Evaluating LC-MS/MS To Measure Accumulation of Compounds within Bacteria

A general method for determining bacterial uptake of compounds independent of antibacterial activity would be a valuable tool in antibacterial drug discovery. LC-MS/MS assays have been described, but it has not been shown whether the data can be used directly to inform medicinal chemistry. We describe the evaluation of an LC-MS/MS assay measuring association of compounds with bacteria, using a set of over a hundred compounds (inhibitors of NAD-dependent DNA ligase, LigA) for which in vitro potency and antibacterial activity had been determined. All compounds were active against an efflux-deficient strain of Escherichia coli with reduced LigA activity ( E. coli ligA251 Δ tolC). Testing a single compound concentration and incubation time, we found that, for equipotent compounds, LC-MS/MS values were not predictive of antibacterial activity. This indicates that measured bacteria-associated compound was not necessarily exposed to the target enzyme. Our data suggest that, while exclusion from bacteria is a major reason for poor antibacterial activity of potent compounds, the distribution of compound within the bacterial cell may also be a problem. The relative importance of these factors is likely to vary from one chemical series to another. Our observations provide directions for further study of this difficult issue.

Antibacterial Drug Discovery Targeting the Lipopolysaccharide Biosynthetic Enzyme LpxC

The enzyme LpxC (UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase) is broadly conserved across Gram-negative bacteria and is essential for synthesis of lipid A, the membrane anchor of the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), which are a major component of the outer membrane in nearly all Gram-negative bacteria. LpxC has been the focus of target-directed antibiotic discovery projects in numerous pharmaceutical and academic groups for more than 20 years. Despite intense effort, no LpxC inhibitor has been approved for therapeutic use, and only one has yet reached human studies. This article will summarize the history of LpxC as a drug target and the parallel history of research on LpxC biology. Both academic and industrial researchers have used LpxC inhibitors as tool compounds, leading to increased understanding of the differing mechanisms for regulation of LPS synthesis in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Direct measurement of efflux in Pseudomonas aeruginosa using an environment-sensitive fluorescent dye

Resistance-Nodulation-Division (RND) family pumps AcrB and MexB are the major efflux routes in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively. Fluorescent environment-sensitive dyes provide a means to study efflux pump function in live bacterial cells in real-time. Recently, we demonstrated the utility of this approach using the dye Nile Red to quantify AcrB-mediated efflux and measured the ability of antibiotics and other efflux pump substrates to compete with efflux of Nile Red, independent of antibacterial activity. Here, we extend this method to P. aeruginosa and describe a novel application that permits the comparison and rank-ordering of bacterial strains by their inherent efflux potential. We show that glucose and l-malate re-energize Nile Red efflux in P. aeruginosa, and we highlight differences in the glucose dependence and kinetics of efflux between P. aeruginosa and E. coli. We quantify the differences in efflux among a set of P. aeruginosa laboratory strains, which include PAO1, the hyper-sensitive strain ATCC 35151 and its parent, ATCC 12055. Efflux of Nile Red in P. aeruginosa is mediated by MexAB-OprM and is slower than in E. coli. In conclusion, we describe an efflux measurement tool for use in antibacterial drug discovery and basic research on P. aeruginosa efflux pumps.

Analysis of genetic relatedness of Haemophilus influenzae isolates by multilocus sequence typing

The gram-negative bacterium Haemophilus influenzae is a human-restricted commensal of the nasopharynx that can also be associated with disease. The majority of H. influenzae respiratory isolates lack the genes for capsule production and are nontypeable (NTHI). Whereas encapsulated strains are known to belong to serotype-specific phylogenetic groups, the structure of the NTHI population has not been previously described. A total of 656 H. influenzae strains, including 322 NTHI strains, have been typed by multilocus sequence typing and found to have 359 sequence types (ST). We performed maximum-parsimony analysis of the 359 sequences and calculated the majority-rule consensus of 4,545 resulting equally most parsimonious trees. Eleven clades were identified, consisting of six or more ST on a branch that was present in 100% of trees. Two additional clades were defined by branches present in 91% and 82% of trees, respectively. Of these 13 clades, 8 consisted predominantly of NTHI strains, three were serotype specific, and 2 contained distinct NTHI-specific and serotype-specific clusters of strains. Sixty percent of NTHI strains have ST within one of the 13 clades, and eBURST analysis identified an additional phylogenetic group that contained 20% of NTHI strains. There was concordant clustering of certain metabolic reactions and putative virulence loci but not of disease source or geographic origin. We conclude that well-defined phylogenetic groups of NTHI strains exist and that these groups differ in genetic content. These observations will provide a framework for further study of the effect of genetic diversity on the interaction of NTHI with the host.

