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Lepe BA, Zheng CR, Leddy OK, Allsup BL, Solomon SL, Bryson BD. Protease shaving of Mycobacterium tuberculosis facilitates vaccine antigen discovery and delivery of novel cargoes to the Mtb surface. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.02.601718. [PMID: 39005324 PMCID: PMC11245043 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.02.601718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is the leading cause of infectious disease death and lacks a vaccine capable of protecting adults from pulmonary TB. Studies have shown that Mtb uses a variety of mechanisms to evade host immunity. Secreted Mtb proteins such as Type VII secretion system substrates have been characterized for their ability to modulate anti-Mtb immunity; however, studies of other pathogens such as Salmonella Typhi and Staphylococcus aureus have revealed that outer membrane proteins can also interact with the innate and adaptive immune system. The Mtb outer membrane proteome has received relatively less attention due to limited techniques available to interrogate this compartment. We filled this gap by deploying protease shaving and quantitative mass spectrometry to identify Mtb outer membrane proteins which serve as nodes in the Mtb-host interaction network. These analyses revealed several novel Mtb proteins on the Mtb surface largely derived from the PE/PPE class of Mtb proteins, including PPE18, a component of a leading Mtb vaccine candidate. We next exploited the localization of PPE18 to decorate the Mtb surface with heterologous proteins and deliver these surface-engineered Mtb to the phagosome. Together, these studies reveal potential novel targets for new Mtb vaccines as well as facilitate new approaches to study difficult to study cellular compartments during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca A. Lepe
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, USA
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, Harvard, and MIT, Cambridge, USA
| | - Christine R. Zheng
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, USA
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, Harvard, and MIT, Cambridge, USA
| | - Owen K. Leddy
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, USA
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, Harvard, and MIT, Cambridge, USA
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, USA
| | - Benjamin L. Allsup
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, USA
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, Harvard, and MIT, Cambridge, USA
| | - Sydney L. Solomon
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, USA
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, Harvard, and MIT, Cambridge, USA
| | - Bryan D. Bryson
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, USA
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, Harvard, and MIT, Cambridge, USA
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2
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Matusiak I, Strzałka A, Wadach P, Gongerowska-Jac M, Szwajczak E, Szydłowska-Helbrych A, Kepplinger B, Pióro M, Jakimowicz D. The interplay between the polar growth determinant DivIVA, the segregation protein ParA, and their novel interaction partner PapM controls the Mycobacterium smegmatis cell cycle by modulation of DivIVA subcellular distribution. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0175223. [PMID: 37966202 PMCID: PMC10714820 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01752-23] [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: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The genus of Mycobacterium includes important clinical pathogens (M. tuberculosis). Bacteria of this genus share the unusual features of their cell cycle such as asymmetric polar cell elongation and long generation time. Markedly, control of the mycobacterial cell cycle still remains not fully understood. The main cell growth determinant in mycobacteria is the essential protein DivIVA, which is also involved in cell division. DivIVA activity is controlled by phosphorylation, but the mechanism and significance of this process are unknown. Here, we show how the previously established protein interaction partner of DivIVA in mycobacteria, the segregation protein ParA, affects the DivIVA subcellular distribution. We also demonstrate the role of a newly identified M. smegmatis DivIVA and ParA interaction partner, a protein named PapM, and we establish how their interactions are modulated by phosphorylation. Demonstrating that the tripartite interplay affects the mycobacterial cell cycle contributes to the general understanding of mycobacterial growth regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Matusiak
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Strzałka
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Patrycja Wadach
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Martyna Gongerowska-Jac
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Bernhard Kepplinger
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Monika Pióro
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Dagmara Jakimowicz
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
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3
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Models versus pathogens: how conserved is the FtsZ in bacteria? Biosci Rep 2023; 43:232502. [PMID: 36695643 PMCID: PMC9939409 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20221664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Combating anti-microbial resistance by developing alternative strategies is the need of the hour. Cell division, particularly FtsZ, is being extensively studied for its potential as an alternative target for anti-bacterial therapy. Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli are the two well-studied models for research on FtsZ, the leader protein of the cell division machinery. As representatives of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, respectively, these organisms have provided an extensive outlook into the process of cell division in rod-shaped bacteria. However, research on other shapes of bacteria, like cocci and ovococci, lags behind that of model rods. Even though most regions of FtsZ show sequence and structural conservation throughout bacteria, the differences in FtsZ functioning and interacting partners establish several different modes of division in different bacteria. In this review, we compare the features of FtsZ and cell division in the model rods B. subtilis and E. coli and the four pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Reviewing several recent articles on these pathogenic bacteria, we have highlighted the functioning of FtsZ, the unique roles of FtsZ-associated proteins, and the cell division processes in them. Further, we provide a detailed look at the anti-FtsZ compounds discovered and their target bacteria, emphasizing the need for elucidation of the anti-FtsZ mechanism of action in different bacteria. Current challenges and opportunities in the ongoing journey of identifying potent anti-FtsZ drugs have also been described.
