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Anastácio S, de Sousa SR, Saavedra MJ, da Silva GJ. Role of Goats in the Epidemiology of Coxiella burnetii. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11121703. [PMID: 36552213 PMCID: PMC9774940 DOI: 10.3390/biology11121703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Since its first description in the late 1930s, Q fever has raised many questions. Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent, is a zoonotic pathogen affecting a wide range of hosts. This airborne organism leads to an obligate, intracellular lifecycle, during which it multiplies in the mononuclear cells of the immune system and in the trophoblasts of the placenta in pregnant females. Although some issues about C. burnetii and its pathogenesis in animals remain unclear, over the years, some experimental studies on Q fever have been conducted in goats given their excretion pattern. Goats play an important role in the epidemiology and economics of C. burnetii infections, also being the focus of several epidemiological studies. Additionally, variants of the agent implicated in human long-term disease have been found circulating in goats. The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest research on C. burnetii infection and the role played by goats in the transmission of the infection to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Anastácio
- Vasco da Gama Research Centre (CIVG), Department of Veterinary Sciences, Vasco da Gama University School, Avenida José R. Sousa Fernandes 197 Lordemão, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center of Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Health Science Campus, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Sérgio Ramalho de Sousa
- Vasco da Gama Research Centre (CIVG), Department of Veterinary Sciences, Vasco da Gama University School, Avenida José R. Sousa Fernandes 197 Lordemão, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria José Saavedra
- Laboratory Medical Microbiology—Antimicrobials, Biocides and Biofilms Unit, Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Centre for the Research and Technology Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences and Inov4Agro—Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Gabriela Jorge da Silva
- Center of Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Health Science Campus, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
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Ullah Q, Jamil T, Saqib M, Iqbal M, Neubauer H. Q Fever—A Neglected Zoonosis. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081530. [PMID: 36013948 PMCID: PMC9416428 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Q fever remains a neglected zoonosis in many developing countries including Pakistan. The causing agent Coxiella (C.) burnetii is resistant to environmental factors (such as drying, heat and many disinfectants), resulting in a long-lasting infection risk for both human and animals. As the infection is usually asymptomatic, it mostly remains undiagnosed in animals until and unless adverse pregnancy outcomes occur in a herd. In humans, the infection leads to severe endocarditis and vascular infection in chronic cases. Limited data are available on molecular epidemiology and evolution of this pathogen, especially in ruminants. Genomic studies will help speculating outbreak relationships in this scenario. Likewise, pathogenesis of C. burnetii needs to be explored by molecular studies. Awareness programs and ensuring pasteurization of the dairy milk before human consumption would help preventing Q fever zoonosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qudrat Ullah
- Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Dera Ismail Khan 29111, Pakistan
- Correspondence: (Q.U.); (T.J.); (M.S.)
| | - Tariq Jamil
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 07743 Jena, Germany;
- Correspondence: (Q.U.); (T.J.); (M.S.)
| | - Muhammad Saqib
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
- Correspondence: (Q.U.); (T.J.); (M.S.)
