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Seru LV, Forde TL, Roberto-Charron A, Mavrot F, Niu YD, Kutz SJ. Genomic characterization and virulence gene profiling of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae isolated from widespread muskox mortalities in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:691. [PMID: 39004696 PMCID: PMC11247837 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10592-9] [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: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Muskoxen are important ecosystem components and provide food, economic opportunities, and cultural well-being for Indigenous communities in the Canadian Arctic. Between 2010 and 2021, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated from carcasses of muskoxen, caribou, a seal, and an Arctic fox during multiple large scale mortality events in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. A single strain ('Arctic clone') of E. rhusiopathiae was associated with the mortalities on Banks, Victoria and Prince Patrick Islands, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada (2010-2017). The objectives of this study were to (i) characterize the genomes of E. rhusiopathiae isolates obtained from more recent muskox mortalities in the Canadian Arctic in 2019 and 2021; (ii) identify and compare common virulence traits associated with the core genome and mobile genetic elements (i.e. pathogenicity islands and prophages) among Arctic clone versus other E. rhusiopathiae genomes; and iii) use pan-genome wide association studies (GWAS) to determine unique genetic contents of the Arctic clone that may encode virulence traits and that could be used for diagnostic purposes. RESULTS Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the newly sequenced E. rhusiopathiae isolates from Ellesmere Island, Nunavut (2021) also belong to the Arctic clone. Of 17 virulence genes analysed among 28 Arctic clone isolates, four genes - adhesin, rhusiopathiae surface protein-A (rspA), choline binding protein-B (cbpB) and CDP-glycerol glycerophosphotransferase (tagF) - had amino acid sequence variants unique to this clone when compared to 31 other E. rhusiopathiae genomes. These genes encode proteins that facilitate E. rhusiopathiae to attach to the host endothelial cells and form biofilms. GWAS analyses using Scoary found several unique genes to be overrepresented in the Arctic clone. CONCLUSIONS The Arctic clone of E. rhusiopathiae was associated with multiple muskox mortalities spanning over a decade and multiple Arctic islands with distances over 1000 km, highlighting the extent of its spatiotemporal spread. This clone possesses unique gene content, as well as amino acid variants in multiple virulence genes that are distinct from the other closely related E. rhusiopathiae isolates. This study establishes an essential foundation on which to investigate whether these differences are correlated with the apparent virulence of this specific clone through in vitro and in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Taya L Forde
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | | | - Fabien Mavrot
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Yan D Niu
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Susan J Kutz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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Dec M, Łagowski D, Nowak T, Pietras-Ożga D, Herman K. Serotypes, Antibiotic Susceptibility, Genotypic Virulence Profiles and SpaA Variants of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Strains Isolated from Pigs in Poland. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030409. [PMID: 36986331 PMCID: PMC10058941 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae strains isolated from diseased pigs in Poland and comparison of the SpaA (Surface protective antigen A) sequence of wild-type strains with the sequence of the R32E11 vaccine strain. The antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was assessed using the broth microdilution method. Resistance genes, virulence genes, and serotype determinants were detected using PCR. The gyrA and spaA amplicons were sequenced to determine nonsynonymous mutations. The E. rhusiopathiae isolates (n = 14) represented serotypes 1b (42.8%), 2 (21.4%), 5 (14.3%), 6 (7.1%), 8 (7.1%), and N (7.1%). All strains were susceptible to β-lactams, macrolides and florfenicol. One isolate showed resistance to lincosamides and tiamulin, and most strains were resistant to tetracycline and enrofloxacin. High MIC values of gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, trimethoprim, trimethoprim/sulfadiazine, and rifampicin were recorded for all isolates. Phenotypic resistance was correlated with the presence of the tetM, int-Tn, lasE, and lnuB genes. Resistance to enrofloxacin was due to a mutation in the gyrA gene. All strains contained the spaA gene and several other genes putatively involved in pathogenesis (nanH.1, nanH.2, intl, sub, hlyA, fbpA, ERH_1356, cpsA, algI, rspA and rspB) Seven variants of the SpaA protein were found in the tested strains, and a relationship between the structure of SpaA and the serotype was noted. E. rhusiopathiae strains occurring in pigs in Poland are diverse in terms of serotype and SpaA variant and differ antigenically from the R32E11 vaccine strain. Beta-lactam antibiotics, macrolides, or phenicols should be the first choice for treatment of swine erysipelas in Poland. However, due to the small number of tested strains, this conclusion should be approached with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Dec
