1
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Rackow B, Rolland C, Mohnen I, Wittmann J, Müsken M, Overmann J, Frunzke J. Isolation and characterization of the new Streptomyces phages Kamino, Geonosis, Abafar, and Scarif infecting a broad range of host species. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0066324. [PMID: 39320111 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00663-24] [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: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptomyces, a multifaceted genus of soil-dwelling bacteria belonging to the phylum Actinomycetota, features intricate phage-host interactions shaped by its complex life cycle and the synthesis of a diverse array of specialized metabolites. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of four novel Streptomyces phages infecting a variety of different host species. While phage Kamino, isolated on Streptomyces kasugaensis, is predicted to be temperate and encodes a serine integrase in its genome, phages Geonosis (isolated on Streptomyces griseus) and Abafar and Scarif, isolated on Streptomyces albidoflavus, are virulent phages. Phages Kamino and Geonosis were shown to amplify well in liquid culture leading to a pronounced culture collapse already at low titers. Determination of the host range by testing >40 different Streptomyces species identified phages Kamino, Abafar, and Scarif as broad host-range phages. Overall, the phages described in this study expand the publicly available portfolio of phages infecting Streptomyces and will be instrumental in advancing the mechanistic understanding of the intricate antiviral strategies employed by these multicellular bacteria.IMPORTANCEThe actinobacterial genus Streptomyces is characterized by multicellular, filamentous growth and the synthesis of a diverse range of bioactive molecules. These characteristics also play a role in shaping their interactions with the most abundant predator in the environment, bacteriophages-viruses infecting bacteria. In this study, we characterize four new phages infecting Streptomyces. Out of those, three phages feature a broad host range infecting up to 15 different species. The isolated phages were characterized with respect to plaque and virion morphology, host range, and amplification in liquid culture. In summary, the phages reported in this study contribute to the broader collection of publicly available phages infecting Streptomyces, playing a crucial role in advancing our mechanistic understanding of phage-host interactions of these multicellular bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bente Rackow
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Clara Rolland
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Isabelle Mohnen
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Johannes Wittmann
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Mathias Müsken
- Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jörg Overmann
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Julia Frunzke
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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2
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Huang D, Xia R, Chen C, Liao J, Chen L, Wang D, Alvarez PJJ, Yu P. Adaptive strategies and ecological roles of phages in habitats under physicochemical stress. Trends Microbiol 2024; 32:902-916. [PMID: 38433027 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2024.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) play a vital role in ecosystem functions by influencing the composition, genetic exchange, metabolism, and environmental adaptation of microbial communities. With recent advances in sequencing technologies and bioinformatics, our understanding of the ecology and evolution of phages in stressful environments has substantially expanded. Here, we review the impact of physicochemical environmental stress on the physiological state and community dynamics of phages, the adaptive strategies that phages employ to cope with environmental stress, and the ecological effects of phage-host interactions in stressful environments. Specifically, we highlight the contributions of phages to the adaptive evolution and functioning of microbiomes and suggest that phages and their hosts can maintain a mutualistic relationship in response to environmental stress. In addition, we discuss the ecological consequences caused by phages in stressful environments, encompassing biogeochemical cycling. Overall, this review advances an understanding of phage ecology in stressful environments, which could inform phage-based strategies to improve microbiome performance and ecosystem resilience and resistance in natural and engineering systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Huang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Rong Xia
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chengyi Chen
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jingqiu Liao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Linxing Chen
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Dongsheng Wang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Pedro J J Alvarez
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Pingfeng Yu
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta, Zhejiang University, Jiashan, 314100, China.
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3
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Chen B, Ponce Benavente L, Chittò M, Post V, Constant C, Zeiter S, Nylund P, D'Este M, González Moreno M, Trampuz A, Wagemans J, Lavigne R, Onsea J, Richards RG, Metsemakers WJ, Moriarty TF. Combination of bacteriophages and vancomycin in a co-delivery hydrogel for localized treatment of fracture-related infections. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2024; 10:77. [PMID: 39209878 PMCID: PMC11362333 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-024-00552-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Fracture-related infections (FRIs), particularly those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are challenging to treat. This study designed and evaluated a hydrogel loaded with a cocktail of bacteriophages and vancomycin (1.2 mg/mL). The co-delivery hydrogel showed 99.72% reduction in MRSA biofilm in vitro. The hydrogel released 54% of phages and 82% of vancomycin within 72 h and maintained activity for eight days, in vivo the co-delivery hydrogel with systemic antibiotic significantly reduced bacterial load by 0.99 log10 CFU compared to controls, with active phages detected in tissues at euthanasia (2 × 103 PFU/mL). No phage resistance was detected in the phage treatment groups, and serum neutralization resulted in only a 20% reduction in phage count. In this work, we show that a phage-antibiotic co-delivery system via CMC hydrogel is a promising adjunct to systemic antibiotic therapy for MRSA-induced FRI, highlighting its potential for localized, sustained delivery and improved treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baixing Chen
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- AO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Luis Ponce Benavente
- Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mercedes González Moreno
- Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrej Trampuz
- Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jolien Onsea
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Willem-Jan Metsemakers
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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4
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Marton HL, Sagona AP, Kilbride P, Gibson MI. Acidic polymers reversibly deactivate phages due to pH changes. RSC APPLIED POLYMERS 2024:d4lp00202d. [PMID: 39184364 PMCID: PMC11342163 DOI: 10.1039/d4lp00202d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are promising as therapeutics and biotechnological tools, but they also present a problem for routine and commercial bacterial cultures, where contamination must be avoided. Poly(carboxylic acids) have been reported to inhibit phages' ability to infect their bacterial hosts and hence offer an exciting route to discover additives to prevent infection. Their mechanism and limitations have not been explored. Here, we report the role of pH in inactivating phages to determine if the polymers are unique or simply acidic. It is shown that lower pH (=3) triggered by either acidic polymers or similar changes in pH using HCl lead to inhibition. There is no inhibitory activity at higher pHs (in growth media). This was shown across a panel of phages and different molecular weights of commercial and controlled-radical polymerization-derived poly(acrylic acid)s. It is shown that poly(acrylic acid) leads to reversible deactivation of phage, but when the pH is adjusted using HCl alone the phage is irreversibly deactivated. Further experiments using metal binders ruled out ion depletion as the mode of action. These results show that polymeric phage inhibitors may work by unique mechanisms of action and that pH alone cannot explain the observed effects whilst also placing constraints on the practical utility of poly(acrylic acid).
