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Wang W, Li Y, Lu S, Liu P, Han X, Sun W, Wang Q, Fang W, Jiang W. BolA-like protein (IbaG) promotes biofilm formation and pathogenicity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1436770. [PMID: 39144210 PMCID: PMC11322356 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1436770] [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: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a gram-negative halophilic bacterium widespread in temperate and tropical coastal waters; it is considered to be the most frequent cause of Vibrio-associated gastroenteritis in many countries. BolA-like proteins, which reportedly affect various growth and metabolic processes including flagellar synthesis in bacteria, are widely conserved from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. However, the effects exerted by BolA-like proteins on V. parahaemolyticus remain unclear, and thus require further investigation. In this study, our purpose was to investigate the role played by BolA-like protein (IbaG) in the pathogenicity of V. parahaemolyticus. We used homologous recombination to obtain the deletion strain ΔibaG and investigated the biological role of BolA family protein IbaG in V. parahaemolyticus. Our results showed that IbaG is a bacterial transcription factor that negatively modulates swimming capacity. Furthermore, overexpressing IbaG enhanced the capabilities of V. parahaemolyticus for swarming and biofilm formation. In addition, inactivation of ibaG in V. parahaemolyticus SH112 impaired its capacity for colonizing the heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys, and reduced visceral tissue damage, thereby leading to diminished virulence, compared with the wild-type strain. Finally, RNA-sequencing revealed 53 upregulated and 71 downregulated genes in the deletion strain ΔibaG. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the two-component system, quorum sensing, bacterial secretion system, and numerous amino acid metabolism pathways had been altered due to the inactivation of ibaG. The results of this study indicated that IbaG exerts a considerable effect on gene regulation, motility, biofilm formation, and pathogenicity of V. parahaemolyticus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic study on the role played by IbaG in V. parahaemolyticus infections. Thus, our findings may lead to a better understanding of the metabolic processes involved in bacterial infections and provide a basis for the prevention and control of such infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenchao Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yangyang Li
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuqi Lu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Pengxuan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiangan Han
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Weidong Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Quan Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Weihuan Fang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
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Lou X, Wu Y, Huang Z, Zhang W, Xiao X, Wu J, Li J, Fang Z. Biofilm formation and associated gene expression changes in Cronobacter from cereal related samples in China. Food Microbiol 2024; 118:104409. [PMID: 38049271 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104409] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Cronobacter is an important foodborne pathogen that can cause severe neonatal meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and bacteremia. Currently, there is limited knowledge of biofilm formation in Cronobacter. In the present study, biofilm formation ability and associated gene expression changes in Cronobacter from cereal related samples was carried out systematically. Our results from 307 Cronobacter isolates analyzed for 48 h showed strong biofilm-forming ability in 14 strains (4.6%), moderate in 47 strains (15.3%), weak in 142 strains (46.2%), and no such ability in the remaining 104 strains (33.9%). Further studies on five strains with strong biofilm-forming ability showed that maximum biofilm formation in Cronobacter occurred after 24 h of cultivation, reaching a peak around 48 h-72 h, reducing gradually thereafter. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in flagellar assembly, oxidative phosphorylation, ribosome, photosynthesis, O-Antigen nucleotide sugar biosynthesis, citrate cycle (tricarboxylic acid cycle, TCA) and bacterial chemotaxis were enriched in biofilm forming cells. The genes involved these enrichment pathways were mostly downregulated when compared to planktonic cells. Several transcriptional regulator genes such as csrA and bolA, and the cell surface composition regulator gene glgS were significantly upregulated. 12 of 13 (92.3%) selected genes was found to be in agreement with the RNA-Seq of planktonic and biofilm cells by Quantitative real-time PCR analysis, thus increasing confidence in our data. Our research lays a sound theoretical basis for further studies on mechanisms regulating biofilm formation and provides a foundation for development of new food safety measures, clinical disease prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuqin Lou
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Zhenzhou Huang
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Lin'an Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 311399, China
| | - Jun Li
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310021, China.
| | - Zhiguo Fang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
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Thani AB. DNA supercoiling and regulation of intrinsic β-lactamase in pathogenic Escherichia coli. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:385. [PMID: 37980630 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03716-4] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
This review addresses the involvement of DNA supercoiling in the development of virulence and antibiotic profiles for uropathogenic Escherichia coli and the emergence of new pathotypes such as strain ST131 (serotype O25:H4). The mechanism suggests a role for topoisomerase enzymes and associated mutations in altering the chromosomal supercoiling state and introducing the required DNA twists for expression of intrinsic β-lactamase by ampC and certain virulence factors. In Escherichia coli, constitutive hyperexpression of intrinsic ampC is associated with specific mutations in the promoter and attenuator regions. However, many reports have documented the involvement of slow growth interventions in the expression of intrinsic resistance determinants. There is evidence that a stationary phase transcriptional switch protein, "BolA," is involved in the expression of the intrinsic ampC gene under starvation conditions. The process involves changes in the activity of the enzyme "gyrase," which leads to a change in the chromosomal DNA topology. Consequently, the DNA is relaxed, and the expression of the bolA gene is upregulated. The evolution of the extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli strain ST131 has demonstrated successful adaptability to various stress conditions and conferred compensatory mutations that endowed the microbe with resistance to fluoroquinolones and β-lactams. The results of this study provided new insights into the evidence for the influence of DNA topology in the expression of virulence genes and various determinants of antibiotic resistance (e.g., the intrinsic ampC gene) in Escherichia coli pathotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Bin Thani
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Zallaq, Kingdom of Bahrain.
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