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Mathew B, Aoyagi KL, Fisher MA. Antibacterial activity of Xenopsylla cheopis attacins against Yersinia pestis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.26.554949. [PMID: 38469151 PMCID: PMC10926665 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.26.554949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptide resistance has been proposed to play a major role in the flea-borne transmission of Yersinia pestis . However, the antimicrobial peptide response in fleas and their interaction with Y. pestis is largely unknown. Attacins are one of the most abundantly expressed antimicrobial peptides within the first hours after Y. pestis infection of Xenopsylla cheopis , a major vector of plague. In this study, we report the cloning, expression, and purification of two X. cheopis attacin peptides and describe their interactions with and antimicrobial activities against Y. pestis . These flea attacins were shown to bind lipopolysaccharides and have potent activity against Y. pestis , however the mechanism of killing does not involve extensive membrane damage. Treatment with attacins rapidly inhibits Y. pestis colony formation and results in oxidative stress, yet live-cell imaging revealed that bacteria continue to grow and divide for several hours in the presence of attacins before undergoing morphological changes and subsequent lysis. This data provides insights into an early battle between vector and pathogen that may impact transmission of one of the most virulent diseases known to man.
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Aoyagi KL, Mathew B, Fisher MA. Enterobacterial common antigen biosynthesis in Yersinia pestis is tied to antimicrobial peptide resistance. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.26.554945. [PMID: 37662240 PMCID: PMC10473683 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.26.554945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) plays an important role in allowing Yersinia pestis to maintain a successful infection in the flea vector Xenopsylla cheopis . Mutants that are unable to modify lipid A in their outer membrane with aminoarabinose (Ara4N), showed increased sensitivity to AMPs such as polymyxin B (PB), as well as decreased survival in fleas. A deletion mutant of wecE , a gene involved in biosynthesis of enterobacterial common antigen (ECA), also displayed hypersusceptibility to PB in vitro. Additional mutants in the ECA biosynthetic pathway were generated, some designed to cause accumulation of intermediate products that sequester undecaprenyl phosphate (Und-P), a lipid carrier that is also used in numerous other pathways, including for peptidoglycan, O-antigen, and Ara4N biosynthesis. Mutants that accumulate Und-PP-linked intermediates (ECA-lipid II) showed increased susceptibility to PB, reduced Ara4N-modified lipid A, altered cell morphology, and decreased ability to maintain flea infections. These effects are consistent with a model where Y. pestis has a sufficiently limited free Und-P pool such that sequestration of Und-P as ECA-lipid II prevents adequate Ara4N biosynthesis, ultimately resulting in AMP hypersusceptibility.
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Lê-Bury P, Druart K, Savin C, Lechat P, Mas Fiol G, Matondo M, Bécavin C, Dussurget O, Pizarro-Cerdá J. Yersiniomics, a Multi-Omics Interactive Database for Yersinia Species. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0382622. [PMID: 36847572 PMCID: PMC10100798 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03826-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Yersinia includes a large variety of nonpathogenic and life-threatening pathogenic bacteria, which cause a broad spectrum of diseases in humans and animals, such as plague, enteritis, Far East scarlet-like fever (FESLF), and enteric redmouth disease. Like most clinically relevant microorganisms, Yersinia spp. are currently subjected to intense multi-omics investigations whose numbers have increased extensively in recent years, generating massive amounts of data useful for diagnostic and therapeutic developments. The lack of a simple and centralized way to exploit these data led us to design Yersiniomics, a web-based platform allowing straightforward analysis of Yersinia omics data. Yersiniomics contains a curated multi-omics database at its core, gathering 200 genomic, 317 transcriptomic, and 62 proteomic data sets for Yersinia species. It integrates genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic browsers, a genome viewer, and a heatmap viewer to navigate within genomes and experimental conditions. For streamlined access to structural and functional properties, it directly links each gene to GenBank, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), UniProt, InterPro, IntAct, and the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) and each experiment to Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA), or the Proteomics Identifications Database (PRIDE). Yersiniomics provides a powerful tool for microbiologists to assist with investigations ranging from specific gene studies to systems biology studies. IMPORTANCE The expanding genus Yersinia is composed of multiple nonpathogenic species and a few pathogenic species, including the deadly etiologic agent of plague, Yersinia pestis. In 2 decades, the number of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic studies on Yersinia grew massively, delivering a wealth of data. We developed Yersiniomics, an interactive web-based platform, to centralize and analyze omics data sets on Yersinia species. The platform allows user-friendly navigation between genomic data, expression data, and experimental conditions. Yersiniomics will be a valuable tool to microbiologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Lê-Bury
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit, Paris, France
| | - Karen Druart
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS USR2000, Mass Spectrometry for Biology Unit, Proteomic Platform, Paris, France
| | - Cyril Savin
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Yersinia National Reference Laboratory, WHO Collaborating Research & Reference Centre for Plague FRA-140, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Lechat
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, ALPS, Bioinformatic Hub, Paris, France
| | - Guillem Mas Fiol
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit, Paris, France
| | - Mariette Matondo
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS USR2000, Mass Spectrometry for Biology Unit, Proteomic Platform, Paris, France
| | | | - Olivier Dussurget
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit, Paris, France
| | - Javier Pizarro-Cerdá
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Yersinia National Reference Laboratory, WHO Collaborating Research & Reference Centre for Plague FRA-140, Paris, France
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Lipopolysaccharide of the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Complex. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11101410. [PMID: 34680043 PMCID: PMC8533242 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), localized in the outer leaflet of the outer membrane, serves as the major surface component of the Gram-negative bacterial cell envelope responsible for the activation of the host's innate immune system. Variations of the LPS structure utilized by Gram-negative bacteria promote survival by providing resistance to components of the innate immune system and preventing recognition by TLR4. This review summarizes studies of the biosynthesis of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis complex LPSs, and the roles of their structural components in molecular mechanisms of yersiniae pathogenesis and immunogenesis.