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Affiliation(s)
- Huba L Marton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK +44 247 652 4112
| | - Antonia P Sagona
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | | | - Matthew I Gibson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK +44 247 652 4112
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL UK
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
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5
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Kever L, Zhang Q, Hardy A, Westhoff P, Yu Y, Frunzke J. Resistance against aminoglycoside antibiotics via drug or target modification enables community-wide antiphage defense. MICROLIFE 2024; 5:uqae015. [PMID: 39205678 PMCID: PMC11350373 DOI: 10.1093/femsml/uqae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The ongoing arms race between bacteria and phages has forced bacteria to evolve a sophisticated set of antiphage defense mechanisms that constitute the bacterial immune system. In our previous study, we highlighted the antiphage properties of aminoglycoside antibiotics, which are naturally secreted by Streptomyces. Successful inhibition of phage infection was achieved by addition of pure compounds and supernatants from a natural producer strain emphasizing the potential for community-wide antiphage defense. However, given the dual functionality of these compounds, neighboring bacterial cells require resistance to the antibacterial activity of aminoglycosides to benefit from the protection they confer against phages. In this study, we tested a variety of different aminoglycoside resistance mechanisms acting via drug or target (16S rRNA) modification and demonstrated that they do not interfere with the antiphage properties of the molecules. Furthermore, we confirmed the antiphage impact of aminoglycosides in a community context by coculturing phage-susceptible, apramycin-resistant Streptomyces venezuelae with the apramycin-producing strain Streptoalloteichus tenebrarius. Given the prevalence of aminoglycoside resistance among natural bacterial isolates, this study highlights the ecological relevance of chemical defense via aminoglycosides at the community level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Kever
- Institute of Bio-und Geosciences, IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52425, Germany
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, 185 East Lake Road, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Aël Hardy
- Institute of Bio-und Geosciences, IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52425, Germany
| | - Philipp Westhoff
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - Yi Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, 185 East Lake Road, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Julia Frunzke
- Institute of Bio-und Geosciences, IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52425, Germany
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6
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Jaffal H, Kortebi M, Misson P, Tavares P, Ouldali M, Leh H, Lautru S, Lioy VS, Lecointe F, Bury-Moné SG. Prophage induction can facilitate the in vitro dispersal of multicellular Streptomyces structures. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002725. [PMID: 39052683 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptomyces are renowned for their prolific production of specialized metabolites with applications in medicine and agriculture. These multicellular bacteria present a sophisticated developmental cycle and play a key role in soil ecology. Little is known about the impact of Streptomyces phage on bacterial physiology. In this study, we investigated the conditions governing the expression and production of "Samy", a prophage found in Streptomyces ambofaciens ATCC 23877. This siphoprophage is produced simultaneously with the activation of other mobile genetic elements. Remarkably, the presence and production of Samy increases bacterial dispersal under in vitro stress conditions. Altogether, this study unveiled a new property of a bacteriophage infection in the context of multicellular aggregate dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoda Jaffal
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Mounia Kortebi
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Pauline Misson
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Paulo Tavares
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Malika Ouldali
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Hervé Leh
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Sylvie Lautru
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Virginia S Lioy
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - François Lecointe
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Stéphanie G Bury-Moné
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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7
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Shi Y, Masic V, Mosaiab T, Rajaratman P, Hartley-Tassell L, Sorbello M, Goulart CC, Vasquez E, Mishra BP, Holt S, Gu W, Kobe B, Ve T. Structural characterization of macro domain-containing Thoeris antiphage defense systems. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn3310. [PMID: 38924412 PMCID: PMC11204291 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn3310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Thoeris defense systems protect bacteria from infection by phages via abortive infection. In these systems, ThsB proteins serve as sensors of infection and generate signaling nucleotides that activate ThsA effectors. Silent information regulator and SMF/DprA-LOG (SIR2-SLOG) containing ThsA effectors are activated by cyclic ADP-ribose (ADPR) isomers 2'cADPR and 3'cADPR, triggering abortive infection via nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) depletion. Here, we characterize Thoeris systems with transmembrane and macro domain (TM-macro)-containing ThsA effectors. We demonstrate that ThsA macro domains bind ADPR and imidazole adenine dinucleotide (IAD), but not 2'cADPR or 3'cADPR. Combining crystallography, in silico predictions, and site-directed mutagenesis, we show that ThsA macro domains form nucleotide-induced higher-order oligomers, enabling TM domain clustering. We demonstrate that ThsB can produce both ADPR and IAD, and we identify a ThsA TM-macro-specific ThsB subfamily with an active site resembling deoxy-nucleotide and deoxy-nucleoside processing enzymes. Collectively, our study demonstrates that Thoeris systems with SIR2-SLOG and TM-macro ThsA effectors trigger abortive infection via distinct mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Shi
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Veronika Masic
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Tamim Mosaiab
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Premraj Rajaratman
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | | | - Mitchell Sorbello
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Cassia C. Goulart
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Eduardo Vasquez
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Biswa P. Mishra
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Stephanie Holt
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Weixi Gu
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Bostjan Kobe
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Thomas Ve
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
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Khosravi A, Chen Q, Echterhof A, Koff JL, Bollyky PL. Phage Therapy for Respiratory Infections: Opportunities and Challenges. Lung 2024; 202:223-232. [PMID: 38772946 DOI: 10.1007/s00408-024-00700-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
We are entering the post-antibiotic era. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical problem in chronic lung infections resulting in progressive respiratory failure and increased mortality. In the absence of emerging novel antibiotics to counter AMR infections, bacteriophages (phages), viruses that infect bacteria, have become a promising option for chronic respiratory infections. However, while personalized phage therapy is associated with improved outcomes in individual cases, clinical trials demonstrating treatment efficacy are lacking, limiting the therapeutic potential of this approach for respiratory infections. In this review, we address the current state of phage therapy for managing chronic respiratory diseases. We then discuss how phage therapy may address major microbiologic obstacles which hinder disease resolution of chronic lung infections with current antibiotic-based treatment practices. Finally, we highlight the challenges that must be addressed for successful phage therapy clinical trials. Through this discussion, we hope to expand on the potential of phages as an adjuvant therapy in chronic lung infections, as well as the microbiologic challenges that need to be addressed for phage therapy to expand beyond personalized salvage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arya Khosravi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, 279 Campus Drive, Beckman Center, Room B237, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Qingquan Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Arne Echterhof
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan L Koff
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Paul L Bollyky
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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9
