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Adamczyk-Popławska M, Golec P, Piekarowicz A, Kwiatek A. The potential for bacteriophages and prophage elements in fighting and preventing the gonorrhea. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:769-784. [PMID: 37897236 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2274849] [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: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are the most numerous entities on earth and are found everywhere their bacterial hosts live. As natural bacteria killers, phages are extensively investigated as a potential cure for bacterial infections. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (the gonococcus) is the etiologic agent of a sexually transmitted disease: gonorrhea. The rapid increase of resistance of N. gonorrhoeae to antibiotics urges scientists to look for alternative treatments to combat gonococcal infections. Phage therapy has not been tested as an anti-gonococcal therapy so far. To date, no lytic phage has been discovered against N. gonorrhoeae. Nevertheless, gonococcal genomes contain both dsDNA and ssDNA prophages, and viral particle induction has been documented. In this review, we consider literature data about the attempts of hunting for a bacteriophage specific for gonococci - the gonophage. We also discuss the potential application of prophage elements in the fight against N. gonorrhoeae. Temperate phages may be useful in preventing and treating gonorrhea as a scaffold for anti-gonococcal vaccine development and as a source of lytic enzymes with anti-gonococcal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Adamczyk-Popławska
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Golec
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Piekarowicz
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kwiatek
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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2
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Belagal P. Current alternative therapies for treating drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae causing ophthalmia neonatorum. Future Microbiol 2024; 19:631-647. [PMID: 38512111 PMCID: PMC11229588 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2023-0251] [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: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Ophthalmia neonatorum is a microbial contraction, damaging eyesight, occurring largely among neonates. Infants are particularly vulnerable to bacterial infections acquired during birth from infected mothers, especially from Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. Over the decades, N. gonorrhoeae is alarmingly developing a resistance to most antibiotics currently prescribed. To counter this challenge, it is imperative to find potent and cost-effective therapeutic agents for prophylaxis and treatment, to which the N. gonorrhoeae cannot easily develop resistance. This review showcases alternate therapies such as antimicrobial-fatty acids, -peptides, -nano-formulations etc., currently evident against N. gonorrhoeae-mediated ophthalmia neonatorum, which remains a major cause of ocular morbidity, blindness and even death among neonates in developing countries.
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3
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Geslewitz WE, Cardenas A, Zhou X, Zhang Y, Criss AK, Seifert HS. Development and implementation of a Type I-C CRISPR-based programmable repression system for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. mBio 2024; 15:e0302523. [PMID: 38126782 PMCID: PMC10865793 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03025-23] [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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are prokaryotic adaptive immune systems regularly utilized as DNA-editing tools. While Neisseria gonorrhoeae does not have an endogenous CRISPR, the commensal species Neisseria lactamica encodes a functional Type I-C CRISPR-Cas system. We have established an isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside added (IPTG)-inducible, CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) platform based on the N. lactamica Type I-C CRISPR missing the Cas3 nuclease to allow locus-specific transcriptional repression. As proof of principle, we targeted a non-phase-variable version of the opaD gene. We show that CRISPRi can downregulate opaD gene and protein expression, resulting in bacterial inability to stimulate neutrophil oxidative responses and to bind to an N-terminal fragment of CEACAM1. Importantly, we used CRISPRi to effectively knockdown all the transcripts of all 11 opa genes using a five-spacer CRISPR array, allowing control of the entire phase-variable opa family in strain FA1090. We also report that repression is reversible following IPTG removal. Finally, we showed that the Type I-C CRISPRi system can conditionally reduce the expression of two essential genes. This CRISPRi system will allow the interrogation of every Gc gene, essential and non-essential, to study physiology and pathogenesis and aid in antimicrobial development.IMPORTANCEClustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas systems have proven instrumental in genetically manipulating many eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Despite its usefulness, a CRISPR system had yet to be developed for use in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gc), a bacterium that is the main etiological agent of gonorrhea infection. Here, we developed a programmable and IPTG-inducible Type I-C CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) system derived from the commensal species Neisseria lactamica as a gene repression system in Gc. As opposed to generating genetic knockouts, the Type I-C CRISPRi system allows us to block transcription of specific genes without generating deletions in the DNA. We explored the properties of this system and found that a minimal spacer array is sufficient for gene repression while also facilitating efficient spacer reprogramming. Importantly, we also show that we can use CRISPRi to knockdown genes that are essential to Gc that cannot normally be knocked out under laboratory settings. Gc encodes ~800 essential genes, many of which have no predicted function. We predict that this Type I-C CRISPRi system can be used to help categorize gene functions and perhaps contribute to the development of novel therapeutics for gonorrhea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy E. Geslewitz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Amaris Cardenas
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Xufei Zhou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Alison K. Criss
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - H Steven Seifert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Mahnoor I, Shabbir H, Nawaz S, Aziz K, Aziz U, Khalid K, Irum S, Andleeb S. Characterization of exclusively non-commensal Neisseria gonorrhoeae pangenome to prioritize globally conserved and thermodynamically stable vaccine candidates using immune-molecular dynamic simulations. Microb Pathog 2023; 185:106439. [PMID: 37944674 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ngo) has emerged as a global threat leading to one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world. It has also become one of the leading antimicrobial resistant organisms, resulting in fewer treatment options and an increased morbidity. Therefore, in recent years, there has been an increased focus on the development of new treatments and preventive strategies to combat its infection. In this study, we have combined the most conserved epitopes from the completely assembled strains of Ngo to develop a universal and a thermodynamically stable vaccine candidate. For our vaccine design, the epitopes were selected for their high immunogenicity, non-allergenicity and non-cytotoxicity, making them the ideal candidates for vaccine development. For the screening process, several reverse vaccinology tools were employed to rigorously extract non-homologous and immunogenic epitopes from the selected proteins. Consequently, a total number of 3 B-cell epitopes and 6 T-cell epitopes were selected and joined by multiple immune-modulating adjuvants and linkers to generate a promiscuous immune response. Additionally, the stability and flexible nature of the vaccine construct was confirmed using various molecular dynamic simulation tools. Overall, the vaccine candidate showed promising binding affinity to various HLA alleles and TLR receptors; however, further studies are needed to assess its efficacy in-vivo. In this way, we have designed a multi-subunit vaccine candidate to potentially combat and control the spread of N. gonorrhoeae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iqra Mahnoor
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Hamna Shabbir
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Shabana Nawaz
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Kinza Aziz
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Ubair Aziz
- School of Interdisciplinary Engineering & Sciences National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Kashaf Khalid
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Sidra Irum
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Saadia Andleeb
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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5
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Shaskolskiy B, Kravtsov D, Kandinov I, Dementieva E, Gryadunov D. Genomic Diversity and Chromosomal Rearrangements in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415644. [PMID: 36555284 PMCID: PMC9778887 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415644] [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: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosomal rearrangements in N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis were studied with the determination of mobile elements and their role in rearrangements. The results of whole-genome sequencing and de novo genome assembly for 50 N. gonorrhoeae isolates collected in Russia were compared with 96 genomes of N. gonorrhoeae and 138 genomes of N. meningitidis from the databases. Rearrangement events with the determination of the coordinates of syntenic blocks were analyzed using the SibeliaZ software v.1.2.5, the minimum number of events that allow one genome to pass into another was calculated using the DCJ-indel model using the UniMoG program v.1.0. Population-level analysis revealed a stronger correlation between changes in the gene order and phylogenetic proximity for N. meningitidis in contrast to N. gonorrhoeae. Mobile elements were identified, including Correa elements; Spencer-Smith elements (in N. gonorrhoeae); Neisserial intergenic mosaic elements; IS elements of IS5, IS30, IS110, IS1595 groups; Nf1-Nf3 prophages; NgoФ1-NgoФ9 prophages; and Mu-like prophages Pnm1, Pnm2, MuMenB (in N. meningitidis). More than 44% of the observed rearrangements most likely occurred with the participation of mobile elements, including prophages. No differences were found between the Russian and global N. gonorrhoeae population both in terms of rearrangement events and in the number of transposable elements in genomes.
