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Schumacher K, Gelhausen R, Kion-Crosby W, Barquist L, Backofen R, Jung K. Ribosome profiling reveals the fine-tuned response of Escherichia coli to mild and severe acid stress. mSystems 2023; 8:e0103723. [PMID: 37909716 PMCID: PMC10746267 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01037-23] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Bacteria react very differently to survive in acidic environments, such as the human gastrointestinal tract. Escherichia coli is one of the extremely acid-resistant bacteria and has a variety of acid-defense mechanisms. Here, we provide the first genome-wide overview of the adaptations of E. coli K-12 to mild and severe acid stress at both the transcriptional and translational levels. Using ribosome profiling and RNA sequencing, we uncover novel adaptations to different degrees of acidity, including previously hidden stress-induced small proteins and novel key transcription factors for acid defense, and report mRNAs with pH-dependent differential translation efficiency. In addition, we distinguish between acid-specific adaptations and general stress response mechanisms using denoising autoencoders. This workflow represents a powerful approach that takes advantage of next-generation sequencing techniques and machine learning to systematically analyze bacterial stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kilian Schumacher
- Faculty of Biology, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Rick Gelhausen
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Willow Kion-Crosby
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI)/Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
- University of Würzburg, Faculty of Medicine, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lars Barquist
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI)/Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
- University of Würzburg, Faculty of Medicine, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rolf Backofen
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Jung
- Faculty of Biology, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
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2
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Schumacher K, Brameyer S, Jung K. Bacterial acid stress response: from cellular changes to antibiotic tolerance and phenotypic heterogeneity. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 75:102367. [PMID: 37633223 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Most bacteria are neutralophiles but can survive fluctuations in pH in their environment. Herein, we provide an overview of the adaptation of several human, soil, and food bacteria to acid stress, mainly based on next-generation sequencing studies, highlighting common and specific strategies. We also discuss the interplay between acid stress response and antibiotic tolerance, as well as the response of individual cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kilian Schumacher
- Faculty of Biology, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sophie Brameyer
- Faculty of Biology, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Kirsten Jung
- Faculty of Biology, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
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3
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Mayo-Pérez S, Gama-Martínez Y, Dávila S, Rivera N, Hernández-Lucas I. LysR-type transcriptional regulators: state of the art. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023:1-33. [PMID: 37635411 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2247477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
The LysR-type transcriptional regulators (LTTRs) are DNA-binding proteins present in bacteria, archaea, and in algae. Knowledge about their distribution, abundance, evolution, structural organization, transcriptional regulation, fundamental roles in free life, pathogenesis, and bacteria-plant interaction has been generated. This review focuses on these aspects and provides a current picture of LTTR biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mayo-Pérez
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Y Gama-Martínez
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - S Dávila
- Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - N Rivera
- IPN: CICATA, Unidad Morelos del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Atlacholoaya, Mexico
| | - I Hernández-Lucas
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
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4
