1
|
Bourgeois JS, Hu LT. Hitchhiker's Guide to Borrelia burgdorferi. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0011624. [PMID: 39140751 PMCID: PMC11411949 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00116-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Don't Panic. In the nearly 50 years since the discovery of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi has emerged as an unlikely workhorse of microbiology. Interest in studying host-pathogen interactions fueled significant progress in making the fastidious microbe approachable in laboratory settings, including the development of culture methods, animal models, and genetic tools. By developing these systems, insight has been gained into how the microbe is able to survive its enzootic cycle and cause human disease. Here, we discuss the discovery of B. burgdorferi and its development as a model organism before diving into the critical lessons we have learned about B. burgdorferi biology at pivotal stages of its lifecycle: gene expression changes during the tick blood meal, colonization of a new vertebrate host, and developing a long-lasting infection in that vertebrate until a new tick feeds. Our goal is to highlight the advancements that have facilitated B. burgdorferi research and identify gaps in our current understanding of the microbe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S Bourgeois
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University Lyme Disease Initiative, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Linden T Hu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University Lyme Disease Initiative, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Groshong AM, Gibbons NE, Moore BP, Bellamy WT, Blevins JS. The plasmid-encoded members of paralogous gene family 52 are dispensable to the enzootic cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi. Infect Immun 2024:e0021424. [PMID: 39120148 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00214-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease, the leading vector-borne disease in the United States and Europe, develops after infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato bacteria. Transmission of the spirochete from the tick vector to a vertebrate host requires global changes in gene expression that are controlled, in part, by the Rrp2/RpoN/RpoS alternative sigma factor cascade. Transcriptional studies defining the B. burgdorferi RpoS regulon have suggested that RpoS activates the transcription of paralogous family 52 (PFam52) genes. In strain B31, PFam52 genes (bbi42, bbk53, and bbq03) encode a set of conserved hypothetical proteins with >89% amino acid identity that are predicted to be surface-localized. Extensive homology among members of paralogous families complicates studies of protein contributions to pathogenicity as the potential for functional redundancy will obfuscate findings. Using a sequential mutagenesis approach, we generated clones expressing a single PFam52 paralog, as well as a strain deficient in all three. The single paralog expressing strains were used to confirm BBI42, BBK53, and BBQ03 surface localization and RpoS regulation. Surprisingly, the PFam52-deficient strain was able to infect mice and complete the enzootic cycle similar to the wild-type parental strain. Indeed, the presence of numerous pseudogenes that contain frameshifts or internal stop codons among the PFam52 genes suggests that they may be subjected to gene loss in B. burgdorferi's reduced genome. Alternatively, the lack of phenotype might reflect the limitations of the experimental mouse infection model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Groshong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Nora E Gibbons
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Brendan P Moore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - William T Bellamy
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Jon S Blevins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jackson-Litteken CD, Guo W, Hogland BA, Ratliff CT, McFadden L, Fullerton MS, Voth DE, Rego ROM, Blevins JS. Development and validation of systems for genetic manipulation of the Old World tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia duttonii. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012348. [PMID: 39038047 PMCID: PMC11293673 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Relapsing fever (RF), a vector-borne disease caused by Borrelia spp., is characterized by recurring febrile episodes due to repeated bouts of bacteremia. RF spirochetes can be geographically and phylogenetically divided into two distinct groups; Old World RF Borrelia (found in Africa, Asia, and Europe) and New World RF Borrelia (found in the Americas). While RF is a rarely reported disease in the Americas, RF is prevalent in endemic parts of Africa. Despite phylogenetic differences between Old World and New World RF Borrelia and higher incidence of disease associated with Old World RF spirochete infection, genetic manipulation has only been described in New World RF bacteria. Herein, we report the generation of genetic tools for use in the Old World RF spirochete, Borrelia duttonii. We describe methods for transformation and establish shuttle vector- and integration-based approaches for genetic complementation, creating green fluorescent protein (gfp)-expressing B. duttonii strains as a proof of principle. Allelic exchange mutagenesis was also used to inactivate a homolog of the Borrelia burgdorferi p66 gene, which encodes an important virulence factor, in B. duttonii and demonstrate that this mutant was attenuated in a murine model of RF. Finally, the B. duttonii p66 mutant was complemented using shuttle vector- and cis integration-based approaches. As expected, complemented p66 mutant strains were fully infectious, confirming that P66 is required for optimal mammalian infection. The genetic tools and techniques reported herein represent an important advancement in the study of RF Borrelia that allows for future characterization of virulence determinants and colonization factors important for the enzootic cycle of Old World RF spirochetes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clay D. Jackson-Litteken
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Wanfeng Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Brandon A. Hogland
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - C. Tyler Ratliff
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - LeAnn McFadden
- Department of Biology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Marissa S. Fullerton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Daniel E. Voth
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Ryan O. M. Rego
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jon S. Blevins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Raghunandanan S, Zhang K, Zhang Y, Sze CW, Priya R, Luo Y, Lynch MJ, Crane BR, Li C, Yang XF. MCP5, a methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein regulated by both the Hk1-Rrp1 and Rrp2-RpoN-RpoS pathways, is required for the immune evasion of Borrelia burgdorferi. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.10.598185. [PMID: 38915556 PMCID: PMC11195095 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.10.598185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Borrelia (or Borreliella) burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, is a motile and invasive zoonotic pathogen, adept at navigating between its arthropod vector and mammalian host. While motility and chemotaxis are well established as essential for its enzootic cycle, the function of methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) in the infectious cycle of B. burgdorferi remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that MCP5, one of the most abundant MCPs in B. burgdorferi, is differentially expressed in response to environmental signals as well as at different stages of the pathogen's enzootic cycle. Specifically, the expression of mcp5 is regulated by the Hk1-Rrp1 and Rrp2-RpoN-RpoS pathways, which are critical for the spirochete's colonization of the tick vector and mammalian host, respectively. Infection experiments with an mcp5 mutant revealed that spirochetes lacking MCP5 could not establish infections in either C3H/HeN mice or Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) mice, which are defective in adaptive immunity, indicating the essential role of MCP5 in mammalian infection. However, the mcp5 mutant could establish infection and disseminate in NOD SCID Gamma (NSG) mice, which are deficient in both adaptive and most innate immune responses, suggesting a crucial role of MCP5 in evading host innate immunity. In the tick vector, the mcp5 mutants survived feeding but failed to transmit to mice, highlighting the importance of MCP5 in transmission. Our findings reveal that MCP5, regulated by the Rrp1 and Rrp2 pathways, is critical for the establishment of infection in mammalian hosts by evading host innate immunity and is important for the transmission of spirochetes from ticks to mammalian hosts, underscoring its potential as a target for intervention strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sajith Raghunandanan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Oral Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Sanitary Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China, 325035
| | - Ching Wooen Sze
- Department of Oral Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298
| | - Raj Priya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Yongliang Luo
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Sanitary Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China, 325035
| | - Michael J Lynch
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Brian R Crane
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Chunhao Li
- Department of Oral Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298
| | - X. Frank Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Horowitz RI, Fallon J, Freeman PR. Combining Double-Dose and High-Dose Pulsed Dapsone Combination Therapy for Chronic Lyme Disease/Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome and Co-Infections, Including Bartonella: A Report of 3 Cases and a Literature Review. Microorganisms 2024; 12:909. [PMID: 38792737 PMCID: PMC11124288 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Three patients with relapsing and remitting borreliosis, babesiosis, and bartonellosis, despite extended anti-infective therapy, were prescribed double-dose dapsone combination therapy (DDDCT) for 8 weeks, followed by one or several two-week courses of pulsed high-dose dapsone combination therapy (HDDCT). We discuss these patients' cases to illustrate three important variables required for long-term remission. First, diagnosing and treating active co-infections, including Babesia and Bartonella were important. Babesia required rotations of multiple anti-malarial drug combinations and herbal therapies, and Bartonella required one or several 6-day HDDCT pulses to achieve clinical remission. Second, all prior oral, intramuscular (IM), and/or intravenous (IV) antibiotics used for chronic Lyme disease (CLD)/post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), irrespective of the length of administration, were inferior in efficacy to short-term pulsed biofilm/persister drug combination therapy i.e., dapsone, rifampin, methylene blue, and pyrazinamide, which improved resistant fatigue, pain, headaches, insomnia, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Lastly, addressing multiple factors on the 16-point multiple systemic infectious disease syndrome (MSIDS) model was important in achieving remission. In conclusion, DDDCT with one or several 6-7-day pulses of HDDCT, while addressing abnormalities on the 16-point MSIDS map, could represent a novel effective clinical and anti-infective strategy in CLD/PTLDS and associated co-infections including Bartonella.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard I. Horowitz
- New York State Department of Health Tick-Borne Working Group, Albany, NY 12224, USA
- Hudson Valley Healing Arts Center, Hyde Park, NY 12538, USA; (J.F.); (P.R.F.)
| | - John Fallon
- Hudson Valley Healing Arts Center, Hyde Park, NY 12538, USA; (J.F.); (P.R.F.)