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4
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Mishra S, Saito K. Clinically encountered growth phenotypes of tuberculosis-causing bacilli and their in vitro study: A review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1029111. [PMID: 36439231 PMCID: PMC9684195 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1029111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The clinical manifestations of tuberculosis (TB) vary widely in severity, site of infection, and outcomes of treatment-leading to simultaneous efforts to individualize therapy safely and to search for shorter regimens that can be successfully used across the clinical spectrum. In these endeavors, clinicians and researchers alike employ mycobacterial culture in rich media. However, even within the same patient, individual bacilli among the population can exhibit substantial variability in their culturability. Bacilli in vitro also demonstrate substantial heterogeneity in replication rate and cultivation requirements, as well as susceptibility to killing by antimicrobials. Understanding parallels in clinical, ex vivo and in vitro growth phenotype diversity may be key to identifying those phenotypes responsible for treatment failure, relapse, and the reactivation of bacilli that progresses TB infection to disease. This review briefly summarizes the current role of mycobacterial culture in the care of patients with TB and the ex vivo evidence of variability in TB culturability. We then discuss current advances in in vitro models that study heterogenous subpopulations within a genetically identical bulk culture, with an emphasis on the effect of oxidative stress on bacillary cultivation requirements. The review highlights the complexity that heterogeneity in mycobacterial growth brings to the interpretation of culture in clinical settings and research. It also underscores the intricacies present in the interplay between growth phenotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility. Better understanding of population dynamics and growth requirements over time and space promises to aid both the attempts to individualize TB treatment and to find uniformly effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Mishra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kohta Saito
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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5
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Liebenberg D, Gordhan BG, Kana BD. Drug resistant tuberculosis: Implications for transmission, diagnosis, and disease management. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:943545. [PMID: 36211964 PMCID: PMC9538507 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.943545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug resistant tuberculosis contributes significantly to the global burden of antimicrobial resistance, often consuming a large proportion of the healthcare budget and associated resources in many endemic countries. The rapid emergence of resistance to newer tuberculosis therapies signals the need to ensure appropriate antibiotic stewardship, together with a concerted drive to develop new regimens that are active against currently circulating drug resistant strains. Herein, we highlight that the current burden of drug resistant tuberculosis is driven by a combination of ongoing transmission and the intra-patient evolution of resistance through several mechanisms. Global control of tuberculosis will require interventions that effectively address these and related aspects. Interrupting tuberculosis transmission is dependent on the availability of novel rapid diagnostics which provide accurate results, as near-patient as is possible, together with appropriate linkage to care. Contact tracing, longitudinal follow-up for symptoms and active mapping of social contacts are essential elements to curb further community-wide spread of drug resistant strains. Appropriate prophylaxis for contacts of drug resistant index cases is imperative to limit disease progression and subsequent transmission. Preventing the evolution of drug resistant strains will require the development of shorter regimens that rapidly eliminate all populations of mycobacteria, whilst concurrently limiting bacterial metabolic processes that drive drug tolerance, mutagenesis and the ultimate emergence of resistance. Drug discovery programs that specifically target bacterial genetic determinants associated with these processes will be paramount to tuberculosis eradication. In addition, the development of appropriate clinical endpoints that quantify drug tolerant organisms in sputum, such as differentially culturable/detectable tubercle bacteria is necessary to accurately assess the potential of new therapies to effectively shorten treatment duration. When combined, this holistic approach to addressing the critical problems associated with drug resistance will support delivery of quality care to patients suffering from tuberculosis and bolster efforts to eradicate this disease.
