellosis in the country. Thus, to formulate an effective control strategy, the status of etiological agent is essential. To cope up with these, the present study was conducted to isolate and identify the prevalent Brucella species in caprine brucellosis in India. The 30 samples (fetal membrane, fetal stomach content and vaginal swabs) collected throughout India from the aborted fetus of goats revealed the isolation of 05 isolates all belonging to Brucella melitensis biovars 3. All the isolates produced amplification products of 1412 and 720 bp in polymerase chain reaction with genus and species specific 16S rRNA and omp31 gene based primers, respectively. Moreover, the amplification of omp31 gene in all the isolates confirmed the presence of immuno dominant outer membrane protein (31 kDa omp) in all the field isolates of B. melitensis in aborted foetus of goats in India. These findings can support the development of omp31 based specific serodiagnostic test as well as vaccine for the control of caprine brucellosis in India.
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13
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Hofer E, Revilla-Fernández S, Al Dahouk S, Riehm JM, Nöckler K, Zygmunt MS, Cloeckaert A, Tomaso H, Scholz HC. A potential novel Brucella species isolated from mandibular lymph nodes of red foxes in Austria. Vet Microbiol 2012; 155:93-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2011] [Revised: 08/05/2011] [Accepted: 08/09/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Christopher S, Umapathy BL, Ravikumar KL. Brucellosis: review on the recent trends in pathogenicity and laboratory diagnosis. J Lab Physicians 2010; 2:55-60. [PMID: 21346896 PMCID: PMC3040083 DOI: 10.4103/0974-2727.72149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection transmitted from animals to humans by the ingestion of infected food products, direct contact with an infected animal or inhalation of aerosols. The last method is remarkably efficient given the relatively low concentration of organisms (10 - 100 bacteria) needed to establish infection in humans, and has brought renewed attention to this old disease. Brucella is a facultative intracellular pathogen that has the ability to survive and multiply in the phagocytes and cause abortion in cattle and undulant fever in humans. Brucella spp particularly B. melitensis, B. abortus, and B. suis represent a significant public health concern. At present, B. melitensis is the principle cause of human brucellosis in India. Molecular studies have demonstrated the phylogenetic affiliation of Brucella to Agrobacterium, Ochrobactrum, and Rhizobium. Human brucellosis still presents scientists and clinicians with several challenges, with regard to the understanding of its pathogenic mechanism, severity, progression, and development of improved treatment regimens. Molecular studies have now highlighted the pathogenesis of Brucella, for the development of newer diagnostic tools that will be useful in developing countries where brucellosis is a common, but often a neglected disease. This review compiles all these issues in general and the pathogenicity and newer diagnostic tools in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supriya Christopher
- Department of Microbiology, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, BSK II Stage, Bangalore, India
| | - B L Umapathy
- Department of Microbiology, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, BSK II Stage, Bangalore, India
| | - K L Ravikumar
- Department of Microbiology, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, BSK II Stage, Bangalore, India
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15
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González D, Grilló MJ, De Miguel MJ, Ali T, Arce-Gorvel V, Delrue RM, Conde-Álvarez R, Muñoz P, López-Goñi I, Iriarte M, Marín CM, Weintraub A, Widmalm G, Zygmunt M, Letesson JJ, Gorvel JP, Blasco JM, Moriyón I. Brucellosis vaccines: assessment of Brucella melitensis lipopolysaccharide rough mutants defective in core and O-polysaccharide synthesis and export. PLoS One 2008; 3:e2760. [PMID: 18648644 PMCID: PMC2453230 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2008] [Accepted: 06/24/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The brucellae are facultative intracellular bacteria that cause brucellosis, one of the major neglected zoonoses. In endemic areas, vaccination is the only effective way to control this disease. Brucella melitensis Rev 1 is a vaccine effective against the brucellosis of sheep and goat caused by B. melitensis, the commonest source of human infection. However, Rev 1 carries a smooth lipopolysaccharide with an O-polysaccharide that elicits antibodies interfering in serodiagnosis, a major problem in eradication campaigns. Because of this, rough Brucella mutants lacking the O-polysaccharide have been proposed as vaccines. Methodology/Principal Findings To examine the possibilities of rough vaccines, we screened B. melitensis for lipopolysaccharide genes and obtained mutants representing all main rough phenotypes with regard to core oligosaccharide and O-polysaccharide synthesis and export. Using the mouse model, mutants were classified into four attenuation patterns according to their multiplication and persistence in spleens at different doses. In macrophages, mutants belonging to three of these attenuation patterns reached the Brucella characteristic intracellular niche and multiplied