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Rhodes KA, Rendón MA, Ma MC, Agellon A, Johnson AC, So M. Type IV pilus retraction is required for Neisseria musculi colonization and persistence in a natural mouse model of infection. mBio 2024; 15:e0279223. [PMID: 38084997 PMCID: PMC10790696 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02792-23] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE We describe the importance of Type IV pilus retraction to colonization and persistence by a mouse commensal Neisseria, N. musculi, in its native host. Our findings have implications for the role of Tfp retraction in mediating interactions of human-adapted pathogenic and commensal Neisseria with their human host due to the relatedness of these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Rhodes
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - María A. Rendón
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Man Cheong Ma
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Al Agellon
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Andrew C.E. Johnson
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Magdalene So
- Immunobiology Department, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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2
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Glieca S, Quarta E, Bottari B, Bancalari E, Monica S, Scaltriti E, Tambassi M, Flammini L, Bertoni S, Bianchera A, Fainardi V, Esposito S, Pisi G, Bettini R, Sonvico F, Buttini F. Development of inhalation powders containing lactic acid bacteria with antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 63:107001. [PMID: 37839715 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.107001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of the project was to develop and characterise powders containing a probiotic (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum [Lpb. plantarum], Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, or Lactobacillus acidophilus) to be administered to the lung for the containment of pathogen growth in patients with lung infections. METHODS The optimised spray drying process for the powder manufacturing was able to preserve viability of the bacteria, which decreased of only one log unit and was maintained up to 30 days. RESULTS Probiotic powders showed a high respirability (42%-50% of particles had a size < 5 µm) suitable for lung deposition and were proven safe on A549 and Calu-3 cells up to a concentration of 107 colony-forming units/mL. The Lpb. plantarum adhesion to both cell lines tested was at least 10%. Surprisingly, Lpb. plantarum powder was bactericidal at a concentration of 106 colony-forming units/mL on P. aeruginosa, whereas the other two strains were bacteriostatic. CONCLUSION This work represents a promising starting point to consider a probiotic inhalation powder a value in keeping the growth of pathogenic microflora in check during the antibiotic inhalation therapy suspension in cystic fibrosis treatment regimen. This approach could also be advantageous for interfering competitively with pathogenic bacteria and promoting the restoration of the healthy microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eride Quarta
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Saverio Monica
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Erika Scaltriti
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, Parma, Italy
| | - Martina Tambassi
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, Parma, Italy
| | - Lisa Flammini
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Simona Bertoni
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Fainardi
- Paediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Susanna Esposito
- Paediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giovanna Pisi
- Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Paediatric Clinic, Az. Ospedaliera, Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Ruggero Bettini
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Interdepartmental Centre for Innovation in Health Products, Biopharmanet_TEC, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Fabio Sonvico
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Interdepartmental Centre for Innovation in Health Products, Biopharmanet_TEC, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Francesca Buttini
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Interdepartmental Centre for Innovation in Health Products, Biopharmanet_TEC, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
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3
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Wirtz D, Du W, Zhu J, Wu Y, Kiemen A, Wan Z, Hanna E, Sun S. Mechano-induced homotypic patterned domain formation by monocytes. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3372987. [PMID: 37790337 PMCID: PMC10543314 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3372987/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Matrix stiffness and corresponding mechano-signaling play indispensable roles in cellular phenotypes and functions. How tissue stiffness influences the behavior of monocytes, a major circulating leukocyte of the innate system, and how it may promote the emergence of collective cell behavior is less understood. Here, using tunable collagen-coated hydrogels of physiological stiffness, we show that human primary monocytes undergo a dynamic local phase separation to form highly regular, reversible, multicellular, multi-layered domains on soft matrix. Local activation of the β2 integrin initiates inter-cellular adhesion, while global soluble inhibitory factors maintain the steady state domain pattern over days. Patterned domain formation generated by monocytes is unique among other key immune cells, including macrophages, B cells, T cells, and NK cells. While inhibiting their phagocytic capability, domain formation promotes monocytes' survival. We develop a computational model based on the Cahn-Hilliard equation of phase separation, combined with a Turing mechanism of local activation and global inhibition suggested by our experiments, and provides experimentally validated predictions of the role of seeding density and both chemotactic and random cell migration on domain pattern formation. This work reveals that, unlike active matters, cells can generate complex cell phases by exploiting their mechanosensing abilities and combined short-range interactions and long-range signals to enhance their survival.
