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Ruan C, Ramoneda J, Kan A, Rudge TJ, Wang G, Johnson DR. Phage predation accelerates the spread of plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5397. [PMID: 38926498 PMCID: PMC11208555 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49840-7] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Phage predation is generally assumed to reduce microbial proliferation while not contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance. However, this assumption does not consider the effect of phage predation on the spatial organization of different microbial populations. Here, we show that phage predation can increase the spread of plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance during surface-associated microbial growth by reshaping spatial organization. Using two strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli, we demonstrate that phage predation slows the spatial segregation of the strains during growth. This increases the number of cell-cell contacts and the extent of conjugation-mediated plasmid transfer between them. The underlying mechanism is that phage predation shifts the location of fastest growth from the biomass periphery to the interior where cells are densely packed and aligned closer to parallel with each other. This creates straighter interfaces between the strains that are less likely to merge together during growth, consequently slowing the spatial segregation of the strains and enhancing plasmid transfer between them. Our results have implications for the design and application of phage therapy and reveal a mechanism for how microbial functions that are deleterious to human and environmental health can proliferate in the absence of positive selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chujin Ruan
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Josep Ramoneda
- Spanish Research Council (CSIC), Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), Blanes, Spain
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Anton Kan
- Department of Materials, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Timothy J Rudge
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex Biosystems (ICOS) Research Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Gang Wang
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
- National Black Soil & Agriculture Research, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
| | - David R Johnson
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Switzerland.
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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2
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de Melo AG, Morency C, Moineau S. Virulence-associated factors as targets for phage infection. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102471. [PMID: 38569419 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102471] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens can infect a wide range of hosts and pose a threat to public and animal health as well as to agriculture. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains has increased this risk by making the treatment of bacterial infections even more challenging. Pathogenic bacteria thrive in various ecological niches, but they can also be specifically targeted and killed by bacteriophages (phages). Lytic phages are now investigated and even used, in some cases, as alternatives or complements to antibiotics for preventing or treating bacterial infections (phage therapy). As such, it is key to identify factors responsible for phage specificity and efficiency. Here, we review recent advances in virulence-associated factors that are targeted by phages. We highlight components of the bacterial cell surface, effector systems, and motility structures exploited by phages and the effects of phages on cell aggregation and communication. We also look at the fitness trade-off of phage resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra G de Melo
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie, et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Carlee Morency
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie, et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Sylvain Moineau
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie, et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Félix d'Hérelle Reference Center for Bacterial Viruses, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
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3
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Xiao W, Weissman JL, Johnson PLF. Ecological drivers of CRISPR immune systems. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.16.594560. [PMID: 38952799 PMCID: PMC11216370 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.16.594560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas is the only known adaptive immune system of prokaryotes. It is a powerful defense system against mobile genetic elements such as bacteriophages. While CRISPR-Cas systems can be found throughout the prokaryotic tree of life, they are distributed unevenly across taxa and environments. Since adaptive immunity is more useful in environments where pathogens persist or reoccur, the density and/or diversity of the host/pathogen community may drive the uneven distribution of CRISPR system. We directly tested hypotheses connecting CRISPR incidence with prokaryotic density/diversity by analyzing 16S rRNA and metagenomic data from publicly available environmental sequencing projects. In terms of density, we found that CRISPR systems are significantly favored in lower abundance (less dense) taxa and disfavored in higher abundance taxa, at least in marine environments. When we extended this work to compare taxonomic diversity between samples, we found CRISPR system incidence strongly correlated with diversity in human oral environments. Together, these observations confirm that, at least in certain types of environments, the prokaryotic ecological context indeed plays a key role in selecting for CRISPR immunity. Importance 2Microbes must constantly defend themselves against viral pathogens, and a large proportion of prokaryotes do so using the highly effective CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune system. However, many prokaryotes do not. We investigated the ecological factors behind this uneven distribution of CRISPR-Cas immune systems in natural microbial populations. We found strong patterns linking CRISPR-Cas systems to prokaryotic density within ocean environments and to prokaryotic diversity within human oral environments. Our study validates previous within-lab experimental results that suggested these factors might be important and confirms that local environment and ecological context interact to select for CRISPR immunity.
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Ma T, Rothschild J, Halabeya F, Zilman A, Milstein JN. Mechanics limits ecological diversity and promotes heterogeneity in confined bacterial communities. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2322321121. [PMID: 38728226 PMCID: PMC11098131 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322321121] [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: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Multispecies bacterial populations often inhabit confined and densely packed environments where spatial competition determines the ecological diversity of the community. However, the role of mechanical interactions in shaping the ecology is still poorly understood. Here, we study a model system consisting of two populations of nonmotile Escherichia coli bacteria competing within open, monolayer microchannels. The competitive dynamics is observed to be biphasic: After seeding, either one strain rapidly fixates or both strains orient into spatially stratified, stable communities. We find that mechanical interactions with other cells and local spatial constraints influence the resulting community ecology in unexpected ways, severely limiting the overall diversity of the communities while simultaneously allowing for the establishment of stable, heterogeneous populations of bacteria displaying disparate growth rates. Surprisingly, the populations have a high probability of coexisting even when one strain has a significant growth advantage. A more coccus morphology is shown to provide a selective advantage, but agent-based simulations indicate this is due to hydrodynamic and adhesion effects within the microchannel and not from breaking of the nematic ordering. Our observations are qualitatively reproduced by a simple Pólya urn model, which suggests the generality of our findings for confined population dynamics and highlights the importance of early colonization conditions on the resulting diversity and ecology of bacterial communities. These results provide fundamental insights into the determinants of community diversity in dense confined ecosystems where spatial exclusion is central to competition as in organized biofilms or intestinal crypts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Ma
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONM5S 3J1, Canada
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto, Mississauga, ONL5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Jeremy Rothschild
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONM5S 3J1, Canada
| | - Faisal Halabeya
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONM5S 3J1, Canada
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto, Mississauga, ONL5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Anton Zilman
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONM5S 3J1, Canada
| | - Joshua N. Milstein
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONM5S 3J1, Canada
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto, Mississauga, ONL5L 1C6, Canada
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Tahseen H, Ul Huda N, Nawaz H, Majeed MI, Alwadie N, Rashid N, Aslam MA, Zafar N, Asghar M, Anwar A, Ashraf A, Umer R. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for comparison of biochemical profile of bacteriophage sensitive and resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2024; 310:123968. [PMID: 38330510 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2024.123968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is gram positive bacteria and leading cause of a wide variety of diseases. It is a common cause of hospitalized and community-acquired infections. Development of increasing antibiotic-resistance by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains demand to develop alternate novel therapies. Bacteriophages are now widely used as antibacterial therapies against antibiotic-resistant gram-positive pathogens. So, there is an urgent need to find fast detection techniques to point out phage susceptible and resistant strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) bacteria. Samples of two separate strains of bacteria, S. aureus, in form of pellets and supernatant, were used for this purpose. Strain-I was resistant to phage, while the other (strain-II) was sensitive. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) has detected significant biochemical changes in these bacterial strains of pellets and supernatants in the form of SERS spectral features. The protein portion of these two types of strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in their relevant pellets and supernatants is major distinguishing biomolecule as shown by their representative SERS spectral features. In addition, multivariate data analysis techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA) and a partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were found to be helpful in identifying and characterizing various strains of S. aureus which are sensitive and resistant to bacteriophage with 100% specificity, 100% accuracy, and 99.8% sensitivity in case of SERS spectral data sets of bacterial cell pellets. Moreover, in case of supernatant samples, the results of PLS-DA model including 95.5% specificity, 96% sensitivity, and 96.5% accuracy are obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hira Tahseen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Noor Ul Huda
- Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Haq Nawaz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan.
| | - Muhammad Irfan Majeed
- Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan.
