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Tomar P, Thakur N, Jhamta S, Chowdhury S, Kapoor M, Singh S, Shreaz S, Rustagi S, Rai PK, Rai AK, Yadav AN. Bacterial biopesticides: Biodiversity, role in pest management and beneficial impact on agricultural and environmental sustainability. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31550. [PMID: 38828310 PMCID: PMC11140719 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31550] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Agro-environmental sustainability is based upon the adoption of efficient resources in agro-practices that have a nominal impact on the ecosystem. Insect pests are responsible for causing severe impacts on crop productivity. Wide ranges of agro-chemicals have been employed over the last 50 years to overcome crop yield losses due to insect pests. But better knowledge about the hazards due to chemical pesticides and other pest resistance and resurgence issues necessitates an alternative for pest control. The applications of biological pesticides offer a best alternate that is safe, cost-effective, easy to adoption and successful against various insect pests and pathogens. Like other organisms, insects can get a wide range of diseases from various microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, and nematodes. In order to create agricultural pest management practices that are environmentally beneficial, bacterial entomopathogens are being thoroughly studied. Utilization of bacterial biopesticides has been adopted for the protection of agricultural products. The different types of toxin complexes released by various microorganisms and their mechanisms of action are recapitulated. The present review described the diversity and biocontrol prospective of certain bacteria and summarised the potential of bacterial biopesticides for the management of agricultural pests, insects, and other phytopathogenic microorganisms in agricultural practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preety Tomar
- Department of Zoology, Akal College of Basic Sciences, Eternal University, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Neelam Thakur
- Department of Zoology, Akal College of Basic Sciences, Eternal University, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Samiksha Jhamta
- Department of Zoology, Akal College of Basic Sciences, Eternal University, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Sohini Chowdhury
- Chitkara Center for Research and Development, Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Monit Kapoor
- Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura, 140401, Punjab, India
| | - Sangram Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sheikh Shreaz
- Desert Agriculture and Ecosystems Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, PO Box 24885, 13109, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Sarvesh Rustagi
- Department of Food Technology, School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar Rai
- Department of Biotechnology, Invertis University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ashutosh Kumar Rai
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ajar Nath Yadav
- Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Dr. Khem Singh Gill Akal College of Agriculture, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, India
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Tuomisto L, Navarro MA, Mendonça FS, Oliver-Guimerá A, Casanova MI, Keel K, Asin J, Imai D, Stoute S, Mete A, Uzal FA. Clostridium spiroforme-associated enteric disease in domestic rabbits: a retrospective study of 32 cases in California, 1992-2019, and literature review. J Vet Diagn Invest 2024:10406387241257676. [PMID: 38842433 DOI: 10.1177/10406387241257676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Clostridium spiroforme has been associated with spontaneous and antibiotic-associated enteric disease (C. spiroforme-associated enteric disease, CSAED) in rabbits, which is clinically characterized by anorexia, diarrhea, or sudden death. Diagnosis is usually based on gross and microscopic lesions, coupled with finding the characteristic coiled bacteria in intestinal smears. Isolation of C. spiroforme is often challenging, and a PCR protocol has been developed. We reviewed 32 cases of CSAED submitted for autopsy to the Davis, Tulare, and Turlock laboratories of CAHFS between 1992 and 2019. The reported gross findings were soiling of the perineum, tail, and/or hind legs with diarrhea (16 of 32); gastric (16 of 32), small intestinal (6 of 32), cecal (15 of 32), and/or colonic (4 of 32) distention with brown-to-green, watery content; and serosal hemorrhages in the cecum (15 of 32). The most common microscopic finding was necrotizing enteritis (19 of 32), followed by cecal mucosal or submucosal edema (8 of 32), necrotizing or pleocellular typhlitis (6 of 32), necrotizing or heterophilic typhlocolitis (6 of 32), and cecal transmural hemorrhages (5 of 32). In all 32 rabbits, typical helically coiled, gram-positive bacilli were observed in fecal or intestinal smears. C. spiroforme was isolated from the intestinal content of 2 of 24 rabbits and detected by PCR assay in 8 of 8 rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tuomisto
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mauricio A Navarro
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Fábio S Mendonça
- Laboratory of Animal Diagnosis, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Arturo Oliver-Guimerá
- branches, and Departments of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
| | - M Isabel Casanova
- branches, and Departments of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kevin Keel
- branches, and Departments of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
| | - Javier Asin
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System-San Bernardino, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
| | - Denise Imai
- branches, and Departments of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
| | - Simone Stoute
- Turlock, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
| | - Aslı Mete
- Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
| | - Francisco A Uzal
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System-San Bernardino, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
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3
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Alam MZ, Madan R. Clostridioides difficile Toxins: Host Cell Interactions and Their Role in Disease Pathogenesis. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:241. [PMID: 38922136 PMCID: PMC11209539 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16060241] [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: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile, a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium, is the leading cause of hospital-acquired antibiotic-associated diarrhea worldwide. The severity of C. difficile infection (CDI) varies, ranging from mild diarrhea to life-threatening conditions such as pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon. Central to the pathogenesis of the infection are toxins produced by C. difficile, with toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB) as the main virulence factors. Additionally, some strains produce a third toxin known as C. difficile transferase (CDT). Toxins damage the colonic epithelium, initiating a cascade of cellular events that lead to inflammation, fluid secretion, and further tissue damage within the colon. Mechanistically, the toxins bind to cell surface receptors, internalize, and then inactivate GTPase proteins, disrupting the organization of the cytoskeleton and affecting various Rho-dependent cellular processes. This results in a loss of epithelial barrier functions and the induction of cell death. The third toxin, CDT, however, functions as a binary actin-ADP-ribosylating toxin, causing actin depolymerization and inducing the formation of microtubule-based protrusions. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the interaction between C. difficile toxins and host cells, elucidating the functional consequences of their actions. Furthermore, we will outline how this knowledge forms the basis for developing innovative, toxin-based strategies for treating and preventing CDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Zahidul Alam
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Boulevard, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Rajat Madan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA;
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
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Pourliotopoulou E, Karampatakis T, Kachrimanidou M. Exploring the Toxin-Mediated Mechanisms in Clostridioides difficile Infection. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1004. [PMID: 38792835 PMCID: PMC11124097 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12051004] [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: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and colitis, with increasing incidence and healthcare costs. Its pathogenesis is primarily driven by toxins produced by the bacterium C. difficile, Toxin A (TcdA) and Toxin B (TcdB). Certain strains produce an additional toxin, the C. difficile transferase (CDT), which further enhances the virulence and pathogenicity of C. difficile. These toxins disrupt colonic epithelial barrier integrity, and induce inflammation and cellular damage, leading to CDI symptoms. Significant progress has been made in the past decade in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of TcdA, TcdB, and CDT, which provide insights into the management of CDI and the future development of novel treatment strategies based on anti-toxin therapies. While antibiotics are common treatments, high recurrence rates necessitate alternative therapies. Bezlotoxumab, targeting TcdB, is the only available anti-toxin, yet limitations persist, prompting ongoing research. This review highlights the current knowledge of the structure and mechanism of action of C. difficile toxins and their role in disease. By comprehensively describing the toxin-mediated mechanisms, this review provides insights for the future development of novel treatment strategies and the management of CDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evdokia Pourliotopoulou
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | | | - Melania Kachrimanidou
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece;
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Popoff MR. Overview of Bacterial Protein Toxins from Pathogenic Bacteria: Mode of Action and Insights into Evolution. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:182. [PMID: 38668607 PMCID: PMC11054074 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16040182] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial protein toxins are secreted by certain bacteria and are responsible for mild to severe diseases in humans and animals. They are among the most potent molecules known, which are active at very low concentrations. Bacterial protein toxins exhibit a wide diversity based on size, structure, and mode of action. Upon recognition of a cell surface receptor (protein, glycoprotein, and glycolipid), they are active either at the cell surface (signal transduction, membrane damage by pore formation, or hydrolysis of membrane compound(s)) or intracellularly. Various bacterial protein toxins have the ability to enter cells, most often using an endocytosis mechanism, and to deliver the effector domain into the cytosol, where it interacts with an intracellular target(s). According to the nature of the intracellular target(s) and type of modification, various cellular effects are induced (cell death, homeostasis modification, cytoskeleton alteration, blockade of exocytosis, etc.). The various modes of action of bacterial protein toxins are illustrated with representative examples. Insights in toxin evolution are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel R Popoff
- Unité des Toxines Bactériennes, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 2001 INSERM U1306, F-75015 Paris, France
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6
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Papatheodorou P, Minton NP, Aktories K, Barth H. An Updated View on the Cellular Uptake and Mode-of-Action of Clostridioides difficile Toxins. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1435:219-247. [PMID: 38175478 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-42108-2_11] [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] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Research on the human gut pathogen Clostridioides (C.) difficile and its toxins continues to attract much attention as a consequence of the threat to human health posed by hypervirulent strains. Toxin A (TcdA) and Toxin B (TcdB) are the two major virulence determinants of C. difficile. Both are single-chain proteins with a similar multidomain architecture. Certain hypervirulent C. difficile strains also produce a third toxin, namely binary toxin CDT (C. difficile transferase). C. difficile toxins are the causative agents of C. difficile-associated diseases (CDADs), such as antibiotics-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. For that reason, considerable efforts have been expended to unravel their molecular mode-of-action and the cellular mechanisms responsible for their uptake. Many of these studies have been conducted in European laboratories. Here, we provide an update on our previous review (Papatheodorou et al. Adv Exp Med Biol, 2018) on important advances in C. difficile toxins research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Papatheodorou
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacology of Natural Products, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Nigel P Minton
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Klaus Aktories
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Holger Barth
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacology of Natural Products, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
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7
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Nagahama M, Takehara M, Seike S, Sakaguchi Y. Cellular Uptake and Cytotoxicity of Clostridium perfringens Iota-Toxin. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:695. [PMID: 38133199 PMCID: PMC10747272 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15120695] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens iota-toxin is composed of two separate proteins: a binding protein (Ib) that recognizes a host cell receptor and promotes the cellular uptake of a catalytic protein and (Ia) possessing ADP-ribosyltransferase activity that induces actin cytoskeleton disorganization. Ib exhibits the overall structure of bacterial pore-forming toxins (PFTs). Lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) is defined as a host cell receptor for Ib. The binding of Ib to LSR causes an oligomer formation of Ib in lipid rafts of plasma membranes, mediating the entry of Ia into the cytoplasm. Ia induces actin cytoskeleton disruption via the ADP-ribosylation of G-actin and causes cell rounding and death. The binding protein alone disrupts the cell membrane and induces cytotoxicity in sensitive cells. Host cells permeabilized by the pore formation of Ib are repaired by a Ca2+-dependent plasma repair pathway. This review shows that the cellular uptake of iota-toxin utilizes a pathway of plasma membrane repair and that Ib alone induces cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Nagahama
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan; (M.T.); (Y.S.)
| | - Masaya Takehara
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan; (M.T.); (Y.S.)
| | - Soshi Seike
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiological Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hiroshima International University, Kure, Hiroshima 737-0112, Japan;
| | - Yoshihiko Sakaguchi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan; (M.T.); (Y.S.)
