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Ji X, Shi A, Wang J, Zhang B, Hu Y, Lv H, Wu J, Sun Y, Liu JM, Zhang Y, Wang S. EnvZ/OmpR Controls Protein Expression and Modifications in Cronobacter sakazakii for Virulence and Environmental Resilience. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:18697-18707. [PMID: 39165163 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c04627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Cronobacter sakazakii is a notorious foodborne opportunistic pathogen, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as premature infants, and poses significant public health challenges. This study aimed to elucidate the role of the envZ/ompR genes in environmental tolerance, pathogenicity, and protein regulation of C. sakazakii. An envZ/ompR knockout mutant was constructed and assessed for its impact on bacterial growth, virulence, environmental tolerance, and protein regulation. Results demonstrate that deletion of envZ/ompR genes leads to reduced growth rate and attenuated virulence in animal models. Additionally, the knockout strain exhibited compromised environmental tolerance, particularly in desiccation and oxidative stress conditions, along with impaired adhesion and invasion abilities in epithelial cells. Proteomic analysis revealed significant alterations in protein expression and phosphorylation patterns, highlighting potential compensatory mechanisms triggered by gene deletion. Furthermore, investigation into protein deamidation and glucose metabolism uncovered a link between envZ/ompR deletion and energy metabolism dysregulation. Interestingly, the downregulation of MalK and GrxC proteins was identified as contributing factors to altered desiccation tolerance and disrupted redox homeostasis, respectively, providing mechanistic insights into the phenotypic changes observed. Overall, this study enhances understanding of the multifaceted roles of envZ/ompR in C. sakazakii physiology and pathogenesis, shedding light on potential targets for therapeutic intervention and food safety strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemeng Ji
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Aiying Shi
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Bowei Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yaozhong Hu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Huan Lv
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yi Sun
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jing-Min Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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Yan Y, Cao M, Ma J, Suo J, Bai X, Ge W, Lv X, Zhang Q, Chen J, Cui S, Yang B. Use of proteomics to elucidate characteristics of Cronobacter sakazakii under mild heat stress. Int J Food Microbiol 2024; 425:110885. [PMID: 39178661 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2024.110885] [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: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 08/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic pathogen known for causing severe diseases. Mild heat treatment is commonly used in food processing, however, the pathogenic characteristics and underlying mechanisms of Cronobacter sakazakii strains remain poorly understood. In this study, we found that mild heat stress (MHS) at 52 °C can induce several deleterious effects in Cronobacter sakazakii, including damage to the cell wall, genomic DNA breakage, and misfolding of cytoplasmic proteins. These conditions lead to a decreased survival ability under acid, desiccation, and osmotic stress; a reduction in biofilm formation; and diminished motility. Notably, surviving C. sakazakii cells retain their pathogenicity, causing significant intestinal damage in newborn mice. This damage is characterized by epithelial sloughing and disruption of the intestinal structure. Tandem mass tag (TMT)-based proteomics identified 736 proteins with differential abundance across C. sakazakii strains subjected to mild heat stress, highlighting adaptations in biofilm formation, motility, and stress tolerance. Key regulatory changes were observed in phospholipid metabolism and protein synthesis, which underpin this complex stress response. This data illustrates a sophisticated balance between environmental adaptability and pathogenic potential. The metabolic and pathogenic responses of C. sakazakii to mild heat stress are closely linked to its phospholipid metabolism and the production of secretory proteins, both crucial for its virulence and reliant on membrane transport. This complex interplay emphasizes the need to understand these mechanisms to develop effective control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfei Yan
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Mengyuan Cao
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Jiaqi Ma
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Jia Suo
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xiaobao Bai
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Wupeng Ge
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Centre of Dairy Products Quality, Safety and Health, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Xin Lv
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Centre of Dairy Products Quality, Safety and Health, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Centre of Dairy Products Quality, Safety and Health, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Jia Chen
- College of Chemical Technology, Shijiazhuang University, Shijiazhuang 050035, China.
