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Ziegler KF, Joshi K, Wright CS, Roy S, Caruso W, Biswas RR, Iyer-Biswas S. Scaling of stochastic growth and division dynamics: A comparative study of individual rod-shaped cells in the Mother Machine and SChemostat platforms. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:ar78. [PMID: 38598301 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-11-0452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic platforms enable long-term quantification of stochastic behaviors of individual bacterial cells under precisely controlled growth conditions. Yet, quantitative comparisons of physiological parameters and cell behaviors of different microorganisms in different experimental and device modalities is not available due to experiment-specific details affecting cell physiology. To rigorously assess the effects of mechanical confinement, we designed, engineered, and performed side-by-side experiments under otherwise identical conditions in the Mother Machine (with confinement) and the SChemostat (without confinement), using the latter as the ideal comparator. We established a protocol to cultivate a suitably engineered rod-shaped mutant of Caulobacter crescentus in the Mother Machine and benchmarked the differences in stochastic growth and division dynamics with respect to the SChemostat. While the single-cell growth rate distributions are remarkably similar, the mechanically confined cells in the Mother Machine experience a substantial increase in interdivision times. However, we find that the division ratio distribution precisely compensates for this increase, which in turn reflects identical emergent simplicities governing stochastic intergenerational homeostasis of cell sizes across device and experimental configurations, provided the cell sizes are appropriately mean-rescaled in each condition. Our results provide insights into the nature of the robustness of the bacterial growth and division machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl F Ziegler
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health, Sciences, Monash University, Clayton/Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Kunaal Joshi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Charles S Wright
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Shaswata Roy
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Will Caruso
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Rudro R Biswas
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Srividya Iyer-Biswas
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
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2
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Lee J, Jha K, Harper CE, Zhang W, Ramsukh M, Bouklas N, Dörr T, Chen P, Hernandez CJ. Determining the Young's Modulus of the Bacterial Cell Envelope. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:2956-2966. [PMID: 38593061 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00105] [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] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria experience substantial physical forces in their natural environment, including forces caused by osmotic pressure, growth in constrained spaces, and fluid shear. The cell envelope is the primary load-carrying structure of bacteria, but the mechanical properties of the cell envelope are poorly understood; reports of Young's modulus of the cell envelope of Escherichia coli range from 2 to 18 MPa. We developed a microfluidic system to apply mechanical loads to hundreds of bacteria at once and demonstrated the utility of the approach for evaluating whole-cell stiffness. Here, we extend this technique to determine Young's modulus of the cell envelope of E. coli and of the pathogens Vibrio cholerae and Staphylococcus aureus. An optimization-based inverse finite element analysis was used to determine the cell envelope Young's modulus from observed deformations. The Young's modulus values of the cell envelope were 2.06 ± 0.04 MPa for E. coli, 0.84 ± 0.02 MPa for E. coli treated with a chemical (A22) known to reduce cell stiffness, 0.12 ± 0.03 MPa for V. cholerae, and 1.52 ± 0.06 MPa for S. aureus (mean ± SD). The microfluidic approach allows examination of hundreds of cells at once and is readily applied to Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms as well as rod-shaped and cocci cells, allowing further examination of the structural causes behind differences in cell envelope Young's modulus among bacterial species and strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junsung Lee
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Karan Jha
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Christine E Harper
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Wenyao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Malissa Ramsukh
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Nikolaos Bouklas
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Tobias Dörr
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Peng Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Christopher J Hernandez
- Departments of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Orthopaedic Surgery, UC San Francisco, California 94143, United States
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
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3
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Zheng EJ, Valeri JA, Andrews IW, Krishnan A, Bandyopadhyay P, Anahtar MN, Herneisen A, Schulte F, Linnehan B, Wong F, Stokes JM, Renner LD, Lourido S, Collins JJ. Discovery of antibiotics that selectively kill metabolically dormant bacteria. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:712-728.e9. [PMID: 38029756 PMCID: PMC11031330 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
There is a need to discover and develop non-toxic antibiotics that are effective against metabolically dormant bacteria, which underlie chronic infections and promote antibiotic resistance. Traditional antibiotic discovery has historically favored compounds effective against actively metabolizing cells, a property that is not predictive of efficacy in metabolically inactive contexts. Here, we combine a stationary-phase screening method with deep learning-powered virtual screens and toxicity filtering to discover compounds with lethality against metabolically dormant bacteria and favorable toxicity profiles. The most potent and structurally distinct compound without any obvious mechanistic liability was semapimod, an anti-inflammatory drug effective against stationary-phase E. coli and A. baumannii. Integrating microbiological assays, biochemical measurements, and single-cell microscopy, we show that semapimod selectively disrupts and permeabilizes the bacterial outer membrane by binding lipopolysaccharide. This work illustrates the value of harnessing non-traditional screening methods and deep learning models to identify non-toxic antibacterial compounds that are effective in infection-relevant contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica J Zheng
- Program in Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jacqueline A Valeri
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ian W Andrews
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Aarti Krishnan
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Parijat Bandyopadhyay
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Melis N Anahtar
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alice Herneisen
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Fabian Schulte
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Brooke Linnehan
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Felix Wong
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jonathan M Stokes
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Lars D Renner
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research and the Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Sebastian Lourido
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - James J Collins
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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4
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Valiei A, Bryche JF, Canva M, Charette PG, Moraes C, Hill RJ, Tufenkji N. Effects of Surface Topography and Cellular Biomechanics on Nanopillar-Induced Bactericidal Activity. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:9614-9625. [PMID: 38378485 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c09552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria are mechanically resistant biological structures that can sustain physical stress. Experimental data, however, have shown that high-aspect-ratio nanopillars deform bacterial cells upon contact. If the deformation is sufficiently large, it lyses the bacterial cell wall, ultimately leading to cell death. This has prompted a novel strategy, known as mechano-bactericide technology, to fabricate antibacterial surfaces. Although adhesion forces were originally proposed as the driving force for mechano-bactericidal action, it has been recently shown that external forces, such as capillary forces arising from an air-water interface at bacterial surfaces, produce sufficient loads to rapidly kill bacteria on nanopillars. This discovery highlights the need to theoretically examine how bacteria respond to external loads and to ascertain the key factors. In this study, we developed a finite element model approximating bacteria as elastic shells filled with cytoplasmic fluid brought into contact with an individual nanopillar or nanopillar array. This model elucidates that bacterial killing caused by external forces on nanopillars is influenced by surface topography and cell biomechanical variables, including the density and arrangement of nanopillars, in addition to the cell wall thickness and elastic modulus. Considering that surface topography is an important design parameter, we performed experiments using nanopillar arrays with precisely controlled nanopillar diameters and spacing. Consistent with model predictions, these demonstrate that nanopillars with a larger spacing increase bacterial susceptibility to mechanical puncture. The results provide salient insights into mechano-bactericidal activity and identify key design parameters for implementing this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Valiei
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Québec H3A 0C5, Canada
| | - Jean-François Bryche
- Laboratoire Nanotechnologies Nanosystèmes (LN2)-IRL3463, CNRS, Université de Sherbrooke, Universitè Grenoble Alpes, École Centrale de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 0A5, Canada
- Institut Interdisciplinaire d'Innovation Technologique (3IT), Université de Sherbrooke, 3000 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K OA5, Canada
| | - Michael Canva
- Laboratoire Nanotechnologies Nanosystèmes (LN2)-IRL3463, CNRS, Université de Sherbrooke, Universitè Grenoble Alpes, École Centrale de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 0A5, Canada
- Institut Interdisciplinaire d'Innovation Technologique (3IT), Université de Sherbrooke, 3000 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K OA5, Canada
| | - Paul G Charette
- Laboratoire Nanotechnologies Nanosystèmes (LN2)-IRL3463, CNRS, Université de Sherbrooke, Universitè Grenoble Alpes, École Centrale de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 0A5, Canada
- Institut Interdisciplinaire d'Innovation Technologique (3IT), Université de Sherbrooke, 3000 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K OA5, Canada
| | - Christopher Moraes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Québec H3A 0C5, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Québec H3A 0C5, Canada
- Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, Québec H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Reghan J Hill
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Québec H3A 0C5, Canada
| | - Nathalie Tufenkji
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Québec H3A 0C5, Canada
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5
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Guennec A, Balnois E, Augias A, Bangoura MA, Jaffry C, Simon-Colin C, Langlois V, Azemar F, Vignaud G, Linossier I, Faÿ F, Vallée-Réhel K. Investigating the anti-bioadhesion properties of short, medium chain length, and amphiphilic polyhydroxyalkanoate films. BIOFOULING 2024; 40:177-192. [PMID: 38465991 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2024.2326038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Silicone materials are widely used in fouling release coatings, but developing eco-friendly protection via biosourced coatings, such as polyhydroxyalcanoates (PHA) presents a major challenge. Anti-bioadhesion properties of medium chain length PHA and short chain length PHA films are studied and compared with a reference Polydimethylsiloxane coating. The results highlight the best capability of the soft and low-roughness PHA-mcl films to resist bacteria or diatoms adsorption as compared to neat PDMS and PHBHV coatings. These parameters are insufficient to explain all the results and other properties related to PHA crystallinity are discussed. Moreover, the addition of a low amount of PEG copolymers within the coatings, to create amphiphilic coatings, boosts their anti-adhesive properties. This work reveals the importance of the physical or chemical ambiguity of surfaces in their anti-adhesive effectiveness and highlights the potential of PHA-mcl film to resist the primary adhesion of microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Guennec
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et de Chimie Marines (LBCM), EMR CNRS 6076, Université Bretagne Sud, Lorient, France
| | - Eric Balnois
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et de Chimie Marines (LBCM), EMR CNRS 6076, Université de Brest, Quimper, France
| | - Antoine Augias
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et de Chimie Marines (LBCM), EMR CNRS 6076, Université Bretagne Sud, Lorient, France
| | - Mama Aïssata Bangoura
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et de Chimie Marines (LBCM), EMR CNRS 6076, Université Bretagne Sud, Lorient, France
| | - Cédric Jaffry
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et de Chimie Marines (LBCM), EMR CNRS 6076, Université Bretagne Sud, Lorient, France
- Institut de Recherche Dupuy de Lôme (IRDL), Université Bretagne Sud, UMR CNRS 6027, Lorient, France
| | - Christelle Simon-Colin
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie des Environnements Extrêmes (LM2E), Université de Brest, IFREMER, CNRS, UMR BEEP 6197, Plouzané, France
| | - Valérie Langlois
- Institut de Chimie et des Matériaux Paris-Est (ICPME), Université Paris Est Créteil, UMR-CNRS 7182, Thiais, France
| | - Fabrice Azemar
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et de Chimie Marines (LBCM), EMR CNRS 6076, Université Bretagne Sud, Lorient, France
| | - Guillaume Vignaud
- Institut de Recherche Dupuy de Lôme (IRDL), Université Bretagne Sud, UMR CNRS 6027, Lorient, France
| | - Isabelle Linossier
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et de Chimie Marines (LBCM), EMR CNRS 6076, Université Bretagne Sud, Lorient, France
| | - Fabienne Faÿ
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et de Chimie Marines (LBCM), EMR CNRS 6076, Université Bretagne Sud, Lorient, France
| | - Karine Vallée-Réhel
