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Kakkar A, Kandwal G, Nayak T, Jaiswal LK, Srivastava A, Gupta A. Engineered bacteriophages: A panacea against pathogenic and drug resistant bacteria. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34333. [PMID: 39100447 PMCID: PMC11295868 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34333] [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] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global concern; antibiotics and other regular treatment methods have failed to overcome the increasing number of infectious diseases. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that specifically target/kill bacterial hosts without affecting other human microbiome. Phage therapy provides optimism in the current global healthcare scenario with a long history of its applications in humans that has now reached various clinical trials. Phages in clinical trials have specific requirements of being exclusively lytic, free from toxic genes with an enhanced host range that adds an advantage to this requisite. This review explains in detail the various phage engineering methods and their potential applications in therapy. To make phages more efficient, engineering has been attempted using techniques like conventional homologous recombination, Bacteriophage Recombineering of Electroporated DNA (BRED), clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas, CRISPY-BRED/Bacteriophage Recombineering with Infectious Particles (BRIP), chemically accelerated viral evolution (CAVE), and phage genome rebooting. Phages are administered in cocktail form in combination with antibiotics, vaccines, and purified proteins, such as endolysins. Thus, phage therapy is proving to be a better alternative for treating life-threatening infections, with more specificity and fewer detrimental consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuja Kakkar
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India
| | - Garima Kandwal
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India
| | - Tanmayee Nayak
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India
| | - Lav Kumar Jaiswal
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India
| | - Amit Srivastava
- University of Jyväskylä, Nanoscience Centre, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Ankush Gupta
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India
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2
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Alsaadi SE, Lu H, Zhang M, Dykes GF, Allison HE, Horsburgh MJ. Bacteriophages from human skin infecting coagulase-negative Staphylococcus: diversity, novelty and host resistance. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8245. [PMID: 38589670 PMCID: PMC11001980 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59065-9] [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: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The human skin microbiome comprises diverse populations that differ temporally between body sites and individuals. The virome is a less studied component of the skin microbiome and the study of bacteriophages is required to increase knowledge of the modulation and stability of bacterial communities. Staphylococcus species are among the most abundant colonisers of skin and are associated with both health and disease yet the bacteriophages infecting the most abundant species on skin are less well studied. Here, we report the isolation and genome sequencing of 40 bacteriophages from human skin swabs that infect coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) species, which extends our knowledge of phage diversity. Six genetic clusters of phages were identified with two clusters representing novel phages, one of which we characterise and name Alsa phage. We identified that Alsa phages have a greater ability to infect the species S. hominis that was otherwise infected less than other CoNS species by the isolated phages, indicating an undescribed barrier to phage infection that could be in part due to numerous restriction-modification systems. The extended diversity of Staphylococcus phages here enables further research to define their contribution to skin microbiome research and the mechanisms that limit phage infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samah E Alsaadi
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Hanshuo Lu
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Minxing Zhang
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Gregory F Dykes
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Heather E Allison
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Malcolm J Horsburgh
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
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3
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Beck C, Krusche J, Elsherbini AMA, Du X, Peschel A. Phage susceptibility determinants of the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102434. [PMID: 38364502 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common member of the human skin and nose microbiomes and a frequent cause of invasive infections. Transducing phages accomplish the horizontal transfer of resistance and virulence genes by mispackaging of mobile-genetic elements, contributing to severe, therapy-refractory S. epidermidis infections. Lytic phages on the other hand can be interesting candidates for new anti-S. epidermidis phage therapies. Despite the importance of phages, we are only beginning to unravel S. epidermidis phage interactions. Recent studies shed new light on S. epidermidis phage diversity, host range, and receptor specificities. Modulation of cell wall teichoic acids, the major phage receptor structures, along with other phage defense mechanisms, are crucial determinants for S. epidermidis susceptibility to different phage groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Beck
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Janes Krusche
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ahmed M A Elsherbini
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Xin Du
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Peschel
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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4
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Golosova NN, Matveev AL, Tikunova NV, Khlusevich YA, Kozlova YN, Morozova VV, Babkin IV, Ushakova TA, Zhirakovskaya EV, Panina EA, Ryabchikova EI, Tikunov AY. Bacteriophage vB_SepP_134 and Endolysin LysSte_134_1 as Potential Staphylococcus-Biofilm-Removing Biological Agents. Viruses 2024; 16:385. [PMID: 38543751 PMCID: PMC10975630 DOI: 10.3390/v16030385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus are significant challenge for medicine, as many species are resistant to multiple antibiotics and some are even to all of the antibiotics we use. One of the approaches to developing new therapeutics to treat staphylococcal infections is the use of bacteriophages specific to these bacteria or the lytic enzymes of such bacteriophages, which are capable of hydrolyzing the cell walls of these bacteria. In this study, a new bacteriophage vB_SepP_134 (St 134) specific to Staphylococcus epidermidis was described. This podophage, with a genome of 18,275 bp, belongs to the Andhravirus genus. St 134 was able to infect various strains of 12 of the 21 tested coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species and one clinical strain from the Staphylococcus aureus complex. The genes encoding endolysin (LysSte134_1) and tail tip lysin (LysSte134_2) were identified in the St 134 genome. Both enzymes were cloned and produced in Escherichia coli cells. The endolysin LysSte134_1 demonstrated catalytic activity against peptidoglycans isolated from S. aureus, S. epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Staphylococcus warneri. LysSte134_1 was active against S. aureus and S. epidermidis planktonic cells and destroyed the biofilms formed by clinical strains of S. aureus and S. epidermidis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Artem Y. Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (N.N.G.); (N.V.T.); (Y.A.K.); (Y.N.K.); (V.V.M.); (I.V.B.); (T.A.U.); (E.A.P.); (E.I.R.)
