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Mustor EM, Wohlfahrt J, Guergues J, Stevens SM, Shaw LN. A Simplified Method for Comprehensive Capture of the Staphylococcus aureus Proteome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.07.607079. [PMID: 39149396 PMCID: PMC11326305 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.07.607079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen causing myriad infections in both community and healthcare settings. Although well studied, a comprehensive exploration of its dynamic and adaptive proteome is still somewhat lacking. Herein, we employed streamlined liquid- and gas-phase fractionation with PASEF analysis on a TIMS-TOF instrument to expand coverage and explore the S. aureus dark proteome. In so doing, we captured the most comprehensive S. aureus proteome to date, totaling 2,231 proteins (85.6% coverage), using a significantly simplified process that demonstrated high reproducibility with minimal input material. We then showcase application of this library for differential expression profiling by investigating temporal dynamics of the S. aureus proteome. This revealed alterations in metabolic processes, ATP production, RNA processing, and stress-response proteins as cultures progressed to stationary growth. Notably, a significant portion of the library (94%) and proteome (80.5%) was identified by this single-shot, DIA-based analysis. Overall, our study shines new light on the hidden S. aureus proteome, generating a valuable new resource to facilitate further study of this dangerous pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilee M Mustor
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Center for Antimicrobial Resistance, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jessica Wohlfahrt
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jennifer Guergues
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Stanley M Stevens
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Lindsey Neil Shaw
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Center for Antimicrobial Resistance, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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2
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Silva V, Ribeiro J, Teixeira P, Pinto P, Vieira-Pinto M, Poeta P, Caniça M, Igrejas G. Genetic Complexity of CC5 Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Associated with Sternal Bursitis in Chickens: Antimicrobial Resistance, Virulence, Plasmids, and Biofilm Formation. Pathogens 2024; 13:519. [PMID: 38921816 PMCID: PMC11206601 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13060519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Sternal bursitis, a common inflammatory condition in poultry, poses significant challenges to both animal welfare and public health. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and genetic characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolates associated with sternal bursitis in chickens. Ninety-eight samples were collected from affected chickens, and 24 S. aureus isolates were identified. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed resistance to multiple agents, with a notable prevalence of aminoglycoside resistance genes. Whole genome sequencing elucidated the genetic diversity and virulence profiles of the isolates, highlighting the predominance of clonal complex 5 (CC5) strains. Additionally, biofilm formation assays demonstrated moderate biofilm production capacity among the isolates. These findings underscore the importance of vigilant monitoring and targeted interventions to mitigate the impact of sternal bursitis in poultry production systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Silva
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics Unit, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Microbiology and Antibiotic Resistance Team (MicroART), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Jessica Ribeiro
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics Unit, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Microbiology and Antibiotic Resistance Team (MicroART), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Pedro Teixeira
- National Reference Laboratory of Antibiotic Resistances and Healthcare Associated Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pedro Pinto
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Madalena Vieira-Pinto
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- CECAV—Veterinary and Animal Research Centre, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Poeta
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Microbiology and Antibiotic Resistance Team (MicroART), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- CECAV—Veterinary and Animal Research Centre, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Manuela Caniça
- National Reference Laboratory of Antibiotic Resistances and Healthcare Associated Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Centre for the Studies of Animal Science, Institute of Agrarian and Agri-Food Sciences and Technologies, University of Porto, 4051-401 Porto, Portugal
| | - Gilberto Igrejas
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics Unit, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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3
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Campbell MJ, Beenken KE, Ramirez AM, Smeltzer MS. Increased production of aureolysin and staphopain A is a primary determinant of the reduced virulence of Staphylococcus aureus sarA mutants in osteomyelitis. mBio 2024; 15:e0338323. [PMID: 38415646 PMCID: PMC11005355 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03383-23] [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: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that mutation of sarA in Staphylococcus aureus limits biofilm formation, cytotoxicity for osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and virulence in osteomyelitis, and that all of these phenotypes can be attributed to the increased production of extracellular proteases. Here we extend these studies to assess the individual importance of these proteases alone and in combination with each other using the methicillin-resistant USA300 strain LAC, the methicillin-susceptible USA200 strain UAMS-1, and isogenic sarA mutants that were also unable to produce aureolysin (Aur), staphopain A (ScpA), staphylococcal serine protease A (subsp.), staphopain B (SspB), and the staphylococcal serine protease-like proteins A-F (SplA-F). Biofilm formation