Kinetics of plasmid transfer among Bacillus cereus group strains within lepidopteran larvae

Conjugation across Bacillus cereus and kin: A review

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major driving force in shaping bacterial communities. Key elements responsible for HGT are conjugation-like events and transmissible plasmids. Conjugative plasmids can promote their own transfer as well as that of co-resident plasmids. Bacillus cereus and relatives harbor a plethora of plasmids, including conjugative plasmids, which are at the heart of the group species differentiation and specification. Since the first report of a conjugation-like event between strains of B. cereus sensu lato (s.l.) 40 years ago, many have studied the potential of plasmid transfer across the group, especially for plasmids encoding major toxins. Over the years, more than 20 plasmids from B. cereus isolates have been reported as conjugative. However, with the increasing number of genomic data available, in silico analyses indicate that more plasmids from B. cereus s.l. genomes present self-transfer potential. B. cereus s.l. bacteria occupy diverse environmental niches, which were mimicked in laboratory conditions to study conjugation-related mechanisms. Laboratory mating conditions remain nonetheless simplistic compared to the complex interactions occurring in natural environments. Given the health, economic and ecological importance of strains of B. cereus s.l., it is of prime importance to consider the impact of conjugation within this bacterial group.

Dissecting the Environmental Consequences of Bacillus thuringiensis Application for Natural Ecosystems

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a natural pathogen of different invertebrates, primarily insects, is widely used as a biological control agent. While Bt-based preparations are claimed to be safe for non-target organisms due to the immense host specificity of the bacterium, the growing evidence witnesses the distant consequences of their application for natural communities. For instance, upon introduction to soil habitats, Bt strains can affect indigenous microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, and further establish complex relationships with local plants, ranging from a mostly beneficial demeanor, to pathogenesis-like plant colonization. By exerting a direct effect on target insects, Bt can indirectly affect other organisms in the food chain. Furthermore, they can also exert an off-target activity on various soil and terrestrial invertebrates, and the frequent acquisition of virulence factors unrelated to major insecticidal toxins can extend the Bt host range to vertebrates, including humans. Even in the absence of direct detrimental effects, the exposure to Bt treatment may affect non-target organisms by reducing prey base and its nutritional value, resulting in delayed alleviation of their viability. The immense phenotypic plasticity of Bt strains, coupled with the complexity of ecological relationships they can engage in, indicates that further assessment of future Bt-based pesticides' safety should consider multiple levels of ecosystem organization and extend to a wide variety of their inhabitants.

Application of Bacillus thuringiensis strains with conjugal and mobilizing capability drives gene transmissibility within Bacillus cereus group populations in confined habitats

Background

Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria share similar genetic, physiological, and biochemical characteristics with other members of the Bacillus cereus group. Their diversity and entomopathogenic origin are related to their mobile genetic elements. However, the effects of wide-spread application of B. thuringiensis-based pesticides on genetically related B. cereus group populations present in the environment remain poorly understood.

Results

We first identified pBMB76 from B. thuringiensis tenebrionis as a new conjugative plasmid. Mixed mating experiments suggested that pBMB76 may compete with pHT73, another known conjugative plasmid. Applications of single (tenebrionis 4AA1 and kurstaki HD73 carrying pBMB76 and pHT73, respectively) and mixed (4AA1 + HD73) B. thuringiensis strains were performed in confined plot habitats (soil and leaf) over two planting seasons. In total, 684 B. cereus group isolates were randomly selected from different treatment sets, and the transmissibility and occurrence rate of potential conjugative plasmids were surveyed. Results showed that the percentage of isolates with plasmid mobility was markedly enhanced in the B. thuringiensis-sprayed groups. Furthermore, we performed multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) for a subset of 291 isolates, which indicated that the dominant sequence types in the treated habitats were identical or related to the corresponding sprayed formulations.

Conclusions

The application of B. thuringiensis strains with conjugal and mobilizing capability drove gene transmissibility within the B. cereus group populations in confined habitats and potentially modified the population structure.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-020-02047-4.

Multifaceted toxin profile, an approach toward a better understanding of probiotic Bacillus cereus

Strains of the Bacillus cereus group have been widely used as probiotics for human beings, food animals, plants, and environmental remediation. Paradoxically, B. cereus is responsible for both gastrointestinal and nongastrointestinal syndromes and represents an important opportunistic food-borne pathogen. Toxicity assessment is a fundamental issue to evaluate safety of probiotics. Here, we summarize the state of our current knowledge about the toxins of B. cereus sensu lato to be considered for safety assessment of probiotic candidates. Surfactin-like emetic toxin (cereulide) and various enterotoxins including nonhemolytic enterotoxin, hemolysin BL, and cytotoxin K are responsible for food poisoning outbreaks characterized by emesis and diarrhea. In addition, other factors, such as hemolysin II, Certhrax, immune inhibitor A1, and sphingomyelinase, contribute to toxicity and overall virulence of B. cereus.