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Schwarz J, Brameyer S, Hoyer E, Jung K. The Interplay of AphB and CadC to Activate Acid Resistance of Vibrio campbellii. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0045722. [PMID: 36920209 PMCID: PMC10127681 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00457-22] [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: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria have evolved different systems to sense and adapt to acid stress. For example, Vibrio campbellii, a marine pathogen for invertebrates, encounters acidic conditions in the digestive glands of shrimp. The main acid resistance system of V. campbellii is the Cad system, which is activated when cells are in a low-pH, amino acid-rich environment. The Cad system consists of the pH-responsive transcriptional activator CadC, the lysine decarboxylase CadA, and the lysine/cadaverine antiporter CadB. In many Vibrio species, the LysR-type transcriptional regulator AphB is involved in the regulation of the Cad system, but its precise role is unclear. Here, we examined AphB of V. campbellii in vivo and in vitro in the context of Cad activation. At low pH, an aphB deletion mutant was less able to grow and survive compared with the wild-type because it did not excrete sufficient alkaline cadaverine to increase the extracellular pH. AphB was found to upregulate the transcription of cadC, thereby increasing its protein copy number per cell. Moreover, AphB itself was shown to be a pH-sensor, and binding to the cadC promoter increased under low pH, as shown by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. By monitoring the activation of the Cad system over a wide range of pH values, we found that AphB-mediated upregulation of cadC not only adjusts CadC copy numbers depending on acid stress strength, but also affects the response of individual cells and thus the degree of heterogeneous Cad system activation in the V. campbellii population. IMPORTANCE Acid resistance is an important property not only for neutralophilic enteric bacteria such as Escherichia, Yersinia, and Salmonella, but also for Vibrio. To counteract acidic threats, the marine Vibrio campbellii, a pathogen for various invertebrates, activates the acid-resistance Cad system. The transcriptional activator of the Cad system is CadC, an extracellular pH-sensor. The expression of cadC is upregulated by the transcriptional regulator AphB to achieve maximum expression of the components of the Cad system. In vitro studies demonstrate that AphB binds more tightly to the DNA under low pH. The interplay of two pH-responsive transcriptional activators allows tight control of the activity of the Cad system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Schwarz
- Faculty of Biology: Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sophie Brameyer
- Faculty of Biology: Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Hoyer
- Faculty of Biology: Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Kirsten Jung
- Faculty of Biology: Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
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5
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Mallick S, Das S. Acid-tolerant bacteria and prospects in industrial and environmental applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:3355-3374. [PMID: 37093306 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12529-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Acid-tolerant bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, Acidobacterium capsulatum, Escherichia coli, and Propionibacterium acidipropionici have developed several survival mechanisms to sustain themselves in various acid stress conditions. Some bacteria survive by minor changes in the environmental pH. In contrast, few others adapt different acid tolerance mechanisms, including amino acid decarboxylase acid resistance systems, mainly glutamate-dependent acid resistance (GDAR) and arginine-dependent acid resistance (ADAR) systems. The cellular mechanisms of acid tolerance include cell membrane alteration in Acidithiobacillus thioxidans, proton elimination by F1-F0-ATPase in Streptococcus pyogenes, biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cytoplasmic urease activity in Streptococcus mutans, synthesis of the protective cloud of ammonia, and protection or repair of macromolecules in Bacillus caldontenax. Apart from cellular mechanisms, there are several acid-tolerant genes such as gadA, gadB, adiA, adiC, cadA, cadB, cadC, speF, and potE that help the bacteria to tolerate the acidic environment. This acid tolerance behavior provides new and broad prospects for different industrial applications and the bioremediation of environmental pollutants. The development of engineered strains with acid-tolerant genes may improve the efficiency of the transgenic bacteria in the treatment of acidic industrial effluents. KEY POINTS: • Bacteria tolerate the acidic stress by methylating unsaturated phospholipid tail • The activity of decarboxylase systems for acid tolerance depends on pH • Genetic manipulation of acid-tolerant genes improves acid tolerance by the bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souradip Mallick
- Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Ecology (LEnME), Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, 769 008, Odisha, India
| | - Surajit Das
- Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Ecology (LEnME), Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, 769 008, Odisha, India.
