1
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Lagune M, Kremer L, Herrmann JL. Mycobacterium abscessus, a complex of three fast-growing subspecies sharing virulence traits with slow-growing mycobacteria. Clin Microbiol Infect 2024; 30:726-731. [PMID: 37797823 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2023.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mycobacterium abscessus belongs to the largest group of mycobacteria, the rapid-growing saprophytic mycobacteria, and is one of the most difficult-to-treat opportunistic pathogen. Several features pertain to the high adaptability of M. abscessus to the host. These include the capacity to survive and persist within amoebae, to transition from a smooth to a rough morphotype that occurs during the course of the disease and to express of a wide array of virulence factors. OBJECTIVES The main objective of this narrative review consists to report major assets of M. abscessus that contribute to the virulence of these rapid-growing saprophytic mycobacteria. Strikingly, many of these determinants, whether they are from a mycobacterial origin or acquired by horizontal gene transfer, are known virulence factors found in slow-growing and strict pathogens for humans and animals. SOURCES In the light of recent published work in the field we attempted to highlight major features characterizing M. abscessus pathogenicity and to explain why this led to the emergence of this mycobacterial species in patients with cystic fibrosis. CONTENT M. abscessus genome plasticity, the smooth-to-rough transition, and the expression of a panel of enzymes associated with virulence in other bacteria are key players in M. abscessus virulence. In addition, the very large repertoire of lipid transporters, known as mycobacterial membrane protein large and small (MmpL and MmpS respectively), deeply influences the pathogenicity of M. abscessus, as exemplified here for some of them. IMPLICATIONS All these traits largely contribute to make M. abscessus a unique mycobacterium regarding to its pathophysiological processes, ranging from the early colonization steps to the establishment of severe and chronic pulmonary diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Lagune
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Kremer
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 9004, Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France; INSERM, IRIM, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Louis Herrmann
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INSERM, U1173 Infection et Inflammation, Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Ile-de-France Ouest, GHU Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Garches, France.
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2
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Cao Yao JC, Garcia Cehic D, Quer J, Méndez JN, Gorrín AD, Hevia LG, Fernández MTT. Complete Genome Sequences of Four Mycobacteriophages Involved in Directed Evolution against Undisputed Mycobacterium abscessus Clinical Strains. Microorganisms 2024; 12:374. [PMID: 38399778 PMCID: PMC10893344 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy is still in its infancy, but it is increasingly promising as a future alternative for treating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To investigate the effect of phages on Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABC), we isolated 113 environmental phages, grown them to high titres, and assayed them on MABC clinical strains through the spot test. Of all the phages, only 16 showed killing activity. Their activity was so temperate to MABC that they could not generate any plaque-forming units (PFUs). The Appelmans method of directed evolution was carried out to evolve these 16 phages into more lytic ones. After only 11 of 30 rounds of evolution, every single clinical strain in our collection, including those that were unsusceptible up to this point, could be lysed by at least one phage. The evolved phages were able to form PFUs on the clinical strains tested. Still, they are temperate at best and require further training. The genomes of one random parental phage and three random evolved phages from Round 13 were sequenced, revealing a diversity of clusters and genes of a variety of evolutionary origins, mostly of unknown function. These complete annotated genomes will be key for future molecular characterisations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Cao Yao
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biomedicine, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain (A.D.G.); (L.G.H.)
| | - Damir Garcia Cehic
- Liver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (D.G.C.); (J.Q.)
| | - Josep Quer
- Liver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (D.G.C.); (J.Q.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Jesús Navas Méndez
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biomedicine, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain (A.D.G.); (L.G.H.)
- Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla (IDIVAL), 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Alexis Dorta Gorrín
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biomedicine, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain (A.D.G.); (L.G.H.)
- Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla (IDIVAL), 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Lorena García Hevia
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biomedicine, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain (A.D.G.); (L.G.H.)
- Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla (IDIVAL), 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - María Teresa Tórtola Fernández
- Mycobacteria Unit, Clinical Laboratories, Microbiology Service, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
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3
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Abad L, Gauthier CH, Florian I, Jacobs-Sera D, Hatfull GF. The heterogenous and diverse population of prophages in Mycobacterium genomes. mSystems 2023; 8:e0044623. [PMID: 37791767 PMCID: PMC10654092 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00446-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Mycobacterium species include several human pathogens and mycobacteriophages show potential for therapeutic use to control Mycobacterium infections. However, phage infection profiles vary greatly among Mycobacterium abscessus clinical isolates and phage therapies must be personalized for individual patients. Mycobacterium phage susceptibility is likely determined primarily by accessory parts of bacterial genomes, and we have identified the prophage and phage-related genomic regions across sequenced Mycobacterium strains. The prophages are numerous and diverse, especially in M. abscessus genomes, and provide a potentially rich reservoir of new viruses that can be propagated lytically and used to expand the repertoire of therapeutically useful phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Abad
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christian H. Gauthier
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Isabella Florian
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Deborah Jacobs-Sera
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Graham F. Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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4
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Dedrick RM, Abad L, Storey N, Kaganovsky AM, Smith BE, Aull HA, Cristinziano M, Morkowska A, Murthy S, Loebinger MR, Hatfull GF, Satta G. The problem of Mycobacterium abscessus complex: multi-drug resistance, bacteriophage susceptibility and potential healthcare transmission. Clin Microbiol Infect 2023; 29:1335.e9-1335.e16. [PMID: 37364635 PMCID: PMC10583746 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2023.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mycobacterium abscessus complex is responsible for 2.6-13.0% of all non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary infections and these are notoriously difficult to treat due to the complex regimens required, drug resistance and adverse effects. Hence, bacteriophages have been considered in clinical practice as an additional treatment option. Here, we evaluated antibiotic and phage susceptibility profiles of M. abscessus clinical isolates. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revealed the phylogenetic relationships, dominant circulating clones (DCCs), the likelihood of patient-to-patient transmission and the presence of prophages. METHODS Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using CLSI breakpoints (n = 95), and plaque assays were used for phage susceptibility testing (subset of n = 88, 35 rough and 53 smooth morphology). WGS was completed using the Illumina platform and analysed using Snippy/snp-dists and Discovery and Extraction of Phages Tool (DEPhT). RESULTS Amikacin and Tigecycline were the most active drugs (with 2 strains resistant to amikacin, and one strain with Tigecycline MIC of 4 μg/mL). Most strains were resistant to all other drugs tested, with Linezolid and Imipenem showing the least resistance, at 38% (36/95) and 55% (52/95), respectively. Rough colony morphotype strains were more phage-susceptible than smooth strains (77%-27/35 versus 48%-25/53 in the plaque assays, but smooth strains are not killed efficiently by those phages in liquid infection assay). We have also identified 100 resident prophages, some of which were propagated lytically. DCC1 (20%-18/90) and DCC4 (22%-20/90) were observed to be the major clones and WGS identified 6 events of possible patient-to-patient transmission. DISCUSSION Many strains of M. abscessus complex are intrinsically resistant to available antibiotics and bacteriophages represent an alternative therapeutic option, but only for strains with rough morphology. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of hospital-borne M. abscessus transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah M Dedrick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lawrence Abad
