MntP and YiiP Contribute to Manganese Efflux in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium under Conditions of Manganese Overload and Nitrosative Stress

Growth promotion on maize and whole-genome sequence analysis of Bacillus velezensis D103

Root-associated microorganisms, particularly plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from the Bacillus genus, play a crucial role in enhancing crop yield and health. In this study, a Bacillus strain was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of maize and identified as Bacillus velezensis D103. The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the potential of D103 as a PGPR. Laboratory tests demonstrated that D103 is capable of nitrogen fixation, inorganic phosphorus solubilization, potassium solubilization, and the synthesis of indole-3-acetic acid, ammonia, siderophores, amylase, protease, cellulase, β-1,3-glucanase, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase. Additionally, D103 exhibited swimming and swarming motility, biofilm formation, and an antagonistic activity against pathogenic fungi. Genome mining identified genes associated with growth promotion and biocontrol activities. In a hydroponics experiment, maize plants treated with a D103 suspension at a cell density of 103 CFU·mL-1 resulted in the most pronounced showed significant growth stimulation, with shoot length and total root length increasing by 43% and 148%, respectively. These results support the potential of D103 as an effective PGPR for promoting maize crop growth.

IMPORTANCE

In this study, we assessed the capacity of D103 to promote plant growth and examined the effects of hydroponic experiments inoculated with this strain on the growth of maize seedlings. We sequenced and analyzed the complete genome of D103, identifying several genes and gene clusters associated with plant growth promotion and resistance to pathogenic fungi, thus revealing the plant growth-promoting mechanisms of this strain. The isolation and characterization of new strains with beneficial traits are essential for expanding microbial resources available for biofertilizer production. Collectively, these findings highlight the promising potential of Bacillus velezensis D103 as a biofertilizer for agricultural applications.

Exploring resource competition by protective lactic acid bacteria cultures to control Salmonella in food: an Achilles' heel to target?

Salmonella is a pathogenic bacterium, being the second most commonly reported foodborne pathogen in Europe, due to the ability of its different serovars to contaminate a wide variety of foods, with differences among countries. Common chemical or physical control methods are not always effective, eco-sustainable and adapted to the diversity of Salmonella serovars. Thus, great attention is given to developing complementary or alternative control methods that can be tailor made for specific situations. One of these methods is biopreservation using lactic acid bacteria, with most studies on their antagonistic activity focused on the production of antimicrobials. Less attention has been given to competition by exploitation of nutrients. This review is thus set to investigate and highlight limiting resources that may be involved in the competitive exclusion of Salmonella in food matrices. To do this the needs for nutrients and microelements and the known homeostatic pathways of Salmonella and lactic acid bacteria are examined. Finally, milk, intended for the manufacture of fermented dairy foods, is pointed out as an example of food to investigate the bioavailable macronutrients, metals and vitamins that could be involved in competition between the different species and serovars, and could be exploited for targeted biopreservation.

Biological characteristics of manganese transporter MntP in Klebsiella pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important opportunistic pathogen that causes a variety of infections. It is critical for bacteria to maintain metal homeostasis during infection. By using an isogenic mntP deletion mutant of K. pneumoniae strain NTUH-K2044, we found that MntP was a manganese efflux pump. Manganese increased the tolerance to oxidative stress, and oxidative stress could increase the intracellular manganese concentration. In oxidative stress, the mntP deletion mutant exhibited significantly higher sensitivity to manganese. Furthermore, iron could increase the tolerance of the mntP deletion mutant to manganese. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the mntP deletion mutant had higher intracellular manganese and iron concentrations than wild-type and complementary strains. These findings suggested that iron could increase manganese tolerance in K. pneumoniae. This work elucidated the role of MntP in manganese detoxification and Mn/Fe homeostasis in K. pneumoniae.IMPORTANCEMetal homeostasis plays an important role during the process of bacterial infection. Herein, we revealed that MntP was involved in intracellular manganese homeostasis. Manganese promoted resistance to oxidative stress in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the mntP deletion mutant exhibited significantly lower survival under manganese and H2O2 conditions. Oxidative stress increased the intracellular manganese content of the mntP deletion mutant. MntP played a critical role in maintaining intracellular manganese and iron concentrations. MntP contributed to manganese detoxification and Mn/Fe homeostasis in K. pneumoniae.