Common Virulence Factors and Tissue Targets of Entomopathogenic Bacteria for Biological Control of Lepidopteran Pests

This review focuses on common insecticidal virulence factors from entomopathogenic bacteria with special emphasis on two insect pathogenic bacteria Photorhabdus (Proteobacteria: Enterobacteriaceae) and Bacillus (Firmicutes: Bacillaceae). Insect pathogenic bacteria of diverse taxonomic groups and phylogenetic origin have been shown to have striking similarities in the virulence factors they produce. It has been suggested that the detection of phage elements surrounding toxin genes, horizontal and lateral gene transfer events, and plasmid shuffling occurrences may be some of the reasons that virulence factor genes have so many analogs throughout the bacterial kingdom. Comparison of virulence factors of Photorhabdus, and Bacillus, two bacteria with dissimilar life styles opens the possibility of re-examining newly discovered toxins for novel tissue targets. For example, nematodes residing in the hemolymph may release bacteria with virulence factors targeting neurons or neuromuscular junctions. The first section of this review focuses on toxins and their context in agriculture. The second describes the mode of action of toxins from common entomopathogens and the third draws comparisons between Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The fourth section reviews the implications of the nervous system in biocontrol.

The resolution and regeneration of a cointegrate plasmid reveals a model for plasmid evolution mediated by conjugation and oriT site-specific recombination

Cointegrate plasmids are useful models for the study of plasmid evolution if their evolutionary processes can be replicated under laboratory conditions. pBMB0228, a 17 706 bp native plasmid originally isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis strain YBT-1518, carries two nematicidal crystal protein genes, cry6Aa and cry55Aa. In this study, we show that pBMB0228 is in fact a cointegrate of two plasmids and contains two functional replication regions and two functional mobilization regions. Upon introduction into B. thuringiensis strain BMB171, pBMB0228 spontaneously resolves into two constituent plasmids via recombination at its oriT1 and oriT2 sites. The resolution does not require conjugation but can be promoted by conjugation. We further confirm that the resolution is mediated by oriT site-specific recombination requiring Mob02281 or Mob02282. Additionally, the two constituent plasmids of pBMB0228 are mobilizable, and can fuse back via oriT site-specific integration after entering into the same cell by conjugation. Our study confirms that native plasmid can reversibly interconvert between a cointegrate structure and its constituent plasmids. This study provides insight into the evolution of cointegrate plasmids, linking plasmid evolution with conjugation and the oriT site-specific recombination function of relaxase.

Diversity of Bacillus cereus group strains is reflected in their broad range of pathogenicity and diverse ecological lifestyles

Bacillus cereus comprises a highly versatile group of bacteria, which are of particular interest because of their capacity to cause disease. Emetic food poisoning is caused by the toxin cereulide produced during the growth of emetic B. cereus in food, while diarrhoeal food poisoning is the result of enterotoxin production by viable vegetative B. cereus cells in the small intestine, probably in the mucus layer and/or attached to the host's intestinal epithelium. The numbers of B. cereus causing disease are highly variable, depending on diverse factors linked to the host (age, diet, physiology and immunology), bacteria (cellular form, toxin genes and expression) and food (nutritional composition and meal characteristics). Bacillus cereus group strains show impressive ecological diversity, ranging from their saprophytic life cycle in soil to symbiotic (commensal and mutualistic) lifestyles near plant roots and in guts of insects and mammals to various pathogenic ones in diverse insect and mammalian hosts. During all these different ecological lifestyles, their toxins play important roles ranging from providing competitive advantages within microbial communities to inhibition of specific pathogenic organisms for their host and accomplishment of infections by damaging their host's tissues.