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Sinnathamby ES, Mason JW, Flanagan CJ, Pearl NZ, Burroughs CR, De Witt AJ, Wenger DM, Klapper VG, Ahmadzadeh S, Varrassi G, Shekoohi S, Kaye AD. Clostridioides difficile Infection: A Clinical Review of Pathogenesis, Clinical Considerations, and Treatment Strategies. Cureus 2023; 15:e51167. [PMID: 38283489 PMCID: PMC10811429 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.51167] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a common nosocomial infection. Risk factors for developing CDI include prior hospitalization, being older than 65 years old, antibiotic use, and chronic disease. It is linked with diarrhea and colitis and can vary in severity. It is a major cause of increased morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. However, community-acquired CDI is also increasing. Proper diagnosis and determination of severity are crucial for the treatment of CDI. Depending on how severe the CDI is, the patient may endorse different symptoms and physical exam findings. The severity of CDI will determine how aggressively it is treated. Management and treatment: Laboratory studies can be helpful in the diagnosis of CDI. In this regard, common labs include complete blood count, stool assays, and, in certain cases, radiography and endoscopy. Mild-to-moderate colitis is treated with antibiotics, but severe colitis requires a different approach, which may include surgery. Several alternative therapies for CDI exist and have shown promising results. This review will touch upon these therapies, which include fecal transplants, intravenous immunoglobulin, and the use of cholestyramine and tigecycline. CONCLUSION Prevention of CDI can be achieved by proper hygiene, vaccinations, and detecting the infection early. Proper hygiene is indeed noted to be one of the best ways to prevent CDI in the hospital setting. Overprescribing antibiotics is also another huge reason why CDI occurs. Proper prescription of antibiotics can also help reduce the chances of acquiring CDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan S Sinnathamby
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) New Orleans, New Orleans, USA
| | - Joseph W Mason
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) New Orleans, New Orleans, USA
| | - Chelsi J Flanagan
- School of Medicine, University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine, San Antonio, USA
| | - Nathan Z Pearl
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) New Orleans, New Orleans, USA
| | - Caroline R Burroughs
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, USA
| | - Audrey J De Witt
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, USA
| | - Danielle M Wenger
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, USA
| | - Vincent G Klapper
- Department of Internal Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, USA
| | - Shahab Ahmadzadeh
- Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, USA
| | | | - Sahar Shekoohi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, USA
| | - Alan D Kaye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, USA
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Rajack F, Medford S, Naab T. Clostridioides difficile infection leading to fulminant colitis with toxic megacolon. Autops Case Rep 2023; 13:e2023457. [PMID: 38034515 PMCID: PMC10687841 DOI: 10.4322/acr.2023.457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Clostridioidesdifficile infection (CDI) is the culprit of millions of nosocomial infections in the United States. Programs that successfully decrease its incidence, therefore, render cost savings for the healthcare system. Toxic megacolon and perforation are two of the most significant complications with increased mortality rates. We report a 23-year-old nursing home resident hospitalized for fever, cough, and green sputum. After 3 days of antibiotic therapy, he developed abdominal distension, diarrhea, and vomiting and underwent a total colectomy. The colon was dilated to a maximum of 11 cm with markedly edematous mucosa and yellow pseudomembranes. Qualitative PCR of the stool detected Clostridioides difficile toxin B gene. While there is no consensus for the required interval between antibiotic treatment and CDI, this presentation 3 days after starting the antibiotic therapy is earlier than most proposed ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fareed Rajack
- Howard University Hospital, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Shawn Medford
- Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Tammey Naab
- Howard University Hospital, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States of America
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Bocchetti M, Ferraro MG, Melisi F, Grisolia P, Scrima M, Cossu AM, Yau TO. Overview of current detection methods and microRNA potential in Clostridioides difficile infection screening. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:3385-3399. [PMID: 37389232 PMCID: PMC10303512 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i22.3385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile (formerly called Clostridium difficile, C. difficile) infection (CDI) is listed as an urgent threat on the 2019 antibiotic resistance threats report in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early detection and appropriate disease management appear to be essential. Meanwhile, although the majority of cases are hospital-acquired CDI, community-acquired CDI cases are also on the rise, and this vulnerability is not limited to immunocompromised patients. Gastrointestinal treatments and/or gastrointestinal tract surgeries may be required for patients diagnosed with digestive diseases. Such treatments could suppress or interfere with the patient’s immune system and disrupt gut flora homeostasis, creating a suitable microecosystem for C. difficile overgrowth. Currently, stool-based non-invasive screening is the first-line approach to CDI diagnosis, but the accuracy is varied due to different clinical microbiology detection methods; therefore, improving reliability is clearly required. In this review, we briefly summarised the life cycle and toxicity of C. difficile, and we examined existing diagnostic approaches with an emphasis on novel biomarkers such as microRNAs. These biomarkers can be easily detected through non-invasive liquid biopsy and can yield crucial information about ongoing pathological phenomena, particularly in CDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bocchetti
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” Naples 80138, Italy
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Precision Medicine Laboratory and COVID19 Laboratory, Biogem Scarl, Ariano Irpino 83031, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Ferraro
- School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II,” Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Federica Melisi
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” Naples 80138, Italy
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Precision Medicine Laboratory and COVID19 Laboratory, Biogem Scarl, Ariano Irpino 83031, Italy
| | - Piera Grisolia
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” Naples 80138, Italy
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Precision Medicine Laboratory and COVID19 Laboratory, Biogem Scarl, Ariano Irpino 83031, Italy
| | - Marianna Scrima
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Precision Medicine Laboratory and COVID19 Laboratory, Biogem Scarl, Ariano Irpino 83031, Italy
| | - Alessia Maria Cossu
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” Naples 80138, Italy
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Precision Medicine Laboratory and COVID19 Laboratory, Biogem Scarl, Ariano Irpino 83031, Italy
| | - Tung On Yau
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, United Kingdom
- Department of Rural Land Use, Scotland’s Rural College, Aberdeen AB21 9YA, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Department of Health Science, University of the People, Pasadena, CA 9110112, United States
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Sun J. A mathematic equation derived from host-pathogen interactions elucidates the significance of integrating modern medicine with traditional Chinese medicine to treat infectious diseases. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2023:S2095-4964(23)00046-8. [PMID: 37349214 DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2023.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
The prognosis of infectious diseases is determined by host-pathogen interactions. Control of pathogens has been the central dogma of treating infectious diseases in modern medicine, but the pathogen-directed medicine is facing significant challenges, including a lack of effective antimicrobials for newly emerging pathogens, pathogen drug resistance, and drug side effects. Here, a mathematic equation (termed equation of host-pathogen interactions, HPI-Equation) is developed to dissect the key variables of host-pathogen interactions. It shows that control of pathogens does not necessarily lead to host recovery. Instead, a combination of promoting a host's power of self-healing and balancing immune responses provides the best benefit for host. Moreover, the HPI-Equation elucidates the scientific basis of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a host-based medicine that treats infectious diseases by promoting self-healing power and balancing immune responses. The importance of self-healing power elucidated in the HPI-Equation is confirmed by recent studies that the tolerance mechanism, which is discovered in plants and animals and conceptually similar to self-healing power, improves host survival without directly attacking pathogens. In summary, the HPI-Equation describes host-pathogen interactions with mathematical logic and precision; it translates the ancient wisdoms of TCM into apprehensible modern sciences and opens a new venue for integrating TCM and modern medicine for a future medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianjun Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
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12
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Beitzinger C, Kronhardt A, Benz R. Chloroquine-analogues block anthrax protective antigen channels in steady-state and kinetic studies. Toxicology 2023; 492:153547. [PMID: 37201861 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153547] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The tripartite anthrax toxin from Bacillus anthracis represents the prototype of A-B type of toxins, where the effector A (an enzymatic subunit) is transported with the help of a binding component B into a target cell. Anthrax toxin consists of three different molecules, two effectors, lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF) and the binding component also known as protective antigen (PA). PA forms heptamers or octamers following binding to host cell's receptors and mediates the translocation of the effectors into the cytosol via the endosomal pathway. The cation-selective PA63-channel is able to reconstitute in lipid membranes and can be blocked by chloroquine and other heterocyclic compounds. This suggests that the PA63-channel contains a binding site for quinolines. In this study, we investigated the structure-function relationship of different quinolines for the block of the PA63-channel. The affinity of the different chloroquine analogues to the PA63-channel as provided by the equilibrium dissociation constant was measured using titrations. Some quinolines had a much higher affinity to the PA63-channel than chloroquine itself. We also performed ligand-induced current noise measurements using fast Fourier transformation to get insight in the kinetics of the binding of some quinolines to the PA63-channel. The on-rate constants of ligand binding were around 108M-1·s-1 at 150mM KCl and were only little dependent on the individual quinoline. The off-rates varied between 4s-1 and 160s-1 and depended much more on the structure of the molecules than the on-rate constants. The possible use of the 4-aminoquinolines as a therapy is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Beitzinger
- Rudolf Virchow Center, Research Center for Experimental Biomedicine, University of Würzburg, Versbacher Straße 9, 97078 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Angelika Kronhardt
- Rudolf Virchow Center, Research Center for Experimental Biomedicine, University of Würzburg, Versbacher Straße 9, 97078 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Roland Benz
- Science Faculty, Constructor University Bremen, Campus-Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany.
