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Houston S, Gomez A, Geppert A, Goodyear MC, Cameron CE. In-Depth Proteome Coverage of In Vitro-Cultured Treponema pallidum and Quantitative Comparison Analyses with In Vivo-Grown Treponemes. J Proteome Res 2024; 23:1725-1743. [PMID: 38636938 PMCID: PMC11077495 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Previous mass spectrometry (MS)-based global proteomics studies have detected a combined total of 86% of all Treponema pallidum proteins under infection conditions (in vivo-grown T. pallidum). Recently, a method was developed for the long-term culture of T. pallidum under in vitro conditions (in vitro-cultured T. pallidum). Herein, we used our previously reported optimized MS-based proteomics approach to characterize the T. pallidum global protein expression profile under in vitro culture conditions. These analyses provided a proteome coverage of 94%, which extends the combined T. pallidum proteome coverage from the previously reported 86% to a new combined total of 95%. This study provides a more complete understanding of the protein repertoire of T. pallidum. Further, comparison of the in vitro-expressed proteome with the previously determined in vivo-expressed proteome identifies only a few proteomic changes between the two growth conditions, reinforcing the suitability of in vitro-cultured T. pallidum as an alternative to rabbit-based treponemal growth. The MS proteomics data have been deposited in the MassIVE repository with the data set identifier MSV000093603 (ProteomeXchange identifier PXD047625).
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Houston
- Department
of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University
of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Alloysius Gomez
- Department
of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University
of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Andrew Geppert
- Department
of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University
of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Mara C. Goodyear
- Department
of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University
of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Caroline E. Cameron
- Department
of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University
of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
- Department
of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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2
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Medappa M, Pospíšilová P, Madruga MPM, John LN, Beiras CG, Grillová L, Oppelt J, Banerjee A, Vall-Mayans M, Mitjà O, Šmajs D. Low genetic diversity of Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue (TPE) isolated from patients' ulcers in Namatanai District of Papua New Guinea: Local human population is infected by three TPE genotypes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011831. [PMID: 38166151 PMCID: PMC10786373 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011831] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Yaws is an endemic disease caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue (TPE) that primarily affects children in rural regions of the tropics. The endemic character of yaws infections and the expected exclusive reservoir of TPE in humans opened a new opportunity to start a yaws eradication campaign. We have developed a multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for TPE isolates combining the previously published (TP0548, TP0488) and new (TP0858) chromosomal loci, and we compared this typing scheme to the two previously published MLST schemes. We applied this scheme to TPE-containing clinical isolates obtained during a mass drug administration study performed in the Namatanai District of Papua New Guinea between June 2018 and December 2019. Of 1081 samples collected, 302 (28.5%) tested positive for TPE DNA, from which 255 (84.4%) were fully typed. The TPE PCR-positivity in swab samples was higher in younger patients, patients with single ulcers, first ulcer episodes, and with ulcer duration less than six months. Non-treponemal serological test positivity correlated better with PCR positivity compared to treponema-specific serological tests. The MLST revealed a low level of genetic diversity among infecting TPE isolates, represented by just three distinct genotypes (JE11, SE22, and TE13). Two previously used typing schemes revealed similar typing resolutions. Two new alleles (one in TP0858 and one in TP0136) were shown to arise by intragenomic recombination/deletion events. Compared to samples genotyped as JE11, the minor genotypes (TE13 and SE22) were more frequently detected in samples from patients with two or more ulcers and patients with higher values of specific TP serological tests. Moreover, the A2058G mutation in the 23S rRNA genes of three JE11 isolates was found, resulting in azithromycin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Medappa
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Pospíšilová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Lucy N. John
- National Department of Health, Aopi Centre, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Linda Grillová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Oppelt
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Arka Banerjee
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Marti Vall-Mayans
- Skin NTDs and STI section, Fight Infectious Diseases Foundation, University Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Oriol Mitjà
- Skin NTDs and STI section, Fight Infectious Diseases Foundation, University Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
- Lihir Medical Centre, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
| | - David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Houston S, Gomez A, Geppert A, Eshghi A, Smith DS, Waugh S, Hardie DB, Goodlett DR, Cameron CE. Deep proteome coverage advances knowledge of Treponema pallidum protein expression profiles during infection. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18259. [PMID: 37880309 PMCID: PMC10600179 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45219-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Comprehensive proteome-wide analysis of the syphilis spirochete, Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum, is technically challenging due to high sample complexity, difficulties with obtaining sufficient quantities of bacteria for analysis, and the inherent fragility of the T. pallidum cell envelope which further complicates proteomic identification of rare T. pallidum outer membrane proteins (OMPs). The main aim of the present study was to gain a deeper understanding of the T. pallidum global proteome expression profile under infection conditions. This will corroborate and extend genome annotations, identify protein modifications that are unable to be predicted at the genomic or transcriptomic levels, and provide a foundational knowledge of the T. pallidum protein expression repertoire. Here we describe the optimization of a T. pallidum-specific sample preparation workflow and mass spectrometry-based proteomics pipeline which allowed for the detection of 77% of the T. pallidum protein repertoire under infection conditions. When combined with prior studies, this brings the overall coverage of the T. pallidum proteome to almost 90%. These investigations identified 27 known/predicted OMPs, including potential vaccine candidates, and detected expression of 11 potential OMPs under infection conditions for the first time. The optimized pipeline provides a robust and reproducible workflow for investigating T. pallidum protein expression during infection. Importantly, the combined results provide the deepest coverage of the T. pallidum proteome to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Houston
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Alloysius Gomez
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Andrew Geppert
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Azad Eshghi
- University of Victoria-Genome BC Proteomics Centre, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Derek S Smith
- University of Victoria-Genome BC Proteomics Centre, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Sean Waugh
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Darryl B Hardie
