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Nagy-Radványi L, Balázs VL, Kocsis B, Csikós E, Ángyán VD, Szabó P, Biró V, Kocsis M, Farkas Á. Antibacterial activity of Hungarian varietal honeys against respiratory pathogens as a function of storage time. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10200. [PMID: 38702397 PMCID: PMC11068765 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60961-3] [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: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Today, antibiotic therapies that previously worked well against certain bacteria due to their natural sensitivity, are becoming less effective. Honey has been proven to inhibit the biofilm formation of some respiratory bacteria, however few data are available on how the storage time affects the antibacterial effect. The activity of black locust, goldenrod, linden and sunflower honeys from three consecutive years (2020, 2021, 2022) was analyzed in 2022 against Gram-negative (Haemophilus influenzae, H. parainfluenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Streptococcus pneumoniae) bacteria using in vitro microbiological methods. After determining the physicochemical parameters of honey, broth microdilution was applied to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of each honey type against each bacterium, and crystal violet assay was used to test their antibiofilm effect. The possible mechanism of action was explored with membrane degradation test, while structural changes were illustrated with scanning electron microscopy. Honeys stored for one or two years were darker than fresh honeys, while older honeys had significantly lower antibacterial activity. The most remarkable inhibitory effect was exerted by linden and sunflower honeys, and P. aeruginosa proved to be the most resistant bacterium. Based on our results, honey intended for medicinal purposes should be used as fresh as possible during a treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilla Nagy-Radványi
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, 7624, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Viktória L Balázs
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, 7624, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Béla Kocsis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, 7624, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Eszter Csikós
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, 7624, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Virág D Ángyán
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, 7624, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Péter Szabó
- Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7624, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Viktória Biró
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, 7624, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Marianna Kocsis
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Pécs, 7624, Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Ágnes Farkas
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, 7624, Pécs, Hungary
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2
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Cinar MS, Niyas A, Avci FY. Serine-rich repeat proteins: well-known yet little-understood bacterial adhesins. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0024123. [PMID: 37975670 PMCID: PMC10810200 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00241-23] [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] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Serine-rich-repeat proteins (SRRPs) are large mucin-like glycoprotein adhesins expressed by a plethora of pathogenic and symbiotic Gram-positive bacteria. SRRPs play major functional roles in bacterial-host interactions, like adhesion, aggregation, biofilm formation, virulence, and pathogenesis. Through their functional roles, SRRPs aid in the development of host microbiomes but also diseases like infective endocarditis, otitis media, meningitis, and pneumonia. SRRPs comprise shared domains across different species, including two or more heavily O-glycosylated long stretches of serine-rich repeat regions. With loci that can be as large as ~40 kb and can encode up to 10 distinct glycosyltransferases that specifically facilitate SRRP glycosylation, the SRRP loci makes up a significant portion of the bacterial genome. The significance of SRRPs and their glycans in host-microbe communications is becoming increasingly evident. Studies are beginning to reveal the glycosylation pathways and mature O-glycans presented by SRRPs. Here we review the glycosylation machinery of SRRPs across species and discuss the functional roles and clinical manifestations of SRRP glycosylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukaddes S. Cinar
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Afaq Niyas
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Fikri Y. Avci
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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3
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Croucher NJ, Campo JJ, Le TQ, Pablo JV, Hung C, Teng AA, Turner C, Nosten F, Bentley SD, Liang X, Turner P, Goldblatt D. Genomic and panproteomic analysis of the development of infant immune responses to antigenically-diverse pneumococci. Nat Commun 2024; 15:355. [PMID: 38191887 PMCID: PMC10774285 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44584-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a nasopharyngeal commensal and respiratory pathogen. This study characterises the immunoglobulin G (IgG) repertoire recognising pneumococci from birth to 24 months old (mo) in a prospectively-sampled cohort of 63 children using a panproteome array. IgG levels are highest at birth, due to transplacental transmission of maternal antibodies. The subsequent emergence of responses to individual antigens exhibit distinct kinetics across the cohort. Stable differences in the strength of individuals' responses, correlating with maternal IgG concentrations, are established by 6 mo. By 12 mo, children develop unique antibody profiles that are boosted by re-exposure. However, some proteins only stimulate substantial responses in adults. Integrating genomic data on nasopharyngeal colonisation demonstrates rare pneumococcal antigens can elicit strong IgG levels post-exposure. Quantifying such responses to the diverse core loci (DCL) proteins is complicated by cross-immunity between variants. In particular, the conserved N terminus of DCL protein zinc metalloprotease B provokes the strongest early IgG responses. DCL proteins' ability to inhibit mucosal immunity likely explains continued pneumococcal carriage despite hosts' polyvalent antibody repertoire. Yet higher IgG levels are associated with reduced incidence, and severity, of pneumonia, demonstrating the importance of the heterogeneity in response strength and kinetics across antigens and individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Croucher
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK.
| | - Joseph J Campo
- Antigen Discovery Inc, 1 Technology Drive, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Timothy Q Le
- Antigen Discovery Inc, 1 Technology Drive, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Jozelyn V Pablo
- Antigen Discovery Inc, 1 Technology Drive, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Christopher Hung
- Antigen Discovery Inc, 1 Technology Drive, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Andy A Teng
- Antigen Discovery Inc, 1 Technology Drive, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Claudia Turner
- Cambodia Oxford Medical Research Unit, Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, 9V54+8FQ, Cambodia
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - François Nosten
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, 63110, Thailand
| | - Stephen D Bentley
- Parasites & Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Xiaowu Liang
- Antigen Discovery Inc, 1 Technology Drive, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Paul Turner
- Cambodia Oxford Medical Research Unit, Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, 9V54+8FQ, Cambodia
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - David Goldblatt
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
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4
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Lane JR, Tata M, Yasmin R, Im H, Briles DE, Orihuela CJ. PspA-mediated aggregation protects Streptococcus pneumoniae against desiccation on fomites. mBio 2023; 14:e0263423. [PMID: 37982608 PMCID: PMC10746202 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02634-23] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Spn is a dangerous human pathogen capable of causing pneumonia and invasive disease. The virulence factor PspA has been studied for nearly four decades with well-established roles in pneumococcal evasion of C-reactive protein and neutralization of lactoferricin. Herein, we show that mammalian (m)GAPDH in mucosal secretions promotes aggregation of pneumococci in a PspA-dependent fashion, whereas lactoferrin counters this effect. PspA-mediated GAPDH-dependent bacterial aggregation protected Spn in nasal lavage elutes and grown in vitro from desiccation on fomites. Furthermore, surviving pneumococci within these aggregates retained their ability to colonize naïve hosts after desiccation. We report that Spn binds to and forms protein complexes on its surface composed of PspA, mGAPDH, and lactoferrin. Changes in the levels of these proteins therefore most likely have critical implications on Spn colonization, survival on fomites, and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R. Lane
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Muralidhar Tata
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Rahena Yasmin
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Hansol Im
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - David E. Briles
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Carlos J. Orihuela
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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5
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Lane JR, Tata M, Yasmin R, Im H, Briles DE, Orihuela CJ. PspA-mediated aggregation protects Streptococcus pneumoniae against desiccation on fomites. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.27.559802. [PMID: 37808718 PMCID: PMC10557681 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.27.559802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) resides in the nasopharynx where it can disseminate to cause disease. One key Spn virulence factor is pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), which promotes survival by blocking the antimicrobial peptide lactoferricin. PspA has also been shown to mediate attachment to dying epithelial cells in the lower airway due to its binding of cell surface-bound mammalian (m)GAPDH. Importantly, the role of PspA during colonization is not well understood. Wildtype Spn was present in nasal lavage elutes collected from asymptomatically colonized mice at levels ~10-fold higher that its isogenic PspA-deficient mutant (ΔpspA). Wildtype Spn also formed aggregates in mucosal secretions composed of sloughed epithelial cells and hundreds of pneumococci, whereas ΔpspA did not. Spn within the center of these aggregates better survived prolonged desiccation on fomites than individual pneumococci and were capable of infecting naïve mice, indicating PspA-mediated aggregation conferred a survival/transmission advantage. Incubation of Spn in saline containing mGAPDH also enhanced tolerance to desiccation, but only for wildtype Spn. mGAPDH was sufficient to cause low-level aggregation of wildtype Spn but not ΔpspA. In strain WU2, the subdomain of PspA responsible for binding GAPDH (aa230-281) is ensconced within the lactoferrin (LF)-binding domain (aa167-288). We observed that LF inhibited GAPDH-mediated aggregation and desiccation tolerance. Using surface plasmon resonance, we determined that Spn forms multimeric complexes of PspA-GAPDH-LF on its surface and that LF dislodges GAPDH. Our findings have important implications regarding pneumococcal colonization/transmission processes and ongoing PspA-focused immunization efforts for this deadly pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R. Lane
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35209, United States
| | - Muralidhar Tata
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35209, United States
| | - Rahena Yasmin
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35209, United States
| | - Hansol Im
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35209, United States
| | - David E. Briles
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35209, United States
| | - Carlos J. Orihuela
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35209, United States
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6
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Aceil J, Venkat A, Pan E, Kannan N, Avci FY. Prevalence and Homology of the Pneumococcal Serine-Rich Repeat Protein at the Global Scale. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0325222. [PMID: 36995217 PMCID: PMC10269691 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03252-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumococcal pneumonia remains a WHO high-priority disease despite multivalent conjugate vaccines administered in clinical practice worldwide. A protein-based, serotype-independent vaccine has long-promised comprehensive coverage of most clinical isolates of the pneumococcus. Along with numerous pneumococcal surface protein immunogens, the pneumococcal serine-rich repeat protein (PsrP) has been investigated as a potential vaccine target due to its surface exposure and functions toward bacterial virulence and lung infection. Three critical criteria for its vaccine potential - the clinical prevalence, serotype distribution, and sequence homology of PsrP - have yet to be well characterized. Here, we used genomes of 13,454 clinically isolated pneumococci from the Global Pneumococcal Sequencing project to investigate PsrP presence among isolates, distribution among serotypes, and interrogate its homology as a protein across species. These isolates represent all age groups, countries worldwide, and types of pneumococcal infection. We found PsrP present in at least 50% of all isolates across all determined serotypes and nontypeable (NT) clinical isolates. Using a combination of peptide matching and HMM profiles built on full-length and individual PsrP domains, we identified novel variants that expand PsrP diversity and prevalence. We also observed sequence variability in its basic region (BR) between isolates and serotypes. PsrP has a strong vaccine potential due to its breadth of coverage, especially in nonvaccine serotypes (NVTs) when exploiting its regions of conservation in vaccine design. IMPORTANCE An updated outlook on PsrP prevalence and serotype distribution sheds new light on the comprehensiveness of a PsrP-based protein vaccine. The protein is present in all vaccine serotypes and highly present in the next wave of potentially disease-causing serotypes not included in the current multivalent conjugate vaccines. Furthermore, PsrP is strongly correlated with clinical isolates harboring pneumococcal disease as opposed to pneumococcal carriage. PsrP is also highly present in strains and serotypes from Africa, where the need for a protein-based vaccine is the greatest, giving new reasoning to pursue PsrP as a protein vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javid Aceil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Aarya Venkat
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Eric Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Natarajan Kannan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Fikri Y. Avci
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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7