intracellularly, suggesting that they could be suitable vaccine candidates. Virulence patterns, intracellular behavior and lipopolysaccharide defects roughly correlated with the degree of protection afforded by the mutants upon intraperitoneal vaccination of mice. However, when vaccination was applied by the subcutaneous route, only two mutants matched the protection obtained with Rev 1 albeit at doses one thousand fold higher than this reference vaccine. These mutants, which were blocked in O-polysaccharide export and accumulated internal O-polysaccharides, stimulated weak anti-smooth lipopolysaccharide antibodies. Conclusions/Significance The results demonstrate that no rough mutant is equal to Rev 1 in laboratory models and question the notion that rough vaccines are suitable for the control of brucellosis in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- David González
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - María-Jesús Grilló
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, CSIC-UPNA-Gobierno de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - María-Jesús De Miguel
- Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria (CITA), Sanidad Animal, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Tara Ali
- Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vilma Arce-Gorvel
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université, Faculté de Sciences de Luminy, Marseille, France
- INSERM, U631, Marseille, France
- CNRS, UMR6102, Marseille, France
| | - Rose-May Delrue
- Laboratoire d'Immunologie et Microbiologie - Unité de Recherche en Biologie Moléculaire (URBM), Facultés Universitaires - Notre-Dame de la Paix (FUNDP), Namur, Belgium
| | - Raquel Conde-Álvarez
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Pilar Muñoz
- Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria (CITA), Sanidad Animal, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ignacio López-Goñi
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maite Iriarte
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Clara-M. Marín
- Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria (CITA), Sanidad Animal, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Andrej Weintraub
- Karolinska Institute, Department Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Bacteriology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Göran Widmalm
- Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Michel Zygmunt
- INRA, UR1282, Infectiologie Animale et Santé Publique, IASP, Nouzilly, France
| | - Jean-Jacques Letesson
- Laboratoire d'Immunologie et Microbiologie - Unité de Recherche en Biologie Moléculaire (URBM), Facultés Universitaires - Notre-Dame de la Paix (FUNDP), Namur, Belgium
| | - Jean-Pierre Gorvel
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université, Faculté de Sciences de Luminy, Marseille, France
- INSERM, U631, Marseille, France
- CNRS, UMR6102, Marseille, France
| | - José-María Blasco
- Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria (CITA), Sanidad Animal, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ignacio Moriyón
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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16
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Caro-Hernández P, Fernández-Lago L, de Miguel MJ, Martín-Martín AI, Cloeckaert A, Grilló MJ, Vizcaíno N. Role of the Omp25/Omp31 family in outer membrane properties and virulence of Brucella ovis. Infect Immun 2007; 75:4050-61. [PMID: 17562767 PMCID: PMC1952020 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00486-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The genes coding for the five outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of the Omp25/Omp31 family expected to be located in the outer membrane (OM) of rough virulent Brucella ovis PA were inactivated to evaluate their role in virulence and OM properties. The OM properties of the mutant strains and of the mutants complemented with the corresponding wild-type genes were analyzed, in comparison with the parental strain and rough B. abortus RB51, in several tests: (i) binding of anti-Omp25 and anti-Omp31 monoclonal antibodies, (ii) autoagglutination of bacterial suspensions, and (iii) assessment of susceptibility to polymyxin B, sodium deoxycholate, hydrogen peroxide, and nonimmune ram serum. A tight balance of the members of the Omp25/Omp31 family was seen to be essential for the stability of the B. ovis OM, and important differences between the OMs of B. ovis PA and B. abortus RB51 rough strains were observed. Regarding virulence, the absence of Omp25d and Omp22 from the OM of B. ovis PA led to a drastic reduction in spleen colonization in mice. While the greater susceptibility of the Deltaomp22 mutant to nonimmune serum and its difficulty in surviving in the stationary phase might be on the basis of its dramatic attenuation, no defects in the OM able to explain the attenuation of the Deltaomp25d mutant were found, especially considering that the fully virulent Deltaomp25c mutant displayed more important OM defects. Accordingly, Omp25d, and perhaps Omp22, could be directly involved in the penetration and/or survival of B. ovis inside host cells. This aspect, together with the role of Omp25d and Omp22 in the virulence both of B. ovis in rams and of other Brucella species, should be thoroughly evaluated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Caro-Hernández