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4
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Seow VY, Tsygelnytska O, Biais N. Multisite transformation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: insights on transformations mechanisms and new genetic modification protocols. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1178128. [PMID: 37408636 PMCID: PMC10319059 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1178128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural transformation, or the uptake of naked DNA from the external milieu by bacteria, holds a unique place in the history of biology. This is both the beginning of the realization of the correct chemical nature of genes and the first technical step to the molecular biology revolution that sees us today able to modify genomes almost at will. Yet the mechanistic understanding of bacterial transformation still presents many blind spots and many bacterial systems lag behind power horse model systems like Escherichia coli in terms of ease of genetic modification. Using Neisseria gonorrhoeae as a model system and using transformation with multiple DNA molecules, we tackle in this paper both some aspects of the mechanistic nature of bacterial transformation and the presentation of new molecular biology techniques for this organism. We show that similarly to what has been demonstrated in other naturally competent bacteria, Neisseria gonorrhoeae can incorporate, at the same time, different DNA molecules modifying DNA at different loci within its genome. In particular, co-transformation of a DNA molecule bearing an antibiotic selection cassette and another non-selected DNA piece can lead to the integration of both molecules in the genome while selecting only through the selective cassette at percentages above 70%. We also show that successive selections with two selection markers at the same genetic locus can drastically reduce the number of genetic markers needed to do multisite genetic modifications in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Despite public health interest heightened with the recent rise in antibiotic resistance, the causative agent of gonorrhea still does not possess a plethora of molecular techniques. This paper will extend the techniques available to the Neisseria community while providing some insights into the mechanisms behind bacterial transformation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. We are providing a suite of new techniques to quickly obtain modifications of genes and genomes in the Neisserial naturally competent bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vui Yin Seow
- Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, United States
- The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Laboratoire Jean Perrin, UMR8237, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Olga Tsygelnytska
- Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Nicolas Biais
- Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, United States
- The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Laboratoire Jean Perrin, UMR8237, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
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5
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Carrère A, d'Alessandro J, Cochet-Escartin O, Hesnard J, Ghazi N, Rivière C, Anjard C, Detcheverry F, Rieu JP. Microphase separation of living cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:796. [PMID: 36781863 PMCID: PMC9925768 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36395-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-organization of cells is central to a variety of biological systems and physical concepts of condensed matter have proven instrumental in deciphering some of their properties. Here we show that microphase separation, long studied in polymeric materials and other inert systems, has a natural counterpart in living cells. When placed below a millimetric film of liquid nutritive medium, a quasi two-dimensional, high-density population of Dictyostelium discoideum cells spontaneously assembles into compact domains. Their typical size of 100 μm is governed by a balance between competing interactions: an adhesion acting as a short-range attraction and promoting aggregation, and an effective long-range repulsion stemming from aerotaxis in near anoxic condition. Experimental data, a simple model and cell-based simulations all support this scenario. Our findings establish a generic mechanism for self-organization of living cells and highlight oxygen regulation as an emergent organizing principle for biological matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Carrère
- University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - J d'Alessandro
- University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - O Cochet-Escartin
- University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - J Hesnard
- University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - N Ghazi
- University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - C Rivière
- University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - C Anjard
- University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - F Detcheverry
- University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France.
| | - J-P Rieu
- University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France.
