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Lo HH, Chang HC, Wu YJ, Liao CT, Hsiao YM. Functional characterization and transcriptional analysis of degQ of Xanthomonas campestris pathovar campestris. J Basic Microbiol 2024; 64:e2300441. [PMID: 38470163 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202300441] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
High-temperature-requirement protein A (HtrA) family proteins play important roles in controlling protein quality and are recognized as virulence factors in numerous animal and human bacterial pathogens. The role of HtrA family proteins in plant pathogens remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the HtrA family protein, DegQ, in the crucifer black rot pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pathovar campestris (Xcc). DegQ is essential for bacterial attachment and full virulence of Xcc. Moreover, the degQ mutant strain showed increased sensitivity to heat treatment and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Expressing the intact degQ gene in trans in the degQ mutant could reverse the observed phenotypic changes. In addition, we demonstrated that the DegQ protein exhibited chaperone-like activity. Transcriptional analysis displayed that degQ expression was induced under heat treatment. Our results contribute to understanding the function and expression of DegQ of Xcc for the first time and provide a novel perspective about HtrA family proteins in plant pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsueh-Hsia Lo
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Ching Chang
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jyun Wu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Tsai Liao
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Min Hsiao
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan
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2
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George JL, Agbavor C, Cabo LF, Cahoon LA. Streptococcus pneumoniae secretion chaperones PrsA, SlrA, and HtrA are required for competence, antibiotic resistance, colonization, and invasive disease. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0049023. [PMID: 38226817 PMCID: PMC10863415 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00490-23] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive bacterium and a significant health threat with the populations most at risk being children, the elderly, and the immuno-compromised. To colonize and transition into an invasive infectious organism, S. pneumoniae secretes virulence factors that are translocated across the bacterial membrane and destined for surface exposure, attachment to the cell wall, or secretion into the host. The surface exposed protein chaperones PrsA, SlrA, and HtrA facilitate S. pneumoniae protein secretion; however, the distinct roles contributed by each of these secretion chaperones have not been well defined. Tandem Mass-Tagged Mass Spectrometry and virulence, adhesion, competence, and cell wall integrity assays were used to interrogate the individual and collective contributions of PrsA, SlrA, and HtrA to multiple aspects of S. pneumoniae physiology and virulence. PrsA, SlrA, and HtrA were found to play critical roles in S. pneumoniae host cell infection and competence, and the absence of each of these secretion chaperones significantly altered the S. pneumoniae secretome in distinct ways. PrsA and SlrA were additionally found to contribute to cell wall assembly and resistance to cell wall-active antimicrobials and were important for enabling S. pneumoniae host cell adhesion during colonization and invasive infection. These findings serve to further illustrate the pivotal contributions of PrsA, SlrA, and HtrA to S. pneumoniae protein secretion and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jada L. George
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Charles Agbavor
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Leah F. Cabo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laty A. Cahoon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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3
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Echlin H, Iverson A, Sardo U, Rosch JW. Airway proteolytic control of pneumococcal competence. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011421. [PMID: 37256908 PMCID: PMC10259803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that colonizes the upper respiratory tract asymptomatically and, upon invasion, can lead to severe diseases including otitis media, sinusitis, meningitis, bacteremia, and pneumonia. One of the first lines of defense against pneumococcal invasive disease is inflammation, including the recruitment of neutrophils to the site of infection. The invasive pneumococcus can be cleared through the action of serine proteases generated by neutrophils. It is less clear how serine proteases impact non-invasive pneumococcal colonization, which is the key first step to invasion and transmission. One significant aspect of pneumococcal biology and adaptation in the respiratory tract is its natural competence, which is triggered by a small peptide CSP. In this study, we investigate if serine proteases are capable of degrading CSP and the impact this has on pneumococcal competence. We found that CSP has several potential sites for trypsin-like serine protease degradation and that there were preferential cleavage sites recognized by the proteases. Digestion of CSP with two different trypsin-like serine proteases dramatically reduced competence in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation of CSP with mouse lung homogenate also reduced recombination frequency of the pneumococcus. These ex vivo experiments suggested that serine proteases in the lower respiratory tract reduce pneumococcal competence. This was subsequently confirmed measuring in vivo recombination frequencies after induction of protease production via poly (I:C) stimulation and via co-infection with influenza A virus, which dramatically lowered recombination events. These data shed light on a new mechanism by which the host can modulate pneumococcal behavior and genetic exchange via direct degradation of the competence signaling peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley Echlin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Amy Iverson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Ugo Sardo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Jason W. Rosch
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
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4