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5
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Hill CM, Hatoum-Aslan A. Genetic Engineering of Therapeutic Phages Using Type III CRISPR-Cas Systems. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2734:279-299. [PMID: 38066376 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3523-0_18] [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] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The functional characterization of "hypothetical" phage genes is a major bottleneck in basic and applied phage research. To compound this issue, the most suitable phages for therapeutic applications-the strictly lytic variety-are largely recalcitrant to classical genetic techniques due to low recombination rates and lack of selectable markers. Here we describe methods for fast and effective phage engineering that rely upon a Type III-A CRISPR-Cas system. In these methods, the CRISPR-Cas system is used as a powerful counterselection tool to isolate rare phage recombinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney M Hill
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Asma Hatoum-Aslan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
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6
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Paul SS. Phage engineering for development of diagnostic tools. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 200:91-101. [PMID: 37739561 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
The bacteriophages rely on the host cell to provide energy and resources for their own replication. Antibody-based diagnostic tests rely on the antibody and the biomarker interactions. Since, most of these diagnostic tools employ the use of antibodies; hence, they require intensive storage protocols at cold conditions and incur high time and capital cost due to their production and purification process. Phage-based diagnostics can overcome this limitation. Bacteriophages, have been used as emerging tools for the detection of various pathogens. Rapid phage-mediated detection assays have become commercial diagnostic tools. Conventional method and new cloning approaches have been followed to specifically detect a disease- causing microbial strains. This review discusses use of Phage typing as diagnostic tools, phage-based detection methods, and their usage for signal amplification. Design rules for reporter phage engineering are also discussed followed by different engineering platforms for phage genome editing. We also discuss recent examples of how phage research is influencing the recent advances in the development of phage-based diagnostics for ultra-sensitive detection of various bio-species, outlining the advantages and limitations of detection technology of phage-based assays.
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Štrancar V, Marušić M, Tušar J, Praček N, Kolenc M, Šuster K, Horvat S, Janež N, Peterka M. Isolation and in vitro characterization of novel S. epidermidis phages for therapeutic applications. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1169135. [PMID: 37293203 PMCID: PMC10244729 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1169135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
S. epidermidis is an important opportunistic pathogen causing chronic prosthetic joint infections associated with biofilm growth. Increased tolerance to antibiotic therapy often requires prolonged treatment or revision surgery. Phage therapy is currently used as compassionate use therapy and continues to be evaluated for its viability as adjunctive therapy to antibiotic treatment or as an alternative treatment for infections caused by S. epidermidis to prevent relapses. In the present study, we report the isolation and in vitro characterization of three novel lytic S. epidermidis phages. Their genome content analysis indicated the absence of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors. Detailed investigation of the phage preparation indicated the absence of any prophage-related contamination and demonstrated the importance of selecting appropriate hosts for phage development from the outset. The isolated phages infect a high proportion of clinically relevant S. epidermidis strains and several other coagulase-negative species growing both in planktonic culture and as a biofilm. Clinical strains differing in their biofilm phenotype and antibiotic resistance profile were selected to further identify possible mechanisms behind increased tolerance to isolated phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vida Štrancar
- Centre of Excellence for Biosensors, Instrumentation and Process Control, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
- Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Domžale, Slovenia
| | - Monika Marušić
- Centre of Excellence for Biosensors, Instrumentation and Process Control, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
| | - Jasmina Tušar
- Centre of Excellence for Biosensors, Instrumentation and Process Control, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
| | - Neža Praček
- Centre of Excellence for Biosensors, Instrumentation and Process Control, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
| | - Marko Kolenc
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja Šuster
- Valdoltra Orthopaedic Hospital, Ankaran, Slovenia
| | - Simon Horvat
- Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Domžale, Slovenia
| | - Nika Janež
- Centre of Excellence for Biosensors, Instrumentation and Process Control, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
| | - Matjaž Peterka
- Centre of Excellence for Biosensors, Instrumentation and Process Control, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
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8
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Hossain M, Aslan B, Hatoum-Aslan A. Tandem mobilization of anti-phage defenses alongside SCC mec cassettes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.17.533233. [PMID: 36993521 PMCID: PMC10055296 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.17.533233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial viruses (phages) and the immune systems targeted against them significantly impact bacterial survival, evolution, and the emergence of pathogenic strains. While recent research has made spectacular strides towards discovering and validating new defenses in a few model organisms1-3, the inventory of immune systems in clinically-relevant bacteria remains underexplored, and little is known about the mechanisms by which these systems horizontally spread. Such pathways not only impact the evolutionary trajectory of bacterial pathogens, but also threaten to undermine the effectiveness of phage-based therapeutics. Here, we investigate the battery of defenses in staphylococci, opportunistic pathogens that constitute leading causes of antibiotic-resistant infections. We show that these organisms harbor a variety of anti-phage defenses encoded within/near the infamous SCC (staphylococcal cassette chromosome) mec cassettes, mobile genomic islands that confer methicillin resistance. Importantly, we demonstrate that SCCmec-encoded recombinases mobilize not only SCCmec, but also tandem cassettes enriched with diverse defenses. Further, we show that phage infection potentiates cassette mobilization. Taken together, our findings reveal that beyond spreading antibiotic resistance, SCCmec cassettes play a central role in disseminating anti-phage defenses. This work underscores the urgent need for developing adjunctive treatments that target this pathway to save the burgeoning phage therapeutics from suffering the same fate as conventional antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motaher Hossain
