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Saylor TC, Casselli T, Lethbridge KG, Moore JP, Owens KM, Brissette CA, Zückert WR, Stevenson B. Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease spirochete, possesses genetically-encoded responses to doxycycline, but not to amoxicillin. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274125. [PMID: 36178885 PMCID: PMC9524633 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274125] [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: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Some species of bacteria respond to antibiotic stresses by altering their transcription profiles, in order to produce proteins that provide protection against the antibiotic. Understanding these compensatory mechanisms allows for informed treatment strategies, and could lead to the development of improved therapeutics. To this end, studies were performed to determine whether Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochetal agent of Lyme disease, also exhibits genetically-encoded responses to the commonly prescribed antibiotics doxycycline and amoxicillin. After culturing for 24 h in a sublethal concentration of doxycycline, there were significant increases in a substantial number of transcripts for proteins that are involved with translation. In contrast, incubation with a sublethal concentration of amoxicillin did not lead to significant changes in levels of any bacterial transcript. We conclude that B. burgdorferi has a mechanism(s) that detects translational inhibition by doxycycline, and increases production of mRNAs for proteins involved with translation machinery in an attempt to compensate for that stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy C. Saylor
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, School of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Timothy Casselli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States of America
| | - Kathryn G. Lethbridge
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, School of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Jessamyn P. Moore
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, School of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Katie M. Owens
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, School of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Catherine A. Brissette
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States of America
| | - Wolfram R. Zückert
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Brian Stevenson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, School of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Kapteijn R, Shitut S, Aschmann D, Zhang L, de Beer M, Daviran D, Roverts R, Akiva A, van Wezel GP, Kros A, Claessen D. Endocytosis-like DNA uptake by cell wall-deficient bacteria. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5524. [PMID: 36138004 PMCID: PMC9500057 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33054-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer in bacteria is widely believed to occur via conjugation, transduction and transformation. These mechanisms facilitate the passage of DNA across the protective cell wall using sophisticated machinery. Here, we report that cell wall-deficient bacteria can engulf DNA and other extracellular material via an endocytosis-like process. Specifically, we show that L-forms of the filamentous actinomycete Kitasatospora viridifaciens can take up plasmid DNA, polysaccharides (dextran) and 150-nm lipid nanoparticles. The process involves invagination of the cytoplasmic membrane, leading to formation of intracellular vesicles that encapsulate extracellular material. DNA uptake is not affected by deletion of genes homologous to comEC and comEA, which are required for natural transformation in other species. However, uptake is inhibited by sodium azide or incubation at 4 °C, suggesting the process is energy-dependent. The encapsulated materials are released into the cytoplasm upon degradation of the vesicle membrane. Given that cell wall-deficient bacteria are considered a model for early life forms, our work reveals a possible mechanism for primordial cells to acquire food or genetic material before invention of the bacterial cell wall. Horizontal gene transfer in bacteria can occur through mechanisms such as conjugation, transduction and transformation, which facilitate the passage of DNA across the cell wall. Here, Kapteijn et al. show that cell wall-deficient bacteria can take up DNA and other extracellular materials via an endocytosis-like process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée Kapteijn
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Shraddha Shitut
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Aschmann
- Department of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Le Zhang
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marit de Beer
- Electron Microscopy Center, Radboudumc Technology Center Microscopy, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Deniz Daviran
- Electron Microscopy Center, Radboudumc Technology Center Microscopy, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rona Roverts
- Electron Microscopy Center, Radboudumc Technology Center Microscopy, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anat Akiva
- Electron Microscopy Center, Radboudumc Technology Center Microscopy, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gilles P van Wezel
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Alexander Kros
- Department of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Claessen
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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