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Gazioglu O, Habtom M, Andrew PW, Yesilkaya H. The involvement of CiaR and the CiaR-regulated serine protease HtrA in thermal adaptation of Streptococcus pneumoniae. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169. [PMID: 36811449 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The in vivo temperature can vary according to the host tissue and the response to infection. Streptococcus pneumoniae has evolved mechanisms to survive these temperature differences, but neither the consequences of different temperatures for pneumococcal phenotype nor the genetic basis of thermal adaptation are known in detail. In our previous study [16], we found that CiaR, which is a part of two-component regulatory system CiaRH, as well as 17 genes known to be controlled by CiaRH, were identified to be differentially expressed with temperature. One of the CiaRH-regulated genes shown to be differentially regulated by temperature is for the high-temperature requirement protein (HtrA), coded by SPD_2068 (htrA). In this study, we hypothesized that the CiaRH system plays an important role in pneumococcal thermal adaptation through its control over htrA. This hypothesis was evaluated by testing strains mutated or overexpressing ciaR and/or htrA, in in vitro and in vivo assays. The results showed that in the absence of ciaR, the growth, haemolytic activity, amount of capsule and biofilm formation were considerably diminished at 40 °C only, while the cell size and virulence were affected at both 34 and 40 °C. The overexpression of htrA in the ∆ciaR background reconstituted the growth at all temperatures, and the haemolytic activity, biofilm formation and virulence of ∆ciaR partially at 40 °C. We also showed that overexpression of htrA in the wild-type promoted pneumococcal virulence at 40 °C, while the increase of capsule was observed at 34 °C, suggesting that the role of htrA changes at different temperatures. Our data suggest that CiaR and HtrA play an important role in pneumococcal thermal adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozcan Gazioglu
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Medhanie Habtom
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Peter W Andrew
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Hasan Yesilkaya
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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5
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Esmail GA, Al-Dhabi NA, AlDawood B, Somily AM. Shotgun whole genome sequencing of drug-resistance Streptococcus anginosus strain 47S1 isolated from a patient with pharyngitis in Saudi Arabia. J Infect Public Health 2021; 14:1740-1749. [PMID: 34836797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Streptococcus anginosus is an emergence opportunistic pathogen that colonize the human upper respiratory tract (URT), S. anginosus alongside with S. intermedius and S. constellatus, members of S. anginosus group, are implicated in several human infections. However, our understanding this bacterium to the genotype level with determining the genes associated with pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is scarce. S. anginosus 47S1 strain was isolated from sore throat infection, the whole genome was characterized and the virulence & AMR genes contributing in pathogenicity were investigated. METHODOLOGY The whole genome of 47S1 was sequenced by Illumina sequencing technology. Strain 47S1 genome was de novo assembled with different strategies and annotated via PGAP, PROKKA and RAST pipelines. Identifying the CRISPR-Cass system and prophages sequences was performed using CRISPRloci and PhiSpy tools respectively. Prediction the virulence genes were performed with the VFDB database. AMR genes were detected in silico using NCBI AMRFinderPlus pipeline and CARD database and compared with in vitro AST findings. RESULTS β-hemolytic strain 47S1 was identified with conventional microbiology techniques and confirmed by the sequences of 16S rRNA gene. Genome of 47S1 comprised of 1981512 bp. Type I-C CRISPR-Cas system and 4 prophages were detected among the genome of 47S1. Several virulence genes were predicted, most of these genes are found in other pathogenic streptococci, mainly lmb, pavA, htrA/degP, eno, sagA, psaA and cpsI which play a significant role in colonizing, invading host tissues and evade form immune system. In silico AMR findings showed that 47S1 gnome harbors (tetA, tetB &tet32), (aac(6')-I, aadK &aph(3')-IVa), fusC, and PmrA genes that mediated-resistance to tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, fusidic acid, and fluoroquinolone respectively which corresponds with in vitro AST obtained results. In conclusion, WGS is a key approach to predict the virulence and AMR genes, results obtained in this study may contribute for a better understanding of the opportunistic S. anginosus pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galal Ali Esmail
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naif Abdullah Al-Dhabi
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Badr AlDawood
- Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Mohammed Somily
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine/Microbiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia.
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6
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Ali MQ, Kohler TP, Schulig L, Burchhardt G, Hammerschmidt S. Pneumococcal Extracellular Serine Proteases: Molecular Analysis and Impact on Colonization and Disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:763152. [PMID: 34790590 PMCID: PMC8592123 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.763152] [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: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathobiont Streptococcus pneumoniae causes life-threatening diseases, including pneumonia, sepsis, meningitis, or non-invasive infections such as otitis media. Serine proteases are enzymes that have been emerged during evolution as one of the most abundant and functionally diverse group of proteins in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. S. pneumoniae expresses up to four extracellular serine proteases belonging to the category of trypsin-like or subtilisin-like family proteins: HtrA, SFP, PrtA, and CbpG. These serine proteases have recently received increasing attention because of their immunogenicity and pivotal role in the interaction with host proteins. This review is summarizing and focusing on the molecular and functional analysis of pneumococcal serine proteases, thereby discussing their contribution to pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murtadha Q Ali
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Thomas P Kohler
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lukas Schulig
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Gerhard Burchhardt
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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7