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Microbiology, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Barbaros Aslan
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Microbiology, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Asma Hatoum-Aslan
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Microbiology, Urbana, IL, USA
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9
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Massimino L, Barchi A, Mandarino FV, Spanò S, Lamparelli LA, Vespa E, Passaretti S, Peyrin-Biroulet L, Savarino EV, Jairath V, Ungaro F, Danese S. A multi-omic analysis reveals the esophageal dysbiosis as the predominant trait of eosinophilic esophagitis. J Transl Med 2023; 21:46. [PMID: 36698146 PMCID: PMC9875471 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-03898-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated rare disease, characterized by esophageal dysfunctions. It is likely to be primarily activated by food antigens and is classified as a chronic disease for most patients. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying EoE is needed to implement and improve therapeutic lines of intervention and ameliorate overall patient wellness. METHODS RNA-seq data of 18 different studies on EoE, downloaded from NCBI GEO with faster-qdump ( https://github.com/ncbi/sra-tools ), were batch-corrected and analyzed for transcriptomics and metatranscriptomics profiling as well as biological process functional enrichment. The EoE TaMMA web app was designed with plotly and dash. Tabula Sapiens raw data were downloaded from the UCSC Cell Browser. Esophageal single-cell raw data analysis was performed within the Automated Single-cell Analysis Pipeline. Single-cell data-driven bulk RNA-seq data deconvolution was performed with MuSiC and CIBERSORTx. Multi-omics integration was performed with MOFA. RESULTS The EoE TaMMA framework pointed out disease-specific molecular signatures, confirming its reliability in reanalyzing transcriptomic data, and providing new EoE-specific molecular markers including CXCL14, distinguishing EoE from gastroesophageal reflux disorder. EoE TaMMA also revealed microbiota dysbiosis as a predominant characteristic of EoE pathogenesis. Finally, the multi-omics analysis highlighted the presence of defined classes of microbial entities in subsets of patients that may participate in inducing the antigen-mediated response typical of EoE pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that the complex EoE molecular network may be unraveled through advanced bioinformatics, integrating different components of the disease process into an omics-based network approach. This may implement EoE management and treatment in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Massimino
- grid.18887.3e0000000417581884Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy ,grid.18887.3e0000000417581884Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Barchi
- grid.18887.3e0000000417581884Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Vito Mandarino
- grid.18887.3e0000000417581884Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Salvatore Spanò
- grid.18887.3e0000000417581884Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy ,grid.18887.3e0000000417581884Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Edoardo Vespa
- grid.18887.3e0000000417581884Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Sandro Passaretti
- grid.18887.3e0000000417581884Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet
- grid.29172.3f0000 0001 2194 6418Inserm NGERE, University of Lorraine, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France ,grid.410527.50000 0004 1765 1301Nancy University Hospital, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France
| | - Edoardo Vincenzo Savarino
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy ,grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Gastroenterology Unit, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Vipul Jairath
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Western University, London, ON Canada
| | - Federica Ungaro
- grid.18887.3e0000000417581884Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy ,grid.18887.3e0000000417581884Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy ,grid.15496.3f0000 0001 0439 0892Faculty of Medicine, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvio Danese
- grid.18887.3e0000000417581884Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy ,grid.18887.3e0000000417581884Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy ,grid.15496.3f0000 0001 0439 0892Faculty of Medicine, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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Hawkins NC, Kizziah JL, Hatoum-Aslan A, Dokland T. Structure and host specificity of Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteriophage Andhra. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eade0459. [PMID: 36449623 PMCID: PMC9710869 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade0459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis is an opportunistic pathogen of the human skin, often associated with infections of implanted medical devices. Staphylococcal picoviruses are a group of strictly lytic, short-tailed bacteriophages with compact genomes that are attractive candidates for therapeutic use. Here, we report the structure of the complete virion of S. epidermidis-infecting phage Andhra, determined using high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy, allowing atomic modeling of 11 capsid and tail proteins. The capsid is a T = 4 icosahedron containing a unique stabilizing capsid lining protein. The tail includes 12 trimers of a unique receptor binding protein (RBP), a lytic protein that also serves to anchor the RBPs to the tail stem, and a hexameric tail knob that acts as a gatekeeper for DNA ejection. Using structure prediction with AlphaFold, we identified the two proteins that comprise the tail tip heterooctamer. Our findings elucidate critical features for virion assembly, host recognition, and penetration.
