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Lass SW, Camphire S, Smith BE, Eutsey RA, Prentice JA, Yerneni SS, Arun A, Bridges AA, Rosch JW, Conway JF, Campbell P, Hiller NL. Pneumococcal Extracellular Vesicles Mediate Horizontal Gene Transfer via the Transformation Machinery. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.15.571797. [PMID: 38168155 PMCID: PMC10760141 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.15.571797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial cells secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs), the function of which is a matter of intense investigation. Here, we show that the EVs secreted by the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) are associated with bacterial DNA on their surface and can deliver this DNA to the transformation machinery of competent cells. These findings suggest that EVs contribute to gene transfer in Gram-positive bacteria, and in doing so, may promote the spread of drug resistance genes in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Werner Lass
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Shaw Camphire
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bailey E Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rory A Eutsey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jojo A Prentice
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Ashni Arun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew A Bridges
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jason W Rosch
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - James F Conway
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Phil Campbell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Engineering Research Accelerator, Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - N Luisa Hiller
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Wilkinson RC, Meldrum K, Maggs CJ, Thomas NE, Thomas BR, De Mello N, Joyce N. Determining the efficacy of disinfectants at nucleic acid degradation. J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:lxad244. [PMID: 37884448 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad244] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Nucleic acids, particularly antibiotic resistance genes, are commonly found on surfaces within healthcare environments, with levels not reducing following cleaning. Within the UK, there are no regulations for testing disinfectants against nucleic acids. METHODS AND RESULTS A series of commonplace in vitro methods were used to determine disinfectant-induced physical and functional damage to various nucleic acids; RNA (10 μg), genomic DNA (2 μg), and plasmids (1 μg). Using these methods, the optimal residence time (10 minutes) and working concentration (10%) were determined for a new disinfectant. Furthermore, comparison of disinfectants with different active ingredients including lactic acid (LA), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), chloroxylenol (PCMX), and quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), were compared to controls. All disinfectants showed greater degradation by gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA and RNA than of purified plasmids. Functional analysis using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated that no disinfectant tested (apart from control) could damage DNA to the level where PCR amplification was not possible, and only the NaOH reagent could achieve this for RNA. CONCLUSIONS The set of methods described herein provides a platform for future standardization and potential regulation regarding monitoring cleaning solutions for their activity against nucleic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael C Wilkinson
- Healthcare Technology Centre, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - Kirsty Meldrum
- Healthcare Technology Centre, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - Caitlin J Maggs
- Healthcare Technology Centre, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - Nerissa E Thomas
- Healthcare Technology Centre, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - Bethan R Thomas
- Healthcare Technology Centre, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - Natalie De Mello
- Healthcare Technology Centre, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - Naomi Joyce
- Healthcare Technology Centre, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
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3
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Klabunde B, Wesener A, Bertrams W, Beinborn I, Paczia N, Surmann K, Blankenburg S, Wilhelm J, Serrania J, Knoops K, Elsayed EM, Laakmann K, Jung AL, Kirschbaum A, Hammerschmidt S, Alshaar B, Gisch N, Abu Mraheil M, Becker A, Völker U, Vollmeister E, Benedikter BJ, Schmeck B. NAD + metabolism is a key modulator of bacterial respiratory epithelial infections. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5818. [PMID: 37783679 PMCID: PMC10545792 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41372-w] [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: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lower respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) are a leading cause of death globally. Here we investigate the bronchial epithelial cellular response to Spn infection on a transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolic level. We found the NAD+ salvage pathway to be dysregulated upon infection in a cell line model, primary human lung tissue and in vivo in rodents, leading to a reduced production of NAD+. Knockdown of NAD+ salvage enzymes (NAMPT, NMNAT1) increased bacterial replication. NAD+ treatment of Spn inhibited its growth while growth of other respiratory pathogens improved. Boosting NAD+ production increased NAD+ levels in immortalized and primary cells and decreased bacterial replication upon infection. NAD+ treatment of Spn dysregulated the bacterial metabolism and reduced intrabacterial ATP. Enhancing the bacterial ATP metabolism abolished the antibacterial effect of NAD+. Thus, we identified the NAD+ salvage pathway as an antibacterial pathway in Spn infections, predicting an antibacterial mechanism of NAD+.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Klabunde
- Institute for Lung Research, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - André Wesener
- Institute for Lung Research, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Wilhelm Bertrams
- Institute for Lung Research, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Isabell Beinborn
- Institute for Lung Research, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Paczia
- Core Facility for Metabolomics and Small Molecule Mass Spectrometry, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Kristin Surmann
- Department of Functional Genomics, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sascha Blankenburg
- Department of Functional Genomics, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jochen Wilhelm
- Institute for Lung Health (ILH), Giessen, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Germany
| | - Javier Serrania
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Kèvin Knoops
- Microscopy CORE Lab, Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I), Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Eslam M Elsayed
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Katrin Laakmann
- Institute for Lung Research, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Anna Lena Jung
- Institute for Lung Research, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Core Facility Flow Cytometry - Bacterial Vesicles, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Kirschbaum
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Gießen and Marburg (UKGM), Marburg, Germany
| | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Belal Alshaar
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Priority Area Infections, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
| | - Nicolas Gisch
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Priority Area Infections, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
| | - Mobarak Abu Mraheil
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Justus-Liebig Universität Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Anke Becker
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Uwe Völker
- Department of Functional Genomics, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Evelyn Vollmeister
- Institute for Lung Research, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Birke J Benedikter
- Institute for Lung Research, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
- University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Bernd Schmeck
- Institute for Lung Research, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
- Institute for Lung Health (ILH), Giessen, Germany.
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
- Core Facility Flow Cytometry - Bacterial Vesicles, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University Medical Center Marburg, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
- Member of the German Center for Infectious Disease Research (DZIF), Marburg, Germany.