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6
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Seth A, Mittal E, Luan J, Kolla S, Mazer MB, Joshi H, Gupta R, Rathi P, Wang Z, Morrissey JJ, Ernst JD, Portal-Celhay C, Morley SC, Philips JA, Singamaneni S. High-resolution imaging of protein secretion at the single-cell level using plasmon-enhanced FluoroDOT assay. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2022; 2:100267. [PMID: 36046626 PMCID: PMC9421537 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2022.100267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Secreted proteins mediate essential physiological processes. With conventional assays, it is challenging to map the spatial distribution of proteins secreted by single cells, to study cell-to-cell heterogeneity in secretion, or to detect proteins of low abundance or incipient secretion. Here, we introduce the "FluoroDOT assay," which uses an ultrabright nanoparticle plasmonic-fluor that enables high-resolution imaging of protein secretion. We find that plasmonic-fluors are 16,000-fold brighter, with nearly 30-fold higher signal-to-noise compared with conventional fluorescence labels. We demonstrate high-resolution imaging of different secreted cytokines in the single-plexed and spectrally multiplexed FluoroDOT assay that revealed cellular heterogeneity in secretion of multiple proteins simultaneously. Using diverse biochemical stimuli, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and a variety of immune cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), and DC-T cell co-culture, we demonstrate that the assay is versatile, facile, and widely adaptable for enhancing biological understanding of spatial and temporal dynamics of single-cell secretome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anushree Seth
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Auragent Bioscience, LLC, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Ekansh Mittal
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Jingyi Luan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Samhitha Kolla
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Monty B. Mazer
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Hemant Joshi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Division of Immunobiology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Rohit Gupta
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Priya Rathi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Zheyu Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Jeremiah J. Morrissey
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Joel D. Ernst
- Division of Experimental Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
| | - Cynthia Portal-Celhay
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Sharon Celeste Morley
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Philips
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Srikanth Singamaneni
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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7
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Zaychikova MV, Bespiatykh DA, Malakhova MV, Bodoev IN, Vedekhina TS, Veselovsky VA, Klimina KM, Varizhuk AM, Shitikov EA. Transcriptional profiling of Mycobacterium smegmatis exposed to subinhibitory concentrations of G4-stabilizing ligands. BULLETIN OF RUSSIAN STATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2022.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug resistance accentuates the demand for anti-tuberculosis drugs with a fundamentally new mechanism of action without conferring cross-resistance. G-quadruplexes (G4, non-canonical DNA structures) are plausible new drug targets. Although G4-stabilizing ligands have been shown to inhibit mycobacterial growth, the exact mechanism of their action is uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess a possible correlation between putative G4 elements in a model mycobacterial strain M. smegmatis MC2155 and transcriptomic changes under the action of subinhibitory concentrations of G4 ligands BRACO-19 and TMPyP4. We also planned to compare the results with corresponding data previously obtained by us using higher, inhibitory concentrations of these ligands. For BRACO-19, we identified 589 (316↑; 273↓) and 865 (555↑; 310↓) differentially expressed genes at 5 µМ and 10 µМ, respectively. For TMPyP4, we observed the opposite trend, the number of differentially expressed genes decreased at higher concentration of the ligand: 754 (337↑; 417↓) and 702 (359↑; 343↓) for 2 µМ and 4 µМ, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed no correlation between ligand-induced transcriptomic changes and genomic localization of the putative quadruplex-forming sequences. At the same time, the data indicate certain functional specificity of the ligand-mediated transcriptomic effects, with TMPyP4 significantly affecting expression levels of transcription factors and arginine biosynthesis genes and BRACO-19 significantly affecting expression levels of iron metabolism and replication and reparation system genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- MV Zaychikova
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, Russia
| | - DA Bespiatykh
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, Russia
| | - MV Malakhova
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, Russia
| | - IN Bodoev
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, Russia
| | - TS Vedekhina
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, Russia
| | - VA Veselovsky
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, Russia
| | - KM Klimina
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, Russia
| | - AM Varizhuk
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, Russia
| | - EA Shitikov
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, Russia
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8
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Dynamic gene expression and growth underlie cell-to-cell heterogeneity in Escherichia coli stress response. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2115032119. [PMID: 35344432 PMCID: PMC9168488 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2115032119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual bacteria that share identical genomes and growth environments can display substantial cell-to-cell differences in expression of stress-response genes and single-cell growth rates. This phenotypic heterogeneity can impact the survival of single cells facing sudden stress. However, the windows of time that cells spend in vulnerable or tolerant states are often unknown. We quantify the temporal expression of a suite of stress-response reporters, while simultaneously monitoring growth. We observe pulsatile expression across genes with a range of stress-response functions, finding that single-cell growth rates are often anticorrelated with reporter levels. These dynamic phenotypic differences have a concrete link to function, in which individual cells undergoing a pulse of elevated expression and slow growth are predisposed to survive antibiotic exposure. Cell-to-cell heterogeneity in gene expression and growth can have critical functional consequences, such as determining whether individual bacteria survive or die following stress. Although phenotypic variability is well documented, the dynamics that underlie it are often unknown. This information is important because dramatically different outcomes can arise from gradual versus rapid changes in expression and growth. Using single-cell time-lapse microscopy, we measured the temporal expression of a suite of stress-response reporters in Escherichia coli, while simultaneously monitoring growth rate. In conditions without stress, we found several examples of pulsatile expression. Single-cell growth rates were often anticorrelated with reporter levels, with changes in growth preceding changes in expression. These dynamics have functional consequences, which we demonstrate by measuring survival after challenging cells with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin. Our results suggest that fluctuations in both gene expression and growth dynamics in stress-response networks have direct consequences on survival.