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Affiliation(s)
- N’Toia C. Hawkins
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - James L. Kizziah
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Asma Hatoum-Aslan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Terje Dokland
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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11
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Kwon H, Park SY, Kim MS, Kim SG, Park SC, Kim JH. Characterization of a Lytic Bacteriophage vB_SurP-PSU3 Infecting Staphylococcus ureilyticus and Its Efficacy Against Biofilm. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:925866. [PMID: 35923398 PMCID: PMC9340203 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.925866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In response to the increasing nosocomial infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), bacteriophages (phages) have emerged as an alternative to antibiotics. Staphylococcus ureilyticus, one of the representative species of the CoNS, is now considered a notable pathogen that causes nosocomial bloodstream infections, and its biofilm-forming ability increases pathogenicity and resistance to antimicrobial agents. In this study, a lytic phage infecting S. ureilyticus was newly isolated from wastewater collected from a sewage treatment plant and its biological and antimicrobial characteristics are described. The isolated phage, named vB_SurP-PSU3, was morphologically similar to Podoviridae and could simultaneously lyse some S. warneri strains used in this study. The sequenced genome of the phage consisted of linear dsDNA with 18,146 bp and genome-based phylogeny revealed that vB_SurP-PSU3 belonged to the genus Andhravirus. Although its overall genomic arrangement and contents were similar to those of other members of the Andhravirus, the predicted endolysin of vB_SurP-PSU3 distinctly differed from the other members of the genus. The bacteriolytic activity of vB_SurP-PSU3 was evaluated using S. ureilyticus ATCC 49330, and the phage could efficiently inhibit the planktonic growth of the bacteria. Moreover, the anti-biofilm analysis showed that vB_SurP-PSU3 could prevent the formation of bacterial biofilm and degrade the mature biofilm in vitro. In an additional cytotoxicity assay of vB_SurP-PSU3, no significant adverse effects were observed on the tested cell. Based on these findings, the newly isolated phage vB_SurP-PSU3 could be classified as a new member of Andhravirus and could be considered an alternative potential biocontrol agent against S. ureilyticus infections and its biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyemin Kwon
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Seon Young Park
- Division of Animal and Dairy Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Min-Soo Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Sang Guen Kim
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Se Chang Park
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ji Hyung Kim
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, South Korea
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12
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Wakinaka T, Matsutani M, Watanabe J, Mogi Y, Tokuoka M, Ohnishi A. Ribitol-Containing Wall Teichoic Acid of Tetragenococcus halophilus Is Targeted by Bacteriophage phiWJ7 as a Binding Receptor. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0033622. [PMID: 35311554 PMCID: PMC9045211 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00336-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Tetragenococcus halophilus, a halophilic lactic acid bacterium, is used in the fermentation process of soy sauce manufacturing. For many years, bacteriophage infections of T. halophilus have been a major industrial problem that causes fermentation failure. However, studies focusing on the mechanisms of tetragenococcal host-phage interactions are not sufficient. In this study, we generated two phage-insensitive derivatives from the parental strain T. halophilus WJ7, which is susceptible to the virulent phage phiWJ7. Whole-genome sequencing of the derivatives revealed that insertion sequences were transposed into a gene encoding poly(ribitol phosphate) polymerase (TarL) in both derivatives. TarL is responsible for the biosynthesis of ribitol-containing wall teichoic acid, and WJ7 was confirmed to contain ribitol in extracted wall teichoic acid, but the derivative was not. Cell walls of WJ7 irreversibly adsorbed phiWJ7, but those of the phage-insensitive derivatives did not. Additionally, 25 phiWJ7-insensitive derivatives were obtained, and they showed mutations not only in tarL but also in tarI and tarJ, which are responsible for the synthesis of CDP-ribitol. These results indicate that phiWJ7 targets the ribitol-containing wall teichoic acid of host cells as a binding receptor. IMPORTANCE Information about the mechanisms of host-phage interactions is required for the development of efficient strategies against bacteriophage infections. Here, we identified the ribitol-containing wall teichoic acid as a host receptor indispensable for bacteriophage infection. The complete genome sequence of tetragenococcal phage phiWJ7 belonging to the family Rountreeviridae is also provided here. This study could become the foundation for a better understanding of host-phage interactions of tetragenococci.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jun Watanabe
- Manufacturing Division, Yamasa Corporation, Choshi, Japan
- Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan
- Institute of Fermentation Sciences, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Mogi
- Manufacturing Division, Yamasa Corporation, Choshi, Japan
| | - Masafumi Tokuoka
- Department of Fermentation Science, Faculty of Applied Bio-Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiro Ohnishi
- Department of Fermentation Science, Faculty of Applied Bio-Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan
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13
