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DebRoy S, Shropshire WC, Vega L, Tran C, Horstmann N, Mukherjee P, Selvaraj-Anand S, Tran TT, Bremer J, Gohel M, Arias CA, Flores AR, Shelburne SA. Identification of distinct impacts of CovS inactivation on the transcriptome of acapsular group A streptococci. mSystems 2023; 8:e0022723. [PMID: 37358280 PMCID: PMC10470059 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00227-23] [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] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Group A streptococcal (GAS) strains causing severe, invasive infections often have mutations in the control of virulence two-component regulatory system (CovRS) which represses capsule production, and high-level capsule production is considered critical to the GAS hypervirulent phenotype. Additionally, based on studies in emm1 GAS, hyperencapsulation is thought to limit transmission of CovRS-mutated strains by reducing GAS adherence to mucosal surfaces. It has recently been identified that about 30% of invasive GAS strains lacks capsule, but there are limited data regarding the impact of CovS inactivation in such acapsular strains. Using publicly available complete genomes (n = 2,455) of invasive GAS strains, we identified similar rates of CovRS inactivation and limited evidence for transmission of CovRS-mutated isolates for both encapsulated and acapsular emm types. Relative to encapsulated GAS, CovS transcriptomes of the prevalent acapsular emm types emm28, emm87, and emm89 revealed unique impacts such as increased transcript levels of genes in the emm/mga region along with decreased transcript levels of pilus operon-encoding genes and the streptokinase-encoding gene ska. CovS inactivation in emm87 and emm89 strains, but not emm28, increased GAS survival in human blood. Moreover, CovS inactivation in acapsular GAS reduced adherence to host epithelial cells. These data suggest that the hypervirulence induced by CovS inactivation in acapsular GAS follows distinct pathways from the better studied encapsulated strains and that factors other than hyperencapsulation may account for the lack of transmission of CovRS-mutated strains. IMPORTANCE Devastating infections due to group A streptococci (GAS) tend to occur sporadically and are often caused by strains that contain mutations in the control of virulence regulatory system (CovRS). In well-studied emm1 GAS, the increased production of capsule induced by CovRS mutation is considered key to both hypervirulence and limited transmissibility by interfering with proteins that mediate attachment to eukaryotic cells. Herein, we show that the rates of covRS mutations and genetic clustering of CovRS-mutated isolates are independent of capsule status. Moreover, we found that CovS inactivation in multiple acapsular GAS emm types results in dramatically altered transcript levels of a diverse array of cell-surface protein-encoding genes and a unique transcriptome relative to encapsulated GAS. These data provide new insights into how a major human pathogen achieves hypervirulence and indicate that factors other than hyperencapsulation likely account for the sporadic nature of the severe GAS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sruti DebRoy
- Department of Infectious Diseases Infection Control and Employee Health, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - William C. Shropshire
- Department of Infectious Diseases Infection Control and Employee Health, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Luis Vega
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Chau Tran
- Department of Infectious Diseases Infection Control and Employee Health, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Nicola Horstmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases Infection Control and Employee Health, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Piyali Mukherjee
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Truc T. Tran
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jordan Bremer
- Department of Infectious Diseases Infection Control and Employee Health, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Marc Gohel
- Department of Infectious Diseases Infection Control and Employee Health, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Cesar A. Arias
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anthony R. Flores
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Samuel A. Shelburne
- Department of Infectious Diseases Infection Control and Employee Health, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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2
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Kirvan CA, Canini H, Swedo SE, Hill H, Veasy G, Jankelow D, Kosanke S, Ward K, Zhao YD, Alvarez K, Hedrick A, Cunningham MW. IgG2 rules: N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine-specific IgG2 and Th17/Th1 cooperation may promote the pathogenesis of acute rheumatic heart disease and be a biomarker of the autoimmune sequelae of Streptococcus pyogenes. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 9:919700. [PMID: 36815140 PMCID: PMC9939767 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.919700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Antecedent group A streptococcal pharyngitis is a well-established cause of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) where rheumatic valvular heart disease (RHD) and Sydenham chorea (SC) are major manifestations. In ARF, crossreactive antibodies and T cells respond to streptococcal antigens, group A carbohydrate, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), and M protein, respectively, and through molecular mimicry target heart and brain tissues. In this translational human study, we further address our hypothesis regarding specific pathogenic humoral and cellular immune mechanisms leading to streptococcal sequelae in a small pilot study. The aims of the study were to (1) better understand specific mechanisms of pathogenesis in ARF, (2) identify a potential early biomarker of ARF, (3) determine immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses directed against GlcNAc, the immunodominant epitope of the group A carbohydrate, by reaction of ARF serum IgG with GlcNAc, M protein, and human neuronal cells (SK-N-SH), and (4) determine IgG subclasses deposited on heart tissues from RHD. In 10 pediatric patients with RHD and 6 pediatric patients with SC, the serum IgG2 subclass reacted significantly with GlcNAc, and distinguished ARF from 7 pediatric patients with uncomplicated pharyngitis. Three pediatric patients who demonstrated only polymigrating arthritis, a major manifestation of ARF and part of the Jones criteria for diagnosis, lacked the elevated IgG2 subclass GlcNAc-specific reactivity. In SC, the GlcNAc-specific IgG2 subclass in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) selectively targeted human neuronal cells as well as GlcNAc in the ELISA. In rheumatic carditis, the IgG2 subclass preferentially and strongly deposited in valve tissues (n = 4) despite elevated concentrations of IgG1 and IgG3 in RHD sera as detected by ELISA to group A streptococcal M protein. Although our human study of ARF includes a very small limited sample set, our novel research findings suggest a strong IgG2 autoantibody response against GlcNAc in RHD and SC, which targeted heart valves and neuronal cells. Cardiac IgG2 deposition was identified with an associated IL-17A/IFN-γ cooperative signature in RHD tissue which displayed both IgG2 deposition and cellular infiltrates demonstrating these cytokines simultaneously. GlcNAc-specific IgG2 may be an important autoantibody in initial stages of the pathogenesis of group A streptococcal sequelae, and future studies will determine if it can serve as a biomarker for risk of RHD and SC or early diagnosis of ARF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A. Kirvan