Haemophilus influenzae phasevarions have evolved from type III DNA restriction systems into epigenetic regulators of gene expression

Phase variably expressed (randomly switching) methyltransferases associated with type III restriction-modification (R-M) systems have been identified in a variety of pathogenic bacteria. We have previously shown that a phase variable methyltransferase (Mod) associated with a type III R-M system in Haemophilus influenzae strain Rd coordinates the random switching of expression of multiple genes, and constitutes a phase variable regulon—‘phasevarion’. We have now identified the recognition site for the Mod methyltransferase in H. influenzae strain Rd as 5′-CGAAT-3′. This is the same recognition site as the previously described HinfIII system. A survey of 59 H. influenzae strains indicated significant sequence heterogeneity in the central, variable region of the mod gene associated with target site recognition. Intra- and inter-strain transformation experiments using Mod methylated or non-methylated plasmids, and a methylation site assay demonstrated that the sequence heterogeneity seen in the region encoding target site specificity does correlate to distinct target sites. Mutations were identified within the res gene in several strains surveyed indicating that Res is not functional. These data suggest that evolution of this type III R-M system into an epigenetic mechanism for controlling gene expression has, in some strains, resulted in loss of the DNA restriction function.

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae: understanding virulence and commensal behavior

Haemophilus influenzae is genetically diverse and exists as a near-ubiquitous human commensal or as a pathogen. Invasive type b disease has been almost eliminated in developed countries; however, unencapsulated strains - nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi) - remain important as causes of respiratory infections. Respiratory tract disease occurs when NTHi adhere to or invade respiratory epithelial cells, initiating one or more of several proinflammatory pathways. Biofilm formation explains many of the observations seen in chronic otitis media and chronic bronchitis. However, NTHi biofilms seem to lack a biofilm-specific polysaccharide in the extracellular matrix, a source of controversy regarding their relevance. Successful commensalism requires dampening of the inflammatory response and evasion of host defenses, accomplished in part through phase variation.

Chloramphenicol is a substrate for a novel nitroreductase pathway in Haemophilus influenzae

The p-nitroaromatic antibiotic chloramphenicol has been used extensively to treat life-threatening infections due to Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis; its mechanism of action is the inhibition of protein synthesis. We found that during incubation with H. influenzae cells and lysates, chloramphenicol is converted to a 4-aminophenyl allylic alcohol that lacks antibacterial activity. The allylic alcohol moiety undergoes facile re-addition of water to restore the 1,3-diol, as well as further dehydration driven by the aromatic amine to form the iminoquinone. Several Neisseria species and most chloramphenicol-susceptible Haemophilus species, but not Escherichia coli or other gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria we examined, were also found to metabolize chloramphenicol. The products of chloramphenicol metabolism by species other than H. influenzae have not yet been characterized. The strains reducing the antibiotic were chloramphenicol susceptible, indicating that the pathway does not appear to mediate chloramphenicol resistance. The role of this novel nitroreductase pathway in the physiology of H. influenzae and Neisseria species is unknown. Further understanding of the H. influenzae chloramphenicol reduction pathway will contribute to our knowledge of the diversity of prokaryotic nitroreductase mechanisms.

Role of lgtC in resistance of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae strain R2866 to human serum

We are investigating a nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) strain, R2866, isolated from a child with meningitis. R2866 is unusually resistant to killing by normal human serum. The serum 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) for this strain is 18%, approaching that of encapsulated H. influenzae. R3392 is a derivative of R2866 that was found to have increased sensitivity to human serum (IC50, 1.5%). Analysis of tetrameric repeat regions within lipooligosaccharide (LOS) biosynthetic genes in both strains indicated that the glycosyltransferase gene lgtC was out of frame ("off") in most colonies of R3392 but in frame with its start codon ("on") in most colonies of the parent. We sought antigenic and biochemical evidence for modification of the LOS structure. In a whole-cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, strain R3392 displayed reduced binding of the Galalpha1,4Gal-specific monoclonal antibody 4C4. Mass spectrometry analysis of LOS from strain R2866 indicated that the primary oligosaccharide glycoform contained four heptose and four hexose residues, while that of R3392 contained four heptose and three hexose residues. We conclude that the R2866 lgtC gene encodes a galactosyltransferase involved in synthesis of the 4C4 epitope, as in other strains, and that expression of lgtC is associated with the high-level serum resistance that has been observed for this strain. This is the first description of the genetic basis of high-level serum resistance in NTHI, as well as the first description of LOS composition in an NTHI strain for which the complete genome sequence has been determined.

