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Cianciotto NP. The type II secretion system as an underappreciated and understudied mediator of interbacterial antagonism. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0020724. [PMID: 38980047 PMCID: PMC11320942 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00207-24] [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] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Interbacterial antagonism involves all major phyla, occurs across the full range of ecological niches, and has great significance for the environment, clinical arena, and agricultural and industrial sectors. Though the earliest insight into interbacterial antagonism traces back to the discovery of antibiotics, a paradigm shift happened when it was learned that protein secretion systems (e.g., types VI and IV secretion systems) deliver toxic "effectors" against competitors. However, a link between interbacterial antagonism and the Gram-negative type II secretion system (T2SS), which exists in many pathogens and environmental species, is not evident in prior reviews on bacterial competition or T2SS function. A current examination of the literature revealed four examples of a T2SS or one of its known substrates having a bactericidal activity against a Gram-positive target or another Gram-negative. When further studied, the T2SS effectors proved to be peptidases that target the peptidoglycan of the competitor. There are also reports of various bacteriolytic enzymes occurring in the culture supernatants of some other Gram-negative species, and a link between these bactericidal activities and T2SS is suggested. Thus, a T2SS can be a mediator of interbacterial antagonism, and it is possible that many T2SSs have antibacterial outputs. Yet, at present, the T2SS remains relatively understudied for its role in interbacterial competition. Arguably, there is a need to analyze the T2SSs of a broader range of species for their role in interbacterial antagonism. Such investigation offers, among other things, a possible pathway toward developing new antimicrobials for treating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas P. Cianciotto
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Ramnarine SDBJ, Jayaraman J, Ramsubhag A. Crucifer Lesion-Associated Xanthomonas Strains Show Multi-Resistance to Heavy Metals and Antibiotics. Curr Microbiol 2024; 81:136. [PMID: 38598029 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-024-03646-4] [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: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Copper resistance in phytopathogens is a major challenge to crop production globally and is known to be driven by excessive use of copper-based pesticides. However, recent studies have shown co-selection of multiple heavy metal and antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria exposed to heavy metal and xenobiotics, which may impact the epidemiology of plant, animal, and human diseases. In this study, multi-resistance to heavy metals and antibiotics were evaluated in local Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) and co-isolated Xanthomonas melonis (Xmel) strains from infected crucifer plants in Trinidad. Resistance to cobalt, cadmium, zinc, copper, and arsenic (V) was observed in both Xanthomonas species up to 25 mM. Heavy metal resistance (HMR) genes were found on a small plasmid-derived locus with ~ 90% similarity to a Stenotrophomonas spp. chromosomal locus and a X. perforans pLH3.1 plasmid. The co-occurrence of mobile elements in these regions implies their organization on a composite transposon-like structure. HMR genes in Xcc strains showed the lowest similarity to references, and the cus and ars operons appear to be unique among Xanthomonads. Overall, the similarity of HMR genes to Stenotrophomonas sp. chromosomal genomes suggest their origin in this genus or a related organism and subsequent spread through lateral gene transfer events. Further resistome characterization revealed the presence of small multidrug resistance (SMR), multidrug resistance (MDR) efflux pumps, and bla (Xcc) genes for broad biocide resistance in both species. Concurrently, resistance to antibiotics (streptomycin, kanamycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and ampicillin) up to 1000 µg/mL was confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen D B Jr Ramnarine
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Jayaraj Jayaraman
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Adesh Ramsubhag
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
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Ramnarine SDB, Ali O, Jayaraman J, Ramsubhag A. Early transcriptional changes of heavy metal resistance and multiple efflux genes in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris under copper and heavy metal ion stress. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:81. [PMID: 38461228 PMCID: PMC10924375 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03206-7] [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: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Copper-induced gene expression in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is typically evaluated using targeted approaches involving qPCR. The global response to copper stress in Xcc and resistance to metal induced damage is not well understood. However, homologs of heavy metal efflux genes from the related Stenotrophomonas genus are found in Xanthomonas which suggests that metal related efflux may also be present. METHODS AND RESULTS Gene expression in Xcc strain BrA1 exposed to 0.8 mM CuSO4.5H2O for 15 minutes was captured using RNA-seq analysis. Changes in expression was noted for genes related to general stress responses and oxidoreductases, biofilm formation, protein