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Wang WX, Wu JZ, Zhang BL, Yu JY, Han LM, Lu XL, Li H, Fu SY, Ren YY, Dong H, Xu Y, Wang GT, Gao JH, Wang C, Chen XZ, Liu DX, Huang Y, Yu JH, Wang SW, Yang YF, Chen W. Phage therapy combats pan drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection safely and efficiently. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 64:107220. [PMID: 38810939 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107220] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Phage therapy offers a promising approach to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. Yet, key questions remain regarding dosage, administration routes, combination therapy, and the causes of therapeutic failure. In this study, we focused on a novel lytic phage, ФAb4B, which specifically targeted the Acinetobacter baumannii strains with KL160 capsular polysaccharide, including the pan-drug resistant A. baumannii YQ4. ФAb4B exhibited the ability to effectively inhibit biofilm formation and eradicate mature biofilms independently of dosage. Additionally, it demonstrated a wide spectrum of antibiotic-phage synergy and did not show any cytotoxic or haemolytic effects. Continuous phage injections, both intraperitoneally and intravenously over 7 d, showed no acute toxicity in vivo. Importantly, phage therapy significantly improved neutrophil counts, outperforming ciprofloxacin. However, excessive phage injections suppressed neutrophil levels. The combinatorial treatment of phage-ciprofloxacin rescued 91% of the mice, a superior outcome compared to phage alone (67%). The efficacy of the combinatorial treatment was independent of phage dosage. Notably, prophylactic administration of the combinatorial regimen provided no protection, but even when combined with a delayed therapeutic regimen, it saved all the mice. Bacterial resistance to the phage was not a contributing factor to treatment failure. Our preclinical study systematically describes the lytic phage's effectiveness in both in vitro and in vivo settings, filling in crucial details about phage treatment against bacteriemia caused by A. baumannii, which will provide a robust foundation for the future of phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Xiao Wang
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jia-Zhen Wu
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Bai-Ling Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jiao-Yang Yu
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Li-Mei Han
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Liang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Shi-Yong Fu
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun-Yao Ren
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Dong
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi Xu
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Nanchang, China
| | - Gong-Ting Wang
- Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jing-Han Gao
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Chun Wang
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiu-Zhen Chen
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Du-Xian Liu
- Department of pathology, the Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated Hospital to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Huang
- Department of Infection Control and Management, the Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated Hospital to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jin-Hong Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, the Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated Hospital to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Shi-Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yong-Feng Yang
- The Clinical Infectious Disease Center of Nanjing, Nanjing, China.
| | - Wei Chen
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
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Burnim AA, Dufault-Thompson K, Jiang X. The three-sided right-handed β-helix is a versatile fold for glycan interactions. Glycobiology 2024; 34:cwae037. [PMID: 38767844 PMCID: PMC11129586 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwae037] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Interactions between proteins and glycans are critical to various biological processes. With databases of carbohydrate-interacting proteins and increasing amounts of structural data, the three-sided right-handed β-helix (RHBH) has emerged as a significant structural fold for glycan interactions. In this review, we provide an overview of the sequence, mechanistic, and structural features that enable the RHBH to interact with glycans. The RHBH is a prevalent fold that exists in eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and viruses associated with adhesin and carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) functions. An evolutionary trajectory analysis on structurally characterized RHBH-containing proteins shows that they likely evolved from carbohydrate-binding proteins with their carbohydrate-degrading activities evolving later. By examining three polysaccharide lyase and three glycoside hydrolase structures, we provide a detailed view of the modes of glycan binding in RHBH proteins. The 3-dimensional shape of the RHBH creates an electrostatically and spatially favorable glycan binding surface that allows for extensive hydrogen bonding interactions, leading to favorable and stable glycan binding. The RHBH is observed to be an adaptable domain capable of being modified with loop insertions and charge inversions to accommodate heterogeneous and flexible glycans and diverse reaction mechanisms. Understanding this prevalent protein fold can advance our knowledge of glycan binding in biological systems and help guide the efficient design and utilization of RHBH-containing proteins in glycobiology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey A Burnim