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Heather Canini
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Susan E. Swedo
- Pediatrics and Developmental Neuropsychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Harry Hill
- Departments of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, Cardiology, and Pathology, University of Utah College of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - George Veasy
- Departments of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, Cardiology, and Pathology, University of Utah College of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - David Jankelow
- Division of Cardiology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Stanley Kosanke
- Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Kent Ward
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Yan D. Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Kathy Alvarez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Andria Hedrick
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Madeleine W. Cunningham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
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3
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Guérin H, Kulakauskas S, Chapot-Chartier MP. Structural variations and roles of rhamnose-rich cell wall polysaccharides in Gram-positive bacteria. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102488. [PMID: 36113580 PMCID: PMC9574508 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhamnose-rich cell wall polysaccharides (Rha-CWPSs) have emerged as crucial cell wall components of numerous Gram-positive, ovoid-shaped bacteria—including streptococci, enterococci, and lactococci—of which many are of clinical or biotechnological importance. Rha-CWPS are composed of a conserved polyrhamnose backbone with side-chain substituents of variable size and structure. Because these substituents contain phosphate groups, Rha-CWPS can also be classified as polyanionic glycopolymers, similar to wall teichoic acids, of which they appear to be functional homologs. Recent advances have highlighted the critical role of these side-chain substituents in bacterial cell growth and division, as well as in specific interactions between bacteria and infecting bacteriophages or eukaryotic hosts. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on the structure and biosynthesis of Rha-CWPS in several ovoid-shaped bacterial species. We emphasize the role played by multicomponent transmembrane glycosylation systems in the addition of side-chain substituents of various sizes as extracytoplasmic modifications of the polyrhamnose backbone. We provide an overview of the contribution of Rha-CWPS to cell wall architecture and biogenesis and discuss current hypotheses regarding their importance in the cell division process. Finally, we sum up the critical roles that Rha-CWPS can play as bacteriophage receptors or in escaping host defenses, roles that are mediated mainly through their side-chain substituents. From an applied perspective, increased knowledge of Rha-CWPS can lead to advancements in strategies for preventing phage infection of lactococci and streptococci in food fermentation and for combating pathogenic streptococci and enterococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Guérin
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Saulius Kulakauskas
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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4
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Del Bino L, Østerlid KE, Wu DY, Nonne F, Romano MR, Codée J, Adamo R. Synthetic Glycans to Improve Current Glycoconjugate Vaccines and Fight Antimicrobial Resistance. Chem Rev 2022; 122:15672-15716. [PMID: 35608633 PMCID: PMC9614730 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is emerging as the next potential pandemic. Different microorganisms, including the bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii, Clostridioides difficile, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, non-typhoidal Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus, and the fungus Candida auris, have been identified by the WHO and CDC as urgent or serious AMR threats. Others, such as group A and B Streptococci, are classified as concerning threats. Glycoconjugate vaccines have been demonstrated to be an efficacious and cost-effective measure to combat infections against Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and, more recently, Salmonella typhi. Recent times have seen enormous progress in methodologies for the assembly of complex glycans and glycoconjugates, with developments in synthetic, chemoenzymatic, and glycoengineering methodologies. This review analyzes the advancement of glycoconjugate vaccines based on synthetic carbohydrates to improve existing vaccines and identify novel candidates to combat AMR. Through this literature survey we built an overview of structure-immunogenicity relationships from available data and identify gaps and areas for further research to better exploit the peculiar role of carbohydrates as vaccine targets and create the next generation of synthetic carbohydrate-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kitt Emilie Østerlid
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dung-Yeh Wu
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Jeroen Codée
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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5
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Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease: Highlighting the Role of Group A Streptococcus in the Global Burden of Cardiovascular Disease. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11050496. [PMID: 35631018 PMCID: PMC9145486 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11050496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) causes superficial and invasive infections and immune mediated post-infectious sequalae (including acute rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease). Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are important determinants of global cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. ARF is a multiorgan inflammatory disease that is triggered by GAS infection that activates the innate immune system. In susceptible hosts the response against GAS elicits autoimmune reactions targeting the heart, joints, brain, skin, and subcutaneous tissue. Repeated episodes of ARF—undetected, subclinical, or diagnosed—may progressively lead to RHD, unless prevented by periodic administration of penicillin. The recently modified Duckett Jones criteria with stratification by population risk remains relevant for the diagnosis of ARF and includes subclinical carditis detected by echocardiography as a major criterion. Chronic RHD is defined by valve regurgitation and/or stenosis that presents with complications such as arrhythmias, systemic embolism, infective endocarditis, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, and death. RHD predominantly affects children, adolescents, and young adults in LMICs. National programs with compulsory notification of ARF/RHD are needed to highlight the role of GAS in the global burden of cardiovascular disease and to allow prioritisation of these diseases aimed at reducing health inequalities and to achieve universal health coverage.
