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Lesne E, Coutte L, Solans L, Slupek S, Debrie AS, Dhennin V, Froguel P, Hot D, Locht C, Antoine R, Jacob-Dubuisson F. Distinct virulence ranges for infection of mice by Bordetella pertussis revealed by engineering of the sensor-kinase BvgS. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204861. [PMID: 30307950 PMCID: PMC6181320 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The whooping cough agent Bordetella pertussis coordinately regulates the expression of its virulence factors with the two-component system BvgAS. In laboratory conditions, specific chemical modulators are used to trigger phenotypic modulation of B. pertussis from its default virulent Bvg+ phase to avirulent Bvg- or intermediate Bvgi phases, in which no virulence factors or only a subset of them are produced, respectively. Whether phenotypic modulation occurs in the host remains unknown. In this work, recombinant B. pertussis strains harboring BvgS variants were tested in a mouse model of infection and analyzed using transcriptomic approaches. Recombinant BP-BvgΔ65, which is in the Bvgi phase by default and can be up-modulated to the Bvg+ phase in vitro, could colonize the mouse nose but was rapidly cleared from the lungs, while Bvg+-phase strains colonized both organs for up to four weeks. These results indicated that phenotypic modulation, which might have restored the full virulence capability of BP-BvgΔ65, does not occur in mice or is temporally or spatially restricted and has no effect in those conditions. Transcriptomic analyses of this and other recombinant Bvgi and Bvg+-phase strains revealed that two distinct ranges of virulence gene expression allow colonization of the mouse nose and lungs, respectively. We also showed that a recombinant strain expressing moderately lower levels of the virulence genes than its wild type parent was as efficient at colonizing both organs. Altogether, genetic modifications of BvgS generate a range of phenotypic phases, which are useful tools to decipher host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Lesne
- Univ. Lille, Lille, France
- CNRS UMR 8204, Lille, France
- Inserm U1019, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Loic Coutte
- Univ. Lille, Lille, France
- CNRS UMR 8204, Lille, France
- Inserm U1019, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Luis Solans
- Univ. Lille, Lille, France
- CNRS UMR 8204, Lille, France
- Inserm U1019, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Stephanie Slupek
- Univ. Lille, Lille, France
- CNRS UMR 8204, Lille, France
- Inserm U1019, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Debrie
- Univ. Lille, Lille, France
- CNRS UMR 8204, Lille, France
- Inserm U1019, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Véronique Dhennin
- Univ. Lille, Lille, France
- CNRS UMR 8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes, Lille, France
| | - Philippe Froguel
- Univ. Lille, Lille, France
- CNRS UMR 8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes, Lille, France
| | - David Hot
- Univ. Lille, Lille, France
- CNRS UMR 8204, Lille, France
- Inserm U1019, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Camille Locht
- Univ. Lille, Lille, France
- CNRS UMR 8204, Lille, France
- Inserm U1019, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Rudy Antoine
- Univ. Lille, Lille, France
- CNRS UMR 8204, Lille, France
- Inserm U1019, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, Lille, France
- * E-mail: (RA); (FJD)
| | - Françoise Jacob-Dubuisson
- Univ. Lille, Lille, France
- CNRS UMR 8204, Lille, France
- Inserm U1019, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, Lille, France
- * E-mail: (RA); (FJD)
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Guragain M, Jennings-Gee J, Cattelan N, Finger M, Conover MS, Hollis T, Deora R. The Transcriptional Regulator BpsR Controls the Growth of Bordetella bronchiseptica by Repressing Genes Involved in Nicotinic Acid Degradation. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:JB.00712-17. [PMID: 29581411 PMCID: PMC5971473 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00712-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many of the pathogenic species of the genus Bordetella have an absolute requirement for nicotinic acid (NA) for laboratory growth. These Gram-negative bacteria also harbor a gene cluster homologous to the nic cluster of Pseudomonas putida which is involved in the aerobic degradation of NA and its transcriptional control. We report here that BpsR, a negative regulator of biofilm formation and Bps polysaccharide production, controls the growth of Bordetella bronchiseptica by repressing the expression of nic genes. The severe growth defect of the ΔbpsR strain in Stainer-Scholte medium was restored by supplementation with NA, which also functioned as an inducer of nic genes at low micromolar concentrations that are usually present in animals and humans. Purified BpsR protein bound to the nic promoter region, and its DNA binding activity was inhibited by 6-hydroxynicotinic acid (6-HNA), the first metabolite of the NA degradative pathway. Reporter assays with the isogenic mutant derivative of the wild-type (WT) strain harboring deletion in nicA, which encodes a putative nicotinic acid hydroxylase responsible for conversion of NA to 6-HNA, showed that 6-HNA is the actual inducer of the nic genes in the bacterial cell. Gene expression profiling further showed that BpsR dually activated and repressed the expression of genes associated with pathogenesis, transcriptional regulation, metabolism, and other cellular processes. We discuss the implications of these findings with respect to the selection of pyridines such as NA and quinolinic acid for optimum bacterial growth depending on the ecological niche.IMPORTANCE BpsR, the previously described regulator of biofilm formation and Bps polysaccharide production, controls Bordetella bronchiseptica growth by regulating the expression of genes involved in the degradation of nicotinic acid (NA). 6-Hydroxynicotinic acid (6-HNA), the first metabolite of the NA degradation pathway prevented BpsR from binding to DNA and was the actual in vivo inducer. We hypothesize that BpsR enables Bordetella bacteria to efficiently and selectively utilize NA for their survival depending on the environment in which they reside. The results reported herein lay the foundation for future investigations of how BpsR and the alteration of its activity by NA orchestrate the control of Bordetella growth, metabolism, biofilm formation, and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manita Guragain
