1
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Sompiyachoke K, Elias MH. Engineering quorum quenching acylases with improved kinetic and biochemical properties. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4954. [PMID: 38520282 PMCID: PMC10960309 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4954] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Many Gram-negative bacteria use N-acyl-L-homoserine lactone (AHL) signals to coordinate phenotypes such as biofilm formation and virulence factor production. Quorum-quenching enzymes, such as AHL acylases, chemically degrade these molecules which prevents signal reception by bacteria and inhibits undesirable biofilm-related traits. These capabilities make acylases appealing candidates for controlling microbes, yet candidates with high activity levels and substrate specificity and that are capable of being formulated into materials are needed. In this work, we undertook engineering efforts against two AHL acylases, PvdQ and MacQ, to generate these improved properties using the Protein One-Stop Shop Server. The engineering of acylases is complicated by low-throughput enzymatic assays. Alleviating this challenge, we report a time-course kinetic assay for AHL acylases that monitors the real-time production of homoserine lactone. Using the assay, we identified variants of PvdQ that were significantly stabilized, with melting point increases of up to 13.2°C, which translated into high resistance against organic solvents and increased compatibility with material coatings. While the MacQ mutants were unexpectedly destabilized, they had considerably improved kinetic properties, with >10-fold increases against N-butyryl-L-homoserine lactone and N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone. Accordingly, these changes resulted in increased quenching abilities using a biosensor model and greater inhibition of virulence factor production of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14. While the crystal structure of one of the MacQ variants, M1, did not reveal obvious structural determinants explaining the observed changes in kinetics, it allowed for the capture of an acyl-enzyme intermediate that confirms a previously hypothesized catalytic mechanism of AHL acylases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kitty Sompiyachoke
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and BiophysicsUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMinnesotaUSA
| | - Mikael H. Elias
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and BiophysicsUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMinnesotaUSA
- Biotechnology InstituteSt. PaulMinnesotaUSA
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2
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Curcic J, Dinic M, Novovic K, Vasiljevic Z, Kojic M, Jovcic B, Malesevic M. A novel thermostable YtnP lactonase from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia inhibits Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence in vitro and in vivo. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 264:130421. [PMID: 38423425 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens are one of the biggest challenges facing the healthcare system today. Quorum quenching (QQ) enzymes have the potential to be used as innovative enzyme-based antivirulence therapeutics to combat infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. The main objective of this research was to describe the novel YtnP lactonase derived from the clinical isolate Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and to investigate its antivirulence potential against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa MMA83. YtnP lactonase, the QQ enzyme, belongs to the family of metallo-β-lactamases. The recombinant enzyme has several advantageous biotechnological properties, such as high thermostability, activity in a wide pH range, and no cytotoxic effect. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the activity of recombinant YtnP lactonase toward a wide range of N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), quorum sensing signaling molecules, with a higher preference for long-chain AHLs. Recombinant YtnP lactonase was shown to inhibit P. aeruginosa MMA83 biofilm formation, induce biofilm decomposition, and reduce extracellular virulence factors production. Moreover, the lifespan of MMA83-infected Caenorhabditis elegans was prolonged with YtnP lactonase treatment. YtnP lactonase showed synergistic inhibitory activity in combination with gentamicin and acted additively with meropenem against MMA83. The described properties make YtnP lactonase a promising therapeutic candidate for the development of next-generation antivirulence agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovana Curcic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Miroslav Dinic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Katarina Novovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zorica Vasiljevic
- Institute for Mother and Child Health Care of Serbia "Dr Vukan Čupić", Radoja Dakića 8, 11070 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milan Kojic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia; Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", Vojvode Stepe 448, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Branko Jovcic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milka Malesevic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia.