| | - Phyllis R. Freeman
- Hudson Valley Healing Arts Center, Hyde Park, NY 12538, USA; (J.F.); (P.R.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sloupenska K, Koubkova B, Horak P, Dolezilkova J, Hutyrova B, Racansky M, Miklusova M, Mares J, Raska M, Krupka M. Antigenicity and immunogenicity of different morphological forms of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4014. [PMID: 38369537 PMCID: PMC10874929 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54505-y] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a species complex of pleomorphic spirochetes, including species that cause Lyme disease (LD) in humans. In addition to classic spiral forms, these bacteria are capable of creating morphological forms referred to as round bodies and aggregates. The subject of discussion is their possible contribution to the persistence of infection or post-infection symptoms in LD. This study investigates the immunological properties of these forms by monitoring reactivity with early (n = 30) and late stage (n = 30) LD patient sera and evaluating the immune response induced by vaccination of mice. In patient sera, we found a quantitative difference in reactivity with individual morphotypes, when aggregates were recognized most intensively, but the difference was statistically significant in only half of the tested strains. In post-vaccination mouse sera, we observed a statistically significant higher reactivity with antigens p83 and p25 (OspC) in mice vaccinated with aggregates compared to mice vaccinated with spiral forms. The importance of the particulate nature of the antigen for the induction of a Th1-directed response has also been demonstrated. In any of morphological forms, the possibility of inducing antibodies cross-reacting with human nuclear and myositis specific/associated autoantigens was not confirmed by vaccination of mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristyna Sloupenska
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Koubkova
- Department of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Horak
- Third Department of Internal Medicine-Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Third Department of Internal Medicine-Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Dolezilkova
- Laboratory of Medical Parasitology and Zoology, Public Health Institute Ostrava, Partyzanske Namesti 2633/7, Moravska Ostrava, 702 00, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Beata Hutyrova
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Mojmir Racansky
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Miklusova
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Mares
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Raska
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Krupka
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zamba-Campero M, Soliman D, Yu H, Lasseter AG, Chang YY, Liu J, Aravind L, Jewett MW, Storz G, Adams PP. Broadly conserved FlgV controls flagellar assembly and Borrelia burgdorferi dissemination in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.09.574855. [PMID: 38260563 PMCID: PMC10802407 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.09.574855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Flagella propel pathogens through their environments yet are expensive to synthesize and are immunogenic. Thus, complex hierarchical regulatory networks control flagellar gene expression. Spirochetes are highly motile bacteria, but peculiarly in the Lyme spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, the archetypal flagellar regulator σ28 is absent. We rediscovered gene bb0268 in B. burgdorferi as flgV, a broadly-conserved gene in the flagellar superoperon alongside σ28 in many Spirochaetes, Firmicutes and other phyla, with distant homologs in Epsilonproteobacteria. We found that B. burgdorferi FlgV is localized within flagellar motors. B. burgdorferi lacking flgV construct fewer and shorter flagellar filaments and are defective in cell division and motility. During the enzootic cycle, B. burgdorferi lacking flgV survive and replicate in Ixodes ticks but are attenuated for dissemination and infection in mice. Our work defines infection timepoints when spirochete motility is most crucial and implicates FlgV as a broadly distributed structural flagellar component that modulates flagellar assembly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Zamba-Campero
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Daniel Soliman
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Huaxin Yu
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06536, USA
- Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Amanda G. Lasseter
- Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA
| | - Yuen-Yan Chang
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06536, USA
- Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - L. Aravind
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Mollie W. Jewett
- Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA
| | - Gisela Storz
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Philip P. Adams
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA
- Postdoctoral Research Associate Program, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Independent Research Scholar Program, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Strnad M, Rudenko N, Rego RO. Pathogenicity and virulence of Borrelia burgdorferi. Virulence 2023; 14:2265015. [PMID: 37814488 PMCID: PMC10566445 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2265015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi often triggers pathophysiologic perturbations that are further augmented by the inflammatory responses of the host, resulting in the severe clinical conditions of Lyme disease. While our apprehension of the spatial and temporal integration of the virulence determinants during the enzootic cycle of B. burgdorferi is constantly being improved, there is still much to be discovered. Many of the novel virulence strategies discussed in this review are undetermined. Lyme disease spirochaetes must surmount numerous molecular and mechanical obstacles in order to establish a disseminated infection in a vertebrate host. These barriers include borrelial relocation from the midgut of the feeding tick to its body cavity and further to the salivary glands, deposition to the skin, haematogenous dissemination, extravasation from blood circulation system, evasion of the host immune responses, localization to protective niches, and establishment of local as well as distal infection in multiple tissues and organs. Here, the various well-defined but also possible novel strategies and virulence mechanisms used by B. burgdorferi to evade obstacles laid out by the tick vector and usually the mammalian host during colonization and infection are reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Strnad
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Parasitology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská, Czech Republic
| | - Natalie Rudenko
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Parasitology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ryan O.M. Rego
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Parasitology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Genné D, Jiricka W, Sarr A, Voordouw MJ. Tick-to-host transmission differs between Borrelia afzelii strains. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0167523. [PMID: 37676027 PMCID: PMC10580945 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01675-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many vector-borne pathogens establish multiple-strain infections in the vertebrate host and the arthropod vector. Multiple-strain infections in the host influence strain acquisition by naive vectors. Whether multiple-strain infections in the vector influence strain-specific transmission to naive hosts remains unknown. The spirochete, Borrelia afzelii, causes Lyme borreliosis and multiple-strain infections are common in both the tick vector and vertebrate host. Our study used two B. afzelii strains: Fin-Jyv-A3 and NE4049. Donor mice were infected with Fin-Jyv-A3 alone, NE4049 alone, or with both strains. Larval ticks fed on donor mice and molted into nymphal ticks infected with either strain or both strains. These nymphs were fed on test mice to determine whether multiple-strain infections in the nymph influence nymph-to-host transmission (NHT). Multiple-strain infection in the donor mice reduced the acquisition of both strains by ticks by 23%. Thus, a substantial fraction of infected nymphs from the multiple strain treatment were infected with the "wrong" competitor strain rather than the "right" focal strain. As a result, nymphs from the multiple strain treatment were 46% less likely to infect the test mice with the focal strain compared to nymphs from the single strain treatment. However, multiple-strain infection in the nymphal tick had no effect on the NHT of either strain. The nymphal spirochete load of Fin-Jyv-A3 was 1.9 times higher compared to NE4049. NHT of Fin-Jyv-A3 (79%) was 1.5 times higher compared to NE4049 (53%). Our study suggests that B. afzelii strains with higher nymphal spirochete loads have higher NHT. IMPORTANCE For many vector-borne pathogens, multiple-strain infections in the vertebrate host or arthropod vector are common. Multiple-strain infections in the host reduce strain acquisition by feeding vectors. Whether multiple-strain infections in the vector influence strain transmission to the host remains unknown. In our study, we used two strains of the tick-borne spirochete Borrelia afzelii, which causes Lyme borreliosis, to investigate whether multiple-strain infections in the nymphal tick influenced nymph-to-host transmission (NHT) of strains. Multiple-strain infections in mice reduced the acquisition of both B. afzelii strains by nymphal ticks. As a result, nymphs from the multiple strain treatment were less likely to infect naive test mice with the focal strain. Multiple-strain infection in the nymphal ticks did not influence the NHT of either strain. The strain with the higher bacterial abundance in the nymph had higher NHT. Our study suggests that pathogen abundance in the arthropod vector is important for vector-to-host transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dolores Genné
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Whitney Jiricka
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Anouk Sarr
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Maarten J. Voordouw
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Desjardins A, Zerfas P, Filion D, Palmer RJ, Falcone EL. Mucispirillum schaedleri: Biofilm Architecture and Age-Dependent Pleomorphy. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2200. [PMID: 37764045 PMCID: PMC10535455 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092200] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Round bodies in spirochete cultures have been a controversial subject since their description seven decades ago. We report the existence of round bodies (spherical cells) in cultures of Mucispirillum schaedleri, a spiral bacterium phylogenetically distant from spirochetes. Furthermore, when grown in biofilms, M. schaedleri demonstrates a unique morphology known as cording, which has been previously described only in mycobacteria. Thus, M. schaedleri has two distinct features, each previously thought to be unique to two different phylogenetically distant groups of bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aléhandra Desjardins
- Center for Immunity, Inflammation and Infectious Diseases, Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada;
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Patricia Zerfas
- Division of Veterinary Resources, Office of Research Services, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Dominic Filion
- Microscopy and Imaging Platform, Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Robert J. Palmer
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Emilia Liana Falcone
- Center for Immunity, Inflammation and Infectious Diseases, Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada;
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Stevenson B. The Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, as a model vector-borne pathogen: insights on regulation of gene and protein expression. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 74:102332. [PMID: 37279610 PMCID: PMC10524203 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The Lyme disease spirochete persists in nature through cycles between ticks and vertebrates. Although the spirochete interacts with numerous, distinct tissues and environmental conditions during its infectious cycle, Borrelia burgdorferi appears to possess a limited ability to sense its external environment. This apparent paradox is being resolved through detailed investigations of the molecular mechanisms through which B. burgdorferi controls production of virulence-associated factors such as the Erp outer surface proteins. The results have led to development of a model for how B. burgdorferi controls expression of its diverse proteins, wherein physiological and metabolic states that are unique to specific points in the infectious cycle trigger changes in gene and protein expression levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Stevenson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Sapiro AL, Hayes BM, Volk RF, Zhang JY, Brooks DM, Martyn C, Radkov A, Zhao Z, Kinnersley M, Secor PR, Zaro BW, Chou S. Longitudinal map of transcriptome changes in the Lyme pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi during tick-borne transmission. eLife 2023; 12:RP86636. [PMID: 37449477 PMCID: PMC10393048 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the causative agent of Lyme disease, adapts to vastly different environments as it cycles between tick vector and vertebrate host. During a tick bloodmeal, Bb alters its gene expression to prepare for vertebrate infection; however, the full range of transcriptional changes that occur over several days inside of the tick are technically challenging to capture. We developed an experimental approach to enrich Bb cells to longitudinally define their global transcriptomic landscape inside nymphal Ixodes scapularis ticks during a transmitting bloodmeal. We identified 192 Bb genes that substantially change expression over the course of the bloodmeal from 1 to 4 days after host attachment. The majority of upregulated genes encode proteins found at the cell envelope or proteins of unknown function, including 45 outer surface lipoproteins embedded in the unusual protein-rich coat of Bb. As these proteins may facilitate Bb interactions with the host, we utilized mass spectrometry to identify candidate tick proteins that physically associate with Bb. The Bb enrichment methodology along with the ex vivo Bb transcriptomes and candidate tick interacting proteins presented here provide a resource to facilitate investigations into key determinants of Bb priming and transmission during the tick stage of its unique transmission cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne L Sapiro
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Beth M Hayes
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Regan F Volk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Jenny Y Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Diane M Brooks
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of MontanaMissoulaUnited States
| | - Calla Martyn
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Atanas Radkov
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Ziyi Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Margie Kinnersley
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of MontanaMissoulaUnited States
| | - Patrick R Secor
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of MontanaMissoulaUnited States
| | - Balyn W Zaro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Seemay Chou
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Van Gundy T, Patel D, Bowler BE, Rothfuss MT, Hall AJ, Davies C, Hall LS, Drecktrah D, Marconi RT, Samuels DS, Lybecker MC. c-di-GMP regulates activity of the PlzA RNA chaperone from the Lyme disease spirochete. Mol Microbiol 2023; 119:711-727. [PMID: 37086029 PMCID: PMC10330241 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
PlzA is a c-di-GMP-binding protein crucial for adaptation of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia (Borreliella) burgdorferi during its enzootic life cycle. Unliganded apo-PlzA is important for vertebrate infection, while liganded holo-PlzA is important for survival in the tick; however, the biological function of PlzA has remained enigmatic. Here, we report that PlzA has RNA chaperone activity that is inhibited by c-di-GMP binding. Holo- and apo-PlzA bind RNA and accelerate RNA annealing, while only apo-PlzA can strand displace and unwind double-stranded RNA. Guided by the crystal structure of PlzA, we identified several key aromatic amino acids protruding from the N- and C-terminal domains that are required for RNA-binding and unwinding activity. Our findings illuminate c-di-GMP as a switch controlling the RNA chaperone activity of PlzA, and we propose that complex RNA-mediated modulatory mechanisms allow PlzA to regulate gene expression during both the vector and host phases of the B. burgdorferi life cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Van Gundy