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et de Chimie Marines (LBCM), EMR CNRS 6076, Université Bretagne Sud, Lorient, France
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6
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García Vázquez A, Mitarai N, Jauffred L. Genetic mixing and demixing on expanding spherical frontiers. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycae009. [PMID: 38524760 PMCID: PMC10958774 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycae009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Genetic fluctuation during range expansion is a key process driving evolution. When a bacterial population is expanding on a 2D surface, random fluctuations in the growth of the pioneers at the front line cause a strong demixing of genotypes. Even when there is no selective advantage, sectors of low genetic diversity are formed. Experimental studies of range expansions in surface-attached colonies of fluorescently labelled micro-organisms have contributed significantly to our understanding of fundamental evolutionary dynamics. However, experimental studies on genetic fluctuations in 3D range expansions have been sparse, despite their importance for tumour or biofilm development. We encapsulated populations of two fluorescent Escherichia coli strains in inoculation droplets (volumes [Formula: see text] nl). The confined ensemble of cells grew when embedded in a hydrogel-with nutrients-and developed 3D colonies with well-defined, sector-like regions. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, we imaged the development of 3D colonies and the emergence of sectors. We characterized how cell concentration in the inoculation droplet controls sectors, growth rate, and the transition from branched colonies to quasi-spherical colonies. We further analysed how sectors on the surface change over time. We complement these experimental results with a modified 3D Eden growth model. The model in 3D spherical growth predicts a phase, where sectors are merging, followed by a steady increase (constant rate), and the experimentally analysed sectors were consistent with this prediction. Therefore, our results demonstrate qualitative differences between radial (2D) and spherical (3D) range expansions and their importance in gene fixation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba García Vázquez
- The Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
| | - Namiko Mitarai
- The Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
| | - Liselotte Jauffred
- The Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
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7
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Cordero M, Mitarai N, Jauffred L. Motility mediates satellite formation in confined biofilms. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:1819-1827. [PMID: 37592064 PMCID: PMC10579341 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01494-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria have spectacular survival capabilities and can spread in many, vastly different environments. For instance, when pathogenic bacteria infect a host, they expand by proliferation and squeezing through narrow pores and elastic matrices. However, the exact role of surface structures-important for biofilm formation and motility-and matrix density in colony expansion and morphogenesis is still largely unknown. Using confocal laser-scanning microscopy, we show how satellite colonies emerge around Escherichia coli colonies embedded in semi-dense hydrogel in controlled in vitro assays. Using knock-out mutants, we tested how extra-cellular structures, (e.g., exo-polysaccharides, flagella, and fimbria) control this morphology. Moreover, we identify the extra-cellular matrix' density, where this morphology is possible. When paralleled with mathematical modelling, our results suggest that satellite formation allows bacterial communities to spread faster. We anticipate that this strategy is important to speed up expansion in various environments, while retaining the close interactions and protection provided by the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Cordero
- The Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100, Copenhagen O, Denmark
| | - Namiko Mitarai
- The Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100, Copenhagen O, Denmark.
| | - Liselotte Jauffred
- The Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100, Copenhagen O, Denmark.
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8
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Wang L, Wong YC, Correira JM, Wancura M, Geiger CJ, Webster SS, Touhami A, Butler BJ, O'Toole GA, Langford RM, Brown KA, Dortdivanlioglu B, Webb L, Cosgriff-Hernandez E, Gordon VD. The accumulation and growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on surfaces is modulated by surface mechanics via cyclic-di-GMP signaling. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2023; 9:78. [PMID: 37816780 PMCID: PMC10564899 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-023-00436-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Attachment of bacteria onto a surface, consequent signaling, and accumulation and growth of the surface-bound bacterial population are key initial steps in the formation of pathogenic biofilms. While recent reports have hinted that surface mechanics may affect the accumulation of bacteria on that surface, the processes that underlie bacterial perception of surface mechanics and modulation of accumulation in response to surface mechanics remain largely unknown. We use thin and thick hydrogels coated on glass to create composite materials with different mechanics (higher elasticity for thin composites; lower elasticity for thick composites) but with the same surface adhesivity and chemistry. The mechanical cue stemming from surface mechanics is elucidated using experiments with the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa combined with finite-element modeling. Adhesion to thin composites results in greater changes in mechanical stress and strain in the bacterial envelope than does adhesion to thick composites with identical surface chemistry. Using quantitative microscopy, we find that adhesion to thin composites also results in higher cyclic-di-GMP levels, which in turn result in lower motility and less detachment, and thus greater accumulation of bacteria on the surface than does adhesion to thick composites. Mechanics-dependent c-di-GMP production is mediated by the cell-surface-exposed protein PilY1. The biofilm lag phase, which is longer for bacterial populations on thin composites than on thick composites, is also mediated by PilY1. This study shows clear evidence that bacteria actively regulate differential accumulation on surfaces of different stiffnesses via perceiving varied mechanical stress and strain upon surface engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyun Wang
- Department of Physics, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Yu-Chern Wong
- Department of Physics, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Joshua M Correira
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Megan Wancura
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Chris J Geiger
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | | | - Ahmed Touhami
- Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, One West University Blvd, Brownsville, TX, 78520, USA
| | - Benjamin J Butler
- Surfaces, Microstructure and Fracture Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | | | - Richard M Langford
- Surfaces, Microstructure and Fracture Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Katherine A Brown
- Surfaces, Microstructure and Fracture Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Berkin Dortdivanlioglu
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Lauren Webb
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | | | - Vernita D Gordon
- Department of Physics, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
- LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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9
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Lough W, Weibel DB, Spagnolie SE. Self-buckling and self-writhing of semi-flexible microorganisms. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:7349-7357. [PMID: 37740382 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00572k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
The twisting and writhing of a cell body and associated mechanical stresses is an underappreciated constraint on microbial self-propulsion. Multi-flagellated bacteria can even buckle and writhe under their own activity as they swim through a viscous fluid. New equilibrium configurations and steady-state dynamics then emerge which depend on the organism's mechanical properties and on the oriented distribution of flagella along its surface. Modeling the cell body as a semi-flexible Kirchhoff rod and coupling the mechanics to a flagellar orientation field, we derive the Euler-Poincaré equations governing the dynamics of the system, and rationalize experimental observations of buckling and writhing of elongated swarmer cells of the bacterium Proteus mirabilis. A sequence of bifurcations is identified as the body is made more compliant, due to both buckling and torsional instabilities. These studies highlight a practical requirement for the stiffness of bacteria below which self-buckling occurs and cell motility becomes ineffective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilson Lough
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Douglas B Weibel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Saverio E Spagnolie
- Department of Mathematics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 480 Lincoln Dr, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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10
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Charlton SG, Bible AN, Secchi E, Morrell‐Falvey JL, Retterer ST, Curtis TP, Chen J, Jana S. Microstructural and Rheological Transitions in Bacterial Biofilms. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2207373. [PMID: 37522628 PMCID: PMC10520682 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202207373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Biofilms are aggregated bacterial communities structured within an extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM controls biofilm architecture and confers mechanical resistance against shear forces. From a physical perspective, biofilms can be described as colloidal gels, where bacterial cells are analogous to colloidal particles distributed in the polymeric ECM. However, the influence of the ECM in altering the cellular packing fraction (ϕ) and the resulting viscoelastic behavior of biofilm remains unexplored. Using biofilms of Pantoea sp. (WT) and its mutant (ΔUDP), the correlation between biofilm structure and its viscoelastic response is investigated. Experiments show that the reduction of exopolysaccharide production in ΔUDP biofilms corresponds with a seven-fold increase in ϕ, resulting in a colloidal glass-like structure. Consequently, the rheological signatures become altered, with the WT behaving like a weak gel, whilst the ΔUDP displayed a glass-like rheological signature. By co-culturing the two strains, biofilm ϕ is modulated which allows us to explore the structural changes and capture a change in viscoelastic response from a weak to a strong gel, and to a colloidal glass-like state. The results reveal the role of exopolysaccharide in mediating a structural transition in biofilms and demonstrate a correlation between biofilm structure and viscoelastic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel G.V. Charlton
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic EngineeringInstitute of Environmental EngineeringETH ZurichZurich8049Switzerland
- School of EngineeringNewcastle UniversityNewcastle Upon TyneNE1 7RUUK
| | - Amber N. Bible
- Biosciences DivisionOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTN37830USA
| | - Eleonora Secchi
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic EngineeringInstitute of Environmental EngineeringETH ZurichZurich8049Switzerland
| | | | - Scott T. Retterer
- Biosciences DivisionOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTN37830USA
- Center for Nanophase Material SciencesOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTN37830USA
| | - Thomas P. Curtis
- School of EngineeringNewcastle UniversityNewcastle Upon TyneNE1 7RUUK
| | - Jinju Chen
- School of EngineeringNewcastle UniversityNewcastle Upon TyneNE1 7RUUK
| | - Saikat Jana
- School of EngineeringNewcastle UniversityNewcastle Upon TyneNE1 7RUUK
- School of EngineeringUlster UniversityBelfastBT15 1APUK
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11
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Prasad M, Obana N, Lin SZ, Zhao S, Sakai K, Blanch-Mercader C, Prost J, Nomura N, Rupprecht JF, Fattaccioli J, Utada AS. Alcanivorax borkumensis biofilms enhance oil degradation by interfacial tubulation. Science 2023; 381:748-753. [PMID: 37590351 DOI: 10.1126/science.adf3345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
During the consumption of alkanes, Alcanivorax borkumensis will form a biofilm around an oil droplet, but the role this plays during degradation remains unclear. We identified a shift in biofilm morphology that depends on adaptation to oil consumption: Longer exposure leads to the appearance of dendritic biofilms optimized for oil consumption effected through tubulation of the interface. In situ microfluidic tracking enabled us to correlate tubulation to localized defects in the interfacial cell ordering. We demonstrate control over droplet deformation by using confinement to position defects, inducing dimpling in the droplets. We developed a model that elucidates biofilm morphology, linking tubulation to decreased interfacial tension and increased cell hydrophobicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Prasad
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - N Obana
- Transborder Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - S-Z Lin
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, CPT (UMR 7332), Turing Centre for Living systems, Marseille, France
| | - S Zhao
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - K Sakai
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, École Normale Supérieure, PSL Université, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
- Institut Pierre-Gilles de Gennes pour la Microfluidique, 75005 Paris, France
| | - C Blanch-Mercader
- Laboratoire Physico-Chimie Curie UMR168, Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, 75248 Paris, France
| | - J Prost
- Laboratoire Physico-Chimie Curie UMR168, Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, 75248 Paris, France
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, 117411 Singapore
| | - N Nomura
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
- TARA center, Univeristy of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - J-F Rupprecht
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, CPT (UMR 7332), Turing Centre for Living systems, Marseille, France
| | - J Fattaccioli
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, École Normale Supérieure, PSL Université, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
- Institut Pierre-Gilles de Gennes pour la Microfluidique, 75005 Paris, France
| | - A S Utada
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
