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Meng B, Qi Z, Li X, Peng H, Bi S, Wei X, Li Y, Zhang Q, Xu X, Zhao H, Yang X, Wang C, Zhao X. Characterization of Mu-Like Yersinia Phages Exhibiting Temperature Dependent Infection. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0020323. [PMID: 37466430 PMCID: PMC10434027 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00203-23] [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: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Yersinia pestis is the etiological agent of plague. Marmota himalayana of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau is the primary host of flea-borne Y. pestis. This study is the report of isolation of Mu-like bacteriophages of Y. pestis from M. himalayana. The isolation and characterization of four Mu-like phages of Y. pestis were reported, which were named as vB_YpM_3, vB_YpM_5, vB_YpM_6, and vB_YpM_23 according to their morphology. Comparative genome analysis revealed that vB_YpM_3, vB_YpM_5, vB_YpM_6, and vB_YpM_23 are phylogenetically closest to Escherichia coli phages Mu, D108 and Shigella flexneri phage SfMu. The role of LPS core structure of Y. pestis in the phages' receptor was pinpointed. All the phages exhibit "temperature dependent infection," which is independent of the growth temperature of the host bacteria and dependent of the temperature of phage infection. The phages lyse the host bacteria at 37°C, but enter the lysogenic cycle and become prophages in the chromosome of the host bacteria at 26°C. IMPORTANCE Mu-like bacteriophages of Y. pestis were isolated from M. himalayana of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau in China. These bacteriophages have a unique temperature dependent life cycle, follow a lytic cycle at the temperature of warm-blooded mammals (37°С), and enter the lysogenic cycle at the temperature of its flea-vector (26°С). A switch from the lysogenic to the lytic cycle occurred when lysogenic bacteria were incubated from lower temperature to higher temperature (initially incubating at 26°C and shifting to 37°C). It is speculated that the temperature dependent lifestyle of bacteriophages may affect the population dynamics and pathogenicity of Y. pestis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Meng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Zhizhen Qi
- Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Key Laboratory for Plague Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Xining, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Key Laboratory for Plague Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Xining, China
| | - Hong Peng
- Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Shanzheng Bi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Wei
- Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Li
- Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Key Laboratory for Plague Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Xining, China
| | - Xiaoqing Xu
- Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Key Laboratory for Plague Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Xining, China
| | - Haihong Zhao
- Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Key Laboratory for Plague Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Xining, China
| | - Xiaoyan Yang
- Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Key Laboratory for Plague Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Xining, China
| | - Changjun Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangna Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
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Wang G, Yin X, Feng Z, Chen C, Chen D, Wu B, Liu C, Morel JL, Jiang Y, Yu H, He H, Chao Y, Tang Y, Qiu R, Wang S. Novel biological aqua crust enhances in situ metal(loid) bioremediation driven by phototrophic/diazotrophic biofilm. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:110. [PMID: 37202810 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01549-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the ecological and environmental functions of phototrophic biofilms in the biological crust is crucial for improving metal(loid) (e.g. Cd, As) bioremediation in mining ecosystems. In this study, in combination with metal(loid) monitoring and metagenomic analysis, we systematically evaluated the effect of biofilm in a novel biological aqua crust (biogenic aqua crust-BAC) on in situ metal(loid) bioremediation of a representative Pb/Zn tailing pond. RESULTS We observed strong accumulation of potentially bioavailable metal(loid)s and visible phototrophic biofilms in the BAC. Furthermore, dominating taxa Leptolyngbyaceae (10.2-10.4%, Cyanobacteria) and Cytophagales (12.3-22.1%, Bacteroidota) were enriched in biofilm. Along with predominant heterotrophs (e.g. Cytophagales sp.) as well as diazotrophs (e.g. Hyphomonadaceae sp.), autotrophs/diazotrophs (e.g. Leptolyngbyaceae sp.) in phototrophic biofilm enriched the genes encoding extracellular peptidase (e.g. family S9, S1), CAZymes (e.g. CBM50, GT2) and biofilm formation (e.g. OmpR, CRP and LuxS), thus enhancing the capacity of nutrient accumulation and metal(loid) bioremediation in BAC system. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that a phototrophic/diazotrophic biofilm constitutes the structured communities containing specific autotrophs (e.g. Leptolyngbyaceae sp.) and heterotrophs (e.g. Cytophagales sp.), which effectively control metal(loid) and nutrient input using solar energy in aquatic environments. Elucidation of the mechanisms of biofilm formation coupled with metal(loid) immobilization in BAC expands the fundamental understanding of the geochemical fate of metal(loid)s, which may be harnessed to enhance in situ metal(loid) bioremediation in the aquatic ecosystem of the mining area. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guobao Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Xiuran Yin