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13
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Kumari M, Subbarao N. Convolutional neural network-based quantitative structure-activity relationship and fingerprint analysis against inhibitors of anthrax lethal factor. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:853-866. [PMID: 37248697 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0093] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: To develop a one-dimensional convolutional neural network-based quantitative structure-activity relationship (1D-CNN-QSAR) model to identify novel anthrax inhibitors and analyze chemical space. Methods: We developed a 1D-CNN-QSAR model to identify novel anthrax inhibitors. Results: The statistical results of the 1D-CNN-QSAR model showed a mean square error of 0.045 and a predicted correlation coefficient of 0.79 for the test set. Further, chemical space analysis showed more than 80% fragment pair similarity, with activity cliffs associated with carboxylic acid, 2-phenylfurans, N-phenyldihydropyrazole, N-phenylpyrrole, furan, 4-methylene-1H-pyrazol-5-one, phenylimidazole, phenylpyrrole and phenylpyrazolidine. Conclusion: These fragments may serve as the basis for developing potent novel drug candidates for anthrax. Finally, we concluded that our proposed 1D-CNN-QSAR model and fingerprint analysis might be used to discover potential anthrax drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhulata Kumari
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Rajasthan, Jaipur, India
| | - Naidu Subbarao
- School of Computational & Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
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14
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Wang HC, Lin SJ, Wang HC, Kumar R, Le PT, Leu JH. A bacterial binary toxin system that kills both insects and aquatic crustaceans: Photorhabdus insect-related toxins A and B. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011330. [PMID: 37141203 PMCID: PMC10159206 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Photorhabdus insect-related toxins A and B (PirA and PirB) were first recognized as insecticidal toxins from Photorhabdus luminescens. However, subsequent studies showed that their homologs from Vibrio parahaemolyticus also play critical roles in the pathogenesis of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in shrimps. Based on the structural features of the PirA/PirB toxins, it was suggested that they might function in the same way as a Bacillus thuringiensis Cry pore-forming toxin. However, unlike Cry toxins, studies on the PirA/PirB toxins are still scarce, and their cytotoxic mechanism remains to be clarified. In this review, based on our studies of V. parahaemolyticus PirAvp/PirBvp, we summarize the current understanding of the gene locations, expression control, activation, and cytotoxic mechanism of this type of toxin. Given the important role these toxins play in aquatic disease and their potential use in pest control applications, we also suggest further topics for research. We hope the information presented here will be helpful for future PirA/PirB studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Ching Wang
- Graduate Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
- The PhD Program for Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
- International Center for the Scientific Development of Shrimp Aquaculture, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shin-Jen Lin
- International Center for the Scientific Development of Shrimp Aquaculture, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Han-Ching Wang
- International Center for the Scientific Development of Shrimp Aquaculture, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Ramya Kumar
- International Center for the Scientific Development of Shrimp Aquaculture, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Phuoc Thien Le
- Graduate Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Jiann-Horng Leu
- Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan, Republic of China
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15
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Cheng JKJ, Unnikrishnan M. Clostridioides difficile infection: traversing host-pathogen interactions in the gut. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169. [PMID: 36848200 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
C. difficile is the primary cause for nosocomial infective diarrhoea. For a successful infection, C. difficile must navigate between resident gut bacteria and the harsh host environment. The perturbation of the intestinal microbiota by broad-spectrum antibiotics alters the composition and the geography of the gut microbiota, deterring colonization resistance, and enabling C. difficile to colonize. This review will discuss how C. difficile interacts with and exploits the microbiota and the host epithelium to infect and persist. We provide an overview of C. difficile virulence factors and their interactions with the gut to aid adhesion, cause epithelial damage and mediate persistence. Finally, we document the host responses to C. difficile, describing the immune cells and host pathways that are associated and triggered during C. difficile infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey K J Cheng
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Meera Unnikrishnan
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
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16
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Aktories K. From signal transduction to protein toxins-a narrative review about milestones on the research route of C. difficile toxins. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 396:173-190. [PMID: 36203094 PMCID: PMC9831965 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-022-02300-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Selected findings about Clostridioides difficile (formerly Clostridium difficile) toxins are presented in a narrative review. Starting with a personal view on research about G proteins, adenylyl cyclase, and ADP-ribosylating toxins in the laboratory of Günter Schultz in Heidelberg, milestones of C. difficile toxin research are presented with the focus on toxin B (TcdB), covering toxin structure, receptor binding, toxin up-take and refolding, the intracellular actions of TcdB, and the treatment of C. difficile infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Aktories
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 25, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
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17
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Gemler BT, Mukherjee C, Howland CA, Huk D, Shank Z, Harbo LJ, Tabbaa OP, Bartling CM. Function-based classification of hazardous biological sequences: Demonstration of a new paradigm for biohazard assessments. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:979497. [PMID: 36277394 PMCID: PMC9585941 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.979497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioengineering applies analytical and engineering principles to identify functional biological building blocks for biotechnology applications. While these building blocks are leveraged to improve the human condition, the lack of simplistic, machine-readable definition of biohazards at the function level is creating a gap for biosafety practices. More specifically, traditional safety practices focus on the biohazards of known pathogens at the organism-level and may not accurately consider novel biodesigns with engineered functionalities at the genetic component-level. This gap is motivating the need for a paradigm shift from organism-centric procedures to function-centric biohazard identification and classification practices. To address this challenge, we present a novel methodology for classifying biohazards at the individual sequence level, which we then compiled to distinguish the biohazardous property of pathogenicity at the whole genome level. Our methodology is rooted in compilation of hazardous functions, defined as a set of sequences and associated metadata that describe coarse-level functions associated with pathogens (e.g., adherence, immune subversion). We demonstrate that the resulting database can be used to develop hazardous “fingerprints” based on the functional metadata categories. We verified that these hazardous functions are found at higher levels in pathogens compared to non-pathogens, and hierarchical clustering of the fingerprints can distinguish between these two groups. The methodology presented here defines the hazardous functions associated with bioengineering functional building blocks at the sequence level, which provide a foundational framework for classifying biological hazards at the organism level, thus leading to the improvement and standardization of current biosecurity and biosafety practices.
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18
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Bereznicka A, Mikolajczyk K, Czerwinski M, Kaczmarek R. Microbial lectome versus host glycolipidome: How pathogens exploit glycosphingolipids to invade, dupe or kill. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:958653. [PMID: 36060781 PMCID: PMC9437549 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.958653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are ubiquitous components of the cell membranes, found across several kingdoms of life, from bacteria to mammals, including humans. GSLs are a subclass of major glycolipids occurring in animal lipid membranes in clusters named “lipid rafts.” The most crucial functions of GSLs include signal transduction and regulation as well as participation in cell proliferation. Despite the mainstream view that pathogens rely on protein–protein interactions to survive and thrive in their hosts, many also target the host lipids. In particular, multiple pathogens produce adhesion molecules or toxins that bind GSLs. Attachment of pathogens to cell surface receptors is the initial step in infections. Many mammalian pathogens have evolved to recognize GSL-derived receptors. Animal glycosphingolipidomes consist of multiple types of GSLs differing in terminal glycan and ceramide structures in a cell or tissue-specific manner. Interspecies differences in GSLs dictate host specificity as well as cell and tissue tropisms. Evolutionary pressure exerted by pathogens on their hosts drives changes in cell surface glycoconjugates, including GSLs, and has produced a vast number of molecules and interaction mechanisms. Despite that abundance, the role of GSLs as pathogen receptors has been largely overlooked or only cursorily discussed. In this review, we take a closer look at GSLs and their role in the recognition, cellular entry, and toxicity of multiple bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens.
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19
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Ernst K. Requirement of Peptidyl-Prolyl Cis/Trans isomerases and chaperones for cellular uptake of bacterial AB-type toxins. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:938015. [PMID: 35992160 PMCID: PMC9387773 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.938015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial AB-type toxins are proteins released by the producing bacteria and are the causative agents for several severe diseases including cholera, whooping cough, diphtheria or enteric diseases. Their unique AB-type structure enables their uptake into mammalian cells via sophisticated mechanisms exploiting cellular uptake and transport pathways. The binding/translocation B-subunit facilitates binding of the toxin to a specific receptor on the cell surface. This is followed by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Then the enzymatically active A-subunit either escapes from endosomes in a pH-dependent manner or the toxin is further transported through the Golgi to the endoplasmic reticulum from where the A-subunit translocates into the cytosol. In the cytosol, the A-subunits enzymatically modify a specific substrate which leads to cellular reactions resulting in clinical symptoms that can be life-threatening. Both intracellular uptake routes require the A-subunit to unfold to either fit through a pore formed by the B-subunit into the endosomal membrane or to be recognized by the ER-associated degradation pathway. This led to the hypothesis that folding helper enzymes such as chaperones and peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases are required to assist the translocation of the A-subunit into the cytosol and/or facilitate their refolding into an enzymatically active conformation. This review article gives an overview about the role of heat shock proteins Hsp90 and Hsp70 as well as of peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases of the cyclophilin and FK506 binding protein families during uptake of bacterial AB-type toxins with a focus on clostridial binary toxins Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin, Clostridium perfringens iota toxin, Clostridioides difficile CDT toxin, as well as diphtheria toxin, pertussis toxin and cholera toxin.
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20
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Evolutionary Conservation, Variability, and Adaptation of Type III Secretion Systems. J Membr Biol 2022; 255:599-612. [PMID: 35695900 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-022-00247-9] [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: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Type III secretion (T3S) systems are complex bacterial structures used by many pathogens to inject proteins directly into the cytosol of the host cell. These secretion machines evolved from the bacterial flagella and they have been grouped into families by phylogenetic analysis. The T3S system is composed of more than 20 proteins grouped into five complexes: the cytosolic platform, the export apparatus, the basal body, the needle, and the translocon complex. While the proteins located inside the bacterium are conserved, those exposed to the external media present high variability among families. This suggests that the T3S systems have adapted to interact with different cells or tissues in the host, and/or have been subjected to the evolutionary pressure of the host immune defenses. Such adaptation led to changes in the sequence of the T3S needle tip and translocon suggesting differences in the mechanism of assembly and structure of this complex.