- Department of Veterinary Prevention and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-81-445-60-32
| | - Dominik Łagowski
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
| | - Tomasz Nowak
- Diagnostic Veterinary Laboratory Vet-Lab Brudzew Dr. Piotr Kwieciński, Department of Molecular Biology, 62-720 Brudzew, Poland
| | - Dorota Pietras-Ożga
- Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
| | - Klaudia Herman
- Department of Veterinary Prevention and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
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3
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Zhu W, Cai C, Li J, Zhang Q, Huang J, Jin M. Characterization of protective antigen CbpB as an adhesin and a plasminogen-binding protein of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Res Vet Sci 2019; 124:352-356. [PMID: 31060015 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is the causative agent of animal erysipelas and human erysipeloid. E. rhusiopathiae CbpB has been reported to be a protective antigen, but its pathogenic roles are not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of CbpB to act as an adhesin in E. rhusiopathiae adhesion to porcine endothelial cells as well as a host plasminogen- and fibronectin- binding protein. Recombinant CbpB (rCbpB) was successfully obtained, and it was found that E. rhusiopathiae CbpB was located on the cell surface of E. rhusiopathiae. Moreover, CbpB exhibited binding activity to porcine endothelial cells. Recombinant CbpB successfully bound to host plasminogen but was unable to bind to fibronectin. In conclusion, our work suggested that CbpB is a virulence factor of E. rhusiopathiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weifeng Zhu
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chengzhi Cai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingtao Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China; College of Life Sciences & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingjing Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Meilin Jin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China; Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China.
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Identification of the Chromosomal Region Essential for Serovar-Specific Antigen and Virulence of Serovar 1 and 2 Strains of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00324-18. [PMID: 29891546 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00324-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae causes swine erysipelas, an infection characterized by acute septicemia or chronic endocarditis and polyarthritis. Among 17 E. rhusiopathiae serovars, determined based on heat-stable peptidoglycan antigens, serovars 1 and 2 are most commonly associated with the disease; however, the molecular basis for the association between these serovars and virulence is unknown. To search for the genetic region defining serovar 1a (Fujisawa) strain antigenicity, we examined the 15-kb chromosomal region encompassing a putative pathway for polysaccharide biosynthesis, which was previously identified in the E. rhusiopathiae Fujisawa strain. Six transposon mutants of Fujisawa strain possessing a mutation in this region lost antigenic reactivity with serovar 1a-specific rabbit serum. Sequence analysis of this region in wild-type strains of serovars 1a, 1b, and 2 and serovar N, which lacks serovar-specific antigens, revealed that gene organization was similar among the strains and that serovar 2 strains showed variation. Serovar N strains displayed the same gene organization as the serovar 1a, 1b, or 2 strain and possessed certain mutations in this region. In two of the analyzed serovar N strains, restoration of the mutations via complementation with sequences derived from serovar 1a and 2 strains recovered antigenic reactivity with 1a- and 2-specific rabbit serum, respectively. Several gene mutations in this region resulted in altered capsule expression and attenuation of virulence in mice. These results indicate a functional connection between the biosynthetic pathways for the capsular polysaccharide and peptidoglycan antigens used for serotyping, which may explain variation in virulence among strains of different serovars.
