1
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Popoff MR. Overview of Bacterial Protein Toxins from Pathogenic Bacteria: Mode of Action and Insights into Evolution. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:182. [PMID: 38668607 PMCID: PMC11054074 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16040182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial protein toxins are secreted by certain bacteria and are responsible for mild to severe diseases in humans and animals. They are among the most potent molecules known, which are active at very low concentrations. Bacterial protein toxins exhibit a wide diversity based on size, structure, and mode of action. Upon recognition of a cell surface receptor (protein, glycoprotein, and glycolipid), they are active either at the cell surface (signal transduction, membrane damage by pore formation, or hydrolysis of membrane compound(s)) or intracellularly. Various bacterial protein toxins have the ability to enter cells, most often using an endocytosis mechanism, and to deliver the effector domain into the cytosol, where it interacts with an intracellular target(s). According to the nature of the intracellular target(s) and type of modification, various cellular effects are induced (cell death, homeostasis modification, cytoskeleton alteration, blockade of exocytosis, etc.). The various modes of action of bacterial protein toxins are illustrated with representative examples. Insights in toxin evolution are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel R Popoff
- Unité des Toxines Bactériennes, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 2001 INSERM U1306, F-75015 Paris, France
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2
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Cason C, D’Accolti M, Soffritti I, Mazzacane S, Comar M, Caselli E. Next-generation sequencing and PCR technologies in monitoring the hospital microbiome and its drug resistance. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:969863. [PMID: 35966671 PMCID: PMC9370071 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.969863] [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: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The hospital environment significantly contributes to the onset of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which represent one of the most frequent complications occurring in healthcare facilities worldwide. Moreover, the increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR) characterizing HAI-associated microbes is one of the human health’s main concerns, requiring the characterization of the contaminating microbial population in the hospital environment. The monitoring of surface microbiota in hospitals is generally addressed by microbial cultural isolation. However, this has some important limitations mainly relating to the inability to define the whole drug-resistance profile of the contaminating microbiota and to the long time period required to obtain the results. Hence, there is an urgent need to implement environmental surveillance systems using more effective methods. Molecular approaches, including next-generation sequencing and PCR assays, may be useful and effective tools to monitor microbial contamination, especially the growing AMR of HAI-associated pathogens. Herein, we summarize the results of our recent studies using culture-based and molecular analyses in 12 hospitals for adults and children over a 5-year period, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of the techniques used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Cason
- Department of Advanced Translational Microbiology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy
| | - Maria D’Accolti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, Section of Microbiology and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- CIAS Research Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Irene Soffritti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, Section of Microbiology and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- CIAS Research Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Manola Comar
- Department of Advanced Translational Microbiology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Caselli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, Section of Microbiology and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- CIAS Research Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- *Correspondence: Elisabetta Caselli,
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3
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Nie Z, Shi L, Song K, Xu X, Ding P, Lu B, Wu G, Ma X. LukS-PV inhibits the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by maintaining FOXO3 stability via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Cell Signal 2022; 95:110357. [PMID: 35589047 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2022.110357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the common malignant tumors. LukS-PV is the S component of Panton-Valetine leukocidin(PVL) secreted by Staphylococcus aureus. Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) is a member of the FOXO subfamily of transcription factors that acts as a tumor suppressor. In this study, we investigated the role of LukS-PV on the proliferation of HCC and explored possible mechanisms. We treated HCC cells with various concentrations of LukS-PV and evaluated the effect of LukS-PV on cell viability using the cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. Real-time PCR and western blot assays were used to analyze mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to examine the intracellular localization of FOXO3. The expression of FOXO3 and its downstream target genes were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide and the proteosome inhibitor MG132 were used to explore the potential mechanisms by which LukS-PV regulated FOXO3. We demonstrated that LukS-PV inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells in a concentration dependent manner. LukS-PV upregulated FOXO3 expression both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, LukS-PV facilitated the entry of FOXO3 into the nucleus and, subsequently, regulated the transcription of downstream target genes. In addition, we discovered that LukS-PV decreased the expression of phosphorylated FOXO3 through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and maintained FOXO3 protein stability via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Taken together, our data indicated that LukS-PV exert anticancer activities through FOXO3. LukS-PV may be a promising candidate for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengchao Nie
- The First Affifiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lan Shi
- The First Affifiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Kaidi Song
- The First Affifiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xuexue Xu
- The First Affifiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Pengsheng Ding
- The First Affifiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Bing Lu
- The First Affifiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Gang Wu
- The First Affifiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoling Ma
- The First Affifiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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4
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Xiong X, Tian S, Yang P, Lebreton F, Bao H, Sheng K, Yin L, Chen P, Zhang J, Qi W, Ruan J, Wu H, Chen H, Breault DT, Wu H, Earl AM, Gilmore MS, Abraham J, Dong M. Emerging enterococcus pore-forming toxins with MHC/HLA-I as receptors. Cell 2022; 185:1157-1171.e22. [PMID: 35259335 PMCID: PMC8978092 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Enterococci are a part of human microbiota and a leading cause of multidrug resistant infections. Here, we identify a family of Enterococcus pore-forming toxins (Epxs) in E. faecalis, E. faecium, and E. hirae strains isolated across the globe. Structural studies reveal that Epxs form a branch of β-barrel pore-forming toxins with a β-barrel protrusion (designated the top domain) sitting atop the cap domain. Through a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen, we identify human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) complex as a receptor for two members (Epx2 and Epx3), which preferentially recognize human HLA-I and homologous MHC-I of equine, bovine, and porcine, but not murine, origin. Interferon exposure, which stimulates MHC-I expression, sensitizes human cells and intestinal organoids to Epx2 and Epx3 toxicity. Co-culture with Epx2-harboring E. faecium damages human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and intestinal organoids, and this toxicity is neutralized by an Epx2 antibody, demonstrating the toxin-mediated virulence of Epx-carrying Enterococcus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhe Xiong
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Songhai Tian
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Pan Yang
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Francois Lebreton
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Multidrug-Resistant Organism Repository and Surveillance Network (MRSN), Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Huan Bao
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Kuanwei Sheng
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Linxiang Yin
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Pengsheng Chen
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wanshu Qi
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jianbin Ruan
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Immunology, University of Connecticut Health School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Vascular Biology Program, Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Hong Chen
- Vascular Biology Program, Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David T Breault
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ashlee M Earl
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Michael S Gilmore
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Jonathan Abraham
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Min Dong
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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5
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Lambey P, Otun O, Cong X, Hoh F, Brunel L, Verdié P, Grison CM, Peysson F, Jeannot S, Durroux T, Bechara C, Granier S, Leyrat C. Structural insights into recognition of chemokine receptors by Staphylococcus aureus leukotoxins. eLife 2022; 11:72555. [PMID: 35311641 PMCID: PMC9005193 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus (SA) leukocidin ED (LukED) belongs to a family of bicomponent pore forming toxins that play important roles in SA immune evasion and nutrient acquisition. LukED targets specific G protein-coupled chemokine receptors to lyse human erythrocytes (red blood cells) and leukocytes (white blood cells). The first recognition step of receptors is critical for specific cell targeting and lysis. The structural and molecular bases for this mechanism are not well understood but could constitute essential information to guide antibiotic development. Here, we characterized the interaction of LukE with chemokine receptors ACKR1, CCR2, and CCR5 using a combination of structural, pharmacological, and computational approaches. First, crystal structures of LukE in complex with a small molecule mimicking sulfotyrosine side chain (p-cresyl sulfate) and with peptides containing sulfotyrosines issued from receptor sequences revealed the location of receptor sulfotyrosine binding sites in the toxins. Then, by combining previous and novel experimental data with protein docking, classical and accelerated weight histogram (AWH) molecular dynamics we propose models of the ACKR1-LukE and CCR5-LukE complexes. This work provides novel insights into chemokine receptor recognition by leukotoxins and suggests that the conserved sulfotyrosine binding pocket could be a target of choice for future drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Lambey
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Omolade Otun
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Xiaojing Cong
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - François Hoh
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Luc Brunel
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Pascal Verdié
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Claire M Grison
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Fanny Peysson
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Sylvain Jeannot
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Thierry Durroux
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Cherine Bechara