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nathaniel Storey
- Department of Microbiology, Virology and Infection Control, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Ari M Kaganovsky
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Bailey E Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Haley A Aull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Madison Cristinziano
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Saraswathi Murthy
- Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, Guys and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Michael R Loebinger
- Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, Guys and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Graham F Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Giovanni Satta
- Centre for Clinical Microbiology, University College London, London, UK; Infection Division, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
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5
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Weisberg AJ, Chang JH. Mobile Genetic Element Flexibility as an Underlying Principle to Bacterial Evolution. Annu Rev Microbiol 2023; 77:603-624. [PMID: 37437216 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-032521-022006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Mobile genetic elements are key to the evolution of bacteria and traits that affect host and ecosystem health. Here, we use a framework of a hierarchical and modular system that scales from genes to populations to synthesize recent findings on mobile genetic elements (MGEs) of bacteria. Doing so highlights the role that emergent properties of flexibility, robustness, and genetic capacitance of MGEs have on the evolution of bacteria. Some of their traits can be stored, shared, and diversified across different MGEs, taxa of bacteria, and time. Collectively, these properties contribute to maintaining functionality against perturbations while allowing changes to accumulate in order to diversify and give rise to new traits. These properties of MGEs have long challenged our abilities to study them. Implementation of new technologies and strategies allows for MGEs to be analyzed in new and powerful ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra J Weisberg
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA;
| | - Jeff H Chang
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA;
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6
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Spencer BL, Job AM, Robertson CM, Hameed ZA, Serchejian C, Wiafe-Kwakye CS, Mendonça JC, Apolonio MA, Nagao PE, Neely MN, Korotkova N, Korotkov KV, Patras KA, Doran KS. Heterogeneity of the group B streptococcal type VII secretion system and influence on colonization of the female genital tract. Mol Microbiol 2023; 120:258-275. [PMID: 37357823 PMCID: PMC10527989 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Type VIIb secretion systems (T7SSb) in Gram-positive bacteria facilitate physiology, interbacterial competition, and/or virulence via EssC ATPase-driven secretion of small ɑ-helical proteins and toxins. Recently, we characterized T7SSb in group B Streptococcus (GBS), a leading cause of infection in newborns and immunocompromised adults. GBS T7SS comprises four subtypes based on variation in the C-terminus of EssC and the repertoire of downstream effectors; however, the intraspecies diversity of GBS T7SS and impact on GBS-host interactions remains unknown. Bioinformatic analysis indicates that GBS T7SS loci encode subtype-specific putative effectors, which have low interspecies and inter-subtype homology but contain similar domains/motifs and therefore may serve similar functions. We further identify orphaned GBS WXG100 proteins. Functionally, we show that GBS T7SS subtype I and III strains secrete EsxA in vitro and that in subtype I strain CJB111, esxA1 appears to be differentially transcribed from the T7SS operon. Furthermore, we observe subtype-specific effects of GBS T7SS on host colonization, as CJB111 subtype I but not CNCTC 10/84 subtype III T7SS promotes GBS vaginal colonization. Finally, we observe that T7SS subtypes I and II are the predominant subtypes in clinical GBS isolates. This study highlights the potential impact of T7SS heterogeneity on host-GBS interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brady L. Spencer
- University of Colorado-Anschutz, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Alyx M. Job
- University of Colorado-Anschutz, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Clare M. Robertson
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zainab A. Hameed
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Camille Serchejian
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Jéssica C. Mendonça
- University of Colorado-Anschutz, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, CO, USA
- Rio de Janeiro State University, Roberto Alcântara Gomes Biology Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Morgan A. Apolonio
- University of Colorado-Anschutz, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, CO, USA
- National Summer Undergraduate Research Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Prescilla E. Nagao
- Rio de Janeiro State University, Roberto Alcântara Gomes Biology Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Melody N. Neely
- University of Maine, Molecular & Biomedical Sciences, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Natalia Korotkova
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Konstantin V. Korotkov
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Kathryn A. Patras
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kelly S. Doran
- University of Colorado-Anschutz, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, CO, USA
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7
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Illouz M, Leclercq LD, Dessenne C, Hatfull G, Daher W, Kremer L, Guérardel Y. Multiple Mycobacterium abscessus O-acetyltransferases influence glycopeptidolipid structure and colony morphotype. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104979. [PMID: 37390990 PMCID: PMC10400925 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus causes severe lung infections. Clinical isolates can have either smooth (S) or rough (R) colony morphotypes; of these, S but not R variants have abundant cell wall glycopeptidolipids (GPL) consisting of a peptidolipid core substituted by a 6-deoxy-α-L-talose (6-dTal) and rhamnose residues. Deletion of gtf1, encoding the 6-dTal transferase, results in the S-to-R transition, mycobacterial cord formation, and increased virulence, underscoring the importance of 6-dTal in infection outcomes. However, since 6-dTal is di-O-acetylated, it is unclear whether the gtf1 mutant phenotypes are related to the loss of the 6-dTal or the result of the absence of acetylation. Here, we addressed whether M. abscessus atf1 and atf2, encoding two putative O-acetyltransferases located within the gpl biosynthetic locus, transfer acetyl groups to 6-dTal. We found deletion of atf1 and/or atf2 did not drastically alter the GPL acetylation profile, suggesting there are additional enzymes with redundant functions. We subsequently identified two paralogs of atf1 and atf2, MAB_1725c and MAB_3448. While deletion of MAB_1725c and MAB_3448 had no effect on GPL acetylation, the triple atf1-atf2-MAB_1725c mutant did not synthetize fully acetylated GPL, and the quadruple mutant was totally devoid of acetylated GPL. Moreover, both triple and quadruple mutants accumulated hyper-methylated GPL. Finally, we show deletion of atf genes resulted in subtle changes in colony morphology but had no effect on M. abscessus internalization by macrophages. Overall, these findings reveal the existence of functionally redundant O-acetyltransferases and suggest that O-acetylation influences the glycan moiety of GPL by deflecting biosynthetic flux in M. abscessus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Illouz
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 9004, Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Louis-David Leclercq
- UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, CNRS, Université de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Clara Dessenne
- UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, CNRS, Université de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Graham Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Wassim Daher
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 9004, Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France; INSERM, IRIM, Montpellier, France
| | - Laurent Kremer
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 9004, Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France; INSERM, IRIM, Montpellier, France.
