1
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Cianciulli Sesso A, Resch A, Moll I, Bläsi U, Sonnleitner E. The FinO/ProQ-like protein PA2582 impacts antimicrobial resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1422742. [PMID: 39011145 PMCID: PMC11247311 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1422742] [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: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria employ small regulatory RNAs (sRNA) and/or RNA binding proteins (RBPs) to respond to environmental cues. In Enterobacteriaceae, the FinO-domain containing RBP ProQ associates with numerous sRNAs and mRNAs, impacts sRNA-mediated riboregulation or mRNA stability by binding to 5'- or 3'-untranslated regions as well as to internal stem loop structures. Global RNA-protein interaction studies and sequence comparisons identified a ProQ-like homolog (PA2582/ProQ Pae ) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pae). To address the function of ProQ Pae , at first a comparative transcriptome analysis of the Pae strains PAO1 and PAO1ΔproQ was performed. This study revealed more than 100 differentially abundant transcripts, affecting a variety of cellular functions. Among these transcripts were pprA and pprB, encoding the PprA/PprB two component system, psrA, encoding a transcriptional activator of pprB, and oprI, encoding the outer membrane protein OprI. RNA co-purification experiments with Strep-tagged Pae ProQ protein corroborated an association of ProQ Pae with these transcripts. In accordance with the up-regulation of the psrA, pprA, and pprB genes in strain PAO1ΔproQ a phenotypic analysis revealed an increased susceptibility toward the aminoglycosides tobramycin and gentamicin in biofilms. Conversely, the observed down-regulation of the oprI gene in PAO1ΔproQ could be reconciled with a decreased susceptibility toward the synthetic cationic antimicrobial peptide GW-Q6. Taken together, these studies revealed that ProQ Pae is an RBP that impacts antimicrobial resistance in Pae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Cianciulli Sesso
- Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, Max Perutz Labs, Center of Molecular Biology, Vienna Biocenter, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, a Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna, Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Armin Resch
- Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, Max Perutz Labs, Center of Molecular Biology, Vienna Biocenter, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Isabella Moll
- Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, Max Perutz Labs, Center of Molecular Biology, Vienna Biocenter, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Udo Bläsi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, Max Perutz Labs, Center of Molecular Biology, Vienna Biocenter, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Sonnleitner
- Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, Max Perutz Labs, Center of Molecular Biology, Vienna Biocenter, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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2
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Prichard A, Pogliano J. The intricate organizational strategy of nucleus-forming phages. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102457. [PMID: 38581914 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Nucleus-forming phages (chimalliviruses) encode numerous genes responsible for creating intricate structures for viral replication. Research on this newly appreciated family of phages has begun to reveal the mechanisms underlying the subcellular organization of the nucleus-based phage replication cycle. These discoveries include the structure of the phage nuclear shell, the identification of a membrane-bound early phage infection intermediate, the dynamic localization of phage RNA polymerases, the phylogeny and core genome of chimalliviruses, and the variation in replication mechanisms across diverse nucleus-forming phages. This research is being propelled forward through the application of fluorescence microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy and the innovative use of new tools such as proximity labeling and RNA-targeting Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-Cas systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Prichard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Joe Pogliano
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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3
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Gerovac M, Chihara K, Wicke L, Böttcher B, Lavigne R, Vogel J. Phage proteins target and co-opt host ribosomes immediately upon infection. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:787-800. [PMID: 38443577 PMCID: PMC10914614 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01616-x] [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: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages must seize control of the host gene expression machinery to replicate. To bypass bacterial anti-phage defence systems, this host takeover occurs immediately upon infection. A general understanding of phage mechanisms for immediate targeting of host transcription and translation processes is lacking. Here we introduce an integrative high-throughput approach to uncover phage-encoded proteins that target the gene expression machinery of Pseudomonas aeruginosa immediately upon infection with the jumbo phage ΦKZ. By integrating biochemical, genetic and structural analyses, we identify an abundant and conserved phage factor ΦKZ014 that targets the large ribosomal subunit by binding the 5S ribosomal RNA, and rapidly promotes replication in several clinical isolates. ΦKZ014 is among the earliest ΦKZ proteins expressed after infection and remains bound to ribosomes during the entire translation cycle. Our study provides a strategy to decipher molecular components of phage-mediated host takeover and argues that phage genomes represent an untapped discovery space for proteins that modulate the host gene expression machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Gerovac
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kotaro Chihara
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Laura Wicke
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bettina Böttcher
- Biocenter and Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany.
