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Dhital S, Deo P, Stuart I, Huang C, Zavan L, Han ML, Kaparakis-Liaskos M, Ramm G, Schittenhelm RB, Howden B, Naderer T. Characterization of outer membrane vesicles released by clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Proteomics 2024; 24:e2300087. [PMID: 38059892 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202300087] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The sexually transmitted pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae releases membrane vesicles including outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) during infections. OMVs traffic outer membrane molecules, such as the porin PorB and lipo-oligosaccharide (LOS), into host innate immune cells, eliciting programmed cell death pathways, and inflammation. Little is known, however, about the proteome and LOS content of OMVs released by clinical strains isolated from different infection sites, and whether these vesicles similarly activate immune responses. Here, we characterized OMVs from four N. gonorrhoeae isolates and determined their size, abundance, proteome, LOS content, and activation of inflammatory responses in macrophages. The overall proteome of the OMVs was conserved between the four different isolates, which included major outer membrane and periplasm proteins. Despite this, we observed differences in the rate of OMV biogenesis and the relative abundance of membrane proteins and LOS. Consequently, OMVs from clinical isolates induced varying rates of macrophage cell death and the secretion of interleukin-1 family members, such as IL-1α and IL-1β. Overall, these findings demonstrate that clinical isolates of N. gonorrhoeae utilize membrane vesicles to release proteins and lipids, which affects innate immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhash Dhital
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Pankaj Deo
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Isabella Stuart
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Monash Proteomics and Metabolomics Platform, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lauren Zavan
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Research Centre for Extracellular Vesicles, School of Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mei-Ling Han
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maria Kaparakis-Liaskos
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Research Centre for Extracellular Vesicles, School of Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Georg Ramm
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Monash Ramaciotti Centre for Cryo Electron Microscopy, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ralf B Schittenhelm
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Monash Proteomics and Metabolomics Platform, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Benjamin Howden
- Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Thomas Naderer
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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2
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Williams E, Williamson DA, Hocking JS. Frequent screening for asymptomatic chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections in men who have sex with men: time to re-evaluate? THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 23:e558-e566. [PMID: 37516129 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00356-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing debate regarding the harms and benefits of frequent asymptomatic screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in men who have sex with men (MSM). One concern is that frequent asymptomatic screening could result in increased antimicrobial resistance in an array of sexually acquired infections and other pathogens, due to selection pressure exerted by frequent broad-spectrum antimicrobial usage within some sexual networks. Here, we outline the harms and benefits of frequent C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae screening in MSM in high-income settings and propose that screening frequency be reduced. We describe the evidence gaps that should be further explored to better understand the implications of reducing the frequency of asymptomatic C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae screening in MSM and the surveillance systems that should be in place to prepare for such changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise Williams
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Deborah A Williamson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jane S Hocking
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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3
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Yadav A, Kumari P, Devi P, Adjele JJB, Budhiraja S, Tarai B, Pandey R. Dual RNA-Seq reveals transcriptionally active microbes (TAMs) dynamics in the serum of dengue patients associated with disease severity. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1307859. [PMID: 38107870 PMCID: PMC10723774 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1307859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Dengue virus (DENV) is a flavivirus that has emerged as a global health threat, characterized by either asymptomatic or mild self-limiting febrile illness, but a subset of DENV outbreaks have been associated with severe disease. Studies have looked into the host immune response and dengue viral load during infection. However, it remains unknown how the active microbial isolates modulate the dengue viral infection. In this study, we demonstrate the significance of in-depth analysis of microbiota composition in the serum samples of dengue-infected patients. Materials and methods RNA was extracted from the serum samples collected from 24 dengue positive patients. The human mapped reads generated through RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) were removed, while the unmapped (non-human) reads were employed for microbial taxonomic classification using Kraken2 and Bracken2. Further, we assessed the initial blood parameters analyzing the complete blood count (CBC) profile of the patients. Results Findings revealed differential abundance of commensals and pathogenic microbes in the early febrile period of hospitalized dengue patients, segregated into, High Viral Reads (HVR) and Low Viral Reads (LVR). The Campylobacter genus was abundant in the HVR whereas Lactobacillus dominated the LVR patients. At species level, the microbiota of HVR exhibited higher abundance of unique potential opportunistic microbes, compared to the commensal microbes' enrichment in the LVR patients'. We hypothesize that the DENV might alter the microbiota composition as observed by the increase in preponderance of opportunistic pathogens and an absence of commensals in the HVR. The presence of commensals in the LVR might explain, i) overall lower dengue viral reads compared to the HVR, and ii) shift in lymphocytes (high) and neutrophils (low) counts; resulting in a comparatively milder clinical manifestation in this group. Our findings may help in understanding the co-infection aspect that will be important to develop dengue therapeutics and vaccines. Discussion This study highlights the potential of the unexplored roles of the TAMs in modulating the dengue disease severity using the metatranscriptomic sequencing. This study serves to enhance our understanding of the distinctive microbial and hematologic signatures in the early infection stage that differentiate patients with high viral reads patients from those with low dengue viral reads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aanchal Yadav
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, INtegrative GENomics of HOst-PathogEn (INGEN-HOPE) Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Pallawi Kumari
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, INtegrative GENomics of HOst-PathogEn (INGEN-HOPE) Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, India
- Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Priti Devi
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, INtegrative GENomics of HOst-PathogEn (INGEN-HOPE) Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Jorelle Jeanne B. Adjele
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, INtegrative GENomics of HOst-PathogEn (INGEN-HOPE) Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, India
- Centre for Food, Food Security, and Nutrition Research, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plant Studies, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Sandeep Budhiraja
- Max Super Speciality Hospital (A Unit of Devki Devi Foundation), Max Healthcare, Delhi, India
| | - Bansidhar Tarai
- Max Super Speciality Hospital (A Unit of Devki Devi Foundation), Max Healthcare, Delhi, India
| | - Rajesh Pandey
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, INtegrative GENomics of HOst-PathogEn (INGEN-HOPE) Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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Girgis MM, Christodoulides M. Vertebrate and Invertebrate Animal and New In Vitro Models for Studying Neisseria Biology. Pathogens 2023; 12:782. [PMID: 37375472 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12060782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The history of Neisseria research has involved the use of a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate animal models, from insects to humans. In this review, we itemise these models and describe how they have made significant contributions to understanding the pathophysiology of Neisseria infections and to the development and testing of vaccines and antimicrobials. We also look ahead, briefly, to their potential replacement by complex in vitro cellular models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael M Girgis
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Myron Christodoulides
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
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5
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Calder A, Snyder LAS. Diversity of the type VI secretion systems in the Neisseria spp. Microb Genom 2023; 9. [PMID: 37052605 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Complete Type VI Secretion Systems were identified in the genome sequence data of Neisseria subflava isolates sourced from throat swabs of human volunteers. The previous report was the first to describe two complete Type VI Secretion Systems in these isolates, both of which were distinct in terms of their gene organization and sequence homology. Since publication of the first report, Type VI Secretion System subtypes have been identified in Neisseria spp. The characteristics of each type in N. subflava are further investigated here and in the context of the other Neisseria spp., including identification of the lineages containing the different types and subtypes. Type VI Secretion Systems use VgrG for delivery of toxin effector proteins; several copies of vgrG and associated effector / immunity pairs are present in Neisseria spp. Based on sequence similarity between strains and species, these core Type VI Secretion System genes, vgrG, and effector / immunity genes may diversify via horizontal gene transfer, an instrument for gene acquisition and repair in Neisseria spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Calder
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Lori A S Snyder
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
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6
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Kayongo A, Robertson NM, Siddharthan T, Ntayi ML, Ndawula JC, Sande OJ, Bagaya BS, Kirenga B, Mayanja-Kizza H, Joloba ML, Forslund SK. Airway microbiome-immune crosstalk in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1085551. [PMID: 36741369 PMCID: PMC9890194 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1085551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has significantly contributed to global mortality, with three million deaths reported annually. This impact is expected to increase over the next 40 years, with approximately 5 million people predicted to succumb to COPD-related deaths annually. Immune mechanisms driving disease progression have not been fully elucidated. Airway microbiota have been implicated. However, it is still unclear how changes in the airway microbiome drive persistent immune activation and consequent lung damage. Mechanisms mediating microbiome-immune crosstalk in the airways remain unclear. In this review, we examine how dysbiosis mediates airway inflammation in COPD. We give a detailed account of how airway commensal bacteria interact with the mucosal innate and adaptive immune system to regulate immune responses in healthy or diseased airways. Immune-phenotyping airway microbiota could advance COPD immunotherapeutics and identify key open questions that future research must address to further such translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Kayongo
- Makerere University Lung Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda,Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda,Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda,Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging Pathogens, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | | | - Trishul Siddharthan
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Moses Levi Ntayi
- Makerere University Lung Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda,Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda,Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Josephine Caren Ndawula
