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Albin D, Ramsahoye M, Kochavi E, Alistar M. PhageScanner: a reconfigurable machine learning framework for bacteriophage genomic and metagenomic feature annotation. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1446097. [PMID: 39355420 PMCID: PMC11442244 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1446097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are the most prolific organisms on Earth, yet many of their genomes and assemblies from metagenomic sources lack protein sequences with identified functions. While most bacteriophage proteins are structural proteins, categorized as Phage Virion Proteins (PVPs), a considerable number remain unclassified. Complicating matters further, traditional lab-based methods for PVP identification can be tedious. To expedite the process of identifying PVPs, machine-learning models are increasingly being employed. Existing tools have developed models for predicting PVPs from protein sequences as input. However, none of these efforts have built software allowing for both genomic and metagenomic data as input. In addition, there is currently no framework available for easily curating data and creating new types of machine learning models. In response, we introduce PhageScanner, an open-source platform that streamlines data collection for genomic and metagenomic datasets, model training and testing, and includes a prediction pipeline for annotating genomic and metagenomic data. PhageScanner also features a graphical user interface (GUI) for visualizing annotations on genomic and metagenomic data. We further introduce a BLAST-based classifier that outperforms ML-based models and an efficient Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) classifier. We then showcase the capabilities of PhageScanner by predicting PVPs in six previously uncharacterized bacteriophage genomes. In addition, we create a new model that predicts phage-encoded toxins within bacteriophage genomes, thus displaying the utility of the framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dreycey Albin
- Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Michelle Ramsahoye
- Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Eitan Kochavi
- Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Mirela Alistar
- Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
- ATLAS Institute, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
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Stante M, Weiland-Bräuer N, Repnik U, Werner A, Bramkamp M, Chibani CM, Schmitz RA. Four Novel Caudoviricetes Bacteriophages Isolated from Baltic Sea Water Infect Colonizers of Aurelia aurita. Viruses 2023; 15:1525. [PMID: 37515211 PMCID: PMC10383413 DOI: 10.3390/v15071525] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The moon jellyfish Aurelia aurita is associated with a highly diverse microbiota changing with provenance, tissue, and life stage. While the crucial relevance of bacteria to host fitness is well known, bacteriophages have often been neglected. Here, we aimed to isolate virulent phages targeting bacteria that are part of the A. aurita-associated microbiota. Four phages (Pseudomonas phage BSwM KMM1, Citrobacter phages BSwM KMM2-BSwM KMM4) were isolated from the Baltic Sea water column and characterized. Phages KMM2/3/4 infected representatives of Citrobacter, Shigella, and Escherichia (Enterobacteriaceae), whereas KMM1 showed a remarkably broad host range, infecting Gram-negative Pseudomonas as well as Gram-positive Staphylococcus. All phages showed an up to 99% adsorption to host cells within 5 min, short latent periods (around 30 min), large burst sizes (mean of 128 pfu/cell), and high efficiency of plating (EOP > 0.5), demonstrating decent virulence, efficiency, and infectivity. Transmission electron microscopy and viral genome analysis revealed that all phages are novel species and belong to the class of Caudoviricetes harboring a tail and linear double-stranded DNA (formerly known as Siphovirus-like (KMM3) and Myovirus-like (KMM1/2/4) bacteriophages) with genome sizes between 50 and 138 kbp. In the future, these isolates will allow manipulation of the A. aurita-associated microbiota and provide new insights into phage impact on the multicellular host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Stante
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany; (M.S.); (N.W.-B.); (A.W.); (M.B.); (C.M.C.)
| | - Nancy Weiland-Bräuer
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany; (M.S.); (N.W.-B.); (A.W.); (M.B.); (C.M.C.)
| | - Urska Repnik
- Central Microscopy Facility, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Almut Werner
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany; (M.S.); (N.W.-B.); (A.W.); (M.B.); (C.M.C.)
| | - Marc Bramkamp
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany; (M.S.); (N.W.-B.); (A.W.); (M.B.); (C.M.C.)
- Central Microscopy Facility, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Cynthia M. Chibani
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany; (M.S.); (N.W.-B.); (A.W.); (M.B.); (C.M.C.)
| | - Ruth A. Schmitz
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany; (M.S.); (N.W.-B.); (A.W.); (M.B.); (C.M.C.)
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3
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Takeuchi N, Hamada-Zhu S, Suzuki H. Prophages and plasmids can display opposite trends in the types of accessory genes they carry. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231088. [PMID: 37339743 PMCID: PMC10281811 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as phages and plasmids, often possess accessory genes encoding bacterial functions, facilitating bacterial evolution. Are there rules governing the arsenal of accessory genes MGEs carry? If such rules exist, they might be reflected in the types of accessory genes different MGEs carry. To test this hypothesis, we compare prophages and plasmids with respect to the frequencies at which they carry antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factor genes (VFGs) in the genomes of 21 pathogenic bacterial species using public databases. Our results indicate that prophages tend to carry VFGs more frequently than ARGs in three species, whereas plasmids tend to carry ARGs more frequently than VFGs in nine species, relative to genomic backgrounds. In Escherichia coli, where this prophage-plasmid disparity is detected, prophage-borne VFGs encode a much narrower range of functions than do plasmid-borne VFGs, typically involved in damaging host cells or modulating host immunity. In the species where the above disparity is not detected, ARGs and VFGs are barely found in prophages and plasmids. These results indicate that MGEs can differentiate in the types of accessory genes they carry depending on their infection strategies, suggesting a rule governing horizontal gene transfer mediated by MGEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuto Takeuchi
- School of Biological Sciences, the University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
- Universal Biology Institute, the University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Sophia Hamada-Zhu
- School of Biological Sciences, the University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Haruo Suzuki
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
- Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, Fujisawa, Japan
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Petrovic Fabijan A, Iredell J, Danis-Wlodarczyk K, Kebriaei R, Abedon ST. Translating phage therapy into the clinic: Recent accomplishments but continuing challenges. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002119. [PMID: 37220114 PMCID: PMC10204993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy is a medical form of biological control of bacterial infections, one that uses naturally occurring viruses, called bacteriophages or phages, as antibacterial agents. Pioneered over 100 years ago, phage therapy nonetheless is currently experiencing a resurgence in interest, with growing numbers of clinical case studies being published. This renewed enthusiasm is due in large part to phage therapy holding promise for providing safe and effective cures for bacterial infections that traditional antibiotics acting alone have been unable to clear. This Essay introduces basic phage biology, provides an outline of the long history of phage therapy, highlights some advantages of using phages as antibacterial agents, and provides an overview of recent phage therapy clinical successes. Although phage therapy has clear clinical potential, it faces biological, regulatory, and economic challenges to its further implementation and more mainstream acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Petrovic Fabijan