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Edificio Departamental, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza Doctores de la Reina s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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17
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Uzureau S, Godefroid M, Deschamps C, Lemaire J, De Bolle X, Letesson JJ. Mutations of the quorum sensing-dependent regulator VjbR lead to drastic surface modifications in Brucella melitensis. J Bacteriol 2007; 189:6035-47. [PMID: 17557825 PMCID: PMC1952030 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00265-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Successful establishment of infection by bacterial pathogens requires fine-tuning of virulence-related genes. Quorum sensing (QS) is a global regulation process based on the synthesis of, detection of, and response to small diffusible molecules, called N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL), in gram-negative bacteria. In numerous species, QS has been shown to regulate genes involved in the establishment of pathogenic interactions with the host. Brucella melitensis produces N-dodecanoyl homoserine lactones (C(12)-HSL), which down regulate the expression of flagellar genes and of the virB operon (encoding a type IV secretion system), both of which encode surface virulence factors. A QS-related regulator, called VjbR, was identified as a transcriptional activator of these genes. We hypothesized that VjbR mediates the C(12)-HSL effects described above. vjbR alleles mutated in the region coding for the AHL binding domain were constructed to test this hypothesis. These alleles expressed in trans in a DeltavjbR background behave as constitutive regulators both in vitro and in a cellular model of infection. Interestingly, the resulting B. melitensis strains, unable to respond to AHLs, aggregate spontaneously in liquid culture. Preliminary characterization of these strains showed altered expression of some outer membrane proteins and overproduction of a matrix-forming exopolysaccharide, suggesting for the first time that B. melitensis could form biofilms. Together, these results indicate that QS through VjbR is a major regulatory system of important cell surface structures of Brucella and as such plays a key role in host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Uzureau
- Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix, Unité de Recherche en Biologie Moléculaire, Laboratoire d'Immunologie-Microbiologie, rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000-Namur, Belgium
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18
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Cardoso PG, Macedo GC, Azevedo V, Oliveira SC. Brucella spp noncanonical LPS: structure, biosynthesis, and interaction with host immune system. Microb Cell Fact 2006; 5:13. [PMID: 16556309 PMCID: PMC1435926 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2859-5-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2005] [Accepted: 03/23/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucella spp. are facultative intracellular pathogens that have the ability to survive and multiply in professional and non-professional phagocytes, and cause abortion in domestic animals and undulant fever in humans. Several species are recognized within the genus Brucella and this classification is mainly based on the difference in pathogenicity and in host preference. Brucella strains may occur as either smooth or rough, expressing smooth LPS (S-LPS) or rough LPS (R-LPS) as major surface antigen. This bacterium possesses an unconventional non-endotoxic lipopolysaccharide that confers resistance to anti-microbial attacks and modulates the host immune response. The strains that are pathogenic for humans (B. abortus, B. suis, B. melitensis) carry a smooth LPS involved in the virulence of these bacteria. The LPS O-chain protects the bacteria from cellular cationic peptides, oxygen metabolites and complement-mediated lysis and it is a key molecule for Brucella survival and replication in the host. Here, we review i) Brucella LPS structure; ii) Brucella genome, iii) genes involved in LPS biosynthesis; iv) the interaction between LPS and innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Gomes Cardoso
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte-Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Gilson Costa Macedo
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte-Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Department of General Biology, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte-Minas Gerais, 30161-970, Brazil
| | - Sergio Costa Oliveira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte-Minas Gerais, Brazil
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19