Molecular validation of LpxC as an antibacterial drug target in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

LpxC [UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-GlcNAc deacetylase] is a metalloamidase that catalyzes the first committed step in the biosynthesis of the lipid A component of lipopolysaccharide. A previous study (H. R. Onishi, B. A. Pelak, L. S. Gerckens, L. L. Silver, F. M. Kahan, M. H. Chen, A. A. Patchett, S. M. Galloway, S. A. Hyland, M. S. Anderson, and C. R. H. Raetz, Science 274:980-982, 1996) identified a series of synthetic LpxC-inhibitory molecules that were bactericidal for Escherichia coli. These molecules did not inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and were therefore not developed further as antibacterial drugs. The inactivity of the LpxC inhibitors for P. aeruginosa raised the possibility that LpxC activity might not be essential for all gram-negative bacteria. By placing the lpxC gene of P. aeruginosa under tight control of an arabinose-inducible promoter, we demonstrated the essentiality of LpxC activity for P. aeruginosa. It was found that compound L-161,240, the most potent inhibitor from the previous study, was active against a P. aeruginosa construct in which the endogenous lpxC gene was inactivated and in which LpxC activity was supplied by the lpxC gene from E. coli. Conversely, an E. coli construct in which growth was dependent on the P. aeruginosa lpxC gene was resistant to the compound. The differential activities of L-161,240 against the two bacterial species are thus the result primarily of greater potency toward the E. coli enzyme rather than of differences in the intrinsic resistance of the bacteria toward antibacterial compounds due to permeability or efflux. These data validate P. aeruginosa LpxC as a target for novel antibiotic drugs and should help direct the design of inhibitors against clinically important gram-negative bacteria.

Heterogeneity in tandem octanucleotides within Haemophilus influenzae lipopolysaccharide biosynthetic gene losA affects serum resistance

Haemophilus influenzae is subject to phase variation mediated by changes in the length of simple sequence repeat regions within several genes, most of which encode either surface proteins or enzymes involved in the synthesis of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The translational repeat regions that have been described thus far all consist of tandemly repeated tetranucleotides. We describe an octanucleotide repeat region within a putative LPS biosynthetic gene, losA. Approximately 20 percent of nontypeable H. influenzae strains contain copies of losA and losB in a genetic locus flanked by infA and ksgA. Of 30 strains containing losA at this site, 24 contained 2 tandem copies of the octanucleotide CGAGCATA, allowing full-length translation of losA (on), and 6 strains contained 3, 4, 6, or 10 tandem copies (losA off). For a serum-sensitive strain, R3063, with losA off (10 repeat units), selection for serum-resistant variants yielded a heterogeneous population in which colonies with increased serum resistance had losA on (2, 8, or 11 repeat units), and colonies with unchanged sensitivity to serum had 10 repeats. Inactivation of losA in strains R3063 and R2846 (strain 12) by insertion of the cat gene decreased the serum resistance of these strains compared to losA-on variants and altered the electrophoretic mobility of LPS. We conclude that expression of losA, a gene that contributes to LPS structure and affects serum resistance, is determined by octanucleotide repeat variation.

Characterization of genetic and phenotypic diversity of invasive nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae

The ability of unencapsulated (nontypeable) Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) to cause systemic disease in healthy children has been recognized only in the past decade. To determine the extent of similarity among invasive nontypeable isolates, we compared strain R2866 with 16 additional NTHi isolates from blood and spinal fluid, 17 nasopharyngeal or throat isolates from healthy children, and 19 isolates from middle ear aspirates. The strains were evaluated for the presence of several genetic loci that affect bacterial surface structures and for biochemical reactions that are known to differ among H. influenzae strains. Eight strains, including four blood isolates, shared several properties with R2866: they were biotype V (indole and ornithine decarboxylase positive, urease negative), contained sequence from the adhesin gene hia, and lacked a genetic island flanked by the infA and ksgA genes. Multilocus sequence typing showed that most biotype V isolates belonged to the same phylogenetic cluster as strain R2866. When present, the infA-ksgA island contains lipopolysaccharide biosynthetic genes, either lic2B and lic2C or homologs of the losA and losB genes described for Haemophilus ducreyi. The island was found in most nasopharyngeal and otitis isolates but was absent from 40% of invasive isolates. Overall, the 33 hmw-negative isolates were much more likely than hmw-containing isolates to have tryptophanase, ornithine decarboxylase, or lysine decarboxylase activity or to contain the hif genes. We conclude (i) that invasive isolates are genetically and phenotypically diverse and (ii) that certain genetic loci of NTHi are frequently found in association among NTHi strains.