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McKenna S, Huse KK, Giblin S, Pearson M, Majid Al Shibar MS, Sriskandan S, Matthews S, Pease JE. The Role of Streptococcal Cell-Envelope Proteases in Bacterial Evasion of the Innate Immune System. J Innate Immun 2021; 14:69-88. [PMID: 34649250 PMCID: PMC9082167 DOI: 10.1159/000516956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria possess the ability to evolve varied and ingenious strategies to outwit the host immune system, instigating an evolutionary arms race. Proteases are amongst the many weapons employed by bacteria, which specifically cleave and neutralize key signalling molecules required for a coordinated immune response. In this article, we focus on a family of S8 subtilisin-like serine proteases expressed as cell-envelope proteases (CEPs) by group A and group B streptococci. Two of these proteases known as Streptococcus pyogenes CEP (SpyCEP) and C5a peptidase cleave the chemokine CXCL8 and the complement fragment C5a, respectively. Both CXCL8 and C5a are potent neutrophil-recruiting chemokines, and by neutralizing their activity, streptococci evade a key defence mechanism of innate immunity. We review the mechanisms by which CXCL8 and C5a recruit neutrophils and the characterization of SpyCEP and C5a peptidase, including both in vitro and in vivo studies. Recently described structural insights into the function of this CEP family are also discussed. We conclude by examining the progress of prototypic vaccines incorporating SpyCEP and C5a peptidase in their preparation. Since streptococci-producing SpyCEP and C5a peptidase are responsible for a considerable global disease burden, targeting these proteases by vaccination strategies or by small-molecule antagonists should provide protection from and promote the resolution of streptococcal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie McKenna
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kristin Krohn Huse
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sean Giblin
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Max Pearson
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Shiranee Sriskandan
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Matthews
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - James Edward Pease
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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8
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Cao Q, Wei W, Wang H, Wang Z, Lv Y, Dai M, Tan C, Chen H, Wang X. Cleavage of E-cadherin by porcine respiratory bacterial pathogens facilitates airway epithelial barrier disruption and bacterial paracellular transmigration. Virulence 2021; 12:2296-2313. [PMID: 34482810 PMCID: PMC8425755 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1966996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Airway epithelial cells are the first line of defense against respiratory pathogens. Porcine bacterial pathogens, such as Bordetella bronchiseptica, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Glaesserella (Haemophilus) parasuis, and Pasteurella multocida, breach this barrier to lead to local or systematic infections. Here, we demonstrated that respiratory bacterial pathogen infection disrupted the airway epithelial intercellular junction protein, E-cadherin, thus contributing to impaired epithelial cell integrity. E-cadherin knocking-out in newborn pig tracheal cells via CRISPR/Cas9 editing technology confirmed that E-cadherin was sufficient to suppress the paracellular transmigration of these porcine respiratory bacterial pathogens, including G. parasuis, A. pleuropneumoniae, P. multocida, and B. bronchiseptica. The E-cadherin ectodomain cleavage by these pathogens was probably attributed to bacterial HtrA/DegQ protease, but not host HtrA1, MMP7 and ADAM10, and the prominent proteolytic activity was further confirmed by a serine-to-alanine substitution mutation in the active center of HtrA/DegQ protein. Moreover, deletion of the htrA gene in G. parasuis led to severe defects in E-cadherin ectodomain cleavage, cell adherence and paracellular transmigration in vitro, as well as bacterial breaking through the tracheal epithelial cells, systemic invasion and dissemination in vivo. This common pathogenic mechanism shared by other porcine respiratory bacterial pathogens explains how these bacterial pathogens destroy the airway epithelial cell barriers and proliferate in respiratory mucosal surface or other systemic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenbin Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zesong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yujin Lv
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Menghong Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chen Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,International Research Center for Animal Disease, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,International Research Center for Animal Disease, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiangru Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,International Research Center for Animal Disease, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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9
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HtrA family proteases of bacterial pathogens: pros and cons for their therapeutic use. Clin Microbiol Infect 2021; 27:559-564. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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10
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Abstract
Bacterial proteases and peptidases are integral to cell physiology and stability, and their necessity in Streptococcus pneumoniae is no exception. Protein cleavage and processing mechanisms within the bacterial cell serve to ensure that the cell lives and functions in its commensal habitat and can respond to new environments presenting stressful conditions. For S. pneumoniae, the human nasopharynx is its natural habitat. In the context of virulence, movement of S. pneumoniae to the lungs, blood, or other sites can instigate responses by the bacteria that result in their proteases serving dual roles of self-protein processors and virulence factors of host protein targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Marquart
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi USA
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11
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Ali MQ, Kohler TP, Burchhardt G, Wüst A, Henck N, Bolsmann R, Voß F, Hammerschmidt S. Extracellular Pneumococcal Serine Proteases Affect Nasopharyngeal Colonization. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:613467. [PMID: 33659218 PMCID: PMC7917122 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.613467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae has evolved versatile strategies to colonize the nasopharynx of humans. Colonization is facilitated by direct interactions with host cell receptors or via binding to components of the extracellular matrix. In addition, pneumococci hijack host-derived extracellular proteases such as the serine protease plasmin(ogen) for ECM and mucus degradation as well as colonization. S. pneumoniae expresses strain-dependent up to four serine proteases. In this study, we assessed the role of secreted or cell-bound serine proteases HtrA, PrtA, SFP, and CbpG, in adherence assays and in a mouse colonization model. We hypothesized that the redundancy of serine proteases compensates for the deficiency of a single enzyme. Therefore, double and triple mutants were generated in serotype 19F strain EF3030 and serotype 4 strain TIGR4. Strain EF3030 produces only three serine proteases and lacks the SFP encoding gene. In adherence studies using Detroit-562 epithelial cells, we demonstrated that both TIGR4Δcps and 19F mutants without serine proteases or expressing only CbpG, HtrA, or PrtA have a reduced ability to adhere to Detroit-562 cells. Consistent with these results, we show that the mutants of strain 19F, which preferentially colonizes mice, abrogate nasopharyngeal colonization in CD-1 mice after intranasal infection. The bacterial load in the nasopharynx was monitored for 14 days. Importantly, mutants showed significantly lower bacterial numbers in the nasopharynx two days after infection. Similarly, we detected a significantly reduced pneumococcal colonization on days 3, 7, and 14 post-inoculations. To assess the impact of pneumococcal serine proteases on acute infection, we infected mice intranasally with bioluminescent and invasive TIGR4 or isogenic triple mutants expressing only CbpG, HtrA, PrtA, or SFP. We imaged the acute lung infection in real-time and determined the survival of the mice. The TIGR4lux mutant expressing only PrtA showed a significant attenuation and was less virulent in the acute pneumonia model. In conclusion, our results showed that pneumococcal serine proteases contributed significantly to pneumococcal colonization but played only a minor role in pneumonia and invasive diseases. Because colonization is a prerequisite for invasive diseases and transmission, these enzymes could be promising candidates for the development of antimicrobials to reduce pneumococcal transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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12
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Chao Y, Bergenfelz C, Sun R, Han X, Achour A, Hakansson AP. The serine protease HtrA plays a key role in heat-induced dispersal of pneumococcal biofilms. Sci Rep 2020; 10:22455. [PMID: 33384455 PMCID: PMC7775458 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80233-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) colonizes the human nasopharynx by forming multicellular biofilms. Due to the high level of asymptomatic carriage, transition to infections, such as otitis media, pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis, occurs often enough that the pneumococcus remains a major cause of disease and death globally. Virus infection and virus-induced responses, such as increased temperature (fever), trigger release of virulent bacteria from colonizing biofilms. The exact mechanisms involved in pneumococcal egress during biofilm dispersal remain unknown, although we hypothesize that disruption of the biofilm matrix encasing the bacteria is necessary. Here, we utilized established in vitro biofilm dispersal models to investigate the involvement of proteases in bacterial egress from pneumococcal biofilms. We demonstrate the importance of protease activity, both through increased bacterial release following addition of proteases and reduced heat-induced biofilm dispersal in the presence of protease inhibitors. We identify a key role for the surface-exposed serine protease HtrA, but not PrtA, in heat-induced biofilm dispersal. Bacterial release from htrA-negative biofilms was significantly reduced compared to wild-type isogenic strains but was restored and increased above wild-type levels following addition of recombinant HtrA. Understanding the specific mechanisms involved in bacterial egress may provide novel targets for future strategies aimed to specifically interfere with disease progression without disturbing nasopharyngeal biofilm colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashuan Chao
- Division of Experimental Infection Medicine, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.,Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Caroline Bergenfelz
- Division of Experimental Infection Medicine, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Renhua Sun
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiao Han
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Adnane Achour
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders P Hakansson
- Division of Experimental Infection Medicine, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
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13
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Virulent Properties of Serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Child Carriers in the Republic of Tatarstan. BIONANOSCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12668-020-00734-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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14
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Liu H, Dang G, Zang X, Cai Z, Cui Z, Song N, Liu S. Characterization and pathogenicity of extracellular serine protease MAP3292c from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Microb Pathog 2020; 142:104055. [PMID: 32058021 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Serine protease is the virulence factor of many pathogens. However, there are no prevailing data available for serine protease as a virulence factor derived from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). The MAP3292c gene from MAP, the predicted serine protease, was expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized by biochemical methods. MAP3292c protein efficiently hydrolyzed casein at optimal temperature and pH of 41 °C and 9.0, respectively. Furthermore, divalent metal ions of Ca2+ significantly promoted the protease activity of MAP3292c, and MAP3292c had autocleavage activity between serine 86 and asparagine 87. Site-directed mutagenesis studies showed that the serine 238 residue had catalytic roles in MAP3292c. Furthermore, a BALB/c mouse model confirmed that MAP3292c significantly promoted the survival of Mycobacterium smegmatis in vivo; caused damage to the liver, spleen, and lung; and promoted the release of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in mice. Finally, we confirmed that MAP3292c was relevant to mycobacterial pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxiu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 678 Haping Street, Harbin, 150069, PR China
| | - Guanghui Dang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 678 Haping Street, Harbin, 150069, PR China
| | - Xinxin Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 678 Haping Street, Harbin, 150069, PR China
| | - Zhuming Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 678 Haping Street, Harbin, 150069, PR China
| | - Ziyin Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 678 Haping Street, Harbin, 150069, PR China
| | - Ningning Song
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 678 Haping Street, Harbin, 150069, PR China
| | - Siguo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 678 Haping Street, Harbin, 150069, PR China.