- National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Building 38A, Room 6N607, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 United States
| | - Keith Dufault-Thompson
- National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Building 38A, Room 6N607, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 United States
| | - Xiaofang Jiang
- National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Building 38A, Room 6N607, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 United States
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Wang R, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Yu S, Zhuo H, Huang Y, Lyu J, Lin Y, Zhang X, Mi Z, Liu Y. Identification and characterization of the capsule depolymerase Dpo27 from phage IME-Ap7 specific to Acinetobacter pittii. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1373052. [PMID: 38808067 PMCID: PMC11130378 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1373052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Among the Acinetobacter genus, Acinetobacter pittii stands out as an important opportunistic infection causative agent commonly found in hospital settings, which poses a serious threat to human health. Recently, the high prevalence of carbapenem-resistant A. pittii isolates has created significant therapeutic challenges for clinicians. Bacteriophages and their derived enzymes are promising therapeutic alternatives or adjuncts to antibiotics effective against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. However, studies investigating the depolymerases specific to A. pittii strains are scarce. In this study, we identified and characterized a capsule depolymerase, Dpo27, encoded by the bacteriophage IME-Ap7, which targets A. pittii. A total of 23 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter spp. were identified as A. pittii (21.91%, 23/105), and seven A. pittii strains with various K locus (KL) types (KL14, KL32, KL38, KL111, KL163, KL207, and KL220) were used as host bacteria for phage screening. The lytic phage IME-Ap7 was isolated using A. pittii 7 (KL220) as an indicator bacterium and was observed for depolymerase activity. A putative tail fiber gene encoding a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme (Dpo27) was identified and expressed. The results of the modified single-spot assay showed that both A. pittii 7 and 1492 were sensitive to Dpo27, which was assigned the KL220 type. After incubation with Dpo27, A. pittii strain was susceptible to killing by human serum; moreover, the protein displayed no hemolytic activity against erythrocytes. Furthermore, the protein exhibited sustained activity across a wide pH range (5.0-10.0) and at temperatures between 20 and 50°C. In summary, the identified capsule depolymerase Dpo27 holds promise as an alternative treatment for combating KL220-type A. pittii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rentao Wang
- Senior Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Eighth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yannan Liu
- Emergency Medicine Clinical Research Center, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaqian Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Shijun Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Hailong Zhuo
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, The Fifth Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jinhui Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xianglilan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Mi
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Youning Liu
- Senior Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Eighth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Evseev PV, Sukhova AS, Tkachenko NA, Skryabin YP, Popova AV. Lytic Capsule-Specific Acinetobacter Bacteriophages Encoding Polysaccharide-Degrading Enzymes. Viruses 2024; 16:771. [PMID: 38793652 PMCID: PMC11126041 DOI: 10.3390/v16050771] [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: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The genus Acinetobacter comprises both environmental and clinically relevant species associated with hospital-acquired infections. Among them, Acinetobacter baumannii is a critical priority bacterial pathogen, for which the research and development of new strategies for antimicrobial treatment are urgently needed. Acinetobacter spp. produce a variety of structurally diverse capsular polysaccharides (CPSs), which surround the bacterial cells with a thick protective layer. These surface structures are primary receptors for capsule-specific bacteriophages, that is, phages carrying tailspikes with CPS-depolymerizing/modifying activities. Phage tailspike proteins (TSPs) exhibit hydrolase, lyase, or esterase activities toward the corresponding CPSs of a certain structure. In this study, the data on all lytic capsule-specific phages infecting Acinetobacter spp. with genomes deposited in the NCBI GenBank database by January 2024 were summarized. Among the 149 identified TSPs encoded in the genomes of 143 phages, the capsular specificity (K specificity) of 46 proteins has been experimentally determined or predicted previously. The specificity of 63 TSPs toward CPSs, produced by various Acinetobacter K types, was predicted in this study using a bioinformatic analysis. A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis confirmed the prediction and revealed the possibility of the genetic exchange of gene regions corresponding to the CPS-recognizing/degrading parts of different TSPs between morphologically and taxonomically distant groups of capsule-specific Acinetobacter phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter V. Evseev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, City District Serpukhov, Moscow Region, 142279 Obolensk, Russia; (A.S.S.); (Y.P.S.)