A riboswitch-controlled TerC family transporter Alx tunes intracellular manganese concentration in Escherichia coli at alkaline pH

Cells use transition metal ions as structural components of biomolecules and cofactors in enzymatic reactions, making transition metal ions integral cellular components. Organisms optimize metal ion concentration to meet cellular needs by regulating the expression of proteins that import and export that metal ion, often in a metal ion concentration-dependent manner. One such regulation mechanism is via riboswitches, which are 5'-untranslated regions of an mRNA that undergo conformational changes to promote or inhibit the expression of the downstream gene, commonly in response to a ligand. The yybP-ykoY family of bacterial riboswitches shares a conserved aptamer domain that binds manganese ions (Mn2+). In Escherichia coli, the yybP-ykoY riboswitch precedes and regulates the expression of two different genes: mntP, which based on genetic evidence encodes an Mn2+ exporter, and alx, which encodes a putative metal ion transporter whose cognate ligand is currently in question. The expression of alx is upregulated by both elevated concentrations of Mn2+ and alkaline pH. With metal ion measurements and gene expression studies, we demonstrate that the alkalinization of media increases the cytoplasmic manganese pool, which, in turn, enhances alx expression. The Alx-mediated Mn2+ export prevents the toxic buildup of the cellular manganese, with the export activity maximal at alkaline pH. We pinpoint a set of acidic residues in the predicted transmembrane segments of Alx that play a critical role in Mn2+ export. We propose that Alx-mediated Mn2+ export serves as a primary protective mechanism that fine tunes the cytoplasmic manganese content, especially during alkaline stress.IMPORTANCEBacteria use clever ways to tune gene expression upon encountering certain environmental stresses, such as alkaline pH in parts of the human gut and high concentration of a transition metal ion manganese. One way by which bacteria regulate the expression of their genes is through the 5'-untranslated regions of messenger RNA called riboswitches that bind ligands to turn expression of genes on/off. In this work, we have investigated the roles and regulation of alx and mntP, the two genes in Escherichia coli regulated by the yybP-ykoY  riboswitches, in alkaline pH and high concentration of Mn2+. This work highlights the intricate ways through which bacteria adapt to their surroundings, utilizing riboregulatory mechanisms to maintain Mn2+ levels amidst varying environmental factors.

The Bacillus subtilis yqgC-sodA operon protects magnesium-dependent enzymes by supporting manganese efflux

Microbes encounter a myriad of stresses during their life cycle. Dysregulation of metal ion homeostasis is increasingly recognized as a key factor in host-microbe interactions. Bacterial metal ion homeostasis is tightly regulated by dedicated metalloregulators that control uptake, sequestration, trafficking, and efflux. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of the Bacillus subtilis yqgC-sodA (YS) complex operon, but not deletion of the individual genes, causes hypersensitivity to manganese (Mn). YqgC is an integral membrane protein of unknown function, and SodA is a Mn-dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). The YS strain has reduced expression of two Mn efflux proteins, MneP and MneS, consistent with the observed Mn sensitivity. The YS strain accumulated high levels of Mn, had increased reactive radical species (RRS), and had broad metabolic alterations that can be partially explained by the inhibition of Mg-dependent enzymes. Although the YS operon deletion strain and an efflux-deficient mneP mneS double mutant both accumulate Mn and have similar metabolic perturbations, they also display phenotypic differences. Several mutations that suppressed Mn intoxication of the mneP mneS efflux mutant did not benefit the YS mutant. Further, Mn intoxication in the YS mutant, but not the mneP mneS strain, was alleviated by expression of Mg-dependent, chorismate-utilizing enzymes of the menaquinone, siderophore, and tryptophan (MST) family. Therefore, despite their phenotypic similarities, the Mn sensitivity in the mneP mneS and the YS deletion mutants results from distinct enzymatic vulnerabilities.IMPORTANCEBacteria require multiple trace metal ions for survival. Metal homeostasis relies on the tightly regulated expression of metal uptake, storage, and efflux proteins. Metal intoxication occurs when metal homeostasis is perturbed and often results from enzyme mis-metalation. In Bacillus subtilis, Mn-dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is the most abundant Mn-containing protein and is important for oxidative stress resistance. Here, we report novel roles for MnSOD and a co-regulated membrane protein, YqgC, in Mn homeostasis. Loss of both MnSOD and YqgC (but not the individual proteins) prevents the efficient expression of Mn efflux proteins and leads to a large-scale perturbation of the metabolome due to inhibition of Mg-dependent enzymes, including key chorismate-utilizing MST (menaquinone, siderophore, and tryptophan) family enzymes.