| | - Yann Guérardel
- UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, CNRS, Université de Lille, Lille, France; Institute for Glyco-Core Research (iGCORE), Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
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8
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Freeman KG, Robotham AC, Parks OB, Abad L, Jacobs-Sera D, Lauer MJ, Podgorski JM, Zhang Y, Williams JV, White SJ, Kelly JF, Hatfull GF, Pope WH. Virion glycosylation influences mycobacteriophage immune recognition. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:1216-1231.e6. [PMID: 37329881 PMCID: PMC10527164 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Glycosylation of eukaryotic virus particles is common and influences their uptake, trafficking, and immune recognition. In contrast, glycosylation of bacteriophage particles has not been reported; phage virions typically do not enter the cytoplasm upon infection, and they do not generally inhabit eukaryotic systems. We show here that several genomically distinct phages of Mycobacteria are modified with glycans attached to the C terminus of capsid and tail tube protein subunits. These O-linked glycans influence antibody production and recognition, shielding viral particles from antibody binding and reducing production of neutralizing antibodies. Glycosylation is mediated by phage-encoded glycosyltransferases, and genomic analysis suggests that they are relatively common among mycobacteriophages. Putative glycosyltransferases are also encoded by some Gordonia and Streptomyces phages, but there is little evidence of glycosylation among the broader phage population. The immune response to glycosylated phage virions in mice suggests that glycosylation may be an advantageous property for phage therapy of Mycobacterium infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista G Freeman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Anna C Robotham
- Human Health Therapeutics, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Olivia B Parks
- UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Center for Vaccine Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Lawrence Abad
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Deborah Jacobs-Sera
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Michael J Lauer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Jennifer M Podgorski
- Biology/Physics Building, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA
| | - Yu Zhang
- UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Center for Vaccine Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - John V Williams
- UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Center for Vaccine Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Simon J White
- Biology/Physics Building, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA
| | - John F Kelly
- Human Health Therapeutics, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Graham F Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Welkin H Pope
- Science Department, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
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9
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Opperman CJ, Wojno J, Goosen W, Warren R. Phages for the treatment of Mycobacterium species. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 201:41-92. [PMID: 37770176 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Highly drug-resistant strains are not uncommon among the Mycobacterium genus, with patients requiring lengthy antibiotic treatment regimens with multiple drugs and harmful side effects. This alarming increase in antibiotic resistance globally has renewed the interest in mycobacteriophage therapy for both Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and non-tuberculosis mycobacteria. With the increasing number of genetically well-characterized mycobacteriophages and robust engineering tools to convert temperate phages to obligate lytic phages, the phage cache against extensive drug-resistant mycobacteria is constantly expanding. Synergistic effects between phages and TB drugs are also a promising avenue to research, with mycobacteriophages having several additional advantages compared to traditional antibiotics due to their different modes of action. These advantages include less side effects, a narrow host spectrum, biofilm penetration, self-replication at the site of infection and the potential to be manufactured on a large scale. In addition, mycobacteriophage enzymes, not yet in clinical use, warrant further studies with their additional benefits for rupturing host bacteria thereby limiting resistance development as well as showing promise in vitro to act synergistically with TB drugs. Before mycobacteriophage therapy can be envisioned as part of routine care, several obstacles must be overcome to translate in vitro work into clinical practice. Strategies to target intracellular bacteria and selecting phage cocktails to limit cross-resistance remain important avenues to explore. However, insight into pathophysiological host-phage interactions on a molecular level and innovative solutions to transcend mycobacteriophage therapy impediments, offer sufficient encouragement to explore phage therapy. Recently, the first successful clinical studies were performed using a mycobacteriophage-constructed cocktail to treat non-tuberculosis mycobacteria, providing substantial insight into lessons learned and potential pitfalls to avoid in order to ensure favorable outcomes. However, due to mycobacterium strain variation, mycobacteriophage therapy remains personalized, only being utilized in compassionate care cases until there is further regulatory approval. Therefore, identifying the determinants that influence clinical outcomes that can expand the repertoire of mycobacteriophages for therapeutic benefit, remains key for their future application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoffel Johannes Opperman
- National Health Laboratory Service, Green Point TB-Laboratory, Cape Town, South Africa; DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SAMRC Centre for tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Justyna Wojno
- Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Lancet Laboratories, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Wynand Goosen
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SAMRC Centre for tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rob Warren
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SAMRC Centre for tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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10
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Sharma V, Hünnefeld M, Luthe T, Frunzke J. Systematic analysis of prophage elements in actinobacterial genomes reveals a remarkable phylogenetic diversity. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4410. [PMID: 36932119 PMCID: PMC10023795 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30829-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Actinobacteria represent one of the largest bacterial phyla harboring many species of high medical, biotechnological and ecological relevance. Prophage elements are major contributors to bacterial genome diversity and were shown to significantly shape bacterial fitness and host-microbe interactions. In this study, we performed a systematic analysis of prophage elements in 2406 complete actinobacterial genomes. Overall, 2106 prophage elements were predicted to be present in about 50% (1172/2406) of the analyzed datasets. Interestingly, these identified sequences compose a high prevalence of cryptic prophage elements, indicating genetic decay and domestication. Analysis of the sequence relationship of predicted prophages with known actinobacteriophage genomes revealed an exceptional high phylogenetic diversity of prophage elements. As a trend, we observed a higher prevalence of prophage elements in vicinity to the terminus. Analysis of the prophage-encoded gene functions revealed that prophage sequences significantly contribute to the bacterial antiviral immune system, but no biosynthetic gene clusters involved in the synthesis of known antiphage molecules were identified in prophage genomes. Overall, the current study highlights the remarkable diversity of prophages in actinobacterial genomes, with highly divergent prophages in actinobacterial genomes and thus provides an important basis for further investigation of phage-host interactions in this important bacterial phylum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Sharma
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-1) Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Max Hünnefeld
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-1) Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Tom Luthe
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-1) Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Julia Frunzke
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-1) Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
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11
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Unusual prophages in Mycobacterium abscessus genomes and strain variations in phage susceptibilities. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281769. [PMID: 36795728 PMCID: PMC9934374 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus infections are relatively common in patients with cystic fibrosis and are clinically challenging, with frequent intrinsic resistance to antibiotics. Therapeutic treatment with bacteriophages offers some promise but faces many challenges including substantial variation in phage susceptibilities among clinical isolates, and the need to personalize therapies for individual patients. Many strains are not susceptible to any phages or are not efficiently killed by lytic phages, including all smooth colony morphotype strains tested to-date. Here, we analyze a set of new M. abscessus isolates for the genomic relationships, prophage content, spontaneous phage release, and phage susceptibilities. We find that prophages are common in these M. abscessus genomes, but some have unusual arrangements, including tandemly integrated prophages, internal duplications, and they participate in active exchange of polymorphic toxin-immunity cassettes secreted by ESX systems. Relatively few strains are efficiently infected by any mycobacteriophages, and the infection patterns do not reflect the overall phylogenetic relationships of the strains. Characterization of these strains and their phage susceptibility profiles will help to advance the broader application of phage therapies for NTM infections.
