Bacillus cereus spores release alanine that synergizes with inosine to promote germination

Spore Germination

Despite being resistant to a variety of environmental insults, the bacterial endospore can sense the presence of small molecules and respond by germinating, losing the specialized structures of the dormant spore, and resuming active metabolism, before outgrowing into vegetative cells. Our current level of understanding of the spore germination process in bacilli and clostridia is reviewed, with particular emphasis on the germinant receptors characterized in Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus anthracis. The recent evidence for a local clustering of receptors in a "germinosome" would begin to explain how signals from different receptors could be integrated. The SpoVA proteins, involved in the uptake of Ca2+-dipicolinic acid into the forespore during sporulation, are also responsible for its release during germination. Lytic enzymes SleB and CwlJ, found in bacilli and some clostridia, hydrolyze the spore cortex: other clostridia use SleC for this purpose. With genome sequencing has come the appreciation that there is considerable diversity in the setting for the germination machinery between bacilli and clostridia.

Inhibitory effect of indole analogs against Paenibacillus larvae, the causal agent of American foulbrood disease

Paenibacillus larvae, a Gram-positive bacterium, causes American foulbrood (AFB) in honey bee larvae (Apis mellifera Linnaeus [Hymenoptera: Apidae]). P. larvae spores exit dormancy in the gut of bee larvae, the germinated cells proliferate, and ultimately bacteremia kills the host. Hence, spore germination is a required step for establishing AFB disease. We previously found that P. larvae spores germinate in response to l-tyrosine plus uric acid in vitro. Additionally, we determined that indole and phenol blocked spore germination. In this work, we evaluated the antagonistic effect of 35 indole and phenol analogs and identified strong inhibitors of P. larvae spore germination in vitro. We further tested the most promising candidate, 5-chloroindole, and found that it significantly reduced bacterial proliferation. Finally, feeding artificial worker jelly containing anti-germination compounds to AFB-exposed larvae significantly decreased AFB infection in laboratory-reared honey bee larvae. Together, these results suggest that inhibitors of P. larvae spore germination could provide another method to control AFB.

Microbial Biomass and Enzymatic Activity of the Surface Microlayer and Subsurface Water in Two Dystrophic Lakes

Nutrient and organic matter concentration, microbial biomass and activities were studied at the surface microlayers (SML) and subsurface waters (SSW) in two small forest lakes of different water colour. The SML in polyhumic lake is more enriched with dissolved inorganic nitrogen (0.141 mg l-1) than that of oligohumic lake (0.124 mg l-1), the former also contains higher levels of total nitrogen (2.66 mg l-1). Higher activities of lipase (Vmax 2290 nmol l-1 h-1 in oligo- and 6098 in polyhumic) and glucosidase (Vmax 41 nmol l-1 h-1 in oligo- and 49 in polyhumic) were in the SMLs in both lakes. Phosphatase activity was higher in the oligohumic SML than in SSW (Vmax 632 vs. 339 nmol l-1 h-1) while in polyhumic lake was higher in SSW (Vmax 2258 nmol l-1 h-1 vs. 1908 nmol l-1 h-1). Aminopeptidase activity in the SSW in both lakes was higher than in SMLs (Vmax 2117 in oligo- and 1213 nmol l-1 h-1 in polyhumic). It seems that solar radiation does inhibit neuston microbial community as a whole because secondary production and the share of active bacteria in total bacteria number were higher in SSW. However, in the oligohumic lake the abundance of bacteria in the SML was always higher than in the SSW (4.07 vs. 2.69 × 106 cells ml-1) while in the polyhumic lake was roughly equal (4.48 vs. 4.33 × 106 cells ml-1) in both layers. Results may also suggest that surface communities are not supplemented by immigration from bulk communities. The SML of humic lakes may act as important sinks for allochthonous nutrient resources and may then generate considerable energy pools for microbial food webs.

Diversity of the Germination Apparatus in Clostridium botulinum Groups I, II, III, and IV

Clostridium botulinum is a highly dangerous pathogen that forms very resistant endospores that are ubiquitous in the environment, and which, under favorable conditions germinate to produce vegetative cells that multiply and form the exceptionally potent botulinum neurotoxin. To improve the control of botulinum neurotoxin-forming clostridia, it is important to understand the mechanisms involved in spore germination. Here we present models for spore germination in C. botulinum based on comparative genomics analyses, with C. botulinum Groups I and III sharing similar pathways, which differ from those proposed for C. botulinum Groups II and IV. All spores germinate in response to amino acids interacting with a germinant receptor, with four types of germinant receptor identified [encoded by various combinations of gerA, gerB, and gerC genes (gerX)]. There are three gene clusters with an ABC-like configuration; ABC [gerX1], ABABCB [gerX2] and ACxBBB [gerX4], and a single CA-B [gerX3] gene cluster. Subtypes have been identified for most germinant receptor types, and the individual GerX subunits of each cluster show similar grouping in phylogenetic trees. C. botulinum Group I contained the largest variety of gerX subtypes, with three gerX1, three gerX2, and one gerX3 subtypes, while C. botulinum Group III contained two gerX1 types and one gerX4. C. botulinum Groups II and IV contained a single germinant receptor, gerX3 and gerX1, respectively. It is likely that all four C. botulinum Groups include a SpoVA channel involved in dipicolinic acid release. The cortex-lytic enzymes present in C. botulinum Groups I and III appear to be CwlJ and SleB, while in C. botulinum Groups II and IV, SleC appears to be important.

