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Kelly A, Went SC, Mariano G, Shaw LP, Picton DM, Duffner SJ, Coates I, Herdman-Grant R, Gordeeva J, Drobiazko A, Isaev A, Lee YJ, Luyten Y, Morgan RD, Weigele P, Severinov K, Wenner N, Hinton JCD, Blower TR. Diverse Durham collection phages demonstrate complex BREX defense responses. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0062323. [PMID: 37668405 PMCID: PMC10537673 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00623-23] [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: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) outnumber bacteria ten-to-one and cause infections at a rate of 1025 per second. The ability of phages to reduce bacterial populations makes them attractive alternative antibacterials for use in combating the rise in antimicrobial resistance. This effort may be hindered due to bacterial defenses such as Bacteriophage Exclusion (BREX) that have arisen from the constant evolutionary battle between bacteria and phages. For phages to be widely accepted as therapeutics in Western medicine, more must be understood about bacteria-phage interactions and the outcomes of bacterial phage defense. Here, we present the annotated genomes of 12 novel bacteriophage species isolated from water sources in Durham, UK, during undergraduate practical classes. The collection includes diverse species from across known phylogenetic groups. Comparative analyses of two novel phages from the collection suggest they may be founding members of a new genus. Using this Durham phage collection, we determined that particular BREX defense systems were likely to confer a varied degree of resistance against an invading phage. We concluded that the number of BREX target motifs encoded in the phage genome was not proportional to the degree of susceptibility. IMPORTANCE Bacteriophages have long been the source of tools for biotechnology that are in everyday use in molecular biology research laboratories worldwide. Phages make attractive new targets for the development of novel antimicrobials. While the number of phage genome depositions has increased in recent years, the expected bacteriophage diversity remains underrepresented. Here we demonstrate how undergraduates can contribute to the identification of novel phages and that a single City in England can provide ample phage diversity and the opportunity to find novel technologies. Moreover, we demonstrate that the interactions and intricacies of the interplay between bacterial phage defense systems such as Bacteriophage Exclusion (BREX) and phages are more complex than originally thought. Further work will be required in the field before the dynamic interactions between phages and bacterial defense systems are fully understood and integrated with novel phage therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Kelly
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Sam C. Went
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Giuseppina Mariano
- Microbes in Health and Disease Theme, Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Liam P. Shaw
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | - Isabel Coates
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | | | - Julia Gordeeva
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alena Drobiazko
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Artem Isaev
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yan-Jiun Lee
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Nicolas Wenner
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jay C. D. Hinton
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Tim R. Blower
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
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Buthasane P, Roytrakul S, Phaonakrop N, Tunsagool P, Buthasane W, Am-in N, Suriyaphol G. Metaproteomic Analysis of Gut Resistome in the Cecal Microbiota of Fattening Pigs Raised without Antibiotics. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0222323. [PMID: 37439677 PMCID: PMC10433946 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02223-23] [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: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Improper use of antibiotics in swine could reduce commensal bacteria and possibly increase pathogen infections via the gut resistome. This study aimed to compare the metaproteomic profiles of the gut resistome and related metabolism in the cecal microbiota of fattening pigs raised under antibiotic-free (ABF) conditions with those of ordinary industrial pigs (controls [CTRL]). The top three relatively abundant microbes in both groups were Escherichia coli, Ruminococcus, and Lactobacillus, followed by Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium. E. coli, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides were found to be increased in the CTRL group, whereas Ruminococcus and Clostridium were greater in the ABF group. The highest abundances of antibiotic resistance proteins (log2 expression levels [ELs] of >10) were found to be for tetracycline resistance (Tetr) and aminoglycoside resistance (AMGr) proteins found in Bacteroides, with a significant increase in the CTRL group. High Tetr (ELs of 5.32) was found in Ruminococcus in the CTRL group, although pigs in both groups had never received tetracycline, possibly reflecting the influence of environments in farms. In E. coli, AMGr and β-lactamase family proteins were observed in both groups (ELs of 3 to 6), whereas multidrug resistance protein MdtL was significantly expressed in the CTRL group (ELs of around 3). In the ABF group, CRISPR-associated endonucleases Cas1 and Cas9, which function to defend against viruses, were markedly observed in Ruminococcus and Lactobacillus, respectively, with ELs of 8.6 and 4.15, respectively. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that CRISPR-associated endonucleases were markedly observed in the ABF group, whereas higher levels of Tetr, AMGr, and multidrug resistance protein MdtL was markedly observed in dominant bacterial species in the CTRL group. IMPORTANCE In order to control and reduce antibiotic use in animals, the Department of Livestock Development, Thailand, has launched a campaign for antibiotic-free livestock production. The present study has shown for the first time that CRISPR-associated endonucleases Cas1 and Cas9, which function to defend against viruses, were markedly observed in Ruminococcus and Lactobacillus, respectively, in ceca of pigs raised without antibiotics (ABF). The highest abundances of antibiotic resistance proteins were for tetracycline (Tetr) and aminoglycoside resistance (AMGr) proteins found in Bacteroides, with a significant increase in the controls. In E. coli, the microbe with the highest relative abundance, AMGr and β-lactamase family proteins were observed in both groups, whereas multidrug resistance protein MdtL was significantly expressed in the controls. Pigs in both ABF and control groups had never received tetracycline, possibly reflecting the influence of farm environments. We suggest that pigs raised without antibiotics may have more beneficial microorganisms for the gut than pigs raised with antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamornya Buthasane
- Biochemistry Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sittiruk Roytrakul
- Functional Proteomics Technology Laboratory, Functional Ingredients and Food Innovation Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Narumon Phaonakrop
- Functional Proteomics Technology Laboratory, Functional Ingredients and Food Innovation Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Paiboon Tunsagool
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wannapol Buthasane
- Biochemistry Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nutthee Am-in
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Gunnaporn Suriyaphol
- Biochemistry Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Zhao J, Zhang M, Hui W, Zhang Y, Wang J, Wang S, Kwok LY, Kong J, Zhang H, Zhang W. Roles of adenine methylation in the physiology of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2635. [PMID: 37149616 PMCID: PMC10164179 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38291-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Lacticaseibacillus paracasei is an economically important bacterial species, used in the food industry and as a probiotic. Here, we investigate the roles of N6-methyladenine (6mA) modification in L. paracasei using multi-omics and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) analyses. The distribution of 6mA-modified sites varies across the genomes of 28 strains, and appears to be enriched near genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. A pglX mutant, defective in 6mA modification, shows transcriptomic alterations but only modest changes in growth and genomic spatial organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Wenyan Hui
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Shaojing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Lai-Yu Kwok
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Jian Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Heping Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Wenyi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China.
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China.
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China.
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Beck IN, Picton DM, Blower TR. Crystal structure of the BREX phage defence protein BrxA. Curr Res Struct Biol 2022; 4:211-219. [PMID: 35783086 PMCID: PMC9240713 DOI: 10.1016/j.crstbi.2022.06.001] [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: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria are constantly challenged by bacteriophage (phage) infection and have developed multitudinous and varied resistance mechanisms. Bacteriophage Exclusion (BREX) systems protect from phage infection by generating methylation patterns at non-palindromic 6 bp sites in host bacterial DNA, to distinguish and block replication of non-self DNA. Type 1 BREX systems are comprised of six conserved core genes. Here, we present the first reported structure of a BREX core protein, BrxA from the phage defence island of Escherichia fergusonii ATCC 35469 plasmid pEFER, solved to 2.09 Å. BrxA is a monomeric protein in solution, with an all α-helical globular fold. Conservation of surface charges and structural homology modelling against known phage defence systems highlighted that BrxA contains two helix-turn-helix motifs, juxtaposed by 180°, positioned to bind opposite sides of a DNA major groove. BrxA was subsequently shown to bind dsDNA. This new understanding of BrxA structure, and first indication of BrxA biological activity, suggests a conserved mode of DNA-recognition has become widespread and implemented by diverse phage defence systems. The crystal structure of BrxA from multi-drug resistant plasmid pEFER of Escherichia fergusonii has been solved to 2.09 Å. BrxA is the first reported structure for a conserved core protein from the widespread BREX phage defence systems. BrxA contains two HTH motifs, analogous to DNA-binding domains of diverse phage defence systems, and is shown to bind dsDNA.
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