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Echlin H, Iverson A, Sardo U, Rosch JW. Airway proteolytic control of pneumococcal competence. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011421. [PMID: 37256908 PMCID: PMC10259803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that colonizes the upper respiratory tract asymptomatically and, upon invasion, can lead to severe diseases including otitis media, sinusitis, meningitis, bacteremia, and pneumonia. One of the first lines of defense against pneumococcal invasive disease is inflammation, including the recruitment of neutrophils to the site of infection. The invasive pneumococcus can be cleared through the action of serine proteases generated by neutrophils. It is less clear how serine proteases impact non-invasive pneumococcal colonization, which is the key first step to invasion and transmission. One significant aspect of pneumococcal biology and adaptation in the respiratory tract is its natural competence, which is triggered by a small peptide CSP. In this study, we investigate if serine proteases are capable of degrading CSP and the impact this has on pneumococcal competence. We found that CSP has several potential sites for trypsin-like serine protease degradation and that there were preferential cleavage sites recognized by the proteases. Digestion of CSP with two different trypsin-like serine proteases dramatically reduced competence in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation of CSP with mouse lung homogenate also reduced recombination frequency of the pneumococcus. These ex vivo experiments suggested that serine proteases in the lower respiratory tract reduce pneumococcal competence. This was subsequently confirmed measuring in vivo recombination frequencies after induction of protease production via poly (I:C) stimulation and via co-infection with influenza A virus, which dramatically lowered recombination events. These data shed light on a new mechanism by which the host can modulate pneumococcal behavior and genetic exchange via direct degradation of the competence signaling peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley Echlin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Amy Iverson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Ugo Sardo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Jason W. Rosch
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
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8
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Balázs VL, Filep R, Répás F, Kerekes E, Szabó P, Kocsis B, Böszörményi A, Krisch J, Horváth G. Immortelle (Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don) Essential Oil Showed Antibacterial and Biofilm Inhibitory Activity against Respiratory Tract Pathogens. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175518. [PMID: 36080283 PMCID: PMC9457731 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The biofilm formation of bacteria in different parts of the human body can influence the success of antibiotic therapy. Essential oils (EOs) and their components are becoming increasingly popular in point of view of medicinal applications, because of their antibacterial efficacy. The immortelle EO has been used traditionally as an expectorant; however, there are no studies summarizing its antibacterial effect against respiratory tract bacteria. Our aim was to investigate the antibacterial and biofilm inhibitory activity of immortelle (Helichrysum italicum) EO against respiratory tract pathogens such as Haemophilus influenzae, H. parainfluenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumoniae. In order to prove the antibacterial effect of the immortelle EO, broth microdilution and biofilm inhibition tests, and membrane damage assay were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy was used to identify the structural modifications in bacterial cells. Our results showed that immortelle EO has antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects against respiratory tract bacteria used in this study. H. parainfluenzae was the most sensitive to each treatment, however, P. aeruginosa was the most resistant bacteria. In conclusion, the studied EO may have a role in the treatment of respiratory tract infections due to their antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktória L. Balázs
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Rita Filep
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Fanni Répás
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Erika Kerekes
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Péter Szabó
- Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Béla Kocsis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Andrea Böszörményi
- Institute of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Judit Krisch
- Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Szeged, 6724 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Györgyi Horváth
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Correspondence:
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9
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Aceil J, Avci FY. Pneumococcal Surface Proteins as Virulence Factors, Immunogens, and Conserved Vaccine Targets. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:832254. [PMID: 35646747 PMCID: PMC9133333 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.832254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that causes over 1 million deaths annually despite the availability of several multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). Due to the limitations surrounding PCVs along with an evolutionary rise in antibiotic-resistant and unencapsulated strains, conserved immunogenic proteins as vaccine targets continue to be an important field of study for pneumococcal disease prevention. In this review, we provide an overview of multiple classes of conserved surface proteins that have been studied for their contribution to pneumococcal virulence. Furthermore, we discuss the immune responses observed in response to these proteins and their promise as vaccine targets.
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10
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Hijacking host components for bacterial biofilm formation: An advanced mechanism. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 103:108471. [PMID: 34952466 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Biofilm is a community of bacteria embedded in the extracellular matrix that accounts for 80% of bacterial infections. Biofilm enables bacterial cells to provide particular conditions and produce virulence determinants in response to the unavailability of micronutrients and local oxygen, resulting in their resistance to various antibacterial agents. Besides, the human immune reactions are not completely competent in the elimination of biofilm. Most importantly, the growing body of evidence shows that some bacterial spp. use a variety of mechanisms by which hijack the host components to form biofilm. In this regard, host components, such as DNA, hyaluronan, collagen, fibronectin, mucin, oligosaccharide moieties, filamentous polymers (F-actin), plasma, platelets, keratin, sialic acid, laminin, vitronectin, C3- and C4- binding proteins, antibody, proteases, factor I, factor H, and acidic proline-rich proteins have been reviewed. Hence, the characterization of interactions between bacterial biofilm and the host would be critical to effectively address biofilm-associated infections. In this paper, we review the latest information on the hijacking of host factors by bacteria to form biofilm.
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11
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Gazioglu O, Kareem BO, Afzal M, Shafeeq S, Kuipers OP, Ulijasz AT, Andrew PW, Yesilkaya H. Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GdhA) of Streptococcus pneumoniae Is Required for High Temperature Adaptation. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e0040021. [PMID: 34491792 PMCID: PMC8594611 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00400-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During its progression from the nasopharynx to other sterile and nonsterile niches of its human host, Streptococcus pneumoniae must cope with changes in temperature. We hypothesized that the temperature adaptation is an important facet of pneumococcal survival in the host. Here, we evaluated the effect of temperature on pneumococcus and studied the role of glutamate dehydrogenase (GdhA) in thermal adaptation associated with virulence and survival. Microarray analysis revealed a significant transcriptional response to changes in temperature, affecting the expression of 252 genes in total at 34°C and 40°C relative to at 37°C. One of the differentially regulated genes was gdhA, which is upregulated at 40°C and downregulated at 34°C relative to 37°C. Deletion of gdhA attenuated the growth, cell size, biofilm formation, pH survival, and biosynthesis of proteins associated with virulence in a temperature-dependent manner. Moreover, deletion of gdhA stimulated formate production irrespective of temperature fluctuation. Finally, ΔgdhA grown at 40°C was less virulent than other temperatures or the wild type at the same temperature in a Galleria mellonella infection model, suggesting that GdhA is required for pneumococcal virulence at elevated temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozcan Gazioglu
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Banaz O. Kareem
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicals and Applied Sciences, University of Charmo, Chamchamal, Iraq
| | - Muhammad Afzal
- Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sulman Shafeeq
- Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew T. Ulijasz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Peter W. Andrew
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Hasan Yesilkaya
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
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12
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Guo S, Zahiri H, Stevens C, Spaanderman DC, Milroy LG, Ottmann C, Brunsveld L, Voets IK, Davies PL. Molecular basis for inhibition of adhesin-mediated bacterial-host interactions through a peptide-binding domain. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110002. [PMID: 34788627 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110002] [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] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Infections typically begin with pathogens adhering to host cells. For bacteria, this adhesion can occur through specific ligand-binding domains. We identify a 20-kDa peptide-binding domain (PBD) in a 1.5-MDa RTX adhesin of a Gram-negative marine bacterium that colonizes diatoms. The crystal structure of this Ca2+-dependent PBD suggests that it may bind the C termini of host cell-surface proteins. A systematic peptide library analysis reveals an optimal tripeptide sequence with 30-nM affinity for the PBD, and X-ray crystallography details its peptide-protein interactions. Binding of the PBD to the diatom partner of the bacteria can be inhibited or competed away by the peptide, providing a molecular basis for inhibiting bacterium-host interactions. We further show that this PBD is found in other bacteria, including human pathogens such as Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas veronii. Here, we produce the PBD ortholog from A. veronii and demonstrate, using the same peptide inhibitor, how pathogens may be prevented from adhering to their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaiqi Guo
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; Laboratory of Self-Organizing Soft Matter, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Hossein Zahiri
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Corey Stevens
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Daniel C Spaanderman
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Lech-Gustav Milroy
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Christian Ottmann
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Luc Brunsveld
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Ilja K Voets
- Laboratory of Self-Organizing Soft Matter, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Peter L Davies
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada.
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Glycoprotein 340's scavenger receptor cysteine-rich domain promotes adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to contact lens polymers. Infect Immun 2021; 90:e0033921. [PMID: 34662210 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00339-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Contact lenses are biomaterials worn on the eye to correct refractive errors. Bacterial adhesion and colonization of these lenses results in adverse events such as microbial keratitis. The adsorption of tear proteins to contact lens materials enhances bacterial adhesion. Glycoprotein 340 (Gp340), a tear component, is known to promote microbial colonization in the oral cavity, however, it has not been investigated in any contact lens-related adverse event. Therefore, this study examined the adsorption of Gp340 and its recombinantly expressed scavenger receptor cysteine rich (iSRCR1Gp340) domain on two common contact lens materials, etafilcon A and lotrafilcon B, and the concomitant effects on the adherence of clinical isolates of microbial keratitis causative agents, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA6206, PA6294), and Staphylococcus aureus (SA38, USA300). Across all strains and materials, iSRCR1Gp340 enhanced adherence of bacteria in a dose-dependent manner. However, iSRCR1Gp340 did not modulate lysozyme's and lactoferrin's effects on bacterial adhesion to the contact lens. The Gp340 binding surface protein SraP significantly enhanced USA300 binding to iSRCR1Gp340-coated lenses. In addition, iSRCR1Gp340-coated surfaces had significantly diminished biofilms with the SraP mutant (ΔSraP), and with the Sortase A mutant (ΔSrtA), there was a further reduction in biofilms, indicating the likely involvement of additional surface proteins. Finally, the binding affinities between iSRCR1Gp340 and SraP were determined using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), where the complete SraP binding region displayed nanomolar affinity, whereas its smaller fragments adhered with micromolar affinities. This study concludes that Gp340 and its SRCR domains play an important role in bacterial adhesion to the contact lens.
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In Vitro Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activity of Hungarian Honeys against Respiratory Tract Bacteria. Foods 2021; 10:foods10071632. [PMID: 34359503 PMCID: PMC8304482 DOI: 10.3390/foods10071632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey is a rich source of carbohydrates, while minor compounds such as amino acids and polyphenols contribute to its health-promoting effects. Honey is one of the oldest traditional remedies applied for microbial infections, due to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of Hungarian black locust, linden, and sunflower honeys against the most common biofilm-forming respiratory tract pathogens Haemophilus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The unifloral character of all three honey types was confirmed by melissopalynological analysis. The antibacterial activity of each honey sample against each bacterium strain was proven with agar well diffusion assay and thin layer chromatography—direct bioautography. Kinetics and mechanisms of antibacterial action were clarified with time-kill assay and membrane degradation study. The anti-biofilm activity was evidenced using crystal violet assay. In each assay, linden honey was the most effective, followed by sunflower and black locust honey. In addition, each honey sample had greater potential to suppress respiratory tract bacteria, compared to major sugar components. In conclusion, honey in general and linden honey in particular, can have a role in the treatment of respiratory tract infections caused by biofilm-forming bacteria.
