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Niu H, Gu J, Zhang Y. Bacterial persisters: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic development. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:174. [PMID: 39013893 PMCID: PMC11252167 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01866-5] [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: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Persisters refer to genetically drug susceptible quiescent (non-growing or slow growing) bacteria that survive in stress environments such as antibiotic exposure, acidic and starvation conditions. These cells can regrow after stress removal and remain susceptible to the same stress. Persisters are underlying the problems of treating chronic and persistent infections and relapse infections after treatment, drug resistance development, and biofilm infections, and pose significant challenges for effective treatments. Understanding the characteristics and the exact mechanisms of persister formation, especially the key molecules that affect the formation and survival of the persisters is critical to more effective treatment of chronic and persistent infections. Currently, genes related to persister formation and survival are being discovered and confirmed, but the mechanisms by which bacteria form persisters are very complex, and there are still many unanswered questions. This article comprehensively summarizes the historical background of bacterial persisters, details their complex characteristics and their relationship with antibiotic tolerant and resistant bacteria, systematically elucidates the interplay between various bacterial biological processes and the formation of persister cells, as well as consolidates the diverse anti-persister compounds and treatments. We hope to provide theoretical background for in-depth research on mechanisms of persisters and suggest new ideas for choosing strategies for more effective treatment of persistent infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Niu
- School of Basic Medical Science and Key Laboratory of Blood-stasis-toxin Syndrome of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiaying Gu
- School of Basic Medical Science and Key Laboratory of Blood-stasis-toxin Syndrome of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China.
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250022, Shandong, China.
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2
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Wu S, Ji J, Carole NVD, Yang J, Yang Y, Sun J, Ye Y, Zhang Y, Sun X. Combined metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis reveals the mechanism of antibiotic resistance of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium after acidic stress. Food Microbiol 2023; 115:104328. [PMID: 37567621 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Drug-resistant Salmonella is widely distributed in the meat production chain, endangering food safety and public health. Acidification of meat products during processing can induce acid stress, which may alter antibiotic resistance. Our study investigated the effects of acid stress on the antibiotic resistance and metabolic profile of Salmonella Typhimurium, and explored the underlying mechanisms using metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis. We found that acid-stressed 14028s was more sensitive to small molecule hydrophobic antibiotics (SMHA) while more resistant to meropenem (MERO). Metabolomic analysis revealed that enhanced sensitivity to SMHA was correlated with increased purine metabolism and tricarboxylic acid cycle. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the downregulation of chemotaxis-related genes, which are also associated with SMHA sensitivity. We also found a significant downregulation of the ompF gene, which encodes a major outer membrane protein OmpF of Salmonella. The decreased expression of OmpF porin hindered the influx of MERO, leading to enhanced resistance of the bacteria to the drug. Our findings contribute to greatly improve the understanding of the relationship between Salmonella metabolism, gene expression, and changes in drug resistance after acid stress, while providing a structural framework for exploring the relationship between bacterial stress responses and antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Jian Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Nanfack V D Carole
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Jia Yang
- Yangzhou Center for Food and Drug Control, Yangzhou, 225000, China
| | - Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Jiadi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Yongli Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Yinzhi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Xiulan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China.
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3
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Ma J, Zhao H, Mo S, Li J, Ma X, Tang Y, Li H, Liu Z. Acquisition of Type I methyltransferase via horizontal gene transfer increases the drug resistance of Aeromonas veronii. Microb Genom 2023; 9:001107. [PMID: 37754275 PMCID: PMC10569733 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Aeromonas veronii is an opportunistic pathogen that affects both fish and mammals, including humans, leading to bacteraemia, sepsis, meningitis and even death. The increasing virulence and drug resistance of A. veronii are of significant concern and pose a severe risk to public safety. The Type I restriction-modification (RM) system, which functions as a bacterial defence mechanism, can influence gene expression through DNA methylation. However, little research has been conducted to explore its origin, evolutionary path, and relationship to virulence and drug resistance in A. veronii. In this study, we analysed the pan-genome of 233 A. veronii strains, and the results indicated that it was 'open', meaning that A. veronii has acquired additional genes from other species. This suggested that A. veronii had the potential to adapt and evolve rapidly, which might have contributed to its drug resistance. One Type I methyltransferase (MTase) and two complete Type I RM systems were identified, namely AveC4I, AveC4II and AveC4III in A. veronii strain C4, respectively. Notably, AveC4I was exclusive to A. veronii C4. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AveC4I was derived from horizontal gene transfer from Thiocystis violascens and exchanged genes with the human pathogen Comamonas kerstersii. Single molecule real-time sequencing was applied to identify the motif methylated by AveC4I, which was unique and not recognized by any reported MTases in the REBASE database. We also annotated the functions and pathways of the genes containing the motif, revealing that AveC4I may control drug resistance in A. veronii C4. Our findings provide new insight on the mechanisms underlying drug resistance in pathogenic bacteria. By identifying the specific genes and pathways affected by AveC4I, this study may aid in the development of new therapeutic approaches to combat A. veronii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayue Ma