Peptides selected for binding to a virulent strain of Haemophilus influenzae by phage display are bactericidal

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is an obligate parasite of the oropharynx of humans, in whom it commonly causes mucosal infections such as otitis media, sinusitis, and bronchitis. We used a subtractive phage display approach to affinity select for peptides binding to the cell surface of a novel invasive NTHi strain R2866 (also called Int1). Over half of the selected phage peptides tested were bactericidal toward R2866 in a dose-dependent manner. Five of the clones encoded the same peptide sequence (KQRTSIRATEGCLPS; clone hi3/17), while the remaining four clones encoded unique peptides. All of the bactericidal phage peptides but one were cationic and had similar physical-chemical properties. Clone hi3/17 possessed a similar level of activity toward a panel of clinical NTHi isolates and H. influenzae type b strains but lacked bactericidal activity toward gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative (Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella enterica) bacteria. These data indicate that peptides binding to bacterial surface structures isolated by phage display may prove of value in developing new antibiotics.

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome: how do we use it to develop strategies for the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis and Pseudomonas infections?

In the 2 years since the complete sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 was published, at least 200 papers have been published describing research that made use of the PAO1 genome sequence. Some of this research included genome-wide studies of gene expression or the effect of mutation on bacterial functions such as biofilm formation; this type of global analysis would not have been possible without the availability of the sequence. As a result of these and other, more traditional, research studies, there is a wealth of new knowledge about the physiology of this pathogen. This raises the possibility of new strategies for the treatment of patients with P. aeruginosa infection, either by novel antibiotics or by drugs targeting bacterial functions essential for survival and virulence in the human host.

Potent, novel in vitro inhibitors of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa deacetylase LpxC

Deacetylation of uridyldiphospho-3-O-(R-hydroxydecanoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine by LpxC is the first committed step in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa biosynthetic pathway to lipid A; homologous enzymes are found widely among Gram-negative bacteria. As an essential enzyme for which no inhibitors have yet been reported, the P. aeruginosa LpxC represents a highly attractive target for a novel antibacterial drug. We synthesized several focused small-molecule libraries, each composed of a variable aromatic ring, one of four heterocyclic/spacer moieties, and a hydroxamic acid and evaluated the LpxC inhibition of these compounds against purified P. aeruginosa enzyme. To ensure that the in vitro assay would be as physiologically relevant as possible, we synthesized a tritiated form of the specific P. aeruginosa glycolipid substrate and measured directly the enzymatically released acetate. Several of our novel compounds, predominantly those having fluorinated substituents on the aromatic ring and an oxazoline as the heterocyclic moiety, demonstrated in vitro IC(50) values less than 1 microM. We now report the synthesis and in vitro evaluation of these P. aeruginosa LpxC inhibitors.

Use of a whole genome approach to identify vaccine molecules affording protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection

Microbial targets for protective humoral immunity are typically surface-localized proteins and contain common sequence motifs related to their secretion or surface binding. Exploiting the whole genome sequence of the human bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae, we identified 130 open reading frames encoding proteins with secretion motifs or similarity to predicted virulence factors. Mice were immunized with 108 of these proteins, and 6 conferred protection against disseminated S. pneumoniae infection. Flow cytometry confirmed the surface localization of several of these targets. Each of the six protective antigens showed broad strain distribution and immunogenicity during human infection. Our results validate the use of a genomic approach for the identification of novel microbial targets that elicit a protective immune response. These new antigens may play a role in the development of improved vaccines against S. pneumoniae.