- Makerere University Lung Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Obondo J. Sande
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Bernard S. Bagaya
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Bruce Kirenga
- Makerere University Lung Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Harriet Mayanja-Kizza
- Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Moses L. Joloba
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sofia K. Forslund
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation of Charité - Universitatsmedizin Berlin and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany,Charité-Universitatsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany,*Correspondence: Sofia K. Forslund,
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7
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Arenas J. Editorial: Pathogenic Neisseria: Pathogenicity, vaccines, and antibiotic resistance. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 12:1119244. [PMID: 36683679 PMCID: PMC9850228 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1119244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Arenas
- Unit of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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8
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Blostein F, Bhaumik D, Davis E, Salzman E, Shedden K, Duhaime M, Bakulski KM, McNeil DW, Marazita ML, Foxman B. Evaluating the ecological hypothesis: early life salivary microbiome assembly predicts dental caries in a longitudinal case-control study. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:240. [PMID: 36567334 PMCID: PMC9791751 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01442-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early childhood caries (ECC)-dental caries (cavities) occurring in primary teeth up to age 6 years-is a prevalent childhood oral disease with a microbial etiology. Streptococcus mutans was previously considered a primary cause, but recent research promotes the ecologic hypothesis, in which a dysbiosis in the oral microbial community leads to caries. In this incident, density sampled case-control study of 189 children followed from 2 months to 5 years, we use the salivary bacteriome to (1) prospectively test the ecological hypothesis of ECC in salivary bacteriome communities and (2) identify co-occurring salivary bacterial communities predicting future ECC. RESULTS Supervised classification of future ECC case status using salivary samples from age 12 months using bacteriome-wide data (AUC-ROC 0.78 95% CI (0.71-0.85)) predicts future ECC status before S. mutans can be detected. Dirichlet multinomial community state typing and co-occurrence network analysis identified similar robust and replicable groups of co-occurring taxa. Mean relative abundance of a Haemophilus parainfluenzae/Neisseria/Fusobacterium periodonticum group was lower in future ECC cases (0.14) than controls (0.23, P value < 0.001) in pre-incident visits, positively correlated with saliva pH (Pearson rho = 0.33, P value < 0.001) and reduced in individuals who had acquired S. mutans by the next study visit (0.13) versus those who did not (0.20, P value < 0.01). In a subset of whole genome shotgun sequenced samples (n = 30), case plaque had higher abundances of antibiotic production and resistance gene orthologs, including a major facilitator superfamily multidrug resistance transporter (MFS DHA2 family PBH value = 1.9 × 10-28), lantibiotic transport system permease protein (PBH value = 6.0 × 10-6) and bacitracin synthase I (PBH value = 5.6 × 10-6). The oxidative phosphorylation KEGG pathway was enriched in case plaque (PBH value = 1.2 × 10-8), while the ABC transporter pathway was depleted (PBH value = 3.6 × 10-3). CONCLUSIONS Early-life bacterial interactions predisposed children to ECC, supporting a time-dependent interpretation of the ecological hypothesis. Bacterial communities which assemble before 12 months of age can promote or inhibit an ecological succession to S. mutans dominance and cariogenesis. Intragenera competitions and intergenera cooperation between oral taxa may shape the emergence of these communities, providing points for preventive interventions. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freida Blostein
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Deesha Bhaumik
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Elyse Davis
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Elizabeth Salzman
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Kerby Shedden
- Department of Statistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Melissa Duhaime
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Kelly M. Bakulski
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Daniel W. McNeil
- Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, WVA, Morgantown, USA
- Department of Dental Practice & Rural Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV USA
| | - Mary L. Marazita
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Betsy Foxman
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI USA
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The Discovery of Oropharyngeal Microbiota with Inhibitory Activity against Pathogenic Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis: An In Vitro Study of Clinical Isolates. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122497. [PMID: 36557750 PMCID: PMC9787740 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122497] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
With increasing incidence of pathogenic Neisseria infections coupled with emerging resistance to antimicrobials, alternative approaches to limit the spread are sought. We investigated the inhibitory effect of oropharyngeal microbiota on the growth of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis and the impact of the essential oil-based mouthwash Listerine Cool Mint® (Listerine). Oropharyngeal swabs from 64 men who have sex with men (n = 118) from a previous study (PReGo study) were analysed (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03881007). These included 64 baseline and 54 samples following three months of daily use of Listerine. Inhibition was confirmed by agar overlay assay, and inhibitory bacteria isolated using replica plating and identified using MALDI-TOF. The number of inhibitory isolates were compared before and after Listerine use. Thirty-one pharyngeal samples (26%) showed inhibitory activity against N. gonorrhoeae and/or N. meningitidis, and 62 inhibitory isolates were characterised. Fourteen species belonging to the genera Streptococci and Rothia were identified. More inhibitory isolates were observed following Listerine use compared to baseline, although this effect was not statistically significant (p = 0.073). This study isolated and identified inhibitory bacteria against pathogenic Neisseria spp. and established that daily Listerine use did not decrease their prevalence. These findings could provide a new approach for the prevention and treatment of pharyngeal Neisseria infections.
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Rabe A, Gesell Salazar M, Michalik S, Kocher T, Below H, Völker U, Welk A. Impact of different oral treatments on the composition of the supragingival plaque microbiome. J Oral Microbiol 2022; 14:2138251. [PMID: 36338832 PMCID: PMC9629129 DOI: 10.1080/20002297.2022.2138251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dental plaque consists of a diverse microbial community embedded in a complex structure of exopolysaccharides. Dental biofilms form a natural barrier against pathogens but lead to oral diseases in a dysbiotic state. Objective Using a metaproteome approach combined with a standard plaque-regrowth study, this pilot study examined the impact of different concentrations of lactoperoxidase (LPO) on early plaque formation, and active biological processes. Design Sixteen orally healthy subjects received four local treatments as a randomized single-blind study based on a cross-over design. Two lozenges containing components of the LPO-system in different concentrations were compared to a placebo and Listerine®. The newly formed dental plaque was analyzed by mass spectrometry (nLC-MS/MS). Results On average 1,916 metaproteins per sample were identified, which could be assigned to 116 genera and 1,316 protein functions. Listerine® reduced the number of metaproteins and their relative abundance, confirming the plaque inhibiting effect. The LPO-lozenges triggered mainly higher metaprotein abundances of early and secondary colonizers as well as bacteria associated with dental health but also periodontitis. Functional information indicated plaque biofilm growth. Conclusion In conclusion, the mechanisms on plaque biofilm formation of Listerine® and the LPO-system containing lozenges are different. In contrast to Listerine®, the lozenges led to a higher bacterial diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Rabe
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Department of Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 8, 17475Greifswald, Germany,CONTACT Alexander Rabe University Medicine Greifswald, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Department of Functional Genomics, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 8, 17489Greifswald, Germany
| | - Manuela Gesell Salazar
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Department of Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 8, 17475Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stephan Michalik
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Department of Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 8, 17475Greifswald, Germany
| | - Thomas Kocher
- Center for Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Periodontology, Endodontology, and Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, Dental School of University Medicine Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 42-44, 17489
| | - Harald Below
- Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Walter-Rathenau-Straße 49 A17475Greifswald, Germany
| | - Uwe Völker
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Department of Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 8, 17475Greifswald, Germany
| | - Alexander Welk
- Center for Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Periodontology, Endodontology, and Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, Dental School of University Medicine Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 42-44, 17489
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11
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Canary in the Coal Mine: How Resistance Surveillance in Commensals Could Help Curb the Spread of AMR in Pathogenic Neisseria. mBio 2022; 13:e0199122. [PMID: 36154280 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01991-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is widespread within Neisseria gonorrhoeae populations. Recent work has highlighted the importance of commensal Neisseria (cN) as a source of AMR for their pathogenic relatives through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of AMR alleles, such as mosaic penicillin binding protein 2 (penA), multiple transferable efflux pump (mtr), and DNA gyrase subunit A (gyrA) which impact beta-lactam, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin susceptibility, respectively. However, nonpathogenic commensal species are rarely characterized. Here, we propose that surveillance of the universally carried commensal Neisseria may play the role of the "canary in the coal mine," and reveal circulating known and novel antimicrobial resistance determinants transferable to pathogenic Neisseria. We summarize the current understanding of commensal Neisseria as an AMR reservoir, and call to increase research on commensal Neisseria species, through expanding established gonococcal surveillance programs to include the collection, isolation, antimicrobial resistance phenotyping, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of commensal isolates. This will help combat AMR in the pathogenic Neisseria by: (i) determining the contemporary AMR profile of commensal Neisseria, (ii) correlating AMR phenotypes with known and novel genetic determinants, (iii) qualifying and quantifying horizontal gene transfer (HGT) for AMR determinants, and (iv) expanding commensal Neisseria genomic databases, perhaps leading to the identification of new drug and vaccine targets. The proposed modification to established Neisseria collection protocols could transform our ability to address AMR N. gonorrhoeae, while requiring minor modifications to current surveillance practices. IMPORTANCE Contemporary increases in the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae populations is a direct threat to global public health and the effective treatment of gonorrhea. Substantial effort and financial support are being spent on identifying resistance mechanisms circulating within the gonococcal population. However, these surveys often overlook a known source of resistance for gonococci-the commensal Neisseria. Commensal Neisseria and pathogenic Neisseria frequently share DNA through horizontal gene transfer, which has played a large role in rendering antibiotic therapies ineffective in pathogenic Neisseria populations. Here, we propose the expansion of established gonococcal surveillance programs to integrate a collection, AMR profiling, and genomic sequencing pipeline for commensal species. This proposed expansion will enhance the field's ability to identify resistance in and from nonpathogenic reservoirs and anticipate AMR trends in pathogenic Neisseria.