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4
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Putzeys L, Wicke L, Boon M, van Noort V, Vogel J, Lavigne R. Refining the transcriptional landscapes for distinct clades of virulent phages infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. MICROLIFE 2024; 5:uqae002. [PMID: 38444699 PMCID: PMC10914365 DOI: 10.1093/femsml/uqae002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
The introduction of high-throughput sequencing has resulted in a surge of available bacteriophage genomes, unveiling their tremendous genomic diversity. However, our current understanding of the complex transcriptional mechanisms that dictate their gene expression during infection is limited to a handful of model phages. Here, we applied ONT-cappable-seq to reveal the transcriptional architecture of six different clades of virulent phages infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This long-read microbial transcriptomics approach is tailored to globally map transcription start and termination sites, transcription units, and putative RNA-based regulators on dense phage genomes. Specifically, the full-length transcriptomes of LUZ19, LUZ24, 14-1, YuA, PAK_P3, and giant phage phiKZ during early, middle, and late infection were collectively charted. Beyond pinpointing traditional promoter and terminator elements and transcription units, these transcriptional profiles provide insights in transcriptional attenuation and splicing events and allow straightforward validation of Group I intron activity. In addition, ONT-cappable-seq data can guide genome-wide discovery of novel regulatory element candidates, including noncoding RNAs and riboswitches. This work substantially expands the number of annotated phage-encoded transcriptional elements identified to date, shedding light on the intricate and diverse gene expression regulation mechanisms in Pseudomonas phages, which can ultimately be sourced as tools for biotechnological applications in phage and bacterial engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Putzeys
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Wicke
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Maarten Boon
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vera van Noort
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-Based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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5
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Putzeys L, Wicke L, Brandão A, Boon M, Pires DP, Azeredo J, Vogel J, Lavigne R, Gerovac M. Exploring the transcriptional landscape of phage-host interactions using novel high-throughput approaches. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 77:102419. [PMID: 38271748 PMCID: PMC10884466 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
In the last decade, powerful high-throughput sequencing approaches have emerged to analyse microbial transcriptomes at a global scale. However, to date, applications of these approaches to microbial viruses such as phages remain scarce. Tailoring these techniques to virus-infected bacteria promises to obtain a detailed picture of the underexplored RNA biology and molecular processes during infection. In addition, transcriptome study of stress and perturbations induced by phages in their infected bacterial hosts is likely to reveal new fundamental mechanisms of bacterial metabolism and gene regulation. Here, we provide references and blueprints to implement emerging transcriptomic approaches towards addressing transcriptome architecture, RNA-RNA and RNA-protein interactions, RNA modifications, structures and heterogeneity of transcription profiles in infected cells that will provide guides for future directions in phage-centric therapeutic applications and microbial synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Putzeys
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Wicke
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ana Brandão
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Maarten Boon
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Diana P Pires
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Joana Azeredo
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Milan Gerovac
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany.
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6
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Ferrara S, Bertoni G. Genome-Scale Analysis of the Structure and Function of RNA Pathways and Networks in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2721:183-195. [PMID: 37819523 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3473-8_13] [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] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, several genome-wide approaches based on RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) have been developed. These methods allow a comprehensive and dynamic view of the structure and function of the multi-layered RNA pathways and networks. Many of these approaches, including the promising one of single-cell transcriptome analysis, have been successfully applied to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, we are only at the beginning because only a few surrounding conditions have been considered. Here, we aim to illustrate the different types of approaches based on RNA-seq that will lead us in the future to a better understanding of the dynamics of RNA biology in P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Ferrara
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bertoni
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Milano, Italy.
