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Charles-Orszag A, van Wolferen M, Lord SJ, Albers SV, Mullins RD. Adhesion pilus retraction powers twitching motility in the thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5051. [PMID: 38877024 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49101-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Type IV pili are filamentous appendages found in most bacteria and archaea, where they can support functions such as surface adhesion, DNA uptake, aggregation, and motility. In most bacteria, PilT-family ATPases disassemble adhesion pili, causing them to rapidly retract and produce twitching motility, important for surface colonization. As archaea do not possess PilT homologs, it was thought that archaeal pili cannot retract and that archaea do not exhibit twitching motility. Here, we use live-cell imaging, automated cell tracking, fluorescence imaging, and genetic manipulation to show that the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius exhibits twitching motility, driven by retractable adhesion (Aap) pili, under physiologically relevant conditions (75 °C, pH 2). Aap pili are thus capable of retraction in the absence of a PilT homolog, suggesting that the ancestral type IV pili in the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) were capable of retraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Charles-Orszag
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, US
| | - Marleen van Wolferen
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biology II, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Samuel J Lord
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, US
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biology II, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- Signalling Research Centre BIOSS and CIBBS, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - R Dyche Mullins
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, US.
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2
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Geiger CJ, Wong GCL, O'Toole GA. A bacterial sense of touch: T4P retraction motor as a means of surface sensing by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14. J Bacteriol 2024:e0044223. [PMID: 38832786 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00442-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Most microbial cells found in nature exist in matrix-covered, surface-attached communities known as biofilms. This mode of growth is initiated by the ability of the microbe to sense a surface on which to grow. The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) PA14 utilizes a single polar flagellum and type 4 pili (T4P) to sense surfaces. For Pa, T4P-dependent "twitching" motility is characterized by effectively pulling the cell across a surface through a complex process of cooperative binding, pulling, and unbinding. T4P retraction is powered by hexameric ATPases. Pa cells that have engaged a surface increase production of the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) over multiple generations via the Pil-Chp system. This rise in cAMP allows cells and their progeny to become better adapted for surface attachment and activates virulence pathways through the cAMP-binding transcription factor Vfr. While many studies have focused on mechanisms of T4P twitching and regulation of T4P production and function by the Pil-Chp system, the mechanism by which Pa senses and relays a surface-engagement signal to the cell is still an open question. Here we review the current state of the surface sensing literature for Pa, with a focus on T4P, and propose an integrated model of surface sensing whereby the retraction motor PilT senses and relays the signal to the Pil-Chp system via PilJ to drive cAMP production and adaptation to a surface lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Geiger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - G C L Wong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - G A O'Toole
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
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3
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Warrell DL, Zarrella TM, Machalek C, Khare A. Interspecies surfactants serve as public goods enabling surface motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.03.573969. [PMID: 38260674 PMCID: PMC10802355 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.03.573969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
In most natural environments, bacteria live in polymicrobial communities where secreted molecules from neighboring species alter bacterial behaviors including motility, but such interactions are understudied. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a motile opportunistic pathogen that exists in diverse multispecies environments such as the soil and is frequently found in human wound and respiratory tract co-infections with other bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus. Here we show that P. aeruginosa can co-opt secreted surfactants from other species for flagellar-based surface motility. We found that exogenous surfactants from S. aureus, other bacteria, and interkingdom species enabled P. aeruginosa to switch from swarming to an alternative surface spreading motility on semi-solid surfaces and allowed for the emergence of surface motility on hard agar where P. aeruginosa was otherwise unable to move. This motility was distinct from the response of other motile bacteria in the presence of exogenous surfactants. Mutant analysis indicated that this P. aeruginosa motility was similar to a previously described mucin-based motility, 'surfing', albeit with divergent regulation. Thus, our study demonstrates that secreted surfactants from the host as well as neighboring bacterial and interkingdom species act as public goods facilitating P. aeruginosa flagella-mediated surfing-like surface motility, thereby allowing it to access different environmental niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delayna L Warrell
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Tiffany M Zarrella
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Postdoctoral Research Associate Training Program, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Current address: Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christopher Machalek
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anupama Khare
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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4
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Yarrington KD, Shendruk TN, Limoli DH. The type IV pilus chemoreceptor PilJ controls chemotaxis of one bacterial species towards another. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002488. [PMID: 38349934 PMCID: PMC10896506 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria live in social communities, where the ability to sense and respond to interspecies and environmental signals is critical for survival. We previously showed the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa detects secreted peptides from bacterial competitors and navigates through interspecies signal gradients using pilus-based motility. Yet, it was unknown whether P. aeruginosa utilizes a designated chemosensory system for this behavior. Here, we performed a systematic genetic analysis of a putative pilus chemosensory system, followed by high-speed live-imaging and single-cell tracking, to reveal behaviors of mutants that retain motility but are blind to interspecies signals. The enzymes predicted to methylate (PilK) and demethylate (ChpB) the putative pilus chemoreceptor, PilJ, are necessary for cells to control the direction of migration. While these findings implicate PilJ as a bona fide chemoreceptor, such function had yet to be experimentally defined, as full-length PilJ is essential for motility. Thus, we constructed systematic genetic modifications of PilJ and found that without the predicted ligand binding domains or predicted methylation sites, cells lose the ability to detect competitor gradients, despite retaining pilus-mediated motility. Chemotaxis trajectory analysis revealed that increased probability and size of P. aeruginosa pilus-mediated steps towards S. aureus peptides, versus steps away, determines motility bias in wild type cells. However, PilJ mutants blind to interspecies signals take less frequent steps towards S. aureus or steps of equal size towards and away. Collectively, this work uncovers the chemosensory nature of PilJ, provides insight into how cell movements are biased during pilus-based chemotaxis, and identifies chemotactic interactions necessary for bacterial survival in polymicrobial communities, revealing putative pathways where therapeutic intervention might disrupt bacterial communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin D. Yarrington
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Tyler N. Shendruk
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Dominique H. Limoli
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
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5
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Hosoda K, Wanibuchi K, Amgalanbaatar A, Shoji M, Hayashi S, Shimomura H. A novel role of catalase in cholesterol uptake of Helicobacter pylori. Steroids 2023; 191:109158. [PMID: 36574870 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2022.109158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori infection is known to be a significant risk factor for the development of gastric cancers in humans. This pathogen exhibits unique biological characteristics in membrane lipid composition. Specifically, H. pylori incorporates exogenous cholesterol into biomembranes and uses cholesterol as the membrane lipid constituents. A previous study by our group demonstrated that phosphatidylethanolamine of H. pylori functions as the cholesterol-binding lipid. It is, however, unclear whether H. pylori is equipped with protein molecules involved in the cholesterol uptake. We, therefore, examined H. pylori proteins that tightly bind to cholesterol. As a consequence, H. pylori catalase (KatA) turned out to be a candidate of the cholesterol uptake-associated protein. In addition, an H. pylori mutant strain that expresses KatA protein lacking catalase activity was significantly lower in total cholesterol contents than the wild-type H. pylori strain. The putative amino acid sequence of KatA found out to contain a number of the cholesterol recognition/interaction amino acid consensus sequence domains (CRAC and CARC domains). These results suggest that H. pylori KatA with normal folding conformation acts as the cholesterol-binding or -storage protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kouichi Hosoda
- Nikon Cell Innovation Co., Ltd., 2-4-10, Shinsuna, Koto-ku, Tokyo 136-0075, Japan
| | - Kiyofumi Wanibuchi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 245-0066, Japan
| | - Avarzed Amgalanbaatar
- Department of Graduate Education, Graduate School, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, 14210, Zoing Street, Sukhbaatar District, Ulaanbaatar 14210, Mongolia
| | - Mitsuru Shoji
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 245-0066, Japan
| | - Shunji Hayashi
- Department of Microbiology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Shimomura
- Public Health Center of Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture Office, 400-1, Kugu, Matsubase-machi, Uki-shi, Kumamoto 869-0532, Japan.