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Adamczyk-Poplawska M, Bacal P, Mrozek A, Matczynska N, Piekarowicz A, Kwiatek A. Phase-variable Type I methyltransferase M.NgoAV from Neisseria gonorrhoeae FA1090 regulates phasevarion expression and gonococcal phenotype. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:917639. [PMID: 36267167 PMCID: PMC9577141 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.917639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The restriction-modification (RM) systems are compared to a primitive, innate, prokaryotic immune system, controlling the invasion by foreign DNA, composed of methyltransferase (MTase) and restriction endonuclease. The biological significance of RM systems extends beyond their defensive function, but the data on the regulatory role of Type I MTases are limited. We have previously characterized molecularly a non-canonical Type I RM system, NgoAV, with phase-variable specificity, encoded by Neisseria gonorrhoeae FA1090. In the current work, we have investigated the impact of methyltransferase NgoAV (M.NgoAV) activity on gonococcal phenotype and on epigenetic control of gene expression. For this purpose, we have constructed and studied genetic variants (concerning activity and specificity) within M.NgoAV locus. Deletion of M.NgoAV or switch of its specificity had an impact on phenotype of N. gonorrhoeae. Biofilm formation and planktonic growth, the resistance to antibiotics, which target bacterial peptidoglycan or other antimicrobials, and invasion of human epithelial host cells were affected. The expression of genes was deregulated in gonococcal cells with knockout M.NgoAV gene and the variant with new specificity. For the first time, the existence of a phasevarion (phase-variable regulon), directed by phase-variable Type I MTase, is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Adamczyk-Poplawska
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- *Correspondence: Monika Adamczyk-Poplawska,
| | - Pawel Bacal
- Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Mrozek
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Matczynska
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Piekarowicz
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kwiatek
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Orazi G, Collins AJ, Whitaker RJ. Prediction of Prophages and Their Host Ranges in Pathogenic and Commensal Neisseria Species. mSystems 2022; 7:e0008322. [PMID: 35418239 PMCID: PMC9238386 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00083-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Neisseria includes two pathogenic species, N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis, and numerous commensal species. Neisseria species frequently exchange DNA with one another, primarily via transformation and homologous recombination and via multiple types of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Few Neisseria bacteriophages (phages) have been identified, and their impact on bacterial physiology is poorly understood. Furthermore, little is known about the range of species that Neisseria phages can infect. In this study, we used three virus prediction tools to scan 248 genomes of 21 different Neisseria species and identified 1,302 unique predicted prophages. Using comparative genomics, we found that many predictions are dissimilar from prophages and other MGEs previously described to infect Neisseria species. We also identified similar predicted prophages in genomes of different Neisseria species. Additionally, we examined CRISPR-Cas targeting of each Neisseria genome and predicted prophage. While CRISPR targeting of chromosomal DNA appears to be common among several Neisseria species, we found that 20% of the prophages we predicted are targeted significantly more than the rest of the bacterial genome in which they were identified (i.e., backbone). Furthermore, many predicted prophages are targeted by CRISPR spacers encoded by other species. We then used these results to infer additional host species of known Neisseria prophages and predictions that are highly targeted relative to the backbone. Together, our results suggest that we have identified novel Neisseria prophages, several of which may infect multiple Neisseria species. These findings have important implications for understanding horizontal gene transfer between members of this genus. IMPORTANCE Drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a major threat to human health. Commensal Neisseria species are thought to serve as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes for the pathogenic species N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis. Therefore, it is important to understand both the diversity of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that can mediate horizontal gene transfer within this genus and the breadth of species these MGEs can infect. In particular, few bacteriophages (phages) are known to infect Neisseria species. In this study, we identified a large number of candidate phages integrated in the genomes of commensal and pathogenic Neisseria species, many of which appear to be novel phages. Importantly, we discovered extensive interspecies targeting of predicted phages by Neisseria CRISPR-Cas systems, which may reflect their movement between different species. Uncovering the diversity and host range of phages is essential for understanding how they influence the evolution of their microbial hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Orazi
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Alan J. Collins
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Rachel J. Whitaker
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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Rhodes KA, Ma MC, Rendón MA, So M. Neisseria genes required for persistence identified via in vivo screening of a transposon mutant library. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010497. [PMID: 35580146 PMCID: PMC9140248 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms used by human adapted commensal Neisseria to shape and maintain a niche in their host are poorly defined. These organisms are common members of the mucosal microbiota and share many putative host interaction factors with Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Evaluating the role of these shared factors during host carriage may provide insight into bacterial mechanisms driving both commensalism and asymptomatic infection across the genus. We identified host interaction factors required for niche development and maintenance through in vivo screening of a transposon mutant library of Neisseria musculi, a commensal of wild-caught mice which persistently and asymptomatically colonizes the oral cavity and gut of CAST/EiJ and A/J mice. Approximately 500 candidate genes involved in long-term host interaction were identified. These included homologs of putative N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae virulence factors which have been shown to modulate host interactions in vitro. Importantly, many candidate genes have no assigned function, illustrating how much remains to be learned about Neisseria persistence. Many genes of unknown function are conserved in human adapted Neisseria species; they are likely to provide a gateway for understanding the mechanisms allowing pathogenic and commensal Neisseria to establish and maintain a niche in their natural hosts. Validation of a subset of candidate genes confirmed a role for a polysaccharide capsule in N. musculi persistence but not colonization. Our findings highlight the potential utility of the Neisseria musculi-mouse model as a tool for studying the pathogenic Neisseria; our work represents a first step towards the identification of novel host interaction factors conserved across the genus. The Neisseria genus contains many genetically related commensals of animals and humans, and two human pathogens, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis. The mechanisms allowing commensal Neisseria to maintain a niche in their host is little understood. To identify genes required for persistence, we screened a library of transposon mutants of Neisseria musculi, a commensal of wild-caught mice, in CAST/EiJ mice, which persistently and asymptomatically colonizes. Approximately 500 candidate host interaction genes were identified. A subset of these are homologs of N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae genes known to modulate pathogen-host interactions in vitro. Many candidate genes have no known function, demonstrating how much remains to be learned about N. musculi niche maintenance. As many genes of unknown function are conserved in human adapted Neisseria, they provide a gateway for understanding Neisseria persistence mechanisms in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Rhodes
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Man Cheong Ma
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - María A. Rendón
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Magdalene So
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
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Laumen JGE, Abdellati S, Manoharan-Basil SS, Van Dijck C, Van den Bossche D, De Baetselier I, de Block T, Malhotra-Kumar S, Soentjes P, Pirnay JP, Kenyon C, Merabishvili M. Screening of Anorectal and Oropharyngeal Samples Fails to Detect Bacteriophages Infecting Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:268. [PMID: 35203870 PMCID: PMC8868155 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11020268] [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: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
There are real concerns that Neisseria gonorrhoeae may become untreatable in the near future due to the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Alternative therapies are thus urgently required. Bacteriophages active against N. gonorrhoeae could play an important role as an antibiotic-sparing therapy. To the best of our knowledge, no bacteriophages active against N. gonorrhoeae have ever been found. The aim of this study was to screen for bacteriophages able to lyse N. gonorrhoeae in oropharyngeal and anorectal swabs of 74 men who have sex with men attending a sexual health clinic in Antwerp, Belgium. We screened 210 swabs but were unable to identify an anti-gonococcal bacteriophage. This is the first report of a pilot screening that systematically searched for anti-gonococcal phages directly from clinical swabs. Further studies may consider screening for phages at other anatomical sites (e.g., stool samples, urine) or in environmental settings (e.g., toilet sewage water of sex clubs or sexually transmitted infection clinics) where N. gonorrhoeae can be found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolein Gyonne Elise Laumen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
| | - Saïd Abdellati
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Sheeba Santhini Manoharan-Basil
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Christophe Van Dijck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
| | - Dorien Van den Bossche
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Tessa de Block
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Surbhi Malhotra-Kumar
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
| | - Patrick Soentjes
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Neder-over-Heembeek, 1120 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Paul Pirnay
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology (LabMCT), Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Neder-over-Heembeek, 1120 Brussels, Belgium; (J.-P.P.); (M.M.)