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9
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Chung ES, Johnson WC, Aldridge BB. Types and functions of heterogeneity in mycobacteria. Nat Rev Microbiol 2022; 20:529-541. [PMID: 35365812 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-022-00721-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The remarkable ability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to survive attacks from the host immune response and drug treatment is due to the resilience of a few bacilli rather than a result of survival of the entire population. Maintenance of mycobacterial subpopulations with distinct phenotypic characteristics is key for survival in the face of dynamic and variable stressors encountered during infection. Mycobacterial populations develop a wide range of phenotypes through an innate asymmetric growth pattern and adaptation to fluctuating microenvironments during infection that point to heterogeneity being a vital survival strategy. In this Review, we describe different types of mycobacterial heterogeneity and discuss how heterogeneity is generated and regulated in response to environmental cues. We discuss how this heterogeneity may have a key role in recording memory of their environment at both the single-cell level and the population level to give mycobacterial populations plasticity to withstand complex stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Seon Chung
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William C Johnson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Tufts University School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bree B Aldridge
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. .,Tufts University School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA, USA. .,Stuart B. Levy Center for Integrated Management of Antimicrobial Resistance, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering, Medford, MA, USA.
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10
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Shitikov E, Bespiatykh D, Malakhova M, Bespyatykh J, Bodoev I, Vedekhina T, Zaychikova M, Veselovsky V, Klimina K, Ilina E, Varizhuk A. Genome-Wide Transcriptional Response of Mycobacterium smegmatis MC2155 to G-Quadruplex Ligands BRACO-19 and TMPyP4. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:817024. [PMID: 35308348 PMCID: PMC8931766 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.817024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s) are non-canonical DNA structures that could be considered as potential therapeutic targets for antimicrobial compounds, also known as G4-stabilizing ligands. While some of these ligands are shown in vitro to have a stabilizing effect, the precise mechanism of antibacterial action has not been fully investigated. Here, we employed genome-wide RNA-sequencing to analyze the response of Mycobacterium smegmatis to inhibitory concentrations of BRACO-19 and TMPyP4 G4 ligands. The expression profile changed (FDR < 0.05, log2FC > |1|) for 822 (515↑; 307↓) genes in M. smegmatis in response to BRACO-19 and for 680 (339↑; 341↓) genes in response to TMPyP4. However, the analysis revealed no significant ligand-induced changes in the expression levels of G4-harboring genes, genes under G4-harboring promoters, or intergenic regions located on mRNA-like or template strands. Meanwhile, for the BRACO-19 ligand, we found significant changes in the replication and repair system genes, as well as in iron metabolism genes which is, undoubtedly, evidence of the induced stress. For the TMPyP4 compound, substantial changes were found in transcription factors and the arginine biosynthesis system, which may indicate multiple biological targets for this compound.
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11
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Urbaniec J, Xu Y, Hu Y, Hingley-Wilson S, McFadden J. Phenotypic heterogeneity in persisters: a novel 'hunker' theory of persistence. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:fuab042. [PMID: 34355746 PMCID: PMC8767447 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistence has been linked to treatment failure since its discovery over 70 years ago and understanding formation, nature and survival of this key antibiotic refractory subpopulation is crucial to enhancing treatment success and combatting the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The term 'persistence' is often used interchangeably with other terms such as tolerance or dormancy. In this review we focus on 'antibiotic persistence' which we broadly define as a feature of a subpopulation of bacterial cells that possesses the non-heritable character of surviving exposure to one or more antibiotics; and persisters as cells that possess this characteristic. We discuss novel molecular mechanisms involved in persister cell formation, as well as environmental factors which can contribute to increased antibiotic persistence in vivo, highlighting recent developments advanced by single-cell studies. We also aim to provide a comprehensive model of persistence, the 'hunker' theory which is grounded in intrinsic heterogeneity of bacterial populations and a myriad of 'hunkering down' mechanisms which can contribute to antibiotic survival of the persister subpopulation. Finally, we discuss antibiotic persistence as a 'stepping-stone' to AMR and stress the urgent need to develop effective anti-persister treatment regimes to treat this highly clinically relevant bacterial sub-population.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Urbaniec
- Department of Microbial Sciences and University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU27XH, UK
| | - Ye Xu
- Department of Microbial Sciences and University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU27XH, UK
| | - Y Hu
- Farnborough Sensonic limited, Farnborough road, GU14 7NA, UK
| | - S Hingley-Wilson
- Department of Microbial Sciences and University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU27XH, UK
| | - J McFadden
- Department of Microbial Sciences and University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU27XH, UK
- Quantum biology doctoral training centre, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU27XH, UK
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12