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3
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Wang D, Cui F, Ren L, Li J, Li T. Quorum-quenching enzymes: Promising bioresources and their opportunities and challenges as alternative bacteriostatic agents in food industry. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2023; 22:1104-1127. [PMID: 36636773 DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.13104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The problems of spoilage, disease, and biofilm caused by bacterial quorum-sensing (QS) systems have posed a significant challenge to the development of the food industry. Quorum-quenching (QQ) enzymes can block QS by hydrolyzing or modifying the signal molecule, making these enzymes promising new candidates for use as antimicrobials. With many recent studies of QQ enzymes and their potential to target foodborne bacteria, an updated and systematic review is necessary. Thus, the goals of this review were to summarize what is known about the effects of bacterial QS on the food industry; discuss the current understanding of the catalytic mechanisms of QQ enzymes, including lactonase, acylase, and oxidoreductase; and describe strategies for the engineering and evolution of QQ enzymes for practical use. In particular, this review focuses on the latest progress in the application of QQ enzymes in the field of food. Finally, the current challenges limiting the systematic application of QQ enzymes in the food industry are discussed to help guide the future development of these important enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dangfeng Wang
- College of Food Science and Technology, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Storage, Processing and Safety Control Technology for Fresh Agricultural and Aquatic Products, Bohai University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Fangchao Cui
- College of Food Science and Technology, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Storage, Processing and Safety Control Technology for Fresh Agricultural and Aquatic Products, Bohai University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Likun Ren
- College of Food Science and Technology, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Storage, Processing and Safety Control Technology for Fresh Agricultural and Aquatic Products, Bohai University, Jinzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Food Science and Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, College of Food Engineering, Harbin University of Commerce, Harbin, China
| | - Jianrong Li
- College of Food Science and Technology, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Storage, Processing and Safety Control Technology for Fresh Agricultural and Aquatic Products, Bohai University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioresources Utilization, Dalian Minzu University, Ministry of Education, Dalian, China
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4
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Sikdar R, Elias MH. Evidence for Complex Interplay between Quorum Sensing and Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0126922. [PMID: 36314960 PMCID: PMC9769976 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01269-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-density-dependent, intercellular communication system mediated by small diffusible signaling molecules. QS regulates a range of bacterial behaviors, including biofilm formation, virulence, drug resistance mechanisms, and antibiotic tolerance. Enzymes capable of degrading signaling molecules can interfere in QS-a process termed as quorum quenching (QQ). Remarkably, previous work reported some cases where enzymatic interference in QS was synergistic to antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The premise of combination therapy is attractive to fight against multidrug-resistant bacteria, yet comprehensive studies are lacking. Here, we evaluate the effects of QS signal disruption on the antibiotic resistance profile of P. aeruginosa by testing 222 antibiotics and antibacterial compounds from 15 different classes. We found compelling evidence that QS signal disruption does indeed affect antibiotic resistance (40% of all tested compounds; 89/222), albeit not always synergistically (not synergistic for 19% of compounds; 43/222). For some tested antibiotics, such as sulfathiazole and trimethoprim, we were able to relate the changes in resistance caused by QS signal disruption to the modulation of the expression of key genes of the folate biosynthetic pathway. Moreover, using a P. aeruginosa-based Caenorhabditis elegans killing model, we confirmed that enzymatic QQ modulates the effects of antibiotics on P. aeruginosa's pathogenicity in vivo. Altogether, these results show that signal disruption has profound and complex effects on the antibiotic resistance profile of P. aeruginosa. This work suggests that combination therapy including QQ and antibiotics should be discussed not globally but, rather, in case-by-case studies. IMPORTANCE Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-density-dependent communication system used by a wide range of bacteria to coordinate behaviors. Strategies pertaining to the interference in QS are appealing approaches to control microbial behaviors that depend on QS, including virulence and biofilms. Interference in QS was previously reported to be synergistic with antibiotics, yet no systematic assessment exists. Here, we evaluate the potential of combination treatments using the model opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14. In this model, collected data demonstrate that QS largely modulates the antibiotic resistance profile of PA14 (for more than 40% of the tested drugs). However, the outcome of combination treatments is synergistic for only 19% of them. This research demonstrates the complex relationship between QS and antibiotic resistance and suggests that combination therapy including QS inhibitors and antibiotics should be discussed not globally but, rather, in case-by-case studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Sikdar