| | - Chris Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Maia Merabishvili
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology (LabMCT), Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Neder-over-Heembeek, 1120 Brussels, Belgium; (J.-P.P.); (M.M.)
- Microbiology and Virology (EIBMV), Eliava Institute of Bacteriophage, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia
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10
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Straub C, Thirkell C, Tiong A, Woodhouse R, Szeto J, Dyet KH. The antimicrobial resistance landscape of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in New Zealand from November 2018 to March 2019 and the role of sexual orientation in transmission. Microb Genom 2021; 7:000701. [PMID: 34755593 PMCID: PMC8743534 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing use of culture independent diagnostic testing for the diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection has led to gaps in surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rates due to limited availability of cultures. Our study reports the findings of a second national survey of N. gonorrhoeae in New Zealand, utilizing whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to study the population structure, prevalence of AMR, epidemiology and transmission of gonorrhoea isolates. We analysed 314 isolates and found a strong correlation between carriage of acquired resistance genes or chromosomal point mutations and phenotypic susceptibility testing results. Overall, the New Zealand rates of azithromycin resistance and decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone remain lower than in most countries, which are part of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (GASP). The phylogeny provides evidence of a diverse population significantly associated with sexual behaviour groups. Transmission clustering with a ten single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) cut-off identified 49 clusters, of which ten were solely associated with men who have sex with men (MSM), whereas remaining clusters included heterosexual patients, as well as MSM, suggesting that bridging of sexual networks is occurring. Utilizing pairwise SNP differences between isolates of the same sequence types we determined genetic variation for the three typing schemes used in this study [Multi locus sequence typing (MLST), multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST), and sequence typing for antimicrobial resistance (NG-STAR)]. A median of 0.0 to 52.5 pairwise SNP differences within a single NG-STAR sequence type underlines previous findings of the superiority of the NG-STAR typing scheme in terms of genomic inherency. With our analysis incorporating epidemiological and genomic data, we were able to show a comprehensive overview of the N. gonorrhoeae population circulating in New Zealand, focussing on AMR and transmission within sexual networks. Regular surveillance studies to understand the origin, evolution and spread of AMR for gonorrhoea remain necessary to make informed decisions about public health guidelines, as the internationally rising rates of ceftriaxone and azithromycin resistance have already led to adaptation of current treatment guidelines in the UK and the USA, highlighting the importance of regular surveillance in individual countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Straub
- The Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Auckland 1025, New Zealand
- Genomics Aotearoa, New Zealand
| | - Callum Thirkell
- The Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Porirua 5022, New Zealand
| | - Audrey Tiong
- The Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Porirua 5022, New Zealand
| | - Rosemary Woodhouse
- The Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Porirua 5022, New Zealand
| | - Jenny Szeto
- The Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Porirua 5022, New Zealand
| | - Kristin H. Dyet
- The Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Porirua 5022, New Zealand
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11
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Potential for Phages in the Treatment of Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10091030. [PMID: 34572612 PMCID: PMC8466579 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10091030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial sexually transmitted infections (BSTIs) are becoming increasingly significant with the approach of a post-antibiotic era. While treatment options dwindle, the transmission of many notable BSTIs, including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Treponema pallidum, continues to increase. Bacteriophage therapy has been utilized in Poland, Russia and Georgia in the treatment of bacterial illnesses, but not in the treatment of bacterial sexually transmitted infections. With the ever-increasing likelihood of antibiotic resistance prevailing and the continuous transmission of BSTIs, alternative treatments must be explored. This paper discusses the potentiality and practicality of phage therapy to treat BSTIs, including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Treponema pallidum, Streptococcus agalactiae, Haemophilus ducreyi, Calymmatobacterium granulomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma parvum, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei. The challenges associated with the potential for phage in treatments vary for each bacterial sexually transmitted infection. Phage availability, bacterial structure and bacterial growth may impact the potential success of future phage treatments. Additional research is needed before BSTIs can be successfully clinically treated with phage therapy or phage-derived enzymes.