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jonathan Iredell
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katarzyna Danis-Wlodarczyk
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Razieh Kebriaei
- P3 Research Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Stephen T. Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, Ohio, United States of America
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Gummalla VS, Zhang Y, Liao YT, Wu VCH. The Role of Temperate Phages in Bacterial Pathogenicity. Microorganisms 2023; 11:541. [PMID: 36985115 PMCID: PMC10052878 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and archaea and are classified as virulent or temperate phages based on their life cycles. A temperate phage, also known as a lysogenic phage, integrates its genomes into host bacterial chromosomes as a prophage. Previous studies have indicated that temperate phages are beneficial to their susceptible bacterial hosts by introducing additional genes to bacterial chromosomes, creating a mutually beneficial relationship. This article reviewed three primary ways temperate phages contribute to the bacterial pathogenicity of foodborne pathogens, including phage-mediated virulence gene transfer, antibiotic resistance gene mobilization, and biofilm formation. This study provides insights into mechanisms of phage-bacterium interactions in the context of foodborne pathogens and provokes new considerations for further research to avoid the potential of phage-mediated harmful gene transfer in agricultural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Vivian C. H. Wu
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA 94710, USA
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Jansen D, Matthijnssens J. The Emerging Role of the Gut Virome in Health and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Challenges, Covariates and a Viral Imbalance. Viruses 2023; 15:173. [PMID: 36680214 PMCID: PMC9861652 DOI: 10.3390/v15010173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Virome research is a rapidly growing area in the microbiome field that is increasingly associated with human diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although substantial progress has been made, major methodological challenges limit our understanding of the virota. In this review, we describe challenges that must be considered to accurately report the virome composition and the current knowledge on the virome in health and IBD. First, the description of the virome shows strong methodological biases related to wetlab (e.g., VLP enrichment) and bioinformatics approaches (viral identification and classification). Second, IBD patients show consistent viral imbalances characterized by a high relative abundance of phages belonging to the Caudovirales and a low relative abundance of phages belonging to the Microviridae. Simultaneously, a sporadic contraction of CrAss-like phages and a potential expansion of the lysogenic potential of the intestinal virome are observed. Finally, despite numerous studies that have conducted diversity analysis, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions due to methodological biases. Overall, we present the many methodological and environmental factors that influence the virome, its current consensus in health and IBD, and a contributing hypothesis called the "positive inflammatory feedback loop" that may play a role in the pathophysiology of IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jelle Matthijnssens
- Laboratory of Viral Metagenomics, Rega Institute, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, University of Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Ling H, Lou X, Luo Q, He Z, Sun M, Sun J. Recent advances in bacteriophage-based therapeutics: Insight into the post-antibiotic era. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:4348-4364. [PMID: 36561998 PMCID: PMC9764073 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, as it can make the treatment of bacterial infections in humans difficult owing to their high incidence rate, mortality, and treatment costs. Bacteriophage, which constitutes a type of virus that can kill bacteria, is a promising alternative strategy against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Although bacteriophage therapy was first used nearly a century ago, its development came to a standstill after introducing the antibiotics. Nowadays, with the rise in antibiotic resistance, bacteriophage therapy is in the spotlight again. As bacteriophage therapy is safe and has significant anti-bacterial activity, some specific types of bacteriophages (such as bacteriophage phiX174 and Pyo bacteriophage complex liquid) entered into phase III clinical trials. Herein, we review the key points of the antibiotic resistance crisis and illustrate the factors that support the renewal of bacteriophage applications. By summarizing recent state-of-the-art studies and clinical data on bacteriophage treatment, we introduced (i) the pharmacological mechanisms and advantages of antibacterial bacteriophages, (ii) bacteriophage preparations with clinical potential and bacteriophage-derived anti-bacterial treatment strategies, and (iii) bacteriophage therapeutics aimed at multiple infection types and infection-induced cancer treatments. Finally, we highlighted the challenges and critical perspectives of bacteriophage therapy for future clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Ling
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xinyu Lou
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Qiuhua Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Zhonggui He
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Mengchi Sun
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China,Corresponding authors.
| | - Jin Sun
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China,Corresponding authors.
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8
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Biofilm eradication ability of phage cocktail against Listeria monocytogenes biofilms formed on food contact materials and effect on virulence-related genes and biofilm structure. Food Res Int 2022; 157:111367. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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9
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Happel AU, Kullin BR, Gamieldien H, Jaspan HB, Varsani A, Martin D, Passmore JAS, Froissart R. In Silico Characterisation of Putative Prophages in Lactobacillaceae Used in Probiotics for Vaginal Health. Microorganisms 2022; 10:214. [PMID: 35208669 PMCID: PMC8879116 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
While live biotherapeutics offer a promising approach to optimizing vaginal microbiota, the presence of functional prophages within introduced Lactobacillaceae strains could impact their safety and efficacy. We evaluated the presence of prophages in 895 publicly available Lactobacillaceae genomes using Phaster, Phigaro, Phispy, Prophet and Virsorter. Prophages were identified according to stringent (detected by ≥4 methods) or lenient criteria (detected by ≥2 methods), both with >80% reciprocal sequence overlap. The stringent approach identified 448 prophages within 359 genomes, with 40.1% genomes harbouring at least one prophage, while the lenient approach identified 1671 prophages within 83.7% of the genomes. To confirm our in silico estimates in vitro, we tested for inducible prophages in 57 vaginally-derived and commercial Lactobacillaceae isolates and found inducible prophages in 61.4% of the isolates. We characterised the in silico predicted prophages based on weighted gene repertoire relatedness and found that most belonged to the Siphoviridae or Myoviridae families. ResFam and eggNOG identified four potential antimicrobial resistance genes within the predicted prophages. Our results suggest that while Lactobacillaceae prophages seldomly carry clinically concerning genes and thus unlikely a pose a direct risk to human vaginal microbiomes, their high prevalence warrants the characterisation of Lactobacillaceae prophages in live biotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Ursula Happel
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (A.-U.H.); (B.R.K.); (H.G.); (H.B.J.); (J.-A.S.P.)
| | - Brian R. Kullin
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (A.-U.H.); (B.R.K.); (H.G.); (H.B.J.); (J.-A.S.P.)
| | - Hoyam Gamieldien
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (A.-U.H.); (B.R.K.); (H.G.); (H.B.J.); (J.-A.S.P.)
| | - Heather B. Jaspan
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (A.-U.H.); (B.R.K.); (H.G.); (H.B.J.); (J.-A.S.P.)