- University of Victoria-Genome BC Proteomics Centre, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - David R Goodlett
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- University of Victoria-Genome BC Proteomics Centre, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Caroline E Cameron
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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4
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Cai CX, Li SL, Lin HL, Wei ZH, Xie L, Lin LR, Niu JJ, Yang TC. Treponema pallidum protein Tp0136 promoting MMPs/TIMPs imbalance via PI3K, MAPK and NF-κB signalling pathways in HDVSMCs. Heliyon 2022; 8:e12065. [PMID: 36561703 PMCID: PMC9763734 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The invasive capability of Treponema. pallidum is central to its infection process. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are specifically inhibited by the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), play a pivotal role in promoting pathogenic invasion by destroying tissue barriers within the body. This study aimed to explore the effect of T. pallidum protein Tp0136 on the balance of MMPs/TIMPs in human dermal vascular smooth muscle cells (HDVSMCs) and the related underlying mechanisms. A number of in vitro studies were conducted to access the impact of recombinant Tp0136 protein on the balance of MMPs/TIMPs in HDVSMCs. The involvement of the PI3K, MAPK, and NF-κB signaling pathways in this process was also investigated. Tp0136 induced the mRNA and protein expressions of MMP1 in HDVSMCs in a concentration-dependent way. In addition, MMP1/TIMP1 and MMP1/TIMP2 ratios were also increased. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that treatment of HDVSMCs with Tp0136 activated the PI3K, MAPK, and NF-κB signaling pathways. Inhibition of PI3K, JNK, P38, and NF-κB, suppressed MMP1 expression and reduced the induction of MMP1/TIMP1 and MMP1/TIMP2 ratios by Tp0136. These findings demonstrate that Tp0136 enhanced the expression of MMP1 involving the PI3K, MAPK, and NF-κB signaling pathways in HDVSMCs, and thus generated the unbalance of MMPs/TIMP, which could contribute to the early spread of T. pallidum and pathogenesis of syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Xiang Cai
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China,Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China,Xiamen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiamen, China
| | - Shu-Lian Li
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Xiamen Huli District Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Xiamen, China
| | - Hui-Ling Lin
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Xiamen Huli District Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Xiamen, China
| | - Zi-Han Wei
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China,Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Lin Xie
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China,Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Li-Rong Lin
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China,Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China,Corresponding author.
| | - Jian-Jun Niu
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China,Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China,Corresponding author.
| | - Tian-Ci Yang
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China,Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China,Corresponding author.
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5
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Luo Y, Xie Y, Chen J, Zhou J, Zhao F, Liu S, Zeng T, Xu M, Xiao Y. Treponema pallidum FlaA2 inducing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines is mediated via TLR2 in keratinocytes. Microb Pathog 2022; 173:105879. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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6
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Lieberman NAP, Armstrong TD, Chung B, Pfalmer D, Hennelly CM, Haynes A, Romeis E, Wang QQ, Zhang RL, Kou CX, Ciccarese G, Conte ID, Cusini M, Drago F, Nakayama SI, Lee K, Ohnishi M, Konda KA, Vargas SK, Eguiluz M, Caceres CF, Klausner JD, Mitja O, Rompalo A, Mulcahy F, Hook EW, Hoffman IF, Matoga MM, Zheng H, Yang B, Lopez-Medina E, Ramirez LG, Radolf JD, Hawley KL, Salazar JC, Lukehart SA, Seña AC, Parr JB, Giacani L, Greninger AL. High-throughput nanopore sequencing of Treponema pallidum tandem repeat genes arp and tp0470 reveals clade-specific patterns and recapitulates global whole genome phylogeny. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1007056. [PMID: 36204625 PMCID: PMC9531955 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1007056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Sequencing of most Treponema pallidum genomes excludes repeat regions in tp0470 and the tp0433 gene, encoding the acidic repeat protein (arp). As a first step to understanding the evolution and function of these genes and the proteins they encode, we developed a protocol to nanopore sequence tp0470 and arp genes from 212 clinical samples collected from ten countries on six continents. Both tp0470 and arp repeat structures recapitulate the whole genome phylogeny, with subclade-specific patterns emerging. The number of tp0470 repeats is on average appears to be higher in Nichols-like clade strains than in SS14-like clade strains. Consistent with previous studies, we found that 14-repeat arp sequences predominate across both major clades, but the combination and order of repeat type varies among subclades, with many arp sequence variants limited to a single subclade. Although strains that were closely related by whole genome sequencing frequently had the same arp repeat length, this was not always the case. Structural modeling of TP0470 suggested that the eight residue repeats form an extended α-helix, predicted to be periplasmic. Modeling of the ARP revealed a C-terminal sporulation-related repeat (SPOR) domain, predicted to bind denuded peptidoglycan, with repeat regions possibly incorporated into a highly charged β-sheet. Outside of the repeats, all TP0470 and ARP amino acid sequences were identical. Together, our data, along with functional considerations, suggests that both TP0470 and ARP proteins may be involved in T. pallidum cell envelope remodeling and homeostasis, with their highly plastic repeat regions playing as-yet-undetermined roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A. P. Lieberman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Thaddeus D. Armstrong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Benjamin Chung
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Daniel Pfalmer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Christopher M. Hennelly
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Austin Haynes
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Emily Romeis
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Qian-Qiu Wang
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- National Center for STD Control, China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China
| | - Rui-Li Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Cai-Xia Kou
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- National Center for STD Control, China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China
| | - Giulia Ciccarese
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, San Martino University Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ivano Dal Conte
- Sexual Health Center, Department of Prevention, ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Marco Cusini
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Drago
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, San Martino University Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - Shu-ichi Nakayama
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenichi Lee
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Ohnishi
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kelika A. Konda
- Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development, Laboratory of Sexual Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano-Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Silver K. Vargas
- Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development, Laboratory of Sexual Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano-Heredia, Lima, Peru
- School of Public Health and Administration “Carlos Vidal Layseca”, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Maria Eguiluz
- Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development, Laboratory of Sexual Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano-Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Carlos F. Caceres
- Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development, Laboratory of Sexual Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano-Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Jeffrey D. Klausner
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Oriol Mitja
- Fight Aids and Infectious Diseases Foundation, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain
- Lihir Medical Centre, International SOS, Londolovit, Papua New Guinea
| | - Anne Rompalo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Fiona Mulcahy
- Department of Genito Urinary Medicine and Infectious Diseases, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Edward W. Hook
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Irving F. Hoffman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- UNC Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Mitch M. Matoga
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- UNC Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Heping Zheng
- Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute for Global Health and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute for Global Health and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Guangzhou, China
| | - Eduardo Lopez-Medina
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Medicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
- Centro de Estudios en Infectología Pediátrica (CEIP), Cali, Colombia
| | - Lady G. Ramirez
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Medicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
- Universidad ICESI, Cali, Colombia
| | - Justin D. Radolf
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States
- Department of Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Kelly L. Hawley
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States
- Department of Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, CT, United States
| | - Juan C. Salazar
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States
- Department of Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, CT, United States
| | - Sheila A. Lukehart
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Arlene C. Seña
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Jonathan B. Parr
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Lorenzo Giacani
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Alexander L. Greninger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
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7
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Phan A, Romeis E, Tantalo L, Giacani L. In Vitro Transformation and Selection of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e507. [PMID: 35976045 PMCID: PMC9389596 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Although the isolation of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (T. pallidum) from a syphilis patient dates to 1912, for the duration of the 20th century, this pathogen has remained an exceedingly difficult organism to study due to the lack of a system to support its viability in vitro. This limitation, in turn, has precluded the application of genetic engineering techniques via transformation and subsequent selection of T. pallidum transformants. A recently described method for in vitro cultivation of T. pallidum, however, has made it possible for us to experiment with transformation and selection methods. Here we describe the approach that we adopted to successfully transform T. pallidum with foreign DNA and select the resulting recombinant strain using kanamycin. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Transformation of T. pallidum Support Protocol 1: Quantification of T. pallidum in suspensions using dark-field microscopy Support Protocol 2: Counting cells using a hemacytometer Basic Protocol 2: Selection, initial passaging, and expansion of transformed cultures Basic Protocol 3: Isolation of a clonal strain through limiting dilution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Phan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, 325 9 Ave., Seattle, WA, 98104, USA. Tel: (206)-897-5400 (AP, ER, LT), and (206)-897-5402 (LG)
| | - Emily Romeis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, 325 9 Ave., Seattle, WA, 98104, USA. Tel: (206)-897-5400 (AP, ER, LT), and (206)-897-5402 (LG)
| | - Lauren Tantalo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, 325 9 Ave., Seattle, WA, 98104, USA. Tel: (206)-897-5400 (AP, ER, LT), and (206)-897-5402 (LG)
| | - Lorenzo Giacani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, 325 9 Ave., Seattle, WA, 98104, USA. Tel: (206)-897-5400 (AP, ER, LT), and (206)-897-5402 (LG)
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, 325 9 Ave., Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
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8
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Kojima N, Konda KA, Klausner JD. Notes on syphilis vaccine development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:952284. [PMID: 35967432 PMCID: PMC9365935 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.952284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The quest for a syphilis vaccine to provide protection from infection or disease began not long after the isolation of the first Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (T. pallidum) strain in 1912. Yet, a practical and effective vaccine formulation continues to elude scientists. Over the last few years, however, efforts toward developing a syphilis vaccine have increased thanks to an improved understanding of the repertoire of T. pallidum outer membrane proteins (OMPs), which are the most likely syphilis vaccine candidates. More has been also learned about the molecular mechanisms behind pathogen persistence and immune evasion. Published vaccine formulations based on a subset of the pathogen's OMPs have conferred only partial protection upon challenge of immunized laboratory animals, primarily rabbits. Nonetheless, those experiments have improved our approach to the choice of immunization regimens, adjuvants, and vaccine target selection, although significant knowledge gaps remain. Herein, we provide a brief overview on current technologies and approaches employed in syphilis vaccinology, and possible future directions to develop a vaccine that could be pivotal to future syphilis control and elimination initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Kojima
- Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kelika A. Konda
- Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Centro de Investigación Interdisciplinaria en Sexualidad Sida y Sociedad, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Jeffrey D. Klausner
- Departments of Medicine and Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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9