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12
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Jamoralin MC, Argimón S, Lagrada ML, Villamin AS, Masim ML, Gayeta JM, Boehme KD, Olorosa AM, Sia SB, Hufano CM, Cohen V, Hernandez LT, Jeffrey B, Abudahab K, Stelling J, Holden MTG, Aanensenb DM, Carlosa CC. Genomic surveillance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the Philippines, 2013-2014. Western Pac Surveill Response J 2021; 12:17-25. [PMID: 34094619 PMCID: PMC8143934 DOI: 10.5365/wpsar.2020.11.1.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a major threat to public health and is of particular concern in the Western Pacific Region, where the incidence of gonorrhoea is high. The Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program (ARSP) has been capturing information on resistant gonorrhoea since 1996, but genomic epidemiology studies on this pathogen are lacking in the Philippines. We sequenced the whole genomes of 21 N. gonorrhoeae isolates collected in 2013-2014 by ARSP. The multilocus sequence type, multiantigen sequence type, presence of determinants of antimicrobial resistance and relatedness among the isolates were all derived from the sequence data. The concordance between phenotypic and genotypic resistance was also determined. Ten of 21 isolates were resistant to penicillin, ciprofloxacin and tetracycline, due mainly to the presence of the blaTEM gene, the S91F mutation in the gyrA gene and the tetM gene, respectively. None of the isolates was resistant to ceftriaxone or cefixime. The concordance between phenotypic and genotypic resistance was 92.38% overall for five antibiotics in four classes. Despite the small number of isolates studied, they were genetically diverse, as shown by the sequence types, the N. gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing types and the tree. Comparison with global genomes placed the Philippine genomes within global lineage A and led to the identification of an international transmission route. This first genomic survey of N. gonorrhoeae isolates collected by ARSP will be used to contextualize prospective surveillance. It highlights the importance of genomic surveillance in the Western Pacific and other endemic regions for understanding the spread of drug-resistant gonorrhoea worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel C Jamoralin
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
| | - Silvia Argimón
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
| | - Marietta L Lagrada
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Alfred S Villamin
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Melissa L Masim
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - June M Gayeta
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Karis D Boehme
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Agnettah M Olorosa
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Sonia B Sia
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Charmian M Hufano
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Victoria Cohen
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Lara T Hernandez
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Benjamin Jeffrey
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Khalil Abudahab
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - John Stelling
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Matthew T G Holden
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - David M Aanensenb
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, England, United Kingdom
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (MA), USA
- University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- These authors contributed equally to this work
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Piekarowicz A, Kłyż A, Adamczyk-Popławska M, Stein DC. Association of host proteins with the broad host range filamentous phage NgoΦ6 of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240579. [PMID: 33057372 PMCID: PMC7561177 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
All Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains contain multiple copies of integrated filamentous phage genomes with undefined structures. In this study, we sought to characterize the capsid proteins of filamentous N. gonorrhoeae bacteriophage NgoΦ6 and phagemids propagated in different bacteria. The data demonstrate that purified phage contain phage-encoded structural proteins and bacterial host proteins; host proteins consistently copurified with the phage particles. The bacterial host proteins associated with the phage filament (as identified by mass spectrometry) tended to be one of the predominant outer membrane components of the host strain, plus minor additional host proteins. We were able to copurify a functional ß-lactamase, a phagemid-encoded protein, with phage filaments. We used protein modeling and immunological analysis to identify the major phage encoded structural proteins. The antigenic properties of these proteins depended on the bacterium where the phages were propagated. Polyclonal antibodies against N. gonorrhoeae phage NgoΦ6 recognized phage-encoded proteins if the phage was propagated in N. gonorrhoeae or H. influenzae cells but not if it was propagated in Salmonella or E. coli. We show that the phage filaments isolated from gonococci and Haemophilus are glycosylated, and this may explain the antigenic diversity seen. Taken en toto, the data demonstrate that while the neisserial filamentous phage are similar to other Inovirus with respect to overall genomic organization, their ability to closely associate with host proteins suggests that they have unique surface properties and are secreted by a here-to-fore unknown secretory pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Piekarowicz
- Department of Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - A. Kłyż
- Department of Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - M. Adamczyk-Popławska
- Department of Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - D. C. Stein
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States of America
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14
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Hughes-Games A, Roberts AP, Davis SA, Hill DJ. Identification of integrative and conjugative elements in pathogenic and commensal Neisseriaceae species via genomic distributions of DNA uptake sequence dialects. Microb Genom 2020; 6:e000372. [PMID: 32375974 PMCID: PMC7371117 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are key factors responsible for dissemination of virulence determinants and antimicrobial-resistance genes amongst pathogenic bacteria. Conjugative MGEs are notable for their high gene loads donated per transfer event, broad host ranges and phylogenetic ubiquity amongst prokaryotes, with the subclass of chromosomally inserted integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) being particularly abundant. The focus on a small number of model systems has biased the study of ICEs towards those conferring readily selectable phenotypes to host cells, whereas the identification and characterization of integrated cryptic elements remains challenging. Even though antimicrobial resistance and horizontally acquired virulence genes are major factors aggravating neisserial infection, conjugative MGEs of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis remain poorly characterized. Using a phenotype-independent approach based on atypical distributions of DNA uptake sequences (DUSs) in MGEs relative to the chromosomal background, we have identified two groups of chromosomally integrated conjugative elements in Neisseria: one found almost exclusively in pathogenic species possibly deriving from the genus Kingella, the other belonging to a group of Neisseria mucosa-like commensals. The former element appears to enable transfer of traditionally gonococcal-specific loci such as the virulence-associated toxin-antitoxin system fitAB to N. meningitidis chromosomes, whilst the circular form of the latter possesses a unique attachment site (attP) sequence seemingly adapted to exploit DUS motifs as chromosomal integration sites. In addition to validating the use of DUS distributions in Neisseriaceae MGE identification, the >170 identified ICE sequences provide a valuable resource for future studies of ICE evolution and host adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Hughes-Games
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials, HH Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Adam P. Roberts
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sean A. Davis
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Darryl J. Hill
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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15
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Abstract
The bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes the sexually transmitted infection (STI) gonorrhoea, which has an estimated global annual incidence of 86.9 million adults. Gonorrhoea can present as urethritis in men, cervicitis or urethritis in women, and in extragenital sites (pharynx, rectum, conjunctiva and, rarely, systemically) in both sexes. Confirmation of diagnosis requires microscopy of Gram-stained samples, bacterial culture or nucleic acid amplification tests. As no gonococcal vaccine is available, prevention relies on promoting safe sexual behaviours and reducing STI-associated stigma, which hinders timely diagnosis and treatment thereby increasing transmission. Single-dose systemic therapy (usually injectable ceftriaxone plus oral azithromycin) is the recommended first-line treatment. However, a major public health concern globally is that N. gonorrhoeae is evolving high levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which threatens the effectiveness of the available gonorrhoea treatments. Improved global surveillance of the emergence, evolution, fitness, and geographical and temporal spread of AMR in N. gonorrhoeae, and improved understanding of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics for current and future antimicrobials in the treatment of urogenital and extragenital gonorrhoea, are essential to inform treatment guidelines. Key priorities for gonorrhoea control include strengthening prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of patients and their partners; decreasing stigma; expanding surveillance of AMR and treatment failures; and promoting responsible antimicrobial use and stewardship. To achieve these goals, the development of rapid and affordable point-of-care diagnostic tests that can simultaneously detect AMR, novel therapeutic antimicrobials and gonococcal vaccine(s) in particular is crucial.
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16
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The impact of antimicrobials on gonococcal evolution. Nat Microbiol 2019; 4:1941-1950. [PMID: 31358980 PMCID: PMC6817357 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0501-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The sexually transmitted pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae
is regarded as being on the way to becoming an untreatable superbug. Despite its
clinical importance, little is known about its emergence and evolution, and how
this corresponds with the introduction of antimicrobials. We present a
genome-based phylogeographic analysis of 419 gonococcal isolates from across the
globe. Results indicate that modern gonococci originated in Europe or Africa,
possibly as late as the 16th century and subsequently disseminated
globally. We provide evidence that the modern gonococcal population has been
shaped by antimicrobial treatment of sexually transmitted and other infections,
leading to the emergence of two major lineages with different evolutionary
strategies. The well-described multi-resistant lineage is associated with high
rates of homologous recombination and infection in high-risk sexual networks. A
second, multi-susceptible lineage is more associated with heterosexual networks,
with potential implications for infection control.