| | - Mudassar Iqbal
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan;
| | - Heinrich Neubauer
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 07743 Jena, Germany;
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Zhang P, Jiao J, Zhao Y, Fu M, Wang J, Song Y, Zhou D, Wang Y, Wen B, Yang R, Xiong X. Development and evaluation of an up-converting phosphor technology-based lateral flow assay for rapid and quantitative detection of Coxiella burnetii phase I strains. BMC Microbiol 2020; 20:251. [PMID: 32787788 PMCID: PMC7425161 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-020-01934-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium that causes a zoonotic disease commonly called Q fever globally. In this study, an up-converting phosphor technology-based lateral flow (UPT-LF) assay was established for the rapid and specific detection of phase I strains of C. burnetii. Results Specific monoclonal antibodies (10B5 and 10G7) against C. burnetii phase I strains were prepared and selected for use in the UPT-LF assay by the double-antibody-sandwich method. The detection sensitivity of the Coxiella-UPT-LF was 5 × 104 GE/ml for a purified C. burnetii phase I strain and 10 ng/ml for LPS of C. burnetii Nine Mile phase I (NMI). Good linearity was observed for C. burnetii phase I and NMI LPS quantification (R2 ≥ 0.989). The UPT-LF assay also exhibited a high specificity to C. burnetii, without false-positive results even at 108 GE/ml of non-specific bacteria, and good inclusivity for detecting different phase I strains of C. burnetii. Moreover, the performance of the Coxiella-UPT-LF assay was further confirmed using experimentally and naturally infected samples. Conclusions Our results indicate that Coxiella-UPT-LF is a sensitive and reliable method for rapid screening of C. burnetii, suitable for on-site detection in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of POCT for Bio-emergency and Clinic (No.BZ0329), Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Jun Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of POCT for Bio-emergency and Clinic (No.BZ0329), Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of POCT for Bio-emergency and Clinic (No.BZ0329), Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Mengjiao Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of POCT for Bio-emergency and Clinic (No.BZ0329), Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Jin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of POCT for Bio-emergency and Clinic (No.BZ0329), Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yajun Song
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of POCT for Bio-emergency and Clinic (No.BZ0329), Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of POCT for Bio-emergency and Clinic (No.BZ0329), Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yongqiang Wang
- Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Bohai Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of POCT for Bio-emergency and Clinic (No.BZ0329), Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China. .,Beijing Key Laboratory of POCT for Bio-emergency and Clinic (No.BZ0329), Beijing, P. R. China.
| | - Xiaolu Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China. .,Beijing Key Laboratory of POCT for Bio-emergency and Clinic (No.BZ0329), Beijing, P. R. China.
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Dresler J, Klimentova J, Pajer P, Salovska B, Fucikova AM, Chmel M, Schmoock G, Neubauer H, Mertens-Scholz K. Quantitative Proteome Profiling of Coxiella burnetii Reveals Major Metabolic and Stress Differences Under Axenic and Cell Culture Cultivation. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2022. [PMID: 31620097 PMCID: PMC6759588 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of the zoonotic disease Q fever. To date, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the only defined and characterized virulence determinant of C. burnetii. In this study, proteome profiles of C. burnetii Nine Mile phase I (RSA 493, NMI) and its isogenic Nine Mile phase II (RSA 439 NMII) isolate with a deep rough LPS were compared on L-929 mouse fibroblasts and in complex (ACCM-2), and defined (ACCM-D) media. Whole proteome extracts were analyzed using a label-free quantification approach. Between 659 and 1,046 C. burnetii proteins of the 2,132 annotated coding sequences (CDS) were identified in any particular experiment. Proteome profiles clustered according to the cultivation conditions used, indicating different regulation patterns. NMI proteome profiles compared to NMII in ACCM-D indicate transition from an exponential to a stationary phase. The levels of regulatory proteins such as RpoS, CsrA2, UspA1, and UspA2 were increased. Comparison of the oxidative stress response of NMI and NMII indicated that ACCM-2 represents a high oxidative stress environment. Expression of peroxidases, superoxide dismutases, as well as thioredoxins was increased for NMI. In contrast, in ACCM-D, only osmoregulation seems to be necessary. Proteome profiles of NMII do not differ and indicate that both axenic media represent similar oxidative stress environments. Deep rough LPS causes changes of the outer membrane stability and fluidity. This might be one reason for the observed differences. Proteins associated with the T4SS and Sec translocon as well as several effector proteins were detectable under all three conditions. Interestingly, none of these putatively secreted proteins are upregulated in ACCM-2 compared to ACCM-D, and L-929 mouse fibroblasts. Curiously, a higher similarity of proteomic patterns (overlapping up- and downregulated proteins) of ACCM-D and bacteria grown in cell culture was observed. Particularly, the proteins involved in a better adaptation or homeostasis in response to the harsh environment of the parasitophorous vacuole were demonstrated for NMI. This semi-quantitative proteomic analysis of C. burnetii compared axenically grown bacteria to those propagated in cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jana Klimentova
- Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defence, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
| | - Petr Pajer
- Military Health Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - Barbora Salovska
- Department of Genome Integrity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | | | - Martin Chmel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Military University Hospital Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Gernot Schmoock
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany
| | - Heinrich Neubauer
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany
| | - Katja Mertens-Scholz
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany
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Viable Coxiella burnetii Induces Differential Cytokine Responses in Chronic Q Fever Patients Compared to Heat-Killed Coxiella burnetii. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00333-18. [PMID: 30037794 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00333-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytokine responses of chronic Q fever patients to the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii have mostly been studied using ex vivo stimulation of immune cells with heat-killed C. burnetii due to the extensive measures needed to work with viable biosafety level 3 agents. Whether research with heat-killed C. burnetii can be translated to immune responses to viable C. burnetii is imperative for the interpretation of previous and future studies with heat-killed C. burnetii Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of chronic Q fever patients (n = 10) and healthy controls (n = 10) were stimulated with heat-killed or viable C. burnetii of two strains, Nine Mile and the Dutch outbreak strain 3262, for 24 h, 48 h, and 7 days in the absence or presence of serum containing anti-C. burnetii antibodies. When stimulated with viable C. burnetii, PBMCs of chronic Q fever patients and controls produced fewer proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-1β) after 24 h than after stimulation with heat-killed C. burnetii In the presence of Q fever seronegative serum, IL-10 production was higher after stimulation with viable rather than heat-killed C. burnetii; however, when incubating with anti-C. burnetii antibody serum, the effect on IL-10 production was reduced. Levels of adaptive, merely T-cell-derived cytokine (gamma interferon, IL-17, and IL-22) and CXCL9 production were not different between heat-killed and viable C. burnetii stimulatory conditions. Results from previous and future research with heat-killed C. burnetii should be interpreted with caution for innate cytokines, but heat-killed C. burnetii-induced adaptive cytokine production is representative of stimulation with viable bacteria.
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Sanchez SE, Vallejo-Esquerra E, Omsland A. Use of Axenic Culture Tools to StudyCoxiella burnetii. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 50:e52. [DOI: 10.1002/cpmc.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Savannah E. Sanchez
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University; Pullman Washington
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University; Pullman Washington
| | - Eduardo Vallejo-Esquerra
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University; Pullman Washington
| | - Anders Omsland
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University; Pullman Washington
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Abnave P, Muracciole X, Ghigo E. Coxiella burnetii Lipopolysaccharide: What Do We Know? Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18122509. [PMID: 29168790 PMCID: PMC5751112 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18122509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A small gram-negative bacterium, Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), is responsible for a zoonosis called Q fever. C. burnetii is an intracellular bacterium that can survive inside microbicidal cells like monocytes and macrophages by hijacking several functions of the immune system. Among several virulence factors, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of C. burnetii is one of the major factors involved in this immune hijacking because of its atypical composition and structure. Thus, the aim of this mini-review is to summarize the repressive effects of C. burnetii LPS on the antibacterial immunity of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasad Abnave
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tinbergen Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
| | - Xavier Muracciole
- Department of Radiotherapy Oncology, CHU de la Timone, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux Marseille, 13385 Marseille, France.
| | - Eric Ghigo
- Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), Institut Hospitalier Universitaire Méditerranée-Infection, 19-21 Bd Jean Moulin, CEDEX 05, 13385 Marseille, France.