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Gao Y, Zhong Z, Zhang D, Zhang J, Li YX. Exploring the roles of ribosomal peptides in prokaryote-phage interactions through deep learning-enabled metagenome mining. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:94. [PMID: 38790030 PMCID: PMC11118758 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01807-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microbial secondary metabolites play a crucial role in the intricate interactions within the natural environment. Among these metabolites, ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are becoming a promising source of therapeutic agents due to their structural diversity and functional versatility. However, their biosynthetic capacity and ecological functions remain largely underexplored. RESULTS Here, we aim to explore the biosynthetic profile of RiPPs and their potential roles in the interactions between microbes and viruses in the ocean, which encompasses a vast diversity of unique biomes that are rich in interactions and remains chemically underexplored. We first developed TrRiPP to identify RiPPs from ocean metagenomes, a deep learning method that detects RiPP precursors in a hallmark gene-independent manner to overcome the limitations of classic methods in processing highly fragmented metagenomic data. Applying this method to metagenomes from the global ocean microbiome, we uncover a diverse array of previously uncharacterized putative RiPP families with great novelty and diversity. Through correlation analysis based on metatranscriptomic data, we observed a high prevalence of antiphage defense-related and phage-related protein families that were co-expressed with RiPP families. Based on this putative association between RiPPs and phage infection, we constructed an Ocean Virus Database (OVD) and established a RiPP-involving host-phage interaction network through host prediction and co-expression analysis, revealing complex connectivities linking RiPP-encoding prokaryotes, RiPP families, viral protein families, and phages. These findings highlight the potential of RiPP families involved in prokaryote-phage interactions and coevolution, providing insights into their ecological functions in the ocean microbiome. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a systematic investigation of the biosynthetic potential of RiPPs from the ocean microbiome at a global scale, shedding light on the essential insights into the ecological functions of RiPPs in prokaryote-phage interactions through the integration of deep learning approaches, metatranscriptomic data, and host-phage connectivity. This study serves as a valuable example of exploring the ecological functions of bacterial secondary metabolites, particularly their associations with unexplored microbial interactions. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Gao
- CYM305, Department of Chemistry and The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 999077, China
| | - Zheng Zhong
- CYM305, Department of Chemistry and The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 999077, China
| | - Dengwei Zhang
- CYM305, Department of Chemistry and The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 999077, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- CYM305, Department of Chemistry and The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 999077, China
| | - Yong-Xin Li
- CYM305, Department of Chemistry and The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 999077, China.
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10
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Martínez M, Rizzuto I, Molina R. Knowing Our Enemy in the Antimicrobial Resistance Era: Dissecting the Molecular Basis of Bacterial Defense Systems. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4929. [PMID: 38732145 PMCID: PMC11084316 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria and their phage adversaries are engaged in an ongoing arms race, resulting in the development of a broad antiphage arsenal and corresponding viral countermeasures. In recent years, the identification and utilization of CRISPR-Cas systems have driven a renewed interest in discovering and characterizing antiphage mechanisms, revealing a richer diversity than initially anticipated. Currently, these defense systems can be categorized based on the bacteria's strategy associated with the infection cycle stage. Thus, bacterial defense systems can degrade the invading genetic material, trigger an abortive infection, or inhibit genome replication. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of processes related to bacterial immunity has significant implications for phage-based therapies and the development of new biotechnological tools. This review aims to comprehensively cover these processes, with a focus on the most recent discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rafael Molina
- Department of Crystallography and Structural Biology, Instituto de Química-Física Blas Cabrera, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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11
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Duan N, Hand E, Pheko M, Sharma S, Emiola A. Structure-guided discovery of anti-CRISPR and anti-phage defense proteins. Nat Commun 2024; 15:649. [PMID: 38245560 PMCID: PMC10799925 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45068-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria use a variety of defense systems to protect themselves from phage infection. In turn, phages have evolved diverse counter-defense measures to overcome host defenses. Here, we use protein structural similarity and gene co-occurrence analyses to screen >66 million viral protein sequences and >330,000 metagenome-assembled genomes for the identification of anti-phage and counter-defense systems. We predict structures for ~300,000 proteins and perform large-scale, pairwise comparison to known anti-CRISPR (Acr) and anti-phage proteins to identify structural homologs that otherwise may not be uncovered using primary sequence search. This way, we identify a Bacteroidota phage Acr protein that inhibits Cas12a, and an Akkermansia muciniphila anti-phage defense protein, termed BxaP. Gene bxaP is found in loci encoding Bacteriophage Exclusion (BREX) and restriction-modification defense systems, but confers immunity independently. Our work highlights the advantage of combining protein structural features and gene co-localization information in studying host-phage interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Duan
- Microbial Therapeutics Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Emily Hand
- Microbial Therapeutics Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mannuku Pheko
- Microbial Therapeutics Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shikha Sharma
- Microbial Therapeutics Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Akintunde Emiola
- Microbial Therapeutics Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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12
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Georjon H, Bernheim A. The highly diverse antiphage defence systems of bacteria. Nat Rev Microbiol 2023; 21:686-700. [PMID: 37460672 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00934-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 86.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria and their viruses have coevolved for billions of years. This ancient and still ongoing arms race has led bacteria to develop a vast antiphage arsenal. The development of high-throughput screening methods expanded our knowledge of defence systems from a handful to more than a hundred systems, unveiling many different molecular mechanisms. These findings reveal that bacterial immunity is much more complex than previously thought. In this Review, we explore recently discovered bacterial antiphage defence systems, with a particular focus on their molecular diversity, and discuss the ecological and evolutionary drivers and implications of the existing diversity of antiphage defence mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héloïse Georjon
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Aude Bernheim
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, Paris, France.
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13
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Aframian N, Eldar A. Abortive infection antiphage defense systems: separating mechanism and phenotype. Trends Microbiol 2023; 31:1003-1012. [PMID: 37268559 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria have evolved a wide array of mechanisms that allow them to eliminate phage infection. 'Abortive infection' (abi) systems are an expanding category of such mechanisms, defined as those which induce programmed cell death (or dormancy) upon infection, and thus halt phage propagation within a bacterial population. This definition entails two requirements - a phenotypic observation (cell death upon infection), and a mechanistic determination of its sources (system-induced death). The phenotypic and mechanistic aspects of abi are often implicitly assumed to be tightly linked, and studies regularly tend to establish one and deduce the other. However, recent evidence points to a complicated relationship between the mechanism of defense and the phenotype observed upon infection. We argue that rather than viewing the abi phenotype as an inherent quality of a set of defense systems, it should be more appropriately thought of as an attribute of interactions between specific phages and bacteria under given conditions. Consequently, we also point to potential pitfalls in the prevailing methods for ascertaining the abi phenotype. Overall, we propose an alternative framework for parsing interactions between attacking phages and defending bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitzan Aframian
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Avigdor Eldar
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel.