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17
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Transcriptome Analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae during Natural Infection Reveals Differential Expression of Antibiotic Resistance Determinants between Men and Women. mSphere 2018; 3:3/3/e00312-18. [PMID: 29950382 PMCID: PMC6021601 DOI: 10.1128/mspheredirect.00312-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent emergence of antimicrobial resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae worldwide has resulted in limited therapeutic choices for treatment of infections caused by this organism. We performed global transcriptomic analysis of N. gonorrhoeae in subjects with gonorrhea who attended a Nanjing, China, sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic, where antimicrobial resistance of N. gonorrhoeae is high and increasing. We found that N. gonorrhoeae transcriptional responses to infection differed in genital specimens taken from men and women, particularly antibiotic resistance gene expression, which was increased in men. These sex-specific findings may provide a new approach to guide therapeutic interventions and preventive measures that are also sex specific while providing additional insight to address antimicrobial resistance of N. gonorrhoeae. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a bacterial pathogen responsible for the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. Emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of N. gonorrhoeae worldwide has resulted in limited therapeutic choices for this infection. Men who seek treatment often have symptomatic urethritis; in contrast, gonococcal cervicitis in women is usually minimally symptomatic, but may progress to pelvic inflammatory disease. Previously, we reported the first analysis of gonococcal transcriptome expression determined in secretions from women with cervical infection. Here, we defined gonococcal global transcriptional responses in urethral specimens from men with symptomatic urethritis and compared these with transcriptional responses in specimens obtained from women with cervical infections and in vitro-grown N. gonorrhoeae isolates. This is the first comprehensive comparison of gonococcal gene expression in infected men and women. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that 9.4% of gonococcal genes showed increased expression exclusively in men and included genes involved in host immune cell interactions, while 4.3% showed increased expression exclusively in women and included phage-associated genes. Infected men and women displayed comparable antibiotic-resistant genotypes and in vitro phenotypes, but a 4-fold higher expression of the Mtr efflux pump-related genes was observed in men. These results suggest that expression of AMR genes is programed genotypically and also driven by sex-specific environments. Collectively, our results indicate that distinct N. gonorrhoeae gene expression signatures are detected during genital infection in men and women. We propose that therapeutic strategies could target sex-specific differences in expression of antibiotic resistance genes. IMPORTANCE Recent emergence of antimicrobial resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae worldwide has resulted in limited therapeutic choices for treatment of infections caused by this organism. We performed global transcriptomic analysis of N. gonorrhoeae in subjects with gonorrhea who attended a Nanjing, China, sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic, where antimicrobial resistance of N. gonorrhoeae is high and increasing. We found that N. gonorrhoeae transcriptional responses to infection differed in genital specimens taken from men and women, particularly antibiotic resistance gene expression, which was increased in men. These sex-specific findings may provide a new approach to guide therapeutic interventions and preventive measures that are also sex specific while providing additional insight to address antimicrobial resistance of N. gonorrhoeae.
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18
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Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhoeae, possesses several mobile genetic elements (MGEs). The MGEs such as transposable elements mediate intrachromosomal rearrangements, while plasmids and the gonococcal genetic island are involved in interchromosomal gene transfer. Additionally, gonococcal MGEs serve as hotspots for recombination and integration of other genetic elements such as bacteriophages, contribute to gene regulation or spread genes through gonococcal populations by horizontal gene transfer. In this review, we summarise the literature on the structure and biology of MGEs and discuss how these genetic elements may play a role in the pathogenesis and spread of antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae. Although an abundance of information about gonococcal MGEs exists (mainly from whole genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis), there are still many open questions on how MGEs influence the biology of N. gonorrhoeae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cehovin
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Steven B Lewis
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
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19
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Spencer-Smith R, Gould SW, Pulijala M, Snyder LAS. Investigating Potential Chromosomal Rearrangements during Laboratory Culture of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Microorganisms 2018; 6:microorganisms6010010. [PMID: 29361673 PMCID: PMC5874624 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms6010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Comparisons of genome sequence data between different strains and isolates of Neisseria spp., such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, reveal that over the evolutionary history of these organisms, large scale chromosomal rearrangements have occurred. Factors within the genomes, such as repetitive sequences and prophage, are believed to have contributed to these observations. However, the timescale in which rearrangements occur is not clear, nor whether it might be expected for them to happen in the laboratory. In this study, N. gonorrhoeae was repeatedly passaged in the laboratory and assessed for large scale chromosomal rearrangements. Using gonococcal strain NCCP11945, for which there is a complete genome sequence, cultures were passaged for eight weeks in the laboratory. The resulting genomic DNA was assessed using Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis, comparing the results to the predicted results from the genome sequence data. Three cultures generated Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis patterns that varied from the genomic data and were further investigated for potential chromosomal rearrangements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Spencer-Smith
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2EE, UK.
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Simon W Gould
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2EE, UK.
| | - Madhuri Pulijala
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2EE, UK.
| | - Lori A S Snyder
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2EE, UK.
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Spencer-Smith R, Roberts S, Gurung N, Snyder LAS. DNA uptake sequences in Neisseria gonorrhoeae as intrinsic transcriptional terminators and markers of horizontal gene transfer. Microb Genom 2016; 2:e000069. [PMID: 28348864 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA uptake sequences are widespread throughout the Neisseria gonorrhoeae genome. These short, conserved sequences facilitate the exchange of endogenous DNA between members of the genus Neisseria. Often the DNA uptake sequences are present as inverted repeats that are able to form hairpin structures. It has been suggested previously that DNA uptake sequence inverted repeats present 3' of genes play a role in rho-independent termination and attenuation. However, there is conflicting experimental evidence to support this role. The aim of this study was to determine the role of DNA uptake sequences in transcriptional termination. Both bioinformatics predictions, conducted using TransTermHP, and experimental evidence, from RNA-seq data, were used to determine which inverted repeat DNA uptake sequences are transcriptional terminators and in which direction. Here we show that DNA uptake sequences in the inverted repeat configuration occur in N. gonorrhoeae both where the DNA uptake sequence precedes the inverted version of the sequence and also, albeit less frequently, in reverse order. Due to their symmetrical configuration, inverted repeat DNA uptake sequences can potentially act as bi-directional terminators, therefore affecting transcription on both DNA strands. This work also provides evidence that gaps in DNA uptake sequence density in the gonococcal genome coincide with areas of DNA that are foreign in origin, such as prophage. This study differentiates for the first time, to our knowledge, between DNA uptake sequences that form intrinsic transcriptional terminators and those that do not, providing characteristic features within the flanking inverted repeat that can be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Spencer-Smith
- 1School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK.,2Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sabrina Roberts
- 1School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Neesha Gurung
- 1School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Lori A S Snyder
- 1School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
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21
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Connor DO, Zantow J, Hust M, Bier FF, von Nickisch-Rosenegk M. Identification of Novel Immunogenic Proteins of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by Phage Display. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148986. [PMID: 26859666 PMCID: PMC4747489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases worldwide with more than 100 million new infections per year. A lack of intense research over the last decades and increasing resistances to the recommended antibiotics call for a better understanding of gonococcal infection, fast diagnostics and therapeutic measures against N. gonorrhoeae. Therefore, the aim of this work was to identify novel immunogenic proteins as a first step to advance those unresolved problems. For the identification of immunogenic proteins, pHORF oligopeptide phage display libraries of the entire N. gonorrhoeae genome were constructed. Several immunogenic oligopeptides were identified using polyclonal rabbit antibodies against N. gonorrhoeae. Corresponding full-length proteins of the identified oligopeptides were expressed and their immunogenic character was verified by ELISA. The immunogenic character of six proteins was identified for the first time. Additional 13 proteins were verified as immunogenic proteins in N. gonorrhoeae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel O. Connor