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Ratushna VG, Sturgill DM, Ramamoorthy S, Reichow SA, He Y, Lathigra R, Sriranganathan N, Halling SM, Boyle SM, Gibas CJ. Molecular targets for rapid identification of Brucella spp. BMC Microbiol 2006; 6:13. [PMID: 16504063 PMCID: PMC1413539 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-6-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2005] [Accepted: 02/22/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Brucella is an intracellular pathogen capable of infecting animals and humans. There are six recognized species of Brucella that differ in their host preference. The genomes of the three Brucella species have been recently sequenced. Comparison of the three revealed over 98% sequence similarity at the protein level and enabled computational identification of common and differentiating genes. We validated these computational predictions and examined the expression patterns of the putative unique and differentiating genes, using genomic and reverse transcription PCR. We then screened a set of differentiating genes against classical Brucella biovars and showed the applicability of these regions in the design of diagnostic tests. Results We have identified and tested set of molecular targets that are associated in unique patterns with each of the sequenced Brucella spp. A comprehensive comparison was made among the published genome sequences of B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis. The comparison confirmed published differences between the three Brucella genomes, and identified subsets of features that were predicted to be of interest in a functional comparison of B. melitensis and B. suis to B. abortus. Differentiating sequence regions from B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis were used to develop PCR primers to test for the existence and in vitro transcription of these genes in these species. Only B. suis is found to have a significant number of unique genes, but combinations of genes and regions that exist in only two out of three genomes and are therefore useful for diagnostics were identified and confirmed. Conclusion Although not all of the differentiating genes identified were transcribed under steady state conditions, a group of genes sufficient to discriminate unambiguously between B. suis, B. melitensis, and B. abortus was identified. We present an overview of these genomic differences and the use of these features to discriminate among a number of Brucella biovars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladyslava G Ratushna
- Department of Computer Science, College of Information Technology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - David M Sturgill
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Sheela Ramamoorthy
- Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Sherry A Reichow
- Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Yongqun He
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Raju Lathigra
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Department of Bacterial Diseases, Division of Communicable Diseases and Immunology, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Nammalwar Sriranganathan
- Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Shirley M Halling
- Bacterial Diseases of Livestock Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Animal Disease Center, 2300 Dayton Rd, Ames, IA, 50010, USA
| | - Stephen M Boyle
- Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Cynthia J Gibas
- Department of Computer Science, College of Information Technology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
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20
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Jacob J, Hort GM, Overhoff P, Mielke MEA. In vitro and in vivo characterization of smooth small colony variants of Brucella abortus S19. Microbes Infect 2005; 8:363-71. [PMID: 16239117 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2005.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2005] [Revised: 06/14/2005] [Accepted: 07/01/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Brucella abortus is known to produce chronic infections in both humans and a variety of animal species. However, the mechanisms underlying the persistence of the bacteria in the presence of an ongoing immune response are still unknown. In this respect we made use of the observation that in vitro grown B. abortus S19 exhibits heterogenicity in colony size when plated onto TS agar, while experimental infection of mice uniformly results in the in vivo selection of the small colony variant. We demonstrate that the spontaneous smooth small colony variant is characterized not only by a slower growth rate in vitro but also by an increased tolerance to hyperosmotic medium and, most importantly, a less effective clearance from spleens and livers of experimentally infected mice. On a molecular level, a gene with homology to a formerly described galactoside transport ATP binding protein (mglA) was differentially expressed in small versus large colonies of B. abortus S19.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Jacob
- Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
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21
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Ocampo-Sosa AA, Agüero-Balbín J, García-Lobo JM. Development of a new PCR assay to identify Brucella abortus biovars 5, 6 and 9 and the new subgroup 3b of biovar 3. Vet Microbiol 2005; 110:41-51. [PMID: 16029934 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2005.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2005] [Accepted: 06/09/2005] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
