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Ojha R, Krug S, Jones P, Koestler BJ. Intact and mutated Shigella diguanylate cyclases increase c-di-GMP. J Biol Chem 2024:107525. [PMID: 38960033 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The intracellular human pathogen Shigella invades the colonic epithelium to cause disease. Prior to invasion, this bacterium navigates through different environments within the human body, including the stomach and the small intestine. To adapt to changing environments, Shigella uses the bacterial second messenger c-di-GMP signaling system, synthesized by diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) encoding GGDEF domains. Shigella flexneri encodes a total of 9 GGDEF or GGDEF-EAL domain enzymes in its genome, but 5 of these genes have acquired mutations that presumably inactivated the c-di-GMP synthesis activity of these enzymes. In this study, we examined individual S. flexneri DGCs for their role in c-di-GMP synthesis and pathogenesis. We individually expressed each of the 4 intact DGCs in an S. flexneri strain where these 4 DGCs had been deleted (Δ4DGC). We found that the 4 S. flexneri intact DGCs synthesize c-di-GMP at different levels in vitro and during infection of tissue-cultured cells. We also found that dgcF and dgcI expression significantly reduces invasion and plaque formation, and dgcF expression increases acid sensitivity, and that these phenotypes did not correspond with measured c-di-GMP levels. However, deletion of these 4 DGCs did not eliminate S. flexneri c-di-GMP, and we found that dgcE, dgcQ, and dgcN, which all have nonsense mutations prior to the GGDEF domain, still produce c-di-GMP. These S. flexneri degenerate DGC pseudogenes are expressed as multiple proteins, consistent with multiple start codons within the gene. We propose that both intact and degenerate DGCs contribute to S. flexneri c-di-GMP signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchi Ojha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
| | - Stefanie Krug
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Prentiss Jones
- Department of Pathology, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker, M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
| | - Benjamin J Koestler
- Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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2
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Yang Y, Wang P, Qaidi SE, Hardwidge PR, Huang J, Zhu G. Loss to gain: pseudogenes in microorganisms, focusing on eubacteria, and their biological significance. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:328. [PMID: 38717672 PMCID: PMC11078800 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12971-w] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Pseudogenes are defined as "non-functional" copies of corresponding parent genes. The cognition of pseudogenes continues to be refreshed through accumulating and updating research findings. Previous studies have predominantly focused on mammals, but pseudogenes have received relatively less attention in the field of microbiology. Given the increasing recognition on the importance of pseudogenes, in this review, we focus on several aspects of microorganism pseudogenes, including their classification and characteristics, their generation and fate, their identification, their abundance and distribution, their impact on virulence, their ability to recombine with functional genes, the extent to which some pseudogenes are transcribed and translated, and the relationship between pseudogenes and viruses. By summarizing and organizing the latest research progress, this review will provide a comprehensive perspective and improved understanding on pseudogenes in microorganisms. KEY POINTS: • Concept, classification and characteristics, identification and databases, content, and distribution of microbial pseudogenes are presented. • How pseudogenization contribute to pathogen virulence is highlighted. • Pseudogenes with potential functions in microorganisms are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation On Prevention and Control Technology of Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Pengzhi Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation On Prevention and Control Technology of Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Philip R Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Jinlin Huang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China.
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
| | - Guoqiang Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China.
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation On Prevention and Control Technology of Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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3
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León Y, Honigsberg R, Rasko DA, Faherty CS. Gastrointestinal signals in supplemented media reveal a role in adherence for the Shigella flexneri sap autotransporter gene. Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2331985. [PMID: 38549437 PMCID: PMC10984119 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2331985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Shigella flexneri causes severe diarrheal disease worldwide. While many aspects of pathogenesis have been elucidated, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the role of putative chromosomally-encoded virulence genes. The uncharacterized sap gene encoded on the chromosome has significant nucleotide sequence identity to the fluffy (flu) antigen 43 autotransporter gene in pathogenic Escherichia coli. Here, we constructed a Δsap mutant in S. flexneri strain 2457T and examined the effects of this mutation on bacterial cell aggregation, biofilm formation, and adherence to colonic epithelial cells. Analyses included the use of growth media supplemented with glucose and bile salts to replicate small intestinal signals encountered by S. flexneri. Deletion of the sap gene in 2457T affected epithelial cell adherence, resulted in quicker bacterial cell aggregation, but did not affect biofilm formation. This work highlights a functional role for the sap gene in S. flexneri pathogenesis and further demonstrates the importance of using relevant and appropriate gastrointestinal signals to characterize virulence genes of enteropathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yrvin León
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Raphael Honigsberg
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
- École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, Département d’Enseignement et de, Recherche de Biologie, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - David A. Rasko
- Institute for Genome Sciences, Center for Pathogen Research, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christina S. Faherty
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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4