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Sébastien Granier
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Cédric Leyrat
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
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6
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Kailasan S, Kant R, Noonan-Shueh M, Kanipakala T, Liao G, Shulenin S, Leung DW, Alm RA, Adhikari RP, Amarasinghe GK, Gross ML, Aman MJ. Antigenic landscapes on Staphylococcus aureus pore-forming toxins reveal insights into specificity and cross-neutralization. MAbs 2022; 14:2083467. [PMID: 35730685 PMCID: PMC9225675 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2022.2083467] [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: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus carries an exceptional repertoire of virulence factors that aid in immune evasion. Previous single-target approaches for S. aureus-specific vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have failed in clinical trials due to the multitude of virulence factors released during infection. Emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains demands a multi-target approach involving neutralization of different, non-overlapping pathogenic factors. Of the several pore-forming toxins that contribute to S. aureus pathogenesis, efforts have largely focused on mAbs that neutralize α-hemolysin (Hla) and target the receptor-binding site. Here, we isolated two anti-Hla and three anti-Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (LukSF-PV) mAbs, and used a combination of hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) and alanine scanning mutagenesis to delineate and validate the toxins’ epitope landscape. Our studies identified two novel, neutralizing epitopes targeted by 2B6 and CAN6 on Hla that provided protection from hemolytic activity in vitro and showed synergy in rodent pneumonia model against lethal challenge. Of the anti-LukF mAbs, SA02 and SA131 showed specific neutralization activity to LukSF-PV while SA185 showed cross-neutralization activity to LukSF-PV, γ-hemolysin HlgAB, and leukotoxin ED. We further compared these antigen-specific mAbs to two broadly neutralizing mAbs, H5 (targets Hla, LukSF-PV, HlgAB, HlgCB, and LukED) and SA185 (targeting LukSF-PV, HlgAB, and LukED), and identified molecular level markers for broad-spectrum reactivity among the pore-forming toxins by HDX-MS. To further underscore the need to target the cross-reactive epitopes on leukocidins for the development of broad-spectrum therapies, we annotated Hla sequences isolated from patients in multiple countries for genomic variations within the perspective of our defined epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ravi Kant
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | | | | | - Grant Liao
- Integrated BioTherapeutics, Rockville, USA
| | | | - Daisy W Leung
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Richard A Alm
- Boston University School of Law, Boston University, Boston, USA
| | | | - Gaya K Amarasinghe
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Michael L Gross
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
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7
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Xu LF, Shi L, Zhang SS, Ding PS, Ma F, Song KD, Qiang P, Chang WJ, Dai YY, Mei YD, Ma XL. LukS-PV Induces Apoptosis via the SET8-H4K20me1-PIK3CB Axis in Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells. Front Oncol 2021; 11:718791. [PMID: 34745943 PMCID: PMC8565356 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.718791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence suggests that histone modification disorders are involved in leukemia pathogenesis. We previously reported that LukS-PV, a component of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), has antileukemia activities that can induce differentiation, increase apoptosis, and inhibit proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Furthermore, LukS-PV inhibited hepatoma progression by regulating histone deacetylation, speculating that LukS-PV may exert antileukemia activity by targeting histone modification regulators. In this study, the results showed that LukS-PV induced apoptosis by downregulating the methyltransferase SET8 and its target histone H4 monomethylated at Lys 20 (H4K20me1). Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and polymerase chain reaction identified the kinase PIK3CB as a downstream target gene for apoptosis mediated by SET8/H4K20me1. Finally, our results indicated that LukS-PV induced apoptosis via the PIK3CB-AKT-FOXO1 signaling pathway by targeting SET8. This study indicates that SET8 downregulation is one of the mechanisms by which LukS-PV induces apoptosis in AML cells, suggesting that SET8 may be a potential therapeutic target for AML. Furthermore, LukS-PV may be a drug candidate for the treatment of AML that targets epigenetic modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Fei Xu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Lan Shi
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Shan Shan Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Peng Sheng Ding
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Fan Ma
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Kai Di Song
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ping Qiang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Wen Jiao Chang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yuan Yuan Dai
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yi De Mei
- University of Science and Technology of China, School of Life Sciences and Medicine, USTC Life Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Xiao Ling Ma
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,University of Science and Technology of China, School of Life Sciences and Medicine, USTC Life Sciences, Hefei, China
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8
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Johnstone BA, Christie MP, Morton CJ, Parker MW. X-ray crystallography shines a light on pore-forming toxins. Methods Enzymol 2021; 649:1-46. [PMID: 33712183 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
A common form of cellular attack by pathogenic bacteria is to secrete pore-forming toxins (PFTs). Capable of forming transmembrane pores in various biological membranes, PFTs have also been identified in a diverse range of other organisms such as sea anemones, earthworms and even mushrooms and trees. The mechanism of pore formation by PFTs is associated with substantial conformational changes in going from the water-soluble to transmembrane states of the protein. The determination of the crystal structures for numerous PFTs has shed much light on our understanding of these proteins. Other than elucidating the atomic structural details of PFTs and the conformational changes that must occur for pore formation, crystal structures have revealed structural homology that has led to the discovery of new PFTs and new PFT families. Here we review some key crystallographic results together with complimentary approaches for studying PFTs. We discuss how these studies have impacted our understanding of PFT function and guided research into biotechnical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronte A Johnstone
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Michelle P Christie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Craig J Morton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael W Parker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia.
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9
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Batool N, Shamim A, Chaurasia AK, Kim KK. Genome-Wide Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus Sequence Type 72 Isolates Provides Insights Into Resistance Against Antimicrobial Agents and Virulence Potential. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:613800. [PMID: 33552024 PMCID: PMC7854921 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.613800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus sequence type 72 (ST72) is a major community-associated (CA) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that has rapidly entered the hospital setting in Korea, causing mild superficial skin wounds to severe bloodstream infections. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the genomes of one methicillin-resistant human isolate and one methicillin-sensitive human isolate of ST72 from Korea, K07-204 and K07-561, respectively. We used a subtractive genomics approach to compare these two isolates to other 27 ST72 isolates to investigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence potential. Furthermore, we validated genotypic differences by phenotypic characteristics analysis. Comparative and subtractive genomics analysis revealed that K07-204 contains methicillin (mecA), ampicillin (blaZ), erythromycin (ermC), aminoglycoside (aadD), and tetracycline (tet38, tetracycline efflux pump) resistance genes while K07-561 has ampicillin (blaZ) and tetracycline (tet38) resistance genes. In addition to antibiotics, K07-204 was reported to show resistance to lysostaphin treatment. K07-204 also has additional virulence genes (adsA, aur, hysA, icaABCDR, lip, lukD, sdrC, and sdrE) compared to K07-561, which may explain the differential virulence potential of these human isolates of ST72. Unexpectedly, the virulence potential of K07-561 was higher in an in vivo wax-worm infection model than that of K07-204, putatively due to the presence of a 20-fold higher staphyloxanthin concentration than K07-204. Comprehensive genomic analysis of these two human isolates, with 27 ST72 isolates, and S. aureus USA300 (ST8) suggested that acquisition of both virulence and antibiotics resistance genes by ST72 isolates might have facilitated their adaptation from a community to a hospital setting where the selective pressure imposed by antibiotics selects for more resistant and virulent isolates. Taken together, the results of the current study provide insight into the genotypic and phenotypic features of various ST72 clones across the globe, delivering more options for developing therapeutics and rapid molecular diagnostic tools to detect resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayab Batool
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Amen Shamim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Akhilesh Kumar Chaurasia
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.,Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance and Therapeutics (IAMRT), Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, South Korea
| | - Kyeong Kyu Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.,Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance and Therapeutics (IAMRT), Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, South Korea.,Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Samsung Medical Center (SMC), Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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10
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Vlaeminck J, Raafat D, Surmann K, Timbermont L, Normann N, Sellman B, van Wamel WJB, Malhotra-Kumar S. Exploring Virulence Factors and Alternative Therapies against Staphylococcus aureus Pneumonia. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12110721. [PMID: 33218049 PMCID: PMC7698915 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12110721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumonia is an acute pulmonary infection associated with high mortality and an immense financial burden on healthcare systems. Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen capable of inducing S. aureus pneumonia (SAP), with some lineages also showing multidrug resistance. Given the high level of antibiotic resistance, much research has been focused on targeting S. aureus virulence factors, including toxins and biofilm-associated proteins, in an attempt to develop effective SAP therapeutics. Despite several promising leads, many hurdles still remain for S. aureus vaccine research. Here, we review the state-of-the-art SAP therapeutics, highlight their pitfalls, and discuss alternative approaches of potential significance and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle Vlaeminck
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; (J.V.); (L.T.)
| | - Dina Raafat
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (D.R.); (N.N.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21521, Egypt
| | - Kristin Surmann
- Department of Functional Genomics, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany;
| | - Leen Timbermont
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; (J.V.); (L.T.)
| | - Nicole Normann
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (D.R.); (N.N.)