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Bari SMN, Chou-Zheng L, Howell O, Hossain M, Hill CM, Boyle TA, Cater K, Dandu VS, Thomas A, Aslan B, Hatoum-Aslan A. A unique mode of nucleic acid immunity performed by a multifunctional bacterial enzyme. Cell Host Microbe 2022; 30:570-582.e7. [PMID: 35421352 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The perpetual arms race between bacteria and their viruses (phages) has given rise to diverse immune systems, including restriction-modification and CRISPR-Cas, which sense and degrade phage-derived nucleic acids. These complex systems rely upon production and maintenance of multiple components to achieve antiphage defense. However, the prevalence and effectiveness of minimal, single-component systems that cleave DNA remain unknown. Here, we describe a unique mode of nucleic acid immunity mediated by a single enzyme with nuclease and helicase activities, herein referred to as Nhi (nuclease-helicase immunity). This enzyme provides robust protection against diverse staphylococcal phages and prevents phage DNA accumulation in cells stripped of all other known defenses. Our observations support a model in which Nhi targets and degrades phage-specific replication intermediates. Importantly, Nhi homologs are distributed in diverse bacteria and exhibit functional conservation, highlighting the versatility of such compact weapons as major players in antiphage defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Nayeemul Bari
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61821, USA
| | - Lucy Chou-Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61821, USA
| | - Olivia Howell
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61821, USA
| | - Motaher Hossain
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61821, USA
| | - Courtney M Hill
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61821, USA
| | - Tori A Boyle
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61821, USA
| | - Katie Cater
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Vidya Sree Dandu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Alexander Thomas
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Barbaros Aslan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61821, USA
| | - Asma Hatoum-Aslan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61821, USA.
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14
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Chou-Zheng L, Hatoum-Aslan A. Critical roles for 'housekeeping' nucleases in type III CRISPR-Cas immunity. eLife 2022; 11:81897. [PMID: 36479971 PMCID: PMC9762709 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas systems are a family of adaptive immune systems that use small CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) nucleases to protect prokaryotes from invading plasmids and viruses (i.e., phages). Type III systems launch a multilayered immune response that relies upon both Cas and non-Cas cellular nucleases, and although the functions of Cas components have been well described, the identities and roles of non-Cas participants remain poorly understood. Previously, we showed that the type III-A CRISPR-Cas system in Staphylococcus epidermidis employs two degradosome-associated nucleases, PNPase and RNase J2, to promote crRNA maturation and eliminate invading nucleic acids (Chou-Zheng and Hatoum-Aslan, 2019). Here, we identify RNase R as a third 'housekeeping' nuclease critical for immunity. We show that RNase R works in concert with PNPase to complete crRNA maturation and identify specific interactions with Csm5, a member of the type III effector complex, which facilitate nuclease recruitment/stimulation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that RNase R and PNPase are required to maintain robust anti-plasmid immunity, particularly when targeted transcripts are sparse. Altogether, our findings expand the known repertoire of accessory nucleases required for type III immunity and highlight the remarkable capacity of these systems to interface with diverse cellular pathways to ensure successful defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Chou-Zheng
- Microbiology Department, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUrbanaUnited States
| | - Asma Hatoum-Aslan
- Microbiology Department, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUrbanaUnited States
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15
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Valente LG, Pitton M, Fürholz M, Oberhaensli S, Bruggmann R, Leib SL, Jakob SM, Resch G, Que YA, Cameron DR. Isolation and characterization of bacteriophages from the human skin microbiome that infect Staphylococcus epidermidis. FEMS MICROBES 2021; 2:xtab003. [PMID: 37334235 PMCID: PMC10117716 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtab003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy might be a useful approach for the treatment of nosocomial infections; however, only few lytic phages suitable for this application are available for the opportunistic pathogen, Staphylococcus epidermidis. In the current study, we developed an efficient method to isolate bacteriophages present within the human skin microbiome, by using niche-specific S. epidermidis as the host for phage propagation. Staphylococcus epidermidis was identified on the forehead of 92% of human subjects tested. These isolates were then used to propagate phages present in the same skin sample. Plaques were observable on bacterial lawns in 46% of the cases where S. epidermidis was isolated. A total of eight phage genomes were genetically characterized, including the previously described phage 456. A total of six phage sequences were unique, and spanned each of the major staphylococcal phage families; Siphoviridae (n = 3), Podoviridae (n = 1) and Myoviridae (n = 2). One of the myoviruses (vB_SepM_BE06) was identified on the skin of three different humans. Comparative analysis identified novel genes including a putative N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase gene. The host-range of each unique phage was characterized using a panel of diverse staphylococcal strains (n = 78). None of the newly isolated phages infected more than 52% of the S. epidermidis strains tested (n = 44), and non-S. epidermidis strains where rarely infected, highlighting the narrow host-range of the phages. One of the phages (vB_SepM_BE04) was capable of killing staphylococcal cells within biofilms formed on polyurethane catheters. Uncovering a richer diversity of available phages will likely improve our understanding of S. epidermidis-phage interactions, which will be important for future therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Monika Fürholz
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Simone Oberhaensli
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit and SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Rémy Bruggmann