| | - Shenghui Cui
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Baowei Yang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Centre of Dairy Products Quality, Safety and Health, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
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Jin T, Zhan X, Pang L, Peng B, Zhang X, Zhu W, Yang B, Xia X. CpxAR two-component system contributes to virulence properties of Cronobacter sakazakii. Food Microbiol 2024; 117:104393. [PMID: 37919015 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104393] [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: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) is a foodborne pathogen which threaten susceptible hosts including infants. CpxA/CpxR, a regulatory two-component system (TSC), contributes to stress response and virulence in various Gram-negative pathogens, but its role in C. sakazakii has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, we constructed CpxA, CpxR, CpxAR deletion and complementation strains. The mutants showed weakened bacterial adhesion to and invasion of HBMEC and Caco-2, reduced intracellular survival and replication of C. sakazakii within RAW264.7 macrophages, and decreased translocation of HBMEC and Caco-2 monolayers. Mutants demonstrated lower levels of tight junction proteins disruption and reduced apoptosis and cytotoxicity in Caco-2 monolayer compared to wild type strain. CpxAR TCS deletion mutants demonstrate attenuated virulence in newborn mice, which was evidenced by fewer bacterial cells loads in tissues and organs, lower levels of intestinal epithelial barrier dysfuction and milder damages in intestinal tissues. All these phenotypes were recovered in complemented strains. In addition, qRT-PCR results showed that CpxAR TCS of C. sakazakii played roles in regulating the expression of several genes associated with bacterial virulence and cellular invasion. These findings indicate that CpxAR TCS is an important regulatory mechanism for virulence of C. sakazakii, which enrich our understanding of genetic determinants of pathogenicity of the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Jin
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Xiangjun Zhan
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Liuxin Pang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Bo Peng
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Food Science and Technology Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Xinpeng Zhang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Food Science and Technology Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Wenxiu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Food Processing and Safety Control, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116034, China
| | - Baowei Yang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
| | - Xiaodong Xia
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Food Processing and Safety Control, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116034, China.
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VenkataKrishna LM, Balasubramaniam B, Sushmitha TJ, Ravichandiran V, Balamurugan K. Cronobacter sakazakii infection implicates multifaceted neuro-immune regulatory pathways of Caenorhabditis elegans. Mol Omics 2024; 20:48-63. [PMID: 37818754 DOI: 10.1039/d3mo00167a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
The neural pathways of Caenorhabditis elegans play a crucial role in regulating host immunity and inflammation during pathogenic infections. To understand the major neuro-immune signaling pathways, this study aimed to identify the key regulatory proteins in the host C. elegans during C. sakazakii infection. We used high-throughput label-free quantitative proteomics and identified 69 differentially expressed proteins. KEGG analysis revealed that C. sakazakii elicited host immune signaling cascades primarily including mTOR signaling, axon regeneration, metabolic pathways (let-363 and acox-1.4), calcium signaling (mlck-1), and longevity regulating pathways (ddl-2), respectively. The abrogation in functional loss of mTOR-associated players deciphered that C. sakazakii infection negatively regulated the lifespan of mutant worms (akt-1, let-363 and dlk-1), including physiological aberrations, such as reduced pharyngeal pumping and egg production. Additionally, the candidate pathway proteins were validated by transcriptional profiling of their corresponding genes. Furthermore, immunoblotting showed the downregulation of mTORC2/SGK-1 during the later hours of pathogen exposure. Overall, our findings profoundly provide an understanding of the specificity of proteome imbalance in affecting neuro-immune regulations during C. sakazakii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - T J Sushmitha
- Department of Biotechnology, Science Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - V Ravichandiran
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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Zhang L, Ma X, Tong P, Zheng B, Zhu M, Peng B, Wang J, Liu Y. RNA-Seq analysis of long non-coding RNA in human intestinal epithelial cells infected by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. Cytokine 2024; 173:156421. [PMID: 37944420 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156421] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infects animals and induces acute intestinal inflammation. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to play crucial roles in modulating inflammation response. However, it is not clear whether lncRNAs are involved in STEC-induced inflammation. METHODS AND RESULTS To understand the association of lncRNAs with STEC infection, we used RNA-seq technology to analyze the profiles of lncRNAs in Mock-infected and STEC-infected human intestinal epithelial cells (HIECs). We detected a total of 702 lncRNAs differentially expressed by STEC infection. 583 differentially expressed lncRNAs acted as competitive microRNAs (miRNAs) binding elements in regulating the gene expression involved in TNF signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and apoptosis pathways. We analyzed 3 targeted genes, TRADD, TRAF1 and TGFB2, which were differentially regulated by mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA interaction network, potentially involved in the inflammatory and apoptotic response to STEC infection. Functional analysis of up/downstream genes associated with differentially expressed lncRNAs revealed their role in adheres junction and endocytosis. We also used the qRT-PCR technique to validate 8 randomly selected differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs in STEC-infected HIECs. CONCLUSION Our results, for the first time, revealed differentially expressed lncRNAs induced by STEC infection of HIECs. The results will help investigate the molecular mechanisms for the inflammatory responses induced by STEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuqing Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Xuelian Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Panpan Tong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Baili Zheng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Mingyue Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Bin Peng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Jinquan Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yingyu Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China.