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Zhao X, Yang F, Wang Y, Zhang Y. hns mRNA downregulates the expression of galU and attenuates the motility of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. Int J Med Microbiol 2021; 311:151525. [PMID: 34340061 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2021.151525] [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: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, multiple bifunctional RNAs have been discovered, which can both be translated into proteins and play regulatory roles. hns encodes the global gene silencing factor H-NS, which is widespread in Gram-negative bacteria. This study reported that hns mRNA of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) was a bifunctional RNA that could act as an antisense RNA downregulating the expression of galU, the coding gene of uridine triphosphate-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, and attenuating bacterial motility. galU, which is located at the opposite strand of hns, was identified to have a long 3'-untranslated region that overlapped with hns and could be processed to produce short RNA fragments. The overexpression of hns mRNA inhibited the expression of galU. The deletion of galU attenuated the motility of S. Typhi, while the complementation of galU nearly restored the phenotype. Overexpressing hns mRNA in the wild-type strain of S. Typhi inhibited the motility and the expression of flagellar genes, while overexpressing hns mRNA in the galU-deletion mutant did not influence bacterial motility. In conclusion, hns mRNA has been identified to be a new bifunctional RNA that attenuates the motility of S. Typhi by downregulating the expression of galU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210006, China.
| | - Fanfan Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China.
| | - Yurou Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China.
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The Diverse Roles of the Global Transcriptional Regulator PhoP in the Lifecycle of Yersinia pestis. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9121039. [PMID: 33322274 PMCID: PMC7764729 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9121039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, has a complex infectious cycle that alternates between mammalian hosts (rodents and humans) and insect vectors (fleas). Consequently, it must adapt to a wide range of host environments to achieve successful propagation. Y. pestis PhoP is a response regulator of the PhoP/PhoQ two-component signal transduction system that plays a critical role in the pathogen’s adaptation to hostile conditions. PhoP is activated in response to various host-associated stress signals detected by the sensor kinase PhoQ and mediates changes in global gene expression profiles that lead to cellular responses. Y. pestis PhoP is required for resistance to antimicrobial peptides, as well as growth under low Mg2+ and other stress conditions, and controls a number of metabolic pathways, including an alternate carbon catabolism. Loss of phoP function in Y. pestis causes severe defects in survival inside mammalian macrophages and neutrophils in vitro, and a mild attenuation in murine plague models in vivo, suggesting its role in pathogenesis. A Y. pestisphoP mutant also exhibits reduced ability to form biofilm and to block fleas in vivo, indicating that the gene is also important for establishing a transmissible infection in this vector. Additionally, phoP promotes the survival of Y. pestis inside the soil-dwelling amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii, a potential reservoir while the pathogen is quiescent. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge on the mechanisms of PhoP-mediated gene regulation in Y. pestis and examine the significance of the roles played by the PhoP regulon at each stage of the Y. pestis life cycle.
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Abstract
The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria poses a barrier to antibiotic entry due to its high impermeability. Thus, there is an urgent need to study the function and biogenesis of the OM. In Enterobacterales, an order of bacteria with many pathogenic members, one of the components of the OM is enterobacterial common antigen (ECA). We have known of the presence of ECA on the cell surface of Enterobacterales for many years, but its properties have only more recently begun to be unraveled. ECA is a carbohydrate antigen built of repeating units of three amino sugars, the structure of which is conserved throughout Enterobacterales. There are three forms of ECA, two of which (ECAPG and ECALPS) are located on the cell surface, while one (ECACYC) is located in the periplasm. Awareness of the importance of ECA has increased due to studies of its function that show it plays a vital role in bacterial physiology and interaction with the environment. Here, we review the discovery of ECA, the pathways for the biosynthesis of ECA, and the interactions of its various forms. In addition, we consider the role of ECA in the host immune response, as well as its potential roles in host-pathogen interaction. Furthermore, we explore recent work that offers insights into the cellular function of ECA. This review provides a glimpse of the biological significance of this enigmatic molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashutosh K Rai
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Angela M Mitchell
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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Gibbs ME, Lountos GT, Gumpena R, Waugh DS. Crystal structure of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Yersinia pestis, a potential therapeutic target against plague. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2019; 75:608-615. [PMID: 31475928 PMCID: PMC6718147 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x19011154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of bubonic plague, is one of the most lethal pathogens in recorded human history. Today, the concern is the possible misuse of Y. pestis as an agent in bioweapons and bioterrorism. Current therapies for the treatment of plague include the use of a small number of antibiotics, but clinical cases of antibiotic resistance have been reported in some areas of the world. Therefore, the discovery of new drugs is required to combat potential Y. pestis infection. Here, the crystal structure of the Y. pestis UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP), a metabolic enzyme implicated in the survival of Y. pestis in mouse macrophages, is described at 2.17 Å resolution. The structure provides a foundation that may enable the rational design of inhibitors and open new avenues for the development of antiplague therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E. Gibbs
- Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - George T. Lountos
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Rajesh Gumpena
- Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - David S. Waugh
- Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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Shaikhutdinova RZ, Ivanov SA, Dentovskaya SV, Titareva GM, Knirel YA. Characterization of a Transposon Tn5-Generated Mutant of Yersinia pestis Defective in Lipooligosaccharide Biosynthesis. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2019; 84:398-406. [PMID: 31228931 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297919040072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
To identify Yersinia pestis genes involved in the microbe's resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides, the strategy of random transposon mutagenesis with a Tn5 minitransposon was used, and the library was screened for detecting polymyxin B (PMB) susceptible mutants. The mutation responsible for PMB-sensitive phenotype and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure were characterized for the Y. pestis strain KM218-A3. In this strain the mini-Tn5 was located in an open reading frame with the product homologous to the E. coli protein GmhB (82% identity) functioning as d-glycero-d-manno-heptose-1,7-diphosphate phosphatase. ESI FT ICR mass spectrometry of anions was used to study the structure of the unmodified LPS of Y. pestis KM218-A3, and molecules were revealed with the full-size LPS core or with two types of an incomplete core: consisting of Kdo-Kdo or Ko-Kdo disaccharides and Hep-(Kdo)-Kdo or Hep-(Ko)-Kdo trisaccharides. The performed complementation confirmed that the defect in the biological properties of the mutant strain was caused by inactivation of the gmhB gene. These findings indicated that the gmhB gene product of Y. pestis is essential for production of wild-type LPS resistant to antimicrobial peptides and serum.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Z Shaikhutdinova
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Moscow Region, 142279, Russia
| | - S A Ivanov
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Moscow Region, 142279, Russia
| | - S V Dentovskaya
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Moscow Region, 142279, Russia.
| | - G M Titareva
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Moscow Region, 142279, Russia
| | - Yu A Knirel
- Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
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Molecular mechanisms of polymyxin resistance and detection of mcr genes. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub 2018; 163:28-38. [PMID: 30439931 DOI: 10.5507/bp.2018.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is an ever-increasing global problem. Major commercial antibiotics often fail to fight common bacteria, and some pathogens have become multi-resistant. Polymyxins are potent bactericidal antibiotics against gram-negative bacteria. Known resistance to polymyxin includes intrinsic, mutational and adaptive mechanisms, with the recently described horizontally acquired resistance mechanisms. In this review, we present several strategies for bacteria to develop enhanced resistance to polymyxins, focusing on changes in the outer membrane, efflux and other resistance determinants. Better understanding of the genes involved in polymyxin resistance may pave the way for the development of new and effective antimicrobial agents. We also report novel in silico tested primers for PCR assay that may be able distinguish colistin-resistant isolates carrying the plasmid-encoded mcr genes and will assist in combating the spread of colistin resistance in bacteria.
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Cyclic Enterobacterial Common Antigen Maintains the Outer Membrane Permeability Barrier of Escherichia coli in a Manner Controlled by YhdP. mBio 2018; 9:mBio.01321-18. [PMID: 30087168 PMCID: PMC6083912 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01321-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Gram-negative bacteria have an outer membrane (OM) impermeable to many toxic compounds that can be further strengthened during stress. In Enterobacteriaceae, the envelope contains enterobacterial common antigen (ECA), a carbohydrate-derived moiety conserved throughout Enterobacteriaceae, the function of which is poorly understood. Previously, we identified several genes in Escherichia coli K-12 responsible for an RpoS-dependent decrease in envelope permeability during carbon-limited stationary phase. For one of these, yhdP, a gene of unknown function, deletion causes high levels of both vancomycin and detergent sensitivity, independent of growth phase. We isolated spontaneous suppressor mutants of yhdP with loss-of-function mutations in the ECA biosynthesis operon. ECA biosynthesis gene deletions suppressed envelope permeability from yhdP deletion independently of envelope stress responses and interactions with other biosynthesis pathways, demonstrating suppression is caused directly by removing ECA. Furthermore, yhdP deletion changed cellular ECA levels and yhdP was found to co-occur phylogenetically with the ECA biosynthesis operon. Cells make three forms of ECA: ECA lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an ECA chain linked to LPS core; ECA phosphatidylglycerol, a surface-exposed ECA chain linked to phosphatidylglycerol; and cyclic ECA, a cyclized soluble ECA molecule found in the periplasm. We determined that the suppression of envelope permeability with yhdP deletion is caused specifically by the loss of cyclic ECA, despite lowered levels of this molecule found with yhdP deletion. Furthermore, removing cyclic ECA from wild-type cells also caused changes to OM permeability. Our data demonstrate cyclic ECA acts to maintain the OM permeability barrier in a manner controlled by YhdP. Enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) is a surface antigen made by all members of Enterobacteriaceae, including many clinically relevant genera (e.g., Escherichia, Klebsiella, Yersinia). Although this surface-exposed molecule is conserved throughout Enterobacteriaceae, very few functions have been ascribed to it. Here, we have determined that the periplasmic form of ECA, cyclic ECA, plays a role in maintaining the outer membrane permeability barrier. This activity is controlled by a protein of unknown function, YhdP, and deletion of yhdP damages the OM permeability barrier in a cyclic ECA-dependent manner, allowing harmful molecules such as antibiotics into the cell. This role in maintenance of the envelope permeability barrier is the first time a phenotype has been described for cyclic ECA. As the Gram-negative envelope is generally impermeable to antibiotics, understanding the mechanisms through which the barrier is maintained and antibiotics are excluded may lead to improved antibiotic delivery.