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 307 Westlake Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Global Health, University of Washington, 1410 NE Campus Parkway NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Arvind Varsani
- The Biodesign Center of Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281, USA;
- Structural Biology Research Unit, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Darren Martin
- Division of Computational Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town 7925, South Africa;
| | - Jo-Ann S. Passmore
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (A.-U.H.); (B.R.K.); (H.G.); (H.B.J.); (J.-A.S.P.)
- NRF-DST CAPRISA Centre of Excellence in HIV Prevention, 719 Umbilo Road, Congella, Durban 4013, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Rémy Froissart
- CNRS, IRD, Université Montpellier, UMR 5290, MIVEGEC, 34394 Montpellier, France
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Pattenden T, Eagles C, Wahl LM. Host life-history traits influence the distribution of prophages and the genes they carry. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200465. [PMID: 34839698 PMCID: PMC8628077 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial strains with a short minimal doubling time-'fast-growing' hosts-are more likely to contain prophages than their slow-growing counterparts. Pathogenic bacterial species are likewise more likely to carry prophages. We develop a bioinformatics pipeline to examine the distribution of prophages in fast- and slow-growing lysogens, and pathogenic and non-pathogenic lysogens, analysing both prophage length and gene content for each class. By fitting these results to a mathematical model of the evolutionary forces acting on prophages, we predict whether the observed differences can be attributed to different rates of lysogeny among the host classes, or other evolutionary pressures. We also test for significant differences in gene content among prophages, identifying genes that are preferentially lost or maintained in each class. We find that fast-growing hosts and pathogens have a greater fraction of full-length prophages, and our analysis predicts that induction rates are significantly reduced in slow-growing hosts and non-pathogenic hosts. Consistent with previous results, we find that several proteins involved in the packaging of new phage particles and lysis are preferentially lost in cryptic prophages. This article is part of the theme issue 'The secret lives of microbial mobile genetic elements'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Pattenden
- School of Management, Economics and Mathematics, King’s University College, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 2M3
| | - Christine Eagles
- Faculty of Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N6A 3K7
| | - Lindi M. Wahl
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
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Hotinger JA, Morris ST, May AE. The Case against Antibiotics and for Anti-Virulence Therapeutics. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2049. [PMID: 34683370 PMCID: PMC8537500 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although antibiotics have been indispensable in the advancement of modern medicine, there are downsides to their use. Growing resistance to broad-spectrum antibiotics is leading to an epidemic of infections untreatable by first-line therapies. Resistance is exacerbated by antibiotics used as growth factors in livestock, over-prescribing by doctors, and poor treatment adherence by patients. This generates populations of resistant bacteria that can then spread resistance genes horizontally to other bacterial species, including commensals. Furthermore, even when antibiotics are used appropriately, they harm commensal bacteria leading to increased secondary infection risk. Effective antibiotic treatment can induce bacterial survival tactics, such as toxin release and increasing resistance gene transfer. These problems highlight the need for new approaches to treating bacterial infection. Current solutions include combination therapies, narrow-spectrum therapeutics, and antibiotic stewardship programs. These mediate the issues but do not address their root cause. One emerging solution to these problems is anti-virulence treatment: preventing bacterial pathogenesis instead of using bactericidal agents. In this review, we discuss select examples of potential anti-virulence targets and strategies that could be developed into bacterial infection treatments: the bacterial type III secretion system, quorum sensing, and liposomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aaron E. May
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23219, USA; (J.A.H.); (S.T.M.)
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Distribution of Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Genes within the Prophage-Associated Regions in Nosocomial Pathogens. mSphere 2021; 6:e0045221. [PMID: 34232073 PMCID: PMC8386436 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00452-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Prophages are often involved in host survival strategies and contribute toward increasing the genetic diversity of the host genome. Prophages also drive horizontal propagation of various genes as vehicles. However, there are few retrospective studies contributing to the propagation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence factor (VF) genes by prophage. We extracted the complete genome sequences of seven pathogens, including ESKAPE bacteria and Escherichia coli from a public database, and examined the distribution of both the AMR and VF genes in prophage-like regions. We found that the ratios of AMR and VF genes greatly varied among the seven species. More than 70% of Enterobacter cloacae strains had VF genes, but only 1.2% of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains had VF genes from prophages. AMR and VF genes are unlikely to exist together in the same prophage region except in E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and the distribution patterns of prophage types containing AMR genes are distinct from those of VF gene-carrying prophage types. AMR genes in the prophage were located near transposase and/or integrase. The prophage containing class 1 integrase possessed a significantly greater number of AMR genes than did prophages with no class 1 integrase. The results of this study present a comprehensive picture of AMR and VF genes present within, or close to, prophage-like elements and different prophage patterns between AMR- or VF-encoding prophage-like elements. IMPORTANCE Although we believe phages play an important role in horizontal gene transfer in exchanging genetic material, we do not know the distribution of the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and/or virulence factor (VF) genes in prophages. We collected different prophage elements from the complete genome sequences of seven species—Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, and Escherichia coli—and characterized the distribution of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes located in the prophage region. While virulence genes in prophage were species specific, antimicrobial resistance genes in prophages were highly conserved in various species. An integron structure was detected within specific prophage regions such as P1-like prophage element. Maximum of 10 antimicrobial resistance genes were found in a single prophage region, suggesting that prophages act as a reservoir for antimicrobial resistance genes. The results of this study show the different characteristic structures between AMR- or VF-encoding prophages.