| | - Bret Sellman
- Microbiome Discovery, Microbial Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R & D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA;
| | - Willem J. B. van Wamel
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Surbhi Malhotra-Kumar
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; (J.V.); (L.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-3-265-27-52
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11
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Liu J, Kozhaya L, Torres VJ, Unutmaz D, Lu M. Structure-based discovery of a small-molecule inhibitor of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus virulence. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:5944-5959. [PMID: 32179646 PMCID: PMC7196633 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.012697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid emergence and dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains poses a major threat to public health. MRSA possesses an arsenal of secreted host-damaging virulence factors that mediate pathogenicity and blunt immune defenses. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) and α-toxin are exotoxins that create lytic pores in the host cell membrane. They are recognized as being important for the development of invasive MRSA infections and are thus potential targets for antivirulence therapies. Here, we report the high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of both PVL and α-toxin in their soluble, monomeric, and oligomeric membrane-inserted pore states in complex with n-tetradecylphosphocholine (C14PC). The structures revealed two evolutionarily conserved phosphatidylcholine-binding mechanisms and their roles in modulating host cell attachment, oligomer assembly, and membrane perforation. Moreover, we demonstrate that the soluble C14PC compound protects primary human immune cells in vitro against cytolysis by PVL and α-toxin and hence may serve as the basis for the development of an antivirulence agent for managing MRSA infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Public Health Research Institute, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07103
| | - Lina Kozhaya
- Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut 06032
| | - Victor J. Torres
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016
| | - Derya Unutmaz
- Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut 06032
| | - Min Lu
- Public Health Research Institute, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07103, To whom correspondence should be addressed:
Public Health Research Institute, Dept. of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103. Tel.:
973-854-3260; E-mail:
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12
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Unbiased Identification of Immunogenic Staphylococcus aureus Leukotoxin B-Cell Epitopes. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00785-19. [PMID: 32014894 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00785-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Unbiased identification of individual immunogenic B-cell epitopes in major antigens of a pathogen remains a technology challenge for vaccine discovery. We therefore developed a platform for rapid phage display screening of deep recombinant libraries consisting of as few as one major pathogen antigen. Using the bicomponent pore-forming leukocidin (Luk) exotoxins of the major pathogen Staphylococcus aureus as a prototype, we randomly fragmented and separately ligated the hemolysin gamma A (HlgA) and LukS genes into a custom-built phage display system, termed pComb-Opti8. Deep sequence analysis of barcoded amplimers of the HlgA and LukS gene fragment libraries demonstrated that biopannng against a cross-reactive anti-Luk monoclonal antibody (MAb) recovered convergent molecular clones with short overlapping homologous sequences. We thereby identified an 11-amino-acid sequence that is highly conserved in four Luk toxin subunits and is ubiquitous in representation within S. aureus clinical isolates. The isolated 11-amino-acid peptide probe was predicted to retain the native three-dimensional (3D) conformation seen within the Luk holotoxin. Indeed, this peptide was recognized by the selecting anti-Luk MAb, and, using mutated peptides, we showed that a particular amino acid side chain was essential for these interactions. Furthermore, murine immunization with this peptide elicited IgG responses that were highly reactive with both the autologous synthetic peptide and the full-length Luk toxin homologues. Thus, using a gene fragment- and phage display-based pipeline, we have identified and validated immunogenic B-cell epitopes that are cross-reactive between members of the pore-forming leukocidin family. This approach could be harnessed to identify novel epitopes for a much-needed S. aureus-protective subunit vaccine.
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13
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Haapasalo K, Wollman AJM, de Haas CJC, van Kessel KPM, van Strijp JAG, Leake MC. Staphylococcus aureus toxin LukSF dissociates from its membrane receptor target to enable renewed ligand sequestration. FASEB J 2019; 33:3807-3824. [PMID: 30509126 PMCID: PMC6404581 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801910r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus Panton-Valentine leukocidin is a pore-forming toxin targeting the human C5a receptor (hC5aR), enabling this pathogen to battle the immune response by destroying phagocytes through targeted lysis. The mechanisms that contribute to rapid cell lysis are largely unexplored. Here, we show that cell lysis may be enabled by a process of toxins targeting receptor clusters and present indirect evidence for receptor "recycling" that allows multiple toxin pores to be formed close together. With the use of live cell single-molecule super-resolution imaging, Förster resonance energy transfer and nanoscale total internal reflection fluorescence colocalization microscopy, we visualized toxin pore formation in the presence of its natural docking ligand. We demonstrate disassociation of hC5aR from toxin complexes and simultaneous binding of new ligands. This effect may free mobile receptors to amplify hyperinflammatory reactions in early stages of microbial infections and have implications for several other similar bicomponent toxins and the design of new antibiotics.-Haapasalo, K., Wollman, A. J. M., de Haas, C. J. C., van Kessel, K. P. M., van Strijp, J. A. G., Leake, M. C. Staphylococcus aureus toxin LukSF dissociates from its membrane receptor target to enable renewed ligand sequestration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karita Haapasalo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Adam J. M. Wollman
- Department of Biology, Biological Physical Sciences Institute, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Carla J. C. de Haas
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kok P. M. van Kessel
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jos A. G. van Strijp
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mark C. Leake
- Department of Biology, Biological Physical Sciences Institute, University of York, York, United Kingdom
- Department of Physics, Biological Physical Sciences Institute, University of York, York, United Kingdom
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14
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Functional classification of protein toxins as a basis for bioinformatic screening. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13940. [PMID: 29066768 PMCID: PMC5655178 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13957-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins are fundamental to life and exhibit a wide diversity of activities, some of which are toxic. Therefore, assessing whether a specific protein is safe for consumption in foods and feeds is critical. Simple BLAST searches may reveal homology to a known toxin, when in fact the protein may pose no real danger. Another challenge to answer this question is the lack of curated databases with a representative set of experimentally validated toxins. Here we have systematically analyzed over 10,000 manually curated toxin sequences using sequence clustering, network analysis, and protein domain classification. We also developed a functional sequence signature method to distinguish toxic from non-toxic proteins. The current database, combined with motif analysis, can be used by researchers and regulators in a hazard screening capacity to assess the potential of a protein to be toxic at early stages of development. Identifying key signatures of toxicity can also aid in redesigning proteins, so as to maintain their desirable functions while reducing the risk of potential health hazards.
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15
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Kudryashova E, Seveau SM, Kudryashov DS. Targeting and inactivation of bacterial toxins by human defensins. Biol Chem 2017; 398:1069-1085. [PMID: 28593905 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2017-0106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Defensins, as a prominent family of antimicrobial peptides (AMP), are major effectors of the innate immunity with a broad range of immune modulatory and antimicrobial activities. In particular, defensins are the only recognized fast-response molecules that can neutralize a broad range of bacterial toxins, many of which are among the deadliest compounds on the planet. For a decade, the mystery of how a small and structurally conserved group of peptides can neutralize a heterogeneous group of toxins with little to no sequential and structural similarity remained unresolved. Recently, it was found that defensins recognize and target structural plasticity/thermodynamic instability, fundamental physicochemical properties that unite many bacterial toxins and distinguish them from the majority of host proteins. Binding of human defensins promotes local unfolding of the affected toxins, destabilizes their secondary and tertiary structures, increases susceptibility to proteolysis, and leads to their precipitation. While the details of toxin destabilization by defensins remain obscure, here we briefly review properties and activities of bacterial toxins known to be affected by or resilient to defensins, and discuss how recognized features of defensins correlate with the observed inactivation.
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16
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Structure and Function of the Two-Component Cytotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus - Learnings for Designing Novel Therapeutics. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 966:15-35. [PMID: 28455832 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2016_200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus can produce up to five different bi-component cytotoxins: two gamma-hemolysins HlgAB and HlgCB, and leukocidins SF-PV (Panton Valentine leukocidin), ED (LukED) and GH (LukGH, also called LukAB). Their major function in S. aureus pathogenesis is to evade innate immunity by attacking phagocytic cells and to support bacterial growth by lysing red blood cells. The five cytotoxins display different levels of amino acid sequence conservation (30-82%), but all form a remarkably similar beta-barrel type pore structure (greatly resembling the mono-component toxin alpha-hemolysin) that inserts into the target cell membrane leading to necrotic cell death. This review provides an overview of the culmination of decades of research on the structure of these toxins, their unique sequence and structural features that helps to explain the observed functional differences, such as toxin potency towards different cell types and species, receptor specificity and formation of functional non-cognate toxin pairs. The vast knowledge accumulated in this field supports novel approaches and the design of therapeutics targeting these cytotoxins to tame virulence and fight S. aureus infections.
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17
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Is LukS-PV a novel experimental therapy for leukemia? Gene 2016; 600:44-47. [PMID: 27916717 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.11.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Revised: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Although the studies on the pathogenesis and prognosis of leukemia have made revolutionary progress, the long-term survival remains unsatisfactory. Alternative techniques are being developed to target leukemia. Several decades after researchers' work, a variety of bacteria toxins are being explored as potential anti-leukemia agents, either to provide direct effects or to deliver therapeutic proteins to leukemia. LukS-PV, a component of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin secreted by S. aureus, has been tested in acute myeloid leukemia as a novel experimental strategy. Further researches about the targeting mechanisms of LukS-PV are required to make it a complete therapeutic approach for leukemia treatment. The function of this article is to provide clinicians and experimentalists with a chronological and comprehensive appraisal of use of LukS-PV as an experimental strategy for leukemia therapy.