- Microbial Ecophysiology Group, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Zekai Feng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Chiyu Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Daijie Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Bo Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Chong Liu
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Jean Louis Morel
- Laboratoire Sols Et Environnement, UMR 1120, Université de Lorraine, INRAE, 54518, Vandoeuvre-Lès-Nancy, France
| | - Yuanyuan Jiang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Hang Yu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Huan He
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yuanqing Chao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Yetao Tang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Rongliang Qiu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Shizhong Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
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Liu L, Liu W, He Y, Liu Y, Wu H, Zhang Y, Zhang Q. Transcriptional Regulation of hmsB, A Temperature-Dependent Small RNA, by RovM in Yersinia pestis Biovar Microtus. Curr Microbiol 2023; 80:182. [PMID: 37046126 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03293-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
HmsB, a temperature-dependent sRNA, promotes biofilm formation by Yersinia pestis, but whether its own expression is regulated by other regulators is still poorly understood. RovM is a global regulator that activates biofilm formation but represses the virulence of Y. pestis. In this work, the results of primer extension, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and LacZ fusion demonstrated that RovM was able to activate hmsB expression. However, the results of electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that His-RovM did not bind to the upstream DNA region of hmsB. Thus, RovM may exert its regulatory action on hmsB expression in an indirect manner. The data presented here enriched the content of the regulatory circuits that control gene expression in Y. pestis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the PLA, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Wanbing Liu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the PLA, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Yingyu He
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the PLA, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the PLA, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Haisheng Wu
- Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, 811602, China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, 811602, China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Qinwen Zhang
- Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, 811602, China.
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Liu L, Liu W, He Y, Liu Y, Zhang Y. The cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) controls expression of the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) in Yersinia pestis. Can J Microbiol 2022; 68:501-506. [PMID: 35801716 DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2021-0314] [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: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is one of the most dangerous pathogens in the world. Both the cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) and ferric uptake regulator (Fur) are global regulators that control the expression of a great deal of genes involved in a variety of cellular functions in Y. pestis. In this work, two CRP box-like deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences were detected in the upstream DNA region of fur, suggesting that the transcription of fur might be directly regulated by CRP in Y. pestis. Thus, transcriptional regulation of fur by CRP was investigated by primer extension, quantitative real-time PCR, LacZ fusion, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. The results demonstrated that CRP was able to bind the regulatory DNA region of fur to activate its transcription. The data presented here not only suggested that the CRP and Fur regulons were bridged together via the direct regulation of fur by CRP, but also provided us a deeper understanding of the transcriptional regulation of fur in Y. pestis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the PLA, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China.,The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Wanbing Liu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the PLA, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Yingyu He
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan Liu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China
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Hinnebusch BJ, Jarrett CO, Bland DM. Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms That Mediate Transmission of Yersinia pestis by Fleas. Biomolecules 2021; 11:210. [PMID: 33546271 PMCID: PMC7913351 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to cause plague in mammals represents only half of the life history of Yersinia pestis. It is also able to colonize and produce a transmissible infection in the digestive tract of the flea, its insect host. Parallel to studies of the molecular mechanisms by which Y. pestis is able to overcome the immune response of its mammalian hosts, disseminate, and produce septicemia, studies of Y. pestis-flea interactions have led to the identification and characterization of important factors that lead to transmission by flea bite. Y. pestis adapts to the unique conditions in the flea gut by altering its metabolic physiology in ways that promote biofilm development, a common strategy by which bacteria cope with a nutrient-limited environment. Biofilm localization to the flea foregut disrupts normal fluid dynamics of blood feeding, resulting in regurgitative transmission. Many of the important genes, regulatory pathways, and molecules required for this process have been identified and are reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. Joseph Hinnebusch
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA; (C.O.J.); (D.M.B.)
