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Liu C, Shi R, Jensen MS, Zhu J, Liu J, Liu X, Sun D, Liu W. The global regulation of c-di-GMP and cAMP in bacteria. MLIFE 2024; 3:42-56. [PMID: 38827514 PMCID: PMC11139211 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Nucleotide second messengers are highly versatile signaling molecules that regulate a variety of key biological processes in bacteria. The best-studied examples are cyclic AMP (cAMP) and bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP), which both act as global regulators. Global regulatory frameworks of c-di-GMP and cAMP in bacteria show several parallels but also significant variances. In this review, we illustrate the global regulatory models of the two nucleotide second messengers, compare the different regulatory frameworks between c-di-GMP and cAMP, and discuss the mechanisms and physiological significance of cross-regulation between c-di-GMP and cAMP. c-di-GMP responds to numerous signals dependent on a great number of metabolic enzymes, and it regulates various signal transduction pathways through its huge number of effectors with varying activities. In contrast, due to the limited quantity, the cAMP metabolic enzymes and its major effector are regulated at different levels by diverse signals. cAMP performs its global regulatory function primarily by controlling the transcription of a large number of genes via cAMP receptor protein (CRP) in most bacteria. This review can help us understand how bacteria use the two typical nucleotide second messengers to effectively coordinate and integrate various physiological processes, providing theoretical guidelines for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Phylogenomics & Comparative Genomics, School of Life SciencesJiangsu Normal UniversityXuzhouChina
| | - Rui Shi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Phylogenomics & Comparative Genomics, School of Life SciencesJiangsu Normal UniversityXuzhouChina
| | - Marcus S. Jensen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Phylogenomics & Comparative Genomics, School of Life SciencesJiangsu Normal UniversityXuzhouChina
| | - Jingrong Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Phylogenomics & Comparative Genomics, School of Life SciencesJiangsu Normal UniversityXuzhouChina
| | - Jiawen Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Phylogenomics & Comparative Genomics, School of Life SciencesJiangsu Normal UniversityXuzhouChina
| | - Xiaobo Liu
- Key Laboratory of Metabolic Engineering and Biosynthesis Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information TechnologyNanjing University of Science and TechnologyNanjingChina
| | - Di Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Phylogenomics & Comparative Genomics, School of Life SciencesJiangsu Normal UniversityXuzhouChina
| | - Weijie Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Phylogenomics & Comparative Genomics, School of Life SciencesJiangsu Normal UniversityXuzhouChina
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2
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Djapgne L, Oglesby AG. Impacts of Small RNAs and Their Chaperones on Bacterial Pathogenicity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:604511. [PMID: 34322396 PMCID: PMC8311930 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.604511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) are critical post-transcriptional regulators that exert broad effects on cell physiology. One class of sRNAs, referred to as trans-acting sRNAs, base-pairs with mRNAs to cause changes in their stability or translation. Another class of sRNAs sequesters RNA-binding proteins that in turn modulate mRNA expression. RNA chaperones play key roles in these regulatory events by promoting base-pairing of sRNAs to mRNAs, increasing the stability of sRNAs, inducing conformational changes on mRNA targets upon binding, or by titrating sRNAs away from their primary targets. In pathogenic bacteria, sRNAs and their chaperones exert broad impacts on both cell physiology and virulence, highlighting the central role of these systems in pathogenesis. This review provides an overview of the growing number and roles of these chaperone proteins in sRNA regulation, highlighting how these proteins contribute to bacterial pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Djapgne
- Department of Chemistry, Georgetown College, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Amanda G Oglesby
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
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3
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Yersinia pestis Plasminogen Activator. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10111554. [PMID: 33202679 PMCID: PMC7696990 DOI: 10.3390/biom10111554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacterium Yersinia pestis causes plague, a fatal flea-borne anthropozoonosis, which can progress to aerosol-transmitted pneumonia. Y. pestis overcomes the innate immunity of its host thanks to many pathogenicity factors, including plasminogen activator, Pla. This factor is a broad-spectrum outer membrane protease also acting as adhesin and invasin. Y. pestis uses Pla adhesion and proteolytic capacity to manipulate the fibrinolytic cascade and immune system to produce bacteremia necessary for pathogen transmission via fleabite or aerosols. Because of microevolution, Y. pestis invasiveness has increased significantly after a single amino-acid substitution (I259T) in Pla of one of the oldest Y. pestis phylogenetic groups. This mutation caused a better ability to activate plasminogen. In paradox with its fibrinolytic activity, Pla cleaves and inactivates the tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), a key inhibitor of the coagulation cascade. This function in the plague remains enigmatic. Pla (or pla) had been used as a specific marker of Y. pestis, but its solitary detection is no longer valid as this gene is present in other species of Enterobacteriaceae. Though recovering hosts generate anti-Pla antibodies, Pla is not a good subunit vaccine. However, its deletion increases the safety of attenuated Y. pestis strains, providing a means to generate a safe live plague vaccine.