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21
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Wu L, Bao F, Li L, Yin X, Hua Z. Bacterially mediated drug delivery and therapeutics: Strategies and advancements. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 187:114363. [PMID: 35649449 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
It was already clinically apparent 150 years ago that bacterial therapy could alleviate diseases. Recently, a burgeoning number of researchers have been using bacterial regimens filled with microbial therapeutic leads to diagnose and treat a wide range of disorders and diseases, including cancers, inflammatory diseases, metabolic disorders and viral infections. Some bacteria that were designed to have low toxicity and high efficiency in drug delivery have been used to treat diseases successfully, especially in tumor therapy in animal models or clinical trials, thanks to the progress of genetic engineering and synthetic bioengineering. Therefore, genetically engineered bacteria can serve as efficient drug delivery vehicles, carrying nucleic acids or genetic circuits that encode and regulate therapeutic payloads. In this review, we summarize the development and applications of this approach. Strategies for genetically modifying strains are described in detail, along with their objectives. We also describe some controlled strategies for drug delivery and release using these modified strains as carriers. Furthermore, we discuss treatment methods for various types of diseases using engineered bacteria. Tumors are discussed as the most representative example, and other diseases are also briefly described. Finally, we discuss the challenges and prospects of drug delivery systems based on these bacteria.
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22
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Kordus SL, Thomas AK, Lacy DB. Clostridioides difficile toxins: mechanisms of action and antitoxin therapeutics. Nat Rev Microbiol 2022; 20:285-298. [PMID: 34837014 PMCID: PMC9018519 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-021-00660-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive anaerobe that can cause a spectrum of disorders that range in severity from mild diarrhoea to fulminant colitis and/or death. The bacterium produces up to three toxins, which are considered the major virulence factors in C. difficile infection. These toxins promote inflammation, tissue damage and diarrhoea. In this Review, we highlight recent biochemical and structural advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that govern host-toxin interactions. Understanding how C. difficile toxins affect the host forms a foundation for developing novel strategies for treatment and prevention of C. difficile infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L. Kordus
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA,Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA,These authors contributed equally: Shannon L. Kordus, Audrey K. Thomas
| | - Audrey K. Thomas
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA,Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA,These authors contributed equally: Shannon L. Kordus, Audrey K. Thomas
| | - D. Borden Lacy
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA,Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA,The Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare, System, Nashville, TN, USA,
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23
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Martínez-Meléndez A, Cruz-López F, Morfin-Otero R, Maldonado-Garza HJ, Garza-González E. An Update on Clostridioides difficile Binary Toxin. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14050305. [PMID: 35622552 PMCID: PMC9146464 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14050305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with Clostridioides difficile (CDI), a common healthcare-associated infection, includes symptoms ranging from mild diarrhea to severe cases of pseudomembranous colitis. Toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB) cause cytotoxicity and cellular detachment from intestinal epithelium and are responsible for CDI symptomatology. Approximately 20% of C. difficile strains produce a binary toxin (CDT) encoded by the tcdA and tcdB genes, which is thought to enhance TcdA and TcdB toxicity; however, the role of CDT in CDI remains controversial. Here, we focused on describing the main features of CDT and its impact on the host, clinical relevance, epidemiology, and potential therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Martínez-Meléndez
- Subdirección Académica de Químico Farmacéutico Biólogo, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Pedro de Alba S/N, Cd Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza 66450, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; (A.M.-M.); (F.C.-L.)
| | - Flora Cruz-López
- Subdirección Académica de Químico Farmacéutico Biólogo, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Pedro de Alba S/N, Cd Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza 66450, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; (A.M.-M.); (F.C.-L.)
| | - Rayo Morfin-Otero
- Instituto de Patología Infecciosa y Experimental “Dr. Francisco Ruiz Sánchez”, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Calle Hospital 308, Colonia el Retiro, Guadalajara 44280, Jalisco, Mexico;
| | - Héctor J. Maldonado-Garza
- Servicio de Gastroenterología, Facultad de Medicina/Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Francisco I. Madero Pte. S/N y Av. José E. González, Col. Mitras Centro, Monterrey 64460, Nuevo Leon, Mexico;
| | - Elvira Garza-González
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular, Facultad de Medicina y Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Francisco I. Madero Pte. S/N y Av. José E. González, Col. Mitras Centro, Monterrey 64460, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
- Correspondence:
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24
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Jessberger N, Diedrich R, Janowski R, Niessing D, Märtlbauer E. Presence and function of Hbl B', the fourth protein component encoded by the hbl operon in Bacillus cereus. Virulence 2022; 13:483-501. [PMID: 35291913 PMCID: PMC8932913 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2046951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The genes hblC, hblD and hblA encode the components Hbl L2, L1 and B of the pore forming enterotoxin haemolysin BL of Bacillus cereus. Two variants of the operon existand the more common one additionally contains hblB downstream of hblCDA. Up to now, it was completely unclear whether the corresponding protein, Hbl B', is widely expressed among B. cereus strains and if it has a distinct function. In the present study, it was shown that the hblB gene is indeed expressed and the Hbl B' protein is secreted by nearly all analysed B. cereus strains. For the latter, a detection system was developed based on monoclonal antibody 11A5. Further, a distinct reduction of cytotoxic and haemolytic activity was observed when recombinant (r)Hbl B' was applied simultaneously with L2, L1 and B. This effect was due to direct interaction of rHbl B' with L1. D-6B. cereusAltogether, we present the first simple tool for the detection of Hbl B' in B. cereus culture supernatants. Moreover, an important regulatory function of Hbl B' in the mechanism of Hbl was determined, which is best described as an additional control of complex formation, balancing the amounts of Hbl B-L1 complexes and the corresponding free subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Jessberger
- Institute for Food Quality and Food Safety, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Richard Diedrich
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Robert Janowski
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Dierk Niessing
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Erwin Märtlbauer
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Oberschleißheim, Germany
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25
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Tian S, Liu Y, Appleton E, Wang H, Church GM, Dong M. Targeted intracellular delivery of Cas13 and Cas9 nucleases using bacterial toxin-based platforms. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110476. [PMID: 35263584 PMCID: PMC8958846 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted delivery of therapeutic proteins toward specific cells and across cell membranes remains major challenges. Here, we develop protein-based delivery systems utilizing detoxified single-chain bacterial toxins such as diphtheria toxin (DT) and botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT)-like toxin, BoNT/X, as carriers. The system can deliver large protein cargoes including Cas13a, CasRx, Cas9, and Cre recombinase into cells in a receptor-dependent manner, although delivery of ribonucleoproteins containing guide RNAs is not successful. Delivery of Cas13a and CasRx, together with guide RNA expression, reduces mRNAs encoding GFP, SARS-CoV-2 fragments, and endogenous proteins PPIB, KRAS, and CXCR4 in multiple cell lines. Delivery of Cre recombinase modifies the reporter loci in cells. Delivery of Cas9, together with guide RNA expression, generates mutations at the targeted genomic sites in cell lines and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived human neurons. These findings establish modular delivery systems based on single-chain bacterial toxins for delivery of membrane-impermeable therapeutics into targeted cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songhai Tian
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Evan Appleton
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Huan Wang
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - George M Church
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Min Dong
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Ochai SO, Crafford JE, Hassim A, Byaruhanga C, Huang YH, Hartmann A, Dekker EH, van Schalkwyk OL, Kamath PL, Turner WC, van Heerden H. Immunological Evidence of Variation in Exposure and Immune Response to Bacillus anthracis in Herbivores of Kruger and Etosha National Parks. Front Immunol 2022; 13:814031. [PMID: 35237267 PMCID: PMC8882864 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.814031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure and immunity to generalist pathogens differ among host species and vary across spatial scales. Anthrax, caused by a multi-host bacterial pathogen, Bacillus anthracis, is enzootic in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa and Etosha National Park (ENP), Namibia. These parks share many of the same potential host species, yet the main anthrax host in one (greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) in KNP and plains zebra (Equus quagga) in ENP) is only a minor host in the other. We investigated species and spatial patterns in anthrax mortalities, B. anthracis exposure, and the ability to neutralize the anthrax lethal toxin to determine if observed host mortality differences between locations could be attributed to population-level variation in pathogen exposure and/or immune response. Using serum collected from zebra and kudu in high and low incidence areas of each park (18- 20 samples/species/area), we estimated pathogen exposure from anti-protective antigen (PA) antibody response using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lethal toxin neutralization with a toxin neutralization assay (TNA). Serological evidence of pathogen exposure followed mortality patterns within each system (kudus: 95% positive in KNP versus 40% in ENP; zebras: 83% positive in ENP versus 63% in KNP). Animals in the high-incidence area of KNP had higher anti-PA responses than those in the low-incidence area, but there were no significant differences in exposure by area within ENP. Toxin neutralizing ability was higher for host populations with lower exposure prevalence, i.e., higher in ENP kudus and KNP zebras than their conspecifics in the other park. These results indicate that host species differ in their exposure to and adaptive immunity against B. anthracis in the two parks. These patterns may be due to environmental differences such as vegetation, rainfall patterns, landscape or forage availability between these systems and their interplay with host behavior (foraging or other risky behaviors), resulting in differences in exposure frequency and dose, and hence immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunday O. Ochai
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Jan E. Crafford
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ayesha Hassim
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Charles Byaruhanga
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Axel Hartmann
- Etosha Ecological Institute, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Okaukuejo, Namibia
| | - Edgar H. Dekker
- Office of the State Veterinarian, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Government of South Africa, Skukuza, South Africa
| | - O. Louis van Schalkwyk
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Office of the State Veterinarian, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Government of South Africa, Skukuza, South Africa
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Pauline L. Kamath
- School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
| | - Wendy C. Turner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Henriette van Heerden
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Benz R, Piselli C, Hoxha C, Koy C, Glocker MO, Popoff MR. Clostridium perfringens Beta2 toxin forms highly cation-selective channels in lipid bilayers. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL 2022; 51:15-27. [PMID: 34854958 PMCID: PMC8827211 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-021-01577-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is a potent producer of a variety of toxins. Well studied from these are five toxins (alpha, Beta (CPB), epsilon, iota and CPE) that are produced by seven toxinotype strains (A–G) of C. perfringens. Besides these toxins, C. perfringens produces also another toxin that causes necrotizing enterocolitis in piglets. This toxin termed consensus Beta2 toxin (cCPB2) has a molecular mass of 27,620 Da and shows only little homology to CPB and no one to the other toxins of C. perfringens. Its primary action on cells remained unknown to date. cCPB2 was heterogeneously expressed as fusion protein with GST in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Although cCPB2 does not exhibit the typical structure of beta-stranded pore-forming proteins and contains no indication for the presence of amphipathic alpha-helices we could demonstrate that cCPB2 is a pore-forming component with an extremely high activity in lipid bilayers. The channels have a single-channel conductance of about 700 pS in 1 M KCl and are highly cation-selective as judged from selectivity measurements in the presence of salt gradients. The high cation selectivity is caused by the presence of net negative charges in or near the channel that allowed an estimate of the channel size being about 1.4 nm wide. Our measurements suggest that the primary effect of cCPB2 is the formation of cation-selective channels followed by necrotic enteritis in humans and animals. We searched in databases for homologs of cCPB2 and constructed a cladogram representing the phylogenetic relationship to the next relatives of cCPB2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Benz
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University, Campus Ring 1, 28759, Bremen, Germany.
