Targeting bacterial pathogenesis by inhibiting virulence-associated Type III and Type IV secretion systems

The phylogenomic landscape of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Citrobacter species isolated from surface water

BACKGROUND

Citrobacter species are Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens commonly reported in nosocomial-acquired infections. This study characterised four Citrobacter species that were isolated from surface water in the North West Province, South Africa.

RESULTS

Phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the isolates demonstrated their ability to produce the extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL). Whole genomes were sequenced to profile antibiotic resistance and virulence genes, as well as mobile genetic elements. In silico taxonomic identification was conducted by using multi-locus sequence typing and average nucleotide identity. A pangenome was used to determine the phylogenomic landscape of the Citrobacter species by using 109 publicly available genomes. The strains S21 and S23 were identified as C. braakii, while strains S24 and S25 were C. murliniae and C. portucalensis, respectively. Comparative genomics and sequenced genomes of the ESBL-producing isolates consisted of n = 91; 83% Citrobacter species in which bla-CMY-101 (n = 19; 32,2%) and bla-CMY-59 (n = 12; 38,7%) were prevalent in C. braakii, and C. portucalensis strains, respectively. Macrolide (acrAB-TolC, and mdtG) and aminoglycoside (acrD) efflux pumps genes were identified in the four sequenced Citrobacter spp. isolates. The quinolone resistance gene, qnrB13, was exclusive to the C. portucalensis S25 strain. In silico analysis detected plasmid replicon types IncHI1A, IncP, and Col(VCM04) in C. murliniae S24 and C. portucalensis S25, respectively. These potentially facilitate the T4SS secretion system in Citrobacter species. In this study, the C. braakii genomes could be distinguished from C. murliniae and C. portucalensis on the basis of gene encoding for cell surface localisation of the CPS (vexC) and identification of genes involved in capsule polymer synthesis (tviB and tviE). A cluster for the salmochelin siderophore system (iro-BCDEN) was found in C. murliniae S24. This is important when it comes to the pathogenicity pathway that confers an advantage in colonisation.

CONCLUSIONS

The emerging and genomic landscapes of these ESBL-producing Citrobacter species are of significant concern due to their dissemination potential in freshwater systems. The presence of these ESBL and multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens in aquatic environments is of One Health importance, since they potentially impact the clinical domain, that is, in terms of human health and the agricultural domain, that is, in terms of animal health and food production as well as the environmental domain.

Primary architecture and energy requirements of Type III and Type IV secretion systems

Many pathogens use Type III and Type IV protein secretion systems to secrete virulence factors from the bacterial cytosol into host cells. These systems operate through a one-step mechanism. The secreted substrates (protein or nucleo-protein complexes in the case of Type IV conjugative systems) are guided to the base of the secretion channel, where they are directly delivered into the host cell in an ATP-dependent unfolded state. Despite the numerous disparities between these secretion systems, here we have focused on the structural and functional similarities between both systems. In particular, on the structural similarity shared by one of the main ATPases (EscN and VirD4 in Type III and Type IV secretion systems, respectively). Interestingly, these ATPases also exhibit a structural resemblance to F1-ATPases, which suggests a common mechanism for substrate secretion. The correlation between structure and function of essential components in both systems can provide significant insights into the molecular mechanisms involved. This approach is of great interest in the pursuit of identifying inhibitors that can effectively target these systems.

Click Triazole as a Linker for Pretargeting Strategies: Synthesis, Docking Investigations, Fluorescence Diagnosis, and Antibacterial Action Studies

In this study, three compounds A1, A2, and A3 and fluorescent probes T1, T2, T3, and T4 were designed and synthesized. ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and MS characterization and elemental analysis were used to confirm A1-A3 and T1-T4. A1-A3 and T1-T4 formed diagnostic molecules by "click" reactions. A1-A3 and T1-T4 did not significantly increase cell death at concentrations of 80 μmol/L. Preliminary screening of the compounds for antibacterial activity revealed that A2 has better antibacterial activity against Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The synthesized compounds and fluorescent probes can be targeted and combined in the physiological condition to form diagnostic molecules for fluorescence detection of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The binding sites of A1-A3 were deduced theoretically using the AutoDock Vina software docking tool. Further study of the mechanism of the antibacterial action of these compounds is likely to identify new agents against resistant bacterial strains.