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7
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Wiegard JC, Damm K, Lechner M, Thölken C, Ngo S, Putzer H, Hartmann RK. Processing and decay of 6S-1 and 6S-2 RNAs in Bacillus subtilis. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:1481-1499. [PMID: 37369528 PMCID: PMC10578484 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079666.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Noncoding 6S RNAs regulate transcription by binding to the active site of bacterial RNA polymerase holoenzymes. Processing and decay of 6S-1 and 6S-2 RNA were investigated in Bacillus subtilis by northern blot and RNA-seq analyses using different RNase knockout strains, as well as by in vitro processing assays. For both 6S RNA paralogs, we identified a key-but mechanistically different-role of RNase J1. RNase J1 catalyzes 5'-end maturation of 6S-1 RNA, yet relatively inefficient and possibly via the enzyme's "sliding endonuclease" activity. 5'-end maturation has no detectable effect on 6S-1 RNA function, but rather regulates its decay: The generated 5'-monophosphate on matured 6S-1 RNA propels endonucleolytic cleavage in its apical loop region. The major 6S-2 RNA degradation pathway is initiated by endonucleolytic cleavage in the 5'-central bubble to trigger 5'-to-3'-exoribonucleolytic degradation of the downstream fragment by RNase J1. The four 3'-exonucleases of B. subtilis-RNase R, PNPase, YhaM, and particularly RNase PH-are involved in 3'-end trimming of both 6S RNAs, degradation of 6S-1 RNA fragments, and decay of abortive transcripts (so-called product RNAs, ∼14 nt in length) synthesized on 6S-1 RNA during outgrowth from stationary phase. In the case of the growth-retarded RNase Y deletion strain, we were unable to infer a specific role of RNase Y in 6S RNA decay. Yet, a participation of RNase Y in 6S RNA decay still remains possible, as evidence for such a function may have been obscured by overlapping substrate specificities of RNase Y, RNase J1, and RNase J2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Christin Wiegard
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, D-35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Damm
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, D-35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Lechner
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Bioinformatics Core Facility, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Clemens Thölken
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Bioinformatics Core Facility, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Saravuth Ngo
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Harald Putzer
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Roland K Hartmann
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, D-35037 Marburg, Germany
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8
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FinO/ProQ-family proteins: an evolutionary perspective. Biosci Rep 2023; 43:232566. [PMID: 36787218 PMCID: PMC9977716 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20220313] [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: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins are key actors of post-transcriptional networks. Almost exclusively studied in the light of their interactions with RNA ligands and the associated functional events, they are still poorly understood as evolutionary units. In this review, we discuss the FinO/ProQ family of bacterial RNA chaperones, how they evolve and spread across bacterial populations and what properties and opportunities they provide to their host cells. We reflect on major conserved and divergent themes within the family, trying to understand how the same ancestral RNA-binding fold, augmented with additional structural elements, could yield either highly specialised proteins or, on the contrary, globally acting regulatory hubs with a pervasive impact on gene expression. We also consider dominant convergent evolutionary trends that shaped their RNA chaperone activity and recurrently implicated the FinO/ProQ-like proteins in bacterial DNA metabolism, translation and virulence. Finally, we offer a new perspective in which FinO/ProQ-family regulators emerge as active evolutionary players with both negative and positive roles, significantly impacting the evolutionary modes and trajectories of their bacterial hosts.