was restored in LAC and UAMS-1 sarA mutants by subsequent mutation of aur and scpA, while mutation of aur had the greatest impact on cytotoxicity to mammalian cells, particularly with conditioned medium (CM) from the more cytotoxic strain LAC. However, SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis of CM confirmed that mutation of sspAB was also required to mimic the phenotype of sarA mutants unable to produce any extracellular proteases. Nevertheless, in a murine model of post-traumatic osteomyelitis, mutation of aur and scpA had the greatest impact on restoring the virulence of LAC and UAMS-1 sarA mutants, with concurrent mutation of sspAB and the spl operon having relatively little effect. These results demonstrate that the increased production of Aur and ScpA in combination with each other is a primary determinant of the reduced virulence of S. aureus sarA mutants in diverse clinical isolates including both methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible strains.IMPORTANCEPrevious work established that SarA plays a primary role in limiting the production of extracellular proteases to prevent them from limiting the abundance of S. aureus virulence factors. Eliminating the production of all 10 extracellular proteases in the methicillin-resistant strain LAC has also been shown to enhance virulence in a murine sepsis model, and this has been attributed to the specific proteases Aur and ScpA. The importance of this work lies in our demonstration that the increased production of these same proteases largely accounts for the decreased virulence of sarA mutants in a murine model of post-traumatic osteomyelitis not only in LAC but also in the methicillin-susceptible human osteomyelitis isolate UAMS-1. This confirms that sarA-mediated repression of Aur and ScpA production plays a critical role in the posttranslational regulation of S. aureus virulence factors in diverse clinical isolates and diverse forms of S. aureus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara J. Campbell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Karen E. Beenken
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Aura M. Ramirez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Mark S. Smeltzer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
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4
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Campbell MJ, Beenken KE, Ramirez AM, Smeltzer MS. The major role of sarA in limiting Staphylococcus aureus extracellular protease production in vitro is correlated with decreased virulence in diverse clinical isolates in osteomyelitis. Virulence 2023; 14:2175496. [PMID: 36748843 PMCID: PMC9928472 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2175496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that MgrA, SarA, SarR, SarS, SarZ, and Rot bind at least three of the four promoters associated with genes encoding primary extracellular proteases in Staphylococcus aureus (Aur, ScpA, SspA/SspB, SplA-F). We also showed that mutation of sarA results in a greater increase in protease production, and decrease in biofilm formation, than mutation of the loci encoding any of these other proteins. However, these conclusions were based on in vitro studies. Thus, the goal of the experiments reported here was to determine the relative impact of the regulatory loci encoding these proteins in vivo. To this end, we compared the virulence of mgrA, sarA, sarR, sarS, sarZ, and rot mutants in a murine osteomyelitis model. Mutants were generated in the methicillin-resistant USA300 strain LAC and the methicillin-sensitive USA200 strain UAMS-1, which was isolated directly from the bone of an osteomyelitis patient during surgical debridement. Mutation of mgrA and rot limited virulence to a statistically significant extent in UAMS-1, but not in LAC, while the sarA mutant exhibited reduced virulence in both strains. The reduced virulence of the sarA mutant was correlated with reduced cytotoxicity for osteoblasts and osteoclasts, reduced biofilm formation, and reduced sensitivity to the antimicrobial peptide indolicidin, all of which were directly attributable to increased protease production in both LAC and UAMS-1. These results illustrate the importance of considering diverse clinical isolates when evaluating the impact of regulatory mutations on virulence and demonstrate the significance of SarA in limiting protease production in vivo in S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara J. Campbell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Karen E. Beenken
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Aura M. Ramirez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
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5
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Deng L, Costa F, Blake KJ, Choi S, Chandrabalan A, Yousuf MS, Shiers S, Dubreuil D, Vega-Mendoza D, Rolland C, Deraison C, Voisin T, Bagood MD, Wesemann L, Frey AM, Palumbo JS, Wainger BJ, Gallo RL, Leyva-Castillo JM, Vergnolle N, Price TJ, Ramachandran R, Horswill AR, Chiu IM. S. aureus drives itch and scratch-induced skin damage through a V8 protease-PAR1 axis. Cell 2023; 186:5375-5393.e25. [PMID: 37995657 PMCID: PMC10669764 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Itch is an unpleasant sensation that evokes a desire to scratch. The skin barrier is constantly exposed to microbes and their products. However, the role of microbes in itch generation is unknown. Here, we show that Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterial pathogen associated with itchy skin diseases, directly activates pruriceptor sensory neurons to drive itch. Epicutaneous S. aureus exposure causes robust itch and scratch-induced damage. By testing multiple isogenic bacterial mutants for virulence factors, we identify the S. aureus serine protease V8 as a critical mediator in evoking spontaneous itch and alloknesis. V8 cleaves proteinase-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) on mouse and human sensory neurons. Targeting PAR1 through genetic deficiency, small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown, or pharmacological blockade decreases itch and skin damage caused by V8 and S. aureus exposure. Thus, we identify a mechanism of action for a pruritogenic bacterial factor and demonstrate the potential of inhibiting V8-PAR1 signaling to treat itch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwen Deng
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Flavia Costa
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kimbria J Blake