| | - Najah Alwadie
- Department of Physics, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Nosheen Rashid
- Department of Chemistry, University of Education, Faisalabad Campus, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Aamir Aslam
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Nishat Zafar
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Maria Asghar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Anwar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Ashraf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Rabiea Umer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
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6
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Yeh HY, Cox NA, Hinton A, Berrang ME. Detection and Distribution of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPRs) in Campylobacter jejuni Isolates from Chicken Livers. J Food Prot 2024; 87:100250. [PMID: 38382707 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2024.100250] [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: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni is the leading foodborne bacterial pathogen that causes human gastroenteritis worldwide linked to the consumption of undercooked broiler livers. Application of bacteriophages during poultry production has been used as an alternative approach to reduce contamination of poultry meat by Campylobacter. To make this approach effective, understanding the presence of the bacteriophage sequences in the CRISPR spacers in C. jejuni is critical as they may confer bacterial resistance to bacteriophage treatment. Therefore, in this study, we explored the distribution of the CRISPR arrays from 178 C. jejuni isolated from chicken livers between January and July 2018. Genomic DNA of C. jejuni isolates was extracted, and CRISPR type 1 sequences were amplified by PCR. Amplicons were purified and sequenced by the Sanger dideoxy sequencing method. Direct repeats (DRs) and spacers of CRISPR sequences were identified using the CRISPRFinder program. Further, spacer sequences were submitted to the CRISPRTarget to identify potential homology to bacteriophage types. Even though CRISPR-Cas is reportedly not an active system in Campylobacter, a total of 155 (87%) C. jejuni isolates were found to harbor CRISPR sequences; one type of DR was identified in all 155 isolates. The CRISPR loci lengths ranged from 97 to 431 nucleotides. The numbers of spacers ranged from one to six. A total of 371 spacer sequences were identified in the 155 isolates that could be grouped into 51 distinctive individual sequences. Further comparison of these 51 spacer sequences with those in databases showed that most spacer sequences were homologous to Campylobacter bacteriophage DA10. The results of our study provide important information relative to the development of an effective bacteriophage treatment to mitigate Campylobacter during poultry production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Yueh Yeh
- U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605-2720, USA.
| | - Nelson A Cox
- U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605-2720, USA
| | - Arthur Hinton
- U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605-2720, USA
| | - Mark E Berrang
- U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605-2720, USA
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7
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Kogay R, Zhaxybayeva O. Co-evolution of gene transfer agents and their alphaproteobacterial hosts. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0039823. [PMID: 38240570 PMCID: PMC10883770 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00398-23] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Gene transfer agents (GTAs) are enigmatic elements that resemble small viruses and are known to be produced during nutritional stress by some bacteria and archaea. The production of GTAs is regulated by quorum sensing, under which a small fraction of the population acts as GTA producers, while the rest becomes GTA recipients. In contrast to canonical viruses, GTAs cannot propagate themselves because they package pieces of the producing cell's genome. In alphaproteobacteria, GTAs are mostly vertically inherited and reside in their hosts' genomes for hundreds of millions of years. While GTAs' ability to transfer genetic material within a population and their long-term preservation suggest an increased fitness of GTA-producing microbes, the associated benefits and type of selection that maintains GTAs are poorly understood. By comparing rates of evolutionary change in GTA genes to the rates in gene families abundantly present across 293 alphaproteobacterial genomes, we detected 59 gene families that likely co-evolve with GTA genes. These gene families are predominantly involved in stress response, DNA repair, and biofilm formation. We hypothesize that biofilm formation enables the physical proximity of GTA-producing cells, limiting GTA-derived benefits only to a group of closely related cells. We further conjecture that the population structure of biofilm-forming sub-populations ensures that the trait of GTA production is maintained despite the inevitable rise of "cheating" genotypes. Because release of GTA particles kills the producing cell, maintenance of GTAs is an exciting example of social evolution in a microbial population.IMPORTANCEGene transfer agents (GTAs) are viruses domesticated by some archaea and bacteria as vehicles for carrying pieces of the host genome. Produced under certain environmental conditions, GTA particles can deliver DNA to neighboring, closely related cells. The function of GTAs remains uncertain. While making GTAs is suicidal for a cell, GTA-encoding genes are widespread in genomes of alphaproteobacteria. Such GTA persistence implies functional benefits but raises questions about how selection maintains this lethal trait. By showing that GTA genes co-evolve with genes involved in stress response, DNA repair, and biofilm formation, we provide support for the hypothesis that GTAs facilitate DNA exchange during the stress conditions and present a model for how GTAs persist in biofilm-forming bacterial populations despite being lethal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Kogay
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Olga Zhaxybayeva
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
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8
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Chen YT, Lohia GK, Chen S, Riquelme SA. Immunometabolic Regulation of Bacterial Infection, Biofilms, and Antibiotic Susceptibility. J Innate Immun 2024; 16:143-158. [PMID: 38310854 PMCID: PMC10914382 DOI: 10.1159/000536649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Upon infection, mucosal tissues activate a brisk inflammatory response to clear the pathogen, i.e., resistance to disease. Resistance to disease is orchestrated by tissue-resident macrophages, which undergo profound metabolic reprogramming after sensing the pathogen. These metabolically activated macrophages release many inflammatory factors, which promote their bactericidal function. However, in immunocompetent individuals, pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella evade this type of immunity, generating communities that thrive for the long term. SUMMARY These organisms develop features that render them less susceptible to eradication, such as biofilms and increased tolerance to antibiotics. Furthermore, after antibiotic therapy withdrawal, "persister" cells rapidly upsurge, triggering inflammatory relapses that worsen host health. How these pathogens persisted in inflamed tissues replete with activated macrophages remains poorly understood. KEY MESSAGES In this review, we discuss recent findings indicating that the ability of P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and Salmonella to evolve biofilms and antibiotic tolerance is promoted by the similar metabolic routes that regulate macrophage metabolic reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Tsun Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gaurav Kumar Lohia
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Samantha Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sebastián A Riquelme
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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Rodriguez-Gonzalez RA, Balacheff Q, Debarbieux L, Marchi J, Weitz JS. Metapopulation model of phage therapy of an acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.31.578251. [PMID: 38352502 PMCID: PMC10862780 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.31.578251] [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: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogenic bacteria are a global health threat. Phage therapy, which uses phage to kill bacterial pathogens, is increasingly used to treat patients infected by MDR bacteria. However, the therapeutic outcome of phage therapy may be limited by the emergence of phage resistance during treatment and/or by physical constraints that impede phage-bacteria interactions in vivo. In this work, we evaluate the role of lung spatial structure on the efficacy of phage therapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. To do so, we developed a spatially structured metapopulation network model based on the geometry of the bronchial tree, and included the emergence of phage-resistant bacterial mutants and host innate immune responses. We model the ecological interactions between bacteria, phage, and the host innate immune system at the airway (node) level. The model predicts the synergistic elimination of a P. aeruginosa infection due to the combined effects of phage and neutrophils given sufficiently active immune states and suitable phage life history traits. Moreover, the metapopulation model simulations predict that local MDR pathogens are cleared faster at distal nodes of the bronchial tree. Notably, image analysis of lung tissue time series from wild-type and lymphocyte-depleted mice (n=13) revealed a concordant, statistically significant pattern: infection intensity cleared in the bottom before the top of the lungs. Overall, the combined use of simulations and image analysis of in vivo experiments further supports the use of phage therapy for treating acute lung infections caused by P. aeruginosa while highlighting potential limits to therapy given a spatially structured environment, such as impaired innate immune responses and low phage efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogelio A Rodriguez-Gonzalez
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Quantitative Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Quentin Balacheff
- CHU Felix Guyon, Service des maladies respiratoires, La Réunion, France
| | | | - Jacopo Marchi
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Joshua S Weitz
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France
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10
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Barton A. KiteLock 4%: the next generation of CVAD locking solutions. BRITISH JOURNAL OF NURSING (MARK ALLEN PUBLISHING) 2024; 33:S20-S26. [PMID: 38271043 DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2024.33.2.s20] [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: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Central venous access devices (CVADs), including peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and cuffed tunnelled catheters, play a crucial role in modern medicine by providing reliable access for medication and treatments directly into the bloodstream. However, these vital medical devices also pose a significant risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) alongside associated complications such as thrombosis or catheter occlusion. To mitigate these risks, healthcare providers employ various strategies, including the use of locking solutions in combination with meticulous care and maintenance protocols. KiteLock 4% catheter lock is a solution designed to combat the triple threat of infection, occlusion and biofilm. This locking solution is described as the only locking solution to provide cover for all three complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Barton