High-throughput fitness experiments reveal specific vulnerabilities of human-adapted Salmonella during stress and infection

Salmonella enterica is comprised of genetically distinct 'serovars' that together provide an intriguing model for exploring the genetic basis of pathogen evolution. Although the genomes of numerous Salmonella isolates with broad variations in host range and human disease manifestations have been sequenced, the functional links between genetic and phenotypic differences among these serovars remain poorly understood. Here, we conduct high-throughput functional genomics on both generalist (Typhimurium) and human-restricted (Typhi and Paratyphi A) Salmonella at unprecedented scale in the study of this enteric pathogen. Using a comprehensive systems biology approach, we identify gene networks with serovar-specific fitness effects across 25 host-associated stresses encountered at key stages of human infection. By experimentally perturbing these networks, we characterize previously undescribed pseudogenes in human-adapted Salmonella. Overall, this work highlights specific vulnerabilities encoded within human-restricted Salmonella that are linked to the degradation of their genomes, shedding light into the evolution of this enteric pathogen.

Proteomic insights into the response of Halomonas sp. MNB13 to excess Mn(Ⅱ) and the role of H2S in Mn(Ⅱ) resistance

Halomonas spp. are moderately halophilic bacteria with the ability to tolerate various heavy metals. However, the role of basic cellular metabolism, particularly amino acid metabolism, has not been investigated in Halomonas spp. under excess Mn(Ⅱ). The strain Halomonas sp. MNB13 was isolated from a deep-sea ferromanganese nodule and can tolerate 80 mM Mn(Ⅱ). To comprehensively explore the mechanisms underlying its resistance to excess Mn(Ⅱ), we conducted a comparative proteome analysis. The data revealed that both 10 mM and 50 mM Mn(Ⅱ) significantly up-regulated the expression of proteins involved in Mn(Ⅱ) transport (MntE), oxidative stress response (alkyl hydroperoxide reductase and the Suf system), and amino acid metabolism (arginine, cysteine, methionine, and phenylalanine). We further investigated the role of cysteine metabolism in Mn(Ⅱ) resistance by examining the function of its downstream product, H2S. Consistent with the up-regulation of cysteine desulfurase, we detected an elevated level of H2S in Halomonas sp. MNB13 cells under Mn(Ⅱ) stress, along with increased intracellular levels of H2O2 and O2•-. Upon exogenous addition of H2S, we observed a significant restoration of the growth of Halomonas sp. MNB13. Moreover, we identified decreased intracellular levels of H2O2 and O2•- in MNB13 cells, which coincided with a decreased formation of Mn-oxides during cultivation. In contrast, in cultures containing NaHS, the residual Mn(Ⅱ) levels were higher than in cultures without NaHS. Therefore, H2S improves Mn(Ⅱ) tolerance by eliminating intracellular reactive oxygen species rather than decreasing Mn(Ⅱ) concentration in solution. Our findings indicate that cysteine metabolism, particularly the intermediate H2S, plays a pivotal role in Mn(Ⅱ) resistance by mitigating the damage caused by reactive oxygen species. These findings provide new insights into the amino acid mechanisms associated with Mn(Ⅱ) resistance in bacteria.

Hfe Permease and Haemophilus influenzae Manganese Homeostasis

Haemophilus influenzae is a commensal of the human upper respiratory tract that can infect diverse host niches due, at least in part, to its ability to withstand both endogenous and host-mediated oxidative stresses. Here, we show that hfeA, a gene previously linked to iron import, is essential for H. influenzae manganese recruitment via the HfeBCD transporter. Structural analyses show that metal binding in HfeA uses a unique mechanism that involves substantial rotation of the C-terminal lobe of the protein. Disruption of hfeA reduced H. influenzae manganese acquisition and was associated with decreased growth under aerobic conditions, impaired manganese-superoxide dismutase activity, reduced survival in macrophages, and changes in biofilm production in the presence of superoxide. Collectively, this work shows that HfeA contributes to H. influenzae manganese acquisition and virulence attributes. High conservation of the hfeABCD permease in Haemophilus species suggests that it may serve similar roles in other pathogenic Pasteurellaceae.