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Samantha Choi
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Arundhasa Chandrabalan
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Muhammad Saad Yousuf
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Stephanie Shiers
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Daniel Dubreuil
- Departments of Neurology and Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Daniela Vega-Mendoza
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Corinne Rolland
- IRSD, Université de Toulouse, INSERM, INRAe, ENVT, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Celine Deraison
- IRSD, Université de Toulouse, INSERM, INRAe, ENVT, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Tiphaine Voisin
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Michelle D Bagood
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Lucia Wesemann
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Abigail M Frey
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Joseph S Palumbo
- Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Brian J Wainger
- Departments of Neurology and Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Richard L Gallo
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | | | - Nathalie Vergnolle
- IRSD, Université de Toulouse, INSERM, INRAe, ENVT, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Theodore J Price
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Rithwik Ramachandran
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Alexander R Horswill
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Isaac M Chiu
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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6
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Robertson A, Sall J, Venzon M, Olivas JJ, Zheng X, Cammer M, Antao N, Zhou C, Devlin JC, Saes Thur R, Bethony J, Nejsum P, Shopsin B, Torres VJ, Liang FX, Cadwell K. Bacterial contact induces polar plug disintegration to mediate whipworm egg hatching. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011647. [PMID: 37738244 PMCID: PMC10550136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial microbiota promotes the life cycle of the intestine-dwelling whipworm Trichuris by mediating hatching of parasite eggs ingested by the mammalian host. Despite the enormous disease burden associated with Trichuris colonization, the mechanisms underlying this transkingdom interaction have been obscure. Here, we used a multiscale microscopy approach to define the structural events associated with bacteria-mediated hatching of eggs for the murine model parasite Trichuris muris. Through the combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and serial block face SEM (SBFSEM), we visualized the outer surface morphology of the shell and generated 3D structures of the egg and larva during the hatching process. These images revealed that exposure to hatching-inducing bacteria catalyzed asymmetric degradation of the polar plugs prior to exit by the larva. Unrelated bacteria induced similar loss of electron density and dissolution of the structural integrity of the plugs. Egg hatching was most efficient when high densities of bacteria were bound to the poles. Consistent with the ability of taxonomically distant bacteria to induce hatching, additional results suggest chitinase released from larva within the eggs degrade the plugs from the inside instead of enzymes produced by bacteria in the external environment. These findings define at ultrastructure resolution the evolutionary adaptation of a parasite for the microbe-rich environment of the mammalian gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amicha Robertson
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Joseph Sall
- Microscopy Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York New York, United States of America
| | - Mericien Venzon
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Janet J. Olivas
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Xuhui Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Michael Cammer
- Microscopy Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York New York, United States of America
| | - Noelle Antao
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York New York, United States of America
| | - Chunyi Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Joseph C. Devlin
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Rafaela Saes Thur
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey Bethony
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Peter Nejsum
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Bo Shopsin
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Victor J. Torres
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Feng-Xia Liang
- Microscopy Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York New York, United States of America
| | - Ken Cadwell
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Abstract
It has been widely appreciated that numerous bacterial species express chitinases for the purpose of degrading environmental chitin. However, chitinases and chitin-binding proteins are also expressed by pathogenic bacterial species during infection even though mammals do not produce chitin. Alternative molecular targets are therefore likely present within the host. Here, we will describe our current understanding of chitinase/chitin-binding proteins as virulence factors that promote bacterial colonization and infection. The targets of these chitinases in the host have been shown to include immune system components, mucins, and surface glycans. Bacterial chitinases have also been shown to interact with other microorganisms, targeting the peptidoglycan or chitin in the bacterial and fungal cell wall, respectively. This review highlights that even though the name "chitinase" implies activity toward chitin, chitinases can have a wide diversity of targets, including ones relevant to host infection. Chitinases may therefore be useful as a target of future anti-infective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R. Devlin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Judith Behnsen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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8