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Antibiotic Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Challenges in Research and Treatment. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091699. [PMID: 36144300 PMCID: PMC9505656 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonococcal infection caused by the Gram-negative bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide [...]
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Baerentsen R, Tang CM, Exley RM. Et tu, Neisseria? Conflicts of Interest Between Neisseria Species. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:913292. [PMID: 35811666 PMCID: PMC9263626 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.913292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are two obligate human pathogens that have evolved to be uniquely adapted to their host. The meningococcus is frequently carried asymptomatically in the nasopharynx, while gonococcal infection of the urogenital tract usually elicits a marked local inflammatory response. Other members of the Neisseria genus are abundant in the upper airway where they could engage in co-operative or competitive interactions with both these pathogens. Here, we briefly outline the potential sites of contact between Neisseria spp. in the body, with emphasis on the upper airway, and describe the growing yet circumstantial evidence for antagonism from carriage studies and human volunteer challenge models with Neisseria lactamica. Recent laboratory studies have characterized antagonistic mechanisms that enable competition between Neisseria species. Several of these mechanisms, including Multiple Adhesin family (Mafs), Two Partner Secretion Systems, and Type VI secretion system, involve direct contact between bacteria; the genetic organisation of these systems, and the domain structure of their effector molecules have striking similarities. Additionally, DNA from one species of Neisseria can be toxic to another species, following uptake. More research is needed to define the full repertoire of antagonistic mechanisms in Neisseria spp., their distribution in strains, their range of activity, and contribution to survival in vivo. Understanding the targets of effectors could reveal how antagonistic relationships between close relatives shape subsequent interactions between pathogens and their hosts.
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Bender N, Hennes M, Maier B. Mobility of extracellular DNA within gonococcal colonies. Biofilm 2022; 4:100078. [PMID: 35647521 PMCID: PMC9136125 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2022.100078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Transformation enables bacteria to acquire genetic information from extracellular DNA (eDNA). Close proximity between bacteria in colonies and biofilms may inhibit escape of eDNA from the colony but it also hinders its diffusion between donor and recipient. In this study, we investigate the mobility of DNA within colonies formed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and relate it to transformation efficiency. We characterize the penetration dynamics of fluorescent DNA into the colony at a time scale of hours and find that 300 bp fragments diffuse through the colony without hindrance. For DNA length exceeding 3 kbp, a concentration gradient between the edge and the center of the colony develops, indicating hindered diffusion. Accumulation of DNA within the colony increases with increasing DNA length. The presence of the gonococcal DNA uptake sequence (DUS), which mediates specific binding to type 4 pili (T4P) and uptake into the cell, steepens the radial concentration gradient within the colony, suggesting that the DUS reduces DNA mobility. In particular, DNA of N. gonorrhoeae containing multiple DUS is trapped at the periphery. Under conditions, where DUS containing DNA fragments readily enter the colony center, we investigate the efficiency of transformation. We show that despite rapid diffusion of DNA, the transformation is limited to the edge of young colonies. We conclude that DNA mobility depends on DNA length and specific binding mediated by the DUS, resulting in restricted mobility of gonococcal DNA. Yet gonococcal colonies accumulate DNA, and may therefore act as a reservoir for eDNA. DNA fragments encompassing the length of a typical operon efficiently penetrate bacterial colonies. Bacterial colonies accumulate eDNA with an efficiency that depends on the length and the DNA uptake sequence. Genomic DNA from a distinct species spreads efficiently through gonococcal colonies, while gonococcal DNA and DNA from a closely related species are trapped. Transformation is most efficient at the periphery of freshly assembled gonococcal colonies.
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15
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Mikucki A, McCluskey NR, Kahler CM. The Host-Pathogen Interactions and Epicellular Lifestyle of Neisseria meningitidis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:862935. [PMID: 35531336 PMCID: PMC9072670 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.862935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is a gram-negative diplococcus and a transient commensal of the human nasopharynx. It shares and competes for this niche with a number of other Neisseria species including N. lactamica, N. cinerea and N. mucosa. Unlike these other members of the genus, N. meningitidis may become invasive, crossing the epithelium of the nasopharynx and entering the bloodstream, where it rapidly proliferates causing a syndrome known as Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD). IMD progresses rapidly to cause septic shock and meningitis and is often fatal despite aggressive antibiotic therapy. While many of the ways in which meningococci survive in the host environment have been well studied, recent insights into the interactions between N. meningitidis and the epithelial, serum, and endothelial environments have expanded our understanding of how IMD develops. This review seeks to incorporate recent work into the established model of pathogenesis. In particular, we focus on the competition that N. meningitidis faces in the nasopharynx from other Neisseria species, and how the genetic diversity of the meningococcus contributes to the wide range of inflammatory and pathogenic potentials observed among different lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- August Mikucki
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Nicolie R. McCluskey
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Telethon Kids Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Charlene M. Kahler
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- *Correspondence: Charlene M. Kahler,
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de Block T, González N, Abdellati S, Laumen JGE, Van Dijck C, De Baetselier I, Van den Bossche D, Manoharan-Basil SS, Kenyon C. Successful Intra- but Not Inter-species Recombination of msr(D) in Neisseria subflava. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:855482. [PMID: 35432273 PMCID: PMC9007320 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.855482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance acquisition via natural transformation is a common process in the Neisseria genus. Transformation has played an important role in the emergence of resistance to many antimicrobials in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis. In a previous study, we found that currently circulating isolates of Neisseria subflava had acquired an msr(D) gene that has been found to result in macrolide resistance in other bacteria but never found in Neisseria species before. To determine if this resistance mechanism is transferable among Neisseria species, we assessed if we could transform the msr(D) gene into other commensal and pathogenic Neisseria under low dose azithromycin pressure. Intraspecies recombination in commensal N. subflava was confirmed with PCR and resulted in high-level macrolide resistance. Whole-genome sequencing of these transformed strains identified the complete uptake of the msr(D) integration fragment. Sequence analysis showed that a large fragment of DNA (5 and 12 kb) was transferred through a single horizontal gene transfer event. Furthermore, uptake of the msr(D) gene had no apparent fitness cost. Interspecies transformation of msr(D) from N. subflava to N. gonorrhoeae was, however, not successful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa de Block
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Natalia González
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Saïd Abdellati
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jolein Gyonne Elise Laumen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Dijck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Chris Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Morselli S, Gaspari V, Cantiani A, Salvo M, Foschi C, Lazzarotto T, Marangoni A. Meningococcal Carriage in 'Men Having Sex With Men' With Pharyngeal Gonorrhoea. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:798575. [PMID: 35096648 PMCID: PMC8790146 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.798575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We assessed the characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis pharyngeal carriage in a cohort of ‘men having sex with men’, including patients with pharyngeal Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection. In the period 2017-2019, among all the oropharyngeal samples tested for gonorrhoea from MSM attending a STI Clinic in Bologna (Italy), we randomly selected 244 N. gonorrhoeae-positive samples and 403 negatives (n=647). Pharyngeal specimens were tested for N. meningitidis presence, by the detection of sodC gene. N. meningitidis-positive samples were further grouped by PCR tests for the major invasive genogroups (i.e., A, B, C, W, and Y). A molecular assay, targeting capsule transporter gene, was used to determine meningococcal capsular status. Overall, 75.8% (491/647) of samples tested positive for sodC gene, indicating a pharyngeal meningococcal carriage. Meningococcal colonisation was significantly more frequent in younger subjects (P=0.009), with no association with HIV infection. Non-groupable meningococci represented most of pharyngeal carriages (about 71%). The commonest N. meningitidis serogroup was B (23.6%), followed by C (2.1%), Y (1.8%) and W (1.1%). Meningococci were often characterized by the genetic potential of capsule production. Interestingly, a negative association between N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae was found: pharyngeal gonorrhoea was significantly more present in patients without meningococcal carriage (P=0.03). Although preliminary, our data added knowledge on the epidemiology of meningococcal carriage in MSM communities at high risk of gonococcal infections, gaining new insights into the interactions/dynamics between N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Morselli
- Microbiology, Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valeria Gaspari
- Dermatology Unit, IRCCS S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessia Cantiani
- Microbiology, Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Melissa Salvo
- Microbiology, Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Foschi
- Microbiology, Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tiziana Lazzarotto
- Microbiology, Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonella Marangoni
- Microbiology, Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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18
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Płaczkiewicz J, Adamczyk-Popławska M, Kozłowska E, Kwiatek A. Both Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria sicca Induce Cytokine Secretion by Infected Human Cells, but Only Neisseria gonorrhoeae Upregulates the Expression of Long Non-Coding RNAs. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11040394. [PMID: 35456069 PMCID: PMC9031631 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria of the Neisseria genus are Gram-negative diplococci including both pathogenic and commensal species. We focused on pathogenic Neisseria gonorrhoeae and commensal Neisseria sicca. We have demonstrated that not only N. gonorrhoeae, but also N. sicca induce the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and chemokines CXCL8 and CCL20 by infected epithelial cells. However, N. sicca triggers a lesser effect than does N. gonorrhoeae. Furthermore, N. gonorrhoeae and N. sicca invoke distinct effects on the expression of genes (JUNB, FOSB, NFKB1, NFKBIA) encoding protein components of AP-1 and NF-κB transcription factors. We have also shown that the infection of epithelial cells by N. gonorrhoeae leads to significant overexpression of the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), including MALAT1, ERICD, and RP11-510N19.5. This effect was not identified for N. sicca. In conclusion, data on the expression of lncRNAs and cytokine secretion in response to Neisseria spp. exposure indicate new directions for research on Neisseria-host interactions and can provide further insights into virulence of not only pathogenic, but also commensal Neisseria spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagoda Płaczkiewicz
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (J.P.); (M.A.-P.)