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Susat J, Bonczarowska JH, Pētersone-Gordina E, Immel A, Nebel A, Gerhards G, Krause-Kyora B. Yersinia pestis strains from Latvia show depletion of the pla virulence gene at the end of the second plague pandemic. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14628. [PMID: 32884081 PMCID: PMC7471286 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71530-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ancient genomic studies have identified Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis) as the causative agent of the second plague pandemic (fourteenth–eighteenth century) that started with the Black Death (1,347–1,353). Most of the Y. pestis strains investigated from this pandemic have been isolated from western Europe, and not much is known about the diversity and microevolution of this bacterium in eastern European countries. In this study, we investigated human remains excavated from two cemeteries in Riga (Latvia). Historical evidence suggests that the burials were a consequence of plague outbreaks during the seventeenth century. DNA was extracted from teeth of 16 individuals and subjected to shotgun sequencing. Analysis of the metagenomic data revealed the presence of Y. pestis sequences in four remains, confirming that the buried individuals were victims of plague. In two samples, Y. pestis DNA coverage was sufficient for genome reconstruction. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis showed that the Riga strains fell within the diversity of the already known post-Black Death genomes. Interestingly, the two Latvian isolates did not cluster together. Moreover, we detected a drop in coverage of the pPCP1 plasmid region containing the pla gene. Further analysis indicated the presence of two pPCP1 plasmids, one with and one without the pla gene region, and only one bacterial chromosome, indicating that the same bacterium carried two distinct pPCP1 plasmids. In addition, we found the same pattern in the majority of previously published post-Black Death strains, but not in the Black Death strains. The pla gene is an important virulence factor for the infection of and transmission in humans. Thus, the spread of pla-depleted strains may, among other causes, have contributed to the disappearance of the second plague pandemic in eighteenth century Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Susat
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Rosalind-Franklin-Straße 12, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Joanna H Bonczarowska
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Rosalind-Franklin-Straße 12, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Immel
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Rosalind-Franklin-Straße 12, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Almut Nebel
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Rosalind-Franklin-Straße 12, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Guntis Gerhards
- Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia, Kalpaka bulvāris 4, Riga, 1050, Latvia
| | - Ben Krause-Kyora
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Rosalind-Franklin-Straße 12, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
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Twittenhoff C, Heroven AK, Mühlen S, Dersch P, Narberhaus F. An RNA thermometer dictates production of a secreted bacterial toxin. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008184. [PMID: 31951643 PMCID: PMC6992388 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Frequent transitions of bacterial pathogens between their warm-blooded host and external reservoirs are accompanied by abrupt temperature shifts. A temperature of 37°C serves as reliable signal for ingestion by a mammalian host, which induces a major reprogramming of bacterial gene expression and metabolism. Enteric Yersiniae are Gram-negative pathogens accountable for self-limiting gastrointestinal infections. Among the temperature-regulated virulence genes of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is cnfY coding for the cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNFY), a multifunctional secreted toxin that modulates the host’s innate immune system and contributes to the decision between acute infection and persistence. We report that the major determinant of temperature-regulated cnfY expression is a thermo-labile RNA structure in the 5’-untranslated region (5’-UTR). Various translational gene fusions demonstrated that this region faithfully regulates translation initiation regardless of the transcription start site, promoter or reporter strain. RNA structure probing revealed a labile stem-loop structure, in which the ribosome binding site is partially occluded at 25°C but liberated at 37°C. Consistent with translational control in bacteria, toeprinting (primer extension inhibition) experiments in vitro showed increased ribosome binding at elevated temperature. Point mutations locking the 5’-UTR in its 25°C structure impaired opening of the stem loop, ribosome access and translation initiation at 37°C. To assess the in vivo relevance of temperature control, we used a mouse infection model. Y. pseudotuberculosis strains carrying stabilized RNA thermometer variants upstream of cnfY were avirulent and attenuated in their ability to disseminate into mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen. We conclude with a model, in which the RNA thermometer acts as translational roadblock in a two-layered regulatory cascade that tightly controls provision of the CNFY toxin during acute infection. Similar RNA structures upstream of various cnfY homologs suggest that RNA thermosensors dictate the production of secreted toxins in a wide range of pathogens. Bacterial pathogens closely survey the ambient conditions and induce virulence genes only at appropriate conditions. Upon host contact, many pathogens secrete toxins in order to subvert host defense systems. We find that such a secreted toxin in enteropathogenic Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is produced only at host body temperature. This regulation depends on a temperature-responsive RNA structure, an RNA thermometer, in the 5’-untranslated region of the toxin mRNA, which prevents translation at low temperatures when the bacterium is outside the host. Preventing melting of the RNA structure at 37°C by nucleotide substitutions that stabilize base pairing resulted in avirulent Yersinia strains unable to infect mice. Given that similar RNA thermometer-like structures exist upstream of related toxin genes in various bacterial pathogens, we propose that RNA thermometer-mediated toxin production is an evolutionary conserved mechanism. Interfering with opening of such regulatory structures might thus be a promising strategy targeting a broad spectrum of bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ann Kathrin Heroven
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Sabrina Mühlen
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute of Infectiology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Petra Dersch
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute of Infectiology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Franz Narberhaus
