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Serra S, Iannotti V, Ferrante M, Tofiño-Vian M, Baxendale J, Silberberg G, Kohler TP, Hammerschmidt S, Ulijasz AT, Iovino F. The single D380 amino acid substitution increases pneumolysin cytotoxicity toward neuronal cells. iScience 2024; 27:109583. [PMID: 38632998 PMCID: PMC11022043 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109583] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial meningitis, frequently caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), represents a substantial global health threat leading to long-term neurological disorders. This study focused on the cholesterol-binding toxin pneumolysin (PLY) released by pneumococci, specifically examining clinical isolates from patients with meningitis and comparing them to the PLY-reference S. pneumoniae strain D39. Clinical isolates exhibit enhanced PLY release, likely due to a significantly higher expression of the autolysin LytA. Notably, the same single amino acid (aa) D380 substitution in the PLY D4 domain present in all clinical isolates significantly enhances cholesterol binding, pore-forming activity, and cytotoxicity toward SH-SY5Y-derived neuronal cells. Scanning electron microscopy of human neuronal cells and patch clamp electrophysiological recordings on mouse brain slices confirm the enhanced neurotoxicity of the PLY variant carrying the single aa substitution. This study highlights how a single aa modification enormously alters PLY cytotoxic potential, emphasizing the importance of PLY as a major cause of the neurological sequelae associated with pneumococcal meningitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Serra
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vittorio Iannotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Joseph Baxendale
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gilad Silberberg
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas P. Kohler
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andrew T. Ulijasz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Federico Iovino
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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2
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Samir S. Molecular Machinery of the Triad Holin, Endolysin, and Spanin: Key Players Orchestrating Bacteriophage-Induced Cell Lysis and their Therapeutic Applications. Protein Pept Lett 2024; 31:85-96. [PMID: 38258777 DOI: 10.2174/0109298665181166231212051621] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Phage therapy, a promising alternative to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, harnesses the lytic cycle of bacteriophages to target and eliminate bacteria. Key players in this process are the phage lysis proteins, including holin, endolysin, and spanin, which work synergistically to disrupt the bacterial cell wall and induce lysis. Understanding the structure and function of these proteins is crucial for the development of effective therapies. Recombinant versions of these proteins have been engineered to enhance their stability and efficacy. Recent progress in the field has led to the approval of bacteriophage-based therapeutics as drugs, paving the way for their clinical use. These proteins can be combined in phage cocktails or combined with antibiotics to enhance their activity against bacterial biofilms, a common cause of treatment failure. Animal studies and clinical trials are being conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of phage therapy in humans. Overall, phage therapy holds great potential as a valuable tool in the fight against multidrug- resistant bacteria, offering hope for the future of infectious disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safia Samir
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt
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3
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Akhmatova NK, Vorobyev DS, Petukhova ES, Semenova IB, Yakovleva IV, Gavrilova NF, Zaitsev AE, Akhmatova EA, Volokh YV, Leonova AY, Poddubikov AV, Kurbatova EA. Recombinant Pneumolysin of Pneumococci Induces TLR4 Expression and Maturation of Dendritic Cells In Vitro. Bull Exp Biol Med 2023; 176:191-193. [PMID: 38191877 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-024-05993-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Pneumolysin (Ply) is a target for the development of serotype-independent pneumococcal vaccines, an important condition for the efficacy of which is their ability to activate innate immunity with the subsequent formation of adaptive immunity. In this study, the ability of recombinant full-length Ply (rPly) of pneumococci to induce TLR expression and maturation of dendritic cells generated from mouse bone marrow was evaluated. It was shown that rPly in vitro increased the number of dendritic cells expressing Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on the membrane. rPly caused maturation of dendritic cells generated from mouse bone marrow, which manifested in a decrease in the number of progenitor cells (CD34), an increase in the number of cells expressing the adhesion molecule CD38, costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86, molecules of terminal differentiation of dendritic cells CD83, as well as molecules of antigenic presentation of the major histocompatibility complex class II.
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Affiliation(s)
- N K Akhmatova
- I. I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia
| | - D S Vorobyev
- I. I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia
| | - E S Petukhova
- I. I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia
| | - I B Semenova
- I. I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia
| | - I V Yakovleva
- I. I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia
| | - N F Gavrilova
- I. I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia
| | - A E Zaitsev
- I. I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia
| | - E A Akhmatova
- I. I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yu V Volokh
- I. I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia
| | - A Yu Leonova
- I. I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia
| | - A V Poddubikov
- I. I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia
| | - E A Kurbatova
- I. I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia.
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4
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Li S, Liang H, Zhao SH, Yang XY, Guo Z. Recent progress in pneumococcal protein vaccines. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1278346. [PMID: 37818378 PMCID: PMC10560988 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1278346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumococcal infections continue to pose a significant global health concern, necessitating the development of effective vaccines. Despite the progress shown by pneumococcal polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines, their limited coverage and the emergence of non-vaccine serotypes have highlighted the need for alternative approaches. Protein-based pneumococcal vaccines, targeting conserved surface proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae, have emerged as a promising strategy. In this review, we provide an overview of the advancements made in the development of pneumococcal protein vaccines. We discuss the key protein vaccine candidates, highlight their vaccination results in animal studies, and explore the challenges and future directions in protein-based pneumococcal vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Li
- Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Hangeri Liang
- Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Shui-Hao Zhao
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Yang
- Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhong Guo
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
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Anderson R, Feldman C. The Global Burden of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adults, Encompassing Invasive Pneumococcal Disease and the Prevalence of Its Associated Cardiovascular Events, with a Focus on Pneumolysin and Macrolide Antibiotics in Pathogenesis and Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11038. [PMID: 37446214 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite innovative advances in anti-infective therapies and vaccine development technologies, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains the most persistent cause of infection-related mortality globally. Confronting the ongoing threat posed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus), the most common bacterial cause of CAP, particularly to the non-immune elderly, remains challenging due to the propensity of the elderly to develop invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), together with the predilection of the pathogen for the heart. The resultant development of often fatal cardiovascular events (CVEs), particularly during the first seven days of acute infection, is now recognized as a relatively common complication of IPD. The current review represents an update on the prevalence and types of CVEs associated with acute bacterial CAP, particularly IPD. In addition, it is focused on recent insights into the involvement of the pneumococcal pore-forming toxin, pneumolysin (Ply), in subverting host immune defenses, particularly the protective functions of the alveolar macrophage during early-stage disease. This, in turn, enables extra-pulmonary dissemination of the pathogen, leading to cardiac invasion, cardiotoxicity and myocardial dysfunction. The review concludes with an overview of the current status of macrolide antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial CAP in general, as well as severe pneumococcal CAP, including a consideration of the mechanisms by which these agents inhibit the production of Ply by macrolide-resistant strains of the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Anderson
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Charles Feldman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, 7 York Road, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
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