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9
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Integrated Omics Reveal Time-Resolved Insights into T4 Phage Infection of E. coli on Proteome and Transcriptome Levels. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112502. [PMID: 36423111 PMCID: PMC9697503 DOI: 10.3390/v14112502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are highly abundant viruses of bacteria. The major role of phages in shaping bacterial communities and their emerging medical potential as antibacterial agents has triggered a rebirth of phage research. To understand the molecular mechanisms by which phages hijack their host, omics technologies can provide novel insights into the organization of transcriptional and translational events occurring during the infection process. In this study, we apply transcriptomics and proteomics to characterize the temporal patterns of transcription and protein synthesis during the T4 phage infection of E. coli. We investigated the stability of E. coli-originated transcripts and proteins in the course of infection, identifying the degradation of E. coli transcripts and the preservation of the host proteome. Moreover, the correlation between the phage transcriptome and proteome reveals specific T4 phage mRNAs and proteins that are temporally decoupled, suggesting post-transcriptional and translational regulation mechanisms. This study provides the first comprehensive insights into the molecular takeover of E. coli by bacteriophage T4. This data set represents a valuable resource for future studies seeking to study molecular and regulatory events during infection. We created a user-friendly online tool, POTATO4, which is available to the scientific community and allows access to gene expression patterns for E. coli and T4 genes.
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10
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Chihara K, Gerovac M, Hör J, Vogel J. Global profiling of the RNA and protein complexes of Escherichia coli by size exclusion chromatography followed by RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry (SEC-seq). RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 29:rna.079439.122. [PMID: 36328526 PMCID: PMC9808575 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079439.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
New methods for the global identification of RNA-protein interactions have led to greater recognition of the abundance and importance of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in bacteria. Here, we expand this tool kit by developing SEC-seq, a method based on a similar concept as the established Grad-seq approach. In Grad-seq, cellular RNA and protein complexes of a bacterium of interest are separated in a glycerol gradient, followed by high-throughput RNA-sequencing and mass spectrometry analyses of individual gradient fractions. New RNA-protein complexes are predicted based on the similarity of their elution profiles. In SEC-seq, we have replaced the glycerol gradient with separation by size exclusion chromatography, which shortens operation times and offers greater potential for automation. Applying SEC-seq to Escherichia coli, we find that the method provides a higher resolution than Grad-seq in the lower molecular weight range up to ~500 kDa. This is illustrated by the ability of SEC-seq to resolve two distinct, but similarly sized complexes of the global translational repressor CsrA with either of its antagonistic small RNAs, CsrB and CsrC. We also characterized changes in the SEC-seq profiles of the small RNA MicA upon deletion of its RNA chaperones Hfq and ProQ and investigated the redistribution of these two proteins upon RNase treatment. Overall, we demonstrate that SEC-seq is a tractable and reproducible method for the global profiling of bacterial RNA-protein complexes that offers the potential to discover yet-unrecognized associations between bacterial RNAs and proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotaro Chihara
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Jens Hör
- Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel
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11
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Tabib-Salazar A, Wigneshweraraj S. RNA Management During T7 Infection. PHAGE (NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.) 2022; 3:136-140. [PMID: 36793551 PMCID: PMC9917321 DOI: 10.1089/phage.2022.0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Post-transcriptional regulation (PTR) determines the fate of RNA in the cell and represents an important control point in the flow of genetic information and thus underpins many, if not all, aspects of cell function. Host takeover by phages through misappropriation of the bacterial transcription machinery is a relatively advanced area of research. However, several phages encode small regulatory RNAs, which are major mediators of PTR, and produce specific proteins to manipulate bacterial enzymes involved in RNA degradation.1-4 However, PTR during phage development still represents an understudied area of phage-bacteria interaction biology. In this study, we discuss the potential role PTR could play in determining the fate of RNA during the lifecycle of the prototypic phage T7 in Escherichia coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Tabib-Salazar