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mikael H. Elias
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
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5
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Applying molecular and phenotypic screening assays to identify efficient quorum quenching lactonases. Enzyme Microb Technol 2022; 160:110092. [DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2022.110092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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6
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Collalto D, Giallonardi G, Fortuna A, Meneghini C, Fiscarelli E, Visca P, Imperi F, Rampioni G, Leoni L. In vitro Activity of Antivirulence Drugs Targeting the las or pqs Quorum Sensing Against Cystic Fibrosis Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:845231. [PMID: 35547141 PMCID: PMC9083110 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.845231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The chronic lung infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Antivirulence drugs targeting P. aeruginosa quorum sensing (QS) systems are intensively studied as antibiotics substitutes or adjuvants. Previous studies, carried out in non-CF P. aeruginosa reference strains, showed that the old drugs niclosamide and clofoctol could be successfully repurposed as antivirulence drugs targeting the las and pqs QS systems, respectively. However, frequent emergence of QS-defective mutants in the CF lung undermines the use of QS inhibitors in CF therapy. Here, QS signal production and susceptibility to niclosamide and clofoctol have been investigated in 100 P. aeruginosa CF isolates, with the aim of broadening current knowledge on the potential of anti-QS compounds in CF therapy. Results showed that 85, 78, and 69% of the CF isolates from our collection were proficient for the pqs, rhl, and las QS systems, respectively. The ability of both niclosamide and clofoctol to inhibit QS and virulence in vitro was highly variable and strain-dependent. Niclosamide showed an overall low range of activity and its negative effect on las signal production did not correlate with a decreased production of virulence factors. On the other hand, clofoctol displayed a broader QS inhibitory effect in CF isolates, with consequent reduction of the pqs-controlled virulence factor pyocyanin. Overall, this study highlights the importance of testing new antivirulence drugs against large panels of P. aeruginosa CF clinical isolates before proceeding to further pre-clinical studies and corroborates previous evidence that strains naturally resistant to QS inhibitors occur among CF isolates. However, it is also shown that resistance to pqs inhibitors is less frequent than resistance to las inhibitors, thus supporting the development of pqs inhibitors for antivirulence therapy in CF.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giulia Giallonardi
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy.,Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Ersilia Fiscarelli
- Laboratory of Cystic Fibrosis Microbiology, Diagnostic Medicine and Laboratory, Bambino Gesú Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Visca
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy.,Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Imperi
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy.,Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Giordano Rampioni
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy.,Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Leoni
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
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7
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Noor AO, Almasri DM, Basyony AF, Albohy A, Almutairi LS, Alhammadi SS, Alkhamisi MA, Alsharif SA, Elfaky MA. Biodiversity of N-acyl homoserine lactonase (aiiA) gene from Bacillus subtilis. Microb Pathog 2022; 166:105543. [PMID: 35460864 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms rely on the benefit of using chemical signals called autoinducers (AIs) as a connection matter in term of population, this mechanism is known as quorum sensing (QS). Quorum sensing is responsible for formation of biofilm together with virulence in bacteria. The most known QS molecule is N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). A lot of degrading enzymes including lactonases that open the AHL ring and acylases that breakdown its acyl side chain can degrade or inactivate AHL. Due to similarity in lactone ring structure among AHLs it is susceptible to most of lactonases. Bacillus species are among the most