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6
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Matilla MA, Genova R, Martín-Mora D, Maaβ S, Becher D, Krell T. The Cellular Abundance of Chemoreceptors, Chemosensory Signaling Proteins, Sensor Histidine Kinases, and Solute Binding Proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Provides Insight into Sensory Preferences and Signaling Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021363. [PMID: 36674894 PMCID: PMC9864684 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory pathways and two-component systems are important bacterial signal transduction systems. In the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, these systems control many virulence traits. Previous studies showed that inorganic phosphate (Pi) deficiency induces virulence. We report here the abundance of chemosensory and two-component signaling proteins of P. aeruginosa grown in Pi deficient and sufficient media. The cellular abundance of chemoreceptors differed greatly, since a 2400-fold difference between the most and least abundant receptors was observed. For many chemoreceptors, their amount varied with the growth condition. The amount of chemoreceptors did not correlate with the magnitude of chemotaxis to their cognate chemoeffectors. Of the four chemosensory pathways, proteins of the Che chemotaxis pathway were most abundant and showed little variation in different growth conditions. The abundance of chemoreceptors and solute binding proteins indicates a sensing preference for amino acids and polyamines. There was an excess of response regulators over sensor histidine kinases in two-component systems. In contrast, ratios of the response regulators CheY and CheB to the histidine kinase CheA of the Che pathway were all below 1, indicative of different signaling mechanisms. This study will serve as a reference for exploring sensing preferences and signaling mechanisms of other bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A. Matilla
- Department of Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Roberta Genova
- Department of Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - David Martín-Mora
- Department of Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Sandra Maaβ
- Department of Microbial Proteomics, Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, D-17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dörte Becher
- Department of Microbial Proteomics, Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, D-17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Tino Krell
- Department of Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 18008 Granada, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-958-526579
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7
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Zaydman MA, Little AS, Haro F, Aksianiuk V, Buchser WJ, DiAntonio A, Gordon JI, Milbrandt J, Raman AS. Defining hierarchical protein interaction networks from spectral analysis of bacterial proteomes. eLife 2022; 11:e74104. [PMID: 35976223 PMCID: PMC9427106 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular behaviors emerge from layers of molecular interactions: proteins interact to form complexes, pathways, and phenotypes. We show that hierarchical networks of protein interactions can be defined from the statistical pattern of proteome variation measured across thousands of diverse bacteria and that these networks reflect the emergence of complex bacterial phenotypes. Our results are validated through gene-set enrichment analysis and comparison to existing experimentally derived databases. We demonstrate the biological utility of our approach by creating a model of motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and using it to identify a protein that affects pilus-mediated motility. Our method, SCALES (Spectral Correlation Analysis of Layered Evolutionary Signals), may be useful for interrogating genotype-phenotype relationships in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Zaydman
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
| | | | - Fidel Haro
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | | | - William J Buchser
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
| | - Aaron DiAntonio
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
| | - Jeffrey I Gordon
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
| | - Jeffrey Milbrandt
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
| | - Arjun S Raman
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, ChicagoChicagoUnited States
- Center for the Physics of Evolving Systems, University of Chicago, ChicagoChicagoUnited States
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8
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Lin S, Chen S, Li L, Cao H, Li T, Hu M, Liao L, Zhang LH, Xu Z. Genome characterization of a uropathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate PA_HN002 with cyclic di-GMP-dependent hyper-biofilm production. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:956445. [PMID: 36004331 PMCID: PMC9394441 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.956445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause various types of infections and is one of the most ubiquitous antibiotic-resistant pathogens found in healthcare settings. It is capable of adapting to adverse conditions by transforming its motile lifestyle to a sessile biofilm lifestyle, which induces a steady state of chronic infection. However, mechanisms triggering the lifestyle transition of P. aeruginosa strains with clinical significance are not very clear. In this study, we reported a recently isolated uropathogenic hyper-biofilm producer PA_HN002 and characterized its genome to explore genetic factors that may promote its transition into the biofilm lifestyle. We first showed that high intracellular c-di-GMP content in PA_HN002 gave rise to its attenuated motilities and extraordinary strong biofilm. Reducing the intracellular c-di-GMP content by overexpressing phosphodiesterases (PDEs) such as BifA or W909_14950 converted the biofilm and motility phenotypes. Whole genome sequencing and comprehensive analysis of all the c-di-GMP metabolizing enzymes led to the identification of multiple mutations within PDEs. Gene expression assays further indicated that the shifted expression profile of c-di-GMP metabolizing enzymes in PA_HN002 might mainly contribute to its elevated production of intracellular c-di-GMP and enhanced biofilm formation. Moreover, mobile genetic elements which might interfere the endogenous regulatory network of c-di-GMP metabolism in PA_HN002 were analyzed. This study showed a reprogrammed expression profile of c-di-GMP metabolizing enzymes which may promote the pathoadaption of clinical P. aeruginosa into biofilm producers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siying Lin
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuzhen Chen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Li
- Women and Children’s Health Institute, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Li Li, ; Zeling Xu,
| | - Huiluo Cao
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ting Li
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming Hu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lisheng Liao
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lian-Hui Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zeling Xu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Li Li, ; Zeling Xu,
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9
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Matilla MA, Velando F, Monteagudo-Cascales E, Krell T. Flagella, Chemotaxis and Surface Sensing. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1386:185-221. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-08491-1_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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10
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Surveying a Swarm: Experimental Techniques to Establish and Examine Bacterial Collective Motion. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 88:e0185321. [PMID: 34878816 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01853-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The survival and successful spread of many bacterial species hinges on their mode of motility. One of the most distinct of these is swarming, a collective form of motility where a dense consortium of bacteria employ flagella to propel themselves across a solid surface. Surface environments pose unique challenges, derived from higher surface friction/tension and insufficient hydration. Bacteria have adapted by deploying an array of mechanisms to overcome these challenges. Beyond allowing bacteria to colonize new terrain in the absence of bulk liquid, swarming also bestows faster speeds and enhanced antibiotic resistance to the collective. These crucial attributes contribute to the dissemination, and in some cases pathogenicity, of an array of bacteria. This mini-review highlights; 1) aspects of swarming motility that differentiates it from other methods of bacterial locomotion. 2) Facilitatory mechanisms deployed by diverse bacteria to overcome different surface challenges. 3) The (often difficult) approaches required to cultivate genuine swarmers. 4) The methods available to observe and assess the various facets of this collective motion, as well as the features exhibited by the population as a whole.
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Colin R, Ni B, Laganenka L, Sourjik V. Multiple functions of flagellar motility and chemotaxis in bacterial physiology. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:fuab038. [PMID: 34227665 PMCID: PMC8632791 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Most swimming bacteria are capable of following gradients of nutrients, signaling molecules and other environmental factors that affect bacterial physiology. This tactic behavior became one of the most-studied model systems for signal transduction and quantitative biology, and underlying molecular mechanisms are well characterized in Escherichia coli and several other model bacteria. In this review, we focus primarily on less understood aspect of bacterial chemotaxis, namely its physiological relevance for individual bacterial cells and for bacterial populations. As evident from multiple recent studies, even for the same bacterial species flagellar motility and chemotaxis might serve multiple roles, depending on the physiological and environmental conditions. Among these, finding sources of nutrients and more generally locating niches that are optimal for growth appear to be one of the major functions of bacterial chemotaxis, which could explain many chemoeffector preferences as well as flagellar gene regulation. Chemotaxis might also generally enhance efficiency of environmental colonization by motile bacteria, which involves intricate interplay between individual and collective behaviors and trade-offs between growth and motility. Finally, motility and chemotaxis play multiple roles in collective behaviors of bacteria including swarming, biofilm formation and autoaggregation, as well as in their interactions with animal and plant hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remy Colin
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Karl-von-Frisch Strasse 16, Marburg D-35043, Germany
| | - Bin Ni
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Karl-von-Frisch Strasse 16, Marburg D-35043, Germany
- College of Resources and Environmental Science, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan Xilu No. 2, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Leanid Laganenka
- Institute of Microbiology, D-BIOL, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Victor Sourjik
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Karl-von-Frisch Strasse 16, Marburg D-35043, Germany
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12
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Abstract
Single cells across kingdoms of life explore, prey, escape, or congregate using surface-specific motility. Motile eukaryotic cells use chemotaxis to direct migration on surfaces. However, how bacteria control surface motility remains underexplored. Pseudomonas aeruginosa twitches on surfaces by successive extension and retraction of extracellular filaments called type IV pili. Here, we show that P. aeruginosa directs twitching by sensing mechanical input generated by type IV pili. The Chp sensory system performs spatially resolved mechanosensing by harnessing two response regulators with antagonistic functions. Our results demonstrate that sensory systems, whose input often remains elusive, can sense mechanical signals to actively steer motility. Furthermore, Chp establishes a signaling principle shared with higher-order organisms, identifying a conserved strategy to transduce spatially resolved signals. The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa explores surfaces using twitching motility powered by retractile extracellular filaments called type IV pili (T4P). Single cells twitch by sequential T4P extension, attachment, and retraction. How single cells coordinate T4P to efficiently navigate surfaces remains unclear. We demonstrate that P. aeruginosa actively directs twitching in the direction of mechanical input from T4P in a process called mechanotaxis. The Chp chemotaxis-like system controls the balance of forward and reverse twitching migration of single cells in response to the mechanical signal. Collisions between twitching cells stimulate reversals, but Chp mutants either always or never reverse. As a result, while wild-type cells colonize surfaces uniformly, collision-blind Chp mutants jam, demonstrating a function for mechanosensing in regulating group behavior. On surfaces, Chp senses T4P attachment at one pole, thereby sensing a spatially resolved signal. As a result, the Chp response regulators PilG and PilH control the polarization of the extension motor PilB. PilG stimulates polarization favoring forward migration, while PilH inhibits polarization, inducing reversal. Subcellular segregation of PilG and PilH efficiently orchestrates their antagonistic functions, ultimately enabling rapid reversals upon perturbations. The distinct localization of response regulators establishes a signaling landscape known as local excitation–global inhibition in higher-order organisms, identifying a conserved strategy to transduce spatially resolved signals.