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Vatlin AA, Shitikov EA, Shahbaaz M, Bespiatykh DA, Klimina KM, Christoffels A, Danilenko VN, Maslov DA. Transcriptomic Profile of Mycobacterium smegmatis in Response to an Imidazo[1,2- b][1,2,4,5]tetrazine Reveals Its Possible Impact on Iron Metabolism. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:724042. [PMID: 34421882 PMCID: PMC8371482 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.724042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex bacteria, is one of the most pressing health problems. The development of new drugs and new therapeutic regimens effective against the pathogen is one of the greatest challenges in the way of tuberculosis control. Imidazo[1,2-b][1,2,4,5]tetrazines have shown promising activity against M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis strains. Mutations in MSMEG_1380 lead to mmpS5–mmpL5 operon overexpression, which provides M. smegmatis with efflux-mediated resistance to imidazo[1,2-b][1,2,4,5]tetrazines, but the exact mechanism of action of these compounds remains unknown. To assess the mode of action of imidazo[1,2-b][1,2,4,5]tetrazines, we analyzed the transcriptomic response of M. smegmatis to three different concentrations of 3a compound: 1/8×, 1/4×, and 1/2× MIC. Six groups of genes responsible for siderophore synthesis and transport were upregulated in a dose-dependent manner, while virtual docking revealed proteins involved in siderophore synthesis as possible targets for 3a. Thus, we suggest that imidazo[1,2-b][1,2,4,5]tetrazines may affect mycobacterial iron metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksey A Vatlin
- Laboratory of Bacterial Genetics, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Egor A Shitikov
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mohd Shahbaaz
- South Africa Medical Research Council Bioinformatics Unit, South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dmitry A Bespiatykh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ksenia M Klimina
- Laboratory of Bacterial Genetics, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alan Christoffels
- South Africa Medical Research Council Bioinformatics Unit, South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Valery N Danilenko
- Laboratory of Bacterial Genetics, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry A Maslov
- Laboratory of Bacterial Genetics, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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13
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Barber F, Min J, Murray AW, Amir A. Modeling the impact of single-cell stochasticity and size control on the population growth rate in asymmetrically dividing cells. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009080. [PMID: 34153030 PMCID: PMC8248971 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial populations show striking diversity in cell growth morphology and lifecycle; however, our understanding of how these factors influence the growth rate of cell populations remains limited. We use theory and simulations to predict the impact of asymmetric cell division, cell size regulation and single-cell stochasticity on the population growth rate. Our model predicts that coarse-grained noise in the single-cell growth rate λ decreases the population growth rate, as previously seen for symmetrically dividing cells. However, for a given noise in λ we find that dividing asymmetrically can enhance the population growth rate for cells with strong size control (between a “sizer” and an “adder”). To reconcile this finding with the abundance of symmetrically dividing organisms in nature, we propose that additional constraints on cell growth and division must be present which are not included in our model, and we explore the effects of selected extensions thereof. Further, we find that within our model, epigenetically inherited generation times may arise due to size control in asymmetrically dividing cells, providing a possible explanation for recent experimental observations in budding yeast. Taken together, our findings provide insight into the complex effects generated by non-canonical growth morphologies. How rapidly a population of single-celled organisms can grow will strongly impact their long-term success. Prior work has shown that many factors impact this population growth rate, including the rate at which single cells grow, random variability between cells, and whether cells regulate their own size. Here we show that cell division asymmetry can also have a strong impact on the population growth rate. We use theory and computer simulations to study the growth rate of cells that divide asymmetrically, producing one smaller cell and one larger cell with each cell division event. We show that variability in how fast single cells grow will still decrease the population growth rate, when asymmetry is moderate or size control is weak, but that cells with strong size control can diminish this decrease by dividing more asymmetrically. We also demonstrate that cell cycle lengths can be positively correlated for closely related cells when they both divide asymmetrically and regulate their size. This counter-intuitive result contrasts with previous findings based on cell size regulation in symmetrically dividing cells that if cells grow for “too long” in one cell cycle, this will be corrected for by reduced growth during a shorter, subsequent cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Barber
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Jiseon Min
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Andrew W. Murray
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ariel Amir
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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14
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Herricks T, Donczew M, Sherman DR, Aitchison JD. ODELAM: Rapid Sequence-independent Detection of Drug Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates. Bio Protoc 2021; 11:e4027. [PMID: 34150934 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) causes over 200,000 deaths globally each year. Current assays of antimicrobial resistance require knowledge of the mutations that confer drug resistance or long periods of culture time to test growth under drug pressure. We present ODELAM (One-cell Doubling Evaluation of Living Arrays of Mycobacterium), a time-lapse microscopy-based method that observes individual cells growing into microcolonies. This protocol describes sample and media preparation and contains instructions for assembling the ODELAM sample chamber. The ODELAM sample chamber is designed to provide a controlled environment to safely observe the growth of Mtb by time-lapse microscopy on an inverted wide-field microscope. A brief description of the ODELAM software is also provided here. ODELAM tracks up to 1500 colony forming units per region of interest and can observe up to 96 regions for up to seven days in a single experiment. This technique allows the quantification of population heterogeneity. ODELAM enables rapid quantitative measurements of growth kinetics in as few as 30 h under a wide variety of environmental conditions. Graphic abstract: Schematic representation of the ODELAM platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thurston Herricks