- Microbial Biology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Ritzert JT, Minasov G, Embry R, Schipma MJ, Satchell KJF. The Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein Regulates Quorum Sensing and Global Gene Expression in Yersinia pestis during Planktonic Growth and Growth in Biofilms. mBio 2019; 10:e02613-19. [PMID: 31744922 PMCID: PMC6867900 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02613-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptor protein (Crp) is an important transcriptional regulator of Yersinia pestis Expression of crp increases during pneumonic plague as the pathogen depletes glucose and forms large biofilms within lungs. To better understand control of Y. pestis Crp, we determined a 1.8-Å crystal structure of the protein-cAMP complex. We found that compared to Escherichia coli Crp, C helix amino acid substitutions in Y. pestis Crp did not impact the cAMP dependency of Crp to bind DNA promoters. To investigate Y. pestis Crp-regulated genes during plague pneumonia, we performed RNA sequencing on both wild-type and Δcrp mutant bacteria growing in planktonic and biofilm states in minimal media with glucose or glycerol. Y. pestis Crp was found to dramatically alter expression of hundreds of genes in a manner dependent upon carbon source and growth state. Gel shift assays confirmed direct regulation of the malT and ptsG promoters, and Crp was then linked to Y. pestis growth on maltose as a sole carbon source. Iron regulation genes ybtA and fyuA were found to be indirectly regulated by Crp. A new connection between carbon source and quorum sensing was revealed as Crp was found to regulate production of acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) through direct and indirect regulation of genes for AHL synthetases and receptors. AHLs were subsequently identified in the lungs of Y. pestis-infected mice when crp expression was highest in Y. pestis biofilms. Thus, in addition to the well-studied pla gene, other Crp-regulated genes likely have important functions during plague infection.IMPORTANCE Bacterial pathogens have evolved extensive signaling pathways to translate environmental signals into changes in gene expression. While Crp has long been appreciated for its role in regulating metabolism of carbon sources in many bacterial species, transcriptional profiling has revealed that this protein regulates many other aspects of bacterial physiology. The plague pathogen Y. pestis requires this global regulator to survive in blood, skin, and lungs. During disease progression, this organism adapts to changes within these niches. In addition to regulating genes for metabolism of nonglucose sugars, we found that Crp regulates genes for virulence, metal acquisition, and quorum sensing by direct or indirect mechanisms. Thus, this single transcriptional regulator, which responds to changes in available carbon sources, can regulate multiple critical behaviors for causing disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy T Ritzert
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - George Minasov
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Ryan Embry
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Matthew J Schipma
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Karla J F Satchell
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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7
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Depletion of Glucose Activates Catabolite Repression during Pneumonic Plague. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:JB.00737-17. [PMID: 29555700 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00737-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial pathogenesis depends on changes in metabolic and virulence gene expression in response to changes within a pathogen's environment. The plague-causing pathogen, Yersinia pestis, requires expression of the gene encoding the Pla protease for progression of pneumonic plague. The catabolite repressor protein Crp, a global transcriptional regulator, may serve as the activator of pla in response to changes within the lungs as disease progresses. By using gene reporter fusions, the spatial and temporal activation of the crp and pla promoters was measured in a mouse model of pneumonic plague. In the lungs, crp was highly expressed in bacteria found within large aggregates resembling biofilms, while pla expression increased over time independent of the aggregated state. Increased expression of crp and pla correlated with a reduction in lung glucose levels. Deletion of the glucose-specific phosphotransferase system EIIBC (PtsG) of Y. pestis rescued glucose levels in the lungs, resulting in reduced expression of both crp and pla We propose that activation of pla expression during pneumonic plague is driven by an increase of both Crp and cAMP levels following consumption of available glucose in the lungs by Y. pestis Thus, Crp operates as a sensor linking the nutritional environment of the host to regulation of virulence gene expression.IMPORTANCE Using Yersinia pestis as a model for pneumonia, we discovered that glucose is rapidly consumed, leading to a catabolite-repressive environment in the lungs. As a result, expression of the gene encoding the plasminogen activator protease, a target of the catabolite repressor protein required for Y. pestis pathogenesis, is activated. Interestingly, expression of the catabolite repressor protein itself was also increased in the absence of glucose but only in biofilms. The data presented here demonstrate how a bacterial pathogen senses changes within its environment to coordinate metabolism and virulence gene expression.
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8
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Tsai YL, Chien HF, Huang KT, Lin WY, Liaw SJ. cAMP receptor protein regulates mouse colonization, motility, fimbria-mediated adhesion, and stress tolerance in uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7282. [PMID: 28779108 PMCID: PMC5544767 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07304-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclic AMP receptor protein (Crp) is a major transcriptional regulator in bacteria. This study demonstrated that Crp affects numerous virulence-related phenotypes, including colonization of mice, motility, fimbria-mediated adhesion, and glucose stress tolerance in uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis. Diabetic mice were more susceptible to kidney colonization by wild-type strain than nondiabetic mice, in which the crp mutant exhibited increased kidney colonization. Loss of crp or addition of 10% glucose increased the P. mirabilis adhesion to kidney cells. Direct negative regulation of pmpA (which encodes the major subunit of P-like fimbriae) expression by Crp was demonstrated using a reporter assay and DNase I footprinting. Moreover, the pmpA/crp double mutant exhibited reduced kidney adhesion comparable to that of the pmpA mutant, and mouse kidney colonization by the pmpA mutant was significantly attenuated. Hence, the upregulation of P-like fimbriae in the crp mutant substantially enhanced kidney colonization. Moreover, increased survival in macrophages, increased stress tolerance, RpoS upregulation, and flagellum deficiency leading to immune evasion may promote kidney colonization by the crp mutant. This is the first study to elucidate the role of Crp in the virulence of uropathogenic P. mirabilis, underlying mechanisms, and related therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Lin Tsai
- Department and Graduate Institute of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Hsiung-Fei Chien
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Kuo-Tong Huang
- Graduate Institute of Toxicology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Wen-Yuan Lin
- Department and Graduate Institute of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shwu-Jen Liaw
- Department and Graduate Institute of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. .,Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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9