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4
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Divala TH, Corbett EL, Kandulu C, Moyo B, MacPherson P, Nliwasa M, French N, Sloan DJ, Chiume L, Ndaferankhande MJ, Chilanga S, Majiga ST, Odland JØ, Fielding KL. Trial-of-antibiotics to assist tuberculosis diagnosis in symptomatic adults in Malawi (ACT-TB study): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Glob Health 2023; 11:e556-e565. [PMID: 36925176 PMCID: PMC10030459 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(23)00052-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical practice and diagnostic algorithms often assume that tuberculosis can be ruled out in mycobacteriology-negative individuals whose symptoms improve with a trial-of-antibiotics. We aimed to investigate diagnostic performance, clinical benefit, and antimicrobial resistance using a randomised controlled trial. METHODS In this three-arm, individually randomised, open-label, controlled trial, we enrolled Malawian adults (aged ≥18 years) attending primary care who reported being unwell for at least 14 days (including cough) with no immediate indication for hospitalisation at Limbe and Ndirande Health Centres in Blantyre. Participants were randomly allocated (1:1:1) to azithromycin (500 mg taken once per day for 3 days), amoxicillin (1 g taken three times per day for 5 days), or standard of care with no immediate antibiotics, stratified by study site. Sputum at enrolment and day 8 was tested for tuberculosis (microscopy, Xpert MTB/RIF, and culture). The primary efficacy outcome was day 8 specificity (percentage with symptom improvement among mycobacteriology-negative participants), and day 29 clinical outcome (death, hospitalisation, or missed tuberculosis diagnosis) among all randomised participants. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03545373. FINDINGS Between Feb 25, 2019, and March 14, 2020, 5825 adults were screened and 1583 (mean age 36 years; 236 [14·9%] HIV positive) were randomly assigned to standard of care (530 participants), azithromycin (527 participants), or amoxicillin (526 participants) groups. Overall, 6·3% (100 of 1583 participants) had positive baseline sputum mycobacteriology. 310 (79·1%) of 392 patients receiving standard of care reported symptom improvement at day 8, compared with 340 (88·7%) of 383 patients receiving azithromycin (adjusted difference 8·6%, 95% CI 3·9-13·3%; p<0·0004) and 346 (89·4%) of 387 receiving amoxicillin (adjusted difference 8·8%, 4·0-13·6%; p=0·0003). The proportion of participants with day 29 composite clinical outcomes was similar between groups (standard of care 1% [7 of 530 participants], azithromycin 1% [6 of 527 participants], amoxicillin 2% [12 of 526 participants]). INTERPRETATION Routine outpatient trial-of-antibiotics during tuberculosis investigations modestly improved diagnostic specificity for mycobacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis but had no appreciable effect on death, hospitalisation, and missed tuberculosis diagnosis. These results confirm the limited benefit of trial-of-antibiotics, presenting an opportunity for discontinuation of trial-of-antibiotics and improved antimicrobial stewardship during tuberculosis screening, without affecting clinical outcomes. FUNDING Northern Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Nord RHF), Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK, Wellcome Trust, UK Medical Research Council, and the UK Department for International Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Titus H Divala
- Helse Nord TB Initiative, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Bloomsbury, London, UK; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi.
| | - Elizabeth L Corbett
- Helse Nord TB Initiative, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Bloomsbury, London, UK; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Chikondi Kandulu
- Helse Nord TB Initiative, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Brewster Moyo
- Helse Nord TB Initiative, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Peter MacPherson
- Helse Nord TB Initiative, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Bloomsbury, London, UK; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi; Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK; School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Marriott Nliwasa
- Helse Nord TB Initiative, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Bloomsbury, London, UK; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Neil French
- Institute of Infection Veterinary and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Derek J Sloan
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, UK; Victoria Hospital, NHS Fife, Kirkcaldy, Scotland, UK
| | - Lingstone Chiume
- Helse Nord TB Initiative, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Sanderson Chilanga
- Helse Nord TB Initiative, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Sabina Tazirwa Majiga
- Helse Nord TB Initiative, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Jon Øyvind Odland
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Katherine L Fielding
- Helse Nord TB Initiative, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Bloomsbury, London, UK
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5
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Transformation of Bacillus thuringiensis plasmid DNA by a new polyethylenimine polymeric nanoparticles method. J Microbiol Methods 2022; 203:106622. [PMID: 36384173 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2022.106622] [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: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Although electroporation technique has been mostly used to transform Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), this method is not readily applicable to strains other than the one for which it was optimized. Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a golden standard non-viral vector that interacts with plasmids to form compact polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) via electrostatic interactions. This PNPs system is very attractive because they are easily prepared, able to carry large nucleic acid constructs, and show low toxicity. In this study, PEI/pBTdsSBV-VP1 PNPs were successfully prepared at various N/P ratios which is positively-chargeable polymer amine (N = nitrogen) groups to negatively-charged nucleic acid phosphate (P) groups, and the internalization of the complexes into Bt 4Q7 was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The PEI-mediated transformation showed similar efficiency comparable to that of electroporation method, suggesting that the method of PNPs will be an effective alternative for transformation of Bt strains.
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6
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Jiang M, Wang P, Liu H, Dai X, Song S, Liu Y. The Effect of Operating Strategies on the Anaerobic Digestion of Gentamicin Mycelial Residues: Insights into the Enhancement of Methane Production and Attenuation of Gentamicin Resistance. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:15130-15140. [PMID: 35984723 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) has been widely employed for converting various biowastes into renewable energy. However, AD of gentamicin mycelial residues (GMRs, a byproduct of gentamicin production) is limited by ammonia inhibition and antimicrobial resistance risk. Compared to mesophilic AD (MMAD) of GMRs, this study looked into three semicontinuous AD processes, i.e., codigestion with wheat straw, thermophilic digestion (TAcoD), and AD at shortened retention time (RT). Results showed that a stable and safe AD could be achieved under suitable operating conditions. Co-digestion could effectively mitigate the adverse effect of ammonia inhibition. The methane production increased by 35.86% in TAcoD compared to that in MMAD and 43.99% of hazardous waste was reduced in TAcoD. Concerning the antimicrobial resistance of AD system, gentamicin was degraded efficiently and the degradation process was not involved in the expression of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) related to modifying enzyme. Effective removal of ARGs under three operating strategies was associated with a higher reduction in bacterial abundance of potential hosts. In addition, the changes in the relevant proteins for transformation and conjugation as predicted by PICRUSt suggested that thermophilic condition and shorter RT were conducive to the reduction of the dissemination risks of ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingye Jiang
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Peng Wang
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Huiling Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiaohu Dai
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Siqi Song
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Singapore 637141, Singapore
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
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7