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15
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Erban T, Zitek J, Bodrinova M, Talacko P, Bartos M, Hrabak J. Comprehensive proteomic analysis of exoproteins expressed by ERIC I, II, III and IV Paenibacillus larvae genotypes reveals a wide range of virulence factors. Virulence 2019; 10:363-375. [PMID: 30957692 PMCID: PMC6527061 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2019.1603133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
American foulbrood is a quarantine disease of the honeybee Apis mellifera L. in many countries and contributes greatly to colony losses. We performed a label-free proteomics study of exoprotein fractions produced in vitro by Paenibacillus larvae reference strains of the ERIC I-IV genotypes. A quantitative comparison was performed of previous studied protein-based virulence factors and many newly identified putative virulence factors. Among the multiple proteases identified, key virulence factors included the microbial collagenase ColA and immune inhibitor A (InhA, an analog of the Bacillus thuringiensis protein InhA). Both of these virulence factors were detected in ERICs II-IV but were absent from ERIC I. Furthermore, the different S-layer proteins and polysaccharide deacetylases prevailed in ERICs II-IV. Thus, the expression patterns of these virulence factors corresponded with the different speeds at which honeybee larvae are known to be killed by ERICs II-IV compared to ERIC I. In addition, putative novel toxin-like proteins were identified, including vegetative insecticidal protein Vip1, a mosquitocidal toxin, and epsilon-toxin type B, which exhibit similarity to homologs present in Bacillus thuringiensis or Lysinibacillus sphaericus. Furthermore, a putative bacteriocin similar to Lactococcin 972 was identified in all assayed genotypes. It appears that P. larvae shares virulence factors similar to those of the Bacillus cereus group. Overall, the results provide novel information regarding P. larvae virulence potential, and a comprehensive exoprotein comparison of all four ERICs was performed for the first time. The identification of novel virulence factors can explain differences in the virulence of isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Erban
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Laboratory, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - Justyna Zitek
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Laboratory, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 2, Czechia
| | - Miroslava Bodrinova
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Laboratory, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - Pavel Talacko
- Proteomics Core Facility, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czechia
| | - Milan Bartos
- BioVendor – Laboratorni medicina a.s., Brno, Czechia
| | - Jaroslav Hrabak
- Laboratory of Antibiotic Resistance and Applications of Mass Spectrometry in Microbiology, Biomedical Center and Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine in Plzen, Charles University, Plzen, Czechia
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16
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Liu Y, Zeng Y, Huang Y, Gu L, Wang S, Li C, Morrison DA, Deng H, Zhang JR. HtrA-mediated selective degradation of DNA uptake apparatus accelerates termination of pneumococcal transformation. Mol Microbiol 2019; 112:1308-1325. [PMID: 31396996 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Natural transformation mediates horizontal gene transfer, and thereby promotes exchange of antibiotic resistance and virulence traits among bacteria. Streptococcus pneumoniae, the first known transformable bacterium, rapidly activates and then terminates the transformation state, but it is unclear how the bacterium accomplishes this rapid turn-around at the protein level. This work determined the transcriptomic and proteomic dynamics during the window of pneumococcal transformation. RNA sequencing revealed a nearly uniform temporal pattern of rapid transcriptional activation and subsequent shutdown for the genes encoding transformation proteins. In contrast, mass spectrometry analysis showed that the majority of transformation proteins were substantially preserved beyond the window of transformation. However, ComEA and ComEC, major components of the DNA uptake apparatus for transformation, were completely degraded at the end of transformation. Further mutagenesis screening revealed that the membrane-associated serine protease HtrA mediates selective degradation of ComEA and ComEC, strongly suggesting that breakdown of the DNA uptake apparatus by HtrA is an important mechanism for termination of pneumococcal transformation. Finally, our mutagenesis analysis showed that HtrA inhibits natural transformation of Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus gordonii. Together, this work has revealed that HtrA regulates the level and duration of natural transformation in multiple streptococcal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanni Liu
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuna Zeng
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yijia Huang
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Lixiao Gu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Shaolin Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunhao Li
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Donald A Morrison
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Haiteng Deng
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Ren Zhang
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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17
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Schmidt AM, Escher U, Mousavi S, Boehm M, Backert S, Bereswill S, Heimesaat MM. Protease Activity of Campylobacter jejuni HtrA Modulates Distinct Intestinal and Systemic Immune Responses in Infected Secondary Abiotic IL-10 Deficient Mice. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:79. [PMID: 30984628 PMCID: PMC6449876 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Even though human Campylobacter jejuni infections are progressively increasing worldwide, the underlying molecular mechanisms of pathogen-host-interactions are still not fully understood. We have recently shown that the secreted serine protease HtrA plays a key role in C. jejuni cellular invasion and transepithelial migration in vitro, and is involved in the onset of intestinal pathology in murine infection models in vivo. In the present study, we investigated whether the protease activity of HtrA had an impact in C. jejuni induced acute enterocolitis. For this purpose, we perorally infected secondary abiotic IL-10-/- mice with wildtype C. jejuni strain NCTC11168 (11168WT) or isogenic bacteria carrying protease-inactive HtrA with a single point mutation at S197A in the active center (11168HtrA-S197A). Irrespective of the applied pathogenic strain, mice harbored similar C. jejuni loads in their feces and exhibited comparably severe macroscopic signs of acute enterocolitis at day 6 postinfection (p.i.). Interestingly, the 11168HtrA-S197A infected mice displayed less pronounced colonic apoptosis and immune cell responses, but enhanced epithelial proliferation as compared to the 11168WT strain infected controls. Furthermore, less distinct microscopic sequelae in 11168HtrA-S197A as compared to parental strain infected mice were accompanied by less distinct colonic secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as MCP-1, IL-6, TNF, and IFN-γ in the former as compared to the latter. Strikingly, the S197A point mutation was additionally associated with less pronounced systemic pro-inflammatory immune responses as assessed in serum samples. In conclusion, HtrA is a remarkable novel virulence determinant of C. jejuni, whose protease activity is not required for intestinal colonization and establishment of disease, but aggravates campylobacteriosis by triggering apoptosis and pro-inflammatory immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maria Schmidt