Functional characterization of a TerC family protein of Riemerella anatipestifer in manganese detoxification and virulence

Manganese (Mn) is an essential element for bacteria, but the overload of manganese is toxic. In a previous study, we showed that the cation diffusion facilitator protein MetA and the resistance-nodulation-division efflux pump MetB are responsible for Mn efflux in the bacterial pathogen Riemerella anatipestifer CH-1. However, whether this bacterium encodes additional manganese efflux proteins is unclear. In this study, we show that R. anatipestifer CH-1 encodes a tellurium resistance C (TerC) family protein with low similarity to other characterized TerC family proteins. Compared to the wild type (WT), the terC mutant of R. anatipestifer CH-1 (∆terC) is sensitive to Mn(II) intoxication. The ability of TerC to export manganese is higher than that of MetB but lower than that of MetA. Consistently, terC deletion (∆terC) led to intracellular accumulation of Mn2+ under excess manganese conditions. Further study showed that ∆terC was more sensitive than the WT to the oxidant hypoclorite but not to hydrogen peroxide. Mutagenesis studies showed that the mutant at amino acid sites of Glu116 (E116), Asp122 (D122), Glu245 (E245) Asp248 (D248), and Asp254 (D254) may be involved in the ability of TerC to export manganese. The transcription of terC was upregulated under excess manganese and downregulated under iron-limited conditions. However, this was not dependent on the manganese metabolism regulator MetR. In contrast to a strain lacking the manganese efflux pump MetA or MetB, the terC mutant is attenuated in virulence in a duckling model of infection due to increased sensitivity to duck serum. Finally, comparative analysis showed that homologs of TerC are distributed across the bacterial kingdom, suggesting that TerC exerts a conserved manganese efflux function.IMPORTANCERiemerella anatipestifer is a notorious bacterial pathogen of ducks and other birds. In R. anatipestifer, the genes involved in manganese efflux have not been completely identified, although MetA and MetB have been identified as two manganese exporters. Additionally, the function of TerC family proteins in manganese efflux is controversial. Here, we demonstrated that a TerC family protein helps prevent Mn(II) intoxication in R. anatipestifer and that the ability of TerC to export manganese is intermediate compared to that of MetA and MetB. Sequence analysis and mutagenesis studies showed that the conserved key amino sites of TerC are Glu116, Asp122, Glu245, Asp248, and Asp254. The transcription of terC was regulated by manganese excess and iron limitation. Finally, we show that TerC plays a role in the virulence of R. anatipestifer due to the increased sensitivity to duck serum, rather than the increased sensitivity to manganese. Taken together, these results expand our understanding of manganese efflux and the pathogenic mechanisms of R. anatipestifer.

New insights into bacterial Zn homeostasis and molecular architecture of the metal resistome in soil polluted with nano zinc oxide

Accumulation of nano ZnO (nZnO) in soils could be toxic to bacterial communities through disruption of Zn homeostasis. Under such conditions, bacterial communities strive to maintain cellular Zn levels by accentuation of appropriate cellular machinery. In this study, soil was exposed to a gradient (50-1000 mg Zn kg-1) of nZnO for evaluating their effects on genes involved in Zn homeostasis (ZHG). The responses were compared with similar levels of its bulk counterpart (bZnO). It was observed that ZnO (as nZnO or bZnO) induced a plethora of influx and efflux transporters as well as metallothioneins (MTs) and metallochaperones mediated by an array of Zn sensitive regulatory proteins. Major influx system identified was the ZnuABC transporter, while important efflux transporters identified were CzcCBA, ZntA, YiiP and the major regulator was Zur. The response of communities was dose- dependent at lower concentrations (<500 mg Zn kg-1 as nZnO or bZnO). However, at 1000 mg Zn kg-1, a size-dependent threshold of gene/gene family abundances was evident. Under nZnO, a poor adaptation to toxicity induced anaerobic conditions due to deployment of major influx and secondary detoxifying systems as well as poor chelation of free Zn ions was evident. Moreover, Zn homeostasis related link with biofilm formation and virulence were accentuated under nZnO than bZnO. While these findings were verified by PCoA and Procrustes analysis, Network analysis and taxa vs ZHG associations also substantiated that a stronger Zn shunting mechanism was induced under nZnO due to higher toxicity. Molecular crosstalks with systems governing Cu and Fe homeostasis were also evident. Expression analysis of important resistance genes by qRT-PCR showed good alignment with the predictive metagenome data, thereby validating our findings. From the study it was evident that the induction of detoxifying and resistant genes was greatly lowered under nZnO, which markedly hampered Zn homeostasis among the soil bacterial communities.