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Leskinen K, Pajunen MI, Varjosalo M, Fernández-Carrasco H, Bengoechea JA, Skurnik M. Several Hfq-dependent alterations in physiology of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 are mediated by derepression of the transcriptional regulator RovM. Mol Microbiol 2017; 103:1065-1091. [PMID: 28010054 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In bacteria, the RNA chaperone Hfq enables pairing of small regulatory RNAs with their target mRNAs and therefore is a key player of post-transcriptional regulation network. As a global regulator, Hfq is engaged in the adaptation to external environment, regulation of metabolism and bacterial virulence. In this study we used RNA-sequencing and quantitative proteomics (LC-MS/MS) to elucidate the role of this chaperone in the physiology and virulence of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3. This global approach revealed the profound impact of Hfq on gene and protein expression. Furthermore, the role of Hfq in the cell morphology, metabolism, cell wall integrity, resistance to external stresses and pathogenicity was evaluated. Importantly, our results revealed that several alterations typical for the hfq-negative phenotype were due to derepression of the transcriptional factor RovM. The overexpression of RovM caused by the loss of Hfq chaperone resulted in extended growth defect, alterations in the lipid A structure, motility and biofilm formation defects, as well as changes in mannitol utilization. Furthermore, in Y. enterocolitica RovM only in the presence of Hfq affected the abundance of RpoS. Finally, the impact of hfq and rovM mutations on the virulence was assessed in the mouse infection model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Leskinen
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Medicum, Research Programs Unit, Immunobiology, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maria I Pajunen
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Medicum, Research Programs Unit, Immunobiology, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markku Varjosalo
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki.,Biocentrum Helsinki, Finland: Finnish Institute of Molecular Medicine, Finland
| | | | - José A Bengoechea
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Mikael Skurnik
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Medicum, Research Programs Unit, Immunobiology, University of Helsinki, Finland.,Division of Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, HUSLAB, Helsinki, Finland
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10
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Nuss AM, Heroven AK, Dersch P. RNA Regulators: Formidable Modulators of Yersinia Virulence. Trends Microbiol 2016; 25:19-34. [PMID: 27651123 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2016.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Revised: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
A large repertoire of RNA-based regulatory mechanisms, including a plethora of cis- and trans-acting noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), sensory RNA elements, regulatory RNA-binding proteins, and RNA-degrading enzymes have been uncovered lately as key players in the regulation of metabolism, stress responses, and virulence of the genus Yersinia. Many of them are strictly controlled in response to fluctuating environmental conditions sensed during the course of the infection, and certain riboregulators have already been shown to be crucial for virulence. Some of them are highly conserved among the family Enterobacteriaceae, while others are genus-, species-, or strain-specific and could contribute to the difference in Yersinia pathogenicity. Importantly, the analysis of Yersinia riboregulators has not only uncovered crucial elements and regulatory mechanisms governing host-pathogen interactions, it also revealed exciting new venues for the design of novel anti-infectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M Nuss
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ann Kathrin Heroven
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Petra Dersch
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.
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11
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Liu Z, Gao X, Wang H, Fang H, Yan Y, Liu L, Chen R, Zhou D, Yang R, Han Y. Plasmid pPCP1-derived sRNA HmsA promotes biofilm formation of Yersinia pestis. BMC Microbiol 2016; 16:176. [PMID: 27492011 PMCID: PMC4973556 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-016-0793-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The ability of Yersinia pestis to form a biofilm is an important characteristic in flea transmission of this pathogen. Y. pestis laterally acquired two plasmids (pPCP1and pMT1) and the ability to form biofilms when it evolved from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are thought to play a crucial role in the processes of biofilm formation and pathogenesis. Results A pPCP1-derived sRNA HmsA (also known as sR084) was found to contribute to the enhanced biofilm formation phenotype of Y. pestis. The concentration of c-di-GMP was significantly reduced upon deletion of the hmsA gene in Y. pestis. The abundance of mRNA transcripts determining exopolysaccharide production, crucial for biofilm formation, was measured by primer extension, RT-PCR and lacZ transcriptional fusion assays in the wild-type and hmsA mutant strains. HmsA positively regulated biofilm synthesis-associated genes (hmsHFRS, hmsT and hmsCDE), but had no regulatory effect on the biofilm degradation-associated gene hmsP. Interestingly, the recently identified biofilm activator sRNA, HmsB, was rapidly degraded in the hmsA deletion mutant. Two genes (rovM and rovA) functioning as biofilm regulators were also found to be regulated by HmsA, whose regulatory effects were consistent with the HmsA-mediated biofilm phenotype. Conclusion HmsA potentially functions as an activator of biofilm formation in Y. pestis, implying that sRNAs encoded on the laterally acquired plasmids might be involved in the chromosome-based regulatory networks implicated in Y. pestis-specific physiological processes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-016-0793-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zizhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China.,State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Xiaofang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China.,Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China
| | - Hongduo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China.,College of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
| | - Haihong Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Yanfeng Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Lei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Rong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China.,The General Hospital of PLA, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Yanping Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No. 20, Dongdajie, Fengtai, Beijing, 100071, China.
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12
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The RNA Chaperone Hfq Is Essential for Virulence and Modulates the Expression of Four Adhesins in Yersinia enterocolitica. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29275. [PMID: 27387855 PMCID: PMC4937351 DOI: 10.1038/srep29275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In Enterobacteriaceae, the RNA chaperone Hfq mediates the interaction of small RNAs with target mRNAs, thereby modulating transcript stability and translation. This post-transcriptional control helps bacteria adapt quickly to changing environmental conditions. Our previous mutational analysis showed that Hfq is involved in metabolism and stress survival in the enteropathogen Yersinia enterocolitica. In this study we demonstrate that Hfq is essential for virulence in mice and influences production of surface pathogenicity factors, in particular lipopolysaccharide and adhesins mediating interaction with host tissue. Hfq inhibited the production of Ail, the Ail-like protein OmpX and the MyfA pilin post-transcriptionally. In contrast Hfq promoted production of two major autotransporter adhesins YadA and InvA. While protein secretion in vitro was not affected, hfq mutants exhibited decreased protein translocation by the type III secretion system into host cells, consistent with decreased production of YadA and InvA. The influence of Hfq on YadA resulted from a complex interplay of transcriptional, post-transcriptional and likely post-translational effects. Hfq regulated invA by modulating the expression of the transcriptional regulators rovA, phoP and ompR. Therefore, Hfq is a global coordinator of surface virulence determinants in Y. enterocolitica suggesting that it constitutes an attractive target for developing new antimicrobial strategies.