- Section of Molecular Microbiology, Department of Infectious Disease, MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sivaramesh Wigneshweraraj
- Section of Molecular Microbiology, Department of Infectious Disease, MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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12
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Solar Venero EC, Matera G, Vogel J, López NI, Tribelli PM. Small RNAs in the Antarctic bacterium Pseudomonas extremaustralis responsive to oxygen availability and oxidative stress. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2022; 14:604-615. [PMID: 35689330 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) play key roles as genetic regulators, mediating in the adaptability to changing environmental conditions and stress responses. In this work, we analysed putative sRNAs identified by RNA-seq experiments in different aeration conditions in the extremophile bacterium P. extremaustralis. These analyses allowed the identification of 177 putative sRNAs under aerobiosis (A), microaerobiosis (M) and microaerobiosis after H2 O2 exposure (m-OS). The size and transcription profile of eight sRNAs with differential expression were verified by Northern blot. sRNA40, with unknown function but conserved in other Pseudomonas species, was selected to perform overexpression experiments followed by RNA-seq analysis. The overexpression of sRNA40 in P. extremaustralis resulted in significant expression changes of 19 genes with 14 differentially upregulated and five downregulated. Among the upregulated genes, eight transcripts corresponded to components of secretion systems, such as gspH, gspK, and gspM, belonging to the Type II secretion system, and rspO and rspP from Type III secretion system. Our results showed a novel sRNA which expression was triggered by low oxygen levels, and whose overexpression was associated with upregulation of selected components of protein secretion systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gianluca Matera
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nancy I López
- IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Intendente Guiraldes 2160, 1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula M Tribelli
- IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Intendente Guiraldes 2160, 1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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13
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Liu P, Yue C, Liu L, Gao C, Lyu Y, Deng S, Tian H, Jia X. The function of small RNA in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13738. [PMID: 35891650 PMCID: PMC9308961 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the main conditional pathogen causing nosocomial infection, is a gram-negative bacterium with the largest genome among the known bacteria. The main reasons why Pseudomonas aeruginosa is prone to drug-resistant strains in clinic are: the drug-resistant genes in its genome and the drug resistance easily induced by single antibiotic treatment. With the development of high-throughput sequencing technology and bioinformatics, the functions of various small RNAs (sRNA) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa are being revealed. Different sRNAs regulate gene expression by binding to protein or mRNA to play an important role in the complex regulatory network. In this article, first, the importance and biological functions of different sRNAs in Pseudomonas aeruginosa are explored, and then the evidence and possibilities that sRNAs served as drug therapeutic targets are discussed, which may introduce new directions to develop novel disease treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Liu
- Yan’an University, Key Laboratory of Microbial Drugs Innovation and Transformation, Yan’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Changwu Yue
- Yan’an University, Key Laboratory of Microbial Drugs Innovation and Transformation, Yan’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lihua Liu
- Chengdu Medical College, Non-coding RNA and Drug Discovery Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Can Gao
- Yan’an University, Key Laboratory of Microbial Drugs Innovation and Transformation, Yan’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuhong Lyu
- Yan’an University, Key Laboratory of Microbial Drugs Innovation and Transformation, Yan’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shanshan Deng
- Chengdu Medical College, Non-coding RNA and Drug Discovery Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongying Tian
- Yan’an University, Key Laboratory of Microbial Drugs Innovation and Transformation, Yan’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xu Jia
- Chengdu Medical College, Non-coding RNA and Drug Discovery Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,School of Basic Medical Science, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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14