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Fouks B, Brand P, Nguyen HN, Herman J, Camara F, Ence D, Hagen DE, Hoff KJ, Nachweide S, Romoth L, Walden KKO, Guigo R, Stanke M, Narzisi G, Yandell M, Robertson HM, Koeniger N, Chantawannakul P, Schatz MC, Worley KC, Robinson GE, Elsik CG, Rueppell O. The genomic basis of evolutionary differentiation among honey bees. Genome Res 2021; 31:1203-1215. [PMID: 33947700 PMCID: PMC8256857 DOI: 10.1101/gr.272310.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In contrast to the western honey bee, Apis mellifera, other honey bee species have been largely neglected despite their importance and diversity. The genetic basis of the evolutionary diversification of honey bees remains largely unknown. Here, we provide a genome-wide comparison of three honey bee species, each representing one of the three subgenera of honey bees, namely the dwarf (Apis florea), giant (A. dorsata), and cavity-nesting (A. mellifera) honey bees with bumblebees as an outgroup. Our analyses resolve the phylogeny of honey bees with the dwarf honey bees diverging first. We find that evolution of increased eusocial complexity in Apis proceeds via increases in the complexity of gene regulation, which is in agreement with previous studies. However, this process seems to be related to pathways other than transcriptional control. Positive selection patterns across Apis reveal a trade-off between maintaining genome stability and generating genetic diversity, with a rapidly evolving piRNA pathway leading to genomes depleted of transposable elements, and a rapidly evolving DNA repair pathway associated with high recombination rates in all Apis species. Diversification within Apis is accompanied by positive selection in several genes whose putative functions present candidate mechanisms for lineage-specific adaptations, such as migration, immunity, and nesting behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertrand Fouks
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina 27403, USA
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Philipp Brand
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95161, USA
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Hung N Nguyen
- MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
| | - Jacob Herman
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina 27403, USA
| | - Francisco Camara
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Ence
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Darren E Hagen
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA
| | - Katharina J Hoff
- University of Greifswald, Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science, Bioinformatics Group, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- University of Greifswald, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefanie Nachweide
- University of Greifswald, Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science, Bioinformatics Group, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lars Romoth
- University of Greifswald, Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science, Bioinformatics Group, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kimberly K O Walden
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Roderic Guigo
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mario Stanke
- University of Greifswald, Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science, Bioinformatics Group, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- University of Greifswald, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Mark Yandell
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
- Utah Center for Genetic Discovery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Hugh M Robertson
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Nikolaus Koeniger
- Department of Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology (Zoology II), University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Panuwan Chantawannakul
- Environmental Science Research Center (ESRC) and Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Michael C Schatz
- Departments of Computer Science and Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
| | - Kim C Worley
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Gene E Robinson
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Christine G Elsik
- MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
| | - Olav Rueppell
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina 27403, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
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16
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Lannes-Costa PS, de Oliveira JSS, da Silva Santos G, Nagao PE. A current review of pathogenicity determinants of Streptococcus sp. J Appl Microbiol 2021; 131:1600-1620. [PMID: 33772968 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The genus Streptococcus comprises important pathogens, many of them are part of the human or animal microbiota. Advances in molecular genetics, taxonomic approaches and phylogenomic studies have led to the establishment of at least 100 species that have a severe impact on human health and are responsible for substantial economic losses to agriculture. The infectivity of the pathogens is linked to cell-surface components and/or secreted virulence factors. Bacteria have evolved sophisticated and multifaceted adaptation strategies to the host environment, including biofilm formation, survival within professional phagocytes, escape the host immune response, amongst others. This review focuses on virulence mechanism and zoonotic potential of Streptococcus species from pyogenic (S. agalactiae, S. pyogenes) and mitis groups (S. pneumoniae).
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Affiliation(s)
- P S Lannes-Costa
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Physiology of Streptococci, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J S S de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Physiology of Streptococci, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - G da Silva Santos
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Physiology of Streptococci, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - P E Nagao
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Physiology of Streptococci, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Fuji N, Pichichero ME, Kaur R. Comparison of specific in-vitro virulence gene expression and innate host response in locally invasive vs colonizer strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Med Microbiol Immunol 2021; 210:111-120. [PMID: 33751214 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-021-00701-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Among Rochester NY children, a dramatic increase in nasopharyngeal (NP) colonization by non-vaccine pneumococcal serotypes 35B and 15A occurred during years 2010-2015, after introduction of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). In our population, serotype 35B strains colonized in the nasopharynx (NP) but infrequently caused acute otitis media (AOM) whereas serotype 15A strains displayed virulence, evidenced by causing AOM. To explain the virulence difference, virulence genes expression between 35B and 15A, as well as the host's immune response during asymptomatic colonization were analyzed. We investigated differences in regulation of 19 virulence genes for differences in virulence using RT-PCR in 20 35B and 14 15A strains and measured gene expression of 9 host innate cytokines in the NP to assess the mucosal inflammatory response during asymptomatic colonization. Comparing 35B versus 15A strains, genes for competence ComA and RrgC were upregulated; capsular (Cps2D) and virulence genes (PfbA, PcpA and PhtE) were downregulated among 35B strains. PavB, LytA, LytB, NanA, CiaR, PhtD, LuxS, PspA and pneumolysin (Ply) showed no difference. IL17 and IL23 gene expression were > tenfold higher during 35B compared to 15A strain asymptomatic colonization. Only IL23 showed significant difference. In the first 5 years after introduction of PCV13, serotype 35B strains emerged as asymptomatic colonizers and 15A strains emerged to cause AOM in young children. Various genes (PfbA, PcpA, Cps2D and PhtE) among tested in this analysis were downregulated in 35B whereas ComA and RrgC were significantly upregulated. For the host's cytokine response, IL23 proinflammatory response which is essential for the differentiation of Th17 lymphocytes in the NP of children with 35B strains was significantly higher than the response to 15A during asymptomatic colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoko Fuji
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Rochester General Hospital Research Institute, Rochester General Hospital, 1425 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14621, USA
| | - Michael E Pichichero
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Rochester General Hospital Research Institute, Rochester General Hospital, 1425 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14621, USA
| | - Ravinder Kaur
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Rochester General Hospital Research Institute, Rochester General Hospital, 1425 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14621, USA.
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18
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Hemoglobin Induces Early and Robust Biofilm Development in Streptococcus pneumoniae by a Pathway That Involves comC but Not the Cognate comDE Two-Component System. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00779-20. [PMID: 33397818 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00779-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae grows in biofilms during both asymptomatic colonization and infection. Pneumococcal biofilms on abiotic surfaces exhibit delayed growth and lower biomass and lack the structures seen on epithelial cells or during nasopharyngeal carriage. We show here that adding hemoglobin to the medium activated unusually early and vigorous biofilm growth in multiple S. pneumoniae serotypes grown in batch cultures on abiotic surfaces. Human blood (but not serum, heme, or iron) also stimulated biofilms, and the pore-forming pneumolysin, ply, was required for this induction. S. pneumoniae transitioning from planktonic into sessile growth in the presence of hemoglobin displayed an extensive transcriptome remodeling within 1 and 2 h. Differentially expressed genes included those involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, nucleotides, amino acid, and lipids. The switch into adherent states also influenced the expression of several regulatory systems, including the comCDE genes. Inactivation of comC resulted in 67% reduction in biofilm formation, while the deletion of comD or comE had limited or no effect, respectively. These observations suggest a novel route for CSP-1 signaling independent of the cognate ComDE two-component system. Biofilm induction and the associated transcriptome remodeling suggest hemoglobin serves as a signal for host colonization in pneumococcus.
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19
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Middleton DR, Aceil J, Mustafa S, Paschall AV, Avci FY. Glycosyltransferases within the psrP Locus Facilitate Pneumococcal Virulence. J Bacteriol 2021; 203:e00389-20. [PMID: 33468592 PMCID: PMC8088515 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00389-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The pneumococcal serine-rich repeat protein (PsrP) is a high-molecular-weight, glycosylated adhesin that promotes the attachment of Streptococcus pneumoniae to host cells. PsrP, its associated glycosyltransferases (GTs), and dedicated secretion machinery are encoded in a 37-kb genomic island that is present in many invasive clinical isolates of S. pneumoniae PsrP has been implicated in establishment of lung infection in murine models, although specific roles of the PsrP glycans in disease progression or bacterial physiology have not been elucidated. Moreover, enzymatic specificities of associated glycosyltransferases are yet to be fully characterized. We hypothesized that the glycosyltransferases that modify PsrP are critical for the adhesion properties and infectivity of S. pneumoniae Here, we characterize the putative S. pneumoniaepsrP locus glycosyltransferases responsible for PsrP glycosylation. We also begin to elucidate their roles in S. pneumoniae virulence. We show that four glycosyltransferases within the psrP locus are indispensable for S. pneumoniae biofilm formation, lung epithelial cell adherence, and establishment of lung infection in a mouse model of pneumococcal pneumonia.IMPORTANCE PsrP has previously been identified as a necessary virulence factor for many serotypes of S. pneumoniae and studied as a surface glycoprotein. Thus, studying the effects on virulence of each glycosyltransferase (GT) that builds the PsrP glycan is of high importance. Our work elucidates the influence of GTs in vivo We have identified at least four GTs that are required for lung infection, an indication that it is worthwhile to consider glycosylated PsrP as a candidate for serotype-independent pneumococcal vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin R Middleton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Javid Aceil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Seema Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Amy V Paschall
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Fikri Y Avci
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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20
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Lebov JF, Bohannan BJM. Msh Pilus Mutations Increase the Ability of a Free-Living Bacterium to Colonize a Piscine Host. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12020127. [PMID: 33498301 PMCID: PMC7909257 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Symbioses between animals and bacteria are ubiquitous. To better understand these relationships, it is essential to unravel how bacteria evolve to colonize hosts. Previously, we serially passaged the free-living bacterium, Shewanella oneidensis, through the digestive tracts of germ-free larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) to uncover the evolutionary changes involved in the initiation of a novel symbiosis with a vertebrate host. After 20 passages, we discovered an adaptive missense mutation in the mshL gene of the msh pilus operon, which improved host colonization, increased swimming motility, and reduced surface adhesion. In the present study, we determined that this mutation was a loss-of-function mutation and found that it improved zebrafish colonization by augmenting S. oneidensis representation in the water column outside larvae through a reduced association with environmental surfaces. Additionally, we found that strains containing the mshL mutation were able to immigrate into host digestive tracts at higher rates per capita. However, mutant and evolved strains exhibited no evidence of a competitive advantage after colonizing hosts. Our results demonstrate that bacterial behaviors outside the host can play a dominant role in facilitating the onset of novel host associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarrett F. Lebov
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5289, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Brendan J. M. Bohannan
- Department of Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5289, USA;
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21
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Luck JN, Tettelin H, Orihuela CJ. Sugar-Coated Killer: Serotype 3 Pneumococcal Disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:613287. [PMID: 33425786 PMCID: PMC7786310 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.613287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Capsular polysaccharide (CPS), which surrounds the bacteria, is one of the most significant and multifaceted contributors to Streptococcus pneumoniae virulence. Capsule prevents entrapment in mucus during colonization, traps water to protect against desiccation, can serve as an energy reserve, and protects the bacterium against complement-mediated opsonization and immune cell phagocytosis. To date, 100 biochemically and serologically distinct capsule types have been identified for S. pneumoniae; 20 to 30 of which have well-defined propensity to cause opportunistic human infection. Among these, serotype 3 is perhaps the most problematic as serotype 3 infections are characterized as having severe clinical manifestations including empyema, bacteremia, cardiotoxicity, and meningitis; consequently, with a fatality rate of 30%-47%. Moreover, serotype 3 resists antibody-mediated clearance despite its inclusion in the current 13-valent conjugate vaccine formulation. This review covers the role of capsule in pneumococcal pathogenesis and the importance of serotype 3 on human disease. We discuss how serotype 3 capsule synthesis and presentation on the bacterial surface is distinct from other serotypes, the biochemical and physiological properties of this capsule type that facilitate its ability to cause disease, and why existing vaccines are unable to confer protection. We conclude with discussion of the clonal properties of serotype 3 and how these have changed since introduction of the 13-valent vaccine in 2000.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N. Luck
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Hervé Tettelin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Carlos J. Orihuela
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Park OJ, Kwon Y, Park C, So YJ, Park TH, Jeong S, Im J, Yun CH, Han SH. Streptococcus gordonii: Pathogenesis and Host Response to Its Cell Wall Components. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8121852. [PMID: 33255499 PMCID: PMC7761167 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus gordonii, a Gram-positive bacterium, is a commensal bacterium that is commonly found in the skin, oral cavity, and intestine. It is also known as an opportunistic pathogen that can cause local or systemic diseases, such as apical periodontitis and infective endocarditis. S. gordonii, an early colonizer, easily attaches to host tissues, including tooth surfaces and heart valves, forming biofilms. S. gordonii penetrates into root canals and blood streams, subsequently interacting with various host immune and non-immune cells. The cell wall components of S. gordonii, which include lipoteichoic acids, lipoproteins, serine-rich repeat adhesins, peptidoglycans, and cell wall proteins, are recognizable by individual host receptors. They are involved in virulence and immunoregulatory processes causing host inflammatory responses. Therefore, S.gordonii cell wall components act as virulence factors that often progressively develop diseases through overwhelming host responses. This review provides an overview of S. gordonii, and how its cell wall components could contribute to the pathogenesis and development of therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ok-Jin Park
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (O.-J.P.); (Y.K.); (C.P.); (Y.J.S.); (T.H.P.); (S.J.); (J.I.)