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, PR China
| | - Honghao Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, PR China
| | - Shuangyi Mo
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, PR China
| | - Juanjuan Li
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, PR China
| | - Xiang Ma
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, PR China
| | - Yanqiong Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, PR China
| | - Hong Li
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, PR China
| | - Zhu Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, PR China
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4
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Xu W, Lv Z, Guo Q, Deng Z, Yang C, Cao Z, Li Y, Huang C, Wu Z, Chen S, He Y, Sun J, Liu Y, Gan L. Selective Antagonism of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici against Vibrio and Aeromonas in the Bacterial Community of Artemia nauplii. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0053323. [PMID: 37428079 PMCID: PMC10434253 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00533-23] [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: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Empiric probiotics are commonly consumed by healthy individuals as a means of disease prevention, pathogen control, etc. However, controversy has existed for a long time regarding the safety and benefits of probiotics. Here, two candidate probiotics, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici, which are antagonistic to Vibrio and Aeromonas species in vitro, were tested on Artemia under in vivo conditions. In the bacterial community of Artemia nauplii, L. plantarum reduced the abundance of the genera Vibrio and Aeromonas and P. acidilactici significantly increased the abundance of Vibrio species in a positive dosage-dependent manner, while higher and lower dosages of P. acidilactici increased and decreased the abundance of the genus Aeromonas, respectively. Based on the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses of the metabolite of L. plantarum and P. acidilactici, pyruvic acid was used in an in vitro test to explain such selective antagonism; the results showed that pyruvic acid was conducive or suppressive to V. parahaemolyticus and beneficial to A. hydrophila. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrate the selective antagonism of probiotics on the bacterial community composition of aquatic organisms and the associated pathogens. IMPORTANCE Over the last decade, the common preventive method for controlling potential pathogens in aquaculture has been the use of probiotics. However, the mechanisms of probiotics are complicated and mostly undefined. At present, less attention has been paid to the potential risks of probiotic use in aquaculture. Here, we investigated the effects of two candidate probiotics, L. plantarum and P. acidilactici, on the bacterial community of Artemia nauplii and the in vitro interactions between these two candidate probiotics and two pathogens, Vibrio and Aeromonas species. The results demonstrated the selective antagonism of probiotics on the bacterial community composition of an aquatic organism and its associated pathogens. This research contributes to providing a basis and reference for the long-term rational use of probiotics and to reducing the inappropriate use of probiotics in aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Xu
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaolin Lv
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingqi Guo
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaojie Deng
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Canmin Yang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaozhao Cao
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Li
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cuifen Huang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zizhan Wu
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shijun Chen
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhui He
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jijia Sun
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiying Liu
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lian Gan
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Nansha-South China Agricultural University Fishery Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Linnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
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5
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Li Y, Wood TK, Zhang W, Li C. Purine metabolism regulates Vibrio splendidus persistence associated with protein aggresome formation and intracellular tetracycline efflux. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1127018. [PMID: 37007472 PMCID: PMC10060992 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1127018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
A small subpopulation of Vibrio splendidus AJ01 that was exposed to tetracycline at 10 times the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) still survived, named tetracycline-induced persister cells in our previous work. However, the formation mechanisms of persister is largely unknown. Here, we investigated tetracycline-induced AJ01 persister cells by transcriptome analysis and found that the purine metabolism pathway was significantly downregulated, which was consistent with lower levels of ATP, purine, and purine derivatives in our metabolome analysis. Inhibition of the purine metabolism pathway by 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP, inhibits ATP production), increased persister cell formation and accompanied with the decreasing intracellular ATP levels and increasing cells with protein aggresome. On the other hand, the persister cells had reduced intracellular tetracycline concentrations and higher membrane potential after 6-MP treatment. Inhibition of the membrane potential by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone reversed 6-MP-induced persistence and resulted in higher levels of intracellular tetracycline accumulation. Meanwhile, cells with 6-MP treatment increased the membrane potential by dissipating the transmembrane proton pH gradient, which activated efflux to decrease the intracellular tetracycline concentration. Together, our findings show that reduction of purine metabolism regulates AJ01 persistence and is associated with protein aggresome formation and intracellular tetracycline efflux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Chenghua Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Chenghua Li,
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6