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Zhu W, Wang Y, Cai C, Li J, Wu C, Kang C, Jin M. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae recruits host plasminogen via the major protective antigen SpaA. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2017; 364:2996630. [PMID: 28201685 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is the causative agent of animal erysipelas and human erysipeloid. Some pathogenic bacteria are able to recruit host plasminogen and then use the plasminogen system for migration across tissue barriers or for nutritional demands during infection. However, there is no study on E. rhusiopathiae recruitment of plasminogen. SpaA has long been known to be a major protective antigen of E. rhusiopathiae, but its roles in virulence have not yet been well clarified. The aim of this study was to detect the activity of E. rhusiopathiae to recruit host plasminogen and evaluate the ability of SpaA to act as a receptor in the recruitment process. It was found that E. rhusiopathiae could recruit host plasminogen. SpaA could specifically bind host plasminogen. Anti-SpaA serum could significantly decrease the activity of E. rhusiopathiae to recruit plasminogen. In addition, this binding activity was lysine dependent. In conclusion, E. rhusiopathiae was able to recruit host plasminogen via SpaA. To our knowledge, this is the first report on E. rhusiopathiae recruitment of host plasminogen and the receptor in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weifeng Zhu
- Animal Infectious Disease Unit, National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.,College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ya Wang
- Animal Infectious Disease Unit, National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.,College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chengzhi Cai
- Animal Infectious Disease Unit, National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.,College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jingtao Li
- Animal Infectious Disease Unit, National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.,College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chao Wu
- Animal Infectious Disease Unit, National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.,College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chao Kang
- Animal Infectious Disease Unit, National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.,College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Meilin Jin
- Animal Infectious Disease Unit, National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.,College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430070, China.,Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan 430070, China
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6
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Kang C, Zhang Q, Zhu W, Cai C, Sun X, Jin M. Transcription analysis of the responses of porcine heart to Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185548. [PMID: 28976997 PMCID: PMC5627920 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (E. rhusiopathiae) is the causative agent of swine erysipelas. This microbe has caused great economic losses in China and in other countries. In this study, high-throughput cDNA microarray assays were employed to evaluate the host responses of porcine heart to E. rhusiopathiae and to gain additional insights into its pathogenesis. A total of 394 DE transcripts were detected in the active virulent E. rhusiopathiae infection group compared with the PBS group at 4 days post-infection. Moreover, 262 transcripts were upregulated and 132 transcripts were downregulated. Differentially expressed genes were involved in many vital functional classes, including inflammatory and immune responses, signal transduction, apoptosis, transport, protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, metabolic processes, chemotaxis, cell adhesion, and innate immune responses. Pathway analysis demonstrated that the most significant pathways were Chemokine signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, TLR pathway, CAMs, systemic lupus erythematosus, chemokine signaling pathway, Cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, Phagosome, HTLV-I infection, Measles, Rheumatoid arthritis and natural-killer-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. The reliability of our microarray data was verified by performing quantitative real-time PCR. This study is the first to document the response of piglet heart to E. rhusiopathiae infection. The observed gene expression profile could help screen potential host agents that can reduce the prevalence of E. rhusiopathiae. The profile might also provide insights into the underlying pathological changes that occur in pigs infected with E. rhusiopathiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Kang
- Unit of Animal Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Unit of Animal Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Weifeng Zhu
- Unit of Animal Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Chengzhi Cai
- Unit of Animal Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Xiaomei Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, P.R. China, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Meilin Jin
- Unit of Animal Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, P.R. China, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
- * E-mail:
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7
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iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis reveals potential virulence factors of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. J Proteomics 2017; 160:28-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2017.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses of Swine Pathogen Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Reveal Virulence Repertoire. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159462. [PMID: 27479071 PMCID: PMC4968806 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
E. rhusiopathiae is the causative agent of erysipelas in animals and erysipeloid in humans, but its pathogenicity is poorly understood. To identify virulence factors associated with E. rhusiopathiae and screen engineered vaccine candidates, we used proteomics and transcriptomics to compare the highly virulent strain HX130709 with an isogenic avirulent derivative, HX130709a. 1,299 proteins and 1,673 transcribed genes were identified and 1,292 of the proteins could be associated with genes. In a comparison between HX130907 and HX130709a, 168 proteins and 475 genes exhibited differences in regulation level. Among these, levels for 61 proteins and transcripts were positively or negatively correlated. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis suggests that many of the down-regulated proteins in the attenuated strain have catalytic or binding functions. Potential protein-protein interactions suggest that some of the down-regulated proteins may regulate PTS, GMP synthase and ribosomal proteins. Morphological results showed that HX130709 and HX130709a have similar colony and capsule morphology. Growth curves and pyruvate measurements suggest that TCA cycle and saccharide phosphorylation levels were decreased and gluconeogenesis was increased in HX130709a. Our study confirms that SpaA and neuraminidase, but not hyaluronidase and capsule, are associated with virulence in E. rhusiopathiae. We conclude that the virulence of E. rhusiopathiae may be associated with slow reactions of the TCA cycle and down-regulation of selected proteins.