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Dhara Patel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Bruce E. Bowler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Michael T. Rothfuss
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Allie J. Hall
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Christopher Davies
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Laura S. Hall
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Dan Drecktrah
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Richard T. Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - D. Scott Samuels
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Meghan C. Lybecker
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Colorado, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs CO 80917, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Thompson C, Waldron C, George S, Ouyang Z. Role of the Hypothetical Protein BB0563 during Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in Animals. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0053922. [PMID: 36744894 PMCID: PMC10016080 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00539-22] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The alternative sigma factor RpoS in Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease, has long been postulated to regulate virulence-associated genes other than ospC and dbpA. Here, we demonstrate that bb0563, a gene encoding a hypothetical protein, is regulated by RpoS and contributes to the optimal infectivity of B. burgdorferi. When B. burgdorferi was exposed to environmental stimuli, bb0563 showed similar expression patterns as rpoS, ospC, and dbpA. Expression of bb0563 was significantly downregulated when rpoS was inactivated and was restored in the complemented strain. By using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and luciferase reporter assays, a functional promoter was identified in the regulatory region upstream of bb0563. Gene expression from this promoter was drastically decreased in the rpoS mutant. We next investigated the role of bb0563 during animal infection. By using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), we found that bb0563 was highly expressed in mouse tissues during infection. We further created a bb0563-deficient mutant in a bioluminescent B. burgdorferi strain and examined infection dynamics using in vivo imaging. Relative to the parental and complemented strains, the mutant showed a delayed infection pattern and bacterial load was reduced. Another bb0563 deletion mutant was also created in the strain 297 background, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed a significantly lower spirochetal burden in tissue samples collected from animals infected with the mutant. In addition, localization studies indicate that BB0563 is not exposed on the cell surface but is associated with outer membrane. Taken together, these results suggest that bb0563 is required for optimal infectivity of B. burgdorferi during experimental infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Thompson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Connor Waldron
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Sierra George
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Zhiming Ouyang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Borrelia burgdorferi DnaA and the Nucleoid-Associated Protein EbfC Coordinate Expression of the dnaX-ebfC Operon. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0039622. [PMID: 36533911 PMCID: PMC9879097 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00396-22] [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] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete agent of Lyme disease, has evolved within a consistent infectious cycle between tick and vertebrate hosts. The transmission of the pathogen from tick to vertebrate is characterized by rapid replication and a change in the outer surface protein profile. EbfC, a highly conserved nucleoid-associated protein, binds throughout the borrelial genome, affecting expression of many genes, including the Erp outer surface proteins. In B. burgdorferi, like many other bacterial species, ebfC is cotranscribed with dnaX, an essential component of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme, which facilitates chromosomal replication. The expression of the dnaX-ebfC operon is tied to the spirochete's replication rate, but the underlying mechanism for this connection was unknown. In this work, we provide evidence that the expression of dnaX-ebfC is controlled by direct interactions of DnaA, the chromosomal replication initiator, and EbfC at the unusually long dnaX-ebfC 5' untranslated region (UTR). Both proteins bind to the 5' UTR DNA, with EbfC also binding to the RNA. The DNA binding of DnaA to this region was similarly impacted by ATP and ADP. In vitro studies characterized DnaA as an activator of dnaX-ebfC and EbfC as an antiactivator. We further found evidence that DnaA may regulate other genes essential for replication. IMPORTANCE The dual life cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, is characterized by periods of rapid and slowed replication. The expression patterns of many of the spirochete's virulence factors are impacted by these changes in replication rates. The connection between replication and virulence can be understood at the dnaX-ebfC operon. DnaX is an essential component of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme, which replicates the chromosome. EbfC is a nucleoid-associated protein that regulates the infection-associated outer surface Erp proteins, as well as other transcripts. The expression of dnaX-ebfC is tied to replication rate, which we demonstrate is mediated by DnaA, the master chromosomal initiator protein and transcription factor, and EbfC.
Collapse
|
16
|
Haque HME, Ejemel M, Vance DJ, Willsey G, Rudolph MJ, Cavacini LA, Wang Y, Mantis NJ, Weis DD. Human B Cell Epitope Map of the Lyme Disease Vaccine Antigen, OspA. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:2515-2528. [PMID: 36350351 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The Lyme disease (LD) vaccine formerly approved for use in the United States consisted of recombinant outer surface protein A (OspA) from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (ss), the bacterial genospecies responsible for the vast majority of LD in North America. OspA is an ∼30 kDa lipoprotein made up of 21 antiparallel β-strands and a C-terminal α-helix. In clinical trials, protection against LD following vaccination correlated with serum antibody titers against a single epitope near the C-terminus of OspA, as defined by the mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb), LA-2. However, the breadth of the human antibody response to OspA following vaccination remains undefined even as next-generation multivalent OspA-based vaccines are under development. In this report, we employed hydrogen exchange-mass spectrometry (HX-MS) to localize the epitopes recognized by a unique panel of OspA human MAbs, including four shown to passively protect mice against experimental B. burgdorferi infection and one isolated from a patient with antibiotic refractory Lyme arthritis. The epitopes grouped into three spatially distinct bins that, together, encompass more than half the surface-exposed area of OspA. The bins corresponded to OspA β-strands 8-10 (bin 1), 11-13 (bin 2), and 16-20 plus the C-terminal α-helix (bin 3). Bin 3 was further divided into sub-bins relative to LA-2's epitope. MAbs with complement-dependent borreliacidal activity, as well as B. burgdorferi transmission-blocking activity in the mouse model were found within each bin. Therefore, the resulting B cell epitope map encompasses functionally important targets on OspA that likely contribute to immunity to B. burgdorferi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H M Emranul Haque
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas66045, United States
| | - Monir Ejemel
- MassBiologics, Boston, Massachusetts02126, United States
| | - David J Vance
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York12208, United States
| | - Graham Willsey
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York12208, United States
| | - Michael J Rudolph
- New York Structural Biology Center, New York, New York10027, United States
| | | | - Yang Wang
- MassBiologics, Boston, Massachusetts02126, United States
| | - Nicholas J Mantis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York12208, United States
| | - David D Weis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas66045, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Muenkel M, Aparicio-Yuste R, Tal MC, Kraiczy P, Bastounis EE. Spatiotemporal characterization of endothelial cell motility and physical forces during exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101832. [DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
|
18
|
Takacs CN, Wachter J, Xiang Y, Ren Z, Karaboja X, Scott M, Stoner MR, Irnov I, Jannetty N, Rosa PA, Wang X, Jacobs-Wagner C. Polyploidy, regular patterning of genome copies, and unusual control of DNA partitioning in the Lyme disease spirochete. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7173. [PMID: 36450725 PMCID: PMC9712426 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34876-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi, the tick-transmitted spirochete agent of Lyme disease, has a highly segmented genome with a linear chromosome and various linear or circular plasmids. Here, by imaging several chromosomal loci and 16 distinct plasmids, we show that B. burgdorferi is polyploid during growth in culture and that the number of genome copies decreases during stationary phase. B. burgdorferi is also polyploid inside fed ticks and chromosome copies are regularly spaced along the spirochete's length in both growing cultures and ticks. This patterning involves the conserved DNA partitioning protein ParA whose localization is controlled by a potentially phage-derived protein, ParZ, instead of its usual partner ParB. ParZ binds its own coding region and acts as a centromere-binding protein. While ParA works with ParZ, ParB controls the localization of the condensin, SMC. Together, the ParA/ParZ and ParB/SMC pairs ensure faithful chromosome inheritance. Our findings underscore the plasticity of cellular functions, even those as fundamental as chromosome segregation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Constantin N Takacs
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Jenny Wachter
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
- Bacterial Vaccine Development Group, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Yingjie Xiang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale West Campus, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Zhongqing Ren
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Xheni Karaboja
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Molly Scott
- Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale West Campus, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Matthew R Stoner
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale West Campus, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Irnov Irnov
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas Jannetty
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale West Campus, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Patricia A Rosa
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Xindan Wang
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
| | - Christine Jacobs-Wagner
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
- Sarafan ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Narasimhan S, Rajeevan N, Graham M, Wu MJ, DePonte K, Marion S, Masson O, O'Neal AJ, Pedra JHF, Sonenshine DE, Fikrig E. Tick transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi to the murine host is not influenced by environmentally acquired midgut microbiota. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:173. [PMID: 36253842 PMCID: PMC9575305 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01378-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ixodes scapularis is the predominant tick vector of Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, in the USA. Molecular interactions between the tick and B. burgdorferi orchestrate the migration of spirochetes from the midgut to the salivary glands-critical steps that precede transmission to the vertebrate host. Over the last decade, research efforts have invoked a potential role for the tick microbiome in modulating tick-pathogen interactions. RESULTS Using multiple strategies to perturb the microbiome composition of B. burgdorferi-infected nymphal ticks, we observe that changes in the microbiome composition do not significantly influence B. burgdorferi migration from the midgut, invasion of salivary glands, or transmission to the murine host. We also show that within 24 and 48 h of the onset of tick feeding, B. burgdorferi spirochetes are within the peritrophic matrix and epithelial cells of the midgut in preparation for exit from the midgut. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights two aspects of tick-spirochete interactions: (1) environmental bacteria associated with the tick do not influence spirochete transmission to the mammalian host and (2) the spirochete may utilize an intracellular exit route during migration from the midgut to the salivary glands, a strategy that may allow the spirochete to distance itself from microbiota in the midgut lumen effectively. This may explain in part, the inability of environment-acquired midgut microbiota to significantly influence spirochete transmission. Unraveling a molecular understanding of this exit strategy will be critical to gain new insights into the biology of the spirochete and the tick. Video Abstract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Narasimhan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, USA.
| | | | - Morven Graham
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06420, USA
| | - Ming-Jie Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, USA
| | - Kathleen DePonte
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, USA
| | - Solenne Marion
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, USA
- Current address: Roche Diagnostics International, 6343, Rotkreuz, Switzerland
| | - Orlanne Masson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, USA
| | - Anya J O'Neal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Joao H F Pedra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Daniel E Sonenshine
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Agglutination of Borreliella burgdorferi by Transmission-Blocking OspA Monoclonal Antibodies and Monovalent Fab Fragments. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0030622. [PMID: 36000876 PMCID: PMC9476992 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00306-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease vaccines based on recombinant Outer surface protein A (OspA) elicit protective antibodies that interfere with tick-to-host transmission of the disease-causing spirochete Borreliella burgdorferi. Another hallmark of OspA antisera and certain OspA monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) is their capacity to induce B. burgdorferi agglutination in vitro, a phenomenon first reported more than 30 years ago but never studied in molecular detail. In this report, we demonstrate that transmission-blocking OspA MAbs, individually and in combination, promote dose-dependent and epitope-specific agglutination of B. burgdorferi. Agglutination occurred within minutes and persisted for hours. Spirochetes in the core of the aggregates exhibited evidence of outer membrane (OM) stress, revealed by propidium iodide uptake. The most potent agglutinator was the mouse MAb LA-2, which targets the OspA C terminus (β-strands 18 to 20). Human MAb 319-44, which also targets the OspA C terminus (β-strand 20), and 857-2, which targets the OspA central β-sheet (strands 8 to 10), were less potent agglutinators, while MAb 221-7, which targets β-strands 10 to 11, had little to no measurable agglutinating activity, even though its affinity for OspA exceeded that of LA-2. Remarkably, monovalent Fab fragments derived from LA-2, and to a lesser degree 319-44, retained the capacity to induce B. burgdorferi aggregation and OM stress, a particularly intriguing observation considering that "LA-2-like" Fabs have been shown to experimentally entrap B. burgdorferi within infected ticks and prevent transmission during feeding to a mammalian host. It is therefore tempting to speculate that B. burgdorferi aggregation triggered by OspA-specific antibodies in vitro may in fact reflect an important biological activity in vivo.