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13
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a Model To Study Chemosensory Pathway Signaling. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2021; 85:85/1/e00151-20. [PMID: 33441490 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00151-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria have evolved a variety of signal transduction mechanisms that generate different outputs in response to external stimuli. Chemosensory pathways are widespread in bacteria and are among the most complex signaling mechanisms, requiring the participation of at least six proteins. These pathways mediate flagellar chemotaxis, in addition to controlling alternative functions such as second messenger levels or twitching motility. The human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa has four different chemosensory pathways that carry out different functions and are stimulated by signal binding to 26 chemoreceptors. Recent research employing a diverse range of experimental approaches has advanced enormously our knowledge on these four pathways, establishing P. aeruginosa as a primary model organism in this field. In the first part of this article, we review data on the function and physiological relevance of chemosensory pathways as well as their involvement in virulence, whereas the different transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms that govern pathway function are summarized in the second part. The information presented will be of help to advance the understanding of pathway function in other organisms.
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14
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Pan X, Fan Z, Chen L, Liu C, Bai F, Wei Y, Tian Z, Dong Y, Shi J, Chen H, Jin Y, Cheng Z, Jin S, Lin J, Wu W. PvrA is a novel regulator that contributes to Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogenesis by controlling bacterial utilization of long chain fatty acids. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:5967-5985. [PMID: 32406921 PMCID: PMC7293031 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During infection of a host, Pseudomonas aeruginosa orchestrates global gene expression to adapt to the host environment and counter the immune attacks. P. aeruginosa harbours hundreds of regulatory genes that play essential roles in controlling gene expression. However, their contributions to the bacterial pathogenesis remain largely unknown. In this study, we analysed the transcriptomic profile of P. aeruginosa cells isolated from lungs of infected mice and examined the roles of upregulated regulatory genes in bacterial virulence. Mutation of a novel regulatory gene pvrA (PA2957) attenuated the bacterial virulence in an acute pneumonia model. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-Seq and genetic analyses revealed that PvrA directly regulates genes involved in phosphatidylcholine utilization and fatty acid catabolism. Mutation of the pvrA resulted in defective bacterial growth when phosphatidylcholine or palmitic acid was used as the sole carbon source. We further demonstrated that palmitoyl coenzyme A is a ligand for the PvrA, enhancing the binding affinity of PvrA to its target promoters. An arginine residue at position 136 was found to be essential for PvrA to bind palmitoyl coenzyme A. Overall, our results revealed a novel regulatory pathway that controls genes involved in phosphatidylcholine and fatty acid utilization and contributes to the bacterial virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Zheng Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, College of Life Science Nankai University, Tianjin 300071 China
| | - Chang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Fang Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yu Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Zhenyang Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yuanyuan Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jing Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yongxin Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Zhihui Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Shouguang Jin
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Jianping Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Weihui Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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15
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Unique responses of Helicobacter pylori to exogenous hydrophobic compounds. Chem Phys Lipids 2020; 229:104908. [PMID: 32259519 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2020.104908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is a pathogen responsible for peptic ulcers and gastric cancers in human. One of the unique biological features of this bacterium is a membrane lipid composition significantly differed from that of typical Gram-negative bacteria. Due to its unique lipid composition, the responses of H. pylori to various exogenous lipophilic compounds significantly differ from the responses of typical Gram-negative bacteria to the same lipophilic compounds. For instance, some steroidal compounds are incorporated into the biomembranes of H. pylori through the intermediation of the myristoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). In addition, H. pylori shows high susceptibility to bacteriolytic action of lipids such as 3-carbonyl steroids, vitamin D, and indene compounds. These lipids are also considered to interact with myristoyl-PE of H. pylori membranes, and to ultimately confer the bactericidal action to this bacterium. In this study we summarize the lipids concerned with H. pylori and suggest the possibility of the development of chemotherapeutic medicines that act on the membrane lipid component of H. pylori.
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16
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Beeby M, Ferreira JL, Tripp P, Albers SV, Mitchell DR. Propulsive nanomachines: the convergent evolution of archaella, flagella and cilia. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020; 44:253-304. [DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Echoing the repeated convergent evolution of flight and vision in large eukaryotes, propulsive swimming motility has evolved independently in microbes in each of the three domains of life. Filamentous appendages – archaella in Archaea, flagella in Bacteria and cilia in Eukaryotes – wave, whip or rotate to propel microbes, overcoming diffusion and enabling colonization of new environments. The implementations of the three propulsive nanomachines are distinct, however: archaella and flagella rotate, while cilia beat or wave; flagella and cilia assemble at their tips, while archaella assemble at their base; archaella and cilia use ATP for motility, while flagella use ion-motive force. These underlying differences reflect the tinkering required to evolve a molecular machine, in which pre-existing machines in the appropriate contexts were iteratively co-opted for new functions and whose origins are reflected in their resultant mechanisms. Contemporary homologies suggest that archaella evolved from a non-rotary pilus, flagella from a non-rotary appendage or secretion system, and cilia from a passive sensory structure. Here, we review the structure, assembly, mechanism and homologies of the three distinct solutions as a foundation to better understand how propulsive nanomachines evolved three times independently and to highlight principles of molecular evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Beeby
- Department of Life Sciences, Frankland Road, Imperial College of London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Josie L Ferreira
- Department of Life Sciences, Frankland Road, Imperial College of London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Patrick Tripp
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestrasse 1, 79211 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestrasse 1, 79211 Freiburg, Germany
| | - David R Mitchell
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
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17
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Bearon RN, Durham WM. A model of strongly biased chemotaxis reveals the trade-offs of different bacterial migration strategies. MATHEMATICAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY-A JOURNAL OF THE IMA 2020; 37:83-116. [PMID: 30950494 DOI: 10.1093/imammb/dqz007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Many bacteria actively bias their motility towards more favourable nutrient environments. In liquid, cells rotate their corkscrew-shaped flagella to swim, but in surface attached biofilms cells instead use grappling hook-like appendages called pili to pull themselves along. In both forms of motility, cells selectively alternate between relatively straight 'runs' and sharp reorientations to generate biased random walks up chemoattractant gradients. However, recent experiments suggest that swimming and biofilm cells employ fundamentally different strategies to generate chemotaxis: swimming cells typically suppress reorientations when moving up a chemoattractant gradient, whereas biofilm cells increase reorientations when moving down a chemoattractant gradient. The reason for this difference remains unknown. Here we develop a mathematical framework to understand how these different chemotactic strategies affect the distribution of cells at the population level. Current continuum models typically assume a weak bias in the reorientation rate and are not able to distinguish between these two strategies, so we derive a model for strong chemotaxis that resolves how both the drift and diffusive components depend on the underlying chemotactic strategy. We then test predictions from our continuum model against individual-based simulations and identify further refinements that allow our continuum model to resolve boundary effects. Our analyses reveal that the strategy employed by swimming cells yields a larger chemotactic drift, but the strategy used by biofilm cells allows them to more tightly aggregate where the chemoattractant is most abundant. This new modelling framework provides new quantitative insights into how the different chemical landscapes experienced by swimming and biofilm cells might select for divergent ways of generating chemotaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- R N Bearon
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - W M Durham
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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18
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Wanibuchi K, Takezawa M, Hosoda K, Amgalanbaatar A, Tajiri K, Koizumi Y, Niitsu S, Masui H, Sakai Y, Shoji M, Takahashi T, Hirai Y, Shimomura H. Antibacterial effect of indene on Helicobacter pylori correlates with specific interaction between its compound and dimyristoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine. Chem Phys Lipids 2020; 227:104871. [PMID: 31923389 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2020.104871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 01/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies by our group have suggested that the vitamin D3 decomposition product VDP1 [(1R,3aR,7aR)-1-[(1R)-1,5-dimethylhexyl]octahydro-7a-methyl-4H-inden-4-one] confers the potent bactericidal action to Helicobacter pylori by targeting the membranal dimyristoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (di-14:0 PE). In this study we synthesized a new VDP1 derivative to advance further investigation as for the correlative relationship between VDP1 structure and anti-H. pylori activity or PE vesicle collapse induction activity. The derivative VD3-7 [(1R,7aR)-4-fluoro-7a-methyl-1-((R)-6-methylheptan-2-yl)octahydro-1H-indene] retained a fluorine atom in place of the oxygen atom of VDP1. The fluorination of the carbonyl portion of VDP1 forfeited the effective anti-H. pylori activity. We, therefore, prepared Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB)-containing unilamellar vesicles consisting of various PE molecular species, and examined the vesicle collapse induction activity of either VDP1 or VD3-7 by detecting the CBB eluted from the PE unilamellar vesicles. VDP1 strongly induced CBB elution from the unilamellar vesicles of rectus-PE retaining the same two fatty acid side-chains shorter than carbon numbers 14, indicating that VDP1 specifically disrupted the vesicular conformation of those PE unilamellar vesicles. Meanwhile, VD3-7 had no influence on the structural stability of any PE unilamellar vesicles. This study obtained additional evidence that VDP1 acts as a bactericidal agent on H. pylori by targeting the membranal di-14:0 PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyofumi Wanibuchi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 245-0066, Japan
| | - Motoki Takezawa
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 245-0066, Japan
| | - Kouichi Hosoda
- Nikon Cell Innovation Co., Ltd., 2-4-10, Shinsuna, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 136-0075, Japan
| | - Avarzed Amgalanbaatar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Bio-medicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, 14210, Zoing street, Sukhbaatar district, Ulaanbaatar, 14210, Mongolia
| | - Kentaro Tajiri
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 245-0066, Japan
| | - Yuki Koizumi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 245-0066, Japan
| | - Sakura Niitsu
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 245-0066, Japan
| | - Hisashi Masui
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 245-0066, Japan
| | - Yuki Sakai
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 245-0066, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Shoji
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 245-0066, Japan
| | - Takashi Takahashi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 245-0066, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Hirai
- Tamano Institute of Health and Human Services, 1-1-20, Chikko, Tamano-shi, Okayama, 760-0002, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Shimomura
- Big Bear Veterinary Hospital, 3-1-5, Oyama, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, 861-8045, Japan.