Identification and characterization of a novel family of pneumococcal proteins that are protective against sepsis

Four pneumococcal genes (phtA, phtB, phtD, and phtE) encoding a novel family of homologous proteins (32 to 87% identity) were identified from the Streptococcus pneumoniae genomic sequence. These open reading frames were selected as potential vaccine candidates based upon their possession of hydrophobic leader sequences which presumably target these proteins to the bacterial cell surface. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of these gene products revealed the presence of a histidine triad motif (HxxHxH), termed Pht (pneumococcal histidine triad) that is conserved and repeated several times in each of the four proteins. The four pht genes (phtA, phtB, phtD, and a truncated version of phtE) were expressed in Escherichia coli. A flow cytometry-based assay confirmed that PhtA, PhtB, PhtD and, to a lesser extent, PhtE were detectable on the surface of intact bacteria. Recombinant PhtA, PhtB, and PhtD elicited protection against certain pneumococcal capsular types in a mouse model of systemic disease. These novel pneumococcal antigens may serve as effective vaccines against the most prevalent pneumococcal serotypes.

Complete genome sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, an opportunistic pathogen

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous environmental bacterium that is one of the top three causes of opportunistic human infections. A major factor in its prominence as a pathogen is its intrinsic resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants. Here we report the complete sequence of P. aeruginosa strain PAO1. At 6.3 million base pairs, this is the largest bacterial genome sequenced, and the sequence provides insights into the basis of the versatility and intrinsic drug resistance of P. aeruginosa. Consistent with its larger genome size and environmental adaptability, P. aeruginosa contains the highest proportion of regulatory genes observed for a bacterial genome and a large number of genes involved in the catabolism, transport and efflux of organic compounds as well as four potential chemotaxis systems. We propose that the size and complexity of the P. aeruginosa genome reflect an evolutionary adaptation permitting it to thrive in diverse environments and resist the effects of a variety of antimicrobial substances.

Role of lipopolysaccharide phase variation in susceptibility of Haemophilus influenzae to bactericidal immunoglobulin M antibodies in rabbit sera

The effect of phase variation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure on the susceptibility of Haemophilus influenzae to complement-dependent killing by normal human sera and normal rat sera has been described previously. The phase-variable structure phosphorylcholine (ChoP) confers susceptibility to human serum, since ChoP on the bacterial cell surface binds to serum C-reactive protein and activates complement. In contrast, expression of galalpha1,4gal, a second phase-variable epitope that is also found on human glycoconjugates, confers resistance to human serum. We studied the role of phase variation of these structures in the susceptibilities of H. influenzae KW20 (Rd) and a clinical isolate of nontypeable H. influenzae to killing by rabbit sera, which often possess naturally acquired complement-dependent bactericidal activity for unencapsulated H. influenzae. Expression of ChoP increased the resistance of strain KW20 to killing by bactericidal rabbit sera. In contrast, the serum resistance of a clinical isolate, H233, was unaffected by ChoP expression but was reduced by galalpha1,4gal expression. The rabbit sera with bactericidal activity (but not the nonbactericidal sera) all contained immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies able to bind to the surface of H. influenzae bacteria, as detected by flow cytometry, and contained IgM antibodies to LPS purified from strain KW20. Preincubation of sera with LPS reduced their bactericidal activity. Bactericidal activity was recovered quantitatively in an IgM-enriched fraction of sera. It is concluded that naturally occurring bactericidal activity for unencapsulated H. influenzae is largely due to IgM antibodies directed against phase-variable structures of the LPS.

Conservation of the lipooligosaccharide synthesis locus lgt among strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: requirement for lgtE in synthesis of the 2C7 epitope and of the beta chain of strain 15253

The present study was undertaken to examine the extent to which the lgt locus varies among strains of gonococci. This locus encodes five glycosyl transferases involved in the synthesis of the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. We examined seven gonococcal strains and found that the structure of the lgt locus is conserved among six of these strains. The locus is strikingly altered in strain 15253. This is one of the few strains where extensive structural analysis of its LOS is available, and therefore, we defined the altered lgt locus and focused on the reactivity of mAB 2C7. We found that strain 15253 contains only two lgt genes, lgtA and lgtE. As in F62, lgtA encodes a GlcNAc transferase and is subject to phase variation. In addition, by analysis of deletion mutants, we found that lgtE, which encodes a galactosyl transferase that is required for elongating the alpha-chain, is also necessary for completing the beta chain.

