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Gasser MT, Liu A, Altamia M, Brensinger BR, Brewer SL, Flatau R, Hancock ER, Preheim SP, Filone CM, Distel DL. Outer membrane vesicles can contribute to cellulose degradation in Teredinibacter turnerae, a cultivable intracellular endosymbiont of shipworms. bioRxiv 2024:2024.03.27.587001. [PMID: 38585906 PMCID: PMC10996688 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.27.587001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Teredinibacter turnerae is a cultivable cellulolytic Gammaproeteobacterium (Cellvibrionaceae) that commonly occurs as an intracellular endosymbiont in the gills of wood-eating bivalves of the family Teredinidae (shipworms). The genome of T. turnerae encodes a broad range of enzymes that deconstruct cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin and contribute to lignocellulose digestion in the shipworm gut. However, the mechanism by which symbiont-made enzymes are secreted by T. turnerae and subsequently transported to the site of lignocellulose digestion in the shipworm gut is incompletely understood. Here, we show that T. turnerae cultures grown on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) produce outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that contain a variety of proteins identified by LC-MS/MS as carbohydrate-active enzymes with predicted activities against cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin. Reducing sugar assays and zymography confirm that these OMVs retain cellulolytic activity, as evidenced by hydrolysis of CMC. Additionally, these OMVs were enriched with TonB-dependent receptors, which are essential to carbohydrate and iron acquisition by free-living bacteria. These observations suggest potential roles for OMVs in lignocellulose utilization by T. turnerae in the free-living state, in enzyme transport and host interaction during symbiotic association, and in commercial applications such as lignocellulosic biomass conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark T. Gasser
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA 20723
| | - Annie Liu
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA 20723
| | - Marvin Altamia
- Ocean Genome Legacy Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, USA 01908
| | - Bryan R. Brensinger
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA 20723
| | - Sarah L. Brewer
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA 20723
| | - Ron Flatau
- Ocean Genome Legacy Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, USA 01908
| | - Eric R. Hancock
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA 20723
| | | | - Claire Marie Filone
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA 20723
| | - Dan L. Distel
- Ocean Genome Legacy Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, USA 01908
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Bessling SL, Grady SL, Corson EC, Schilling VA, Sebeck NM, Therkorn JH, Brensinger BR, Meidenbauer KL. Routine Decontamination of Working Canines: A Study on the Removal of Superficial Gross Contamination. Health Secur 2021; 19:633-641. [PMID: 34756102 PMCID: PMC8739844 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2021.0070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Odor detection canines are a valuable resource used by multiple agencies for the sensitive detection of explosives, narcotics, firearms, agricultural products, and even human bodies. These canines and their handlers are frequently deployed to pathogen-contaminated environments or to work in close proximity with potentially sick individuals. Appropriate decontamination protocols must be established to mitigate both canine and handler exposure in these scenarios. Despite this potential risk, extremely limited guidance is available on routine canine decontamination from pathogenic biological materials. In this article, we evaluate the ability of several commercial off-the-shelf cleansing products, used in wipe form, to remove superficial contamination from fur, canine equipment, and toys. Using Glo Germ MIST as a proxy for biological contamination, our analysis demonstrated more than a 90% average reduction in contamination after wiping with a Nolvasan scrub solution, 0.5% chlorhexidine solution, or 70% isopropyl alcohol. Wiping with nondisinfectant baby wipes or water yielded an almost 80% average removal of contaminant from all surfaces. Additionally, researchers used Gwet's AC2 measurement to assess interrater reliability, which demonstrated substantial agreement (P < .001). These data provide key insights toward the development of a rapid, convenient, and fieldable alternative to traditional water-intensive bathing of working canines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seneca L Bessling
- Seneca L. Bessling, MS, is a Molecular Biologist, Asymmetric Operations Sector, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
| | - Sarah L Grady
- Sarah L. Grady, PhD, is a Senior Research Scientist, Asymmetric Operations Sector, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
| | - Elizabeth C Corson
- Elizabeth C. Corson, MS, is a Senior Image Analyst, Asymmetric Operations Sector, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
| | - Veronica A Schilling
- Veronica A. Schilling is an Intern Research Scientist, Asymmetric Operations Sector, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
| | - Natalie M Sebeck
- Natalie M. Sebeck, MS, is a Microbiologist, Asymmetric Operations Sector, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
| | - Jennifer H Therkorn
- Jennifer H. Therkorn, PhD, is a Senior Aerosol Scientist, Asymmetric Operations Sector, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
| | - Bryan R Brensinger
- Bryan R. Brensinger is an Image Analyst/Molecular Biologist, Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
| | - Karen L Meidenbauer
- Karen L. Meidenbauer, DVM, MPH, is Project Manager/Senior Veterinarian, Asymmetric Operations Sector, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
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