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jamie Jennings-Gee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Natalia Cattelan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales (CINDEFI, CONICET-CCT-La Plata), Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Mary Finger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Matt S Conover
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Thomas Hollis
- Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rajendar Deora
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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3
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Little DJ, Milek S, Bamford NC, Ganguly T, DiFrancesco BR, Nitz M, Deora R, Howell PL. The protein BpsB is a poly-β-1,6-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine deacetylase required for biofilm formation in Bordetella bronchiseptica. J Biol Chem 2015. [PMID: 26203190 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.672469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella bronchiseptica are the causative agents of whooping cough in humans and a variety of respiratory diseases in animals, respectively. Bordetella species produce an exopolysaccharide, known as the Bordetella polysaccharide (Bps), which is encoded by the bpsABCD operon. Bps is required for Bordetella biofilm formation, colonization of the respiratory tract, and confers protection from complement-mediated killing. In this report, we have investigated the role of BpsB in the biosynthesis of Bps and biofilm formation by B. bronchiseptica. BpsB is a two-domain protein that localizes to the periplasm and outer membrane. BpsB displays metal- and length-dependent deacetylation on poly-β-1,6-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (PNAG) oligomers, supporting previous immunogenic data that suggests Bps is a PNAG polymer. BpsB can use a variety of divalent metal cations for deacetylase activity and showed highest activity in the presence of Ni(2+) and Co(2+). The structure of the BpsB deacetylase domain is similar to the PNAG deacetylases PgaB and IcaB and contains the same circularly permuted family four carbohydrate esterase motifs. Unlike PgaB from Escherichia coli, BpsB is not required for polymer export and has unique structural differences that allow the N-terminal deacetylase domain to be active when purified in isolation from the C-terminal domain. Our enzymatic characterizations highlight the importance of conserved active site residues in PNAG deacetylation and demonstrate that the C-terminal domain is required for maximal deacetylation of longer PNAG oligomers. Furthermore, we show that BpsB is critical for the formation and complex architecture of B. bronchiseptica biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin J Little
- From the Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, the Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Sonja Milek
- the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, and
| | - Natalie C Bamford
- From the Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, the Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Tridib Ganguly
- the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, and
| | | | - Mark Nitz
- the Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Rajendar Deora
- the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, and
| | - P Lynne Howell
- From the Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, the Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada,
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Prajapat MK, Saini S. Role of feedback and network architecture in controlling virulence gene expression in Bordetella. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2014; 9:2635-44. [PMID: 24056999 DOI: 10.1039/c3mb70213h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Bordetella is a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for causing whooping cough in a broad range of host organisms. For successful infection, Bordetella controls expression of four distinct classes of genes (referred to as class 1, 2, 3, and 4 genes) at distinct times in the infection cycle. This control is executed by a single two-component system, BvgAS. Interestingly, the transmembrane component of the two-component system, BvgS, consists of three phospho-transfer domains leading to phosphorylation of the response regulator, BvgA. Phosphorylated BvgA then controls expression of virulence genes and also controls bvgAS transcription. In this work, we perform simulations to characterize the role of the network architecture in governing gene expression in Bordetella. Our results show that the wild-type network is locally optimal for controlling the timing of expression of the different classes of genes involved in infection. In addition, the interplay between environmental signals and positive feedback aids the bacterium identify precise conditions for and control expression of virulence genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahendra Kumar Prajapat
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai - 400076, Maharashtra, India.