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Agbemavor WSK, Buys EM. Dynamic Interactions between Diarrhoeagenic Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli and Presumptive Probiotic Bacteria: Implications for Gastrointestinal Health. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2942. [PMID: 38138086 PMCID: PMC10745617 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122942] [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: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
This study delves into the temporal dynamics of bacterial interactions in the gastrointestinal tract, focusing on how probiotic strains and pathogenic bacteria influence each other and human health. This research explores adhesion, competitive exclusion, displacement, and inhibition of selected diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (D-EAEC) and potential probiotic strains under various conditions. Key findings reveal that adhesion is time-dependent, with both D-EAEC K2 and probiotic L. plantarum FS2 showing increased adhesion over time. Surprisingly, L. plantarum FS2 outperformed D-EAEC K2 in adhesion and exhibited competitive exclusion and displacement, with inhibition of adhesion surpassing competitive exclusion. This highlights probiotics' potential to slow pathogen attachment when not in competition. Pre-infecting with L. plantarum FS2 before pathogenic infection effectively inhibited adhesion, indicating probiotics' ability to prevent pathogen attachment. Additionally, adhesion correlated strongly with interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion, linking it to the host's inflammatory response. Conversely, IL-8 secretion negatively correlated with trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER), suggesting a connection between tight junction disruption and increased inflammation. These insights offer valuable knowledge about the temporal dynamics of gut bacteria interactions and highlight probiotics' potential in competitive exclusion and inhibiting pathogenic bacteria, contributing to strategies for maintaining gastrointestinal health and preventing infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wisdom Selorm Kofi Agbemavor
- Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
- Radiation Technology Centre, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 80, Ghana
| | - Elna Maria Buys
- Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
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Lu P, Dong X, Ji X. Cronobacter sakazakii Pyridoxal Kinase PdxY Mediated by TreR and pESA3 Is Essential for Vitamin B 6 (PLP) Maintenance and Virulence. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0092423. [PMID: 37458600 PMCID: PMC10467337 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00924-23] [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: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic pathogen capable of causing severe infections, particularly in neonates. Despite the bacterium's strong pathogenicity, the pathogenicity of C. sakazakii is not yet well understood. Using a comparative proteomic profiling approach, we successfully identified pdxY, encoding a pyridoxal kinase involved in the recycling of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), as a gene essential for the successful pathogenesis of C. sakazakii. Knocking out the pdxY gene resulted in slower growth and reduced virulence. Our study sheds light on the fundamental importance of pyridoxal kinase for the survival and virulence of C. sakazakii. The identification of pdxY as gene essential for successful pathogenesis provides a potential target for the development of new antibiotic treatments. IMPORTANCE The opportunistic pathogen Cronobacter sakazakii is known to cause severe infections, particularly in neonates, and can result in high mortality rates. In this study, we used a comparative proteomic profiling approach to identify genes essential for the successful pathogenesis of C. sakazakii. We successfully identified pdxY, encoding a pyridoxal kinase involved in the salvage pathway of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), as a gene essential for the successful pathogenesis of C. sakazakii. Knocking out the pdxY gene resulted in impaired growth and reduced virulence. This study sheds light on the fundamental importance of pyridoxal kinase for the survival and virulence of C. sakazakii, which can be a potential target for the development of new antibiotic treatments. This study highlights the importance of comparative proteomic profiling in identifying virulence factors that can be targeted for the development of new antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Lu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoli Dong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuemeng Ji