- Nurse Consultant, IV Therapy and Vascular Access and Lead Nurse, IVAS, Frimley Park Hospital, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and Chair, NIVAS
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11
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Akturk E, Melo LD, Oliveira H, Crabbé A, Coenye T, Azeredo J. Combining phages and antibiotic to enhance antibiofilm efficacy against an in vitro dual species wound biofilm. Biofilm 2023; 6:100147. [PMID: 37662851 PMCID: PMC10474582 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic wound management is extremely challenging because of the persistence of biofilm-forming pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, which are the prevailing bacterial species that co-infect chronic wounds. Phage therapy has gained an increased interest to treat biofilm-associated infections, namely when combined with antibiotics. Here, we tested the effect of gentamicin as a co-adjuvant of phages in a dual species-biofilm wound model formed on artificial dermis. The biofilm-killing capacity of the tested treatments was significantly increased when phages were combined with gentamicin and applied multiple times as multiple dose (three doses, every 8 h). Our results suggest that gentamycin is an effective adjuvant of phage therapy particularly when applied simultaneously with phages and in three consecutive doses. The multiple and simultaneous dose treatment seems to be essential to avoid bacterial resistance development to each of the antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ergun Akturk
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS – Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Luís D.R. Melo
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS – Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
- ESCMID Study Group for Biofilms (ESGB), Switzerland
| | - Hugo Oliveira
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS – Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
- ESCMID Study Group for Biofilms (ESGB), Switzerland
| | - Aurélie Crabbé
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology (LPM), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Coenye
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology (LPM), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- ESCMID Study Group for Biofilms (ESGB), Switzerland
| | - Joana Azeredo
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS – Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
- ESCMID Study Group for Biofilms (ESGB), Switzerland
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12
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Robitaille S, Simmons EL, Verster AJ, McClure EA, Royce DB, Trus E, Swartz K, Schultz D, Nadell CD, Ross BD. Community composition and the environment modulate the population dynamics of type VI secretion in human gut bacteria. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:2092-2107. [PMID: 37884689 PMCID: PMC11099977 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02230-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between the composition of the human gut microbiota and the ecological forces shaping it is of great importance; however, knowledge of the biogeographical and ecological relationships between physically interacting taxa is limited. Interbacterial antagonism may play an important role in gut community dynamics, yet the conditions under which antagonistic behaviour is favoured or disfavoured by selection in the gut are not well understood. Here, using genomics, we show that a species-specific type VI secretion system (T6SS) repeatedly acquires inactivating mutations in Bacteroides fragilis in the human gut. This result implies a fitness cost to the T6SS, but we could not identify laboratory conditions under which such a cost manifests. Strikingly, experiments in mice illustrate that the T6SS can be favoured or disfavoured in the gut depending on the strains and species in the surrounding community and their susceptibility to T6SS antagonism. We use ecological modelling to explore the conditions that could underlie these results and find that community spatial structure modulates interaction patterns among bacteria, thereby modulating the costs and benefits of T6SS activity. Our findings point towards new integrative models for interrogating the evolutionary dynamics of type VI secretion and other modes of antagonistic interaction in microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Robitaille
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Emilia L Simmons
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Adrian J Verster
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Emily Ann McClure
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Darlene B Royce
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Evan Trus
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Kerry Swartz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Daniel Schultz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Carey D Nadell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Benjamin D Ross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
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13
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Mason G, Footer MJ, Rojas ER. Mechanosensation induces persistent bacterial growth during bacteriophage predation. mBio 2023; 14:e0276622. [PMID: 37909775 PMCID: PMC10746221 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02766-22] [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] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the relationship between bacteria and lytic bacteriophage is fundamentally antagonistic, these microbes not only coexist but thrive side by side in myriad ecological environments. The mechanisms by which coexistence is achieved, however, are not fully understood. By examining Escherichia coli and bacteriophage T7 population dynamics at the single-cell and single-virion level using a novel microfluidics assay, we observed bacteria growing "persistently" when perfused with high-titer bacteriophage. Bacteriophage persistence occurred at a frequency five orders of magnitude higher than is expected from the natural selection of bacteriophage-resistant mutants. Rather, the frequency of persistence was correlated with the degree to which the bacteria were mechanically compressed by the microfluidic perfusion chamber. Using a combination of mutagenesis and fluorescent imaging techniques, we discovered that compression induces persistence by activating the Rcs phosphorelay pathway, which results in the synthesis of extracellular capsule that sterically blocks bacteriophage adsorption. Other forms of mechanical perturbation also promoted Rcs activity and persistence. These findings have important implications for our understanding of microbial ecology in many important environments, including the gut and the soil, where bacteria grow in confinement. IMPORTANCE Bacteria and bacteriophage form one of the most important predator-prey relationships on earth, yet how the long-term stability of this ecological interaction is achieved is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Escherichia coli can rapidly grow during bacteriophage predation if they are doing so in spatially confined environments. This discovery revises our understanding of bacteria-bacteriophage population dynamics in many real-world environments where bacteria grow in confinement, such as the gut and the soil. Additionally, this result has clear implications for the potential of bacteriophage therapy and the role of mechanosensation during bacterial pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Mason
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Matthew J. Footer
- Department of Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Enrique R. Rojas
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
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14
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Attrill EL, Łapińska U, Westra ER, Harding SV, Pagliara S. Slow growing bacteria survive bacteriophage in isolation. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:95. [PMID: 37684358 PMCID: PMC10491631 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-023-00299-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The interactions between bacteria and bacteriophage have important roles in the global ecosystem; in turn changes in environmental parameters affect the interactions between bacteria and phage. However, there is a lack of knowledge on whether clonal bacterial populations harbour different phenotypes that respond to phage in distinct ways and whether the abundance of such phenotypes within bacterial populations is affected by variations in environmental parameters. Here we study the impact of variations in nutrient availability, bacterial growth rate and phage abundance on the interactions between the phage T4 and individual Escherichia coli cells confined in spatial refuges. Surprisingly, we found that fast growing bacteria survive together with all of their clonal kin cells, whereas slow growing bacteria survive in isolation. We also discovered that the number of bacteria that survive in isolation decreases at increasing phage doses possibly due to lysis inhibition in the presence of secondary adsorptions. We further show that these changes in the phenotypic composition of the E. coli population have important consequences on the bacterial and phage population dynamics and should therefore be considered when investigating bacteria-phage interactions in ecological, health or food production settings in structured environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Attrill
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Urszula Łapińska
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Edze R Westra
- Environment and Sustainability Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - Sarah V Harding
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
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15
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Luthe T, Kever L, Thormann K, Frunzke J. Bacterial multicellular behavior in antiviral defense. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 74:102314. [PMID: 37030144 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Multicellular behavior benefits seemingly simple organisms such as bacteria, by improving nutrient uptake, resistance to stresses, or by providing advantages in predatory interactions. Several recent studies have shown that this also extends to the defense against bacteriophages, which are omnipresent in almost all habitats. In this review, we summarize strategies conferring protection against phage infection at the multicellular level, covering secretion of small antiphage molecules or membrane vesicles, the role of quorum sensing in phage defense, the development of transient phage resistance, and the impact of biofilm components and architecture. Recent studies focusing on these topics push the boundaries of our understanding of the bacterial immune system and set the ground for an appreciation of bacterial multicellular behavior in antiviral defense.