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5
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Comparative analyses of a cystic fibrosis isolate of Bordetella bronchiseptica reveal differences in important pathogenic phenotypes. Infect Immun 2014; 82:1627-37. [PMID: 24470470 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01453-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Bordetella bronchiseptica is a Gram-negative bacterium that infects and causes disease in a wide variety of animals. B. bronchiseptica also infects humans, thereby demonstrating zoonotic transmission. An extensive characterization of human B. bronchiseptica isolates is needed to better understand the distinct genetic and phenotypic traits associated with these zoonotic transmission events. Using whole-genome transcriptome and CGH analysis, we report that a B. bronchiseptica cystic fibrosis isolate, T44625, contains a distinct genomic content of virulence-associated genes and differentially expresses these genes compared to the sequenced model laboratory strain RB50, a rabbit isolate. The differential gene expression pattern correlated with unique phenotypes exhibited by T44625, which included lower motility, increased aggregation, hyperbiofilm formation, and an increased in vitro capacity to adhere to respiratory epithelial cells. Using a mouse intranasal infection model, we found that although defective in establishing high bacterial burdens early during the infection process, T44625 persisted efficiently in the mouse nose. By documenting the unique genomic and phenotypic attributes of T44625, this report provides a blueprint for understanding the successful zoonotic potential of B. bronchiseptica and other zoonotic bacteria.
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6
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D-alanine modification of a protease-susceptible outer membrane component by the Bordetella pertussis dra locus promotes resistance to antimicrobial peptides and polymorphonuclear leukocyte-mediated killing. J Bacteriol 2013; 195:5102-11. [PMID: 24013634 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00510-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bordetella pertussis is the causative agent of pertussis, a highly contagious disease of the human respiratory tract. Despite very high vaccine coverage, pertussis has reemerged as a serious threat in the United States and many developing countries. Thus, it is important to pursue research to discover unknown pathogenic mechanisms of B. pertussis. We have investigated a previously uncharacterized locus in B. pertussis, the dra locus, which is homologous to the dlt operons of Gram-positive bacteria. The absence of the dra locus resulted in increased sensitivity to the killing action of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and human phagocytes. Compared to the wild-type cells, the mutant cells bound higher levels of cationic proteins and peptides, suggesting that dra contributes to AMP resistance by decreasing the electronegativity of the cell surface. The presence of dra led to the incorporation of d-alanine into an outer membrane component that is susceptible to proteinase K cleavage. We conclude that dra encodes a virulence-associated determinant and contributes to the immune resistance of B. pertussis. With these findings, we have identified a new mechanism of surface modification in B. pertussis which may also be relevant in other Gram-negative pathogens.