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Ronish LA, Sidner B, Yu Y, Piepenbrink KH. Recognition of extracellular DNA by type IV pili promotes biofilm formation by Clostridioides difficile. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102449. [PMID: 36064001 PMCID: PMC9556784 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive bacillus, which is a frequent cause of gastrointestinal infections triggered by the depletion of the gut microbiome. Because of the frequent recurrence of these infections after antibiotic treatment, mechanisms of C. difficile persistence and recurrence, including biofilm formation, are of increasing interest. Previously, our group and others found that type IV pili, filamentous helical appendages polymerized from protein subunits, promoted microcolony and biofilm formation in C. difficile. In Gram-negative bacteria, the ability of type IV pili to mediate bacterial self-association has been explained through interactions between the pili of adjacent cells, but type IV pili from several Gram-negative species are also required for natural competence through DNA uptake. Here, we report the ability of two C. difficile pilin subunits, PilJ and PilW, to bind to DNA in vitro, as well as the defects in biofilm formation in the pilJ and pilW gene-interruption mutants. Additionally, we have resolved the X-ray crystal structure of PilW, which we use to model possible structural mechanisms for the formation of C. difficile biofilm through interactions between type IV pili and the DNA of the extracellular matrix. Taken together, our results provide further insight into the relationship between type IV pilus function and biofilm formation in C. difficile and, more broadly, suggest that DNA recognition by type IV pili and related structures may have functional importance beyond DNA uptake for natural competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie A Ronish
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Ben Sidner
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Yafan Yu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Kurt H Piepenbrink
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Food for Health Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
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8
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Krause AL, Stinear TP, Monk IR. Barriers to genetic manipulation of Enterococci: Current Approaches and Future Directions. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6650352. [PMID: 35883217 PMCID: PMC9779914 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac036] [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: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are Gram-positive commensal gut bacteria that can also cause fatal infections. To study clinically relevant multi-drug resistant E. faecalis and E. faecium strains, methods are needed to overcome physical (thick cell wall) and enzymatic barriers that limit the transfer of foreign DNA and thus prevent facile genetic manipulation. Enzymatic barriers to DNA uptake identified in E. faecalis and E. faecium include type I, II and IV restriction modification systems and CRISPR-Cas. This review examines E. faecalis and E. faecium DNA defence systems and the methods with potential to overcome these barriers. DNA defence system bypass will allow the application of innovative genetic techniques to expedite molecular-level understanding of these important, but somewhat neglected, pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L Krause
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia
| | - Timothy P Stinear
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia
| | - Ian R Monk
- Corresponding author: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia. E-mail:
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9
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Suban S, Sendersky E, Golden SS, Schwarz R. Impairment of a cyanobacterial glycosyltransferase that modifies a pilin results in biofilm development. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2022; 14:218-229. [PMID: 35172394 PMCID: PMC9306852 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
A biofilm inhibiting mechanism operates in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus. Here, we demonstrate that the glycosyltransferase homologue, Ogt, participates in the inhibitory process - inactivation of ogt results in robust biofilm formation. Furthermore, a mutational approach shows requirement of the glycosyltransferase activity for biofilm inhibition. This enzyme is necessary for glycosylation of the pilus subunit and for adequate pilus formation. In contrast to wild-type culture in which most cells exhibit several pili, only 25% of the mutant cells are piliated, half of which possess a single pilus. In spite of this poor piliation, natural DNA competence was similar to that of wild-type; therefore, we propose that the unglycosylated pili facilitate DNA transformation. Additionally, conditioned medium from wild-type culture, which contains a biofilm inhibiting substance(s), only partially blocks biofilm development by the ogt-mutant. Thus, we suggest that inactivation of ogt affects multiple processes including production or secretion of the inhibitor as well as the ability to sense or respond to it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiran Suban
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life SciencesBar‐Ilan UniversityRamat‐Gan5290002Israel
| | - Eleonora Sendersky
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life SciencesBar‐Ilan UniversityRamat‐Gan5290002Israel
| | - Susan S. Golden
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCA92093USA
- Center for Circadian BiologyUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCA92093USA
| | - Rakefet Schwarz
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life SciencesBar‐Ilan UniversityRamat‐Gan5290002Israel
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10
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Microbial cell surface engineering for high-level synthesis of bio-products. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 55:107912. [PMID: 35041862 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Microbial cell surface layers, which mainly include the cell membrane, cell wall, periplasmic space, outer membrane, capsules, S-layers, pili, and flagella, control material exchange between the cell and the extracellular environment, and have great impact on production titers and yields of various bio-products synthesized by microbes. Recent research work has made exciting achievements in metabolic engineering using microbial cell surface components as novel regulation targets without direct modifications of the metabolic pathways of the desired products. This review article will summarize the accomplishments obtained in this emerging field, and will describe various engineering strategies that have been adopted in bacteria and yeasts for the enhancement of mass transfer across the cell surface, improvement of protein expression and folding, modulation of cell size and shape, and re-direction of cellular resources, all of which contribute to the construction of more efficient microbial cell factories toward the synthesis of a variety of bio-products. The existing problems and possible future directions will also be discussed.
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11
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Single molecule dynamics of DNA receptor ComEA, membrane permease ComEC and taken up DNA in competent Bacillus subtilis cells. J Bacteriol 2021; 204:e0057221. [PMID: 34928178 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00572-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In competent Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, double stranded DNA is taken up through the outer cell membrane and/or the cell wall, and is bound by ComEA, which in Bacillus subtilis is a membrane protein. DNA is converted to single stranded DNA, and transported through the cell membrane via ComEC. We show that in Bacillus subtilis, the C-terminus of ComEC, thought to act as a nuclease, is not only important for DNA uptake, as judged from a loss of transformability, but also for the localization of ComEC to the cell pole and its mobility within the cell membrane. Using single molecule tracking, we show that only 13% of ComEC molecules are statically localised at the pole, while 87% move throughout the cell membrane. These experiments suggest that recruitment of ComEC to the cell pole is mediated by a diffusion/capture mechanism. Mutation of a conserved aspartate residue in the C-terminus, likely affecting metal binding, strongly impairs transformation efficiency, suggesting that this periplasmic domain of ComEC could indeed serve a catalytic function as nuclease. By tracking fluorescently labeled DNA, we show that taken up DNA has a similar mobility as a protein, in spite of being a large polymer. DNA dynamics are similar within the periplasm as those of ComEA, suggesting that most taken up molecules are bound to ComEA. We show that DNA can be highly mobile within the periplasm, indicating that this subcellular space can act as reservoir for taken up DNA, before its entry into the cytosol. Importance Bacteria can take up DNA from the environment and incorporate it into their chromosome, termed "natural competence" that can result in the uptake of novel genetic information. We show that fluorescently labelled DNA moves within the periplasm of competent Bacillus subtilis cells, with similar dynamics as DNA receptor ComEA. This indicates that DNA can accumulate in the periplasm, likely bound by ComEA, and thus can be stored before uptake at the cell pole, via integral membrane DNA permease ComEC. Assembly of the latter assembles at the cell pole likely occurs by a diffusion-capture mechanism. DNA uptake into cells thus takes a detour through the entire periplasm, and involves a high degree of free diffusion along and within the cell membrane.