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, USA
| | | | - David R Sherman
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - John D Aitchison
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
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15
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Wang R, Ehrt S. Rv0954 Is a Member of the Mycobacterial Cell Division Complex. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:626461. [PMID: 33959103 PMCID: PMC8093794 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.626461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper control of cell division in the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis is central to its growth, survival, pathogenesis, and resistance to antibiotics. Nevertheless, the divisome components and mechanisms by which mycobacteria regulate their cell cycle are not entirely understood. Here we demonstrate that the previously uncharacterized Rv0954 protein localizes to the mid-cell during cell division and interacts with the division-related proteins LamA, PbpA, and PknH. Deletion of rv0954 did not result in alterations in cell morphology or sensitivity to cell wall-targeting antibiotics but transposon mutagenesis demonstrated genetic interactions with genes related to cell division. This work suggests that Rv0954 participates in cell division and reveals potential components of the mycobacterial divisome for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruojun Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sabine Ehrt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
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16
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Garde R, Ewald J, Kovács ÁT, Schuster S. Modelling population dynamics in a unicellular social organism community using a minimal model and evolutionary game theory. Open Biol 2020; 10:200206. [PMID: 33142084 PMCID: PMC7729035 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Most unicellular organisms live in communities and express different phenotypes. Many efforts have been made to study the population dynamics of such complex communities of cells, coexisting as well-coordinated units. Minimal models based on ordinary differential equations are powerful tools that can help us understand complex phenomena. They represent an appropriate compromise between complexity and tractability; they allow a profound and comprehensive analysis, which is still easy to understand. Evolutionary game theory is another powerful tool that can help us understand the costs and benefits of the decision a particular cell of a unicellular social organism takes when faced with the challenges of the biotic and abiotic environment. This work is a binocular view at the population dynamics of such a community through the objectives of minimal modelling and evolutionary game theory. We test the behaviour of the community of a unicellular social organism at three levels of antibiotic stress. Even in the absence of the antibiotic, spikes in the fraction of resistant cells can be observed indicating the importance of bet hedging. At moderate level of antibiotic stress, we witness cyclic dynamics reminiscent of the renowned rock–paper–scissors game. At a very high level, the resistant type of strategy is the most favourable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravindra Garde
- Department of Bioinformatics, Matthias Schleiden Institute, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Ernst-Abbe-Platz 2, 07743 Jena, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Jan Ewald
- Department of Bioinformatics, Matthias Schleiden Institute, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Ernst-Abbe-Platz 2, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Ákos T Kovács
- Bacterial Interactions and Evolution Group, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads Building 221, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Stefan Schuster
- Department of Bioinformatics, Matthias Schleiden Institute, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Ernst-Abbe-Platz 2, 07743 Jena, Germany
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17
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Bandekar AC, Subedi S, Ioerger TR, Sassetti CM. Cell-Cycle-Associated Expression Patterns Predict Gene Function in Mycobacteria. Curr Biol 2020; 30:3961-3971.e6. [PMID: 32916109 PMCID: PMC7578119 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.07.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Although the major events in prokaryotic cell cycle progression are likely to be coordinated with transcriptional and metabolic changes, these processes remain poorly characterized. Unlike many rapidly growing bacteria, DNA replication and cell division are temporally resolved in mycobacteria, making these slow-growing organisms a potentially useful system to investigate the prokaryotic cell cycle. To determine whether cell-cycle-dependent gene regulation occurs in mycobacteria, we characterized the temporal changes in the transcriptome of synchronously replicating populations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). By enriching for genes that display a sinusoidal expression pattern, we discover 485 genes that oscillate with a period consistent with the cell cycle. During cytokinesis, the timing of gene induction could be used to predict the timing of gene function, as mRNA abundance was found to correlate with the order in which proteins were recruited to the developing septum. Similarly, the expression pattern of primary metabolic genes could be used to predict the relative importance of these pathways for different cell cycle processes. Pyrimidine synthetic genes peaked during DNA replication, and their depletion caused a filamentation phenotype that phenocopied defects in this process. In contrast, the inosine monophasphate dehydrogenase dedicated to guanosine synthesis, GuaB2, displayed the opposite expression pattern and its depletion perturbed septation. Together, these data imply obligate coordination between primary metabolism and cell division and identify periodically regulated genes that can be related to specific cell biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya C Bandekar
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Sishir Subedi
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Thomas R Ioerger
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Christopher M Sassetti
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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18
