Cloning and characterization of the hemolysin determinants from Vibrio cholerae RV79(Hly+), RV79(Hly-), and 569B

Transcriptional Silencing by TsrA in the Evolution of Pathogenic Vibrio cholerae Biotypes

Pathogenic Vibrio cholerae strains express multiple virulence factors that are encoded by bacteriophage and chromosomal islands. These include cholera toxin and the intestinal colonization pilus called the toxin-coregulated pilus, which are essential for causing severe disease in humans. However, it is presently unclear how the expression of these horizontally acquired accessory virulence genes can be efficiently integrated with preexisting transcriptional programs that are presumably fine-tuned for optimal expression in V. cholerae before its conversion to a human pathogen. Here, we report the role of a transcriptional regulator (TsrA) in silencing horizontally acquired genes encoding important virulence factors. We propose that this factor could be critical to the efficient acquisition of accessory virulence genes by silencing their expression until other signals trigger their transcriptional activation within the host.

Vibrio cholerae is a globally important pathogen responsible for the severe epidemic diarrheal disease called cholera. The current and ongoing seventh pandemic of cholera is caused by El Tor strains, which have completely replaced the sixth-pandemic classical strains of V. cholerae. To successfully establish infection and disseminate to new victims, V. cholerae relies on key virulence factors encoded on horizontally acquired genetic elements. The expression of these factors relies on the regulatory architecture that coordinates the timely expression of virulence determinants during host infection. Here, we apply transcriptomics and structural modeling to understand how type VI secretion system regulator A (TsrA) affects gene expression in both the classical and El Tor biotypes of V. cholerae. We find that TsrA acts as a negative regulator of V. cholerae virulence genes encoded on horizontally acquired genetic elements. The TsrA regulon comprises genes encoding cholera toxin (CT), the toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP), and the type VI secretion system (T6SS), as well as genes involved in biofilm formation. The majority of the TsrA regulon is carried on horizontally acquired AT-rich genetic islands whose loss or acquisition could be directly ascribed to the differences between the classical and El Tor strains studied. Our modeling predicts that the TsrA protein is a structural homolog of the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein (H-NS) oligomerization domain and is likely capable of forming higher-order superhelical structures, potentially with DNA. These findings describe how TsrA can integrate into the intricate V. cholerae virulence gene expression program, controlling gene expression through transcriptional silencing.

The Vibrio cholerae flagellar regulatory hierarchy controls expression of virulence factors

Vibrio cholerae is a motile bacterium responsible for the disease cholera, and motility has been hypothesized to be inversely regulated with virulence. We examined the transcription profiles of V. cholerae strains containing mutations in flagellar regulatory genes (rpoN, flrA, flrC, and fliA) by utilizing whole-genome microarrays. Results revealed that flagellar transcription is organized into a four-tiered hierarchy. Additionally, genes with proven or putative roles in virulence (e.g., ctx, tcp, hemolysin, and type VI secretion genes) were upregulated in flagellar regulatory mutants, which was confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Flagellar regulatory mutants exhibit increased hemolysis of human erythrocytes, which was due to increased transcription of the thermolabile hemolysin (tlh). The flagellar regulatory system positively regulates transcription of a diguanylate cyclase, CdgD, which in turn regulates transcription of a novel hemagglutinin (frhA) that mediates adherence to chitin and epithelial cells and enhances biofilm formation and intestinal colonization in infant mice. Our results demonstrate that the flagellar regulatory system modulates the expression of nonflagellar genes, with induction of an adhesin that facilitates colonization within the intestine and repression of virulence factors maximally induced following colonization. These results suggest that the flagellar regulatory hierarchy facilitates correct spatiotemporal expression patterns for optimal V. cholerae colonization and disease progression.

Differences in gene expression between the classical and El Tor biotypes of Vibrio cholerae O1

