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Lepesheva A, Grobarcikova M, Osickova A, Jurnecka D, Knoblochova S, Cizkova M, Osicka R, Sebo P, Masin J. Modification of the RTX domain cap by acyl chains of adapted length rules the formation of functional hemolysin pores. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2024; 1866:184311. [PMID: 38570122 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2024.184311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The acylated pore-forming Repeats in ToXin (RTX) cytolysins α-hemolysin (HlyA) and adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA) preferentially bind to β2 integrins of myeloid leukocytes but can also promiscuously bind and permeabilize cells lacking the β2 integrins. We constructed a HlyA1-563/CyaA860-1706 chimera that was acylated either by the toxin-activating acyltransferase CyaC, using sixteen carbon-long (C16) acyls, or by the HlyC acyltransferase using fourteen carbon-long (C14) acyls. Cytolysin assays with the C16- or C14-acylated HlyA/CyaA chimeric toxin revealed that the RTX domain of CyaA can functionally replace the RTX domain of HlyA only if it is modified by C16-acyls on the Lys983 residue of CyaA. The C16-monoacylated HlyA/CyaA chimera was as pore-forming and cytolytic as native HlyA, whereas the C14-acylated chimera exhibited very low pore-forming activity. Hence, the capacity of the RTX domain of CyaA to support the insertion of the N-terminal pore-forming domain into the target cell membrane, and promote formation of toxin pores, strictly depends on the modification of the Lys983 residue by an acyl chain of adapted length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lepesheva
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Grobarcikova
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Adriana Osickova
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - David Jurnecka
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sarka Knoblochova
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Cizkova
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Osicka
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Sebo
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiri Masin
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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2
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Xing Y, Clark JR, Chang JD, Zulk JJ, Chirman DM, Piedra FA, Vaughan EE, Hernandez Santos HJ, Patras KA, Maresso AW. Progress toward a vaccine for extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) II: efficacy of a toxin-autotransporter dual antigen approach. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0044023. [PMID: 38591882 PMCID: PMC11075464 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00440-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is a leading cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality, the top cause of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections, and the most frequent cause of life-threatening sepsis and urinary tract infections (UTI) in adults. The development of an effective and universal vaccine is complicated by this pathogen's pan-genome, its ability to mix and match virulence factors and AMR genes via horizontal gene transfer, an inability to decipher commensal from pathogens, and its intimate association and co-evolution with mammals. Using a pan virulome analysis of >20,000 sequenced E. coli strains, we identified the secreted cytolysin α-hemolysin (HlyA) as a high priority target for vaccine exploration studies. We demonstrate that a catalytically inactive pure form of HlyA, expressed in an autologous host using its own secretion system, is highly immunogenic in a murine host, protects against several forms of ExPEC infection (including lethal bacteremia), and significantly lowers bacterial burdens in multiple organ systems. Interestingly, the combination of a previously reported autotransporter (SinH) with HlyA was notably effective, inducing near complete protection against lethal challenge, including commonly used infection strains ST73 (CFT073) and ST95 (UTI89), as well as a mixture of 10 of the most highly virulent sequence types and strains from our clinical collection. Both HlyA and HlyA-SinH combinations also afforded some protection against UTI89 colonization in a murine UTI model. These findings suggest recombinant, inactive hemolysin and/or its combination with SinH warrant investigation in the development of an E. coli vaccine against invasive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yikun Xing
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Justin R. Clark
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - James D. Chang
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jacob J. Zulk
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Dylan M. Chirman
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Felipe-Andres Piedra
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ellen E. Vaughan
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Haroldo J. Hernandez Santos
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kathryn A. Patras
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anthony W. Maresso
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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3