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Smith TC, Pullen KM, Olson MC, McNellis ME, Richardson I, Hu S, Larkins-Ford J, Wang X, Freundlich JS, Ando DM, Aldridge BB. Morphological profiling of tubercle bacilli identifies drug pathways of action. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:18744-18753. [PMID: 32680963 PMCID: PMC7414088 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2002738117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Morphological profiling is a method to classify target pathways of antibacterials based on how bacteria respond to treatment through changes to cellular shape and spatial organization. Here we utilized the cell-to-cell variation in morphological features of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli to develop a rapid profiling platform called Morphological Evaluation and Understanding of Stress (MorphEUS). MorphEUS classified 94% of tested drugs correctly into broad categories according to modes of action previously identified in the literature. In the other 6%, MorphEUS pointed to key off-target activities. We observed cell wall damage induced by bedaquiline and moxifloxacin through secondary effects downstream from their main target pathways. We implemented MorphEUS to correctly classify three compounds in a blinded study and identified an off-target effect for one compound that was not readily apparent in previous studies. We anticipate that the ability of MorphEUS to rapidly identify pathways of drug action and the proximal cause of cellular damage in tubercle bacilli will make it applicable to other pathogens and cell types where morphological responses are subtle and heterogeneous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trever C Smith
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111
- Center for Integrated Management of Antimicrobial Resistance (CIMAR), Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111
| | - Krista M Pullen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Michaela C Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111
| | - Morgan E McNellis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111
| | - Ian Richardson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111
- Roxbury Latin School, West Roxbury, MA 02132
| | - Sophia Hu
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250
| | - Jonah Larkins-Ford
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111
- Tufts University School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA 02111
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Joel S Freundlich
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
- Ruy V. Lourenco Center for the Study of Emerging and Re-emerging Pathogens, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - D Michael Ando
- Applied Science Team, Google Research, Mountain View, CA 94043
| | - Bree B Aldridge
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111;
- Center for Integrated Management of Antimicrobial Resistance (CIMAR), Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111
- Tufts University School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA 02111
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering, Medford, MA 02155
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19
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Hingley-Wilson SM, Ma N, Hu Y, Casey R, Bramming A, Curry RJ, Tang HL, Wu H, Butler RE, Jacobs WR, Rocco A, McFadden J. Loss of phenotypic inheritance associated with ydcI mutation leads to increased frequency of small, slow persisters in Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:4152-4157. [PMID: 32029596 PMCID: PMC7049120 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1914741117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Whenever a genetically homogenous population of bacterial cells is exposed to antibiotics, a tiny fraction of cells survives the treatment, the phenomenon known as bacterial persistence [G.L. Hobby et al., Exp. Biol. Med. 50, 281-285 (1942); J. Bigger, The Lancet 244, 497-500 (1944)]. Despite its biomedical relevance, the origin of the phenomenon is still unknown, and as a rare, phenotypically resistant subpopulation, persisters are notoriously hard to study and define. Using computerized tracking we show that persisters are small at birth and slowly replicating. We also determine that the high-persister mutant strain of Escherichia coli, HipQ, is associated with the phenotype of reduced phenotypic inheritance (RPI). We identify the gene responsible for RPI, ydcI, which encodes a transcription factor, and propose a mechanism whereby loss of phenotypic inheritance causes increased frequency of persisters. These results provide insight into the generation and maintenance of phenotypic variation and provide potential targets for the development of therapeutic strategies that tackle persistence in bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M Hingley-Wilson
- Department of Microbial and Cellular Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Nan Ma
- Department of Microbial and Cellular Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
- Advanced Technology Institute, Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Yin Hu
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Rosalyn Casey
- Department of Microbial and Cellular Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Anders Bramming
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5320 Ribe, Denmark
| | - Richard J Curry
- Photon Science Institute, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Hongying Lilian Tang
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Huihai Wu
- Department of Microbial and Cellular Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel E Butler
- Department of Microbial and Cellular Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - William R Jacobs
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461;
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
| | - Andrea Rocco
- Department of Microbial and Cellular Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom;
| | - Johnjoe McFadden
- Department of Microbial and Cellular Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom;
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20
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Wang R, Kreutzfeldt K, Botella H, Vaubourgeix J, Schnappinger D, Ehrt S. Persistent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice requires PerM for successful cell division. eLife 2019; 8:49570. [PMID: 31751212 PMCID: PMC6872210 DOI: 10.7554/elife.49570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to persist in its host is central to the pathogenesis of tuberculosis, yet the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely defined. PerM, an integral membrane protein, is required for persistence of Mtb in mice. Here, we show that perM deletion caused a cell division defect specifically during the chronic phase of mouse infection, but did not affect Mtb’s cell replication during acute infection. We further demonstrate that PerM is required for cell division in chronically infected mice and in vitro under host-relevant stresses because it is part of the mycobacterial divisome and stabilizes the essential divisome protein FtsB. These data highlight the importance of sustained cell division for Mtb persistence, define condition-specific requirements for cell division and reveal that survival of Mtb during chronic infection depends on a persistence divisome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruojun Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, United States.,Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, United States