| | - Claudio Piselli
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University, Campus Ring 1, 28759, Bremen, Germany
| | - Cezarela Hoxha
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University, Campus Ring 1, 28759, Bremen, Germany
- Bacterial Toxins, Institut Pasteur, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris, France
| | - Cornelia Koy
- Proteome Center Rostock, University Medicine Rostock, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - Michael O Glocker
- Proteome Center Rostock, University Medicine Rostock, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - Michel R Popoff
- Bacterial Toxins, Institut Pasteur, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris, France
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Verma T, Aggarwal A, Singh S, Sharma S, Sarma SJ. Current challenges and advancements towards discovery and resistance of antibiotics. J Mol Struct 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.131380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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29
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Kouadio JL, Zheng M, Aikins M, Duda D, Duff S, Chen D, Zhang J, Milligan J, Taylor C, Mamanella P, Rydel T, Kessenich C, Panosian T, Yin Y, Moar W, Giddings K, Park Y, Jerga A, Haas J. Structural and functional insights into the first Bacillus thuringiensis vegetative insecticidal protein of the Vpb4 fold, active against western corn rootworm. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260532. [PMID: 34928980 PMCID: PMC8687597 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is a major maize pest in the United States causing significant economic loss. The emergence of field-evolved resistant WCR to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) traits has prompted the need to discover and deploy new insecticidal proteins in transgenic maize. In the current study we determined the crystal structure and mode of action (MOA) of the Vpb4Da2 protein (formerly known as Vip4Da2) from Bt, the first identified insecticidal Vpb4 protein with commercial level control against WCR. The Vpb4Da2 structure exhibits a six-domain architecture mainly comprised of antiparallel β-sheets organized into β-sandwich layers. The amino-terminal domains 1-3 of the protein share structural homology with the protective antigen (PA) PA14 domain and encompass a long β-pore forming loop as in the clostridial binary-toxB module. Domains 5 and 6 at the carboxyl-terminal half of Vpb4Da2 are unique as this extension is not observed in PA or any other structurally-related protein other than Vpb4 homologs. These unique Vpb4 domains adopt the topologies of carbohydrate-binding modules known to participate in receptor-recognition. Functional assessment of Vpb4Da2 suggests that domains 4-6 comprise the WCR receptor binding region and are key in conferring the observed insecticidal activity against WCR. The current structural analysis was complemented by in vitro and in vivo characterizations, including immuno-histochemistry, demonstrating that Vpb4Da2 follows a MOA that is consistent with well-characterized 3-domain Bt insecticidal proteins despite significant structural differences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Meiying Zheng
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Michael Aikins
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America
| | - David Duda
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Stephen Duff
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Danqi Chen
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jun Zhang
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jason Milligan
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Christina Taylor
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | | | - Timothy Rydel
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Colton Kessenich
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Timothy Panosian
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Yong Yin
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - William Moar
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Kara Giddings
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Yoonseong Park
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Agoston Jerga
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey Haas
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
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Kellner A, Cherubin P, Harper JK, Teter K. Proline Isomerization as a Key Determinant for Hsp90-Toxin Interactions. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:771653. [PMID: 34746036 PMCID: PMC8569296 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.771653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The A chains of ADP-ribosylating toxins exploit Hsp90 for translocation into the host cytosol. Here, we hypothesize that cis proline residues play a key role in toxin recognition by Hsp90. Our model is largely derived from studies on the unusual interplay between Hsp90 and the catalytic A1 subunit of cholera toxin (CTA1), including the recent identification of an RPPDEI-like binding motif for Hsp90 in CTA1 and several other bacterial toxins. Cis/trans proline isomerization is known to influence protein-protein interactions and protein structure/function, but it has not yet been proposed to affect Hsp90-toxin interactions. Our model thus provides a new framework to understand the molecular basis for Hsp90 chaperone function and Hsp90-driven toxin translocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisha Kellner
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Patrick Cherubin
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - James K Harper
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Ken Teter
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
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31
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Liu W, Nestorovich EM. Anthrax toxin channel: What we know based on over 30 years of research. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2021; 1863:183715. [PMID: 34332985 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Protective antigen channel is the central component of the deadly anthrax exotoxin responsible for binding and delivery of the toxin's enzymatic lethal and edema factor components into the cytosol. The channel, which is more than three times longer than the lipid bilayer membrane thickness and has a 6-Å limiting diameter, is believed to provide a sophisticated unfoldase and translocase machinery for the foreign protein transport into the host cell cytosol. The tripartite toxin can be reengineered, one component at a time or collectively, to adapt it for the targeted cancer therapeutic treatments. In this review, we focus on the biophysical studies of the protective antigen channel-forming activity, small ion transport properties, enzymatic factor translocation, and blockage comparing it with the related clostridial binary toxin channels. We address issues linked to the anthrax toxin channel structural dynamics and lipid dependence, which are yet to become generally recognized as parts of the toxin translocation machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxing Liu
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Ave, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Ekaterina M Nestorovich
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Ave, Washington, DC 20064, USA.
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32
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Riedel T, Neumann-Schaal M, Wittmann J, Schober I, Hofmann JD, Lu CW, Dannheim A, Zimmermann O, Lochner M, Groß U, Overmann J. Characterization of Clostridioides difficile DSM 101085 with A-B-CDT+ Phenotype from a Late Recurrent Colonization. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 12:566-577. [PMID: 32302381 PMCID: PMC7250501 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last decades, hypervirulent strains of Clostridioides difficile with frequent disease recurrence and increased mortality appeared. Clostridioides difficile DSM 101085 was isolated from a patient who suffered from several recurrent infections and colonizations, likely contributing to a fatal outcome. Analysis of the toxin repertoire revealed the presence of a complete binary toxin locus and an atypical pathogenicity locus consisting of only a tcdA pseudogene and a disrupted tcdC gene sequence. The pathogenicity locus shows upstream a transposon and has been subject to homologous recombination or lateral gene transfer events. Matching the results of the genome analysis, neither TcdA nor TcdB production but the expression of cdtA and cdtB was detected. This highlights a potential role of the binary toxin C. difficile toxin in this recurrent colonization and possibly further in a host-dependent virulence. Compared with the C. difficile metabolic model strains DSM 28645 (630Δerm) and DSM 27147 (R20291), strain DSM 101085 showed a specific metabolic profile, featuring changes in the threonine degradation pathways and alterations in the central carbon metabolism. Moreover, products originating from Stickland pathways processing leucine, aromatic amino acids, and methionine were more abundant in strain DSM 101085, indicating a more efficient use of these substrates. The particular characteristics of strain C. difficile DSM 101085 may represent an adaptation to a low-protein diet in a patient with recurrent infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Riedel
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Meina Neumann-Schaal
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany.,Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry and Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Johannes Wittmann
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Isabel Schober
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Julia Danielle Hofmann
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry and Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Chia-Wen Lu
- Institute of Infection Immunology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Antonia Dannheim
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry and Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ortrud Zimmermann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Lochner
- Institute of Infection Immunology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Uwe Groß
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany.,Göttingen International Health Network, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Overmann
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
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33
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Gupta M, Kumar H, Kaur S. Vegetative Insecticidal Protein (Vip): A Potential Contender From Bacillus thuringiensis for Efficient Management of Various Detrimental Agricultural Pests. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:659736. [PMID: 34054756 PMCID: PMC8158940 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.659736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacterium is found in various ecological habitats, and has natural entomo-pesticidal properties, due to the production of crystalline and soluble proteins during different growth phases. In addition to Cry and Cyt proteins, this bacterium also produces Vegetative insecticidal protein (Vip) during its vegetative growth phase, which is considered an excellent toxic candidate because of the difference in sequence homology and receptor sites from Cry proteins. Vip proteins are referred as second-generation insecticidal proteins, which can be used either alone or in complementarity with Cry proteins for the management of various detrimental pests. Among these Vip proteins, Vip1 and Vip2 act as binary toxins and have toxicity toward pests belonging to Hemiptera and Coleoptera orders, whereas the most important Vip3 proteins have insecticidal activity against Lepidopteran pests. These Vip3 proteins are similar to Cry proteins in terms of toxicity potential against susceptible insects. They are reported to be toxic toward pests, which can’t be controlled with Cry proteins. The Vip3 proteins have been successfully pyramided along with Cry proteins in transgenic rice, corn, and cotton to combat resistant pest populations. This review provides detailed information about the history and importance of Vip proteins, their types, structure, newly identified specific receptors, and action mechanism of this specific class of proteins. Various studies conducted on Vip proteins all over the world and the current status have been discussed. This review will give insights into the significance of Vip proteins as alternative promising candidate toxic proteins from Bt for the management of pests in most sustainable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamta Gupta
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.,ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, India
| | - Harish Kumar
- Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Faridkot, India
| | - Sarvjeet Kaur
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
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34
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Al-Shukri MSM, Hmood AM, Al-Charrakh AH. Sequencing of Clostridium perfringens toxin genes (cpa, etx, iap) from Iraqi hospitals and detection by PCR of the genes encoding resistance to metronidazole, tetracycline, and clindamycin. Indian J Med Microbiol 2021; 39:289-294. [PMID: 33812723 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmmb.2021.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This cross sectional study was designed to investigate the molecular detection of C. perfringens toxins (alpha, epsilon, iota) and antibiotics resistance genes, as well as sequencing of their toxin genes. METHODS Different wound swabs were taken from 140 patients. PCR was applied for detection of clostridial toxins; alpha toxin (cpa) gene, epsilon toxin (etx) gene, and iota toxin (iap) gene. Metronidazole nim gene, tetracycline resistance genes; (tetQ, tetM, tetB, and tetW) and clindamycin resistance genes erm (A,B), were used for genotypic detection of antibiotic resistance. RESULTS Out of 140 clinical samples collected, 7 isolates were detected using specific primer 16S-23S intergenic rRNA spacer gene of C. perfringens. Results showed presence of alpha toxin (cpa) genes in all clostridial isolates, Epsilon toxin (etx) genes in 2/7(28.4%), and iota toxin (iap) genes in 2/7 (28.4%). Results of antibiotic resistance genes showed that all isolates were not able to produce nim, tet W and Q, tet B, erm (A), erm (B) genes except for tetM. Gene sequence analysis for cpa gene showed that there were 3 mutations in the sample of this gene, the results of etx gene when had been sent 2 samples from this gene. The first sample showed that there was one mutation and the results of iap gene showed that there were no mutation in 2 samples of the iap gene. The samples had been showed identical 100%. CONCLUSION The DNA sequence analysis of bacterial genome revealed several important feature including that may allow to confirm new the presence of toxin and to identify new or mutant toxins that may be missed by diagnostic PCR specifically target toxin encoding genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maysa S M Al-Shukri
- Dept. of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Babylon, Hilla, Iraq.