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Chen G, Wang H, Bumba L, Masin J, Sebo P, Li H. The adenylate cyclase toxin RTX domain follows a series templated folding mechanism with implications for toxin activity. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105150. [PMID: 37567473 PMCID: PMC10511787 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Folding of the Repeats-in-toxin (RTX) domain of the bacterial adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (CyaA) is critical to its toxin activities and the virulence of the whooping cough agent Bordetella pertussis. The RTX domain (RD) contains five RTX blocks (RTX-i to RTX-v) and their folding is driven by the binding of calcium. However, the detailed molecular mechanism via which the folding signal transmits within the five RTX blocks remains unknown. By combining single molecule optical tweezers, protein engineering, and toxin activity assays, here we demonstrate that the folding of the RD follows a strict hierarchy, with the folding starting from its C-terminal block RTX-v and proceeding towards the N-terminal RTX-i block sequentially. Our results reveal a strict series, templated folding mechanism, where the folding signal is transmitted along the RD in a series fashion from its C terminus continuously to the N terminus. Due to the series nature of this folding signal transmission pathway, the folding of RD can be disrupted at any given RTX block, rendering the RTX blocks located N-terminally to the disruption site and the acylation region of CyaA unfolded and abolishing CyaA's toxin activities. Our results reveal key mechanistic insights into the secretion and folding process of CyaA and may open up new potential avenues towards designing new therapeutics to abolish toxin activity of CyaA and combat B. pertussis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guojun Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Han Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ladislav Bumba
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Masin
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Sebo
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hongbin Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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Osickova A, Knoblochova S, Bumba L, Man P, Kalaninova Z, Lepesheva A, Jurnecka D, Cizkova M, Biedermannova L, Goldsmith JA, Maynard JA, McLellan JS, Osicka R, Sebo P, Masin J. A conserved tryptophan in the acylated segment of RTX toxins controls their β 2 integrin-independent cell penetration. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104978. [PMID: 37390987 PMCID: PMC10392135 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The acylated Repeats in ToXins (RTX) leukotoxins, the adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA) or α-hemolysin (HlyA), bind β2 integrins of leukocytes but also penetrate cells lacking these receptors. We show that the indoles of conserved tryptophans in the acylated segments, W876 of CyaA and W579 of HlyA, are crucial for β2 integrin-independent membrane penetration. Substitutions of W876 by aliphatic or aromatic residues did not affect acylation, folding, or the activities of CyaA W876L/F/Y variants on cells expressing high amounts of the β2 integrin CR3. However, toxin activity of CyaA W876L/F/Y on cells lacking CR3 was strongly impaired. Similarly, a W579L substitution selectively reduced HlyA W579L cytotoxicity towards cells lacking β2 integrins. Intriguingly, the W876L/F/Y substitutions increased the thermal stability (Tm) of CyaA by 4 to 8 °C but locally enhanced the accessibility to deuteration of the hydrophobic segment and of the interface of the two acylated loops. W876Q substitution (showing no increase in Tm), or combination of W876F with a cavity-filling V822M substitution (this combination decreasing the Tm closer to that of CyaA), yielded a milder defect of toxin activity on erythrocytes lacking CR3. Furthermore, the activity of CyaA on erythrocytes was also selectively impaired when the interaction of the pyrrolidine of P848 with the indole of W876 was ablated. Hence, the bulky indoles of residues W876 of CyaA, or W579 of HlyA, rule the local positioning of the acylated loops and enable a membrane-penetrating conformation in the absence of RTX toxin docking onto the cell membrane by β2 integrins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Osickova
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sarka Knoblochova
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ladislav Bumba
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Man
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Kalaninova
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Lepesheva
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - David Jurnecka
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Cizkova
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lada Biedermannova
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jory A Goldsmith
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA
| | - Jennifer A Maynard
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA
| | - Jason S McLellan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA
| | - Radim Osicka
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Sebo
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiri Masin
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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5