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King AJ, van der Lee S, Mohangoo A, van Gent M, van der Ark A, van de Waterbeemd B. Genome-wide gene expression analysis of Bordetella pertussis isolates associated with a resurgence in pertussis: elucidation of factors involved in the increased fitness of epidemic strains. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66150. [PMID: 23776625 PMCID: PMC3679012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 05/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis) is the causative agent of whooping cough, which is a highly contagious disease in the human respiratory tract. Despite vaccination since the 1950s, pertussis remains the most prevalent vaccine-preventable disease in developed countries. A recent resurgence pertussis is associated with the expansion of B. pertussis strains with a novel allele for the pertussis toxin (ptx) promoter ptxP3 in place of resident ptxP1 strains. The recent expansion of ptxP3 strains suggests that these strains carry mutations that have increased their fitness. Compared to the ptxP1 strains, ptxP3 strains produce more Ptx, which results in increased virulence and immune suppression. In this study, we investigated the contribution of gene expression changes of various genes on the increased fitness of the ptxP3 strains. Using genome-wide gene expression profiling, we show that several virulence genes had higher expression levels in the ptxP3 strains compared to the ptxP1 strains. We provide the first evidence that wildtype ptxP3 strains are better colonizers in an intranasal mouse infection model. This study shows that the ptxP3 mutation and the genetic background of ptxP3 strains affect fitness by contributing to the ability to colonize in a mouse infection model. These results show that the genetic background of ptxP3 strains with a higher expression of virulence genes contribute to increased fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey J. King
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Screening (LIS) Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Saskia van der Lee
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Screening (LIS) Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Archena Mohangoo
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Screening (LIS) Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein van Gent
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Screening (LIS) Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Arno van der Ark
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Department of Vaccinology, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Bas van de Waterbeemd
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Department of Vaccinology, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Nicholson TL, Conover MS, Deora R. Transcriptome profiling reveals stage-specific production and requirement of flagella during biofilm development in Bordetella bronchiseptica. PLoS One 2012; 7:e49166. [PMID: 23152870 PMCID: PMC3495763 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2012] [Accepted: 10/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We have used microarray analysis to study the transcriptome of the bacterial pathogen Bordetella bronchiseptica over the course of five time points representing distinct stages of biofilm development. The results suggest that B. bronchiseptica undergoes a coordinately regulated gene expression program similar to a bacterial developmental process. Expression and subsequent production of the genes encoding flagella, a classical Bvg− phase phenotype, occurs and is under tight regulatory control during B. bronchiseptica biofilm development. Using mutational analysis, we demonstrate that flagella production at the appropriate stage of biofilm development, i.e. production early subsequently followed by repression, is required for robust biofilm formation and maturation. We also demonstrate that flagella are necessary and enhance the initial cell-surface interactions, thereby providing mechanistic information on the initial stages of biofilm development for B. bronchiseptica. Biofilm formation by B. bronchiseptica involves the production of both Bvg-activated and Bvg-repressed factors followed by the repression of factors that inhibit formation of mature biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy L. Nicholson
- National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RD); (TLN)
| | - Matt S. Conover
- Program in Molecular Genetics, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Rajendar Deora
- Program in Molecular Genetics, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RD); (TLN)
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BpsR modulates Bordetella biofilm formation by negatively regulating the expression of the Bps polysaccharide. J Bacteriol 2011; 194:233-42. [PMID: 22056934 DOI: 10.1128/jb.06020-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bordetella bacteria are Gram-negative respiratory pathogens of animals, birds, and humans. A hallmark feature of some Bordetella species is their ability to efficiently survive in the respiratory tract even after vaccination. Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella pertussis form biofilms on abiotic surfaces and in the mouse respiratory tract. The Bps exopolysaccharide is one of the critical determinants for biofilm formation and the survival of Bordetella in the murine respiratory tract. In order to gain a better understanding of regulation of biofilm formation, we sought to study the mechanism by which Bps expression is controlled in Bordetella. Expression of bpsABCD (bpsA-D) is elevated in biofilms compared with levels in planktonically grown cells. We found that bpsA-D is expressed independently of BvgAS. Subsequently, we identified an open reading frame (ORF), BB1771 (designated here bpsR), that is located upstream of and in the opposite orientation to the bpsA-D locus. BpsR is homologous to the MarR family of transcriptional regulators. Measurement of bpsA and bpsD transcripts and the Bps polysaccharide levels from the wild-type and the ΔbpsR strains suggested that BpsR functions as a repressor. Consistent with enhanced production of Bps, the bpsR mutant displayed considerably more structured biofilms. We mapped the bpsA-D promoter region and showed that purified BpsR protein specifically bound to the bpsA-D promoter. Our results provide mechanistic insights into the regulatory strategy employed by Bordetella for control of the production of the Bps polysaccharide and biofilm formation.