One hundred twenty-nine Brucella field strains isolated from cattle in Cantabria, Spain, from March 1999 to February 2003, were analysed by using the AMOS-ERY PCR assay and by Southern blot hybridisation with a probe from insertion sequence IS711. Most of the field isolates produced only the ery band in the AMOS-ERY assay and showed a hybridisation pattern identical to that exhibited by reference strains of biovars 5, 6 and 9 of Brucella abortus, but different from strain Tulya, belonging to biovar 3 of B. abortus. However, typing of these strains by standard methods demonstrated that they belonged to biovar 3 of B. abortus. These results indicated that B. abortus biovar 3 was not genetically homogeneous and at least could be divided in two. In one class, that we called biovar 3a, would be the Tulya strain, while the local field strains would belong to biovar 3b. Cloning and nucleotide sequencing of a DNA fragment containing an IS711 copy exclusive of the B. abortus field strains from biovar 3b and reference strains from biovars 5, 6 and 9, revealed the existence of a 5.4 kb deletion close to an IS711 copy. Based on these data, we designed a new primer, which together with the IS711 AMOS primer produced a PCR fragment of 1.7 kb only from the isolates of biovars 3b, 5, 6 and 9 of B. abortus. No amplification products were produced with these primers from strains of the rest of species and biovars of Brucella and from bacteria phylogenetically close to Brucella analysed in this work. Addition of this primer to the AMOS-ERY PCR primer cocktail allows the positive distinction of B. abortus biovars 3b, 5, 6 and 9 from the rest of Brucella species and biovars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain A Ocampo-Sosa
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina Universidad de Cantabria, Unidad asociada al CIB, CSIC, C/Cardenal Herrera Oria s/n, 39011 Santander, Spain
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22
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Cutler
- Bacterial Zoonoses, Statutory and Exotic Bacterial Diseases, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
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Halling SM, Peterson-Burch BD, Bricker BJ, Zuerner RL, Qing Z, Li LL, Kapur V, Alt DP, Olsen SC. Completion of the genome sequence of Brucella abortus and comparison to the highly similar genomes of Brucella melitensis and Brucella suis. J Bacteriol 2005; 187:2715-26. [PMID: 15805518 PMCID: PMC1070361 DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.8.2715-2726.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2004] [Accepted: 01/14/2005] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucellosis is a worldwide disease of humans and livestock that is caused by a number of very closely related classical Brucella species in the alpha-2 subdivision of the Proteobacteria. We report the complete genome sequence of Brucella abortus field isolate 9-941 and compare it to those of Brucella suis 1330 and Brucella melitensis 16 M. The genomes of these Brucella species are strikingly similar, with nearly identical genetic content and gene organization. However, a number of insertion-deletion events and several polymorphic regions encoding putative outer membrane proteins were identified among the genomes. Several fragments previously identified as unique to either B. suis or B. melitensis were present in the B. abortus genome. Even though several fragments were shared between only B. abortus and B. suis, B. abortus shared more fragments and had fewer nucleotide polymorphisms with B. melitensis than B. suis. The complete genomic sequence of B. abortus provides an important resource for further investigations into determinants of the pathogenicity and virulence phenotypes of these bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley M Halling
- Bacterial Diseases of Livestock Unit, NADC, ARS, USDA, 2300 Dayton Ave., Ames, IA 50010, USA.
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Boigegrain RA, Salhi I, Alvarez-Martinez MT, Machold J, Fedon Y, Arpagaus M, Weise C, Rittig M, Rouot B. Release of periplasmic proteins of Brucella suis upon acidic shock involves the outer membrane protein Omp25. Infect Immun 2004; 72:5693-703. [PMID: 15385468 PMCID: PMC517528 DOI: 10.1128/iai.72.10.5693-5703.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The survival and replication of Brucella in macrophages is initially triggered by a low intraphagosomal pH. In order to identify proteins released by Brucella during this early acidification step, we analyzed Brucella suis conditioned medium at various pH levels. No significant proteins were released at pH 4.0 in minimal medium or citrate buffer, whereas in acetate buffer, B. suis released a substantial amount of soluble proteins. Comparison of 13 N-terminal amino acid sequences determined by Edman degradation with their corresponding genomic sequences revealed that all of these proteins possessed a signal peptide indicative of their periplasmic location. Ten proteins are putative substrate binding proteins, including a homologue of the nopaline binding protein of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The absence of this homologue in Brucella melitensis was due to the deletion of a 7.7-kb DNA fragment in its genome. We also characterized for the first time a hypothetical 9.8-kDa basic protein composed of five amino acid repeats. In B. suis, this protein contained 9 repeats, while 12 were present in the B. melitensis orthologue. B. suis in acetate buffer depended on neither the virB type IV secretory system nor the omp31 gene product. However, the integrity of the omp25 gene was required for release at acidic pH, while the absence of omp25b or omp25c displayed smaller effects. Together, these results suggest that Omp25 is involved in the membrane permeability of Brucella in acidic medium.