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Houston S, Schovanek E, Conway KME, Mustafa S, Gomez A, Ramaswamy R, Haimour A, Boulanger MJ, Reynolds LA, Cameron CE. Identification and Functional Characterization of Peptides With Antimicrobial Activity From the Syphilis Spirochete, Treponema pallidum. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:888525. [PMID: 35722306 PMCID: PMC9200625 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.888525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The etiological agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum, is a highly invasive “stealth” pathogen that can evade the host immune response and persist within the host for decades. This obligate human pathogen is adept at establishing infection and surviving at sites within the host that have a multitude of competing microbes, sometimes including pathogens. One survival strategy employed by bacteria found at polymicrobial sites is elimination of competing microorganisms by production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Antimicrobial peptides are low molecular weight proteins (miniproteins) that function directly via inhibition and killing of microbes and/or indirectly via modulation of the host immune response, which can facilitate immune evasion. In the current study, we used bioinformatics to show that approximately 7% of the T. pallidum proteome is comprised of miniproteins of 150 amino acids or less with unknown functions. To investigate the possibility that AMP production is an unrecognized defense strategy used by T. pallidum during infection, we developed a bioinformatics pipeline to analyze the complement of T. pallidum miniproteins of unknown function for the identification of potential AMPs. This analysis identified 45 T. pallidum AMP candidates; of these, Tp0451a and Tp0749 were subjected to further bioinformatic analyses to identify AMP critical core regions (AMPCCRs). Four potential AMPCCRs from the two predicted AMPs were identified and peptides corresponding to these AMPCCRs were experimentally confirmed to exhibit bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity against a panel of biologically relevant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Immunomodulation assays performed under inflammatory conditions demonstrated that one of the AMPCCRs was also capable of differentially regulating expression of two pro-inflammatory chemokines [monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8)]. These findings demonstrate proof-of-concept for our developed AMP identification pipeline and are consistent with the novel concept that T. pallidum expresses AMPs to defend against competing microbes and modulate the host immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Houston
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Ethan Schovanek
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Kate M. E. Conway
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Sarah Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Alloysius Gomez
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Raghavendran Ramaswamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Ayman Haimour
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Martin J. Boulanger
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Lisa A. Reynolds
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Caroline E. Cameron
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- *Correspondence: Caroline E. Cameron,
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10
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Tong ML, Liu D, Liu LL, Lin LR, Zhang HL, Tian HM, Yang TC. Identification of Treponema pallidum-specific protein biomarkers in syphilis patient serum using mass spectrometry. Future Microbiol 2021; 16:1041-1051. [PMID: 34493087 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2021-0172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To screen novel biomarkers in serum of syphilis patients using a mass spectrometry-based method. Materials & methods: Sera were collected from 18 syphilis patients and divided into three groups. Every six serum samples (before and after treatment) in each group were pooled and detected by mass spectrometry. Results: Twenty-five unique peptides corresponding to 15 Treponema pallidum proteins were discovered. Among them, Tp0369 was discovered as a promising biomarker candidate in this study. Tp0524 and Tp0984 levels decreased 0.38-fold and 0.51-fold after BPG treatment, respectively, which may be related to disease outcomes of syphilis. Conclusion: These findings confirmed the presence of detectable T. pallidum protein in patients' serum, which could promote the development of syphilis diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man-Li Tong
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361004, China.,Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361004, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361004, China.,Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361004, China
| | - Li-Li Liu
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361004, China
| | - Li-Rong Lin
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361004, China
| | - Hui-Lin Zhang
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361004, China
| | - Hui-Min Tian
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Tian-Ci Yang
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361004, China.,Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361004, China
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11
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De Lay BD, Cameron TA, De Lay NR, Norris SJ, Edmondson DG. Comparison of transcriptional profiles of Treponema pallidum during experimental infection of rabbits and in vitro culture: Highly similar, yet different. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009949. [PMID: 34570834 PMCID: PMC8525777 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, can now be cultured continuously in vitro utilizing a tissue culture system, and the multiplication rates are similar to those obtained in experimental infection of rabbits. In this study, the RNA transcript profiles of the T. pallidum Nichols during in vitro culture and rabbit infection were compared to examine whether gene expression patterns differed in these two environments. To this end, RNA preparations were converted to cDNA and subjected to RNA-seq using high throughput Illumina sequencing; reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR was also performed on selected genes for validation of results. The transcript profiles in the in vivo and in vitro environments were remarkably similar, exhibiting a high degree of concordance overall. However, transcript levels of 94 genes (9%) out of the 1,063 predicted genes in the T. pallidum genome were significantly different during rabbit infection versus in vitro culture, varying by up to 8-fold in the two environments. Genes that exhibited significantly higher transcript levels during rabbit infection included those encoding multiple ribosomal proteins, several prominent membrane proteins, glycolysis-associated enzymes, replication initiator DnaA, rubredoxin, thioredoxin, two putative regulatory proteins, and proteins associated with solute transport. In vitro cultured T. pallidum had higher transcript levels of DNA repair proteins, cofactor synthesis enzymes, and several hypothetical proteins. The overall concordance of the transcript profiles may indicate that these environments are highly similar in terms of their effects on T. pallidum physiology and growth, and may also reflect a relatively low level of transcriptional regulation in this reduced genome organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget D. De Lay
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Todd A. Cameron
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nicholas R. De Lay
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Steven J. Norris
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Diane G. Edmondson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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12
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An rfuABCD-like operon and its relationship to riboflavin utilization and mammalian. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e0030721. [PMID: 34310888 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00307-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Riboflavin is an essential micronutrient, but its transport and utilization has remained largely understudied among pathogenic spirochetes. Here we show that Borrelia burgdorferi, the zoonotic spirochete that causes Lyme disease, is able to import riboflavin via products of its rfuABCD-like operon as well as synthesize flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide despite lacking canonical genes for their synthesis. Additionally, a mutant deficient in the rfuABCD-like operon is resistant to the antimicrobial effect of roseoflavin, a natural riboflavin analog, and is attenuated in a murine model of Lyme borreliosis. Our combined results indicate that not only are riboflavin and the maintenance of flavin pools essential for B. burgdorferi growth, but that flavin utilization and its downstream products (e.g., flavoproteins) may play a more prominent role in B. burgdorferi pathogenesis than previously appreciated.