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit and SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephen L Leib
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephan M Jakob
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Grégory Resch
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yok-Ai Que
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - David R Cameron
- Corresponding author: Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital; Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland. Tel: +41 31 632 42 55; E-mail:
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16
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Kizziah JL, Manning KA, Dearborn AD, Dokland T. Structure of the host cell recognition and penetration machinery of a Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008314. [PMID: 32069326 PMCID: PMC7048315 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of infections in humans. The emergence of virulent, antibiotic-resistant strains of S. aureus is a significant public health concern. Most virulence and resistance factors in S. aureus are encoded by mobile genetic elements, and transduction by bacteriophages represents the main mechanism for horizontal gene transfer. The baseplate is a specialized structure at the tip of bacteriophage tails that plays key roles in host recognition, cell wall penetration, and DNA ejection. We have used high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy to determine the structure of the S. aureus bacteriophage 80α baseplate at 3.75 Å resolution, allowing atomic models to be built for most of the major tail and baseplate proteins, including two tail fibers, the receptor binding protein, and part of the tape measure protein. Our structure provides a structural basis for understanding host recognition, cell wall penetration and DNA ejection in viruses infecting Gram-positive bacteria. Comparison to other phages demonstrates the modular design of baseplate proteins, and the adaptations to the host that take place during the evolution of staphylococci and other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L. Kizziah
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Keith A. Manning
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Altaira D. Dearborn
- Structural Virology Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Terje Dokland
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
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17
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Marc A, Cater K, Kongari R, Hatoum-Aslan A, Young RF, Liu M. Complete Genome Sequence of Staphylococcus aureus Siphophage Lorac. Microbiol Resour Announc 2019; 8:e00586-19. [PMID: 31270202 PMCID: PMC6606916 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00586-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of a wide range of clinical infections. Here, we announce the complete genome sequence of S. aureus siphophage Lorac, a phiETA-like temperate phage that is similar at the nucleotide level to the previously described S. aureus prophage phiNM2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Marc
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Katie Cater
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Rohit Kongari
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Asma Hatoum-Aslan
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Ryland F Young
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Mei Liu
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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18
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Freeman ME, Kenny SE, Lanier A, Cater K, Wilhite MC, Gamble P, O'Leary CJ, Hatoum-Aslan A, Young RF, Liu M. Complete Genome Sequences of Staphylococcus epidermidis Myophages Quidividi, Terranova, and Twillingate. Microbiol Resour Announc 2019; 8:e00598-19. [PMID: 31248994 PMCID: PMC6597688 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00598-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis is an opportunistic pathogen that commonly colonizes human skin and mucous membranes. We report here the complete genome sequences of three S. epidermidis phages, Quidividi, Terranova, and Twillingate, which are members of the Twort-like group of large myophages infecting Gram-positive hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda E Freeman
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Sarah E Kenny
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Amanda Lanier
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Katie Cater
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Mary C Wilhite
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Paige Gamble
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Chandler J O'Leary
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Asma Hatoum-Aslan
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Ryland F Young
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Mei Liu
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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19
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Oliveira H, Sampaio M, Melo LDR, Dias O, Pope WH, Hatfull GF, Azeredo J. Staphylococci phages display vast genomic diversity and evolutionary relationships. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:357. [PMID: 31072320 PMCID: PMC6507118 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5647-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bacteriophages are the most abundant and diverse entities in the biosphere, and this diversity is driven by constant predator–prey evolutionary dynamics and horizontal gene transfer. Phage genome sequences are under-sampled and therefore present an untapped and uncharacterized source of genetic diversity, typically characterized by highly mosaic genomes and no universal genes. To better understand the diversity and relationships among phages infecting human pathogens, we have analysed the complete genome sequences of 205 phages of Staphylococcus sp. Results These are predicted to encode 20,579 proteins, which can be sorted into 2139 phamilies (phams) of related sequences; 745 of these are orphams and possess only a single gene. Based on shared gene content, these phages were grouped into four clusters (A, B, C and D), 27 subclusters (A1-A2, B1-B17, C1-C6 and D1-D2) and one singleton. However, the genomes have mosaic architectures and individual genes with common ancestors are positioned in distinct genomic contexts in different clusters. The staphylococcal Cluster B siphoviridae are predicted to be temperate, and the integration cassettes are often closely-linked to genes implicated in bacterial virulence determinants. There are four unusual endolysin organization strategies found in Staphylococcus phage genomes, with endolysins predicted to be encoded as single genes, two genes spliced, two genes adjacent and as a single gene with inter-lytic-domain secondary translational start site. Comparison of the endolysins reveals multi-domain modularity, with conservation of the SH3 cell wall binding domain. Conclusions This study provides a high-resolution view of staphylococcal viral genetic diversity, and insights into their gene flux patterns within and across different phage groups (cluster and subclusters) providing insights into their evolution. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5647-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Oliveira