Cloning of a Neisseria meningitidis gene for L-lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH): evidence for a second meningococcal L-LDH with different regulation

We report the cloning of lldA, a Neisseria meningitidis gene for L-lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH). Escherichia coli contains a single L-LDH gene (lldD) in the lld operon (previously lct). E. coli grown in complex media does not have L-LDH activity, but the activity is induced by growth in defined medium with L-lactate as the carbon source. In contrast, meningococci contain at least one L-LDH in addition to the lldA gene product. These enzymes are active in meningococci grown in complex media and are not dependent on growth in L-lactate. The predicted amino acid sequence of lldA is homologous to that of E. coli lldD and of other prokaryotic and eukaryotic flavin mononucleotide-containing enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of L-lactate and other small alpha-hydroxy acids. A mutant with a deletion in lldA was found to have reduced L-LDH activity. However, this mutant was able to grow on L-lactate, indicating that a second L-LDH must exist. Activity of the lldA enzyme was affected by growth conditions, being increased by growth on a defined medium with either L-lactate or pyruvate as the carbon source. For meningococci grown on a complex medium, activity of the lldA enzyme was increased by growth on plates or in well-aerated broth. A second L-lactate-oxidizing activity was seen in bacteria grown in poorly aerated broth. Neisseria gonorrhoeae contains a homolog of lldA. As for meningococci, mutation of the gonococcal lldA reduced L-LDH activity but did not affect growth on L-lactate.

Use of antibiotics to select auxotrophic mutants of Neisseria meningitidis

Antibiotic selection of auxotrophs has been a powerful tool in the elucidation of bacterial metabolic pathways, but it has been difficult to adapt this method to Neisseria spp. We describe a procedure by which a population of mutagenized N. meningitidis is enriched for mutants with specific growth phenotypes. These experiments used a simple defined medium (modified from that described in J Bacteriol 1962; 83: 470-4) in which meningococci grow well on a variety of carbon sources. Nitrosoguanidine-treated meningococci were incubated with an antibiotic (cefotaxime, streptomycin or nalidixic acid) in a defined medium that was nonpermissive for the desired phenotype. The survivors were grown for several generations in a permissive defined medium to reduce the proportion of mutants with phenotypes other than that desired, then subjected to a second antibiotic treatment in nonpermissive medium. Survivors of the second antibiotic treatment were plated, and colonies were screened to identify auxotrophs. This procedure has allowed the isolation of meningococcal mutants with amino acid or vitamin requirements or with altered utilization of carbon sources.

Identification and characterization of auxotrophs of Neisseria meningitidis produced by Tn916 mutagenesis

Fourteen Tn916 mutants of Neisseria meningitidis strain NMB were identified as auxotrophs. Among these were eight amino acid auxotrophs, with five different phenotypes, and three isolates restricted in carbon source utilization, growing in the presence of glucose but not on L-lactate, D-lactate, pyruvate, or casamino acids as principal carbon sources.

Oxidation of D-lactate and L-lactate by Neisseria meningitidis: purification and cloning of meningococcal D-lactate dehydrogenase

Neisseria meningitidis was found to contain at least two lactate-oxidizing enzymes. One of these was purified 460-fold from spheroplast membranes and found to be specific primarily for D-lactate, with low-affinity activity for L-lactate. The gene for this enzyme (dld) was cloned, and a dld mutant was constructed by insertional inactivation of the gene. The mutant was unable to grow on D-lactate but retained the ability to grow on L-lactate, providing evidence for a second lactate-oxidizing enzyme with specificity for L-lactate. High-affinity L-lactate-oxidizing activity was detected in intact bacteria of both the dld+ and dld mutant strains. This L-lactate-oxidizing activity was also seen in sonicated bacteria but was reduced substantially on detergent solubilization or on preparation of spheroplast membranes.

Plasma lipopolysaccharide-deacylating activity (acyloxyacyl hydrolase) increases after lipopolysaccharide administration to rabbits

Acyloxyacyl hydrolase (AOAH) is a leukocyte enzyme that removes secondary (acyloxyacyl-linked) acyl chains from the lipid A moiety of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS). We now report that the same enzymatic activity is present in normal rabbit plasma and that its activity can be greatly increased by LPS challenge. Intravenous administration of LPS to rabbits resulted in a rapid increase (peaking at 90 minutes, with a mean peak increase of 16-fold) of plasma AOAH activity; the activity then slowly decreased to baseline levels over 24 hours. The plasma AOAH is probably derived, at least in part, from circulating leukocytes, since (a) the AOAH response was significantly diminished in leukopenic rabbits, and (b) incubation of blood or isolated leukocytes with LPS in vitro resulted in increased extracellular AOAH activity. These results indicate that AOAH can appear extracellularly, in plasma, as part of the early response to intravenous LPS challenge. The cellular source(s) and biological role of the plasma enzyme remain to be determined.