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12
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Kong LH, Xiong ZQ, Xia YJ, Ai LZ. High-efficiency transformation of Streptococcus thermophilus using electroporation. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2021; 101:6578-6585. [PMID: 33937994 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.11292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Streptococcus thermophilus, one of the most important lactic acid bacteria, is widely used in food fermentation, which is beneficial to improve food quality. However, the current genetic transformation systems are inefficient for S. thermophilus S-3, which hinders its further study. RESULTS We developed three electroporation transformation methods for S. thermophilus S-3, and optimized various parameters to enhance the transformation efficiency up to 1.3 × 106 CFU/μg DNA, which was 32-fold higher than that of unoptimized. Additionally, transcriptional analysis showed that a series of competence genes in S. thermophilus S-3 were remarkedly up-regulated after optimization, indicating that improvement of transformation efficiency was attributed to the expression level of competence genes. Furthermore, to prove their potential, expression of competence genes (comEA, cbpD and comX) were employed to increase transformation efficiency. The maximum transformation efficiency was obtained by overexpression of comEA, which was 14-fold higher than that of control. CONCLUSION This is the first report of competence gene expression for enhancing transformability in S. thermophilus, which exerts a positive effect on the development of desirable characteristics strains. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Hui Kong
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Microbiology, School of Medical Instrument and Food Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Xiong
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Microbiology, School of Medical Instrument and Food Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong-Jun Xia
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Microbiology, School of Medical Instrument and Food Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Lian-Zhong Ai
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Microbiology, School of Medical Instrument and Food Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
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Lysinibacillus sphaericus III(3)7 and Plasmid Vector pMK4: New Challenges in Cloning Platforms. MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/microbiolres12020031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The acquisition and especially the maintenance of a plasmid usually brings a fitness cost that reduces the reproductive rate of the bacterial host; for strains like Lysinibacillus sphaericus III(3)7, which possesses important environmental properties, this alteration along with morphological changes and reduced sporulation rates may exert a negative effect on metabolic studies using plasmids as cloning platforms. The aim of this study is to approach the metabolic behavior of pMK4-bearing cells of L. sphaericus III(3)7 through the use of bioinformatic and in vitro analyses. An incompatibility model between the pMK4 vector and a predicted megaplasmid, pBsph, inside III(3)7 cells was constructed based on an incA region. Additionally, in vitro long-term plasmid stability was not found in plasmid-bearing cells. Alignments between replicons, mobile genetic elements and RNA-RNA interactions were assessed, pairwise alignment visualization, graphic models and morphological changes were evaluated by SEM. Metabolite analysis was done through HPLC coupled to a Q-TOF 6545, and electrospray ionization was used, finally, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae were used for larvicidal activity assessment. Results found, a decreased growth rate, spore formation reduction and morphological changes, which supported the idea of metabolic cost exerted by pMK4. An incompatibility between pMK4 and pBsph appears to take place inside L. sphaericus III(3)7 cells, however, further in vitro studies are needed to confirm it.
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14
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Angert ER. Challenges Faced by Highly Polyploid Bacteria with Limits on DNA Inheritance. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:6156627. [PMID: 33677487 PMCID: PMC8245194 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Most studies of bacterial reproduction have centered on organisms that undergo binary fission. In these models, complete chromosome copies are segregated with great fidelity into two equivalent offspring cells. All genetic material is passed on to offspring, including new mutations and horizontally acquired sequences. However, some bacterial lineages employ diverse reproductive patterns that require management and segregation of more than two chromosome copies. Epulopiscium spp., and their close relatives within the Firmicutes phylum, are intestinal symbionts of surgeonfish (family Acanthuridae). Each of these giant (up to 0.6 mm long), cigar-shaped bacteria contains tens of thousands of chromosome copies. Epulopiscium spp. do not use binary fission but instead produce multiple intracellular offspring. Only ∼1% of the genetic material in an Epulopiscium sp. type B mother cell is directly inherited by its offspring cells. And yet, even in late stages of offspring development, mother-cell chromosome copies continue to replicate. Consequently, chromosomes take on a somatic or germline role. Epulopiscium sp. type B is a strict anaerobe and while it is an obligate symbiont, its host has a facultative association with this intestinal microorganism. Therefore, Epulopiscium sp. type B populations face several bottlenecks that could endanger their diversity and resilience. Multilocus sequence analyses revealed that recombination is important to diversification in populations of Epulopiscium sp. type B. By employing mechanisms common to others in the Firmicutes, the coordinated timing of mother-cell lysis, offspring development and congression may facilitate the substantial recombination observed in Epulopiscium sp. type B populations.
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15
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Liu M, Huang M, Wang M, Zhu D, Jia R, Chen S, Zhang L, Pan L, Cheng A. The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat System and Argonaute: An Emerging Bacterial Immunity System for Defense Against Natural Transformation? Front Microbiol 2020; 11:593301. [PMID: 33193265 PMCID: PMC7642515 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.593301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) systems and prokaryotic Argonaute proteins (Agos) have been shown to defend bacterial and archaeal cells against invading nucleic acids. Indeed, they are important elements for inhibiting horizontal gene transfer between bacterial and archaeal cells. The CRISPR system employs an RNA-guide complex to target invading DNA or RNA, while Agos target DNA using single stranded DNA or RNA as guides. Thus, the CRISPR and Agos systems defend against exogenous nucleic acids by different mechanisms. It is not fully understood how antagonization of these systems occurs during natural transformation, wherein exogenous DNA enters a host cell as single stranded DNA and is then integrated into the host genome. In this review, we discuss the functions and mechanisms of the CRISPR system and Agos in cellular defense against natural transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mafeng Liu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mi Huang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mingshu Wang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dekang Zhu
- Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Renyong Jia
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shun Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Leichang Pan
- Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Anchun Cheng
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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16
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Golla RM, Mishra B, Dang X, Lakshmaiah Narayana J, Li A, Xu L, Wang G. Resistome of Staphylococcus aureus in Response to Human Cathelicidin LL-37 and Its Engineered Antimicrobial Peptides. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:1866-1881. [PMID: 32343547 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is notoriously known for its rapid development of resistance to conventional antibiotics. S. aureus can alter its membrane composition to reduce the killing effect of antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). To obtain a more complete picture, this study identified the resistance genes of S. aureus in response to human cathelicidin LL-37 peptides by screening the Nebraska Transposon Mutant Library. In total, 24 resistant genes were identified. Among them, six mutants, including the one with the known membrane-modifying gene (mprF) disabled, became more membrane permeable to the LL-37 engineered peptide 17BIPHE2 than the wild type. Mass spectrometry analysis detected minimal lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol (lysylPG) from the mprF mutant of S. aureus JE2, confirming loss-of-function of this gene. Moreover, multiple mutants showed reduced surface adhesion and biofilm formation. In addition, four S. aureus mutants were unable to infect wax moth Galleria mellonella. There appears to be a connection between the ability of bacterial attachment/biofilm formation and infection. These results underscore the multiple functional roles of the identified peptide-response genes in bacterial growth, infection, and biofilm formation. Therefore, S. aureus utilizes a set of resistant genes to weave a complex molecular network to handle the danger posed by cationic LL-37. It appears that different genes are involved depending on the nature of antimicrobials. These resistant genes may offer a novel avenue to designing more potent antibiotics that target the Achilles heels of S. aureus USA300, a community-associated pathogen of great threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radha M. Golla
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Biswajit Mishra
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Xiangli Dang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Jayaram Lakshmaiah Narayana
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Amy Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Libin Xu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Guangshun Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
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17
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Abstract
MOTIVATION An important task in comparative genomics is to detect functional units by analyzing gene-context patterns. Colinear syntenic blocks (CSBs) are groups of genes that are consistently encoded in the same neighborhood and in the same order across a wide range of taxa. Such CSBs are likely essential for the regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes. Recent results indicate that colinearity can be conserved across multiple operons, thus motivating the discovery of multi-operon CSBs. This computational task raises scalability challenges in large datasets. RESULTS We propose an efficient algorithm for the discovery of cross-strand multi-operon CSBs in large genomic datasets. The proposed algorithm uses match-point arithmetic, which is scalable for large datasets of microbial genomes in terms of running time and space requirements. The algorithm is implemented and incorporated into a tool with a graphical user interface, called CSBFinder-S. We applied CSBFinder-S to data mine 1485 prokaryotic genomes and analyzed the identified cross-strand CSBs. Our results indicate that most of the syntenic blocks are exclusively colinear. Additional results indicate that transcriptional regulation by overlapping transcriptional genes is abundant in bacteria. We demonstrate the utility of CSBFinder-S to identify common function of the gene-pair PulEF in multiple contexts, including Type 2 Secretion System, Type 4 Pilus System and DNA uptake machinery. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION CSBFinder-S software and code are publicly available at https://github.com/dinasv/CSBFinder. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Svetlitsky
- Department of Computer Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Tal Dagan
- Institute of Microbiology, Kiel University, Kiel 24118, Germany
| | - Michal Ziv-Ukelson
- Department of Computer Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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18
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Abstract
Thermophilic microbes are an attractive bioproduction platform due to their inherently lower contamination risk and their ability to perform thermostable enzymatic processes which may be required for biomass processing and other industrial applications. The engineering of microbes for industrial scale processes requires a suite of genetic engineering tools to optimize existing biological systems as well as to design and incorporate new metabolic pathways within strains. Yet, such tools are often lacking and/or inadequate for novel microbes, especially thermophiles. This chapter focuses on genetic tool development and engineering strategies, in addition to challenges, for thermophilic microbes. We provide detailed instructions and techniques for tool development for an anaerobic thermophile, Caldanaerobacter subterraneus subsp. tengcongensis, including culturing, plasmid construction, transformation, and selection. This establishes a foundation for advanced genetic tool development necessary for the metabolic engineering of this microbe and potentially other thermophilic organisms.