Differences in whole-genome expression patterns between the classical and El Tor biotypes of Vibrio cholerae O1 were determined under conditions that induce virulence gene expression in the classical biotype. A total of 524 genes (13.5% of the genome) were found to be differentially expressed in the two biotypes. The expression of genes encoding proteins required for biofilm formation, chemotaxis, and transport of amino acids, peptides, and iron was higher in the El Tor biotype. These gene expression differences may contribute to the enhanced survival capacity of the El Tor biotype in environmental reservoirs. The expression of genes encoding virulence factors was higher in the classical than in the El Tor biotype. In addition, the vieSAB genes, which were originally identified as regulators of ctxA transcription, were expressed at a fivefold higher level in the classical biotype. We determined the VieA regulon in both biotypes by transcriptome comparison of wild-type and vieA deletion mutant strains. VieA predominantly regulates gene expression in the classical biotype; 401 genes (10.3% of the genome), including those encoding proteins required for virulence, exopolysaccharide biosynthesis, and flagellum production as well as those regulated by sigmaE, are differentially expressed in the classical vieA deletion mutant. In contrast, only five genes were regulated by VieA in the El Tor biotype. A large fraction (20.8%) of the genes that are differentially expressed in the classical versus the El Tor biotype are controlled by VieA in the classical biotype. Thus, VieA is a major regulator of genes in the classical biotype under virulence gene-inducing conditions.

HlyA hemolysin of Vibrio cholerae O1 biotype E1 Tor. Identification of the hemolytic complex and evidence for the formation of anion-selective ion-permeable channels

Hemolysin (HlyA) was concentrated from supernatants of different Vibrio cholerae O1 biotype E1 Tor strains by ammonium sulfate precipitation. The concentration of the toxin in the supernatants and in the precipitates was quantified using its hemolytic activity. The toxin formed a high molecular-mass band (about 220 kDa) on SDS/PAGE while the toxin monomer had a molecular mass of 60 kDa when it was heated. The addition of the E1 Tor hemolysin oligomers, but not that of the monomers, to the aqueous phase bathing lipid bilayer membranes resulted in the formation of ion-permeable channels, which had long lifetimes at small voltages. The hemolysin channel had a single-channel conductance of 350 pS in 1 M KCl. These results defined hemolysin (HlyA) from V. cholerae as a channel-forming component with properties similar to other cytolytic toxins. The long lifetime of the channel suggested that the channel-forming oligomer did not show a rapid association/dissociation reaction. At voltages larger than 50 mV, the hemolysin channel was voltage dependent in an asymmetric fashion dependent on the side of its addition. The single-channel conductance of the hemolysin (HlyA) from V. cholerae O1 biotype E1 Tor channel was a linear function of the bulk aqueous conductance, which suggested that the toxin forms aqueous channels with an estimated minimum diameter of about 0.7 nm. The hemolysin channel of V. cholerae was found to be moderately anion-selective. The pore-forming properties of hemolysin (HlyA) from V. cholerae O1 biotype E1 Tor were compared with those of aerolysin of Aeromonas sobria and alpha-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus. All these cytolytic toxins must probably oligomerize for activity in biological and artificial membranes and form anion-selective channels.

Transcription of the Vibrio cholerae haemolysin gene, hlyA, and cloning of a positive regulatory locus, hlyU

Transcription of the Vibrio cholerae hlyA gene, which encodes a cytotoxic haemolysin, has been investigated. The hlyA transcript initiates 430 nucleotides (nt) upstream of the translational start site. hlyA-cat transcriptional fusion constructs were active in V. cholerae but not in Escherichia coli. An hlyA-cat fusion was used to select, from a V. cholerae O17 plasmid library, a clone that could activate the hlyA promoter in E. coli. This regulatory locus has been designated hlyU. hlyU appears to be distinct from the previously described hlyR locus.

Two-step processing for activation of the cytolysin/hemolysin of Vibrio cholerae O1 biotype El Tor: nucleotide sequence of the structural gene (hlyA) and characterization of the processed products

Vibrio cholerae O1 biotype El Tor produces and secretes a 65-kDa cytolysin/hemolysin into the culture medium. We cloned the structural gene (hlyA) for the cytolysin from the total DNA of a V. cholerae O1 El Tor strain, N86. Nucleotide sequence analysis of hlyA revealed an open reading frame consisting of 2,223 bp which can code for a protein of 741 amino acids with a molecular weight of 81,961. Consistent with this, a 79-kDa protein was identified as the product of hlyA by maxicell analysis in Escherichia coli. N-terminal amino acids of this 79-kDa HlyA protein and those of a 65-kDa El Tor cytolysin purified from V. cholerae were Asn-26 and Asn-158, respectively. The 82- and 79-kDa precursors of the 65-kDa mature cytolysin were found in V. cholerae by pulse-chase labeling and Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of hlyA products. Hemolytic activity of the 79-kDa HlyA protein from E. coli was less than 5% that for the 65-kDa cytolysin from V. cholerae. Our results suggest that in V. cholerae, the 82-kDa preprotoxin synthesized in the cytoplasm is secreted through the membranes into the culture medium as the 79-kDa inactive protoxin after cleavage of the signal peptide and is then further processed into the 65-kDa active cytolysin by release of the N-terminal 15-kDa fragment.