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6
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Glycan-mediated molecular interactions in bacterial pathogenesis. Trends Microbiol 2022; 30:254-267. [PMID: 34274195 PMCID: PMC8758796 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Glycans are expressed on the surface of nearly all host and bacterial cells. Not surprisingly, glycan-mediated molecular interactions play a vital role in bacterial pathogenesis and host responses against pathogens. Glycan-mediated host-pathogen interactions can benefit the pathogen, host, or both. Here, we discuss (i) bacterial glycans that play a critical role in bacterial colonization and/or immune evasion, (ii) host glycans that are utilized by bacteria for pathogenesis, and (iii) bacterial and host glycans involved in immune responses against pathogens. We further discuss (iv) opportunities and challenges for transforming these research findings into more effective antibacterial strategies, and (v) technological advances in glycoscience that have helped to accelerate progress in research. These studies collectively offer valuable insights into new perspectives on antibacterial strategies that may effectively tackle the drug-resistant pathogens that are rapidly spreading globally.
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7
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Mahmoud A, Toth I, Stephenson R. Developing an Effective Glycan‐Based Vaccine for
Streptococcus Pyogenes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202115342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa Mahmoud
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Istvan Toth
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences The University of Queensland Woolloongabba Australia
- School of Pharmacy The Universitry of Queensland St Lucia Australia
- Institue for Molecular Biosciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Rachel Stephenson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
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8
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Mahmoud A, Toth I, Stephenson R. Developing an Effective Glycan-based Vaccine for Streptococcus Pyogenes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 61:e202115342. [PMID: 34935243 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202115342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is a primary infective agent that causes approximately 700 million human infections each year, resulting in more than 500,000 deaths. Carbohydrate-based vaccines are proven to be one of the most promising subunit vaccine candidates, as the bacterial glycan pattern(s) are different from mammalian cells and show increased pathogen serotype conservancy than the protein components. In this review we highlight reverse vaccinology for use in the development of subunit vaccines against S. pyogenes, and report reproducible methods of carbohydrate antigen production, in addition to the structure-immunogenicity correlation between group A carbohydrate epitopes and alternative vaccine antigen carrier systems. We also report recent advances used to overcome hurdles in carbohydrate-based vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa Mahmoud
- The University of Queensland - Saint Lucia Campus: The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, AUSTRALIA
| | - Istvan Toth
- The University of Queensland - Saint Lucia Campus: The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, AUSTRALIA
| | - Rachel Stephenson
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, 4068, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
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9
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Immunobiology of the Classical Lancefield Group A Streptococcal Carbohydrate Antigen. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e0029221. [PMID: 34543125 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00292-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a preeminent human bacterial pathogen causing hundreds of millions of infections each year worldwide. In the clinical setting, the bacterium is easily identified by a rapid antigen test against the group A carbohydrate (GAC), a polysaccharide that comprises 30 to 50% of the GAS cell wall by weight. Originally described by Rebecca Lancefield in the 1930s, GAC consists of a polyrhamnose backbone and a N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) side chain. This side chain, the species-defining immunodominant antigen, is potentially implicated in autoreactive immune responses against human heart or brain tissue in poststreptococcal rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease. The recent discovery of the genetic locus encoding GAC biosynthesis and new insights into its chemical structure have provided novel insights into the assembly of the polysaccharide, its contribution to immune evasion and virulence, and ideas for safely harnessing its natural immunogenicity in vaccine design. This minireview serves to summarize the emerging new literature on GAC, the eponymous cell well antigen that provides structural integrity to GAS and directly interfaces with host innate and adaptive immune responses.