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Liu L, Fang H, Yang H, Zhang Y, Han Y, Zhou D, Yang R. CRP Is an Activator of Yersinia pestis Biofilm Formation that Operates via a Mechanism Involving gmhA and waaAE-coaD. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:295. [PMID: 27014218 PMCID: PMC4782182 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
gmhA encodes a phosphoheptose isomerase that catalyzes the biosynthesis of heptose, a conserved component of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). GmhA plays an important role in Yersinia pestis biofilm blockage in the flea gut. waaA, waaE, and coaD constitute a three-gene operon waaAE-coaD in Y. pestis. waaA encodes a transferase that is responsible for binding lipid-A to the core oligosaccharide of LPS. WaaA is a key determinant in Y. pestis biofilm formation, and the waaA expression is positively regulated by the two-component regulatory system PhoP/PhoQ. WaaE is involved in LPS modification and is necessary for Y. pestis biofilm production. In this study, the biofilm-related phenotypic assays indicate that the global regulator CRP stimulates Y. pestis biofilm formation in vitro and on nematodes, while it has no regulatory effect on the biosynthesis of the biofilm-signaling molecular 3',5'-cyclic diguanosine monophosphate. Further gene regulation experiments disclose that CRP does not regulate the hms genes at the transcriptional level but directly promotes the gmhA transcription and indirectly activates the waaAE-coaD transcription through directly acting on phoPQ-YPO1632. Thus, it is speculated that CRP-mediated carbon catabolite regulation of Y. pestis biofilm formation depends on the CRP-dependent carbon source metabolic pathways of the biosynthesis, modification, and transportation of biofilm exopolysaccharide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Haihong Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Huiying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yanping Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Beijing, China
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14
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Chen S, Thompson KM, Francis MS. Environmental Regulation of Yersinia Pathophysiology. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 6:25. [PMID: 26973818 PMCID: PMC4773443 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Hallmarks of Yersinia pathogenesis include the ability to form biofilms on surfaces, the ability to establish close contact with eukaryotic target cells and the ability to hijack eukaryotic cell signaling and take over control of strategic cellular processes. Many of these virulence traits are already well-described. However, of equal importance is knowledge of both confined and global regulatory networks that collaborate together to dictate spatial and temporal control of virulence gene expression. This review has the purpose to incorporate historical observations with new discoveries to provide molecular insight into how some of these regulatory mechanisms respond rapidly to environmental flux to govern tight control of virulence gene expression by pathogenic Yersinia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan, China
| | - Karl M Thompson
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Howard University Washington, DC, USA
| | - Matthew S Francis
- Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå UniversityUmeå, Sweden; Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå UniversityUmeå, Sweden
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15
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Pechous RD, Sivaraman V, Stasulli NM, Goldman WE. Pneumonic Plague: The Darker Side of Yersinia pestis. Trends Microbiol 2016; 24:190-197. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2015.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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16
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Porcheron G, Schouler C, Dozois CM. Survival games at the dinner table: regulation of Enterobacterial virulence through nutrient sensing and acquisition. Curr Opin Microbiol 2016; 30:98-106. [PMID: 26871481 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2016.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The ability of bacterial pathogens to colonize specific host niches is largely dependent on acquisition of essential metabolites and co-factors for growth and sensing and adapting in response to specific environmental cues. Nutrient availability in host environments is strongly influenced by host physiology and immunity, diet, and competition with other members of the host microbiota. Rapid adaptation to environmental cues and nutrient availability is a hallmark of bacterial fitness and virulence. This adaptability requires complex regulatory networks that tightly link sensing of nutrient availability to expression of virulence genes accordingly. This review focuses on recent findings highlighting the ability of bacterial pathogens to compete for nutrient acquisition in the host-microbiota environment, and emphasizes key aspects mediating the multi-tiered regulatory cascades that coordinately control nutrient sensing and expression of virulence genes in pathogenic Enterobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaëlle Porcheron
- INRS-Institut Armand Frappier, Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie Porcine et Avicole (CRIPA), Université de Montréal, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Catherine Schouler
- INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, 37 380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, 37 000 Tours, France
| | - Charles M Dozois
- INRS-Institut Armand Frappier, Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie Porcine et Avicole (CRIPA), Université de Montréal, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.
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17
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Ellis MJ, Haniford DB. Riboregulation of bacterial and archaeal transposition. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2016; 7:382-98. [DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Ellis
- Department of Biochemistry; University of Western Ontario; London Canada
| | - David B. Haniford
- Department of Biochemistry; University of Western Ontario; London Canada
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18
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Abstract
Y. pestis exhibits dramatically different traits of pathogenicity and transmission, albeit their close genetic relationship with its ancestor-Y. pseudotuberculosis, a self-limiting gastroenteric pathogen. Y. pestis is evolved into a deadly pathogen and transmitted to mammals and/or human beings by infected flea biting or directly contacting with the infected animals. Various kinds of environmental changes are implicated into its complex life cycle and pathogenesis. Dynamic regulation of gene expression is critical for environmental adaptation or survival, primarily reflected by genetic regulation mediated by transcriptional factors and small regulatory RNAs at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional level, respectively. The effects of genetic regulation have been shown to profoundly influence Y. pestis physiology and pathogenesis such as stress resistance, biofilm formation, intracellular survival, and replication. In this chapter, we mainly summarize the progresses on popular methods of genetic regulation and on regulatory patterns and consequences of many key transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulators, with a particular emphasis on how genetic regulation influences the biofilm and virulence of Y. pestis.