| | - Aliaa M Hmood
- Dept. of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Babylon, Hilla, Iraq.
| | - Alaa H Al-Charrakh
- Dept. of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Babylon, Hilla, Iraq.
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35
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Selvaraj C, Vierra M, Dinesh DC, Abhirami R, Singh SK. Structural insights of macromolecules involved in bacteria-induced apoptosis in the pathogenesis of human diseases. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2021; 126:1-38. [PMID: 34090612 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Numbers of pathogenic bacteria can induce apoptosis in human host cells and modulate the cellular pathways responsible for inducing or inhibiting apoptosis. These pathogens are significantly recognized by host proteins and provoke the multitude of several signaling pathways and alter the cellular apoptotic stimuli. This process leads the bacterial entry into the mammalian cells and evokes a variety of responses like phagocytosis, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, secretion of bacterial effectors, release of both apoptotic and inflammatory cytokines, and the triggering of apoptosis. Several mechanisms are involved in bacteria-induced apoptosis including, initiation of the endogenous death machinery, pore-forming proteins, and secretion of superantigens. Either small molecules or proteins may act as a binding partner responsible for forming the protein complexes and regulate enzymatic activity via protein-protein interactions. The bacteria induce apoptosis, attack the human cell and gain control over various types of cells and tissue. Since these processes are intricate in the defense mechanisms of host organisms against pathogenic bacteria and play an important function in host-pathogen interactions. In this chapter, we focus on the various bacterial-induced apoptosis mechanisms in host cells and discuss the important proteins and bacterial effectors that trigger the host cell apoptosis. The structural characterization of bacterial effector proteins and their interaction with human host cells are also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandrabose Selvaraj
- Computer Aided Drug Design and Molecular Modeling Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Science Block, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Marisol Vierra
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | | | - Rajaram Abhirami
- Computer Aided Drug Design and Molecular Modeling Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Science Block, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sanjeev Kumar Singh
- Computer Aided Drug Design and Molecular Modeling Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Science Block, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India.
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36
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Abeyawardhane DL, Godoy-Ruiz R, Adipietro KA, Varney KM, Rustandi RR, Pozharski E, Weber DJ. The Importance of Therapeutically Targeting the Binary Toxin from Clostridioides difficile. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2926. [PMID: 33805767 PMCID: PMC8001090 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22062926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel therapeutics are needed to treat pathologies associated with the Clostridioides difficile binary toxin (CDT), particularly when C. difficile infection (CDI) occurs in the elderly or in hospitalized patients having illnesses, in addition to CDI, such as cancer. While therapies are available to block toxicities associated with the large clostridial toxins (TcdA and TcdB) in this nosocomial disease, nothing is available yet to treat toxicities arising from strains of CDI having the binary toxin. Like other binary toxins, the active CDTa catalytic subunit of CDT is delivered into host cells together with an oligomeric assembly of CDTb subunits via host cell receptor-mediated endocytosis. Once CDT arrives in the host cell's cytoplasm, CDTa catalyzes the ADP-ribosylation of G-actin leading to degradation of the cytoskeleton and rapid cell death. Although a detailed molecular mechanism for CDT entry and host cell toxicity is not yet fully established, structural and functional resemblances to other binary toxins are described. Additionally, unique conformational assemblies of individual CDT components are highlighted herein to refine our mechanistic understanding of this deadly toxin as is needed to develop effective new therapeutic strategies for treating some of the most hypervirulent and lethal strains of CDT-containing strains of CDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinendra L. Abeyawardhane
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (D.L.A.); (R.G.-R.); (K.A.A.); (K.M.V.); (E.P.)
- Baltimore—Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland-Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Raquel Godoy-Ruiz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (D.L.A.); (R.G.-R.); (K.A.A.); (K.M.V.); (E.P.)
- Baltimore—Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland-Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Kaylin A. Adipietro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (D.L.A.); (R.G.-R.); (K.A.A.); (K.M.V.); (E.P.)
- The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Kristen M. Varney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (D.L.A.); (R.G.-R.); (K.A.A.); (K.M.V.); (E.P.)
- Baltimore—Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland-Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | | | - Edwin Pozharski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (D.L.A.); (R.G.-R.); (K.A.A.); (K.M.V.); (E.P.)
- Baltimore—Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland-Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - David J. Weber
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (D.L.A.); (R.G.-R.); (K.A.A.); (K.M.V.); (E.P.)
- Baltimore—Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland-Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Yamada T, Tsuge H. Preparation of Clostridium perfringens binary iota-toxin pore complex for structural analysis using cryo-EM. Methods Enzymol 2021; 649:125-148. [PMID: 33712185 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Iota toxin, a type of A-B toxin produced by Clostridium perfringens, comprises an enzymatic component (Ia) and a membrane-binding component (Ib). The translocation of Ia to the target cell via the pore formed by Ib allows it to function as an ADP-ribosyltransferase that inhibits actin polymerization in the host cell. The structure of Ia-bound Ib-pore has been determined using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), thereby elucidating the mechanism of the initial Ia translocation; however, open questions regarding Ia translocation still exist. In this chapter, we describe a new method of preparing Ia-bound Ib-pore complex samples for structural analysis at high resolution using cryo-EM. This method is different from previously reported methods for other A-B toxins. Consequently, it produces Ib-pore with two different states with short and long membrane-spanning β-barrel stem. We expect that this method will be useful in functional and structural studies of iota toxin and other binary toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohito Yamada
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Hideaki Tsuge
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, Japan; Institute for Protein Dynamics, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, Japan; Center for Molecular Research in Infectious Diseases, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, Japan.