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19
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Limoli DH, Warren EA, Yarrington KD, Donegan NP, Cheung AL, O'Toole GA. Interspecies interactions induce exploratory motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. eLife 2019; 8:47365. [PMID: 31713513 PMCID: PMC6910820 DOI: 10.7554/elife.47365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbes often live in multispecies communities where interactions among community members impact both the individual constituents and the surrounding environment. Here, we developed a system to visualize interspecies behaviors at initial encounters. By imaging two prevalent pathogens known to be coisolated from chronic illnesses, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, we observed P. aeruginosa can modify surface motility in response to secreted factors from S. aureus. Upon sensing S. aureus, P. aeruginosa transitioned from collective to single-cell motility with an associated increase in speed and directedness – a behavior we refer to as ‘exploratory motility’. Explorer cells moved preferentially towards S. aureus and invaded S. aureus colonies through the action of the type IV pili. These studies reveal previously undescribed motility behaviors and lend insight into how P. aeruginosa senses and responds to other species. Identifying strategies to harness these interactions may open avenues for new antimicrobial strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique H Limoli
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Warren
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States
| | - Kaitlin D Yarrington
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States
| | - Niles P Donegan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, United States
| | - Ambrose L Cheung
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, United States
| | - George A O'Toole
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, United States
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20
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Turkina MV, Vikström E. Bacteria-Host Crosstalk: Sensing of the Quorum in the Context of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections. J Innate Immun 2018; 11:263-279. [PMID: 30428481 DOI: 10.1159/000494069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-to-cell signaling via small molecules is an essential process to coordinate behavior in single species within a community, and also across kingdoms. In this review, we discuss the quorum sensing (QS) systems used by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa to sense bacterial population density and fitness, and regulate virulence, biofilm development, metabolite acquisition, and mammalian host defense. We also focus on the role of N-acylhomoserine lactone-dependent QS signaling in the modulation of innate immune responses connected together via calcium signaling, homeostasis, mitochondrial and cytoskeletal dynamics, and governing transcriptional and proteomic responses of host cells. A future perspective emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary efforts to bring current knowledge of QS into a more detailed understanding of the communication between bacteria and host, as well as into strategies to prevent and treat P. aeruginosa infections and reduce the rate of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Turkina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Elena Vikström
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden,
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21
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Wanibuchi K, Hosoda K, Ihara M, Tajiri K, Sakai Y, Masui H, Takahashi T, Hirai Y, Shimomura H. Indene Compounds Synthetically Derived from Vitamin D Have Selective Antibacterial Action on
Helicobacter pylori. Lipids 2018; 53:393-401. [DOI: 10.1002/lipd.12043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kiyofumi Wanibuchi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano‐cho, Totsuka‐ku Yokohama‐shi Kanagawa 245‐0066 Japan
| | - Kouichi Hosoda
- Civil International Corporation, 1‐10‐14, Kitaueno, Taito‐ku Tokyo 110‐0014 Japan
| | - Masato Ihara
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano‐cho, Totsuka‐ku Yokohama‐shi Kanagawa 245‐0066 Japan
| | - Kentaro Tajiri
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano‐cho, Totsuka‐ku Yokohama‐shi Kanagawa 245‐0066 Japan
| | - Yuki Sakai
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano‐cho, Totsuka‐ku Yokohama‐shi Kanagawa 245‐0066 Japan
| | - Hisashi Masui
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano‐cho, Totsuka‐ku Yokohama‐shi Kanagawa 245‐0066 Japan
| | - Takashi Takahashi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601, Matano‐cho, Totsuka‐ku Yokohama‐shi Kanagawa 245‐0066 Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Hirai
- Tamano Institute of Health and Human Services, 1‐1‐20, Chikko, Tamano‐shi Okayama 760‐0002 Japan
| | - Hirofumi Shimomura
- Department of Nutritional Science, Faculty of Human Life Science Shokei University, 2‐6‐78, Kuhonji, Chuo‐ku, Kumamoto‐shi Kumamoto 862‐8678 Japan
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22
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Mattingly AE, Weaver AA, Dimkovikj A, Shrout JD. Assessing Travel Conditions: Environmental and Host Influences On Bacterial Surface Motility. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:e00014-18. [PMID: 29555698 PMCID: PMC5952383 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00014-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The degree to which surface motile bacteria explore their surroundings is influenced by aspects of their local environment. Accordingly, regulation of surface motility is controlled by numerous chemical, physical, and biological stimuli. Discernment of such regulation due to these multiple cues is a formidable challenge. Additionally inherent ambiguity and variability from the assays used to assess surface motility can be an obstacle to clear delineation of regulated surface motility behavior. Numerous studies have reported single environmental determinants of microbial motility and lifestyle behavior but the translation of these data to understand surface motility and bacterial colonization of human host or environmental surfaces is unclear. Here, we describe the current state of the field and our understanding of exogenous factors that influence bacterial surface motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne E. Mattingly
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Abigail A. Weaver
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Aleksandar Dimkovikj
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Joshua D. Shrout
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
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23
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Favre L, Ortalo-Magné A, Pichereaux C, Gargaros A, Burlet-Schiltz O, Cotelle V, Culioli G. Metabolome and proteome changes between biofilm and planktonic phenotypes of the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas lipolytica TC8. BIOFOULING 2018; 34:132-148. [PMID: 29319346 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2017.1413551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A number of bacteria adopt various lifestyles such as planktonic free-living or sessile biofilm stages. This enables their survival and development in a wide range of contrasting environments. With the aim of highlighting specific metabolic shifts between these phenotypes and to improve the overall understanding of marine bacterial adhesion, a dual metabolomics/proteomics approach was applied to planktonic and biofilm cultures of the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas lipolytica TC8. The liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based metabolomics study indicated that membrane lipid composition was highly affected by the culture mode: phosphatidylethanolamine (PEs) derivatives were over-produced in sessile cultures while ornithine lipids (OLs) were more specifically synthesized in planktonic samples. In parallel, differences between proteomes revealed that peptidases, oxidases, transcription factors, membrane proteins and the enzymes involved in histidine biosynthesis were over-expressed in biofilms while proteins involved in heme production, nutrient assimilation, cell division and arginine/ornithine biosynthesis were specifically up-regulated in free-living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie Favre
- a MAPIEM EA 4323 , Université de Toulon , Toulon , France
| | | | - Carole Pichereaux
- b Fédération de Recherche FR3450 , CNRS , Toulouse , France
- c Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS , Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS , Toulouse , France
| | - Audrey Gargaros
- c Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS , Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS , Toulouse , France
| | - Odile Burlet-Schiltz
- c Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS , Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS , Toulouse , France
| | - Valérie Cotelle
- d Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales , Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS , Castanet-Tolosan , France
| | - Gérald Culioli
- a MAPIEM EA 4323 , Université de Toulon , Toulon , France
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24
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Francis VI, Stevenson EC, Porter SL. Two-component systems required for virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2018; 364:3828290. [PMID: 28510688 PMCID: PMC5812489 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a versatile opportunistic pathogen capable of infecting a broad range of hosts, in addition to thriving in a broad range of environmental conditions outside of hosts. With this versatility comes the need to tightly regulate its genome to optimise its gene expression and behaviour to the prevailing conditions. Two-component systems (TCSs) comprising sensor kinases and response regulators play a major role in this regulation. This minireview discusses the growing number of TCSs that have been implicated in the virulence of P. aeruginosa, with a special focus on the emerging theme of multikinase networks, which are networks comprising multiple sensor kinases working together, sensing and integrating multiple signals to decide upon the best response. The networks covered in depth regulate processes such as the switch between acute and chronic virulence (GacS network), the Cup fimbriae (Roc network and Rcs/Pvr network), the aminoarabinose modification of lipopolysaccharide (a network involving the PhoQP and PmrBA TCSs), twitching motility and virulence (a network formed from the Chp chemosensory pathway and the FimS/AlgR TCS), and biofilm formation (Wsp chemosensory pathway). In addition, we highlight the important interfaces between these systems and secondary messenger signals such as cAMP and c-di-GMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa I Francis
- Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX 4QD, UK
| | - Emma C Stevenson
- Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX 4QD, UK
| | - Steven L Porter
- Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX 4QD, UK
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25
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Abstract
Chemoreceptors in bacteria detect a variety of signals and feed this information into chemosensory pathways that represent a major mode of signal transduction. The five chemoreceptors from Escherichia coli have served as traditional models in the study of this protein family. Genome analyses revealed that many bacteria contain much larger numbers of chemoreceptors with broader sensory capabilities. Chemoreceptors differ in topology, sensing mode, cellular location, and, above all, the type of ligand binding domain (LBD). Here, we highlight LBD diversity using well-established and emerging model organisms as well as genomic surveys. Nearly a hundred different types of protein domains that are found in chemoreceptor sequences are known or predicted LBDs, but only a few of them are ubiquitous. LBDs of the same class recognize different ligands, and conversely, the same ligand can be recognized by structurally different LBDs; however, recent studies began to reveal common characteristics in signal-LBD relationships. Although signals can stimulate chemoreceptors in a variety of different ways, diverse LBDs appear to employ a universal transmembrane signaling mechanism. Current and future studies aim to establish relationships between LBD types, the nature of signals that they recognize, and the mechanisms of signal recognition and transduction.
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Fozo EM, Rucks EA. The Making and Taking of Lipids: The Role of Bacterial Lipid Synthesis and the Harnessing of Host Lipids in Bacterial Pathogenesis. Adv Microb Physiol 2016; 69:51-155. [PMID: 27720012 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In order to survive environmental stressors, including those induced by growth in the human host, bacterial pathogens will adjust their membrane physiology accordingly. These physiological changes also include the use of host-derived lipids to alter their own membranes and feed central metabolic pathways. Within the host, the pathogen is exposed to many stressful stimuli. A resulting adaptation is for pathogens to scavenge the host environment for readily available lipid sources. The pathogen takes advantage of these host-derived lipids to increase or decrease the rigidity of their own membranes, to provide themselves with valuable precursors to feed central metabolic pathways, or to impact host signalling and processes. Within, we review the diverse mechanisms that both extracellular and intracellular pathogens employ to alter their own membranes as well as their use of host-derived lipids in membrane synthesis and modification, in order to increase survival and perpetuate disease within the human host. Furthermore, we discuss how pathogen employed mechanistic utilization of host-derived lipids allows for their persistence, survival and potentiation of disease. A more thorough understanding of all of these mechanisms will have direct consequences for the development of new therapeutics, and specifically, therapeutics that target pathogens, while preserving normal flora.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M Fozo
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States.
| | - E A Rucks
- Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States.
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Park HJ, Park CJ, Bae N, Han SW. Deciphering the Role of Tyrosine Sulfation in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae Using Shotgun Proteomic Analysis. THE PLANT PATHOLOGY JOURNAL 2016; 32:266-272. [PMID: 27298602 PMCID: PMC4892823 DOI: 10.5423/ppj.nt.12.2015.0273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Revised: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A bacterial tyrosine sulfotransferase, RaxST, is required for activation of rice XA21-mediated immunity, and it catalyzes sulfation of tyrosine residues of Omp1X and RaxX in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, a causal agent of bacterial blight in rice. Although RaxST is biochemically well-characterized, biological functions of tyrosine sulfation have not been fully elucidated. We compared protein expression patterns between the wildtype and a raxST knockout mutant using shotgun proteomic analysis. Forty nine proteins displayed a more than 1.5-fold difference in their expression between the wildtype and the mutant strains. Clusters of orthologous groups analysis revealed that proteins involved in cell motility were most abundant, and phenotypic observation also showed that the twitching motility of the mutant was dramatically changed. These results indicate that tyrosine sulfation by RaxST is essential for Xoo movement, and they provide new insights into the biological roles of RaxST in cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Jee Park
- Department of Integrative Plant Science, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546,
Korea
| | - Chang-Jin Park
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Plant Engineering Research Institute, Sejong University, Seoul 05006,
Korea
| | - Nahee Bae
- Department of Integrative Plant Science, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546,
Korea
| | - Sang-Wook Han
- Department of Integrative Plant Science, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546,
Korea
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Abstract
Bacteria form surface-attached communities, known as biofilms, which are central to bacterial biology and how they affect us. Although surface-attached bacteria often experience strong chemical gradients, it remains unclear whether single cells can effectively perform chemotaxis on surfaces. Here we use microfluidic chemical gradients and massively parallel automated tracking to study the behavior of the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa during early biofilm development. We show that individual cells can efficiently move toward chemoattractants using pili-based "twitching" motility and the Chp chemosensory system. Moreover, we discovered the behavioral mechanism underlying this surface chemotaxis: Cells reverse direction more frequently when moving away from chemoattractant sources. These corrective maneuvers are triggered rapidly, typically before a wayward cell has ventured a fraction of a micron. Our work shows that single bacteria can direct their motion with submicron precision and reveals the hidden potential for chemotaxis within bacterial biofilms.
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Jansari VH, Potharla VY, Riddell GT, Bardy SL. Twitching motility and cAMP levels: signal transduction through a single methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2016; 363:fnw119. [PMID: 27190147 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnw119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Chp chemosensory system regulates twitching motility, intracellular adenosine 3('') 5(')-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels and is postulated to be involved in directional twitching towards phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Because PilJ is the only methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein (MCP) identified in the Chp system, we determined the role of PilJ in mediating signal transduction for the distinct outputs of this system. Mutants that lack the periplasmic domain of PilJ (pilJΔ74-273) showed lower levels of cAMP but retained directional twitching towards PE. While initial studies revealed reduced twitching motility by PilJΔ74-273, this was due to decreased cAMP levels. Our data illustrate the importance of the periplasmic domain of PilJ in regulating cAMP. This is the first time a defined domain within PilJ has been identified as having a distinct role in signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vibhuti H Jansari
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Vishwakanth Y Potharla
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Geoff T Riddell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Sonia L Bardy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
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Metabolism and Pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections in the Lungs of Individuals with Cystic Fibrosis. Microbiol Spectr 2016; 3. [PMID: 26350318 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.mbp-0003-2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with the genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF) accumulate mucus or sputum in their lungs. This sputum is a potent growth substrate for a range of potential pathogens, and the opportunistic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is generally most difficult of these to eradicate. As a result, P. aeruginosa infections are frequently maintained in the CF lung throughout life, and are the leading cause of death for these individuals. While great effort has been expended to better understand and treat these devastating infections, only recently have researchers begun to rigorously examine the roles played by specific nutrients in CF sputum to cue P. aeruginosa pathogenicity. This chapter summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding how P. aeruginosa metabolism in CF sputum affects initiation and maintenance of these infections. It contains an overview of CF lung disease and the mechanisms of P. aeruginosa pathogenicity. Several model systems used to study these infections are described with emphasis on the challenge of replicating the chronic infections observed in humans with CF. Nutrients present in CF sputum are surveyed, and the impacts of these nutrients on the infection are discussed. The chapter concludes by addressing the future of this line of research including the use of next-generation technologies and the potential for metabolism-based therapeutics.