| | - Yeongkag Kwon
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (O.-J.P.); (Y.K.); (C.P.); (Y.J.S.); (T.H.P.); (S.J.); (J.I.)
| | - Chaeyeon Park
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (O.-J.P.); (Y.K.); (C.P.); (Y.J.S.); (T.H.P.); (S.J.); (J.I.)
| | - Yoon Ju So
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (O.-J.P.); (Y.K.); (C.P.); (Y.J.S.); (T.H.P.); (S.J.); (J.I.)
| | - Tae Hwan Park
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (O.-J.P.); (Y.K.); (C.P.); (Y.J.S.); (T.H.P.); (S.J.); (J.I.)
| | - Sungho Jeong
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (O.-J.P.); (Y.K.); (C.P.); (Y.J.S.); (T.H.P.); (S.J.); (J.I.)
| | - Jintaek Im
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (O.-J.P.); (Y.K.); (C.P.); (Y.J.S.); (T.H.P.); (S.J.); (J.I.)
| | - Cheol-Heui Yun
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea;
- Institute of Green Bio Science Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang 25354, Korea
| | - Seung Hyun Han
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (O.-J.P.); (Y.K.); (C.P.); (Y.J.S.); (T.H.P.); (S.J.); (J.I.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-880-2310
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Deciphering Streptococcal Biofilms. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8111835. [PMID: 33233415 PMCID: PMC7700319 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococci are a diverse group of bacteria, which are mostly commensals but also cause a considerable proportion of life-threatening infections. They colonize many different host niches such as the oral cavity, the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tract. While these host compartments impose different environmental conditions, many streptococci form biofilms on mucosal membranes facilitating their prolonged survival. In response to environmental conditions or stimuli, bacteria experience profound physiologic and metabolic changes during biofilm formation. While investigating bacterial cells under planktonic and biofilm conditions, various genes have been identified that are important for the initial step of biofilm formation. Expression patterns of these genes during the transition from planktonic to biofilm growth suggest a highly regulated and complex process. Biofilms as a bacterial survival strategy allow evasion of host immunity and protection against antibiotic therapy. However, the exact mechanisms by which biofilm-associated bacteria cause disease are poorly understood. Therefore, advanced molecular techniques are employed to identify gene(s) or protein(s) as targets for the development of antibiofilm therapeutic approaches. We review our current understanding of biofilm formation in different streptococci and how biofilm production may alter virulence-associated characteristics of these species. In addition, we have summarized the role of surface proteins especially pili proteins in biofilm formation. This review will provide an overview of strategies which may be exploited for developing novel approaches against biofilm-related streptococcal infections.
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Valenzuela MV, Domenech M, Mateos-Martínez P, González-Camacho F, de la Campa AG, García MT. Antibacterial activity of a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor versus fluoroquinolones in Streptococcus pneumoniae. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241780. [PMID: 33141832 PMCID: PMC7608930 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The DNA topoisomerase complement of Streptococcus pneumoniae is constituted by two type II enzymes (topoisomerase IV and gyrase), and a single type I enzyme (topoisomerase I). These enzymes maintain the DNA topology, which is essential for replication and transcription. While fluoroquinolones target the type II enzymes, seconeolitsine, a new antimicrobial agent, targets topoisomerase I. We compared for the first time the in vitro effect of inhibition of topoisomerase I by seconeolitsine and of the type II topoisomerases by the fluoroquinolones levofloxacin and moxifloxacin. We used three isogenic non-encapsulated strains and five non-vaccine serotypes isolates belonging to two circulating pneumococcal clones, ST638 (2 strains) and ST1569V (3 strains). Each group contained strains with diverse susceptibility to fluoroquinolones. Minimal inhibitory concentrations, killing curves and postantibiotic effects were determined. Seconeolitsine demonstrated the fastest and highest bactericidal activity against planktonic bacteria and biofilms. When fluoroquinolone-susceptible planktonic bacteria were considered, seconeolitsine induced postantibiotic effects (1.00−1.87 h) similar than levofloxacin (1.00−2.22 h), but longer than moxifloxacin (0.39−1.71 h). The same effect was observed in sessile bacteria forming biofilms. Seconeolitsine induced postantibiotic effects (0.84−2.31 h) that were similar to those of levofloxacin (0.99−3.32 h) but longer than those of moxifloxacin (0.89−1.91 h). The greatest effect was observed in the viability and adherence of bacteria in the postantibiotic phase. Seconeolitsine greatly reduced the thickness of the biofilms formed in comparison with fluoroquinolones: 2.91 ± 0.43 μm (seconeolitsine), 7.18 ± 0.58 μm (levofloxacin), 17.08 ± 1.02 μm (moxifloxacin). When fluoroquinolone-resistant bacteria were considered, postantibiotic effects induced by levofloxacin and moxifloxacin, but not by seconeolitsine, were shorter, decreasing up to 5-fold (levofloxacin) or 2-fold (moxifloxacin) in planktonic cells, and up to 1.7 (levofloxacin) or 1.4-fold (moxifloxacin) during biofilm formation. Therefore, topoisomerase I inhibitors could be an alternative for the treatment of pneumococcal diseases, including those caused by fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam V. Valenzuela
- Departamento de Genética, Unidad de Microbiología, Fisiología y Microbiología, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mirian Domenech
- Unidad de Neumococos, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid; Spain
| | - Patricia Mateos-Martínez
- Departamento de Genética, Unidad de Microbiología, Fisiología y Microbiología, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando González-Camacho
- Unidad de Neumococos, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid; Spain
| | - Adela G. de la Campa
- Unidad de Genética Bacteriana, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid; Spain
- Presidencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail: (MTG); (AGC)
| | - Maria Teresa García
- Departamento de Genética, Unidad de Microbiología, Fisiología y Microbiología, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail: (MTG); (AGC)
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Chan JM, Gori A, Nobbs AH, Heyderman RS. Streptococcal Serine-Rich Repeat Proteins in Colonization and Disease. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:593356. [PMID: 33193266 PMCID: PMC7661464 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.593356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycosylation of proteins, previously thought to be absent in prokaryotes, is increasingly recognized as important for both bacterial colonization and pathogenesis. For mucosal pathobionts, glycoproteins that function as cell wall-associated adhesins facilitate interactions with mucosal surfaces, permitting persistent adherence, invasion of deeper tissues and transition to disease. This is exemplified by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus agalactiae, which can switch from being relatively harmless members of the mucosal tract microbiota to bona fide pathogens that cause life-threatening diseases. As part of their armamentarium of virulence factors, streptococci encode a family of large, glycosylated serine-rich repeat proteins (SRRPs) that facilitate binding to various tissue types and extracellular matrix proteins. This minireview focuses on the roles of S. pneumoniae and S. agalactiae SRRPs in persistent colonization and the transition to disease. The potential of utilizing SRRPs as vaccine targets will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Mun Chan
- NIHR Mucosal Pathogens Research Unit, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Gori
- NIHR Mucosal Pathogens Research Unit, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Angela H. Nobbs
- Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Robert S. Heyderman
- NIHR Mucosal Pathogens Research Unit, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Schulte T, Sala BM, Nilvebrant J, Nygren PÅ, Achour A, Shernyukov A, Agback T, Agback P. Assigned NMR backbone resonances of the ligand-binding region domain of the pneumococcal serine-rich repeat protein (PsrP-BR) reveal a rigid monomer in solution. BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS 2020; 14:195-200. [PMID: 32314099 PMCID: PMC7462905 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-020-09944-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The pneumococcal serine rich repeat protein (PsrP) is displayed on the surface of Streptococcus pneumoniae with a suggested role in colonization in the human upper respiratory tract. Full-length PsrP is a 4000 residue-long multi-domain protein comprising a positively charged functional binding region (BR) domain for interaction with keratin and extracellular DNA during pneumococcal adhesion and biofilm formation, respectively. The previously determined crystal structure of the BR domain revealed a flat compressed barrel comprising two sides with an extended β-sheet on one side, and another β-sheet that is distorted by loops and β-turns on the other side. Crystallographic B-factors indicated a relatively high mobility of loop regions that were hypothesized to be important for binding. Furthermore, the crystal structure revealed an inter-molecular β-sheet formed between edge strands of two symmetry-related molecules, which could promote bacterial aggregation during biofilm formation. Here we report the near complete 15N/13C/1H backbone resonance assignment of the BR domain of PsrP, revealing a secondary structure profile that is almost identical to the X-ray structure. Dynamic 15N-T1, T2 and NOE data suggest a monomeric and rigid structure of BR with disordered residues only at the N- and C-termini. The presented peak assignment will allow us to identify BR residues that are crucial for ligand binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Schulte
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institute, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Benedetta Maria Sala
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institute, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Protein Engineering, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, AlbaNova University Center, Royal Institute of Technology, and Science for Life Laboratory, SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Nilvebrant
- Division of Protein Engineering, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, AlbaNova University Center, Royal Institute of Technology, and Science for Life Laboratory, SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per-Åke Nygren
- Division of Protein Engineering, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, AlbaNova University Center, Royal Institute of Technology, and Science for Life Laboratory, SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Adnane Achour
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institute, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrey Shernyukov
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7015, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
- Laboratory of Magnetic Radiospectroscopy, N.N. Vorozhtsov Institute of Organic Chemistry, SB RAS, Lavrentiev ave. 9, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090
| | - Tatiana Agback
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7015, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Agback
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7015, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Erlich JR, To EE, Liong S, Brooks R, Vlahos R, O'Leary JJ, Brooks DA, Selemidis S. Targeting Evolutionary Conserved Oxidative Stress and Immunometabolic Pathways for the Treatment of Respiratory Infectious Diseases. Antioxid Redox Signal 2020; 32:993-1013. [PMID: 32008371 PMCID: PMC7426980 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2020.8028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Significance: Up until recently, metabolism has scarcely been referenced in terms of immunology. However, emerging evidence has shown that immune cells undergo an adaptation of metabolic processes, known as the metabolic switch. This switch is key to the activation, and sustained inflammatory phenotype in immune cells, which includes the production of cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that underpin infectious diseases, respiratory and cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, as well as cancer. Recent Advances: There is a burgeoning body of evidence that immunometabolism and redox biology drive infectious diseases. For example, influenza A virus (IAV) utilizes endogenous ROS production via NADPH oxidase (NOX)2-containing NOXs and mitochondria to circumvent antiviral responses. These evolutionary conserved processes are promoted by glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle that drive inflammation. Such metabolic products involve succinate, which stimulates inflammation through ROS-dependent stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, promoting interleukin-1β production by the inflammasome. In addition, itaconate has recently gained significant attention for its role as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant metabolite of the TCA cycle. Critical Issues: The molecular mechanisms by which immunometabolism and ROS promote viral and bacterial pathology are largely unknown. This review will provide an overview of the current paradigms with an emphasis on the roles of immunometabolism and ROS in the context of IAV infection and secondary complications due to bacterial infection such as Streptococcus pneumoniae. Future Directions: Molecular targets based on metabolic cell processes and ROS generation may provide novel and effective therapeutic strategies for IAV and associated bacterial superinfections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R. Erlich