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12
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Spencer BL, Job AM, Robertson CM, Hameed ZA, Serchejian C, Wiafe-Kwakye CS, Mendonça JC, Apolonio MA, Nagao PE, Neely MN, Korotkova N, Korotkov KV, Patras KA, Doran KS. Heterogeneity of the group B streptococcal type VII secretion system and influence on colonization of the female genital tract. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.25.525443. [PMID: 36747681 PMCID: PMC9900821 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.25.525443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Type VIIb secretion systems (T7SSb) in Gram-positive bacteria facilitate physiology, interbacterial competition, and/or virulence via EssC ATPase-driven secretion of small ɑ-helical proteins and toxins. Recently, we characterized T7SSb in group B Streptococcus (GBS), a leading cause of infection in newborns and immunocompromised adults. GBS T7SS comprises four subtypes based on variation in the C-terminus of EssC and the repertoire of downstream effectors; however, the intra-species diversity of GBS T7SS and impact on GBS-host interactions remains unknown. Bioinformatic analysis indicates that GBS T7SS loci encode subtype-specific putative effectors, which have low inter-species and inter-subtype homology but contain similar domains/motifs and therefore may serve similar functions. We further identify orphaned GBS WXG100 proteins. Functionally, we show that GBS T7SS subtype I and III strains secrete EsxA in vitro and that in subtype I strain CJB111, esxA1 appears to be differentially transcribed from the T7SS operon. Further, we observe subtype-specific effects of GBS T7SS on host colonization, as subtype I but not subtype III T7SS promotes GBS vaginal persistence. Finally, we observe that T7SS subtypes I and II are the predominant subtypes in clinical GBS isolates. This study highlights the potential impact of T7SS heterogeneity on host-GBS interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brady L. Spencer
- University of Colorado-Anschutz, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Alyx M. Job
- University of Colorado-Anschutz, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Clare M. Robertson
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zainab A. Hameed
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Camille Serchejian
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Jéssica C. Mendonça
- University of Colorado-Anschutz, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, CO, USA
- Rio de Janeiro State University, Roberto Alcantara Gomes Biology Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Morgan A. Apolonio
- University of Colorado-Anschutz, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, CO, USA
- National Summer Undergraduate Research Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Prescilla E. Nagao
- Rio de Janeiro State University, Roberto Alcantara Gomes Biology Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Melody N. Neely
- University of Maine, Molecular & Biomedical Sciences, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Natalia Korotkova
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Konstantin V. Korotkov
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Kathryn A. Patras
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kelly S. Doran
- University of Colorado-Anschutz, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, CO, USA
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13
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Dedrick RM, Smith BE, Cristinziano M, Freeman KG, Jacobs-Sera D, Belessis Y, Whitney Brown A, Cohen KA, Davidson RM, van Duin D, Gainey A, Garcia CB, Robert George CR, Haidar G, Ip W, Iredell J, Khatami A, Little JS, Malmivaara K, McMullan BJ, Michalik DE, Moscatelli A, Nick JA, Tupayachi Ortiz MG, Polenakovik HM, Robinson PD, Skurnik M, Solomon DA, Soothill J, Spencer H, Wark P, Worth A, Schooley RT, Benson CA, Hatfull GF. Phage Therapy of Mycobacterium Infections: Compassionate Use of Phages in 20 Patients With Drug-Resistant Mycobacterial Disease. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 76:103-112. [PMID: 35676823 PMCID: PMC9825826 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 113.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nontuberculous Mycobacterium infections, particularly Mycobacterium abscessus, are increasingly common among patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic bronchiectatic lung diseases. Treatment is challenging due to intrinsic antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophage therapy represents a potentially novel approach. Relatively few active lytic phages are available and there is great variation in phage susceptibilities among M. abscessus isolates, requiring personalized phage identification. METHODS Mycobacterium isolates from 200 culture-positive patients with symptomatic disease were screened for phage susceptibilities. One or more lytic phages were identified for 55 isolates. Phages were administered intravenously, by aerosolization, or both to 20 patients on a compassionate use basis and patients were monitored for adverse reactions, clinical and microbiologic responses, the emergence of phage resistance, and phage neutralization in serum, sputum, or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. RESULTS No adverse reactions attributed to therapy were seen in any patient regardless of the pathogen, phages administered, or the route of delivery. Favorable clinical or microbiological responses were observed in 11 patients. Neutralizing antibodies were identified in serum after initiation of phage delivery intravenously in 8 patients, potentially contributing to lack of treatment response in 4 cases, but were not consistently associated with unfavorable responses in others. Eleven patients were treated with only a single phage, and no phage resistance was observed in any of these. CONCLUSIONS Phage treatment of Mycobacterium infections is challenging due to the limited repertoire of therapeutically useful phages, but favorable clinical outcomes in patients lacking any other treatment options support continued development of adjunctive phage therapy for some mycobacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah M Dedrick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bailey E Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Madison Cristinziano
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Krista G Freeman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Deborah Jacobs-Sera
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yvonne Belessis
- School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Keira A Cohen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rebecca M Davidson
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - David van Duin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Andrew Gainey
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Prisma Health Children's Hospital–Midlands, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | | | - C R Robert George
- New South Wales Health Pathology Microbiology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ghady Haidar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Winnie Ip
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Iredell
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ameneh Khatami
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Syndey, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jessica S Little
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Brendan J McMullan
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David E Michalik
- Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Long Beach, California, USA
| | - Andrea Moscatelli
- Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Instituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Jerry A Nick
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Maria G Tupayachi Ortiz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Hari M Polenakovik
- Internal Medicine Department, Dayton Children’s Hospital, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Paul D Robinson
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mikael Skurnik
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Human Microbiome Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Daniel A Solomon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Helen Spencer
- Respiratory Medicine and Cardiothoracic Transplantation, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Wark
- Immune Health Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Austen Worth
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert T Schooley
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Constance A Benson
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Graham F Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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14
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Alam MS, Guan P, Zhu Y, Zeng S, Fang X, Wang S, Yusuf B, Zhang J, Tian X, Fang C, Gao Y, Khatun MS, Liu Z, Hameed HMA, Tan Y, Hu J, Liu J, Zhang T. Comparative genome analysis reveals high-level drug resistance markers in a clinical isolate of Mycobacterium fortuitum subsp . fortuitum MF GZ001. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 12:1056007. [PMID: 36683685 PMCID: PMC9846761 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1056007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Infections caused by non-tuberculosis mycobacteria are significantly worsening across the globe. M. fortuitum complex is a rapidly growing pathogenic species that is of clinical relevance to both humans and animals. This pathogen has the potential to create adverse effects on human healthcare. Methods The MF GZ001 clinical strain was collected from the sputum of a 45-year-old male patient with a pulmonary infection. The morphological studies, comparative genomic analysis, and drug resistance profiles along with variants detection were performed in this study. In addition, comparative analysis of virulence genes led us to understand the pathogenicity of this organism. Results Bacterial growth kinetics and morphology confirmed that MF GZ001 is a rapidly growing species with a rough morphotype. The MF GZ001 contains 6413573 bp genome size with 66.18 % high G+C content. MF GZ001 possesses a larger genome than other related mycobacteria and included 6156 protein-coding genes. Molecular phylogenetic tree, collinearity, and comparative genomic analysis suggested that MF GZ001 is a novel member of the M. fortuitum complex. We carried out the drug resistance profile analysis and found single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mutations in key drug resistance genes such as rpoB, katG, AAC(2')-Ib, gyrA, gyrB, embB, pncA, blaF, thyA, embC, embR, and iniA. In addition, the MF GZ001strain contains mutations in iniA, iniC, pncA, and ribD which conferred resistance to isoniazid, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, and para-aminosalicylic acid respectively, which are not frequently observed in rapidly growing mycobacteria. A wide variety of predicted putative potential virulence genes were found in MF GZ001, most of which are shared with well-recognized mycobacterial species with high pathogenic profiles such as M. tuberculosis and M. abscessus. Discussion Our identified novel features of a pathogenic member of the M. fortuitum complex will provide the foundation for further investigation of mycobacterial pathogenicity and effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Shah Alam