- International Centre for Translational Eye Research, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Adamczyk-Popławska
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (J.P.); (M.A.-P.)
| | - Ewa Kozłowska
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Agnieszka Kwiatek
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (J.P.); (M.A.-P.)
- Correspondence:
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19
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Neisseria mucosa Does Not Inhibit the Growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. SCI 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/sci4010008] [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
Antibiotic-sparing treatments are required to prevent the further emergence of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Commensal Neisseria species have previously been found to inhibit the growth of pathogenic Neisseria species. For example, a previous study found that three out of five historical isolates of Neisseria mucosa could inhibit the growth of N. gonorrhoeae. In this study, we used agar overlay assays to assess if 24 circulating and historical isolates of Neisseria mucosa could inhibit the growth of 28 circulating and historical isolates of N. gonorrhoeae. Although pitting around each colony of N. mucosa created an optical illusion of decreased growth of N. gonorrhoeae, we found no evidence of inhibition (n = 24). In contrast, positive controls of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Escherichia coli demonstrated a strong inhibitory effect against the growth of N. gonorrhoeae.
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20
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Raisman JC, Fiore MA, Tomin L, Adjei JKO, Aswad VX, Chu J, Domondon CJ, Donahue BA, Masciotti CA, McGrath CG, Melita J, Podbielski PA, Schreiner MR, Trumpore LJ, Wengert PC, Wrightstone EA, Hudson AO, Wadsworth CB. Evolutionary paths to macrolide resistance in a Neisseria commensal converge on ribosomal genes through short sequence duplications. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262370. [PMID: 35025928 PMCID: PMC8758062 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria commensals are an indisputable source of resistance for their pathogenic relatives. However, the evolutionary paths commensal species take to reduced susceptibility in this genus have been relatively underexplored. Here, we leverage in vitro selection as a powerful screen to identify the genetic adaptations that produce azithromycin resistance (≥ 2 μg/mL) in the Neisseria commensal, N. elongata. Across multiple lineages (n = 7/16), we find mutations that reduce susceptibility to azithromycin converge on the locus encoding the 50S ribosomal L34 protein (rpmH) and the intergenic region proximal to the 30S ribosomal S3 protein (rpsC) through short tandem duplication events. Interestingly, one of the laboratory evolved mutations in rpmH is identical (7LKRTYQ12), and two nearly identical, to those recently reported to contribute to high-level azithromycin resistance in N. gonorrhoeae. Transformations into the ancestral N. elongata lineage confirmed the causality of both rpmH and rpsC mutations. Though most lineages inheriting duplications suffered in vitro fitness costs, one variant showed no growth defect, suggesting the possibility that it may be sustained in natural populations. Ultimately, studies like this will be critical for predicting commensal alleles that could rapidly disseminate into pathogen populations via allelic exchange across recombinogenic microbial genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan C. Raisman
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Fiore
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Lucille Tomin
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Joseph K. O. Adjei
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Virginia X. Aswad
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Chu
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Christina J. Domondon
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Ben A. Donahue
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Claudia A. Masciotti
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Connor G. McGrath
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Jo Melita
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Paul A. Podbielski
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Madelyn R. Schreiner
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Lauren J. Trumpore
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Peter C. Wengert
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Emalee A. Wrightstone
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - André O. Hudson
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Crista B. Wadsworth
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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21
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Laumen JGE, Abdellati S, Manoharan-Basil SS, Van Dijck C, Van den Bossche D, De Baetselier I, de Block T, Malhotra-Kumar S, Soentjes P, Pirnay JP, Kenyon C, Merabishvili M. Screening of Anorectal and Oropharyngeal Samples Fails to Detect Bacteriophages Infecting Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11020268. [PMID: 35203870 PMCID: PMC8868155 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11020268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
There are real concerns that Neisseria gonorrhoeae may become untreatable in the near future due to the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Alternative therapies are thus urgently required. Bacteriophages active against N. gonorrhoeae could play an important role as an antibiotic-sparing therapy. To the best of our knowledge, no bacteriophages active against N. gonorrhoeae have ever been found. The aim of this study was to screen for bacteriophages able to lyse N. gonorrhoeae in oropharyngeal and anorectal swabs of 74 men who have sex with men attending a sexual health clinic in Antwerp, Belgium. We screened 210 swabs but were unable to identify an anti-gonococcal bacteriophage. This is the first report of a pilot screening that systematically searched for anti-gonococcal phages directly from clinical swabs. Further studies may consider screening for phages at other anatomical sites (e.g., stool samples, urine) or in environmental settings (e.g., toilet sewage water of sex clubs or sexually transmitted infection clinics) where N. gonorrhoeae can be found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolein Gyonne Elise Laumen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-(0)3-345-5398
| | - Saïd Abdellati
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Sheeba Santhini Manoharan-Basil
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Christophe Van Dijck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
| | - Dorien Van den Bossche
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Tessa de Block
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Surbhi Malhotra-Kumar
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
| | - Patrick Soentjes
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Neder-over-Heembeek, 1120 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Paul Pirnay
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology (LabMCT), Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Neder-over-Heembeek, 1120 Brussels, Belgium; (J.-P.P.); (M.M.)
| | - Chris Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.V.D.); (D.V.d.B.); (I.D.B.); (T.d.B.); (P.S.); (C.K.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Maia Merabishvili
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology (LabMCT), Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Neder-over-Heembeek, 1120 Brussels, Belgium; (J.-P.P.); (M.M.)
- Microbiology and Virology (EIBMV), Eliava Institute of Bacteriophage, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia
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22
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Heydarian M, Rühl E, Rawal R, Kozjak-Pavlovic V. Tissue Models for Neisseria gonorrhoeae Research—From 2D to 3D. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:840122. [PMID: 35223556 PMCID: PMC8873371 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.840122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a human-specific pathogen that causes gonorrhea, the second most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Disease progression, drug discovery, and basic host-pathogen interactions are studied using different approaches, which rely on models ranging from 2D cell culture to complex 3D tissues and animals. In this review, we discuss the models used in N. gonorrhoeae research. We address both in vivo (animal) and in vitro cell culture models, discussing the pros and cons of each and outlining the recent advancements in the field of three-dimensional tissue models. From simple 2D monoculture to complex advanced 3D tissue models, we provide an overview of the relevant methodology and its application. Finally, we discuss future directions in the exciting field of 3D tissue models and how they can be applied for studying the interaction of N. gonorrhoeae with host cells under conditions closely resembling those found at the native sites of infection.