- Department of Bioanalytics and Biosensorics, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jonas Zantow
- Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Hust
- Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Frank F. Bier
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Biosystem Integration and Automation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Markus von Nickisch-Rosenegk
- Department of Bioanalytics and Biosensorics, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany
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22
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Kwiatek A, Mrozek A, Bacal P, Piekarowicz A, Adamczyk-Popławska M. Type III Methyltransferase M.NgoAX from Neisseria gonorrhoeae FA1090 Regulates Biofilm Formation and Interactions with Human Cells. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1426. [PMID: 26733970 PMCID: PMC4685087 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the etiological factor of the sexually transmitted gonorrhea disease that may lead, under specific conditions, to systemic infections. The gonococcal genome encodes many restriction modification (RM) systems, which main biological role is to defend the pathogen from potentially harmful foreign DNA. However, RM systems seem also to be involved in several other functions. In this study, we examined the effect of inactivation the N. gonorrhoeae FA1090 ngoAXmod gene encoding M.NgoAX methyltransferase on the global gene expression, biofilm formation, interactions with human epithelial host cells and overall bacterial growth. Expression microarrays showed at least a twofold deregulation of a total of 121 genes in the NgoAX knock-out mutant compared to the wild-type (wt) strain under standard grow conditions. Genes with changed expression levels encoded mostly proteins involved in cell metabolism, DNA replication and repair or regulating cellular processes and signaling (such as cell wall/envelop biogenesis). As determined by the assay with crystal violet, the NgoAX knock-out strain formed a slightly larger biofilm biomass per cell than the wt strain. Live biofilm observations showed that the biofilm formed by the gonococcal ngoAXmod gene mutant is more relaxed, dispersed and thicker than the one formed by the wt strain. This more relaxed feature of the biofilm, in respect to adhesion and bacterial interactions, can be involved in pathogenesis. Moreover, the overall adhesion of mutant bacterial cells to human cells was lower than adhesion of the wt gonococci [adhesion index = 0.672 (±0.2) and 2.15 (±1.53), respectively]; yet, a higher number of mutant than wt bacteria were found inside the Hec-1-B epithelial cells [invasion index = 3.38 (±0.93) × 105 for mutant and 4.67 (±3.09) × 104 for the wt strain]. These results indicate that NgoAX knock-out cells have lower ability to attach to human cells, but more easily penetrate inside the host cells. All these data suggest that the NgoAX methyltransferase, may be implicated in N. gonorrhoeae pathogenicity, involving regulation of biofilm formation, adhesion to host cells and epithelial cell invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Kwiatek
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Mrozek
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw Warsaw, Poland
| | - Pawel Bacal
- Laboratory of Theory and Applications of Electrodes, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Piekarowicz
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw Warsaw, Poland
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23
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Meyer J, Brissac T, Frapy E, Omer H, Euphrasie D, Bonavita A, Nassif X, Bille E. Characterization of MDAΦ, a temperate filamentous bacteriophage of Neisseria meningitidis. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2015; 162:268-282. [PMID: 26602366 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism by which Neisseria meningitidis becomes invasive is not well understood. Comparative genomics identified the presence of an 8 kb island in strains belonging to invasive clonal complexes. This island was designated MDA for meningococcal disease associated. MDA is highly conserved among meningococcal isolates and its analysis revealed a genomic organization similar to that of a filamentous prophage such as CTXΦ of Vibrio cholerae. Subsequent molecular investigations showed that the MDA island has indeed the characteristics of a filamentous prophage, which can enter into a productive cycle and is secreted using the type IV pilus (tfp) secretin PilQ. At least three genes of the prophage are necessary for the formation of the replicative cytoplasmic form (orf1, orf2 and orf9). Immunolabelling of the phage with antibodies against the major capsid protein, ORF4, confirmed that filamentous particles, about 1200 nm long, covered with ORF4 are present at the bacterial surface forming bundles in some places and interacting with pili. The MDA bacteriophage is able to infect different N. meningitidis strains, using the type IV pili as a receptor via an interaction with the adsorption protein ORF6. Altogether, these data demonstrate that the MDA island encodes a functional prophage able to produce infectious filamentous phage particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Meyer
- Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, 14 Rue Maria Helena Vieira Da Silva, CS 61431, 75014, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France.,INSERM U1151, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Terry Brissac
- Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, 14 Rue Maria Helena Vieira Da Silva, CS 61431, 75014, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,INSERM U1151, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
| | - Eric Frapy
- Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, 14 Rue Maria Helena Vieira Da Silva, CS 61431, 75014, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,INSERM U1151, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
| | - Hélène Omer
- Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, 14 Rue Maria Helena Vieira Da Silva, CS 61431, 75014, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,INSERM U1151, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
| | - Daniel Euphrasie
- Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, 14 Rue Maria Helena Vieira Da Silva, CS 61431, 75014, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,INSERM U1151, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
| | - Adrien Bonavita
- CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France.,Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, 14 Rue Maria Helena Vieira Da Silva, CS 61431, 75014, Paris, France.,INSERM U1151, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Nassif
- INSERM U1151, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Service de Microbiologie, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France.,Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, 14 Rue Maria Helena Vieira Da Silva, CS 61431, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Bille
- Service de Microbiologie, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France.,Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, 14 Rue Maria Helena Vieira Da Silva, CS 61431, 75014, Paris, France.,INSERM U1151, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
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24
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The Gonococcal Transcriptome during Infection of the Lower Genital Tract in Women. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0133982. [PMID: 26244506 PMCID: PMC4526530 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonorrhea is a highly prevalent disease resulting in significant morbidity worldwide, with an estimated 106 cases reported annually. Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of gonorrhea, colonizes and infects the human genital tract and often evades host immune mechanisms until successful antibiotic treatment is used. The alarming increase in antibiotic-resistant strains of N. gonorrhoeae, the often asymptomatic nature of this disease in women and the lack of a vaccine directed at crucial virulence determinants have prompted us to perform transcriptome analysis to understand gonococcal gene expression patterns during natural infection. We sequenced RNA extracted from cervico-vaginal lavage samples collected from women recently exposed to infected male partners and determined the complete N. gonorrhoeae transcriptome during infection of the lower genital tract in women. On average, 3.19% of total RNA isolated from female samples aligned to the N. gonorrhoeae NCCP11945 genome and 1750 gonococcal ORFs (65% of all protein-coding genes) were transcribed. High expression in vivo was observed in genes encoding antimicrobial efflux pumps, iron response, phage production, pilin structure, outer membrane structures and hypothetical proteins. A parallel analysis was performed using the same strains grown in vitro in a chemically defined media (CDM). A total of 140 genes were increased in expression during natural infection compared to growth in CDM, and 165 genes were decreased in expression. Large differences were found in gene expression profiles under each condition, particularly with genes involved in DNA and RNA processing, iron, transposase, pilin and lipoproteins. We specifically interrogated genes encoding DNA binding regulators and iron-scavenging proteins, and identified increased expression of several iron-regulated genes, including tbpAB and fbpAB, during infection in women as compared to growth in vitro, suggesting that during infection of the genital tract in women, the gonococcus is exposed to an iron deplete environment. Collectively, we demonstrate that a large portion of the gonococcal genome is expressed and regulated during mucosal infection including genes involved in regulatory functions and iron scavenging.