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13
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Romeis E, Tantalo L, Lieberman N, Phung Q, Greninger A, Giacani L. Genetic engineering of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum, the Syphilis Spirochete. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009612. [PMID: 34228757 PMCID: PMC8284648 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite more than a century of research, genetic manipulation of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (T. pallidum), the causative agent of syphilis, has not been successful. The lack of genetic engineering tools has severely limited understanding of the mechanisms behind T. pallidum success as a pathogen. A recently described method for in vitro cultivation of T. pallidum, however, has made it possible to experiment with transformation and selection protocols in this pathogen. Here, we describe an approach that successfully replaced the tprA (tp0009) pseudogene in the SS14 T. pallidum strain with a kanamycin resistance (kanR) cassette. A suicide vector was constructed using the pUC57 plasmid backbone. In the vector, the kanR gene was cloned downstream of the tp0574 gene promoter. The tp0574prom-kanR cassette was then placed between two 1-kbp homology arms identical to the sequences upstream and downstream of the tprA pseudogene. To induce homologous recombination and integration of the kanR cassette into the T. pallidum chromosome, in vitro-cultured SS14 strain spirochetes were exposed to the engineered vector in a CaCl2-based transformation buffer and let recover for 24 hours before adding kanamycin-containing selective media. Integration of the kanR cassette was demonstrated by qualitative PCR, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of transformed treponemes propagated in vitro and/or in vivo. ddPCR analysis of RNA and mass spectrometry confirmed expression of the kanR message and protein in treponemes propagated in vitro. Moreover, tprA knockout (tprAko-SS14) treponemes grew in kanamycin concentrations that were 64 times higher than the MIC for the wild-type SS14 (wt-SS14) strain and in infected rabbits treated with kanamycin. We demonstrated that genetic manipulation of T. pallidum is attainable. This discovery will allow the application of functional genetics techniques to study syphilis pathogenesis and improve syphilis vaccine development. Syphilis is still an endemic disease in many low- and middle-income countries, and it has been resurgent in high-income nations for almost two decades. In endemic areas, syphilis causes significant morbidity and mortality, particularly when its causative agent, the spirochete Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (T. pallidum) is transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy. A better understanding of T. pallidum biology and syphilis pathogenesis would help devise better control strategies for this infection. One of the limitations associated with working with T. pallidum was our inability to genetically alter this pathogen to evaluate the function of genes encoding virulence factors or create attenuated strains that could be informative for vaccine development when studied using the rabbit model of the disease. Here, we report a transformation protocol that allowed us to replace a specific region of the T. pallidum genome containing a pseudogene (i.e., a non-functional gene) with a stably integrated kanamycin resistance gene. To our knowledge, this is the first-ever report of a method to achieve a genetically modified T. pallidum strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Romeis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Lauren Tantalo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Nicole Lieberman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Quynh Phung
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Alex Greninger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Lorenzo Giacani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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14
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Haynes AM, Giacani L, Mayans MV, Ubals M, Nieto C, Pérez-Mañá C, Quintó L, Romeis E, Mitjà O. Efficacy of linezolid on Treponema pallidum, the syphilis agent: A preclinical study. EBioMedicine 2021; 65:103281. [PMID: 33721817 PMCID: PMC7973135 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Penicillin G, the current standard treatment for syphilis, has important drawbacks, but virtually no preclinical or clinical studies have been performed to identify viable alternatives. We tested, both in vitro and in vivo, three marketed antibiotics with adequate pharmacological properties to treat syphilis. METHODS We used an in vitro culturing system of T. pallidum to perform drug susceptibility testing and applied quantitative PCR targeting the tp0574 gene to measure bacterial growth. To confirm in vivo efficacy, fifteen rabbits were infected intradermally with T. pallidum at eight sites each and randomly allocated to an experimental treatment (linezolid, moxifloxacin, clofazimine) or a control arm (benzathine penicillin G [BPG], untreated). The primary outcome was treatment efficacy defined as the time to lesion healing measured from the date of treatment start. Secondary outcomes were absence of treponemes or treponemal mRNA in injection sites, absence of seroconversion, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) abnormalities and negative rabbit infectivity tests (RIT). FINDINGS Linezolid showed in vitro bactericidal activity at concentrations of 0.5 µg/mL or higher. When administered orally to experimentally infected rabbits, it induced healing of early lesions at a time similar to BPG (hazard ratio 3.84; 95% CI 2.05-7.17; p < 0.0001 compared to untreated controls). In linezolid-treated animals, dark-field microscopy and qPCR assessment showed no presence of treponemes after day 3 post-treatment start, serologic test did not convert to positive, CSF had no abnormalities, and RIT was negative. Moxifloxacin and clofazimine failed to inhibit bacterial growth in vitro and could not cure the infection in the rabbit model. INTERPRETATION Linezolid, a low-cost oxazolidinone, has in vitro and in vivo activity against T. pallidum, with efficacy similar to BPG in treating treponemal lesions in the animal model. Our findings warrant further research to assess the efficacy of linezolid as an alternative to penicillin G to treat syphilis in human clinical trials. FUNDING European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant agreement No. 850450).
