Biophysical optima for metabolism of Mycobacterium leprae

Mycobacterium leprae Transcriptome During In Vivo Growth and Ex Vivo Stationary Phases

Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, is an obligate intracellular pathogen primarily residing within host macrophages and Schwann cells. Whole genome sequencing predicts a highly degraded genome with approximately one third of the coding capacity resulting in the loss of many catabolic pathways. Therefore, it can be assumed that M. leprae obtains many of the necessary metabolites for intracellular survival and growth from the host cells. In this study, global transcriptomic analyses were done on freshly harvested M. leprae growing in athymic mouse footpads for five months (MFP5) and compared to those held in axenic medium for 48 (ML48) and 96 (ML96) hours. Results show that all of the genes and pseudogenes were transcribed under both in vivo and in vitro conditions. 24% and 33% of gene transcript levels were significantly altered in ML48 and ML96 respectively, compared to MFP5. Approximately 45% (39/86) of lipid metabolism genes were significantly downregulated in ML96 compared to MFP5, majority of which are in the β-oxidation pathway. Cholesterol oxidase, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and coenzyme F420-dependent oxidoreductase, were significantly upregulated in both ML48 and ML96 compared to MFP5. 30% of cell wall and cell processes functional category genes had altered gene transcription at 96hr compared to MFP5. 40% of 57 genes associated with mycobacterial virulence showed significantly altered transcript levels with 52% significantly downregulated in ML96, including most of the Pro-Glu/Pro-Pro-Glu genes. All 111 hypothetical protein genes with unknown function were expressed. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis in M. leprae appears to be significantly downregulated under ex vivo conditions. This is the first study comparing M. leprae global gene expression during in vivo growth and ex vivo stationery phase in axenic medium confirming that during the growth phase in the footpads of experimentally infected mice, M. leprae is metabolically active and its primary source of energy production is probably lipids.

Reduction of host cell mitochondrial activity as Mycobacterium leprae's strategy to evade host innate immunity

Leprosy is a much-feared incapacitating infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae or M lepromatosis, annually affecting roughly 200,000 people worldwide. During host-pathogen interaction, M leprae subverts the immune response, leading to development of disease. Throughout the last few decades, the impact of energy metabolism on the control of intracellular pathogens and leukocytic differentiation has become more evident. Mitochondria play a key role in regulating newly-discovered immune signaling pathways by controlling redox metabolism and the flow of energy besides activating inflammasome, xenophagy, and apoptosis. Likewise, this organelle, whose origin is probably an alphaproteobacterium, directly controls the intracellular pathogens attempting to invade its niche, a feature conquered at the expense of billions of years of coevolution. In the present review, we discuss the role of reduced host cell mitochondrial activity during M leprae infection and the consequential fates of M leprae and host innate immunity. Conceivably, inhibition of mitochondrial energy metabolism emerges as an overlooked and novel mechanism developed by M leprae to evade xenophagy and the host immune response.

GSMN-ML- a genome scale metabolic network reconstruction of the obligate human pathogen Mycobacterium leprae

Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, has plagued humanity for thousands of years and continues to cause morbidity, disability and stigmatization in two to three million people today. Although effective treatment is available, the disease incidence has remained approximately constant for decades so new approaches, such as vaccine or new drugs, are urgently needed for control. Research is however hampered by the pathogen's obligate intracellular lifestyle and the fact that it has never been grown in vitro. Consequently, despite the availability of its complete genome sequence, fundamental questions regarding the biology of the pathogen, such as its metabolism, remain largely unexplored. In order to explore the metabolism of the leprosy bacillus with a long-term aim of developing a medium to grow the pathogen in vitro, we reconstructed an in silico genome scale metabolic model of the bacillus, GSMN-ML. The model was used to explore the growth and biomass production capabilities of the pathogen with a range of nutrient sources, such as amino acids, glucose, glycerol and metabolic intermediates. We also used the model to analyze RNA-seq data from M. leprae grown in mouse foot pads, and performed Differential Producibility Analysis to identify metabolic pathways that appear to be active during intracellular growth of the pathogen, which included pathways for central carbon metabolism, co-factor, lipids, amino acids, nucleotides and cell wall synthesis. The GSMN-ML model is thereby a useful in silico tool that can be used to explore the metabolism of the leprosy bacillus, analyze functional genomic experimental data, generate predictions of nutrients required for growth of the bacillus in vitro and identify novel drug targets.

Molecular assays for determining Mycobacterium leprae viability in tissues of experimentally infected mice

Background

The inability of Mycobacterium leprae to grow on axenic media has necessitated specialized techniques in order to determine viability of this organism. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple and sensitive molecular assay for determining M. leprae viability directly from infected tissues.