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Qerqez AN, Silva RP, Maynard JA. Outsmarting Pathogens with Antibody Engineering. Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2023; 14:217-241. [PMID: 36917814 PMCID: PMC10330301 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-101121-084508] [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: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
There is growing interest in identifying antibodies that protect against infectious diseases, especially for high-risk individuals and pathogens for which no vaccine is yet available. However, pathogens that manifest as opportunistic or latent infections express complex arrays of virulence-associated proteins and are adept at avoiding immune responses. Some pathogens have developed strategies to selectively destroy antibodies, whereas others create decoy epitopes that trick the host immune system into generating antibodies that are at best nonprotective and at worst enhance pathogenesis. Antibody engineering strategies can thwart these efforts by accessing conserved neutralizing epitopes, generating Fc domains that resist capture or degradation and even accessing pathogens hidden inside cells. Design of pathogen-resistant antibodies can enhance protection and guide development of vaccine immunogens against these complex pathogens. Here, we discuss general strategies for design of antibodies resistant to specific pathogen defense mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahlam N Qerqez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA;
| | - Rui P Silva
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Jennifer A Maynard
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA;
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Goldsmith JA, DiVenere AM, Maynard JA, McLellan JS. Structural basis for non-canonical integrin engagement by Bordetella adenylate cyclase toxin. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111196. [PMID: 35977491 PMCID: PMC9416875 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Integrins are ubiquitous cell-surface heterodimers that are exploited by pathogens and toxins, including leukotoxins that target β2 integrins on phagocytes. The Bordetella adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) uses the αMβ2 integrin as a receptor, but the structural basis for integrin binding and neutralization by antibodies is poorly understood. Here, we use cryoelectron microscopy to determine a 2.7 Å resolution structure of an ACT fragment bound to αMβ2. This structure reveals that ACT interacts with the headpiece and calf-2 of the αM subunit in a non-canonical manner specific to bent, inactive αMβ2. Neutralizing antibody epitopes map to ACT residues involved in αM binding, providing the basis for antibody-mediated attachment inhibition. Furthermore, binding to αMβ2 positions the essential ACT acylation sites, which are conserved among toxins exported by type I secretion systems, at the cell membrane. These findings reveal a structural mechanism for integrin-mediated attachment and explain antibody-mediated neutralization of ACT intoxication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jory A Goldsmith
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Andrea M DiVenere
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jennifer A Maynard
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Jason S McLellan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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7
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Blockade of the Adenylate Cyclase Toxin Synergizes with Opsonizing Antibodies to Protect Mice against Bordetella pertussis. mBio 2022; 13:e0152722. [PMID: 35920558 PMCID: PMC9426472 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01527-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bordetella produces an array of virulence factors, including the adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT), which is essential, immunogenic in humans, and highly conserved. Despite mediating immune-evasive functions as a leukotoxin, ACT’s potential role as a protective antigen is unclear. To better understand the contributions of humoral anti-ACT immunity, we evaluated protection against Bordetella pertussis by antibodies binding structurally defined ACT epitopes in a mouse pneumonia model. An ACT-neutralizing antibody, but not a nonneutralizing antibody or an isotype control, significantly increased mouse survival after lethal challenge with B. pertussis. When modified to impair Fc effector functions, the neutralizing antibody retained protective capabilities, indicating that protection was mediated by the blockade of the interactions of ACT with its αMβ2 integrin receptor. After infection with a lower bacterial dose, ACT neutralization synergistically reduced lung bacterial colonization levels when combined with an opsonic antibody binding the surface antigen pertactin. Notably, protection was significantly enhanced when antibodies were administered intranasally as opposed to systemically, indicating that local immune responses are key to antibody-mediated protection against ACT and pertactin. These data reconcile previous conflicting reports to indicate that neutralizing anti-ACT antibodies support the phagocytosis of opsonized B. pertussis and thereby contribute to pertussis protection in vivo.