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16
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Coppens B, Belpaire TE, Pešek J, Steenackers HP, Ramon H, Smeets B. Anomalous diffusion of nanoparticles in the spatially heterogeneous biofilm environment. iScience 2023; 26:106861. [PMID: 37260744 PMCID: PMC10227381 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms contain extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that provide structural support and restrict penetration of antimicrobial treatment. To overcome limited penetration, functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) have been suggested as carriers for antimicrobial delivery. Using microscopy, we evaluate the diffusion of nanoparticles in function of the structure of Salmonella biofilms. We observe anomalous diffusion and heterogeneous mobility of NPs resulting in distinct NPs distribution that depended on biofilm structure. Through Brownian dynamics modeling with spatially varying viscosity around bacteria, we demonstrated that spatial gradients in diffusivity generate viscous sinks that trap NPs near bacteria. This model replicates the characteristic diffusion signature and vertical distribution of NPs in the biofilm. From a treatment perspective, our work indicates that both biofilm structure and the level of EPS can impact NP drug delivery, where low levels of EPS might benefit delivery by immobilizing NPs closer to bacteria and higher levels hamper delivery due to shielding effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Coppens
- Division of Mechatronics, Biostatistics, and Sensors, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom E.R. Belpaire
- Division of Mechatronics, Biostatistics, and Sensors, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jiří Pešek
- Team SIMBIOTX, Inria Saclay, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | | | - Herman Ramon
- Division of Mechatronics, Biostatistics, and Sensors, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Smeets
- Division of Mechatronics, Biostatistics, and Sensors, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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17
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Abedon ST. Bacteriophage Adsorption: Likelihood of Virion Encounter with Bacteria and Other Factors Affecting Rates. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:723. [PMID: 37107086 PMCID: PMC10135360 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12040723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
For ideal gasses, the likelihood of collision of two molecules is a function of concentrations as well as environmental factors such as temperature. This too is the case for particles diffusing within liquids. Two such particles are bacteria and their viruses, the latter called bacteriophages or phages. Here, I review the basic process of predicting the likelihoods of phage collision with bacteria. This is a key step governing rates of phage-virion adsorption to their bacterial hosts, thereby underlying a large fraction of the potential for a given phage concentration to affect a susceptible bacterial population. Understanding what can influence those rates is very relevant to appreciating both phage ecology and the phage therapy of bacterial infections, i.e., where phages are used to augment or replace antibiotics; so too adsorption rates are highly important for predicting the potential for phage-mediated biological control of environmental bacteria. Particularly emphasized here, however, are numerous complications on phage adsorption rates beyond as dictated by the ideals of standard adsorption theory. These include movements other than due to diffusion, various hindrances to diffusive movement, and the influence of assorted heterogeneities. Considered chiefly are the biological consequences of these various phenomena rather than their mathematical underpinnings.
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18
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Robitaille S, Simmons EL, Verster AJ, McClure EA, Royce DB, Trus E, Swartz K, Schultz D, Nadell CD, Ross BD. Community composition and the environment modulate the population dynamics of type VI secretion in human gut bacteria. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.20.529031. [PMID: 36865186 PMCID: PMC9980007 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.20.529031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between the composition of the human gut microbiota and the ecological forces shaping it is of high importance as progress towards therapeutic modulation of the microbiota advances. However, given the inaccessibility of the gastrointestinal tract, our knowledge of the biogeographical and ecological relationships between physically interacting taxa has been limited to date. It has been suggested that interbacterial antagonism plays an important role in gut community dynamics, but in practice the conditions under which antagonistic behavior is favored or disfavored by selection in the gut environment are not well known. Here, using phylogenomics of bacterial isolate genomes and analysis of infant and adult fecal metagenomes, we show that the contact-dependent type VI secretion system (T6SS) is repeatedly lost from the genomes of Bacteroides fragilis in adults compare to infants. Although this result implies a significant fitness cost to the T6SS, but we could not identify in vitro conditions under which such a cost manifests. Strikingly, however, experiments in mice illustrated that the B. fragilis T6SS can be favored or disfavored in the gut environment, depending on the strains and species in the surrounding community and their susceptibility to T6SS antagonism. We use a variety of ecological modeling techniques to explore the possible local community structuring conditions that could underlie the results of our larger scale phylogenomic and mouse gut experimental approaches. The models illustrate robustly that the pattern of local community structuring in space can modulate the extent of interactions between T6SS-producing, sensitive, and resistant bacteria, which in turn control the balance of fitness costs and benefits of performing contact-dependent antagonistic behavior. Taken together, our genomic analyses, in vivo studies, and ecological theory point toward new integrative models for interrogating the evolutionary dynamics of type VI secretion and other predominant modes of antagonistic interaction in diverse microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Robitaille
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Emilia L. Simmons
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Adrian J. Verster
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Emily Ann McClure
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Darlene B. Royce
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Evan Trus
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Kerry Swartz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Daniel Schultz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Carey D. Nadell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Benjamin D. Ross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
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19
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Phage Therapy in Germany-Update 2023. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020588. [PMID: 36851802 PMCID: PMC9960545 DOI: 10.3390/v15020588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage therapy holds promise in addressing the antibiotic-resistance crisis, globally and in Germany. Here, we provide an overview of the current situation (2023) of applied phage therapy and supporting research in Germany. The authors, an interdisciplinary group working on patient-focused bacteriophage research, addressed phage production, phage banks, susceptibility testing, clinical application, ongoing translational research, the regulatory situation, and the network structure in Germany. They identified critical shortcomings including the lack of clinical trials, a paucity of appropriate regulation and a shortage of phages for clinical use. Phage therapy is currently being applied to a limited number of patients as individual treatment trials. There is presently only one site in Germany for large-scale good-manufacturing-practice (GMP) phage production, and one clinic carrying out permission-free production of medicinal products. Several phage banks exist, but due to varying institutional policies, exchange among them is limited. The number of phage research projects has remarkably increased in recent years, some of which are part of structured networks. There is a demand for the expansion of production capacities with defined quality standards, a structured registry of all treated patients and clear therapeutic guidelines. Furthermore, the medical field is still poorly informed about phage therapy. The current status of non-approval, however, may also be regarded as advantageous, as insufficiently restricted use of phage therapy without adequate scientific evidence for effectiveness and safety must be prevented. In close coordination with the regulatory authorities, it seems sensible to first allow some centers to treat patients following the Belgian model. There is an urgent need for targeted networking and funding, particularly of translational research, to help advance the clinical application of phages.
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20
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Floccari VA, Dragoš A. Host control by SPβ phage regulatory switch as potential manipulation strategy. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 71:102260. [PMID: 36580707 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The interaction between temperate phages and their bacterial hosts has always been one of the most controversial in nature. As genetic parasites, phages need their hosts to propagate, while the host may take advantage of the genetic arsenal carried in the phage genome. This intriguing host-parasite interplay with an evident mutualistic implication could be challenged by recent discoveries of alternative phage lifestyles and regulatory systems that seem to support a manipulative strategy pursued by the phage. Through two fascinating novel mechanisms concerning the active lysogeny and a phage-encoded quorum sensing system, referred as 'Arbitrium', employed by SPβ-like phages of Bacilli, we propose the parasite manipulation as ecological relationship between certain temperate phages and bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina A Floccari
- Department of Microbiology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anna Dragoš
- Department of Microbiology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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21
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Abedon ST. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of Hindering Phage Therapy: The Phage Tolerance vs. Phage Resistance of Bacterial Biofilms. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:245. [PMID: 36830158 PMCID: PMC9952518 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12020245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
As with antibiotics, we can differentiate various acquired mechanisms of bacteria-mediated inhibition of the action of bacterial viruses (phages or bacteriophages) into ones of tolerance vs. resistance. These also, respectively, may be distinguished as physiological insensitivities (or protections) vs. resistance mutations, phenotypic resistance vs. genotypic resistance, temporary vs. more permanent mechanisms, and ecologically vs. also near-term evolutionarily motivated functions. These phenomena can result from multiple distinct molecular mechanisms, many of which for bacterial tolerance of phages are associated with bacterial biofilms (as is also the case for the bacterial tolerance of antibiotics). The resulting inhibitions are relevant from an applied perspective because of their potential to thwart phage-based treatments of bacterial infections, i.e., phage therapies, as well as their potential to interfere more generally with approaches to the phage-based biological control of bacterial biofilms. In other words, given the generally low toxicity of properly chosen therapeutic phages, it is a combination of phage tolerance and phage resistance, as displayed by targeted bacteria, that seems to represent the greatest impediments to phage therapy's success. Here I explore general concepts of bacterial tolerance of vs. bacterial resistance to phages, particularly as they may be considered in association with bacterial biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH 44906, USA