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10
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Yamada A, Hikichi M, Nozawa T, Nakagawa I. FBXO2/SCF ubiquitin ligase complex directs xenophagy through recognizing bacterial surface glycan. EMBO Rep 2021; 22:e52584. [PMID: 34515398 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202152584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Xenophagy, also known as antibacterial selective autophagy, degrades invading bacterial pathogens such as group A Streptococcus (GAS) to defend cells. Although invading bacteria are known to be marked with ubiquitin and selectively targeted by xenophagy, how ubiquitin ligases recognize invading bacteria is poorly understood. Here, we show that FBXO2, a glycoprotein-specific receptor for substrate in the SKP1/CUL1/F-box protein (SCF) ubiquitin ligase complex, mediates recognition of GlcNAc side chains of the GAS surface carbohydrate structure and promotes ubiquitin-mediated xenophagy against GAS. FBXO2 targets cytosolic GAS through its sugar-binding motif and GlcNAc expression on the GAS surface. FBXO2 knockout resulted in decreased ubiquitin accumulation on intracellular GAS and xenophagic degradation of bacteria. Furthermore, SCF components such as SKP1, CUL1, and ROC1 are required for ubiquitin-mediated xenophagy against GAS. Thus, SCFFBXO2 recognizes GlcNAc residues of GAS surface carbohydrates and functions in ubiquitination during xenophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Yamada
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Miyako Hikichi
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Nozawa
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ichiro Nakagawa
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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11
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Hyun DW, Lee JY, Kim MS, Shin NR, Whon TW, Kim KH, Kim PS, Tak EJ, Jung MJ, Lee JY, Kim HS, Kang W, Sung H, Jeon CO, Bae JW. Pathogenomics of Streptococcus ilei sp. nov., a newly identified pathogen ubiquitous in human microbiome. J Microbiol 2021; 59:792-806. [PMID: 34302622 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-021-1165-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Viridans group streptococci are a serious health concern because most of these bacteria cause life-threatening infections, especially in immunocompromised and hospitalized individuals. We focused on two alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus strains (I-G2 and I-P16) newly isolated from an ileostomy effluent of a colorectal cancer patient. We examined their pathogenic potential by investigating their prevalence in human and assessing their pathogenicity in a mouse model. We also predicted their virulence factors and pathogenic features by using comparative genomic analysis and in vitro tests. Using polyphasic and systematic approaches, we identified the isolates as belonging to a novel Streptococcus species and designated it as Streptococcus ilei. Metagenomic survey based on taxonomic assignment of datasets from the Human Microbiome Project revealed that S. ilei is present in most human population and at various body sites but is especially abundant in the oral cavity. Intraperitoneal injection of S. ilei was lethal to otherwise healthy C57BL/6J mice. Pathogenomics and in vitro assays revealed that S. ilei possesses a unique set of virulence factors. In agreement with the in vivo and in vitro data, which indicated that S. ilei strain I-G2 is more pathogenic than strain I-P16, only the former displayed the streptococcal group A antigen. We here newly identified S. ilei sp. nov., and described its prevalence in human, virulence factors, and pathogenicity. This will help to prevent S. ilei strain misidentification in the future, and improve the understanding and management of streptococcal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Wook Hyun
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Yun Lee
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Soo Kim
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Na-Ri Shin
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Woong Whon
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hyun Kim
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Pil Soo Kim
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Euon Jung Tak
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Ja Jung
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - June Young Lee
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Sik Kim
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Woorim Kang
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Hojun Sung
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Che Ok Jeon
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Woo Bae
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
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12
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Cell wall polysaccharides of Gram positive ovococcoid bacteria and their role as bacteriophage receptors. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:4018-4031. [PMID: 34377367 PMCID: PMC8327497 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Gram-positive bacterial cell walls are characterised by the presence of a thick peptidoglycan layer which provides protection from extracellular stresses, maintains cell integrity and determines cell morphology, while it also serves as a foundation to anchor a number of crucial polymeric structures. For ovococcal species, including streptococci, enterococci and lactococci, such structures are represented by rhamnose-containing cell wall polysaccharides, which at least in some instances appear to serve as a functional replacement for wall teichoic acids. The biochemical composition of several streptococcal, lactococcal and enterococcal rhamnose-containing cell wall polysaccharides have been elucidated, while associated functional genomic analyses have facilitated the proposition of models for individual biosynthetic pathways. Here, we review the genomic loci which encode the enzymatic machinery to produce rhamnose-containing, cell wall-associated polysaccharide (Rha cwps) structures of the afore-mentioned ovococcal bacteria with particular emphasis on gene content, biochemical structure and common biosynthetic steps. Furthermore, we discuss the role played by these saccharidic polymers as receptors for bacteriophages and the important role phages play in driving Rha cwps diversification and evolution.
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13
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Morelli L, Polito L, Richichi B, Compostella F. Glyconanoparticles as tools to prevent antimicrobial resistance. Glycoconj J 2021; 38:475-490. [PMID: 33728545 PMCID: PMC7964520 DOI: 10.1007/s10719-021-09988-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The increased phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance and the slow pace of development of new antibiotics are at the base of a global health concern regarding microbial infections. Antibiotic resistance kills an estimated 700,000 people each year worldwide, and this number is expected to increase dramatically if efforts are not made to develop new drugs or alternative containment strategies. Increased vaccination coverage, improved sanitation or sustained implementation of infection control measures are among the possible areas of action. Indeed, vaccination is one of the most effective tools of preventing infections. Starting from 1970s polysaccharide-based vaccines against Meningococcus, Pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenzae type b have been licensed, and provided effective protection for population. However, the development of safe and effective vaccines for infectious diseases with broad coverage remains a major challenge in global public health. In this scenario, nanosystems are receiving attention as alternative delivery systems to improve vaccine efficacy and immunogenicity. In this report, we provide an overview of current applications of glyconanomaterials as alternative platforms in the development of new vaccine candidates. In particular, we will focus on nanoparticle platforms, used to induce the activation of the immune system through the multivalent-displacement of saccharide antigens. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Morelli
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Saldini 50, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Polito
- National Research Council, CNR-SCITEC, Via G. Fantoli 16/15, 20138, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Richichi