| | - Kaj Kreutzfeldt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, United States
| | - Helene Botella
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, United States
| | - Julien Vaubourgeix
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, United States
| | - Dirk Schnappinger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, United States
| | - Sabine Ehrt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, United States.,Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, United States
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21
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Mushnikov NV, Fomicheva A, Gomelsky M, Bowman GR. Inducible asymmetric cell division and cell differentiation in a bacterium. Nat Chem Biol 2019; 15:925-931. [PMID: 31406376 PMCID: PMC7439754 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-019-0340-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Multicellular organisms achieve greater complexity through cell divisions that generate different cell types. We engineered a simple genetic circuit that induces asymmetric cell division and subsequent cell differentiation in Escherichia coli. The circuit involves a scaffolding protein, PopZ, that is stably maintained at a single cell pole over multiple asymmetric cell divisions. PopZ was functionalized to degrade the signaling molecule, c-di-GMP. By regulating synthesis of functionalized PopZ via small molecules or light, we can chemically or optogenetically control the relative abundance of two distinct cell types, characterized by either low or high c-di-GMP levels. Differences in c-di-GMP levels can be transformed into genetically programmable differences in protein complex assembly or gene expression, which in turn produce differential behavior or biosynthetic activities. This study shows emergence of complex biological phenomena from a simple genetic circuit and adds programmable bacterial cell differentiation to the genetic toolbox of synthetic biology and biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mark Gomelsky
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Grant R Bowman
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.
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22
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Resazurin Assay Data for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Supporting a Model of the Growth Accelerated by a Stochastic Non-Homogeneity. DATA 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/data4010036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis is one of the most widespread worldwide diseases heavily affecting society. Among popular modern laboratory tests for mycobacterial growth, the resazurin assay has certain advantages due to its effectiveness and relatively low cost. However, the high heterogeneity of the mycobacterial population affects the average growth rate. This fact must be taken into account in a quantitative interpretation of these tests’ output—fluorescence growth curves—related to the population growth of viable mycobacteria. Here, we report the spectrophotometric data obtained via the resazurin assay for the standard reference strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv for different initial dilutions and generation numbers of the culture, as well as their primary processing from the point of view of the stochastic multiplicative growth model. The obtained data, which indicate an accelerated (instead of linear) growth of the population density logarithm between the end of the lag phase and the saturation, provide evidence of the importance of the growth rates’ stochasticity. An analysis of the curve fits resulted in an estimation of the first two moments of the growth rates’ probability distributions, showing its relevance to vital processes for mycobacterial culture.
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23
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Abstract
Actinobacteria is a group of diverse bacteria. Most species in this class of bacteria are filamentous aerobes found in soil, including the genus Streptomyces perhaps best known for their fascinating capabilities of producing antibiotics. These bacteria typically have a Gram-positive cell envelope, comprised of a plasma membrane and a thick peptidoglycan layer. However, there is a notable exception of the Corynebacteriales order, which has evolved a unique type of outer membrane likely as a consequence of convergent evolution. In this chapter, we will focus on the unique cell envelope of this order. This cell envelope features the peptidoglycan layer that is covalently modified by an additional layer of arabinogalactan . Furthermore, the arabinogalactan layer provides the platform for the covalent attachment of mycolic acids , some of the longest natural fatty acids that can contain ~100 carbon atoms per molecule. Mycolic acids are thought to be the main component of the outer membrane, which is composed of many additional lipids including trehalose dimycolate, also known as the cord factor. Importantly, a subset of bacteria in the Corynebacteriales order are pathogens of human and domestic animals, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The surface coat of these pathogens are the first point of contact with the host immune system, and we now know a number of host receptors specific to molecular patterns exposed on the pathogen's surface, highlighting the importance of understanding how the cell envelope of Actinobacteria is structured and constructed. This chapter describes the main structural and biosynthetic features of major components found in the actinobacterial cell envelopes and highlights the key differences between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn C Rahlwes
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, 639 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Ian L Sparks
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, 639 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Yasu S Morita
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, 639 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
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