Development of quinoxaline 1, 4-dioxides resistance in Escherichia coli and molecular change under resistance selection

Quinoxaline 1, 4-dioxides (QdNOs) has been used in animals as antimicrobial agents and growth promoters for decades. However, the resistance to QdNOs in pathogenic bacteria raises worldwide concern but it is barely known. To explore the molecular mechanism involved in development of QdNOs resistance in Escherichia coli, 6 strains selected by QdNOs in vitro and 21 strains isolated from QdNOs-used swine farm were subjected to MIC determination and PCR amplification of oqxA gene. A conjugative transfer was carried out to evaluate the transfer risk of QdNOs resistant determinant. Furthermore, the transcriptional profile of a QdNOs-resistant E. coli (79O4-2) selected in vitro with its parent strain 79–161 was assayed with a prokaryotic suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) PCR cDNA subtraction. The result showed that more than 95% (20/21) clinical isolates were oqxA positive, while all the 6 induced QdNOs-resistant strains carried no oqxA gene and exhibited low frequency of conjugation. 44 fragments were identified by SSH PCR subtraction in the QdNOs-resistant strain 79O4-2. 18 cDNAs were involved in biosynthesis of Fe-S cluster (narH), protein (rpoA, trmD, truA, glyS, ileS, rplFCX, rpsH, fusA), lipoate (lipA), lipid A (lpxC), trehalose (otsA), CTP(pyrG) and others molecular. The 11 cDNAs were related to metabolism or degradation of glycolysis (gpmA and pgi) and proteins (clpX, clpA, pepN and fkpB). The atpADG and ubiB genes were associated with ATP biosynthesis and electron transport chain. The pathway of the functional genes revealed that E. coli may adapt the stress generated by QdNOs or develop specific QdNOs-resistance by activation of antioxidative agents biosynthesis (lipoate and trehalose), protein biosynthesis, glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. This study initially reveals the possible molecular mechanism involved in the development of QdNOs-resistance in E. coli, providing with novel insights in prediction and assessment of the emergency and horizontal transfer of QdNOs-resistance in E. coli.

Regulation of toxin production by Bacillus cereus and its food safety implications

Toxin expression is of utmost importance for the food-borne pathogen B. cereus, both in food poisoning and non-gastrointestinal host infections as well as in interbacterial competition. Therefore it is no surprise that the toxin gene expression is tightly regulated by various internal and environmental signals. An overview of the current knowledge regarding emetic and diarrheal toxin transcription and expression is presented in this review. The food safety aspects and management tools such as temperature control, food preservatives and modified atmosphere packaging are discussed specifically for B. cereus emetic and diarrheal toxin production.

Conjugal transfer between Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus strains is not directly correlated with growth of recipient strains

Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus belong to the B. cereus species group. The two species share substantial chromosomal similarity and differ mostly in their plasmid content. The phylogenetic relationship between these species remains a matter of debate. There is genetic exchange both within and between these species, and current evidence indicates that insects are a particularly suitable environment for the growth of and genetic exchange between these species. We investigated the conjugation efficiency of B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki KT0 (pHT73-Em) as a donor and a B. thuringiensis and several B. cereus strains as recipients; we used one-recipient and two-recipient conjugal transfer systems in vitro (broth and filter) and in Bombyx mori larvae, and assessed multiplication following conjugation between Bacillus strains. The B. thuringiensis KT0 strain did not show preference for genetic exchange with the B. thuringiensis recipient strain over that with the B. cereus recipient strains. However, B. thuringiensis strains germinated and multiplied more efficiently than B. cereus strains in insect larvae and only B. thuringiensis maintained complete spore germination for at least 24 h in B. mori larvae. These findings show that there is no positive association between bacterial multiplication efficiency and conjugation ability in infected insects for the used strains.

Differential transfer dynamics of pAW63 plasmid among members of the Bacillus cereus group in food microcosms

AIM

To assess the dynamics of plasmid transfer between Bacillus thuringiensis and B. cereus in various food microcosms using the B. thuringiensis pAW63 and Staphylococcus aureus pUB110 plasmids as models.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The conjugative behaviour of pAW63, which resembles the B. anthracis virulence plasmid pXO2, and the mobilization of pUB110 were investigated using kinetics studies performed in reference LB (lysogeny broth) medium, full-cream and skimmed milks, soya milk and rice milk. Transfers of pAW63 and pUB110 were found to occur in the five tested media, with higher frequencies observed in food matrices, most notably in full-cream milk, skimmed milk and soya milk, where the mean transfer frequencies reached 10(-3) transconjugants per recipient cell. The most notable observations were that the higher transfer frequencies obtained in foodstuffs compared to those observed in LB were because of an earlier onset of conjugation in combination with a higher transfer rate and/or a longer mating period.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that not only the potential for plasmid transfer but also the overall timing of conjugation is affected by each of these food matrices.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This new approach to study plasmid transfer provides insights for a better understanding of conjugation in food microcosms from both animal and vegetable origins among members of the B. cereus group.