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Zhu DH, Su CY, Yang XH, Abe Y. A Case of Intragenic Recombination Dramatically Impacting the Phage WO Genetic Diversity in Gall Wasps. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:694115. [PMID: 34276627 PMCID: PMC8279768 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.694115] [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: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The phage WO was characterized in Wolbachia, a strictly intracellular bacterium causing several reproductive alterations in its arthropod hosts. This study aimed to screen the presence of Wolbachia and phage WO in 15 gall wasp species from six provinces of southern China to investigate their diversity and prevalence patterns. A high incidence of Wolbachia infection was determined in the gall wasp species, with an infection rate of 86.7% (13/15). Moreover, seven species had double or multiple infections. All Wolbachia-infected gall wasp species were found to harbor phage WO. The gall wasp species infected with a single Wolbachia strain were found to harbor a single phage WO type. On the contrary, almost all species with double or multiple Wolbachia infections harbored a high level of phage WO diversity (ranging from three to 27 types). Six horizontal transfer events of phage WO in Wolbachia were found to be associated with gall wasps, which shared identical orf7 sequences among their respective accomplices. The transfer potentially took place through gall inducers and associated inquilines infected with or without Wolbachia. Furthermore, 10 putative recombination events were identified from Andricus hakonensis and Andricus sp2, which harbored multiple phage WO types, suggesting that intragenic recombination was the important evolutionary force, which effectively promoted the high level of phage WO diversity associated with gall wasps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dao-Hong Zhu
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Cheng-Yuan Su
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Yang
- College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Yoshihisa Abe
- Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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Holger D, Kebriaei R, Morrisette T, Lev K, Alexander J, Rybak M. Clinical Pharmacology of Bacteriophage Therapy: A Focus on Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:556. [PMID: 34064648 PMCID: PMC8151982 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10050556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common causes of healthcare-associated diseases and is among the top three priority pathogens listed by the World Health Organization (WHO). This Gram-negative pathogen is especially difficult to eradicate because it displays high intrinsic and acquired resistance to many antibiotics. In addition, growing concerns regarding the scarcity of antibiotics against multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) P. aeruginosa infections necessitate alternative therapies. Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that target and infect bacterial cells, and they represent a promising candidate for combatting MDR infections. The aim of this review was to highlight the clinical pharmacology considerations of phage therapy, such as pharmacokinetics, formulation, and dosing, while addressing several challenges associated with phage therapeutics for MDR P. aeruginosa infections. Further studies assessing phage pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics will help to guide interested clinicians and phage researchers towards greater success with phage therapy for MDR P. aeruginosa infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Holger
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (D.H.); (R.K.); (T.M.); (K.L.)
| | - Razieh Kebriaei
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (D.H.); (R.K.); (T.M.); (K.L.)
| | - Taylor Morrisette
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (D.H.); (R.K.); (T.M.); (K.L.)
| | - Katherine Lev
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (D.H.); (R.K.); (T.M.); (K.L.)
| | - Jose Alexander
- Department of Microbiology, Virology and Immunology, AdventHealth Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32803, USA;
| | - Michael Rybak
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (D.H.); (R.K.); (T.M.); (K.L.)
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Detroit Medical Center, Department of Pharmacy, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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15
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Hassan AY, Lin JT, Ricker N, Anany H. The Age of Phage: Friend or Foe in the New Dawn of Therapeutic and Biocontrol Applications? Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:199. [PMID: 33670836 PMCID: PMC7997343 DOI: 10.3390/ph14030199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Extended overuse and misuse of antibiotics and other antibacterial agents has resulted in an antimicrobial resistance crisis. Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, have emerged as a legitimate alternative antibacterial agent with a wide scope of applications which continue to be discovered and refined. However, the potential of some bacteriophages to aid in the acquisition, maintenance, and dissemination of negatively associated bacterial genes, including resistance and virulence genes, through transduction is of concern and requires deeper understanding in order to be properly addressed. In particular, their ability to interact with mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, genomic islands, and integrative conjugative elements (ICEs) enables bacteriophages to contribute greatly to bacterial evolution. Nonetheless, bacteriophages have the potential to be used as therapeutic and biocontrol agents within medical, agricultural, and food processing settings, against bacteria in both planktonic and biofilm environments. Additionally, bacteriophages have been deployed in developing rapid, sensitive, and specific biosensors for various bacterial targets. Intriguingly, their bioengineering capabilities show great promise in improving their adaptability and effectiveness as biocontrol and detection tools. This review aims to provide a balanced perspective on bacteriophages by outlining advantages, challenges, and future steps needed in order to boost their therapeutic and biocontrol potential, while also providing insight on their potential role in contributing to bacterial evolution and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Y. Hassan
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9, Canada;
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Janet T. Lin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Nicole Ricker
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Hany Anany
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9, Canada;
- Department of Food Science, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
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16
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Miao YH, Xiao JH, Huang DW. Distribution and Evolution of the Bacteriophage WO and Its Antagonism With Wolbachia. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:595629. [PMID: 33281793 PMCID: PMC7691483 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.595629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The symbiosis system comprising eukaryotic hosts, intracellular bacterium Wolbachia, and temperate bacteriophages WO is widely spread through nearly half the number of arthropod species. The relationships between the three components of the system are extremely intricate. Even though the bacteriophage WO can have diverse influences on the ecology and evolution of Wolbachia, little is known about the distribution and evolution of the phages. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report that in infected fig wasps (Ceratosolen solmsi, Kradibia gibbosae, and Wiebesia pumilae), the genomes of all the Wolbachia strains had only one cryptic WO prophage, which contained defects in the genomic structural modules. This phenomenon was contrary to the widely accepted understanding that Wolbachia with cryptic prophages usually possesses at least one intact WO prophage consisting of gene sequences of the head, baseplate, and tail modules, through which the prophage could form intact virions. In addition to the genetic structure features, the phylogenetic relationships of WO and Wolbachia also revealed that bacteriophage WO can horizontally spread among a certain genus or a group of insect hosts, nearly free from the restriction of the affiliation of Wolbachia. Combined with the vertical transmission along with Wolbachia, the wide spread of WO phages can be explained. Furthermore, the gender preference and functional module preference for transcriptional activity of the genes in cryptic WOs implied the antagonized coevolutionary pattern between WO prophages and their Wolbachia hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Heng Miao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-Hua Xiao
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Da-Wei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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17
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Abedon ST. Look Who's Talking: T-Even Phage Lysis Inhibition, the Granddaddy of Virus-Virus Intercellular Communication Research. Viruses 2019; 11:v11100951. [PMID: 31623057 PMCID: PMC6832632 DOI: 10.3390/v11100951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
That communication can occur between virus-infected cells has been appreciated for nearly as long as has virus molecular biology. The original virus communication process specifically was that seen with T-even bacteriophages-phages T2, T4, and T6-resulting in what was labeled as a lysis inhibition. Another proposed virus communication phenomenon, also seen with T-even phages, can be described as a phage-adsorption-induced synchronized lysis-inhibition collapse. Both are mediated by virions that were released from earlier-lysing, phage-infected bacteria. Each may represent ecological responses, in terms of phage lysis timing, to high local densities of phage-infected bacteria, but for lysis inhibition also to locally reduced densities of phage-uninfected bacteria. With lysis inhibition, the outcome is a temporary avoidance of lysis, i.e., a lysis delay, resulting in increased numbers of virions (greater burst size). Synchronized lysis-inhibition collapse, by contrast, is an accelerated lysis which is imposed upon phage-infected bacteria by virions that have been lytically released from other phage-infected bacteria. Here I consider some history of lysis inhibition, its laboratory manifestation, its molecular basis, how it may benefit expressing phages, and its potential ecological role. I discuss as well other, more recently recognized examples of virus-virus intercellular communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH 44906, USA.