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6
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Liu C, Sun D, Zhu J, Liu J, Liu W. The Regulation of Bacterial Biofilm Formation by cAMP-CRP: A Mini-Review. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:802. [PMID: 32528421 PMCID: PMC7247823 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that live in a self-produced extracellular matrix in order to survive in hostile environments. Second messengers, such as c-di-GMP and cAMP, participate in the regulation of biofilm formation. c-di-GMP is a major molecule that is involved in modulating the bacterial transition between a planktonic lifestyle and biofilm formation. Aside from regulating carbon catabolism repression in most bacteria, cAMP has also been found to mediate biofilm formation in many bacteria. Although the underlying mechanisms of biofilm formation mediated by cAMP-CRP have been well-investigated in several bacteria, the regulatory pathways of cAMP-CRP are still poorly understood compared to those of c-di-GMP. Moreover, some bacteria appear to form biofilm in response to changes in carbon source type or concentration. However, the relationship between the carbon metabolisms and biofilm formation remains unclear. This mini-review provides an overview of the cAMP-CRP-regulated pathways involved in biofilm formation in some bacteria. This information will benefit future investigations of the underlying mechanisms that connect between biofilm formation with nutrient metabolism, as well as the cross-regulation between multiple second messengers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Di Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jingrong Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jiawen Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Weijie Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
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Ritzert JT, Minasov G, Embry R, Schipma MJ, Satchell KJF. The Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein Regulates Quorum Sensing and Global Gene Expression in Yersinia pestis during Planktonic Growth and Growth in Biofilms. mBio 2019; 10:e02613-19. [PMID: 31744922 PMCID: PMC6867900 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02613-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptor protein (Crp) is an important transcriptional regulator of Yersinia pestis Expression of crp increases during pneumonic plague as the pathogen depletes glucose and forms large biofilms within lungs. To better understand control of Y. pestis Crp, we determined a 1.8-Å crystal structure of the protein-cAMP complex. We found that compared to Escherichia coli Crp, C helix amino acid substitutions in Y. pestis Crp did not impact the cAMP dependency of Crp to bind DNA promoters. To investigate Y. pestis Crp-regulated genes during plague pneumonia, we performed RNA sequencing on both wild-type and Δcrp mutant bacteria growing in planktonic and biofilm states in minimal media with glucose or glycerol. Y. pestis Crp was found to dramatically alter expression of hundreds of genes in a manner dependent upon carbon source and growth state. Gel shift assays confirmed direct regulation of the malT and ptsG promoters, and Crp was then linked to Y. pestis growth on maltose as a sole carbon source. Iron regulation genes ybtA and fyuA were found to be indirectly regulated by Crp. A new connection between carbon source and quorum sensing was revealed as Crp was found to regulate production of acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) through direct and indirect regulation of genes for AHL synthetases and receptors. AHLs were subsequently identified in the lungs of Y. pestis-infected mice when crp expression was highest in Y. pestis biofilms. Thus, in addition to the well-studied pla gene, other Crp-regulated genes likely have important functions during plague infection.IMPORTANCE Bacterial pathogens have evolved extensive signaling pathways to translate environmental signals into changes in gene expression. While Crp has long been appreciated for its role in regulating metabolism of carbon sources in many bacterial species, transcriptional profiling has revealed that this protein regulates many other aspects of bacterial physiology. The plague pathogen Y. pestis requires this global regulator to survive in blood, skin, and lungs. During disease progression, this organism adapts to changes within these niches. In addition to regulating genes for metabolism of nonglucose sugars, we found that Crp regulates genes for virulence, metal acquisition, and quorum sensing by direct or indirect mechanisms. Thus, this single transcriptional regulator, which responds to changes in available carbon sources, can regulate multiple critical behaviors for causing disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy T Ritzert
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - George Minasov
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Ryan Embry
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Matthew J Schipma
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Karla J F Satchell
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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8
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Transcriptional Regulation Between the Two Global Regulators RovA and CRP in Yersinia pestis biovar Microtus. Curr Microbiol 2018; 75:1634-1641. [PMID: 30291406 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-018-1571-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Yersinia pestis is a dangerous bacterial pathogen that can cause plague. Both RovA and cyclic AMP receptor protein (cAMP-CRP) are required for regulating biofilm- and virulence-related genes in Y. pestis. In this study, the transcriptional regulation between RovA and cAMP-CRP were analyzed by using primer extension, quantitative RT-PCR, LacZ fusion, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The results indicated that RovA repressed crp transcription in an indirect manner, while that RovA had no regulatory action on cyaA at the transcriptional level. In addition, cAMP-CRP did not regulate the transcription of rovA. Taken together with our previous results, complex regulatory interactions of RovA, cAMP-CRP, and PhoP/PhoQ in Y. pestis were revealed, which would promote us gain deeper understanding about coordinative modulation of biofilm- and virulence-related regulator genes.