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Chest Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuting Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Sanshan Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiange Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Tuberculosis, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Buhari Yusuf
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xirong Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cuiting Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yamin Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mst Sumaia Khatun
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - H M Adnan Hameed
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaoju Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Chest Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinxing Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Chest Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianxiong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Chest Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tianyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
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15
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Jelenko K, Cepec E, Nascimento FX, Trček J. Comparative Genomics and Phenotypic Characterization of Gluconacetobacter entanii, a Highly Acetic Acid-Tolerant Bacterium from Vinegars. Foods 2023; 12:foods12010214. [PMID: 36613429 PMCID: PMC9818992 DOI: 10.3390/foods12010214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial species Gluconacetobacter entanii belongs to a group of acetic acid bacteria. In 2000, it was described as a primary species of submerged spirit vinegar-producing bioreactors with a strict requirement of acetic acid, ethanol, and glucose for growth. Over the years, the type-strain of G. entanii deposited in international culture collections has lost the ability for revitalization and is thus not available any more in a culturable form. Here, we have systematically characterized phenotypic features and genomes of recently isolated G. entanii strains and compared them with characteristics of the type-strain available from published data. Using the functional annotation, genes gmhB and psp were identified as unique for G. entanii genomes among species in the clade Novacetimonas. The genome stability of G. entanii was assessed after 28 and 43 months of preculturing the strain Gluconacetobacter entanii AV429 twice a week. The strain G. entanii AV429 did not accumulate giant insertions or deletions but a few gene mutations. To unify further research into acetic acid bacteria systematics and taxonomy, we propose G. entanii AV429 as the neotype strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Jelenko
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Eva Cepec
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | | | - Janja Trček
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +386-2-229-3749
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16
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Mitropoulou G, Koutsokera A, Csajka C, Blanchon S, Sauty A, Brunet JF, von Garnier C, Resch G, Guery B. Phage therapy for pulmonary infections: lessons from clinical experiences and key considerations. Eur Respir Rev 2022; 31:31/166/220121. [PMID: 36198417 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0121-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Lower respiratory tract infections lead to significant morbidity and mortality. They are increasingly caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens, notably in individuals with cystic fibrosis, hospital-acquired pneumonia and lung transplantation. The use of bacteriophages (phages) to treat bacterial infections is gaining growing attention, with numerous published cases of compassionate treatment over the last few years. Although the use of phages appears safe, the lack of standardisation, the significant heterogeneity of published studies and the paucity of robust efficacy data, alongside regulatory hurdles arising from the existing pharmaceutical legislation, are just some of the challenges phage therapy has to overcome. In this review, we discuss the lessons learned from recent clinical experiences of phage therapy for the treatment of pulmonary infections. We review the key aspects, opportunities and challenges of phage therapy regarding formulations and administration routes, interactions with antibiotics and the immune system, and phage resistance. Building upon the current knowledge base, future pre-clinical studies using emerging technologies and carefully designed clinical trials are expected to enhance our understanding and explore the therapeutic potential of phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Mitropoulou
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland .,University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Shared first authorship
| | - Angela Koutsokera
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.,University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Shared first authorship
| | - Chantal Csajka
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sylvain Blanchon
- University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Paediatric Pulmonology and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Division of Paediatrics, Department of Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alain Sauty
- University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Division of Pulmonology, Neuchâtel Hospital Network, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Francois Brunet
- University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Cell Production Centre, Dept of Interdisciplinary Centres, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christophe von Garnier
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.,University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Grégory Resch
- University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Centre for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland.,Shared last authorship
| | - Benoit Guery
- University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Service of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Shared last authorship
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17
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Phage Therapy for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria: Challenges and Opportunities. Pulm Ther 2022; 9:91-107. [PMID: 36583829 PMCID: PMC9931961 DOI: 10.1007/s41030-022-00210-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) infections are often clinically challenging, with lengthy antibiotic regimens that fail to resolve the infections with few good outcomes remaining. Mycobacteriophages-viruses that infect Mycobacterium hosts-show promise as therapeutic agents for NTM infections and have been used in 20 compassionate use cases. Favorable outcomes were observed in many but not all cases, although the phages show exceptional safety profiles and no evidence of phage resistance was observed, even when only a single phage was administered. Phage-specific antibodies are commonly present following intravenous administration and are often neutralizing for the phage in vitro. However, phage neutralization does not consistently correlate with poor treatment outcomes and may not be a therapeutic limitation in all patients, even when immunocompetent. Currently, the therapeutic potential of phages is substantially limited by the great variation in phage susceptibility and a relatively small repertoire of therapeutically useful phages. As many as 45% of clinical isolates can have a smooth colony morphotype, and phages that both efficiently infect and kill these strains have yet to be described. In contrast, ~ 75% of rough strains are susceptible to and killed by one or more phages and therapeutic options can be considered on a compassionate use basis. Although therapies must currently be personalized, elucidating the determinants of phage host specificity, expanding the useful phage repertoire, and identifying the key determinants of clinical outcomes will reveal their full therapeutic potential.
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18
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Cote J, Welch C, Kimble M, Archambault D, Ross JC, Orellana H, Amero K, Bourett C, Daigle A, Hutchison KW, Molloy SD. Characterization of the cluster MabR prophages of Mycobacterium abscessus and Mycobacterium chelonae. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2022; 12:6650627. [PMID: 35894699 PMCID: PMC9434293 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus is an emerging pathogen of concern in cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised patients and is considered one of the most drug-resistant mycobacteria. The majority of clinical Mycobacterium abscessus isolates carry 1 or more prophages that are hypothesized to contribute to virulence and bacterial fitness. The prophage McProf was identified in the genome of the Bergey strain of Mycobacterium chelonae and is distinct from previously described prophages of Mycobacterium abscessus. The McProf genome increases intrinsic antibiotic resistance of Mycobacterium chelonae and drives expression of the intrinsic antibiotic resistance gene, whiB7, when superinfected by a second phage. The prevalence of McProf-like genomes was determined in sequenced mycobacterial genomes. Related prophage genomes were identified in the genomes of 25 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium abscessus and assigned to the novel cluster, MabR. They share less than 10% gene content with previously described prophages; however, they share features typical of prophages, including polymorphic toxin–immunity systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Cote
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Colin Welch
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
- The Honors College, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Madeline Kimble
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
- The Honors College, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Dakota Archambault
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
- The Honors College, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - John Curtis Ross
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Hector Orellana
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Katelyn Amero
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
- The Honors College, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Claire Bourett
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
- The Honors College, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Andre Daigle
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Keith W Hutchison
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
- The Honors College, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Sally D Molloy
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
- The Honors College, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469, USA
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19