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia S. Sukhova
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, City District Serpukhov, Moscow Region, 142279 Obolensk, Russia; (A.S.S.); (Y.P.S.)
| | - Nikolay A. Tkachenko
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Yuriy P. Skryabin
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, City District Serpukhov, Moscow Region, 142279 Obolensk, Russia; (A.S.S.); (Y.P.S.)
| | - Anastasia V. Popova
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, City District Serpukhov, Moscow Region, 142279 Obolensk, Russia; (A.S.S.); (Y.P.S.)
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5
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Kasimova AA, Shashkov AS, Shneider MM, Sheck EA, Mikhailova YV, Shelenkov AA, Popova AV, Knirel YA, Kenyon JJ. The Acinetobacter baumannii K239 capsular polysaccharide includes heptasaccharide units that are structurally related to K86 but joined by different linkages formed by different Wzy polymerases. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 262:130045. [PMID: 38336317 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130045] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The K239 type capsular polysaccharide (CPS) isolated from Acinetobacter baumannii isolate MAR19-4435 was studied by sugar analysis, one- and two-dimensional 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. K239 consists of branched heptasaccharide repeats (K-units) comprised of five residues of l-rhamnose (l-Rhap), and one residue each of d-glucuronic acid (d-GlcpA) and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (d-GlcpNAc). The structure of K239 is closely related to that of the A. baumannii K86 CPS type, though the two differ in the 2,3-substitution patterns on the l-Rhap residue that is involved in the linkage between K-units in the CPS polymer. This structural difference was attributed to the presence of a gtr221 glycosyltransferase gene and a wzyKL239 polymerase gene in KL239 that replaces the gtr80 and wzyKL86 genes in the KL86 CPS biosynthesis gene cluster. Comparison of the two structures established the role of a novel WzyKL239 polymerase encoded by KL239 that forms the β-d-GlcpNAc-(1→2)-l-Rhap linkage between K239 units. A. baumannii MAR19-4435 was found to be non-susceptible to infection by the APK86 bacteriophage, which encodes a depolymerase that specifically cleaves the linkage between K-units in the K86 CPS, indicating that the difference in 2,3-substitution of l-Rhap influences the susceptibility of this isolate to bacteriophage activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiya A Kasimova
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander S Shashkov
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail M Shneider
- M. M. Shemyakin and Y. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eugenii A Sheck
- Institute of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (IAC), Smolensk State Medical University (SSMU), Kirova St. 46a, Smolensk 214019, Russia
| | | | | | - Anastasiya V Popova
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Yuriy A Knirel
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Johanna J Kenyon
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
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Evseev PV, Shneider MM, Kolupaeva LV, Kasimova AA, Timoshina OY, Perepelov AV, Shpirt AM, Shelenkov AA, Mikhailova YV, Suzina NE, Knirel YA, Miroshnikov KA, Popova AV. New Obolenskvirus Phages Brutus and Scipio: Biology, Evolution, and Phage-Host Interaction. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2074. [PMID: 38396752 PMCID: PMC10888812 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042074] [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: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Two novel virulent phages of the genus Obolenskvirus infecting Acinetobacter baumannii, a significant nosocomial pathogen, have been isolated and studied. Phages Brutus and Scipio were able to infect A. baumannii strains belonging to the K116 and K82 capsular types, respectively. The biological properties and genomic organization of the phages were characterized. Comparative genomic, phylogenetic, and pangenomic analyses were performed to investigate the relationship of Brutus and Scipio to other bacterial viruses and to trace the possible origin and evolutionary history of these phages and other representatives of the genus Obolenskvirus. The investigation of enzymatic activity of the tailspike depolymerase encoded in the genome of phage Scipio, the first reported virus infecting A. baumannii of the K82 capsular type, was performed. The study of new representatives of the genus Obolenskvirus and mechanisms of action of depolymerases encoded in their genomes expands knowledge about the diversity of viruses within this taxonomic group and strategies of Obolenskvirus-host bacteria interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter V. Evseev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.M.S.); (O.Y.T.); (K.A.M.)