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14
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Grygorcewicz B, Gliźniewicz M, Olszewska P, Miłek D, Czajkowski A, Serwin N, Cecerska-Heryć E, Rakoczy R. Response Surface Methodology Application for Bacteriophage-Antibiotic Antibiofilm Activity Optimization. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2352. [PMID: 37764196 PMCID: PMC10536537 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage-antibiotic combination-based protocols are presently under heightened investigation. This paradigm extends to engagements with bacterial biofilms, necessitating novel computational approaches to comprehensively characterize and optimize the outcomes achievable via these combinations. This study aimed to explore the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in optimizing the antibiofilm activity of bacteriophage-antibiotic combinations. We employ a combination of antibiotics (gentamicin, meropenem, amikacin, ceftazidime, fosfomycin, imipenem, and colistin) alongside the bacteriophage vB_AbaP_AGC01 to combat Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm. Based on the conducted biofilm challenge assays analyzed using the RSM, the optimal points of antibiofilm activity efficacy were effectively selected by applying this methodology, enabling the quantifiable mathematical representations. Subsequent optimization showed the synergistic potential of the anti-biofilm that arises when antibiotics are judiciously combined with the AGC01 bacteriophage, reducing biofilm biomass by up to 80% depending on the antibiotic used. The data suggest that the phage-imipenem combination demonstrates the highest efficacy, with an 88.74% reduction. Notably, the lower concentrations characterized by a high maximum reduction in biofilm biomass were observed in the phage-amikacin combination at cA = 0.00195 and cP = 0.38 as the option that required minimum resources. It is worth noting that only gentamicin antagonism between the phage and the antibiotic was detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartłomiej Grygorcewicz
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.G.); (P.O.); (D.M.); (A.C.); (N.S.); (E.C.-H.)
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Piastów Ave. 42, 71-065 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Marta Gliźniewicz
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.G.); (P.O.); (D.M.); (A.C.); (N.S.); (E.C.-H.)
| | - Patrycja Olszewska
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.G.); (P.O.); (D.M.); (A.C.); (N.S.); (E.C.-H.)
| | - Dominika Miłek
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.G.); (P.O.); (D.M.); (A.C.); (N.S.); (E.C.-H.)
| | - Artur Czajkowski
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.G.); (P.O.); (D.M.); (A.C.); (N.S.); (E.C.-H.)
| | - Natalia Serwin
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.G.); (P.O.); (D.M.); (A.C.); (N.S.); (E.C.-H.)
| | - Elżbieta Cecerska-Heryć
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.G.); (P.O.); (D.M.); (A.C.); (N.S.); (E.C.-H.)
| | - Rafał Rakoczy
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Piastów Ave. 42, 71-065 Szczecin, Poland;
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15
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Nicholls P, Clark JR, Gu Liu C, Terwilliger A, Maresso AW. Class-Driven Synergy and Antagonism between a Pseudomonas Phage and Antibiotics. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0006523. [PMID: 37404162 PMCID: PMC10429645 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00065-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitous bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is responsible for severe infections in patients with burns, cystic fibrosis, and neutropenia. Biofilm formation gives physical refuge and a protected microenvironment for sessile cells, rendering cure by antibiotics a challenge. Bacteriophages have evolved to prey on these biofilms over millions of years, using hydrolases and depolymerases to penetrate biofilms and reach cellular targets. Here, we assessed how a newly discovered KMV-like phage (ΦJB10) interacts with antibiotics to treat P. aeruginosa more effectively in both planktonic and biofilm forms. By testing representatives of four classes of antibiotics (cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems), we demonstrated class-dependent interactions between ΦJB10 and antibiotics in both biofilm clearance and P. aeruginosa killing. Despite identifying antagonism between some antibiotic classes and ΦJB10 at early time points, all classes showed neutral to favorable interactions with the phage at later time points. In one notable example where the antibiotic alone had poor activity against both biofilm and high-density planktonic cells, we found that addition of ΦJB10 demonstrated synergy and resulted in effective treatment of both. Further, ΦJB10 seemed to act as an adjuvant to several antibiotics, reducing the concentration of antibiotics required to ablate the biofilm. This report shows that phages such as ΦJB10 may be valuable additions to the armamentarium against difficult-to-treat biofilm-based infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Nicholls
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Justin R. Clark
- TAILΦR LABS, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Carmen Gu Liu
- TAILΦR LABS, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Austen Terwilliger
- TAILΦR LABS, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anthony W. Maresso
- TAILΦR LABS, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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16
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Georjon H, Tesson F, Shomar H, Bernheim A. Genomic characterization of the antiviral arsenal of Actinobacteria. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169:001374. [PMID: 37531269 PMCID: PMC10482375 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Phages are ubiquitous in nature, and bacteria with very different genomics, metabolisms, and lifestyles are subjected to their predation. Yet, the defence systems that allow bacteria to resist their phages have rarely been explored experimentally outside a very limited number of model organisms. Actinobacteria (Actinomycetota) are a phylum of GC-rich Gram-positive bacteria, which often produce an important diversity of secondary metabolites. Despite being ubiquitous in a wide range of environments, from soil to fresh and sea water but also the gut microbiome, relatively little is known about the anti-phage arsenal of Actinobacteria. In this work, we used DefenseFinder to systematically detect 131 anti-phage defence systems in 22803 fully sequenced prokaryotic genomes, among which are 2253 Actinobacteria of more than 700 species. We show that, like other bacteria, Actinobacteria encode many diverse anti-phage systems that are often encoded on mobile genetic elements. We further demonstrate that most detected defence systems are absent or rarer in Actinobacteria than in other bacteria, while a few rare systems are enriched (notably gp29-gp30 and Wadjet). We characterize the spatial distribution of anti-phage systems on Streptomyces chromosomes and show that some defence systems (e.g. RM systems) tend to be encoded in the core region, while others (e.g. Lamassu and Wadjet) are enriched towards the extremities. Overall, our results suggest that Actinobacteria might be a source of novel anti-phage systems and provide clues to characterize mechanistic aspects of known anti-phage systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héloïse Georjon
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1284, Paris, France
| | - Florian Tesson
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1284, Paris, France
- UMR 1137, IAME, Université de Paris, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Helena Shomar
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1284, Paris, France
| | - Aude Bernheim
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1284, Paris, France
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17
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Luthe T, Kever L, Thormann K, Frunzke J. Bacterial multicellular behavior in antiviral defense. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 74:102314. [PMID: 37030144 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Multicellular behavior benefits seemingly simple organisms such as bacteria, by improving nutrient uptake, resistance to stresses, or by providing advantages in predatory interactions. Several recent studies have shown that this also extends to the defense against bacteriophages, which are omnipresent in almost all habitats. In this review, we summarize strategies conferring protection against phage infection at the multicellular level, covering secretion of small antiphage molecules or membrane vesicles, the role of quorum sensing in phage defense, the development of transient phage resistance, and the impact of biofilm components and architecture. Recent studies focusing on these topics push the boundaries of our understanding of the bacterial immune system and set the ground for an appreciation of bacterial multicellular behavior in antiviral defense.