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Bar-Oz M, Meir M, Barkan D. Virulence-Associated Secretion in Mycobacterium abscessus. Front Immunol 2022; 13:938895. [PMID: 35880173 PMCID: PMC9308005 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.938895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are a heterogeneous group of originally environmental organi3sms, increasingly recognized as pathogens with rising prevalence worldwide. Knowledge of NTM’s mechanisms of virulence is lacking, as molecular research of these bacteria is challenging, sometimes more than that of M. tuberculosis (Mtb), and far less resources are allocated to their investigation. While some of the virulence mechanisms are common to several mycobacteria including Mtb, others NTM species-specific. Among NTMs, Mycobacterium abscessus (Mabs) causes some of the most severe and difficult to treat infections, especially chronic pulmonary infections. Mabs survives and proliferates intracellularly by circumventing host defenses, using multiple mechanisms, many of which remain poorly characterized. Some of these immune-evasion mechanisms are also found in Mtb, including phagosome pore formation, inhibition of phagosome maturation, cytokine response interference and apoptosis delay. While much is known of the role of Mtb-secreted effector molecules in mediating the manipulation of the host response, far less is known of the secreted effector molecules in Mabs. In this review, we briefly summarize the knowledge of secreted effectors in Mtb (such as ESX secretion, SecA2, TAT and others), and draw the parallel pathways in Mabs. We also describe pathways that are unique to Mabs, differentiating it from Mtb. This review will assist researchers interested in virulence-associated secretion in Mabs by providing the knowledge base and framework for their studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Bar-Oz
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Michal Meir
- The Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Daniel Barkan
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
- *Correspondence: Daniel Barkan,
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20
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Hosseiniporgham S, Sechi LA. A Review on Mycobacteriophages: From Classification to Applications. Pathogens 2022; 11:777. [PMID: 35890022 PMCID: PMC9317374 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11070777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterial infections are a group of life-threatening conditions triggered by fast- or slow-growing mycobacteria. Some mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, promote the deaths of millions of lives throughout the world annually. The control of mycobacterial infections is influenced by the challenges faced in the diagnosis of these bacteria and the capability of these pathogens to develop resistance against common antibiotics. Detection of mycobacterial infections is always demanding due to the intracellular nature of these pathogens that, along with the lipid-enriched structure of the cell wall, complicates the access to the internal contents of mycobacterial cells. Moreover, recent studies depicted that more than 20% of M. tuberculosis (Mtb) infections are multi-drug resistant (MDR), and only 50% of positive MDR-Mtb cases are responsive to standard treatments. Similarly, the susceptibility of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) to first-line tuberculosis antibiotics has also declined in recent years. Exploiting mycobacteriophages as viruses that infect mycobacteria has significantly accelerated the diagnosis and treatment of mycobacterial infections. This is because mycobacteriophages, regardless of their cycle type (temperate/lytic), can tackle barriers in the mycobacterial cell wall and make the infected bacteria replicate phage DNA along with their DNA. Although the infectivity of the majority of discovered mycobacteriophages has been evaluated in non-pathogenic M. smegmatis, more research is still ongoing to find mycobacteriophages specific to pathogenic mycobacteria, such as phage DS6A, which has been shown to be able to infect members of the M. tuberculosis complex. Accordingly, this review aimed to introduce some potential mycobacteriophages in the research, specifically those that are infective to the three troublesome mycobacteria, M. tuberculosis, M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), and M. abscessus, highlighting their theranostic applications in medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leonardo A. Sechi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
- Microbiology and Virology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria (AOU) Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
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21
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Abstract
Mycobacteriophages-bacteriophages infecting Mycobacterium hosts-contribute substantially to our understanding of viral diversity and evolution, provide resources for advancing Mycobacterium genetics, are the basis of high-impact science education programs, and show considerable therapeutic potential. Over 10,000 individual mycobacteriophages have been isolated by high school and undergraduate students using the model organism Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 and 2,100 have been completely sequenced, giving a high-resolution view of the phages that infect a single common host strain. The phage genomes are revealed to be highly diverse and architecturally mosaic and are replete with genes of unknown function. Mycobacteriophages have provided many widely used tools for Mycobacterium genetics including integration-proficient vectors and recombineering systems, as well as systems for efficient delivery of reporter genes, transposons, and allelic exchange substrates. The genomic insights and engineering tools have facilitated exploration of phages for treatment of Mycobacterium infections, although their full therapeutic potential has yet to be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham F. Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States of America
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22
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Nick JA, Dedrick RM, Gray AL, Vladar EK, Smith BE, Freeman KG, Malcolm KC, Epperson LE, Hasan NA, Hendrix J, Callahan K, Walton K, Vestal B, Wheeler E, Rysavy NM, Poch K, Caceres S, Lovell VK, Hisert KB, de Moura VC, Chatterjee D, De P, Weakly N, Martiniano SL, Lynch DA, Daley CL, Strong M, Jia F, Hatfull GF, Davidson RM. Host and pathogen response to bacteriophage engineered against Mycobacterium abscessus lung infection. Cell 2022; 185:1860-1874.e12. [PMID: 35568033 PMCID: PMC9840467 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Two mycobacteriophages were administered intravenously to a male with treatment-refractory Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary infection and severe cystic fibrosis lung disease. The phages were engineered to enhance their capacity to lyse M. abscessus and were selected specifically as the most effective against the subject's bacterial isolate. In the setting of compassionate use, the evidence of phage-induced lysis was observed using molecular and metabolic assays combined with clinical assessments. M. abscessus isolates pre and post-phage treatment demonstrated genetic stability, with a general decline in diversity and no increased resistance to phage or antibiotics. The anti-phage neutralizing antibody titers to one phage increased with time but did not prevent clinical improvement throughout the course of treatment. The subject received lung transplantation on day 379, and systematic culturing of the explanted lung did not detect M. abscessus. This study describes the course and associated markers of a successful phage treatment of M. abscessus in advanced lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry A Nick
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Rebekah M Dedrick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Alice L Gray
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Eszter K Vladar
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Bailey E Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Krista G Freeman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Kenneth C Malcolm
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - L Elaine Epperson
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Nabeeh A Hasan
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Jo Hendrix
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Computational Bioscience Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kimberly Callahan
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Kendra Walton
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Brian Vestal
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Emily Wheeler
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Noel M Rysavy
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Katie Poch
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Silvia Caceres
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Valerie K Lovell
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Katherine B Hisert
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | | | - Delphi Chatterjee
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, 1682 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Prithwiraj De
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, 1682 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Natalia Weakly
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Stacey L Martiniano
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - David A Lynch
- Department of Radiology, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Charles L Daley
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Michael Strong
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Fan Jia
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Graham F Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Rebecca M Davidson
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
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23
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Influence of the Phagemid PfNC7401 on Cereulide-Producing Bacillus cereus NC7401. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10050953. [PMID: 35630395 PMCID: PMC9143728 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A phagemid-cured strain, NC7401-∆Pf, was constructed to survey the biological function of the plasmidal prophage PfNC7401 in cereulide-producing Bacillus cereus NC7401. The transcriptome analysis between the mutant and the wild strains revealed a series of differentially expressed genes mainly involved in different function classifications, including the two-component signal transduction system, bacterial structure, transporters, related antibiotic response, purine biosynthesis, non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) and related secondary metabolites, and aromatic or other amino acid synthesis. BIOLOG and phenotypic experiment analyses confirmed that PfNC7401 may affect phage immunity and the metabolism of several amino acids, including L-Alanine, which was suggested to be related to one precursor (D-Alanine) of cereulide synthesis. However, neither the transcription levels of the cereulide production-related genes (e.g., ilvB, cesA, cesB, and cesH) nor the cereulide production nor cell cytotoxicity were affected by the presence or absence of PfNC7401, corresponding with the transcriptome data, in which only four genes unrelated to cereulide synthesis on the plasmid-carrying ces gene cluster were affected by the curing of PfNC7401.