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Escher
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Soraya Mousavi
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Manja Boehm
- Department of Biology, Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan Bereswill
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Markus M Heimesaat
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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18
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Hsu CF, Hsiao CH, Tseng SF, Chen JR, Liao YJ, Chen SJ, Lin CS, Sytwu HK, Chuang YP. PrtA immunization fails to protect against pulmonary and invasive infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Respir Res 2018; 19:187. [PMID: 30253765 PMCID: PMC6157060 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-018-0895-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Streptococcus pneumoniae is a respiratory pathogen causing severe lung infection that may lead to complications such as bacteremia. Current polysaccharide vaccines have limited serotype coverage and therefore cannot provide maximal and long-term protection. Global efforts are being made to develop a conserved protein vaccine candidate. PrtA, a pneumococcal surface protein, was identified by screening a pneumococcal genomic expression library using convalescent patient serum. The prtA gene is prevalent and conserved among S. pneumoniae strains. Its protective efficacy, however, has not been described. Mucosal immunization could sensitize both local and systemic immunity, which would be an ideal scenario for preventing S. pneumoniae infection. Methods We immunized BALB/c mice intranasally with a combination of a PrtA fragment (amino acids 144–1041) and Th17 potentiated adjuvant, curdlan. We then measured the T-cell and antibody responses. The protective efficacy conferred to the immunized mice was further evaluated using a murine model of acute pneumococcal pneumonia and pneumococcal bacteremia. Results There was a profound antigen-specific IL-17A and IFN-γ response in PrtA-immunized mice compared with that of adjuvant control group. Even though PrtA-specific IgG and IgA titer in sera was elevated in immunized mice, only a moderate IgA response was observed in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The PrtA-immunized antisera facilitated the activated murine macrophage, RAW264.7, to opsonophagocytose S. pneumoniae D39 strain; however, PrtA-specific immunoglobulins bound to pneumococcal surfaces with a limited potency. Finally, PrtA-induced immune reactions failed to protect mice against S. pneumoniae-induced acute pneumonia and bacterial propagation through the blood. Conclusions Immunization with recombinant PrtA combined with curdlan produced antigen-specific antibodies and elicited IL-17A response. However, it failed to protect the mice against S. pneumoniae-induced infection. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12931-018-0895-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Fang Hsu
- Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.,Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Hao Hsiao
- Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shun-Fu Tseng
- Department and Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jian-Ru Chen
- Department and Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jou Liao
- Department and Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sy-Jou Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Sheng Lin
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Huey-Kang Sytwu
- Department and Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.,National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ping Chuang
- Department and Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
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19
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Streptococcus pneumoniae two-component regulatory systems: The interplay of the pneumococcus with its environment. Int J Med Microbiol 2018; 308:722-737. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2017.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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20
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Boehm M, Simson D, Escher U, Schmidt AM, Bereswill S, Tegtmeyer N, Backert S, Heimesaat MM. Function of Serine Protease HtrA in the Lifecycle of the Foodborne Pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2018; 8:70-77. [PMID: 30345086 PMCID: PMC6186014 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2018.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni is a major food-borne zoonotic pathogen, responsible for a large proportion of bacterial gastroenteritis cases, as well as Guillian-Barré and Miller-Fisher syndromes. During infection, tissue damage is mainly caused by bacteria invading epithelial cells and traversing the intestinal barrier. C. jejuni is able to enter the lamina propria and the bloodstream and may move into other organs, such as spleen, liver, or mesenteric lymph nodes. However, the involved molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. C. jejuni can transmigrate effectively across polarized intestinal epithelial cells mainly by the paracellular route using the serine protease high-temperature requirement A (HtrA). However, it appears that HtrA has a dual function, as it also acts as a chaperone, interacting with denatured or misfolded periplasmic proteins under stress conditions. Here, we review recent progress on the role of HtrA in C. jejuni pathogenesis. HtrA can be transported into the extracellular space and cleaves cell-to-cell junction factors, such as E-cadherin and probably others, disrupting the epithelial barrier and enabling paracellular transmigration of the bacteria. The secretion of HtrA is a newly discovered strategy also utilized by other pathogens. Thus, secreted HtrA proteases represent highly attractive targets for anti-bacterial treatment and may provide a suitable candidate for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manja Boehm
- Department of Biology, Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Daniel Simson
- Department of Biology, Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Escher
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna-Maria Schmidt
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Bereswill
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Department of Biology, Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus M Heimesaat
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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21