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23
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The Impact of Mouthwash on the Oropharyngeal Microbiota of Men Who Have Sex with Men: a Substudy of the OMEGA Trial. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0175721. [PMID: 35019769 PMCID: PMC8754113 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01757-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouthwash is a commonly used product and has been proposed as an alternative intervention to prevent gonorrhea transmission. However, the long-term effects of mouthwash on the oral microbiota are largely unknown. We investigated the impact of 12 weeks of daily mouthwash use on the oropharyngeal microbiota in a subset of men who have sex with men who participated in a randomized trial comparing the efficacy of two alcohol-free mouthwashes for the prevention of gonorrhea. We characterized the oropharyngeal microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of tonsillar fossae samples collected before and after 12 weeks of daily use of Listerine mouthwash or Biotène dry mouth oral rinse. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) was used to assess differences in oropharyngeal microbiota composition following mouthwash use. Differential abundance testing was performed using ALDEx2, with false-discovery rate correction. A total of 306 samples from 153 men were analyzed (Listerine, n = 78 and Biotène, n = 75). There was no difference in the overall structure of the oropharyngeal microbiota following Listerine or Biotène use (PERMANOVA P = 0.413 and P = 0.331, respectively). Although no bacterial taxa were significantly differentially abundant following Listerine use, we observed a small but significant decrease in the abundance of both Streptococcus and Leptotrichia following Biotène use. Overall, our findings suggest that daily use of antiseptic mouthwash has minimal long-term effects on the composition of the oropharyngeal microbiota. IMPORTANCE Given the role of the oral microbiota in human health, it is important to understand if and how external factors influence its composition. Mouthwash use is common in some populations, and the use of antiseptic mouthwash has been proposed as an alternative intervention to prevent gonorrhea transmission. However, the long-term effect of mouthwash use on the oral microbiota composition is largely unknown. We found that daily use of two different commercially available mouthwashes had limited long-term effects on the composition of the oropharyngeal microbiota over a 12-week period. The results from our study and prior studies highlight that different mouthwashes may differentially affect the oral microbiome composition and that further studies are needed to determine if mouthwash use induces short-term changes to the oral microbiota that may have detrimental effects.
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24
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Kenyon C, Vanbaelen T, Van Dijck C. Recent insights suggest the need for the STI field to embrace a more eco-social conceptual framework: A viewpoint. Int J STD AIDS 2022; 33:404-415. [PMID: 34982008 DOI: 10.1177/09564624211064133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A large number of countries are being confronted with twin epidemics of increasing STI incidence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This has led to calls to intensify STI screening of high STI prevalence populations. The available evidence suggests that this will have little impact on STI prevalence but a significant deleterious effect on AMR. We suggest that this call to intensify STI screening is one of the several errors that stem from the way that the STI-field has been dominated by a biomedical individualistic conceptual framework. This framework views STIs as obligate pathogens that can and should be eradicated by intensive seek-and-destroy activities. We evaluate five types of evidence that suggest that a multi-level, socio-ecological framework would provide a more accurate portrayal of the important determinants of STI prevalence and AMR spread. By incorporating concepts such as limiting STI screening to scenarios with clear evidence of net-benefit and considering 'antimicrobial footprint' thresholds, this framework would be more likely to result in a better balance between targeting STI prevalence whilst minimizing the risk of AMR emerging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Kenyon
- HIV/STI Unit, 567788Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Thibaut Vanbaelen
- HIV/STI Unit, 567788Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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25
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Mullally CA, Mikucki A, Wise MJ, Kahler CM. Modelling evolutionary pathways for commensalism and hypervirulence in Neisseria meningitidis. Microb Genom 2021; 7. [PMID: 34704920 PMCID: PMC8627216 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis, the meningococcus, resides exclusively in humans and causes invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). The population of N. meningitidis is structured into stable clonal complexes by limited horizontal recombination in this naturally transformable species. N. meningitidis is an opportunistic pathogen, with some clonal complexes, such as cc53, effectively acting as commensal colonizers, while other genetic lineages, such as cc11, are rarely colonizers but are over-represented in IMD and are termed hypervirulent. This study examined theoretical evolutionary pathways for pathogenic and commensal lineages by examining the prevalence of horizontally acquired genomic islands (GIs) and loss-of-function (LOF) mutations. Using a collection of 4850 genomes from the BIGSdb database, we identified 82 GIs in the pan-genome of 11 lineages (10 hypervirulent and one commensal lineage). A new computational tool, Phaser, was used to identify frameshift mutations, which were examined for statistically significant association with genetic lineage. Phaser identified a total of 144 frameshift loci of which 105 were shown to have a statistically significant non-random distribution in phase status. The 82 GIs, but not the LOF loci, were associated with genetic lineage and invasiveness using the disease carriage ratio metric. These observations have been integrated into a new model that infers the early events of the evolution of the human adapted meningococcus. These pathways are enriched for GIs that are involved in modulating attachment to the host, growth rate, iron uptake and toxin expression which are proposed to increase competition within the meningococcal population for the limited environmental niche of the human nasopharynx. We surmise that competition for the host mucosal surface with the nasopharyngeal microbiome has led to the selection of isolates with traits that enable access to cell types (non-phagocytic and phagocytic) in the submucosal tissues leading to an increased risk for IMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A. Mullally
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - August Mikucki
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Michael J. Wise
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- School of Physics, Mathematics and Computing, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Charlene M. Kahler
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children’s Hospital, Perth, Australia
- *Correspondence: Charlene M. Kahler,
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26
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Clinical study showing a lower abundance of Neisseria in the oral microbiome aligns with low birth weight pregnancy outcomes. Clin Oral Investig 2021; 26:2465-2478. [PMID: 34622310 PMCID: PMC8898250 DOI: 10.1007/s00784-021-04214-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to examine the association between the oral microbiome and pregnancy outcomes, specifically healthy or preterm low birth weight (PLBW) in individuals with and without periodontal disease (PD). MATERIAL AND METHODS In this prospective clinical trial, we recruited 186 pregnant women, 17 of whom exhibited PD and delivered PLBW infants (PD-PLBW group). Of the remaining women, 155 presented PD and delivered healthy infants; 18 of these subjects with similar periodontal condition and age matched to the PD-PLBW group, and they became the PD-HD group. From the total group, 11 women exhibited healthy gingiva and had a healthy delivery (HD) and healthy infants (H-HD group), and 3 exhibited healthy gingiva and delivered PLBW infants (H-PLBW group). Periodontal parameters were recorded, and subgingival plaque and serum were collected during 26-28 gestational weeks. For the plaque samples, microbial abundance and diversity were accessed by 16S rRNA sequencing. RESULTS Women with PD showed an enrichment in the genus Porphyromonas, Treponema, and Filifactor, whereas women with healthy gingiva showed an enrichment in Streptococcus, Actinomyces, and Corynebacterium, independently of the birth status. Although no significant difference was found in the beta diversity between the 4 groups, women that had PLBW infants presented a significantly lower abundance of the genus Neisseria, independently of PD status. CONCLUSION Lower levels of Neisseria align with preterm low birth weight in pregnant women, whereas a higher abundance of Treponema, Porphyromonas, Fretibacterium, and Filifactor and a lower abundance of Streptococcus may contribute to periodontal disease during pregnancy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The oral commensal Neisseria have potential in the prediction of PLBW.
