Cloning and expression of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S toxin gene

Pseudomonas aeruginosa antigens as potential vaccines

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most important opportunistic bacterial pathogens in humans and animals. This organism is ubiquitous and has high intrinsic resistance to antibiotics due to the low permeability of the outer membrane and the presence of numerous multiple drug efflux pumps. Various cell-associated and secreted antigens of P. aeruginosa have been the subject of vaccine development. Among pseudomonas antigens, the mucoid substance, which is an extracellular slime consisting predominantly of alginate, was found to be heterogenous in terms of size and immunogenicity. High molecular mass alginate components (30-300 kDa) appear to contain conserved epitopes while lower molecular mass alginate components (10-30 kDa) possess conserved epitopes in addition to unique epitopes. Surface-exposed antigens including O-antigens (O-specific polysaccharide of LPS) or H-antigens (flagellar antigens) have been used for serotyping due to their highly immunogenic nature. Chemical structures of repeating units of O-specific polysaccharides have been elucidated and these data allowed the identification of 31 chemotypes of P. aeruginosa. Conserved epitopes among all serotypes of P. aeruginosa are located in the core oligosaccharide and the lipid A region of LPS and immunogens containing these epitopes induce cross-protective immunity in mice against different P. aeruginosa immunotypes. To examine the protective properties of OM proteins, a vaccine containing P. aeruginosa OM proteins of molecular masses ranging from 20 to 100 kDa has been used in pre-clinical and clinical trials. This vaccine was efficacious in animal models against P. aeruginosa challenge and induced high levels of specific antibodies in human volunteers. Plasma from human volunteers containing anti-P. aeruginosa antibodies provided passive protection and helped the recovery of 87% of patients with severe forms of P. aeruginosa infection. Vaccines prepared from P. aeruginosa ribosomes induced protective immunity in mice, but the efficacy of ribosomal vaccines in humans is not yet known. A number of recent studies indicated the potential of some P. aeruginosa antigens that deserve attention as new vaccine candidates. The outer core of LPS was implicated to be a ligand for binding of P. aeruginosa to airway and ocular epithelial cells of animals. However, heterogeneity exists in this outer core region among different serotypes. Epitopes in the inner core are highly conserved and it has been demonstrated to be surface-accessible, and not masked by O-specific polysaccharide. The use of an in vivo selection/expression technology (IVET) by a group of researchers identified a number of P. aeruginosa proteins that are expressed in vivo and essential for virulence. Two of these in vivo-expressed proteins are FptA (ferripyochelin receptor protein) and a homologue of an LPS biosynthetic enzyme. Our laboratory has identified a highly conserved protein, WbpM, and P. aeruginosa with a deficiency in this protein produces only rough LPS and became serum sensitive. Results from these studies have provided the foundation for a variety of vaccine formulations.

Genetic analysis of exoenzyme S expression by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The dissemination of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the bloodstream increases the likelihood of developing fatal sepsis. In experimental models, the ability to disseminate is linked to expression of the exoenzyme S pathway. Genetic and biochemical analysis of the pathway has led to the identification of the two structural genes encoding exoenzyme S, exoS and exoT. A key regulator of several loci of the pathway has been identified as a DNA-binding protein with transcriptional activation properties. Preliminary evidence suggests that exoenzyme S and the Yop virulence determinants of yersiniae share homology among proteins involved in their synthesis and secretion. With the addition of exoS and exoT to the molecular arsenal, questions concerning in vivo toxicity and target specificities of exoenzyme S can be directly addressed.

Expression of recombinant exoenzyme S of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The structural gene for the 49-kDa form of exoenzyme S (exoS) isolated from Pseudomonas aeruginosa 388 was expressed in both Escherichia coli and P. aeruginosa PA103. Expression of exoS in E. coli under the transcriptional regulation of the T7 promoter yielded a soluble cytosolic protein with an apparent molecular mass of 49 kDa, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Expression of exoS in P. aeruginosa PA103 under the transcriptional regulation of the 0.9 kbp of Pseudomonas chromosomal DNA flanking the 5' end of exoS yielded a nitrilotriacetic acid-inducible extracellular protein with an apparent molecular mass of 49 kDa. Recombinant ExoS (rExoS) reacted with the anti-49-kDa form of exoenzyme S immunoglobulin G, existed as an aggregate as determined by gel filtration chromatography, and ADP-ribosylated soybean trypsin inhibitor at a specific activity that was similar (within twofold) to that of native exoenzyme S. Allelic exchange of exoS with a tetracycline gene cartridge yielded a strain of P. aeruginosa 388 that did not express detectable amounts of either ExoS in an immunoblot analysis using the anti-49-kDa form of exoenzyme S immunoglobulin G or ADP-ribosyltransferase activity under standard enzyme assay conditions. Expression of catalytically active rExoS in E. coli demonstrated that exoS was necessary and sufficient for the factor-activating exoenzyme S-dependent ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of exoenzyme S. Expression of nitrilotriacetic acid-inducible rExoS in P. aeruginosa PA103 demonstrated that the 0.9 kbp of Pseudomonas chromosomal DNA flanking the 5' end of exoS encoded a functional exoenzyme S promoter. Expression analysis and allelic exchange experiments suggest that the 49- and 53-kDa forms of exoenzyme S are encoded by separate genes.