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19
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Ellison CK, Kan J, Chlebek JL, Hummels KR, Panis G, Viollier PH, Biais N, Dalia AB, Brun YV. A bifunctional ATPase drives tad pilus extension and retraction. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaay2591. [PMID: 31897429 PMCID: PMC6920026 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay2591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A widespread class of prokaryotic motors powered by secretion motor adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases) drives the dynamic extension and retraction of extracellular fibers, such as type IV pili (T4P). Among these, the tight adherence (tad) pili are critical for surface sensing and biofilm formation. As for most other motors belonging to this class, how tad pili retract despite lacking a dedicated retraction motor ATPase has remained a mystery. Here, we find that a bifunctional pilus motor ATPase, CpaF, drives both activities through adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis. We show that mutations within CpaF result in a correlated reduction in the rates of extension and retraction that directly scales with decreased ATP hydrolysis and retraction force. Thus, a single motor ATPase drives the bidirectional processes of pilus fiber extension and retraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney K. Ellison
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Jingbo Kan
- Biology Department, CUNY Brooklyn College, 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
- Graduate Center of CUNY, 365 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Chlebek
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Katherine R. Hummels
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Gaёl Panis
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Patrick H. Viollier
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Biais
- Biology Department, CUNY Brooklyn College, 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
- Graduate Center of CUNY, 365 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Ankur B. Dalia
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Yves V. Brun
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- Département de microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, H3C 3J7 Quebec, Canada
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20
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Börner RA, Kandasamy V, Axelsen AM, Nielsen AT, Bosma EF. Genome editing of lactic acid bacteria: opportunities for food, feed, pharma and biotech. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2019; 366:5251984. [PMID: 30561594 PMCID: PMC6322438 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fny291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This mini-review provides a perspective of traditional, emerging and future applications of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and how genome editing tools can be used to overcome current challenges in all these applications. It also describes available tools and how these can be further developed, and takes current legislation into account. Genome editing tools are necessary for the construction of strains for new applications and products, but can also play a crucial role in traditional ones, such as food and probiotics, as a research tool for gaining mechanistic insights and discovering new properties. Traditionally, recombinant DNA techniques for LAB have strongly focused on being food-grade, but they lack speed and the number of genetically tractable strains is still rather limited. Further tool development will enable rapid construction of multiple mutants or mutant libraries on a genomic level in a wide variety of LAB strains. We also propose an iterative Design–Build–Test–Learn workflow cycle for LAB cell factory development based on systems biology, with ‘cell factory’ expanding beyond its traditional meaning of production strains and making use of genome editing tools to advance LAB understanding, applications and strain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa A Börner
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Vijayalakshmi Kandasamy
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Amalie M Axelsen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alex T Nielsen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Elleke F Bosma
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Transposon Mutagenesis in Chlamydia trachomatis Identifies CT339 as a ComEC Homolog Important for DNA Uptake and Lateral Gene Transfer. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.01343-19. [PMID: 31387908 PMCID: PMC6686042 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01343-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transposon mutagenesis is a widely applied and powerful genetic tool for the discovery of genes associated with selected phenotypes. Chlamydia trachomatis is a clinically significant, obligate intracellular bacterium for which many conventional genetic tools and capabilities have been developed only recently. This report describes the successful development and application of a Himar transposon mutagenesis system for generating single-insertion mutant clones of C. trachomatis This system was used to generate a pool of 105 transposon mutant clones that included insertions in genes encoding flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent monooxygenase (C. trachomatis 148 [ct148]), deubiquitinase (ct868), and competence-associated (ct339) proteins. A subset of Tn mutant clones was evaluated for growth differences under cell culture conditions, revealing that most phenocopied the parental strain; however, some strains displayed subtle and yet significant differences in infectious progeny production and inclusion sizes. Bacterial burden studies in mice also supported the idea that a FAD-dependent monooxygenase (ct148) and a deubiquitinase (ct868) were important for these infections. The ct339 gene encodes a hypothetical protein with limited sequence similarity to the DNA-uptake protein ComEC. A transposon insertion in ct339 rendered the mutant incapable of DNA acquisition during recombination experiments. This observation, along with in situ structural analysis, supports the idea that this protein is playing a role in the fundamental process of lateral gene transfer similar to that of ComEC. In all, the development of the Himar transposon system for Chlamydia provides an effective genetic tool for further discovery of genes that are important for basic biology and pathogenesis aspects.IMPORTANCE Chlamydia trachomatis infections have an immense impact on public health; however, understanding the basic biology and pathogenesis of this organism has been stalled by the limited repertoire of genetic tools. This report describes the successful adaptation of an important tool that has been lacking in Chlamydia studies: transposon mutagenesis. This advance enabled the generation of 105 insertional mutants, demonstrating that numerous gene products are not essential for in vitro growth. Mammalian infections using these mutants revealed that several gene products are important for infections in vivo Moreover, this tool enabled the investigation and discovery of a gene critical for lateral gene transfer; a process fundamental to the evolution of bacteria and likely for Chlamydia as well. The development of transposon mutagenesis for Chlamydia has broad impact for the field and for the discovery of genes associated with selected phenotypes, providing an additional avenue for the discovery of molecular mechanisms used for pathogenesis and for a more thorough understanding of this important pathogen.