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Song Y, Sun M, Mu G, Tuo Y. Exopolysaccharide produced by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Y12 exhibits inhibitory effect on the Shigella flexneri genes expression related to biofilm formation. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127048. [PMID: 37748596 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Shigella is a specific enteric pathogen in humans, causing symptoms of bacterial dysentery. The biofilm formation of S. flexneri contributes to the emergence of multidrug resistance and facilitates the establishment of persistent chronic infections. This study investigated the regulatory effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Y12 exopolysaccharide (L-EPS) on gene expression and its spatial hindrance effects in inhibiting the biofilm formation of S. flexneri. The transcriptome analysis revealed a significant impact of L-EPS on the gene expression profile of S. flexneri, with a total of 968 genes showing significant changes (507 up-regulated and 461 down-regulated). The significantly down-regulated KEGG metabolic pathway enriched in phosphotransferase system, Embden-Meyerhf-Parnas, Citrate cycle, Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, Cationic antimicrobial peptide resistance, Two-component system. Moreover, L-EPS significantly down-regulated the gene expression levels of fimbriae synthesis (fimF), lipopolysaccharide synthesis (lptE, lptB), anchor protein repeat domain (arpA), virulence factor (lpp, yqgB), antibiotic resistance (marR, cusB, mdtL, mdlB), heavy metal resistance (zraP), and polysaccharide synthesis (mtgA, mdoB, mdoC). The expression of biofilm regulator factor (bssS) and two-component system suppressor factor (mgrB) were significantly up-regulated. The RT-qPCR results indicated that a major component of L-EPS (L-EPS 2-1) exhibited the gene regulatory effect on the S. flexneri biofilm formation. Furthermore, electrophoresis and isothermal microtitration calorimetry demonstrated that the interaction between L-EPS 2-1 and eDNA is electrostatic dependent on the change in environmental pH, disrupting the stable spatial structure of S. flexneri biofilm. In conclusion, L-EPS inhibited the biofilm formation of S. flexneri through gene regulation and spatial obstruction effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinglong Song
- School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, PR China
| | - Mengying Sun
- School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, PR China
| | - Guangqing Mu
- School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, PR China; Dalian Probiotics Function Research Key Laboratory, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, PR China.
| | - Yanfeng Tuo
- School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, PR China.
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5
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Matanza XM, Clements A. Pathogenicity and virulence of Shigella sonnei: A highly drug-resistant pathogen of increasing prevalence. Virulence 2023; 14:2280838. [PMID: 37994877 PMCID: PMC10732612 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2280838] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Shigella spp. are the causative agent of shigellosis (or bacillary dysentery), a diarrhoeal disease characterized for the bacterial invasion of gut epithelial cells. Among the 4 species included in the genus, Shigella flexneri is principally responsible for the disease in the developing world while Shigella sonnei is the main causative agent in high-income countries. Remarkably, as more countries improve their socioeconomic conditions, we observe an increase in the relative prevalence of S. sonnei. To date, the reasons behind this change in aetiology depending on economic growth are not understood. S. flexneri has been widely used as a model to study the pathogenesis of the genus, but as more research data are collected, important discrepancies with S. sonnei have come to light. In comparison to S. flexneri, S. sonnei can be differentiated in numerous aspects; it presents a characteristic O-antigen identical to that of one serogroup of the environmental bacterium Plesiomonas shigelloides, a group 4 capsule, antibacterial mechanisms to outcompete and displace gut commensal bacteria, and a poorer adaptation to an intracellular lifestyle. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) have recognized the significant threat posed by antibiotic-resistant strains of S. sonnei, demanding new approaches. This review gathers knowledge on what is known about S. sonnei within the context of other Shigella spp. and aims to open the door for future research on understanding the increasing spread of this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xosé M. Matanza
- Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Abigail Clements
- Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
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6
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Perlman M, Senger S, Verma S, Carey J, Faherty CS. A foundational approach to culture and analyze malnourished organoids. Gut Microbes 2023; 15:2248713. [PMID: 37724815 PMCID: PMC10512930 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2248713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium plays a major role in nutrient absorption, barrier formation, and innate immunity. The development of organoid-based methodology has significantly impacted the study of the GI epithelium, particularly in the fields of mucosal biology, immunity, and host-microbe interactions. Various effects on the GI epithelium, such as genetics and nutrition, impact patients and alter disease states. Thus, incorporating these effects into organoid-based models will facilitate a better understanding of disease progression and offer opportunities to evaluate therapeutic candidates. One condition that has a significant effect on the GI epithelium is malnutrition, and studying the mechanistic impacts of malnutrition would enhance our understanding of several pathologies. Therefore, the goal of this study was to begin to develop methodology to generate viable malnourished organoids with accessible techniques and resources that can be used for a wide array of mechanistic studies. By selectively limiting distinct macronutrient components of organoid media, we were able to successfully culture and evaluate malnourished organoids. Genetic and protein-based analyses were used to validate the approach and confirm the presence of known biomarkers of malnutrition. Additionally, as proof-of-concept, we utilized malnourished organoid-derived monolayers to evaluate the effect of malnourishment on barrier formation and the ability of the bacterial pathogen Shigella flexneri to infect the GI epithelium. This work serves as the basis for new and exciting techniques to alter the nutritional state of organoids and investigate the related impacts on the GI epithelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meryl Perlman
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stefania Senger
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Smriti Verma
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James Carey
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christina S. Faherty
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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7