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25
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A new family of secreted toxins in pathogenic Neisseria species. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004592. [PMID: 25569427 PMCID: PMC4287609 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Neisseria includes both commensal and pathogenic species which are genetically closely related. However, only meningococcus and gonococcus are important human pathogens. Very few toxins are known to be secreted by pathogenic Neisseria species. Recently, toxins secreted via type V secretion system and belonging to the widespread family of contact-dependent inhibition (CDI) toxins have been described in numerous species including meningococcus. In this study, we analyzed loci containing the maf genes in N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae and proposed a novel uniform nomenclature for maf genomic islands (MGIs). We demonstrated that mafB genes encode secreted polymorphic toxins and that genes immediately downstream of mafB encode a specific immunity protein (MafI). We focused on a MafB toxin found in meningococcal strain NEM8013 and characterized its EndoU ribonuclease activity. maf genes represent 2% of the genome of pathogenic Neisseria, and are virtually absent from non-pathogenic species, thus arguing for an important biological role. Indeed, we showed that overexpression of one of the four MafB toxins of strain NEM8013 provides an advantage in competition assays, suggesting a role of maf loci in niche adaptation. Many bacteria are able to secrete toxins targeted against neighboring cells. In order to protect themselves against their own toxin, they also express an “immunity” protein. In silico analysis of bacterial genomes predicts that numerous genes could encode potential new toxin-immunity systems. The recently described CDI system is involved in contact-dependent inhibition of growth and confers to its host strain a significant advantage in competitive ecosystems such as the gastro-intestinal tract. Indeed, an Escherichia coli CDI+ strain is able to outcompete CDI- strains and to become predominant. Here, we show that a large family of genes called “maf”, found in pathogenic Neisseria species, encodes a toxin-immunity system. We demonstrate that a toxin named MafBMGI-1NEM8013 inhibits the growth of E. coli by degrading RNA and show that the immunity protein MafIMGI-1NEM8013 is able to abolish the toxicity. MafB toxins exhibit highly variable toxic domains. This variability of secreted toxins could be important to compete against bacteria of different species sharing the same reservoir. Since a strain may contain numerous toxin-immunity systems that can all play a role in interbacterial competition, deciphering interactions between these systems will allow a better understanding of complex bacterial communities.
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26
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Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis are closely related organisms that cause the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea and serious bacterial meningitis and septicemia, respectively. Both species possess multiple mechanisms to alter the expression of surface-exposed proteins through the processes of phase and antigenic variation. This potential for wide variability in surface-exposed structures allows the organisms to always have subpopulations of divergent antigenic types to avoid immune surveillance and to contribute to functional variation. Additionally, the Neisseria are naturally competent for DNA transformation, which is their main means of genetic exchange. Although bacteriophages and plasmids are present in this genus, they are not as effective as DNA transformation for horizontal genetic exchange. There are barriers to genetic transfer, such as restriction-modification systems and CRISPR loci, that limit particular types of exchange. These host-restricted pathogens illustrate the rich complexity of genetics that can help define the similarities and differences of closely related organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella Rotman
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611; ,
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27
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McClure R, Tjaden B, Genco C. Identification of sRNAs expressed by the human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae under disparate growth conditions. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:456. [PMID: 25221548 PMCID: PMC4148029 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last several years, bacterial gene regulation via small RNAs (sRNAs) has been recognized as an important mechanism controlling expression of essential proteins that are critical to bacterial growth and metabolism. Technologies such as RNA-seq are rapidly expanding the field of sRNAs and are enabling a global view of the “sRNAome” of several bacterial species. While numerous sRNAs have been identified in a variety of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, only a very small number have been fully characterized in the human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the etiological agent of the STD gonorrhea. Here we present the first analysis of N. gonorrhoeae specifically focused on the identification of sRNAs through RNA-seq analysis of the organism cultured under different in vitro growth conditions. Using a new computational program, Rockhopper, to analyze prokaryotic RNA-seq data obtained from N. gonorrhoeae we identified several putative sRNAs and confirmed their expression and size through Northern blot analysis. In addition, RNA was collected from four different growth conditions (iron replete and deplete, as well as with and without co-culture with human endocervical cells). Many of the putative sRNAs identified shoed varying expression levels relative to the different growth conditions examine or were detected only under certain conditions but not others. Comparisons of identified sRNAs with the regulatory pattern of putative mRNA targets revealed possible functional roles for these sRNAs. These studies are the first to carry out a global analysis of N. gonorrhoeae specifically focused on sRNAs and show that RNA-mediated regulation may be an important mechanism of gene control in this human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan McClure
- Department of Medicine Section of Infectious Disease, Boston University School of Medicine Boston, MA, USA ; Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian Tjaden
- Department of Computer Science, Wellesley College Wellesley, MA, USA
| | - Caroline Genco
- Department of Medicine Section of Infectious Disease, Boston University School of Medicine Boston, MA, USA ; Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine Boston, MA, USA
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28
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Remmele CW, Xian Y, Albrecht M, Faulstich M, Fraunholz M, Heinrichs E, Dittrich MT, Müller T, Reinhardt R, Rudel T. Transcriptional landscape and essential genes of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:10579-95. [PMID: 25143534 PMCID: PMC4176332 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2014] [Revised: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The WHO has recently classified Neisseria gonorrhoeae as a super-bacterium due to the rapid spread of antibiotic resistant derivatives and an overall dramatic increase in infection incidences. Genome sequencing has identified potential genes, however, little is known about the transcriptional organization and the presence of non-coding RNAs in gonococci. We performed RNA sequencing to define the transcriptome and the transcriptional start sites of all gonococcal genes and operons. Numerous new transcripts including 253 potentially non-coding RNAs transcribed from intergenic regions or antisense to coding genes were identified. Strikingly, strong antisense transcription was detected for the phase-variable opa genes coding for a family of adhesins and invasins in pathogenic Neisseria, that may have regulatory functions. Based on the defined transcriptional start sites, promoter motifs were identified. We further generated and sequenced a high density Tn5 transposon library to predict a core of 827 gonococcal essential genes, 133 of which have no known function. Our combined RNA-Seq and Tn-Seq approach establishes a detailed map of gonococcal genes and defines the first core set of essential gonococcal genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian W Remmele
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Yibo Xian
- Department of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marco Albrecht
- Department of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Michaela Faulstich
- Department of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Fraunholz
- Department of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Marcus T Dittrich
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Müller
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Richard Reinhardt
- Max Planck-Genome-centre Cologne at MPI for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Rudel
- Department of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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Abstract
Bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, being opportunistic pathogens, are the major cause of nosocomial infections and, in some cases, the primary cause of death. They are virtually untreatable with currently known antibiotics. Phage therapy is considered as one of the possible approaches to the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections. Difficulties in the implementation of phage therapy in medical practice are related, for example, to the insufficient number and diversity of virulent phages that are active against P. aeruginosa. Results of interaction of therapeutic phages with bacteria in different conditions and environments are studied insufficiently. A little is known about possible interactions of therapeutic phages with resident prophages and plasmids in clinical strains in the foci of infections. This chapter highlights the different approaches to solving these problems and possible ways to expand the diversity of therapeutic P. aeruginosa phages and organizational arrangements (as banks of phages) to ensure long-term use of phages in the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor N Krylov