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10
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Herrou J, Debrie AS, Willery E, Renaud-Mongénie G, Locht C, Mooi F, Jacob-Dubuisson F, Antoine R. Molecular evolution of the two-component system BvgAS involved in virulence regulation in Bordetella. PLoS One 2009; 4:e6996. [PMID: 19750014 PMCID: PMC2737282 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2009] [Accepted: 07/27/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The whooping cough agent Bordetella pertussis is closely related to Bordetella bronchiseptica, which is responsible for chronic respiratory infections in various mammals and is occasionally found in humans, and to Bordetella parapertussis, one lineage of which causes mild whooping cough in humans and the other ovine respiratory infections. All three species produce similar sets of virulence factors that are co-regulated by the two-component system BvgAS. We characterized the molecular diversity of BvgAS in Bordetella by sequencing the two genes from a large number of diverse isolates. The response regulator BvgA is virtually invariant, indicating strong functional constraints. In contrast, the multi-domain sensor kinase BvgS has evolved into two different types. The pertussis type is found in B. pertussis and in a lineage of essentially human-associated B. bronchiseptica, while the bronchiseptica type is associated with the majority of B. bronchiseptica and both ovine and human B. parapertussis. BvgS is monomorphic in B. pertussis, suggesting optimal adaptation or a recent population bottleneck. The degree of diversity of the bronchiseptica type BvgS is markedly different between domains, indicating distinct evolutionary pressures. Thus, absolute conservation of the putative solute-binding cavities of the two periplasmic Venus Fly Trap (VFT) domains suggests that common signals are perceived in all three species, while the external surfaces of these domains vary more extensively. Co-evolution of the surfaces of the two VFT domains in each type and domain swapping experiments indicate that signal transduction in the periplasmic region may be type-specific. The two distinct evolutionary solutions for BvgS confirm that B. pertussis has emerged from a specific B. bronchiseptica lineage. The invariant regions of BvgS point to essential parts for its molecular mechanism, while the variable regions may indicate adaptations to different lifestyles. The repertoire of BvgS sequences will pave the way for functional analyses of this prototypic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Herrou
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM-U629), Lille, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche (IFR142), Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Debrie
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM-U629), Lille, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche (IFR142), Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Eve Willery
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM-U629), Lille, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche (IFR142), Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | | | - Camille Locht
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM-U629), Lille, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche (IFR142), Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Frits Mooi
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Françoise Jacob-Dubuisson
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM-U629), Lille, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche (IFR142), Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Rudy Antoine
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM-U629), Lille, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche (IFR142), Lille, France
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
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11
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Nicholson TL. Construction and validation of a first-generation Bordetella bronchiseptica long-oligonucleotide microarray by transcriptional profiling the Bvg regulon. BMC Genomics 2007; 8:220. [PMID: 17617915 PMCID: PMC1965479 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-8-220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2007] [Accepted: 07/06/2007] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bordetella bronchiseptica is a bacterial respiratory pathogen that infects a broad range of mammals, causing chronic and often subclinical infections. Gene expression in Bordetella is regulated by a two-component sensory transduction system, BvgAS, which controls the expression of a spectrum of phenotypic phases transitioning between a virulent (Bvg+) phase and a non-virulent (Bvg-) phase. Results Based on the genomic sequence and using the freely available software ArrayOligoSelector, a long oligonucleotide B. bronchiseptica microarray was designed and assembled. This long-oligonucleotide microarray was subsequently tested and validated by comparing changes in the global expression profiles between B. bronchiseptica RB50 and its Bvg- phase-locked derivative, RB54. Data from this microarray analysis revealed 1,668 Bvg-regulated genes, which greatly expands the BvgAS regulon defined in previous reports. For previously reported Bvg-regulated transcripts, the gene expression data presented here is congruent with prior findings. Additionally, quantitative real-time PCR data provided an independent verification of the microarray expression values. Conclusion The results presented here provide a comprehensive, genome-wide portrait of transcripts encompassing the BvgAS regulon, while also providing data validating the long-oligonucleotide microarray described here for studying gene expression in Bordetella bronchiseptica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy L Nicholson
- Respiratory Diseases of Livestock Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, Iowa 50010, USA.