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Putzeys L, Boon M, Lammens EM, Kuznedelov K, Severinov K, Lavigne R. Development of ONT-cappable-seq to unravel the transcriptional landscape of Pseudomonas phages. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:2624-2638. [PMID: 35685363 PMCID: PMC9163698 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.05.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA sequencing has become the method of choice to study the transcriptional landscape of phage-infected bacteria. However, short-read RNA sequencing approaches generally fail to capture the primary 5' and 3' boundaries of transcripts, confounding the discovery of key transcription initiation and termination events as well as operon architectures. Yet, the elucidation of these elements is crucial for the understanding of the strategy of transcription regulation during the infection process, which is currently lacking beyond a handful of model phages. We developed ONT-cappable-seq, a specialized long-read RNA sequencing technique that allows end-to-end sequencing of primary prokaryotic transcripts using the Nanopore sequencing platform. We applied ONT-cappable-seq to study transcription of Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage LUZ7, obtaining a comprehensive genome-wide map of viral transcription start sites, terminators, and complex operon structures that fine-regulate gene expression. Our work provides new insights in the RNA biology of a non-model phage, unveiling distinct promoter architectures, putative small non-coding viral RNAs, and the prominent regulatory role of terminators during infection. The robust workflow presented here offers a framework to obtain a global, yet fine-grained view of phage transcription and paves the way for standardized, in-depth transcription studies for microbial viruses or bacteria in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Putzeys
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium
| | - Maarten Boon
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium
| | - Eveline-Marie Lammens
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium
| | | | | | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium
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15
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Ponath F, Hör J, Vogel J. An overview of gene regulation in bacteria by small RNAs derived from mRNA 3' ends. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6564598. [PMID: 35388892 PMCID: PMC9438474 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) that regulate mRNAs by short base pairing have gone from a curiosity to a major class of post-transcriptional regulators in bacteria. They are integral to many stress responses and regulatory circuits, affecting almost all aspects of bacterial life. Following pioneering sRNA searches in the early 2000s, the field quickly focused on conserved sRNA genes in the intergenic regions of bacterial chromosomes. Yet, it soon emerged that there might be another rich source of bacterial sRNAs—processed 3′ end fragments of mRNAs. Several such 3′ end-derived sRNAs have now been characterized, often revealing unexpected, conserved functions in diverse cellular processes. Here, we review our current knowledge of these 3′ end-derived sRNAs—their biogenesis through ribonucleases, their molecular mechanisms, their interactions with RNA-binding proteins such as Hfq or ProQ and their functional scope, which ranges from acting as specialized regulators of single metabolic genes to constituting entire noncoding arms in global stress responses. Recent global RNA interactome studies suggest that the importance of functional 3′ end-derived sRNAs has been vastly underestimated and that this type of cross-regulation between genes at the mRNA level is more pervasive in bacteria than currently appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Falk Ponath
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jens Hör
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
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16
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Specific and Global RNA Regulators in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168632. [PMID: 34445336 PMCID: PMC8395346 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pae) is an opportunistic pathogen showing a high intrinsic resistance to a wide variety of antibiotics. It causes nosocomial infections that are particularly detrimental to immunocompromised individuals and to patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. We provide a snapshot on regulatory RNAs of Pae that impact on metabolism, pathogenicity and antibiotic susceptibility. Different experimental approaches such as in silico predictions, co-purification with the RNA chaperone Hfq as well as high-throughput RNA sequencing identified several hundreds of regulatory RNA candidates in Pae. Notwithstanding, using in vitro and in vivo assays, the function of only a few has been revealed. Here, we focus on well-characterized small base-pairing RNAs, regulating specific target genes as well as on larger protein-binding RNAs that sequester and thereby modulate the activity of translational repressors. As the latter impact large gene networks governing metabolism, acute or chronic infections, these protein-binding RNAs in conjunction with their cognate proteins are regarded as global post-transcriptional regulators.