- Mechnikov Research Institute for Vaccines & Sera, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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30
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Aljarbou AN, Aljofan M. Genotyping, morphology and molecular characteristics of a lytic phage of Neisseria strain obtained from infected human dental plaque. J Microbiol 2014; 52:609-18. [PMID: 24879345 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-014-3380-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Revised: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The lytic bacteriaphage (phage) A2 was isolated from human dental plaques along with its bacterial host. The virus was found to have an icosahedron-shaped head (60±3 nm), a sheathed and rigid long tail (∼175 nm) and was categorized into the family Siphoviridae of the order Caudovirales, which are dsDNA viral family, characterised by their ability to infect bacteria and are nonenveloped with a noncontractile tail. The isolated phage contained a linear dsDNA genome having 31,703 base pairs of unique sequence, which were sorted into three contigs and 12 single sequences. A latent period of 25 minutes and burst size of 24±2 particles was determined for the virus. Bioinformatics approaches were used to identify ORFs in the genome. A phylogenetic analysis confirmed the species inter-relationship and its placement in the family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed N Aljarbou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia,
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31
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Sorokulova I, Olsen E, Vodyanoy V. Bacteriophage biosensors for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Expert Rev Med Devices 2014; 11:175-86. [DOI: 10.1586/17434440.2014.882767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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32
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Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea, can infect and colonize multiple mucosal sites in both men and women. The ability to cope with different environmental conditions requires tight regulation of gene expression. In this study, we identified and characterized a gonococcal transcriptional regulatory protein (Neisseria phage repressor [Npr]) that was previously annotated as a putative gonococcal phage repressor protein. Npr was found to repress transcription of NGNG_00460 to NGNG_00463 (NGNG_00460-00463), an operon present within the phage locus NgoΦ4. Npr binding sites within the NGNG_00460-00463 promoter region were found to overlap the -10 and -35 promoter motifs. A gonococcal npr mutant demonstrated increased adherence to and invasion of human endocervical epithelial cells compared to a wild-type gonococcal strain. Likewise, the gonococcal npr mutant exhibited enhanced colonization in a gonococcal mouse model of mucosal infection. Analysis of the gonococcal npr mutant using RNA sequence (RNA-seq) analysis demonstrated that the Npr regulon is limited to the operon present within the phage locus. Collectively, our studies have defined a new gonococcal phage repressor protein that controls the transcription of genes implicated in gonococcal pathogenesis.
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33
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Krylov V, Shaburova O, Krylov S, Pleteneva E. A genetic approach to the development of new therapeutic phages to fight pseudomonas aeruginosa in wound infections. Viruses 2012; 5:15-53. [PMID: 23344559 PMCID: PMC3564109 DOI: 10.3390/v5010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2012] [Revised: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 12/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a frequent participant in wound infections. Emergence of multiple antibiotic resistant strains has created significant problems in the treatment of infected wounds. Phage therapy (PT) has been proposed as a possible alternative approach. Infected wounds are the perfect place for PT applications, since the basic condition for PT is ensured; namely, the direct contact of bacteria and their viruses. Plenty of virulent ("lytic") and temperate ("lysogenic") bacteriophages are known in P. aeruginosa. However, the number of virulent phage species acceptable for PT and their mutability are limited. Besides, there are different deviations in the behavior of virulent (and temperate) phages from their expected canonical models of development. We consider some examples of non-canonical phage-bacterium interactions and the possibility of their use in PT. In addition, some optimal approaches to the development of phage therapy will be discussed from the point of view of a biologist, considering the danger of phage-assisted horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and from the point of view of a surgeon who has accepted the Hippocrates Oath to cure patients by all possible means. It is also time now to discuss the possible approaches in international cooperation for the development of PT. We think it would be advantageous to make phage therapy a kind of personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Krylov
- Laboratory for Bacteriophages Genetics. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, 5a Maliy Kazenniy per., Moscow, Russia.
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Ramsey ME, Hackett KT, Kotha C, Dillard JP. New complementation constructs for inducible and constitutive gene expression in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2012; 78:3068-78. [PMID: 22327577 PMCID: PMC3346468 DOI: 10.1128/aem.07871-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We have created new complementation constructs for use in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis. The constructs contain regions of homology with the chromosome and direct the insertion of a gene of interest into the intergenic region between the genes iga and trpB. In order to increase the available options for gene expression in Neisseria, we designed the constructs to contain one of three different promoters. One of the constructs contains the isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside-inducible lac promoter, which has been widely used in Neisseria. We also designed a construct that contains the strong, constitutive promoter from the gonococcal opaB gene. The third construct contains a tetracycline-inducible promoter, a novel use of this promoter in Neisseria. We demonstrate that anhydrotetracycline can be used to induce gene expression in the pathogenic Neisseria at very low concentrations and without negatively affecting the growth of the organisms. We use these constructs to complement an arginine auxotrophy in N. gonorrhoeae as well as to express a translational fusion of alkaline phosphatase with TraW. TraW is a component of the gonococcal type IV secretion system, and we demonstrate that TraW localizes to the periplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan E Ramsey
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin—Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Isabella VM, Clark VL. Deep sequencing-based analysis of the anaerobic stimulon in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. BMC Genomics 2011; 12:51. [PMID: 21251255 PMCID: PMC3032703 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2010] [Accepted: 01/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maintenance of an anaerobic denitrification system in the obligate human pathogen, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, suggests that an anaerobic lifestyle may be important during the course of infection. Furthermore, mounting evidence suggests that reduction of host-produced nitric oxide has several immunomodulary effects on the host. However, at this point there have been no studies analyzing the complete gonococcal transcriptome response to anaerobiosis. Here we performed deep sequencing to compare the gonococcal transcriptomes of aerobically and anaerobically grown cells. Using the information derived from this sequencing, we discuss the implications of the robust transcriptional response to anaerobic growth. RESULTS We determined that 198 chromosomal genes were differentially expressed (~10% of the genome) in response to anaerobic conditions. We also observed a large induction of genes encoded within the cryptic plasmid, pJD1. Validation of RNA-seq data using translational-lacZ fusions or RT-PCR demonstrated the RNA-seq results to be very reproducible. Surprisingly, many genes of prophage origin were induced anaerobically, as well as several transcriptional regulators previously unknown to be involved in anaerobic growth. We also confirmed expression and regulation of a small RNA, likely a functional equivalent of fnrS in the Enterobacteriaceae family. We also determined that many genes found to be responsive to anaerobiosis have also been shown to be responsive to iron and/or oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS Gonococci will be subject to many forms of environmental stress, including oxygen-limitation, during the course of infection. Here we determined that the anaerobic stimulon in gonococci was larger than previous studies would suggest. Many new targets for future research have been uncovered, and the results derived from this study may have helped to elucidate factors or mechanisms of virulence that may have otherwise been overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent M Isabella
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Box 672, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Virginia L Clark
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Box 672, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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Ren J, Sainsbury S, Nettleship JE, Saunders NJ, Owens RJ. The crystal structure of NGO0477 from Neisseria gonorrhoeae reveals a novel protein fold incorporating a helix-turn-helix motif. Proteins 2010; 78:1798-802. [PMID: 20196080 DOI: 10.1002/prot.22698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jingshan Ren
- The Oxford Protein Production Facility and Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
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