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Fukuto HS, Vadyvaloo V, McPhee JB, Poinar HN, Holmes EC, Bliska JB. A Single Amino Acid Change in the Response Regulator PhoP, Acquired during Yersinia pestis Evolution, Affects PhoP Target Gene Transcription and Polymyxin B Susceptibility. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:e00050-18. [PMID: 29440252 PMCID: PMC5892123 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00050-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, evolved from the closely related pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis During its emergence, Y. pestis is believed to have acquired its unique pathogenic characteristics through numerous gene gains/losses, genomic rearrangements, and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) changes. One such SNP creates a single amino acid variation in the DNA binding domain of PhoP, the response regulator in the PhoP/PhoQ two-component system. Y. pseudotuberculosis and the basal human-avirulent strains of Y. pestis harbor glycines at position 215 of PhoP, whereas the modern human-virulent strains (e.g., KIM and CO92) harbor serines at this residue. Since PhoP plays multiple roles in the adaptation of Y. pestis to stressful host conditions, we tested whether this amino acid substitution affects PhoP activity or the ability of Y. pestis to survive in host environments. Compared to the parental KIM6+ strain carrying the modern allele of phoP (phoP-S215), a derivative carrying the basal allele (phoP-G215) exhibited slightly defective growth under a low-Mg2+ condition and decreased transcription of a PhoP target gene, ugd, as well as an ∼8-fold increase in the susceptibility to the antimicrobial peptide polymyxin B. The phoP-G215 strain showed no apparent defect in flea colonization, although a phoP-null mutant showed decreased flea infectivity in competition experiments. Our results suggest that the amino acid variation at position 215 of PhoP causes subtle changes in the PhoP activity and raise the possibility that the change in this residue have contributed to the evolution of increased virulence in Y. pestisIMPORTANCEY. pestis acquired a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in phoP when the highly human-virulent strains diverged from less virulent basal strains, resulting in an amino acid substitution in the DNA binding domain of the PhoP response regulator. We show that Y. pestis carrying the modern phoP allele has an increased ability to induce the PhoP-regulated ugd gene and resist antimicrobial peptides compared to an isogenic strain carrying the basal allele. Given the important roles PhoP plays in host adaptation, the results raise an intriguing possibility that this amino acid substitution contributed to the evolution of increased virulence in Y. pestis Additionally, we present the first evidence that phoP confers a survival fitness advantage to Y. pestis inside the flea midgut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana S Fukuto
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program, School of Health Technology and Management, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Viveka Vadyvaloo
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Joseph B McPhee
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hendrik N Poinar
- McMaster Ancient DNA Center, Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Edward C Holmes
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - James B Bliska
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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Adaptation of the secretome of Echinostoma caproni may contribute to parasite survival in a Th1 milieu. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:947-957. [PMID: 29435719 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-5758-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Echinostoma caproni (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) is an intestinal trematode, broadly employed to study the host-dependent mechanisms that govern the evolution of intestinal helminth infections. Resistance against E. caproni homologous secondary infections has been reported in mice and appears to be related to the generation of a local Th2 response, whereas Th1 responses promote the development of chronic primary infections. Herein, the ability of E. caproni to modulate its secretome according to the host environment is investigated. A two-dimensional differential in gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) analysis was performed to elucidate changes in the excretory/secretory products of E. caproni adults after primary and secondary infections in mice. A total of 16 protein spots showed significant differences between groups, and 7 of them were successfully identified by mass spectrometry. Adult worms exposed to a primary infection appear to upregulate proteins involved in detoxification (aldo-keto reductase), stress response (GroEL), and enhancement of parasite survival (acetyl-CoA A-acetyltransferase and UTP-glucose-1-phosphate urydyltransferase). In contrast, any protein was found to be significantly upregulated after secondary infection. Upregulation of such proteins may serve to withstand the hostile Th1 environment generated in primary infections in mice. These results provide new insights into the resistance mechanisms developed by the parasites to ensure their long-term survival.