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22
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Wuyts S, Allonsius CN, Wittouck S, Thys S, Lievens B, Weckx S, De Vuyst L, Sarah L. Comparative genome analysis of Lactobacillus mudanjiangensis, an understudied member of the Lactobacillus plantarum group. Microb Genom 2019; 5. [PMID: 31368886 PMCID: PMC6807380 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Lactobacillus is known to be extremely diverse and consists of different phylogenetic groups that show a diversity that is roughly equal to the expected diversity of a typical bacterial genus. One of the most prominent phylogenetic groups within this genus is the Lactobacillus plantarum group, which contains the understudied Lactobacillus mudanjiangensis species. Before this study, only one L. mudanjiangensis strain, DSM 28402T, had been described, but without whole-genome analysis. In this study, three strains classified as L. mudanjiangensis were isolated from three different carrot juice fermentations and their whole-genome sequence was determined, together with the genome sequence of the type strain. The genomes of all four strains were compared with publicly available L. plantarum group genome sequences. This analysis showed that L. mudanjiangensis harboured the second largest genome size and gene count of the whole L. plantarum group. In addition, all members of this species showed the presence of a gene coding for a cellulose-degrading enzyme. Finally, three of the four L. mudanjiangensis strains studied showed the presence of pili on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, which were linked to conjugative gene regions, coded on a plasmid in at least two of the strains studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sander Wuyts
- Research Group of Industrial Microbiology and Food Biotechnology (IMDO), Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology (ENdEMIC), Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Camille Nina Allonsius
- Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology (ENdEMIC), Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Stijn Wittouck
- Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology (ENdEMIC), Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sofie Thys
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Antwerp Centre for Advanced Microscopy (ACAM), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bart Lievens
- Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M2S), KU Leuven, Campus De Nayer, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - Stefan Weckx
- Research Group of Industrial Microbiology and Food Biotechnology (IMDO), Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luc De Vuyst
- Research Group of Industrial Microbiology and Food Biotechnology (IMDO), Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lebeer Sarah
- Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology (ENdEMIC), Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Structure and Properties of a Natural Competence-Associated Pilin Suggest a Unique Pilus Tip-Associated DNA Receptor. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.00614-19. [PMID: 31186316 PMCID: PMC6561018 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00614-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural competence is the term used to describe the uptake of "naked" extracellular DNA by bacteria; it plays a significant role in horizontal genetic exchange. It is associated with type IV pili, and specialized competence pili mediate DNA uptake. Here, we show that the crystal structure of a competence-associated protein from Thermus thermophilus, ComZ, consists of a type II secretion pseudopilin-like domain, with a large β-solenoid domain inserted into the β-sheet of the pilin-like fold. ComZ binds with high affinity to another competence-associated pilin, PilA2, which lies adjacent to the comZ gene in the genome. The crystal structure of PilA2 revealed a similar type II secretion pseudopilin-like fold, with a small subdomain; docking simulations predicted that PilA2 binds between the pseudopilin-like and β-solenoid domains of ComZ. Electrophoretic shift analysis and DNase protection studies were used to show that ComZ alone and the ComZ/PilA2 complex are able to bind DNA. Protection against reductive dimethylation was used in combination with mass spectrometry and site-directed mutagenesis to identify two lysine residues in ComZ which are involved in DNA binding. They are located between the two domains in ComZ, on the opposite side from the predicted PilA2 binding site. These results suggest a model in which PilA2 assists ComZ in forming the competence pilus tip and DNA binds to the side of the fiber. The results demonstrate how a type IV pilin can be adapted to a specific function by domain insertion and provide the first structural insights into a tip-located competence pilin.IMPORTANCE Thermus thermophilus is a thermophilic bacterium which is capable of natural transformation, the uptake of external DNA with high efficiency. DNA uptake is thought to be mediated by a competence-associated pilus, which binds the DNA substrate and mediates its transfer across the outer membrane and periplasm. Here, we describe the structural and functional analysis of two pilins which are known to be essential for DNA uptake, ComZ and PilA2. ComZ adopts an unusual structure, incorporating a large β-solenoid domain into the pilin structural framework. We argue on structural grounds that this structure cannot readily be accommodated into the competence pilus fiber unless it is at the tip. We also show that ComZ binds DNA and identify two lysine residues which appear to be important for DNA binding. These results suggest a model in which ComZ and PilA2 form a tip-associated DNA receptor which mediates DNA uptake.
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Abstract
Bacterial uptake of DNA through type IV filaments is an essential component of natural competence in numerous gram-positive and gram-negative species. Recent advances in the field have broadened our understanding of the structures used to take up extracellular DNA. Here, we review seminal experiments in the literature describing DNA binding by type IV pili, competence pili and the flp pili of Micrococcus luteus; collectively referred to here as type IV filaments. We compare the current state of the field on mechanisms of DNA uptake for these three appendage systems and describe the current mechanistic understanding of both DNA-binding and DNA-uptake by these versatile molecular machines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt H Piepenbrink
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States.,Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States.,Nebraska Food for Health Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States.,Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
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25
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Mašlaňová I, Wertheimer Z, Sedláček I, Švec P, Indráková A, Kovařovic V, Schumann P, Spröer C, Králová S, Šedo O, Krištofová L, Vrbovská V, Füzik T, Petráš P, Zdráhal Z, Ružičková V, Doškař J, Pantuček R. Description and Comparative Genomics of Macrococcus caseolyticus subsp. hominis subsp. nov., Macrococcus goetzii sp. nov., Macrococcus epidermidis sp. nov., and Macrococcus bohemicus sp. nov., Novel Macrococci From Human Clinical Material With Virulence Potential and Suspected Uptake of Foreign DNA by Natural Transformation. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1178. [PMID: 29951040 PMCID: PMC6008420 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Macrococcus is a close relative of the genus Staphylococcus. Whilst staphylococci are widespread as human pathogens, macrococci have not yet been reported from human clinical specimens. Here we investigated Gram-positive and catalase-positive cocci recovered from human clinical material and identified as Macrococcus sp. by a polyphasic taxonomic approach and by comparative genomics. Relevant phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic methods divided the analyzed strains into two separate clusters within the genus Macrococcus. Comparative genomics of four representative strains revealed enormous genome structural plasticity among the studied isolates. We hypothesize that high genomic variability is due to the presence of a com operon, which plays a key role in the natural transformation of bacilli and streptococci. The possible uptake of exogenous DNA by macrococci can contribute to a different mechanism of evolution from staphylococci, where phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer predominates. The described macrococcal genomes harbor novel plasmids, genomic islands and islets, as well as prophages. Capsule gene clusters, intracellular protease, and a fibronectin-binding protein enabling opportunistic pathogenesis were found in all four strains. Furthermore, the presence of a CRISPR-Cas system with 90 spacers in one of the sequenced genomes corresponds with the need to limit the burden of foreign DNA. The highly dynamic genomes could serve as a platform for the exchange of virulence and resistance factors, as was described for the methicillin resistance gene, which was found on the novel composite SCCmec-like element containing a unique mec gene complex that is considered to be one of the missing links in SCC evolution. The phenotypic, genotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic results demonstrated that the analyzed strains represent one novel subspecies and three novel species of the genus Macrococcus, for which the names Macrococcus caseolyticus subsp. hominis subsp. nov. (type strain CCM 7927T = DSM 103682T), Macrococcus goetzii sp. nov. (type strain CCM 4927T = DSM 103683T), Macrococcus epidermidis sp. nov. (type strain CCM 7099T = DSM 103681T), and Macrococcus bohemicus sp. nov. (type strain CCM 7100T = DSM 103680T) are proposed. Moreover, a formal description of Macrococcus caseolyticus subsp. caseolyticus subsp. nov. and an emended description of the genus Macrococcus are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Mašlaňová