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25
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Tsoktouridis G, Merz CA, Manning SP, Giovagnoli-Kurtz R, Williams LE, Mujer CV, Hagius S, Elzer P, Redkar RJ, Patra G, DelVecchio VG. Molecular characterization of Brucella abortus chromosome II recombination. J Bacteriol 2003; 185:6130-6. [PMID: 14526025 PMCID: PMC225032 DOI: 10.1128/jb.185.20.6130-6136.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Large-scale genomic rearrangements including inversions, deletions, and duplications are significant in bacterial evolution. The recently completed Brucella melitensis 16M and Brucella suis 1330 genomes have facilitated the investigation of such events in the Brucella spp. Suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) was employed in identifying genomic differences between B. melitensis 16M and Brucella abortus 2308. Analysis of 45 SSH clones revealed several deletions on chromosomes of B. abortus and B. melitensis that encoded proteins of various metabolic pathways. A 640-kb inversion on chromosome II of B. abortus has been reported previously (S. Michaux Charachon, G. Bourg, E. Jumas Bilak, P. Guigue Talet, A. Allardet Servent, D. O'Callaghan, and M. Ramuz, J. Bacteriol. 179:3244-3249, 1997) and is further described in this study. One end of the inverted region is located on a deleted TATGC site between open reading frames BMEII0292 and BMEII0293. The other end inserted at a GTGTC site of the cyclic-di-GMP phosphodiesterase A (PDEA) gene (BMEII1009), dividing PDEA into two unequal DNA segments of 160 and 977 bp. As a consequence of inversion, the 160-bp segment that encodes the N-terminal region of PDEA was relocated at the opposite end of the inverted chromosomal region. The splitting of the PDEA gene most likely inactivated the function of this enzyme. A recombination mechanism responsible for this inversion is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Tsoktouridis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Medicine, The University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania 18510, USA
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Salhi I, Boigegrain RA, Machold J, Weise C, Cloeckaert A, Rouot B. Characterization of new members of the group 3 outer membrane protein family of Brucella spp. Infect Immun 2003; 71:4326-32. [PMID: 12874309 PMCID: PMC165991 DOI: 10.1128/iai.71.8.4326-4332.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Impairment of the omp25 gene in Brucella spp. leads to attenuated strains and confers protection to the host. Omp25 and Omp31, whose functions remain unknown, were the first characterized members of group 3 outer membrane proteins (Omps) (25 to 34 kDa). Recently, genomic and proteomic approaches identified five new putative members of this family, some of which are produced in B. melitensis or B. abortus. In the present study, using protein microsequencing, we identified new members of group 3 Omps proteins produced in B. suis. Since several monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Omp25 cross-reacted with other members of group 3 Omps, we also performed Western immunoblotting to compare wild-type B. suis with mutants systematically having B. suis omp25-related genes knocked out. We demonstrate the production of three paralogs of Omp31 and/or Omp25 in B. suis, and the existence of a common site of signal peptide cleavage (AXAAD), which is very similar to that present in the five homologous Omps of Bartonella quintana. The seven group 3 Omps were classified in four-subgroups on the basis of percentage amino acid sequence identities: Omp25 alone, the Omp25b-Omp25c-Omp25d cluster, the Omp31/31b subgroup, and the less related Omp22 protein (also called Omp3b). Together with previous data, our results demonstrate that all new members of group 3 Omps are produced in B. suis or in other Brucella species and we propose a nomenclature that integrates all of these proteins to facilitate the understanding of future Brucella interspecies study results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imed Salhi
- INSERM U431, Université de Montpellier 2, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 05, France
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Wang LY, Li ST, Li Y. Identification and characterization of a new exopolysaccharide biosynthesis gene cluster from Streptomyces. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2003; 220:21-7. [PMID: 12644223 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1097(03)00044-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the identification and characterization of the ste (Streptomyces eps) gene cluster of Streptomyces sp. 139 required for exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis. This report is the first genetic work on polysaccharide production in Streptomyces. To investigate the gene cluster involved in exopolysaccharide 139A biosynthesis, degenerate primers were designed to polymerase chain reaction amplify an internal fragment of the priming glycosyltransferase gene that catalyzes the first step in exopolysaccharide biosynthesis. Screening of a genomic library of Streptomyces sp. 139 with this polymerase chain reaction product as probe allowed the isolation of a ste gene cluster containing 22 open reading frames similar to polysaccharide biosynthesis genes of other bacterial species. Involvement of the ste gene cluster in exopolysaccharide biosynthesis was confirmed by disrupting the priming glycosyltransferase gene in Streptomyces sp. 139 to generate non-exopolysaccharide-producing mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-yan Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tiantan Xili 1, Beijing 100050, PR China
