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Ojala T, Kankuri E, Kankainen M. Understanding human health through metatranscriptomics. Trends Mol Med 2023; 29:376-389. [PMID: 36842848 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Metatranscriptomics has revolutionized our ability to explore and understand transcriptional programs in microbial communities. Moreover, it has enabled us to gain deeper and more specific insight into the microbial activities in human gut, respiratory, oral, and vaginal communities. Perhaps the most important contribution of metatranscriptomics arises, however, from the analyses of disease-associated communities. We review the advantages and disadvantages of metatranscriptomics analyses in understanding human health and disease. We focus on human tissues low in microbial biomass and conditions associated with dysbiotic microbiota. We conclude that a more widespread use of metatranscriptomics and increased knowledge on microbe activities will uncover critical interactions between microbes and host in human health and provide diagnostic basis for culturing-independent, direct functional pathogen identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teija Ojala
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Laboratory of Genetics, HUS Diagnostic Center, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Esko Kankuri
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matti Kankainen
- Laboratory of Genetics, HUS Diagnostic Center, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), Helsinki, Finland; Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Dolivo D, Lanier S, Leung K, Mustoe T, Hong SJ, Galiano R. Comparative transcriptomic adaptations of Staphylococcus aureus to the wound environment in non-diabetic and diabetic mice. Wound Repair Regen 2022; 30:541-545. [PMID: 35918300 PMCID: PMC9544741 DOI: 10.1111/wrr.13040] [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: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Infection is a major source of complications in delayed diabetic wound healing. Increased understanding of differential bacterial responses to diabetic wounds will enable us to better understand chronic wound pathogenesis. Here we create delayed‐healing wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus in non‐diabetic and diabetic mice and used RNA‐seq to compare bacterial gene expression profiles 3 or 7 days after infection. Analysis at day 3 demonstrated substantial transcriptomic differences between bacteria colonising non‐diabetic and diabetic wound beds. Most of these transcriptional differences resolved by day 7, suggesting normalisation of many bacterial phenotypes later in the diabetic wound healing process. Lingering differentially expressed genes at day 7 were enriched for genes related to carbohydrate metabolism, which includes genes of the lac operon, and capsular polysaccharide synthesis, which includes the cap8 locus. These data encourage further research into host–pathogen interactions in wound healing and how they influence differential outcomes in the diabetic wound environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Dolivo
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Steven Lanier
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Kai Leung
- Combat Wound Care Group, United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, USA
| | - Thomas Mustoe
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Seok Jong Hong
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Robert Galiano
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
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Brown JL, Townsend E, Short RD, Williams C, Woodall C, Nile CJ, Ramage G. Assessing the inflammatory response to in vitro polymicrobial wound biofilms in a skin epidermis model. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2022; 8:19. [PMID: 35393409 PMCID: PMC8991182 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-022-00286-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Wounds can commonly become infected with polymicrobial biofilms containing bacterial and fungal microorganisms. Microbial colonization of the wound can interfere with sufficient healing and repair, leading to high rates of chronicity in certain individuals, which can have a huge socioeconomic burden worldwide. One route for alleviating biofilm formation in chronic wounds is sufficient treatment of the infected area with topical wound washes and ointments. Thus, the primary aim here was to create a complex in vitro biofilm model containing a range of microorganisms commonly isolated from the infected wound milieu. These polymicrobial biofilms were treated with three conventional anti-biofilm wound washes, chlorhexidine (CHX), povidone-iodine (PVP-I), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and efficacy against the microorganisms assessed using live/dead qPCR. All treatments reduced the viability of the biofilms, although H2O2 was found to be the most effective treatment modality. These biofilms were then co-cultured with 3D skin epidermis to assess the inflammatory profile within the tissue. A detailed transcriptional and proteomic profile of the epidermis was gathered following biofilm stimulation. At the transcriptional level, all treatments reduced the expression of inflammatory markers back to baseline (untreated tissue controls). Olink technology revealed a unique proteomic response in the tissue following stimulation with untreated and CHX-treated biofilms. This highlights treatment choice for clinicians could be dictated by how the tissue responds to such biofilm treatment, and not merely how effective the treatment is in killing the biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason L Brown
- Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK. .,Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JZ, UK.
| | - Eleanor Townsend
- Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK.,Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JZ, UK.,School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Campus, The University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Robert D Short
- Department of Chemistry and Material Science Institute, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, LA1 4YB, UK
| | - Craig Williams
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JZ, UK.,Microbiology Department, Lancaster Royal Infirmary, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK
| | - Chris Woodall
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JZ, UK.,Blutest Laboratories, 5 Robroyston Oval, Nova Business Park, Glasgow, G33 1AP, UK
| | - Christopher J Nile
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JZ, UK.,School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE2 4BW, UK
| | - Gordon Ramage
- Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK. .,Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JZ, UK.
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