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Zuzana Wertheimer
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ivo Sedláček
- Czech Collection of Microorganisms, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Pavel Švec
- Czech Collection of Microorganisms, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Adéla Indráková
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Vojtěch Kovařovic
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Peter Schumann
- Leibniz Institute Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen—German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Cathrin Spröer
- Leibniz Institute Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen—German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stanislava Králová
- Czech Collection of Microorganisms, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ondrej Šedo
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Lucie Krištofová
- Czech Collection of Microorganisms, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Veronika Vrbovská
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Tibor Füzik
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Petr Petráš
- Reference Laboratory for Staphylococci, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czechia
| | - Zbyněk Zdráhal
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Vladislava Ružičková
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jiří Doškař
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Roman Pantuček
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
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26
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Ellison CK, Dalia TN, Vidal Ceballos A, Wang JCY, Biais N, Brun YV, Dalia AB. Retraction of DNA-bound type IV competence pili initiates DNA uptake during natural transformation in Vibrio cholerae. Nat Microbiol 2018; 3:773-780. [PMID: 29891864 PMCID: PMC6582970 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0174-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Triana N Dalia
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Alfredo Vidal Ceballos
- Biology Department, CUNY Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY, USA.,Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Nicolas Biais
- Biology Department, CUNY Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY, USA.,Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yves V Brun
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Ankur B Dalia
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
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27
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Freed E, Fenster J, Smolinski SL, Walker J, Henard CA, Gill R, Eckert CA. Building a genome engineering toolbox in nonmodel prokaryotic microbes. Biotechnol Bioeng 2018; 115:2120-2138. [PMID: 29750332 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The realization of a sustainable bioeconomy requires our ability to understand and engineer complex design principles for the development of platform organisms capable of efficient conversion of cheap and sustainable feedstocks (e.g., sunlight, CO2 , and nonfood biomass) into biofuels and bioproducts at sufficient titers and costs. For model microbes, such as Escherichia coli, advances in DNA reading and writing technologies are driving the adoption of new paradigms for engineering biological systems. Unfortunately, microbes with properties of interest for the utilization of cheap and renewable feedstocks, such as photosynthesis, autotrophic growth, and cellulose degradation, have very few, if any, genetic tools for metabolic engineering. Therefore, it is important to develop "design rules" for building a genetic toolbox for novel microbes. Here, we present an overview of our current understanding of these rules for the genetic manipulation of prokaryotic microbes and the available genetic tools to expand our ability to genetically engineer nonmodel systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Freed
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Biosciences Center, Golden, CO.,Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
| | - Jacob Fenster
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.,Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
| | | | - Julie Walker
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
| | - Calvin A Henard
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Bioenergy Center, Golden, CO
| | - Ryan Gill
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Biosciences Center, Golden, CO.,Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.,Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
| | - Carrie A Eckert
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Biosciences Center, Golden, CO.,Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
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28
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Engholm DH, Kilian M, Goodsell DS, Andersen ES, Kjærgaard RS. A visual review of the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2018; 41:854-879. [PMID: 29029129 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fux037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Being the principal causative agent of bacterial pneumonia, otitis media, meningitis and septicemia, the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major global health problem. To highlight the molecular basis of this problem, we have portrayed essential biological processes of the pneumococcal life cycle in eight watercolor paintings. The paintings are done to a consistent nanometer scale based on currently available data from structural biology and proteomics. In this review article, the paintings are used to provide a visual review of protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, cell wall synthesis, cell division, teichoic acid synthesis, virulence, transformation and pilus synthesis based on the available scientific literature within the field of pneumococcal biology. Visualization of the molecular details of these processes reveals several scientific questions about how molecular components of the pneumococcal cell are organized to allow biological function to take place. By the presentation of this visual review, we intend to stimulate scientific discussion, aid in the generation of scientific hypotheses and increase public awareness. A narrated video describing the biological processes in the context of a whole-cell illustration accompany this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ditte Høyer Engholm
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mogens Kilian
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - David S Goodsell
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.,Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Ebbe Sloth Andersen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.,Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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29
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Unleashing Natural Competence in Lactococcus lactis by Induction of the Competence Regulator ComX. Appl Environ Microbiol 2017; 83:AEM.01320-17. [PMID: 28778888 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01320-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In biotechnological workhorses like Streptococcus thermophilus and Bacillus subtilis, natural competence can be induced, which facilitates genetic manipulation of these microbes. However, in strains of the important dairy starter Lactococcus lactis, natural competence has not been established to date. However, in silico analysis of the complete genome sequences of 43 L. lactis strains revealed complete late competence gene sets in 2 L. lactis subsp. cremoris strains (KW2 and KW10) and at least 10 L. lactis subsp. lactis strains, including the model strain IL1403 and the plant-derived strain KF147. The remainder of the strains, including all dairy isolates, displayed genomic decay in one or more of the late competence genes. Nisin-controlled expression of the competence regulator comX in L. lactis subsp. lactis KF147 resulted in the induction of expression of the canonical competence regulon and elicited a state of natural competence in this strain. In contrast, comX expression in L. lactis NZ9000, which was predicted to encode an incomplete competence gene set, failed to induce natural competence. Moreover, mutagenesis of the comEA-EC operon in strain KF147 abolished the comX-driven natural competence, underlining the involvement of the competence machinery. Finally, introduction of nisin-inducible comX expression into nisRK-harboring derivatives of strains IL1403 and KW2 allowed the induction of natural competence in these strains also, expanding this phenotype to other L. lactis strains of both subspecies.IMPORTANCE Specific bacterial species are able to enter a state of natural competence in which DNA is taken up from the environment, allowing the introduction of novel traits. Strains of the species Lactococcus lactis are very important starter cultures for the fermentation of milk in the cheese production process, where these bacteria contribute to the flavor and texture of the end product. The activation of natural competence in this industrially relevant organism can accelerate research aiming to understand industrially relevant traits of these bacteria and can facilitate engineering strategies to harness the natural biodiversity of the species in optimized starter strains.