Collapse
|
21
|
Yuste RA, Muenkel M, Axarlis K, Gómez Benito MJ, Reuss A, Blacker G, Tal MC, Kraiczy P, Bastounis EE. Borrelia burgdorferi modulates the physical forces and immunity signaling in endothelial cells. iScience 2022; 25:104793. [PMID: 35992087 PMCID: PMC9389243 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), a vector-borne bacterial pathogen and the causative agent of Lyme disease, can spread to distant tissues in the human host by traveling in and through monolayers of endothelial cells (ECs) lining the vasculature. To examine whether Bb alters the physical forces of ECs to promote its dissemination, we exposed ECs to Bb and observed a sharp and transient increase in EC traction and intercellular forces, followed by a prolonged decrease in EC motility and physical forces. All variables returned to baseline at 24 h after exposure. RNA sequencing analysis revealed an upregulation of innate immune signaling pathways during early but not late Bb exposure. Exposure of ECs to heat-inactivated Bb recapitulated only the early weakening of EC mechanotransduction. The differential responses to live versus heat-inactivated Bb indicate a tight interplay between innate immune signaling and physical forces in host ECs and suggest their active modulation by Bb. Early exposure to Borrelia decreases endothelial cell motility and physical forces Early exposure to Borrelia also upregulates the host’s innate immune signaling pathways Host cell mechanics and signaling return to steady state at late exposure times Exposure to dead bacteria steadily reduces motility and physical forces of host cells
Collapse
|
22
|
Stevenson B, Krusenstjerna AC, Castro-Padovani TN, Savage CR, Jutras BL, Saylor TC. The Consistent Tick-Vertebrate Infectious Cycle of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Enables Borrelia burgdorferi To Control Protein Expression by Monitoring Its Physiological Status. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0060621. [PMID: 35380872 PMCID: PMC9112904 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00606-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, persists in nature by alternatingly cycling between ticks and vertebrates. During each stage of the infectious cycle, B. burgdorferi produces surface proteins that are necessary for interactions with the tick or vertebrate tissues it encounters while also repressing the synthesis of unnecessary proteins. Among these are the Erp surface proteins, which are produced during vertebrate infection for interactions with host plasmin, laminin, glycosaminoglycans, and components of the complement system. Erp proteins are not expressed during tick colonization but are induced when the tick begins to ingest blood from a vertebrate host, a time when the bacteria undergo rapid growth and division. Using the erp genes as a model of borrelial gene regulation, our research group has identified three novel DNA-binding proteins that interact with DNA to control erp transcription. At least two of those regulators are, in turn, affected by DnaA, the master regulator of chromosome replication. Our data indicate that B. burgdorferi has evolved to detect the change from slow to rapid replication during tick feeding as a signal to begin expression of Erp and other vertebrate-specific proteins. The majority of other known regulatory factors of B. burgdorferi also respond to metabolic cues. These observations lead to a model in which the Lyme spirochete recognizes unique environmental conditions encountered during the infectious cycle to "know" where they are and adapt accordingly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Stevenson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Andrew C. Krusenstjerna
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Tatiana N. Castro-Padovani
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Christina R. Savage
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Brandon L. Jutras
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Timothy C. Saylor
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Hromníková D, Furka D, Furka S, Santana JAD, Ravingerová T, Klöcklerová V, Žitňan D. Prevention of tick-borne diseases: challenge to recent medicine. Biologia (Bratisl) 2022; 77:1533-1554. [PMID: 35283489 PMCID: PMC8905283 DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00966-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Ticks represent important vectors and reservoirs of pathogens, causing a number of diseases in humans and animals, and significant damage to livestock every year. Modern research into protection against ticks and tick-borne diseases focuses mainly on the feeding stage, i.e. the period when ticks take their blood meal from their hosts during which pathogens are transmitted. Physiological functions in ticks, such as food intake, saliva production, reproduction, development, and others are under control of neuropeptides and peptide hormones which may be involved in pathogen transmission that cause Lyme borreliosis or tick-borne encephalitis. According to current knowledge, ticks are not reservoirs or vectors for the spread of COVID-19 disease. The search for new vaccination methods to protect against ticks and their transmissible pathogens is a challenge for current science in view of global changes, including the increasing migration of the human population. Highlights • Tick-borne diseases have an increasing incidence due to climate change and increased human migration • To date, there is no evidence of transmission of coronavirus COVID-19 by tick as a vector • To date, there are only a few modern, effective, and actively- used vaccines against ticks or tick-borne diseases • Neuropeptides and their receptors expressed in ticks may be potentially used for vaccine design
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Hromníková
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Daniel Furka
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, 84104 Bratislava, SK Slovakia
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Heart Research, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK 84005 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Samuel Furka
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, 84104 Bratislava, SK Slovakia
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Heart Research, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK 84005 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Julio Ariel Dueñas Santana
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Matanzas, Km 3 Carretera a Varadero, 44740 Matanzas, CU Cuba
| | - Táňa Ravingerová
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Heart Research, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK 84005 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Vanda Klöcklerová
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Dušan Žitňan
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Park JM, Oliva Chávez AS, Shaw DK. Ticks: More Than Just a Pathogen Delivery Service. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:739419. [PMID: 34540723 PMCID: PMC8440996 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.739419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Park
- Program in Vector-Borne Disease, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Adela S Oliva Chávez
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Dana K Shaw
- Program in Vector-Borne Disease, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Santos AAN, Ribeiro PDS, da França GV, Souza FN, Ramos EAG, Figueira CP, Reis MG, Costa F, Ristow P. Leptospira interrogans biofilm formation in Rattus norvegicus (Norway rats) natural reservoirs. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009736. [PMID: 34495971 PMCID: PMC8451993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat) is the main reservoir host of pathogenic Leptospira, the causative agent of leptospirosis, in urban environments. Pathogenic Leptospira forms biofilms in the environment, possibly contributing for bacterial survival and maintenance. Nonetheless, biofilms have not yet been studied in natural animal reservoirs presenting leptospiral renal carriage. Here, we described biofilm formation by pathogenic Leptospira inside the renal tubules of R. norvegicus naturally infected and captured in an urban slum endemic for leptospirosis. From the 65 rats carrying Leptospira in their kidneys, 24 (37%) presented biofilms inside the renal tubules. The intensity of leptospiral colonization in the renal tubules (OR: 1.00; 95% CI 1.05–1.1) and the type of occlusion pattern of the colonized renal tubules (OR: 3.46; 95% CI 1.20–9.98) were independently associated with the presence of Leptospira biofilm. Our data showed that Leptospira interrogans produce biofilms during renal chronic colonization in rat reservoirs, suggesting a possible role for leptospiral biofilms in the pathogenesis of leptospirosis and bacterial carriage in host reservoirs. Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira bacteria. The main reservoir hosts of Leptospira are the brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), which are chronically colonized in the kidneys. Leptospires form biofilms, which are communities of microorganisms embedded in an extracellular polysaccharidic matrix. Leptospira pathogenesis in reservoir hosts is poorly understood. We captured 87 brown rats from an impoverished urban community that is endemic for leptospirosis. To investigate the biofilm in the rats’ kidneys, we co-localized leptospires and saccharides of the biofilm extracellular matrix in the renal tubules, using immunohistochemistry anti-Leptospira and carbohydrate staining, respectively. We quantified Leptospira using molecular tools and characterized the biofilm using electron microscopy. We analysed demographic data to identify variables correlated with renal carriage. We found that Leptospira infected 78 rats. From those, 65 were positive for immunohistochemistry in the kidneys and 24 (37%) were biofilm-positive. We found significant positive correlation between the intensity of colonization and the presence of biofilm in the kidneys. The intensity of colonization was also associated with the rats’ gender and age. Biofilm formation by Leptospira in the kidneys of natural reservoir rats fills a gap into the knowledge of leptospirosis pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Fábio Neves Souza
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | | | - Mitermayer G. Reis
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Salvador, Brazil
- Faculty of Medicine of Bahia, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Federico Costa
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Paula Ristow
- Institute of Biology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Leydet BF, Liang FT. Unexpected failure of Ixodes scapularis nymphs to transmit a North American Borrelia bissettiae strain. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2021; 1:100039. [PMID: 35284869 PMCID: PMC8906133 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Globally, the Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) complex comprises more than 21 species of spirochetes. Although the USA is home to a diverse fauna of Lyme disease group Borrelia species, only two are considered responsible for human clinical disease: Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu stricto) and Borrelia mayonii. However, evidence has implicated additional B. burgdorferi (s.l.) species in human illness elsewhere. While much research has focused on the B. burgdorferi (s.s.)-tick interface, tick vectors for most of the other North American Lyme disease group Borrelia species remain experimentally unconfirmed. In this report we document the ability of Ixodes scapularis to acquire but not transmit a single strain of Borrelia bissettiae, a potential human pathogen, in a murine infection model. Pathogen-free I. scapularis larvae were allowed to feed on mice with disseminated B. burgdorferi (s.s.) or B. bissettiae infections. Molted infected nymphs were then allowed to feed on naïve mice to assess transmission to a susceptible host through spirochete culture and qPCR throughout in ticks collected at various developmental stages (fed larvae and nymphs, molted nymphs, and adults). In this study, similar proportions of I. scapularis larvae acquired B. bissettiae and B. burgdorferi (s.s.) but transstadial passage to the nymphal stage was less effective for B. bissettiae. Furthermore, B. bissettiae-infected nymphs did not transmit B. bissettiae infection to naïve susceptible mice as determined by tissue culture and serology. In the tick, B. bissettiae spirochete levels slightly increased from fed larvae to molted and then fed nymphs, yet the bacteria were absent in molted adults. Moreover, in contrast to B. burgdorferi (s.s.), B. bissettiae failed to exponentially increase in upon completion of feeding in our transmission experiment. In this specific model, I. scapularis was unable to support B. bissettiae throughout its life-cycle, and while live spirochetes were detected in B. bissettiae-infected ticks fed on naïve mice, there was no evidence of murine infection. These data question the vector competence of Ixodes scapularis for B. bissettiae. More importantly, this specific B. bissettiae-I. scapularis model may provide a tool for researchers to delineate details on mechanisms involved in Borrelia-tick compatibility.