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Descamps T, De Smet L, De Vos P, de Graaf D. Unbiased random mutagenesis contributes to a better understanding of the virulent behaviour ofPaenibacillus larvae. J Appl Microbiol 2017; 124:28-41. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.13611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- T. Descamps
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology; Faculty of Sciences; Ghent University; Ghent Belgium
| | - L. De Smet
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology; Faculty of Sciences; Ghent University; Ghent Belgium
| | - P. De Vos
- Laboratory of Microbiology; Faculty of Sciences; Ghent University; Ghent Belgium
| | - D.C. de Graaf
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology; Faculty of Sciences; Ghent University; Ghent Belgium
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Senior NJ, Sasidharan K, Saint RJ, Scott AE, Sarkar-Tyson M, Ireland PM, Bullifent HL, Rong Yang Z, Moore K, Oyston PCF, Atkins TP, Atkins HS, Soyer OS, Titball RW. An integrated computational-experimental approach reveals Yersinia pestis genes essential across a narrow or a broad range of environmental conditions. BMC Microbiol 2017; 17:163. [PMID: 28732479 PMCID: PMC5521123 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-017-1073-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The World Health Organization has categorized plague as a re-emerging disease and the potential for Yersinia pestis to also be used as a bioweapon makes the identification of new drug targets against this pathogen a priority. Environmental temperature is a key signal which regulates virulence of the bacterium. The bacterium normally grows outside the human host at 28 °C. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that the bacterium used to adapt to a mammalian host at 37 °C is central to the development of vaccines or drugs for the prevention or treatment of human disease. Results Using a library of over 1 million Y. pestis CO92 random mutants and transposon-directed insertion site sequencing, we identified 530 essential genes when the bacteria were cultured at 28 °C. When the library of mutants was subsequently cultured at 37 °C we identified 19 genes that were essential at 37 °C but not at 28 °C, including genes which encode proteins that play a role in enabling functioning of the type III secretion and in DNA replication and maintenance. Using genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction we showed that growth conditions profoundly influence the physiology of the bacterium, and by combining computational and experimental approaches we were able to identify 54 genes that are essential under a broad range of conditions. Conclusions Using an integrated computational-experimental approach we identify genes which are required for growth at 37 °C and under a broad range of environments may be the best targets for the development of new interventions to prevent or treat plague in humans. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-017-1073-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola J Senior
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4SB, UK
| | - Kalesh Sasidharan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Richard J Saint
- Defence Science Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 OJQ, UK
| | - Andrew E Scott
- Defence Science Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 OJQ, UK
| | - Mitali Sarkar-Tyson
- Defence Science Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 OJQ, UK.,Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Philip M Ireland
- Defence Science Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 OJQ, UK
| | - Helen L Bullifent
- Defence Science Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 OJQ, UK
| | - Z Rong Yang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4SB, UK
| | - Karen Moore
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4SB, UK
| | - Petra C F Oyston
- Defence Science Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 OJQ, UK
| | - Timothy P Atkins
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4SB, UK.,Defence Science Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 OJQ, UK
| | - Helen S Atkins
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4SB, UK.,Defence Science Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 OJQ, UK
| | - Orkun S Soyer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Richard W Titball
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4SB, UK.
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Harvey DJ. Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: An update for 2011-2012. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2017; 36:255-422. [PMID: 26270629 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This review is the seventh update of the original article published in 1999 on the application of MALDI mass spectrometry to the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2012. General aspects such as theory of the MALDI process, matrices, derivatization, MALDI imaging, and fragmentation are covered in the first part of the review and applications to various structural types constitute the remainder. The main groups of compound are oligo- and poly-saccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosides, and biopharmaceuticals. Much of this material is presented in tabular form. Also discussed are medical and industrial applications of the technique, studies of enzyme reactions, and applications to chemical synthesis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 36:255-422, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Harvey
- Department of Biochemistry, Oxford Glycobiology Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
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17
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Du Z, Wang X. Pathology and Pathogenesis of Yersinia pestis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 918:193-222. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-024-0890-4_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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18
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Findlay F, Proudfoot L, Stevens C, Barlow PG. Cationic host defense peptides; novel antimicrobial therapeutics against Category A pathogens and emerging infections. Pathog Glob Health 2016; 110:137-47. [PMID: 27315342 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2016.1195036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cationic Host Defense Peptides (HDP, also known as antimicrobial peptides) are crucial components of the innate immune system and possess broad-spectrum antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory activities. They can contribute to the rapid clearance of biological agents through direct killing of the organisms, inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators such as lipopolysaccharide, and by modulating the inflammatory response to infection. Category A biological agents and materials, as classified by the United States National Institutes for Health, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the US Department of Homeland Security, carry the most severe threat in terms of human health, transmissibility, and preparedness. As such, there is a pressing need for novel frontline approaches for prevention and treatment of diseases caused by these organisms, and exploiting the broad antimicrobial activity exhibited by cationic host defense peptides represents an exciting priority area for clinical research. This review will summarize what is known about the antimicrobial and antiviral effects of the two main families of cationic host defense peptides, cathelicidins, and defensins in the context of Category A biological agents which include, but are not limited to; anthrax (Bacillus anthracis), plague (Yersinia pestis), smallpox (Variola major), tularemia (Francisella tularensis). In addition, we highlight priority areas, particularly emerging viral infections, where more extensive research is urgently required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fern Findlay
- a School of Life, Sport and Social Sciences , Edinburgh Napier University , Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh EH11 4BN , UK
