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Hong Y, Qin J, Totsika M. A conditional nature for the synthetical lethality between defects in lipid and peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2318882120. [PMID: 38109534 PMCID: PMC10756204 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318882120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yaoqin Hong
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, QLD4006, Australia
- Max Planck Queensland Centre, Queensland University of Technology, QLD4006, Australia
| | - Jilong Qin
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, QLD4006, Australia
| | - Makrina Totsika
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, QLD4006, Australia
- Max Planck Queensland Centre, Queensland University of Technology, QLD4006, Australia
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2
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Hong Y, Hu D, Verderosa AD, Qin J, Totsika M, Reeves PR. Repeat-Unit Elongations To Produce Bacterial Complex Long Polysaccharide Chains, an O-Antigen Perspective. EcoSal Plus 2023; 11:eesp00202022. [PMID: 36622162 DOI: 10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0020-2022] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The O-antigen, a long polysaccharide that constitutes the distal part of the outer membrane-anchored lipopolysaccharide, is one of the critical components in the protective outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Most species produce one of the structurally diverse O-antigens, with nearly all the polysaccharide components having complex structures made by the Wzx/Wzy pathway. This pathway produces repeat-units of mostly 3-8 sugars on the cytosolic face of the cytoplasmic membrane that is translocated by Wzx flippase to the periplasmic face and polymerized by Wzy polymerase to give long-chain polysaccharides. The Wzy polymerase is a highly diverse integral membrane protein typically containing 10-14 transmembrane segments. Biochemical evidence confirmed that Wzy polymerase is the sole driver of polymerization, and recent progress also began to demystify its interacting partner, Wzz, shedding some light to speculate how the proteins may operate together during polysaccharide biogenesis. However, our knowledge of how the highly variable Wzy proteins work as part of the O-antigen processing machinery remains poor. Here, we discuss the progress to the current understanding of repeat-unit polymerization and propose an updated model to explain the formation of additional short chain O-antigen polymers found in the lipopolysaccharide of diverse Gram-negative species and their importance in the biosynthetic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoqin Hong
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dalong Hu
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anthony D Verderosa
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jilong Qin
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Makrina Totsika
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter R Reeves
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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Hawas S, Vagenas D, Haque A, Totsika M. Bladder-draining lymph nodes support germinal center B cell responses during urinary tract infection in mice. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0031723. [PMID: 37882531 PMCID: PMC10652902 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00317-23] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) are both common and exhibit high recurrence rates in women. UTI healthcare costs are increasing due to the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, necessitating alternative approaches for infection control. Here, we directly observed host adaptive immune responses in acute UTI. We employed a mouse model in which wild-type C57BL/6J mice were transurethrally inoculated with a clinically relevant MDR UTI strain of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Firstly, we noted that rag1-/- C57BL/6J mice harbored larger bacterial burdens than wild-type counterparts, consistent with a role for adaptive immunity in UTI control. Consistent with this, UTI triggered in the bladders of wild-type mice early increases of myeloid cells, including CD11chi conventional dendritic cells, suggesting possible involvement of these professional antigen-presenting cells. Importantly, germinal center B cell responses developed by 4 weeks post-infection in bladder-draining lymph nodes of wild-type mice and, although modest in magnitude and transient in nature, could not be boosted with a second UTI. Thus, our data reveal for the first time in a mouse model that UPEC UTI induces local B cell immune responses in bladder-draining lymph nodes, which could potentially serve to control infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Hawas
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dimitrios Vagenas
- Research Methods Group, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ashraful Haque
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Makrina Totsika
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Hong Y, Qin J, Forga XB, Totsika M. Extensive Diversity in Escherichia coli Group 3 Capsules Is Driven by Recombination and Plasmid Transfer from Multiple Species. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0143223. [PMID: 37358457 PMCID: PMC10433991 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01432-23] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial capsules provide protection against environmental challenges and host immunity. Historically, Escherichia coli K serotyping scheme, which relies on the hypervariable capsules, has identified around 80 K forms that fall into four distinct groups. Based on recent work by us and others, we predicted that E. coli capsular diversity is grossly underestimated. We exploited group 3 capsule gene clusters, the best genetically defined capsule group in E. coli, to analyze publicly available E. coli sequences for overlooked capsular diversity within the species. We report the discovery of seven novel group 3 clusters that fall into two distinct subgroups (3A and 3B). The majority of the 3B capsule clusters were found on plasmids, contrary to the defining feature of group 3 capsule genes localizing at the serA locus on the E. coli chromosome. Other new group 3 capsule clusters were derived from ancestral sequences through recombination events between shared genes found within the serotype variable central region 2. Intriguingly, flanking regions 1 and 3, known to be conserved areas among capsule clusters, showed considerable intra-subgroup variation in clusters from the 3B subgroup, containing genes of shared ancestry with other Enterobacteriaceae species. Variation of group 3 kps clusters within dominant E. coli lineages, including multidrug-resistant pathogenic lineages, further supports that E. coli capsules are undergoing rigorous change. Given the pivotal role of capsular polysaccharides in phage predation, our findings raise attention to the need of monitoring kps evolutionary dynamics in pathogenic E. coli in supporting phage therapy. IMPORTANCE Capsular polysaccharides protect pathogenic bacteria against environmental challenges, host immunity, and phage predations. The historical Escherichia coli K typing scheme, which relies on the hypervariable capsular polysaccharide, has identified around 80 different K forms that fall into four distinct groups. Taking advantage of the supposedly compact and genetically well-defined group 3 gene clusters, we analyzed published E. coli sequences to identify seven new gene clusters and revealed an unexpected capsular diversity. Genetic analysis revealed that group 3 gene clusters shared closely related serotype-specific region 2 and were diversified through recombination events and plasmid transfer between multiple Enterobacteriaceae species. Overall, capsular polysaccharides in E. coli are undergoing rigorous change. Given the pivotal role capsules play in phage interactions, this work highlighted the need to monitor the evolutionary dynamics of capsules in pathogenic E. coli for effective phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoqin Hong