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31
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Leighton TL, Buensuceso RNC, Howell PL, Burrows LL. Biogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa type IV pili and regulation of their function. Environ Microbiol 2015; 17:4148-63. [PMID: 25808785 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Type IV pili (T4P) are bacterial virulence factors involved in a wide variety of functions including deoxyribonucleic acid uptake, surface attachment, biofilm formation and twitching motility. While T4P are common surface appendages, the systems that assemble them and the regulation of their function differ between species. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Neisseria spp. and Myxococcus xanthus are common model systems used to study T4P biology. This review focuses on recent advances in P. aeruginosa T4P structural biology, and the regulatory pathways controlling T4P biogenesis and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany L Leighton
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ryan N C Buensuceso
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - P Lynne Howell
- Program in Molecular Structure & Function, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lori L Burrows
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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32
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Identification and characterization of a vitamin D₃ decomposition product bactericidal against Helicobacter pylori. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8860. [PMID: 25749128 PMCID: PMC4352922 DOI: 10.1038/srep08860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study demonstrated that the vitamin D3 decomposition product VDP1 exerts an antibacterial action against Helicobacter pylori but not against other bacteria. Treatment with VDP1 induced a collapse of cell membrane structures of H. pylori and ultimately lysed the bacterial cells. A unique dimyristoyl phosphatidylethanolamine in the membrane lipid compositions contributed to the interaction of VDP1 with H. pylori cells. In separate experiments, VDP1 had no influence on the viability of the human cancer cell lines MKN45 and T47D and lacked any vitamin D3-like hormonal action against the latter. In both 1H and 13C NMR analyses, the spectra patterns of VDP1 corresponded with those of Grundmann's ketone. These results suggest that VDP1 (or Grundmann's ketone-type indene compound) may become a fundamental structure for the development of new antibacterial substances with selective bactericidal action against H. pylori.
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Abstract
Pseudomonads sense changes in the concentration of chemicals in their environment and exhibit a behavioral response mediated by flagella or pili coupled with a chemosensory system. The two known chemotaxis pathways, a flagella-mediated pathway and a putative pili-mediated system, are described in this review. Pseudomonas shows chemotaxis response toward a wide range of chemicals, and this review includes a summary of them organized by chemical structure. The assays used to measure positive and negative chemotaxis swimming and twitching Pseudomonas as well as improvements to those assays and new assays are also described. This review demonstrates that there is ample research and intellectual space for future investigators to elucidate the role of chemotaxis in important processes such as pathogenesis, bioremediation, and the bioprotection of plants and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca E Parales
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Tino Krell
- Department of Environmental Protection, CSIC, Estacion Experimental del Zaidin, Granada, Spain
| | - Jane E Hill
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
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Amgalanbaatar A, Shimomura H, Hosoda K, Hayashi S, Yokota K, Hirai Y. Antibacterial activity of a novel synthetic progesterone species carrying a linoleic acid molecule against Helicobacter pylori and the hormonal effect of its steroid on a murine macrophage-like cell line. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 140:17-25. [PMID: 24189541 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Revised: 09/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori, a pathogen responsible for gastric and duodenal diseases, absorbs various steroid compounds into the cell membrane even though some are toxic to this bacterium. An earlier study by our group has demonstrated that progesterone is bactericidal to H. pylori. In this study, we newly synthesized a steroid compound, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone linoleic acid ester (17hPL), to examine antibacterial activity against H. pylori. As expected, 17hPL acted as a bactericidal agent to H. pylori and had no effect on the survival of other common bacterial species. This steroidal substance interacted with phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) on the outer membrane of H. pylori to induce the release of PE from the bacterial cell membrane and to ultimately lyse the bacterial cells. One of the hormonal effects of progesterone is the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production from mouse macrophages activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We therefore examined the inhibition effect of 17hPL on the NO production of RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage-like cell line, stimulated with LPS and demonstrated that 17hPL is relatively weaker in its capability to inhibit NO production in LPS-activated cells than progesterone. These results suggest the possibility that 17hPL could be an oral medicine for selectively treating patients infected with H. pylori.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avarzed Amgalanbaatar
- Division of Bacteriology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Shimomura
- Division of Bacteriology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
| | - Kouichi Hosoda
- Division of Bacteriology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Shunji Hayashi
- Division of Bacteriology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Kenji Yokota
- Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacology, Okayama University, 1-1-1, Tsushimanaka, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Hirai
- Division of Bacteriology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
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35
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgR phosphorylation modulates rhamnolipid production and motility. J Bacteriol 2013; 195:5499-515. [PMID: 24097945 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00726-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
AlgR is a key Pseudomonas aeruginosa transcriptional response regulator required for virulence. AlgR activates alginate production and twitching motility but represses the Rhl quorum-sensing (QS) system, including rhamnolipid production. The role of AlgR phosphorylation is enigmatic, since phosphorylated AlgR (AlgR-P) is required for twitching motility through the fimU promoter but is not required for the activation of alginate production. In order to examine the role of AlgR phosphorylation in vivo, a PAO1 algRD54E strain (with algR encoding a D-to-E change at position 54), which constitutively activates fimU transcription and exhibits twitching motility, was created. A corresponding PAO1 algRD54N strain (with algR encoding a D-to-N change at position 54) that does not activate fimU or twitching motility was compared to PAO1, PAO1 algRD54E, PAO1 ΔalgZ (deletion of the algZ [fimS] gene, encoding a putative histidine kinase), and PAO1 ΔalgR for swarming motility, rhamnolipid production, and rhlA transcription. PAO1 and PAO1 algRD54E produced approximately 2-fold-higher levels of rhamnolipids than PAO1 algRD54N and PAO1 ΔalgZ, thereby indicating that phosphorylated AlgR is required for normal rhamnolipid production. Examination of purified AlgR, AlgR-P, AlgR D54N, and AlgR D54E showed that AlgR-P and AlgR D54E bound preferentially to the fimU and rhlA promoters. Additionally, AlgR-P bound specifically to two sites within the rhlA promoter that were not bound by unphosphorylated AlgR. Taken together, these results indicate that phosphorylated AlgR-P has increased affinity for the rhlA promoter and is required for the coordinate activation of twitching motility, rhamnolipid production, and swarming motility in P. aeruginosa.