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Marta Sampaio
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Luís D R Melo
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Oscar Dias
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Welkin H Pope
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Graham F Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Joana Azeredo
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
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20
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Chou-Zheng L, Hatoum-Aslan A. A type III-A CRISPR-Cas system employs degradosome nucleases to ensure robust immunity. eLife 2019; 8:e45393. [PMID: 30942690 PMCID: PMC6447361 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas systems provide sequence-specific immunity against phages and mobile genetic elements using CRISPR-associated nucleases guided by short CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs). Type III systems exhibit a robust immune response that can lead to the extinction of a phage population, a feat coordinated by a multi-subunit effector complex that destroys invading DNA and RNA. Here, we demonstrate that a model type III system in Staphylococcus epidermidis relies upon the activities of two degradosome-associated nucleases, PNPase and RNase J2, to mount a successful defense. Genetic, molecular, and biochemical analyses reveal that PNPase promotes crRNA maturation, and both nucleases are required for efficient clearance of phage-derived nucleic acids. Furthermore, functional assays show that RNase J2 is essential for immunity against diverse mobile genetic elements originating from plasmid and phage. Altogether, our observations reveal the evolution of a critical collaboration between two nucleic acid degrading machines which ensures cell survival when faced with phage attack.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Chou-Zheng
- Department of Biological SciencesThe University of AlabamaTuscaloosaUnited States
| | - Asma Hatoum-Aslan
- Department of Biological SciencesThe University of AlabamaTuscaloosaUnited States
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21
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Draft Genome Sequences of Staphylococcus Podophages JBug18, Pike, Pontiff, and Pabna. Microbiol Resour Announc 2019; 8:MRA00054-19. [PMID: 30834363 PMCID: PMC6386564 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00054-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We report here the draft genome sequences of Staphylococcus bacteriophages JBug18, Pike, Pontiff, and Pabna, which infect and lyse S. epidermidis and S. aureus strains. All bacteriophages belong to the morphological family Podoviridae and constitute attractive candidates for use as whole-phage therapeutics due to their compact genomes and lytic lifestyles. We report here the draft genome sequences of Staphylococcus bacteriophages JBug18, Pike, Pontiff, and Pabna, which infect and lyse S. epidermidis and S. aureus strains. All bacteriophages belong to the morphological family Podoviridae and constitute attractive candidates for use as whole-phage therapeutics due to their compact genomes and lytic lifestyles.
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22
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Nayeemul Bari SM, Hatoum-Aslan A. CRISPR-Cas10 assisted editing of virulent staphylococcal phages. Methods Enzymol 2018; 616:385-409. [PMID: 30691652 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2018.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Phages are the most abundant entities in the biosphere and profoundly impact the bacterial populations within and around us. They attach to a specific host, inject their DNA, hijack the host's cellular processes, and replicate exponentially while destroying the host. Historically, phages have been exploited as powerful antimicrobials, and phage-derived proteins have constituted the basis for numerous biotechnological applications. Only in recent years have metagenomic studies revealed that phage genomes harbor a rich reservoir of genetic diversity, which might afford further therapeutic and/or biotechnological value. Nevertheless, functions for the majority of phage genes remain unknown, and due to their swift and destructive replication cycle, many phages are intractable by current genetic engineering techniques. Whether to advance the basic understanding of phage biology or to tap into their potential applications, efficient methods for phage genetic engineering are needed. Recent reports have shown that CRISPR-Cas systems, a class of prokaryotic immune systems that protect against phage infection, can be harnessed to engineer diverse phages. In this chapter, we describe methods to genetically manipulate virulent phages using CRISPR-Cas10, a Type III-A CRISPR-Cas system native to Staphylococcus epidermidis. A method for engineering phages that infect a CRISPR-less Staphylococcus aureus host is also described. Both approaches have proved successful in isolating desired phage mutants with 100% efficiency, demonstrating that CRISPR-Cas10 constitutes a powerful tool for phage genetic engineering. The relatively widespread presence of Type III CRISPR-Cas systems in bacteria and archaea imply that similar strategies may be used to manipulate the genomes of diverse prokaryotic viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Nayeemul Bari
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States
| | - Asma Hatoum-Aslan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States.