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17
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El Mouali Y, Gerovac M, Mineikaitė R, Vogel J. In vivo targets of Salmonella FinO include a FinP-like small RNA controlling copy number of a cohabitating plasmid. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:5319-5335. [PMID: 33939833 PMCID: PMC8136791 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
FinO-domain proteins represent an emerging family of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) with diverse roles in bacterial post-transcriptional control and physiology. They exhibit an intriguing targeting spectrum, ranging from an assumed single RNA pair (FinP/traJ) for the plasmid-encoded FinO protein, to transcriptome-wide activity as documented for chromosomally encoded ProQ proteins. Thus, the shared FinO domain might bear an unusual plasticity enabling it to act either selectively or promiscuously on the same cellular RNA pool. One caveat to this model is that the full suite of in vivo targets of the assumedly highly selective FinO protein is unknown. Here, we have extensively profiled cellular transcripts associated with the virulence plasmid-encoded FinO in Salmonella enterica. While our analysis confirms the FinP sRNA of plasmid pSLT as the primary FinO target, we identify a second major ligand: the RepX sRNA of the unrelated antibiotic resistance plasmid pRSF1010. FinP and RepX are strikingly similar in length and structure, but not in primary sequence, and so may provide clues to understanding the high selectivity of FinO-RNA interactions. Moreover, we observe that the FinO RBP encoded on the Salmonella virulence plasmid controls the replication of a cohabitating antibiotic resistance plasmid, suggesting cross-regulation of plasmids on the RNA level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssef El Mouali
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Milan Gerovac
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Raminta Mineikaitė
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
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18
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YbeY, éminence grise of ribosome biogenesis. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:727-745. [PMID: 33929506 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
YbeY is an ultraconserved small protein belonging to the unique heritage shared by most existing bacteria and eukaryotic organelles of bacterial origin, mitochondria and chloroplasts. Studied in more than a dozen of evolutionarily distant species, YbeY is invariably critical for cellular physiology. However, the exact mechanisms by which it exerts such penetrating influence are not completely understood. In this review, we attempt a transversal analysis of the current knowledge about YbeY, based on genetic, structural, and biochemical data from a wide variety of models. We propose that YbeY, in association with the ribosomal protein uS11 and the assembly GTPase Era, plays a critical role in the biogenesis of the small ribosomal subunit, and more specifically its platform region, in diverse genetic systems of bacterial type.
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19
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Gerovac M, Vogel J, Smirnov A. The World of Stable Ribonucleoproteins and Its Mapping With Grad-Seq and Related Approaches. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:661448. [PMID: 33898526 PMCID: PMC8058203 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.661448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Macromolecular complexes of proteins and RNAs are essential building blocks of cells. These stable supramolecular particles can be viewed as minimal biochemical units whose structural organization, i.e., the way the RNA and the protein interact with each other, is directly linked to their biological function. Whether those are dynamic regulatory ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) or integrated molecular machines involved in gene expression, the comprehensive knowledge of these units is critical to our understanding of key molecular mechanisms and cell physiology phenomena. Such is the goal of diverse complexomic approaches and in particular of the recently developed gradient profiling by sequencing (Grad-seq). By separating cellular protein and RNA complexes on a density gradient and quantifying their distributions genome-wide by mass spectrometry and deep sequencing, Grad-seq charts global landscapes of native macromolecular assemblies. In this review, we propose a function-based ontology of stable RNPs and discuss how Grad-seq and related approaches transformed our perspective of bacterial and eukaryotic ribonucleoproteins by guiding the discovery of new RNA-binding proteins and unusual classes of noncoding RNAs. We highlight some methodological aspects and developments that permit to further boost the power of this technique and to look for exciting new biology in understudied and challenging biological models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Gerovac
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexandre Smirnov
- UMR 7156—Génétique Moléculaire, Génomique, Microbiologie (GMGM), University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
- University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study (USIAS), Strasbourg, France
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20
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Abstract
The complexome of a cell is the entirety of its complexes. Complexome capture studies have mostly focused on protein-protein interactions, which has left a gap in our knowledge of the global interactions of RNAs. To overcome these limitations, we recently introduced gradient profiling by sequencing (Grad-seq), which analyzes in a high-throughput fashion soluble cellular complexes after their separation in a glycerol gradient by fraction-wise RNA-seq and mass spectrometry. Here, we describe a detailed Grad-seq protocol for Streptococcus pneumoniae, which should also be applicable to other bacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Hör
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany.
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