- Department of Chemistry 'Ugo Schiff', University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 13, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
| | - Federica Compostella
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Saldini 50, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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14
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Castro SA, Dorfmueller HC. A brief review on Group A Streptococcus pathogenesis and vaccine development. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:201991. [PMID: 33959354 PMCID: PMC8074923 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as Group A Streptococcus (GAS), is a Gram-positive human-exclusive pathogen, responsible for more than 500 000 deaths annually worldwide. Upon infection, GAS commonly triggers mild symptoms such as pharyngitis, pyoderma and fever. However, recurrent infections or prolonged exposure to GAS might lead to life-threatening conditions. Necrotizing fasciitis, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and post-immune mediated diseases, such as poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, contribute to very high mortality rates in non-industrialized countries. Though an initial reduction in GAS infections was observed in high-income countries, global outbreaks of GAS, causing rheumatic fever and acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, have been reported over the last decade. At the same time, our understanding of GAS pathogenesis and transmission has vastly increased, with detailed insight into the various stages of infection, beginning with adhesion, colonization and evasion of the host immune system. Despite deeper knowledge of the impact of GAS on the human body, the development of a successful vaccine for prophylaxis of GAS remains outstanding. In this review, we discuss the challenges involved in identifying a universal GAS vaccine and describe several potential vaccine candidates that we believe warrant pursuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sowmya Ajay Castro
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Helge C. Dorfmueller
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
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15
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Khatun F, Dai CC, Rivera-Hernandez T, Hussein WM, Khalil ZG, Capon RJ, Toth I, Stephenson RJ. Immunogenicity Assessment of Cell Wall Carbohydrates of Group A Streptococcus via Self-Adjuvanted Glyco-lipopeptides. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:390-405. [PMID: 33533246 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Identifying the immunogenic moieties and their precise structure of carbohydrates plays an important role for developing effective carbohydrate-based subunit vaccines. This study assessed the structure-immunogenicity relationship of carbohydrate moieties of a single repeating unit of group A carbohydrate (GAC) present on the cell wall of group A Streptococcus (GAS) using a rationally designed self-adjuvanted lipid-core peptide, instead of a carrier protein. Immunological evaluation of fully synthetic glyco-lipopeptides (particle size: 300-500 nm) revealed that construct consisting of higher rhamnose moieties (trirhamnosyl-lipopeptide) was able to induce enhanced immunogenic activity in mice, and GlcNAc moiety was not found to be an essential component of immunogenic GAC mimicked epitope. Trirhamnosyl-lipopeptide also showed 75-97% opsonic activity against four different clinical isolates of GAS and was comparable to a subunit peptide vaccine (J8-lipopeptide) which illustrated 65-96% opsonic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farjana Khatun
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Charles C. Dai
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Tania Rivera-Hernandez
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Waleed M. Hussein
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Zeinab G. Khalil
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Robert J. Capon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Istvan Toth
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Rachel J. Stephenson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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16
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Micoli F, Bagnoli F, Rappuoli R, Serruto D. The role of vaccines in combatting antimicrobial resistance. Nat Rev Microbiol 2021; 19:287-302. [PMID: 33542518 PMCID: PMC7861009 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-020-00506-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The use of antibiotics has enabled the successful treatment of bacterial infections, saving the lives and improving the health of many patients worldwide. However, the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been highlighted as a global threat by different health organizations, and pathogens resistant to antimicrobials cause substantial morbidity and death. As resistance to multiple drugs increases, novel and effective therapies as well as prevention strategies are needed. In this Review, we discuss evidence that vaccines can have a major role in fighting AMR. Vaccines are used prophylactically, decreasing the number of infectious disease cases, and thus antibiotic use and the emergence and spread of AMR. We also describe the current state of development of vaccines against resistant bacterial pathogens that cause a substantial disease burden both in high-income countries and in low- and medium-income countries, discuss possible obstacles that hinder progress in vaccine development and speculate on the impact of next-generation vaccines against bacterial infectious diseases on AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Micoli
- grid.425088.3GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Siena, Italy
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17
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Pitirollo O, Micoli F, Necchi F, Mancini F, Carducci M, Adamo R, Evangelisti C, Morelli L, Polito L, Lay L. Gold nanoparticles morphology does not affect the multivalent presentation and antibody recognition of Group A Streptococcus synthetic oligorhamnans. Bioorg Chem 2020; 99:103815. [PMID: 32289587 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.103815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The development of novel delivery systems capable of enhancing the antibody binding affinity and immunoactivity of short length saccharide antigens is at the forefront of modern medicine. In this regard, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) raised great interest as promising nano-vaccine platform, as they do not interfere with the desired immune response and their surface can be easily functionalized, enabling the antigen multivalent presentation. In addition, the nanoparticles morphology can have a great impact on their biological properties. Gram-positive Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a bacterium responsible for many infections and represents a priority healthcare concern, but a universal vaccine is still unavailable. Since all the GAS strains have a cell wall characterized by a common polyrhamnose backbone, this can be employed as alternative antigen to develop an anti-GAS vaccine. Herein, we present the synthesis of two oligorhamnoside fragments and their corresponding oligorhamnoside-AuNPs, designed with two different morphologies. By competitive ELISA we assessed that both symmetric and anisotropic oligorhamnan nanoparticles inhibit the binding of specific polyclonal serum much better than the unconjugated oligosaccharides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olimpia Pitirollo
- Department of Chemistry and CRC Materiali Polimerici (LaMPo), University of Milan, Via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy; GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Micoli
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Necchi
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancini
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Martina Carducci
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Evangelisti
- National Council of the Research, CNR-ICCOM, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 20124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Morelli
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Saldini 50, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Polito
- National Council of the Research, CNR-SCITEC, Via G. Fantoli 16/15, 20138 Milan, Italy.