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Schachterle JK, Stewart RM, Schachterle MB, Calder JT, Kang H, Prince JT, Erickson DL. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis BarA-UvrY Two-Component Regulatory System Represses Biofilms via CsrB. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:323. [PMID: 30280093 PMCID: PMC6153318 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The formation of biofilms by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (Yptb) and Y. pestis requires the hmsHFRS genes, which direct production of a polysaccharide extracellular matrix (Hms-ECM). Despite possessing identical hmsHFRS sequences, Yptb produces much less Hms-ECM than Y. pestis. The regulatory influences that control Yptb Hms-ECM production and biofilm formation are not fully understood. In this study, negative regulators of biofilm production in Yptb were identified. Inactivation of the BarA/UvrY two-component system or the CsrB regulatory RNA increased binding of Congo Red dye, which correlates with extracellular polysaccharide production. These mutants also produced biofilms that were substantially more cohesive than the wild type strain. Disruption of uvrY was not sufficient for Yptb to cause proventricular blockage during infection of Xenopsylla cheopis fleas. However, this strain was less acutely toxic toward fleas than wild type Yptb. Flow cytometry measurements of lectin binding indicated that Yptb BarA/UvrY/CsrB mutants may produce higher levels of other carbohydrates in addition to poly-GlcNAc Hms-ECM. In an effort to characterize the relevant downstream targets of the BarA/UvrY system, we conducted a proteomic analysis to identify proteins with lower abundance in the csrB::Tn5 mutant strain. Urease subunit proteins were less abundant and urease enzymatic activity was lower, which likely reduced toxicity toward fleas. Loss of CsrB impacted expression of several potential regulatory proteins that may influence biofilms, including the RcsB regulator. Overexpression of CsrB did not alter the Congo-red binding phenotype of an rcsB::Tn5 mutant, suggesting that the effect of CsrB on biofilms may require RcsB. These results underscore the regulatory and compositional differences between Yptb and Y. pestis biofilms. By activating CsrB expression, the Yptb BarA/UvrY two-component system has pleiotropic effects that impact biofilm production and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey K Schachterle
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Ryan M Stewart
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - M Brett Schachterle
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Joshua T Calder
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Huan Kang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - John T Prince
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - David L Erickson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
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10
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da Costa WLO, Araújo CLDA, Dias LM, Pereira LCDS, Alves JTC, Araújo FA, Folador EL, Henriques I, Silva A, Folador ARC. Functional annotation of hypothetical proteins from the Exiguobacterium antarcticum strain B7 reveals proteins involved in adaptation to extreme environments, including high arsenic resistance. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198965. [PMID: 29940001 PMCID: PMC6016940 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Exiguobacterium antarcticum strain B7 is a psychrophilic Gram-positive bacterium that possesses enzymes that can be used for several biotechnological applications. However, many proteins from its genome are considered hypothetical proteins (HPs). These functionally unknown proteins may indicate important functions regarding the biological role of this bacterium, and the use of bioinformatics tools can assist in the biological understanding of this organism through functional annotation analysis. Thus, our study aimed to assign functions to proteins previously described as HPs, present in the genome of E. antarcticum B7. We used an extensive in silico workflow combining several bioinformatics tools for function annotation, sub-cellular localization and physicochemical characterization, three-dimensional structure determination, and protein-protein interactions. This genome contains 2772 genes, of which 765 CDS were annotated as HPs. The amino acid sequences of all HPs were submitted to our workflow and we successfully attributed function to 132 HPs. We identified 11 proteins that play important roles in the mechanisms of adaptation to adverse environments, such as flagellar biosynthesis, biofilm formation, carotenoids biosynthesis, and others. In addition, three predicted HPs are possibly related to arsenic tolerance. Through an in vitro assay, we verified that E. antarcticum B7 can grow at high concentrations of this metal. The approach used was important to precisely assign function to proteins from diverse classes and to infer relationships with proteins with functions already described in the literature. This approach aims to produce a better understanding of the mechanism by which this bacterium adapts to extreme environments and to the finding of targets with biotechnological interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wana Lailan Oliveira da Costa
- Laboratory of Genomic and Bioinformatics, Center of Genomics and System Biology, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Para, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Carlos Leonardo de Aragão Araújo
- Laboratory of Genomic and Bioinformatics, Center of Genomics and System Biology, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Para, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Larissa Maranhão Dias
- Laboratory of Genomic and Bioinformatics, Center of Genomics and System Biology, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Para, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Lino César de Sousa Pereira
- Laboratory of Genomic and Bioinformatics, Center of Genomics and System Biology, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Para, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Jorianne Thyeska Castro Alves
- Laboratory of Genomic and Bioinformatics, Center of Genomics and System Biology, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Para, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Fabrício Almeida Araújo