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Rádis-Baptista G. Cell-Penetrating Peptides Derived from Animal Venoms and Toxins. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:147. [PMID: 33671927 PMCID: PMC7919042 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13020147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) comprise a class of short polypeptides that possess the ability to selectively interact with the cytoplasmic membrane of certain cell types, translocate across plasma membranes and accumulate in the cell cytoplasm, organelles (e.g., the nucleus and mitochondria) and other subcellular compartments. CPPs are either of natural origin or de novo designed and synthesized from segments and patches of larger proteins or designed by algorithms. With such intrinsic properties, along with membrane permeation, translocation and cellular uptake properties, CPPs can intracellularly convey diverse substances and nanomaterials, such as hydrophilic organic compounds and drugs, macromolecules (nucleic acids and proteins), nanoparticles (nanocrystals and polyplexes), metals and radionuclides, which can be covalently attached via CPP N- and C-terminals or through preparation of CPP complexes. A cumulative number of studies on animal toxins, primarily isolated from the venom of arthropods and snakes, have revealed the cell-penetrating activities of venom peptides and toxins, which can be harnessed for application in biomedicine and pharmaceutical biotechnology. In this review, I aimed to collate examples of peptides from animal venoms and toxic secretions that possess the ability to penetrate diverse types of cells. These venom CPPs have been chemically or structurally modified to enhance cell selectivity, bioavailability and a range of target applications. Herein, examples are listed and discussed, including cysteine-stabilized and linear, α-helical peptides, with cationic and amphipathic character, from the venom of insects (e.g., melittin, anoplin, mastoparans), arachnids (latarcin, lycosin, chlorotoxin, maurocalcine/imperatoxin homologs and wasabi receptor toxin), fish (pardaxins), amphibian (bombesin) and snakes (crotamine and cathelicidins).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gandhi Rádis-Baptista
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Institute for Marine Sciences, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza 60165-081, Brazil
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Paulson AR, O’Callaghan M, Zhang XX, Rainey PB, Hurst MRH. In vivo transcriptome analysis provides insights into host-dependent expression of virulence factors by Yersinia entomophaga MH96, during infection of Galleria mellonella. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2021; 11:jkaa024. [PMID: 33561230 PMCID: PMC7849909 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkaa024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The function of microbes can be inferred from knowledge of genes specifically expressed in natural environments. Here, we report the in vivo transcriptome of the entomopathogenic bacterium Yersinia entomophaga MH96, captured during initial, septicemic, and pre-cadaveric stages of intrahemocoelic infection in Galleria mellonella. A total of 1285 genes were significantly upregulated by MH96 during infection; 829 genes responded to in vivo conditions during at least one stage of infection, 289 responded during two stages of infection, and 167 transcripts responded throughout all three stages of infection compared to in vitro conditions at equivalent cell densities. Genes upregulated during the earliest infection stage included components of the insecticidal toxin complex Yen-TC (chi1, chi2, and yenC1), genes for rearrangement hotspot element containing protein yenC3, cytolethal distending toxin cdtAB, and vegetative insecticidal toxin vip2. Genes more highly expressed throughout the infection cycle included the putative heat-stable enterotoxin yenT and three adhesins (usher-chaperone fimbria, filamentous hemagglutinin, and an AidA-like secreted adhesin). Clustering and functional enrichment of gene expression data also revealed expression of genes encoding type III and VI secretion system-associated effectors. Together these data provide insight into the pathobiology of MH96 and serve as an important resource supporting efforts to identify novel insecticidal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber R Paulson
- Forage Science, AgResearch Ltd., Lincoln 8140, New Zealand
- New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New Zealand
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | | | - Xue-Xian Zhang
- School of Natural and Computational Sciences, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New Zealand
| | - Paul B Rainey
- New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New Zealand
- Laboratoire de Génétique de l’Evolution CBI, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Paris 75005, France
- Department of Microbial Population Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön 24306, Germany
| | - Mark R H Hurst
- Forage Science, AgResearch Ltd., Lincoln 8140, New Zealand
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The N-terminus of Paenibacillus larvae C3larvinA modulates catalytic efficiency. Biosci Rep 2021; 41:227200. [PMID: 33289829 PMCID: PMC7789906 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20203727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
C3larvinA was recently described as a mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase (mART) toxin from the enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) III genotype of the agricultural pathogen, Paenibacillus larvae. It was shown to be the full-length, functional version of the previously described C3larvintrunc toxin, due to a 33-residue extension of the N-terminus of the protein. In the present study, a series of deletions and substitutions were made to the N-terminus of C3larvinA to assess the contribution of the α1-helix to toxin structure and function. Catalytic characterization of these variants identified Asp23 and Ala31 residues as supportive to enzymatic function. A third residue, Lys36, was also found to contribute to the catalytic activity of the enzyme. Analysis of the C3larvinA homology model revealed that these three residues were participating in a series of interactions to properly orient both the Q-X-E and S-T-S motifs. Ala31 and Lys36 were found to associate with a structural network of residues previously identified in silico, whereas Asp23 forms novel interactions not previously described. At last, the membrane translocation activity into host target cells of each variant was assessed, highlighting a possible relationship between protein dipole and target cell entry.
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Simón O, Palma L, Fernández AB, Williams T, Caballero P. Baculovirus Expression and Functional Analysis of Vpa2 Proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12090543. [PMID: 32842608 PMCID: PMC7551607 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12090543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The mode of action underlying the insecticidal activity of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) binary pesticidal protein Vpa1/Vpa2 is uncertain. In this study, three recombinant baculoviruses were constructed using Bac-to-Bac technology to express Vpa2Ac1 and two novel Vpa2-like genes, Vpa2-like1 and Vpa2-like2, under the baculovirus p10 promoter in transfected Sf9 cells. Pairwise amino acid analyses revealed a higher percentage of identity and a lower number of gaps between Vpa2Ac1 and Vpa2-like2 than to Vpa2-like1. Moreover, Vpa2-like1 lacked the conserved Ser-Thr-Ser motif, involved in NAD binding, and the (F/Y)xx(Q/E)xE consensus sequence, characteristic of the ARTT toxin family involved in actin polymerization. Vpa2Ac1, Vpa2-like1 and Vpa2-like2 transcripts and proteins were detected in Sf9 culture cells, but the signals of Vpa2Ac1 and Vpa2-like2 were weak and decreased over time. Sf9 cells infected by a recombinant bacmid expressing Vpa2-like1 showed typical circular morphology and produced viral occlusion bodies (OBs) at the same level as the control virus. However, expression of Vpa2Ac1 and Vpa2-like2 induced cell polarization, similar to that produced by the microfilament-destabilizing agent cytochalasin D and OBs were not produced. The presence of filament disrupting agents, such as nicotinamide and nocodazole, during transfection prevented cell polarization and OB production was observed. We conclude that Vpa2Ac1 and Vpa2-like2 proteins likely possess ADP-ribosyltransferase activity that modulated actin polarization, whereas Vpa2-like1 is not a typical Vpa2 protein. Vpa2-like2 has now been designated Vpa2Ca1 (accession number AAO86513) by the Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxin nomenclature committee.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oihane Simón
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology, Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain; (A.B.F.); (P.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-948168012
| | - Leopoldo Palma
- Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Villa María (CITVM-CONICET), Universidad Nacional De Villa María, Villa María, Córdoba 5900, Argentina;
| | - Ana Beatriz Fernández
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology, Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain; (A.B.F.); (P.C.)
- Departamento de Investigación y Desarrollo, Bioinsectis SL, Polígono Industrial Mocholi Plaza Cein 5, Nave A14, 31110 Noain, Navarra, Spain
| | | | - Primitivo Caballero
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology, Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain; (A.B.F.); (P.C.)
- Departamento de Investigación y Desarrollo, Bioinsectis SL, Polígono Industrial Mocholi Plaza Cein 5, Nave A14, 31110 Noain, Navarra, Spain
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Current Insights on Vegetative Insecticidal Proteins (Vip) as Next Generation Pest Killers. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12080522. [PMID: 32823872 PMCID: PMC7472478 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12080522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a Gram negative soil bacterium. This bacterium secretes various proteins during different growth phases with an insecticidal potential against many economically important crop pests. One of the important families of Bt proteins is vegetative insecticidal proteins (Vip), which are secreted into the growth medium during vegetative growth. There are three subfamilies of Vip proteins. Vip1 and Vip2 heterodimer toxins have an insecticidal activity against many Coleopteran and Hemipteran pests. Vip3, the most extensively studied family of Vip toxins, is effective against Lepidopteron. Vip proteins do not share homology in sequence and binding sites with Cry proteins, but share similarities at some points in their mechanism of action. Vip3 proteins are expressed as pyramids alongside Cry proteins in crops like maize and cotton, so as to control resistant pests and delay the evolution of resistance. Biotechnological- and in silico-based analyses are promising for the generation of mutant Vip proteins with an enhanced insecticidal activity and broader spectrum of target insects.
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Insecticidal Activity of Bacillus thuringiensis Proteins Against Coleopteran Pests. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12070430. [PMID: 32610662 PMCID: PMC7404982 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12070430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis is the most successful microbial insecticide agent and its proteins have been studied for many years due to its toxicity against insects mainly belonging to the orders Lepidoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera, which are pests of agro-forestry and medical-veterinary interest. However, studies on the interactions between this bacterium and the insect species classified in the order Coleoptera are more limited when compared to other insect orders. To date, 45 Cry proteins, 2 Cyt proteins, 11 Vip proteins, and 2 Sip proteins have been reported with activity against coleopteran species. A number of these proteins have been successfully used in some insecticidal formulations and in the construction of transgenic crops to provide protection against main beetle pests. In this review, we provide an update on the activity of Bt toxins against coleopteran insects, as well as specific information about the structure and mode of action of coleopteran Bt proteins.
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Tanis SN, Ilhan H, Guven B, Tayyarcan EK, Ciftci H, Saglam N, Hakki Boyaci I, Tamer U. A disposable gold-cellulose nanofibril platform for SERS mapping. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2020; 12:3164-3172. [PMID: 32930178 DOI: 10.1039/d0ay00662a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we present a disposable and inexpensive paper-like gold nanoparticle-embedded cellulose nanofibril substrate for the rapid enumeration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) mapping. A disposable SERS substrate was simply constructed by mixing CNF and gold chloride solution at 120 °C in a water bath. The application of the resulting substrate was carried out by enrichment and SERS detection of E. coli. To this end, the spherical gold nanoparticle-embedded cellulose nanofibril substrate was used as a scavenger for E. coli. After the target bacteria E. coli were separated from the matrix via oriented antibodies, the sandwich assay procedure was carried out using 5,5-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB)-coated Au nanorod particles that acted as SERS mapping probes. The distribution density of DTNB was demonstrated visually using SERS mapping, and the assay was completed in one hour. The correlation between the E. coli and SERS mapping signals was found to be linear within the range of 15 cfu mL-1 to 1.5 × 105 cfu mL-1. The limit of detection for the SERS mapping assay was determined to be 2 cfu mL-1. The selectivity of the developed method was examined with Micrococcus luteus (M. luteus), Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), and Enterobacter aerogenes (E. aerogenes), which did not produce any significant response. Furthermore, the developed method was evaluated for detecting E. coli in artificially contaminated samples, and the results were compared with those of the plate-counting method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saliha Nur Tanis
- Department of Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hasan Ilhan
- Faculty of Art and Science, Ordu University, Altınordu, 52200, Ordu, Turkey
| | - Burcu Guven
- Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Emine Kubra Tayyarcan
- Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hakan Ciftci
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Processing Technologies, Kirikkale Vocational High School, Kirikkale University, Yahsihan, 71450, Kirikkale, Turkey
| | - Necdet Saglam
- Department of Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ismail Hakki Boyaci
- Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ugur Tamer
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Etiler, 06330, Ankara, Turkey.
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Bacillus anthracis' PA 63 Delivers the Tumor Metastasis Suppressor Protein NDPK-A/NME1 into Breast Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093295. [PMID: 32384736 PMCID: PMC7246847 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Some highly metastatic types of breast cancer show decreased intracellular levels of the tumor suppressor protein NME1, also known as nm23-H1 or nucleoside diphosphate kinase A (NDPK-A), which decreases cancer cell motility and metastasis. Since its activity is directly correlated with the overall outcome in patients, increasing the cytosolic levels of NDPK-A/NME1 in such cancer cells should represent an attractive starting point for novel therapeutic approaches to reduce tumor cell motility and decrease metastasis. Here, we established the Bacillus anthracis protein toxins’ transport component PA63 as transporter for the delivery of His-tagged human NDPK-A into the cytosol of cultured cells including human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The specifically delivered His6-tagged NDPK-A was detected in MDA-MB-231 cells via Western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy. The PA63-mediated delivery of His6-NDPK-A resulted in reduced migration of MDA-MB-231 cells, as determined by a wound-healing assay. In conclusion, PA63 serves for the transport of the tumor metastasis suppressor NDPK-A/NME1 into the cytosol of human breast cancer cells In Vitro, which reduced the migratory activity of these cells. This approach might lead to development of novel therapeutic options.