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19
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Inactivation of Peroxiredoxin 6 by the Pla Protease of Yersinia pestis. Infect Immun 2015; 84:365-74. [PMID: 26553463 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01168-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumonic plague represents the most severe form of disease caused by Yersinia pestis due to its ease of transmission, rapid progression, and high mortality rate. The Y. pestis outer membrane Pla protease is essential for the development of pneumonic plague; however, the complete repertoire of substrates cleaved by Pla in the lungs is not known. In this study, we describe a proteomic screen to identify host proteins contained within the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of mice that are cleaved and/or processed by Y. pestis in a Pla-dependent manner. We identified peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6), a host factor that contributes to pulmonary surfactant metabolism and lung defense against oxidative stress, as a previously unknown substrate of Pla. Pla cleaves Prdx6 at three distinct sites, and these cleavages disrupt both the peroxidase and phospholipase A2 activities of Prdx6. In addition, we found that infection with wild-type Y. pestis reduces the abundance of extracellular Prdx6 in the lungs compared to that after infection with Δpla Y. pestis, suggesting that Pla cleaves Prdx6 in the pulmonary compartment. However, following infection with either wild-type or Δpla Y. pestis, Prdx6-deficient mice exhibit no differences in bacterial burden, host immune response, or lung damage from wild-type mice. Thus, while Pla is able to disrupt Prdx6 function in vitro and reduce Prdx6 levels in vivo, the cleavage of Prdx6 has little detectable impact on the progression or outcome of pneumonic plague.
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20
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Martínez-Chavarría LC, Vadyvaloo V. Yersinia pestis and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection: a regulatory RNA perspective. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:956. [PMID: 26441890 PMCID: PMC4585118 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Yersinia pestis, responsible for causing fulminant plague, has evolved clonally from the enteric pathogen, Y. pseudotuberculosis, which in contrast, causes a relatively benign enteric illness. An ~97% nucleotide identity over 75% of their shared protein coding genes is maintained between these two pathogens, leaving much conjecture regarding the molecular determinants responsible for producing these vastly different disease etiologies, host preferences and transmission routes. One idea is that coordinated production of distinct factors required for host adaptation and virulence in response to specific environmental cues could contribute to the distinct pathogenicity distinguishing these two species. Small non-coding RNAs that direct posttranscriptional regulation have recently been identified as key molecules that may provide such timeous expression of appropriate disease enabling factors. Here the burgeoning field of small non-coding regulatory RNAs in Yersinia pathogenesis is reviewed from the viewpoint of adaptive colonization, virulence and divergent evolution of these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luary C Martínez-Chavarría
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México Mexico
| | - Viveka Vadyvaloo
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA USA
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21
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Zimbler DL, Schroeder JA, Eddy JL, Lathem WW. Early emergence of Yersinia pestis as a severe respiratory pathogen. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7487. [PMID: 26123398 PMCID: PMC4491175 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Yersinia pestis causes the fatal respiratory disease pneumonic plague. Y. pestis recently evolved from the gastrointestinal pathogen Y. pseudotuberculosis; however, it is not known at what point Y. pestis gained the ability to induce a fulminant pneumonia. Here we show that the acquisition of a single gene encoding the protease Pla was sufficient for the most ancestral, deeply rooted strains of Y. pestis to cause pneumonic plague, indicating that Y. pestis was primed to infect the lungs at a very early stage in its evolution. As Y. pestis further evolved, modern strains acquired a single amino-acid modification within Pla that optimizes protease activity. While this modification is unnecessary to cause pneumonic plague, the substitution is instead needed to efficiently induce the invasive infection associated with bubonic plague. These findings indicate that Y. pestis was capable of causing pneumonic plague before it evolved to optimally cause invasive infections in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Zimbler
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Jay A Schroeder
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Justin L Eddy
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Wyndham W Lathem
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
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22
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Korhonen TK. Fibrinolytic and procoagulant activities of Yersinia pestis and Salmonella enterica. J Thromb Haemost 2015; 13 Suppl 1:S115-20. [PMID: 26149012 DOI: 10.1111/jth.12932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Pla of the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis and PgtE of the enteropathogen Salmonella enterica are surface-exposed, transmembrane β-barrel proteases of the omptin family that exhibit a complex array of interactions with the hemostatic systems in vitro, and both proteases are established virulence factors. Pla favors fibrinolysis by direct activation of plasminogen, inactivation of the serpins plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and α2-antiplasmin, inactivation of the thrombin-activable fibrinolysis inhibitor, and activation of single-chain urokinase. PgtE is structurally very similar but exhibits partially different functions and differ in expression control. PgtE proteolysis targets control aspects of fibrinolysis, and mimicry of matrix metalloproteinases enhances cell migration that should favor the intracellular spread of the bacterium. Enzymatic activity of both proteases is strongly influenced by the environment-induced variations in lipopolysaccharide that binds to the β-barrel. Both proteases cleave the tissue factor pathway inhibitor and thus also express procoagulant activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- T K Korhonen
- General Microbiology, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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23
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Nuss AM, Heroven AK, Waldmann B, Reinkensmeier J, Jarek M, Beckstette M, Dersch P. Transcriptomic profiling of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis reveals reprogramming of the Crp regulon by temperature and uncovers Crp as a master regulator of small RNAs. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005087. [PMID: 25816203 PMCID: PMC4376681 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