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27
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Xu X, Chow EPF, Shen M, Zou Z, Wang C, Ong JJ, Fairley CK, Zhang L. Potential effect of antiseptic mouthwash on the incidence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae among men who have sex with men: a mathematical modelling study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e052823. [PMID: 34620667 PMCID: PMC8499270 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The incidence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and its antimicrobial resistance is increasing in many countries. Antibacterial mouthwash may reduce gonorrhoea transmission without using antibiotics. We modelled the effect that antiseptic mouthwash may have on the incidence of gonorrhoea. DESIGN We developed a mathematical model of the transmission of gonorrhoea between each anatomical site (oropharynx, urethra and anorectum) in men who have sex with men (MSM). We constructed four scenarios: (1) mouthwash had no effect; (2) mouthwash increased the susceptibility of the oropharynx; (3) mouthwash reduced the transmissibility from the oropharynx; (4) the combined effect of mouthwash from scenarios 2 and 3. SETTING We used data at three anatomical sites from 4873 MSM attending Melbourne Sexual Health Centre in 2018 and 2019 to calibrate our models and data from the USA, Netherlands and Thailand for sensitivity analyses. PARTICIPANTS Published available data on MSM with multisite infections of gonorrhoea. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Incidence of gonorrhoea. RESULTS The overall incidence of gonorrhoea was 44 (95% CI 37 to 50)/100 person-years (PY) in scenario 1. Under scenario 2 (20%-80% mouthwash coverage), the total incidence increased (47-60/100 PY) and at all three anatomical sites by between 7.4% (5.9%-60.8%) and 136.6% (108.1%-177.5%). Under scenario 3, with the same coverage, the total incidence decreased (20-39/100 PY) and at all anatomical sites by between 11.6% (10.2%-13.5%) and 99.8% (99.2%-100%). Under scenario 4, changes in the incidence depended on the efficacy of mouthwash on the susceptibility or transmissibility. The effect on the total incidence varied (22-55/100 PY), and at all anatomical sites, there were increases of nearly 130% and large declines of almost 100%. CONCLUSIONS The effect of mouthwash on gonorrhoea incidence is largely predictable depending on whether it increases susceptibility to or reduces the transmissibility of gonorrhoea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianglong Xu
- China-Australia Joint Research Center for Infectious Diseases,School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi an, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Eric P F Chow
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mingwang Shen
- China-Australia Joint Research Center for Infectious Diseases,School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi an, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhuoru Zou
- China-Australia Joint Research Center for Infectious Diseases,School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi an, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Chongjian Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jason J Ong
- China-Australia Joint Research Center for Infectious Diseases,School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi an, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher K Fairley
- China-Australia Joint Research Center for Infectious Diseases,School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi an, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lei Zhang
- China-Australia Joint Research Center for Infectious Diseases,School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi an, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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28
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Connolly KL, Pilligua-Lucas M, Gomez C, Costenoble-Caherty AC, Soc A, Underwood K, Macintyre AN, Sempowski GD, Jerse AE. Preclinical Testing of Vaccines and Therapeutics for Gonorrhea in Female Mouse Models of Lower and Upper Reproductive Tract Infection. J Infect Dis 2021; 224:S152-S160. [PMID: 34396408 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Murine models of Neisseria gonorrhoeae lower reproductive tract infection are valuable systems for studying N. gonorrhoeae adaptation to the female host and immune responses to infection. These models have also accelerated preclinical testing of candidate therapeutic and prophylactic products against gonorrhea. However, because N. gonorrhoeae infection is restricted to the murine cervicovaginal region, there is a need for an in vivo system for translational work on N. gonorrhoeae pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Here we discuss the need for well-characterized preclinical upper reproductive tract infection models for developing candidate products against N. gonorrhoeae PID, and report a refinement of the gonorrhea mouse model that supports sustained upper reproductive tract infection. To establish this new model for vaccine testing, we also tested the licensed meningococcal 4CMenB vaccine, which cross-protects against murine N. gonorrhoeae lower reproductive tract infection, for efficacy against N. gonorrhoeae in the endometrium and oviducts following transcervical or vaginal challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristie L Connolly
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michelle Pilligua-Lucas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Carolina Gomez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Anthony Soc
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Knashka Underwood
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew N Macintyre
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gregory D Sempowski
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ann E Jerse
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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29
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Custodio R, Ford RM, Ellison CJ, Liu G, Mickute G, Tang CM, Exley RM. Type VI secretion system killing by commensal Neisseria is influenced by expression of type four pili. eLife 2021; 10:63755. [PMID: 34232858 PMCID: PMC8263058 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Type VI Secretion Systems (T6SSs) are widespread in bacteria and can dictate the development and organisation of polymicrobial ecosystems by mediating contact dependent killing. In Neisseria species, including Neisseria cinerea a commensal of the human respiratory tract, interbacterial contacts are mediated by Type four pili (Tfp) which promote formation of aggregates and govern the spatial dynamics of growing Neisseria microcolonies. Here, we show that N. cinerea expresses a plasmid-encoded T6SS that is active and can limit growth of related pathogens. We explored the impact of Tfp on N. cinerea T6SS-dependent killing within a colony and show that pilus expression by a prey strain enhances susceptibility to T6SS compared to a non-piliated prey, by preventing segregation from a T6SS-wielding attacker. Our findings have important implications for understanding how spatial constraints during contact-dependent antagonism can shape the evolution of microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Custodio
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rhian M Ford
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Cara J Ellison
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Guangyu Liu
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Gerda Mickute
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph M Tang
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel M Exley
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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30
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MacAlasdair N, Pesonen M, Brynildsrud O, Eldholm V, Kristiansen PA, Corander J, Caugant DA, Bentley SD. The effect of recombination on the evolution of a population of Neisseria meningitidis. Genome Res 2021; 31:1258-1268. [PMID: 34108268 PMCID: PMC8256868 DOI: 10.1101/gr.264465.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis (the meningococcus) is a major human pathogen with a history of high invasive disease burden, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Our current understanding of the evolution of meningococcal genomes is limited by the rarity of large-scale genomic population studies and lack of in-depth investigation of the genomic events associated with routine pathogen transmission. Here, we fill this knowledge gap by a detailed analysis of 2839 meningococcal genomes obtained through a carriage study of over 50,000 samples collected systematically in Burkina Faso, West Africa, before, during, and after the serogroup A vaccine rollout, 2009-2012. Our findings indicate that the meningococcal genome is highly dynamic, with highly recombinant loci and frequent gene sharing across deeply separated lineages in a structured population. Furthermore, our findings illustrate how population structure can correlate with genome flexibility, as some lineages in Burkina Faso are orders of magnitude more recombinant than others. We also examine the effect of selection on the population, in particular how it is correlated with recombination. We find that recombination principally acts to prevent the accumulation of deleterious mutations, although we do also find an example of recombination acting to speed the adaptation of a gene. In general, we show the importance of recombination in the evolution of a geographically expansive population with deep population structure in a short timescale. This has important consequences for our ability to both foresee the outcomes of vaccination programs and, using surveillance data, predict when lineages of the meningococcus are likely to become a public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil MacAlasdair
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Maiju Pesonen
- Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE), Oslo University Hospital Research Support Services, Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway
| | - Ola Brynildsrud
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Norwegian University of Life Science, 0454 Oslo, Norway
| | - Vegard Eldholm
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway
| | - Paul A Kristiansen
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jukka Corander
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
- University of Oslo, Department of Biostatistics, Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway
- Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dominique A Caugant
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Stephen D Bentley
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
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31
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Qiao Z, Huang S, Leng F, Bei Y, Chen Y, Chen M, Hu Y, Huang Y, Xiang Q. Analysis of the Bacterial Flora of Sensitive Facial Skin Among Women in Guangzhou. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2021; 14:655-664. [PMID: 34163204 PMCID: PMC8214519 DOI: 10.2147/ccid.s307668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Sensitive skin (SS) is easily irritated by various environmental stimuli, and epidemiological surveys surprisingly find that self-perceived SS is widespread worldwide. Objective To investigate whether SS is linked to changes in the skin bacterial population using 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Patients and Methods According to both the Huaxi SS Questionnaire and Lactic Acid Stimulation Test, 60 female volunteers in Guangzhou were classified into normal skin (NS) and SS groups. Skin barrier parameters were assessed by the CK skin tester. The DNA of the bacterial flora on the facial skin surface was extracted and was subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing. Results The skin hydration was significantly lower in the SS group compared to the NS group (P =0.032). Based on 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) significantly decreased in the SS group (P =0.0235, SS vs NS). The relative abundance of Neisseriaceae in SS group decreased significantly (P <0.05, SS vs NS), while that of Neisseria (within the Neisseriaceae family) increased significantly (P <0.05, SS vs NS). Conclusion SS is accompanied by a decrease in species diversity and richness, which may be relevant to the weakening of the microbial barrier (due to the increase of Neisseria or the decrease of Neisseriaceae). Thus, corresponding treatment for Neisseriaceae may be a new idea in the treatment of SS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifen Qiao
- Institute of Biomedicine and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiyi Huang
- Institute of Biomedicine and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Leng
- Institute of Biomedicine and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China.,Biopharmaceutical R&D Center of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Bei
- Biopharmaceutical R&D Center of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingzhi Chen
- Biopharmaceutical R&D Center of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Minjie Chen
- Biopharmaceutical R&D Center of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunfeng Hu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Department of Dermatology, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Yadong Huang
- Institute of Biomedicine and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China.,Biopharmaceutical R&D Center of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Xiang
- Institute of Biomedicine and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China.,Biopharmaceutical R&D Center of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
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32
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de Block T, Laumen JGE, Van Dijck C, Abdellati S, De Baetselier I, Manoharan-Basil SS, Van den Bossche D, Kenyon C. WGS of Commensal Neisseria Reveals Acquisition of a New Ribosomal Protection Protein (MsrD) as a Possible Explanation for High Level Azithromycin Resistance in Belgium. Pathogens 2021; 10:384. [PMID: 33806962 PMCID: PMC8005064 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10030384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we characterized all oropharyngeal and anorectal isolates of Neisseria spp. in a cohort of men who have sex with men. This resulted in a panel of pathogenic Neisseria (N. gonorrhoeae [n = 5] and N. meningitidis [n = 5]) and nonpathogenic Neisseria (N. subflava [n = 11], N. mucosa [n = 3] and N. oralis [n = 2]). A high proportion of strains in this panel were resistant to azithromycin (18/26) and ceftriaxone (3/26). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of these strains identified numerous mutations that are known to confer reduced susceptibility to azithromycin and ceftriaxone in N. gonorrhoeae. The presence or absence of these known mutations did not explain the high level resistance to azithromycin (>256 mg/L) in the nonpathogenic isolates (8/16). After screening for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, we found a ribosomal protection protein, Msr(D), in these highly azithromycin resistant nonpathogenic strains. The complete integration site originated from Streptococcus pneumoniae and is associated with high level resistance to azithromycin in many other bacterial species. This novel AMR resistance mechanism to azithromycin in nonpathogenic Neisseria could be a public health concern if it were to be transmitted to pathogenic Neisseria. This study demonstrates the utility of WGS-based surveillance of nonpathogenic Neisseria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa de Block
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (T.d.B.); (J.G.E.L.); (C.V.D.); (S.A.); (I.D.B.); (S.S.M.-B.); (D.V.d.B.)