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8
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Kuley R, Kuijt E, Smits MA, Roest HIJ, Smith HE, Bossers A. Genome Plasticity and Polymorphisms in Critical Genes Correlate with Increased Virulence of Dutch Outbreak-Related Coxiella burnetii Strains. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1526. [PMID: 28848533 PMCID: PMC5554327 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular bacterium and the etiological agent of Q fever. During 2007-2010 the largest Q fever outbreak ever reported occurred in The Netherlands. It is anticipated that strains from this outbreak demonstrated an increased zoonotic potential as more than 40,000 individuals were assumed to be infected. The acquisition of novel genetic factors by these C. burnetii outbreak strains, such as virulence-related genes, has frequently been proposed and discussed, but is not proved yet. In the present study, the whole genome sequence of several Dutch strains (CbNL01 and CbNL12 genotypes), a few additionally selected strains from different geographical locations and publicly available genome sequences were used for a comparative bioinformatics approach. The study focuses on the identification of specific genetic differences in the outbreak related CbNL01 strains compared to other C. burnetii strains. In this approach we investigated the phylogenetic relationship and genomic aspects of virulence and host-specificity. Phylogenetic clustering of whole genome sequences showed a genotype-specific clustering that correlated with the clustering observed using Multiple Locus Variable-number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA). Ortholog analysis on predicted genes and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis of complete genome sequences demonstrated the presence of genotype-specific gene contents and SNP variations in C. burnetii strains. It also demonstrated that the currently used MLVA genotyping methods are highly discriminatory for the investigated outbreak strains. In the fully reconstructed genome sequence of the Dutch outbreak NL3262 strain of the CbNL01 genotype, a relatively large number of transposon-linked genes were identified as compared to the other published complete genome sequences of C. burnetii. Additionally, large numbers of SNPs in its membrane proteins and predicted virulence-associated genes were identified in all Dutch outbreak strains compared to the NM reference strain and other strains of the CbNL12 genotype. The presence of large numbers of transposable elements and mutated genes, thereof most likely resulted in high level of genome rearrangements and genotype-specific pathogenicity of outbreak strains. Thus, the epidemic potential of Dutch outbreak strains could be linked to increased genome plasticity and mutations in critical genes involved in virulence and the evasion of the host immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runa Kuley
- Department of Infection Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary ResearchLelystad, Netherlands
- Host Microbe Interactomics, Wageningen University and Research CentreWageningen, Netherlands
| | - Eric Kuijt
- Department of Infection Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary ResearchLelystad, Netherlands
| | - Mari A. Smits
- Department of Infection Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary ResearchLelystad, Netherlands
- Host Microbe Interactomics, Wageningen University and Research CentreWageningen, Netherlands
| | - Hendrik I. J. Roest
- Department of Bacteriology and Epidemiology, Wageningen Bioveterinary ResearchLelystad, Netherlands
| | - Hilde E. Smith
- Department of Infection Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary ResearchLelystad, Netherlands
| | - Alex Bossers
- Department of Infection Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary ResearchLelystad, Netherlands
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Mori M, Mertens K, Cutler SJ, Santos AS. Critical Aspects for Detection of Coxiella burnetii. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 17:33-41. [PMID: 28055578 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.1958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is a globally distributed zoonotic γ-proteobacterium with an obligatory intracellular lifestyle. It is the causative agent of Q fever in humans and of coxiellosis among ruminants, although the agent is also detected in ticks, birds, and various other mammalian species. Requirements for intracellular multiplication together with the necessity for biosafety level 3 facilities restrict the cultivation of C. burnetii to specialized laboratories. Development of a novel medium formulation enabling axenic growth of C. burnetii has facilitated fundamental genetic studies. This review provides critical insights into direct diagnostic methods currently available for C. burnetii. It encompasses molecular detection methods, isolation, and propagation of the bacteria and its genetic characterization. Differentiation of C. burnetii from Coxiella-like organisms is an essential diagnostic prerequisite, particularly when handling and analyzing ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Mori
- 1 Bacterial Zoonoses of Livestock, Operational Directorate Bacterial Diseases, Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre, CODA-CERVA , Brussels, Belgium .,2 Belgian Reference Centre for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella , Brussels, Belgium
| | - Katja Mertens
- 3 Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute for Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses , Jena, Germany