| | - Luigi Lay
- Department of Chemistry and CRC Materiali Polimerici (LaMPo), University of Milan, Via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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18
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D'Gama JD, Ma Z, Zhang H, Liu X, Fan H, Morris ERA, Cohen ND, Cywes-Bentley C, Pier GB, Waldor MK. A Conserved Streptococcal Virulence Regulator Controls the Expression of a Distinct Class of M-Like Proteins. mBio 2019; 10:e02500-19. [PMID: 31641092 PMCID: PMC6805998 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02500-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (SEZ) are group C streptococci that are important pathogens of economically valuable animals such as horses and pigs. Here, we found that many SEZ isolates bind to a monoclonal antibody that recognizes poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG), a polymer that is found as a surface capsule-like structure on diverse microbes. A fluorescence-activated cell sorting-based transposon insertion sequencing (Tn-seq) screen, coupled with whole-genome sequencing, was used to search for genes for PNAG biosynthesis. Surprisingly, mutations in a gene encoding an M-like protein, szM, and the adjacent transcription factor, designated sezV, rendered strains PNAG negative. SezV was required for szM expression and transcriptome analysis showed that SezV has a small regulon. SEZ strains with inactivating mutations in either sezV or szM were highly attenuated in a mouse model of infection. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that linked sezV and szM homologues are present in all SEZ, S. equi subspecies equi (SEE), and M18 group A streptococcal (GAS) genomes in the database, but not in other streptococci. The antibody to PNAG bound to a wide range of SEZ, SEE, and M18 GAS strains. Immunochemical studies suggest that the SzM protein may be decorated with a PNAG-like oligosaccharide although an intact oligosaccharide substituent could not be isolated. Collectively, our findings suggest that the szM and sezV loci define a subtype of virulent streptococci and that an antibody to PNAG may have therapeutic applications in animal and human diseases caused by streptococci bearing SzM-like proteins.IMPORTANCE M proteins are surface-anchored virulence factors in group A streptococci, human pathogens. Here, we identified an M-like protein, SzM, and its positive regulator, SezV, in Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (SEZ), an important group of pathogens for domesticated animals, including horses and pigs. SzM and SezV homologues were found in the genomes of all SEZ and S. equi subspecies equi and M18 group A streptococcal strains analyzed but not in other streptococci. Mutant SEZ strains lacking either sezV or szM were highly attenuated in a mouse model of infection. Collectively, our findings suggest that SezV-related regulators and the linked SzM family of M-like proteins define a new subset of virulent streptococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D D'Gama
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zhe Ma
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Bacteriology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hailong Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xu Liu
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hongjie Fan
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Bacteriology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ellen Ruth A Morris
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Noah D Cohen
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Colette Cywes-Bentley
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gerald B Pier
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew K Waldor
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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19
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Zorzoli A, Meyer BH, Adair E, Torgov VI, Veselovsky VV, Danilov LL, Uhrin D, Dorfmueller HC. Group A, B, C, and G Streptococcus Lancefield antigen biosynthesis is initiated by a conserved α-d-GlcNAc-β-1,4-l-rhamnosyltransferase. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:15237-15256. [PMID: 31506299 PMCID: PMC6802508 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.009894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Group A carbohydrate (GAC) is a bacterial peptidoglycan-anchored surface rhamnose polysaccharide (RhaPS) that is essential for growth of Streptococcus pyogenes and contributes to its ability to infect the human host. In this study, using molecular and synthetic biology approaches, biochemistry, radiolabeling techniques, and NMR and MS analyses, we examined the role of GacB, encoded in the S. pyogenes GAC gene cluster, in the GAC biosynthesis pathway. We demonstrate that GacB is the first characterized α-d-GlcNAc-β-1,4-l-rhamnosyltransferase that synthesizes the committed step in the biosynthesis of the GAC virulence determinant. Importantly, the substitution of S. pyogenes gacB with the homologous gene from Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus), Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (Group C Streptococcus), Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (Group G Streptococcus), or Streptococcus mutans complemented the GAC biosynthesis pathway. These results, combined with those from extensive in silico studies, reveal a common phylogenetic origin of the genes required for this priming step in >40 pathogenic species of the Streptococcus genus, including members from the Lancefield Groups B, C, D, E, G, and H. Importantly, this priming step appears to be unique to streptococcal ABC transporter–dependent RhaPS biosynthesis, whereas the Wzx/Wzy-dependent streptococcal capsular polysaccharide pathways instead require an α-d-Glc-β-1,4-l-rhamnosyltransferase. The insights into the RhaPS priming step obtained here open the door to targeting the early steps of the group carbohydrate biosynthesis pathways in species of the Streptococcus genus of high clinical and veterinary importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azul Zorzoli
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin H Meyer
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine Adair
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, United Kingdom
| | - Vladimir I Torgov
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Vladimir V Veselovsky
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Leonid L Danilov
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Dusan Uhrin
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, United Kingdom
| | - Helge C Dorfmueller
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
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20
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Azuar A, Jin W, Mukaida S, Hussein WM, Toth I, Skwarczynski M. Recent Advances in the Development of Peptide Vaccines and Their Delivery Systems Against Group A Streptococcus. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:E58. [PMID: 31266253 PMCID: PMC6789462 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7030058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection can cause a variety of diseases in humans, ranging from common sore throats and skin infections, to more invasive diseases and life-threatening post-infectious diseases, such as rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Although research has been ongoing since 1923, vaccines against GAS are still not available to the public. Traditional approaches taken to develop vaccines for GAS failed due to poor efficacy and safety. Fortunately, headway has been made and modern subunit vaccines that administer minimal bacterial components provide an opportunity to finally overcome previous hurdles in GAS vaccine development. This review details the major antigens and strategies used for GAS vaccine development. The combination of antigen selection, peptide epitope modification and delivery systems have resulted in the discovery of promising peptide vaccines against GAS; these are currently in preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armira Azuar