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia
- Max Planck Queensland Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jilong Qin
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia
| | - Xavier Bertran Forga
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia
| | - Makrina Totsika
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia
- Max Planck Queensland Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia
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Meszaros-Beller L, Antico M, Fontanarosa D, Pivonka P. Assessment of thoracic spinal curvatures in static postures using spatially tracked 3D ultrasound volumes: a proof-of-concept study. Phys Eng Sci Med 2023; 46:197-208. [PMID: 36625994 PMCID: PMC10030537 DOI: 10.1007/s13246-022-01210-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of spinal posture is a difficult endeavour given the lack of identifiable bony landmarks for placement of skin markers. Moreover, potentially significant soft tissue artefacts along the spine further affect the accuracy of marker-based approaches. The objective of this proof-of-concept study was to develop an experimental framework to assess spinal postures by using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) imaging. A phantom spine model immersed in water was scanned using 3D US in a neutral and two curved postures mimicking a forward flexion in the sagittal plane while the US probe was localised by three electromagnetic tracking sensors attached to the probe head. The obtained anatomical 'coarse' registrations were further refined using an automatic registration algorithm and validated by an experienced sonographer. Spinal landmarks were selected in the US images and validated against magnetic resonance imaging data of the same phantom through image registration. Their position was then related to the location of the tracking sensors identified in the acquired US volumes, enabling the localisation of landmarks in the global coordinate system of the tracking device. Results of this study show that localised 3D US enables US-based anatomical reconstructions comparable to clinical standards and the identification of spinal landmarks in different postures of the spine. The accuracy in sensor identification was 0.49 mm on average while the intra- and inter-observer reliability in sensor identification was strongly correlated with a maximum deviation of 0.8 mm. Mapping of landmarks had a small relative distance error of 0.21 mm (SD = ± 0.16) on average. This study implies that localised 3D US holds the potential for the assessment of full spinal posture by accurately and non-invasively localising vertebrae in space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Meszaros-Beller
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Maria Antico
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- Australian e-Health Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Queensland, Australia
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Davide Fontanarosa
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Peter Pivonka
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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Navone L, Moffitt K, Johnston WA, Mercer T, Cooper C, Spann K, Speight RE. Bioengineered textiles with peptide binders that capture SARS-CoV-2 viral particles. Commun Mater 2022; 3:54. [PMID: 35991518 PMCID: PMC9376897 DOI: 10.1038/s43246-022-00278-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The use of personal protective equipment (PPE), face masks and ventilation are key strategies to control the transmission of respiratory viruses. However, most PPE provides physical protection that only partially prevents the transmission of viral particles. Here, we develop textiles with integrated peptide binders that capture viral particles. We fuse peptides capable of binding the receptor domain of the spike protein on the SARS-CoV-2 capsid to the cellulose-binding domain from the Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase II protein. The hybrid peptides can be attached to the cellulose fibres in cotton and capture SARS-CoV-2 viral particles with high affinity. The resulting bioengineered cotton captures 114,000 infective virus particles per cm2 and reduces onwards SARS-CoV-2 infection of cells by 500-fold. The hybrid peptides could be easily modified to capture and control the spread of other infectious pathogens or for attachment to different materials. We anticipate the use of bioengineered protective textiles in PPE, facemasks, ventilation, and furnishings will provide additional protection to the airborne or fomite transmission of viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Navone
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4000 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4000 Australia
| | - Kaylee Moffitt
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4000 Australia
| | - Wayne A. Johnston
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4000 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4000 Australia
| | - Tim Mercer
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW 2010 Australia
| | - Crystal Cooper
- Central Analytical Research Facility (CARF), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4000 Australia
| | - Kirsten Spann
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4000 Australia
| | - Robert E. Speight
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4000 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4000 Australia
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Verderosa AD, Dhouib R, Fairfull-Smith KE, Totsika M. Nitroxide Functionalized Antibiotics Are Promising Eradication Agents against Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 64:e01685-19. [PMID: 31636066 PMCID: PMC7187575 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01685-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of biofilm-related Staphylococcus aureus infections represents an important medical challenge worldwide, as biofilms, even those involving drug-susceptible S. aureus strains, are highly refractory to conventional antibiotic therapy. Nitroxides were recently shown to induce the dispersal of Gram-negative biofilms in vitro, but their action against Gram-positive bacterial biofilms remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the biofilm dispersal activity of nitroxides extends to S. aureus, a clinically important Gram-positive pathogen. Coadministration of the nitroxide CTEMPO (4-carboxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yloxyl) with ciprofloxacin significantly improved the biofilm eradication activity of the antibiotic against S. aureus Moreover, covalently linking the nitroxide to the antibiotic moiety further reduced the ciprofloxacin minimal biofilm eradication concentration. Microscopy analysis revealed that fluorescent nitroxide-antibiotic hybrids could penetrate S. aureus biofilms and enter cells localized at the surface and base of the biofilm structure. No toxicity to human cells was observed for the nitroxide CTEMPO or the nitroxide-antibiotic hybrids. Taken together, our results show that nitroxides can mediate the dispersal of Gram-positive biofilms and that dual-acting biofilm eradication antibiotics may provide broad-spectrum therapies for the treatment of biofilm-related infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony D Verderosa
- School of Chemistry, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rabeb Dhouib
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kathryn E Fairfull-Smith
- School of Chemistry, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Makrina Totsika
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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