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12
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Sukumar N, Mishra M, Sloan GP, Ogi T, Deora R. Differential Bvg phase-dependent regulation and combinatorial role in pathogenesis of two Bordetella paralogs, BipA and BcfA. J Bacteriol 2007; 189:3695-704. [PMID: 17351043 PMCID: PMC1913336 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00009-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To successfully colonize their mammalian hosts, many bacteria produce multiple virulence factors that play essential roles in disease processes and pathogenesis. Some of these molecules are adhesins that allow efficient attachment to host cells, a prerequisite for successful host colonization. Bordetella spp. express a number of proteins which either play a direct role in attachment to the respiratory epithelia or exhibit similarity to known bacterial adhesins. One such recently identified protein is BipA. Despite the similarity of BipA to intimins and invasins, deletion of this protein from B. bronchiseptica did not result in any significant defect in respiratory tract colonization. In this study, we identified an open reading frame in B. bronchiseptica, designated bcfA (encoding BcfA [bordetella colonization factor A]), that is similar to bipA. In contrast to the maximal expression of bipA in the Bvg intermediate (Bvg(i)) phase, bcfA is expressed at high levels in both the Bvg(+) and Bvg(i) phases. We show here that BvgA and phosphorylated BvgA bind differentially to the bcfA promoter region. Utilizing immunoblot assays, we found that BcfA is localized to the outer membrane and that it is expressed during animal infection. While deletion of either bipA or bcfA did not significantly affect respiratory tract colonization, concomitant deletion of both genes resulted in a defect in colonization of the rat trachea. Our results indicate that the two paralogous proteins have a combinatorial role in mediating efficient respiratory tract colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelima Sukumar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
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13
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Parise G, Mishra M, Itoh Y, Romeo T, Deora R. Role of a putative polysaccharide locus in Bordetella biofilm development. J Bacteriol 2006; 189:750-60. [PMID: 17114249 PMCID: PMC1797297 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00953-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bordetellae are gram-negative bacteria that colonize the respiratory tracts of animals and humans. We and others have recently shown that these bacteria are capable of living as sessile communities known as biofilms on a number of abiotic surfaces. During the biofilm mode of existence, bacteria produce one or more extracellular polymeric substances that function, in part, to hold the cells together and to a surface. There is little information on either the constituents of the biofilm matrix or the genetic basis of biofilm development by Bordetella spp. By utilizing immunoblot assays and by enzymatic hydrolysis using dispersin B (DspB), a glycosyl hydrolase that specifically cleaves the polysaccharide poly-beta-1,6-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (poly-beta-1,6-GlcNAc), we provide evidence for the production of poly-beta-1,6-GlcNAc by various Bordetella species (Bordetella bronchiseptica, B. pertussis, and B. parapertussis) and its role in their biofilm development. We have investigated the role of a Bordetella locus, here designated bpsABCD, in biofilm formation. The bps (Bordetella polysaccharide) locus is homologous to several bacterial loci that are required for the production of poly-beta-1,6-GlcNAc and have been implicated in bacterial biofilm formation. By utilizing multiple microscopic techniques to analyze biofilm formation under both static and hydrodynamic conditions, we demonstrate that the bps locus, although not essential at the initial stages of biofilm formation, contributes to the stability and the maintenance of the complex architecture of Bordetella biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Parise
- Program in Molecular Genetics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Medical Center Blvd., Gray 5086, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
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14
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Reva ON, Weinel C, Weinel M, Böhm K, Stjepandic D, Hoheisel JD, Tümmler B. Functional genomics of stress response in Pseudomonas putida KT2440. J Bacteriol 2006; 188:4079-92. [PMID: 16707699 PMCID: PMC1482902 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00101-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2006] [Accepted: 03/15/2006] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The metabolically versatile soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida has to cope with numerous abiotic stresses in its habitats. The stress responses of P. putida KT2440 to 4 degrees C, pH 4.5, 0.8 M urea, and 45 mM sodium benzoate were analyzed by determining the global mRNA expression profiles and screening for stress-intolerant nonauxotrophic Tn5 transposon mutants. In 392 regulated genes or operons, 36 gene regions were differentially expressed by more than 2.5-fold, and 32 genes in 23 operons were found to be indispensable for growth during exposure to one of the abiotic stresses. The transcriptomes of the responses to urea, benzoate, and 4 degrees C correlated positively with each other but negatively