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18
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Badarau A, Rouha H, Malafa S, Battles MB, Walker L, Nielson N, Dolezilkova I, Teubenbacher A, Banerjee S, Maierhofer B, Weber S, Stulik L, Logan DT, Welin M, Mirkina I, Pleban C, Zauner G, Gross K, Jägerhofer M, Magyarics Z, Nagy E. Context matters: The importance of dimerization-induced conformation of the LukGH leukocidin of Staphylococcus aureus for the generation of neutralizing antibodies. MAbs 2016; 8:1347-1360. [PMID: 27467113 PMCID: PMC5058624 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2016.1215791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
LukGH (LukAB) is a potent leukocidin of Staphylococcus aureus that lyses human phagocytic cells and is thought to contribute to immune evasion. Unlike the other bi-component leukocidins of S. aureus, LukGH forms a heterodimer before binding to its receptor, CD11b expressed on professional phagocytic cells, and displays significant sequence variation. We employed a high diversity human IgG1 library presented on yeast cells to discover monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) neutralizing the cytolytic activity of LukGH. Recombinant LukG and LukH monomers or a LukGH dimer were used as capture antigens in the library selections. We found that mAbs identified with LukG or LukH as bait had no or very low toxin neutralization potency. In contrast, LukGH dimer-selected antibodies proved to be highly potent, and several mAbs were able to neutralize even the most divergent LukGH variants. Based on biolayer interferometry and mesoscale discovery, the high affinity antibody binding site on the LukGH complex was absent on the individual monomers, suggesting that it was generated upon formation of the LukG-LukH dimer. X-ray crystallography analysis of the complex between the LukGH dimer and the antigen-binding fragment of a very potent mAb (PDB code 5K59) indicated that the epitope is located in the predicted cell binding region (rim domain) of LukGH. The corresponding IgG inhibited the binding of LukGH dimer to target cells. Our data suggest that knowledge of the native conformation of target molecules is essential to generate high affinity and functional mAbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Badarau
- a Arsanis Biosciences , Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna , Austria
| | - Harald Rouha
- a Arsanis Biosciences , Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna , Austria
| | - Stefan Malafa
- a Arsanis Biosciences , Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna , Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Srijib Banerjee
- a Arsanis Biosciences , Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna , Austria
| | | | - Susanne Weber
- a Arsanis Biosciences , Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna , Austria
| | - Lukas Stulik
- a Arsanis Biosciences , Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna , Austria
| | - Derek T Logan
- c SARomics Biostructures AB , Medicon Village, Lund , Sweden
| | - Martin Welin
- c SARomics Biostructures AB , Medicon Village, Lund , Sweden
| | - Irina Mirkina
- a Arsanis Biosciences , Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna , Austria
| | - Clara Pleban
- a Arsanis Biosciences , Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna , Austria
| | - Gerhild Zauner
- a Arsanis Biosciences , Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna , Austria
| | - Karin Gross
- a Arsanis Biosciences , Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna , Austria
| | | | - Zoltán Magyarics
- a Arsanis Biosciences , Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna , Austria
| | - Eszter Nagy
- a Arsanis Biosciences , Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna , Austria
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19
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Reyes-Robles T, Torres VJ. Staphylococcus aureus Pore-Forming Toxins. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2016; 409:121-144. [PMID: 27406190 DOI: 10.1007/82_2016_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a formidable foe equipped with an armamentarium of virulence factors to thwart host defenses and establish a successful infection. Among these virulence factors, S. aureus produces several potent secreted proteins that act as cytotoxins, predominant among them the beta-barrel pore-forming toxins. These toxins play several roles in pathogenesis, including disruption of cellular adherens junctions at epithelial barriers, alteration of intracellular signaling events, modulation of host immune responses, and killing of eukaryotic immune and non-immune cells. This chapter provides an updated overview on the S. aureus beta-barrel pore-forming cytotoxins, the identification of toxin receptors on host cells, and their roles in pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Reyes-Robles
- Department of Microbiology, Microbial Pathogenesis Program, New York University School of Medicine, 522 First Avenue, Smilow Research Building, Room 1010, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Victor J Torres
- Department of Microbiology, Microbial Pathogenesis Program, New York University School of Medicine, 522 First Avenue, Smilow Research Building, Room 1010, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
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20
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Nocadello S, Minasov G, Shuvalova L, Dubrovska I, Sabini E, Bagnoli F, Grandi G, Anderson WF. Crystal structures of the components of the Staphylococcus aureus leukotoxin ED. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2016; 72:113-20. [PMID: 26894539 PMCID: PMC4756620 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798315023207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcal leukotoxins are a family of β-barrel, bicomponent, pore-forming toxins with membrane-damaging functions. These bacterial exotoxins share sequence and structural homology and target several host-cell types. Leukotoxin ED (LukED) is one of these bicomponent pore-forming toxins that Staphylococcus aureus produces in order to suppress the ability of the host to contain the infection. The recent delineation of the important role that LukED plays in S. aureus pathogenesis and the identification of its protein receptors, combined with its presence in S. aureus methicillin-resistant epidemic strains, establish this leukocidin as a possible target for the development of novel therapeutics. Here, the crystal structures of the water-soluble LukE and LukD components of LukED have been determined. The two structures illustrate the tertiary-structural variability with respect to the other leukotoxins while retaining the conservation of the residues involved in the interaction of the protomers in the bipartite leukotoxin in the pore complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Nocadello
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - G. Minasov
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - L. Shuvalova
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - I. Dubrovska
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - E. Sabini
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - F. Bagnoli
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Research Centre, Siena, Italy
| | - G. Grandi
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Research Centre, Siena, Italy
| | - W. F. Anderson
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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21
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Melehani JH, Duncan JA. Inflammasome Activation Can Mediate Tissue-Specific Pathogenesis or Protection in Staphylococcus aureus Infection. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2016; 397:257-82. [PMID: 27460814 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-41171-2_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that interacts with human hosts on a spectrum from quiet commensal to deadly pathogen. S. aureus is capable of infecting nearly every tissue in the body resulting in cellulitis, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, brain abscesses, bacteremia, and more. S. aureus has a wide range of factors that promote infection, and each site of infection triggers a different response in the human host. In particular, the different patterns of inflammasome activation mediate tissue-specific pathogenesis or protection in S. aureus infection. Although still a nascent field, understanding the unique host-pathogen interactions in each infection and the role of inflammasomes in mediating pathogenesis may lead to novel strategies for treating S. aureus infections. Reviews addressing S. aureus virulence and pathogenesis (Thammavongsa et al. 2015), as well as epidemiology and pathophysiology (Tong et al. 2015), have recently been published. This review will focus on S. aureus factors that activate inflammasomes and their impact on innate immune signaling and bacterial survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason H Melehani
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Joseph A Duncan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. .,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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22
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De S, Bubnys A, Alonzo F, Hyun J, Lary JW, Cole JL, Torres VJ, Olson R. The Relationship between Glycan Binding and Direct Membrane Interactions in Vibrio cholerae Cytolysin, a Channel-forming Toxin. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:28402-28415. [PMID: 26416894 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.675967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are structurally diverse pathogen-secreted proteins that form cell-damaging channels in the membranes of host cells. Most PFTs are released as water-soluble monomers that first oligomerize on the membrane before inserting a transmembrane channel. To modulate specificity and increase potency, many PFTs recognize specific cell surface receptors that increase the local toxin concentration on cell membranes, thereby facilitating channel formation. Vibrio cholerae cytolysin (VCC) is a toxin secreted by the human pathogen responsible for pandemic cholera disease and acts as a defensive agent against the host immune system. Although it has been shown that VCC utilizes specific glycan receptors on the cell surface, additional direct contacts with the membrane must also play a role in toxin binding. To better understand the nature of these interactions, we conducted a systematic investigation of the membrane-binding surface of VCC to identify additional membrane interactions important in cell targeting. Through cell-based assays on several human-derived cell lines, we show that VCC is unlikely to utilize high affinity protein receptors as do structurally similar toxins from Staphylococcus aureus. Next, we identified a number of specific amino acid residues that greatly diminish the VCC potency against cells and investigated the interplay between glycan binding and these direct lipid contacts. Finally, we used model membranes to parse the importance of these key residues in lipid and cholesterol binding. Our study provides a complete functional map of the VCC membrane-binding surface and insights into the integration of sugar, lipid, and cholesterol binding interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swastik De
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics Program, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut 06459
| | - Adele Bubnys
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics Program, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut 06459
| | - Francis Alonzo
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016
| | - Jinsol Hyun
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics Program, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut 06459
| | - Jeffrey W Lary
- Biotechnology-Bioservices Center, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269
| | - James L Cole
- Biotechnology-Bioservices Center, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269
| | - Victor J Torres
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016
| | - Rich Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics Program, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut 06459.