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Schwarz J, Schumacher K, Brameyer S, Jung K. Bacterial battle against acidity. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6652135. [PMID: 35906711 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The Earth is home to environments characterized by low pH, including the gastrointestinal tract of vertebrates and large areas of acidic soil. Most bacteria are neutralophiles, but can survive fluctuations in pH. Herein, we review how Escherichia, Salmonella, Helicobacter, Brucella, and other acid-resistant Gram-negative bacteria adapt to acidic environments. We discuss the constitutive and inducible defense mechanisms that promote survival, including proton-consuming or ammonia-producing processes, cellular remodeling affecting membranes and chaperones, and chemotaxis. We provide insights into how Gram-negative bacteria sense environmental acidity using membrane-integrated and cytosolic pH sensors. Finally, we address in more detail the powerful proton-consuming decarboxylase systems by examining the phylogeny of their regulatory components and their collective functionality in a population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Schwarz
- Faculty of Biology, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, Großhaderner Str. 2-4, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Kilian Schumacher
- Faculty of Biology, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, Großhaderner Str. 2-4, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sophie Brameyer
- Faculty of Biology, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, Großhaderner Str. 2-4, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Kirsten Jung
- Faculty of Biology, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, Großhaderner Str. 2-4, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
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7
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Paulini S, Fabiani FD, Weiss AS, Moldoveanu AL, Helaine S, Stecher B, Jung K. The Biological Significance of Pyruvate Sensing and Uptake in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091751. [PMID: 36144354 PMCID: PMC9504724 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyruvate (CH3COCOOH) is the simplest of the alpha-keto acids and is at the interface of several metabolic pathways both in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In an amino acid-rich environment, fast-growing bacteria excrete pyruvate instead of completely metabolizing it. The role of pyruvate uptake in pathological conditions is still unclear. In this study, we identified two pyruvate-specific transporters, BtsT and CstA, in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). Expression of btsT is induced by the histidine kinase/response regulator system BtsS/BtsR upon sensing extracellular pyruvate, whereas expression of cstA is maximal in the stationary phase. Both pyruvate transporters were found to be important for the uptake of this compound, but also for chemotaxis to pyruvate, survival under oxidative and nitrosative stress, and persistence of S. Typhimurium in response to gentamicin. Compared with the wild-type cells, the ΔbtsTΔcstA mutant has disadvantages in antibiotic persistence in macrophages, as well as in colonization and systemic infection in gnotobiotic mice. These data demonstrate the surprising complexity of the two pyruvate uptake systems in S. Typhimurium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Paulini
- Department of Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Florian D. Fabiani
- Department of Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Anna S. Weiss
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Ana Laura Moldoveanu
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2DD, UK
| | - Sophie Helaine
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2DD, UK
| | - Bärbel Stecher
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Kirsten Jung
- Department of Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)89/2180-74500
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8
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Vernocchi P, Ristori MV, Guerrera S, Guarrasi V, Conte F, Russo A, Lupi E, Albitar-Nehme S, Gardini S, Paci P, Ianiro G, Vicari S, Gasbarrini A, Putignani L. Gut Microbiota Ecology and Inferred Functions in Children With ASD Compared to Neurotypical Subjects. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:871086. [PMID: 35756062 PMCID: PMC9218677 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.871086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder. The communication between the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the central nervous system seems driven by gut microbiota (GM). Herein, we provide GM profiling, considering GI functional symptoms, neurological impairment, and dietary habits. Forty-one and 35 fecal samples collected from ASD and neurotypical children (CTRLs), respectively, (age range, 3–15 years) were analyzed by 16S targeted-metagenomics (the V3–V4 region) and inflammation and permeability markers (i.e., sIgA, zonulin lysozyme), and then correlated with subjects’ metadata. Our ASD cohort was characterized as follows: 30/41 (73%) with GI functional symptoms; 24/41 (58%) picky eaters (PEs), with one or more dietary needs, including 10/41 (24%) with food selectivity (FS); 36/41 (88%) presenting high and medium autism severity symptoms (HMASSs). Among the cohort with GI symptoms, 28/30 (93%) showed HMASSs, 17/30 (57%) were picky eaters and only 8/30 (27%) with food selectivity. The remaining 11/41 (27%) ASDs without GI symptoms that were characterized by HMASS for 8/11 (72%) and 7/11 (63%) were picky eaters. GM ecology was investigated for the overall ASD cohort versus CTRLs; ASDs with GI and without GI, respectively, versus CTRLs; ASD with GI versus ASD without GI; ASDs with HMASS versus low ASSs; PEs versus no-PEs; and FS versus absence of FS. In particular, the GM of ASDs, compared to CTRLs, was characterized by the increase