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18
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Krause M, Barth H, Schmidt H. Toxins of Locus of Enterocyte Effacement-Negative Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10060241. [PMID: 29903982 PMCID: PMC6024878 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10060241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies on Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) typically examine and classify the virulence gene profiles based on genomic analyses. Among the screened strains, a subgroup of STEC which lacks the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) has frequently been identified. This raises the question about the level of pathogenicity of such strains. This review focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of the standard screening procedures in virulence profiling and summarizes the current knowledge concerning the function and regulation of toxins encoded by LEE-negative STEC. Although LEE-negative STEC usually come across as food isolates, which rarely cause infections in humans, some serotypes have been implicated in human diseases. In particular, the LEE-negative E. coli O104:H7 German outbreak strain from 2011 and the Australian O113:H21 strain isolated from a HUS patient attracted attention. Moreover, the LEE-negative STEC O113:H21 strain TS18/08 that was isolated from minced meat is remarkable in that it not only encodes multiple toxins, but in fact expresses three different toxins simultaneously. Their characterization contributes to understanding the virulence of the LEE-negative STEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maike Krause
- Department of Food Microbiology and Hygiene, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Garbenstrasse 28, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Holger Barth
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
| | - Herbert Schmidt
- Department of Food Microbiology and Hygiene, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Garbenstrasse 28, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
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19
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Górski A, Międzybrodzki R, Łobocka M, Głowacka-Rutkowska A, Bednarek A, Borysowski J, Jończyk-Matysiak E, Łusiak-Szelachowska M, Weber-Dąbrowska B, Bagińska N, Letkiewicz S, Dąbrowska K, Scheres J. Phage Therapy: What Have We Learned? Viruses 2018; 10:E288. [PMID: 29843391 PMCID: PMC6024844 DOI: 10.3390/v10060288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article we explain how current events in the field of phage therapy may positively influence its future development. We discuss the shift in position of the authorities, academia, media, non-governmental organizations, regulatory agencies, patients, and doctors which could enable further advances in the research and application of the therapy. In addition, we discuss methods to obtain optimal phage preparations and suggest the potential of novel applications of phage therapy extending beyond its anti-bacterial action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Górski
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland.
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland.
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, Nowogrodzka Street 59, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Ryszard Międzybrodzki
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland.
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland.
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, Nowogrodzka Street 59, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Łobocka
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego Street 5 A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
- Autonomous Department of Microbial Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska Street 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Aleksandra Głowacka-Rutkowska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego Street 5 A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Bednarek
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego Street 5 A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Jan Borysowski
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, Nowogrodzka Street 59, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Ewa Jończyk-Matysiak
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Marzanna Łusiak-Szelachowska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Beata Weber-Dąbrowska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland.
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Natalia Bagińska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Sławomir Letkiewicz
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland.
- Medical Sciences Institute, Katowice School of Economics, Harcerzy Września Street 3, 40-659 Katowice, Poland.
| | - Krystyna Dąbrowska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland.
- Research and Development Center, Regional Specialized Hospital, Kamieńskiego 73a, 51-124 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Jacques Scheres
- National Institute of Public Health NIZP, Chocimska Street 24, 00-971 Warsaw, Poland.
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20
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Lysogeny in nature: mechanisms, impact and ecology of temperate phages. ISME JOURNAL 2017; 11:1511-1520. [PMID: 28291233 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2017.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 403] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Revised: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Viruses that infect bacteria (phages) can influence bacterial community dynamics, bacterial genome evolution and ecosystem biogeochemistry. These influences differ depending on whether phages establish lytic, chronic or lysogenic infections. Although the first two produce virion progeny, with lytic infections resulting in cell destruction, phages undergoing lysogenic infections replicate with cells without producing virions. The impacts of lysogeny are numerous and well-studied at the cellular level, but ecosystem-level consequences remain underexplored compared to those of lytic infections. Here, we review lysogeny from molecular mechanisms to ecological patterns to emerging approaches of investigation. Our goal is to highlight both its diversity and importance in complex communities. Altogether, using a combined viral ecology toolkit that is applied across broad model systems and environments will help us understand more of the diverse lifestyles and ecological impacts of lysogens in nature.