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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Lu P, Xue J, Chen X, Ji X. DnaK-Mediated Protein Deamidation: a Potential Mechanism for Virulence and Stress Adaptation in Cronobacter sakazakii. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0050523. [PMID: 37382536 PMCID: PMC10370310 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00505-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cronobacter sakazakii is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes infections in individuals of all ages, with neonates being the most vulnerable group. The objective of this study was to explore the function of the dnaK gene in C. sakazakii and to elucidate the impact of alterations in the protein composition regulated by dnaK on virulence and stress adaptation. Our research demonstrates the critical role of the dnaK gene in various key virulence factors, including adhesion, invasion, and acid resistance in C. sakazakii. Through the use of proteomic analysis, we discovered that deletion of the dnaK gene in C. sakazakii leads to an upregulation of protein abundance and increased levels of deamidated posttranscriptional modifications, suggesting that DnaK may play a role in maintaining proper protein activity by reducing protein deamidation in bacteria. These findings indicate that DnaK-mediated protein deamidation may be a novel mechanism for virulence and stress adaptation in C. sakazakii. These findings suggest that targeting DnaK could be a promising strategy for developing drugs to treat C. sakazakii infections. IMPORTANCE Cronobacter sakazakii can cause disease in individuals of all ages, with infections in premature infants being particularly deadly and resulting in bacterial meningitis and sepsis with a high mortality rate. Our study demonstrates that dnaK in Cronobacter sakazakii plays a critical role in virulence, adhesion, invasion, and acid resistance. Using proteomic analysis to compare protein changes in response to dnaK knockout, we found that dnaK knockout significantly upregulates the abundance of some proteins but also results in the deamidation of many proteins. Our research has identified a connection between molecular chaperones and protein deamidation, which suggests a potential future drug development strategy of targeting DnaK as a drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Lu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Juan Xue
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuemeng Ji
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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Wang W, Geng M, Zhu C, Huang L, Zhang Y, Zhang T, Zhao C, Zhang T, Du X, Wang N. Protective Effects and Mechanism of a Novel Probiotic Strain Ligilactobacillus salivarius YL20 against Cronobacter sakazakii-Induced Necrotizing Enterocolitis In Vitro and In Vivo. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14183827. [PMID: 36145205 PMCID: PMC9501190 DOI: 10.3390/nu14183827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to probiotics in early life contributes to host intestinal development and prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii), an opportunistic pathogen, can cause NEC, bacteremia, and meningitis in neonates, but the research of probiotics against C. sakazakii is limited relative to other enteropathogens. Here, the protective effect and mechanism of a novel probiotic Ligilactobacillus salivarius (L. salivarius) YL20 isolated from breast milk on C. sakazakii-induced intestinal injury were explored by using two in vitro models, including an C. sakazakii-infected intestinal organoid model and intestinal barrier model, as well as an in vivo experimental animal model. Our results revealed that L. salivarius YL20 could promote epithelial cell proliferation in intestinal organoids, rescue budding-impaired organoids, prevent the decrease of mRNA levels of leucine-rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5), zonula occludens-1 (Zo-1) and Occludin, and reverse C. sakazakii-induced low level of Mucin 2 (MUC2) in intestinal organoids. Additionally, YL20 could inhibit C. sakazakii invasion, increase the expression of ZO-1 and occludin in C. sakazakii-infected HT-29 cells, and reverse TEER decrease and corresponding permeability increase across C. sakazakii-infected Caco-2 monolayers. Furthermore, YL20 administration could alleviate NEC in C. sakazakii-infected neonatal mice by increasing the mice survival ratio, decreasing pathology scores, and downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, YL20 could also enhance intestinal barrier function in vivo by increasing the number of goblet cells, the level of MUC-2 and the expression of ZO-1. Our overall findings demonstrated for the first time the beneficial effects of L. salivarius YL20 against C. sakazakii-induced NEC by improving intestinal stem cell function and enhancing intestinal barrier integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiming Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Correspondence: (W.W.); (N.W.); Tel.: +86-451-55665478 (W.W.); +86-22-60602099 (N.W.)
| | - Meng Geng
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education and Tianjin, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Caixia Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education and Tianjin, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Lei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education and Tianjin, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education and Tianjin, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Tengxun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education and Tianjin, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Chongjie Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education and Tianjin, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Tongcun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education and Tianjin, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Xinjun Du
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Nan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education and Tianjin, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin 300457, China
- Correspondence: (W.W.); (N.W.); Tel.: +86-451-55665478 (W.W.); +86-22-60602099 (N.W.)