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12
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Zhu Y, Zhang M, Sun Q, Wang X, Li X, Li Q. Advanced Mechanical Testing Technologies at the Cellular Level: The Mechanisms and Application in Tissue Engineering. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:3255. [PMID: 37571149 PMCID: PMC10422338 DOI: 10.3390/polym15153255] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanics, as a key physical factor which affects cell function and tissue regeneration, is attracting the attention of researchers in the fields of biomaterials, biomechanics, and tissue engineering. The macroscopic mechanical properties of tissue engineering scaffolds have been studied and optimized based on different applications. However, the mechanical properties of the overall scaffold materials are not enough to reveal the mechanical mechanism of the cell-matrix interaction. Hence, the mechanical detection of cell mechanics and cellular-scale microenvironments has become crucial for unraveling the mechanisms which underly cell activities and which are affected by physical factors. This review mainly focuses on the advanced technologies and applications of cell-scale mechanical detection. It summarizes the techniques used in micromechanical performance analysis, including atomic force microscope (AFM), optical tweezer (OT), magnetic tweezer (MT), and traction force microscope (TFM), and analyzes their testing mechanisms. In addition, the application of mechanical testing techniques to cell mechanics and tissue engineering scaffolds, such as hydrogels and porous scaffolds, is summarized and discussed. Finally, it highlights the challenges and prospects of this field. This review is believed to provide valuable insights into micromechanics in tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxuan Zhu
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Mengqi Zhang
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Qingqing Sun
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xiaomeng Li
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Qian Li
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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13
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Kitahara Y, van Teeffelen S. Bacterial growth - from physical principles to autolysins. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 74:102326. [PMID: 37279609 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
For bacteria to increase in size, they need to enzymatically expand their cell envelopes, and more concretely their peptidoglycan cell wall. A major task of growth is to increase intracellular space for the accumulation of macromolecules, notably proteins, RNA, and DNA. Here, we review recent progress in our understanding of how cells coordinate envelope growth with biomass growth, focusing on elongation of rod-like bacteria. We first describe the recent discovery that surface area, but not cell volume, increases in proportion to mass growth. We then discuss how this relation could possibly be implemented mechanistically, reviewing the role of envelope insertion for envelope growth. Since cell-wall expansion requires the well-controlled activity of autolysins, we finally review recent progress in our understanding of autolysin regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Kitahara
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie, et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sven van Teeffelen
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie, et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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14
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Pandur Ž, Zevnik J, Podbevšek D, Stojković B, Stopar D, Dular M. Water treatment by cavitation: Understanding it at a single bubble - bacterial cell level. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 236:119956. [PMID: 37087917 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Cavitation is a potentially useful phenomenon accompanied by extreme conditions, which is one of the reasons for its increased use in a variety of applications, such as surface cleaning, enhanced chemistry, and water treatment. Yet, we are still not able to answer many fundamental questions related to efficacy and effectiveness of cavitation treatment, such as: "Can single bubbles destroy contaminants?" and "What precisely is the mechanism behind bubble's cleaning power?". For these reasons, the present paper addresses cavitation as a tool for eradication and removal of wall-bound bacteria at a fundamental level of a single microbubble and a bacterial cell. We present a method to study bubble-bacteria interaction on a nano- to microscale resolution in both space and time. The method allows for accurate and fast positioning of a single microbubble above the individual wall-bound bacterial cell with optical tweezers and triggering of a violent microscale cavitation event, which either results in mechanical removal or destruction of the bacterial cell. Results on E. coli bacteria show that only cells in the immediate vicinity of the microbubble are affected, and that a very high likelihood of cell detachment and cell death exists for cells located directly under the center of a bubble. Further details behind near-wall microbubble dynamics are revealed by numerical simulations, which demonstrate that a water jet resulting from a near-wall bubble implosion is the primary mechanism of wall-bound cell damage. The results suggest that peak hydrodynamic forces as high as 0.8 μN and 1.2 μN are required to achieve consistent E. coli bacterial cell detachment or death with high frequency mechanical perturbations on a nano- to microsecond time scale. Understanding of the cavitation phenomenon at a fundamental level of a single bubble will enable further optimization of novel water treatment and surface cleaning technologies to provide more efficient and chemical-free processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Žiga Pandur
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Askerceva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jure Zevnik
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Askerceva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Darjan Podbevšek
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Askerceva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, USA
| | - Biljana Stojković
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Askerceva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - David Stopar
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matevž Dular
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Askerceva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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15
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Butler J, Handy RD, Upton M, Besinis A. Review of Antimicrobial Nanocoatings in Medicine and Dentistry: Mechanisms of Action, Biocompatibility Performance, Safety, and Benefits Compared to Antibiotics. ACS NANO 2023; 17:7064-7092. [PMID: 37027838 PMCID: PMC10134505 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
This review discusses topics relevant to the development of antimicrobial nanocoatings and nanoscale surface modifications for medical and dental applications. Nanomaterials have unique properties compared to their micro- and macro-scale counterparts and can be used to reduce or inhibit bacterial growth, surface colonization and biofilm development. Generally, nanocoatings exert their antimicrobial effects through biochemical reactions, production of reactive oxygen species or ionic release, while modified nanotopographies create a physically hostile surface for bacteria, killing cells via biomechanical damage. Nanocoatings may consist of metal nanoparticles including silver, copper, gold, zinc, titanium, and aluminum, while nonmetallic compounds used in nanocoatings may be carbon-based in the form of graphene or carbon nanotubes, or composed of silica or chitosan. Surface nanotopography can be modified by the inclusion of nanoprotrusions or black silicon. Two or more nanomaterials can be combined to form nanocomposites with distinct chemical or physical characteristics, allowing combination of different properties such as antimicrobial activity, biocompatibility, strength, and durability. Despite their wide range of applications in medical engineering, questions have been raised regarding potential toxicity and hazards. Current legal frameworks do not effectively regulate antimicrobial nanocoatings in matters of safety, with open questions remaining about risk analysis and occupational exposure limits not considering coating-based approaches. Bacterial resistance to nanomaterials is also a concern, especially where it may affect wider antimicrobial resistance. Nanocoatings have excellent potential for future use, but safe development of antimicrobials requires careful consideration of the "One Health" agenda, appropriate legislation, and risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Butler
- School
of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, Faculty of Science and
Engineering, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
| | - Richard D. Handy
- School
of Biological and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
| | - Mathew Upton
- School
of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United
Kingdom
| | - Alexandros Besinis
- School
of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, Faculty of Science and
Engineering, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
- Peninsula
Dental School, Faculty of Health, University
of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
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16
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Portius M, Danneberg C, Pompe T. Biomaterial approaches for engineering and analyzing structure and metabolic states of microbial consortia within biofilms. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 81:102916. [PMID: 36870250 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Microbial consortia within biofilms are frequently found in structured organization in nature and are thought to bear great potential for productive biotechnological applications, such as the degradation of complex substrates, biosensing, or the production of chemical compounds. However, in-depth understanding of their organizational principles, as well as comprehensive design criteria of structured microbial consortia for industrial applications are still limited. It is hypothesized that biomaterial engineering of such consortia within scaffolds can advance the field by providing defined in vitro mimics of naturally occurring and industrially applicable biofilms. Such systems will allow for adjustment of important microenvironmental parameters and in-depth analysis with high temporal and spatial resolution. In this review, we provide the background of biomaterial engineering of structured biofilm consortia, show approaches for their design, and demonstrate tools to analyze their metabolic state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Portius
- Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Germany; Research and Transfer Center for Bioactive Matter, bioACTmatter, Leipzig University, Germany
| | | | - Tilo Pompe
- Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Germany; Research and Transfer Center for Bioactive Matter, bioACTmatter, Leipzig University, Germany.
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17
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Han JY, Yeh M, DeVoe DL. Nanogap traps for passive bacteria concentration and single-point confocal Raman spectroscopy. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:024101. [PMID: 36896354 PMCID: PMC9991444 DOI: 10.1063/5.0142118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A microfluidic device enabling the isolation and concentration of bacteria for analysis by confocal Raman spectroscopy is presented. The glass-on-silicon device employs a tapered chamber surrounded by a 500 nm gap that serves to concentrate cells at the chamber apex during sample perfusion. The sub-micrometer gap retains bacteria by size exclusion while allowing smaller contaminants to pass unimpeded. Concentrating bacteria within the fixed volume enables the use of single-point confocal Raman detection for the rapid acquisition of spectral signatures for bacteria identification. The technology is evaluated for the analysis of E. cloacae, K. pneumoniae, and C. diphtheriae, with automated peak extraction yielding distinct spectral fingerprints for each pathogen at a concentration of 103 CFU/ml that compare favorably with spectra obtained from significantly higher concentration reference samples evaluated by conventional confocal Raman analysis. The nanogap technology offers a simple, robust, and passive approach to concentrating bacteria from dilute samples into well-defined optical detection volumes, enabling rapid and sensitive confocal Raman detection for label-free identification of focused cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Yeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Don L. DeVoe
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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18
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Han R, Feng XQ, Vollmer W, Stoodley P, Chen J. Deciphering the adaption of bacterial cell wall mechanical integrity and turgor to different chemical or mechanical environments. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 640:510-520. [PMID: 36878069 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.02.100] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria adapt the mechanical properties of their cell envelope, including cell wall stiffness, turgor, and cell wall tension and deformation, to grow and survive in harsh environments. However, it remains a technical challenge to simultaneously determine these mechanical properties at a single cell level. Here we combined theoretical modelling with an experimental approach to quantify the mechanical properties and turgor of Staphylococcus epidermidis. It was found that high osmolarity leads to a decrease in both cell wall stiffness and turgor. We also demonstrated that the turgor change is associated with a change in the viscosity of the bacterial cell. We predicted that the cell wall tension is much higher in deionized (DI) water and it decreases with an increase in osmolality. We also found that an external force increases the cell wall deformation to reinforce its adherence to a surface and this effect can be more significant in lower osmolarity. Overall, our work highlights how bacterial mechanics supports survival in harsh environments and uncovers the adaption of bacterial cell wall mechanical integrity and turgor to osmotic and mechanical challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Han
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Xi-Qiao Feng
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Waldemar Vollmer
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK
| | - Paul Stoodley
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity and the Department of Orthopaedics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC), Mechanical Engineering, University of Southampton, Southampton S017 1BJ, UK
| | - Jinju Chen
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.