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin M Haynes
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lorenzo Giacani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Marti Vall Mayans
- Fight Aids and Infectious Diseases Foundation, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Ubals
- Fight Aids and Infectious Diseases Foundation, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain; Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Clara Pérez-Mañá
- Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Hospital, Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), Badalona, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Llorenç Quintó
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Manhiça Health Research Institute (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Emily Romeis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Oriol Mitjà
- Fight Aids and Infectious Diseases Foundation, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain; Lihir Medical Centre-International SOS, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea.
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15
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Haynes AM, Fernandez M, Romeis E, Mitjà O, Konda KA, Vargas SK, Eguiluz M, Caceres CF, Klausner JD, Giacani L. Transcriptional and immunological analysis of the putative outer membrane protein and vaccine candidate TprL of Treponema pallidum. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0008812. [PMID: 33497377 PMCID: PMC7864442 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background An effective syphilis vaccine should elicit antibodies to Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (T. p. pallidum) surface antigens to induce pathogen clearance through opsonophagocytosis. Although the combination of bioinformatics, structural, and functional analyses of T. p. pallidum genes to identify putative outer membrane proteins (OMPs) resulted in a list of potential vaccine candidates, still very little is known about whether and how transcription of these genes is regulated during infection. This knowledge gap is a limitation to vaccine design, as immunity generated to an antigen that can be down-regulated or even silenced at the transcriptional level without affecting virulence would not induce clearance of the pathogen, hence allowing disease progression. Principal findings We report here that tp1031, the T. p. pallidum gene encoding the putative OMP and vaccine candidate TprL is differentially expressed in several T. p. pallidum strains, suggesting transcriptional regulation. Experimental identification of the tprL transcriptional start site revealed that a homopolymeric G sequence of varying length resides within the tprL promoter and that its length affects promoter activity compatible with phase variation. Conversely, in the closely related pathogen T. p. subsp. pertenue, the agent of yaws, where a naturally-occurring deletion has eliminated the tprL promoter region, elements necessary for protein synthesis, and part of the gene ORF, tprL transcription level are negligible compared to T. p. pallidum strains. Accordingly, the humoral response to TprL is absent in yaws-infected laboratory animals and patients compared to syphilis-infected subjects. Conclusion The ability of T. p. pallidum to stochastically vary tprL expression should be considered in any vaccine development effort that includes this antigen. The role of phase variation in contributing to T. p. pallidum antigenic diversity should be further studied. Syphilis is still an endemic disease in many low- and middle-income countries and has been resurgent in high-income nations for almost two decades now. In endemic areas, syphilis still causes significant morbidity and mortality in patients, particularly when its causative agent, the bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum is transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy. Although there are significant ongoing efforts to identify an effective syphilis vaccine to bring into clinical trials within the decade in the U.S., such efforts are partially hindered by the lack of knowledge on transcriptional regulation of many genes encoding vaccine candidates. Here, we start addressing this knowledge gap for the putative outer membrane protein (OMP) and vaccine candidates TprL, encoded by the tp1031 gene. As we previously reported for other putative OMP-encoding genes of the syphilis agent, tprL transcription level appears to be affected by the length of a homopolymeric sequence of guanosines (Gs) located within the gene promoter. This is a mechanism known as phase variation and often involved in altering the surface antigenic profile of a bacterial pathogen to facilitate immune evasion and/or adaptation to the host milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin M. Haynes
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Mark Fernandez
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Emily Romeis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Oriol Mitjà
- Fight Aids and Infectious Diseases Foundation, Hospital Germans Trias I Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
- Lihir Medical Centre-International SOS, Newcrest Mining, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea
| | - Kelika A. Konda
- Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development and Laboratory of Sexual Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano-Heredia, Lima, Peru
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States of America
| | - Silver K. Vargas
- Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development and Laboratory of Sexual Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano-Heredia, Lima, Peru
- School of Public Health and Administration “Carlos Vidal Layseca”, Universidad Peruana Cayetano-Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Maria Eguiluz
- Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development and Laboratory of Sexual Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano-Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Carlos F. Caceres
- Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development and Laboratory of Sexual Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano-Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Jeffrey D. Klausner
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States of America
| | - Lorenzo Giacani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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16
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Ramaswamy R, Houston S, Loveless B, Cameron CE, Boulanger MJ. Structural characterization of Treponema pallidum Tp0225 reveals an unexpected leucine-rich repeat architecture. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS 2019; 75:489-495. [PMID: 31282868 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x19007726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The phylogenetically divergent spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum is the causative agent of syphilis. Central to the capacity of T. pallidum to establish infection is the ability of the pathogen to attach to a diversity of host cells. Many pathogenic bacteria employ leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain-containing proteins to mediate protein-protein interactions, including attachment to host components and establishment of infection. Intriguingly, T. pallidum expresses only one putative LRR domain-containing protein (Tp0225) with an unknown function. In an effort to ascribe a function to Tp0225, a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis was first performed; this investigation revealed that Tp0225 clusters with the pathogenic clade of treponemes. Its crystal structure was then determined to 2.0 Å resolution using Pt SAD phasing, which revealed a noncanonical architecture containing a hexameric LRR core with a discontinuous β-sheet bridged by solvent molecules. Furthermore, a surface-exposed, hydrophobic pocket, which was found in Tp0225 but is largely absent in canonical LRR domains from other pathogenic bacteria, may serve to coordinate a hydrophobic ligand. Overall, this study provides the first structural characterization of the sole LRR domain-containing protein from T. pallidum and offers insight into the unique molecular landscape of this important human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavendran Ramaswamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Simon Houston