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Wanli Jin
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Saori Mukaida
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Waleed M Hussein
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Helwan, Cairo 11795, Egypt
| | - Istvan Toth
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- School of Pharmacy, Woolloongabba, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia
- Institute of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Mariusz Skwarczynski
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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21
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Davies MR, McIntyre L, Mutreja A, Lacey JA, Lees JA, Towers RJ, Duchêne S, Smeesters PR, Frost HR, Price DJ, Holden MTG, David S, Giffard PM, Worthing KA, Seale AC, Berkley JA, Harris SR, Rivera-Hernandez T, Berking O, Cork AJ, Torres RSLA, Lithgow T, Strugnell RA, Bergmann R, Nitsche-Schmitz P, Chhatwal GS, Bentley SD, Fraser JD, Moreland NJ, Carapetis JR, Steer AC, Parkhill J, Saul A, Williamson DA, Currie BJ, Tong SYC, Dougan G, Walker MJ. Atlas of group A streptococcal vaccine candidates compiled using large-scale comparative genomics. Nat Genet 2019; 51:1035-1043. [PMID: 31133745 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-019-0417-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS; Streptococcus pyogenes) is a bacterial pathogen for which a commercial vaccine for humans is not available. Employing the advantages of high-throughput DNA sequencing technology to vaccine design, we have analyzed 2,083 globally sampled GAS genomes. The global GAS population structure reveals extensive genomic heterogeneity driven by homologous recombination and overlaid with high levels of accessory gene plasticity. We identified the existence of more than 290 clinically associated genomic phylogroups across 22 countries, highlighting challenges in designing vaccines of global utility. To determine vaccine candidate coverage, we investigated all of the previously described GAS candidate antigens for gene carriage and gene sequence heterogeneity. Only 15 of 28 vaccine antigen candidates were found to have both low naturally occurring sequence variation and high (>99%) coverage across this diverse GAS population. This technological platform for vaccine coverage determination is equally applicable to prospective GAS vaccine antigens identified in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark R Davies
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. .,The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK. .,School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. .,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Liam McIntyre
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ankur Mutreja
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.,GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Siena, Italy
| | - Jake A Lacey
- Doherty Department, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - John A Lees
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca J Towers
- Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Sebastián Duchêne
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Pierre R Smeesters
- Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Pediatrics, Queen Fabiola Childrens University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hannah R Frost
- Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Pediatrics, Queen Fabiola Childrens University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David J Price
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory Epidemiology Unit, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew T G Holden
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.,School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Sophia David
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Philip M Giffard
- Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Kate A Worthing
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - James A Berkley
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Tania Rivera-Hernandez
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Olga Berking
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Amanda J Cork
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rosângela S L A Torres
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Epidemiology Laboratory and Disease Control Division, Laboratório Central do Estado do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.,Department of Medicine, Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Trevor Lithgow
- Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Richard A Strugnell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rene Bergmann
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | | | | | - John D Fraser
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Nicole J Moreland
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan R Carapetis
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia and Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew C Steer
- Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Allan Saul
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Siena, Italy
| | - Deborah A Williamson
- Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bart J Currie
- Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Steven Y C Tong
- Doherty Department, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.,Victorian Infectious Disease Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gordon Dougan
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.,Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark J Walker
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. .,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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22
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Discovery of glycerol phosphate modification on streptococcal rhamnose polysaccharides. Nat Chem Biol 2019; 15:463-471. [PMID: 30936502 PMCID: PMC6470023 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-019-0251-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cell wall glycopolymers on the surface of Gram-positive bacteria are fundamental to bacterial physiology and infection biology. Here we identify gacH, a gene in the Streptococcus pyogenes group A carbohydrate (GAC) biosynthetic cluster, in two independent transposon library screens for its ability to confer resistance to zinc and susceptibility to the bactericidal enzyme human group IIA-secreted phospholipase A2. Subsequent structural and phylogenetic analysis of the GacH extracellular domain revealed that GacH represents an alternative class of glycerol phosphate transferase. We detected the presence of glycerol phosphate in the GAC, as well as the serotype c carbohydrate from Streptococcus mutans, which depended on the presence of the respective gacH homologs. Finally, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of GAC confirmed that glycerol phosphate is attached to approximately 25% of the GAC N-acetylglucosamine side-chains at the C6 hydroxyl group. This previously unrecognized structural modification impacts host-pathogen interaction and has implications for vaccine design.