The Bacillus anthracis Exosporium: What's the Big "Hairy" Deal?

In some Bacillus species, including Bacillus subtilis, the coat is the outermost layer of the spore. In others, such as the Bacillus cereus family, there is an additional layer that envelops the coat, called the exosporium. In the case of Bacillus anthracis, a series of fine hair-like projections, also referred to as a "hairy" nap, extends from the exosporium basal layer. The exact role of the exosporium in B. anthracis, or for any of the Bacillus species possessing this structure, remains unclear. However, it has been assumed that the exosporium would play some role in infection for B. anthracis, because it is the outermost structure of the spore and would make initial contact with host and immune cells during infection. Therefore, the exosporium has been a topic of great interest, and over the past decade much progress has been made to understand its composition, biosynthesis, and potential roles. Several key aspects of this spore structure, however, are still debated and remain undetermined. Although insights have been gained on the interaction of exosporium with the host during infection, the exact role and significance of this complex structure remain to be determined. Furthermore, because the exosporium is a highly antigenic structure, future strategies for the next-generation anthrax vaccine should pursue its inclusion as a component to provide protection against the spore itself during the initial stages of anthrax.

Functional characterisation of germinant receptors in Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium sporogenes presents novel insights into spore germination systems

Clostridium botulinum is a dangerous pathogen that forms the highly potent botulinum toxin, which when ingested causes a deadly neuroparalytic disease. The closely related Clostridium sporogenes is occasionally pathogenic, frequently associated with food spoilage and regarded as the non-toxigenic equivalent of Group I C. botulinum. Both species form highly resistant spores that are ubiquitous in the environment and which, under favourable growth conditions germinate to produce vegetative cells. To improve the control of botulinum neurotoxin-forming clostridia, it is imperative to comprehend the mechanisms by which spores germinate. Germination is initiated following the recognition of small molecules (germinants) by a specific germinant receptor (GR) located in the spore inner membrane. The present study precisely defines clostridial GRs, germinants and co-germinants. Group I C. botulinum ATCC3502 contains two tricistronic and one pentacistronic GR operons, while C. sporogenes ATCC15579 has three tricistronic and one tetracistronic GR operons. Insertional knockout mutants, allied with characterisation of recombinant GRs shows for the first time that amino acid stimulated germination in C. botulinum requires two tri-cistronic encoded GRs which act in synergy and cannot function individually. Spore germination in C. sporogenes requires one tri-cistronic GR. Two other GRs form part of a complex involved in controlling the rate of amino-acid stimulated germination. The suitability of using C. sporogenes as a substitute for C. botulinum in germination studies and food challenge tests is discussed.

Clostridium botulinum is a dangerous pathogen that forms the deadly botulinum neurotoxin. Strains of C. botulinum are present in the environment as spores. Under suitable conditions, the dormancy of the bacterial spore is broken, and germination occurs. Germination is initiated following the recognition of small molecules by a specific germinant receptor (GR) located within spores. Currently, the identification and characterisation of these GRs remains unknown, but is critical if strategies are to be developed to either prevent spore germination altogether, or to germinate all the spores and then inactivate the emergent sensitive vegetative cells. The present study has characterised two functionally active GRs in C. botulinum which act in synergy and cannot function individually, and a related functionally active GR in C. sporogenes. These GRs respond to amino acids. Other GRs appear to form part of a complex involved in controlling the speed of germination, or are not functionally active. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms involved in germination and will allow us to develop new strategies to control this deadly pathogen.

Involvement of alanine racemase in germination of Bacillus cereus spores lacking an intact exosporium

The L-alanine mediated germination of food isolated Bacillus cereus DSA 1 spores, which lacked an intact exosporium, increased in the presence of D-cycloserine (DCS), which is an alanine racemase (Alr) inhibitor, reflecting the activity of the Alr enzyme, capable of converting L-alanine to the germination inhibitor D-alanine. Proteomic analysis of the alkaline extracts of the spore proteins, which include exosporium and coat proteins, confirmed that Alr was present in the B. cereus DSA 1 spores and matched to that encoded by B. cereus ATCC 14579, whose spore germination was strongly affected by the block of conversion of L- to D-alanine. Unlike ATCC 14579 spores, L-alanine germination of B. cereus DSA 1 spores was not affected by the preincubation with DCS, suggesting a lack of restriction in the reactant accessibility.