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6
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Shared biophysical mechanisms determine early biofilm architecture development across different bacterial species. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001846. [PMID: 36288405 PMCID: PMC9605341 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are among the most abundant multicellular structures on Earth and play essential roles in a wide range of ecological, medical, and industrial processes. However, general principles that govern the emergence of biofilm architecture across different species remain unknown. Here, we combine experiments, simulations, and statistical analysis to identify shared biophysical mechanisms that determine early biofilm architecture development at the single-cell level, for the species Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown as microcolonies in flow chambers. Our data-driven analysis reveals that despite the many molecular differences between these species, the biofilm architecture differences can be described by only 2 control parameters: cellular aspect ratio and cell density. Further experiments using single-species mutants for which the cell aspect ratio and the cell density are systematically varied, and mechanistic simulations show that tuning these 2 control parameters reproduces biofilm architectures of different species. Altogether, our results show that biofilm microcolony architecture is determined by mechanical cell-cell interactions, which are conserved across different species.
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7
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Cyanobacteria: Model Microorganisms and Beyond. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10040696. [PMID: 35456747 PMCID: PMC9025173 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In this review, the general background is provided on cyanobacteria, including morphology, cell membrane structure, and their photosynthesis pathway. The presence of cyanobacteria in nature, and their industrial applications are discussed, and their production of secondary metabolites are explained. Biofilm formation, as a common feature of microorganisms, is detailed and the role of cell diffusion in bacterial colonization is described. Then, the discussion is narrowed down to cyanobacterium Synechocystis, as a lab model microorganism. In this relation, the morphology of Synechocystis is discussed and its different elements are detailed. Type IV pili, the complex multi-protein apparatus for motility and cell-cell adhesion in Synechocystis is described and the underlying function of its different elements is detailed. The phototaxis behavior of the cells, in response to homogenous or directional illumination, is reported and its relation to the run and tumble statistics of the cells is emphasized. In Synechocystis suspensions, there may exist a reciprocal interaction between the cell and the carrying fluid. The effects of shear flow on the growth, doubling per day, biomass production, pigments, and lipid production of Synechocystis are reported. Reciprocally, the effects of Synechocystis presence and its motility on the rheological properties of cell suspensions are addressed. This review only takes up the general grounds of cyanobacteria and does not get into the detailed biological aspects per se. Thus, it is substantially more comprehensive in that sense than other reviews that have been published in the last two decades. It is also written not only for the researchers in the field, but for those in physics and engineering, who may find it interesting, useful, and related to their own research.
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8
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Transcriptional and Translational Responsiveness of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae Type IV Secretion System to Conditions of Host Infections. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e0051921. [PMID: 34581604 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00519-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The type IV secretion system of Neisseria gonorrhoeae translocates single-stranded DNA into the extracellular space, facilitating horizontal gene transfer and initiating biofilm formation. Expression of this system has been observed to be low under laboratory conditions, and multiple levels of regulation have been identified. We used a translational fusion of lacZ to traD, the gene for the type IV secretion system coupling protein, to screen for increased type IV secretion system expression. We identified several physiologically relevant conditions, including surface adherence, decreased manganese or iron, and increased zinc or copper, which increase gonococcal type IV secretion system protein levels through transcriptional and/or translational mechanisms. These metal treatments are reminiscent of the conditions in the macrophage phagosome. The ferric uptake regulator, Fur, was found to repress traD transcript levels but to also have a second role, acting to allow TraD protein levels to increase only in the absence of iron. To better understand type IV secretion system regulation during infection, we examined transcriptomic data from active urethral infection samples from five men. The data demonstrated differential expression of 20 of 21 type IV secretion system genes during infection, indicating upregulation of genes necessary for DNA secretion during host infection.