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Robertson A, Sall J, Venzon M, Olivas JJ, Zheng X, Cammer M, Antao N, Thur RS, Bethony J, Nejsum P, Torres VJ, Liang FX, Cadwell K. Bacterial contact induces polar plug disintegration to mediate whipworm egg hatching. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.13.532458. [PMID: 36993552 PMCID: PMC10054943 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.13.532458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The bacterial microbiota promotes the life cycle of the intestine-dwelling whipworm Trichuris by mediating hatching of parasite eggs ingested by the mammalian host. Despite the enormous disease burden associated with Trichuris colonization, the mechanisms underlying this transkingdom interaction have been obscure. Here, we used a multiscale microscopy approach to define the structural events associated with bacteria-mediated hatching of eggs for the murine model parasite Trichuris muris . Through the combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and serial block face SEM (SBFSEM), we visualized the outer surface morphology of the shell and generated 3D structures of the egg and larva during the hatching process. These images revealed that exposure to hatching-inducing bacteria catalyzed asymmetric degradation of the polar plugs prior to exit by the larva. Although unrelated bacteria induced similar loss of electron density and dissolution of the structural integrity of the plugs, egg hatching was most efficient in the presence of bacteria that bound poles with high density such as Staphylococcus aureus . Consistent with the ability of taxonomically distant bacteria to induce hatching, additional results suggest chitinase released from larva within the eggs degrade the plugs from the inside instead of enzymes produced by bacteria in the external environment. These findings define at ultrastructure resolution the evolutionary adaptation of a parasite for the microbe-rich environment of the mammalian gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amicha Robertson
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Joseph Sall
- Microscopy Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Mericien Venzon
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Janet J. Olivas
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Xuhui Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Michael Cammer
- Microscopy Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Noelle Antao
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Rafaela Saes Thur
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Jeffrey Bethony
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Peter Nejsum
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Victor J. Torres
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Feng-Xia Liang
- Microscopy Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Ken Cadwell
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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9
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Francis D, Bhairaddy A, Joy A, Hari GV, Francis A. Secretory proteins in the orchestration of microbial virulence: The curious case of Staphylococcus aureus. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2023; 133:271-350. [PMID: 36707204 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2022.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Microbial virulence showcases an excellent model for adaptive changes that enable an organism to survive and proliferate in a hostile environment and exploit host resources to its own benefit. In Staphylococcus aureus, an opportunistic pathogen of the human host, known for the diversity of the disease conditions it inflicts and the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance, virulence is a consequence of having a highly plastic genome that is amenable to quick reprogramming and the ability to express a diverse arsenal of virulence factors. Virulence factors that are secreted to the host milieu effectively manipulate the host conditions to favor bacterial survival and growth. They assist in colonization, nutrient acquisition, immune evasion, and systemic spread. The structural and functional characteristics of the secreted virulence proteins have been shaped to assist S. aureus in thriving and disseminating effectively within the host environment and exploiting the host resources to its best benefit. With the aim of highlighting the importance of secreted virulence proteins in bacterial virulence, the present chapter provides a comprehensive account of the role of the major secreted proteins of S. aureus in orchestrating its virulence in the human host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dileep Francis
- Department of Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
| | - Anusha Bhairaddy
- Department of Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Atheene Joy
- Department of Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Ashik Francis
- Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
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10
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Mendes SR, Eckhard U, Rodríguez-Banqueri A, Guevara T, Czermak P, Marcos E, Vilcinskas A, Xavier Gomis-Rüth F. An engineered protein-based submicromolar competitive inhibitor of the Staphylococcus aureus virulence factor aureolysin. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:534-544. [PMID: 35465156 PMCID: PMC9002140 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aureolysin, a secreted metallopeptidase (MP) from the thermolysin family, functions as a major virulence factor in Staphylococcus aureus. No specific aureolysin inhibitors have yet been described, making this an important target for the development of novel antimicrobial drugs in times of rampant antibiotic resistance. Although small-molecule inhibitors are currently more common in the clinic, therapeutic proteins and peptides (TPs) are favourable due to their high selectivity, which reduces off-target toxicity and allows dosage tuning. The greater wax moth Galleria mellonella produces a unique defensive protein known as the insect metallopeptidase inhibitor (IMPI), which selectively inhibits some thermolysins from pathogenic bacteria. We determined the ability of IMPI to inhibit aureolysin in vitro and used crystal structures to ascertain its mechanism of action. This revealed that IMPI uses the “standard mechanism”, which has been poorly characterised for MPs in general. Accordingly, we designed a cohort of 12 single and multiple point mutants, the best of which (I57F) inhibited aureolysin with an estimated inhibition constant (Ki) of 346 nM. Given that animals lack thermolysins, our strategy may facilitate the development of safe TPs against staphylococcal infections, including strains resistant to conventional antibiotics.