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19
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Wells M, Schneider R, Bhattarai B, Currie H, Chavez B, Christopher G, Rumbaugh K, Gordon V. Perspective: The viscoelastic properties of biofilm infections and mechanical interactions with phagocytic immune cells. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1102199. [PMID: 36875516 PMCID: PMC9978752 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1102199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are viscoelastic materials that are a prominent public health problem and a cause of most chronic bacterial infections, in large part due to their resistance to clearance by the immune system. Viscoelastic materials combine both solid-like and fluid-like mechanics, and the viscoelastic properties of biofilms are an emergent property of the intercellular cohesion characterizing the biofilm state (planktonic bacteria do not have an equivalent property). However, how the mechanical properties of biofilms are related to the recalcitrant disease that they cause, specifically to their resistance to phagocytic clearance by the immune system, remains almost entirely unstudied. We believe this is an important gap that is ripe for a large range of investigations. Here we present an overview of what is known about biofilm infections and their interactions with the immune system, biofilm mechanics and their potential relationship with phagocytosis, and we give an illustrative example of one important biofilm-pathogen (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) which is the most-studied in this context. We hope to inspire investment and growth in this relatively-untapped field of research, which has the potential to reveal mechanical properties of biofilms as targets for therapeutics meant to enhance the efficacy of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn Wells
- Department of Physics, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Rebecca Schneider
- Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Bikash Bhattarai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Hailey Currie
- Department of Physics, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Bella Chavez
- Department of Physics, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Gordon Christopher
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Kendra Rumbaugh
- Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Vernita Gordon
- Department of Physics, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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20
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Wang L, Wong YC, Correira JM, Wancura M, Geiger CJ, Webster SS, Butler BJ, O’Toole GA, Langford RM, Brown KA, Dortdivanlioglu B, Webb L, Cosgriff-Hernandez E, Gordon VD. Bacterial mechanosensing of surface stiffness promotes signaling and growth leading to biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.26.525810. [PMID: 36747833 PMCID: PMC9900894 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.26.525810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The attachment of bacteria onto a surface, consequent signaling, and the accumulation and growth of the surface-bound bacterial population are key initial steps in the formation of pathogenic biofilms. While recent reports have hinted that the stiffness of a surface may affect the accumulation of bacteria on that surface, the processes that underlie bacterial perception of and response to surface stiffness are unknown. Furthermore, whether, and how, the surface stiffness impacts biofilm development, after initial accumulation, is not known. We use thin and thick hydrogels to create stiff and soft composite materials, respectively, with the same surface chemistry. Using quantitative microscopy, we find that the accumulation, motility, and growth of the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa respond to surface stiffness, and that these are linked through cyclic-di-GMP signaling that depends on surface stiffness. The mechanical cue stemming from surface stiffness is elucidated using finite-element modeling combined with experiments - adhesion to stiffer surfaces results in greater changes in mechanical stress and strain in the bacterial envelope than does adhesion to softer surfaces with identical surface chemistry. The cell-surface-exposed protein PilY1 acts as a mechanosensor, that upon surface engagement, results in higher cyclic-di-GMP levels, lower motility, and greater accumulation on stiffer surfaces. PilY1 impacts the biofilm lag phase, which is extended for bacteria attaching to stiffer surfaces. This study shows clear evidence that bacteria actively respond to different stiffness of surfaces where they adhere via perceiving varied mechanical stress and strain upon surface engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyun Wang
- Department of Physics, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Present address: Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, 35043, Germany
| | - Yu-Chern Wong
- Department of Physics, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Joshua M. Correira
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Megan Wancura
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Chris J Geiger
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
| | | | - Benjamin J. Butler
- Surfaces, Microstructure and Fracture Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | | | - Richard M. Langford
- Surfaces, Microstructure and Fracture Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine A. Brown
- Surfaces, Microstructure and Fracture Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Berkin Dortdivanlioglu
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Lauren Webb
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | | | - Vernita D. Gordon
- Department of Physics, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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21
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Pashapour S, Seneca S, Schröter M, Frischknecht F, Platzman I, Spatz J. Design and Development of Extracellular Matrix Protein-Based Microcapsules as Tools for Bacteria Investigation. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202789. [PMID: 36599129 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202789] [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: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an immense role in the homeostasis of tissues and organs, can function as a barrier for infectious agents, but is also exploited by pathogens during infection. Therefore, the development of well-defined 3D ECM models in the form of microcapsules to elucidate the interactions between ECM components and pathogens in confinement and study disease infectivity is important, albeit challenging. Current limitations are mainly attributed to the lack of biocompatible methods for the production of protein-based microcapsules. Herein, hollow ECM-based microcapsules from laminin-111 or laminin-111/collagen IV are generated to investigate the behavior of organisms within confined 3D extracellular matrices. Microcapsules are created using water-in-oil emulsion droplets stabilized by block copolymer surfactants as templates for the charge-mediated attraction of laminin or laminin-collagen proteins to the droplets' inner periphery, allowing for the formation of modular ECM-based microcapsules with tunable biophysical and biochemical properties and organism encapsulation. The release of E. coli-laden ECM-based protein microcapsules into a physiological environment revealed differences in the dynamic behavior of E. coli depending on the constitution of the surrounding ECM protein matrix. The developed ECM-based protein microcapsules have the potential to be implemented in several biomedical applications, including the design of in vitro infection models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadaf Pashapour
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials (IMSEAM), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Senne Seneca
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials (IMSEAM), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Schröter
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials (IMSEAM), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, partner site Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ilia Platzman
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials (IMSEAM), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joachim Spatz
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials (IMSEAM), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Max Planck School Matter to Life, Jahnstraße 29, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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22
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Manrique PD, López CA, Gnanakaran S, Rybenkov VV, Zgurskaya HI. New understanding of multidrug efflux and permeation in antibiotic resistance, persistence, and heteroresistance. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1519:46-62. [PMID: 36344198 PMCID: PMC9839546 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotics effective against Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens are a critical area of unmet need. Infections caused by these pathogens are not only difficult to treat but finding new therapies to overcome Gram-negative resistance is also a challenge. There are not enough antibiotics in development that target the most dangerous pathogens and there are not enough novel drugs in the pipeline. The major obstacle in the antibiotic discovery pipeline is the lack of understanding of how to breach antibiotic permeability barriers of Gram-negative pathogens. These barriers are created by active efflux pumps acting across both the inner and the outer membranes. Overproduction of efflux pumps alone or together with either modification of the outer membrane or antibiotic-inactivating enzymes and target mutations contribute to clinical levels of antibiotics resistance. Recent efforts have generated significant advances in the rationalization of compound efflux and permeation across the cell envelopes of Gram-negative pathogens. Combined with earlier studies and novel mathematical models, these efforts have led to a multilevel understanding of how antibiotics permeate these barriers and how multidrug efflux and permeation contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance and heteroresistance. Here, we discuss the new developments in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro D. Manrique
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, United States
- Present address: Physics Department, George Washington University, Washington D.C. 20052, United States
| | - Cesar A. López
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, United States
| | - S. Gnanakaran
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, United States
| | - Valentin V. Rybenkov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, OK 73019, United States
| | - Helen I. Zgurskaya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, OK 73019, United States
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23
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Rivera-Tarazona LK, Sivaperuman Kalairaj M, Corazao T, Javed M, Zimmern PE, Subashchandrabose S, Ware TH. Controlling shape morphing and cell release in engineered living materials. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2022; 143:213182. [PMID: 36375222 PMCID: PMC11005089 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.213182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Engineered living materials (ELMs) derive functionality from both a polymer matrix and the behavior of living cells within the material. The long-term goal of this work is to enable a system of ELM-based medical devices with both mechanical and bioactive functionality. Here, we fabricate multifunctional, stimuli-responsive ELMs comprised of acrylic hydrogel matrix and Escherichia coli. These ELMs undergo controlled changes in form and have a controlled release of bacteria from the composite. We hypothesize that the mechanical forces associated with cell proliferation within a covalently-crosslinked, non-degradable hydrogel are responsible for both phenomena. At constant cell loading, increased hydrogel elastic modulus significantly reduces both cell delivery and volume change associated with cell proliferation. ELMs that change volume over 100 % also result in ~106 colony forming units/mL in the growth medium over 2 h after 1 day of growth. At constant monomer feed ratios, increased cell loading leads to significantly increased cell delivery. Finally, these prokaryotic ELMs were investigated for their potential to deliver a probiotic that can reduce the proliferation of a uropathogen in vitro. Controlling the long-term delivery of bacteria could potentially be used in biomedical applications to modulate microbial communities within the human body.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tyler Corazao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Mahjabeen Javed
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Philippe E Zimmern
- Department of Urology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Sargurunathan Subashchandrabose
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Taylor H Ware
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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24
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Chitosan/starch beads as bioinoculants carrier: long-term survival of bacteria and plant growth promotion. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:7963-7972. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12220-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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25
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Drebezghova V, Hakil F, Grimaud R, Gojzewski H, Vancso GJ, Nardin C. Initial bacterial retention on polydimethylsiloxane of various stiffnesses: The relevance of modulus (mis)match. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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26
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Han R, Vollmer W, Perry JD, Stoodley P, Chen J. Simultaneous determination of the mechanical properties and turgor of a single bacterial cell using atomic force microscopy. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:12060-12068. [PMID: 35946610 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr02577a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial mechanical properties (cell wall stiffness and turgor) are important factors for bacterial survival in harsh environments. For an individual bacterial cell, it is challenging to determine the cell wall stiffness and turgor simultaneously. In this study, we adopted a combined finite element modelling and mathematical modelling approach to simultaneously determine bacterial cell wall stiffness and turgor of an individual bacterial cell based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation. The mechanical properties and turgor of Staphylococcus epidermidis, determined by our method are consistent with other independent studies. For a given aqueous environment, bacterial cell wall stiffness increased linearly with an increase in turgor. Higher osmolarity leads to a decrease in both cell wall stiffness and turgor. We also demonstrated that the change of turgor is associated with a change in viscosity of the bacterial cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Han
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
| | - Waldemar Vollmer
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK
| | - John D Perry
- Microbiology Department, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
| | - Paul Stoodley
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity and the Department of Orthopaedics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC), Mechanical Engineering, University of Southampton, Southampton, S017 1BJ, UK
| | - Jinju Chen
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
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27
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Liu X, Inda ME, Lai Y, Lu TK, Zhao X. Engineered Living Hydrogels. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2201326. [PMID: 35243704 PMCID: PMC9250645 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202201326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Living biological systems, ranging from single cells to whole organisms, can sense, process information, and actuate in response to changing environmental conditions. Inspired by living biological systems, engineered living cells and nonliving matrices are brought together, which gives rise to the technology of engineered living materials. By designing the functionalities of living cells and the structures of nonliving matrices, engineered living materials can be created to detect variability in the surrounding environment and to adjust their functions accordingly, thereby enabling applications in health monitoring, disease treatment, and environmental remediation. Hydrogels, a class of soft, wet, and biocompatible materials, have been widely used as matrices for engineered living cells, leading to the nascent field of engineered living hydrogels. Here, the interactions between hydrogel matrices and engineered living cells are described, focusing on how hydrogels influence cell behaviors and how cells affect hydrogel properties. The interactions between engineered living hydrogels and their environments, and how these interactions enable versatile applications, are also discussed. Finally, current challenges facing the field of engineered living hydrogels for their applications in clinical and environmental settings are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Maria Eugenia Inda
- Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Yong Lai
- Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Xuanhe Zhao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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28
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Zevnik J, Dular M. Cavitation bubble interaction with compliant structures on a microscale: A contribution to the understanding of bacterial cell lysis by cavitation treatment. ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2022; 87:106053. [PMID: 35690044 PMCID: PMC9190065 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2022.106053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies have already shown that the process of cavitation can be successfully used for water treatment and eradication of bacteria. However, most of the relevant studies are being conducted on a macro scale, so the understanding of the processes at a fundamental level remains poor. In attempt to further elucidate the process of cavitation-assisted water treatment on a scale of a single bubble, the present paper numerically addresses interaction between a collapsing microbubble and a nearby compliant structure, that mechanically and structurally resembles a bacterial cell. A fluid-structure interaction methodology is employed, where compressible multiphase flow is considered and the bacterial cell wall is modeled as a multi-layered shell structure. Simulations are performed for two selected model structures, each resembling the main structural features of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial cell envelopes. The contribution of two independent dimensionless geometric parameters is investigated, namely the bubble-cell distance δ and their size ratio ς. Three characteristic modes of bubble collapse dynamics and four modes of spatiotemporal occurrence of peak local stresses in the bacterial cell membrane are identified throughout the parameter space considered. The former range from the development of a weak and thin jet away from the cell to spherical bubble collapses. The results show that local stresses arising from bubble-induced loads can exceed poration thresholds of cell membranes and that bacterial cell damage could be explained solely by mechanical effects in absence of thermal and chemical ones. Based on this, the damage potential of a single microbubble for bacteria eradication is estimated, showing a higher resistance of the Gram-positive model organism to the nearby bubble collapse. Microstreaming is identified as the primary mechanical mechanism of bacterial cell damage, which in certain cases may be enhanced by the occurrence of shock waves during bubble collapse. The results are also discussed in the scope of bacteria eradication by cavitation treatment on a macro scale, where processes of hydrodynamic and ultrasonic cavitation are being employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jure Zevnik
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Aškerčeva cesta 6, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Matevž Dular
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Aškerčeva cesta 6, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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29
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Bhusari S, Sankaran S, del Campo A. Regulating Bacterial Behavior within Hydrogels of Tunable Viscoelasticity. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2106026. [PMID: 35404519 PMCID: PMC9189655 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202106026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Engineered living materials (ELMs) are a new class of materials in which living organism incorporated into diffusive matrices uptake a fundamental role in material's composition and function. Understanding how the spatial confinement in 3D can regulate the behavior of the embedded cells is crucial to design and predict ELM's function, minimize their environmental impact and facilitate their translation into applied materials. This study investigates the growth and metabolic activity of bacteria within an associative hydrogel network (Pluronic-based) with mechanical properties that can be tuned by introducing a variable degree of acrylate crosslinks. Individual bacteria distributed in the hydrogel matrix at low density form functional colonies whose size is controlled by the extent of permanent crosslinks. With increasing stiffness and elastic response to deformation of the matrix, a decrease in colony volumes and an increase in their sphericity are observed. Protein production follows a different pattern with higher production yields occurring in networks with intermediate permanent crosslinking degrees. These results demonstrate that matrix design can be used to control and regulate the composition and function of ELMs containing microorganisms. Interestingly, design parameters for matrices to regulate bacteria behavior show similarities to those elucidated for 3D culture of mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shardul Bhusari
- INM ‐ Leibniz Institute for New MaterialsCampus D2 266123SaarbrückenGermany
- Chemistry DepartmentSaarland University66123SaarbrückenGermany
| | | | - Aránzazu del Campo
- INM ‐ Leibniz Institute for New MaterialsCampus D2 266123SaarbrückenGermany
- Chemistry DepartmentSaarland University66123SaarbrückenGermany
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30
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An R, Lee JA. CAMDLES: CFD-DEM Simulation of Microbial Communities in Spaceflight and Artificial Microgravity. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12050660. [PMID: 35629329 PMCID: PMC9144607 DOI: 10.3390/life12050660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
We present CAMDLES (CFD-DEM Artificial Microgravity Developments for Living Ecosystem Simulation), an extension of CFDEM®Coupling to model biological flows, growth, and mass transfer in artificial microgravity devices. For microbes that accompany humans into space, microgravity-induced alterations in the fluid environment are likely to be a major factor in the microbial experience of spaceflight. Computational modeling is needed to investigate how well ground-based microgravity simulation methods replicate that experience. CAMDLES incorporates agent-based modeling to study inter-species metabolite transport within microbial communities in rotating wall vessel bioreactors (RWVs). Preexisting CFD modeling of RWVs has not yet incorporated growth; CAMDLES employs the simultaneous modeling of biological, chemical, and mechanical processes in a micro-scale rotating reference frame environment. Simulation mass transfer calculations were correlated with Monod dynamic parameters to predict relative growth rates between artificial microgravity, spaceflight microgravity, and 1 g conditions. By simulating a microbial model community of metabolically cooperative strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica, we found that the greatest difference between microgravity and an RWV or 1 g gravity was when species colocalized in dense aggregates. We also investigated the influence of other features of the system on growth, such as spatial distribution, product yields, and diffusivity. Our simulation provides a basis for future laboratory experiments using this community for investigation in artificial microgravity and spaceflight microgravity. More broadly, our development of these models creates a framework for novel hypothesis generation and design of biological experiments with RWVs, coupling the effects of RWV size, rotation rate, and mass transport directly to bacterial growth in microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocky An
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
- Correspondence: (R.A.); (J.A.L.)
| | - Jessica Audrey Lee
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Correspondence: (R.A.); (J.A.L.)
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31
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Sun J, Rutherford ST, Silhavy TJ, Huang KC. Physical properties of the bacterial outer membrane. Nat Rev Microbiol 2022; 20:236-248. [PMID: 34732874 PMCID: PMC8934262 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-021-00638-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
It has long been appreciated that the Gram-negative outer membrane acts as a permeability barrier, but recent studies have uncovered a more expansive and versatile role for the outer membrane in cellular physiology and viability. Owing to recent developments in microfluidics and microscopy, the structural, rheological and mechanical properties of the outer membrane are becoming apparent across multiple scales. In this Review, we discuss experimental and computational studies that have revealed key molecular factors and interactions that give rise to the spatial organization, limited diffusivity and stress-bearing capacity of the outer membrane. These physical properties suggest broad connections between cellular structure and physiology, and we explore future prospects for further elucidation of the implications of outer membrane construction for cellular fitness and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Sun
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Steven T. Rutherford
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed: , ,
| | - Thomas J. Silhavy
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed: , ,
| | - Kerwyn Casey Huang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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32
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Lohmann SC, Tripathy A, Milionis A, Keller A, Poulikakos D. Effect of Flexibility and Size of Nanofabricated Topographies on the Mechanobactericidal Efficacy of Polymeric Surfaces. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:1564-1575. [PMID: 35176858 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c01318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Driven by the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, the design of intrinsically bactericidal surfaces has been gaining significant attention. Proposed surface topography designs are often inspired by naturally occurring nanopatterns on insect wings that mechanically damage bacteria via membrane deformation. The stability of and the absence of chemicals in such surfaces support their facile and sustainable employment in avoiding surface-born pathogen transmission. Recently, the deflection of controllably nanofabricated pillar arrays has been shown to strongly affect bactericidal activity, with the limits of mechanical effectiveness of such structures remaining largely unexplored. Here, we examine the limits of softer, commonly used polymeric materials and investigate the interplay between pillar nanostructure sizing and flexibility for effective antibacterial functionality. A facile, scalable, UV nanoimprint lithography method was used to fabricate nanopillar array topographies of variable sizes and flexibilities. It was found that bacterial death on nanopillars in the range of diameters ≤100 nm and Young's moduli ≥1.3 GPa is increased by 3.5- to 5.6-fold, while thicker or softer pillars did not reduce bacterial viability. To further support our findings, we performed a finite element analysis of pillar deformation. It revealed that differences in the amount of stress exerted on bacterial membranes, generated from the stored elastic energy in flexible pillars, contribute to the observed bactericidal performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie C Lohmann
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Abinash Tripathy
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Athanasios Milionis
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Anja Keller
- Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Dimos Poulikakos
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
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33
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Muniz RS, Campbell PC, Sladewski TE, Renner LD, de Graffenried CL. Revealing spatio-temporal dynamics with long-term trypanosomatid live-cell imaging. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010218. [PMID: 35041719 PMCID: PMC8797261 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis, is highly motile and must be able to move in all three dimensions for reliable cell division. These characteristics make long-term microscopic imaging of live T. brucei cells challenging, which has limited our understanding of important cellular events. To address this issue, we devised an imaging approach that confines cells in small volumes within cast agarose microwells that can be imaged continuously for up to 24 h. Individual T. brucei cells were imaged through multiple rounds of cell division with high spatial and temporal resolution. We developed a strategy that employs in-well “sentinel” cells to monitor potential imaging toxicity during loss-of-function experiments such as small-molecule inhibition and RNAi. Using our approach, we show that the asymmetric daughter cells produced during T. brucei division subsequently divide at different rates, with the old-flagellum daughter cell dividing first. The flagellar detachment phenotype that appears during inhibition of the Polo-like kinase homolog TbPLK occurs in a stepwise fashion, with the new flagellum initially linked by its tip to the old, attached flagellum. We probe the feasibility of a previously proposed “back-up” cytokinetic mechanism and show that cells that initiate this process do not appear to complete cell division. This live-cell imaging method will provide a novel avenue for studying a wide variety of cellular events in trypanosomatids that have previously been inaccessible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard S. Muniz
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Paul C. Campbell
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Thomas E. Sladewski
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Lars D. Renner
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research and the Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christopher L. de Graffenried
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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34
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Eco-friendly bacteria-killing by nanorods through mechano-puncture with top selectivity. Bioact Mater 2021; 15:173-184. [PMID: 35386355 PMCID: PMC8941167 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanorods can induce mechano-puncture of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) that often impairs osseointegration of orthopedic implants, while the critical nanorod top sharpness able to puncture S. aureus and the predominant contributor between top sharpness and length to mechano-puncture activity remains elusive. Herein, we fabricated three kinds of Al2O3-wrapped nanorods patterned arrays with different lengths and top sharpness. The top-sharp nanorods have lengths of 469 and 884 nm and the shorter show a length identical to the top-flat nanorods. Driven by the equivalent adhesive force of S. aureus, the top-flat nanorods deform cell envelops, showing a bacteriostatic rate of 29% owing to proliferation-inhibited manner. The top-sharp nanorods puncture S. aureus, showing a bactericidal rate of 96% for the longer, and 98% for the shorter that simultaneously exhibits fair osseointegration in bacteria-infected rat tibias, identifying top sharpness as a predominate contributor to mechano-puncture activity. Based on finite-element simulation, such top-flat nanorod derives the maximum stress (Smax) of 5.65 MPa on cell wall, lower than its ultimate-tensile-strength (13 MPa); while such top-sharp and shorter nanorod derives Smax of 20.15 MPa to puncture cell envelop. Moreover, a critical top conical angle of 138° is identified for nanorods able to puncture S. aureus. Top sharpness depended mechano-puncture of nanorods against S. aureus is clarified. Top-flat nanorods deform bacterial cell envelop to inhibit their proliferation. Top-sharp nanorods (conical angle of 50°) puncture bacteria to intensely kill them. 138° is confirmed as critical top conical angle for nanorods to puncture S. aureus.