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9
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Li C, Hurley A, Hu W, Warrick JW, Lozano GL, Ayuso JM, Pan W, Handelsman J, Beebe DJ. Social motility of biofilm-like microcolonies in a gliding bacterium. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5700. [PMID: 34588437 PMCID: PMC8481357 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25408-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are aggregates of surface-associated cells embedded in an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) matrix, and are typically stationary. Studies of bacterial collective movement have largely focused on swarming motility mediated by flagella or pili, in the absence of a biofilm. Here, we describe a unique mode of collective movement by a self-propelled, surface-associated biofilm-like multicellular structure. Flavobacterium johnsoniae cells, which move by gliding motility, self-assemble into spherical microcolonies with EPS cores when observed by an under-oil open microfluidic system. Small microcolonies merge, creating larger ones. Microscopic analysis and computer simulation indicate that microcolonies move by cells at the base of the structure, attached to the surface by one pole of the cell. Biochemical and mutant analyses show that an active process drives microcolony self-assembly and motility, which depend on the bacterial gliding apparatus. We hypothesize that this mode of collective bacterial movement on solid surfaces may play potential roles in biofilm dynamics, bacterial cargo transport, or microbial adaptation. However, whether this collective motility occurs on plant roots or soil particles, the native environment for F. johnsoniae, is unknown. Bacterial biofilms are aggregates of surface-associated cells embedded in an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) matrix. Here, the authors describe a unique mode of collective movement by self-propelled, surface-associated spherical microcolonies with EPS cores in the gliding bacterium Flavobacterium johnsoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Amanda Hurley
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jay W Warrick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Gabriel L Lozano
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Gastroenterology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jose M Ayuso
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Wenxiao Pan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jo Handelsman
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David J Beebe
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. .,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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10
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Bisht K, Marathe R. Rectification of twitching bacteria through narrow channels: A numerical simulations study. Phys Rev E 2020; 101:042409. [PMID: 32422849 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.101.042409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria living on surfaces use different types of motility mechanisms to move on the surface in search of food or to form microcolonies. Twitching is one such form of motility employed by bacteria such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, in which the polymeric extensions known as type IV pili mediate its movement. Pili extending from the cell body adhere to the surface and pull the bacteria by retraction. The bacterial movement is decided by the two-dimensional tug-of-war among the pili attached to the surface. Natural surfaces on which these microcrawlers dwell are generally spatially inhomogeneous and have varying surface properties. Their motility is known to be affected by the topography of the surfaces. Therefore, it is possible to control bacterial movement by designing structured surfaces which can be potentially utilized for controlling biofilm architecture. In this paper, we numerically investigate the twitching motility in a two-dimensional corrugated channel. The bacterial movement is simulated by two different models: (a) a detailed tug-of-war model which extensively describe the twitching motility of bacteria assisted by pili and (b) a coarse-grained run-and-tumble model which depicts the motion of wide-ranging self-propelled particles. The simulation of bacterial motion through asymmetric corrugated channels using the above models show rectification. The bacterial transport depends on the geometric parameters of the channel and inherent system parameters such as persistence length and self-propelled velocity. In particular, the variation of the particle current with the geometric parameters of the microchannels shows that one can optimize the particle current for specific values of these parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konark Bisht
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Rahul Marathe
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India
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11
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Vourc'h T, Léopoldès J, Peerhossaini H. Clustering of bacteria with heterogeneous motility. Phys Rev E 2020; 101:022612. [PMID: 32168693 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.101.022612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We study the clustering of a model cyanobacterium Synechocystis into microcolonies. The bacteria are allowed to diffuse onto surfaces of different hardness and interact with the others by aggregation and detachment. We find that soft surfaces give rise to more microcolonies than hard ones. This effect is related to the amount of heterogeneity of bacteria's dynamics as given by the proportion of motile cells. A kinetic model that emphasizes specific interactions between cells, complemented by extensive numerical simulations considering various amounts of motility, describes the experimental results adequately. The high proportion of motile cells enhances dispersion rather than aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Vourc'h
- Laboratoire AstroParticules et Cosmologie, CNRS, Université Paris-Diderot, Université de Paris, 5 rue Thomas Mann 75013 Paris, France
| | - J Léopoldès
- ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Institut Langevin, 1 rue Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France.,Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée, 5 Bd Descartes, Champs sur Marne, Marne-la-Vallée Cedex 2, France
| | - H Peerhossaini
- Laboratoire AstroParticules et Cosmologie, CNRS, Université Paris-Diderot, Université de Paris, 5 rue Thomas Mann 75013 Paris, France.,Mechanics of Active Fluids Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A3K7
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12