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30
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Ibáñez de Aldecoa AL, Zafra O, González-Pastor JE. Mechanisms and Regulation of Extracellular DNA Release and Its Biological Roles in Microbial Communities. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1390. [PMID: 28798731 PMCID: PMC5527159 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The capacity to release genetic material into the extracellular medium has been reported in cultures of numerous species of bacteria, archaea, and fungi, and also in the context of multicellular microbial communities such as biofilms. Moreover, extracellular DNA (eDNA) of microbial origin is widespread in natural aquatic and terrestrial environments. Different specific mechanisms are involved in eDNA release, such as autolysis and active secretion, as well as through its association with membrane vesicles. It is noteworthy that in microorganisms, in which DNA release has been studied in detail, the production of eDNA is coordinated by the population when it reaches a certain cell density, and is induced in a subpopulation in response to the accumulation of quorum sensing signals. Interestingly, in several bacteria there is also a relationship between eDNA release and the development of natural competence (the ability to take up DNA from the environment), which is also controlled by quorum sensing. Then, what is the biological function of eDNA? A common biological role has not been proposed, since different functions have been reported depending on the microorganism. However, it seems to be important in biofilm formation, can be used as a nutrient source, and could be involved in DNA damage repair and gene transfer. This review covers several aspects of eDNA research: (i) its occurrence and distribution in natural environments, (ii) the mechanisms and regulation of its release in cultured microorganisms, and (iii) its biological roles. In addition, we propose that eDNA release could be considered a social behavior, based on its quorum sensing-dependent regulation and on the described functions of eDNA in the context of microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra L Ibáñez de Aldecoa
- Laboratory of Molecular Adaptation, Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial)Madrid, Spain
| | - Olga Zafra
- Experimental Sciences Faculty, Francisco de Vitoria UniversityMadrid, Spain
| | - José E González-Pastor
- Laboratory of Molecular Adaptation, Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial)Madrid, Spain
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31
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Chen X, Wang L, Zhou J, Wu H, Li D, Cui Y, Lu B. Exiguobacterium sp. A1b/GX59 isolated from a patient with community-acquired pneumonia and bacteremia: genomic characterization and literature review. BMC Infect Dis 2017; 17:508. [PMID: 28732529 PMCID: PMC5521131 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2616-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bacterial species belonging to the genus Exiguobacterium are facultative anaerobic, non-spore-forming, Gram-positive bacilli, and rarely associated with human infections. Herein, we reported the first case of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and bacteremia due to Exiguobacterium spp. in China. Case presentation An adult male with severe CAP was hospitalized. The pathogen was isolated from his bloodstream and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid. The correct identification of the micro-organism was achieved using 16S rRNA sequencing, and its antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by microdilution method. The Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) was used to characterize its genetic features and to elucidate its potential pathogenic mechanisms. Furthermore, its genome sequence was also compared with those of 3 publicly-available Exiguobacterium strains. A PubMed search was performed for further understanding the features of Exiguobacterium infections. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain GX59 was most closely related to Exiguobacterium AT1b (99.7%). The genome of GX59 was 2,727,929 bp in size, harbouring 2855 putative protein-coding genes, 5 rRNA operons, 37 tRNA genes and 1 tmRNA. The multiple genome comparison of 4 Exiguobacterium strains demonstrated that Exiguobacterium contained 37 genes of secretion systems, including sec, tat, FEA, Type IV Pili and competence-related DNA transformation transporter (Com). Virulence factors of the micro-organism included tlyC, NprR, MCP, Dam, which might play a critical role in causing lethal infection. Conclusions The study highlighted the potential pathogenicity of the genus Exiguobacterium for its unique genes encoding various virulence factors and those associated with antibiotic resistance, therefore, its clinical significance should be valued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingchun Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Lijun Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 102218, China
| | | | | | - Dong Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Civil Aviation General Hospital, Peking University Civil Aviation School of Clinical Medicine, No1. Gaojing Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100123, China
| | - Yanchao Cui
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Civil Aviation General Hospital, Peking University Civil Aviation School of Clinical Medicine, No1. Gaojing Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100123, China
| | - Binghuai Lu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Civil Aviation General Hospital, Peking University Civil Aviation School of Clinical Medicine, No1. Gaojing Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100123, China.
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32
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Kumari M, Pandey S, Mishra A, Nautiyal CS. Finding a facile way for the bacterial DNA transformation by biosynthesized gold nanoparticles. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2017; 364:3894107. [DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
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33
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Comprehensive Transcriptome Profiles of Streptococcus mutans UA159 Map Core Streptococcal Competence Genes. mSystems 2016; 1:mSystems00038-15. [PMID: 27822519 PMCID: PMC5069739 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00038-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In Streptococcus mutans, an oral colonizer associated with dental caries, development of competence for natural genetic transformation is triggered by either of two types of peptide pheromones, competence-stimulating peptides (CSPs) (18 amino acids [aa]) or SigX-inducing peptides (XIPs) (7 aa). Competence induced by CSP is a late response to the pheromone that requires the response regulator ComE and the XIP-encoding gene comS. XIP binds to ComR to allow expression of the alternative sigma factor SigX and the effector genes it controls. While these regulatory links are established, the precise set of effectors controlled by each regulator is poorly defined. To improve the definition of all three regulons, we used a high-resolution tiling array to map global changes in gene expression in the early and late phases of the CSP response. The early phase of the CSP response was limited to increased gene expression at four loci associated with bacteriocin production and immunity. In the late phase, upregulated regions expanded to a total of 29 loci, including comS and genes required for DNA uptake and recombination. The results indicate that the entire late response to CSP depends on the expression of comS and that the immediate transcriptional response to CSP, mediated by ComE, is restricted to just four bacteriocin-related loci. Comparison of the new data with published transcriptome data permitted the identification of all of the operons in each regulon: 4 for ComE, 2 for ComR, and 21 for SigX. Finally, a core set of 27 panstreptococcal competence genes was identified within the SigX regulon by comparison of transcriptome data from diverse streptococcal species. IMPORTANCES. mutans has the hard surfaces of the oral cavity as its natural habitat, where it depends on its ability to form biofilms in order to survive. The comprehensive identification of S. mutans regulons activated in response to peptide pheromones provides an important basis for understanding how S. mutans can transition from individual to social behavior. Our study placed 27 of the 29 transcripts activated during competence within three major regulons and revealed a core set of 27 panstreptococcal competence-activated genes within the SigX regulon.
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34
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Matthey N, Blokesch M. The DNA-Uptake Process of Naturally Competent Vibrio cholerae. Trends Microbiol 2015; 24:98-110. [PMID: 26614677 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2015.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The sophisticated DNA-uptake machinery used during natural transformation is still poorly characterized, especially in Gram-negative bacteria where the transforming DNA has to cross two membranes as well as the peptidoglycan layer before entering the cytoplasm. The DNA-uptake machinery was hypothesized to take the form of a pseudopilus, which, upon repeated cycles of extension and retraction, would pull external DNA towards the cell surface or into the periplasmic space, followed by translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane. In this review, we summarize recent advances on the DNA-uptake machinery of V. cholerae, highlighting the presence of an extended competence-induced pilus and the contribution of a conserved DNA-binding protein that acts as a ratchet and reels DNA into the periplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Matthey
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Station 19, EPFL-SV-UPBLO, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Blokesch
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Station 19, EPFL-SV-UPBLO, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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