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Nath S, Zilm P, Jamieson L, Kapellas K, Goswami N, Ketagoda K, Weyrich LS. Development and characterization of an oral microbiome transplant among Australians for the treatment of dental caries and periodontal disease: A study protocol. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260433. [PMID: 34843568 PMCID: PMC8629173 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oral microbiome transplantation (OMT) is a novel concept of introducing health-associated oral microbiota into the oral cavity of a diseased patient. The premise is to reverse the state of oral dysbiosis, and restore the ecological balance to maintain a stable homeostasis with the host immune system. This study will assess the effectiveness, feasibility, and safety of OMT using an interdisciplinary approach. METHODS/DESIGN To find donors suitable for microbial transplantation, supragingival plaque samples will be collected from 600 healthy participants. Each sample (200μL) will subsequently be examined in two ways: 1) 100μL of the sample will undergo high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun sequencing to identify the composition and characterisation of a healthy supragingival microbiome, 2) the remaining 100μL of the plaque sample will be mixed with 25% artificial saliva medium and inoculated into a specialised in-vitro flow cell model containing a hydroxyapatite disk. To obtain sufficient donor plaque, the samples would be grown for 14 days and further analysed microscopically and sequenced to examine and confirm the growth and survival of the microbiota. Samples with the healthiest microbiota would then be incorporated in a hydrogel delivery vehicle to enable transplantation of the donor oral microbiota. The third step would be to test the effectiveness of OMT in caries and periodontitis animal models for efficacy and safety for the treatment of oral diseases. DISCUSSION If OMTs are found to be successful, it can form a new treatment method for common oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontitis. OMTs may have the potential to modulate the oral microbiota and shift the ecological imbalances to a healthier state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Nath
- Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Peter Zilm
- Oral Microbiology Laboratory, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Lisa Jamieson
- Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Kostas Kapellas
- Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Nirmal Goswami
- Materials Chemistry Department, CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Acharya Vihar, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Kevin Ketagoda
- Oral Microbiology Laboratory, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Laura S. Weyrich
- Department of Anthropology and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
- Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Biological Sciences and the Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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36
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Bacterial Filamentation Drives Colony Chirality. mBio 2021; 12:e0154221. [PMID: 34724813 PMCID: PMC8561393 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01542-21] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chirality is ubiquitous in nature, with consequences at the cellular and tissue scales. As Escherichia coli colonies expand radially, an orthogonal component of growth creates a pinwheel-like pattern that can be revealed by fluorescent markers. To elucidate the mechanistic basis of this colony chirality, we investigated its link to left-handed, single-cell twisting during E. coli elongation. While chemical and genetic manipulation of cell width altered single-cell twisting handedness, colonies ceased to be chiral rather than switching handedness, and anaerobic growth altered colony chirality without affecting single-cell twisting. Chiral angle increased with increasing temperature even when growth rate decreased. Unifying these findings, we discovered that colony chirality was associated with the propensity for cell filamentation. Inhibition of cell division accentuated chirality under aerobic growth and generated chirality under anaerobic growth. Thus, regulation of cell division is intrinsically coupled to colony chirality, providing a mechanism for tuning macroscale spatial patterning. IMPORTANCE Chiral objects, such as amino acids, are distinguishable from their mirror image. For living systems, the fundamental mechanisms relating cellular handedness to chirality at the multicellular scale remain largely mysterious. Here, we use chemical, genetic, and environmental perturbations of Escherichia coli to investigate whether pinwheel patterns in bacterial colonies are directly linked to single-cell growth behaviors. We discover that chirality can be abolished without affecting single-cell twisting; instead, the degree of chirality was linked to the proportion of highly elongated cells at the colony edge. Inhibiting cell division boosted the degree of chirality during aerobic growth and even introduced chirality to otherwise achiral colonies during anaerobic growth. These findings reveal a fascinating connection between cell division and macroscopic colony patterning.
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Payros D, Alonso H, Malaga W, Volle A, Mazères S, Déjean S, Valière S, Moreau F, Balor S, Stella A, Combes-Soia L, Burlet-Schiltz O, Bouchez O, Nigou J, Astarie-Dequeker C, Guilhot C. Rv0180c contributes to Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell shape and to infectivity in mice and macrophages. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010020. [PMID: 34724002 PMCID: PMC8584747 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the main causative agent of human tuberculosis, is transmitted from person to person via small droplets containing very few bacteria. Optimizing the chance to seed in the lungs is therefore a major adaptation to favor survival and dissemination in the human population. Here we used TnSeq to identify genes important for the early events leading to bacterial seeding in the lungs. Beside several genes encoding known virulence factors, we found three new candidates not previously described: rv0180c, rv1779c and rv1592c. We focused on the gene, rv0180c, of unknown function. First, we found that deletion of rv0180c in M. tuberculosis substantially reduced the initiation of infection in the lungs of mice. Next, we established that Rv0180c enhances entry into macrophages through the use of complement-receptor 3 (CR3), a major phagocytic receptor for M. tuberculosis. Silencing CR3 or blocking the CR3 lectin site abolished the difference in entry between the wild-type parental strain and the Δrv0180c::km mutant. However, we detected no difference in the production of both CR3-known carbohydrate ligands (glucan, arabinomannan, mannan), CR3-modulating lipids (phthiocerol dimycocerosate), or proteins in the capsule of the Δrv0180c::km mutant in comparison to the wild-type or complemented strains. By contrast, we established that Rv0180c contributes to the functionality of the bacterial cell envelope regarding resistance to toxic molecule attack and cell shape. This alteration of bacterial shape could impair the engagement of membrane receptors that M. tuberculosis uses to invade host cells, and open a new perspective on the modulation of bacterial infectivity. The epidemic efficiency of tuberculosis bacilli is determined by their capacity to transmit via aerosol. Currently, the bacterial functions that favor Mycobacterium tuberculosis seeding in the lung of naïve host remain mostly unknown. Here we implemented a genome-wide approach to identify M. tuberculosis mutants deficient for seeding and early replication in the lung of mice. In addition to genes known to encode virulence factors, we identified three genes not previously described. We used complementary approaches to characterize the phenotype of a M. tuberculosis mutant with insertion within the rv0180c gene. We found that this mutant is impaired for seeding in the lung of mice and for invasion and replication in human macrophages. In macrophages, the defect relies on a lack of engagement of CR3 receptor. Although we did not detect any difference between the wild type strain and the rv0180c mutant with regard to potential CR3-ligand, we found that the bacterial cell envelope is altered in the rv0180c mutant. Our study provides new insight into bacterial genes required for early interaction of M. tuberculosis with the host and perspective to understand the bacterial functions enhancing infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Payros
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Henar Alonso
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Wladimir Malaga
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Arnaud Volle
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Serge Mazères
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Sébastien Déjean
- Institut de Mathématiques de Toulouse, UMR5219, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Flavie Moreau
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Stéphanie Balor
- Plateforme de Microscopie Électronique Intégrative (METi), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Alexandre Stella
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Lucie Combes-Soia
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Odile Burlet-Schiltz
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Jérôme Nigou
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Catherine Astarie-Dequeker
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
- * E-mail: (CAD); (CG)
| | - Christophe Guilhot
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
- * E-mail: (CAD); (CG)
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Immobilization of Polyethyleneimine (PEI) on Flat Surfaces and Nanoparticles Affects Its Ability to Disrupt Bacterial Membranes. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9102176. [PMID: 34683497 PMCID: PMC8540495 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102176] [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: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between a widely used polycationic polymer, polyethyleneimine (PEI), and a Gram-negative bacteria, E. coli, are investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) quantitative imaging. The effect of PEI, a known membrane permeabilizer, is characterized by probing both the structure and elasticity of the bacterial cell envelope. At low concentrations, PEI induced nanoscale membrane perturbations all over the bacterial surface. Despite these structural changes, no change in cellular mechanics (Young’s modulus) was detected and the growth of E. coli is barely affected. However, at high PEI concentrations, dramatic changes in both structure and cell mechanics are observed. When immobilized on a flat surface, the ability of PEI to alter the membrane structure and reduce bacterial elasticity is diminished. We further probe this immobilization-induced effect by covalently attaching the polymer to the surface of polydopamine nanoparticles (PDNP). The nanoparticle-immobilized PEI (PDNP-PEI), though not able to induce major structural changes on the outer membrane of E. coli (in contrast to the flat surface), was able to bind to and reduce the Young’s modulus of the bacteria. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the state of polycationic polymers, whether bound or free—which greatly dictates their overall configuration—plays a major role on how they interact with and disrupt bacterial membranes.