| | - Jolein Gyonne Elise Laumen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (T.d.B.); (J.G.E.L.); (C.V.D.); (S.A.); (I.D.B.); (S.S.M.-B.); (D.V.d.B.)
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Dijck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (T.d.B.); (J.G.E.L.); (C.V.D.); (S.A.); (I.D.B.); (S.S.M.-B.); (D.V.d.B.)
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Said Abdellati
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (T.d.B.); (J.G.E.L.); (C.V.D.); (S.A.); (I.D.B.); (S.S.M.-B.); (D.V.d.B.)
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (T.d.B.); (J.G.E.L.); (C.V.D.); (S.A.); (I.D.B.); (S.S.M.-B.); (D.V.d.B.)
| | - Sheeba Santhini Manoharan-Basil
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (T.d.B.); (J.G.E.L.); (C.V.D.); (S.A.); (I.D.B.); (S.S.M.-B.); (D.V.d.B.)
| | - Dorien Van den Bossche
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (T.d.B.); (J.G.E.L.); (C.V.D.); (S.A.); (I.D.B.); (S.S.M.-B.); (D.V.d.B.)
| | - Chris Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (T.d.B.); (J.G.E.L.); (C.V.D.); (S.A.); (I.D.B.); (S.S.M.-B.); (D.V.d.B.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
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Cugini C, Ramasubbu N, Tsiagbe VK, Fine DH. Dysbiosis From a Microbial and Host Perspective Relative to Oral Health and Disease. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:617485. [PMID: 33763040 PMCID: PMC7982844 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.617485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The significance of microbiology and immunology with regard to caries and periodontal disease gained substantial clinical or research consideration in the mid 1960's. This enhanced emphasis related to several simple but elegant experiments illustrating the relevance of bacteria to oral infections. Since that point, the understanding of oral diseases has become increasingly sophisticated and many of the original hypotheses related to disease causality have either been abandoned or amplified. The COVID pandemic has reminded us of the importance of history relative to infectious diseases and in the words of Churchill "those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it." This review is designed to present an overview of broad general directions of research over the last 60 years in oral microbiology and immunology, reviewing significant contributions, indicating emerging foci of interest, and proposing future directions based on technical advances and new understandings. Our goal is to review this rich history (standard microbiology and immunology) and point to potential directions in the future (omics) that can lead to a better understanding of disease. Over the years, research scientists have moved from a position of downplaying the role of bacteria in oral disease to one implicating bacteria as true pathogens that cause disease. More recently it has been proposed that bacteria form the ecological first line of defense against "foreign" invaders and also serve to train the immune system as an acquired host defensive stimulus. While early immunological research was focused on immunological exposure as a modulator of disease, the "hygiene hypothesis," and now the "old friends hypothesis" suggest that the immune response could be trained by bacteria for long-term health. Advanced "omics" technologies are currently being used to address changes that occur in the host and the microbiome in oral disease. The "omics" methodologies have shaped the detection of quantifiable biomarkers to define human physiology and pathologies. In summary, this review will emphasize the role that commensals and pathobionts play in their interaction with the immune status of the host, with a prediction that current "omic" technologies will allow researchers to better understand disease in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Cugini
- Department of Oral Biology, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Newark, NJ, United States
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Van Dijck C, Tsoumanis A, Rotsaert A, Vuylsteke B, Van den Bossche D, Paeleman E, De Baetselier I, Brosius I, Laumen J, Buyze J, Wouters K, Lynen L, Van Esbroeck M, Herssens N, Abdellati S, Declercq S, Reyniers T, Van Herrewege Y, Florence E, Kenyon C. Antibacterial mouthwash to prevent sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PReGo): a randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2021; 21:657-667. [PMID: 33676596 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30778-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are highly prevalent among men who have sex with men who use HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which leads to antimicrobial consumption linked to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. We aimed to assess use of an antiseptic mouthwash as an antibiotic sparing approach to prevent STIs. METHODS We invited people using PrEP who had an STI in the past 24 months to participate in this single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, AB/BA crossover superiority trial at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium. Using block randomisation (block size eight), participants were assigned (1:1) to first receive Listerine Cool Mint or a placebo mouthwash. They were required to use the study mouthwashes daily and before and after sex for 3 months each and to ask their sexual partners to use the mouthwash before and after sex. Participants were screened every 3 months for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhoea at the oropharynx, anorectum, and urethra. The primary outcome was combined incidence of these STIs during each 3-month period, assessed in the intention-to-treat population, which included all participants who completed at least the first 3-month period. Safety was assessed as a secondary outcome. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03881007. FINDINGS Between April 2, 2019, and March 13, 2020, 343 participants were enrolled: 172 in the Listerine followed by placebo (Listerine-placebo) group and 171 in the placebo followed by Listerine (placebo-Listerine) group. The trial was terminated prematurely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 151 participants completed the entire study, and 89 completed only the first 3-month period. 31 participants withdrew consent, ten were lost to follow-up, and one acquired HIV. In the Listerine-placebo group, the STI incidence rate was 140·4 per 100 person-years during the Listerine period, and 102·6 per 100 person-years during the placebo period. In the placebo-Listerine arm, the STI incidence rate was 133·9 per 100 person-years during the placebo period, and 147·5 per 100 person-years during the Listerine period. We did not find that Listerine significantly reduced STI incidence (IRR 1·17, 95% CI 0·84-1·64). Numbers of adverse events were not significantly higher than at baseline and were similar while using Listerine and placebo. Four serious adverse events (one HIV-infection, one severe depression, one Ludwig's angina, and one testicular carcinoma) were not considered to be related to use of mouthwash. INTERPRETATION Our findings do not support the use of Listerine Cool Mint as a way to prevent STI acquisition among high-risk populations. FUNDING Belgian Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO 121·00).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Van Dijck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Achilleas Tsoumanis
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Medical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Anke Rotsaert
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bea Vuylsteke
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Elke Paeleman
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Isabel Brosius
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jolein Laumen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jozefien Buyze
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kristien Wouters
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Lutgarde Lynen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marjan Van Esbroeck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Natacha Herssens
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Said Abdellati
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Steven Declercq
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Thijs Reyniers
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Yven Van Herrewege
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Eric Florence
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Chris Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
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Kahler CM. Neisseria species and their complicated relationships with human health. MICROBIOLOGY AUSTRALIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/ma21024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria spp. are a transient low abundance member of the human microbiome. This species contains the very well described pathogens, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis. Recent advances in molecular typing have revealed that this genus is more diverse than previously thought and that commensal species may have important roles in inhibiting the growth the pathogens. This short review summates these new findings and examines the evidence that the relatively under-reported Neisseria commensal species maybe beneficial to human health.