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, City District Serpukhov, Moscow Region, 142279 Obolensk, Russia; (L.V.K.); (A.A.K.)
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail M. Shneider
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.M.S.); (O.Y.T.); (K.A.M.)
| | - Lyubov V. Kolupaeva
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, City District Serpukhov, Moscow Region, 142279 Obolensk, Russia; (L.V.K.); (A.A.K.)
| | - Anastasia A. Kasimova
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, City District Serpukhov, Moscow Region, 142279 Obolensk, Russia; (L.V.K.); (A.A.K.)
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (A.V.P.); (A.M.S.); (Y.A.K.)
| | - Olga Y. Timoshina
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.M.S.); (O.Y.T.); (K.A.M.)
| | - Andrey V. Perepelov
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (A.V.P.); (A.M.S.); (Y.A.K.)
| | - Anna M. Shpirt
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (A.V.P.); (A.M.S.); (Y.A.K.)
| | - Andrey A. Shelenkov
- Central Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology, 111123 Moscow, Russia (Y.V.M.)
| | - Yulia V. Mikhailova
- Central Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology, 111123 Moscow, Russia (Y.V.M.)
| | - Natalia E. Suzina
- Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Federal Research Center “Pushchino Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, Moscow Region, 142290 Pushchino, Russia;
| | - Yuriy A. Knirel
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (A.V.P.); (A.M.S.); (Y.A.K.)
| | - Konstantin A. Miroshnikov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.M.S.); (O.Y.T.); (K.A.M.)
| | - Anastasia V. Popova
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, City District Serpukhov, Moscow Region, 142279 Obolensk, Russia; (L.V.K.); (A.A.K.)
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7
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Yang Y, Dufault-Thompson K, Yan W, Cai T, Xie L, Jiang X. Large-scale genomic survey with deep learning-based method reveals strain-level phage specificity determinants. Gigascience 2024; 13:giae017. [PMID: 38649301 PMCID: PMC11034027 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giae017] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phage therapy, reemerging as a promising approach to counter antimicrobial-resistant infections, relies on a comprehensive understanding of the specificity of individual phages. Yet the significant diversity within phage populations presents a considerable challenge. Currently, there is a notable lack of tools designed for large-scale characterization of phage receptor-binding proteins, which are crucial in determining the phage host range. RESULTS In this study, we present SpikeHunter, a deep learning method based on the ESM-2 protein language model. With SpikeHunter, we identified 231,965 diverse phage-encoded tailspike proteins, a crucial determinant of phage specificity that targets bacterial polysaccharide receptors, across 787,566 bacterial genomes from 5 virulent, antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Notably, 86.60% (143,200) of these proteins exhibited strong associations with specific bacterial polysaccharides. We discovered that phages with identical tailspike proteins can infect different bacterial species with similar polysaccharide receptors, underscoring the pivotal role of tailspike proteins in determining host range. The specificity is mainly attributed to the protein's C-terminal domain, which strictly correlates with host specificity during domain swapping in tailspike proteins. Importantly, our dataset-driven predictions of phage-host specificity closely match the phage-host pairs observed in real-world phage therapy cases we studied. CONCLUSIONS Our research provides a rich resource, including both the method and a database derived from a large-scale genomics survey. This substantially enhances understanding of phage specificity determinants at the strain level and offers a valuable framework for guiding phage selection in therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyan Yang
- National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | | | - Wei Yan
- National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Tian Cai
- Ph.D. Program in Computer Science, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Lei Xie
- Ph.D. Program in Computer Science, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Xiaofang Jiang
- National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
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8
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Kasimova AA, Sharar NS, Ambrose SJ, Knirel YA, Shneider MM, Timoshina OY, Popova AV, Perepelov AV, Dmitrenok AS, Hsu LY, Hall RM, Kenyon JJ. The Acinetobacter baumannii K70 and K9 capsular polysaccharides consist of related K-units linked by the same Wzy polymerase and cleaved by the same phage depolymerases. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0302523. [PMID: 37975684 PMCID: PMC10715181 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03025-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Bacteriophage show promise for the treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii infections that resist all therapeutically suitable antibiotics. Many tail-spike depolymerases encoded by phage that are able to degrade A. baumannii capsular polysaccharide (CPS) exhibit specificity for the linkage present between K-units that make up CPS polymers. This linkage is formed by a specific Wzy polymerase, and the ability to predict this linkage using sequence-based methods that identify the Wzy at the K locus could assist with the selection of phage for therapy. However, little is known about the specificity of Wzy polymerase enzymes. Here, we describe a Wzy polymerase that can accommodate two different but similar sugars as one of the residues it links and phage depolymerases that can cleave both types of bond that Wzy forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiya A. Kasimova