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Zhou X, Kang X, Chen J, Song Y, Jia C, Teng L, Tang Y, Jiang Z, Peng X, Tao X, Xu Y, Huang L, Xu X, Xu Y, Zhang T, Yu S, Gong J, Wang S, Liu Y, Zhu G, Kehrenberg C, Weill FX, Barrow P, Li Y, Zhao G, Yue M. Genome degradation promotes Salmonella pathoadaptation by remodeling fimbriae-mediated proinflammatory response. Natl Sci Rev 2023; 10:nwad228. [PMID: 37965675 PMCID: PMC10642762 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding changes in pathogen behavior (e.g. increased virulence, a shift in transmission channel) is critical for the public health management of emerging infectious diseases. Genome degradation via gene depletion or inactivation is recognized as a pathoadaptive feature of the pathogen evolving with the host. However, little is known about the exact role of genome degradation in affecting pathogenic behavior, and the underlying molecular detail has yet to be examined. Using large-scale global avian-restricted Salmonella genomes spanning more than a century, we projected the genetic diversity of Salmonella Pullorum (bvSP) by showing increasingly antimicrobial-resistant ST92 prevalent in Chinese flocks. The phylogenomic analysis identified three lineages in bvSP, with an enhancement of virulence in the two recently emerged lineages (L2/L3), as evidenced in chicken and embryo infection assays. Notably, the ancestor L1 lineage resembles the Salmonella serovars with higher metabolic flexibilities and more robust environmental tolerance, indicating stepwise evolutionary trajectories towards avian-restricted lineages. Pan-genome analysis pinpointed fimbrial degradation from a virulent lineage. The later engineered fim-deletion mutant, and all other five fimbrial systems, revealed behavior switching that restricted horizontal fecal-oral transmission but boosted virulence in chicks. By depleting fimbrial appendages, bvSP established persistent replication with less proinflammation in chick macrophages and adopted vertical transovarial transmission, accompanied by ever-increasing intensification in the poultry industry. Together, we uncovered a previously unseen paradigm for remodeling bacterial surface appendages that supplements virulence-enhanced evolution with increased vertical transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhou
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Ningbo Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ningbo 315040, China
| | - Xiamei Kang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jiaqi Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yan Song
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chenghao Jia
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Lin Teng
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yanting Tang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhijie Jiang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xianqi Peng
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaoxi Tao
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yiwei Xu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Linlin Huang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xuebin Xu
- Department of Microbiology Laboratory, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Yaohui Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou 450053, China
| | - Tengfei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control Agents for Animal Bacteriosis, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, China
| | - Shenye Yu
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
| | - Jiansen Gong
- Poultry Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yangzhou 225125, China
| | - Shaohui Wang
- Department of Animal Public Health, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yuqing Liu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Guoqiang Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Corinna Kehrenberg
- Institute for Veterinary Food Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen 35392, Germany
| | - François-Xavier Weill
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité des bactéries pathogènes entériques, Paris 75724, France
| | - Paul Barrow
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7AL, UK
| | - Yan Li
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Guoping Zhao
- School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Min Yue
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya 572025, China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
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8
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Römling U, Cao LY, Bai FW. Evolution of cyclic di-GMP signalling on a short and long term time scale. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169:001354. [PMID: 37384391 PMCID: PMC10333796 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Diversifying radiation of domain families within specific lineages of life indicates the importance of their functionality for the organisms. The foundation for the diversifying radiation of the cyclic di-GMP signalling network that occurred within the bacterial kingdom is most likely based in the outmost adaptability, flexibility and plasticity of the system. Integrative sensing of multiple diverse extra- and intracellular signals is made possible by the N-terminal sensory domains of the modular cyclic di-GMP turnover proteins, mutations in the protein scaffolds and subsequent signal reception by diverse receptors, which eventually rewires opposite host-associated as well as environmental life styles including parallel regulated target outputs. Natural, laboratory and microcosm derived microbial variants often with an altered multicellular biofilm behaviour as reading output demonstrated single amino acid substitutions to substantially alter catalytic activity including substrate specificity. Truncations and domain swapping of cyclic di-GMP signalling genes and horizontal gene transfer suggest rewiring of the network. Presence of cyclic di-GMP signalling genes on horizontally transferable elements in particular observed in extreme acidophilic bacteria indicates that cyclic di-GMP signalling and biofilm components are under selective pressure in these types of environments. On a short and long term evolutionary scale, within a species and in families within bacterial orders, respectively, the cyclic di-GMP signalling network can also rapidly disappear. To investigate variability of the cyclic di-GMP signalling system on various levels will give clues about evolutionary forces and discover novel physiological and metabolic pathways affected by this intriguing second messenger signalling system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ute Römling
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lian-Ying Cao
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Feng-Wu Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China
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9
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Cai T, Li Z, Guo P, Guo J, Wang R, Guo D, Yu J, Lü X, Xia X, Shi C. Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Efficacy and Mechanism of Oregano Essential Oil Against Shigella flexneri. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2023; 20:209-221. [PMID: 37335913 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2023.0006] [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: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the antimicrobial activity of oregano essential oil (OEO) against Shigella flexneri and eradication efficacy of OEO on biofilm. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of OEO against S. flexneri were 0.02% (v/v) and 0.04% (v/v), respectively. OEO effectively killed S. flexneri in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth and contaminated minced pork (the initial population of S. flexneri was about 7.0 log CFU/mL or 7.2 log CFU/g), and after treatment with OEO at 2 MIC in LB broth or at 15 MIC in minced pork, the population of S. flexneri decreased to an undetectable level after 2 or 9 h, respectively. OEO increased intracellular reactive oxygen species concentration, destroyed cell membrane, changed cell morphology, decreased intracellular ATP concentration, caused cell membrane depolarization, and destroyed proteins or inhibited proteins synthesis of S. flexneri. In addition, OEO effectively eradicated the biofilm of S. flexneri by effectively inactivating S. flexneri in mature biofilm, destroying the three-dimensional structure, and reducing exopolysaccharide biomass of S. flexneri. In conclusion, OEO exerts its antimicrobial action effectively and also has a valid scavenging effect on the biofilm of S. flexneri. These findings suggest that OEO has the potential to be used as a natural antibacterial and antibiofilm material in the control of S. flexneri in meat product supply chain, thereby preventing meat-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Cai