| | | | - Ana Sofia Santos
- 5 Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge , Águas de Moura, Portugal
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Vallejo Esquerra E, Yang H, Sanchez SE, Omsland A. Physicochemical and Nutritional Requirements for Axenic Replication Suggest Physiological Basis for Coxiella burnetii Niche Restriction. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:190. [PMID: 28620582 PMCID: PMC5449765 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial obligate intracellular parasites are clinically significant animal and human pathogens. Central to the biology of these organisms is their level of adaptation to intracellular replication niches associated with physicochemical and nutritional constraints. While most bacterial pathogens can adapt to a wide range of environments, severe niche restriction-an inability to thrive in diverse environments-is a hallmark of bacterial obligate intracellular parasites. Herein the physicochemical and nutritional factors underlying the physiological basis for niche restriction in the zoonotic bacterial obligate intracellular parasite and Q fever agent Coxiella burnetii are characterized. Additionally, these factors are reviewed in the context of C. burnetii evolution and continued (patho) adaptation. C. burnetii replication was strictly dependent on a combination of moderately acidic pH, reduced oxygen tension, and presence of carbon dioxide. Of macronutrients, amino acids alone support replication under physicochemically favorable conditions. In addition to utilizing gluconeogenic substrates for replication, C. burnetii can also utilize glucose to generate biomass. A mutant with a disruption in the gene pckA, encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), the first committed step in gluconeogenesis, could be complemented chemically by the addition of glucose. Disruption of pckA resulted in a moderate glucose-dependent growth defect during infection of cultured host cells. Although, C. burnetii has the theoretical capacity to synthesize essential core metabolites via glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, amino acid auxotrophy essentially restricts C. burnetii replication to a niche providing ample access to amino acids. Overall, the described combination of physiochemical and nutritional growth requirements are strong indicators for why C. burnetii favors an acidified phagolysosome-derived vacuole in respiring tissue for replication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Anders Omsland
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State UniversityPullman, WA, United States
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Larson CL, Martinez E, Beare PA, Jeffrey B, Heinzen RA, Bonazzi M. Right on Q: genetics begin to unravel Coxiella burnetii host cell interactions. Future Microbiol 2016; 11:919-39. [PMID: 27418426 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2016-0044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasion of macrophages and replication within an acidic and degradative phagolysosome-like vacuole are essential for disease pathogenesis by Coxiella burnetii, the bacterial agent of human Q fever. Previous experimental constraints imposed by the obligate intracellular nature of Coxiella limited knowledge of pathogen strategies that promote infection. Fortunately, new genetic tools facilitated by axenic culture now allow allelic exchange and transposon mutagenesis approaches for virulence gene discovery. Phenotypic screens have illuminated the critical importance of Coxiella's type 4B secretion system in host cell subversion and discovered genes encoding translocated effector proteins that manipulate critical infection events. Here, we highlight the cellular microbiology and genetics of Coxiella and how recent technical advances now make Coxiella a model organism to study macrophage parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles L Larson
- Coxiella Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Eric Martinez
- CNRS, FRE3698, CPBS, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France.,Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Paul A Beare
- Coxiella Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Brendan Jeffrey
- Bioinformatics & Computational Biosciences Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Robert A Heinzen
- Coxiella Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Matteo Bonazzi
- CNRS, FRE3698, CPBS, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France.,Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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13
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First Complete Genome Sequence of the Dutch Veterinary Coxiella burnetii Strain NL3262, Originating from the Largest Global Q Fever Outbreak, and Draft Genome Sequence of Its Epidemiologically Linked Chronic Human Isolate NLhu3345937. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2016; 4:4/2/e00245-16. [PMID: 27103714 PMCID: PMC4841129 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.00245-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The largest global Q fever outbreak occurred in The Netherlands during 2007 to 2010. Goats and sheep were identified as the major sources of disease. Here, we report the first complete genome sequence of Coxiella burnetii goat outbreak strain NL3262 and that of an epidemiologically linked chronic human strain, both having the outbreak-related CbNL01 multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) genotype.