Methodology/Principle Findings

Two M. leprae-specific quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assays based on the expression levels of esxA, encoding the ESAT-6 protein, and hsp18, encoding the heat shock 18 kDa protein, were developed and tested using infected footpad (FP) tissues of both immunocompetent and immunocompromised (athymic nu/nu) mice. In addition, the ability of these assays to detect the effects of anti-leprosy drug treatment on M. leprae viability was determined using rifampin and rifapentine, each at 10 mg/kg for 1, 5, or 20 daily doses, in the athymic nu/nu FP model. Molecular enumeration (RLEP PCR) and viability determinations (qRT-PCR) were performed via Taqman methodology on DNA and RNA, respectively, purified from ethanol-fixed FP tissue and compared with conventional enumeration (microscopic counting of acid fast bacilli) and viability assays (radiorespirometry, viability staining) which utilized bacilli freshly harvested from the contralateral FP. Both molecular and conventional assays demonstrated growth and high viability of M. leprae in nu/nu FPs over a 4 month infection period. In contrast, viability was markedly decreased by 8 weeks in immunocompetent mice. Rifapentine significantly reduced bacterial viability after 5 treatments, whereas rifampin required up to 20 treatments for the same efficacy. Neither drug was effective after a single treatment. In addition, host gene expression was monitored with the same RNA preparations.

Conclusions

hsp18 and esxA qRT-PCR are sensitive molecular indicators, reliably detecting viability of M. leprae in tissues without the need for bacterial isolation or immediate processing, making these assays applicable for in vivo drug screening and promising for clinical and field applications.

M. leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, cannot be grown on laboratory culture media. This characteristic, along with its extremely long generation time of 12–14 days, makes the study of the pathogenicity of this organism and the experimental testing of new drugs for the treatment of leprosy extremely difficult. We developed two M. leprae-specific quantitative reverse transcription PCR assays and tested their utility as biological markers of M. leprae viability in tissue specimens. These assays could detect high viability of bacilli growing in immunosuppressed mice as well as the inhibitory effects of anti-leprosy drug treatment, or of the host immune system in immunocompetent mice. The RNA preparations were also successfully used for detection of host gene expression. The application of these assays to various experimental models would benefit characterization of the infection or novel drug screening. Furthermore, because these assays utilize fixed tissues, their potential application to clinical and field settings could enable monitoring of M. leprae viability in conjunction with the host immune response during treatment.

ATPase activity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis SecA1 and SecA2 proteins and its importance for SecA2 function in macrophages

The Sec-dependent translocation pathway that involves the essential SecA protein and the membrane-bound SecYEG translocon is used to export many proteins across the cytoplasmic membrane. Recently, several pathogenic bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, were shown to possess two SecA homologs, SecA1 and SecA2. SecA1 is essential for general protein export. SecA2 is specific for a subset of exported proteins and is important for M. tuberculosis virulence. The enzymatic activities of two SecA proteins from the same microorganism have not been defined for any bacteria. Here, M. tuberculosis SecA1 and SecA2 are shown to bind ATP with high affinity, though the affinity of SecA1 for ATP is weaker than that of SecA2 or Escherichia coli SecA. Amino acid substitution of arginine or alanine for the conserved lysine in the Walker A motif of SecA2 eliminated ATP binding. We used the SecA2(K115R) variant to show that ATP binding was necessary for the SecA2 function of promoting intracellular growth of M. tuberculosis in macrophages. These results are the first to show the importance of ATPase activity in the function of accessory SecA2 proteins.

Microaerophilic conditions promote growth of Mycobacterium genavense

Our studies show that microaerophilic conditions promote the growth of Mycobacterium genavense in semisolid medium. The growth of M. genavense at 2.5 or 5% oxygen was superior to that obtained at 21% oxygen in BACTEC primary cultures (Middlebrook 7H12, pH 6.0, without additives). By using nondecontaminated specimens, it was possible to detect growth with very small inocula (25 bacilli/ml) of 12 different M. genavense strains (from nude mice) within 6 weeks of incubation under low oxygen tension; conversely, with 21% oxygen, no growth of 8 of 12 (66.7%) M. genavense strains was detected (growth index, <10). The same beneficial effect of 2.5 or 5% oxygen was observed in primary cultures of a decontaminated clinical specimen. Low oxygen tension (2.5 or 5%) is recommended for the primary isolation of M. genavense. Microaerophilic cultivation of other atypical mycobacteria, especially slow-growing (e.g., Mycobacterium avium) and difficult-to-grow (e.g., Mycobacterium ulcerans) species, is discussed.

Effects of activated macrophages on Mycobacterium leprae

Five alternative methods were used to explore in vitro the effects of normal and activated murine macrophages on the metabolic well-being of intracellular Mycobacterium leprae: fluorescein diacetate-ethidium bromide staining, ATP content, synthesis of phenolic glycolipid 1, and two techniques to quantitate oxidation of palmitic acid. In relatively short-term experiments (7 to 10 days), each of these procedures provided strong evidence that activated macrophages exerted a deleterious effect on the leprosy bacillus. These findings appear to confirm the contention that activated macrophages underlie host resistance to clinical leprosy and limitation of M. leprae growth in paucibacillary leprosy.

Drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium leprae in the BACTEC 460 system

The susceptibility of Mycobacterium leprae to clinical and experimental antileprosy agents was assessed in the BACTEC 460 system. Nude-mouse-derived M. leprae (10(7) cells), incubated in BACTEC 12B medium at 33 degrees C under reduced oxygen, maintained a fairly constant growth index (14CO2 evolution) for 2 to 3 weeks. At concentrations ranging from 0.031 to 2.0 micrograms/ml, dapsone, rifampin, clofazimine, ethionamide, ofloxacin, clarithromycin, and minocycline all effected reductions in the growth index within 1 to 2 weeks, the extent of inhibition increasing with the incubation time. An in vivo rifampin-resistant isolate displayed markedly reduced susceptibility to rifampin compared with an in vivo-susceptible strain. This system appears to be highly suitable for in vitro drug susceptibility testing of M. leprae.

Direct evidence for the oxidation of palmitic acid by host-grown Mycobacterium leprae

Oxidation of palmitic acid by whole-cell suspensions of Mycobacterium leprae free from host tissues was investigated using manometric techniques. After a lag period of about 6-8 h, M. leprae suspensions catalysed an active oxidation of palmitic acid, and the oxidative process (oxygen uptake) was quite sensitive to rotenone, atabrine, amytal, antimycin A and cyanide. The spectrophotometric observations indicated that the M. leprae cytochrome system, under anaerobic conditions, was reduced in the presence of palmitic acid which was completely oxidized by oxygen. These data provide direct evidence that M. leprae cells are capable of oxidizing palmitic acid, and that oxidation is mediated by the electron transport system using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor.

In vitro and in vivo activities of macrolides against Mycobacterium leprae

We previously demonstrated the potent in vitro activity of erythromycin against Mycobacterium leprae as determined by its effect on ATP pools and rates of palmitate oxidation and phenolic glycolipid I synthesis. In the present study, the relative in vitro activities of a number of new macrolides with superior pharmacokinetic properties were assessed. In addition, for the most active compounds, concentrations in serum were determined by bioassay during continuous administration in the feed of mice, and in vivo activity against M. leprae was assessed by the kinetic mouse footpad technique. Both clarithromycin and roxithromycin were more potent than erythromycin in vitro, with the former showing the highest activity in accelerating rates of ATP decay and reducing rates of palmitate oxidation. In mice, concentrations of clarithromycin in serum were higher than those of roxithromycin and erythromycin, with the latter undetectable even when administered at 0.1% (wt/wt) in the diet. When administered at 0.01% (wt/wt) in the diet, erythromycin and roxithromycin were unable to inhibit growth of M. leprae in mouse footpads whereas clarithromycin demonstrated bactericidal-type activity. On the basis of these data and other properties of macrolides, a clinical trial of clarithromycin in leprosy is warranted.

Structure-activity relationships of selected phenazines against Mycobacterium leprae in vitro

Structure-activity relationships of phenazines against Mycobacterium leprae were investigated by using an in vitro radiorespirometric assay. In general, activity in ascending order was observed in compounds containing no chlorine atoms, a monochlorinated phenazine nucleus, and chlorines in the para positions of both the anilino and phenyl rings. The most active compounds contained a 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine substitution at the imino nitrogen. Most of these chlorinated phenazines were considerably more active in vitro than clofazimine (B663).

Leprosy

Leprosy affects over 10 million people in the world. The disease is a model of graded cell-mediated immunity, in this case to the causative organism, Mycobacterium leprae. The clinical manifestations are due to (i) bacterial progression, (ii) immunologic responses of the host, (iii) peripheral nerve damage due to either or both bacterial progression and immunologic responses of the host, and (iv) preventable secondary deformities following nerve damage, which account for most of the stigma of the disease. Treatment modalities are now available to control or minimize the effects of bacterial progression, harmful immunologic responses of the host, peripheral nerve damage, and secondary deformities. Unique biochemical characteristics of M. leprae reside in the cell wall and associated macromolecules. Some of these molecules are potent immunogens in humans, while others constitute the structural integrity of the bacillus. Proteins of M. leprae are currently under intensive investigation as a result of deoxyribonucleic acid cloning of M. leprae genes. Structure-function and antigenic relationships of M. leprae proteins should become available by using recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid procedures coupled with T- and B-cell cloning to advance our understanding of the immunologic reactions encountered in Hansen's disease. Until recently, the study of the immunology of leprosy has been stymied by the lack of immunologically specific M. leprae antigens. The definition of specific antigens and production of recombinant and synthetic immunologic reagents have fostered state-of-the-art research efforts into new immunodiagnostic procedures and development of a leprosy vaccine. Also discussed is progress in understanding of the mechanism(s) underlying the M. leprae-specific immunodeficiency associated with lepromatous leprosy, including the role of suppressor T cells and defective macrophage function. Metabolic studies of M. leprae suggest intact catabolic pathways and energy generation with purine bases and catalase as possible growth factors. Special attention may also need to be given to biophysical parameters for eventual in vitro cultivation. Rapid in vitro systems, using quantitation of bacillary metabolic activity, may soon replace the lengthy mouse footpad test for determining the viability and drug susceptibility of the leprosy bacillus.