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21
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Riedel T, Wittmann J, Bunk B, Schober I, Spröer C, Gronow S, Overmann J. A Clostridioides difficile bacteriophage genome encodes functional binary toxin-associated genes. J Biotechnol 2017; 250:23-28. [PMID: 28216103 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2017.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic clostridia typically produce toxins as virulence factors which cause severe diseases in both humans and animals. Whereas many clostridia like e.g., Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium botulinum or Clostridium tetani were shown to contain toxin-encoding plasmids, only toxin genes located on the chromosome were detected in Clostridioides difficile so far. In this study, we determined, annotated, and analyzed the complete genome of the bacteriophage phiSemix9P1 using single-molecule real-time sequencing technology (SMRT). To our knowledge, this represents the first C. difficile-associated bacteriophage genome that carries a complete functional binary toxin locus in its genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Riedel
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7B, Braunschweig, Germany; North German Center of Microbial Genomics, Germany.
| | - Johannes Wittmann
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7B, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Boyke Bunk
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7B, Braunschweig, Germany; North German Center of Microbial Genomics, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Isabel Schober
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7B, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Cathrin Spröer
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7B, Braunschweig, Germany; North German Center of Microbial Genomics, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Sabine Gronow
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7B, Braunschweig, Germany; North German Center of Microbial Genomics, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jörg Overmann
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7B, Braunschweig, Germany; North German Center of Microbial Genomics, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
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22
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Buttimer C, McAuliffe O, Ross RP, Hill C, O’Mahony J, Coffey A. Bacteriophages and Bacterial Plant Diseases. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:34. [PMID: 28163700 PMCID: PMC5247434 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Losses in crop yields due to disease need to be reduced in order to meet increasing global food demands associated with growth in the human population. There is a well-recognized need to develop new environmentally friendly control strategies to combat bacterial crop disease. Current control measures involving the use of traditional chemicals or antibiotics are losing their efficacy due to the natural development of bacterial resistance to these agents. In addition, there is an increasing awareness that their use is environmentally unfriendly. Bacteriophages, the viruses of bacteria, have received increased research interest in recent years as a realistic environmentally friendly means of controlling bacterial diseases. Their use presents a viable control measure for a number of destructive bacterial crop diseases, with some phage-based products already becoming available on the market. Phage biocontrol possesses advantages over chemical controls in that tailor-made phage cocktails can be adapted to target specific disease-causing bacteria. Unlike chemical control measures, phage mixtures can be easily adapted for bacterial resistance which may develop over time. In this review, we will examine the progress and challenges for phage-based disease biocontrol in food crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Buttimer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of TechnologyCork, Ireland
| | | | - R. P. Ross
- Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University CollegeCork, Ireland
| | - Colin Hill
- Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University CollegeCork, Ireland
| | - Jim O’Mahony
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of TechnologyCork, Ireland
| | - Aidan Coffey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of TechnologyCork, Ireland
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23
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Touchon M, Bernheim A, Rocha EP. Genetic and life-history traits associated with the distribution of prophages in bacteria. THE ISME JOURNAL 2016; 10:2744-2754. [PMID: 27015004 PMCID: PMC5113838 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2016.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2015] [Revised: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Nearly half of the sequenced bacteria are lysogens and many of their prophages encode adaptive traits. Yet, the variables driving prophage distribution remain undetermined. We identified 2246 prophages in complete bacterial genomes to study the genetic and life-history traits associated with lysogeny. While optimal growth temperatures and average cell volumes were not associated with lysogeny, prophages were more frequent in pathogens and in bacteria with small minimal doubling times. Their frequency also increased with genome size, but only for genomes smaller than 6 Mb. The number of spacers in CRISPR-Cas systems and the frequency of type III systems were anticorrelated with prophage frequency, but lysogens were more likely to encode type I and type II systems. The minimal doubling time was the trait most correlated with lysogeny, followed by genome size and pathogenicity. We propose that bacteria with highly variable growth rates often encounter lower opportunity costs for lysogeny relative to lysis. These results contribute to explain the paucity of temperate phages in certain bacterial clades and of bacterial lysogens in certain environments. They suggest that genetic and life-history traits affect the contributions of temperate phages to bacterial genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Touchon
- Institut Pasteur, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR3525, Paris, France
| | - Aude Bernheim
- Institut Pasteur, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR3525, Paris, France
| | - Eduardo Pc Rocha
- Institut Pasteur, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR3525, Paris, France
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24
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Eukaryotic association module in phage WO genomes from Wolbachia. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13155. [PMID: 27727237 PMCID: PMC5062602 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses are trifurcated into eukaryotic, archaeal and bacterial categories. This domain-specific ecology underscores why eukaryotic viruses typically co-opt eukaryotic genes and bacteriophages commonly harbour bacterial genes. However, the presence of bacteriophages in obligate intracellular bacteria of eukaryotes may promote DNA transfers between eukaryotes and bacteriophages. Here we report a metagenomic analysis of purified bacteriophage WO particles of Wolbachia and uncover a eukaryotic association module in the complete WO genome. It harbours predicted domains, such as the black widow latrotoxin C-terminal domain, that are uninterrupted in bacteriophage genomes, enriched with eukaryotic protease cleavage sites and combined with additional domains to forge one of the largest bacteriophage genes to date (14,256 bp). To the best of our knowledge, these eukaryotic-like domains have never before been reported in packaged bacteriophages and their phylogeny, distribution and sequence diversity imply lateral transfers between bacteriophage/prophage and animal genomes. Finally, the WO genome sequences and identification of attachment sites will potentially advance genetic manipulation of Wolbachia. Viruses commonly exchange genetic material with their hosts, but not with species from other domains of life. Here, the authors find that the bacteriophage WO of Wolbachia contains eukaryotic-like genes, implicating lateral genetic transfer between eukaryotes and viruses infecting bacteria.