- Laboratory of Genomic and Bioinformatics, Center of Genomics and System Biology, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Para, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Edson Luiz Folador
- Biotechnology Center, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Isabel Henriques
- Biology Department & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Artur Silva
- Laboratory of Genomic and Bioinformatics, Center of Genomics and System Biology, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Para, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Adriana Ribeiro Carneiro Folador
- Laboratory of Genomic and Bioinformatics, Center of Genomics and System Biology, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Para, Belém, Pará, Brazil
- * E-mail: ,
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The Catabolite Repressor/Activator Cra Is a Bridge Connecting Carbon Metabolism and Host Colonization in the Plant Drought Resistance-Promoting Bacterium Pantoea alhagi LTYR-11Z. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.00054-18. [PMID: 29703735 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00054-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient root colonization is a prerequisite for application of plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria in improving health and yield of agricultural crops. We have recently identified an endophytic bacterium, Pantoea alhagi LTYR-11Z, with multiple PGP properties that effectively colonizes the root system of wheat and improves its growth and drought tolerance. To identify novel regulatory genes required for wheat colonization, we screened an LTYR-11Z transposon (Tn) insertion library and found cra to be a colonization-related gene. By using transcriptome (RNA-seq) analysis, we found that transcriptional levels of an eps operon, the ydiV gene encoding an anti-FlhD4C2 factor, and the yedQ gene encoding an enzyme for synthesis of cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) were significantly downregulated in the Δcra mutant. Further studies demonstrated that Cra directly binds to the promoters of the eps operon, ydiV, and yedQ and activates their expression, thus inhibiting motility and promoting exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and biofilm formation. Consistent with previous findings that Cra plays a role in transcriptional regulation in response to carbon source availability, the activating effects of Cra were much more pronounced when LTYR-11Z was grown within a gluconeogenic environment than when it was grown within a glycolytic environment. We further demonstrate that the ability of LTYR-11Z to colonize wheat roots is modulated by the availability of carbon sources. Altogether, these results uncover a novel strategy utilized by LTYR-11Z to achieve host colonization in response to carbon nutrition in the environment, in which Cra bridges a connection between carbon metabolism and colonization capacity of LTYR-11Z.IMPORTANCE Rapid and appropriate response to environmental signals is crucial for bacteria to adapt to competitive environments and to establish interactions with their hosts. Efficient colonization and persistence within the host are controlled by various regulatory factors that respond to specific environmental cues. The most common is nutrient availability. In this work, we unraveled the pivotal role of Cra in regulation of colonization ability of Pantoea alhagi LTYR-11Z in response to carbon source availability. Moreover, we identified three novel members of the Cra regulon involved in EPS synthesis, regulation of flagellar biosynthesis, and synthesis of c-di-GMP and propose a working model to explain the Cra-mediated regulatory mechanism that links carbon metabolism to host colonization. This study elucidates the regulatory role of Cra in bacterial attachment and colonization of plants, which raises the possibility of extending our studies to other bacteria associated with plant and human health.
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Depletion of Glucose Activates Catabolite Repression during Pneumonic Plague. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:JB.00737-17. [PMID: 29555700 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00737-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial pathogenesis depends on changes in metabolic and virulence gene expression in response to changes within a pathogen's environment. The plague-causing pathogen, Yersinia pestis, requires expression of the gene encoding the Pla protease for progression of pneumonic plague. The catabolite repressor protein Crp, a global transcriptional regulator, may serve as the activator of pla in response to changes within the lungs as disease progresses. By using gene reporter fusions, the spatial and temporal activation of the crp and pla promoters was measured in a mouse model of pneumonic plague. In the lungs, crp was highly expressed in bacteria found within large aggregates resembling biofilms, while pla expression increased over time independent of the aggregated state. Increased expression of crp and pla correlated with a reduction in lung glucose levels. Deletion of the glucose-specific phosphotransferase system EIIBC (PtsG) of Y. pestis rescued glucose levels in the lungs, resulting in reduced expression of both crp and pla We propose that activation of pla expression during pneumonic plague is driven by an increase of both Crp and cAMP levels following consumption of available glucose in the lungs by Y. pestis Thus, Crp operates as a sensor linking the nutritional environment of the host to regulation of virulence gene expression.IMPORTANCE Using Yersinia pestis as a model for pneumonia, we discovered that glucose is rapidly consumed, leading to a catabolite-repressive environment in the lungs. As a result, expression of the gene encoding the plasminogen activator protease, a target of the catabolite repressor protein required for Y. pestis pathogenesis, is activated. Interestingly, expression of the catabolite repressor protein itself was also increased in the absence of glucose but only in biofilms. The data presented here demonstrate how a bacterial pathogen senses changes within its environment to coordinate metabolism and virulence gene expression.