Enzymatically deacylated Neisseria lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibits murine splenocyte mitogenesis induced by LPS

Acyloxyacyl hydrolase is a leukocyte enzyme that selectively removes the secondary acyl chains from the lipid A moiety of gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS). As predicted by the reported contribution of secondary acyl chains to the bioactivities of lipid A analogs, enzymatic deacylation of Salmonella typhimurium Rc LPS substantially reduces its potency in the dermal Shwartzman reaction and in several in vitro assays that measure responses of human endothelial cells and neutrophils, whereas the potency of this LPS for inducing murine splenocyte mitogenesis is affected much less. In the experiments described here, we studied the impact of acyloxyacyl hydrolysis on the bioactivities of several LPS that differ from Salmonella LPS in carbohydrate and lipid A structures. Deacylated LPS from Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, and S. typhimurium were similarly reduced in potency in the Limulus lysate test (30- to 60-fold reduction in potency relative to the corresponding mock-treated LPS), and the ability of all of these deacylated LPS to stimulate neutrophil adherence to human endothelial cells was reduced by a factor of 100 or more. For LPS from E. coli, H. influenzae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the impact of deacylation on spleen cell mitogenesis was also similar to that observed for S. typhimurium LPS: deacylation reduced potency by less than 15-fold. Unexpectedly, the potency of Neisseria LPS in the murine splenocyte mitogenicity test was reduced over 100-fold by deacylation, and deacylated Neisseria LPS could block the mitogenic activity of Neisseria and Salmonella LPS. These studies indicate that the contribution of secondary acyl chains to the bioactivities of a given LPS cannot be predicted with confidence from the reported structure-activity relationships of lipid A or from the behavior of other deacylated LPS.

Deacylation of structurally diverse lipopolysaccharides by human acyloxyacyl hydrolase

Acyloxyacyl hydrolase, a leukocyte enzyme previously has been shown to catalyze the hydrolysis of secondary (acyloxyacyl-linked) fatty acyl chains from the nonreducing glucosamine of the lipid A region of rough Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We describe here the activity of this enzyme toward smooth S. typhimurium LPS and LPS from Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Acyloxyacyl hydrolase released the secondary acyl chains from all of these lipopolysaccharides, regardless of the location of the acyloxyacyl linkage on the diglucosamine backbone or the structure of the acyl chains. The two acyloxyacyl linkages present in each LPS molecule apparently were hydrolyzed separately, so that free fatty acids released from the different sites accumulated at different rates. The purified enzyme also removed greater than 90% of the secondary acyl chains in each LPS, indicating that the enzyme acts not only on intact LPS but also on LPS molecules that have only one secondary acyl chain. The enzyme did not release the glucosamine-linked 3-hydroxyacyl chains. The specificity and versatility of the enzyme for cleaving acyloxyacyl linkages suggest that it may be a useful reagent for studying the structure and bioactivities of lipopolysaccharides with diverse carbohydrate and lipid A structures.

Major integral membrane protein immunogens of Treponema pallidum are proteolipids

A number of the major pathogen-specific immunogens of Treponema pallidum were characterized recently as amphiphilic, integral membrane proteins by phase partitioning with Triton X-114 (J. D. Radolf, N. R. Chamberlain, A. Clausell, and M. V. Norgard. Infect. Immun. 56:490-498, 1988). In the present study, we demonstrated that the same membrane immunogens (designated as detergent phase proteins [DPPs]) become radiolabeled upon in vitro incubation of T. pallidum with various 3H-labeled fatty acids. Radioimmunoprecipitation with a monoclonal antibody confirmed that the 3H-labeled 47-kilodalton protein corresponded to the well-characterized treponemal antigen with the identical apparent molecular mass. Failure to detect 3H-labeled DPPs following incubation with erythromycin confirmed that protein acylation required de novo protein synthesis by the bacteria. When treponemes were incubated with [3H]myristate, [3H]palmitate, or [3H]oleate, radiolabeled proteins corresponding to the DPPs were detected upon autoradiography. Demonstration that a number of the abundant membrane immunogens of T. pallidum are proteolipids provides information to help clarify their membrane association(s) and may serve to explain their extraordinary immunogenicity.