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Backert S, Bernegger S, Skórko-Glonek J, Wessler S. Extracellular HtrA serine proteases: An emerging new strategy in bacterial pathogenesis. Cell Microbiol 2018; 20:e12845. [PMID: 29582532 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The HtrA family of chaperones and serine proteases is important for regulating stress responses and controlling protein quality in the periplasm of bacteria. HtrA is also associated with infectious diseases since inactivation of htrA genes results in significantly reduced virulence properties by various bacterial pathogens. These virulence features of HtrA can be attributed to reduced fitness of the bacteria, higher susceptibility to environmental stress and/or diminished secretion of virulence factors. In some Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens, HtrA itself can be exposed to the extracellular environment promoting bacterial colonisation and invasion of host tissues. Most of our knowledge on the function of exported HtrAs stems from research on Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter jejuni, Borrelia burgdorferi, Bacillus anthracis, and Chlamydia species. Here, we discuss recent progress showing that extracellular HtrAs are able to cleave cell-to-cell junction factors including E-cadherin, occludin, and claudin-8, as well as extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin, aggrecan, and proteoglycans, disrupting the epithelial barrier and producing substantial host cell damage. We propose that the export of HtrAs is a newly discovered strategy, also applied by additional bacterial pathogens. Consequently, exported HtrA proteases represent highly attractive targets for antibacterial treatment by inhibiting their proteolytic activity or application in vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sabine Bernegger
- Department of Biosciences, Division of Microbiology, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Joanna Skórko-Glonek
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Silja Wessler
- Department of Biosciences, Division of Microbiology, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
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22
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Kwon H, Yang H, Lee S, Nilojan J, Bathige SDNK, Nam BH, Wan Q, Lee J. Characterization of a Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor from black rockfish Sebastes schlegelii and its possible role in hepatic immune response. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 74:485-490. [PMID: 29305992 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.12.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Revised: 12/26/2017] [Accepted: 12/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Kazal-type serine protease inhibitors (KSPIs) play important roles in the regulation of endogenous proteases, cell development, blood coagulation, and immune response. In this study, we identified and characterized a KSPI homologue (SsKSPI) in black rockfish, Sebastes schlegelii. The full-length cDNA sequence of SsKSPI was 532 base pairs (bp), including an open reading frame (ORF) of 330 bp, which encodes a polypeptide of 110 amino acids with a signal peptide of 21 amino acids. The greatest value for identity (42.9%) and similarity (50.9%) was observed with Channa striata KSPI. We purified the recombinant protein of SsKSPI and performed protease inhibitory assays using three common serine proteases. The recombinant SsKSPI exhibited specific inhibitory activity against subtilisin A in a dose-dependent manner. Tissue distribution of SsKSPI mRNA has been examined amongst 10 important tissues in healthy rockfish and the liver was found to be the predominant expression organ of SsKSPI. The modulation of SsKSPI expression under immune challenges was also investigated in the liver. The SsKSPI mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated in response to both bacterial (Streptococcus iniae and lipopolysaccharide) and viral (polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid) challenges. Overall, we propose that SsKSPI is potentially involved in the hepatic immune response against bacterial and viral infections in black rockfish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyukjae Kwon
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyerim Yang
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongdo Lee
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Jehanathan Nilojan
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - S D N K Bathige
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Hye Nam
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, 408-1 Sirang-ri, Gijang-up, Gijang-gun, Busan, 46083 Republic of Korea
| | - Qiang Wan
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 63243, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jehee Lee
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 63243, Republic of Korea.
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23
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Abstract
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are important starter, commensal, or pathogenic microorganisms. The stress physiology of LAB has been studied in depth for over 2 decades, fueled mostly by the technological implications of LAB robustness in the food industry. Survival of probiotic LAB in the host and the potential relatedness of LAB virulence to their stress resilience have intensified interest in the field. Thus, a wealth of information concerning stress responses exists today for strains as diverse as starter (e.g., Lactococcus lactis), probiotic (e.g., several Lactobacillus spp.), and pathogenic (e.g., Enterococcus and Streptococcus spp.) LAB. Here we present the state of the art for LAB stress behavior. We describe the multitude of stresses that LAB are confronted with, and we present the experimental context used to study the stress responses of LAB, focusing on adaptation, habituation, and cross-protection as well as on self-induced multistress resistance in stationary phase, biofilms, and dormancy. We also consider stress responses at the population and single-cell levels. Subsequently, we concentrate on the stress defense mechanisms that have been reported to date, grouping them according to their direct participation in preserving cell energy, defending macromolecules, and protecting the cell envelope. Stress-induced responses of probiotic LAB and commensal/pathogenic LAB are highlighted separately due to the complexity of the peculiar multistress conditions to which these bacteria are subjected in their hosts. Induction of prophages under environmental stresses is then discussed. Finally, we present systems-based strategies to characterize the "stressome" of LAB and to engineer new food-related and probiotic LAB with improved stress tolerance.
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24
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HtrA Is Important for Stress Resistance and Virulence in Haemophilus parasuis. Infect Immun 2016; 84:2209-2219. [PMID: 27217419 PMCID: PMC4962635 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00147-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Haemophilus parasuis is an opportunistic pathogen that causes Glässer's disease in swine, with polyserositis, meningitis, and arthritis. The high-temperature requirement A (HtrA)-like protease, which is involved in protein quality control, has been reported to be a virulence factor in many pathogens. In this study, we showed that HtrA of H. parasuis (HpHtrA) exhibited both chaperone and protease activities. Finally, nickel import ATP-binding protein (NikE), periplasmic dipeptide transport protein (DppA), and outer membrane protein A (OmpA) were identified as proteolytic substrates for HpHtrA. The protease activity reached its maximum at 40°C in a time-dependent manner. Disruption of the htrA gene from strain SC1401 affected tolerance to temperature stress and resistance to complement-mediated killing. Furthermore, increased autoagglutination and biofilm formation were detected in the htrA mutant. In addition, the htrA mutant was significantly attenuated in virulence in the murine model of infection. Together, these data demonstrate that HpHtrA plays an important role in the virulence of H. parasuis.