Vibrio cholerae HlyA hemolysin is processed by proteolysis

The leukocidal activity of the Vibrio cholerae hemolysin (HlyA) was utilized to detect, enrich, and clone hybridoma cells expressing neutralizing monoclonal antibody in a new survivor selection protocol. A bank of 550 hybridoma clones was obtained from a mouse immunized with hemolysin by using standard techniques. The hybridoma bank was treated with a dose of HlyA hemolysin lethal to nonimmune clones. Five surviving hybridoma clones (X1 through X5) which possessed anti-HlyA activity were obtained. Western immunoblot analysis of V. cholerae culture supernatants with monoclonal antibody from clone X1 identified proteins with Mrs of 83,200, 71,600, and 60,300. Amino-terminal sequence analysis of the 71,600-Mr and 60,300-Mr forms showed homology with the published predicted sequence of HlyA. Our data indicate that proteolytic cleavage occurs between residues 120 and 121 (Glu-Leu) of the 83,200-Mr form, producing the 71,600-Mr form with the terminus NH2-L-L-F-T-P-F-D-Q-A-E-E-. Cleavage between residues 150 and 151 (Gly-Phe) releases the 60,300-Mr form with the terminus NH2-F-A-S-P-A-P-A-N-S-E-. Calculations based on the DNA sequence and the N termini indicated that the actual molecular masses of the 83,200-, 71,600-, and 60,300-Mr forms were, respectively, 79.4 kilodaltons (kDa), 68.6 kDa, and 65.3 kDa. Survivor selection and amino-terminal microsequencing offer powerful tools for the analysis of leukotoxic agents.

Biotype-specific probe for Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1

The O1 serogroup of Vibrio cholerae can be divided into two biotypes, El Tor and Classical. Current tests to distinguish between these biotypes are often difficult to interpret. On the basis of the difference in sequence of the hlyA gene in these biotypes, we have developed a simple probe that can easily and reliably differentiate between the two biotypes.

Bioactivity and immunological characterization of a cholera toxin-cross-reactive cytolytic enterotoxin from Aeromonas hydrophila

A cytolytic enterotoxin of molecular weight 52,000 was isolated and purified from culture supernatants of a human diarrheal isolate (SSU) of Aeromonas hydrophila. The toxin reacted with cholera antitoxin when tested in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis. The appearance of cytotoxic and hemolytic activities in culture supernatant occurred simultaneously 8 h after the initial inoculation of the culture. Loss of hemolytic activity and cholera toxin cross-reactivity was correlated with heat and pH inactivation. Homologous antibodies neutralized the cytotoxic and hemolytic activities associated with the toxin, but cholera antitoxin did not neutralize these activities. The toxin also possessed enterotoxic activity as demonstrated by fluid accumulation in rabbit ligated intestinal loops. When purified cytolytic enterotoxin was injected intravenously into mice, death occurred within 2 min, whereas mice injected with whole cells or sonicated cell fragments died after several hours or days. Results from 51Cr release experiments demonstrated that the cytolytic enterotoxin had significant membrane-damaging capability. These results indicated that the cytolytic and enterotoxic activities expressed by the described A. hydrophila toxin may contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of disease associated with A. hydrophila.

Iron-regulated hemolysin production and utilization of heme and hemoglobin by Vibrio cholerae

El Tor and non-O1 strains of Vibrio cholerae were analyzed to determine whether synthesis of secreted hemolysin was influenced by the concentration of iron in the medium. Synthesis of hemolysin was found to be iron regulated in both El Tor and non-O1 isolates. Increased levels of hemolytic activity were detected in supernatants of iron-starved cells. Spontaneous hemolysin-deficient mutants of one non-O1 strain were found to occur at high frequency. These variants also failed to synthesize vibriobactin, the iron transport compound utilized by V. cholerae. Another non-O1 strain was found to synthesize both hemolysin and vibriobactin constitutively. When the cloned Escherichia coli fur gene, encoded on the plasmid pABN203, was introduced into this constitutive strain, normal iron regulation of both hemolysin and vibriobactin was reestablished. The ability of V. cholerae to utilize mammalian iron compounds was determined, and it was found that both hemin and hemoglobin could serve as sole sources of iron.