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24
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Ferrell KC, Johansen MD, Triccas JA, Counoupas C. Virulence Mechanisms of Mycobacterium abscessus: Current Knowledge and Implications for Vaccine Design. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:842017. [PMID: 35308378 PMCID: PMC8928063 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.842017] [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: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus is a member of the non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) group, responsible for chronic infections in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) or those otherwise immunocompromised. While viewed traditionally as an opportunistic pathogen, increasing research into M. abscessus in recent years has highlighted its continued evolution into a true pathogen. This is demonstrated through an extensive collection of virulence factors (VFs) possessed by this organism which facilitate survival within the host, particularly in the harsh environment of the CF lung. These include VFs resembling those of other Mycobacteria, and non-mycobacterial VFs, both of which make a notable contribution in shaping M. abscessus interaction with the host. Mycobacterium abscessus continued acquisition of VFs is cause for concern and highlights the need for novel vaccination strategies to combat this pathogen. An effective M. abscessus vaccine must be suitably designed for target populations (i.e., individuals with CF) and incorporate current knowledge on immune correlates of protection against M. abscessus infection. Vaccination strategies must also build upon lessons learned from ongoing efforts to develop novel vaccines for other pathogens, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb); decades of research into M. tb has provided insight into unconventional and innovative vaccine approaches that may be applied to M. abscessus. Continued research into M. abscessus pathogenesis will be critical for the future development of safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics to reduce global incidence of this emerging pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kia C. Ferrell
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Tuberculosis Research Program, Centenary Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Kia C. Ferrell,
| | - Matt D. Johansen
- Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - James A. Triccas
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases and the Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Claudio Counoupas
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Tuberculosis Research Program, Centenary Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases and the Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Claudio Counoupas,
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25
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Gauthier CH, Abad L, Venbakkam AK, Malnak J, Russell D, Hatfull G. OUP accepted manuscript. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:e75. [PMID: 35451479 PMCID: PMC9303363 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in genome sequencing have produced hundreds of thousands of bacterial genome sequences, many of which have integrated prophages derived from temperate bacteriophages. These prophages play key roles by influencing bacterial metabolism, pathogenicity, antibiotic resistance, and defense against viral attack. However, they vary considerably even among related bacterial strains, and they are challenging to identify computationally and to extract precisely for comparative genomic analyses. Here, we describe DEPhT, a multimodal tool for prophage discovery and extraction. It has three run modes that facilitate rapid screening of large numbers of bacterial genomes, precise extraction of prophage sequences, and prophage annotation. DEPhT uses genomic architectural features that discriminate between phage and bacterial sequences for efficient prophage discovery, and targeted homology searches for precise prophage extraction. DEPhT is designed for prophage discovery in Mycobacterium genomes but can be adapted broadly to other bacteria. We deploy DEPhT to demonstrate that prophages are prevalent in Mycobacterium strains but are absent not only from the few well-characterized Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, but also are absent from all ∼30 000 sequenced M. tuberculosis strains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ananya K Venbakkam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Julia Malnak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Daniel A Russell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Graham F Hatfull
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 412 624 6975;
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26
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Bohr LL, Youngblom MA, Eldholm V, Pepperell CS. Genome reorganization during emergence of host-associated Mycobacterium abscessus. Microb Genom 2021; 7. [PMID: 34874249 PMCID: PMC8767326 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapid growing, free-living species of bacterium that also causes lung infections in humans. Human infections are usually acquired from the environment; however, dominant circulating clones (DCCs) have emerged recently in both M. abscessus subsp. massiliense and subsp. abscessus that appear to be transmitted among humans and are now globally distributed. These recently emerged clones are potentially informative about the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms of pathogen emergence and host adaptation. The geographical distribution of DCCs has been reported, but the genomic processes underlying their transition from environmental bacterium to human pathogen are not well characterized. To address this knowledge gap, we delineated the structure of M. abscessus subspecies abscessus and massiliense using genomic data from 200 clinical isolates of M. abscessus from seven geographical regions. We identified differences in overall patterns of lateral gene transfer (LGT) and barriers to LGT between subspecies and between environmental and host-adapted bacteria. We further characterized genome reorganization that accompanied bacterial host adaptation, inferring selection pressures acting at both genic and intergenic loci. We found that both subspecies encode an expansive pangenome with many genes at rare frequencies. Recombination appears more frequent in M. abscessus subsp. massiliense than in subsp. abscessus, consistent with prior reports. We found evidence suggesting that phage are exchanged between subspecies, despite genetic barriers evident elsewhere throughout the genome. Patterns of LGT differed according to niche, with less LGT observed among host-adapted DCCs versus environmental bacteria. We also found evidence suggesting that DCCs are under distinct selection pressures at both genic and intergenic sites. Our results indicate that host adaptation of M. abscessus was accompanied by major changes in genome evolution, including shifts in the apparent frequency of LGT and impacts of selection. Differences were evident among the DCCs as well, which varied in the degree of gene content remodelling, suggesting they were placed differently along the evolutionary trajectory toward host adaptation. These results provide insight into the evolutionary forces that reshape bacterial genomes as they emerge into the pathogenic niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey L Bohr
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Madison A Youngblom
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Caitlin S Pepperell
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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27
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Genomic Analysis of a Hospital-Associated Outbreak of Mycobacterium abscessus: Implications on Transmission. J Clin Microbiol 2021; 60:e0154721. [PMID: 34705540 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01547-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has recently been used to investigate acquisition of Mycobacterium abscessus (MABC). Investigators have reached conflicting conclusions about the meaning of genetic distances for interpretation of person-to-person transmission. Existing genomic studies were limited by a lack of WGS from environmental MABC isolates. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the core and accessory genomes of 26 M. abscessus subsp. abscessus (MAA) isolates collected over seven years. Clinical isolates (n=22) were obtained from a large hospital-associated outbreak of MAA, the outbreak hospital before or after the outbreak, a neighboring hospital, and two outside laboratories. Environmental MAA isolates (n=4) were obtained from outbreak hospital water outlets. Phylogenomic analysis of study isolates revealed three clades with pairwise genetic distances ranging from 0-135 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Compared to a reference environmental outbreak isolate, all seven clinical outbreak isolates and the remaining three environmental isolates had highly similar core and accessory genomes, differing by up to 7 SNPs and a median of 1.6% accessory genes, respectively. Although genomic comparisons of 15 non-outbreak clinical isolates revealed greater heterogeneity, five (33%) isolates had fewer than 20 SNPs compared to the reference environmental isolate, including two unrelated outside laboratory isolates with less than 4% accessory genome variation. Detailed genomic comparisons confirmed environmental acquisition of outbreak isolates of MAA. SNP distances alone, however, did not clearly differentiate the mechanism of acquisition of outbreak versus non-outbreak isolates. We conclude that successful investigation of MAA clusters requires molecular and epidemiologic components, ideally complemented by environmental sampling.