with the transcriptome of the mineral acid response. The CbrAB sensor kinase, the cysteine synthase CysM, PcnB and VacB, which control mRNA stability, and BipA, which exerts transcript-specific translational control, were essential to cope with cold stress. The cyo operon was required to cope with acid stress. A functional PhoP, PtsP, RelA/SpoT modulon, and adhesion protein LapA were necessary for growth in the presence of urea, and the outer membrane proteins OmlA and FepA and the phosphate transporter PstBACS were indispensable for growth in the presence of benzoate. A lipid A acyltransferase (PP0063) was a mandatory component of the stress responses to cold, mineral acid, and benzoate. Adaptation of the membrane barrier, uptake of phosphate, maintenance of the intracellular pH and redox status, and translational control of metabolism are key mechanisms of the response of P. putida to abiotic stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg N Reva
- Klinische Forschergruppe, OE 6710, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, D-30623 Hannover, Germany
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15
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Mishra M, Deora R. Mode of action of the Bordetella BvgA protein: transcriptional activation and repression of the Bordetella bronchiseptica bipA promoter. J Bacteriol 2005; 187:6290-9. [PMID: 16159761 PMCID: PMC1236631 DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.18.6290-6299.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Bordetella BvgAS signal transduction system controls the transition among at least three known phenotypic phases (Bvg+, Bvg(i), and Bvg-) and the expression of a number of genes which have distinct phase-specific expression profiles. This complex regulation of gene expression along the Bvg signaling continuum is best exemplified by the gene bipA, which is expressed at a low level in the Bvg+ phase, at a maximal level in the Bvg(i) phase, and at undetectable levels in the Bvg- phase. The bipA promoter has multiple BvgA binding sites which play distinct regulatory roles. We had previously speculated that the expression profile of bipA is a consequence of the differential occupancy of the various BvgA binding sites as a result of variation in the levels of phosphorylated BvgA (BvgA-P) inside the cell. In this report, we provide in vitro evidence for this model and show that bipA expression is activated at low concentrations of BvgA-P and is repressed at high concentrations. By using independent DNA binding assays, we demonstrate that under activating conditions there is a synergistic effect on the binding of BvgA and RNA polymerase (RNAP), leading to the formation of open complexes at the promoter. We further show that, under in vitro conditions, when bipA transcription is minimal, there is competition between the binding of RNAP and BvgA-P to the bipA promoter. Our results show that the BvgA binding site IR2 plays a central role in mediating this repression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenu Mishra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Medical Center Blvd., Gray 5086, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA
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16
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Mattoo S, Cherry JD. Molecular pathogenesis, epidemiology, and clinical manifestations of respiratory infections due to Bordetella pertussis and other Bordetella subspecies. Clin Microbiol Rev 2005; 18:326-82. [PMID: 15831828 PMCID: PMC1082800 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.18.2.326-382.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 778] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bordetella respiratory infections are common in people (B. pertussis) and in animals (B. bronchiseptica). During the last two decades, much has been learned about the virulence determinants, pathogenesis, and immunity of Bordetella. Clinically, the full spectrum of disease due to B. pertussis infection is now understood, and infections in adolescents and adults are recognized as the reservoir for cyclic outbreaks of disease. DTaP vaccines, which are less reactogenic than DTP vaccines, are now in general use in many developed countries, and it is expected that the expansion of their use to adolescents and adults will have a significant impact on reducing pertussis and perhaps decrease the circulation of B. pertussis. Future studies should seek to determine the cause of the unique cough which is associated with Bordetella respiratory infections. It is also hoped that data gathered from molecular Bordetella research will lead to a new generation of DTaP vaccines which provide greater efficacy than is provided by today's vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Mattoo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1752, USA