Anthrax SET protein: a potential virulence determinant that epigenetically represses NF-κB activation in infected macrophages

Toxins play a major role in the pathogenesis of Bacillus anthracis by subverting the host defenses. However, besides toxins, B. anthracis expresses effector proteins, whose role in pathogenesis are yet to be investigated. Here we present that suppressor-of-variegation, enhancer-of-zeste, trithorax protein from B. anthracis (BaSET) methylates human histone H1, resulting in repression of NF-κB functions. Notably, BaSET is secreted and undergoes nuclear translocation to enhance H1 methylation in B. anthracis-infected macrophages. Compared with wild type Sterne, delayed growth kinetics and altered septum formation were observed in the BaSET knock-out (BaΔSET) bacilli. Uncontrolled BaSET expression during complementation of the BaSET gene in BaΔSET partially restored growth during stationary phase but resulted in substantially shorter bacilli throughout the growth cycle. Importantly, in contrast to Sterne, the BaΔSET B. anthracis is avirulent in a lethal murine bacteremia model of infection. Collectively, BaSET is required for repression of host transcription as well as proper B. anthracis growth, making it a potentially unique virulence determinant.

Requirements for in vitro germination of Paenibacillus larvae spores

Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB), a disease affecting honey bee larvae. First- and second-instar larvae become infected when they ingest food contaminated with P. larvae spores. The spores then germinate into vegetative cells that proliferate in the midgut of the honey bee. Although AFB affects honey bees only in the larval stage, P. larvae spores can be distributed throughout the hive. Because spore germination is critical for AFB establishment, we analyzed the requirements for P. larvae spore germination in vitro. We found that P. larvae spores germinated only in response to l-tyrosine plus uric acid under physiologic pH and temperature conditions. This suggests that the simultaneous presence of these signals is necessary for spore germination in vivo. Furthermore, the germination profiles of environmentally derived spores were identical to those of spores from a biochemically typed strain. Because l-tyrosine and uric acid are the only required germinants in vitro, we screened amino acid and purine analogs for their ability to act as antagonists of P. larvae spore germination. Indole and phenol, the side chains of tyrosine and tryptophan, strongly inhibited P. larvae spore germination. Methylation of the N-1 (but not the C-3) position of indole eliminated its ability to inhibit germination. Identification of the activators and inhibitors of P. larvae spore germination provides a basis for developing new tools to control AFB.

Does proximity to neighbours affect germination of spores of non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum?

It is recognised that inoculum size affects the rate and extent of bacterial spore germination. It has been proposed that this is due to spores interacting: molecules released from germinated spores trigger germination of dormant neighbours. This study investigated whether changes to the total number of spores in a system or proximity to other spores (local spore density) had a more significant effect on interaction between spores of non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum strain Eklund 17B attached to defined areas of microscope slides. Both the number of spores attached to the slides and local spore density (number of spores per mm(2)) were varied by a factor of nine. Germination was observed microscopically at 15 °C for 8 h and the probability of, and time to, germination calculated from image analysis measurements. Statistical analysis revealed that the effect of total spore number on the probability of germination within 8 h was more significant than that of proximity to neighbours (local spore density); its influence on germination probability was approximately four-times greater. Total spore number had an even more significant affect on time to germination; it had a nine-fold greater influence than proximity to neighbours. The applied models provide a means to characterise, quantitatively, the effect of the total spore number on spore germination relative to the effect of proximity to neighbouring spores.

Quantitative analysis of spatial-temporal correlations during germination of spores of Bacillus Species

Bacteria of Bacillus species sporulate upon starvation, and the resultant dormant spores germinate when the environment appears likely to allow the resumption of vegetative growth. Normally, the rates of germination of individual spores in populations are very heterogeneous, and the current work has investigated whether spore-to-spore communication enhances the synchronicity of germination. In order to do this work, time-lapse optical images of thousands of individual spores were captured during germination, and an image analysis algorithm was developed to do the following: (i) measure the positions and germination rates of many thousands of individual spores and (ii) compute pairwise correlations of their germination. This analysis showed that an individual spore's germination rate was dependent on its distance from other spores, especially at short distances. Thus, spores that were within a few micrometers exhibited an increased synchronicity in germination, suggesting that there is a mechanism for short-range communication between such spores during germination. However, two molecules known to be germinants that are released during germination, l-alanine and the 1:1 chelate of Ca²⁺ and dipicolinic acid, did not mediate spore-to-spore communication during germination.