Extracellular proteins of Vibrio cholerae: nucleotide sequence of the structural gene (hlyA) for the haemolysin of the haemolytic El Tor strain 017 and characterization of the hlyA mutation in the non-haemolytic classical strain 569B

The EI T or haemolysin, product of hlyA, is exported from Vibrio cholerae as a Mr 80,000 protein which can be subsequently cleaved to give two proteins of Mr 65,000 and 15,000. Nucleotide sequence analysis has demonstrated that hlyA encodes a protein of Mr 82,250 with a potential 18-amino-acid signal sequence. The non-haemolytic classical strain 569B has been shown to have a structural gene defect rather than a defect in secretion. By non-reciprocal recombination it was possible to transfer this defect onto a plasmid and show that a truncated hlyA product of Mr 27,000 is made in Escherichia coli K-12 minicells. Nucleotide sequence analysis demonstrates an 11-base-pair deletion which would result in a Mr 26,940 protein probably loosely associated with the membrane.

Nucleotide sequences and comparison of the hemolysin determinants of Vibrio cholerae El Tor RV79(Hly+) and RV79(Hly-) and classical 569B(Hly-)

We determined the nucleotide sequences of the hemolysin structural gene, hlyA, of Vibrio cholerae El Tor biotype strains RV79(Hly+) and RV79(Hly-) and the hly determinant of the nonhemolytic classical biotype strain 569B(Hly-). The sequences of the hlyA gene from El Tor strains RV79(Hly+) and RV79(Hly-) have an identical 2,223-base open reading frame which is predicted to encode an 81,977-dalton precursor form of hemolysin. This value is in excellent agreement with the 84,000-Mr hemolysin described in the earlier report of Goldberg and Murphy (S. L. Goldberg and J. R. Murphy, J. Bacteriol. 162:35-41, 1985). In contrast, the sequence of the hly determinant of the classical 569B(Hly-) strain has an 11-base-pair deletion within the hlyA structural gene. In this instance the hly determinant is predicted to encode a 26,765-dalton precursor form of a truncated hemolysin. In each case, the regulatory region encoding the putative hlyA promoter and the predicted 25-amino-acid signal sequence are identical.

Genetics of Vibrio cholerae and its bacteriophages

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Hemolysin production and cloning of two hemolysin determinants from classical Vibrio cholerae

The hemolytic activity of 20 classical and 3 El Tor strains of V. cholerae O1 was examined phenotypically and genetically. The El Tor strains lysed bovine, chicken, human, rabbit, and sheep erythrocytes (RBCs), while the classical strains lysed only chicken and rabbit RBCs. The assay was done with RBCs in Tris-NaCl buffer, since phosphate-buffered saline was found to inhibit hemolytic activity. Hemolytic activity in culture supernatants from El Tor strains was more sensitive to heat inactivation than that in supernatants from the classical strain 395. A gene library of strain 395 was examined for hemolytic activity, and two distinct hemolytic clones were identified. One clone appeared identical to the previously cloned hemolysin structural gene from El Tor V. cholerae, while the other did not hybridize to the El Tor hemolysin probe, had a unique restriction enzyme digestion pattern, and encoded a hemolysin whose activity differed from that of the El Tor hemolysin clones. We suggest that the hemolysin specified by the determinant originally cloned from an El Tor vibrio be designated hemolysin I and the second hemolysin, cloned from the classical vibrio, be designated hemolysin II.

Identity of hemolysins produced by Vibrio cholerae non-O1 and V. cholerae O1, biotype El Tor

Hemolysins purified from non-O1 Vibrio cholerae (non-O1 hemolysin) and a Vibrio cholerae O1, biotype El Tor (El Tor hemolysin) were investigated for their homology. The hemolysins were isolated from the culture supernatant fluids by ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 columns. The purified hemolysins gave single bands with an identical mobility on conventional polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. The molecular weights of the non-O1 and El Tor hemolysins were estimated to be about 60,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the amino acid compositions of the hemolysins were very similar. The specific activities of the hemolysins were identical, and both hemolysins were neutralized to the same extent with antisera against the homologous and heterologous hemolysins. Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion tests with both hemolysins and antihemolysin serum gave a common (fused) precipitin line. These data indicate that the non-O1 hemolysin is biologically, physicochemically, and immunologically indistinguishable from the El Tor hemolysin.