of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Rikenellaceae, Pasteurellaceae, Klebsiella, Bacteroides, Roseburia, Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Sutterella, Staphylococcus, and Haemophilus. Moreover, Sutterella, Roseburia and Fusobacterium were associated to ASD with GI symptoms compared to CTRLs. Interestingly, ASD with GI symptoms showed higher value of zonulin and lower levels of lysozyme, which were also characterized by differentially expressed predicted functional pathways. Multiple machine learning models classified correctly 80% overall ASDs, compared with CTRLs, based on Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Staphylococcus, Sutterella, and Haemophilus features. In conclusion, in our patient cohort, regardless of the evaluation of many factors potentially modulating the GM profile, the major phenotypic determinant affecting the GM was represented by GI hallmarks and patients’ age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Vernocchi
- Multimodal Laboratory Medicine Research Area, Unit of Human Microbiome, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Vittoria Ristori
- Multimodal Laboratory Medicine Research Area, Unit of Human Microbiome, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Guerrera
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Federica Conte
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti," National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Russo
- Department of Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine, Unit of Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology, Unit of Microbiomics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Lupi
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare, Rome, Italy
| | - Sami Albitar-Nehme
- Department of Diagnostic and Laboratory Medicine, Unit of Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paola Paci
- Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Ianiro
- CEMAD Digestive Disease Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Gasbarrini
- CEMAD Digestive Disease Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenza Putignani
- Department of Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine, Unit of Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology, Unit of Microbiomics, and Multimodal Laboratory Medicine Research Area, Unit of Human Microbiome, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare, Rome, Italy
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9
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Xue M, Fu D, Hu J, Shao Y, Tu J, Song X, Qi K. The Transcription Regulator YgeK Affects Biofilm Formation and Environmental Stress Resistance in Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12091160. [PMID: 35565586 PMCID: PMC9100123 DOI: 10.3390/ani12091160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is the pathogen responsible for colibacillosis in poultry. Transcriptional regulator ygeK has been shown to decrease APEC’s flagellar formation ability, bacterial motility ability, serum sensitivity, and adhesion ability. However, we did not study the effects of ygeK on biofilm formation and environmental stress resistance in APEC. In this study, we investigated ygeK in APEC biofilm formation and bacterial resistance to different environmental stresses. We also analyzed the multi-level regulation of ygeK in APEC and investigated associations between differentially expressed proteins and key ygeK targets. This work provides a basis for further analysis of APEC pathogenesis mechanisms. Abstract Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is one of the most common pathogens in poultry and a potential gene source of human extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), leading to serious economic losses in the poultry industry and public health concerns. Exploring the pathogenic mechanisms underpinning APEC and the identification of new targets for disease prevention and treatment are warranted. YgeK is a transcriptional regulator in APEC and is localized to the type III secretion system 2 of E. coli. In our previous work, the transcription factor ygeK significantly affected APEC flagella formation, bacterial motility, serum sensitivity, adhesion, and virulence. To further explore ygeK functions, we evaluated its influence on APEC biofilm formation and resistance to environmental stress. Our results showed that ygeK inactivation decreased biofilm formation and reduced bacterial resistance to environmental stresses, including acid and oxidative stress. In addition, the multi-level regulation of ygeK in APEC was analyzed using proteomics, and associations between differentially expressed proteins and the key targets of ygeK were investigated. Overall, we identified ygeK’s new function in APEC. These have led us to better understand the transcriptional regulatory ygeK and provide new clues about the pathogenicity of APEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Xue
- Jinling Institute of Technology, College of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Nanjing 211169, China;
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pathobiology and Disease Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; (D.F.); (J.H.); (Y.S.); (J.T.)
| | - Dandan Fu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pathobiology and Disease Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; (D.F.); (J.H.); (Y.S.); (J.T.)
| | - Jiangang Hu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pathobiology and Disease Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; (D.F.); (J.H.); (Y.S.); (J.T.)
| | - Ying Shao
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pathobiology and Disease Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; (D.F.); (J.H.); (Y.S.); (J.T.)
| | - Jian Tu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pathobiology and Disease Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; (D.F.); (J.H.); (Y.S.); (J.T.)
| | - Xiangjun Song
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pathobiology and Disease Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; (D.F.); (J.H.); (Y.S.); (J.T.)