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Janßen T, Voss M, Kühl M, Semmler T, Philipp HC, Ewers C. A combinational approach of multilocus sequence typing and other molecular typing methods in unravelling the epidemiology of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae strains from poultry and mammals. Vet Res 2015. [PMID: 26198736 PMCID: PMC4509749 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-015-0216-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infections re-emerged as a matter of great concern particularly in the poultry industry. In contrast to porcine isolates, molecular epidemiological traits of avian E. rhusiopathiae isolates are less well known. Thus, we aimed to (i) develop a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for E. rhusiopathiae, (ii) study the congruence of strain grouping based on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and MLST, (iii) determine the diversity of the dominant immunogenic protein SpaA, and (iv) examine the distribution of genes putatively linked with virulence among field isolates from poultry (120), swine (24) and other hosts (21), including humans (3). Using seven housekeeping genes for MLST analysis we determined 72 sequence types (STs) among 165 isolates. This indicated an overall high diversity, though 34.5% of all isolates belonged to a single predominant ST-complex, STC9, which grouped strains from birds and mammals, including humans, together. PFGE revealed 58 different clusters and congruence with the sequence-based MLST-method was not common. Based on polymorphisms in the N-terminal hyper-variable region of SpaA the isolates were classified into five groups, which followed the phylogenetic background of the strains. More than 90% of the isolates harboured all 16 putative virulence genes tested and only intI, encoding an internalin-like protein, showed infrequent distribution. MLST data determined E. rhusiopathiae as weakly clonal species with limited host specificity. A common evolutionary origin of isolates as well as shared SpaA variants and virulence genotypes obtained from avian and mammalian hosts indicates common reservoirs, pathogenic pathways and immunogenic properties of the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Traute Janßen
- Center for Infection Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Straße 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany. .,RIPAC-LABOR GmbH, Am Mühlenberg 11, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
| | | | - Michael Kühl
- Center for Infection Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Straße 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany. .,Institute of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Health, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Straße 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
| | | | - Hans-Christian Philipp
- Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Research Center GmbH & Co. KG, Bemeroder Straße 31, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Christa Ewers
- Institute of Hygiene and Infectious Diseases of Animals, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 85-89, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
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Capsular polysaccharide of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, the causative agent of swine erysipelas, and its modification with phosphorylcholine. Infect Immun 2012; 80:3993-4003. [PMID: 22949554 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00635-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The capsule has been implicated in the virulence of the swine pathogen Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, a rod-shaped, intracellular Gram-positive bacterium that has a unique phylogenetic position in the phylum Firmicutes and is a close relative of Mollicutes (mycoplasma species). In this study, we analyzed the genetic locus and composition of the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of the Fujisawa strain of E. rhusiopathiae. Genome analysis of the Fujisawa strain revealed that the genetic locus for capsular polysaccharide synthesis (cps) is located next to an lic operon, which is involved in the incorporation and expression of phosphorylcholine (PCho). Reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed that cps and lic are transcribed as a single mRNA, indicating that the loci form an operon. Using the cell surface antigen-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) ER21 as a probe, the capsular materials were isolated from the Fujisawa strain by hot water extraction and treatment with DNase, RNase, pronase, and N-acetylmuramidase SG, followed by anion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The materials were then analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The CPS of E. rhusiopathiae is heterogeneous and consists of the major monosaccharides galacturonic acid, galactose, mannose, glucose, arabinose, xylose, and N-acetylglucosamine and some minor monosaccharides containing ribose, rhamnose, and N-acetylgalactosamine. In addition, the capsule is modified by PCho, which comigrates with the capsular materials, as determined by Western immunoblotting, and colocalizes on the cell surface, as determined by immunogold electron microscopy. Virulence testing of PCho-defective mutants in mice demonstrated that PCho is critical for the virulence of this organism.