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23
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Rouha H, Badarau A, Visram ZC, Battles MB, Prinz B, Magyarics Z, Nagy G, Mirkina I, Stulik L, Zerbs M, Jägerhofer M, Maierhofer B, Teubenbacher A, Dolezilkova I, Gross K, Banerjee S, Zauner G, Malafa S, Zmajkovic J, Maier S, Mabry R, Krauland E, Wittrup KD, Gerngross TU, Nagy E. Five birds, one stone: neutralization of α-hemolysin and 4 bi-component leukocidins of Staphylococcus aureus with a single human monoclonal antibody. MAbs 2015; 7:243-54. [PMID: 25523282 PMCID: PMC5045134 DOI: 10.4161/19420862.2014.985132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen associated with high mortality. The emergence of antibiotic resistance and the inability of antibiotics to counteract bacterial cytotoxins involved in the pathogenesis of S. aureus call for novel therapeutic approaches, such as passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The complexity of staphylococcal pathogenesis and past failures with single mAb products represent considerable barriers for antibody-based therapeutics. Over the past few years, efforts have focused on neutralizing α-hemolysin. Recent findings suggest that the concerted actions of several cytotoxins, including the bi-component leukocidins play important roles in staphylococcal pathogenesis. Therefore, we aimed to isolate mAbs that bind to multiple cytolysins by employing high diversity human IgG1 libraries presented on the surface of yeast cells. Here we describe cross-reactive antibodies with picomolar affinity for α-hemolysin and 4 different bi-component leukocidins that share only ∼26% overall amino acid sequence identity. The molecular basis of cross-reactivity is the recognition of a conformational epitope shared by α-hemolysin and F-components of gamma-hemolysin (HlgAB and HlgCB), LukED and LukSF (Panton-Valentine Leukocidin). The amino acids predicted to form the epitope are conserved and known to be important for cytotoxic activity. We found that a single cross-reactive antibody prevented lysis of human phagocytes, epithelial and red blood cells induced by α-hemolysin and leukocidins in vitro, and therefore had superior effectiveness compared to α-hemolysin specific antibodies to protect from the combined cytolytic effect of secreted S. aureus toxins. Such mAb afforded high levels of protection in murine models of pneumonia and sepsis.
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Key Words
- BLI, biolayer interferometry
- EC50, effective concentration
- Hla, α-hemolysin
- HlgAB and HlgCB, gamma-hemolysins
- IC50, inhibitory concentration
- LukED, leukocidin ED
- LukSF, leukocidin SF
- PMN, polymorphonuclear cells
- RBC, red blood cell
- Staphylococcus aureus
- engineered cross-reactivity
- exotoxins
- in vitro potency
- in vivo efficacy
- mAb, monoclonal antibody
- monoclonal antibody
- toxin neutralization
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The bicomponent pore-forming leucocidins of Staphylococcus aureus. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2015; 78:199-230. [PMID: 24847020 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00055-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to produce water-soluble proteins with the capacity to oligomerize and form pores within cellular lipid bilayers is a trait conserved among nearly all forms of life, including humans, single-celled eukaryotes, and numerous bacterial species. In bacteria, some of the most notable pore-forming molecules are protein toxins that interact with mammalian cell membranes to promote lysis, deliver effectors, and modulate cellular homeostasis. Of the bacterial species capable of producing pore-forming toxic molecules, the Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most notorious. S. aureus can produce seven different pore-forming protein toxins, all of which are believed to play a unique role in promoting the ability of the organism to cause disease in humans and other mammals. The most diverse of these pore-forming toxins, in terms of both functional activity and global representation within S. aureus clinical isolates, are the bicomponent leucocidins. From the first description of their activity on host immune cells over 100 years ago to the detailed investigations of their biochemical function today, the leucocidins remain at the forefront of S. aureus pathogenesis research initiatives. Study of their mode of action is of immediate interest in the realm of therapeutic agent design as well as for studies of bacterial pathogenesis. This review provides an updated perspective on our understanding of the S. aureus leucocidins and their function, specificity, and potential as therapeutic targets.
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Koymans KJ, Vrieling M, Gorham RD, van Strijp JAG. Staphylococcal Immune Evasion Proteins: Structure, Function, and Host Adaptation. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2015; 409:441-489. [PMID: 26919864 DOI: 10.1007/82_2015_5017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a successful human and animal pathogen. Its pathogenicity is linked to its ability to secrete a large amount of virulence factors. These secreted proteins interfere with many critical components of the immune system, both innate and adaptive, and hamper proper immune functioning. In recent years, numerous studies have been conducted in order to understand the molecular mechanism underlying the interaction of evasion molecules with the host immune system. Structural studies have fundamentally contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms of action of the individual factors. Furthermore, such studies revealed one of the most striking characteristics of the secreted immune evasion molecules: their conserved structure. Despite high-sequence variability, most immune evasion molecules belong to a small number of structural categories. Another remarkable characteristic is that S. aureus carries most of these virulence factors on mobile genetic elements (MGE) or ex-MGE in its accessory genome. Coevolution of pathogen and host has resulted in immune evasion molecules with a highly host-specific function and prevalence. In this review, we explore how these shared structures and genomic locations relate to function and host specificity. This is discussed in the context of therapeutic options for these immune evasion molecules in infectious as well as in inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten J Koymans
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, G04-614, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Manouk Vrieling
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, G04-614, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald D Gorham
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, G04-614, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jos A G van Strijp
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, G04-614, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Molecular basis of transmembrane beta-barrel formation of staphylococcal pore-forming toxins. Nat Commun 2014; 5:4897. [DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 08/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
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Reyes-Robles T, Alonzo F, Kozhaya L, Lacy DB, Unutmaz D, Torres VJ. Staphylococcus aureus leukotoxin ED targets the chemokine receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 to kill leukocytes and promote infection. Cell Host Microbe 2014; 14:453-9. [PMID: 24139401 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2013.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Revised: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The Staphylococcus aureus leukotoxin ED (LukED) is a pore-forming toxin required for the lethality associated with bacteremia in murine models. LukED targets the chemokine receptor CCR5 to kill T lymphocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. LukED also kills CCR5-deficient cells, like neutrophils, suggesting the existence of additional cellular receptors. Here, we identify the chemokine receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 as the targets of LukED on neutrophils. The LukE subunit binds neutrophils in a specific and saturable manner, and this interaction is inhibited by CXCL8, the high-affinity endogenous ligand of CXCR1 and CXCR2. LukED recognition of CXCR1 and CXCR2 promotes the killing of monocytes and neutrophils in vitro. LukED-mediated targeting of CXCR1 and CXCR2(+) cells contributes to S. aureus pathogenesis and facilitates lethality in systemically infected mice. Thus, LukED is a versatile toxin that endows S. aureus with the ability to simultaneously disarm both innate and adaptive compartments of the host immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Reyes-Robles
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
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Residues essential for Panton-Valentine leukocidin S component binding to its cell receptor suggest both plasticity and adaptability in its interaction surface. PLoS One 2014; 9:e92094. [PMID: 24643034 PMCID: PMC3958440 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 02/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), a bicomponent staphylococcal leukotoxin, is involved in the poor prognosis of necrotizing pneumonia. The present study aimed to elucidate the binding mechanism of PVL and in particular its cell-binding domain. The class S component of PVL, LukS-PV, is known to ensure cell targeting and exhibits the highest affinity for the neutrophil membrane (Kd∼10−10 M) compared to the class F component of PVL, LukF-PV (Kd∼10−9 M). Alanine scanning mutagenesis was used to identify the residues involved in LukS-PV binding to the neutrophil surface. Nineteen single alanine mutations were performed in the rim domain previously described as implicated in cell membrane interactions. Positions were chosen in order to replace polar or exposed charged residues and according to conservation between leukotoxin class S components. Characterization studies enabled to identify a cluster of residues essential for LukS-PV binding, localized on two loops of the rim domain. The mutations R73A, Y184A, T244A, H245A and Y250A led to dramatically reduced binding affinities for both human leukocytes and undifferentiated U937 cells expressing the C5a receptor. The three-dimensional structure of five of the mutants was determined using X-ray crystallography. Structure analysis identified residues Y184 and Y250 as crucial in providing structural flexibility in the receptor-binding domain of LukS-PV.
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29
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Aman MJ, Adhikari RP. Staphylococcal bicomponent pore-forming toxins: targets for prophylaxis and immunotherapy. Toxins (Basel) 2014; 6:950-72. [PMID: 24599233 PMCID: PMC3968370 DOI: 10.3390/toxins6030950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Revised: 02/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococccus aureus represents one of the most challenging human pathogens as well as a common colonizer of human skin and mucosal surfaces. S. aureus causes a wide range of diseases from skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) to debilitating and life-threatening conditions such as osteomyelitis, endocarditis, and necrotizing pneumonia. The range of diseases reflects the remarkable diversity of the virulence factors produced by this pathogen, including surface antigens involved in the establishment of infection and a large number of toxins that mediate a vast array of cellular responses. The staphylococcal toxins are generally believed to have evolved to disarm the innate immune system, the first line of defense against this pathogen. This review focuses on recent advances on elucidating the biological functions of S. aureus bicomponent pore-forming toxins (BCPFTs) and their utility as targets for preventive and therapeutic intervention. These toxins are cytolytic to a variety of immune cells, primarily neutrophils, as well as cells with a critical barrier function. The lytic activity of BCPFTs towards immune cells implies a critical role in immune evasion, and a number of epidemiological studies and animal experiments relate these toxins to clinical disease, particularly SSTI and necrotizing pneumonia. Antibody-mediated neutralization of this lytic activity may provide a strategy for development of toxoid-based vaccines or immunotherapeutics for prevention or mitigation of clinical diseases. However, certain BCPFTs have been proposed to act as danger signals that may alert the immune system through an inflammatory response. The utility of a neutralizing vaccination strategy must be weighed against such immune-activating potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Javad Aman
- Integrated BioTherapeutics Inc., 21 Firstfield Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA.
| | - Rajan P Adhikari
- Integrated BioTherapeutics Inc., 21 Firstfield Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA.