- Correspondence: (X.S.); (K.Q.); Tel.: +86-551-6578-5310 (K.Q.)
| | - Kezong Qi
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pathobiology and Disease Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; (D.F.); (J.H.); (Y.S.); (J.T.)
- Correspondence: (X.S.); (K.Q.); Tel.: +86-551-6578-5310 (K.Q.)
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10
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Division of labor and collective functionality in Escherichia coli under acid stress. Commun Biol 2022; 5:327. [PMID: 35393532 PMCID: PMC8989999 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03281-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The acid stress response is an important factor influencing the transmission of intestinal microbes such as the enterobacterium Escherichia coli. E. coli activates three inducible acid resistance systems - the glutamate decarboxylase, arginine decarboxylase, and lysine decarboxylase systems to counteract acid stress. Each system relies on the activity of a proton-consuming reaction catalyzed by a specific amino acid decarboxylase and a corresponding antiporter. Activation of these three systems is tightly regulated by a sophisticated interplay of membrane-integrated and soluble regulators. Using a fluorescent triple reporter strain, we quantitatively illuminated the cellular individuality during activation of each of the three acid resistance (AR) systems under consecutively increasing acid stress. Our studies highlight the advantages of E. coli in possessing three AR systems that enable division of labor in the population, which ensures survival over a wide range of low pH values.
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11
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Du C, Huo X, Gu H, Wu D, Hu Y. Acid resistance system CadBA is implicated in acid tolerance and biofilm formation and is identified as a new virulence factor of Edwardsiella tarda. Vet Res 2021; 52:117. [PMID: 34521475 PMCID: PMC8438976 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-021-00987-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Edwardsiella tarda is a facultative intracellular pathogen in humans and animals. The Gram-negative bacterium is widely considered a potentially important bacterial pathogen. Adaptation to acid stress is important for the transmission of intestinal microbes, so the acid-resistance (AR) system is essential. However, the AR systems of E. tarda are totally unknown. In this study, a lysine-dependent acid resistance (LDAR) system in E. tarda, CadBA, was characterized and identified. CadB is a membrane protein and shares high homology with the lysine/cadaverine antiporter. CadA contains a PLP-binding core domain and a pyridoxal phosphate-binding motif. It shares high homology with lysine decarboxylase. cadB and cadA are co-transcribed under one operon. To study the function of the cadBA operon, isogenic cadA, cadB and cadBA deletion mutant strains TX01ΔcadA, TX01ΔcadB and TX01ΔcadBA were constructed. When cultured under normal conditions, the wild type strain and three mutants exhibited the same growth performance. However, when cultured under acid conditions, the growth of three mutants, especially TX01ΔcadA, were obviously retarded, compared to the wild strain TX01, which indicates the important involvement of the cadBA operon in acid resistance. The deletion of cadB or cadA, especially cadBA, significantly attenuated bacterial activity of lysine decarboxylase, suggesting the vital participation of cadBA operon in lysine metabolism, which is closely related to acid resistance. The mutations of cadBA operon enhanced bacterial biofilm formation, especially under acid conditions. The deletions of the cadBA operon reduced bacterial adhesion and invasion to Hela cells. Consistently, the deficiency of cadBA operon abated bacterial survival and replication in macrophages, and decreased bacterial dissemination in fish tissues. Our results also show that the expression of cadBA operon and regulator cadC were up-regulated upon acid stress, and CadC rigorously regulated the expression of cadBA operon, especially under acid conditions. These findings demonstrate that the AR CadBA system was a requisite for the resistance of E. tarda against acid stress, and played a critical role in bacterial infection of host cells and in host tissues. This is the first study about the acid resistance system of E. tarda and provides new insights into the acid-resistance mechanism and pathogenesis of E. tarda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Du
- College of Basic Medicine, Jiamusi University, 154007, Jiamusi, China.,Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hainan Academy of Tropical Agricultural Resource, CATAS, 571101, Haikou, China.,College of Life Science, Jiamusi University, 154007, Jiamusi, China
| | - Xiaoping Huo
- Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hainan Academy of Tropical Agricultural Resource, CATAS, 571101, Haikou, China.,College of Life Science, Jiamusi University, 154007, Jiamusi, China
| | - Hanjie Gu
- Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hainan Academy of Tropical Agricultural Resource, CATAS, 571101, Haikou, China.,Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Functional Components Research and Utilization of Marine Bio-Resources, 571101, Haikou, China
| | - Dongmei Wu
- College of Basic Medicine, Jiamusi University, 154007, Jiamusi, China. .,Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Evaluation of the Efficacy of Toxicology, 154007, Jiamusi, China.