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Bianca Loveless
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Caroline E Cameron
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Martin J Boulanger
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
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17
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Buyuktimkin B, Zafar H, Saier MH. Comparative genomics of the transportome of Ten Treponema species. Microb Pathog 2019; 132:87-99. [PMID: 31029716 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2019.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Treponema is a diverse bacterial genus, the species of which can be pathogenic, symbiotic, or free living. These treponemes can cause various diseases in humans and other animals, such as periodontal disease, bovine digital dermatitis and animal skin lesions. However, the most important and well-studied disease of treponemes that affects humans is 'syphilis'. This disease is caused by Treponema pallidum subspecie pallidum with 11-12 million new cases around the globe on an annual basis. In this study we analyze the transportome of ten Treponema species, with emphasis on the types of encoded transport proteins and their substrates. Of the ten species examined, two (T. primitia and T. azonutricium) reside as symbionts in the guts of termites; six (T. pallidum, T. paraluiscuniculi, T. pedis, T. denticola, T. putidum and T. brennaborense) are pathogens of either humans or animals, and T. caldarium and T. succinifaciens are avirulent species, the former being thermophilic. All ten species have a repertoire of transport proteins that assists them in residing in their respective ecological niches. For instance, oral pathogens use transport proteins that take up nutrients uniquely present in their ecosystem; they also encode multiple multidrug/macromolecule exporters that protect against antimicrobials and aid in biofilm formation. Proteins of termite gut symbionts convert cellulose into other sugars that can be metabolized by the host. As often observed for pathogens and symbionts, several of these treponemes have reduced genome sizes, and their small genomes correlate with their dependencies on the host. Overall, the transportomes of T. pallidum and other pathogens have a conglomerate of parasitic lifestyle-assisting proteins. For example, a T. pallidum repeat protein (TprK) mediates immune evasion; outer membrane proteins (OMPs) allow nutrient uptake and end product export, and several ABC transporters catalyze sugar uptake, considered pivotal to parasitic lifestyles. Taken together, the results of this study yield new information that may help open new avenues of treponeme research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bora Buyuktimkin
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0116, USA
| | - Hassan Zafar
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0116, USA; Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Milton H Saier
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0116, USA.
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Osbak KK, Van Raemdonck GA, Dom M, Cameron CE, Meehan CJ, Deforce D, Ostade XV, Kenyon CR, Dhaenens M. Candidate Treponema pallidum biomarkers uncovered in urine from individuals with syphilis using mass spectrometry. Future Microbiol 2018; 13:1497-1510. [PMID: 30311792 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2018-0182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM A diagnostic test that could detect Treponema pallidum antigens in urine would facilitate the prompt diagnosis of syphilis. MATERIALS & METHODS Urine from 54 individuals with various clinical stages of syphilis and 6 controls were pooled according to disease stage and interrogated with complementary mass spectrometry techniques to uncover potential syphilis biomarkers. RESULTS & CONCLUSION In total, 26 unique peptides were uncovered corresponding to four unique T. pallidum proteins that have low genetic sequence similarity to other prokaryotes and human proteins. This is the first account of direct T. pallidum protein detection in human clinical samples using mass spectrometry. The implications of these findings for future diagnostic test development is discussed. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD009707.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara K Osbak
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Geert A Van Raemdonck
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory for Protein Science, Proteomics & Epigenetic Signalling & Centre for Proteomics, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Martin Dom
- Laboratory for Protein Science, Proteomics & Epigenetic Signalling & Centre for Proteomics, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Caroline E Cameron
- Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Conor J Meehan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dieter Deforce
- Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Xaveer Van Ostade
- Laboratory for Protein Science, Proteomics & Epigenetic Signalling & Centre for Proteomics, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Chris R Kenyon
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Maarten Dhaenens
- Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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19
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Houston S, Lithgow KV, Osbak KK, Kenyon CR, Cameron CE. Functional insights from proteome-wide structural modeling of Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis. BMC STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2018; 18:7. [PMID: 29769048 PMCID: PMC5956850 DOI: 10.1186/s12900-018-0086-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background Syphilis continues to be a major global health threat with 11 million new infections each year, and a global burden of 36 million cases. The causative agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, is a highly virulent bacterium, however the molecular mechanisms underlying T. pallidum pathogenesis remain to be definitively identified. This is due to the fact that T. pallidum is currently uncultivatable, inherently fragile and thus difficult to work with, and phylogenetically distinct with no conventional virulence factor homologs found in other pathogens. In fact, approximately 30% of its predicted protein-coding genes have no known orthologs or assigned functions. Here we employed a structural bioinformatics approach using Phyre2-based tertiary structure modeling to improve our understanding of T. pallidum protein function on a