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30
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Identification of a crucial residue required for Staphylococcus aureus LukAB cytotoxicity and receptor recognition. Infect Immun 2013; 82:1268-76. [PMID: 24379286 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01444-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The bicomponent leukotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus kill host immune cells through osmotic lysis by forming β-barrel pores in the host plasma membrane. The current model for bicomponent pore formation proposes that octameric pores, comprised of two separate secreted polypeptides (S and F subunits), are assembled from water-soluble monomers in the extracellular milieu and multimerize on target cell membranes. However, it has yet to be determined if all staphylococcal bicomponent leukotoxin family members exhibit these properties. In this study, we report that leukocidin A/B (LukAB), the most divergent member of the leukotoxin family, exists as a heterodimer in solution rather than two separate monomeric subunits. Notably, this property was found to be associated with enhanced toxin activity. LukAB also differs from the other bicomponent leukotoxins in that the S subunit (LukA) contains 33- and 10-amino-acid extensions at the N and C termini, respectively. Truncation mutagenesis revealed that deletion of the N terminus resulted in a modest increase in LukAB cytotoxicity, whereas the deletion of the C terminus rendered the toxin inactive. Within the C terminus of LukA, we identified a glutamic acid at position 323 that is critical for LukAB cytotoxicity. Furthermore, we discovered that this residue is conserved and required for the interaction between LukAB and its cellular target CD11b. Altogether, these findings provide an in-depth analysis of how LukAB targets neutrophils and identify novel targets suitable for the rational design of anti-LukAB inhibitors.
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31
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Qiu J, Wang D, Zhang Y, Dong J, Wang J, Niu X. Molecular modeling reveals the novel inhibition mechanism and binding mode of three natural compounds to staphylococcal α-hemolysin. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80197. [PMID: 24312202 PMCID: PMC3842302 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [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: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 09/28/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
α-Hemolysin (α-HL) is a self-assembling, channel-forming toxin that is produced as a soluble monomer by Staphylococcus aureus strains. Until now, α-HL has been a significant virulence target for the treatment of S. aureus infection. In our previous report, we demonstrated that some natural compounds could bind to α-HL. Due to the binding of those compounds, the conformational transition of α-HL from the monomer to the oligomer was blocked, which resulted in inhibition of the hemolytic activity of α-HL. However, these results have not indicated how the binding of the α-HL inhibitors influence the conformational transition of the whole protein during the oligomerization process. In this study, we found that three natural compounds, Oroxylin A 7-O-glucuronide (OLG), Oroxin A (ORA), and Oroxin B (ORB), when inhibiting the hemolytic activity of α-HL, could bind to the “stem” region of α-HL. This was completed using conventional Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. By interacting with the novel binding sites of α-HL, the ligands could form strong interactions with both sides of the binding cavity. The results of the principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that because of the inhibitors that bind to the “stem” region of α-HL, the conformational transition of α-HL from the monomer to the oligomer was restricted. This caused the inhibition of the hemolytic activity of α-HL. This novel inhibition mechanism has been confirmed by both the steered MD simulations and the experimental data obtained from a deoxycholate-induced oligomerization assay. This study can facilitate the design of new antibacterial drugs against S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiazhang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dacheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jing Dong
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jianfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaodi Niu
- Department of Food Quality and Safety, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- * E-mail:
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32
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Chi CY, Lin CC, Liao IC, Yao YC, Shen FC, Liu CC, Lin CF. Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Facilitates the Escape of Staphylococcus aureus From Human Keratinocyte Endosomes and Induces Apoptosis. J Infect Dis 2013; 209:224-35. [DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jit445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Structural Insights into Clostridium perfringens Delta Toxin Pore Formation. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66673. [PMID: 23805259 PMCID: PMC3689675 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens Delta toxin is one of the three hemolysin-like proteins produced by C. perfringens type C and possibly type B strains. One of the others, NetB, has been shown to be the major cause of Avian Nectrotic Enteritis, which following the reduction in use of antibiotics as growth promoters, has become an emerging disease of industrial poultry. Delta toxin itself is cytotoxic to the wide range of human and animal macrophages and platelets that present GM2 ganglioside on their membranes. It has sequence similarity with Staphylococcus aureus β-pore forming toxins and is expected to heptamerize and form pores in the lipid bilayer of host cell membranes. Nevertheless, its exact mode of action remains undetermined. Here we report the 2.4 Å crystal structure of monomeric Delta toxin. The superposition of this structure with the structure of the phospholipid-bound F component of S. aureus leucocidin (LukF) revealed that the glycerol molecules bound to Delta toxin and the phospholipids in LukF are accommodated in the same hydrophobic clefts, corresponding to where the toxin is expected to latch onto the membrane, though the binding sites show significant differences. From structure-based sequence alignment with the known structure of staphylococcal α-hemolysin, a model of the Delta toxin pore form has been built. Using electron microscopy, we have validated our model and characterized the Delta toxin pore on liposomes. These results highlight both similarities and differences in the mechanism of Delta toxin (and by extension NetB) cytotoxicity from that of the staphylococcal pore-forming toxins.
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Foletti D, Strop P, Shaughnessy L, Hasa-Moreno A, Casas MG, Russell M, Bee C, Wu S, Pham A, Zeng Z, Pons J, Rajpal A, Shelton D. Mechanism of Action and In Vivo Efficacy of a Human-Derived Antibody against Staphylococcus aureus α-Hemolysin. J Mol Biol 2013; 425:1641-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2013.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2012] [Revised: 02/01/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Role of pore-forming toxins in neonatal sepsis. Clin Dev Immunol 2013; 2013:608456. [PMID: 23710203 PMCID: PMC3655490 DOI: 10.1155/2013/608456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Protein toxins are important virulence factors contributing to neonatal sepsis. The major pathogens of neonatal sepsis, group B Streptococci, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus, secrete toxins of different molecular nature, which are key for defining the disease. Amongst these toxins are pore-forming exotoxins that are expressed as soluble monomers prior to engagement of the target cell membrane with subsequent formation of an aqueous membrane pore. Membrane pore formation is not only a means for immediate lysis of the targeted cell but also a general mechanism that contributes to penetration of epithelial barriers and evasion of the immune system, thus creating survival niches for the pathogens. Pore-forming toxins, however, can also contribute to the induction of inflammation and hence to the manifestation of sepsis. Clearly, pore-forming toxins are not the sole factors that drive sepsis progression, but they often act in concert with other bacterial effectors, especially in the initial stages of neonatal sepsis manifestation.
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p-Sulfonato-calix[n]arenes inhibit staphylococcal bicomponent leukotoxins by supramolecular interactions. Biochem J 2013; 450:559-71. [PMID: 23282185 DOI: 10.1042/bj20121628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PVL (Panton-Valentine leukocidin) and other Staphylococcus aureus β-stranded pore-forming toxins are important virulence factors involved in various pathologies that are often necrotizing. The present study characterized leukotoxin inhibition by selected SCns (p-sulfonato-calix[n]arenes): SC4, SC6 and SC8. These chemicals have no toxic effects on human erythrocytes or neutrophils, and some are able to inhibit both the activity of and the cell lysis by leukotoxins in a dose-dependent manner. Depending on the type of leukotoxins and SCns, flow cytometry revealed IC50 values of 6-22 μM for Ca2+ activation and of 2-50 μM for cell lysis. SCns were observed to affect membrane binding of class S proteins responsible for cell specificity. Electrospray MS and surface plasmon resonance established supramolecular interactions (1:1 stoichiometry) between SCns and class S proteins in solution, but not class F proteins. The membrane-binding affinity of S proteins was Kd=0.07-6.2 nM. The binding ability was completely abolished by SCns at different concentrations according to the number of benzenes (30-300 μM; SC8>SC6≫SC4). The inhibitory properties of SCns were also observed in vivo in a rabbit model of PVL-induced endophthalmitis. These calixarenes may represent new therapeutic avenues aimed at minimizing inflammatory reactions and necrosis due to certain virulence factors.