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The genome of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, the causative agent of swine erysipelas, reveals new insights into the evolution of firmicutes and the organism's intracellular adaptations. J Bacteriol 2011; 193:2959-71. [PMID: 21478354 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01500-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a Gram-positive bacterium that represents a new class, Erysipelotrichia, in the phylum Firmicutes. The organism is a facultative intracellular pathogen that causes swine erysipelas, as well as a variety of diseases in many animals. Here, we report the first complete genome sequence analysis of a member of the class Erysipelotrichia. The E. rhusiopathiae genome (1,787,941 bp) is one of the smallest genomes in the phylum Firmicutes. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene and 31 universal protein families suggest that E. rhusiopathiae is phylogenetically close to Mollicutes, which comprises Mycoplasma species. Genome analyses show that the overall features of the E. rhusiopathiae genome are similar to those of other Gram-positive bacteria; it possesses a complete set of peptidoglycan biosynthesis genes, two-component regulatory systems, and various cell wall-associated virulence factors, including a capsule and adhesins. However, it lacks many orthologous genes for the biosynthesis of wall teichoic acids (WTA) and lipoteichoic acids (LTA) and the dltABCD operon, which is responsible for d-alanine incorporation into WTA and LTA, suggesting that the organism has an atypical cell wall. In addition, like Mollicutes, its genome shows a complete loss of fatty acid biosynthesis pathways and lacks the genes for the biosynthesis of many amino acids, cofactors, and vitamins, indicating reductive genome evolution. The genome encodes nine antioxidant factors and nine phospholipases, which facilitate intracellular survival in phagocytes. Thus, the E. rhusiopathiae genome represents evolutionary traits of both Firmicutes and Mollicutes and provides new insights into its evolutionary adaptations for intracellular survival.
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Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Vet Microbiol 2009; 140:405-17. [PMID: 19733019 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2009] [Revised: 07/26/2009] [Accepted: 08/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a facultative, non-spore-forming, non-acid-fast, small, Gram-positive bacillus. The organism was first established as a human pathogen late in the nineteenth century. Three forms of human disease have been recognised since then. These include a localised cutaneous lesion form, erysipeloid, a generalised cutaneous form and a septicaemic form often associated with endocarditis. The organism is ubiquitous and able to persist for a long period of time in the environment, including marine locations. It is a pathogen or a commensal in a wide variety of wild and domestic animals, birds and fish. Swine erysipelas caused by E. rhusiopathiae is the disease of greatest prevalence and economic importance. Diseases in other animals include erysipelas of farmed turkeys, chickens, ducks and emus, and polyarthritis in sheep and lambs. Infection due to E. rhusiopathiae in humans is occupationally related, principally occurring as a result of contact with contaminated animals, their products or wastes, or soil. Erysipeloid is the most common form of infections in humans. While it has been suggested that the incidence of human infection could be declining due to technological advances in animal industries, infection still occurs in specific environments. Additionally, infection by the organism is possibly under-diagnosed due to the resemblance it bears to other infections, and problems encountered in isolation and identification. Various virulence factors have been suggested as being involved in the pathogenicity of E. rhusiopathiae. The presence of a hyaluronidase and neuraminidase has been recognised, and it was shown that neuraminidase plays a significant role in bacterial attachment and subsequent invasion into host cells. The role of hyaluronidase in the disease process is controversial. The presence of a heat labile capsule has been reported as important in virulence. Control of animal disease by sound husbandry, herd management, good sanitation and immunization procedures is recommended.
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