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Yan Y, Li Y, Li H, Ma X, Tang Y, Yi K, Lin X, Li J, Liu Z. Antimicrobial Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks with Dual Mechanisms of Action. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:507-517. [PMID: 36815744 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The horizontal transfer of drug-resistant genes and the formation of biofilm barriers have threatened the therapeutic efficacy of conventional antibiotic drugs. Development of non-antibiotic agents with high delivery efficiency through bacterial biofilms is urgently required. A pyrithione (PT)-loading zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8@PT) is synthesized to destroy biofilms and improve the sensitivity of bacteria to PT. ZIF-8@PT can target and destroy the biofilm as well as the cell membrane, promoting the intracellular delivery of PT and possibly its interaction with SmpB, a protein that could regulate the drug resistance of bacteria. ZIF-8@PT effectively suppresses abdominal infections induced by multiresistant Aeromonas veronii C4 in rodent models without systemic toxicity. ZIF-8@PT promises wide applications in treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria through a dual mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxiang Yan
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.,One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Ye Li
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, China
| | - Hong Li
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.,One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Xiang Ma
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.,One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Yanqiong Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.,One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Kexian Yi
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, China
| | - Xiangmin Lin
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processing and Safety Monitoring, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Juanjuan Li
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.,One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Zhu Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.,One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
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Zhao T, Yang B, Li H, Qian A, Cong W, Sun W, Kang Y. Essential role of ascO for virulence of Aeromonas veronii and inducing apoptosis. JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES 2022; 45:1477-1489. [PMID: 35749548 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.13676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Aeromonas veronii is a significant pathogen that is capable of infecting humans, animals, and aquatic animals. The type III secretion system (T3SS) is intimately associated with bacterial pathogenicity. The ascO gene is an important core component of T3SS in A. veronii, but its function is still unclear. The ascO gene of A. veronii TH0426 was deleted by using the pRE112 suicide plasmid to study its function. The study results showed that the ability of ∆ascO to adhere and invade EPC cells was significantly reduced by 1.28 times. The toxicity of the mutant strain ΔascO to EPC cells was consistently significantly lower than wild-type strain TH0426 at 1, 2, and 4 h. The LD50 values of ∆ascO against zebrafish and Carassius auratus (C. auratus) were 53 and 15 times that of the wild-type strain. In addition, the bacterial load of the mutant strain ΔascO in blood, heart, liver, and spleen was lower than wild-type strain TH0426. The Hoechst staining showed that the apoptotic degree of EPC cells induced by the mutant strain ΔascO was lower than that of the wild-type strain TH0426. Furthermore, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed lower expression levels of pro-apoptotic genes (including cytC, cas3, cas9, TNF-α, and IL-1β) in C. auratus tissues infected with the mutant strain ΔascO compared to the wild-type strain TH0426. The results of in vivo and in vitro experiments have shown that ascO gene mutation can reduce the adhesion and toxicity of A. veronii to EPC and reduce the level of apoptosis induced by A. veronii. As a result, these insights will help further elucidate the function of the ascO gene and thus contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of A. veronii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, China
| | - Bintong Yang
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, China
| | - Hongjin Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, China
| | - Aidong Qian
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Cong
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, China
| | - Wuwen Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuanhuan Kang
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, China
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8
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Li H, Ma X, Tang Y, Wang D, Zhang Z, Liu Z. Network-based analysis of virulence factors for uncovering Aeromonas veronii pathogenesis. BMC Microbiol 2021; 21:188. [PMID: 34162325 PMCID: PMC8223281 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-021-02261-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aeromonas veronii is a bacterial pathogen in aquaculture, which produces virulence factors to enable it colonize and evade host immune defense. Given that experimental verification of virulence factors is time-consuming and laborious, few virulence factors have been characterized. Moreover, most studies have only focused on single virulence factors, resulting in biased interpretation of the pathogenesis of A. veronii. RESULTS In this study, a PPI network at genome-wide scale for A. veronii was first constructed followed by prediction and mapping of virulence factors on the network. When topological characteristics were analyzed, the virulence factors had higher degree and betweenness centrality than other proteins in the network. In particular, the virulence factors tended to interact with each other and were enriched in two network modules. One of the modules mainly consisted of histidine kinases, response regulators, diguanylate cyclases and phosphodiesterases, which play important roles in two-component regulatory systems and the synthesis and degradation of cyclic-diGMP. Construction of the interspecies PPI network between A. veronii and its host Oreochromis niloticus revealed that the virulence factors interacted with homologous proteins in the host. Finally, the structures and interacting sites of the virulence factors during interaction with host proteins were predicted. CONCLUSIONS The findings here indicate that the virulence factors probably regulate the virulence of A. veronii by involving in signal transduction pathway and manipulate host biological processes by mimicking and binding competitively to host proteins. Our results give more insight into the pathogenesis of A. veronii and provides important information for designing targeted antibacterial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Li
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Xiang Ma
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yanqiong Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresource, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Ziding Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhu Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China.
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