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22
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Shaer Tamar E, Kishony R. Multistep diversification in spatiotemporal bacterial-phage coevolution. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7971. [PMID: 36577749 PMCID: PMC9797572 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35351-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary arms race between phages and bacteria, where bacteria evolve resistance to phages and phages retaliate with resistance-countering mutations, is a major driving force of molecular innovation and genetic diversification. Yet attempting to reproduce such ongoing retaliation dynamics in the lab has been challenging; laboratory coevolution experiments of phage and bacteria are typically performed in well-mixed environments and often lead to rapid stagnation with little genetic variability. Here, co-culturing motile E. coli with the lytic bacteriophage T7 on swimming plates, we observe complex spatiotemporal dynamics with multiple genetically diversifying adaptive cycles. Systematically quantifying over 10,000 resistance-infectivity phenotypes between evolved bacteria and phage isolates, we observe diversification into multiple coexisting ecotypes showing a complex interaction network with both host-range expansion and host-switch tradeoffs. Whole-genome sequencing of these evolved phage and bacterial isolates revealed a rich set of adaptive mutations in multiple genetic pathways including in genes not previously linked with phage-bacteria interactions. Synthetically reconstructing these new mutations, we discover phage-general and phage-specific resistance phenotypes as well as a strong synergy with the more classically known phage-resistance mutations. These results highlight the importance of spatial structure and migration for driving phage-bacteria coevolution, providing a concrete system for revealing new molecular mechanisms across diverse phage-bacterial systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Einat Shaer Tamar
- grid.6451.60000000121102151Faculty of Biology, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Roy Kishony
- grid.6451.60000000121102151Faculty of Biology, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel ,grid.6451.60000000121102151Faculty of Computer Science, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel ,grid.6451.60000000121102151Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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23
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Winans JB, Wucher BR, Nadell CD. Multispecies biofilm architecture determines bacterial exposure to phages. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001913. [PMID: 36548227 PMCID: PMC9778933 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous ecological interactions among microbes-for example, competition for space and resources, or interaction among phages and their bacterial hosts-are likely to occur simultaneously in multispecies biofilm communities. While biofilms formed by just a single species occur, multispecies biofilms are thought to be more typical of microbial communities in the natural environment. Previous work has shown that multispecies biofilms can increase, decrease, or have no measurable impact on phage exposure of a host bacterium living alongside another species that the phages cannot target. The reasons underlying this variability are not well understood, and how phage-host encounters change within multispecies biofilms remains mostly unexplored at the cellular spatial scale. Here, we study how the cellular scale architecture of model 2-species biofilms impacts cell-cell and cell-phage interactions controlling larger scale population and community dynamics. Our system consists of dual culture biofilms of Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae under exposure to T7 phages, which we study using microfluidic culture, high-resolution confocal microscopy imaging, and detailed image analysis. As shown previously, sufficiently mature biofilms of E. coli can protect themselves from phage exposure via their curli matrix. Before this stage of biofilm structural maturity, E. coli is highly susceptible to phages; however, we show that these bacteria can gain lasting protection against phage exposure if they have become embedded in the bottom layers of highly packed groups of V. cholerae in co-culture. This protection, in turn, is dependent on the cell packing architecture controlled by V. cholerae biofilm matrix secretion. In this manner, E. coli cells that are otherwise susceptible to phage-mediated killing can survive phage exposure in the absence of de novo resistance evolution. While co-culture biofilm formation with V. cholerae can confer phage protection to E. coli, it comes at the cost of competing with V. cholerae and a disruption of normal curli-mediated protection for E. coli even in dual species biofilms grown over long time scales. This work highlights the critical importance of studying multispecies biofilm architecture and its influence on the community dynamics of bacteria and phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- James B. Winans
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Benjamin R. Wucher
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Carey D. Nadell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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24
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Kosznik-Kwaśnicka K, Kaźmierczak N, Piechowicz L. Activity of Phage–Lactoferrin Mixture against Multi Drug Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11091256. [PMID: 36140035 PMCID: PMC9495459 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11091256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are complex bacterial structures composed of bacterial cells embedded in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) consisting of polysaccharides, proteins and lipids. As a result, biofilms are difficult to eradicate using both mechanical methods, i.e., scraping, and chemical methods such as disinfectants or antibiotics. Bacteriophages are shown to be able to act as anti-biofilm agents, with the ability to penetrate through the matrix and reach the bacterial cells. However, they also seem to have their limitations. After several hours of treatment with phages, the biofilm tends to grow back and phage-resistant bacteria emerge. Therefore, it is now recommended to use a mixture of phages and other antibacterial agents in order to increase treatment efficiency. In our work we have paired staphylococcal phages with lactoferrin, a protein with proven anti-biofilm proprieties. By analyzing the biofilm biomass and metabolic activity, we have observed that the addition of lactoferrin to phage lysate accelerated the anti-biofilm effect of phages and also prevented biofilm re-growth. Therefore, this combination might have a potential use in biofilm eradication procedures in medical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kosznik-Kwaśnicka
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębowa 25, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
- Laboratory of Phage Therapy, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Natalia Kaźmierczak
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębowa 25, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Lidia Piechowicz
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębowa 25, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
- Correspondence:
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25
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Debray R, De Luna N, Koskella B. Historical contingency drives compensatory evolution and rare reversal of phage resistance. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6673247. [PMID: 35994371 PMCID: PMC9447851 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria and lytic viruses (phages) engage in highly dynamic coevolutionary interactions over time, yet we have little idea of how transient selection by phages might shape the future evolutionary trajectories of their host populations. To explore this question, we generated genetically diverse phage-resistant mutants of the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae. We subjected the panel of mutants to prolonged experimental evolution in the absence of phages. Some populations re-evolved phage sensitivity, whereas others acquired compensatory mutations that reduced the costs of resistance without altering resistance levels. To ask whether these outcomes were driven by the initial genetic mechanisms of resistance, we next evolved independent replicates of each individual mutant in the absence of phages. We found a strong signature of historical contingency: some mutations were highly reversible across replicate populations, whereas others were highly entrenched. Through whole-genome sequencing of bacteria over time, we also found that populations with the same resistance gene acquired more parallel sets of mutations than populations with different resistance genes, suggesting that compensatory adaptation is also contingent on how resistance initially evolved. Our study identifies an evolutionary ratchet in bacteria–phage coevolution and may explain previous observations that resistance persists over time in some bacterial populations but is lost in others. We add to a growing body of work describing the key role of phages in the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of their host communities. Beyond this specific trait, our study provides a new insight into the genetic architecture of historical contingency, a crucial component of interpreting and predicting evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reena Debray
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nina De Luna
- Department of Immunology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Britt Koskella
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Chan Zuckerberg BioHub, San Francisco, CA, USA
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26
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Zaayman M, Wheatley RM. Fitness costs of CRISPR-Cas systems in bacteria. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2022; 168. [PMID: 35849532 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas systems provide bacteria with both specificity and adaptability in defence against invading genetic elements. From a theoretical perspective, CRISPR-Cas systems confer many benefits. However, they are observed at an unexpectedly low prevalence across the bacterial domain. While these defence systems can be gained horizontally, fitness costs may lead to selection against their carriage. Understanding the source of CRISPR-related fitness costs will help us to understand the evolutionary dynamics of CRISPR-Cas systems and their role in shaping bacterial genome evolution. Here, we review our current understanding of the potential fitness costs associated with CRISPR-Cas systems. In addition to potentially restricting the acquisition of genetic material that could confer fitness benefits, we explore five alternative biological factors that from a theoretical perspective may influence the fitness costs associated with CRISPR-Cas system carriage: (1) the repertoire of defence mechanisms a bacterium has available to it, (2) the potential for a metabolic burden, (3) larger-scale population and environmental factors, (4) the phenomenon of self-targeting spacers, and (5) alternative non-defence roles for CRISPR-Cas.