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Zhenye Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Peng Guo
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Jialu Guo
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Ruixia Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Du Guo
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Jiangtao Yu
- Yangling Hesheng Irradiation Technologies Co., Ltd, Yangling, China
| | - Xin Lü
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Xiaodong Xia
- School of Food Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, China
| | - Chao Shi
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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10
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Boero E, Vezzani G, Micoli F, Pizza M, Rossi O. Functional assays to evaluate antibody-mediated responses against Shigella: a review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1171213. [PMID: 37260708 PMCID: PMC10227456 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1171213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Shigella is a major global pathogen and the etiological agent of shigellosis, a diarrheal disease that primarily affects low- and middle-income countries. Shigellosis is characterized by a complex, multistep pathogenesis during which bacteria use multiple invasion proteins to manipulate and invade the intestinal epithelium. Antibodies, especially against the O-antigen and some invasion proteins, play a protective role as titres against specific antigens inversely correlate with disease severity; however, the context of antibody action during pathogenesis remains to be elucidated, especially with Shigella being mostly an intracellular pathogen. In the absence of a correlate of protection, functional assays rebuilding salient moments of Shigella pathogenesis can improve our understanding of the role of protective antibodies in blocking infection and disease. In vitro assays are important tools to build correlates of protection. Only recently animal models to recapitulate human pathogenesis, often not in full, have been established. This review aims to discuss in vitro assays to evaluate the functionality of anti-Shigella antibodies in polyclonal sera in light of the multistep and multifaced Shigella infection process. Indeed, measurement of antibody level alone may limit the evaluation of full vaccine potential. Serum bactericidal assay (SBA), and other functional assays such as opsonophagocytic killing assays (OPKA), and adhesion/invasion inhibition assays (AIA), are instead physiologically relevant and may provide important information regarding the role played by these effector mechanisms in protective immunity. Ultimately, the review aims at providing scientists in the field with new points of view regarding the significance of functional assays of choice which may be more representative of immune-mediated protection mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Boero
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) S.r.l., Siena, Italy
| | - Giacomo Vezzani
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) S.r.l., Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Micoli
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) S.r.l., Siena, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Pizza
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) S.r.l., Siena, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Omar Rossi
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) S.r.l., Siena, Italy
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11
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Basak P, Maitra P, Khan U, Saha K, Bhattacharya SS, Dutta M, Bhattacharya S. Capsaicin Inhibits Shigella flexneri Intracellular Growth by Inducing Autophagy. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:903438. [PMID: 35873583 PMCID: PMC9298657 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.903438] [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: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic treatment plays an essential role in preventing Shigella infection. However, incidences of global rise in antibiotic resistance create a major challenge to treat bacterial infection. In this context, there is an urgent need for newer approaches to reduce S. flexneri burden. This study largely focuses on the role of the herbal compound capsaicin (Caps) in inhibiting S. flexneri growth and evaluating the molecular mechanism behind bacterial clearance. Here, we show for the first time that Caps inhibits intracellular S. flexneri growth by inducing autophagy. Activation of autophagy by Caps is mediated through transcription factor TFEB, a master regulator of autophagosome biogenesis. Caps induced the nuclear localization of TFEB. Activation of TFEB further induces the gene transcription of autophagosomal genes. Our findings revealed that the inhibition of autophagy by silencing TFEB and Atg5 induces bacterial growth. Hence, Caps-induced autophagy is one of the key factors responsible for bacterial clearance. Moreover, Caps restricted the intracellular proliferation of S. flexneri-resistant strain. The efficacy of Caps in reducing S. flexneri growth was confirmed by an animal model. This study showed for the first time that S. flexneri infection can be inhibited by inducing autophagy. Overall observations suggest that Caps activates TFEB to induce autophagy and thereby combat S. flexneri infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Basak
- Division of Biochemistry, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
| | - Priyanka Maitra
- Division of Biochemistry, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
| | - Uzma Khan
- Division of Biochemistry, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
| | - Kalyani Saha
- Division of Biochemistry, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Moumita Dutta
- Division of Electron Microscopy, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
| | - Sushmita Bhattacharya
- Division of Biochemistry, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
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12
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Torrez Lamberti MF, Terán LC, Lopez FE, de Las Mercedes Pescaretti M, Delgado MA. Genomic and proteomic characterization of two strains of Shigella flexneri 2 isolated from infants' stool samples in Argentina. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:495. [PMID: 35804311 PMCID: PMC9264714 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08711-5] [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: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Shigella specie is a globally important intestinal pathogen disseminated all over the world. In this study we analyzed the genome and the proteomic component of two Shigella flexneri 2a clinical isolates, collected from pediatric patients with gastroenteritis of the Northwest region of Argentina (NWA) in two periods of time, with four years of difference. Our goal was to determine putative changes at molecular levels occurred during these four years, that could explain the presence of this Shigella`s serovar as the prevalent pathogen in the population under study. Results As previously reported, our findings support the idea of Shigella has a conserved “core” genome, since comparative studies of CI133 and CI172 genomes performed against 80 genomes obtained from the NCBI database, showed that there is a large number of genes shared among all of them. However, we observed that CI133 and CI172 harbors a small number of strain-specific genes, several of them present in mobile genetic elements, supporting the hypothesis that these isolates were established in the population by horizontal acquisition of genes. These differences were also observed at proteomic level, where it was possible to detect the presence of certain secreted proteins in a culture medium that simulates the host environment. Conclusion Great similarities were observed between the CI133 and CI172 strains, confirming the high percentage of genes constituting the “core” genome of S. flexneri 2. However, numerous strain specific genes were also determined. The presence of the here identified molecular elements into other strain of our culture collation, is currently used to develop characteristic markers of local pathogens. In addition, the most outstanding result of this study was the first description of a S. flexneri 2 producing Colicin E, as one of the characteristics that allows S. flexneri 2 to persist in the microbial community. These findings could also contribute to clarify the mechanism and the evolution strategy used by this pathogen to specifically colonize, survive, and cause infection within the NWA population. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08711-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica F Torrez Lamberti
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr. Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT. Chacabuco 461, 5Q7R+96, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Lucrecia C Terán
- Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos (CERELA-CONICET), Chacabuco 145, 5Q9R+3J, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Fabián E Lopez
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr. Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT. Chacabuco 461, 5Q7R+96, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.,Universidad Nacional de Chilecito (UNdeC), 9 de Julio 22, F5360CKB, Chilecito, La Rioja, Argentina
| | - María de Las Mercedes Pescaretti
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr. Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT. Chacabuco 461, 5Q7R+96, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.
| | - Mónica A Delgado
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr. Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT. Chacabuco 461, 5Q7R+96, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.
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13
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Skovajsová E, Colonna B, Prosseda G, Sellin ME, Di Martino ML. The VirF21:VirF30 protein ratio is affected by temperature and impacts Shigella flexneri host cell invasion. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2022; 369:fnac043. [PMID: 35521699 PMCID: PMC9217107 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnac043] [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: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Shigella spp, the etiological agents of bacillary dysentery in humans, have evolved an intricate regulatory strategy to ensure fine-tuned expression of virulence genes in response to environmental stimuli. A key component in this regulation is VirF, an AraC-like transcription factor, which at the host temperature (37°C) triggers, directly or indirectly, the expression of > 30 virulence genes important for invasion of the intestinal epithelium. Previous work identified two different forms of VirF with distinct functions: VirF30 activates virulence gene expression, while VirF21 appears to negatively regulate virF itself. Moreover, VirF21 originates from either differential translation of the virF mRNA or from a shorter leaderless mRNA (llmRNA). Here we report that both expression of the virF21 llmRNA and the VirF21:VirF30 protein ratio are higher at 30°C than at 37°C, suggesting a possible involvement of VirF21 in minimizing virulence gene expression outside the host (30°C). Ectopic elevation of VirF21 levels at 37°C indeed suppresses Shigella´s ability to infect epithelial cells. Finally, we find that the VirF21 C-terminal portion, predicted to contain a Helix-Turn-Helix motif (HTH2), is required for the functionality of this negative virulence regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Skovajsová
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 75123, Sweden
| | - Bianca Colonna
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Istituto Pasteur Italia, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Gianni Prosseda
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Istituto Pasteur Italia, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Mikael E Sellin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 75123, Sweden
| | - Maria Letizia Di Martino
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 75123, Sweden
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14
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Clarkson KA, Porter CK, Talaat KR, Kapulu MC, Chen WH, Frenck RW, Bourgeois AL, Kaminski RW, Martin LB. Shigella-Controlled Human Infection Models: Current and Future Perspectives. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2022. [PMID: 35616717 DOI: 10.1007/82_2021_248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Shigella-controlled human infection models (CHIMs) are an invaluable tool utilized by the vaccine community to combat one of the leading global causes of infectious diarrhea, which affects infants, children and adults regardless of socioeconomic status. The impact of shigellosis disproportionately affects children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) resulting in cognitive and physical stunting, perpetuating a cycle that must be halted. Shigella-CHIMs not only facilitate the early evaluation of enteric countermeasures and up-selection of the most promising products but also provide insight into mechanisms of infection and immunity that are not possible utilizing animal models or in vitro systems. The greater understanding of shigellosis obtained in CHIMs builds and empowers the development of new generation solutions to global health issues which are unattainable in the conventional laboratory and clinical settings. Therefore, refining, mining and expansion of safe and reproducible infection models hold the potential to create effective means to end diarrheal disease and associated co-morbidities associated with Shigella infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen A Clarkson
- Department of Diarrheal Disease Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Chad K Porter
- Enteric Disease Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Kawsar R Talaat
- Center for Immunization Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway Street Hampton House, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Melissa C Kapulu
- Department of Biosciences, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi County Hospital, Off Bofa Road, Kilifi, 80108, Kenya
| | - Wilbur H Chen
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Robert W Frenck
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - A Louis Bourgeois
- PATH Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, 455 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
| | - Robert W Kaminski
- Department of Diarrheal Disease Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Laura B Martin
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100, Siena, Italy.