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Guo L, Cheng H, Fu S, Liu J, Zhang Y, Qiu Y, Chen H. Methylome and Transcriptome-Based Integration Analysis Identified Molecular Signatures Associated With Meningitis Induced by Glaesserella parasuis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:840399. [PMID: 35281072 PMCID: PMC8913945 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.840399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaesserella parasuis (G. parasuis) can elicit serious inflammatory responses and cause meningitis in piglets. Previous epigenetic studies have indicated that alterations in host DNA methylation may modify the inflammatory response to bacterial infection. However, to date, genome-wide analysis of the DNA methylome during meningitis caused by G. parasuis infection is still lacking. In this study, we employed an unbiased approach using deep sequencing to profile the DNA methylome and transcriptome from G. parasuis infected porcine brain (cerebrum) and integrated the data to identify key differential methylation regions/sites involved in the regulation of the inflammatory response. Results showed that DNA methylation patterns and gene expression profiles from porcine brain were changed after G. parasuis infection. The majority of the altered DNA methylation regions were found in the intergenic regions and introns and not associated with CpG islands, with only a low percentage occurring at promoter or exon regions. Integrated analysis of the DNA methylome and transcriptome identified a number of inversely and positively correlated genes between DNA methylation and gene expression, following the criteria of |log2FC| > 0.5, |diffMethy| > 0.1, and P < 0.05. Differential expression and methylation of two significant genes, semaphoring 4D (SEMA4D) and von Willebrand factor A domain containing 1 (VWA1), were validated by qRT-PCR and bisulfite sequencing. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses demonstrated that DNA methylation inversely correlated genes in G. parasuis infected porcine brains were mainly involved with cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, RIG-1-like receptor signaling pathways, and hematopoietic cell lineage signaling pathways. In addition, a protein-protein interaction network of differentially methylated genes found potential candidate molecular interactions relevant to the pathology of G. parasuis infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to integrate the DNA methylome and transcriptome data from G. parasuis infected porcine brains. Our findings will help understanding the contribution of genome-wide DNA methylation to the pathogenesis of meningitis in pigs and developing epigenetic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the treatment of G. parasuis induced meningitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Guo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongxing Cheng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shulin Fu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunfei Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yinsheng Qiu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Yinsheng Qiu,
| | - Hongbo Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
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Gao J, Han Z, Li P, Zhang H, Du X, Wang S. Outer Membrane Protein F Is Involved in Biofilm Formation, Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance in Cronobacter sakazakii. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9112338. [PMID: 34835462 PMCID: PMC8619257 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In some Gram-negative bacteria, ompF encodes outer membrane protein F (OmpF), which is a cation-selective porin and is responsible for the passive transport of small molecules across the outer membrane. However, there are few reports about the functions of this gene in Cronobacter sakazakii. To investigate the role of ompF in detail, an ompF disruption strain (ΔompF) and a complementation strain (cpompF) were successfully obtained. We find that OmpF can affect the ability of biofilm formation in C. sakazakii. In addition, the variations in biofilm composition of C. sakazakii were examined using Raman spectroscopy analyses caused by knocking out ompF, and the result indicated that the levels of certain biofilm components, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), were significantly decreased in the mutant (ΔompF). Then, SDS-PAGE was used to further analyze the LPS content, and the result showed that the LPS levels were significantly reduced in the absence of ompF. Therefore, we conclude that OmpF affects biofilm formation in C. sakazakii by reducing the amount of LPS. Furthermore, the ΔompF mutant showed decreased (2.7-fold) adhesion to and invasion of HCT-8 cells. In an antibiotic susceptibility analysis, the ΔompF mutant showed significantly smaller inhibition zones than the WT, indicating that OmpF had a positive effect on the influx of antibiotics into the cells. In summary, ompF plays a positive regulatory role in the biofilm formation and adhesion/invasion, which is achieved by regulating the amount of LPS, but is a negative regulator of antibiotic resistance in C. sakazakii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxin Gao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China; (J.G.); (H.Z.)
| | - Zhonghui Han
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, China;
| | - Ping Li
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China;
| | - Hongyan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China; (J.G.); (H.Z.)
| | - Xinjun Du
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China;
- Correspondence: (X.D.); (S.W.)
| | - Shuo Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Correspondence: (X.D.); (S.W.)
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