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Korzeniowski P, Śliwka P, Kuczkowski M, Mišić D, Milcarz A, Kuźmińska-Bajor M. Bacteriophage Cocktail Can Effectively Control Salmonella Biofilm in Poultry Housing. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:901770. [PMID: 35847069 PMCID: PMC9277115 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.901770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) is the major contaminant of poultry products, and its ability to form biofilms on produced food and poultry farm processing surfaces contributes to Salmonella transmission to humans. Bacteriophages have come under increasing interest for anti-Salmonella biofilm control. In this study, we used the three previously sequenced and described phages UPWr_S1, UPWr_S3, and UPWr_S4 and a phage cocktail, UPWr_S134, containing these three phages to degrade biofilms formed by two S. Enteritidis strains, 327 lux and ATCC 13076, in vitro. It was found that treatment with bacteriophages significantly reduced biofilm on a 96-well microplate (32–69%) and a stainless steel surface (52–98%) formed by S. Enteritidis 327 lux. The reduction of biofilm formed by S. Enteritidis ATCC 13076 in the 96-well microplate and on a stainless steel surface for bacteriophage treatment was in the range of 73–87% and 60–97%, respectively. Under laboratory conditions, an experimental model utilizing poultry drinkers artificially contaminated with S. Enteritidis 327 lux and treated with UPWr_S134 phage cocktail was applied. In in vitro trials, the phage cocktail significantly decreased the number of Salmonella on the surface of poultry drinkers. Moreover, the phage cocktail completely eradicated Salmonella from the abundant bacterial load on poultry drinkers in an experimentally infected chickens. Therefore, the UPWr_S134 phage cocktail is a promising candidate for Salmonella biocontrol at the farm level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Korzeniowski
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Paulina Śliwka
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Maciej Kuczkowski
- Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Birds and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Dušan Mišić
- Department of Functional Food Products Development, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Agata Milcarz
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marta Kuźmińska-Bajor
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
- *Correspondence: Marta Kuźmińska-Bajor
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Sadiq FA, Hansen MF, Burmølle M, Heyndrickx M, Flint S, Lu W, Chen W, Zhang H. Towards understanding mechanisms and functional consequences of bacterial interactions with members of various kingdoms in complex biofilms that abound in nature. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6595875. [PMID: 35640890 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbial world represents a phenomenal diversity of microorganisms from different kingdoms of life which occupy an impressive set of ecological niches. Most, if not all, microorganisms once colonise a surface develop architecturally complex surface-adhered communities which we refer to as biofilms. They are embedded in polymeric structural scaffolds serve as a dynamic milieu for intercellular communication through physical and chemical signalling. Deciphering microbial ecology of biofilms in various natural or engineered settings has revealed co-existence of microorganisms from all domains of life, including Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya. The coexistence of these dynamic microbes is not arbitrary, as a highly coordinated architectural setup and physiological complexity show ecological interdependence and myriads of underlying interactions. In this review, we describe how species from different kingdoms interact in biofilms and discuss the functional consequences of such interactions. We highlight metabolic advances of collaboration among species from different kingdoms, and advocate that these interactions are of great importance and need to be addressed in future research. Since trans-kingdom biofilms impact diverse contexts, ranging from complicated infections to efficient growth of plants, future knowledge within this field will be beneficial for medical microbiology, biotechnology, and our general understanding of microbial life in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faizan Ahmed Sadiq
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.,Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Technology & Food Sciences Unit, Melle, Belgium
| | - Mads Frederik Hansen
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mette Burmølle
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marc Heyndrickx
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Technology & Food Sciences Unit, Melle, Belgium.,Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Steve Flint
- School of Food and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Private Bag, 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Wenwei Lu
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.,State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Wei Chen
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.,State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.,National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.,State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.,National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
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Koskella B, Hernandez CA, Wheatley RM. Understanding the Impacts of Bacteriophage Viruses: From Laboratory Evolution to Natural Ecosystems. Annu Rev Virol 2022; 9:57-78. [PMID: 35584889 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-091919-075914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Viruses of bacteriophages (phages) have broad effects on bacterial ecology and evolution in nature that mediate microbial interactions, shape bacterial diversity, and influence nutrient cycling and ecosystem function. The unrelenting impact of phages within the microbial realm is the result, in large part, of their ability to rapidly evolve in response to bacterial host dynamics. The knowledge gained from laboratory systems, typically using pairwise interactions between single-host and single-phage systems, has made clear that phages coevolve with their bacterial hosts rapidly, somewhat predictably, and primarily by counteradapting to host resistance. Recent advancement in metagenomics approaches, as well as a shifting focus toward natural microbial communities and host-associated microbiomes, is beginning to uncover the full picture of phage evolution and ecology within more complex settings. As these data reach their full potential, it will be critical to ask when and how insights gained from studies of phage evolution in vitro can be meaningfully applied to understanding bacteria-phage interactions in nature. In this review, we explore the myriad ways that phages shape and are themselves shaped by bacterial host populations and communities, with a particular focus on observed and predicted differences between the laboratory and complex microbial communities. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Virology, Volume 9 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britt Koskella
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA;
| | - Catherine A Hernandez
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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30
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Bekliz M, Pramateftaki P, Battin TJ, Peter H. Viral diversity is linked to bacterial community composition in alpine stream biofilms. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:27. [PMID: 37938299 PMCID: PMC9723757 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00112-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Biofilms play pivotal roles in fluvial ecosystems, yet virtually nothing is known about viruses in these communities. Leveraging an optimized sample-to-sequence pipeline, we studied the spatiotemporal turnover of dsDNA viruses associated with stream biofilms and found an astounding diversity to be structured by seasons and along the longitudinal gradient in the stream. While some vOTUs were region- or season-specific, we also identified a large group of permanent biofilm phages, taxonomically dominated by Myoviridae. Comparison of the observed viral distribution with predictions based on neutral community assembly indicated that chance and dispersal may be important for structuring stream biofilm viral communities. Deviation from neutral model predictions suggests that certain phages distribute efficiently across distant locations within the stream network. This dispersal capacity appears to be linked to EPS depolymerases that enable phages to efficiently overcome the biofilm barrier. Other phages, particularly vOTUs classified as Siphoviridae, appear locally overrepresented and to rely on a lysogenic life cycle, potentially to exploit the spatial distribution of bacterial populations in stream biofilms. Overall, biofilm viral and bacterial community turnover were significantly coupled. Yet, viral communities were linked to the presence of the most abundant bacterial community members. With this work, we provide a foundational ecological perspective on factors that structure viral diversity in stream biofilms and identify potentially important viral traits related to the biofilm mode of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriem Bekliz
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paraskevi Pramateftaki
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tom Jan Battin
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hannes Peter
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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31
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Koonjan S, Cardoso Palacios C, Nilsson AS. Population Dynamics of a Two Phages–One Host Infection System Using Escherichia coli Strain ECOR57 and Phages vB_EcoP_SU10 and vB_EcoD_SU57. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15030268. [PMID: 35337066 PMCID: PMC8953519 DOI: 10.3390/ph15030268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we looked at the population dynamics of a two phages-one host system using phages vB_EcoP_SU10 (SU10) and vB_EcoD_SU57 (SU57) and the bacteria Escherichia coli, strain ECOR57. Phage-specific growth curves were observed where infections by SU10 resulted in a moderate production of phages and infections by SU57 resulted in a fast and extensive production of phage progeny. Sequentially adding SU10 followed by SU57 did not produce a significant change in growth rates, whereas adding SU57 followed by SU10 resulted in a decrease in SU10 titer The efficiency of the plating assays showed that ECOR57 exhibited a resistance spectrum after infection by both the single and combined phages. Phage-resistant bacteria exhibited four different morphotypes (i.e., normal, slimy, edgy, and pointy). The normal and edgy morphotypes had a high frequency of developing resistance. Bacterial growth and biofilm assays indicated that the edgy and pointy morphotypes reached a stationary phase faster and produced more biofilm compared to the wild type. These findings suggest that the dynamic structure of phage–bacteria communities dictate resistance evolution and development. Understanding when and how resistances arise and phage(s)–hosts interactions could aid in the design of phage therapy treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shazeeda Koonjan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Correspondence: (S.K.); (A.S.N.)
| | - Carlos Cardoso Palacios
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-739 93 Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Anders S. Nilsson
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Correspondence: (S.K.); (A.S.N.)