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11
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The protease SplB of Staphylococcus aureus targets host complement components and inhibits complement-mediated bacterial opsonophagocytosis. J Bacteriol 2021; 204:e0018421. [PMID: 34633872 PMCID: PMC8765433 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00184-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause life-threatening infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The high-level virulence of S. aureus largely relies on its diverse and variable collection of virulence factors and immune evasion proteins, including the six serine protease-like proteins SplA to SplF. Spl proteins are expressed by most clinical isolates of S. aureus, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which these proteins modify the host’s immune response for the benefit of the bacteria. Here, we identify SplB as a protease that inactivates central human complement proteins, i.e., C3, C4, and the activation fragments C3b and C4b, by preferentially cleaving their α-chains. SplB maintained its proteolytic activity in human serum, degrading C3 and C4. SplB further cleaved the components of the terminal complement pathway, C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9. In contrast, the important soluble human complement regulators factor H and C4b-binding protein (C4BP), as well as C1q, were left intact. Thereby, SplB reduced C3b-mediated opsonophagocytosis by human neutrophils as well as C5b-9 deposition on the bacterial surface. In conclusion, we identified the first physiological substrates of the S. aureus extracellular protease SplB. This enzyme inhibits all three complement pathways and blocks opsonophagocytosis. Thus, SplB can be considered a novel staphylococcal complement evasion protein. IMPORTANCE The success of bacterial pathogens in immunocompetent humans depends on the control and inactivation of host immunity. S. aureus, like many other pathogens, efficiently blocks host complement attack early in infection. Aiming to understand the role of the S. aureus-encoded orphan proteases of the Spl operon, we asked whether these proteins play a role in immune escape. We found that SplB inhibits all three complement activation pathways as well as the lytic terminal complement pathway. This blocks the opsonophagocytosis of the bacteria by neutrophils. We also clarified the molecular mechanisms: SplB cleaves the human complement proteins C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9 as well as factor B but not the complement inhibitors factor H and C4BP. Thus, we identify the first physiological substrates of the extracellular protease SplB of S. aureus and characterize SplB as a novel staphylococcal complement evasion protein.
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12
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Burian M, Plange J, Schmitt L, Kaschke A, Marquardt Y, Huth L, Baron JM, Hornef MW, Wolz C, Yazdi AS. Adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus to the Human Skin Environment Identified Using an ex vivo Tissue Model. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:728989. [PMID: 34621255 PMCID: PMC8490888 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.728989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The healthy human epidermis provides physical protection and is impenetrable for pathogenic microbes. Nevertheless, commensal and pathogen bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus are able to colonize the skin surface, which may subsequently lead to infection. To identify and characterize regulatory elements facilitating adaptation of S. aureus to the human skin environment we used ex vivo tissue explants and quantified S. aureus gene transcription during co-culture. This analysis provided evidence for a significant downregulation of the global virulence regulator agr upon initial contact with skin, regardless of the growth phase of S. aureus prior to co-culture. In contrast, the alternative sigma factor B (sigB) and the antimicrobial peptide-sensing system (graRS) were expressed during early colonization. Consistently, sigB target genes such as the clumping factor A (clfA) and fibrinogen and fibronectin binding protein A (fnbA) were strongly upregulated upon skin contact. At later timepoints of the adhesion process, wall teichoic acid (WTA) synthesis was induced. Besides the expression of adhesive molecules, transcription of molecules involved in immune evasion were increased during late colonization (staphylococcal complement inhibitor and staphylokinase). Similar to nasal colonization, enzymes involved in cell wall metabolism (sceD and atlA) were highly transcribed. Finally, we detected a strong expression of proteases from all three catalytic classes during the entire colonization process. Taken together, we here present an ex vivo skin colonization model that allows the detailed characterization of the bacterial adaptation to the skin environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Burian
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Johanna Plange
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Laurenz Schmitt
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Anke Kaschke
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yvonne Marquardt
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Laura Huth
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jens M Baron
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mathias W Hornef
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christiane Wolz