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23
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Zhu L, Olsen RJ, Beres SB, Eraso JM, Saavedra MO, Kubiak SL, Cantu CC, Jenkins L, Charbonneau ARL, Waller AS, Musser JM. Gene fitness landscape of group A streptococcus during necrotizing myositis. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:887-901. [PMID: 30667377 PMCID: PMC6355216 DOI: 10.1172/jci124994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing fasciitis and myositis are devastating infections characterized by high mortality. Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a common cause of these infections, but the molecular pathogenesis is poorly understood. We report a genome-wide analysis using serotype M1 and M28 strains that identified GAS genes contributing to necrotizing myositis in nonhuman primates (NHP), a clinically relevant model. Using transposon-directed insertion-site sequencing (TraDIS), we identified 126 and 116 GAS genes required for infection by serotype M1 and M28 organisms, respectively. For both M1 and M28 strains, more than 25% of the GAS genes required for necrotizing myositis encode known or putative transporters. Thirteen GAS transporters contributed to both M1 and M28 strain fitness in NHP myositis, including putative importers for amino acids, carbohydrates, and vitamins and exporters for toxins, quorum-sensing peptides, and uncharacterized molecules. Targeted deletion of genes encoding 5 transporters confirmed that each isogenic mutant strain was significantly (P < 0.05) impaired in causing necrotizing myositis in NHPs. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that these 5 genes are expressed in infected NHP and human skeletal muscle. Certain substrate-binding lipoproteins of these transporters, such as Spy0271 and Spy1728, were previously documented to be surface exposed, suggesting that our findings have translational research implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luchang Zhu
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Randall J. Olsen
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stephen B. Beres
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jesus M. Eraso
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew Ojeda Saavedra
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Samantha L. Kubiak
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Concepcion C. Cantu
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Leslie Jenkins
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Amelia R. L. Charbonneau
- Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - James M. Musser
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
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24
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van Hensbergen VP, Movert E, de Maat V, Lüchtenborg C, Le Breton Y, Lambeau G, Payré C, Henningham A, Nizet V, van Strijp JAG, Brügger B, Carlsson F, McIver KS, van Sorge NM. Streptococcal Lancefield polysaccharides are critical cell wall determinants for human Group IIA secreted phospholipase A2 to exert its bactericidal effects. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007348. [PMID: 30321240 PMCID: PMC6201954 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human Group IIA secreted phospholipase A2 (hGIIA) is an acute phase protein with bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Infection models in hGIIA transgenic mice have suggested the importance of hGIIA as an innate defense mechanism against the human pathogens Group A Streptococcus (GAS) and Group B Streptococcus (GBS). Compared to other Gram-positive bacteria, GAS is remarkably resistant to hGIIA activity. To identify GAS resistance mechanisms, we exposed a highly saturated GAS M1 transposon library to recombinant hGIIA and compared relative mutant abundance with library input through transposon-sequencing (Tn-seq). Based on transposon prevalence in the output library, we identified nine genes, including dltA and lytR, conferring increased hGIIA susceptibility. In addition, seven genes conferred increased hGIIA resistance, which included two genes, gacH and gacI that are located within the Group A Carbohydrate (GAC) gene cluster. Using GAS 5448 wild-type and the isogenic gacI mutant and gacI-complemented strains, we demonstrate that loss of the GAC N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) side chain in the ΔgacI mutant increases hGIIA resistance approximately 10-fold, a phenotype that is conserved across different GAS serotypes. Increased resistance is associated with delayed penetration of hGIIA through the cell wall. Correspondingly, loss of the Lancefield Group B Carbohydrate (GBC) rendered GBS significantly more resistant to hGIIA-mediated killing. This suggests that the streptococcal Lancefield antigens, which are critical determinants for streptococcal physiology and virulence, are required for the bactericidal enzyme hGIIA to exert its bactericidal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent P. van Hensbergen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elin Movert
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Section for Immunology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Vincent de Maat
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Yoann Le Breton
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics and Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States of America
| | - Gérard Lambeau
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Department of Biochemistry, Valbonne, France
| | - Christine Payré
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Department of Biochemistry, Valbonne, France
| | - Anna Henningham
- Department of Pediatrics and Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Victor Nizet
- Department of Pediatrics and Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Jos A. G. van Strijp
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Britta Brügger
- Heidelberg University, Biochemistry Center (BZH), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fredric Carlsson
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Section for Immunology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Biology, Section for Molecular Cell Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kevin S. McIver
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics and Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States of America
| | - Nina M. van Sorge
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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25
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Colombo C, Pitirollo O, Lay L. Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Glycoconjugates for Vaccine Development. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23071712. [PMID: 30011851 PMCID: PMC6099631 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23071712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last decade there has been a growing interest in glycoimmunology, a relatively new research field dealing with the specific interactions of carbohydrates with the immune system. Pathogens’ cell surfaces are covered by a thick layer of oligo- and polysaccharides that are crucial virulence factors, as they mediate receptors binding on host cells for initial adhesion and organism invasion. Since in most cases these saccharide structures are uniquely exposed on the pathogen surface, they represent attractive targets for vaccine design. Polysaccharides isolated from cell walls of microorganisms and chemically conjugated to immunogenic proteins have been used as antigens for vaccine development for a range of infectious diseases. However, several challenges are associated with carbohydrate antigens purified from natural sources, such as their difficult characterization and heterogeneous composition. Consequently, glycoconjugates with chemically well-defined structures, that are able to confer highly reproducible biological properties and a better safety profile, are at the forefront of vaccine development. Following on from our previous review on the subject, in the present account we specifically focus on the most recent advances in the synthesis and preliminary immunological evaluation of next generation glycoconjugate vaccines designed to target bacterial and fungal infections that have been reported in the literature since 2011.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Colombo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Olimpia Pitirollo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Luigi Lay
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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