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15
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YfiB: An Outer Membrane Protein Involved in the Virulence of Shigella flexneri. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10030653. [PMID: 35336228 PMCID: PMC8948675 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The intracellular pathogen Shigella flexneri, which is the causative agent of bacillary dysentery, significantly influences the worldwide implication of diarrheal infections, consequentially causing about 1.1 million deaths each year. Due to a nonavailability of an authorized vaccine and the upsurge of multidrug resistance amongst Shigella strains, there has been a huge demand for further genetic analyses which could help in the advancement of new/improved drugs, and finding vaccine candidates against the pathogen. The present study aims to illustrate the role of the yfiB gene in Shigella virulence, part of the periplasmic YfiBNR tripartite signalling system. This system is involved in the regulation of cyclic-di-GMP levels inside the bacterial cells, a vital messenger molecule impacting varied cellular processes such as biofilm formation, cytotoxicity, motility, synthesis of exopolysaccharide, and other virulence mechanisms such as adhesion and invasion of the bacteria. Through a combination of genetic, biochemical, and virulence assays, we show how knocking out the yfiB gene can disrupt the entire YfiBNR system and affect the native c-di-GMP levels. We found that this subsequently causes a negative effect on the biofilm formation, bacterial invasion, host–surface attachment, and the overall virulence of Shigella. This study also carried out a structural and functional assessment of the YfiB protein and determined critical amino acid residues, essential for proper functioning of this signalling system. The present work improves our understanding of the in vivo persistence and survival of Shigella, brings light to the c-di-GMP led regulation of Shigella virulence, and provides a prospective new target to design anti-infection drugs and vaccines against S. flexneri and other bacterial pathogens.
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16
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High-Throughput CRISPR Screens To Dissect Macrophage- Shigella Interactions. mBio 2021; 12:e0215821. [PMID: 34933448 PMCID: PMC8689513 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02158-21] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Shigellosis causes most diarrheal deaths worldwide, particularly affecting children. Shigella invades and replicates in the epithelium of the large intestine, eliciting inflammation and tissue destruction. To understand how Shigella rewires macrophages prior to epithelium invasion, we performed genome-wide and focused secondary CRISPR knockout and CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screens in Shigella flexneri-infected human monocytic THP-1 cells. Knockdown of the Toll-like receptor 1/2 signaling pathway significantly reduced proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production, enhanced host cell survival, and controlled intracellular pathogen growth. Knockdown of the enzymatic component of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex enhanced THP-1 cell survival. Small-molecule inhibitors blocking key components of these pathways had similar effects; these were validated with human monocyte-derived macrophages, which closely mimic the in vivo physiological state of macrophages postinfection. High-throughput CRISPR screens can elucidate how S. flexneri triggers inflammation and redirects host pyruvate catabolism for energy acquisition before killing macrophages, pointing to new shigellosis therapies.
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17
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Abstract
Shigella flexneri is an intracellular human pathogen that invades colonic cells and causes bloody diarrhea. S. flexneri evolved from commensal Escherichia coli, and genome comparisons reveal that S. flexneri has lost approximately 20% of its genes through the process of pathoadaptation, including a disproportionate number of genes associated with the turnover of the nucleotide-based second messenger cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP); however, the remaining c-di-GMP turnover enzymes are highly conserved. c-di-GMP regulates many behavioral changes in other bacteria in response to changing environmental conditions, including biofilm formation, but this signaling system has not been examined in S. flexneri. In this study, we expressed VCA0956, a constitutively active c-di-GMP synthesizing diguanylate cyclase (DGC) from Vibrio cholerae, in S. flexneri to determine if virulence phenotypes were regulated by c-di-GMP. We found that expressing VCA0956 in S. flexneri increased c-di-GMP levels, and this corresponds with increased biofilm formation and reduced acid resistance, host cell invasion, and plaque size. We examined the impact of VCA0956 expression on the S. flexneri transcriptome and found that genes related to acid resistance were repressed, and this corresponded with decreased survival to acid shock. We also found that individual S. flexneri DGC mutants exhibit reduced biofilm formation and reduced host cell invasion and plaque size, as well as increased resistance to acid shock. This study highlights the importance of c-di-GMP signaling in regulating S. flexneri virulence phenotypes. IMPORTANCE The intracellular human pathogen Shigella causes dysentery, resulting in as many as one million deaths per year. Currently, there is no approved vaccine for the prevention of shigellosis, and the incidence of antimicrobial resistance among Shigella species is on the rise. Here, we explored how the widely conserved c-di-GMP bacterial signaling system alters Shigella behaviors associated with pathogenesis. We found that expressing or removing enzymes associated with c-di-GMP synthesis results in changes in Shigella's ability to form biofilms, invade host cells, form lesions in host cell monolayers, and resist acid stress.