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The Cytocidal Spectrum of Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins: From Insects to Human Cancer Cells. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12050301. [PMID: 32384723 PMCID: PMC7291302 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12050301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a ubiquitous bacterium in soils, insect cadavers, phylloplane, water, and stored grain, that produces several proteins, each one toxic to different biological targets such as insects, nematodes, mites, protozoa, and mammalian cells. Most Bt toxins identify their particular target through the recognition of specific cell membrane receptors. Cry proteins are the best-known toxins from Bt and a great amount of research has been published. Cry are cytotoxic to insect larvae that affect important crops recognizing specific cell membrane receptors such as cadherin, aminopeptidase-N, and alkaline phosphatase. Furthermore, some Cry toxins such as Cry4A, Cry4B, and Cry11A act synergistically with Cyt toxins against dipteran larvae vectors of human disease. Research developed with Cry proteins revealed that these toxins also could kill human cancer cells through the interaction with specific receptors. Parasporins are a small group of patented toxins that may or may not have insecticidal activity. These proteins could kill a wide variety of mammalian cancer cells by recognizing specific membrane receptors, just like Cry toxins do. Surface layer proteins (SLP), unlike the other proteins produced by Bt, are also produced by most bacteria and archaebacteria. It was recently demonstrated that SLP produced by Bt could interact with membrane receptors of insect and human cancer cells to kill them. Cyt toxins have a structure that is mostly unrelated to Cry toxins; thereby, other mechanisms of action have been reported to them. These toxins affect mainly mosquitoes that are vectors of human diseases like Anopheles spp (malaria), Aedes spp (dengue, zika, and chikungunya), and Culex spp (Nile fever and Rift Valley fever), respectively. In addition to the Cry, Cyt, and parasporins toxins produced during spore formation as inclusion bodies, Bt strains also produce Vip (Vegetative insecticidal toxins) and Sip (Secreted insecticidal proteins) toxins with insecticidal activity during their vegetative growth phase.
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Lucas R, Hadizamani Y, Gonzales J, Gorshkov B, Bodmer T, Berthiaume Y, Moehrlen U, Lode H, Huwer H, Hudel M, Mraheil MA, Toque HAF, Chakraborty T, Hamacher J. Impact of Bacterial Toxins in the Lungs. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12040223. [PMID: 32252376 PMCID: PMC7232160 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12040223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial toxins play a key role in the pathogenesis of lung disease. Based on their structural and functional properties, they employ various strategies to modulate lung barrier function and to impair host defense in order to promote infection. Although in general, these toxins target common cellular signaling pathways and host compartments, toxin- and cell-specific effects have also been reported. Toxins can affect resident pulmonary cells involved in alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) and barrier function through impairing vectorial Na+ transport and through cytoskeletal collapse, as such, destroying cell-cell adhesions. The resulting loss of alveolar-capillary barrier integrity and fluid clearance capacity will induce capillary leak and foster edema formation, which will in turn impair gas exchange and endanger the survival of the host. Toxins modulate or neutralize protective host cell mechanisms of both the innate and adaptive immunity response during chronic infection. In particular, toxins can either recruit or kill central players of the lung's innate immune responses to pathogenic attacks, i.e., alveolar macrophages (AMs) and neutrophils. Pulmonary disorders resulting from these toxin actions include, e.g., acute lung injury (ALI), the acute respiratory syndrome (ARDS), and severe pneumonia. When acute infection converts to persistence, i.e., colonization and chronic infection, lung diseases, such as bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis (CF) can arise. The aim of this review is to discuss the impact of bacterial toxins in the lungs and the resulting outcomes for pathogenesis, their roles in promoting bacterial dissemination, and bacterial survival in disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Lucas
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
- Department of Medicine and Division of Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
- Correspondence: (R.L.); (J.H.); Tel.: +41-31-300-35-00 (J.H.)
| | - Yalda Hadizamani
- Lungen-und Atmungsstiftung, Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland;
- Pneumology, Clinic for General Internal Medicine, Lindenhofspital Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Joyce Gonzales
- Department of Medicine and Division of Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
| | - Boris Gorshkov
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
| | - Thomas Bodmer
- Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Waldeggstr. 37 CH-3097 Liebefeld, Switzerland;
| | - Yves Berthiaume
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada;
| | - Ueli Moehrlen
- Pediatric Surgery, University Children’s Hospital, Zürich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, CH-8032 Zürch, Switzerland;
| | - Hartmut Lode
- Insitut für klinische Pharmakologie, Charité, Universitätsklinikum Berlin, Reichsstrasse 2, D-14052 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Hanno Huwer
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Voelklingen Heart Center, 66333 Voelklingen/Saar, Germany;
| | - Martina Hudel
- Justus-Liebig-University, Biomedical Research Centre Seltersberg, Schubertstr. 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.H.); (M.A.M.); (T.C.)
| | - Mobarak Abu Mraheil
- Justus-Liebig-University, Biomedical Research Centre Seltersberg, Schubertstr. 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.H.); (M.A.M.); (T.C.)
| | - Haroldo Alfredo Flores Toque
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
| | - Trinad Chakraborty
- Justus-Liebig-University, Biomedical Research Centre Seltersberg, Schubertstr. 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.H.); (M.A.M.); (T.C.)
| | - Jürg Hamacher
- Lungen-und Atmungsstiftung, Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland;
- Pneumology, Clinic for General Internal Medicine, Lindenhofspital Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Medical Clinic V-Pneumology, Allergology, Intensive Care Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saarland University, University Medical Centre of the Saarland, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
- Institute for Clinical & Experimental Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Saarland University, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
- Correspondence: (R.L.); (J.H.); Tel.: +41-31-300-35-00 (J.H.)
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Fischer S, Ückert AK, Landenberger M, Papatheodorou P, Hoffmann-Richter C, Mittler AK, Ziener U, Hägele M, Schwan C, Müller M, Kleger A, Benz R, Popoff MR, Aktories K, Barth H. Human peptide α-defensin-1 interferes with Clostridioides difficile toxins TcdA, TcdB, and CDT. FASEB J 2020; 34:6244-6261. [PMID: 32190927 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201902816r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The human pathogenic bacterium Clostridioides difficile produces two exotoxins TcdA and TcdB, which inactivate Rho GTPases thereby causing C. difficile-associated diseases (CDAD) including life-threatening pseudomembranous colitis. Hypervirulent strains produce additionally the binary actin ADP-ribosylating toxin CDT. These strains are hallmarked by more severe forms of CDAD and increased frequency and severity. Once in the cytosol, the toxins act as enzymes resulting in the typical clinical symptoms. Therefore, targeting and inactivation of the released toxins are of peculiar interest. Prompted by earlier findings that human α-defensin-1 neutralizes TcdB, we investigated the effects of the defensin on all three C. difficile toxins. Inhibition of TcdA, TcdB, and CDT was demonstrated by analyzing toxin-induced changes in cell morphology, substrate modification, and decrease in transepithelial electrical resistance. Application of α-defensin-1 protected cells and human intestinal organoids from the cytotoxic effects of TcdA, TcdB, CDT, and their combination which is attributed to a direct interaction between the toxins and α-defensin-1. In mice, the application of α-defensin-1 reduced the TcdA-induced damage of intestinal loops in vivo. In conclusion, human α-defensin-1 is a specific and potent inhibitor of the C. difficile toxins and a promising agent to develop novel therapeutic options against C. difficile infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Fischer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anna-Katharina Ückert
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Marc Landenberger
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | - Ann-Katrin Mittler
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ulrich Ziener
- Institute of Organic Chemistry III, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Marlen Hägele
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Carsten Schwan
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Müller
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alexander Kleger
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Roland Benz
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Michel R Popoff
- Department of Anaerobic Bacteria, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France
| | - Klaus Aktories
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Holger Barth
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
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Intracellular localization and cytotoxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa against Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells. J Invertebr Pathol 2020; 171:107340. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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50
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Schwartz R, Guichard A, Franc NC, Roy S, Bier E. A Drosophila Model for Clostridium difficile Toxin CDT Reveals Interactions with Multiple Effector Pathways. iScience 2020; 23:100865. [PMID: 32058973 PMCID: PMC7011083 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.100865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) cause severe and occasionally life-threatening diarrhea. Hyper-virulent strains produce CDT, a toxin that ADP-ribosylates actin monomers and inhibits actin polymerization. We created transgenic Drosophila lines expressing the catalytic subunit CDTa to investigate its interaction with host signaling pathways in vivo. When expressed in the midgut, CDTa reduces body weight and fecal output and compromises survival, suggesting severe impairment of digestive functions. At the cellular level, CDTa induces F-actin network collapse, elimination of the intestinal brush border, and disruption of intercellular junctions. We confirm toxin-dependent re-distribution of Rab11 to enterocytes' apical surface and observe suppression of CDTa phenotypes by a Dominant-Negative form of Rab11 or RNAi of the dedicated Rab11GEF Crag (DENND4). We also report that Calmodulin (Cam) is required to mediate CDTa activity. In parallel, chemical inhibition of the Cam/Calcineurin pathway by Cyclosporin A or FK506 also reduces CDTa phenotypes, potentially opening new avenues for treating CDIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Schwartz
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0335, USA
| | - Annabel Guichard
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0335, USA; Tata Institute for Genetics and Society-UCSD, La Jolla, CA 92093-0335, USA
| | - Nathalie C Franc
- Franc Consulting, San Diego, CA 92117-3314, USA; The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sitara Roy
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0335, USA
| | - Ethan Bier
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0335, USA; Tata Institute for Genetics and Society-UCSD, La Jolla, CA 92093-0335, USA.
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