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18
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Schlimpert S, Elliot MA. The Best of Both Worlds-Streptomyces coelicolor and Streptomyces venezuelae as Model Species for Studying Antibiotic Production and Bacterial Multicellular Development. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0015323. [PMID: 37347176 PMCID: PMC10367585 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00153-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptomyces bacteria have been studied for more than 80 years thanks to their ability to produce an incredible array of antibiotics and other specialized metabolites and their unusual fungal-like development. Their antibiotic production capabilities have ensured continual interest from both academic and industrial sectors, while their developmental life cycle has provided investigators with unique opportunities to address fundamental questions relating to bacterial multicellular growth. Much of our understanding of the biology and metabolism of these fascinating bacteria, and many of the tools we use to manipulate these organisms, have stemmed from investigations using the model species Streptomyces coelicolor and Streptomyces venezuelae. Here, we explore the pioneering work in S. coelicolor that established foundational genetic principles relating to specialized metabolism and development, alongside the genomic and cell biology developments that led to the emergence of S. venezuelae as a new model system. We highlight key discoveries that have stemmed from studies of these two systems and discuss opportunities for future investigations that leverage the power and understanding provided by S. coelicolor and S. venezuelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Schlimpert
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Marie A. Elliot
- Department of Biology and M. G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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19
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Mayo-Muñoz D, Pinilla-Redondo R, Birkholz N, Fineran PC. A host of armor: Prokaryotic immune strategies against mobile genetic elements. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112672. [PMID: 37347666 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Prokaryotic adaptation is strongly influenced by the horizontal acquisition of beneficial traits via mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as viruses/bacteriophages and plasmids. However, MGEs can also impose a fitness cost due to their often parasitic nature and differing evolutionary trajectories. In response, prokaryotes have evolved diverse immune mechanisms against MGEs. Recently, our understanding of the abundance and diversity of prokaryotic immune systems has greatly expanded. These defense systems can degrade the invading genetic material, inhibit genome replication, or trigger abortive infection, leading to population protection. In this review, we highlight these strategies, focusing on the most recent discoveries. The study of prokaryotic defenses not only sheds light on microbial evolution but also uncovers novel enzymatic activities with promising biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mayo-Muñoz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Rafael Pinilla-Redondo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nils Birkholz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Peter C Fineran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
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20
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Kronheim S, Solomon E, Ho L, Glossop M, Davidson AR, Maxwell KL. Complete genomes and comparative analyses of Streptomyces phages that influence secondary metabolism and sporulation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9820. [PMID: 37330527 PMCID: PMC10276819 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36938-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria in the genus Streptomyces are found ubiquitously in nature and are known for the number and diversity of specialized metabolites they produce, as well as their complex developmental lifecycle. Studies of the viruses that prey on Streptomyces, known as phages, have aided the development of tools for genetic manipulation of these bacteria, as well as contributing to a deeper understanding of Streptomyces and their behaviours in the environment. Here, we present the genomic and biological characterization of twelve Streptomyces phages. Genome analyses reveal that these phages are closely related genetically, while experimental approaches show that they have broad overlapping host ranges, infect early in the Streptomyces lifecycle, and induce secondary metabolite production and sporulation in some Streptomyces species. This work expands the group of characterized Streptomyces phages and improves our understanding of Streptomyces phage-host dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kronheim
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Ethan Solomon
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Louis Ho
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Michelle Glossop
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Alan R Davidson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Karen L Maxwell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada.