Comparison of lipopolysaccharides from Brazilian purpuric fever isolates and conjunctivitis isolates of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius. Brazilian Purpuric Fever Study Group

Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius (H. aegyptius) has been identified as the etiologic agent of the recently described disease Brazilian purpuric fever (BPF). Although there is heterogeneity among the strains associated with conjunctivitis, isolates from patients with BPF appear to be derived from a single clone. The clinical presentation of BPF suggests that bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are involved in its pathogenesis. We prepared LPS from H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius and found them to be similar to H. influenzae type b LPS in apparent size (by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), biological activities, and fatty acid composition. We compared LPS from BPF clone isolates with LPS from non-BPF clone isolates in tests of Limulus lysate activation, spleen cell mitogenesis, promotion of neutrophil adherence to LPS-treated endothelial cells, and the dermal Shwartzman reaction. In none of these activities were LPS from the BPF clone isolates more potent. Because LPS shed from growing bacteria may be involved in the pathogenesis of purpura, we also measured the rate at which LPS were released into culture medium during bacterial growth and found no significant difference between BPF clone and non-BPF clone isolates.

Human antibody response to outer membrane proteins and fimbriae of Haemophilus influenzae type b

We investigated the prevalence of antibodies in childrens' sera directed against outer membrane proteins (OMP) and fimbriae of Haemophilus influenzae type b. Invasive isolates of H. influenzae type b were enriched for fimbriae production; OMP and fimbriae were resolved by SDS-PAGE. After blotting to nitrocellulose, the proteins were incubated with homologous patient sera or with sera from healthy children. IgG antibodies bound to OMP were detected by immunoperoxidase staining. Immunoblotting was also performed using purified, nondenatured fimbriae as antigen. Nine of the 10 patients studied had antibodies in the acute serum directed against one or more of the OMP. Neither the acute nor the convalescent serum of the remaining patient contained antibodies against OMP. Antibodies against a greater number of OMP were present in the convalescent serum, in comparison to the acute serum, in 4 of the 10 patients. Five of 10 patients had antibodies against the purified fimbriae of an unrelated invasive isolate in either the acute or the convalescent serum. Acute sera from patients more frequently contained antibodies directed against OMP 60K (p less than or equal to 0.01) and OMP 51K (p less than or equal to 0.003) compared with the sera of healthy controls. In contrast, the sera of healthy children more frequently contained antibodies directed against OMP 40K (p less than or equal to 0.04). Sera from both patients and controls contained antibodies against commensal Haemophilus. We conclude that although antibodies against OMP are commonly present in healthy children, antibodies against certain OMP may be markers for susceptibility or protection.

Haemophilus influenzae type b lipooligosaccharide induces meningeal inflammation

We evaluated the ability of two Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) components, lipooligosaccharide (LOS) and capsular polysaccharide, to provoke meningeal inflammation in rabbits. Intracisternal inoculation of 2 fg-200 ng of LOS produced a dose-dependent increase in concentrations of white blood cells and protein in cerebrospinal fluid, whereas 4 micrograms of Hib capsular polysaccharide did not provoke meningeal inflammation. Preincubation of LOS with a murine monoclonal antibody to Hib LOS did not reduce the potency of the LOS. Incubation of LOS with polymyxin B (which neutralizes LOS by binding to its lipid A region) and deacylation of the LOS with acyloxyacyl hydrolase (a neutrophil enzyme that removes nonhydroxylated fatty acyl chains from lipid A) reduced meningeal inflammation. We demonstrated that purified Hib LOS induced meningeal inflammation in this model and suggest that the lipid A moiety of Hib LOS is principally responsible for this host response.

Haemophilus influenzae type b isolates show antigenic variation in a major outer membrane protein

Antigenic variation of the outer membrane proteins among isolates of Haemophilus influenzae was examined by immunoblotting. Rabbit antisera were raised against six strains of H. influenzae type b and tested against outer membrane preparations of 50 isolates. The principal outer membrane band was not reactive on immunoblotting, so its antigenic heterogeneity could not be examined. Most of the other outer membrane proteins shared common determinants among all strains tested. Absorption of serum with heterologous bacteria removed antibody to nearly all proteins, confirming the extensive cross-reactivity among isolates. The greatest antigenic variation was seen in one major outer membrane band, a heat-modifiable, Zwittergent-soluble protein with a molecular weight of 49,000 to 51,000. One antiserum reacted with the 49,000-to-51,000-molecular-weight protein of the homologous isolate only; the remaining five antisera showed differing patterns of reactivity with heterologous 49,000-to-51,000-molecular-weight proteins. We were able to divide the 50 H. influenzae isolates into 13 antigenic groups based on their reaction patterns. The antigenic groupings may provide an epidemiological tool for studying the prevalence and transmission of strains of H. influenzae type b.