| | - Lorna Proudfoot
- a School of Life, Sport and Social Sciences , Edinburgh Napier University , Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh EH11 4BN , UK
| | - Craig Stevens
- a School of Life, Sport and Social Sciences , Edinburgh Napier University , Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh EH11 4BN , UK
| | - Peter G Barlow
- a School of Life, Sport and Social Sciences , Edinburgh Napier University , Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh EH11 4BN , UK
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19
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Erickson DL, Lew CS, Kartchner B, Porter NT, McDaniel SW, Jones NM, Mason S, Wu E, Wilson E. Lipopolysaccharide Biosynthesis Genes of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Promote Resistance to Antimicrobial Chemokines. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0157092. [PMID: 27275606 PMCID: PMC4898787 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial chemokines (AMCs) are a recently described family of host defense peptides that play an important role in protecting a wide variety of organisms from bacterial infection. Very little is known about the bacterial targets of AMCs or factors that influence bacterial susceptibility to AMCs. In an effort to understand how bacterial pathogens resist killing by AMCs, we screened Yersinia pseudotuberculosis transposon mutants for those with increased binding to the AMCs CCL28 and CCL25. Mutants exhibiting increased binding to AMCs were subjected to AMC killing assays, which revealed their increased sensitivity to chemokine-mediated cell death. The majority of the mutants exhibiting increased binding to AMCs contained transposon insertions in genes related to lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. A particularly strong effect on susceptibility to AMC mediated killing was observed by disruption of the hldD/waaF/waaC operon, necessary for ADP-L-glycero-D-manno-heptose synthesis and a complete lipopolysaccharide core oligosaccharide. Periodate oxidation of surface carbohydrates also enhanced AMC binding, whereas enzymatic removal of surface proteins significantly reduced binding. These results suggest that the structure of Y. pseudotuberculosis LPS greatly affects the antimicrobial activity of AMCs by shielding a protein ligand on the bacterial cell surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L. Erickson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 4007 LSB, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Cynthia S. Lew
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 4007 LSB, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, United States of America
| | - Brittany Kartchner
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 4007 LSB, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, United States of America
| | - Nathan T. Porter
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 4007 LSB, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, United States of America
| | - S. Wade McDaniel
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 4007 LSB, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, United States of America
| | - Nathan M. Jones
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 4007 LSB, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, United States of America
| | - Sara Mason
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 4007 LSB, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, United States of America
| | - Erin Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 4007 LSB, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, United States of America
| | - Eric Wilson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 4007 LSB, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, United States of America
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20
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Suezawa C, Yasuda M, Negayama K, Kameyama T, Hirauchi M, Nakai T, Okuda J. Identification of genes associated with the penetration activity of the human type of Edwardsiella tarda EdwGII through human colon epithelial cell monolayers. Microb Pathog 2016; 95:148-156. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2016.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Revised: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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21
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Suntsov VV. Sympatric speciation of the plague microbe Yersinia pestis: Monohostal specialization in the host–parasite marmot–flea (Marmota sibirica–Oropsylla silantiewi) system. BIOL BULL+ 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359016010155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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22
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Aoyagi KL, Brooks BD, Bearden SW, Montenieri JA, Gage KL, Fisher MA. LPS modification promotes maintenance of Yersinia pestis in fleas. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2014; 161:628-38. [PMID: 25533446 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, can be transmitted by fleas by two different mechanisms: by early-phase transmission (EPT), which occurs shortly after flea infection, or by blocked fleas following long-term infection. Efficient flea-borne transmission is predicated upon the ability of Y. pestis to be maintained within the flea. Signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM) was used to identify genes required for Y. pestis maintenance in a genuine plague vector, Xenopsylla cheopis. The STM screen identified seven mutants that displayed markedly reduced fitness in fleas after 4 days, the time during which EPT occurs. Two of the mutants contained insertions in genes encoding glucose 1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (galU) and UDP-4-amino-4-deoxy-l-arabinose-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (arnB), which are involved in the modification of lipid A with 4-amino-4-deoxy-l-arabinose (Ara4N) and resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs). These Y. pestis mutants were more susceptible to the CAMPs cecropin A and polymyxin B, and produced lipid A lacking Ara4N modifications. Surprisingly, an in-frame deletion of arnB retained modest levels of CAMP resistance and Ara4N modification, indicating the presence of compensatory factors. It was determined that WecE, an aminotransferase involved in biosynthesis of enterobacterial common antigen, plays a novel role in Y. pestis Ara4N modification by partially offsetting the loss of arnB. These results indicated that mechanisms of Ara4N modification of lipid A are more complex than previously thought, and these modifications, as well as several factors yet to be elucidated, play an important role in early survival and transmission of Y. pestis in the flea vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari L Aoyagi
- University of Utah Department of Pathology, 2100 JMRB, 15 North Medical Drive East, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Benjamin D Brooks
- University of Utah Department of Pathology, 2100 JMRB, 15 North Medical Drive East, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Scott W Bearden
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - John A Montenieri
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Kenneth L Gage
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Mark A Fisher
- University of Utah Department of Pathology, 2100 JMRB, 15 North Medical Drive East, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, 500 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
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23