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28
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Lewin A, Kamal E, Semmler T, Winter K, Kaiser S, Schäfer H, Mao L, Eschenhagen P, Grehn C, Bender J, Schwarz C. Genetic diversification of persistent Mycobacterium abscessus within cystic fibrosis patients. Virulence 2021; 12:2415-2429. [PMID: 34546836 PMCID: PMC8526041 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1959808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium (M.) abscessus infections in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients cause a deterioration of lung function. Treatment of these multidrug-resistant pathogens is associated with severe side-effects, while frequently unsuccessful. Insight on M. abscessus genomic evolvement during chronic lung infection would be beneficial for improving treatment strategies. A longitudinal study enrolling 42 CF patients was performed at a CF center in Berlin, Germany, to elaborate phylogeny and genomic diversification of in-patient M. abscessus. Eleven of the 42 CF patients were infected with M. abscessus. Five of these 11 patients were infected with global human-transmissible M. abscessus cluster strains. Phylogenetic analysis of 88 genomes from isolates of the 11 patients excluded occurrence of M. abscessus transmission among members of the study group. Genome sequencing and variant analysis of 30 isolates from 11 serial respiratory samples collected over 4.5 years from a chronically infected patient demonstrated accumulation of gene mutations. In total, 53 genes exhibiting non-synonymous variations were identified. Enrichment analysis emphasized genes involved in synthesis of glycopeptidolipids, genes from the embABC (arabinosyltransferase) operon, betA (glucose-methanol-choline oxidoreductase) and choD (cholesterol oxidase). Genetic diversity evolved in a variety of virulence- and resistance-associated genes. The strategy of M. abscessus populations in chronic lung infection is not clonal expansion of dominant variants, but to sustain simultaneously a wide range of genetic variants facilitating adaptation of the population to changing living conditions in the lung. Genomic diversification during chronic infection requires increased attention when new control strategies against M. abscessus infections are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Lewin
- Unit 16 Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kamal
- Unit 16 Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Torsten Semmler
- Unit NG 1 Microbial Genomics, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katja Winter
- Unit MF1 Bioinformatics, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Kaiser
- Unit MF1 Bioinformatics, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hubert Schäfer
- Unit 16 Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lei Mao
- Unit 16 Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.,Unit 31 Infectious Disease Data Science Unit, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patience Eschenhagen
- Klinikum Westbrandenburg, Campus Potsdam, Cystic Fibrosis Section, Potsdam, Germany.,Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Grehn
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonology, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Division of Cystic Fibrosis, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jennifer Bender
- Unit 13 Nosocomial Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistances, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany.,ECDC Fellowship Programme, Public Health Microbiology Path (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Solna, Sweden
| | - Carsten Schwarz
- Klinikum Westbrandenburg, Campus Potsdam, Cystic Fibrosis Section, Potsdam, Germany.,Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Hatfull GF. Wildy Prize Lecture, 2020-2021: Who wouldn't want to discover a new virus? MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2021; 167. [PMID: 34468308 PMCID: PMC8549241 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Innovations in science education are desperately needed to find ways to engage and interest students early in their undergraduate careers. Exposing students to authentic research experiences is highly beneficial, but finding ways to include all types of students and to do this at large scale is especially challenging. An attractive solution is the concept of an inclusive research education community (iREC) in which centralized research leadership and administration supports multiple institutions, including diverse groups of schools and universities, faculty and students. The Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Sciences (SEA-PHAGES) programme is an excellent example of an iREC, in which students explore viral diversity and evolution through discovery and genomic analysis of novel bacteriophages. The SEA-PHAGES programme has proven to be sustainable, to be implemented at large scale, and to enhance student persistence in science, as well as to produce substantial research advances. Discovering a new virus with the potential for new biological insights and clinical applications is inherently exciting. Who wouldn't want to discover a new virus?
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham F Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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Guerrero-Bustamante CA, Dedrick RM, Garlena RA, Russell DA, Hatfull GF. Toward a Phage Cocktail for Tuberculosis: Susceptibility and Tuberculocidal Action of Mycobacteriophages against Diverse Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strains. mBio 2021; 12:e00973-21. [PMID: 34016711 PMCID: PMC8263002 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00973-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The global health burden of human tuberculosis (TB) and the widespread antibiotic resistance of its causative agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis warrant new strategies for TB control. The successful use of a bacteriophage cocktail to treat a Mycobacterium abscessus infection suggests that phages could play a role in tuberculosis therapy. To assemble a phage cocktail with optimal therapeutic potential for tuberculosis, we have explored mycobacteriophage diversity to identify phages that demonstrate tuberculocidal activity and determined the phage infection profiles for a diverse set of strains spanning the major lineages of human-adapted strains of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Using a combination of genome engineering and bacteriophage genetics, we have assembled a five-phage cocktail that minimizes the emergence of phage resistance and cross-resistance to multiple phages, and which efficiently kills the M. tuberculosis strains tested. Furthermore, these phages function without antagonizing antibiotic effectiveness, and infect both isoniazid-resistant and -sensitive strains.IMPORTANCE Tuberculosis kills 1.5 million people each year, and resistance to commonly used antibiotics contributes to treatment failures. The therapeutic potential of bacteriophages against Mycobacterium tuberculosis offers prospects for shortening antibiotic regimens, provides new tools for treating multiple drug-resistant (MDR)-TB and extensively drug-resistant (XDR)-TB infections, and protects newly developed antibiotics against rapidly emerging resistance to them. Identifying a suitable suite of phages active against diverse M. tuberculosis isolates circumvents many of the barriers to initiating clinical evaluation of phages as part of the arsenal of antituberculosis therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebekah M Dedrick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rebecca A Garlena
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Daniel A Russell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Graham F Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Mycobacteriophages as Genomic Engineers and Anti-infective Weapons. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.00632-21. [PMID: 34006655 PMCID: PMC8262953 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00632-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) is an emerging pathogen that is highly tolerant to current antibiotic therapies, and the current standard of care has a high failure rate. Mycobacteriophages represent a promising alternative treatment that have the potential to kill Mab with few side effects. However, the repertoire of phages that infect Mab is limited, and little is understood about the determinants of phage susceptibility in mycobacteria. Two studies from the Hatfull group (R. M. Dedrick, B. E. Smith, R. A. Garlena, D. A. Russell, et al., mBio 12:e03431-20, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.03431-20, and R. M. Dedrick, H. G. Aull, D. Jacobs-Sera, R. A. Garlena, et al., mBio 12:e03441-20, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.03441-20) shed new light on the natural phage complement of Mab and provide some of the first insights into what factors might drive susceptibility to these phages. These studies not only lay the groundwork for therapeutic development of more effective phage therapy in Mab but also provide a foothold for studying how mobile elements such as phages and plasmids impact Mab biology and evolution.
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Mycobacterium abscessus Strain Morphotype Determines Phage Susceptibility, the Repertoire of Therapeutically Useful Phages, and Phage Resistance. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.03431-20. [PMID: 33785625 PMCID: PMC8092298 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03431-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus infections in cystic fibrosis patients are challenging to treat due to widespread antibiotic resistance. The therapeutic use of lytic bacteriophages presents a new potential strategy, but the great variation among clinical M. abscessus isolates demands determination of phage susceptibility prior to therapy. Mycobacterium abscessus is an opportunistic pathogen whose treatment is confounded by widespread multidrug resistance. The therapeutic use of bacteriophages against Mycobacterium abscessus infections offers a potential alternative approach, although the spectrum of phage susceptibilities among M. abscessus isolates is not known. We determined the phage infection profiles of 82 M. abscessus recent clinical isolates and find that colony morphotype—rough or smooth—is a key indicator of phage susceptibility. None of the smooth strains are efficiently killed by any phages, whereas 80% of rough strains are infected and efficiently killed by at least one phage. The repertoire of phages available for potential therapy of rough morphotype infections includes those with relatively broad host ranges, host range mutants of Mycobacterium smegmatis phages, and lytically propagated viruses derived from integrated prophages. The rough colony morphotype results from indels in the glycopeptidolipid synthesis genes mps1 and mps2, negating reversion to smooth as a common route to phage resistance. Resistance is thus rare, and although mutations in polyketide synthesis, uvrD2, and rpoZ can confer resistance, these likely also impair survival in vivo. The expanded therapeutic repertoire and the resistance profiles show that small cocktails or single phages could be suitable for controlling infections with rough strains.
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