promising bacteria producing AHL-lactonase. The aim of the work is to identify and study the diversity of the AHL-Lactonase gene among different Bacillus subtilis as a promising Quorum Quenching (QQ) strategy to prevent bacterial infections and biofilm formation. The AHL-lactonase (aiiA) gene of 64 B. subtilis isolates was amplified and sequenced followed by multiple sequence alignment of the translated amino acid sequences, homology modeling and docking study. An expected PCR product of about 750 base pair was detected in 22 B. subtilis isolates, and the results revealed that the isolates' sequences showed identity ranged between 97.61% to 99.47% with those in the NCBI GenBank database with 100% query coverage and 0.0 E-value. In addition, the results revealed high level of identity between many aiiA gene sequences of our isolates as they were closely related to the same sequences to many sequences of the NCBI GenBank database. The alignment of the amino acid sequences from the 22 B. subtilis isolates indicated that 84.4% of the amino acid residues were conserved between the aligned sequences. Docking of the co-crystalized ligand to wildtype and H109Y mutated protein showed a significant reduction of docking score for the mutated protein. This result indicate that this mutation might affect recognition or at least kinetics of these enzymes and hence their roles in quorum-quenching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed O Noor
- Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Diena M Almasri
- Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - A F Basyony
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Egyptian Russian University, Cairo, 11829, Egypt
| | - Amgad Albohy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El-Sherouk City, Cairo, 11837, Egypt; The Center for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El-Sherouk City, Cairo, 11837, Egypt
| | | | - Sarah S Alhammadi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maryam A Alkhamisi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shahad A Alsharif
- Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud A Elfaky
- Department of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Precision Medicines, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
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8
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Lamin A, Kaksonen AH, Cole IS, Chen XB. Quorum sensing inhibitors applications: a new prospect for mitigation of microbiologically influenced corrosion. Bioelectrochemistry 2022; 145:108050. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2022.108050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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9
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Karimov IF, Fedorova TO, Zherebyateva OO, Borisov SD, Mikhailova EA. Evaluation of Homoserine Lactone Production by Pseudomonas spp. Isolates. Microbiology (Reading) 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026261721060072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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10
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Urvoy M, Lami R, Dreanno C, Daudé D, Rodrigues AMS, Gourmelon M, L'Helguen S, Labry C. Quorum sensing disruption regulates hydrolytic enzyme and biofilm production in estuarine bacteria. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:7183-7200. [PMID: 34528354 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Biofilms of heterotrophic bacteria cover organic matter aggregates and constitute hotspots of mineralization, primarily acting through extracellular hydrolytic enzyme production. Nevertheless, regulation of both biofilm and hydrolytic enzyme synthesis remains poorly investigated, especially in estuarine ecosystems. In this study, various bioassays, mass spectrometry and genomics approaches were combined to test the possible involvement of quorum sensing (QS) in these mechanisms. QS is a bacterial cell-cell communication system that relies notably on the emission of N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs). In our estuarine bacterial collection, we found that 28 strains (9%), mainly Vibrio, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter isolates, produced at least 14 different types of AHLs encoded by various luxI genes. We then inhibited the AHL QS circuits of those 28 strains using a broad-spectrum lactonase preparation and tested whether biofilm production as well as β-glucosidase and leucine-aminopeptidase activities were impacted. Interestingly, we recorded contrasted responses, as biofilm production, dissolved and cell-bound β-glucosidase and leucine-aminopeptidase activities significantly increased in 4%-68% of strains but decreased in 0%-21% of strains. These findings highlight the key role of AHL-based QS in estuarine bacterial physiology and ultimately on biogeochemical cycles. They also point out the complexity of QS regulations within natural microbial assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Urvoy
- Ifremer, DYNECO, Plouzané, F-29280, France.,Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, UMR 6539, Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR), Plouzané, F-29280, France
| | - Raphaël Lami
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes (LBBM), 66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | | | - David Daudé