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Bitrian M, González RH, Paris G, Hellingwerf KJ, Nudel CB. Blue-light-dependent inhibition of twitching motility in Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1: additive involvement of three BLUF-domain-containing proteins. Microbiology (Reading) 2013; 159:1828-1841. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.069153-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Bitrian
- Cátedra de Microbiología Industrial y Biotecnología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rodrigo H. González
- Cátedra de Microbiología Industrial y Biotecnología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gaston Paris
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, IIBBA-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Klaas J. Hellingwerf
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Clara B. Nudel
- Cátedra de Microbiología Industrial y Biotecnología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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37
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García-Fontana C, Reyes-Darias JA, Muñoz-Martínez F, Alfonso C, Morel B, Ramos JL, Krell T. High specificity in CheR methyltransferase function: CheR2 of Pseudomonas putida is essential for chemotaxis, whereas CheR1 is involved in biofilm formation. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:18987-99. [PMID: 23677992 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.472605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory pathways are a major signal transduction mechanism in bacteria. CheR methyltransferases catalyze the methylation of the cytosolic signaling domain of chemoreceptors and are among the core proteins of chemosensory cascades. These enzymes have primarily been studied Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, which possess a single CheR involved in chemotaxis. Many other bacteria possess multiple cheR genes. Because the sequences of chemoreceptor signaling domains are highly conserved, it remains to be established with what degree of specificity CheR paralogues exert their activity. We report here a comparative analysis of the three CheR paralogues of Pseudomonas putida. Isothermal titration calorimetry studies show that these paralogues bind the product of the methylation reaction, S-adenosylhomocysteine, with much higher affinity (KD of 0.14-2.2 μM) than the substrate S-adenosylmethionine (KD of 22-43 μM), which indicates product feedback inhibition. Product binding was particularly tight for CheR2. Analytical ultracentrifugation experiments demonstrate that CheR2 is monomeric in the absence and presence of S-adenosylmethionine or S-adenosylhomocysteine. Methylation assays show that CheR2, but not the other paralogues, methylates the McpS and McpT chemotaxis receptors. The mutant in CheR2 was deficient in chemotaxis, whereas mutation of CheR1 and CheR3 had either no or little effect on chemotaxis. In contrast, biofilm formation of the CheR1 mutant was largely impaired but not affected in the other mutants. We conclude that CheR2 forms part of a chemotaxis pathway, and CheR1 forms part of a chemosensory route that controls biofilm formation. Data suggest that CheR methyltransferases act with high specificity on their cognate chemoreceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina García-Fontana
- Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/ Prof. Albareda, 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
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Kagawa R, Hirano Y, Taiji M, Yasuoka K, Yasui M. Dynamic interactions of cations, water and lipids and influence on membrane fluidity. J Memb Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2013.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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39
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Shimomura H, Hosoda K, Hirai Y. Interaction of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Cell Membrane with Non-Esterified Cholesterol and Other Steroids. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.4236/ojmm.2013.31011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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40
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori L. Burrows
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada;
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Phosphatidylethanolamine of Helicobacter pylori functions as a steroid-binding lipid in the assimilation of free cholesterol and 3β-hydroxl steroids into the bacterial cell membrane. J Bacteriol 2012; 194:2658-67. [PMID: 22408164 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00105-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the unique features of Helicobacter pylori is its ability to assimilate free-cholesterol (FC) into its membranes. Via FC assimilation, H. pylori strengthens the membrane lipid barrier and/or evades the host immune system. No previous studies, however, have investigated the FC uptake mechanisms of the H. pylori cell. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is the most prevalent lipid component of bacteria, including H. pylori, but the function of PE remains unclear. We were therefore interested in H. pylori PE (HpPE) and investigated the interaction of its PE with cholesterols. The PE isolated from H. pylori underwent a unique molecular interaction with FC, cholesterol ester (CE), and 2,6-di-O-methyl-β-cyclodextrin (dMβCD), a sterol solubilizer. HpPE interacted not only with the FC molecule, but also with the FC-dMβCD inclusion complex. In contrast, Escherichia coli PE (EcPE), prepared as a reference PE, seemed to bind only FC, and only via a hydrophobic interaction, without binding dMβCD. HpPE was clearly more potent than EcPE in binding FC. Intriguingly, HpPE had a negligible affinity for CE, while EcPE had a high affinity for CE, comparable to its affinity for FC. Further, HpPE interacted with 3β-OH steroids, pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone, in the absence of dMβCD. Gas chromatogram-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses revealed that the fatty acid compositions of HpPE were quite distinct from those of EcPE, and the C(14:0) fatty acid in the HpPE molecule was found to be significant in binding FC selectively. These results indicate that PE is a key candidate of nonesterified steroid-binding lipids in H. pylori.
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42
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Borges A, Saavedra MJ, Simões M. The activity of ferulic and gallic acids in biofilm prevention and control of pathogenic bacteria. BIOFOULING 2012; 28:755-67. [PMID: 22823343 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2012.706751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The activity of two phenolic acids, gallic acid (GA) and ferulic acid (FA) at 1000 μg ml(-1), was evaluated on the prevention and control of biofilms formed by Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. In addition, the effect of the two phenolic acids was tested on planktonic cell susceptibility, bacterial motility and adhesion. Biofilm prevention and control were tested using a microtiter plate assay and the effect of the phenolic acids was assessed on biofilm mass (crystal violet staining) and on the quantification of metabolic activity (alamar blue assay). The minimum bactericidal concentration for P. aeruginosa was 500 μg ml(-1) (for both phenolic acids), whilst for E. coli it was 2500 μg ml(-1) (FA) and 5000 μg ml(-1) (GA), for L. monocytogenes it was >5000 μg ml(-1) (for both phenolic acids), and for S. aureus it was 5000 μg ml(-1) (FA) and >5000 μg ml(-1) (GA). GA caused total inhibition of swimming (L. monocytogenes) and swarming (L. monocytogenes and E. coli) motilities. FA caused total inhibition of swimming (L. monocytogenes) and swarming (L. monocytogenes and E. coli) motilities. Colony spreading of S. aureus was completely inhibited by FA. The interference of GA and FA with bacterial adhesion was evaluated by the determination of the free energy of adhesion. Adhesion was less favorable when the bacteria were exposed to GA (P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and L. monocytogenes) and FA (P. aeruginosa and S. aureus). Both phenolics had preventive action on biofilm formation and showed a higher potential to reduce the mass of biofilms formed by the Gram-negative bacteria. GA and FA promoted reductions in biofilm activity >70% for all the biofilms tested. The two phenolic acids demonstrated the potential to inhibit bacterial motility and to prevent and control biofilms of four important human pathogenic bacteria. This study also emphasizes the potential of phytochemicals as an emergent source of biofilm control products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabela Borges
- LEPAE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
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Shelswell KJ, Beatty JT. Coordinated, long-range, solid substrate movement of the purple photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19646. [PMID: 21573194 PMCID: PMC3087807 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2010] [Accepted: 04/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The long-range movement of Rhodobacter capsulatus cells in the glass-agar interstitial region of borosilicate Petri plates was found to be due to a subset of the cells inoculated into plates. The macroscopic appearance of plates indicated that a small group of cells moved in a coordinated manner to form a visible satellite cluster of cells. Satellite clusters were initially separated from the point of inoculation by the absence of visible cell density, but after 20 to 24 hours this space was colonized by cells apparently shed from a group of cells moving away from the point of inoculation. Cell movements consisted of flagellum-independent and flagellum-dependent motility contributions. Flagellum-independent movement occurred at an early stage, such that satellite clusters formed after 12 to 24 hours. Subsequently, after 24 to 32 hours, a flagellum-dependent dispersal of cells became visible, extending laterally outward from a line of flagellum-independent motility. These modes of taxis were found in several environmental isolates and in a variety of mutants, including a strain deficient in the production of the R. capsulatus acyl-homoserine lactone quorum-sensing signal. Although there was great variability in the direction of movement in illuminated plates, cells were predisposed to move toward broad spectrum white light. This predisposition was increased by the use of square plates, and a statistical analysis indicated that R. capsulatus is capable of genuine phototaxis. Therefore, the variability in the direction of cell movement was attributed to optical effects on light waves passing through the plate material and agar medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristopher John Shelswell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - J. Thomas Beatty
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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44
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Watts KJ, Taylor BL, Johnson MS. PAS/poly-HAMP signalling in Aer-2, a soluble haem-based sensor. Mol Microbiol 2010; 79:686-99. [PMID: 21255112 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07477.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Poly-HAMP domains are widespread in bacterial chemoreceptors, but previous studies have focused on receptors with single HAMP domains. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa chemoreceptor, Aer-2, has an unusual domain architecture consisting of a PAS-sensing domain sandwiched between three N-terminal and two C-terminal HAMP domains, followed by a conserved kinase control module. The structure of the N-terminal HAMP domains was recently solved, making Aer-2 the first protein with resolved poly-HAMP structure. The role of Aer-2 in P. aeruginosa is unclear, but here we show that Aer-2 can interact with the chemotaxis system of Escherichia coli to mediate repellent responses to oxygen, carbon monoxide and nitric oxide. Using this model system to investigate signalling and poly-HAMP function, we determined that the Aer-2 PAS domain binds penta-co-ordinated b-type haem and that reversible signalling requires four of the five HAMP domains. Deleting HAMP 2 and/or 3 resulted in a kinase-off phenotype, whereas deleting HAMP 4 and/or 5 resulted in a kinase-on phenotype. Overall, these data support a model in which ligand-bound Aer-2 PAS and HAMP 2 and 3 act together to relieve inhibition of the kinase control module by HAMP 4 and 5, resulting in the kinase-on state of the Aer-2 receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie J Watts