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nowshin S. Sharar
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Stephanie J. Ambrose
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Yuriy A. Knirel
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail M. Shneider
- M. M. Shemyakin and Y. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga Y. Timoshina
- M. M. Shemyakin and Y. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasiya V. Popova
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Andrey V. Perepelov
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey S. Dmitrenok
- N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Li Yang Hsu
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Queenstown, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Queenstown, Singapore
| | - Ruth M. Hall
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Johanna J. Kenyon
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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9
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Noreika A, Stankevičiūtė J, Rutkienė R, Meškys R, Kalinienė L. Exploring the enzymatic activity of depolymerase gp531 from Klebsiella pneumoniae jumbo phage RaK2. Virus Res 2023; 336:199225. [PMID: 37741345 PMCID: PMC10550766 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199225] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a major global challenge due to its virulence, multidrug resistance, and nosocomial nature. Thus, bacteriophage-derived proteins are extensively being investigated as a means to combat this bacterium. In this study, we explored the enzymatic specificity of depolymerase gp531, encoded by the jumbo bacteriophage vB_KleM_RaK2 (RaK2). We used two different methods to modify the reducing end of the oligosaccharides released during capsule hydrolysis with gp531. Subsequent acidic cleavage with TFA, followed by TLC and HPLC-MS analyses, revealed that RaK2 gp531 is a β-(1→4)-endoglucosidase. The enzyme specifically recognizes and cleaves the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of the Klebsiella pneumoniae K54 serotype, releasing K-unit monomers (the main product), dimers, and trimers. Depolymerase gp531 remains active from 10 to 50 °C and in the pH 3-8 range, indicating its stability and versatility. Additionally, we demonstrated that gp531's activity is not affected by CPS acetylation, which is influenced by the growth conditions of the bacterial culture. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights into the enzymatic activity of the first characterized depolymerase targeting the capsule of the clinically relevant K54 serotype of K. pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Algirdas Noreika
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Jonita Stankevičiūtė
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rasa Rutkienė
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rolandas Meškys
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Laura Kalinienė
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius, Lithuania.
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Yang Y, Dufault-Thompson K, Yan W, Cai T, Xie L, Jiang X. Deciphering Phage-Host Specificity Based on the Association of Phage Depolymerases and Bacterial Surface Glycan with Deep Learning. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.16.545366. [PMID: 37503040 PMCID: PMC10370184 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.16.545366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Phage tailspike proteins are depolymerases that target diverse bacterial surface glycans with high specificity, determining the host-specificity of numerous phages. To address the challenge of identifying tailspike proteins due to their sequence diversity, we developed SpikeHunter, an approach based on the ESM-2 protein language model. Using SpikeHunter, we successfully identified 231,965 tailspike proteins from a dataset comprising 8,434,494 prophages found within 165,365 genomes of five common pathogens. Among these proteins, 143,035 tailspike proteins displayed strong associations with serotypes. Moreover, we observed highly similar tailspike proteins in species that share closely related serotypes. We found extensive domain swapping in all five species, with the C-terminal domain being significantly associated with host serotype highlighting its role in host range determination. Our study presents a comprehensive cross-species analysis of tailspike protein to serotype associations, providing insights applicable to phage therapy and biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyan Yang
- National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Wei Yan
- National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Tian Cai
- Ph.D. Program in Computer Science, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Lei Xie
- Ph.D. Program in Computer Science, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA *
| | - Xiaofang Jiang
- National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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