- Gene&GreenTK, 19-21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, Marseille, 13005, France
| | - Alice M S Rodrigues
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes (LBBM), 66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | | | - Stéphane L'Helguen
- Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, UMR 6539, Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR), Plouzané, F-29280, France
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11
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Ya'ar Bar S, Dor S, Erov M, Afriat-Jurnou L. Identification and Characterization of a New Quorum-Quenching N-acyl Homoserine Lactonase in the Plant Pathogen Erwinia amylovora. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2021; 69:5652-5662. [PMID: 33974427 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c00366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Quorum quenching (QQ) is the ability to interfere with bacterial cell to cell communication, known as quorum sensing (QS). QQ enzymes that degrade or modify acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) have been attracting increasing interest as promising agents for inhibiting QS-mediated bacterial pathogenicity. Plant pathogens from the genus Erwinia cause diseases in several economically important crops. Fire blight is a devastating plant disease caused by Erwinia amylovora, affecting a wide range of host species within the Rosaceae and posing a major global threat for commercial apple and pear production. While QS has been described in Erwinia species, no AHL-degrading enzymes were identified and characterized. Here, phylogenetic analysis and structural modeling were applied to identify an AHL lactonase in E. amylovora (dubbed EaAiiA). Following recombinant expression and purification, the enzyme was biochemically characterized. EaAiiA lactonase activity was dependent on metal ions and effectively degraded AHLs with high catalytic efficiency. Its highest specific activity (kcat/KM value) was observed against one of the AHLs (3-oxo-C6-homoserine lactone) secreted from E. amylovora. Exogenous addition of the purified enzyme to cultures of E. amylovora reduced the formation of levan, a QS-regulated virulence factor, by 40% and the transcription level of the levansucrase-encoding gene by 55%. Furthermore, preincubation of E. amylovora cultures with EaAiiA inhibited the progress of fire blight symptoms in immature Pyrus communis fruits. These results demonstrate the ability of the identified enzyme from E. amylovora to act as a quorum-quenching lactonase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sapir Ya'ar Bar
- Migal-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Tel-Hai Academic College, Upper Galilee 1220800, Israel
| | - Shlomit Dor
- Migal-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
| | - Mayan Erov
- Migal-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
| | - Livnat Afriat-Jurnou
- Migal-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Tel-Hai Academic College, Upper Galilee 1220800, Israel
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12
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Mion S, Carriot N, Lopez J, Plener L, Ortalo-Magné A, Chabrière E, Culioli G, Daudé D. Disrupting quorum sensing alters social interactions in Chromobacterium violaceum. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2021; 7:40. [PMID: 33888726 PMCID: PMC8062528 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-021-00211-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a communication system used by bacteria to coordinate a wide panel of biological functions in a cell density-dependent manner. The Gram-negative Chromobacterium violaceum has previously been shown to use an acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-based QS to regulate various behaviors, including the production of proteases, hydrogen cyanide, or antimicrobial compounds such as violacein. By using combined metabolomic and proteomic approaches, we demonstrated that QS modulates the production of antimicrobial and toxic compounds in C. violaceum ATCC 12472. We provided the first evidence of anisomycin antibiotic production by this strain as well as evidence of its regulation by QS and identified new AHLs produced by C. violaceum ATCC 12472. Furthermore, we demonstrated that targeting AHLs with lactonase leads to major QS disruption yielding significant molecular and phenotypic changes. These modifications resulted in drastic changes in social interactions between C. violaceum and a Gram-positive bacterium (Bacillus cereus), a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), immune cells (murine macrophages), and an animal model (planarian Schmidtea mediterranea). These results underscored that AHL-based QS plays a key role in the capacity of C. violaceum to interact with micro- and macroorganisms and that quorum quenching can affect microbial population dynamics beyond AHL-producing bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Mion
- Aix Marseille University, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Eric Chabrière
- Aix Marseille University, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
| | - Gérald Culioli
- Université de Toulon, MAPIEM, Toulon, France. .,Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale, UMR CNRS-IRD, Avignon Université, Aix-Marseille Université, Avignon, France.