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28
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Cloeckaert A, Vizcaíno N, Paquet JY, Bowden RA, Elzer PH. Major outer membrane proteins of Brucella spp.: past, present and future. Vet Microbiol 2002; 90:229-47. [PMID: 12414146 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1135(02)00211-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The major outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Brucella spp. were initially identified in the early 1980s and characterised as potential immunogenic and protective antigens. They were classified according to their apparent molecular mass as 36-38 kDa OMPs or group 2 porin proteins and 31-34 and 25-27 kDa OMPs which belong to the group 3 proteins. The genes encoding the group 2 porin proteins were identified in the late 1980s and consist of two genes, omp2a and omp2b, which are closely linked in the Brucella genome, and which share a great degree of identity (>85%). In the 1990s, two genes were identified coding for the group 3 proteins and were named omp25 and omp31. The predicted amino acid sequences of omp25 and omp31 share 34% identity. The recent release of the genome sequence of B. melitensis 16 M has revealed the presence of five additional gene products homologous to Omp25 and Omp31. The use of recombinant protein technology and monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) has shown that the major OMPs appear to be of little relevance as antigens in smooth (S) B. abortus or B. melitensis infections i.e. low or no protective activity in the mouse model of infection and low or no immunogenicity during host infection. However, group 3 proteins, in particular Omp31, appear as immunodominant antigen in the course of rough (R) B. ovis infection in rams and as important protective antigen in the B. ovis mouse model of infection. The major OMP genes display diversity and specific markers have been identified for Brucella species, biovars, and strains, including the recent marine mammal Brucella isolates for which new species names have been proposed. Recently, Omp25 has been shown to be involved in virulence of B. melitensis, B. abortus and B. ovis. Mutants lacking Omp25 are indeed attenuated in animal models of infection, and moreover provide levels of protection similar or better than currently used attenuated vaccine strain B. melitensis Rev.1. Therefore, these mutant strains appear interesting vaccine candidates for the future. The other group 3 proteins identified in the genome merit also further investigation related to the development of new vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Cloeckaert
- Unité de Pathologie Aviaire et Parasitologie, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 37380 Nouzilly, France.
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Abstract
The genus Brucella contains alpha-Proteobacteria adapted to intracellular life within cells of a variety of mammals. Controversy has arisen concerning Brucella internal taxonomy, and it has been proposed that the DNA-DNA hybridization-based genomospecies concept be applied to the genus. According to this view, only one species, Brucella melitensis, should be recognized, and the classical species should be considered as biovars (B. melitensis biovar melitensis; B. melitensis biovar abortus; etc.). However, a critical reappraisal of the species concept, a review of the population structure of bacteria and the analysis of Brucella genetic diversity by methods other than DNA-DNA hybridization show that there are no scientific grounds to apply the genomospecies concept to this genus. On the other hand, an enlarged biological species concept allows the definition of Brucella species that are consistent with molecular analyses and support the taxonomical standing of most classical species. Both the host range as a long-recognized biological criterion and the presence of species-specific markers in outer membrane protein genes and in other genes show that B. melitensis, B. abortus, B. ovis, B. canis and B. neotomae are not mere pathovars (or nomenspecies) but biologically meaningful species. The status of B. suis is, however, less clear. These approaches should be useful to define species for the marine mammal Brucella isolates, as illustrated by the grouping of the isolates from pinnipeds or from cetaceans by omp2 gene analysis. It is shown that a correct Brucella species definition is important to understand the evolution of the genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgardo Moreno
- Tropical Disease Research Program, Veterinary School, National University, Apartado 304-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica
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