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Li M, Ma Z, Zhu Y, Xia H, Yao M, Chu X, Wang X, Yang K, Yang M, Zhang Y, Mao C. Toward a Molecular Understanding of the Antibacterial Mechanism of Copper-Bearing Titanium Alloys against Staphylococcus aureus. Adv Healthc Mater 2016; 5:557-66. [PMID: 26692564 PMCID: PMC4785048 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201500712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Revised: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The antibacterial mechanism of the Cu-containing materials has not been fully understood although such understanding is crucial for the sustained clinical use of Cu-containing antibacterial materials such as bone implants. The aim of this study is to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus is inactivated through Cu-bearing titanium alloys (Ti6Al4V5Cu). Cu ions released from the alloys are found to contribute to lethal damage of bacteria. They destroy the permeability of the bacterial membranes, resulting in the leakage of reducing sugars and proteins from the cells. They also promote the generation of bacteria-killing reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ROS production is confirmed by several assays including fluorescent staining of intracellular oxidative stress, detection of respiratory chain activity, and measurement of the levels of lipid peroxidation, catalase, and glutathione. Furthermore, the released Cu ions show obvious genetic toxicity by interfering the replication of nuc (species-specific) and 16SrRNA genes, but with no effect on the genome integrity. All of these effects lead to the antibacterial effect of Ti6Al4V5Cu. Collectively, our work reconciles the conflicting antibacterial mechanisms of Cu-bearing metallic materials or nanoparticles reported in the literature and highlights the potential use of Ti6Al4V5Cu alloys in inhibiting bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Key Lab of Orthopaedic Technology and Implant Materials, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510010, China
- State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Zheng Ma
- Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, China
| | - Ye Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Hong Xia
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Key Lab of Orthopaedic Technology and Implant Materials, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510010, China
| | - Mengyu Yao
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Key Lab of Orthopaedic Technology and Implant Materials, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510010, China
| | - Xiao Chu
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Key Lab of Orthopaedic Technology and Implant Materials, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510010, China
| | - Xiaolan Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Key Lab of Orthopaedic Technology and Implant Materials, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510010, China
| | - Ke Yang
- Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, China
| | - Mingying Yang
- Institute of Applied Bioresource Research, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Yuhangtang Road 866, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Key Lab of Orthopaedic Technology and Implant Materials, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510010, China
| | - Chuanbin Mao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310027, China
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15
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Kuley R, Bossers-deVries R, Smith HE, Smits MA, Roest HIJ, Bossers A. Major differential gene regulation in Coxiella burnetii between in vivo and in vitro cultivation models. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:953. [PMID: 26572556 PMCID: PMC4647677 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2143-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of the zoonotic disease Q fever. As it is an intracellular pathogen, infection by C. burnetii requires adaptation to its eukaryotic host and intracellular environment. The recently developed cell-free medium also allows the bacteria to propagate without host cells, maintaining its infection potential. The adaptation to different hosts or extracellular environments has been assumed to involve genome-wide modulation of C. burnetii gene expression. However, little is currently known about these adaptation events which are critical for understanding the intracellular survival of C. burnetii. Results We studied C. burnetii genome–wide transcriptional patterns in vivo (mice spleen) and in cell and cell-free in vitro culture models to examine its metabolic pathways and virulence associated gene expression patterns that are required to colonize and persist in different environments. Within each model, the gene expression profiles of the Dutch C. burnetii outbreak strain (602) and NM reference strains were largely similar. In contrast, modulation of gene-expression was strongly influenced by the cultivation method, indicating adaptation of the bacterium to available components. Genome–wide expression profiles of C. burnetii from in vitro cell culture were more similar to those seen for in vivo conditions, while gene expression profiles of cell-free culture were more distant to in vivo. Under in vivo conditions, significant alterations of genes involved in metabolism and virulence were identified. We observed that C. burnetii under in vivo conditions predominantly uses glucose as a carbon source (mostly for biosynthetic processes) and fatty acids for energy generation. C. burnetii experienced nutrient limitation and anaerobiosis as major stressors, while phosphate limitation was identified as an important signal for intracellular growth inside eukaryotic host cells. Finally, the in vivo environment significantly induced expression of several virulence genes, including those implicated in LPS synthesis, colonization, host component modulation and DNA repair mechanisms. Conclusion Our study shows that C. burnetii, with its relative small genome, requires only a subset of core gene functions to survive under in vitro conditions, but requires the induction of full repertoire of genes for successful pathogenesis and thriving in harsh environments in vivo. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2143-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runa Kuley
- Department of Infection Biology, Central Veterinary Institute part of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands.,Host Microbe Interactomics, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ruth Bossers-deVries
- Department of Infection Biology, Central Veterinary Institute part of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde E Smith
- Department of Infection Biology, Central Veterinary Institute part of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Mari A Smits
- Department of Infection Biology, Central Veterinary Institute part of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands.,Host Microbe Interactomics, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrik I J Roest
- Department of Bacteriology and TSEs, Central Veterinary Institute part of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Alex Bossers
- Department of Infection Biology, Central Veterinary Institute part of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
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