One hallmark of pathogenic yersiniae is their ability to rapidly adjust their life-style and pathogenesis upon host entry. In order to capture the range, magnitude and complexity of the underlying gene control mechanisms we used comparative RNA-seq-based transcriptomic profiling of the enteric pathogen Y. pseudotuberculosis under environmental and infection-relevant conditions. We identified 1151 individual transcription start sites, multiple riboswitch-like RNA elements, and a global set of antisense RNAs and previously unrecognized trans-acting RNAs. Taking advantage of these data, we revealed a temperature-induced and growth phase-dependent reprogramming of a large set of catabolic/energy production genes and uncovered the existence of a thermo-regulated ‘acetate switch’, which appear to prime the bacteria for growth in the digestive tract. To elucidate the regulatory architecture linking nutritional status to virulence we also refined the CRP regulon. We identified a massive remodelling of the CRP-controlled network in response to temperature and discovered CRP as a transcriptional master regulator of numerous conserved and newly identified non-coding RNAs which participate in this process. This finding highlights a novel level of complexity of the regulatory network in which the concerted action of transcriptional regulators and multiple non-coding RNAs under control of CRP adjusts the control of Yersinia fitness and virulence to the requirements of their environmental and virulent life-styles. Many bacterial pathogens cycle between environmental sources and mammalian hosts. Adaptation to the different natural habitats and host niches is achieved through complex regulatory networks which adjust synthesis of the large repertoire of crucial virulence factors and fitness determinants. To uncover underlying control circuits, we determined the first in-depth single-nucleotide resolution transcriptome of Yersinia. This revealed important novel genetic information, such as global locations of transcriptional start sites, non-coding RNAs, potential riboswitches and provided a set of virulence-relevant expression profiles, which constitute a valuable tool for the research community. The analysis further uncovered a temperature-induced global reprogramming of central metabolic functions, likely to support intestinal colonization of the pathogen. This is accompanied by a major reorganization of the CRP regulon, which involves a multitude of regulatory RNAs. The primary consequence is a fine-tuned, coordinated control of metabolism and virulence through a plethora of environmentally controlled regulatory RNAs allowing rapid adaptation and high flexibility during life-style changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M. Nuss
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ann Kathrin Heroven
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Barbara Waldmann
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jan Reinkensmeier
- Faculty of Technology and Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Germany
| | - Michael Jarek
- Department of Genome Analytics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Beckstette
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Petra Dersch
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- * E-mail:
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24
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Caulfield AJ, Walker ME, Gielda LM, Lathem WW. The Pla protease of Yersinia pestis degrades fas ligand to manipulate host cell death and inflammation. Cell Host Microbe 2015; 15:424-34. [PMID: 24721571 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2014.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2013] [Revised: 01/16/2014] [Accepted: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Pneumonic plague is a deadly respiratory disease caused by Yersinia pestis. The bacterial protease Pla contributes to disease progression and manipulation of host immunity, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are largely unknown. Here we show that Pla degrades the apoptotic signaling molecule Fas ligand (FasL) to prevent host cell apoptosis and inflammation. Wild-type Y. pestis, but not a Pla mutant (Δpla), degrades FasL, which results in decreased downstream caspase-3/7 activation and reduced apoptosis. Similarly, lungs of mice challenged with wild-type Y. pestis show reduced levels of FasL and activated caspase-3/7 compared to Δpla infection. Consistent with a role for FasL in regulating immune responses, Δpla infection results in aberrant proinflammatory cytokine levels. The loss of FasL or inhibition of caspase activity alters host inflammatory responses and enables enhanced Y. pestis outgrowth in the lungs. Thus, by degrading FasL, Y. pestis manipulates host cell death pathways to facilitate infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Caulfield
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Margaret E Walker
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lindsay M Gielda
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Wyndham W Lathem
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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25
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Ross JA, Trussler RS, Black MD, McLellan CR, Haniford DB. Tn5 transposition in Escherichia coli is repressed by Hfq and activated by over-expression of the small non-coding RNA SgrS. Mob DNA 2014; 5:27. [PMID: 25506402 PMCID: PMC4265352 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-014-0027-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hfq functions in post-transcriptional gene regulation in a wide range of bacteria, usually by promoting base pairing of mRNAs with trans-encoded sRNAs. It was previously shown that Hfq down-regulates Tn10 transposition by inhibiting IS10 transposase expression at the post-transcriptional level. This provided the first example of Hfq playing a role in DNA transposition and led us to ask if a related transposon, Tn5, is similarly regulated. Results We show that Hfq strongly suppresses Tn5 transposition in Escherichia coli by inhibiting IS50 transposase expression. However, in contrast to the situation for Tn10, Hfq primarily inhibits IS50 transposase transcription. As Hfq does not typically function directly in transcription, we searched for a transcription factor that also down-regulated IS50 transposase transcription and is itself under Hfq control. We show that Crp (cyclic AMP receptor protein) fits these criteria as: (1) disruption of the crp gene led to an increase in IS50 transposase expression and the magnitude of this increase was comparable to that observed for an hfq disruption; and (2) Crp expression decreased in hfq−. We also demonstrate that IS50 transposase expression and Tn5 transposition are induced by over-expression of the sRNA SgrS and link this response to glucose limitation. Conclusions Tn5 transposition is negatively regulated by Hfq primarily through inhibition of IS50 transposase transcription. Preliminary results support the possibility that this regulation is mediated through Crp. We also provide evidence that glucose limitation activates IS50 transposase transcription and transposition. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13100-014-0027-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Ross
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ONN6A 5C1 Canada
| | - Ryan S Trussler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ONN6A 5C1 Canada
| | - Morgan D Black
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ONN6A 5C1 Canada
| | - Crystal R McLellan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ONN6A 5C1 Canada
| | - David B Haniford
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ONN6A 5C1 Canada
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26
