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Meliefste HM, Mudde SE, Ammerman NC, de Steenwinkel JEM, Bax HI. A laboratory perspective on Mycobacterium abscessus biofilm culture, characterization and drug activity testing. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1392606. [PMID: 38690364 PMCID: PMC11058659 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1392606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus is an emerging opportunistic pathogen causing severe pulmonary infections in patients with underlying lung disease and cystic fibrosis in particular. The rising prevalence of M. abscessus infections poses an alarming threat, as the success rates of available treatment options are limited. Central to this challenge is the absence of preclinical in vitro models that accurately mimic in vivo conditions and that can reliably predict treatment outcomes in patients. M. abscessus is notorious for its association with biofilm formation within the lung. Bacteria in biofilms are more recalcitrant to antibiotic treatment compared to planktonic bacteria, which likely contributes to the lack of correlation between preclinical drug activity testing (typically performed on planktonic bacteria) and treatment outcome. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in M. abscessus biofilm research. However, the absence of standardized methods for biofilm culture, biofilm characterization and drug activity testing has led to a wide spectrum of, sometimes inconsistent, findings across various studies. Factors such as strain selection, culture medium, and incubation time hugely impact biofilm development, phenotypical characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility. Additionally, a broad range of techniques are used to study M. abscessus biofilms, including quantification of colony-forming units, crystal violet staining and fluorescence microscopy. Yet, limitations of these techniques and the selected readouts for analysis affect study outcomes. Currently, research on the activity of conventional antibiotics, such as clarithromycin and amikacin, against M. abscessus biofilms yield ambiguous results, underscoring the substantial impact of experimental conditions on drug activity assessment. Beyond traditional drug activity testing, the exploration of novel anti-biofilm compounds and the improvement of in vitro biofilm models are ongoing. In this review, we outline the laboratory models, experimental variables and techniques that are used to study M. abscessus biofilms. We elaborate on the current insights of M. abscessus biofilm characteristics and describe the present understanding of the activity of traditional antibiotics, as well as potential novel compounds, against M. abscessus biofilms. Ultimately, this work contributes to the advancement of fundamental knowledge and practical applications of accurate preclinical M. abscessus models, thereby facilitating progress towards improved therapies for M. abscessus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saskia Emily Mudde
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nicole Christine Ammerman
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Hannelore Iris Bax
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Ren A, Yao M, Fang J, Dai Z, Li X, van der Meer W, Medema G, Rose JB, Liu G. Bacterial communities of planktonic bacteria and mature biofilm in service lines and premise plumbing of a Megacity: Composition, Diversity, and influencing factors. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 185:108538. [PMID: 38422875 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Although simulated studies have provided valuable knowledge regarding the communities of planktonic bacteria and biofilms, the lack of systematic field studies have hampered the understanding of microbiology in real-world service lines and premise plumbing. In this study, the bacterial communities of water and biofilm were explored, with a special focus on the lifetime development of biofilm communities and their key influencing factors. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that both the planktonic bacteria and biofilm were dominated by Proteobacteria. Among the 15,084 observed amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), the 33 core ASVs covered 72.8 %, while the 12 shared core ASVs accounted for 62.2 % of the total sequences. Remarkably, it was found that the species richness and diversity of biofilm communities correlated with pipe age. The relative abundance of ASV2 (f_Sphingomonadaceae) was lower for pipe ages 40-50 years (7.9 %) than for pipe ages 10-20 years (59.3 %), while the relative abundance of ASV10 (f_Hyphomonadaceae) was higher for pipe ages 40-50 years (19.5 %) than its presence at pipe ages 20-30 years (1.9 %). The community of the premise plumbing biofilm had significantly higher species richness and diversity than that of the service line, while the steel-plastics composite pipe interior lined with polyethylene (S-PE) harbored significantly more diverse biofilm than the galvanized steel pipes (S-Zn). Interestingly, S-PE was enriched with ASV27 (g_Mycobacterium), while S-Zn pipes were enriched with ASV13 (g_Pseudomonas). Moreover, the network analysis showed that five rare ASVs, not core ASVs, were keystone members in biofilm communities, indicating the importance of rare members in the function and stability of biofilm communities. This manuscript provides novel insights into real-world service lines and premise plumbing microbiology, regarding lifetime dynamics (pipe age 10-50 years), and the influences of pipe types (premise plumbing vs. service line) and pipe materials (S-Zn vs. S-PE).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anran Ren
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Sanitary Engineering, Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5048, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingchen Yao
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Sanitary Engineering, Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5048, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxing Fang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Science and Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Zihan Dai
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Xiaoming Li
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Walter van der Meer
- Science and Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, The Netherlands; Oasen Drinkwater, PO Box 122, 2800 AC, Gouda, The Netherlands
| | - Gertjan Medema
- Oasen Drinkwater, PO Box 122, 2800 AC, Gouda, The Netherlands; KWR Watercycle Research Institute, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands; Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Joan B Rose
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Gang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Sanitary Engineering, Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5048, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Aguilera-Correa JJ, Boudehen YM, Kremer L. Characterization of Mycobacterium abscessus colony-biofilms based on bi-dimensional images. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0040223. [PMID: 37565746 PMCID: PMC10508158 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00402-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus biofilm aggregates have been shown in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients and are often tolerant to drugs. Herein, we analyzed bi-dimensional images of either fluorescent or Congo red-stained M. abscessus colony-biofilms grown on a membrane to monitor growth and shape of M. abscessus smooth and rough variants. These colony-biofilms responded differently to rifabutin and bedaquiline, thus highlighting the importance of the morphotype to properly address antibiotic treatment in patients with biofilm-related infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Jairo Aguilera-Correa
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 9004, Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Yves-Marie Boudehen
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 9004, Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Laurent Kremer
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 9004, Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- INSERM, IRIM, Montpellier, France
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Lee BS, Singh S, Pethe K. Inhibiting respiration as a novel antibiotic strategy. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 74:102327. [PMID: 37235914 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The approval of the first-in-class antibacterial bedaquiline for tuberculosis marks a breakthrough in antituberculosis drug development. The drug inhibits mycobacterial respiration and represents the validation of a wholly different metabolic process as a druggable target space. In this review, we discuss the advances in the development of mycobacterial respiratory inhibitors, as well as the potential of applying this strategy to other pathogens. The non-fermentative nature of mycobacteria explains their vulnerability to respiration inhibition, and we caution that this strategy may not be equally effective in other organisms. Conversely, we also showcase fundamental studies that reveal ancillary functions of the respiratory pathway, which are crucial to some pathogens' virulence, drug susceptibility and fitness, introducing another perspective of targeting bacterial respiration as an antibiotic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Shi Lee
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore.
| | - Samsher Singh
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
| | - Kevin Pethe
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore; Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore; National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore 308442, Singapore.
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Alternatives to Antibiotics against Mycobacterium abscessus. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11101322. [PMID: 36289979 PMCID: PMC9598287 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11101322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus complex is extremely difficult to treat. Intrinsic and acquired bacterial resistance makes this species one of the most challenging pathogens and treatments last from months to years, associated with potential risky antibiotic toxicity and a high number of failures. Nonantibiotic antimicrobial agents against this microorganism have recently been studied so as to offer an alternative to current drugs. This review summarizes recent research on different strategies such as host modulation using stem cells, photodynamic therapy, antibiofilm therapy, phage therapy, nanoparticles, vaccines and antimicrobial peptides against M. abscessus both in vitro and in vivo.
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