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
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Ciobanasu C, Siebrasse JP, Kubitscheck U. Cell-penetrating HIV1 TAT peptides can generate pores in model membranes. Biophys J 2010; 99:153-62. [PMID: 20655843 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2010.03.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2009] [Revised: 03/18/2010] [Accepted: 03/29/2010] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides like the cationic human immunodeficiency virus-1 trans-acting activator of transcription (TAT) peptide have the capability to traverse cell membranes and to deliver large molecular cargoes into the cellular interior. We used optical sectioning and state-of-the-art single-molecule microscopy to examine the passive membrane permeation of fluorescently labeled TAT peptides across the membranes of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). In GUVs formed by phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol only, no translocation of TAT up to a concentration of 2 microM into the GUVs could be observed. At the same peptide concentration, but with 40 mol % of anionic phosphatidylserine in the membrane, rapid translocation of TAT peptides across the bilayers was detected. Efficient translocation of TAT peptides was observed across GUVs containing 20 mol % of phosphatidylethanolamine, which is known to induce a negative curvature into membranes. We discovered that TAT peptides are not only capable of penetrating membranes directly in a passive manner, but they were also able to form physical pores with sizes in the nanometer range, which could be passed by small dye tracer molecules. Lipid topology and anionic charge of the lipid bilayer are decisive parameters for pore formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corina Ciobanasu
- Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Fulcher NB, Holliday PM, Klem E, Cann MJ, Wolfgang MC. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Chp chemosensory system regulates intracellular cAMP levels by modulating adenylate cyclase activity. Mol Microbiol 2010; 76:889-904. [PMID: 20345659 PMCID: PMC2906755 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07135.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Multiple virulence systems in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa are regulated by the second messenger signalling molecule adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). Production of cAMP by the putative adenylate cyclase enzyme CyaB represents a critical control point for virulence gene regulation. To identify regulators of CyaB, we screened a transposon insertion library for mutants with reduced intracellular cAMP. The majority of insertions resulting in reduced cAMP mapped to the Chp gene cluster encoding a putative chemotaxis-like chemosensory system. Further genetic analysis of the Chp system revealed that it has both positive and negative effects on intracellular cAMP and that it regulates cAMP levels by modulating CyaB activity. The Chp system was previously implicated in the production and function of type IV pili (TFP). Given that cAMP and the cAMP-dependent transcriptional regulator Vfr control TFP biogenesis gene expression, we explored the relationship between cAMP, the Chp system and TFP regulation. We discovered that the Chp system controls TFP production through modulation of cAMP while control of TFP-dependent twitching motility is cAMP-independent. Overall, our data define a novel function for a chemotaxis-like system in controlling cAMP production and establish a regulatory link between the Chp system, TFP and other cAMP-dependent virulence systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanette B. Fulcher
- Cystic Fibrosis/Pulmonary Research and Treatment Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Phillip M. Holliday
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Erich Klem
- Cystic Fibrosis/Pulmonary Research and Treatment Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Martin J. Cann
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew C. Wolfgang
- Cystic Fibrosis/Pulmonary Research and Treatment Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
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Garvis S, Munder A, Ball G, de Bentzmann S, Wiehlmann L, Ewbank JJ, Tümmler B, Filloux A. Caenorhabditis elegans semi-automated liquid screen reveals a specialized role for the chemotaxis gene cheB2 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence. PLoS Pathog 2009; 5:e1000540. [PMID: 19662168 PMCID: PMC2714965 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2006] [Accepted: 07/14/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes infections in a variety of animal and plant hosts. Caenorhabditis elegans is a simple model with which one can identify bacterial virulence genes. Previous studies with C. elegans have shown that depending on the growth medium, P. aeruginosa provokes different pathologies: slow or fast killing, lethal paralysis and red death. In this study, we developed a high-throughput semi-automated liquid-based assay such that an entire genome can readily be scanned for virulence genes in a short time period. We screened a 2,200-member STM mutant library generated in a cystic fibrosis airway P. aeruginosa isolate, TBCF10839. Twelve mutants were isolated each showing at least 70% attenuation in C. elegans killing. The selected mutants had insertions in regulatory genes, such as a histidine kinase sensor of two-component systems and a member of the AraC family, or in genes involved in adherence or chemotaxis. One mutant had an insertion in a cheB gene homologue, encoding a methylesterase involved in chemotaxis (CheB2). The cheB2 mutant was tested in a murine lung infection model and found to have a highly attenuated virulence. The cheB2 gene is part of the chemotactic gene cluster II, which was shown to be required for an optimal mobility in vitro. In P. aeruginosa, the main player in chemotaxis and mobility is the chemotactic gene cluster I, including cheB1. We show that, in contrast to the cheB2 mutant, a cheB1 mutant is not attenuated for virulence in C. elegans whereas in vitro motility and chemotaxis are severely impaired. We conclude that the virulence defect of the cheB2 mutant is not linked with a global motility defect but that instead the cheB2 gene is involved in a specific chemotactic response, which takes place during infection and is required for P. aeruginosa pathogenicity. The increase in hospital acquired and multi-drug resistant bacterial infections calls for an urgent development of new antimicrobials. As such, the identification and characterization of novel molecular targets involved in bacterial virulence has become a common goal for researchers. The use of non-mammalian hosts, such as the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, is useful to accelerate this process. In our study, we developed a high-throughput screening method, which further facilitates the use of C. elegans, and allows the rapid screening of a large collection of bacterial mutants at the genomic scale. We have used Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a potent opportunistic pathogen, to perform this study. The screening of more than 2,000 mutant strains allowed the characterization of a mutant affected in the cheB2 gene. Importantly, this mutant was shown to be impaired in a mouse model of infection, supporting that our new screen is a good model to identify virulence genes relevant for infection in mammals. The cheB2 gene encodes a component of a chemotaxis pathway, which is likely involved in the perception of stimuli during the infection process, and allows an appropriate adaptive response for a successful infection. Our method could be applied to other bacterial pathogens and will help researchers discover candidate genes leading to the design of novel antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Garvis
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, UPR9027, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, IMM, Marseille, France
| | - Antje Munder
- Klinische Forschergruppe, Center of Biochemistry and Pediatrics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Geneviève Ball
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, UPR9027, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, IMM, Marseille, France
| | - Sophie de Bentzmann
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, UPR9027, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, IMM, Marseille, France
| | - Lutz Wiehlmann
- Klinische Forschergruppe, Center of Biochemistry and Pediatrics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jonathan J. Ewbank
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Université de la Méditerranée, Case 906, Marseille, France
- INSERM, U631, Marseille, France
- CNRS, UMR6102, Marseille, France
| | - Burkhard Tümmler
- Klinische Forschergruppe, Center of Biochemistry and Pediatrics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alain Filloux
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, UPR9027, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, IMM, Marseille, France
- Imperial College London, Centre for Molecular Microbiology and Infection, Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, South Kensington Campus, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Twitching motility is a form of bacterial translocation over solid or semi-solid surfaces mediated by the extension, tethering, and subsequent retraction of type IV pili. These pili are also known to be involved in virulence, biofilm formation, formation of fruiting bodies, horizontal gene transfer, and protein secretion. We have characterized the presence of twitching motility on agar plates in Legionella pneumophila, the etiological agent of Legionnaires' disease. By examining twitching motility zones, we have demonstrated that twitching motility was dependent on agar thickness/concentration, the chemical composition of the media, the presence of charcoal and cysteine, proximity to other bacteria, and temperature. A knockout mutant of the pilus subunit, pilE, exhibited a total loss of twitching motility at 37 degrees C, but not at 27 degrees C, suggesting either the existence of a compensating pilus subunit or of another twitching motility system in this organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Coil
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Pattern formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Curr Opin Microbiol 2008; 11:560-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2008.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2008] [Revised: 09/22/2008] [Accepted: 09/22/2008] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa twitching motility-mediated chemotaxis towards phospholipids and fatty acids: specificity and metabolic requirements. J Bacteriol 2008; 190:4038-49. [PMID: 18390654 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00129-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa demonstrates type IV pilus-mediated directional twitching motility up a gradient of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Only one of four extracellular phospholipases C of P. aeruginosa (i.e., PlcB), while not required for twitching motility per se, is required for twitching-mediated migration up a gradient of PE or phosphatidylcholine. Whether other lipid metabolism genes are associated with this behavior was assessed by analysis of transcription during twitching up a PE gradient in comparison to transcription during twitching in the absence of any externally applied phospholipid. Data support the hypothesis that PE is further degraded and that the long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) moieties of PE are completely metabolized via beta-oxidation and the glyoxylate shunt. It was discovered that P. aeruginosa exhibits twitching-mediated chemotaxis toward unsaturated LCFAs (e.g., oleic acid), but not saturated LCFAs (e.g., stearic acid) of corresponding lengths. Analysis of mutants that are deficient in glyoxylate shunt enzymes, specifically isocitrate lyase (DeltaaceA) and malate synthase (DeltaaceB), suggested that the complete metabolism of LCFAs through this pathway was required for the migration of P. aeruginosa up a gradient of PE or unsaturated LCFAs. At this point, our data suggested that this process should be classified as energy taxis. However, further evaluation of the ability of the DeltaaceA and DeltaaceB mutants to migrate up a gradient of PE or unsaturated LCFAs in the presence of an alternative energy source clearly indicated that metabolism of LCFAs for energy is not required for chemotaxis toward these compounds.
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