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Mishra M, Parise G, Jackson KD, Wozniak DJ, Deora R. The BvgAS signal transduction system regulates biofilm development in Bordetella. J Bacteriol 2005; 187:1474-84. [PMID: 15687212 PMCID: PMC545624 DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.4.1474-1484.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of Bordetella sp. virulence determinants are regulated by the BvgAS signal transduction system. BvgAS mediates the control of multiple phenotypic phases and a spectrum of gene expression profiles specific to each phase in response to incremental changes in the concentrations of environmental signals. Studies highlighting the critical role of this signaling circuitry in the Bordetella infectious cycle have focused on planktonically growing bacterial cells. It is becoming increasingly clear that the major mode of bacterial existence in the environment and within the body is a surface-attached state known as a biofilm. Biofilms are defined as consortia of sessile microorganisms that are embedded in a matrix. During routine growth of Bordetella under agitating conditions, we noticed the formation of a bacterial ring at the air-liquid interface of the culture tubes. We show here that this surface adherence property reflects the ability of these organisms to form biofilms. Our data demonstrate that the BvgAS locus regulates biofilm development in Bordetella. The results reported in this study suggest that the Bvg-mediated control in biofilm development is exerted at later time points after the initial attachment of bacteria to the different surfaces. Additionally, we show that these biofilms are highly tolerant of a number of antimicrobials, including the ones that are currently recommended for treatment of veterinary and human infections caused by Bordetella spp. Finally, we discuss the significance of the biofilm lifestyle mode as a potential contributor to persistent infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenu Mishra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
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Williams CL, Boucher PE, Stibitz S, Cotter PA. BvgA functions as both an activator and a repressor to control Bvgi phase expression of bipA in Bordetella pertussis. Mol Microbiol 2005; 56:175-88. [PMID: 15773988 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04526.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The Bordetella bipA gene is expressed maximally when the BvgAS phosphorelay is semi-active, i.e. in the Bvg-intermediate (Bvg(i)) phase. We used a BvgA-FeBABE cleavage approach together with site-directed mutagenesis and bipA-lacZ fusion analyses to determine precisely where BvgA-phosphate (BvgA approximately P) binds at the bipA promoter and how that binding contributes to the complex transcription pattern displayed by bipA. BvgA approximately P bound with high affinity and cooperatively with RNAP to sequences at the bipA promoter immediately 5' to and overlapping those bound by RNAP to activate transcription under Bvg(i) phase conditions. bipA therefore, like fhaB, appears to be similar to classical class-II promoters with regard to the mechanism by which its transcription is activated. BvgA approximately P bound with relatively low affinity to sequences immediately 3' of those bound by RNAP at the bipA promoter and this binding mediated repression of bipA transcription under Bvg+ phase conditions. BvgA approximately P binding to these sequences occurred simultaneously, if not cooperatively, with RNAP, indicating that BvgA approximately P represses bipA expression by inhibiting transcription initiation and/or elongation, rather than by competing with RNAP for binding. As bipA is the first Bvg(i) phase gene to be characterized, and the first gene shown to be repressed by BvgA approximately P directly, our results will provide a basis for comparison as additional Bvg-regulated genes are identified and characterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne L Williams
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9610, USA
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Frias-Lopez J, Bonheyo GT, Fouke BW. Identification of differential gene expression in bacteria associated with coral black band disease by using RNA-arbitrarily primed PCR. Appl Environ Microbiol 2004; 70:3687-94. [PMID: 15184174 PMCID: PMC427725 DOI: 10.1128/aem.70.6.3687-3694.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-arbitrarily primed PCR techniques have been applied for the first time to identify differential gene expression in black band disease (BBD), a virulent coral infection that affects reef ecosystems worldwide. The gene activity for the BBD mat on infected surfaces of the brain coral Diploria strigosa was compared with that for portions of the BBD mat that were removed from the coral and suspended nearby in the seawater column. The results obtained indicate that three genes (DD 95-2, DD 95-4, and DD 99-9) were up-regulated in the BBD bacterial mat on the coral surface compared to the transcript base levels observed in the BBD mat suspended in seawater. Clone DD 95-4 has homology with known amino acid ABC transporter systems in bacteria, while clone DD 99-9 exhibits homology with chlorophyll A apoprotein A1 in cyanobacteria. This protein is essential in the final conformation of photosystem I P700. DD 95-2, the only gene that was fully repressed in the BBD mat samples suspended in seawater, exhibited homology with the AraC-type DNA binding domain-containing proteins. These transcriptional activators coordinate the expression of genes essential for virulence in many species of gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Frias-Lopez
- Department of Geology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
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Deora R. Multiple mechanisms of bipA gene regulation by the Bordetella BvgAS phosphorelay system. Trends Microbiol 2004; 12:63-5. [PMID: 15036321 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2003.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rajendar Deora
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Medical Center Blvd. Gray Building, 5086 Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
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