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Khalifa L, Shlezinger M, Beyth S, Houri-Haddad Y, Coppenhagen-Glazer S, Beyth N, Hazan R. Phage therapy against Enterococcus faecalis in dental root canals. J Oral Microbiol 2016; 8:32157. [PMID: 27640530 PMCID: PMC5027333 DOI: 10.3402/jom.v8.32157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Revised: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is an ever-growing problem faced by all major sectors of health care, including dentistry. Recurrent infections related to multidrug-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in hospitals are untreatable and question the effectiveness of notable drugs. Two major reasons for these recurrent infections are acquired antibiotic resistance genes and biofilm formation. None of the traditionally known effective techniques have been able to efficiently resolve these issues. Hence, development of a highly effective antibacterial practice has become inevitable. One example of a hard-to-eradicate pathogen in dentistry is Enterococcus faecalis, which is one of the most common threats observed in recurrent root canal treatment failures, of which the most problematic to treat are its biofilm-forming VRE strains. An effective response against such infections could be the use of bacteriophages (phages). Phage therapy was found to be highly effective against biofilm and multidrug-resistant bacteria and has other advantages like ease of isolation and possibilities for genetic manipulations. The potential of phage therapy in dentistry, in particular against E. faecalis biofilms in root canals, is almost unexplored. Here we review the efforts to develop phage therapy against biofilms. We also focus on the phages isolated against E. faecalis and discuss the possibility of using phages against E. faecalis biofilm in root canals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leron Khalifa
- Institute of Dental Science, The Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Mor Shlezinger
- Department of Prosthodontics, The Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shaul Beyth
- Orthopedic Surgery Complex, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yael Houri-Haddad
- Department of Prosthodontics, The Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer
- Institute of Dental Science, The Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nurit Beyth
- Department of Prosthodontics, The Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ronen Hazan
- Institute of Dental Science, The Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel;
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Parratt SR, Laine AL. The role of hyperparasitism in microbial pathogen ecology and evolution. THE ISME JOURNAL 2016; 10:1815-22. [PMID: 26784356 PMCID: PMC5029149 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2015.247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Many micro-organisms employ a parasitic lifestyle and, through their antagonistic interactions with host populations, have major impacts on human, agricultural and natural ecosystems. Most pathogens are likely to host parasites of their own, that is, hyperparasites, but how nested chains of parasites impact on disease dynamics is grossly neglected in the ecological and evolutionary literature. In this minireview we argue that the diversity and dynamics of micro-hyperparasites are an important component of natural host-pathogen systems. We use the current literature from a handful of key systems to show that observed patterns of pathogen virulence and disease dynamics may well be influenced by hyperparasites. Exploring these factors will shed light on many aspects of microbial ecology and disease biology, including resistance-virulence evolution, apparent competition, epidemiology and ecosystem stability. Considering the importance of hyperparasites in natural populations will have applied consequences for the field of biological control and therapeutic science, where hyperparastism is employed as a control mechanism but not necessarily ecologically understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R Parratt
- Department of Biosciences, Metapopulation Research Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna-Liisa Laine
- Department of Biosciences, Metapopulation Research Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Touchon M, Bobay LM, Rocha EPC. The chromosomal accommodation and domestication of mobile genetic elements. Curr Opin Microbiol 2014; 22:22-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2014.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Shan J, Korbsrisate S, Withatanung P, Adler NL, Clokie MRJ, Galyov EE. Temperature dependent bacteriophages of a tropical bacterial pathogen. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:599. [PMID: 25452746 PMCID: PMC4231975 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an increasing awareness of the multiple ways that bacteriophages (phages) influence bacterial evolution, population dynamics, physiology, and pathogenicity. By studying a novel group of phages infecting a soil borne pathogen, we revealed a paradigm shifting observation that the phages switch their lifestyle according to temperature. We sampled soil from an endemic area of the serious tropical pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei, and established that podoviruses infecting the pathogen are frequently present in soil, and many of them are naturally occurring variants of a common virus type. Experiments on one phage in the related model B. thailandensis demonstrated that temperature defines the outcome of phage-bacteria interactions. At higher temperatures (37°C), the phage predominantly goes through a lytic cycle, but at lower temperatures (25°C), the phage remains temperate. This is the first report of a naturally occurring phage that follows a lytic or temperate lifestyle according to temperature. These observations fundamentally alter the accepted views on the abundance, population biology and virulence of B. pseudomallei. Furthermore, when taken together with previous studies, our findings suggest that the phenomenon of temperature dependency in phages is widespread. Such phages are likely to have a profound effect on bacterial biology, and on our ability to culture and correctly enumerate viable bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyu Shan
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of LeicesterLeicester, UK
| | - Sunee Korbsrisate
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol UniversityBangkok, Thailand
| | - Patoo Withatanung
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol UniversityBangkok, Thailand
| | - Natalie Lazar Adler
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of LeicesterLeicester, UK
| | - Martha R. J. Clokie
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of LeicesterLeicester, UK
| | - Edouard E. Galyov
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of LeicesterLeicester, UK
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Hargreaves KR, Kropinski AM, Clokie MRJ. Bacteriophage behavioral ecology: How phages alter their bacterial host's habits. BACTERIOPHAGE 2014; 4:e29866. [PMID: 25105060 PMCID: PMC4124054 DOI: 10.4161/bact.29866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2014] [Revised: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages have an essential gene kit that enables their invasion, replication, and production. In addition to this "core" genome, they can carry "accessory" genes that dramatically impact bacterial biology, and presumably boost their own success. The content of phage genomes continue to surprise us by revealing new ways that viruses impact bacterial biology. The genome of a Clostridium difficile myovirus, phiCDHM1, contains homologs of three bacterial accessory gene regulator (agr) genes. The agr system is a type of quorum sensing (QS), via which the phage may modify C. difficile interactions with its environment. Although their mechanism of action is unknown, mutants in bacterial versions of these genes impact sporulation and virulence. To explore how phage QS genes may influence C. difficile biology, we examine the main categories of bacterial behavior that phages have been shown to influence and discuss how interactions via QS could influence behavior at a wider level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R Hargreaves
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation; University of Leicester; Leicester, UK
| | - Andrew M Kropinski
- Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses; Public Health Agency of Canada; West Guelph, Ontario CA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology; University of Guelph; Guelph, Ontario CA
| | - Martha RJ Clokie
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation; University of Leicester; Leicester, UK