- Program in Chronic Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Oxidant and Inflammation Biology Group, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, College of Science, Engineering & Health, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Eunice E. To
- Program in Chronic Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Oxidant and Inflammation Biology Group, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, College of Science, Engineering & Health, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Stella Liong
- Program in Chronic Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Oxidant and Inflammation Biology Group, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, College of Science, Engineering & Health, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Robert Brooks
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ross Vlahos
- Program in Chronic Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Oxidant and Inflammation Biology Group, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, College of Science, Engineering & Health, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - John J. O'Leary
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
- Department of Histopathology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Sir Patrick Dun's Laboratory, Central Pathology Laboratory, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Doug A. Brooks
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Coombe Women and Infants' University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stavros Selemidis
- Program in Chronic Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Oxidant and Inflammation Biology Group, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, College of Science, Engineering & Health, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia
- Address correspondence to: Prof. Stavros Selemidis, Program in Chronic Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Oxidant and Inflammation Biology Group, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, College of Science, Engineering & Health, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
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Urban Particles Elevated Streptococcus pneumoniae Biofilms, Colonization of the Human Middle Ear Epithelial Cells, Mouse Nasopharynx and Transit to the Middle Ear and Lungs. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5969. [PMID: 32249803 PMCID: PMC7136263 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62846-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Air-pollutants containing toxic particulate matters (PM) deposit in the respiratory tract and increases microbial infections. However, the mechanism by which this occurs is not well understood. This study evaluated the effect of urban particles (UP) on Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) in vitro biofilm formation, colonization of human middle ear epithelium cells (HMEECs) as well as mouse nasal cavity and its transition to the middle ear and lungs. The in vitro biofilms and planktonic growth of S. pneumoniae were evaluated in metal ion free medium in the presence of UP. Biofilms were quantified by crystal violet (CV) microplate assay, colony forming unit (cfu) counts and resazurin staining. Biofilm structures were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and confocal microscopy (CM). Gene expressions of biofilms were evaluated using real time RT-PCR. Effects of UP exposure on S. pneumoniae colonization to HMEECs were evaluated using fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH), cell viability was detected using the Ezcyto kit, apoptosis in HMEECs were evaluated using Annexin-V/PI based cytometry analysis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were evaluated using the Oxiselect kit. Alteration of HMEECs gene expressions on UP exposure or pneumococci colonization was evaluated using microarray. In vivo colonization of pneumococci in the presence of UP and transition to middle ear and lungs were evaluated using an intranasal mice colonization model. The UP exposure significantly increased (*p < 0.05) pneumococcal in vitro biofilms and planktonic growth. In the presence of UP, pneumococci formed organized biofilms with a matrix, while in absence of UP bacteria were unable to form biofilms. The luxS, ply, lytA, comA, comB and ciaR genes involved in bacterial pathogenesis, biofilm formation and quorum sensing were up-regulated in pneumococci biofilms grown in the presence of UP. The HMEECs viability was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and bacteria colonization was significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in co-treatment (UP + S. pneumoniae) when compared to single treatment. Similarly, increased apoptosis and ROS production were detected in HMEECs treated with UP + pneumococci. The microarray analysis of HMEECs revealed that the genes involve in apoptosis and cell death, inflammation, and immune response, were up-regulated in co-treatment and were unchanged or expressed in less fold in single treatments of UP or S. pneumoniae. The in vivo study showed an increased pneumococcal colonization of the nasopharynx in the presence of UP and a higher transition of bacteria to the middle ear and lungs in the presence of UP. The UP exposure elevated S. pneumoniae in vitro biofilm and colonization of HMEECs, and in vivo mouse nasopharyngeal colonization, and increased dissemination to mouse middle ear and lungs.
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Abstract
In addition to SecA of the general Sec system, many Gram-positive bacteria, including mycobacteria, express SecA2, a second, transport-associated ATPase. SecA2s can be subdivided into two mechanistically distinct types: (i) SecA2s that are part of the accessory Sec (aSec) system, a specialized transporter mediating the export of a family of serine-rich repeat (SRR) glycoproteins that function as adhesins, and (ii) SecA2s that are part of multisubstrate systems, in which SecA2 interacts with components of the general Sec system, specifically the SecYEG channel, to export multiple types of substrates. Found mainly in streptococci and staphylococci, the aSec system also contains SecY2 and novel accessory Sec proteins (Asps) that are required for optimal export. Asp2 also acetylates glucosamine residues on the SRR domains of the substrate during transport. Targeting of the SRR substrate to SecA2 and the aSec translocon is mediated by a specialized signal peptide. Multisubstrate SecA2 systems are present in mycobacteria, corynebacteria, listeriae, clostridia, and some bacillus species. Although most substrates for this SecA2 have canonical signal peptides that are required for export, targeting to SecA2 appears to depend on structural features of the mature protein. The feature of the mature domains of these proteins that renders them dependent on SecA2 for export may be their potential to fold in the cytoplasm. The discovery of aSec and multisubstrate SecA2 systems expands our appreciation of the diversity of bacterial export pathways. Here we present our current understanding of the mechanisms of each of these SecA2 systems.
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Abstract
Extracellular polysaccharides and glycoproteins of pathogenic bacteria assist in adherence, autoaggregation, biofilm formation, and host immune system evasion. As a result, considerable research in the field of glycobiology is dedicated to study the composition and function of glycans associated with virulence, as well as the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis with the aim to identify novel antibiotic targets. Especially, insights into the enzyme mechanism, substrate binding, and transition-state structures are valuable as a starting point for rational inhibitor design. An intriguing aspect of enzymes that generate or process polysaccharides and glycoproteins is the level of processivity. The existence of enzymatic processivity reflects the need for regulation of the final glycan/glycoprotein length and structure, depending on the role they perform. In this Review, we describe the currently reported examples of various processive enzymes involved in polymerization and transfer of sugar moieties, predominantly in bacterial pathogens, with a focus on the biochemical methods, to showcase the importance of studying processivity for understanding the mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liubov Yakovlieva
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marthe T. C. Walvoort
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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Monoclonal antibody against l-lectin module of SraP blocks adhesion and protects mice against Staphylococcus aureus challenge. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2019; 54:420-428. [PMID: 31706823 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2019.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE SraP is a serine-rich repeat protein (SRRP) from Staphylococcus aureus that binds to sialylated receptors to promote bacterial adhesion to and invasion into host epithelial cells, mediated by the l-lectin module of its ligand-binding region. METHODS The sequence encoding the L-lectin module of SraP was inserted into pET28a plasmid, and the recombinant protein was purified by His label affinity chromatography. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the l-lectin module was obtained and confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting. The effect of the mAb on S. aureus adhesion and invasion was assessed in A549 cells and mice subjected to S. aureus challenge. RESULTS We successfully obtained a mAb against the l-lectin module of SraP. Pre-incubation with the mAb dramatically inhibited the bacteria's ability to adhere to and invade A549 cells. Moreover, mice administered mAb through tail vein injection had significantly fewer bacteria in the blood. CONCLUSION The anti-SraPL-Lectin mAb significantly reduced the adherence and invasion of S. aureus to host cells. This study lays the foundation for the future development of the l-lectin module of SraP as a target for the prevention and treatment of S. aureus infection. Our findings suggest that specific subdomains of SRRPs may represent potential antibacterial drug targets for intervention.
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Streptococcus oralis subsp. dentisani Produces Monolateral Serine-Rich Repeat Protein Fibrils, One of Which Contributes to Saliva Binding via Sialic Acid. Infect Immun 2019; 87:IAI.00406-19. [PMID: 31308084 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00406-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Our studies reveal that the oral colonizer and cause of infective endocarditis Streptococcus oralis subsp. dentisani displays a striking monolateral distribution of surface fibrils. Furthermore, our data suggest that these fibrils impact the structure of adherent bacterial chains. Mutagenesis studies indicate that these fibrils are dependent on three serine-rich repeat proteins (SRRPs), here named fibril-associated protein A (FapA), FapB, and FapC, and that each SRRP forms a different fibril with a distinct distribution. SRRPs are a family of bacterial adhesins that have diverse roles in adhesion and that can bind to different receptors through modular nonrepeat region domains. Amino acid sequence and predicted structural similarity searches using the nonrepeat regions suggested that FapA may contribute to interspecies interactions, that FapA and FapB may contribute to intraspecies interactions, and that FapC may contribute to sialic acid binding. We demonstrate that a fapC mutant was significantly reduced in binding to saliva. We confirmed a role for FapC in sialic acid binding by demonstrating that the parental strain was significantly reduced in adhesion upon addition of a recombinantly expressed, sialic acid-specific, carbohydrate binding module, while the fapC mutant was not reduced. However, mutation of a residue previously shown to be essential for sialic acid binding did not decrease bacterial adhesion, leaving the precise mechanism of FapC-mediated adhesion to sialic acid to be defined. We also demonstrate that the presence of any one of the SRRPs is sufficient for efficient biofilm formation. Similar structures were observed on all infective endocarditis isolates examined, suggesting that this distribution is a conserved feature of this S. oralis subspecies.