| | - Yonghua Hu
- Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hainan Academy of Tropical Agricultural Resource, CATAS, 571101, Haikou, China. .,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), 266071, Qingdao, China. .,College of Life Science, Jiamusi University, 154007, Jiamusi, China. .,Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Functional Components Research and Utilization of Marine Bio-Resources, 571101, Haikou, China.
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First insights into a pyruvate sensing and uptake system in Vibrio campbellii and its importance for virulence. J Bacteriol 2021; 203:e0029621. [PMID: 34339295 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00296-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyruvate is a key metabolite in living cells and has been shown to play a crucial role in the virulence of several bacterial pathogens. The bioluminescent Vibrio campbellii, a severe infectious burden for marine aquaculture, excretes extraordinarily large amounts of pyruvate during growth and rapidly retrieves it by an as-yet unknown mechanism. We have now identified the responsible pyruvate transporter, here named BtsU, and our results show that it is the only pyruvate transporter in V. campbellii. Expression of btsU is tightly regulated by the membrane-integrated LytS-type histidine kinase BtsS, a sensor for extracellular pyruvate, and the LytTR-type response regulator BtsR. Cells lacking either the pyruvate transporter or sensing system show no chemotactic response towards pyruvate, indicating that intracellular pyruvate is required to activate the chemotaxis system. Moreover, pyruvate sensing and uptake were found to be important for the resuscitation of V. campbellii from the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state and the bacterium's virulence against brine shrimp larvae. IMPORTANCE Bacterial infections are a serious threat to marine aquaculture, one of the fastest growing food sectors on earth. Therefore, it is extremely important to learn more about the pathogens responsible, one of which is Vibrio campbellii. This study sheds light on the importance of pyruvate sensing and uptake for V. campbellii, and reveals that the bacterium possesses only one pyruvate transporter, which is activated by a pyruvate-responsive histidine kinase/response regulator system. Without the ability to sense or take up pyruvate, the virulence of V. campbellii towards gnotobiotic brine shrimp larvae is strongly reduced.
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Moore JP, Kamino K, Emonet T. Non-Genetic Diversity in Chemosensing and Chemotactic Behavior. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6960. [PMID: 34203411 PMCID: PMC8268644 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-genetic phenotypic diversity plays a significant role in the chemotactic behavior of bacteria, influencing how populations sense and respond to chemical stimuli. First, we review the molecular mechanisms that generate phenotypic diversity in bacterial chemotaxis. Next, we discuss the functional consequences of phenotypic diversity for the chemosensing and chemotactic performance of single cells and populations. Finally, we discuss mechanisms that modulate the amount of phenotypic diversity in chemosensory parameters in response to changes in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Philippe Moore
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; (J.P.M.); (K.K.)
- Quantitative Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Keita Kamino
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; (J.P.M.); (K.K.)
- Quantitative Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Thierry Emonet
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; (J.P.M.); (K.K.)
- Quantitative Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Department of Physics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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