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Micoli F, Bagnoli F, Rappuoli R, Serruto D. The role of vaccines in combatting antimicrobial resistance. Nat Rev Microbiol 2021; 19:287-302. [PMID: 33542518 PMCID: PMC7861009 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-020-00506-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The use of antibiotics has enabled the successful treatment of bacterial infections, saving the lives and improving the health of many patients worldwide. However, the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been highlighted as a global threat by different health organizations, and pathogens resistant to antimicrobials cause substantial morbidity and death. As resistance to multiple drugs increases, novel and effective therapies as well as prevention strategies are needed. In this Review, we discuss evidence that vaccines can have a major role in fighting AMR. Vaccines are used prophylactically, decreasing the number of infectious disease cases, and thus antibiotic use and the emergence and spread of AMR. We also describe the current state of development of vaccines against resistant bacterial pathogens that cause a substantial disease burden both in high-income countries and in low- and medium-income countries, discuss possible obstacles that hinder progress in vaccine development and speculate on the impact of next-generation vaccines against bacterial infectious diseases on AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Micoli
- grid.425088.3GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Siena, Italy
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37
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Aho EL, Ogle JM, Finck AM. The Human Microbiome as a Focus of Antibiotic Discovery: Neisseria mucosa Displays Activity Against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:577762. [PMID: 33343520 PMCID: PMC7744932 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.577762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections are a serious global health problem. This organism has developed disturbing levels of antibiotic resistance, resulting in the need for new approaches to prevent and treat gonorrhea. The genus Neisseria also includes several members of the human microbiome that live in close association with an array of microbial partners in a variety of niches. We designed an undergraduate antibiotic discovery project to examine a panel of nonpathogenic Neisseria species for their ability to produce antimicrobial secondary metabolites. Five strains belonging to the N. mucosa species group displayed activity against other Neisseria in delayed antagonism assays; three of these were active against N. gonorrhoeae. The antimicrobial compound secreted by N. mucosa NRL 9300 remained active in the presence of catalase, trypsin, and HEPES buffer, and effectively inhibited a DNA uptake mutant of N. gonorrhoeae. Antimicrobial activity was also retained in an ethyl acetate extract of plate grown N. mucosa NRL 9300. These data suggest N. mucosa produces an antimicrobial secondary metabolite that is distinct from previously described antigonococcal agents. This work also serves as a demonstration project that could easily be adapted to studying other members of the human microbiome in undergraduate settings. We offer the perspective that both introductory and more advanced course-based and apprentice-style antibiotic discovery projects focused on the microbiome have the potential to enrich undergraduate curricula and we describe transferrable techniques and strategies to facilitate project design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen L Aho
- Department of Biology, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, United States
| | - Jenie M Ogle
- Department of Biology, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, United States
| | - Anna M Finck
- Department of Biology, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, United States
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38
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Immune-Microbiota Interplay and Colonization Resistance in Infection. Mol Cell 2020; 78:597-613. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Custodio R, Johnson E, Liu G, Tang CM, Exley RM. Commensal Neisseria cinerea impairs Neisseria meningitidis microcolony development and reduces pathogen colonisation of epithelial cells. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008372. [PMID: 32208456 PMCID: PMC7092958 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is increasingly being recognised that the interplay between commensal and pathogenic bacteria can dictate the outcome of infection. Consequently, there is a need to understand how commensals interact with their human host and influence pathogen behaviour at epithelial surfaces. Neisseria meningitidis, a leading cause of sepsis and meningitis, exclusively colonises the human nasopharynx and shares this niche with several other Neisseria species, including the commensal Neisseria cinerea. Here, we demonstrate that during adhesion to human epithelial cells N. cinerea co-localises with molecules that are also recruited by the meningococcus, and show that, similar to N. meningitidis, N. cinerea forms dynamic microcolonies on the cell surface in a Type four pilus (Tfp) dependent manner. Finally, we demonstrate that N. cinerea colocalises with N. meningitidis on the epithelial cell surface, limits the size and motility of meningococcal microcolonies, and impairs the effective colonisation of epithelial cells by the pathogen. Our data establish that commensal Neisseria can mimic and affect the behaviour of a pathogen on epithelial cell surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Custodio
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Errin Johnson
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Guangyu Liu
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph M. Tang
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel M. Exley
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Humbert MV, Christodoulides M. Atypical, Yet Not Infrequent, Infections with Neisseria Species. Pathogens 2019; 9:E10. [PMID: 31861867 PMCID: PMC7168603 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9010010] [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] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria species are extremely well-adapted to their mammalian hosts and they display unique phenotypes that account for their ability to thrive within niche-specific conditions. The closely related species N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis are the only two species of the genus recognized as strict human pathogens, causing the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea and meningitis and sepsis, respectively. Gonococci colonize the mucosal epithelium of the male urethra and female endo/ectocervix, whereas meningococci colonize the mucosal epithelium of the human nasopharynx. The pathophysiological host responses to gonococcal and meningococcal infection are distinct. However, medical evidence dating back to the early 1900s demonstrates that these two species can cross-colonize anatomical niches, with patients often presenting with clinically-indistinguishable infections. The remaining Neisseria species are not commonly associated with disease and are considered as commensals within the normal microbiota of the human and animal nasopharynx. Nonetheless, clinical case reports suggest that they can behave as opportunistic pathogens. In this review, we describe the diversity of the genus Neisseria in the clinical context and raise the attention of microbiologists and clinicians for more cautious approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of the many pathologies these species may cause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Victoria Humbert
- Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, Faculty of Medicine, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK;
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Liu S, Rezende RM, Moreira TG, Tankou SK, Cox LM, Wu M, Song A, Dhang FH, Wei Z, Costamagna G, Weiner HL. Oral Administration of miR-30d from Feces of MS Patients Suppresses MS-like Symptoms in Mice by Expanding Akkermansia muciniphila. Cell Host Microbe 2019; 26:779-794.e8. [PMID: 31784260 PMCID: PMC6948921 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2019.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Fecal transfer from healthy donors is being explored as a microbiome modality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to affect the microbiome. Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have been shown to have an altered gut microbiome. Here, we unexpectedly found that transfer of feces harvested at peak disease from the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS ameliorates disease in recipients in a miRNA-dependent manner. Specifically, we show that miR-30d is enriched in the feces of peak EAE and untreated MS patients. Synthetic miR-30d given orally ameliorates EAE through expansion of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Mechanistically, miR-30d regulates the expression of a lactase in Akkermansia muciniphila, which increases Akkermansia abundance in the gut. The expanded Akkermansia in turn increases Tregs to suppress EAE symptoms. Our findings report the mechanistic underpinnings of a miRNA-microbiome axis and suggest that the feces of diseased subjects might be enriched with miRNAs with therapeutic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirong Liu
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Rafael M Rezende
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Thais G Moreira
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Stephanie K Tankou
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Laura M Cox
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Meng Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anya Song
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Fyonn H Dhang
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zhiyun Wei
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Gianluca Costamagna
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Howard L Weiner
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Commensal defence. Nat Rev Microbiol 2019; 17:646-647. [DOI: 10.1038/s41579-019-0263-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Lin L, Ringel PD, Vettiger A, Dürr L, Basler M. DNA Uptake upon T6SS-Dependent Prey Cell Lysis Induces SOS Response and Reduces Fitness of Acinetobacter baylyi. Cell Rep 2019; 29:1633-1644.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.09.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Russell MW, Jerse AE, Gray-Owen SD. Progress Toward a Gonococcal Vaccine: The Way Forward. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2417. [PMID: 31681305 PMCID: PMC6803597 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of immunizing against gonorrhea has received renewed interest because of the recent emergence of strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae that are resistant to most currently available antibiotics, an occurrence that threatens to render gonorrhea untreatable. However, despite efforts over many decades, no vaccine has yet been successfully developed for human use, leading to pessimism over whether this goal was actually attainable. Several factors have contributed to this situation, including extensive variation of the expression and specificity of many of the gonococcal surface antigens, and the ability of N. gonorrhoeae to resist destruction by complement and other innate immune defense mechanisms. The natural host restriction of N. gonorrhoeae for humans, coupled with the absence of any definable state of immunity arising from an episode of gonorrhea, have also complicated efforts to study gonococcal pathogenesis and the host's immune responses. However, recent findings have elucidated how the gonococcus exploits and manipulates the host's immune system for its own benefit, utilizing human-specific receptors for attachment to and invasion of tissues, and subverting adaptive immune responses that might otherwise be capable of eliminating it. While no single experimental model is capable of providing all the answers, experiments utilizing human cells and tissues in vitro, various in vivo animal models, including genetically modified strains of mice, and both experimental and observational human clinical studies, have combined to yield important new insight into the immuno-pathogenesis of gonococcal infection. In turn, these have now led to novel approaches for the development of a gonococcal vaccine. Ongoing investigations utilizing all available tools are now poised to make the development of an effective human vaccine against gonorrhea an achievable goal within a foreseeable time-frame.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Russell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Ann E. Jerse
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Scott D. Gray-Owen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Fleming BA, Mulvey MA. Commensal Strains of Neisseria Use DNA to Poison Their Pathogenic Rivals. Cell Host Microbe 2019; 26:156-158. [PMID: 31415746 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2019.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Commensal bacteria can interfere with colonization of the host by infiltrating pathogens. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Kim et al. (2019) describe an intriguing mechanism of colonization resistance driven by the mismatching of methylation patterns following uptake of commensal-derived DNA by pathogenic strains of Neisseria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany A Fleming
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0565, USA
| | - Matthew A Mulvey
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0565, USA.
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