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Yadav MK, Mailar K, Nagarajappa Masagalli J, Chae SW, Song JJ, Choi WJ. Ruthenium Chloride-Induced Oxidative Cyclization of Trans-Resveratrol to (±)-ε-Viniferin and Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity Against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:890. [PMID: 31474855 PMCID: PMC6702469 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00890] [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: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyphenol ε-viniferin (2) is a protective phytochemical found in several plant families. Here, we report a simple and effective method for the synthesis of (±)-ε-viniferin (2) as major product and (±)-(E)-ω-viniferin (3) as a minor product. Synthesized viniferin compounds and standard viniferin were analyzed for antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against Gram-positive bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of (±)-ε-viniferin (2) and standard viniferin were 20 µm. However, the MICs of (±)-(E)-ω-viniferin (3) and compound 8 were 40 µm. Although viniferin significantly (p < 0.05) reduced pre-established in vitro biofilms and killed bacteria within the biofilm, it was unable to prevent biofilm formation at sub-MIC concentrations. The time kill experiment revealed that viniferin killed bacteria and reduced 2.8 log10 bacteria at 2 × MIC concentration after 24 h. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis and live/dead biofilm staining of pre-established biofilms revealed that viniferin treatment disrupts membrane integrity of biofilm bacteria. Crystal violet absorption, total protein, and DNA and RNA release revealed that viniferin alters bacterial cell permeability, eventually killing bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Kumar Yadav
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
- Institute for Medical Device Clinical Trials, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Karabasappa Mailar
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | | | - Jae-Jun Song
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Won Jun Choi
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea
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The MSCRAMM Family of Cell-Wall-Anchored Surface Proteins of Gram-Positive Cocci. Trends Microbiol 2019; 27:927-941. [PMID: 31375310 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs) are a family of proteins that are defined by the presence of two adjacent IgG-like folded subdomains. These promote binding to ligands by mechanisms that involve major conformational changes exemplified by the binding to fibrinogen by the 'dock-lock-latch' mechanism or to collagen by the 'collagen hug'. Clumping factors A and B are two such MSCRAMMs that have several important roles in the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus infections. MSCRAMM architecture, ligand binding, and roles in infection and colonization are examined with a focus on recent developments with clumping factors.
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Xiang Z, Li Z, Ren Z, Zeng J, Peng X, Li Y, Li J. EzrA, a cell shape regulator contributing to biofilm formation and competitiveness in Streptococcus mutans. Mol Oral Microbiol 2019; 34:194-208. [PMID: 31287946 DOI: 10.1111/omi.12264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial cell division is initiated by tubulin homologue FtsZ that assembles into a ring structure at mid-cell to facilitate cytokinesis. EzrA has been identified to be implicated in FtsZ-ring dynamics and cell wall biosynthesis during cell division of Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, the model rod and cocci. However, its role in pathogenic streptococci remains largely unknown. Here, the role of EzrA was investigated in Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiological agent of human dental caries, by constructing an ezrA in-frame deletion mutant. Our data showed that the ezrA mutant was slow-growing with a shortened length and extended width round cell shape compared to the wild type, indicating a delay in cell division with abnormalities of peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Additionally, FtsZ irregularly localized in dividing ezrA mutant cells forming angled division planes, potentially contributing to an aberrant cell shape. Furthermore, investigation using single-species cariogenic biofilm model revealed that deletion of ezrA resulted in defective biofilm formation with less extracellular polysaccharides and altered three-dimensional biofilm architecture. Unexpectedly, in a dual-species ecological model, the ezrA mutant exhibited substantially lower tolerance for H2 O2 and reduced competitiveness against one commensal species, Streptococcus sanguinis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that EzrA plays a key role in regulating cell division and maintaining a normal morphology in S. mutans and is required for its robust biofilm formation/interspecies competition. Therefore, EzrA protein represents a potential therapeutic target in the development of drugs controlling dental caries and other biofilm-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenting Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Zongbo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Zhi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China.,Biofilm Research Labs, Levy Center for Oral Health, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jumei Zeng
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xian Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Yuqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Jiyao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
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Latousakis D, MacKenzie DA, Telatin A, Juge N. Serine-rich repeat proteins from gut microbes. Gut Microbes 2019; 11:102-117. [PMID: 31035824 PMCID: PMC6973325 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2019.1602428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Serine-rich repeat proteins (SRRPs) have emerged as an important group of cell surface adhesins found in a growing number of Gram-positive bacteria. Studies focused on SRRPs from streptococci and staphylococci demonstrated that these proteins are O-glycosylated on serine or threonine residues and exported via an accessory secretion (aSec) system. In pathogens, these adhesins contribute to disease pathogenesis and represent therapeutic targets. Recently, the non-canonical aSec system has been identified in the genomes of gut microbes and characterization of their associated SRRPs is beginning to unfold, showing their role in mediating attachment and biofilm formation. Here we provide an update of the occurrence, structure, and function of SRRPs across bacteria, with emphasis on the molecular and biochemical properties of SRRPs from gut symbionts, particularly Lactobacilli. These emerging studies underscore the range of ligands recognized by these adhesins and the importance of SRRP glycosylation in the interaction of gut microbes with the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Latousakis
- The Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Donald A. MacKenzie
- The Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Andrea Telatin
- The Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Nathalie Juge
- The Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
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37
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Redundant and Distinct Roles of Secreted Protein Eap and Cell Wall-Anchored Protein SasG in Biofilm Formation and Pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus. Infect Immun 2019. [PMID: 30670553 DOI: 10.1128/iai00894-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic and fatal infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus are sometimes associated with biofilm formation. Secreted proteins and cell wall-anchored proteins (CWAPs) are important for the development of polysaccharide-independent biofilms, but functional relationships between these proteins are unclear. In the present study, we report the roles of the extracellular adherence protein Eap and the surface CWAP SasG in S. aureus MR23, a clinical methicillin-resistant isolate that forms a robust protein-dependent biofilm and accumulates a large amount of Eap in the extracellular matrix. Double deletion of eap and sasG, but not single eap or sasG deletion, reduced the biomass of the formed biofilm. Mutational analysis demonstrated that cell wall anchorage is essential for the role of SasG in biofilm formation. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that MR23 formed a rugged and thick biofilm; deletion of both eap and sasG reduced biofilm ruggedness and thickness. Although sasG deletion did not affect either of these features, eap deletion reduced the ruggedness but not the thickness of the biofilm. This indicated that Eap contributes to the rough irregular surface structure of the MR23 biofilm and that both Eap and SasG play roles in biofilm thickness. The level of pathogenicity of the Δeap ΔsasG strain in a silkworm larval infection model was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of the wild type and single-deletion mutants. Collectively, these findings highlight the redundant and distinct roles of a secreted protein and a CWAP in biofilm formation and pathogenicity of S. aureus and may inform new strategies to control staphylococcal biofilm infections.
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38
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Redundant and Distinct Roles of Secreted Protein Eap and Cell Wall-Anchored Protein SasG in Biofilm Formation and Pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus. Infect Immun 2019; 87:IAI.00894-18. [PMID: 30670553 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00894-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic and fatal infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus are sometimes associated with biofilm formation. Secreted proteins and cell wall-anchored proteins (CWAPs) are important for the development of polysaccharide-independent biofilms, but functional relationships between these proteins are unclear. In the present study, we report the roles of the extracellular adherence protein Eap and the surface CWAP SasG in S. aureus MR23, a clinical methicillin-resistant isolate that forms a robust protein-dependent biofilm and accumulates a large amount of Eap in the extracellular matrix. Double deletion of eap and sasG, but not single eap or sasG deletion, reduced the biomass of the formed biofilm. Mutational analysis demonstrated that cell wall anchorage is essential for the role of SasG in biofilm formation. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that MR23 formed a rugged and thick biofilm; deletion of both eap and sasG reduced biofilm ruggedness and thickness. Although sasG deletion did not affect either of these features, eap deletion reduced the ruggedness but not the thickness of the biofilm. This indicated that Eap contributes to the rough irregular surface structure of the MR23 biofilm and that both Eap and SasG play roles in biofilm thickness. The level of pathogenicity of the Δeap ΔsasG strain in a silkworm larval infection model was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of the wild type and single-deletion mutants. Collectively, these findings highlight the redundant and distinct roles of a secreted protein and a CWAP in biofilm formation and pathogenicity of S. aureus and may inform new strategies to control staphylococcal biofilm infections.