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Role of Caulobacter Cell Surface Structures in Colonization of the Air-Liquid Interface. J Bacteriol 2019; 201:JB.00064-19. [PMID: 31010900 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00064-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In aquatic environments, Caulobacter spp. can be found at the boundary between liquid and air known as the neuston. I report an approach to study temporal features of Caulobacter crescentus colonization and pellicle biofilm development at the air-liquid interface and have defined the role of cell surface structures in this process. At this interface, C. crescentus initially forms a monolayer of cells bearing a surface adhesin known as the holdfast. When excised from the liquid surface, this monolayer strongly adheres to glass. The monolayer subsequently develops into a three-dimensional structure that is highly enriched in clusters of stalked cells known as rosettes. As this pellicle film matures, it becomes more cohesive and less adherent to a glass surface. A mutant strain lacking a flagellum does not efficiently reach the surface, and strains lacking type IV pili exhibit defects in organization of the three-dimensional pellicle. Strains unable to synthesize the holdfast fail to accumulate at the boundary between air and liquid and do not form a pellicle. Phase-contrast images support a model whereby the holdfast functions to trap C. crescentus cells at the air-liquid boundary. Unlike the holdfast, neither the flagellum nor type IV pili are required for C. crescentus to partition to the air-liquid interface. While it is well established that the holdfast enables adherence to solid surfaces, this study provides evidence that the holdfast has physicochemical properties that allow partitioning of nonmotile mother cells to the air-liquid interface and facilitate colonization of this microenvironment.IMPORTANCE In aquatic environments, the boundary at the air interface is often highly enriched with nutrients and oxygen. Colonization of this niche likely confers a significant fitness advantage in many cases. This study provides evidence that the cell surface adhesin known as a holdfast enables Caulobacter crescentus to partition to and colonize the air-liquid interface. Additional surface structures, including the flagellum and type IV pili, are important determinants of colonization and biofilm formation at this boundary. Considering that holdfast-like adhesins are broadly conserved in Caulobacter spp. and other members of the diverse class Alphaproteobacteria, these surface structures may function broadly to facilitate colonization of air-liquid boundaries in a range of ecological contexts, including freshwater, marine, and soil ecosystems.
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13
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Pönisch W, Weber CA, Zaburdaev V. How bacterial cells and colonies move on solid substrates. Phys Rev E 2019; 99:042419. [PMID: 31108726 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.99.042419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Many bacteria rely on active cell appendages, such as type IV pili, to move over substrates and interact with neighboring cells. Here, we study the motion of individual cells and bacterial colonies, mediated by the collective interactions of multiple pili. It was shown experimentally that the substrate motility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae cells can be described as a persistent random walk with a persistence length that exceeds the mean pili length. Moreover, the persistence length increases for a higher number of pili per cell. With the help of a simple, tractable stochastic model, we test whether a tug of war without directional memory can explain the persistent motion of single Neisseria gonorrhoeae cells. While persistent motion of single cells indeed emerges naturally in the model, a tug of war alone is not capable of explaining the motility of microcolonies, which becomes weaker with increasing colony size. We suggest sliding friction between the microcolonies and the substrate as the missing ingredient. While such friction almost does not affect the general mechanism of single cell motility, it has a strong effect on colony motility. We validate the theoretical predictions by using a three-dimensional computational model that includes explicit details of the pili dynamics, force generation, and geometry of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfram Pönisch
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany.,MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph A Weber
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany.,Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - Vasily Zaburdaev
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany.,Institute of Supercomputing Technologies, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603140, Russia.,Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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14
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Pönisch W, Eckenrode KB, Alzurqa K, Nasrollahi H, Weber C, Zaburdaev V, Biais N. Pili mediated intercellular forces shape heterogeneous bacterial microcolonies prior to multicellular differentiation. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16567. [PMID: 30410109 PMCID: PMC6224386 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34754-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microcolonies are aggregates of a few dozen to a few thousand cells exhibited by many bacteria. The formation of microcolonies is a crucial step towards the formation of more mature bacterial communities known as biofilms, but also marks a significant change in bacterial physiology. Within a microcolony, bacteria forgo a single cell lifestyle for a communal lifestyle hallmarked by high cell density and physical interactions between cells potentially altering their behaviour. It is thus crucial to understand how initially identical single cells start to behave differently while assembling in these tight communities. Here we show that cells in the microcolonies formed by the human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) present differential motility behaviors within an hour upon colony formation. Observation of merging microcolonies and tracking of single cells within microcolonies reveal a heterogeneous motility behavior: cells close to the surface of the microcolony exhibit a much higher motility compared to cells towards the center. Numerical simulations of a biophysical model for the microcolonies at the single cell level suggest that the emergence of differential behavior within a multicellular microcolony of otherwise identical cells is of mechanical origin. It could suggest a route toward further bacterial differentiation and ultimately mature biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfram Pönisch
- Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University City London, London, UK
| | - Kelly B Eckenrode
- Brooklyn College of CUNY, Department of Biology, Brooklyn, USA
- Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, USA
| | - Khaled Alzurqa
- Brooklyn College of CUNY, Department of Biology, Brooklyn, USA
| | - Hadi Nasrollahi
- Brooklyn College of CUNY, Department of Biology, Brooklyn, USA
| | - Christoph Weber
- Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
| | - Vasily Zaburdaev
- Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany.