Structures and coordination chemistry of transporters involved in manganese and iron homeostasis

A repertoire of transporters plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis of biologically essential transition metals, manganese, and iron, thus ensuring cell viability. Elucidating the structure and function of many of these transporters has provided substantial understanding into how these proteins help maintain the optimal cellular concentrations of these metals. In particular, recent high-resolution structures of several transporters bound to different metals enable an examination of how the coordination chemistry of metal ion-protein complexes can help us understand metal selectivity and specificity. In this review, we first provide a comprehensive list of both specific and broad-based transporters that contribute to cellular homeostasis of manganese (Mn2+) and iron (Fe2+ and Fe3+) in bacteria, plants, fungi, and animals. Furthermore, we explore the metal-binding sites of the available high-resolution metal-bound transporter structures (Nramps, ABC transporters, P-type ATPase) and provide a detailed analysis of their coordination spheres (ligands, bond lengths, bond angles, and overall geometry and coordination number). Combining this information with the measured binding affinity of the transporters towards different metals sheds light into the molecular basis of substrate selectivity and transport. Moreover, comparison of the transporters with some metal scavenging and storage proteins, which bind metal with high affinity, reveal how the coordination geometry and affinity trends reflect the biological role of individual proteins involved in the homeostasis of these essential transition metals.

Manganese Efflux Achieved by MetA and MetB Affects Oxidative Stress Resistance and Iron Homeostasis in Riemerella anatipestifer

In bacteria, manganese homeostasis is controlled by import, regulation, and efflux. Here, we identified 2 Mn exporters, MetA and MetB (manganese efflux transporters A and B), in Riemerella anatipestifer CH-1, encoding a putative cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) protein and putative resistance-nodulation-division (RND) efflux pump, respectively. Compared with the wild type (WT), ΔmetA, ΔmetB, and ΔmetAΔmetB exhibited sensitivity to manganese, since they accumulated more intracellular Mn2+ than the WT under excess manganese conditions, while the amount of iron in the mutants was decreased. Moreover, ΔmetA, ΔmetB, and ΔmetAΔmetB were more sensitive to the oxidant NaOCl than the WT. Further study showed that supplementation with iron sources could alleviate manganese toxicity and that excess manganese inhibited bacterial cell division. RNA-Seq showed that manganese stress resulted in the perturbation of iron metabolism genes, further demonstrating that manganese efflux is critical for iron homeostasis. metA transcription was upregulated under excess manganese but was not activated by MetR, a DtxR family protein, although MetR was also involved in manganese detoxification, while metB transcription was downregulated under iron depletion conditions and in fur mutants. Finally, homologues of MetA and MetB were found to be mainly distributed in members of Flavobacteriaceae. Specifically, MetB represents a novel manganese exporter in Gram-negative bacteria. IMPORTANCE Manganese is required for the function of many proteins in bacteria, but in excess, manganese can mediate toxicity. Therefore, the intracellular levels of manganese must be tightly controlled. Manganese efflux transporters have been characterized in some other bacteria; however, their homologues could not be found in the genome of Riemerella anatipestifer through sequence comparison. This indicated that other types of manganese efflux transporters likely exist. In this study, we characterized 2 transporters, MetA and MetB, that mediate manganese efflux in R. anatipestifer in response to manganese overload. MetA encodes a putative cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) protein, which has been characterized as a manganese transporter in other bacteria, while this is the first observation of a putative resistance-nodulation-division (RND) transporter contributing to manganese export in Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, the mechanism of manganese toxicity was studied by observing morphological changes and by transcriptome sequencing. Taken together, these results are important for expanding our understanding of manganese transporters and revealing the mechanism of manganese toxicity.