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18
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Nickerson KP, Llanos-Chea A, Ingano L, Serena G, Miranda-Ribera A, Perlman M, Lima R, Sztein MB, Fasano A, Senger S, Faherty CS. A Versatile Human Intestinal Organoid-Derived Epithelial Monolayer Model for the Study of Enteric Pathogens. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0000321. [PMID: 34106568 PMCID: PMC8552518 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00003-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal infections cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The complexity of human biology and limited insights into host-specific infection mechanisms are key barriers to current therapeutic development. Here, we demonstrate that two-dimensional epithelial monolayers derived from human intestinal organoids, combined with in vivo-like bacterial culturing conditions, provide significant advancements for the study of enteropathogens. Monolayers from the terminal ileum, cecum, and ascending colon recapitulated the composition of the gastrointestinal epithelium, in which several techniques were used to detect the presence of enterocytes, mucus-producing goblet cells, and other cell types following differentiation. Importantly, the addition of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) increased the presence of M cells, critical antigen-sampling cells often exploited by enteric pathogens. For infections, bacteria were grown under in vivo-like conditions known to induce virulence. Overall, interesting patterns of tissue tropism and clinical manifestations were observed. Shigella flexneri adhered efficiently to the cecum and colon; however, invasion in the colon was best following RANKL treatment. Both Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Typhimurium displayed different infection patterns, with S. Typhimurium causing more destruction of the terminal ileum and S. Typhi infecting the cecum more efficiently than the ileum, particularly with regard to adherence. Finally, various pathovars of Escherichia coli validated the model by confirming only adherence was observed with these strains. This work demonstrates that the combination of human-derived tissue with targeted bacterial growth conditions enables powerful analyses of human-specific infections that could lead to important insights into pathogenesis and accelerate future vaccine development. IMPORTANCE While traditional laboratory techniques and animal models have provided valuable knowledge in discerning virulence mechanisms of enteric pathogens, the complexity of the human gastrointestinal tract has hindered our understanding of physiologically relevant, human-specific interactions; and thus, has significantly delayed successful vaccine development. The human intestinal organoid-derived epithelial monolayer (HIODEM) model closely recapitulates the diverse cell populations of the intestine, allowing for the study of human-specific infections. Differentiation conditions permit the expansion of various cell populations, including M cells that are vital to immune recognition and the establishment of infection by some bacteria. We provide details of reproducible culture methods and infection conditions for the analyses of Shigella, Salmonella, and pathogenic Escherichia coli in which tissue tropism and pathogen-specific infection patterns were detected. This system will be vital for future studies that explore infection conditions, health status, or epigenetic differences and will serve as a novel screening platform for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kourtney P. Nickerson
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alejandro Llanos-Chea
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Laura Ingano
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gloria Serena
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alba Miranda-Ribera
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Meryl Perlman
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rosiane Lima
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marcelo B. Sztein
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alessio Fasano
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stefania Senger
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christina S. Faherty
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Pilla G, Wu T, Grassel C, Moon J, Foulke-Abel J, Tang CM, Barry EM. Evaluation of a Live Attenuated S. sonnei Vaccine Strain in the Human Enteroid Model. Pathogens 2021; 10:1079. [PMID: 34578112 PMCID: PMC8468197 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Shigella is a leading cause of bacillary dysentery worldwide, responsible for high death rates especially among children under five in low-middle income countries. Shigella sonnei prevails in high-income countries and is becoming prevalent in industrializing countries, where multi-drug resistant strains have emerged, as a significant public health concern. One strategy to combat drug resistance in S. sonnei is the development of effective vaccines. There is no licensed vaccine against Shigella, and development has been hindered by the lack of an effective small-animal model. In this work, we used human enteroids, for the first time, as a model system to evaluate a plasmid-stabilized S. sonnei live attenuated vaccine strain, CVD 1233-SP, and a multivalent derivative, CVD 1233-SP::CS2-CS3, which expresses antigens from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. The strains were also tested for immunogenicity and protective capacity in the guinea pig model, demonstrating their ability to elicit serum and mucosal antibody responses as well as protection against challenge with wild-type S. sonnei. These promising results highlight the utility of enteroids as an innovative preclinical model to evaluate Shigella vaccine candidates, constituting a significant advance for the development of preventative strategies against this important human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Pilla
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK; (G.P.); (C.M.T.)
| | - Tao Wu
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1509, USA; (T.W.); (C.G.); (J.M.)
| | - Christen Grassel
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1509, USA; (T.W.); (C.G.); (J.M.)
| | - Jonathan Moon
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1509, USA; (T.W.); (C.G.); (J.M.)
| | - Jennifer Foulke-Abel
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Christoph M. Tang
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK; (G.P.); (C.M.T.)
| | - Eileen M. Barry
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1509, USA; (T.W.); (C.G.); (J.M.)