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21
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Boyle TA, Hatoum-Aslan A. Recurring and emerging themes in prokaryotic innate immunity. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 73:102324. [PMID: 37163858 PMCID: PMC10360293 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
A resurgence of interest in the pathways that bacteria use to protect against their viruses (i.e. phages) has led to the discovery of dozens of new antiphage defenses. Given the sheer abundance and diversity of phages - the ever-evolving targets of immunity - it is not surprising that these newly described defenses are also remarkably diverse. However, as their mechanisms slowly come into focus, some common strategies and themes are also beginning to emerge. This review highlights recurring and emerging themes in the mechanisms of innate immunity in bacteria and archaea, with an emphasis on recently described systems that have undergone more thorough mechanistic characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tori A Boyle
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Microbiology, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Asma Hatoum-Aslan
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Microbiology, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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22
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Ruemke S, Rubalskii E, Salmoukas C, Hermes K, Natanov R, Kaufeld T, Gryshkov O, Mutsenko V, Rubalsky M, Burgwitz K, Glasmacher B, Haverich A, Rustum S, Kuehn C. Combination of Bacteriophages and Antibiotics for Prevention of Vascular Graft Infections-An In Vitro Study. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16050744. [PMID: 37242527 DOI: 10.3390/ph16050744] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Implant-associated bacterial infections are usually hard to treat conservatively due to the resistance and tolerance of the pathogens to conventional antimicrobial therapy. Bacterial colonization of vascular grafts may lead to life-threatening conditions such as sepsis. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether conventional antibiotics and bacteriophages can reliably prevent the bacterial colonization of vascular grafts. (2) Methods: Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial infections were simulated on samples of woven PET gelatin-impregnated grafts using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains, respectively. The ability to prevent colonization was evaluated for a mixture of broad-spectrum antibiotics, for strictly lytic species-specific bacteriophage strains, and for a combination of both. All the antimicrobial agents were conventionally tested in order to prove the sensitivity of the used bacterial strains. Furthermore, the substances were used in a liquid form or in combination with a fibrin glue. (3) Results: Despite their strictly lytic nature, the application of bacteriophages alone was not enough to protect the graft samples from both bacteria. The singular application of antibiotics, both with and without fibrin glue, showed a protective effect against S. aureus (0 CFU/cm2), but was not sufficient against E. coli without fibrin glue (M = 7.18 × 104 CFU/cm2). In contrast, the application of a combination of antibiotics and phages showed complete eradication of both bacteria after a single inoculation. The fibrin glue hydrogel provided an increased protection against repetitive exposure to S. aureus (p = 0.05). (4) Conclusions: The application of antibacterial combinations of antibiotics and bacteriophages is an effective approach to the prevention of bacteria-induced vascular graft infections in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Ruemke
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Evgenii Rubalskii
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Christina Salmoukas
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Kristina Hermes
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Ruslan Natanov
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Tim Kaufeld
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Oleksandr Gryshkov
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Multiphase Processes, Leibniz University Hannover, 30823 Garbsen, Germany
| | - Vitalii Mutsenko
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Multiphase Processes, Leibniz University Hannover, 30823 Garbsen, Germany
| | - Maxim Rubalsky
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Astrakhan State Medical University, 414000 Astrakhan, Russia
| | - Karin Burgwitz
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Birgit Glasmacher
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Multiphase Processes, Leibniz University Hannover, 30823 Garbsen, Germany
| | - Axel Haverich
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Saad Rustum
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Christian Kuehn
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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23
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Petrovic Fabijan A, Iredell J, Danis-Wlodarczyk K, Kebriaei R, Abedon ST. Translating phage therapy into the clinic: Recent accomplishments but continuing challenges. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002119. [PMID: 37220114 PMCID: PMC10204993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy is a medical form of biological control of bacterial infections, one that uses naturally occurring viruses, called bacteriophages or phages, as antibacterial agents. Pioneered over 100 years ago, phage therapy nonetheless is currently experiencing a resurgence in interest, with growing numbers of clinical case studies being published. This renewed enthusiasm is due in large part to phage therapy holding promise for providing safe and effective cures for bacterial infections that traditional antibiotics acting alone have been unable to clear. This Essay introduces basic phage biology, provides an outline of the long history of phage therapy, highlights some advantages of using phages as antibacterial agents, and provides an overview of recent phage therapy clinical successes. Although phage therapy has clear clinical potential, it faces biological, regulatory, and economic challenges to its further implementation and more mainstream acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Petrovic Fabijan
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jonathan Iredell
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katarzyna Danis-Wlodarczyk
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Razieh Kebriaei
- P3 Research Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Stephen T. Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, Ohio, United States of America
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Moura de Sousa J, Lourenço M, Gordo I. Horizontal gene transfer among host-associated microbes. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:513-527. [PMID: 37054673 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer is an important evolutionary force, facilitating bacterial diversity. It is thought to be pervasive in host-associated microbiomes, where bacterial densities are high and mobile elements are frequent. These genetic exchanges are also key for the rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance. Here, we review recent studies that have greatly extended our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying horizontal gene transfer, the ecological complexities of a network of interactions involving bacteria and their mobile elements, and the effect of host physiology on the rates of genetic exchanges. Furthermore, we discuss other, fundamental challenges in detecting and quantifying genetic exchanges in vivo, and how studies have contributed to start overcoming these challenges. We highlight the importance of integrating novel computational approaches and theoretical models with experimental methods where multiple strains and transfer elements are studied, both in vivo and in controlled conditions that mimic the intricacies of host-associated environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Moura de Sousa
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Marta Lourenço
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Isabel Gordo
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande,6, Oeiras, Portugal.
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25
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Stokar-Avihail A, Fedorenko T, Hör J, Garb J, Leavitt A, Millman A, Shulman G, Wojtania N, Melamed S, Amitai G, Sorek R. Discovery of phage determinants that confer sensitivity to bacterial immune systems. Cell 2023; 186:1863-1876.e16. [PMID: 37030292 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
Over the past few years, numerous anti-phage defense systems have been discovered in bacteria. Although the mechanism of defense for some of these systems is understood, a major unanswered question is how these systems sense phage infection. To systematically address this question, we isolated 177 phage mutants that escape 15 different defense systems. In many cases, these escaper phages were mutated in the gene sensed by the defense system, enabling us to map the phage determinants that confer sensitivity to bacterial immunity. Our data identify specificity determinants of diverse retron systems and reveal phage-encoded triggers for multiple abortive infection systems. We find general themes in phage sensing and demonstrate that mechanistically diverse systems have converged to sense either the core replication machinery of the phage, phage structural components, or host takeover mechanisms. Combining our data with previous findings, we formulate key principles on how bacterial immune systems sense phage invaders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avigail Stokar-Avihail
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Taya Fedorenko
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Jens Hör