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Amir S Yazdi
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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13
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Abstract
The human skin is our outermost layer and serves as a protective barrier against external insults. Advances in next generation sequencing have enabled the discoveries of a rich and diverse community of microbes - bacteria, fungi and viruses that are residents of this surface. The genomes of these microbes also revealed the presence of many secretory enzymes. In particular, proteases which are hydrolytic enzymes capable of protein cleavage and degradation are of special interest in the skin environment which is enriched in proteins and lipids. In this minireview, we will focus on the roles of these skin-relevant microbial secreted proteases, both in terms of their widely studied roles as pathogenic agents in tissue invasion and host immune inactivation, and their recently discovered roles in inter-microbial interactions and modulation of virulence factors. From these studies, it has become apparent that while microbial proteases are capable of a wide range of functions, their expression is tightly regulated and highly responsive to the environments the microbes are in. With the introduction of new biochemical and bioinformatics tools to study protease functions, it will be important to understand the roles played by skin microbial secretory proteases in cutaneous health, especially the less studied commensal microbes with an emphasis on contextual relevance.
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14
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Kretschmer D, Breitmeyer R, Gekeler C, Lebtig M, Schlatterer K, Nega M, Stahl M, Stapels D, Rooijakkers S, Peschel A. Staphylococcus aureus Depends on Eap Proteins for Preventing Degradation of Its Phenol-Soluble Modulin Toxins by Neutrophil Serine Proteases. Front Immunol 2021; 12:701093. [PMID: 34552584 PMCID: PMC8451722 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.701093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrophil granulocytes act as a first line of defense against pathogenic staphylococci. However, Staphylococcus aureus has a remarkable capacity to survive neutrophil killing, which distinguishes it from the less-pathogenic Staphylococcus epidermidis. Both species release phenol-soluble modulin (PSM) toxins, which activate the neutrophil formyl-peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) to promote neutrophil influx and phagocytosis, and which disrupt neutrophils or their phagosomal membranes at high concentrations. We show here that the neutrophil serine proteases (NSPs) neutrophil elastase, cathepsin G and proteinase 3, which are released into the extracellular space or the phagosome upon neutrophil FPR2 stimulation, effectively degrade PSMs thereby preventing their capacity to activate and destroy neutrophils. Notably, S. aureus, but not S. epidermidis, secretes potent NSP-inhibitory proteins, Eap, EapH1, EapH2, which prevented the degradation of PSMs by NSPs. Accordingly, a S. aureus mutant lacking all three NSP inhibitory proteins was less effective in activating and destroying neutrophils and it survived less well in the presence of neutrophils than the parental strain. We show that Eap proteins promote pathology via PSM-mediated FPR2 activation since murine intraperitoneal infection with the S. aureus parental but not with the NSP inhibitors mutant strain, led to a significantly higher bacterial load in the peritoneum and kidneys of mFpr2-/- compared to wild-type mice. These data demonstrate that NSPs can very effectively detoxify some of the most potent staphylococcal toxins and that the prominent human pathogen S. aureus has developed efficient inhibitors to preserve PSM functions. Preventing PSM degradation during infection represents an important survival strategy to ensure FPR2 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothee Kretschmer
- Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence EXC2124 "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections", Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ricarda Breitmeyer
- Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence EXC2124 "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections", Tübingen, Germany
| | - Cordula Gekeler
- Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence EXC2124 "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections", Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marco Lebtig
- Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence EXC2124 "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections", Tübingen, Germany
| | - Katja Schlatterer
- Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence EXC2124 "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections", Tübingen, Germany
| | - Mulugeta Nega
- Cluster of Excellence EXC2124 "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections", Tübingen, Germany.,Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), Microbial Genetics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Mark Stahl
- Center for Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Daphne Stapels
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Suzan Rooijakkers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Andreas Peschel
- Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence EXC2124 "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections", Tübingen, Germany
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