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Wong F, Wilson S, Helbig R, Hegde S, Aftenieva O, Zheng H, Liu C, Pilizota T, Garner EC, Amir A, Renner LD. Understanding Beta-Lactam-Induced Lysis at the Single-Cell Level. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:712007. [PMID: 34421870 PMCID: PMC8372035 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.712007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanical rupture, or lysis, of the cytoplasmic membrane is a common cell death pathway in bacteria occurring in response to β-lactam antibiotics. A better understanding of the cellular design principles governing the susceptibility and response of individual cells to lysis could indicate methods of potentiating β-lactam antibiotics and clarify relevant aspects of cellular physiology. Here, we take a single-cell approach to bacterial cell lysis to examine three cellular features—turgor pressure, mechanosensitive channels, and cell shape changes—that are expected to modulate lysis. We develop a mechanical model of bacterial cell lysis and experimentally analyze the dynamics of lysis in hundreds of single Escherichia coli cells. We find that turgor pressure is the only factor, of these three cellular features, which robustly modulates lysis. We show that mechanosensitive channels do not modulate lysis due to insufficiently fast solute outflow, and that cell shape changes result in more severe cellular lesions but do not influence the dynamics of lysis. These results inform a single-cell view of bacterial cell lysis and underscore approaches of combatting antibiotic tolerance to β-lactams aimed at targeting cellular turgor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Wong
- Department of Biological Engineering, Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States.,John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Sean Wilson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Ralf Helbig
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research and the Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, Dresden, Germany
| | - Smitha Hegde
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Olha Aftenieva
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research and the Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, Dresden, Germany
| | - Hai Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory for Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chenli Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Teuta Pilizota
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Ethan C Garner
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Ariel Amir
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Lars D Renner
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research and the Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, Dresden, Germany
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Kenney LJ. How Can a Histidine Kinase Respond to Mechanical Stress? Front Microbiol 2021; 12:655942. [PMID: 34335491 PMCID: PMC8320348 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.655942] [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: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria respond to physical forces perceived as mechanical stress as part of their comprehensive environmental sensing strategy. Histidine kinases can then funnel diverse environmental stimuli into changes in gene expression through a series of phosphorelay reactions. Because histidine kinases are most often embedded in the inner membrane, they can be sensitive to changes in membrane tension that occurs, for example, in response to osmotic stress, or when deformation of the cell body occurs upon encountering a surface before forming biofilms, or inside the host in response to shear stress in the kidney, intestine, lungs, or blood stream. A summary of our recent work that links the histidine kinase EnvZ to mechanical changes in the inner membrane is provided and placed in a context of other bacterial systems that respond to mechanical stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda J Kenney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
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41
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Welker A, Hennes M, Bender N, Cronenberg T, Schneider G, Maier B. Spatiotemporal dynamics of growth and death within spherical bacterial colonies. Biophys J 2021; 120:3418-3428. [PMID: 34214531 PMCID: PMC8391034 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial growth within colonies and biofilms is heterogeneous. Local reduction of growth rates has been associated with tolerance against various antibiotics. However, spatial gradients of growth rates are poorly characterized in three-dimensional bacterial colonies. Here, we report two spatially resolved methods for measuring growth rates in bacterial colonies. As bacteria grow and divide, they generate a velocity field that is directly related to the growth rates. We derive profiles of growth rates from the velocity field and show that they are consistent with the profiles obtained by single-cell-counting. Using these methods, we reveal that even small colonies initiated with a few thousand cells of the human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae develop a steep gradient of growth rates within two generations. Furthermore, we show that stringent response decelerates growth inhibition at the colony center. Based on our results, we suggest that aggregation-related growth inhibition can protect gonococci from external stresses even at early biofilm stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Welker
- Institute for Biological Physics and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Marc Hennes
- Institute for Biological Physics and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Niklas Bender
- Institute for Biological Physics and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Tom Cronenberg
- Institute for Biological Physics and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Gabriele Schneider
- Institute for Biological Physics and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Berenike Maier
- Institute for Biological Physics and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany.
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42
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Cui Q, Liu T, Li X, Zhao L, Wu Q, Wang X, Song K, Ge D. Validation of the mechano-bactericidal mechanism of nanostructured surfaces with finite element simulation. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021; 206:111929. [PMID: 34147928 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.111929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The mechano-bactericidal property of nanostructured surfaces has become the focus of intensive research toward the development of a new generation of antibacterial surfaces, especially in the current era of spreading antibiotic resistance. However, the mechanisms underlying nanostructured surfaces mechanically damaging bacteria remain unclear, which ultimately limits translational potential toward real-world applications. Using finite element simulation technique, we developed the three-dimensional thin wall with turgor pressure finite element model (3D-TWTP-FEM) of bacterial cell and verified the reliability of this model by the AFM indentation experiment simulation of the cell, and the cell model is able to simulate suspended bacterial cell and the process of cell adhering to the flat and nanopillar surfaces. Since bacterial cells suffer greater stress and deformation on the nanopillar surfaces, a two-stage model of the elastic and creep deformation stage of the cells on the nanostructured surfaces was developed. The calculations show that the location of the maximum stress/strain on the cells adhered to the nanopillar surfaces is at the liquid-cell-nanopillar three phase contact line. The computational results confirmed the ability of nanostructured surfaces to mechanically lyse bacteria and gave the effect of nanopillar geometry on the efficiency and speed of bacterial cell rupture. This study provides fundamental physical insights into how nanopillar surfaces can serve as effective and fast mechanical antimicrobial materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Cui
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, Liaoning Province, PR China
| | - Tianqing Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, Liaoning Province, PR China.
| | - Xiangqin Li
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, Liaoning Province, PR China
| | - Lidan Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, Liaoning Province, PR China
| | - Qiqi Wu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, Liaoning Province, PR China
| | - Xin Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, Liaoning Province, PR China
| | - Kedong Song
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, Liaoning Province, PR China
| | - Dan Ge
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, Liaoning Province, PR China
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Manjula-Basavanna A, Duraj-Thatte AM, Joshi NS. Robust Self-Regeneratable Stiff Living Materials Fabricated from Microbial Cells. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2021; 31:2010784. [PMID: 33994904 PMCID: PMC8115200 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202010784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Living systems have not only the exemplary capability to fabricate materials (e.g. wood, bone) under ambient conditions but they also consist of living cells that imbue them with properties like growth and self-regeneration. Like a seed that can grow into a sturdy living wood, we wondered: can living cells alone serve as the primary building block to fabricate stiff materials? Here we report the fabrication of stiff living materials (SLMs) produced entirely from microbial cells, without the incorporation of any structural biopolymers (e.g. cellulose, chitin, collagen) or biominerals (e.g. hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate) that are known to impart stiffness to biological materials. Remarkably, SLMs are also lightweight, strong, resistant to organic solvents and can self-regenerate. This living materials technology can serve as a powerful biomanufacturing platform to design and develop advanced structural and cellular materials in a sustainable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna M Duraj-Thatte
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Neel S Joshi
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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44
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Dubbin K, Dong Z, Park DM, Alvarado J, Su J, Wasson E, Robertson C, Jackson J, Bose A, Moya ML, Jiao Y, Hynes WF. Projection Microstereolithographic Microbial Bioprinting for Engineered Biofilms. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:1352-1359. [PMID: 33508203 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c04100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microbes are critical drivers of all ecosystems and many biogeochemical processes, yet little is known about how the three-dimensional (3D) organization of these dynamic organisms contributes to their overall function. To probe how biofilm structure affects microbial activity, we developed a technique for patterning microbes in 3D geometries using projection stereolithography to bioprint microbes within hydrogel architectures. Bacteria were printed and monitored for biomass accumulation, demonstrating postprint viability of cells using this technique. We verified our ability to integrate biological and geometric complexity by fabricating a printed biofilm with two E. coli strains expressing different fluorescence. Finally, we examined the target application of microbial absorption of metal ions to investigate geometric effects on both the metal sequestration efficiency and the uranium sensing capability of patterned engineered Caulobacter crescentus strains. This work represents the first demonstration of the stereolithographic printing of microbials and presents opportunities for future work of engineered biofilms and other complex 3D structured cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Dubbin
- Engineering Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Ziye Dong
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Dan M Park
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Javier Alvarado
- Engineering Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Jimmy Su
- Engineering Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Elisa Wasson
- Engineering Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Claire Robertson
- Engineering Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Julie Jackson
- Engineering Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Arpita Bose
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Monica L Moya
- Engineering Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Yongqin Jiao
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - William F Hynes
- Engineering Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
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45
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Weber F, Ivan DC, Proulx ST, Locatelli G, Aleandri S, Luciani P. Beyond Trial and Error: A Systematic Development of Liposomes Targeting Primary Macrophages. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202000098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Weber
- Department of Chemistry Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Bern Bern 3012 Switzerland
| | - Daniela C. Ivan
- Theodor Kocher Institute University of Bern Bern 3012 Switzerland
| | - Steven T. Proulx
- Theodor Kocher Institute University of Bern Bern 3012 Switzerland
| | | | - Simone Aleandri
- Department of Chemistry Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Bern Bern 3012 Switzerland
| | - Paola Luciani
- Department of Chemistry Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Bern Bern 3012 Switzerland
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46
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Nakayama Y. Corynebacterium glutamicum Mechanosensing: From Osmoregulation to L-Glutamate Secretion for the Avian Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis. Microorganisms 2021; 9:201. [PMID: 33478007 PMCID: PMC7835871 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