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Nicolas Biais
- Brooklyn College of CUNY, Department of Biology, Brooklyn, USA.
- Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, USA.
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15
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Sharma G, Burrows LL, Singer M. Diversity and Evolution of Myxobacterial Type IV Pilus Systems. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1630. [PMID: 30072980 PMCID: PMC6060248 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Type IV pili (T4P) are surface-exposed protein fibers that play key roles in the bacterial life cycle via surface attachment/adhesion, biofilm formation, motility, and development. The order Myxococcales (myxobacteria) are members of the class Deltaproteobacteria and known for their large genome size and complex social behaviors, including gliding motility, fruiting body formation, biofilm production, and prey hunting. Myxococcus xanthus, the best-characterized member of the order, relies on the appropriate expression of 17 type IVa (T4aP) genes organized in a single cluster plus additional genes (distributed throughout the genome) for social motility and development. Here, we compared T4aP genes organization within the myxobacteria to understand their evolutionary origins and diversity. We found that T4aP genes are organized as large clusters in suborder Cystobacterineae, whereas in other two suborders Sorangiineae and Nannocystineae, these genes are dispersed throughout the genome. Based on the genomic organization, the phylogeny of conserved proteins, and synteny studies among 28 myxobacterial and 66 Proteobacterial genomes, we propose an evolutionary model for the origin of myxobacterial T4aP genes independently from other orders in class Deltaproteobacteria. Considering a major role for T4P, this study further proposes the origins and evolution of social motility in myxobacteria and provides a foundation for understanding how complex-behavioral traits, such as gliding motility, multicellular development, etc., might have evolved in this diverse group of complex organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Sharma
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Lori L Burrows
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Diseases Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Mitchell Singer
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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16
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Vourc'h T, Peerhossaini H, Léopoldès J, Méjean A, Chauvat F, Cassier-Chauvat C. Slowdown of surface diffusion during early stages of bacterial colonization. Phys Rev E 2018; 97:032407. [PMID: 29776183 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.97.032407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
We study the surface diffusion of the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 during the incipient stages of cell contact with a glass surface in the dilute regime. We observe a twitching motility with alternating immobile tumble and mobile run periods, resulting in a normal diffusion described by a continuous-time random walk with a coefficient of diffusion D. Surprisingly, D is found to decrease with time down to a plateau. This is observed only when the cyanobacterial cells are able to produce released extracellular polysaccharides, as shown by a comparative study between the wild-type strain and various polysaccharides-depleted mutants. The analysis of the trajectories taken by the bacterial cells shows that the temporal characteristics of their intermittent motion depend on the instantaneous fraction of visited sites during diffusion. This describes quantitatively the time dependence of D, related to the progressive surface coverage by the polysaccharides. The observed slowdown of the surface diffusion may constitute a basic precursor mechanism for microcolony formation and provides clues for controlling biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Vourc'h
- Laboratoire AstroParticules et Cosmologie, CNRS, Université Paris-Diderot, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, 5 Rue Thomas Mann, 75013 Paris, France