Manganese Transporter Proteins in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

The metal cofactors are essential for the function of many enzymes. The host restricts the metal acquisition of pathogens for their immunity and the pathogens have evolved many ways to obtain metal ions for their survival and growth. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium also needs several metal cofactors for its survival, and manganese has been found to contribute to Salmonella pathogenesis. Manganese helps Salmonella withstand oxidative and nitrosative stresses. In addition, manganese affects glycolysis and the reductive TCA, which leads to the inhibition of energetic and biosynthetic metabolism. Therefore, manganese homeostasis is crucial for full virulence of Salmonella. Here, we summarize the current information about three importers and two exporters of manganese that have been identified in Salmonella. MntH, SitABCD, and ZupT have been shown to participate in manganese uptake. mntH and sitABCD are upregulated by low manganese concentration, oxidative stress, and host NRAMP1 level. mntH also contains a Mn²⁺-dependent riboswitch in its 5' UTR. Regulation of zupT expression requires further investigation. MntP and YiiP have been identified as manganese efflux proteins. mntP is transcriptionally activated by MntR at high manganese levels and repressed its activity by MntS at low manganese levels. Regulation of yiiP requires further analysis, but it has been shown that yiiP expression is not dependent on MntS. Besides these five transporters, there might be additional transporters that need to be identified.

Why is manganese so valuable to bacterial pathogens?

Apart from oxygenic photosynthesis, the extent of manganese utilization in bacteria varies from species to species and also appears to depend on external conditions. This observation is in striking contrast to iron, which is similar to manganese but essential for the vast majority of bacteria. To adequately explain the role of manganese in pathogens, we first present in this review that the accumulation of molecular oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere was a key event that linked manganese utilization to iron utilization and put pressure on the use of manganese in general. We devote a large part of our contribution to explanation of how molecular oxygen interferes with iron so that it enhances oxidative stress in cells, and how bacteria have learned to control the concentration of free iron in the cytosol. The functioning of iron in the presence of molecular oxygen serves as a springboard for a fundamental understanding of why manganese is so valued by bacterial pathogens. The bulk of this review addresses how manganese can replace iron in enzymes. Redox-active enzymes must cope with the higher redox potential of manganese compared to iron. Therefore, specific manganese-dependent isoenzymes have evolved that either lower the redox potential of the bound metal or use a stronger oxidant. In contrast, redox-inactive enzymes can exchange the metal directly within the individual active site, so no isoenzymes are required. It appears that in the physiological context, only redox-inactive mononuclear or dinuclear enzymes are capable of replacing iron with manganese within the same active site. In both cases, cytosolic conditions play an important role in the selection of the metal used. In conclusion, we summarize both well-characterized and less-studied mechanisms of the tug-of-war for manganese between host and pathogen.

Iron homeostasis in Bacillus subtilis relies on three differentially expressed efflux systems

In Bacillus subtilis, iron homeostasis is maintained by the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) and manganese homeostasis relies on the manganese transport regulator (MntR). Both Fur and MntR function as bi-functional metalloregulators that repress import and activate metal ion efflux systems. The ferrous iron efflux ATPase, PfeT, is derepressed by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as sensed by PerR and induced by iron as sensed by Fur. Mutants lacking PfeT are sensitive to iron intoxication. Here, we show that mntR mutants are also iron-sensitive, largely due to decreased expression of the MntR-activated MneP and MneS cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) proteins previously defined for their role in Mn²⁺ export. The ability of MneP and MneS to export iron is apparent even when their expression is not induced by Mn²⁺. Our results demonstrate that PfeT, MneP and MneS each contribute to iron homeostasis, and a triple mutant lacking all three is more iron-sensitive than any single mutant. We further show that sensitivity to H₂O₂ does not correlate with iron sensitivity. For example, an mntR mutant is H₂O₂-sensitive due to elevated Mn(II) that increases PerR-mediated repression of peroxide resistance genes, and this repression is antagonized by elevated Fe²⁺ in an mntR pfeT mutant. Thus, H₂O₂-sensitivity reflects the relative levels of Mn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ as sensed by the PerR regulatory protein. These results underscore the complex interplay between manganese, iron and oxidative stress in B. subtilis.

Nramp: Deprive and conquer?