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Ford DC, Joshua GWP, Wren BW, Oyston PCF. The importance of the magnesium transporter MgtB for virulence of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia pestis. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2014; 160:2710-2717. [PMID: 25234474 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.080556-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Mg(2+) has been shown to be an important signal controlling gene regulation via the PhoPQ two-component regulatory system for a range of Gram-negative bacteria, including Yersinia pestis and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. The magnesium ion transporter MgtB is part of the complex PhoPQ regulon, being upregulated in response to low Mg(2+). Despite the presence of other Mg(2+) transport systems in Yersinia, inactivation of mgtB had a significant effect on the ability of the bacteria to scavenge this crucial ion. Whereas inactivation of PhoPQ is reported to adversely affect intracellular survival, we show that Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis ΔmgtB mutants survived equally as well as the respective parent strain within macrophages, although they were more sensitive to killing in the Galleria model of infection. Surprisingly, despite MgtB being only one member of the Mg(2+) stimulon and PhoPQ controlling the expression levels of a range of genes including mgtB, the Yersinia ΔmgtB mutants were more highly attenuated than the equivalent Yersinia ΔphoP mutants in mouse models of infection. MgtB may be a suitable target for development of novel antimicrobials, and investigation of its role may help elucidate the contribution of this component of the PhoPQ regulon to pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna C Ford
- Biomedical Sciences, Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK
| | - George W P Joshua
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Brendan W Wren
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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24
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Reboul A, Lemaître N, Titecat M, Merchez M, Deloison G, Ricard I, Pradel E, Marceau M, Sebbane F. Yersinia pestis requires the 2-component regulatory system OmpR-EnvZ to resist innate immunity during the early and late stages of plague. J Infect Dis 2014; 210:1367-75. [PMID: 24813471 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Plague is transmitted by fleas or contaminated aerosols. To successfully produce disease, the causal agent (Yersinia pestis) must rapidly sense and respond to rapid variations in its environment. Here, we investigated the role of 2-component regulatory systems (2CSs) in plague because the latter are known to be key players in bacterial adaptation to environmental change. Along with the previously studied PhoP-PhoQ system, OmpR-EnvZ was the only one of Y. pestis' 23 other 2CSs required for production of bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic plague. In vitro, OmpR-EnvZ was needed to counter serum complement and leukocytes but was not required for the secretion of antiphagocyte exotoxins. In vivo, Y. pestis lacking OmpR-EnvZ did not induce an early immune response in the skin and was fully virulent in neutropenic mice. We conclude that, throughout the course of Y. pestis infection, OmpR-EnvZ is required to counter toxic effectors secreted by polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angéline Reboul
- Plague and Yersinia pestis Group, INSERM U1019 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8204 Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille Université Lille Nord de France Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Université du Droit et de la Santé de Lille
| | - Nadine Lemaître
- Plague and Yersinia pestis Group, INSERM U1019 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8204 Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille Université Lille Nord de France Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Université du Droit et de la Santé de Lille Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille, France
| | - Marie Titecat
- Plague and Yersinia pestis Group, INSERM U1019 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8204 Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille Université Lille Nord de France Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Université du Droit et de la Santé de Lille Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille, France
| | - Maud Merchez
- Plague and Yersinia pestis Group, INSERM U1019 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8204 Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille Université Lille Nord de France Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Université du Droit et de la Santé de Lille
| | - Gaspard Deloison
- Plague and Yersinia pestis Group, INSERM U1019 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8204 Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille Université Lille Nord de France Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Université du Droit et de la Santé de Lille
| | - Isabelle Ricard
- Plague and Yersinia pestis Group, INSERM U1019 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8204 Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille Université Lille Nord de France Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Université du Droit et de la Santé de Lille
| | - Elizabeth Pradel
- Plague and Yersinia pestis Group, INSERM U1019 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8204 Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille Université Lille Nord de France Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Université du Droit et de la Santé de Lille
| | - Michaël Marceau
- Plague and Yersinia pestis Group, INSERM U1019 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8204 Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille Université Lille Nord de France Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Université du Droit et de la Santé de Lille
| | - Florent Sebbane
- Plague and Yersinia pestis Group, INSERM U1019 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8204 Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille Université Lille Nord de France Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Université du Droit et de la Santé de Lille
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25
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Suntsov VV. Ecological aspects of the origin of Yersinia pestis, causative agent of the plague: Concept of intermediate environment. CONTEMP PROBL ECOL+ 2014. [DOI: 10.1134/s1995425514010144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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26
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Human and animal isolates of Yersinia enterocolitica show significant serotype-specific colonization and host-specific immune defense properties. Infect Immun 2013; 81:4013-25. [PMID: 23959720 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00572-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Yersinia enterocolitica is a human pathogen that is ubiquitous in livestock, especially pigs. The bacteria are able to colonize the intestinal tract of a variety of mammalian hosts, but the severity of induced gut-associated diseases (yersiniosis) differs significantly between hosts. To gain more information about the individual virulence determinants that contribute to colonization and induction of immune responses in different hosts, we analyzed and compared the interactions of different human- and animal-derived isolates of serotypes O:3, O:5,27, O:8, and O:9 with murine, porcine, and human intestinal cells and macrophages. The examined strains exhibited significant serotype-specific cell binding and entry characteristics, but adhesion and uptake into different host cells were not host specific and were independent of the source of the isolate. In contrast, survival and replication within macrophages and the induced proinflammatory response differed between murine, porcine, and human macrophages, suggesting a host-specific immune response. In fact, similar levels of the proinflammatory cytokine macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) were secreted by murine bone marrow-derived macrophages with all tested isolates, but the equivalent interleukin-8 (IL-8) response of porcine bone marrow-derived macrophages was strongly serotype specific and considerably lower in O:3 than in O:8 strains. In addition, all tested Y. enterocolitica strains caused a considerably higher level of secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by porcine than by murine macrophages. This could contribute to limiting the severity of the infection (in particular of serotype O:3 strains) in pigs, which are the primary reservoir of Y. enterocolitica strains pathogenic to humans.