Collapse
|
27
|
Groshong AM, Grassmann AA, Luthra A, McLain MA, Provatas AA, Radolf JD, Caimano MJ. PlzA is a bifunctional c-di-GMP biosensor that promotes tick and mammalian host-adaptation of Borrelia burgdorferi. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009725. [PMID: 34265024 PMCID: PMC8323883 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we examined the relationship between c-di-GMP and its only known effector protein, PlzA, in Borrelia burgdorferi during the arthropod and mammalian phases of the enzootic cycle. Using a B. burgdorferi strain expressing a plzA point mutant (plzA-R145D) unable to bind c-di-GMP, we confirmed that the protective function of PlzA in ticks is c-di-GMP-dependent. Unlike ΔplzA spirochetes, which are severely attenuated in mice, the plzA-R145D strain was fully infectious, firmly establishing that PlzA serves a c-di-GMP-independent function in mammals. Contrary to prior reports, loss of PlzA did not affect expression of RpoS or RpoS-dependent genes, which are essential for transmission, mammalian host-adaptation and murine infection. To ascertain the nature of PlzA's c-di-GMP-independent function(s), we employed infection models using (i) host-adapted mutant spirochetes for needle inoculation of immunocompetent mice and (ii) infection of scid mice with in vitro-grown organisms. Both approaches substantially restored ΔplzA infectivity, suggesting that PlzA enables B. burgdorferi to overcome an early bottleneck to infection. Furthermore, using a Borrelia strain expressing a heterologous, constitutively active diguanylate cyclase, we demonstrate that 'ectopic' production of c-di-GMP in mammals abrogates spirochete virulence and interferes with RpoS function at the post-translational level in a PlzA-dependent manner. Structural modeling and SAXS analysis of liganded- and unliganded-PlzA revealed marked conformational changes that underlie its biphasic functionality. This structural plasticity likely enables PlzA to serve as a c-di-GMP biosensor that in its respective liganded and unliganded states promote vector- and host-adaptation by the Lyme disease spirochete.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M. Groshong
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - André A. Grassmann
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Amit Luthra
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Melissa A. McLain
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Anthony A. Provatas
- Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Justin D. Radolf
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Genetics and Genome Science, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Melissa J. Caimano
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Benjamin SJ, Hawley KL, Vera-Licona P, La Vake CJ, Cervantes JL, Ruan Y, Radolf JD, Salazar JC. Macrophage mediated recognition and clearance of Borrelia burgdorferi elicits MyD88-dependent and -independent phagosomal signals that contribute to phagocytosis and inflammation. BMC Immunol 2021; 22:32. [PMID: 34000990 PMCID: PMC8127205 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-021-00418-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Macrophages play prominent roles in bacteria recognition and clearance, including Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the Lyme disease spirochete. To elucidate mechanisms by which MyD88/TLR signaling enhances clearance of Bb by macrophages, we studied wildtype (WT) and MyD88-/- Bb-stimulated bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). RESULTS MyD88-/- BMDMs exhibit impaired uptake of spirochetes but comparable maturation of phagosomes following internalization of spirochetes. RNA-sequencing of infected WT and MyD88-/- BMDMs identified a large cohort of differentially expressed MyD88-dependent genes associated with re-organization of actin and cytoskeleton during phagocytosis along with several MyD88-independent chemokines involved in inflammatory cell recruitment. We computationally generated networks which identified several MyD88-dependent intermediate proteins (Rhoq and Cyfip1) that are known to mediate inflammation and phagocytosis respectively. CONCLUSION Our findings show that MyD88 signaling enhances, but is not required, for bacterial uptake or phagosomal maturation and provide mechanistic insights into how MyD88-mediated phagosomal signaling enhances Bb uptake and clearance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Benjamin
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
- Department of Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Kelly L Hawley
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Connecticut Children's, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA
| | - Paola Vera-Licona
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
- Center for Quantitative Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
- Institute of Systems Genomics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Carson J La Vake
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Jorge L Cervantes
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Connecticut Children's, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA
- Present Address: Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Yijun Ruan
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Justin D Radolf
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
- Department of Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Juan C Salazar
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA.
- Department of Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Connecticut Children's, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA.
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA.
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Connecticut Children's, 282 Washington Street, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Strnad M, Rego ROM. The need to unravel the twisted nature of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex across Europe. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2021; 166:428-435. [PMID: 32125267 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is a vector-borne infection caused by bacteria under the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, both in Europe and North America. Differential gene expression at different times throughout its infectious cycle allows the spirochete to survive very diverse environments within different mammalian hosts as well as the tick vector. To date, the vast majority of data about spirochetal proteins and their functions are from genetic studies carried out on North American strains of a single species, i.e. B. burgdorferi sensu stricto. The whole-genome sequences recently obtained for several European species/strains make it feasible to adapt and use genetic techniques to study inherent differences between them. This review highlights the crucial need to undertake independent studies of genospecies within Europe, given their varying genetic content and pathogenic potential, and differences in clinical manifestation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Strnad
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ryan O M Rego
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Fogaça AC, Sousa G, Pavanelo DB, Esteves E, Martins LA, Urbanová V, Kopáček P, Daffre S. Tick Immune System: What Is Known, the Interconnections, the Gaps, and the Challenges. Front Immunol 2021; 12:628054. [PMID: 33737931 PMCID: PMC7962413 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.628054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are ectoparasitic arthropods that necessarily feed on the blood of their vertebrate hosts. The success of blood acquisition depends on the pharmacological properties of tick saliva, which is injected into the host during tick feeding. Saliva is also used as a vehicle by several types of pathogens to be transmitted to the host, making ticks versatile vectors of several diseases for humans and other animals. When a tick feeds on an infected host, the pathogen reaches the gut of the tick and must migrate to its salivary glands via hemolymph to be successfully transmitted to a subsequent host during the next stage of feeding. In addition, some pathogens can colonize the ovaries of the tick and be transovarially transmitted to progeny. The tick immune system, as well as the immune system of other invertebrates, is more rudimentary than the immune system of vertebrates, presenting only innate immune responses. Although simpler, the large number of tick species evidences the efficiency of their immune system. The factors of their immune system act in each tick organ that interacts with pathogens; therefore, these factors are potential targets for the development of new strategies for the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases. The objective of this review is to present the prevailing knowledge on the tick immune system and to discuss the challenges of studying tick immunity, especially regarding the gaps and interconnections. To this end, we use a comparative approach of the tick immune system with the immune system of other invertebrates, focusing on various components of humoral and cellular immunity, such as signaling pathways, antimicrobial peptides, redox metabolism, complement-like molecules and regulated cell death. In addition, the role of tick microbiota in vector competence is also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andréa C. Fogaça
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Géssica Sousa
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel B. Pavanelo
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eliane Esteves
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Larissa A. Martins
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Veronika Urbanová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Sirlei Daffre
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Boyle WK, Richards CL, Dulebohn DP, Zalud AK, Shaw JA, Lovas S, Gherardini FC, Bourret TJ. DksA-dependent regulation of RpoS contributes to Borrelia burgdorferi tick-borne transmission and mammalian infectivity. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009072. [PMID: 33600418 PMCID: PMC7924775 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout its enzootic cycle, the Lyme disease spirochete Borreliella (Borrelia) burgdorferi, senses and responds to changes in its environment using a small repertoire of transcription factors that coordinate the expression of genes required for infection of Ixodes ticks and various mammalian hosts. Among these transcription factors, the DnaK suppressor protein (DksA) plays a pivotal role in regulating gene expression in B. burgdorferi during periods of nutrient limitation and is required for mammalian infectivity. In many pathogenic bacteria, the gene regulatory activity of DksA, along with the alarmone guanosine penta- and tetra-phosphate ((p)ppGpp), coordinate the stringent response to various environmental stresses, including nutrient limitation. In this study, we sought to characterize the role of DksA in regulating the transcriptional activity of RNA polymerase and its role in the regulation of RpoS-dependent gene expression required for B. burgdorferi infectivity. Using in vitro transcription assays, we observed recombinant DksA inhibits RpoD-dependent transcription by B. burgdorferi RNA polymerase independent of ppGpp. Additionally, we determined the pH-inducible expression of RpoS-dependent genes relies on DksA, but this relationship is independent of (p)ppGpp produced by Relbbu. Subsequent transcriptomic and western blot assays indicate DksA regulates the expression of BBD18, a protein previously implicated in the post-transcriptional regulation of RpoS. Moreover, we observed DksA was required for infection of mice following intraperitoneal inoculation or for transmission of B. burgdorferi by Ixodes scapularis nymphs. Together, these data suggest DksA plays a central role in coordinating transcriptional responses in B. burgdorferi required for infectivity through DksA’s interactions with RNA polymerase and post-transcriptional control of RpoS. Lyme disease, caused by the spirochete bacteria Borreliella (Borrelia) burgdorferi, is the most common vector-borne illness in North America. The ability of B. burgdorferi to establish infection is predicated by its ability to coordinate the expression of virulence factors in response to diverse environmental stimuli encountered within Ixodes ticks and mammalian hosts. Previous studies have shown an essential role for the alternative sigma factor RpoS in regulating the expression of genes required for the successful transmission of B. burgdorferi by Ixodes ticks and infection of mammalian hosts. The DnaK suppressor protein (DksA) is a global gene regulator in B. burgdorferi that contributes to the expression of RpoS-dependent genes. In this study, using in vitro transcription assays, we determined DksA exerts its gene regulatory function through direct interactions with the B. burgdorferi RNA polymerase and controls the expression of RpoS-dependent genes required for mammalian infection by post-transcriptionally regulating cellular levels of RpoS. Our results demonstrate the utility of in vitro transcription assays to determine how gene regulatory proteins like DksA control gene expression in B. burgdorferi and reveal a novel role for DksA in the infectious cycle of B. burgdorferi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William K. Boyle
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Crystal L. Richards
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Gene Regulation Section, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Daniel P. Dulebohn
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Gene Regulation Section, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Amanda K. Zalud
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Jeff A. Shaw
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Sándor Lovas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Frank C. Gherardini
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Gene Regulation Section, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Travis J. Bourret