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Jeremy Garb
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Azita Leavitt
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Adi Millman
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Gabriela Shulman
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Nicole Wojtania
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Sarah Melamed
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Gil Amitai
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Rotem Sorek
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
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Sharma V, Hünnefeld M, Luthe T, Frunzke J. Systematic analysis of prophage elements in actinobacterial genomes reveals a remarkable phylogenetic diversity. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4410. [PMID: 36932119 PMCID: PMC10023795 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30829-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Actinobacteria represent one of the largest bacterial phyla harboring many species of high medical, biotechnological and ecological relevance. Prophage elements are major contributors to bacterial genome diversity and were shown to significantly shape bacterial fitness and host-microbe interactions. In this study, we performed a systematic analysis of prophage elements in 2406 complete actinobacterial genomes. Overall, 2106 prophage elements were predicted to be present in about 50% (1172/2406) of the analyzed datasets. Interestingly, these identified sequences compose a high prevalence of cryptic prophage elements, indicating genetic decay and domestication. Analysis of the sequence relationship of predicted prophages with known actinobacteriophage genomes revealed an exceptional high phylogenetic diversity of prophage elements. As a trend, we observed a higher prevalence of prophage elements in vicinity to the terminus. Analysis of the prophage-encoded gene functions revealed that prophage sequences significantly contribute to the bacterial antiviral immune system, but no biosynthetic gene clusters involved in the synthesis of known antiphage molecules were identified in prophage genomes. Overall, the current study highlights the remarkable diversity of prophages in actinobacterial genomes, with highly divergent prophages in actinobacterial genomes and thus provides an important basis for further investigation of phage-host interactions in this important bacterial phylum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Sharma
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-1) Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Max Hünnefeld
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-1) Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Tom Luthe
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-1) Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Julia Frunzke
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-1) Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
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Karczewska M, Strzelecki P, Szalewska-Pałasz A, Nowicki D. How to Tackle Bacteriophages: The Review of Approaches with Mechanistic Insight. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054447. [PMID: 36901878 PMCID: PMC10003480 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage-based applications have a renaissance today, increasingly marking their use in industry, medicine, food processing, biotechnology, and more. However, phages are considered resistant to various harsh environmental conditions; besides, they are characterized by high intra-group variability. Phage-related contaminations may therefore pose new challenges in the future due to the wider use of phages in industry and health care. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the current knowledge of bacteriophage disinfection methods, as well as highlight new technologies and approaches. We discuss the need for systematic solutions to improve bacteriophage control, taking into account their structural and environmental diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Karczewska
- Department of Bacterial Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Patryk Strzelecki
- Department of Bacterial Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
- Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, UMR7504, 23 rue du Loess, CEDEX 2, F-67034 Strasbourg, France
| | - Agnieszka Szalewska-Pałasz
- Department of Bacterial Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Dariusz Nowicki
- Department of Bacterial Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-58-523-6065
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28
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Phage Therapy in Germany-Update 2023. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020588. [PMID: 36851802 PMCID: PMC9960545 DOI: 10.3390/v15020588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage therapy holds promise in addressing the antibiotic-resistance crisis, globally and in Germany. Here, we provide an overview of the current situation (2023) of applied phage therapy and supporting research in Germany. The authors, an interdisciplinary group working on patient-focused bacteriophage research, addressed phage production, phage banks, susceptibility testing, clinical application, ongoing translational research, the regulatory situation, and the network structure in Germany. They identified critical shortcomings including the lack of clinical trials, a paucity of appropriate regulation and a shortage of phages for clinical use. Phage therapy is currently being applied to a limited number of patients as individual treatment trials. There is presently only one site in Germany for large-scale good-manufacturing-practice (GMP) phage production, and one clinic carrying out permission-free production of medicinal products. Several phage banks exist, but due to varying institutional policies, exchange among them is limited. The number of phage research projects has remarkably increased in recent years, some of which are part of structured networks. There is a demand for the expansion of production capacities with defined quality standards, a structured registry of all treated patients and clear therapeutic guidelines. Furthermore, the medical field is still poorly informed about phage therapy. The current status of non-approval, however, may also be regarded as advantageous, as insufficiently restricted use of phage therapy without adequate scientific evidence for effectiveness and safety must be prevented. In close coordination with the regulatory authorities, it seems sensible to first allow some centers to treat patients following the Belgian model. There is an urgent need for targeted networking and funding, particularly of translational research, to help advance the clinical application of phages.
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Shepherdson EM, Baglio CR, Elliot MA. Streptomyces behavior and competition in the natural environment. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 71:102257. [PMID: 36565538 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Streptomyces are ubiquitous terrestrial bacteria that are renowned for their robust metabolic capabilities and their behavioral flexibility. In competing for environmental niches, these bacteria can employ novel growth and dispersal behaviors. They also wield their diverse metabolic repertoire for everything from maximizing nutrient uptake, to preventing phage replication or inhibiting bacterial and fungal growth. Increasingly, they are found to live in association with plants and insects, often conferring protective benefits to their host courtesy of their ability to produce pathogen-inhibitory antimicrobial compounds. Here, we highlight recent advances in understanding the competitive and cooperative interactions between Streptomyces and phage, microbes, and higher organisms in their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Mf Shepherdson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Canada
| | - Christine R Baglio
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Canada
| | - Marie A Elliot
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Canada.
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30
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Antibiotics that affect translation can antagonize phage infectivity by interfering with the deployment of counter-defenses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2216084120. [PMID: 36669116 PMCID: PMC9942909 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216084120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
It is becoming increasingly clear that antibiotics can both positively and negatively impact the infectivity of bacteriophages (phage), but the underlying mechanisms often remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that antibiotics that target the protein translation machinery can fundamentally alter the outcome of bacteria-phage interactions by interfering with the production of phage-encoded counter-defense proteins. Specifically, using Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 and phage DMS3vir as a model, we show that bacteria with Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat, CRISPR associated (CRISPR-Cas) immune systems have elevated levels of immunity against phage that encode anti-CRISPR (acr) genes when translation inhibitors are present in the environment. CRISPR-Cas are highly prevalent defense systems that enable bacteria to detect and destroy phage genomes in a sequence-specific manner. In response, many phages encode acr genes that are expressed immediately following the infection to inhibit key steps of the CRISPR-Cas immune response. Our data show that while phage-carrying acr genes can amplify efficiently on bacteria with CRISPR-Cas immune systems in the absence of antibiotics, the presence of antibiotics that act on protein translation prevents phage amplification, while protecting bacteria from lysis.