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39
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Cohen A, Troib S, Dotan S, Najmuldeen H, Yesilkaya H, Kushnir T, Shagan M, Portnoi M, Nachmani H, Benisty R, Tal M, Ellis R, Chalifa-Caspi V, Dagan R, Nebenzahl YM. Streptococcus pneumoniae Cell Wall-Localized Trigger Factor Elicits a Protective Immune Response and Contributes to Bacterial Adhesion to the Host. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4295. [PMID: 30862841 PMCID: PMC6414539 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40779-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Trigger factor (TF) has a known cytoplasmic function as a chaperone. In a previous study we showed that pneumococcal TF is also cell-wall localized and this finding combined with the immunogenic characteristic of TF, has led us to determine the vaccine potential of TF and decipher its involvement in pneumococcal pathogenesis. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that TF is conserved among pneumococci and has no human homologue. Immunization of mice with recombinant (r)TF elicited a protective immune response against a pneumococcal challenge, suggesting that TF contributes to pneumococcal pathogenesis. Indeed, rTF and an anti-rTF antiserum inhibited bacterial adhesion to human lung derived epithelial cells, indicating that TF contributes to the bacterial adhesion to the host. Moreover, bacteria lacking TF demonstrated reduced adhesion, in vitro, to lung-derived epithelial cells, neural cells and glial cells. The reduced adhesion could be restored by chromosomal complementation. Furthermore, bacteria lacking TF demonstrated significantly reduced virulence in a mouse model. Taken together, the ability of rTF to elicit a protective immune response, involvement of TF in bacterial adhesion, conservation of the protein among pneumococcal strains and the lack of human homologue, all suggest that rTF can be considered as a future candidate vaccine with a much broader coverage as compared to the currently available pneumococcal vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviad Cohen
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Shani Troib
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | | | - Hastyar Najmuldeen
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation to Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.,Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Iraq
| | - Hasan Yesilkaya
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation to Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Tatyana Kushnir
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Marilou Shagan
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Maxim Portnoi
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Hannie Nachmani
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Rachel Benisty
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | | | | | - Vered Chalifa-Caspi
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ron Dagan
- The Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Yaffa Mizrachi Nebenzahl
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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40
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Chao Y, Bergenfelz C, Hakansson AP. Growing and Characterizing Biofilms Formed by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1968:147-171. [PMID: 30929213 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9199-0_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
It is estimated that over 80% of bacterial infections are associated with biofilm formation. Biofilms are organized bacterial communities formed on abiotic surfaces, such as implanted or inserted medical devices, or on biological surfaces, such as epithelial linings and mucosal surfaces. Biofilm growth is advantageous for the bacterial organism as it protects the bacteria from antimicrobial host factors and allows the bacteria to reside in the host without causing excessive inflammation. Like many other opportunistic pathogens of the respiratory tract, Streptococcus pneumoniae forms biofilms during asymptomatic carriage, which promotes, among other things, persistence in the niche, intraspecies and interspecies communication, and spread of bacterial DNA. Changes within the colonizing environment resulting from host assaults, such as virus infection, can induce biofilm dispersion where bacteria leave the biofilm and disseminate to other sites with ensuing infection. In this chapter, we present methodology to form complex biofilms in the nasopharynx of mice and to evaluate the biofilm structure and function in this environment. Furthermore, we present methods that recapitulate this biofilm phenotype in vitro by incorporating crucial factors associated with the host environment and describe how these models can be used to study biofilm function, transformation, and dispersion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashuan Chao
- Wallenberg Laboratory, Division of Experimental Infection Medicine, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Caroline Bergenfelz
- Wallenberg Laboratory, Division of Experimental Infection Medicine, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Anders P Hakansson
- Wallenberg Laboratory, Division of Experimental Infection Medicine, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
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41
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Latousakis D, Nepravishta R, Rejzek M, Wegmann U, Le Gall G, Kavanaugh D, Colquhoun IJ, Frese S, MacKenzie DA, Walter J, Angulo J, Field RA, Juge N. Serine-rich repeat protein adhesins from Lactobacillus reuteri display strain specific glycosylation profiles. Glycobiology 2019; 29:45-58. [PMID: 30371779 PMCID: PMC6291802 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwy100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Lactobacillus reuteri is a gut symbiont inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract of numerous vertebrates. The surface-exposed serine-rich repeat protein (SRRP) is a major adhesin in Gram-positive bacteria. Using lectin and sugar nucleotide profiling of wild-type or L. reuteri isogenic mutants, MALDI-ToF-MS, LC-MS and GC-MS analyses of SRRPs, we showed that L. reuteri strains 100-23C (from rodent) and ATCC 53608 (from pig) can perform protein O-glycosylation and modify SRRP100-23 and SRRP53608 with Hex-Glc-GlcNAc and di-GlcNAc moieties, respectively. Furthermore, in vivo glycoengineering in E. coli led to glycosylation of SRRP53608 variants with α-GlcNAc and GlcNAcβ(1→6)GlcNAcα moieties. The glycosyltransferases involved in the modification of these adhesins were identified within the SecA2/Y2 accessory secretion system and their sugar nucleotide preference determined by saturation transfer difference NMR spectroscopy and differential scanning fluorimetry. Together, these findings provide novel insights into the cellular O-protein glycosylation pathways of gut commensal bacteria and potential routes for glycoengineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Latousakis
- The Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Ridvan Nepravishta
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Martin Rejzek
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Udo Wegmann
- The Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Gwenaelle Le Gall
- The Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Devon Kavanaugh
- The Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Ian J Colquhoun
- The Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | | | - Donald A MacKenzie
- The Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Jens Walter
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jesus Angulo
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Robert A Field
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Nathalie Juge
- The Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
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42
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Bjarnsholt T, Buhlin K, Dufrêne YF, Gomelsky M, Moroni A, Ramstedt M, Rumbaugh KP, Schulte T, Sun L, Åkerlund B, Römling U. Biofilm formation - what we can learn from recent developments. J Intern Med 2018; 284:332-345. [PMID: 29856510 PMCID: PMC6927207 DOI: 10.1111/joim.12782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Although biofilms have been observed early in the history of microbial research, their impact has only recently been fully recognized. Biofilm infections, which contribute to up to 80% of human microbial infections, are associated with common human disorders, such as diabetes mellitus and poor dental hygiene, but also with medical implants. The associated chronic infections such as wound infections, dental caries and periodontitis significantly enhance morbidity, affect quality of life and can aid development of follow-up diseases such as cancer. Biofilm infections remain challenging to treat and antibiotic monotherapy is often insufficient, although some rediscovered traditional compounds have shown surprising efficiency. Innovative anti-biofilm strategies include application of anti-biofilm small molecules, intrinsic or external stimulation of production of reactive molecules, utilization of materials with antimicrobial properties and dispersion of biofilms by digestion of the extracellular matrix, also in combination with physical biofilm breakdown. Although basic principles of biofilm formation have been deciphered, the molecular understanding of the formation and structural organization of various types of biofilms has just begun to emerge. Basic studies of biofilm physiology have also resulted in an unexpected discovery of cyclic dinucleotide second messengers that are involved in interkingdom crosstalk via specific mammalian receptors. These findings even open up new venues for exploring novel anti-biofilm strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Bjarnsholt
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Costerton Biofilm Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - K Buhlin
- Department of Dental Medicine, Division of Oral Facial Diagnostics and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Y F Dufrêne
- Institute of Life Sciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - M Gomelsky
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - A Moroni
- Department of Biology and CNR-Istituto di Biofisica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - M Ramstedt
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - K P Rumbaugh
- Departments of Surgery & Immunology & Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - T Schulte
- Department of Medicine Solna, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - L Sun
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - B Åkerlund
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Unit of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - U Römling
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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43
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Wang Y, Jiang J, Gao Y, Sun Y, Dai J, Wu Y, Qu D, Ma G, Fang X. Staphylococcus epidermidis small basic protein (Sbp) forms amyloid fibrils, consistent with its function as a scaffolding protein in biofilms. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:14296-14311. [PMID: 30049797 PMCID: PMC6139570 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.002448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are communities of microbes embedded in a microbial extracellular matrix. Their formation is considered the main virulence mechanism enabling the opportunistic bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis to cause devastating nosocomial, implant-associated infections. Biofilms often contain proteins, and an 18-kDa protein called small basic protein (Sbp) recently was discovered in the S. epidermidis biofilm matrix and may serve as a scaffolding protein in both polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA)-dependent and accumulation-associated protein (Aap)-dependent biofilm formations. In Aap-mediated biofilm formation, Sbp colocalizes with Domain-B of Aap, implying that Sbp directly interacts with Aap's Domain-B. However, the structure of Sbp and its interaction with Aap, as well as the molecular mechanism underlying Sbp's roles in biofilm formation, are incompletely understood. In this work, we used small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), NMR, analytical size-exclusion chromatography, and isothermal titration calorimetry analyses to determine the Sbp structure and characterize its interaction with Aap's Domain-B. We found that Sbp is monomeric and partially folded in solution, and, unexpectedly, we observed no direct interactions between Sbp and Aap Domain-B. Instead, we noted that Sbp forms amyloid fibrils both in vitro and in vivo Atomic force, transmission electron, and confocal fluorescence microscopy methods confirmed the formation of Sbp amyloid fibrils and revealed their morphology. Taken together, the Sbp amyloid fibril structures identified here may account for Sbp's role as a scaffolding protein in the S. epidermidis biofilm matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- From the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jingbo Jiang
- From the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yachao Gao
- From the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yang Sun
- From the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jianfeng Dai
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China, and
| | - Di Qu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China, and
| | - Gang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Xianyang Fang
- From the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China,
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44
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SssP1, a Streptococcus suis Fimbria-Like Protein Transported by the SecY2/A2 System, Contributes to Bacterial Virulence. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.01385-18. [PMID: 30030221 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01385-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus suis is an important Gram-positive pathogen in the swine industry and is an emerging zoonotic pathogen for humans. In our previous work, we found a virulent S. suis strain, CZ130302, belonging to a novel serotype, Chz, to be associated with acute meningitis in piglets. However, its underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis remain poorly understood. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the complete genomes of three Chz serotype strains, including strain CZ130302 and two avirulent strains, HN136 and AH681. By genome comparison, we found two putative genomic islands (GIs) uniquely encoded in strain CZ130302 and designated them 50K GI and 58K GI. In mouse infection model, the deletion of 50K and 58K GIs caused 270-fold and 3-fold attenuation of virulence, respectively. Notably, we identified a complete SecY2/A2 system, coupled with its secretory protein SssP1 encoded in the 50K GI, which contributed to the pathogenicity of strain CZ130302. Immunogold electron microscopy and immunofluorescence analyses indicated that SssP1 could form fimbria-like structures that extend outward from the bacterial cell surface. The sssP1 mutation also attenuated bacterial adherence in human laryngeal epithelial (HEp-2) cells and human brain microvessel endothelial cells (HBMECs) compared with the wild type. Furthermore, we showed that two analogous Ig-like subdomains of SssP1 have sialic acid binding capacities. In conclusion, our results revealed that the 50K GI and the inside SecY2/A2 system gene cluster are related to the virulence of strain CZ130302, and we clarified a new S. suis pathogenesis mechanism mediated by the secretion protein SssP1.IMPORTANCE Streptococcus suis is an important zoonotic pathogen. Here, we managed to identify key factors to clarify the virulence of S. suis strain CZ130302 from a novel serotype, Chz. Notably, it was shown that a fimbria-like structure was significantly connected to the pathogenicity of the CZ130302 strain by comparative genomics analysis and animal infection assays. The mechanisms of how the CZ130302 strain constructs these fimbria-like structures in the cell surface by genes encoding and production transport were subsequently elucidated. Biosynthesis of the fimbria-like structure was achieved by the production of SssP1 glycoproteins, and its construction was dependent on the SecA2/Y2 secretion system. This study identified a visible fimbria-like protein, SssP1, participating in adhesion to host cells and contributing to the virulence in S. suis These findings will promote a better understanding of the pathogenesis of S. suis.