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Farasin J, Koechler S, Varet H, Deschamps J, Dillies MA, Proux C, Erhardt M, Huber A, Jagla B, Briandet R, Coppée JY, Arsène-Ploetze F. Comparison of biofilm formation and motility processes in arsenic-resistant Thiomonas spp. strains revealed divergent response to arsenite. Microb Biotechnol 2017; 10:789-803. [PMID: 28169492 PMCID: PMC5481541 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Revised: 12/03/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria of the genus Thiomonas are found ubiquitously in arsenic contaminated waters such as acid mine drainage (AMD), where they contribute to the precipitation and the natural bioremediation of arsenic. In these environments, these bacteria have developed a large range of resistance strategies among which the capacity to form particular biofilm structures. The biofilm formation is one of the most ubiquitous adaptive response observed in prokaryotes to various stresses, such as those induced in the presence of toxic compounds. This study focused on the process of biofilm formation in three Thiomonas strains (CB1, CB2 and CB3) isolated from the same AMD. The results obtained here show that these bacteria are all capable of forming biofilms, but the architecture and the kinetics of formation of these biofilms differ depending on whether arsenite is present in the environment and from one strain to another. Indeed, two strains favoured biofilm formation, whereas one favoured motility in the presence of arsenite. To identify the underlying mechanisms, the patterns of expression of some genes possibly involved in the process of biofilm formation were investigated in Thiomonas sp. CB2 in the presence and absence of arsenite, using a transcriptomic approach (RNA‐seq). The findings obtained here shed interesting light on how the formation of biofilms, and the motility processes contribute to the adaptation of Thiomonas strains to extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Farasin
- Laboratoire Génétique moléculaire, Génomique et Microbiologie, UMR7156, CNRS and Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Botanique, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sandrine Koechler
- Laboratoire Génétique moléculaire, Génomique et Microbiologie, UMR7156, CNRS and Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Botanique, Strasbourg, France
| | - Hugo Varet
- Institut Pasteur, Plate-forme Transcriptome et Epigenome, BioMics, Centre d'innovation et recherche technologique, Paris, France.,Institut Pasteur, Hub Bioinformatique et Biostatistique, Centre de Bioinformatique, Biostatistique et Biologie Intégrative (C3BI, USR 3756, IP CNRS), Paris, France
| | - Julien Deschamps
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Marie-Agnès Dillies
- Institut Pasteur, Plate-forme Transcriptome et Epigenome, BioMics, Centre d'innovation et recherche technologique, Paris, France.,Institut Pasteur, Hub Bioinformatique et Biostatistique, Centre de Bioinformatique, Biostatistique et Biologie Intégrative (C3BI, USR 3756, IP CNRS), Paris, France
| | - Caroline Proux
- Institut Pasteur, Plate-forme Transcriptome et Epigenome, BioMics, Centre d'innovation et recherche technologique, Paris, France
| | - Mathieu Erhardt
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IBMP UPR 2357, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Aline Huber
- Laboratoire Génétique moléculaire, Génomique et Microbiologie, UMR7156, CNRS and Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Botanique, Strasbourg, France
| | - Bernd Jagla
- Institut Pasteur, Plate-forme Transcriptome et Epigenome, BioMics, Centre d'innovation et recherche technologique, Paris, France
| | - Romain Briandet
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Jean-Yves Coppée
- Institut Pasteur, Plate-forme Transcriptome et Epigenome, BioMics, Centre d'innovation et recherche technologique, Paris, France
| | - Florence Arsène-Ploetze
- Laboratoire Génétique moléculaire, Génomique et Microbiologie, UMR7156, CNRS and Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Botanique, Strasbourg, France
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