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25
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Jhingan GD, Kumari S, Jamwal SV, Kalam H, Arora D, Jain N, Kumaar LK, Samal A, Rao KVS, Kumar D, Nandicoori VK. Comparative Proteomic Analyses of Avirulent, Virulent, and Clinical Strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Identify Strain-specific Patterns. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:14257-14273. [PMID: 27151218 PMCID: PMC4933181 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.666123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Revised: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an adaptable intracellular pathogen, existing in both dormant as well as active disease-causing states. Here, we report systematic proteomic analyses of four strains, H37Ra, H37Rv, and clinical isolates BND and JAL, to determine the differences in protein expression patterns that contribute to their virulence and drug resistance. Resolution of lysates of the four strains by liquid chromatography, coupled to mass spectrometry analysis, identified a total of 2161 protein groups covering ∼54% of the predicted M. tuberculosis proteome. Label-free quantification analysis of the data revealed 257 differentially expressed protein groups. The differentially expressed protein groups could be classified into seven K-means cluster bins, which broadly delineated strain-specific variations. Analysis of the data for possible mechanisms responsible for drug resistance phenotype of JAL suggested that it could be due to a combination of overexpression of proteins implicated in drug resistance and the other factors. Expression pattern analyses of transcription factors and their downstream targets demonstrated substantial differential modulation in JAL, suggesting a complex regulatory mechanism. Results showed distinct variations in the protein expression patterns of Esx and mce1 operon proteins in JAL and BND strains, respectively. Abrogating higher levels of ESAT6, an important Esx protein known to be critical for virulence, in the JAL strain diminished its virulence, although it had marginal impact on the other strains. Taken together, this study reveals that strain-specific variations in protein expression patterns have a meaningful impact on the biology of the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gagan Deep Jhingan
- National Institute of Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067
| | - Sangeeta Kumari
- National Institute of Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067
| | - Shilpa V Jamwal
- Drug Discovery Research Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana 121004
| | - Haroon Kalam
- Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067
| | - Divya Arora
- National Institute of Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067
| | - Neharika Jain
- Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067
| | | | - Areejit Samal
- Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai 600113, India
| | - Kanury V S Rao
- Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067
| | - Dhiraj Kumar
- Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067
| | - Vinay Kumar Nandicoori
- National Institute of Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067.
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Mahdi LK, Van der Hoek MB, Ebrahimie E, Paton JC, Ogunniyi AD. Characterization of Pneumococcal Genes Involved in Bloodstream Invasion in a Mouse Model. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141816. [PMID: 26539717 PMCID: PMC4634996 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) continues to account for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, causing life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia, bacteremia and meningitis, as well as less serious infections such as sinusitis, conjunctivitis and otitis media. Current polysaccharide vaccines are strictly serotype-specific and also drive the emergence of non-vaccine serotype strains. In this study, we used microarray analysis to compare gene expression patterns of either serotype 4 or serotype 6A pneumococci in the nasopharynx and blood of mice, as a model to identify genes involved in invasion of blood in the context of occult bacteremia in humans. In this manner, we identified 26 genes that were significantly up-regulated in the nasopharynx and 36 genes that were significantly up-regulated in the blood that were common to both strains. Gene Ontology classification revealed that transporter and DNA binding (transcription factor) activities constitute the significantly different molecular functional categories for genes up-regulated in the nasopharynx and blood. Targeted mutagenesis of selected genes from both niches and subsequent virulence and pathogenesis studies identified the manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (SodA) as most likely to be essential for colonization, and the cell wall-associated serine protease (PrtA) as important for invasion of blood. This work extends our previous analyses and suggests that both PrtA and SodA warrant examination in future studies aimed at prevention and/or control of pneumococcal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla K. Mahdi
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Mark B. Van der Hoek
- Adelaide Microarray Centre, The University of Adelaide and SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Esmaeil Ebrahimie
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - James C. Paton
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Abiodun D. Ogunniyi
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- * E-mail:
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27
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Feldman C, Anderson R. Review: Current and new generation pneumococcal vaccines. J Infect 2014; 69:309-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2014.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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28
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Heimesaat MM, Alutis M, Grundmann U, Fischer A, Tegtmeyer N, Böhm M, Kühl AA, Göbel UB, Backert S, Bereswill S. The role of serine protease HtrA in acute ulcerative enterocolitis and extra-intestinal immune responses during Campylobacter jejuni infection of gnotobiotic IL-10 deficient mice. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2014; 4:77. [PMID: 24959425 PMCID: PMC4050650 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2014.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni infections have a high prevalence worldwide and represent a significant socioeconomic burden. C. jejuni can cross the intestinal epithelial barrier as visualized in biopsies derived from human patients and animal models, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms and associated immunopathology are still not well understood. We have recently shown that the secreted serine protease HtrA (high temperature requirement A) plays a key role in C. jejuni cellular invasion and transmigration across polarized epithelial cells in vitro. In the present in vivo study we investigated the role of HtrA during C. jejuni infection of mice. We used the gnotobiotic IL-10−/− mouse model to study campylobacteriosis following peroral infection with the C. jejuni wild-type (WT) strain NCTC11168 and the isogenic, non-polar NCTC11168ΔhtrA deletion mutant. Six days post infection (p.i.) with either strain mice harbored comparable intestinal C. jejuni loads, whereas ulcerative enterocolitis was less pronounced in mice infected with the ΔhtrA mutant strain. Moreover, ΔhtrA mutant infected mice displayed lower apoptotic cell numbers in the large intestinal mucosa, less colonic accumulation of neutrophils, macrophages and monocytes, lower large intestinal nitric oxide, IFN-γ, and IL-6 as well as lower TNF-α and IL-6 serum concentrations as compared to WT strain infected mice at day 6 p.i. Notably, immunopathological responses were not restricted to the intestinal tract given that liver and kidneys exhibited mild histopathological changes 6 days p.i. with either C. jejuni strain. We also found that hepatic and renal nitric oxide levels or renal TNF-α concentrations were lower in the ΔhtrA mutant as compared to WT strain infected mice. In conclusion, we show here that the C. jejuni HtrA protein plays a pivotal role in inducing host cell apoptosis and immunopathology during murine campylobacteriosis in the gut in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus M Heimesaat
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Marie Alutis
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Ursula Grundmann
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - André Fischer
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Erlangen, Germany
| | - Manja Böhm
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anja A Kühl
- Department of Medicine I for Gastroenterology, Infectious Disease and Rheumatology/Research Center ImmunoSciences, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf B Göbel
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan Bereswill
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
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