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32
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Singh A, Padmesh S, Dwivedi M, Kostova I. How Good are Bacteriophages as an Alternative Therapy to Mitigate Biofilms of Nosocomial Infections. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:503-532. [PMID: 35210792 PMCID: PMC8860455 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s348700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria survive on any surface through the generation of biofilms that provide a protective environment to grow as well as making them drug resistant. Extracellular polymeric matrix is a crucial component in biofilm formation. The presence of biofilms consisting of common opportunistic and nosocomial, drug-resistant pathogens has been reported on medical devices like catheters and prosthetics, leading to many complications. Several approaches are under investigation to combat drug-resistant bacteria. Deployment of bacteriophages is one of the promising approaches to invade biofilm that may expose bacteria to the conditions adverse for their growth. Penetration into these biofilms and their destruction by bacteriophages is brought about due to their small size and ability of their progeny to diffuse through the bacterial cell wall. The other mechanisms employed by phages to infect biofilms may include their relocation through water channels to embedded host cells, replication at local sites followed by infection to the neighboring cells and production of depolymerizing enzymes to decompose viscous biofilm matrix, etc. Various research groups are investigating intricacies involved in phage therapy to mitigate the bacterial infection and biofilm formation. Thus, bacteriophages represent a good control over different biofilms and further understanding of phage-biofilm interaction at molecular level may overcome the clinical challenges in phage therapy. The present review summarizes the comprehensive details on dynamic interaction of phages with bacterial biofilms and the role of phage-derived enzymes - endolysin and depolymerases in extenuating biofilms of clinical and medical concern. The methodology employed was an extensive literature search, using several keywords in important scientific databases, such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, etc. The keywords were also used with Boolean operator "And". More than 250 relevant and recent articles were selected and reviewed to discuss the evidence-based data on the application of phage therapy with recent updates, and related potential challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Singh
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Lucknow, 226028, India
| | - Sudhakar Padmesh
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Lucknow, 226028, India
| | - Manish Dwivedi
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Lucknow, 226028, India
| | - Irena Kostova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University, Sofia, 1000, Bulgaria
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33
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Lynch JB, Bennett BD, Merrill BD, Ruby EG, Hryckowian AJ. Independent host- and bacterium-based determinants protect a model symbiosis from phage predation. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110376. [PMID: 35172163 PMCID: PMC8983117 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are diverse and abundant constituents of microbial communities worldwide, capable of modulating bacterial populations in diverse ways. Here, we describe the phage HNL01, which infects the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. We use culture-based approaches to demonstrate that mutations in the exopolysaccharide locus of V. fischeri render this bacterium resistant to infection by HNL01, highlighting the extracellular matrix as a key determinant of HNL01 infection. Additionally, using the natural symbiosis between V. fischeri and the squid Euprymna scolopes, we show that, during colonization, V. fischeri is protected from phages present in the ambient seawater. Taken together, these findings shed light on independent yet synergistic host- and bacterium-based strategies for resisting symbiosis-disrupting phage predation, and we present important implications for understanding these strategies in the context of diverse host-associated microbial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B Lynch
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA; Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Brittany D Bennett
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Bryan D Merrill
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Edward G Ruby
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Andrew J Hryckowian
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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34
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Pérez‐Rodríguez S, García‐Aznar JM, Gonzalo‐Asensio J. Microfluidic devices for studying bacterial taxis, drug testing and biofilm formation. Microb Biotechnol 2022; 15:395-414. [PMID: 33645897 PMCID: PMC8867988 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Some bacteria have coevolved to establish symbiotic or pathogenic relationships with plants, animals or humans. With human association, the bacteria can cause a variety of diseases. Thus, understanding bacterial phenotypes at the single-cell level is essential to develop beneficial applications. Traditional microbiological techniques have provided great knowledge about these organisms; however, they have also shown limitations, such as difficulties in culturing some bacteria, the heterogeneity of bacterial populations or difficulties in recreating some physical or biological conditions. Microfluidics is an emerging technique that complements current biological assays. Since microfluidics works with micrometric volumes, it allows fine-tuning control of the test conditions. Moreover, it allows the recruitment of three-dimensional (3D) conditions, in which several processes can be integrated and gradients can be generated, thus imitating physiological 3D environments. Here, we review some key microfluidic-based studies describing the effects of different microenvironmental conditions on bacterial response, biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance. For this aim, we present different studies classified into six groups according to the design of the microfluidic device: (i) linear channels, (ii) mixing channels, (iii) multiple floors, (iv) porous devices, (v) topographic devices and (vi) droplet microfluidics. Hence, we highlight the potential and possibilities of using microfluidic-based technology to study bacterial phenotypes in comparison with traditional methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Pérez‐Rodríguez
- Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A)Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of ZaragozaZaragoza50018Spain
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE)IIS‐AragónZaragozaSpain
- Grupo de Genética de MicobacteriasDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of ZaragozaIIS AragónZaragoza50009Spain
| | - José Manuel García‐Aznar
- Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A)Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of ZaragozaZaragoza50018Spain
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE)IIS‐AragónZaragozaSpain
| | - Jesús Gonzalo‐Asensio
- Grupo de Genética de MicobacteriasDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of ZaragozaIIS AragónZaragoza50009Spain
- CIBER Enfermedades RespiratoriasInstituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadrid28029Spain
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI)Zaragoza50018Spain
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35
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Runa V, Wenk J, Bengtsson S, Jones BV, Lanham AB. Bacteriophages in Biological Wastewater Treatment Systems: Occurrence, Characterization, and Function. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:730071. [PMID: 34803947 PMCID: PMC8600467 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.730071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Phage bacteria interactions can affect structure, dynamics, and function of microbial communities. In the context of biological wastewater treatment (BWT), the presence of phages can alter the efficiency of the treatment process and influence the quality of the treated effluent. The active role of phages in BWT has been demonstrated, but many questions remain unanswered regarding the diversity of phages in these engineered environments, the dynamics of infection, the determination of bacterial hosts, and the impact of their activity in full-scale processes. A deeper understanding of the phage ecology in BWT can lead the improvement of process monitoring and control, promote higher influent quality, and potentiate the use of phages as biocontrol agents. In this review, we highlight suitable methods for studying phages in wastewater adapted from other research fields, provide a critical overview on the current state of knowledge on the effect of phages on structure and function of BWT bacterial communities, and highlight gaps, opportunities, and priority questions to be addressed in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane Runa
- Centre for Sustainable and Circular Technologies, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Jannis Wenk
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.,Water Innovation and Research Centre, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | | | - Brian V Jones
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Ana B Lanham
- Centre for Sustainable and Circular Technologies, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.,Water Innovation and Research Centre, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
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36
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Attrill EL, Claydon R, Łapińska U, Recker M, Meaden S, Brown AT, Westra ER, Harding SV, Pagliara S. Individual bacteria in structured environments rely on phenotypic resistance to phage. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001406. [PMID: 34637438 PMCID: PMC8509860 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages represent an avenue to overcome the current antibiotic resistance crisis, but evolution of genetic resistance to phages remains a concern. In vitro, bacteria evolve genetic resistance, preventing phage adsorption or degrading phage DNA. In natural environments, evolved resistance is lower possibly because the spatial heterogeneity within biofilms, microcolonies, or wall populations favours phenotypic survival to lytic phages. However, it is also possible that the persistence of genetically sensitive bacteria is due to less efficient phage amplification in natural environments, the existence of refuges where bacteria can hide, and a reduced spread of resistant genotypes. Here, we monitor the interactions between individual planktonic bacteria in isolation in ephemeral refuges and bacteriophage by tracking the survival of individual cells. We find that in these transient spatial refuges, phenotypic resistance due to reduced expression of the phage receptor is a key determinant of bacterial survival. This survival strategy is in contrast with the emergence of genetic resistance in the absence of ephemeral refuges in well-mixed environments. Predictions generated via a mathematical modelling framework to track bacterial response to phages reveal that the presence of spatial refuges leads to fundamentally different population dynamics that should be considered in order to predict and manipulate the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of bacteria–phage interactions in naturally structured environments. Bacteriophages represent a promising avenue to overcome the current antibiotic resistance crisis, but evolution of phage resistance remains a concern. This study shows that in the presence of spatial refuges, genetic resistance to phage is less of a problem than commonly assumed, but the persistence of genetically susceptible bacteria suggests that eradicating bacterial pathogens from structured environments may require combined phage-antibiotic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L. Attrill
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Rory Claydon
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Urszula Łapińska
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Mario Recker
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Sean Meaden
- Environment and Sustainability Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Aidan T. Brown
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Edze R. Westra
- Environment and Sustainability Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah V. Harding
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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37
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Chevallereau A, Pons BJ, van Houte S, Westra ER. Interactions between bacterial and phage communities in natural environments. Nat Rev Microbiol 2021; 20:49-62. [PMID: 34373631 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-021-00602-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
We commonly acknowledge that bacterial viruses (phages) shape the composition and evolution of bacterial communities in nature and therefore have important roles in ecosystem functioning. This view stems from studies in the 1990s to the first decade of the twenty-first century that revealed high viral abundance, high viral diversity and virus-induced microbial death in aquatic ecosystems as well as an association between collapses in bacterial density and peaks in phage abundance. The recent surge in metagenomic analyses has provided deeper insight into the abundance, genomic diversity and spatio-temporal dynamics of phages in a wide variety of ecosystems, ranging from deep oceans to soil and the mammalian digestive tract. However, the causes and consequences of variations in phage community compositions remain poorly understood. In this Review, we explore current knowledge of the composition and evolution of phage communities, as well as their roles in controlling the population and evolutionary dynamics of bacterial communities. We discuss the need for greater ecological realism in laboratory studies to capture the complexity of microbial communities that thrive in natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Chevallereau
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK. .,Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Université de Paris, Paris, France.
| | - Benoît J Pons
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - Stineke van Houte
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - Edze R Westra
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK.