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Wang H, Chen G, Li H. Templated folding of the RTX domain of the bacterial toxin adenylate cyclase revealed by single molecule force spectroscopy. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2784. [PMID: 35589788 PMCID: PMC9120197 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30448-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The RTX (repeats-in-toxin) domain of the bacterial toxin adenylate cyclase (CyaA) contains five RTX blocks (RTX-i to RTX-v) and its folding is essential for CyaA’s functions. It was shown that the C-terminal capping structure of RTX-v is critical for the whole RTX to fold. However, it is unknown how the folding signal transmits within the RTX domain. Here we use optical tweezers to investigate the interplay between the folding of RTX-iv and RTX-v. Our results show that RTX-iv alone is disordered, but folds into a Ca2+-loaded-β-roll structure in the presence of a folded RTX-v. Folding trajectories of RTX-iv-v reveal that the folding of RTX-iv is strictly conditional upon the folding of RTX-v, suggesting that the folding of RTX-iv is templated by RTX-v. This templating effect allows RTX-iv to fold rapidly, and provides significant mutual stabilization. Our study reveals a possible mechanism for transmitting the folding signal within the RTX domain. The authors use optical tweezers to show that the folding of repeats-in-toxin (RTX) block-iv in adenylate cyclase is templated by the folded RTX block-v. The findings suggest a possible mechanism for transmitting the folding signal in the RTX domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada.,State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, School of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Guojun Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Hongbin Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada.
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Filipi K, Rahman WU, Osickova A, Osicka R. Kingella kingae RtxA Cytotoxin in the Context of Other RTX Toxins. Microorganisms 2022; 10:518. [PMID: 35336094 PMCID: PMC8953716 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacterium Kingella kingae is part of the commensal oropharyngeal flora of young children. As detection methods have improved, K. kingae has been increasingly recognized as an emerging invasive pathogen that frequently causes skeletal system infections, bacteremia, and severe forms of infective endocarditis. K. kingae secretes an RtxA cytotoxin, which is involved in the development of clinical infection and belongs to an ever-growing family of cytolytic RTX (Repeats in ToXin) toxins secreted by Gram-negative pathogens. All RTX cytolysins share several characteristic structural features: (i) a hydrophobic pore-forming domain in the N-terminal part of the molecule; (ii) an acylated segment where the activation of the inactive protoxin to the toxin occurs by a co-expressed toxin-activating acyltransferase; (iii) a typical calcium-binding RTX domain in the C-terminal portion of the molecule with the characteristic glycine- and aspartate-rich nonapeptide repeats; and (iv) a C-proximal secretion signal recognized by the type I secretion system. RTX toxins, including RtxA from K. kingae, have been shown to act as highly efficient 'contact weapons' that penetrate and permeabilize host cell membranes and thus contribute to the pathogenesis of bacterial infections. RtxA was discovered relatively recently and the knowledge of its biological role remains limited. This review describes the structure and function of RtxA in the context of the most studied RTX toxins, the knowledge of which may contribute to a better understanding of the action of RtxA in the pathogenesis of K. kingae infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Radim Osicka
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; (K.F.); (W.U.R.); (A.O.)
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Silva RP, DiVenere AM, Amengor D, Maynard JA. Antibodies binding diverse pertactin epitopes protect mice from B. pertussis infection. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101715. [PMID: 35151691 PMCID: PMC8931430 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis continues to cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Many current acellular pertussis vaccines include the antigen pertactin, which has presumptive adhesive and immunomodulatory activities, but is rapidly lost from clinical isolates after the introduction of these vaccines. To better understand the contributions of pertactin antibodies to protection and pertactin's role in pathogenesis, we isolated and characterized recombinant antibodies binding four distinct epitopes on pertactin. We demonstrate that four of these antibodies bind epitopes that are conserved across all three classical Bordetella strains, and competition assays further showed that antibodies binding these epitopes are also elicited by B. pertussis infection of baboons. Surprisingly, we found that representative antibodies binding each epitope protected mice against experimental B. pertussis infection. A cocktail of antibodies from each epitope group protected mice against a subsequent lethal dose of B. pertussis and greatly reduced lung colonization levels after sublethal challenge. Each antibody reduced B. pertussis lung colonization levels up to 100-fold when administered individually, which was significantly reduced when antibody effector functions were impaired, with no antibody mediating antibody-dependent complement-induced lysis. These data suggest that antibodies binding multiple pertactin epitopes protect primarily by the same bactericidal mechanism, which overshadows contributions from blockade of other pertactin functions. These antibodies expand the available tools to further dissect pertactin's role in infection and understand the impact of antipertactin antibodies on bacterial fitness.
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