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Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is an anaerobic bacterium that causes numerous important human and animal diseases, primarily as a result of its ability to produce many different protein toxins. In chickens, C. perfringens causes necrotic enteritis, a disease of economic importance to the worldwide poultry industry. The secreted pore-forming toxin NetB is a key virulence factor in the pathogenesis of avian necrotic enteritis and is similar to alpha-hemolysin, a β-barrel pore-forming toxin from Staphylococcus aureus. To address the molecular mechanisms underlying NetB-mediated tissue damage, we determined the crystal structure of the monomeric form of NetB to 1.8 Å. Structural comparisons with other members of the alpha-hemolysin family revealed significant differences in the conformation of the membrane binding domain. These data suggested that NetB may recognize different membrane receptors or use a different mechanism for membrane-protein interactions. Consistent with this idea, electrophysiological experiments with planar lipid bilayers revealed that NetB formed pores with much larger single-channel conductance than alpha-hemolysin. Channel conductance varied with phospholipid net charge. Furthermore, NetB differed in its ion selectivity, preferring cations over anions. Using hemolysis as a screen, we carried out a random-mutagenesis study that identified several residues that are critical for NetB-induced cell lysis. Mapping of these residues onto the crystal structure revealed that they were clustered in regions predicted to be required for oligomerization or membrane binding. Together these data provide an insight into the mechanism of NetB-mediated pore formation and will contribute to our understanding of the mode of action of this important toxin. Necrotic enteritis is an economically important disease of the worldwide poultry industry and is mediated by Clostridium perfringens strains that produce NetB, a β-pore-forming toxin. We carried out structural and functional studies of NetB to provide a mechanistic insight into its mode of action and to assist in the development of a necrotic enteritis vaccine. We determined the structure of the monomeric form of NetB to 1.8 Å, used both site-directed and random mutagenesis to identify key residues that are required for its biological activity, and analyzed pore formation by NetB and its substitution-containing derivatives in planar lipid bilayers.
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38
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Alessandrini A, Viero G, Dalla Serra M, Prévost G, Facci P. γ-Hemolysin oligomeric structure and effect of its formation on supported lipid bilayers: an AFM investigation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2012; 1828:405-11. [PMID: 23036932 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2012.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2012] [Revised: 09/05/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
γ-Hemolysins are bicomponent β-barrel pore forming toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus as water-soluble monomers, which assemble into oligomeric pores on the surface of lipid bilayers. Here, after investigating the oligomeric structure of γ-hemolysins on supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) by atomic force microscopy (AFM), we studied the effect produced by this toxin on the structure of SLBs. We found that oligomeric structures with different number of monomers can assemble on the lipid bilayer being the octameric form the stablest one. Moreover, in this membrane model we found that γ-hemolysins can form clusters of oligomers inducing a curvature in the lipid bilayer, which could probably enhance the aggressiveness of these toxins at high concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Alessandrini
- Centro S3, CNR-Istituto di Nanoscienze, Via Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy.
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Nishiyama A, Isobe H, Iwao Y, Takano T, Hung WC, Taneike I, Nakagawa S, Dohmae S, Iwakura N, Yamamoto T. Accumulation of staphylococcal Panton-Valentine leukocidin in the detergent-resistant membrane microdomains on the target cells is essential for its cytotoxicity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 66:343-52. [PMID: 22924956 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2012.01027.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2011] [Revised: 07/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms for the cytotoxicity of staphylococcal Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), a pore-forming toxin consisting of LukS-PV and LukF-PV, in human immune cells are still unclear. Because LukS-PV binds to ganglioside GM1, a constituent of detergent-resistant membrane microdomains (DRMs) of the plasma membrane, the role of DRMs in PVL cytotoxicity was examined in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), monocytes, HL-60 cells, and THP-1 cells. PVL binding capacities in HL-60 and THP-1 cells were higher than those in PMNs and monocytes; however, the PVL concentration to obtain more than 80% cell lysis in HL-60 cells was 10 times higher than that in PMNs and PVL even at such concentration induced < 10% cell lysis in THP-1 cells. After incubation of PMNs with LukS-PV, more than 90% of LukS-PV bound to the detergent-soluble membranes. Subsequent incubation with LukF-PV at 4 °C induced the accumulation of more than 70% of PVL components and 170- to 220-kDa complex formation in DRMs in an actin-independent manner. However, only 30% of PVL was found, and complex formation was under detectable level in DRMs in HL-60 cells. PVL did not accumulate in DRMs in THP-1 cells. Our observations strongly indicate that PVL accumulation in DRMs is essential for PVL cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihito Nishiyama
- Division of Bacteriology, Department of Infectious Disease Control and International Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
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Vandenesch F, Lina G, Henry T. Staphylococcus aureus hemolysins, bi-component leukocidins, and cytolytic peptides: a redundant arsenal of membrane-damaging virulence factors? Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2012; 2:12. [PMID: 22919604 PMCID: PMC3417661 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2012.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 233] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2011] [Accepted: 01/31/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
One key aspect of the virulence of Staphylococcus aureus lies in its ability to target the host cell membrane with a large number of membrane-damaging toxins and peptides. In this review, we describe the hemolysins, the bi-component leukocidins (which include the Panton Valentine leukocidin, LukAB/GH, and LukED), and the cytolytic peptides (phenol soluble modulins). While at first glance, all of these factors might appear redundant, it is now clear that some of these factors play specific roles in certain S. aureus life stages and diseases or target specific cell types or species. In this review, we present an update of the literature on toxin receptors and their cell type and species specificities. Furthermore, we review epidemiological studies and animal models illustrating the role of these membrane-damaging factors in various diseases. Finally, we emphasize the interplay of these factors with the host immune system and highlight all their non-lytic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Vandenesch
- Bacterial Pathogenesis and Innate Immunity Laboratory, INSERM U851 "Immunity, Infection and Vaccination," Lyon, France
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41
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Geny B, Popoff MR. Bacterial protein toxins and lipids: pore formation or toxin entry into cells. Biol Cell 2012; 98:667-78. [PMID: 17042742 DOI: 10.1042/bc20050082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Lipids are hydrophobic molecules which play critical functions in cells, in particular, they are essential constituents of membranes, whereas bacterial toxins are mainly hydrophilic proteins. All bacterial toxins interact first with their target cells by recognizing a surface receptor, which is either a lipid or a lipid derivative, or another compound but in a lipid environment. Most bacterial toxins are PFTs (pore-forming toxins) which oligomerize and insert into the lipid bilayer. A common mechanism of action involves the formation of a beta-barrel structure, resulting from the assembly of individual beta-hairpin(s) from individual monomers. An essential step for intracellular active toxins is to translocate their enzymatic part into the cytosol. Some toxins use a translocation mechanism based on pore formation similar to that of PFTs, others undergo a yet unclear 'chaperone' process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blandine Geny
- Unité des Bactéries Anaérobies et Toxines, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris cedex 15, France
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Bonardi F, Nouwen N, Feringa BL, Driessen AJM. Protein conducting channels—mechanisms, structures and applications. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2012; 8:709-19. [DOI: 10.1039/c2mb05433g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Baba-Moussa L, Sina H, Scheftel JM, Moreau B, Sainte-Marie D, Kotchoni SO, Prévost G, Couppié P. Staphylococcal Panton-Valentine leucocidin as a major virulence factor associated to furuncles. PLoS One 2011; 6:e25716. [PMID: 22022439 PMCID: PMC3192123 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2011] [Accepted: 09/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL), one of the β-barrel pore-forming staphylococcal leucotoxins, is known to be associated to furuncles and some severe community pneumonia. However, it is still uncertain how many other virulence factors are also associated to furuncles and what the risk factors of furuncles are in immuno-compromised status of patients, especially the HIV (+) patients. In this paper, we use antigen immunoprecipitation and multiplex PCR approach to determine the presence of 19 toxins, 8 adhesion factors and the PFGE profiles associated to furuncles in three independent patient study groups of S. aureus (SA) isolates collected from the Cayenne General Hospital (French Guiana). The patient groups were made of: 16 isolates from HIV (−) patients, 9 from HIV (+) patients suffering from furuncles, and 30 control isolates from patients with diverse secondary infected dermatitis. Our data reveals that the majority (96%) of SA strains isolated from HIV patient-derived furuncles significantly produced PVL (p<10−7), whereas only 10% of SA strains produced this toxin in secondary infected dermatosis. A high prevalence of LukE-LukD-producing isolates (56 to 78%) was recorded in patient groups. Genes encoding clumping factor B, collagen- and laminin-binding proteins (clfB, cna, lbp, respectively) were markedly frequent (30 to 55%), without being associated to a specific group. Pulse field gel electrophoresis evidenced 24 overall pulsotypes, whereas the 25 PVL-producing isolates were distributed into 15 non clonal fingerprints. These pulsotypes were not specific PVL-producing isolates. PVL appears to be the major virulence factor associated to furuncles in Europe and in South America regardless of the immune status of the HIV patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lamine Baba-Moussa
- Département de Biochimie et de Biologie Cellulaire, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
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Crystal structure of the octameric pore of staphylococcal γ-hemolysin reveals the β-barrel pore formation mechanism by two components. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:17314-9. [PMID: 21969538 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1110402108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcal γ-hemolysin is a bicomponent pore-forming toxin composed of LukF and Hlg2. These proteins are expressed as water-soluble monomers and then assemble into the oligomeric pore form on the target cell. Here, we report the crystal structure of the octameric pore form of γ-hemolysin at 2.5 Å resolution, which is the first high-resolution structure of a β-barrel transmembrane protein composed of two proteins reported to date. The octameric assembly consists of four molecules of LukF and Hlg2 located alternately in a circular pattern, which explains the biochemical data accumulated over the past two decades. The structure, in combination with the monomeric forms, demonstrates the elaborate molecular machinery involved in pore formation by two different molecules, in which interprotomer electrostatic interactions using loops connecting β2 and β3 (loop A: Asp43-Lys48 of LukF and Lys37-Lys43 of Hlg2) play pivotal roles as the structural determinants for assembly through unwinding of the N-terminal β-strands (amino-latch) of the adjacent protomer, releasing the transmembrane stem domain folded into a β-sheet in the monomer (prestem), and interaction with the adjacent protomer.