Solute carriers 11 (Slc11) evolved from bacterial permease (MntH) to eukaryotic antibacterial defense (Nramp) while continuously mediating proton (H⁺)-dependent manganese (Mn²⁺) import. Also, Nramp horizontal gene transfer (HGT) toward bacteria led to mntH polyphyly. Prior demonstration that evolutionary rate-shifts distinguishing Slc11 from outgroup carriers dictate catalytic specificity suggested that resolving Slc11 family tree may provide a function-aware phylogenetic framework. Hence, MntH C (MC) subgroups resulted from HGTs of prototype Nramp (pNs) parologs while archetype Nramp (aNs) correlated with phagocytosis. PHI-Blast based taxonomic profiling confirmed MntH B phylogroup is confined to anaerobic bacteria vs. MntH A (MA)’s broad distribution; suggested niche-related spread of MC subgroups; established that MA-variant MH, which carries ‘eukaryotic signature’ marks, predominates in archaea. Slc11 phylogeny shows MH is sister to Nramp. Site-specific analysis of Slc11 charge network known to interact with the protonmotive force demonstrates sequential rate-shifts that recapitulate Slc11 evolution. 3D mapping of similarly coevolved sites across Slc11 hydrophobic core revealed successive targeting of discrete areas. The data imply that pN HGT could advantage recipient bacteria for H⁺-dependent Mn²⁺ acquisition and Alphafold 3D models suggest conformational divergence among MC subgroups. It is proposed that Slc11 originated as a bacterial stress resistance function allowing Mn²⁺-dependent persistence in conditions adverse for growth, and that archaeal MH could contribute to eukaryogenesis as a Mn²⁺ sequestering defense perhaps favoring intracellular growth-competent bacteria.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis of Stenotrophomonas sp. MNB17 revealed mechanisms of manganese tolerance at different concentrations and the role of histidine biosynthesis in manganese removal

Bacteria possess protective mechanisms against excess Mn(Ⅱ) to reduce its toxicity. Stenotrophomonas sp. MNB17 showed high Mn(Ⅱ) removal capacity (92.24-99.16 %) by forming Mn-precipitates (MnCO₃ and Mn-oxides), whose Mn-oxides content increased with increasing Mn(Ⅱ) concentrations (10-50 mM). Compared with 0 mM Mn(Ⅱ)-stressed cells, transcriptomic analysis identified genes with the same transcriptional trends in 10 mM and 50 mM Mn(Ⅱ)-stressed cells, including genes involved in metal transport, cell envelope homeostasis, and histidine biosynthesis, as well as genes with different transcriptional trends, such as those involved in oxidative stress response, glyoxylate cycle, electron transport, and protein metabolism. The upregulation of histidine biosynthesis and oxidative stress responses were the most prominent features of these metabolisms under Mn(Ⅱ) stress. We confirmed that the increased level of reactive oxygen species was one of the reasons for the increased Mn-oxides formation at high Mn(Ⅱ) concentrations. Metabolite analysis indicated that the enhanced histidine biosynthesis rather than the tricarboxylic acid cycle resulted in an elevated level of α-ketoglutarate, which helped eliminate reactive oxygen species. Consistent with these results, the exogenous addition of histidine significantly reduced the production of reactive oxygen species and Mn-oxides and enhanced the removal of Mn(Ⅱ) as MnCO₃. This study is the first to correlate histidine biosynthesis, reactive oxygen species, and Mn-oxides formation at high Mn(Ⅱ) concentrations, providing novel insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms associated with Mn(Ⅱ) removal in bacteria.

Manganese Utilization in Salmonella Pathogenesis: Beyond the Canonical Antioxidant Response

The metal ion manganese (Mn²⁺) is equally coveted by hosts and bacterial pathogens. The host restricts Mn²⁺ in the gastrointestinal tract and Salmonella-containing vacuoles, as part of a process generally known as nutritional immunity. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium counteract Mn²⁺ limitation using a plethora of metal importers, whose expression is under elaborate transcriptional and posttranscriptional control. Mn²⁺ serves as cofactor for a variety of enzymes involved in antioxidant defense or central metabolism. Because of its thermodynamic stability and low reactivity, bacterial pathogens may favor Mn²⁺-cofactored metalloenzymes during periods of oxidative stress. This divalent metal catalyzes metabolic flow through lower glycolysis, reductive tricarboxylic acid and the pentose phosphate pathway, thereby providing energetic, redox and biosynthetic outputs associated with the resistance of Salmonella to reactive oxygen species generated in the respiratory burst of professional phagocytic cells. Combined, the oxyradical-detoxifying properties of Mn²⁺ together with the ability of this divalent metal cation to support central metabolism help Salmonella colonize the mammalian gut and establish systemic infections.