folding chaperones, heat-shock proteins, membrane lipid profile, multiple drug and efflux (MDR) transporters, and DNA repair were documented. At this timepoint only the cohL (copper homeostasis/tolerance) gene was upregulated as well as a chromosomal czcCBA efflux operon. An additional screen up to 4 hrs using qPCR was conducted using a wider range of heavy metals. Target genes included a cop-containing heavy metal resistance island and putative metal efflux genes. Several efflux pumps, including a copper resistance associated homolog from S. maltophilia, were upregulated under toxic copper stress. However, these pumps were also upregulated in response to other toxic heavy metals. Additionally, the temporal expression of the coh and cop operons was also observed, demonstrating co-expression of tolerance responses and later activation of part of the cop operon. CONCLUSIONS Overall, initial transcriptional responses focused on combating oxidative stress, mitigating protein damage and potentially increasing resistance to heavy metals and other biocides. A putative copper responsive efflux gene and others which might play a role in broader heavy metal resistance were also identified. Furthermore, the expression patterns of the cop operon in conjunction with other copper responsive genes allowed for a better understanding of the fate of copper ions in Xanthomonas. This work provides useful evidence for further evaluating MDR and other efflux pumps in metal-specific homeostasis and tolerance phenotypes in the Xanthomonas genus. Furthermore, non-canonical copper tolerance and resistance efflux pumps were potentially identified. These findings have implications for interpreting MIC differences among strains with homologous copLAB resistance genes, understanding survival under copper stress, and resistance in disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen D B Ramnarine
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, W. I
| | - Omar Ali
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, W. I
| | - Jayaraj Jayaraman
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, W. I
| | - Adesh Ramsubhag
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, W. I.
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Subedi A, Barrera LBTDL, Ivey ML, Egel DS, Kebede M, Kara S, Aysan Y, Minsavage GV, Roberts PD, Jones JB, Goss EM. Population Genomics Reveals an Emerging Lineage of Xanthomonas perforans on Pepper. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2024; 114:241-250. [PMID: 37432099 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-04-23-0128-r] [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: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Xanthomonas perforans-the dominant causal agent of bacterial leaf spot of tomato-is an emerging pathogen of pepper, indicative of a potential host expansion across the southeastern United States. However, studies of the genetic diversity and evolution of X. perforans from pepper remain limited. In this study, the whole-genome sequences of 35 X. perforans strains isolated from pepper from four fields and two transplant facilities across southwest Florida between 2019 and 2021 were used to compare genomic divergence, evolution, and variation in type III secreted effectors. Phylogenetic analysis based on core genes revealed that all 35 X. perforans strains formed one genetic cluster with pepper and tomato strains from Alabama and Turkey and were closely related to strains isolated from tomato in Indiana, Mexico, and Louisiana. The in planta population growth of tomato strains isolated from Indiana, Mexico, Louisiana, and Turkey in pepper leaf mesophyll was on par with pepper X. perforans and X. euvesicatoria strains. Molecular clock analysis of the 35 Florida strains dated their emergence to approximately 2017. While strains varied in copper tolerance, all sequenced strains harbored the avrHah1 transcription activation-like effector located on a conjugative plasmid, not previously reported in Florida. Our findings suggest that there is a geographically distributed lineage of X. perforans strains on tomato that has the genetic background to cause disease on pepper. Moreover, this study clarifies potential adaptive variants of X. perforans on pepper that could help forecast the emergence of such strains and enable immediate or preemptive intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aastha Subedi
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
| | | | - Melanie Lewis Ivey
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH, U.S.A
| | - Daniel S Egel
- Botany and Plant Pathology Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, U.S.A
| | - Misrak Kebede
- Biotechnology Department, Collage of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Serhat Kara
- Alata Horticulture Research Institute, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Yesim Aysan
- Department of Plant Protection, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey
| | - Gerald V Minsavage
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
| | - Pamela D Roberts
- Southwest Florida Research & Education Center, University of Florida, Immokalee, FL, U.S.A
| | - Jeffrey B Jones
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
| | - Erica M Goss
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