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45
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Kohler V, Keller W, Grohmann E. Enterococcus adhesin PrgB facilitates type IV secretion by condensation of extracellular DNA. Mol Microbiol 2018; 109:263-267. [PMID: 29873122 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Conjugative type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are multi-protein complexes in Gram-negative and Gram-positive (G+) bacteria, responsible for spreading antibiotic resistances and virulence factors among different species. Compared to Gram-negative bacteria, which establish close contacts for conjugative transfer via sex pili, G+ T4SSs are suggested to employ surface adhesins instead. One example is pCF10, an enterococcal conjugative sex-pheromone responsive plasmid with a narrow host range, thus disseminating genetic information only among closely related species. This MicroCommentary is dedicated to the crystal structure of the pCF10-encoded adhesion domain of PrgB presented by Schmitt et al. The authors show in their work that this adhesion domain is responsible for biofilm formation, tight binding and condensation of extracellular DNA (eDNA) and conjugative transfer of pCF10. A sophisticated two-step mechanism for highly efficient conjugative transfer is postulated, including the formation of PrgB-mediated long-range intercellular contacts by binding and establishment of shorter-range contacts via condensation of eDNA. PrgB binding to lipoteichoic acid on the recipient cell surface stabilizes junctions between the mating partners. The major findings by Schmitt et al. will be brought into a broader context and potential medical applications targeting eDNA as essential component in biofilm formation and conjugation will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Kohler
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, BioTechMed, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Walter Keller
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, BioTechMed, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Grohmann
- Life Sciences and Technology, Beuth University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, Germany
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46
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Brooks LRK, Mias GI. Streptococcus pneumoniae's Virulence and Host Immunity: Aging, Diagnostics, and Prevention. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1366. [PMID: 29988379 PMCID: PMC6023974 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an infectious pathogen responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. Diseases caused by this bacterium are classified as pneumococcal diseases. This pathogen colonizes the nasopharynx of its host asymptomatically, but overtime can migrate to sterile tissues and organs and cause infections. Pneumonia is currently the most common pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal pneumonia is a global health concern and vastly affects children under the age of five as well as the elderly and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. S. pneumoniae has a large selection of virulence factors that promote adherence, invasion of host tissues, and allows it to escape host immune defenses. A clear understanding of S. pneumoniae's virulence factors, host immune responses, and examining the current techniques available for diagnosis, treatment, and disease prevention will allow for better regulation of the pathogen and its diseases. In terms of disease prevention, other considerations must include the effects of age on responses to vaccines and vaccine efficacy. Ongoing work aims to improve on current vaccination paradigms by including the use of serotype-independent vaccines, such as protein and whole cell vaccines. Extending our knowledge of the biology of, and associated host immune response to S. pneumoniae is paramount for our improvement of pneumococcal disease diagnosis, treatment, and improvement of patient outlook.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavida R. K. Brooks
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - George I. Mias
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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47
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Protasova IN, Wan TW, Bakhareva NV, Hung WC, Higuchi W, Iwao Y, Yelistratova TA, Ilyenkova NA, Sokolovskaya YS, Martynova GP, Reva IV, Reva GV, Sidorenko SV, Teng LJ, Peryanova OV, Salmina AB, Yamamoto T. Molecular characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae, particularly serotype19A/ST320, which emerged in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Microbiol Immunol 2018; 61:359-370. [PMID: 28736993 PMCID: PMC5639370 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae, a common human pathogen, colonizes the nasopharynx and causes diseases including acute otitis media (AOM). Herein, pneumococcal serotype distributions in children before and after PCV7 vaccination and in patients with pneumococcal disease in Siberian Russia (Krasnoyarsk) are reported. Analyses included antimicrobial susceptibility testing, sequence typing (ST), pulsed field gel electrophoresis, virulence‐related surface protein gene (VSG) typing with novel primers and structural analysis by scanning electron microscopy. In healthy children (HC) prior to administration of PCV7, drug‐susceptible serotype23F/ST1500 was a major pneumococcal genotype. In the PCV7 trial, multidrug‐resistant serotype19A/ST320 emerged in vaccinees after PCV7, exhibiting a PCV7‐induced serotype replacement. Multidrug‐resistant serotype19A/ST320 was evident in patients with AOM. Community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) isolates showed genetic similarities to the AOM (ST320) genotype, constituting a common non‐invasive AOM–CAP group. In contrast, meningitis isolates were more divergent. Overall, 25 ST types were identified; five (20%) of which were Krasnoyarsk‐native. Regarding VSGs, PI‐1 (rlrA/rrgB), PI‐2 (pitA/B), psrP and cbpA were present at 54.3%, 38.6%, 48.6%, and 95.7%, respectively, with two major VSG content types, PI‐1−/PI‐2−/psrP+/cbpA+ and PI‐1+/PI‐2+/psrP‐/cbpA+, being found for HC and non‐invasive diseases, respectively. A major clone of serotype19A/ST320 (PI‐1+/PI‐2+) produced the longest pneumococcal wire (pilus) structures in colonies. ST1016 (PI‐1−/PI‐2−) in HC had HEp‐2 cell‐adherent pili. These results suggest that serotype19A/ST320 and related genotypes, with the VSG content type PI‐1+/PI‐2+/psrP−/cbpA+, emerged in vaccinees after PCV7 in Siberia, accompanying diseases in non‐vaccinated children, and that some genotypes (serotypes19A/ST320 and 18/ST1016) produced novel pneumococcal structures, predicting their roles in colony formation and adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina N Protasova
- Russia-Japan Center of Microbiology, Metagenomics and Infectious Diseases, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.,Department of Microbiology Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.,Department of Epidemiology, Genomics, and Evolution, International Medical Education and Research, Center Niigata, Japan
| | - Tsai-Wen Wan
- Department of Epidemiology, Genomics, and Evolution, International Medical Education and Research, Center Niigata, Japan.,Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Wei-Chun Hung
- Department of Epidemiology, Genomics, and Evolution, International Medical Education and Research, Center Niigata, Japan.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Wataru Higuchi
- Division of Bacteriology, Department of Infectious Disease Control and International Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yasuhisa Iwao
- Department of Epidemiology, Genomics, and Evolution, International Medical Education and Research, Center Niigata, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Galina P Martynova
- Department of Children Infectious Diseases, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Ivan V Reva
- Department of Epidemiology, Genomics, and Evolution, International Medical Education and Research, Center Niigata, Japan.,Department of Clinical and Fundamental Medicine, Far Eastern Federal University School of Biomedicine, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Galina V Reva
- Department of Clinical and Fundamental Medicine, Far Eastern Federal University School of Biomedicine, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Sergey V Sidorenko
- Research Institute of Children Infections of Federal State Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, Saint Petersburg
| | - Lee-Jene Teng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Olga V Peryanova
- Russia-Japan Center of Microbiology, Metagenomics and Infectious Diseases, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.,Department of Microbiology Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Alla B Salmina
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Tatsuo Yamamoto
- Russia-Japan Center of Microbiology, Metagenomics and Infectious Diseases, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.,Department of Epidemiology, Genomics, and Evolution, International Medical Education and Research, Center Niigata, Japan
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48
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Weiser JN, Ferreira DM, Paton JC. Streptococcus pneumoniae: transmission, colonization and invasion. Nat Rev Microbiol 2018; 16:355-367. [PMID: 29599457 PMCID: PMC5949087 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-018-0001-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 521] [Impact Index Per Article: 86.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae has a complex relationship with its obligate human host. On the one hand, the pneumococci are highly adapted commensals, and their main reservoir on the mucosal surface of the upper airways of carriers enables transmission. On the other hand, they can cause severe disease when bacterial and host factors allow them to invade essentially sterile sites, such as the middle ear spaces, lungs, bloodstream and meninges. Transmission, colonization and invasion depend on the remarkable ability of S. pneumoniae to evade or take advantage of the host inflammatory and immune responses. The different stages of pneumococcal carriage and disease have been investigated in detail in animal models and, more recently, in experimental human infection. Furthermore, widespread vaccination and the resulting immune pressure have shed light on pneumococcal population dynamics and pathogenesis. Here, we review the mechanistic insights provided by these studies on the multiple and varied interactions of the pneumococcus and its host.
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Yadav MK, Vidal JE, Go YY, Kim SH, Chae SW, Song JJ. The LuxS/AI-2 Quorum-Sensing System of Streptococcus pneumoniae Is Required to Cause Disease, and to Regulate Virulence- and Metabolism-Related Genes in a Rat Model of Middle Ear Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:138. [PMID: 29780750 PMCID: PMC5945837 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective:Streptococcus pneumoniae colonizes the nasopharynx of children, and from nasopharynx it could migrate to the middle ear and causes acute otitis media (AOM). During colonization and AOM, the pneumococcus forms biofilms. In vitro biofilm formation requires a functional LuxS/AI-2 quorum-sensing system. We investigated the role of LuxS/AI-2 signaling in pneumococcal middle ear infection, and identified the genes that are regulated by LuxS/AI-2 during pneumococcal biofilm formation. Methods:Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 wild-type and an isogenic D39ΔluxS strain were utilized to evaluate in vitro biofilm formation, and in vivo colonization and epithelial damage using a microtiter plate assay and a rat model of pneumococcal middle ear infection, respectively. Biofilm structures and colonization and epithelial damage were evaluated at the ultrastructural level by scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. Microarrays were used to investigate the global genes that were regulated by LuxS/AI-2 during biofilm formation. Results: The biofilm biomass and density of D39ΔluxS were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those of D39 wild-type. SEM and confocal microscopy revealed that D39ΔluxS formed thin biofilms in vitro compared with D39 wild-type. The in vivo model of middle ear infection showed that D39ΔluxS resulted in ~60% less (p < 0.05) bacterial colonization than the wild-type. SEM analysis of the rat middle ears revealed dense biofilm-like cell debris deposited on the cilia in wild-type D39-infected rats. However, little cell debris was deposited in the middle ears of the D39ΔluxS-inoculated rats, and the cilia were visible. cDNA-microarray analysis revealed 117 differentially expressed genes in D39ΔluxS compared with D39 wild-type. Among the 66 genes encoding putative proteins and previously characterized proteins, 60 were significantly downregulated, whereas 6 were upregulated. Functional annotation revealed that genes involved in DNA replication and repair, ATP synthesis, capsule biosynthesis, cell division, the cell cycle, signal transduction, transcription regulation, competence, virulence, and carbohydrate metabolism were downregulated in the absence of LuxS/AI-2. Conclusion: The S. pneumoniae LuxS/AI-2 quorum-sensing system is necessary for biofilm formation and the colonization of the ear epithelium, and caused middle ear infection in the rat model. LuxS/AI-2 regulates the expression of the genes involved in virulence and bacterial fitness during pneumococcal biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh K Yadav
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Institute for Medical Device Clinical Trials, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jorge E Vidal
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Yoon Y Go
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Shin H Kim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sung-Won Chae
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jae-Jun Song
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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50
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Alpha-Toxin Contributes to Biofilm Formation among Staphylococcus aureus Wound Isolates. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10040157. [PMID: 29659477 PMCID: PMC5923323 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10040157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms complicate treatment of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) wound infections. Previously, we determined alpha-toxin (AT)-promoted SA biofilm formation on mucosal tissue. Therefore, we evaluated SA wound isolates for AT production and biofilm formation on epithelium and assessed the role of AT in biofilm formation. Thirty-eight wound isolates were molecularly typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (ST), and spa typing. We measured biofilm formation of these SA isolates in vitro and ex vivo and quantified ex vivo AT production. We also investigated the effect of an anti-AT monoclonal antibody (MEDI4893*) on ex vivo biofilm formation by methicillin-resistant SA (USA 300 LAC) and tested whether purified AT rescued the biofilm defect of hla mutant SA strains. The predominant PFGE/ST combinations were USA100/ST5 (50%) and USA300/ST8 (33%) for methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA, n = 18), and USA200/ST30 (20%) for methicillin-susceptible SA (MSSA, n = 20). Ex vivo AT production correlated significantly with ex vivo SA wound isolate biofilm formation. Anti-alpha-toxin monoclonal antibody (MEDI4893*) prevented ex vivo biofilm formation by MRSA USA300 strain LAC. Wild-type AT rescued the ex vivo biofilm defect of non-AT producing SA strains. These findings provide evidence that AT plays a role in SA biofilm formation on epithelial surfaces and suggest that neutralization of AT may be useful in preventing and treating SA infections.
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