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13
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Sikdar R, Elias M. Quorum quenching enzymes and their effects on virulence, biofilm, and microbiomes: a review of recent advances. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2020; 18:1221-1233. [PMID: 32749905 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2020.1794815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Numerous bacterial behaviors are regulated by a cell-density dependent mechanism known as Quorum Sensing (QS). QS relies on communication between bacterial cells using diffusible signaling molecules known as autoinducers. QS regulates physiological processes such as metabolism, virulence, and biofilm formation. Quorum Quenching (QQ) is the inhibition of QS using chemical or enzymatic means to counteract behaviors regulated by QS. AREAS COVERED We examine the main, diverse QS mechanisms present in bacterial species, with a special emphasis on AHL-mediated QS. We also discuss key in vitro and in vivo systems in which interference in QS was investigated. Additionally, we highlight promising developments, such as the substrate preference of the used enzymatic quencher, in the application of interference in QS to counter bacterial virulence. EXPERT OPINION Enabled via the recent isolation of highly stable quorum quenching enzymes and/or molecular engineering efforts, the effects of the interference in QS were recently evaluated outside of the traditional model of single species culture. Signal disruption in complex microbial communities was shown to result in the disruption of complex microbial behaviors, and changes in population structures. These new findings, and future studies, may result in significant changes in the traditional views about QS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Sikdar
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics Department and BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota , Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mikael Elias
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics Department and BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota , Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
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Billot R, Plener L, Jacquet P, Elias M, Chabrière E, Daudé D. Engineering acyl-homoserine lactone-interfering enzymes toward bacterial control. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:12993-13007. [PMID: 32690609 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.013531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Enzymes able to degrade or modify acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) have drawn considerable interest for their ability to interfere with the bacterial communication process referred to as quorum sensing. Many proteobacteria use AHL to coordinate virulence and biofilm formation in a cell density-dependent manner; thus, AHL-interfering enzymes constitute new promising antimicrobial candidates. Among these, lactonases and acylases have been particularly studied. These enzymes have been isolated from various bacterial, archaeal, or eukaryotic organisms and have been evaluated for their ability to control several pathogens. Engineering studies on these enzymes were carried out and successfully modulated their capacity to interact with specific AHL, increase their catalytic activity and stability, or enhance their biotechnological potential. In this review, special attention is paid to the screening, engineering, and applications of AHL-modifying enzymes. Prospects and future opportunities are also discussed with a view to developing potent candidates for bacterial control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Billot
- Gene&GreenTK, Marseille, France; IRD, APHM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | | | | | - Mikael Elias
- Molecular Biology and Biophysics and Biotechnology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Eric Chabrière
- IRD, APHM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
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Rémy B, Plener L, Decloquement P, Armstrong N, Elias M, Daudé D, Chabrière É. Lactonase Specificity Is Key to Quorum Quenching in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:762. [PMID: 32390993 PMCID: PMC7193897 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The human opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa orchestrates the expression of many genes in a cell density-dependent manner by using quorum sensing (QS). Two acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are involved in QS circuits and contribute to the regulation of virulence factors production, biofilm formation, and antimicrobial sensitivity. Disrupting QS, a strategy referred to as quorum quenching (QQ) can be achieved using exogenous AHL-degrading lactonases. However, the importance of enzyme specificity on quenching efficacy has been poorly investigated. Here, we used two lactonases both targeting the signal molecules N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C12 HSL) and butyryl-homoserine lactone (C4 HSL) albeit with different efficacies on C4 HSL. Interestingly, both lactonases similarly decreased AHL concentrations and comparably impacted the expression of AHL-based QS genes. However, strong variations were observed in Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal (PQS) regulation depending on the lactonase used. Both lactonases were also found to decrease virulence factors production and biofilm formation in vitro, albeit with different efficiencies. Unexpectedly, only the lactonase with lower efficacy on C4 HSL was able to inhibit P. aeruginosa pathogenicity in vivo in an amoeba infection model. Similarly, proteomic analysis revealed large variations in protein levels involved in antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, virulence and diverse cellular mechanisms depending on the chosen lactonase. This global analysis provides evidences that QQ enzyme specificity has a significant impact on the modulation of QS-associated behavior in P. aeruginosa PA14.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Rémy
- Aix Marseille University, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.,Gene&GreenTK, Marseille, France
| | | | - Philippe Decloquement
- Aix Marseille University, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Nicholas Armstrong
- Aix Marseille University, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Mikael Elias
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics - BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | | | - Éric Chabrière
- Aix Marseille University, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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