Construction and characterization of chromosomal insertional mutations of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S trans-regulatory locus

Exoenzyme S is an ADP-ribosyltransferase produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Synthesis of exoenzyme S depends on an intact trans-regulatory locus encoding three protein products, ExsC, ExsB, and ExsA. To identify the phenotype of ExsC, -B, and -A mutants in exoenzyme S production, specific insertional mutations with the streptomycin resistance-encoding omega interposon were introduced into cloned DNA and returned to the chromosomes of P. aeruginosa PA103, PAO1, and PAK. Southern blot analysis was used to confirm insertion of omega and resolution of vector sequences. Exoenzyme S expression was measured in parental and mutant derivatives by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis and ADP-ribosyltransferase activity measurement. A complete set of mutations were obtained in strains PAK and PAO1, but in strain PA103, only an insertion in the exsA coding region was identified. Southern blot analysis demonstrated that extensive duplication and rearrangement of the PA103 chromosomal trans-regulatory locus occurred when exsC::omega or exsB::omega recombination events were attempted. Exoenzyme S antigen was not detectable in the supernatant or lysate fractions of mutant strains by Western blot analysis. ADP-ribosyltransferase activity was detected in the lysate but not in the supernatant fractions of mutant derivatives. The general secretion pathway appeared to function normally in mutant strains, as elastase, exotoxin A, and phospholipase C were measured in the supernatants of parental and mutant strains. Several differences were noted when the extracellular protein profiles of parental strains were compared with similar samples from the insertional mutant strains. Some of these differences appeared to be unrelated to exoenzyme S. These data suggest that insertional inactivation of the exoenzyme S trans-regulatory locus may affect a subset of other extracellular proteins.

Purification and characterization of exoenzyme S from Pseudomonas aeruginosa 388

Exoenzyme S was purified > 1,500-fold from the culture supernatant fluid of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 388 at high yield without utilization of solvents or detergents. Two proteins, with apparent molecular sizes of 53 and 49 kDa, cofractionated with exoenzyme S activity. Rabbit anti-49-kDa-protein immunoglobulin G was prepared by using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-purified 49-kDa protein as immunogen. Anti-49-kDa-protein IgG inhibited the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of purified exoenzyme S in a dose-dependent manner, which indicated a role for the 49-kDa protein in the ADP-ribosylation reaction. Analysis by ultrafiltration showed that exoenzyme S activity and the 53- and 49-kDa proteins cofractionated and that exoenzyme S was apparently > 300 kDa in size. Urea (8 M) and 1.0% Triton X-100 reversibly decreased the apparent molecular sizes of exoenzyme S activity and the 53- and 49-kDa proteins to between 30 and 100 kDa.

Cloning and sequence analysis of a trans-regulatory locus required for exoenzyme S synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Exoenzyme S is an ADP-ribosyltransferase enzyme distinct from exotoxin A that is synthesized and secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Yields of exoenzyme S are variable and depend on strain and growth conditions. Since certain medium additives are required for exoenzyme S production, its regulation may be influenced by environmental stimuli. In this study, we have cloned a region that complements the exoenzyme S-deficient phenotype of strain 388 exs1::Tn1, a chromosomal Tn1 insertional mutation. A large clone (28 kb) was shown to restore both synthesis and secretory functions to the mutant strain. Subcloning and Tn501 mutagenesis experiments localized the region required for exoenzyme S synthesis to a 3.2-kb fragment. Nucleotide sequence analysis demonstrated several open reading frames. Comparison of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of purified exoenzyme S with predicted amino acid sequences of all open reading frames indicated that the structural gene was not encoded within the sequenced region. Homology studies suggested that the region encoded three regulatory genes, exsC, exsB, and exsA. ExsA was homologous to the AraC family of transcriptional activator proteins, with extensive homology being found with one member of this family, VirF of Yersinia enterocolitica. VirF and ExsA both contain carboxy-terminal domains with the helix-turn-helix motif of DNA-binding proteins. The ExsA gene product appeared to be required for induction of exoenzyme S synthesis above a low basal level. Expression of ExsA was demonstrated by cloning the region under the control of the T7 promoter. Gene replacement experiments suggested that the expression of ExsC affects the final yield of exoenzyme S.