After the discovery of Corynebacterium glutamicum from avian feces-contaminated soil, its enigmatic L-glutamate secretion by corynebacterial MscCG-type mechanosensitive channels has been utilized for industrial monosodium glutamate production. Bacterial mechanosensitive channels are activated directly by increased membrane tension upon hypoosmotic downshock; thus; the physiological significance of the corynebacterial L-glutamate secretion has been considered as adjusting turgor pressure by releasing cytoplasmic solutes. In this review, we present information that corynebacterial mechanosensitive channels have been evolutionally specialized as carriers to secrete L-glutamate into the surrounding environment in their habitats rather than osmotic safety valves. The lipid modulation activation of MscCG channels in L-glutamate production can be explained by the "Force-From-Lipids" and "Force-From-Tethers" mechanosensing paradigms and differs significantly from mechanical activation upon hypoosmotic shock. The review also provides information on the search for evidence that C. glutamicum was originally a gut bacterium in the avian host with the aim of understanding the physiological roles of corynebacterial mechanosensing. C. glutamicum is able to secrete L-glutamate by mechanosensitive channels in the gut microbiota and help the host brain function via the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Nakayama
- Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; ; Tel.: +61-2-9295-8744
- St Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
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47
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Carabelli A, Isgró M, Sanni O, Figueredo GP, Winkler DA, Burroughs L, Blok AJ, Dubern JF, Pappalardo F, Hook AL, Williams P, Alexander MR. Single-Cell Tracking on Polymer Microarrays Reveals the Impact of Surface Chemistry on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Twitching Speed and Biofilm Development. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2020; 3:8471-8480. [PMID: 34308271 PMCID: PMC8291582 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c00849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms exhibit up to 1000 times greater resistance to antibiotic or host immune clearance than planktonic cells. Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces retractable type IV pili (T4P) that facilitate twitching motility on surfaces. The deployment of pili is one of the first responses of bacteria to surface interactions and because of their ability to contribute to cell surface adhesion and biofilm formation, this has relevance to medical device-associated infections. While polymer chemistry is known to influence biofilm development, its impact on twitching motility is not understood. Here, we combine a polymer microarray format with time-lapse automated microscopy to simultaneously assess P. aeruginosa twitching motility on 30 different methacrylate/acrylate polymers over 60 min post inoculation using a high-throughput system. During this critical initial period where the decision to form a biofilm is thought to occur, similar numbers of bacterial cells accumulate on each polymer. Twitching motility is observed on all polymers irrespective of their chemistry and physical surface properties, in contrast to the differential biofilm formation noted after 24 h of incubation. However, on the microarray polymers, P. aeruginosa cells twitch at significantly different speeds, ranging from 5 to ∼13 nm/s, associated with crawling or walking and are distinguishable from the different cell surface tilt angles observed. Chemometric analysis using partial least-squares (PLS) regression identifies correlations between surface chemistry, as measured by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and both biofilm formation and single-cell twitching speed. The relationships between surface chemistry and these two responses are different for each process. There is no correlation between polymer surface stiffness and roughness as determined by atomic force measurement (AFM), or water contact angle (WCA), and twitching speed or biofilm formation. This reinforces the dominant and distinct contributions of material surface chemistry to twitching speed and biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro
M. Carabelli
- Advanced
Materials and Healthcare Technologies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Marco Isgró
- Advanced
Materials and Healthcare Technologies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Olutoba Sanni
- Advanced
Materials and Healthcare Technologies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | | | - David A. Winkler
- Advanced
Materials and Healthcare Technologies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
- Monash
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash
University, Parkville 3052, Australia
- La Trobe
Institute for Molecular Science, la Trobe
University, Bundoora 3083, Australia
- CSIRO
Data61, Pullenvale 4069, Australia
| | - Laurence Burroughs
- Advanced
Materials and Healthcare Technologies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Andrew J. Blok
- Division
of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Jean-Frédéric Dubern
- Biodiscovery
Institute and School of Life Sciences, University
of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Francesco Pappalardo
- Advanced
Materials and Healthcare Technologies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Andrew L. Hook
- Advanced
Materials and Healthcare Technologies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Paul Williams
- Biodiscovery
Institute and School of Life Sciences, University
of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Morgan R. Alexander
- Advanced
Materials and Healthcare Technologies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
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48
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Arias SL, Devorkin J, Spear JC, Civantos A, Allain JP. Bacterial Envelope Damage Inflicted by Bioinspired Nanostructures Grown in a Hydrogel. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2020; 3:7974-7988. [PMID: 35019537 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c01076] [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] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Surface-associated bacterial communities, known as biofilms, are responsible for a broad spectrum of infections in humans. Recent studies have indicated that surfaces containing nanoscale protrusions, like those in dragonfly wings, create a hostile niche for bacterial colonization and biofilm growth. This functionality has been mimicked on metals and semiconductors by creating nanopillars and other high aspect ratio nanostructures at the interface of these materials. However, bactericidal topographies have not been reported on clinically relevant hydrogels and highly compliant polymers, mostly because of the complexity of fabricating nanopatterns in hydrogels with precise control of the size that can also resist aqueous immersion. Here, we report the fabrication of bioinspired bactericidal nanostructures in bacterial cellulose (BC) hydrogels using low-energy ion beam irradiation. By challenging the currently accepted view, we show that the nanostructures grown in BC affect preferentially stiff membranes like those of the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis in a time-dependent manner and, to a lesser extent, the more deformable and softer membrane of Escherichia coli. Moreover, the nanostructures in BC did not affect the viability of murine preosteoblasts. Using single-cell analysis, we demonstrate that indeed B. subtilis requires less force than E. coli to be penetrated by nanoprobes with dimensions comparable to those of the nanostructured BC, providing the first direct experimental evidence validating a mechanical model of membrane rupture via a tension-induced mechanism within the activation energy theory. Our findings bridge the gap between mechano-bactericidal surfaces and low-dimensional materials, including single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene nanosheets, in which a higher bactericidal activity toward Gram-positive bacteria has been extensively reported. Our results also demonstrate the ability to confer bactericidal properties to a hydrogel by only altering its topography at the nanoscale and contribute to a better understanding of the bacterial mechanobiology, which is fundamental for the rational design bactericidal topographies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra L Arias
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Joshua Devorkin
- Department of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jessica C Spear
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Ana Civantos
- Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Department of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jean Paul Allain
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Department of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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49
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Outer Membrane c-Type Cytochromes OmcA and MtrC Play Distinct Roles in Enhancing the Attachment of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 Cells to Goethite. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.01941-20. [PMID: 32978123 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01941-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The outer membrane c-type cytochromes (c-Cyts) OmcA and MtrC in Shewanella are key terminal reductases that bind and transfer electrons directly to iron (hydr)oxides. Although the amounts of OmcA and MtrC at the cell surface and their molecular structures are largely comparable, MtrC is known to play a more important role in dissimilatory iron reduction. To explore the roles of these outer membrane c-Cyts in the interaction of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 with iron oxides, the processes of attachment of S. oneidensis MR-1 wild type and c-type cytochrome-deficient mutants (the ΔomcA, ΔmtrC, and ΔomcA ΔmtrC mutants) to goethite are compared via quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). Strains with OmcA exhibit a rapid initial attachment. The quantitative model for QCM-D responses reveals that MtrC enhances the contact area and contact elasticity of cells with goethite by more than one and two times, respectively. In situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared two-dimensional correlation spectroscopic (ATR-FTIR 2D-CoS) analysis shows that MtrC promotes the initial interfacial reaction via an inner-sphere coordination. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis demonstrates that OmcA enhances the attractive force between cells and goethite by about 60%. As a result, OmcA contributes to a higher attractive force with goethite and induces a rapid short-term attachment, while MtrC is more important in the longer-term interaction through an enhanced contact area, which promotes interfacial reactions. These results reveal that c-Cyts OmcA and MtrC adopt different mechanisms for enhancing the attachment of S. oneidensis MR-1 cells to goethite. It improves our understanding of the function of outer membrane c-Cyts and the influence of cell surface macromolecules in cell-mineral interactions.IMPORTANCE Shewanella species are one group of versatile and widespread dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria, which are capable of respiring insoluble iron minerals via six multiheme c-type cytochromes. Outer membrane c-type cytochromes (c-Cyts) OmcA and MtrC are the terminal reductases in this pathway and have comparable protein structures. In this study, we elucidate the different roles of OmcA and MtrC in the interaction of S. oneidensis MR-1 with goethite at the whole-cell level. OmcA confers enhanced affinity toward goethite and results in rapid attachment. Meanwhile, MtrC significantly increases the contact area of bacterial cells with goethite and promotes the interfacial reaction, which may explain its central role in extracellular electron transfer. This study provides novel insights into the role of bacterial surface macromolecules in the interfacial interaction of bacteria with minerals, which is critical to the development of a comprehensive understanding of cell-mineral interactions.
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50
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Zamani E, Johnson TJ, Chatterjee S, Immethun C, Sarella A, Saha R, Dishari SK. Cationic π-Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Shows Antimicrobial Activity by Causing Lipid Loss and Lowering Elastic Modulus of Bacteria. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:49346-49361. [PMID: 33089982 PMCID: PMC8926324 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c12038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Cationic, π-conjugated oligo-/polyelectrolytes (CCOEs/CCPEs) have shown great potential as antimicrobial materials to fight against antibiotic resistance. In this work, we treated wild-type and ampicillin-resistant (amp-resistant) Escherichia coli (E. coli) with a promising cationic, π-conjugated polyelectrolyte (P1) with a phenylene-based backbone and investigated the resulting morphological, mechanical, and compositional changes of the outer membrane of bacteria in great detail. The cationic quaternary amine groups of P1 led to electrostatic interactions with negatively charged moieties within the outer membrane of bacteria. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we showed that due to this treatment, the bacterial outer membrane became rougher, decreased in stiffness/elastic modulus (AFM nanoindentation), formed blebs, and released vesicles near the cells. These evidences, in addition to increased staining of the P1-treated cell membrane by lipophilic dye Nile Red (confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM)), suggested loosening/disruption of packing of the outer cell envelope and release and exposure of lipid-based components. Lipidomics and fatty acid analysis confirmed a significant loss of phosphate-based outer membrane lipids and fatty acids, some of which are critically needed to maintain cell wall integrity and mechanical strength. Lipidomics and UV-vis analysis also confirmed that the extracellular vesicles released upon treatment (AFM) are composed of lipids and cationic P1. Such surface alterations (vesicle/bleb formation) and release of lipids/fatty acids upon treatment were effective enough to inhibit further growth of E. coli cells without completely disintegrating the cells and have been known as a defense mechanism of the cells against cationic antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Zamani
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Tyler J. Johnson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Shyambo Chatterjee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Cheryl Immethun
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Anandakumar Sarella
- Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, Voelte-Keegan Nanoscience Research Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0298, United States
| | - Rajib Saha
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Shudipto Konika Dishari
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
- Corresponding author’s ; Phone: 402-472-7537
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