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Tanaka Y, Hirano N, Kaneko J, Kamio Y, Yao M, Tanaka I. 2-Methyl-2,4-pentanediol induces spontaneous assembly of staphylococcal α-hemolysin into heptameric pore structure. Protein Sci 2011; 20:448-56. [PMID: 21280135 DOI: 10.1002/pro.579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcal α-hemolysin is expressed as a water-soluble monomeric protein and assembles on membranes to form a heptameric pore structure. The heptameric pore structure of α-hemolysin can be prepared from monomer in vitro only in the presence of deoxycholate detergent micelles, artificially constructed phospholipid bilayers, or erythrocytes. Here, we succeeded in preparing crystals of the heptameric form of α-hemolysin without any detergent but with 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol (MPD), and determined its structure. The structure of the heptameric pore was similar to that reported previously. In the structure, two molecules of MPD were bound around Trp179, around which phospholipid head groups were bound in the heptameric pore structure reported previously. Size exclusion chromatography showed that α-hemolysin did not assemble spontaneously even when stored for 1 year. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that, among the compounds in the crystallizing buffer, MPD could induce heptamer formation. The concentration of MPD that most efficiently induced oligomerization was between 10 and 30%. Based on these observations, we propose MPD as a reagent that can facilitate heptameric pore formation of α-hemolysin without membrane binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshikazu Tanaka
- Creative Research Institution Sousei, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 001-0021, Japan
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Crystal structure of the Vibrio cholerae cytolysin heptamer reveals common features among disparate pore-forming toxins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:7385-90. [PMID: 21502531 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1017442108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are potent cytolytic agents secreted by pathogenic bacteria that protect microbes against the cell-mediated immune system (by targeting phagocytic cells), disrupt epithelial barriers, and liberate materials necessary to sustain growth and colonization. Produced by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria alike, PFTs are released as water-soluble monomeric or dimeric species, bind specifically to target membranes, and assemble transmembrane channels leading to cell damage and/or lysis. Structural and biophysical analyses of individual steps in the assembly pathway are essential to fully understanding the dynamic process of channel formation. To work toward this goal, we solved by X-ray diffraction the 2.9-Å structure of the 450-kDa heptameric Vibrio cholerae cytolysin (VCC) toxin purified and crystallized in the presence of detergent. This structure, together with our previously determined 2.3-Å structure of the VCC water-soluble monomer, reveals in detail the architectural changes that occur within the channel region and accessory lectin domains during pore formation including substantial rearrangements of hydrogen-bonding networks in the pore-forming amphipathic loops. Interestingly, a ring of tryptophan residues forms the narrowest constriction in the transmembrane channel reminiscent of the phenylalanine clamp identified in anthrax protective antigen [Krantz BA, et al. (2005) Science 309:777-781]. Our work provides an example of a β-barrel PFT (β-PFT) for which soluble and assembled structures are available at high-resolution, providing a template for investigating intermediate steps in assembly.
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Aman MJ, Karauzum H, Bowden MG, Nguyen TL. Structural model of the pre-pore ring-like structure of Panton-Valentine leukocidin: providing dimensionality to biophysical and mutational data. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2010; 28:1-12. [PMID: 20476791 DOI: 10.1080/073911010010524952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a bipartite toxin that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Recent clinical data suggest a correlation between PVL and severe cases of S. aureus pneumonia. A clear understanding of the structure and function of PVL is critical to the development of novel, effective treatments. Here, we report an all-atom model of the macromolecular structure of Panton-Valentine leukocidin in its octameric, pre-pore conformation that confirms and extends our understanding of the toxin's mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Javad Aman
- Integrated BioTherapeutics, Inc., Germantown, MD 20876, USA.
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Yamamoto T, Nishiyama A, Takano T, Yabe S, Higuchi W, Razvina O, Shi D. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: community transmission, pathogenesis, and drug resistance. J Infect Chemother 2010; 16:225-54. [PMID: 20336341 PMCID: PMC7088255 DOI: 10.1007/s10156-010-0045-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is able to persist not only in hospitals (with a high level of antimicrobial agent use) but also in the community (with a low level of antimicrobial agent use). The former is called hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) and the latter community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA). It is believed MRSA clones are generated from S. aureus through insertion of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), and outbreaks occur as they spread. Several worldwide and regional clones have been identified, and their epidemiological, clinical, and genetic characteristics have been described. CA-MRSA is likely able to survive in the community because of suitable SCCmec types (type IV or V), a clone-specific colonization/infection nature, toxin profiles (including Pantone-Valentine leucocidin, PVL), and narrow drug resistance patterns. CA-MRSA infections are generally seen in healthy children or young athletes, with unexpected cases of diseases, and also in elderly inpatients, occasionally surprising clinicians used to HA-MRSA infections. CA-MRSA spreads within families and close-contact groups or even through public transport, demonstrating transmission cores. Re-infection (including multifocal infection) frequently occurs, if the cores are not sought out and properly eradicated. Recently, attention has been given to CA-MRSA (USA300), which originated in the US, and is growing as HA-MRSA and also as a worldwide clone. CA-MRSA infection in influenza season has increasingly been noted as well. MRSA is also found in farm and companion animals, and has occasionally transferred to humans. As such, the epidemiological, clinical, and genetic behavior of CA-MRSA, a growing threat, is focused on in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuo Yamamoto
- Division of Bacteriology, Department of Infectious Disease Control and International Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.
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Molecular characteristics of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains for clinical medicine. Arch Microbiol 2010; 192:603-17. [PMID: 20544179 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-010-0594-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2009] [Revised: 03/29/2010] [Accepted: 05/28/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Infections caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains are mainly associated with a hospital setting. However, nowadays, the MRSA infections of non-hospitalized patients are observed more frequently. In order to distinguish them from hospital-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (HA-MRSA) strains, given them the name of community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA). CA-MRSA strains most commonly cause skin infections, but may lead to more severe diseases, and consequently the patient's death. The molecular markers of CA-MRSA strains are the presence of accessory gene regulator (agr) of group I or III, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type IV, V or VII and genes encoding for Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). In addition, CA-MRSA strains show resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. Studies on the genetic elements of CA-MRSA strains have a key role in the unambiguous identification of strains, monitoring of infections, improving the treatment, work on new antimicrobial agents and understanding the evolution of these pathogens.
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50
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Vécsey-Semjén B, Kwak YK, Högbom M, Möllby R. Channel-forming abilities of spontaneously occurring alpha-toxin fragments from Staphylococcus aureus. J Membr Biol 2010; 234:171-81. [PMID: 20339841 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-010-9244-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2009] [Accepted: 03/04/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Pore formation by four spontaneously occurring alpha-toxin fragments from Staphylococcus aureus were investigated on liposome and erythrocyte membranes. All the isolated fragments bound to the different types of membranes and formed transmembrane channels in egg-phosphatidyl glycerol vesicles. Fragments of amino acids (aa) 9-293 (32 kD) and aa 13-293 (31 kD) formed heptamers, similar to the intact toxin, while the aa 72-293 (26 kD) fragment formed heptamers, octamers, and nonamers, as judged by gel electrophoresis of the liposomes. All isolated fragments induced release of chloride ions from large unilamellar vesicles. Channel formation was promoted by acidic pH and negatively charged lipid head groups. Also, the fragments' hemolytic activity was strongly decreased under neutral conditions but could be partially restored by acidification of the medium. We paid special attention to the 26-kD fragment, which, despite the loss of about one-fourth of the N-terminal part of alpha-toxin, did form transmembrane channels in liposomes. In light of the available data on channel formation by alpha-toxin, our results suggest that proteolytic degradation might be better tolerated than previously reported. Channel opening could be inhibited and open channels could be closed by zinc in the medium. Channel closure could be reversed by addition of EDTA. In contrast, digestion at the C terminus led to premature oligomerization and resulted in species with strongly diminished activity and dependent on protonation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrix Vécsey-Semjén
- House of Science, Alba Nova University Centre, Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
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