| | - H Peerhossaini
- Laboratoire AstroParticules et Cosmologie, CNRS, Université Paris-Diderot, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, 5 Rue Thomas Mann, 75013 Paris, France
| | - J Léopoldès
- ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Institut Langevin, 1 Rue Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France and Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée, 5 Boulevard Descartes, Champs sur Marne, Marne-la-Vallée Cedex 2, France
| | - A Méjean
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Énergies de Demain, CNRS, Université Paris-Diderot, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, 5 Rue Thomas Mann, 75013 Paris, France
| | - F Chauvat
- Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology of Cyanobacteria. Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - C Cassier-Chauvat
- Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology of Cyanobacteria. Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
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17
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Bonazzi D, Lo Schiavo V, Machata S, Djafer-Cherif I, Nivoit P, Manriquez V, Tanimoto H, Husson J, Henry N, Chaté H, Voituriez R, Duménil G. Intermittent Pili-Mediated Forces Fluidize Neisseria meningitidis Aggregates Promoting Vascular Colonization. Cell 2018; 174:143-155.e16. [PMID: 29779947 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis, a bacterium responsible for meningitis and septicemia, proliferates and eventually fills the lumen of blood capillaries with multicellular aggregates. The impact of this aggregation process and its specific properties are unknown. We first show that aggregative properties are necessary for efficient infection and study their underlying physical mechanisms. Micropipette aspiration and single-cell tracking unravel unique features of an atypical fluidized phase, with single-cell diffusion exceeding that of isolated cells. A quantitative description of the bacterial pair interactions combined with active matter physics-based modeling show that this behavior relies on type IV pili active dynamics that mediate alternating phases of bacteria fast mutual approach, contact, and release. These peculiar fluid properties proved necessary to adjust to the geometry of capillaries upon bacterial proliferation. Intermittent attractive forces thus generate a fluidized phase that allows for efficient colonization of the blood capillary network during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Bonazzi
- Pathogenesis of Vascular Infections Unit, INSERM, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Valentina Lo Schiavo
- Pathogenesis of Vascular Infections Unit, INSERM, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Silke Machata
- Pathogenesis of Vascular Infections Unit, INSERM, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Ilyas Djafer-Cherif
- Service de Physique de l'Etat Condensé, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Pierre Nivoit
- Pathogenesis of Vascular Infections Unit, INSERM, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Valeria Manriquez
- Pathogenesis of Vascular Infections Unit, INSERM, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | | | - Julien Husson
- Laboratoire d'Hydrodynamique (LadHyX), Department of Mechanics, Ecole Polytechnique-CNRS UMR7646, 91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - Nelly Henry
- Laboratoire Jean Perrin, CNRS UMR 3231, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Hugues Chaté
- Service de Physique de l'Etat Condensé, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France; Computational Science Research Center, Beijing 100193, China; Laboratoire de Physique Théorique de la Matière Condensée, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Raphael Voituriez
- Laboratoire Jean Perrin, CNRS UMR 3231, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France; Laboratoire de Physique Théorique de la Matière Condensée, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Duménil
- Pathogenesis of Vascular Infections Unit, INSERM, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France.