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Hargreaves KR, Kropinski AM, Clokie MRJ. What does the talking?: quorum sensing signalling genes discovered in a bacteriophage genome. PLoS One 2014; 9:e85131. [PMID: 24475037 PMCID: PMC3901668 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 11/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The transfer of novel genetic material into the genomes of bacterial viruses (phages) has been widely documented in several host-phage systems. Bacterial genes are incorporated into the phage genome and, if retained, subsequently evolve within them. The expression of these phage genes can subvert or bolster bacterial processes, including altering bacterial pathogenicity. The phage phiCDHM1 infects Clostridium difficile, a pathogenic bacterium that causes nosocomial infections and is associated with antibiotic treatment. Genome sequencing and annotation of phiCDHM1 shows that despite being closely related to other C. difficile myoviruses, it has several genes that have not been previously reported in any phage genomes. Notably, these include three homologs of bacterial genes from the accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum sensing (QS) system. These are; a pre-peptide (AgrD) of an autoinducing peptide (AIP), an enzyme which processes the pre-peptide (AgrB) and a histidine kinase (AgrC) that detects the AIP to activate a response regulator. Phylogenetic analysis of the phage and C. difficile agr genes revealed that there are three types of agr loci in this species. We propose that the phage genes belonging to a third type, agr3, and have been horizontally transferred from the host. AgrB and AgrC are transcribed during the infection of two different strains. In addition, the phage agrC appears not to be confined to the phiCDHM1 genome as it was detected in genetically distinct C. difficile strains. The discovery of QS gene homologs in a phage genome presents a novel way in which phages could influence their bacterial hosts, or neighbouring bacterial populations. This is the first time that these QS genes have been reported in a phage genome and their distribution both in C. difficile and phage genomes suggests that the agr3 locus undergoes horizontal gene transfer within this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R. Hargreaves
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew M. Kropinski
- Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Public Health Agency of Canada, West Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Martha R. J. Clokie
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Laanto E, Bamford JKH, Laakso J, Sundberg LR. Phage-driven loss of virulence in a fish pathogenic bacterium. PLoS One 2012; 7:e53157. [PMID: 23308090 PMCID: PMC3534065 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasites provide a selective pressure during the evolution of their hosts, and mediate a range of effects on ecological communities. Due to their short generation time, host-parasite interactions may also drive the virulence of opportunistic bacteria. This is especially relevant in systems where high densities of hosts and parasites on different trophic levels (e.g. vertebrate hosts, their bacterial pathogens, and virus parasitizing bacteria) co-exist. In farmed salmonid fingerlings, Flavobacterium columnare is an emerging pathogen, and phage that infect F. columnare have been isolated. However, the impact of these phage on their host bacterium is not well understood. To study this, four strains of F. columnare were exposed to three isolates of lytic phage and the development of phage resistance and changes in colony morphology were monitored. Using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model system, the ancestral rhizoid morphotypes were associated with a 25-100% mortality rate, whereas phage-resistant rough morphotypes that lost their virulence and gliding motility (which are key characteristics of the ancestral types), did not affect zebrafish survival. Both morphotypes maintained their colony morphologies over ten serial passages in liquid culture, except for the low-virulence strain, Os06, which changed morphology with each passage. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the effects of phage-host interactions in a commercially important fish pathogen where phage resistance directly correlates with a decline in bacterial virulence. These results suggest that phage can cause phenotypic changes in F. columnare outside the fish host, and antagonistic interactions between bacterial pathogens and their parasitic phage can favor low bacterial virulence under natural conditions. Furthermore, these results suggest that phage-based therapies can provide a disease management strategy for columnaris disease in aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Laanto
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Universities of Jyväskylä and Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jaana K. H. Bamford
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Universities of Jyväskylä and Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jouni Laakso
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Universities of Jyväskylä and Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lotta-Riina Sundberg
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Universities of Jyväskylä and Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
- * E-mail:
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Bobay LM, Rocha EPC, Touchon M. The adaptation of temperate bacteriophages to their host genomes. Mol Biol Evol 2012; 30:737-51. [PMID: 23243039 PMCID: PMC3603311 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/mss279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Rapid turnover of mobile elements drives the plasticity of bacterial genomes. Integrated bacteriophages (prophages) encode host-adaptive traits and represent a sizable fraction of bacterial chromosomes. We hypothesized that natural selection shapes prophage integration patterns relative to the host genome organization. We tested this idea by detecting and studying 500 prophages of 69 strains of Escherichia and Salmonella. Phage integrases often target not only conserved genes but also intergenic positions, suggesting purifying selection for integration sites. Furthermore, most integration hotspots are conserved between the two host genera. Integration sites seem also selected at the large chromosomal scale, as they are nonrandomly organized in terms of the origin-terminus axis and the macrodomain structure. The genes of lambdoid prophages are systematically co-oriented with the bacterial replication fork and display the host high frequency of polarized FtsK-orienting polar sequences motifs required for chromosome segregation. matS motifs are strongly avoided by prophages suggesting counter selection of motifs disrupting macrodomains. These results show how natural selection for seamless integration of prophages in the chromosome shapes the evolution of the bacterium and the phage. First, integration sites are highly conserved for many millions of years favoring lysogeny over the lytic cycle for temperate phages. Second, the global distribution of prophages is intimately associated with the chromosome structure and the patterns of gene expression. Third, the phage endures selection for DNA motifs that pertain exclusively to the biology of the prophage in the bacterial chromosome. Understanding prophage genetic adaptation sheds new lights on the coexistence of horizontal transfer and organized bacterial genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis-Marie Bobay
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics Group, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
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Hartley MA, Ronet C, Fasel N. Backseat drivers: the hidden influence of microbial viruses on disease. Curr Opin Microbiol 2012; 15:538-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2012.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Abedon ST, Kuhl SJ, Blasdel BG, Kutter EM. Phage treatment of human infections. BACTERIOPHAGE 2011; 1:66-85. [PMID: 22334863 PMCID: PMC3278644 DOI: 10.4161/bact.1.2.15845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 573] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2011] [Revised: 04/14/2011] [Accepted: 04/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Phages as bactericidal agents have been employed for 90 years as a means of treating bacterial infections in humans as well as other species, a process known as phage therapy. In this review we explore both the early historical and more modern use of phages to treat human infections. We discuss in particular the little-reviewed French early work, along with the Polish, US, Georgian and Russian historical experiences. We also cover other, more modern examples of phage therapy of humans as differentiated in terms of disease. In addition, we provide discussions of phage safety, other aspects of phage therapy pharmacology, and the idea of phage use as probiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T Abedon
- Department of Microbiology; The Ohio State University; Mansfield, OH USA
| | - Sarah J Kuhl
- Department of Veterans Affairs; Martinez, CA USA
| | - Bob G Blasdel
- Department of Microbiology; The Ohio State University; Mansfield, OH USA
- PhageBiotics and The Evergreen State College; Olympia, WA USA
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Kelly B, Vespermann A, Bolton D. The role of horizontal gene transfer in the evolution of selected foodborne bacterial pathogens. Food Chem Toxicol 2009; 47:951-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2008.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2007] [Revised: 02/04/2008] [Accepted: 02/06/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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