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Mahmood S, Sima R, Urbanova V, Trentelman JJA, Krezdorn N, Winter P, Kopacek P, Hovius JW, Hajdusek O. Identification of Tick Ixodes ricinus Midgut Genes Differentially Expressed During the Transmission of Borrelia afzelii Spirochetes Using a Transcriptomic Approach. Front Immunol 2021; 11:612412. [PMID: 33613535 PMCID: PMC7890033 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.612412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by spirochetes Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. In Europe, Lyme borreliosis is predominantly caused by Borrelia afzelii and transmitted by Ixodes ricinus. Although Borrelia behavior throughout tick development is quite well documented, specific molecular interactions between Borrelia and the tick have not been satisfactorily examined. Here, we present the first transcriptomic study focused on the expression of tick midgut genes regulated by Borrelia. By using massive analysis of cDNA ends (MACE), we searched for tick transcripts expressed differentially in the midgut of unfed, 24h-fed, and fully fed I. ricinus nymphs infected with B. afzelii. In total, we identified 553 upregulated and 530 downregulated tick genes and demonstrated that B. afzelii interacts intensively with the tick. Technical and biological validations confirmed the accuracy of the transcriptome. The expression of five validated tick genes was silenced by RNA interference. Silencing of the uncharacterized protein (GXP_Contig_30818) delayed the infection progress and decreased infection prevalence in the target mice tissues. Silencing of other genes did not significantly affect tick feeding nor the transmission of B. afzelii, suggesting a possible role of these genes rather in Borrelia acquisition or persistence in ticks. Identification of genes and proteins exploited by Borrelia during transmission and establishment in a tick could help the development of novel preventive strategies for Lyme borreliosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sazzad Mahmood
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Radek Sima
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Veronika Urbanova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Jos J A Trentelman
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nicolas Krezdorn
- GenXPro GmbH, Frankfurt Innovation Center Biotechnology, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Peter Winter
- GenXPro GmbH, Frankfurt Innovation Center Biotechnology, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Petr Kopacek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ondrej Hajdusek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Casselli T, Divan A, Vomhof-DeKrey EE, Tourand Y, Pecoraro HL, Brissette CA. A murine model of Lyme disease demonstrates that Borrelia burgdorferi colonizes the dura mater and induces inflammation in the central nervous system. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009256. [PMID: 33524035 PMCID: PMC7877756 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease, which is caused by infection with Borrelia burgdorferi and related species, can lead to inflammatory pathologies affecting the joints, heart, and nervous systems including the central nervous system (CNS). Inbred laboratory mice have been used to define the kinetics of B. burgdorferi infection and host immune responses in joints and heart, however similar studies are lacking in the CNS of these animals. A tractable animal model for investigating host-Borrelia interactions in the CNS is key to understanding the mechanisms of CNS pathogenesis. Therefore, we characterized the kinetics of B. burgdorferi colonization and associated immune responses in the CNS of mice during early and subacute infection. Using fluorescence-immunohistochemistry, intravital microscopy, bacterial culture, and quantitative PCR, we found B. burgdorferi routinely colonized the dura mater of C3H mice, with peak spirochete burden at day 7 post-infection. Dura mater colonization was observed for several Lyme disease agents including B. burgdorferi, B. garinii, and B. mayonii. RNA-sequencing and quantitative RT-PCR showed that B. burgdorferi infection was associated with increased expression of inflammatory cytokines and a robust interferon (IFN) response in the dura mater. Histopathologic changes including leukocytic infiltrates and vascular changes were also observed in the meninges of infected animals. In contrast to the meninges, we did not detect B. burgdorferi, infiltrating leukocytes, or large-scale changes in cytokine profiles in the cerebral cortex or hippocampus during infection; however, both brain regions demonstrated similar changes in expression of IFN-stimulated genes as observed in peripheral tissues and meninges. Taken together, B. burgdorferi is capable of colonizing the meninges in laboratory mice, and induces localized inflammation similar to peripheral tissues. A sterile IFN response in the absence of B. burgdorferi or inflammatory cytokines is unique to the brain parenchyma, and provides insight into the potential mechanisms of CNS pathology associated with this important pathogen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Casselli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States of America
- * E-mail: (TC); (CAB)
| | - Ali Divan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States of America
| | - Emilie E. Vomhof-DeKrey
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States of America
| | - Yvonne Tourand
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States of America
| | - Heidi L. Pecoraro
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, United States of America
| | - Catherine A. Brissette
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States of America
- * E-mail: (TC); (CAB)
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Groshong AM, McLain MA, Radolf JD. Host-specific functional compartmentalization within the oligopeptide transporter during the Borrelia burgdorferi enzootic cycle. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009180. [PMID: 33428666 PMCID: PMC7822543 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi must acquire all of its amino acids (AAs) from its arthropod vector and vertebrate host. Previously, we determined that peptide uptake via the oligopeptide (Opp) ABC transporter is essential for spirochete viability in vitro and during infection. Our prior study also suggested that B. burgdorferi employs temporal regulation in concert with structural variation of oligopeptide-binding proteins (OppAs) to meet its AA requirements in each biological niche. Herein, we evaluated the contributions to the B. burgdorferi enzootic cycle of three of the spirochete's five OppAs (OppA1, OppA2, and OppA5). An oppA1 transposon (tn) mutant lysed in the hyperosmolar environment of the feeding tick, suggesting that OppA1 imports amino acids required for osmoprotection. The oppA2tn mutant displayed a profound defect in hematogenous dissemination in mice, yet persisted within skin while inducing only a minimal antibody response. These results, along with slightly decreased growth of the oppA2tn mutant within DMCs, suggest that OppA2 serves a minor nutritive role, while its dissemination defect points to an as yet uncharacterized signaling function. Previously, we identified a role for OppA5 in spirochete persistence within the mammalian host. We now show that the oppA5tn mutant displayed no defect during the tick phase of the cycle and could be tick-transmitted to naïve mice. Instead of working in tandem, however, OppA2 and OppA5 appear to function in a hierarchical manner; the ability of OppA5 to promote persistence relies upon the ability of OppA2 to facilitate dissemination. Structural homology models demonstrated variations within the binding pockets of OppA1, 2, and 5 indicative of different peptide repertoires. Rather than being redundant, B. burgdorferi's multiplicity of Opp binding proteins enables host-specific functional compartmentalization during the spirochete lifecycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M. Groshong
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Melissa A. McLain
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Justin D. Radolf
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Genetics and Genome Science, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Helble JD, McCarthy JE, Hu LT. Interactions between Borrelia burgdorferi and its hosts across the enzootic cycle. Parasite Immunol 2021; 43:e12816. [PMID: 33368329 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The bacterial pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of Lyme disease and is transmitted to humans through an Ixodes tick vector. B. burgdorferi is able to survive in both mammalian and tick hosts through careful modulation of its gene expression. This allows B. burgdorferi to adapt to the environmental and nutritional changes that occur when it is transmitted between the two hosts. Distinct interactions between the spirochete and its host occur at every step of the enzootic cycle and dictate the ability of the spirochete to survive until the next stage of the cycle. Studying the interface between B. burgdorferi, the Ixodes tick vector and the natural mammalian reservoirs has been made significantly more feasible through the complete genome sequences of the organisms and the advent of high throughput screening technologies. Ultimately, a thorough investigation of the interplay between the two domains (and two phyla within one domain) is necessary in order to completely understand how the pathogen is transmitted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D Helble
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julie E McCarthy
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Linden T Hu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Barriales D, Martín-Ruiz I, Carreras-González A, Montesinos-Robledo M, Azkargorta M, Iloro I, Escobés I, Martín-Mateos T, Atondo E, Palacios A, Gonzalez-Lopez M, Bárcena L, Cortázar AR, Cabrera D, Peña-Cearra A, van Liempd SM, Falcón-Pérez JM, Pascual-Itoiz MA, Flores JM, Abecia L, Pellon A, Martínez-Chantar ML, Aransay AM, Pascual A, Elortza F, Berra E, Lavín JL, Rodríguez H, Anguita J. Borrelia burgdorferi infection induces long-term memory-like responses in macrophages with tissue-wide consequences in the heart. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001062. [PMID: 33395408 PMCID: PMC7808612 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme carditis is an extracutaneous manifestation of Lyme disease characterized by episodes of atrioventricular block of varying degrees and additional, less reported cardiomyopathies. The molecular changes associated with the response to Borrelia burgdorferi over the course of infection are poorly understood. Here, we identify broad transcriptomic and proteomic changes in the heart during infection that reveal a profound down-regulation of mitochondrial components. We also describe the long-term functional modulation of macrophages exposed to live bacteria, characterized by an augmented glycolytic output, increased spirochetal binding and internalization, and reduced inflammatory responses. In vitro, glycolysis inhibition reduces the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by memory macrophages, whereas in vivo, it produces the reversion of the memory phenotype, the recovery of tissue mitochondrial components, and decreased inflammation and spirochetal burdens. These results show that B. burgdorferi induces long-term, memory-like responses in macrophages with tissue-wide consequences that are amenable to be manipulated in vivo. Lyme carditis is a manifestation of Lyme disease characterized by episodes of atrioventricular block and additional cardiomyopathies. This study describes the proteomic and transcriptomic changes in the heart upon infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, and identifies innate immune memory hallmarks specific to the response to the spirochete that are amenable to therapeutic manipulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diego Barriales
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Spain
| | - Itziar Martín-Ruiz
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Spain
| | - Ana Carreras-González
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Spain
| | - Marta Montesinos-Robledo
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Spain
| | - Mikel Azkargorta
- Proteomics Platform, ProteoRed-ISCIII, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | - Ibon Iloro
- Proteomics Platform, ProteoRed-ISCIII, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | - Iraide Escobés
- Proteomics Platform, ProteoRed-ISCIII, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | - Teresa Martín-Mateos
- Physiopathology of the Hypoxia-Signaling Pathway Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | - Estibaliz Atondo
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Spain
| | - Ainhoa Palacios
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Spain
| | | | - Laura Bárcena
- Genomic Analysis Platform, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | | | - Diana Cabrera
- Metabolomics Platform, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | - Ainize Peña-Cearra
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Spain
| | | | - Juan M. Falcón-Pérez
- Metabolomics Platform, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Miguel A. Pascual-Itoiz
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Spain
| | - Juana María Flores
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Leticia Abecia
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Spain
| | - Aize Pellon
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Spain
| | | | - Ana M. Aransay
- Genomic Analysis Platform, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Pascual
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Felix Elortza
- Proteomics Platform, ProteoRed-ISCIII, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | - Edurne Berra
- Physiopathology of the Hypoxia-Signaling Pathway Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | | | - Héctor Rodríguez
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Spain
| | - Juan Anguita
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
DeHart TG, Kushelman MR, Hildreth SB, Helm RF, Jutras BL. The unusual cell wall of the Lyme disease spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi is shaped by a tick sugar. Nat Microbiol 2021; 6:1583-1592. [PMID: 34819646 PMCID: PMC8612929 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-021-01003-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Peptidoglycan-a mesh sac of glycans that are linked by peptides-is the main component of bacterial cell walls. Peptidoglycan provides structural strength, protects cells from osmotic pressure and contributes to shape. All bacterial glycans are repeating disaccharides of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) β-(1-4)-linked to N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc). Borrelia burgdorferi, the tick-borne Lyme disease pathogen, produces glycan chains in which MurNAc is occasionally replaced with an unknown sugar. Nuclear magnetic resonance, liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy and genetic analyses show that B. burgdorferi produces glycans that contain GlcNAc-GlcNAc. This unusual disaccharide is chitobiose, a component of its chitinous tick vector. Mutant bacteria that are auxotrophic for chitobiose have altered morphology, reduced motility and cell envelope defects that probably result from producing peptidoglycan that is stiffer than that in wild-type bacteria. We propose that the peptidoglycan of B. burgdorferi probably evolved by adaptation to obligate parasitization of a tick vector, resulting in a biophysical cell-wall alteration to withstand the atypical torque associated with twisting motility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanner G. DeHart
- grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Mara R. Kushelman
- grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Sherry B. Hildreth
- grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Richard F. Helm
- grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Brandon L. Jutras
- grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Molecular and Cellular Biology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Chaconas G, Moriarty TJ, Skare J, Hyde JA. Live Imaging. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2020; 42:385-408. [PMID: 33310914 PMCID: PMC7946808 DOI: 10.21775/cimb.042.385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Being able to vizualize a pathogen at a site of interaction with a host is an aesthetically appealing idea and the resulting images can be both informative as well as enjoyable to view. Moreover, the approaches used to derive these images can be powerful in terms of offering data unobtainable by other methods. In this article, we review three primary modalities for live imaging Borrelia spirochetes: whole animal imaging, intravital microscopy and live cell imaging. Each method has strengths and weaknesses, which we review, as well as specific purposes for which they are optimally utilized. Live imaging borriliae is a relatively recent development and there was a need of a review to cover the area. Here, in addition to the methods themselves, we also review areas of spirochete biology that have been significantly impacted by live imaging and present a collection of images associated with the forward motion in the field driven by imaging studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- George Chaconas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Tara J. Moriarty
- Faculties of Dentistry and Medicine (Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1G6, Canada
| | - Jon Skare
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A & M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, 77807, USA
| | - Jenny A. Hyde
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A & M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, 77807, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Abstract
Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is a tick-borne, zoonosis of adults and children caused by genospecies of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. The ailment, widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere, continues to increase globally due to multiple environmental factors, coupled with increased incursion of humans into habitats that harbor the spirochete. B. burgdorferi sensu lato is transmitted by ticks from the Ixodes ricinus complex. In North America, B. burgdorferi causes nearly all infections; in Europe, B. afzelii and B. garinii are most associated with human disease. The spirochete's unusual fragmented genome encodes a plethora of differentially expressed outer surface lipoproteins that play a seminal role in the bacterium's ability to sustain itself within its enzootic cycle and cause disease when transmitted to its incidental human host. Tissue damage and symptomatology (i.e., clinical manifestations) result from the inflammatory response elicited by the bacterium and its constituents. The deposition of spirochetes into human dermal tissue generates a local inflammatory response that manifests as erythema migrans (EM), the hallmark skin lesion. If treated appropriately and early, the prognosis is excellent. However, in untreated patients, the disease may present with a wide range of clinical manifestations, most commonly involving the central nervous system, joints, or heart. A small percentage (~10%) of patients may go on to develop a poorly defined fibromyalgia-like illness, post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD) unresponsive to prolonged antimicrobial therapy. Below we integrate current knowledge regarding the ecologic, epidemiologic, microbiologic, and immunologic facets of Lyme disease into a conceptual framework that sheds light on the disorder that healthcare providers encounter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin D. Radolf
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
- Departments of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
- Departments of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
- Department of Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Klemen Strle
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, NY Department of Health, Albany NY, 12208, USA
| | - Jacob E. Lemieux
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Franc Strle
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Abstract
Genetic studies in Borrelia require special consideration of the highly segmented genome, complex growth requirements and evolutionary distance of spirochetes from other genetically tractable bacteria. Despite these challenges, a robust molecular genetic toolbox has been constructed to investigate the biology and pathogenic potential of these important human pathogens. In this review we summarize the tools and techniques that are currently available for the genetic manipulation of Borrelia, including the relapsing fever spirochetes, viewing them in the context of their utility and shortcomings. Our primary objective is to help researchers discern what is feasible and what is not practical when thinking about potential genetic experiments in Borrelia. We have summarized published methods and highlighted their critical elements, but we are not providing detailed protocols. Although many advances have been made since B. burgdorferi was first transformed over 25 years ago, some standard genetic tools remain elusive for Borrelia. We mention these limitations and why they persist, if known. We hope to encourage investigators to explore what might be possible, in addition to optimizing what currently can be achieved, through genetic manipulation of Borrelia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia A. Rosa
- Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S 4th St. Hamilton, MT 59840 USA
| | - Mollie W. Jewett
- Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, 6900 Lake Nona Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827 USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Samuels DS, Lybecker MC, Yang XF, Ouyang Z, Bourret TJ, Boyle WK, Stevenson B, Drecktrah D, Caimano MJ. Gene Regulation and Transcriptomics. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2020; 42:223-266. [PMID: 33300497 DOI: 10.21775/cimb.042.223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia (Borreliella) burgdorferi, along with closely related species, is the etiologic agent of Lyme disease. The spirochete subsists in an enzootic cycle that encompasses acquisition from a vertebrate host to a tick vector and transmission from a tick vector to a vertebrate host. To adapt to its environment and persist in each phase of its enzootic cycle, B. burgdorferi wields three systems to regulate the expression of genes: the RpoN-RpoS alternative sigma factor cascade, the Hk1/Rrp1 two-component system and its product c-di-GMP, and the stringent response mediated by RelBbu and DksA. These regulatory systems respond to enzootic phase-specific signals and are controlled or fine- tuned by transcription factors, including BosR and BadR, as well as small RNAs, including DsrABb and Bb6S RNA. In addition, several other DNA-binding and RNA-binding proteins have been identified, although their functions have not all been defined. Global changes in gene expression revealed by high-throughput transcriptomic studies have elucidated various regulons, albeit technical obstacles have mostly limited this experimental approach to cultivated spirochetes. Regardless, we know that the spirochete, which carries a relatively small genome, regulates the expression of a considerable number of genes required for the transitions between the tick vector and the vertebrate host as well as the adaptation to each.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Scott Samuels
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Meghan C Lybecker
- Department of Biology, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, USA
| | - X Frank Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Zhiming Ouyang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Travis J Bourret
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68105 USA
| | - William K Boyle
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68105 USA
| | - Brian Stevenson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Dan Drecktrah
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Melissa J Caimano
- Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Pal U, Kitsou C, Drecktrah D, Yaş ÖB, Fikrig E. Interactions Between Ticks and Lyme Disease Spirochetes. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2020; 42:113-144. [PMID: 33289683 PMCID: PMC8045411 DOI: 10.21775/cimb.042.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato causes Lyme borreliosis in a variety of animals and humans. These atypical bacterial pathogens are maintained in a complex enzootic life cycle that primarily involves a vertebrate host and Ixodes spp. ticks. In the Northeastern United States, I. scapularis is the main vector, while wild rodents serve as the mammalian reservoir host. As B. burgdorferi is transmitted only by I. scapularis and closely related ticks, the spirochete-tick interactions are thought to be highly specific. Various borrelial and arthropod proteins that directly or indirectly contribute to the natural cycle of B. burgdorferi infection have been identified. Discrete molecular interactions between spirochetes and tick components also have been discovered, which often play critical roles in pathogen persistence and transmission by the arthropod vector. This review will focus on the past discoveries and future challenges that are relevant to our understanding of the molecular interactions between B. burgdorferi and Ixodes ticks. This information will not only impact scientific advancements in the research of tick- transmitted infections but will also contribute to the development of novel preventive measures that interfere with the B. burgdorferi life cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, 8075 Greenmead Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, 8075 Greenmead Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Chrysoula Kitsou
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, 8075 Greenmead Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Dan Drecktrah
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
| | - Özlem Büyüktanir Yaş
- Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Zeytinburnu, İstanbul, 34010, Turkey
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Bockenstedt LK, Wooten RM, Baumgarth N. Immune Response to Borrelia: Lessons from Lyme Disease Spirochetes. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2020; 42:145-190. [PMID: 33289684 PMCID: PMC10842262 DOI: 10.21775/cimb.042.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian host responds to infection with Borrelia spirochetes through a highly orchestrated immune defense involving innate and adaptive effector functions aimed toward limiting pathogen burdens, minimizing tissue injury, and preventing subsequent reinfection. The evolutionary adaptation of Borrelia spirochetes to their reservoir mammalian hosts may allow for its persistence despite this immune defense. This review summarizes our current understanding of the host immune response to B. burgdorferi sensu lato, the most widely studied Borrelia spp. and etiologic agent of Lyme borreliosis. Pertinent literature will be reviewed with emphasis on in vitro, ex vivo and animal studies that influenced our understanding of both the earliest responses to B. burgdorferi as it enters the mammalian host and those that evolve as spirochetes disseminate and establish infection in multiple tissues. Our focus is on the immune response of inbred mice, the most commonly studied animal model of B. burgdorferi infection and surrogate for one of this pathogen's principle natural reservoir hosts, the white-footed deer mouse. Comparison will be made to the immune responses of humans with Lyme borreliosis. Our goal is to provide an understanding of the dynamics of the mammalian immune response during infection with B. burgdorferi and its relation to the outcomes in reservoir (mouse) and non-reservoir (human) hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linda K. Bockenstedt
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8031, USA
| | - R. Mark Wooten
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo Health Science Campus, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Nicole Baumgarth
- Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases and Dept. Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis CA 95616, USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Structural and Functional Analysis of BBA03, Borrelia burgdorferi Competitive Advantage Promoting Outer Surface Lipoprotein. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9100826. [PMID: 33050189 PMCID: PMC7650648 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9100826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BBA03 is a Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface lipoprotein encoded on one of the most conserved plasmids in Borrelia genome, linear plasmid 54 (lp54). Although many of its genes have been identified as contributing or essential for spirochete fitness in vivo, the majority of the proteins encoded on this plasmid have no known function and lack homologs in other organisms. In this paper, we report the solution NMR structure of the B. burgdorferi outer surface lipoprotein BBA03, which is known to provide a competitive advantage to the bacteria during the transmission from tick vector to mammalian host. BBA03 shows structural homology to other outer surface lipoproteins reflecting their genetic and evolutionary relatedness. Analysis of the structure reveals a pore in BBA03, which could potentially bind lipids.