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18
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Bisht K, Klumpp S, Banerjee V, Marathe R. Twitching motility of bacteria with type-IV pili: Fractal walks, first passage time, and their consequences on microcolonies. Phys Rev E 2017; 96:052411. [PMID: 29347676 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.96.052411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A human pathogen, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), moves on surfaces by attaching and retracting polymeric structures called Type IV pili. The tug-of-war between the pili results in a two-dimensional stochastic motion called twitching motility. In this paper, with the help of real-time NG trajectories, we develop coarse-grained models for their description. The fractal properties of these trajectories are determined and their influence on first passage time and formation of bacterial microcolonies is studied. Our main observations are as follows: (i) NG performs a fast ballistic walk on small time scales and a slow diffusive walk over long time scales with a long crossover region; (ii) there exists a characteristic persistent length l_{p}^{*}, which yields the fastest growth of bacterial aggregates or biofilms. Our simulations reveal that l_{p}^{*}∼L^{0.6}, where L×L is the surface on which the bacteria move; (iii) the morphologies have distinct fractal characteristics as a consequence of the ballistic and diffusive motion of the constituting bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konark Bisht
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Hauz Khas 110016, New Delhi, India
| | - Stefan Klumpp
- Institute for Nonlinear Dynamics, Georg-August University Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Varsha Banerjee
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Hauz Khas 110016, New Delhi, India
| | - Rahul Marathe
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Hauz Khas 110016, New Delhi, India
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19
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Pönisch W, Weber CA, Juckeland G, Biais N, Zaburdaev V. Multiscale modeling of bacterial colonies: how pili mediate the dynamics of single cells and cellular aggregates. NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS 2017; 19:015003. [PMID: 34017216 PMCID: PMC8132470 DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/aa5483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the causative agent of one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, gonorrhea. Over the past two decades there has been an alarming increase of reported gonorrhea cases where the bacteria were resistant to the most commonly used antibiotics thus prompting for alternative antimicrobial treatment strategies. The crucial step in this and many other bacterial infections is the formation of microcolonies, agglomerates consisting of up to several thousands of cells. The attachment and motility of cells on solid substrates as well as the cell-cell interactions are primarily mediated by type IV pili, long polymeric filaments protruding from the surface of cells. While the crucial role of pili in the assembly of microcolonies has been well recognized, the exact mechanisms of how they govern the formation and dynamics of microcolonies are still poorly understood. Here, we present a computational model of individual cells with explicit pili dynamics, force generation and pili-pili interactions. We employ the model to study a wide range of biological processes, such as the motility of individual cells on a surface, the heterogeneous cell motility within the large cell aggregates, and the merging dynamics and the self-assembly of microcolonies. The results of numerical simulations highlight the central role of pili generated forces in the formation of bacterial colonies and are in agreement with the available experimental observations. The model can quantify the behavior of multicellular bacterial colonies on biologically relevant temporal and spatial scales and can be easily adjusted to include the geometry and pili characteristics of various bacterial species. Ultimately, the combination of the microbiological experimental approach with the in silico model of bacterial colonies might provide new qualitative and quantitative insights on the development of bacterial infections and thus pave the way to new antimicrobial treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfram Pönisch
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, D-01187 Dresden, Germany
| | - Christoph A Weber
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, D-01187 Dresden, Germany
- Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Guido Juckeland
- Department of Information Services and Computing (FWC), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e.V, D-01314 Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicolas Biais
- Department of Biology, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
- Graduate Center of CUNY, NY 10016, USA
| | - Vasily Zaburdaev
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, D-01187 Dresden, Germany
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Neisseria meningitidis Polynucleotide Phosphorylase Affects Aggregation, Adhesion, and Virulence. Infect Immun 2016; 84:1501-1513. [PMID: 26930706 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01463-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis autoaggregation is an important step during attachment to human cells. Aggregation is mediated by type IV pili and can be modulated by accessory pilus proteins, such as PilX, and posttranslational modifications of the major pilus subunit PilE. The mechanisms underlying the regulation of aggregation remain poorly characterized. Polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) is a 3'-5' exonuclease that is involved in RNA turnover and the regulation of small RNAs. In this study, we biochemically confirm that NMC0710 is the N. meningitidis PNPase, and we characterize its role in N. meningitidis pathogenesis. We show that deletion of the gene encoding PNPase leads to hyperaggregation and increased adhesion to epithelial cells. The aggregation induced was found to be dependent on pili and to be mediated by excessive pilus bundling. PNPase expression was induced following bacterial attachment to human cells. Deletion of PNPase led to global transcriptional changes and the differential regulation of 469 genes. We also demonstrate that PNPase is required for full virulence in an in vivo model of N. meningitidis infection. The present study shows that PNPase negatively affects aggregation, adhesion, and virulence in N. meningitidis.
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