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31
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Hardy A, Kever L, Frunzke J. Antiphage small molecules produced by bacteria - beyond protein-mediated defenses. Trends Microbiol 2023; 31:92-106. [PMID: 36038409 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial populations face the constant threat of viral predation exerted by bacteriophages ('phages'). In response, bacteria have evolved a wide range of defense mechanisms against phage challenges. Yet the vast majority of antiphage defense systems described until now are mediated by proteins or RNA complexes acting at the single-cell level. Here, we review small molecule-based defense strategies against phage infection, with a focus on the antiphage molecules described recently. Importantly, inhibition of phage infection by excreted small molecules has the potential to protect entire bacterial communities, highlighting the ecological significance of these antiphage strategies. Considering the immense repertoire of bacterial metabolites, we envision that the list of antiphage small molecules will be further expanded in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aël Hardy
- Institute of Bio- und Geosciences, IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Larissa Kever
- Institute of Bio- und Geosciences, IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Julia Frunzke
- Institute of Bio- und Geosciences, IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
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32
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Kim SG, Lee SB, Jo SJ, Cho K, Park JK, Kwon J, Giri SS, Kim SW, Kang JW, Jung WJ, Lee YM, Roh E, Park SC. Phage Cocktail in Combination with Kasugamycin as a Potential Treatment for Fire Blight Caused by Erwinia amylovora. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:1566. [PMID: 36358221 PMCID: PMC9686651 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11111566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, there has been an increasing number of blight disease reports associated with Erwinia amylovora and Erwinia pyrifoliae in South Korea. Current management protocols that have been conducted with antibiotics have faced resistance problems and the outbreak has not decreased. Because of this concern, the present study aimed to provide an alternative method to control the invasive fire blight outbreak in the nation using bacteriophages (phages) in combination with an antibiotic agent (kasugamycin). Among 54 phage isolates, we selected five phages, pEa_SNUABM_27, 31, 32, 47, and 48, based on their bacteriolytic efficacy. Although only phage pEa_SNUABM_27 showed host specificity for E. amylovora, all five phages presented complementary lytic potential that improved the host infectivity coverage of each phage All the phages in the cocktail solution could lyse phage-resistant strains. These strains had a decreased tolerance to the antibiotic kasugamycin, and a synergistic effect of phages and antibiotics was demonstrated both in vitro and on immature wound-infected apples. It is noteworthy that the antibacterial effect of the phage cocktail or phage cocktail-sub-minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of kasugamycin was significantly higher than the kasugamycin at the MIC. The selected phages were experimentally stable under environmental factors such as thermal or pH stress. Genomic analysis revealed these are novel Erwinia-infecting phages, and did not encode antibiotic-, virulence-, or lysogenic phage-related genes. In conclusion, we suggest the potential of the phage cocktail and kasugamycin combination as an effective strategy that would minimize the use of antibiotics, which are being excessively used in order to control fire blight pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Guen Kim
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Sung-Bin Lee
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Su-Jin Jo
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Kevin Cho
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jung-Kum Park
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agriculture Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Jun Kwon
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Sib Sankar Giri
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Sang-Wha Kim
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jeong-Woo Kang
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Won-Joon Jung
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Young-Min Lee
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Eunjung Roh
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agriculture Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Se-Chang Park
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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Vashisth M, Yashveer S, Anand T, Virmani N, Bera BC, Vaid RK. Antibiotics targeting bacterial protein synthesis reduce the lytic activity of bacteriophages. Virus Res 2022; 321:198909. [PMID: 36057417 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.198909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Combination therapy of bacteriophages and antibiotics requires careful selection of specific antibiotics as it is crucial towards determining the success of phage therapy to treat multiple drug-resistant bacterial infections. So, we examined how different antibiotics can affect phage lytic activity when used in combination against targeted bacteria. Various antibiotics targeting bacterial protein synthesis pathways were tested for their bactericidal action in combination with bacteriophages of Acinetobacter baumannii (φAB145, φAB182), Staphylococcus aureus (φSA115, φSA116) and Salmonella Typhimurium (φST143, φST188). The phages displayed highly significant antagonism with most of the protein/ribosomal machinery targeting antibiotics: φSA115 (13/13); φSA116 (13/13); φST143 (11/13); φAB145 (11/13); φST188 (9/13); φAB182 (7/13). To validate this antagonistic effect, synergy assessment of these phages with gentamicin (GEN) and tetracycline (TE) was performed using time kill curve assays and counting the remaining viable bacterial cells at the end of the experiment. An increase in bacterial turbidity in phage-antibiotic combination groups was observed as compared to the treatment with phages individually. Also, GEN exhibited 4.22, 5.90, 2.02, 3.15, 2.68, and 2.60 log proliferation in viable cell count, respectively, for φSA115, φSA116, φST145, φAB182, φST143 and φAB188 in combination group in comparison to their individual actions. TE supplementation also led to 2.40, 4.90, 1.61, 2.73, 3.93, and 1.81 log increments in viable bacterial count when combined with φSA115, φSA116, φST145, φAB182, φST143 and φAB188, respectively. This study concludes that antibiotics targeting the bacterial protein biosynthetic machinery may lead to a reduction in the lytic activity of bacteriophages, thus lowering their therapeutic potential. Hence, such compounds must be carefully screened before their employment in combination treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Medhavi Vashisth
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, National Centre for Veterinary Type Cultures, ICAR - National Research Centre on Equines, Sirsa Road, Hisar, Haryana 125001, India; Department of Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana 125004, India
| | - Shikha Yashveer
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana 125004, India
| | - Taruna Anand
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, National Centre for Veterinary Type Cultures, ICAR - National Research Centre on Equines, Sirsa Road, Hisar, Haryana 125001, India.
| | - Nitin Virmani
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, National Centre for Veterinary Type Cultures, ICAR - National Research Centre on Equines, Sirsa Road, Hisar, Haryana 125001, India
| | - Bidhan Chand Bera
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, National Centre for Veterinary Type Cultures, ICAR - National Research Centre on Equines, Sirsa Road, Hisar, Haryana 125001, India
| | - Rajesh Kumar Vaid
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, National Centre for Veterinary Type Cultures, ICAR - National Research Centre on Equines, Sirsa Road, Hisar, Haryana 125001, India
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Millman A, Melamed S, Leavitt A, Doron S, Bernheim A, Hör J, Garb J, Bechon N, Brandis A, Lopatina A, Ofir G, Hochhauser D, Stokar-Avihail A, Tal N, Sharir S, Voichek M, Erez Z, Ferrer JLM, Dar D, Kacen A, Amitai G, Sorek R. An expanded arsenal of immune systems that protect bacteria from phages. Cell Host Microbe 2022; 30:1556-1569.e5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2022.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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35
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Zang Z, Park KJ, Gerdt JP. A Metabolite Produced by Gut Microbes Represses Phage Infections in Vibrio cholerae. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:2396-2403. [PMID: 35960903 PMCID: PMC10981169 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of the severe diarrheal disease cholera. Bacteriophages that prey on V. cholerae may be employed as phage therapy against cholera. However, the influence of the chemical environment on the infectivity of vibriophages has been unexplored. Here, we discovered that a common metabolite produced by gut microbes─linear enterobactin (LinEnt), represses vibriophage proliferation. We found that the antiphage effect by LinEnt is due to iron sequestration and that multiple forms of iron sequestration can protect V. cholerae from phage predation. This discovery emphasizes the significance that the chemical environment can have on natural phage infectivity and phage-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyu Zang
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Kyoung Jin Park
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Joseph P Gerdt
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
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