Isolation of a novel strain of Bacillus pumilus from penaeid shrimp that is inhibitory against marine pathogens

A bacterium was isolated from the mid-gut of healthy black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, based on a large zone of inhibition in mixed culture on solid medium. The isolate was a Gram-positive, motile spore former, with an optimum pH range for growth in tryptone soya broth containing 2% NaCl of between pH 6 and 9. The bacterium was highly salt tolerant with concentrations between 0% and 8% having no detrimental effect on growth. The isolate was identified as Bacillus pumilus based on physiological capabilities using the API50CHB and Biolog systems. Amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene followed by phylogenetic analysis confirmed its identity. The Bacillus pumilus isolate was strongly inhibitory against the marine bacterial pathogens Vibrio alginolyticus, V. mimicus and V. harveyi, and weakly inhibitory against V. parahaemolyticus in cross-streaking assays on solid medium. The organism was marginally self-inhibitory, and inhibited B. licheniformis and B. subtilis. The suitability of the B. pumilus isolate for use as a probiotic in farmed shrimp was further supported by the absence of any of the known B. cereus enterotoxin genes. Based on these in vitro results, in vivo safety and efficacy trials are underway to determine suitability of the novel strain as a commercial probiotic.

Conjugative transfer of insecticidal plasmid pHT73 from Bacillus thuringiensis to B. anthracis and compatibility of this plasmid with pXO1 and pXO2

Bacillus anthracis, the etiologic agent of anthrax, is genetically close to and commonly shares a giant gene pool with B. cereus and B. thuringiensis. In view of the human pathogenicity and the long persistence in the environment of B. anthracis, there is growing concern about the effects of genetic exchange with B. anthracis on public health. In this work, we demonstrate that an insecticidal plasmid, pHT73, from B. thuringiensis strain KT0 could be efficiently transferred into two attenuated B. anthracis strains, Ba63002R (pXO1(+) pXO2(-)) and Ba63605R (pXO1(-) pXO2(+)), by conjugation in liquid medium in the laboratory, with transfer rates of 2.3 x 10(-4) and 1.6 x 10(-4) CFU/donor, respectively. The B. anthracis transconjugants containing both pHT73 and pXO1 or pXO2 could produce crystal protein Cry1Ac encoded by plasmid pHT73 and had high toxicity to Helicoverpa armigera larvae. Furthermore, the compatibility and stability of pHT73 with pXO1/pXO2 were demonstrated. The data are informative for further investigation of the safety of B. thuringiensis and closely related strains in food and in the environment.

Identification of Bacillus anthracis spore component antigens conserved across diverse Bacillus cereus sensu lato strains

We sought to identify proteins in the Bacillus anthracis spore, conserved in other strains of the closely related Bacillus cereus group, that elicit an immune response in mammals. Two high throughput approaches were used. First, an in silico screening identified 200 conserved putative B. anthracis spore components. A total of 192 of those candidate genes were expressed and purified in vitro, 75 of which reacted with the rabbit immune sera generated against B. anthracis spores. The second approach was to screen for cross-reacting antigens in the spore proteome of 10 diverse B. cereus group strains. Two-dimensional electrophoresis resolved more than 200 protein spots in each spore preparation. About 72% of the protein spots were found in all the strains. 18 of these conserved proteins reacted against anti-B. anthracis spore rabbit immune sera, two of which (alanine racemase, Dal-1 and the methionine transporter, MetN) overlapped the set of proteins identified using the in silico screen. A conserved repeat domain protein (Crd) was the most immunoreactive protein found broadly across B. cereus sensu lato strains. We have established an approach for finding conserved targets across a species using population genomics and proteomics. The results of these screens suggest the possibility of a multiepitope antigen for broad host range diagnostics or therapeutics against Bacillus spore infection.

Survey of group I and group II introns in 29 sequenced genomes of the Bacillus cereus group: insights into their spread and evolution

Group I and group II introns are different catalytic self-splicing and mobile RNA elements that contribute to genome dynamics. In this study, we have analyzed their distribution and evolution in 29 sequenced genomes from the Bacillus cereus group of bacteria. Introns were of different structural classes and evolutionary origins, and a large number of nearly identical elements are shared between multiple strains of different sources, suggesting recent lateral transfers and/or that introns are under a strong selection pressure. Altogether, 73 group I introns were identified, inserted in essential genes from the chromosome or newly described prophages, including the first elements found within phages in bacterial plasmids. Notably, bacteriophages are an important source for spreading group I introns between strains. Furthermore, 77 group II introns were found within a diverse set of chromosomal and plasmidic genes. Unusual findings include elements located within conserved DNA metabolism and repair genes and one intron inserted within a novel retroelement. Group II introns are mainly disseminated via plasmids and can subsequently invade the host genome, in particular by coupling mobility with host cell replication. This study reveals a very high diversity and variability of mobile introns in B. cereus group strains.