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Harrison J, Hussain RMF, Greer SF, Ntoukakis V, Aspin A, Vicente JG, Grant M, Studholme DJ. Draft genome sequences for ten strains of Xanthomonas species that have phylogenomic importance. Access Microbiol 2023; 5:acmi000532.v3. [PMID: 37601434 PMCID: PMC10436009 DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000532.v3] [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: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Here we report draft-quality genome sequences for pathotype strains of eight plant-pathogenic bacterial pathovars: Xanthomonas campestris pv. asclepiadis, X. campestris pv. cannae, X. campestris pv. esculenti, X. campestris pv. nigromaculans, X. campestris pv. parthenii, X. campestris pv. phormiicola, X. campestris pv. zinniae and X. dyei pv. eucalypti (= X. campestris pv. eucalypti). We also sequenced the type strain of species X. melonis and the unclassified Xanthomonas strain NCPPB 1067. These data will be useful for phylogenomic and taxonomic studies, filling some important gaps in sequence coverage of Xanthomonas phylogenetic diversity. We include representatives of previously under-sequenced pathovars and species-level clades. Furthermore, these genome sequences may be useful in elucidating the molecular basis for important phenotypes, such as biosynthesis of coronatine-related toxins and degradation of fungal toxin cercosporin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rana Muhammad Fraz Hussain
- Gibbet Hill Campus, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Wellesbourne Campus, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV35 9EF, UK
| | - Shannon F. Greer
- Gibbet Hill Campus, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Wellesbourne Campus, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV35 9EF, UK
| | - Vardis Ntoukakis
- Gibbet Hill Campus, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Andrew Aspin
- Fera Science Ltd., York Biotech Campus, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK
| | - Joana G. Vicente
- Wellesbourne Campus, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV35 9EF, UK
- Fera Science Ltd., York Biotech Campus, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK
| | - Murray Grant
- Gibbet Hill Campus, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
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Ramnarine SDBJ, Jayaraman J, Ramsubhag A. copLAB gene prevalence and diversity among Trinidadian Xanthomonas spp. black-rot lesion isolates with variable copper resistance profiles. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15657. [PMID: 37397015 PMCID: PMC10312155 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15657] [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: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There has been limited exploration of copLAB genotypes and associated copper resistance phenotypes in Xanthomonas spp. in the southern Caribbean region. An earlier study highlighted a variant copLAB gene cluster found in one Trinidadian Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) strain (BrA1), with <90% similarity to previously reported Xanthomonas copLAB genes. With only one report describing this copper resistance genotype, the current study investigated the distribution of the BrA1 variant copLAB gene cluster and previously reported forms of copper resistance genes in local Xanthomonas spp. Methods Xanthomonas spp. were isolated from black-rot infected lesions on leaf tissue from crucifer crops at intensively farmed sites with high agrochemical usage in Trinidad. The identity of morphologically identified isolates were confirmed using a paired primer PCR based screen and 16s rRNA partial gene sequencing. MGY agar amended with CuSO4.5H2O up to 2.4 mM was used to establish MIC's for confirmed isolates and group strains as sensitive, tolerant, or resistant to copper. Separate primer pairs targeting the BrA1 variant copLAB genes and those predicted to target multiple homologs found in Xanthomonas and Stenotrophomonas spp. were used to screen copper resistant isolates. Select amplicons were sanger sequenced and evolutionary relationships inferred from global reference sequences using a ML approach. Results Only four copper sensitive/tolerant Xanthomonas sp. strains were isolated, with 35 others classed as copper-resistant from a total population of 45 isolates. PCR detection of copLAB genes revealed two PCR negative copper-resistant resistant strains. Variant copLAB genes were only found in Xcc from the original source location of the BrA1 strain, Aranguez. Other copper-resistant strains contained other copLAB homologs that clustered into three distinct clades. These groups were more similar to genes from X. perforans plasmids and Stenotrophomonas spp. chromosomal homologs than reference Xcc sequences. This study highlights the localisation of the BrA1 variant copLAB genes to one agricultural community and the presence of three distinct copLAB gene groupings in Xcc and related Xanthomonas spp. with defined CuSO4.5H2O MIC. Further characterisation of these gene groups and copper resistance gene exchange dynamics on and within leaf tissue between Xcc and other Xanthomonas species are needed as similar gene clusters showed variable copper sensitivity profiles. This work will serve as a baseline for copper resistance gene characterisation in Trinidad and the wider Caribbean region and can be used to boost already lacking resistant phytopathogen management in the region.
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Coutinho TA, Jacques MA, Jones J. Editorial: Emergence and re-emergence of plant diseases caused by Xanthomonas species. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1081601. [PMID: 36578575 PMCID: PMC9791255 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1081601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Teresa A. Coutinho
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics/Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa,*Correspondence: Teresa A. Coutinho
| | - Marie-Agnes Jacques
- Institut Agro, INRAE, IRHS, SFR QUASAV, University of Angers, Angers, France
| | - Jeffrey Jones
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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