Collapse
|
45
|
An Entry-Triggering Protein of Ehrlichia Is a New Vaccine Candidate against Tick-Borne Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.00895-20. [PMID: 32723916 PMCID: PMC7387794 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00895-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of tick-borne diseases has risen dramatically in the past two decades and continues to rise. Discovered in 1986 and designated a nationally notifiable disease in 1998 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, human monocytic ehrlichiosis, which is caused by the bacterium Ehrlichia chaffeensis, is one of the most prevalent, life-threatening, emerging tick-borne zoonoses in the United States. We investigated the role of the E. chaffeensis protein EtpE in transmission of the bacterium from tick to human cells and in vaccinated dogs with EtpE to assess the efficacy of vaccination against E. chaffeensis-infected tick challenge. Our results help fill gaps in our understanding of E. chaffeensis-derived protective antigens that could be used in a candidate vaccine for immunization of humans to counter tick-transmitted ehrlichiosis. Ehrlichia chaffeensis is an obligatory intracellular bacterium that causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis, an emerging disease transmitted by the Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum. E. chaffeensis outer membrane protein entry triggering protein of Ehrlichia (EtpE) is necessary for bacterial entry into human cells. We investigated the role of EtpE in transmission of the bacteria from tick to human cells and whether or not vaccination with EtpE can prevent transmission of ehrlichiae from ticks to mammals. An antiserum against the recombinant C terminus of EtpE (rEtpE-C), which binds a mammalian cell-surface receptor and triggers bacterial entry, significantly inhibited E. chaffeensis transmission from infected tick cells to human monocytes in culture. Each of five specific-pathogen-free dogs were vaccinated with rEtpE-C along with an immunostimulating complex or were sham vaccinated with the complex alone. Dogs vaccinated with rEtpE-C developed high antibody titers against rEtpE-C and produced interferon-γ-secreting cells, as assessed with the ELISpot assay. All 10 dogs were challenged with A. americanum adult ticks infected as nymphs by syringe inoculation with E. chaffeensis. Upon challenge, both the vaccinated and control dogs became infected by day 1 post-tick attachment, but the majority of rEtpE-C-vaccinated dogs rapidly cleared the infection from the bloodstream as soon as day 7, whereas most of sham-vaccinated dogs remained infected at day 35. Peripheral blood leukocytes from vaccinated dogs had significantly elevated interferon-γ mRNA levels and secreted significantly elevated interferon-γ soon after tick attachment. Thus, the EtpE-C vaccine represents the first ehrlichial protein vaccine demonstrated to reduce bacterial infection in mammals upon challenge with infected ticks.
Collapse
|
46
|
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of Lyme disease and is transmitted to vertebrate hosts by Ixodes spp. ticks. The spirochaete relies heavily on its arthropod host for basic metabolic functions and has developed complex interactions with ticks to successfully colonize, persist and, at the optimal time, exit the tick. For example, proteins shield spirochaetes from immune factors in the bloodmeal and facilitate the transition between vertebrate and arthropod environments. On infection, B. burgdorferi induces selected tick proteins that modulate the vector gut microbiota towards an environment that favours colonization by the spirochaete. Additionally, the recent sequencing of the Ixodes scapularis genome and characterization of tick immune defence pathways, such as the JAK–STAT, immune deficiency and cross-species interferon-γ pathways, have advanced our understanding of factors that are important for B. burgdorferi persistence in the tick. In this Review, we summarize interactions between B. burgdorferi and I. scapularis during infection, as well as interactions with tick gut and salivary gland proteins important for establishing infection and transmission to the vertebrate host. Borrelia burgdorferi has a complex life cycle with several different hosts, causing Lyme disease when it infects humans. In this Review, Fikrig and colleagues discuss how B. burgdorferi infects and interacts with its tick vector to ensure onward transmission.
Collapse
|
47
|
Mason C, Thompson C, Ouyang Z. DksA plays an essential role in regulating the virulence of Borrelia burgdorferi. Mol Microbiol 2020; 114:172-183. [PMID: 32227372 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The RNA polymerase-binding protein DksA, together with the alarmone nucleotides (p)ppGpp, mediates the stringent response to nutrient starvation in Borrelia burgdorferi. To date, the contribution of DksA to B. burgdorferi infection remains unknown. We report here that DksA is essential for B. burgdorferi to infect a mammalian host. dksA expression was highly induced during infection. Moreover, a dksA-deficient mutant was incapable of infecting mice. The mutant displayed growth defects when cultured in vitro and resistance to osmotic pressure was markedly reduced. These phenotypes were fully restored to those of the wild type when dksA mutation was complemented. We further showed that DksA controlled the expression of virulence-associated lipoprotein OspC, likely via the central alternative sigma factor RpoS. Synthesis of RpoS was abolished in the dksA mutant, but rpoS transcription remained unaffected. Additionally, we found that the expression of clpX, clpA, clpP, and clpP2 was significantly increased in the mutant, suggesting that DksA may post-transcriptionally regulate rpoS expression via its effect on ClpXP and/or ClpAP proteases. These combined data demonstrate that DksA regulates B. burgdorferi virulence at least partially through its influence on RpoS and OspC. This study thus elucidates that, in addition to function as a stringent response regulator, DksA promotes the transcription and/or translation of genes contributing to B. burgdorferi infectivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Mason
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Christina Thompson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Zhiming Ouyang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Abstract
Spirochetes form a separate phylum of bacteria with two membranes but otherwise unusual morphologies and envelope structures. Distinctive common features of Borrelia, Leptospira, and Treponema include the sequestration of flagella to the periplasm and thin peptidoglycan cell walls that are more closely associated with the inner membrane. Outer membrane compositions differ significantly between the genera. Leptospira most closely track Gram-negative bacteria due to the incorporation of lipopolysaccharides. Treponema and Borrelia outer membranes lack lipopolysaccharide, with treponemes expressing only a few outer membrane proteins and Borrelia displaying a dizzying diversity of abundant surface lipoproteins instead. Phylogenetic and experimental evidence indicates that spirochetes have adapted various modules of bacterial export and secretion pathways to build and maintain their envelopes. Export and insertion pathways in the inner membrane appear conserved, while spirochetal experimentation with various envelope architectures over time has led to variations in secretion pathways in the periplasm and outer membrane. Classical type I to III secretion systems have been identified, with demonstrated roles in drug efflux and export of flagellar proteins only. Unique activities of periplasmic proteases, including a C-terminal protease, are involved in maturation of some periplasmic proteins. Proper lipoprotein sorting within the periplasm appears to be dependent on functional Lol pathways that lack the outer membrane lipoprotein insertase LolB. The abundance of surface lipoproteins in Borrelia and detailed protein sorting studies suggest a lipoprotein secretion pathway that either extends Lol through the outer membrane or bypasses it altogether. Proteins can be released from cells in outer membrane vesicles or, rarely, as soluble proteins.
Collapse
|
49
|
Zhang K, He J, Cantalano C, Guo Y, Liu J, Li C. FlhF regulates the number and configuration of periplasmic flagella in Borrelia burgdorferi. Mol Microbiol 2020; 113:1122-1139. [PMID: 32039533 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi has 7-11 periplasmic flagella (PF) that arise from the cell poles and extend toward the midcell as a flat-ribbon, which is distinct from other bacteria. FlhF, a signal recognition particle (SRP)-like GTPase, has been found to regulate the flagellar number and polarity; however, its role in B. burgdorferi remains unknown. B. burgdorferi has an FlhF homolog (BB0270). Structural and biochemical analyses show that BB0270 has a similar structure and enzymatic activity as its counterparts from other bacteria. Genetics and cryo-electron tomography studies reveal that deletion of BB0270 leads to mutant cells that have less PF (4 ± 2 PF per cell tip) and fail to form a flat-ribbon, indicative of a role of BB0270 in the control of PF number and configuration. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that BB0270 localizes at the cell poles and controls the number and position of PF via regulating the flagellar protein stability and the polar localization of the MS-ring protein FliF. Our study not only provides the detailed characterizations of BB0270 and its profound impacts on flagellar assembly, morphology and motility in B. burgdorferi, but also unveils mechanistic insights into how spirochetes control their unique flagellar patterns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jun He
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Claudio Cantalano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Youzhong Guo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chunhao Li
- Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Carreras-González A, Barriales D, Palacios A, Montesinos-Robledo M, Navasa N, Azkargorta M, Peña-Cearra A, Tomás-Cortázar J, Escobes I, Pascual-Itoiz MA, Hradiská J, Kopecký J, Gil-Carton D, Prados-Rosales R, Abecia L, Atondo E, Martín I, Pellón A, Elortza F, Rodríguez H, Anguita J. Regulation of macrophage activity by surface receptors contained within Borrelia burgdorferi-enriched phagosomal fractions. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008163. [PMID: 31738806 PMCID: PMC6886865 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages mediate the elimination of pathogens by phagocytosis resulting in the activation of specific signaling pathways that lead to the production of cytokines, chemokines and other factors. Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, causes a wide variety of pro-inflammatory symptoms. The proinflammatory capacity of macrophages is intimately related to the internalization of the spirochete. However, most receptors mediating this process are largely unknown. We have applied a multiomic approach, including the proteomic analysis of B. burgdorferi-containing phagosome-enriched fractions, to identify surface receptors that are involved in the phagocytic capacity of macrophages as well as their inflammatory output. Sucrose gradient protein fractions of human monocyte-derived macrophages exposed to B. burgdorferi contained the phagocytic receptor, CR3/CD14 highlighting the major role played by these proteins in spirochetal phagocytosis. Other proteins identified in these fractions include C-type lectins, scavenger receptors or Siglecs, of which some are directly involved in the interaction with the spirochete. We also identified the Fc gamma receptor pathway, including the binding receptor, CD64, as involved both in the phagocytosis of, and TNF induction in response to B. burgdorferi in the absence of antibodies. The common gamma chain, FcγR, mediates the phagocytosis of the spirochete, likely through Fc receptors and C-type lectins, in a process that involves Syk activation. Overall, these findings highlight the complex array of receptors involved in the phagocytic response of macrophages to B. burgdorferi. Macrophages eliminate infecting microorganisms through the concerted action of surface receptors and signaling molecules. As a consequence, these cells produce a series of soluble factors that participate in the inflammatory response during infections. The composition of the full complement of receptors that participate in the recognition and internalization of the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, is largely unknown. We have analyzed the protein composition of phagosomes containing B. burgdorferi from human macrophages and identified a series of surface proteins that may be involved in the process. Through the use of gene silencing techniques, we have determined the participation of several of these receptors both in the internalization of the bacterium and the subsequent inflammatory response. Among these, we have identified the Fc gamma receptor pathway as involved in this process in the absence of antibodies. We have also identified receptors that are directly involved in the attachment of B. burgdorferi, while others seem to have an accessory role in the internalization and/or induction of proinflammatory cytokines in response to the spirochete. These data clarify the complex array of interactions between macrophages and B. burgdorferi and shed light on the overall response to this infectious agent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carreras-González
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Diego Barriales
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Ainhoa Palacios
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | | | - Nicolás Navasa
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Mikel Azkargorta
- Proteomics Platform, CIBERehd, ProteoRed-ISCIII, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Ainize Peña-Cearra
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Julen Tomás-Cortázar
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Iraide Escobes
- Proteomics Platform, CIBERehd, ProteoRed-ISCIII, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | | | - Jana Hradiská
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Kopecký
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | | | - Rafael Prados-Rosales
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Leticia Abecia
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Estíbaliz Atondo
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Itziar Martín
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Aize Pellón
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Félix Elortza
- Proteomics Platform, CIBERehd, ProteoRed-ISCIII, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Héctor Rodríguez
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Juan Anguita
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|