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20
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Bergelson J, Kreitman M, Petrov DA, Sanchez A, Tikhonov M. Functional biology in its natural context: A search for emergent simplicity. eLife 2021; 10:e67646. [PMID: 34096867 PMCID: PMC8184206 DOI: 10.7554/elife.67646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The immeasurable complexity at every level of biological organization creates a daunting task for understanding biological function. Here, we highlight the risks of stripping it away at the outset and discuss a possible path toward arriving at emergent simplicity of understanding while still embracing the ever-changing complexity of biotic interactions that we see in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Bergelson
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Martin Kreitman
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Dmitri A Petrov
- Department of Biology, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Alvaro Sanchez
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Yale UniversityNew HavenUnited States
| | - Mikhail Tikhonov
- Department of Physics, Washington University in St LouisSt. LouisUnited States
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Arnold SLM. Target Product Profile and Development Path for Shigellosis Treatment with Antibacterials. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:948-958. [PMID: 33689318 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00889] [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] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Enteric infection with Shigella spp. can lead to symptoms ranging from acute watery diarrhea to sudden, severe dysentery. Approximately 212 000 diarrheal deaths annually are attributed to Shigella with a disproportionate impact in low-resource countries. The impact in under-resourced countries was illustrated by a reanalysis of the Global Enteric Multicenter Study which found that Shigella was the leading pathogen associated with moderate-to severe diarrhea in children under 5 years old. While recent studies have highlighted the burden of the disease, there has been a concurrent reduction in therapeutic options for the treatment of shigellosis as drug resistant strains increase in prevalence. In addition, increasing reports of drug resistant shigellosis cases in the men who have sex with men community confirm that the impact is not limited to low-resource countries. Despite the urgent need for new treatments, a target product profile (TPP) has not been established, and there is no clear development path for antibacterial treatments. To address this troubling concern, this manuscript describes a TPP for antishigellosis small molecule therapeutics and a development path that integrates currently available preclinical and clinical models of Shigella infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel L. M. Arnold
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
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22
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Enteropathogenic Infections: Organoids Go Bacterial. Stem Cells Int 2021; 2021:8847804. [PMID: 33505475 PMCID: PMC7810537 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8847804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric infections represent a major health care challenge which is particularly prevalent in countries with restricted access to clean water and sanitation and lacking personal hygiene precautions, altogether facilitating fecal-oral transmission of a heterogeneous spectrum of enteropathogenic microorganisms. Among these, bacterial species are responsible for a considerable proportion of illnesses, hospitalizations, and fatal cases, all of which have been continuously contributing to ignite researchers' interest in further exploring their individual pathogenicity. Beyond the universally accepted animal models, intestinal organoids are increasingly valued for their ability to mimic key architectural and physiologic features of the native intestinal mucosa. As a consequence, they are regarded as the most versatile and naturalistic in vitro model of the gut, allowing monitoring of adherence, invasion, intracellular trafficking, and propagation as well as repurposing components of the host cell equipment. At the same time, infected intestinal organoids allow close characterization of the host epithelium's immune response to enteropathogens. In this review, (i) we provide a profound update on intestinal organoid-based tissue engineering, (ii) we report the latest pathophysiological findings defining the infected intestinal organoids, and (iii) we discuss the advantages and limitations of this in vitro model.
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Ranganathan S, Smith EM, Foulke-Abel JD, Barry EM. Research in a time of enteroids and organoids: how the human gut model has transformed the study of enteric bacterial pathogens. Gut Microbes 2020; 12:1795492. [PMID: 32795243 PMCID: PMC7524385 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2020.1795389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteric bacterial pathogens cause significant morbidity and mortality globally. Studies in tissue culture and animal models shaped our initial understanding of these host-pathogen interactions. However, intrinsic shortcomings in these models limit their application, especially in translational applications like drug screening and vaccine development. Human intestinal enteroid and organoid models overcome some limitations of existing models and advance the study of enteric pathogens. In this review, we detail the use of human enteroids and organoids to investigate the pathogenesis of invasive bacteria Shigella, Listeria, and Salmonella, and noninvasive bacteria pathogenic Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile, and Vibrio cholerae. We highlight how these studies confirm previously identified mechanisms and, importantly, reveal novel ones. We also discuss the challenges for model advancement, including platform engineering to integrate environmental conditions, innate immune cells and the resident microbiome, and the potential for pre-clinical testing of recently developed antimicrobial drugs and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sridevi Ranganathan
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emily M. Smith
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jennifer D. Foulke-Abel
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Eileen M. Barry
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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The Great ESKAPE: Exploring the Crossroads of Bile and Antibiotic Resistance in Bacterial Pathogens. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00865-19. [PMID: 32661122 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00865-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout the course of infection, many pathogens encounter bactericidal conditions that threaten the viability of the bacteria and impede the establishment of infection. Bile is one of the most innately bactericidal compounds present in humans, functioning to reduce the bacterial burden in the gastrointestinal tract while also aiding in digestion. It is becoming increasingly apparent that pathogens successfully resist the bactericidal conditions of bile, including bacteria that do not normally cause gastrointestinal infections. This review highlights the ability of Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter (ESKAPE), and other enteric pathogens to resist bile and how these interactions can impact the sensitivity of bacteria to various antimicrobial agents. Given that pathogen exposure to bile is an essential component to gastrointestinal transit that cannot be avoided, understanding how bile resistance mechanisms align with antimicrobial resistance is vital to our ability to develop new, successful therapeutics in an age of widespread and increasing antimicrobial resistance.
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