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23
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Antibacterial Effects of Phage Lysin LysGH15 on Planktonic Cells and Biofilms of Diverse Staphylococci. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.00886-18. [PMID: 29776929 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00886-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of infections caused by staphylococci has become more difficult because of the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains as well as biofilm formation. In this study, we observed the ability of the phage lysin LysGH15 to eliminate staphylococcal planktonic cells and biofilms formed by Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Staphylococcus hominis All these strains were sensitive to LysGH15, showing reductions in bacterial counts of approximately 4 log units within 30 min after treatment with 20 μg/ml of LysGH15, and the MICs ranged from 8 μg/ml to 32 μg/ml. LysGH15 efficiently prevented biofilm formation by the four staphylococcal species at a dose of 50 μg/ml. At a higher dose (100 μg/ml), LysGH15 also showed notable disrupting activity against 24-h and 72-h biofilms formed by S. aureus and coagulase-negative species. In the in vivo experiments, a single intraperitoneal injection of LysGH15 (20 μg/mouse) administered 1 h after the injection of S. epidermidis at double the minimum lethal dose was sufficient to protect the mice. The S. epidermidis cell counts were 4 log units lower in the blood and 3 log units lower in the organs of mice 24 h after treatment with LysGH15 than in the untreated control mice. LysGH15 reduced cytokine levels in the blood and improved pathological changes in the organs. The broad antistaphylococcal activity exerted by LysGH15 on planktonic cells and biofilms makes LysGH15 a valuable treatment option for biofilm-related or non-biofilm-related staphylococcal infections.IMPORTANCE Most staphylococcal species are major causes of health care- and community-associated infections. In particular, Staphylococcus aureus is a common and dangerous pathogen, and Staphylococcus epidermidis is a ubiquitous skin commensal and opportunistic pathogen. Treatment of infections caused by staphylococci has become more difficult because of the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains as well as biofilm formation. In this study, we found that all tested S. aureus, S. epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Staphylococcus hominis strains were sensitive to the phage lysin LysGH15 (MICs ranging from 8 to 32 μg/ml). More importantly, LysGH15 not only prevented biofilm formation by these staphylococci but also disrupted 24-h and 72-h biofilms. Furthermore, the in vivo efficacy of LysGH15 was demonstrated in a mouse model of S. epidermidis bacteremia. Thus, LysGH15 exhibits therapeutic potential for treating biofilm-related or non-biofilm-related infections caused by diverse staphylococci.
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24
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Hatoum-Aslan A. Phage Genetic Engineering Using CRISPR⁻Cas Systems. Viruses 2018; 10:E335. [PMID: 29921752 PMCID: PMC6024849 DOI: 10.3390/v10060335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Since their discovery over a decade ago, the class of prokaryotic immune systems known as CRISPR⁻Cas have afforded a suite of genetic tools that have revolutionized research in model organisms spanning all domains of life. CRISPR-mediated tools have also emerged for the natural targets of CRISPR⁻Cas immunity, the viruses that specifically infect bacteria, or phages. Despite their status as the most abundant biological entities on the planet, the majority of phage genes have unassigned functions. This reality underscores the need for robust genetic tools to study them. Recent reports have demonstrated that CRISPR⁻Cas systems, specifically the three major types (I, II, and III), can be harnessed to genetically engineer phages that infect diverse hosts. Here, the mechanisms of each of these systems, specific strategies used, and phage editing efficacies will be reviewed. Due to the relatively wide distribution of CRISPR⁻Cas systems across bacteria and archaea, it is anticipated that these immune systems will provide generally applicable tools that will advance the mechanistic understanding of prokaryotic viruses and accelerate the development of novel technologies based on these ubiquitous organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Hatoum-Aslan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA.
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Bari SMN, Walker FC, Cater K, Aslan B, Hatoum-Aslan A. Strategies for Editing Virulent Staphylococcal Phages Using CRISPR-Cas10. ACS Synth Biol 2017; 6:2316-2325. [PMID: 28885820 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococci are prevalent skin-dwelling bacteria that are also leading causes of antibiotic-resistant infections. Viruses that infect and lyse these organisms (virulent staphylococcal phages) can be used as alternatives to conventional antibiotics and represent promising tools to eliminate or manipulate specific species in the microbiome. However, since over half their genes have unknown functions, virulent staphylococcal phages carry inherent risk to cause unknown downstream side effects. Further, their swift and destructive reproductive cycle make them intractable by current genetic engineering techniques. CRISPR-Cas10 is an elaborate prokaryotic immune system that employs small RNAs and a multisubunit protein complex to detect and destroy phages and other foreign nucleic acids. Some staphylococci naturally possess CRISPR-Cas10 systems, thus providing an attractive tool already installed in the host chromosome to harness for phage genome engineering. However, the efficiency of CRISPR-Cas10 immunity against virulent staphylococcal phages and corresponding utility as a tool to facilitate their genome editing has not been explored. Here, we show that the CRISPR-Cas10 system native to Staphylococcus epidermidis exhibits robust immunity against diverse virulent staphylococcal phages. On the basis of this activity, a general two-step approach was developed to edit these phages that relies upon homologous recombination machinery encoded in the host. Variations of this approach to edit toxic phage genes and access phages that infect CRISPR-less staphylococci are also presented. This versatile set of genetic tools enables the systematic study of phage genes of unknown functions and the design of genetically defined phage-based antimicrobials that can eliminate or manipulate specific Staphylococcus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. M. Nayeemul Bari
- Department of Biological
Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Forrest C. Walker
- Department of Biological
Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Katie Cater
- Department of Biological
Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Barbaros Aslan
- Department of Biological
Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Asma Hatoum-Aslan
- Department of Biological
Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
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