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38
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da Silva RAG, Afonina I, Kline KA. Eradicating biofilm infections: an update on current and prospective approaches. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 63:117-125. [PMID: 34333239 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Biofilm formation is a multifactorial process and often a multi-species endeavour that involves complex signalling networks, chemical gradients, bacterial adhesion, and production or acquisition of matrix components. Antibiotics remain the main choice when treating bacterial biofilm-associated infections despite their intrinsic tolerance to antimicrobials, and propensity for acquisition and rapid dissemination of antimicrobial resistance within the biofilm. Eliminating hard to treat biofilm-associated infections that are antibiotic resistant will demand a holistic and multi-faceted approach, targeting multiple stages of biofilm formation, many of which are already in development. This mini review will highlight the current approaches that are employed to treat bacterial biofilm infections and discuss new approaches in development that have promise to reach clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronni A G da Silva
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Antimicrobial Drug Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore; Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Science Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Irina Afonina
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Antimicrobial Drug Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore; Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Science Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Kimberly A Kline
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Antimicrobial Drug Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore; Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Science Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
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39
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Bond MC, Vidakovic L, Singh PK, Drescher K, Nadell CD. Matrix-trapped viruses can prevent invasion of bacterial biofilms by colonizing cells. eLife 2021; 10:65355. [PMID: 34240700 PMCID: PMC8346279 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages can be trapped in the matrix of bacterial biofilms, such that the cells inside them are protected. It is not known whether these phages are still infectious and whether they pose a threat to newly arriving bacteria. Here, we address these questions using Escherichia coli and its lytic phage T7. Prior work has demonstrated that T7 phages are bound in the outermost curli polymer layers of the E. coli biofilm matrix. We show that these phages do remain viable and can kill colonizing cells that are T7-susceptible. If cells colonize a resident biofilm before phages do, we find that they can still be killed by phage exposure if it occurs soon thereafter. However, if colonizing cells are present on the biofilm long enough before phage exposure, they gain phage protection via envelopment within curli-producing clusters of the resident biofilm cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Bond
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, United States
| | - Lucia Vidakovic
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Praveen K Singh
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Knut Drescher
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany.,Department of Physics, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carey D Nadell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, United States
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40
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Abstract
Bacteriophages and bacterial biofilms are widely present in natural environments, a fact that has accelerated the evolution of phages and their bacterial hosts in these particular niches. Phage-host interactions in biofilm communities are rather complex, where phages are not always merely predators but also can establish symbiotic relationships that induce and strengthen biofilms. In this review we provide an overview of the main features affecting phage-biofilm interactions as well as the currently available methods of studying these interactions. In addition, we address the applications of phages for biofilm control in different contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana P Pires
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
| | - Luís D R Melo
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
| | - Joana Azeredo
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
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41
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Wucher BR, Elsayed M, Adelman JS, Kadouri DE, Nadell CD. Bacterial predation transforms the landscape and community assembly of biofilms. Curr Biol 2021; 31:2643-2651.e3. [PMID: 33826904 PMCID: PMC8588571 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus attaches to the exterior of a Gram-negative prey cell, enters the periplasm, and harvests resources to replicate before lysing the host to find new prey.1-7 Predatory bacteria such as this are common in many natural environments,8-13 as are groups of matrix-bound prey cell clusters, termed biofilms.14-16 Despite the ubiquity of both predatory bacteria and biofilm-dwelling prey, the interaction between B. bacteriovorus and prey inside biofilms has received little attention and has not yet been studied at the micrometer scale. Filling this knowledge gap is critical to understanding bacterial predator-prey interaction in nature. Here we show that B. bacteriovorus is able to attack biofilms of the pathogen Vibrio cholerae, but only up until a critical maturation threshold past which the prey biofilms are protected from their predators. Using high-resolution microscopy and detailed spatial analysis, we determine the relative contributions of matrix secretion and cell-cell packing of the prey biofilm toward this protection mechanism. Our results demonstrate that B. bacteriovorus predation in the context of this protection threshold fundamentally transforms the sub-millimeter-scale landscape of biofilm growth, as well as the process of community assembly as new potential biofilm residents enter the system. We conclude that bacterial predation can be a key factor influencing the spatial community ecology of microbial biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R Wucher
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, 78 College Street, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Mennat Elsayed
- Department of Oral Biology, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, 110 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07101, USA
| | - James S Adelman
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Memphis, 3700 Walker Avenue, Memphis, TN 38117, USA
| | - Daniel E Kadouri
- Department of Oral Biology, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, 110 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07101, USA
| | - Carey D Nadell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, 78 College Street, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
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Azeredo J, García P, Drulis-Kawa Z. Targeting biofilms using phages and their enzymes. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 68:251-261. [PMID: 33714050 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The complex biofilm architecture composed of extracellular polymeric structures (EPS) provides a protective shield to physiologically diverse bacterial cells immersed in its structure. The evolutionary interplay between bacteria and their viruses (phages) forced the latter ones to develop specific strategies to overcome the biofilm defensive barriers and kill sessile cells. Phages are equipped with a wide panel of enzyme-degrading EPS macromolecules which together are powerful weapons to combat biofilms. Antibiofilm performance can be achieved by combining phages or phage-borne enzymes with other antimicrobials such as antibiotics. Nevertheless, a variety of enzymes encoded in phage genomes still need to be explored. To advance in biofilm control strategies we must deepen the understanding of the biofilm biology itself, as well as discover and better exploit the unlimited antibacterial potential of phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Azeredo
- Centro de Engenharia Biológica, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Pilar García
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), Paseo Río Linares sn. 33300, Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain.
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland.
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Gambino M, Brøndsted L. Looking into the future of phage-based control of zoonotic pathogens in food and animal production. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 68:96-103. [PMID: 33186799 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Using bacteriophages (phages) to control zoonotic pathogens in food and animal production is a realistic and promising antimicrobial approach. Recent studies have demonstrated their efficacy and safety, yet bringing phage products on the market remains a challenge. Here we summarize the procedure for advancing phage applications from the laboratory to simplified model systems and testing in pilot scale, to farms and food industries. We highlight the most important contributions concerning phages in food matrices and animal guts, and propose directions for future research required to understand interactions in such complex systems. Finally, we propose a holistic approach combining a data repository with modelling, multi-omic techniques and data analysis to modernize phage-based control of zoonotic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Gambino
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Lone Brøndsted
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
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Mangalea MR, Duerkop BA. Fitness Trade-Offs Resulting from Bacteriophage Resistance Potentiate Synergistic Antibacterial Strategies. Infect Immun 2020; 88:e00926-19. [PMID: 32094257 PMCID: PMC7309606 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00926-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria that cause life-threatening infections in humans are becoming increasingly difficult to treat. In some instances, this is due to intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance, indicating that new therapeutic approaches are needed to combat bacterial pathogens. There is renewed interest in utilizing viruses of bacteria known as bacteriophages (phages) as potential antibacterial therapeutics. However, critics suggest that similar to antibiotics, the development of phage-resistant bacteria will halt clinical phage therapy. Although the emergence of phage-resistant bacteria is likely inevitable, there is a growing body of literature showing that phage selective pressure promotes mutations in bacteria that allow them to subvert phage infection, but with a cost to their fitness. Such fitness trade-offs include reduced virulence, resensitization to antibiotics, and colonization defects. Resistance to phage nucleic acid entry, primarily via cell surface modifications, compromises bacterial fitness during antibiotic and host immune system pressure. In this minireview, we explore the mechanisms behind phage resistance in bacterial pathogens and the physiological consequences of acquiring phage resistance phenotypes. With this knowledge, it may be possible to use phages to alter bacterial populations, making them more tractable to current therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihnea R Mangalea
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Breck A Duerkop
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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