Correlation between catalytic activity and monomer-dimer equilibrium of bacterial alanine racemases

From the reaction mechanism and crystal structure analysis, a bacterial alanine racemase is believed to work as a homodimer with a substrate, l-alanine or d-alanine. We analysed oligomerization states of seven alanine racemases, biosynthetic and catabolic, from Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. putida and P. fluorescens, with three different methods, gel filtration chromatography, native PAGE and analytical ultracentrifugation. All alanine racemases were proved to be in a dynamic equilibrium between monomeric and dimeric form with every methods used in this study. In both biosynthetic and catabolic alanine racemases, association constants for dimerization were high for the enzymes with high V(max) values. The enzymes with low V(max) values gave the low association constants. We proposed that alanine racemases are classified into two types; the enzymes with low and high-equilibrium association constants for dimerization.

Mapping interactions between germinants and Clostridium difficile spores

Germination of Clostridium difficile spores is the first required step in establishing C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD). Taurocholate (a bile salt) and glycine (an amino acid) have been shown to be important germinants of C. difficile spores. In the present study, we tested a series of glycine and taurocholate analogs for the ability to induce or inhibit C. difficile spore germination. Testing of glycine analogs revealed that both the carboxy and amino groups are important epitopes for recognition and that the glycine binding site can accommodate compounds with more widely separated termini. The C. difficile germination machinery also recognizes other hydrophobic amino acids. In general, linear alkyl side chains are better activators of spore germination than their branched analogs. However, L-phenylalanine and L-arginine are also good germinants and are probably recognized by distinct binding sites. Testing of taurocholate analogs revealed that the 12-hydroxyl group of taurocholate is necessary, but not sufficient, to activate spore germination. In contrast, the 6- and 7-hydroxyl groups are required for inhibition of C. difficile spore germination. Similarly, C. difficile spores are able to detect taurocholate analogs with shorter, but not longer, alkyl amino sulfonic acid side chains. Furthermore, the sulfonic acid group can be partially substituted with other acidic groups. Finally, a taurocholate analog with an m-aminobenzenesulfonic acid side chain is a strong inhibitor of C. difficile spore germination. In conclusion, C. difficile spores recognize both amino acids and taurocholate through multiple interactions that are required to bind the germinants and/or activate the germination machinery.

A novel spore protein, ExsM, regulates formation of the exosporium in Bacillus cereus and Bacillus anthracis and affects spore size and shape

Bacillus cereus spores are assembled with a series of concentric layers that protect them from a wide range of environmental stresses. The outermost layer, or exosporium, is a bag-like structure that interacts with the environment and is composed of more than 20 proteins and glycoproteins. Here, we identified a new spore protein, ExsM, from a beta-mercaptoethanol extract of B. cereus ATCC 4342 spores. Subcellular localization of an ExsM-green fluorescent protein (GFP) protein revealed a dynamic pattern of fluorescence that follows the site of formation of the exosporium around the forespore. Under scanning electron microscopy, exsM null mutant spores were smaller and rounder than wild-type spores, which had an extended exosporium (spore length for the wt, 2.40 +/- 0.56 microm, versus that for the exsM mutant, 1.66 +/- 0.38 microm [P < 0.001]). Thin-section electron microscopy revealed that exsM mutant spores were encased by a double-layer exosporium, both layers of which were composed of a basal layer and a hair-like nap. Mutant exsM spores were more resistant to lysozyme treatment and germinated with higher efficiency than wild-type spores, and they had a delay in outgrowth. Insertional mutagenesis of exsM in Bacillus anthracis DeltaSterne resulted in a partial second exosporium and in smaller spores. In all, these findings suggest that ExsM plays a critical role in the formation of the exosporium.

The Ger receptor family from sporulating bacteria

Bacterial spores are specialized cells that are exceptionally resistant to environmental stress. Spores convert back to actively growing cells, a process called germination, upon nutrient detection. The most common, initial step in the germination process is the recognition of small molecule germinants by germination (Ger) receptors. Ger receptors are inner-membrane heterocomplexes formed by three distinct protein products, the A-, B-, and C-subunits. In this review, we discuss and contrast published reports on representative Ger receptors from different Bacilli and Clostridia. We also present evidence for unrecognized germination pathways independent of Ger receptors. We further emphasize the function of L-alanine as a universal germinant. We also comment on biochemical aspects of germinant recognition and interaction between Ger receptor proteins. We propose that there are six general strategies used by Bacilli and Clostridia to integrate multiple germination signals. The use of different germinant recognition strategies results in germination response flexibility. Consequently, sporulating bacterial species that use the same biomolecules as germination signals can have different germination profiles. Finally, we discuss future directions for understanding the function of Ger receptors.