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Abstract
Phagocytosis and phagosome maturation are crucial processes in biology. Phagocytosis and the subsequent digestion of phagocytosed particles occur across a huge diversity of eukaryotes and can be achieved by many different cells within one organism. In parallel, diverse groups of pathogens have evolved mechanisms to avoid killing by phagocytic cells. The present review discusses a key innate immune cell, the macrophage, and highlights the myriad mechanisms microbes have established to escape phagocytic killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne M Smith
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K
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28
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Fernández L, Álvarez-Ortega C, Wiegand I, Olivares J, Kocíncová D, Lam JS, Martínez JL, Hancock REW. Characterization of the polymyxin B resistome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2013; 57:110-9. [PMID: 23070157 PMCID: PMC3535977 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01583-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2012] [Accepted: 10/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is increasingly becoming a threat for human health. Indeed, some strains are resistant to almost all currently available antibiotics, leaving very limited choices for antimicrobial therapy. In many such cases, polymyxins are the only available option, although as their utilization increases so does the isolation of resistant strains. In this study, we screened a comprehensive PA14 mutant library to identify genes involved in changes of susceptibility to polymyxin B in P. aeruginosa. Surprisingly, our screening revealed that the polymyxin B resistome of this microorganism is fairly small. Thus, only one resistant mutant and 17 different susceptibility/intrinsic resistance determinants were identified. Among the susceptible mutants, a significant number carried transposon insertions in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-related genes. LPS analysis revealed that four of these mutants (galU, lptC, wapR, and ssg) had an altered banding profile in SDS-polyacrylamide gels and Western blots, with three of them exhibiting LPS core truncation and lack of O-antigen decoration. Further characterization of these four mutants showed that their increased susceptibility to polymyxin B was partly due to increased basal outer membrane permeability. Additionally, these mutants also lacked the aminoarabinose-substituted lipid A species observed in the wild type upon growth in low magnesium. Overall, our results emphasize the importance of LPS integrity and lipid A modification in resistance to polymyxins in P. aeruginosa, highlighting the relevance of characterizing the genes that affect biosynthesis of cell surface structures in this pathogen to follow the evolution of peptide resistance in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Fernández
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Carolina Álvarez-Ortega
- Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, and CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irith Wiegand
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jorge Olivares
- Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, and CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dana Kocíncová
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joseph S. Lam
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - José Luis Martínez
- Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, and CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Robert E. W. Hancock
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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29
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Führing J, Damerow S, Fedorov R, Schneider J, Münster-Kühnel AK, Gerardy-Schahn R. Octamerization is essential for enzymatic function of human UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase. Glycobiology 2012; 23:426-37. [PMID: 23254995 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cws217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Uridine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP) occupies a central position in carbohydrate metabolism in all kingdoms of life, since its product uridine diphosphate-glucose (UDP-glucose) is essential in a number of anabolic and catabolic pathways and is a precursor for other sugar nucleotides. Its significance as a virulence factor in protists and bacteria has given momentum to the search for species-specific inhibitors. These attempts are, however, hampered by high structural conservation of the active site architecture. A feature that discriminates UGPs of different species is the quaternary organization. While UGPs in protists are monomers, di- and tetrameric forms exist in bacteria, and crystal structures obtained for the enzyme from yeast and human identified octameric UGPs. These octamers are formed by contacts between highly conserved amino acids in the C-terminal β-helix. Still under debate is the question whether octamerization is required for the functionality of the human enzyme. Here, we used single amino acid replacements in the C-terminal β-helix to interrogate the impact of highly conserved residues on octamer formation and functional activity of human UGP (hUGP). Replacements were guided by the sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana UGP, known to be active as a monomer. Correlating the data obtained in blue native PAGE, size exclusion chromatography and enzymatic activity testing, we prove that the octamer is the active enzyme form. This new insight into structure-function relationships in hUGP does not only improve the understanding of the catalysis of this important enzyme, but in addition broadens the basis for studies aimed at designing drugs that selectively inhibit UGPs from pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Führing
- Institute for Cellular Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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Knirel Y, Anisimov A. Lipopolysaccharide of Yersinia pestis, the Cause of Plague: Structure, Genetics, Biological Properties. Acta Naturae 2012; 4:46-58. [PMID: 23150803 PMCID: PMC3492934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The present review summarizes data pertaining to the composition and structure of the carbohydrate moiety (core oligosaccharide) and lipid component (lipid A) of the various forms of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), one of the major pathogenicity factors ofYersinia pestis, the cause of plague. The review addresses the functions and the biological significance of genes for the biosynthesis of LPS, as well as the biological properties of LPS in strains from various intraspecies groups ofY. pestis and their mutants, including the contribution of LPS to the resistance of bacteria to factors of the innate immunity of both insect-vectors and mammal-hosts. Special attention is paid to temperature-dependent variations in the LPS structure, their genetic control and roles in the pathogenesis of plague. The evolutionary aspect is considered based on a comparison of the structure and genetics of the LPS ofY. pestis and other enteric bacteria, including otherYersinia species. The prospects of development of live plague vaccines created on the basis ofY. pestis strains with the genetically modified LPS are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y.A. Knirel
- Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky
prospect, 47, Moscow, Russia, 119991
| | - A.P. Anisimov
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk,
Moscow Region, Russia, 142279
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