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Heroven AK, Dersch P. Coregulation of host-adapted metabolism and virulence by pathogenic yersiniae. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2014; 4:146. [PMID: 25368845 PMCID: PMC4202721 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2014.00146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Deciphering the principles how pathogenic bacteria adapt their metabolism to a specific host microenvironment is critical for understanding bacterial pathogenesis. The enteric pathogenic Yersinia species Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia enterocolitica and the causative agent of plague, Yersinia pestis, are able to survive in a large variety of environmental reservoirs (e.g., soil, plants, insects) as well as warm-blooded animals (e.g., rodents, pigs, humans) with a particular preference for lymphatic tissues. In order to manage rapidly changing environmental conditions and interbacterial competition, Yersinia senses the nutritional composition during the course of an infection by special molecular devices, integrates this information and adapts its metabolism accordingly. In addition, nutrient availability has an impact on expression of virulence genes in response to C-sources, demonstrating a tight link between the pathogenicity of yersiniae and utilization of nutrients. Recent studies revealed that global regulatory factors such as the cAMP receptor protein (Crp) and the carbon storage regulator (Csr) system are part of a large network of transcriptional and posttranscriptional control strategies adjusting metabolic changes and virulence in response to temperature, ion and nutrient availability. Gained knowledge about the specific metabolic requirements and the correlation between metabolic and virulence gene expression that enable efficient host colonization led to the identification of new potential antimicrobial targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Kathrin Heroven
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Institut für Mikrobiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Petra Dersch
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Institut für Mikrobiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig Braunschweig, Germany
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27
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Production of outer membrane vesicles by the plague pathogen Yersinia pestis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107002. [PMID: 25198697 PMCID: PMC4157834 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Many Gram-negative bacteria produce outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) during cell growth and division, and some bacterial pathogens deliver virulence factors to the host via the release of OMVs during infection. Here we show that Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of the disease plague, produces and releases native OMVs under physiological conditions. These OMVs, approximately 100 nm in diameter, contain multiple virulence-associated outer membrane proteins including the adhesin Ail, the F1 outer fimbrial antigen, and the protease Pla. We found that OMVs released by Y. pestis contain catalytically active Pla that is competent for plasminogen activation and α2-antiplasmin degradation. The abundance of OMV-associated proteins released by Y. pestis is significantly elevated at 37°C compared to 26°C and is increased in response to membrane stress and mutations in RseA, Hfq, and the major Braun lipoprotein (Lpp). In addition, we show that Y. pestis OMVs are able to bind to components of the extracellular matrix such as fibronectin and laminin. These data suggest that Y. pestis may produce OMVs during mammalian infection and we propose that dispersal of Pla via OMV release may influence the outcome of infection through interactions with Pla substrates such as plasminogen and Fas ligand.
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Caulfield AJ, Lathem WW. Disruption of fas-fas ligand signaling, apoptosis, and innate immunity by bacterial pathogens. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004252. [PMID: 25101900 PMCID: PMC4125287 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Adam J. Caulfield
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Wyndham W. Lathem
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Papenfort K, Vogel J. Small RNA functions in carbon metabolism and virulence of enteric pathogens. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2014; 4:91. [PMID: 25077072 PMCID: PMC4098024 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2014.00091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric pathogens often cycle between virulent and saprophytic lifestyles. To endure these frequent changes in nutrient availability and composition bacteria possess an arsenal of regulatory and metabolic genes allowing rapid adaptation and high flexibility. While numerous proteins have been characterized with regard to metabolic control in pathogenic bacteria, small non-coding RNAs have emerged as additional regulators of metabolism. Recent advances in sequencing technology have vastly increased the number of candidate regulatory RNAs and several of them have been found to act at the interface of bacterial metabolism and virulence factor expression. Importantly, studying these riboregulators has not only provided insight into their metabolic control functions but also revealed new mechanisms of post-transcriptional gene control. This review will focus on the recent advances in this area of host-microbe interaction and discuss how regulatory small RNAs may help coordinate metabolism and virulence of enteric pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Papenfort
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Jörg Vogel
- RNA Biology Group, Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg Würzburg, Germany
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Genome-wide analysis of small RNAs expressed by Yersinia pestis identifies a regulator of the Yop-Ysc type III secretion system. J Bacteriol 2014; 196:1659-70. [PMID: 24532772 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01456-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Small noncoding RNA (sRNA) molecules are integral components of the regulatory machinery for many bacterial species and are known to posttranscriptionally regulate metabolic and stress-response pathways, quorum sensing, virulence factors, and more. The Yop-Ysc type III secretion system (T3SS) is a critical virulence component for the pathogenic Yersinia species, and the regulation of this system is tightly controlled at each step from transcription to translocation of effectors into host cells. The contribution of sRNAs to the regulation of the T3SS in Yersinia has been largely unstudied, however. Previously, our lab identified a role for the sRNA chaperone protein Hfq in the regulation of components of the T3SS in the gastrointestinal pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Here we present data demonstrating a similar requirement for Hfq in the closely related species Yersinia pestis. Through deep sequencing analysis of the Y. pestis sRNA-ome, we found 63 previously unidentified putative sRNAs in this species. We identified a Yersinia-specific sRNA, Ysr141, carried by the T3SS plasmid pCD1 that is required for the production of multiple T3SS proteins. In addition, we show that Ysr141 targets an untranslated region upstream of yopJ to posttranscriptionally activate the synthesis of the YopJ protein. Furthermore, Ysr141 may be an unstable and/or processed sRNA, which could contribute to its function in the regulation of the T3SS. The discovery of an sRNA that influences the synthesis of the T3SS adds an additional layer of regulation to this tightly controlled virulence determinant of Y. pestis.
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