proteome-wide scale. Results Phyre2-based tertiary structure modeling generated high-confidence predictions for 80% of the T. pallidum proteome (780/978 predicted proteins). Tertiary structure modeling also inferred the same function as primary structure-based annotations from genome sequencing pipelines for 525/605 proteins (87%), which represents 54% (525/978) of all T. pallidum proteins. Of the 175 T. pallidum proteins modeled with high confidence that were not assigned functions in the previously annotated published proteome, 167 (95%) were able to be assigned predicted functions. Twenty-one of the 175 hypothetical proteins modeled with high confidence were also predicted to exhibit significant structural similarity with proteins experimentally confirmed to be required for virulence in other pathogens. Conclusions Phyre2-based structural modeling is a powerful bioinformatics tool that has provided insight into the potential structure and function of the majority of T. pallidum proteins and helped validate the primary structure-based annotation of more than 50% of all T. pallidum proteins with high confidence. This work represents the first T. pallidum proteome-wide structural modeling study and is one of few studies to apply this approach for the functional annotation of a whole proteome. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12900-018-0086-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Houston
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Karen Vivien Lithgow
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Chris Richard Kenyon
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Caroline E Cameron
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
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20
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Šmajs D, Strouhal M, Knauf S. Genetics of human and animal uncultivable treponemal pathogens. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 61:92-107. [PMID: 29578082 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Treponema pallidum is an uncultivable bacterium and the causative agent of syphilis (subsp. pallidum [TPA]), human yaws (subsp. pertenue [TPE]), and bejel (subsp. endemicum). Several species of nonhuman primates in Africa are infected by treponemes genetically undistinguishable from known human TPE strains. Besides Treponema pallidum, the equally uncultivable Treponema carateum causes pinta in humans. In lagomorphs, Treponema paraluisleporidarum ecovar Cuniculus and ecovar Lepus are the causative agents of rabbit and hare syphilis, respectively. All uncultivable pathogenic treponemes harbor a relatively small chromosome (1.1334-1.1405 Mbp) and show gene synteny with minimal genetic differences (>98% identity at the DNA level) between subspecies and species. While uncultivable pathogenic treponemes contain a highly conserved core genome, there are a number of highly variable and/or recombinant chromosomal loci. This is also reflected in the occurrence of intrastrain heterogeneity (genetic diversity within an infecting bacterial population). Molecular differences at several different chromosomal loci identified among TPA strains or isolates have been used for molecular typing and the epidemiological characterization of syphilis isolates. This review summarizes genome structure of uncultivable pathogenic treponemes including genetically variable regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Building A6, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Michal Strouhal
- Department of Biology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Building A6, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Sascha Knauf
- Work Group Neglected Tropical Diseases, Pathology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany,.
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21
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Van Raemdonck GA, Osbak KK, Van Ostade X, Kenyon CR. Needle lost in the haystack: multiple reaction monitoring fails to detect Treponema pallidum candidate protein biomarkers in plasma and urine samples from individuals with syphilis. F1000Res 2018; 7:336. [PMID: 30519456 PMCID: PMC6248270 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.13964.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Current syphilis diagnostic strategies are lacking a sensitive manner of directly detecting
Treponema pallidum antigens. A diagnostic test that could directly detect
T. pallidum antigens in individuals with syphilis would be of considerable clinical utility, especially for the diagnosis of reinfections and for post-treatment serological follow-up. Methods: In this study, 11 candidate
T. pallidum biomarker proteins were chosen according to their physiochemical characteristics,
T. pallidum specificity and predicted abundance. Thirty isotopically labelled proteotypic surrogate peptides (hPTPs) were synthesized and incorporated into a scheduled multiple reaction monitoring assay. Protein extracts from undepleted/unenriched plasma (N = 18) and urine (N = 4) samples from 18 individuals with syphilis in various clinical stages were tryptically digested, spiked with the hPTP mixture and analysed with a triple quadruple mass spectrometer. Results: No endogenous PTPs corresponding to the eleven candidate biomarkers were detected in any samples analysed. To estimate the Limit of Detection (LOD) of a comparably sensitive mass spectrometer (LTQ-Orbitrap), two dilution series of rabbit cultured purified
T. pallidum were prepared in PBS. Polyclonal anti-
T. pallidum antibodies coupled to magnetic Dynabeads were used to enrich one sample series; no LOD improvement was found compared to the unenriched series. The estimated LOD of MS instruments is 300
T. pallidum/ml in PBS. Conclusions: Biomarker protein detection likely failed due to the low (femtomoles/liter) predicted concentration of
T. pallidum proteins. Alternative sample preparation strategies may improve the detectability of
T. pallidum proteins in biofluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geert A Van Raemdonck
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium.,Laboratory for Protein Science, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signalling (PPES) and Centre for Proteomics (CFP), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
| | - Kara K Osbak
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
| | - Xaveer Van Ostade
- Laboratory for Protein Science, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signalling (PPES) and Centre for Proteomics (CFP), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
| | - Chris R Kenyon
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium.,Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
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22
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Mikalová L, Strouhal M, Oppelt J, Grange PA, Janier M, Benhaddou N, Dupin N, Šmajs D. Human Treponema pallidum 11q/j isolate belongs to subsp. endemicum but contains two loci with a sequence in TP0548 and TP0488 similar to subsp. pertenue and subsp. pallidum, respectively. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005434. [PMID: 28263990 PMCID: PMC5354452 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum (TEN) is the causative agent of endemic syphilis (bejel). An unusual human TEN 11q/j isolate was obtained from a syphilis-like primary genital lesion from a patient that returned to France from Pakistan. Methodology/Principal findings The TEN 11q/j isolate was characterized using nested PCR followed by Sanger sequencing and/or direct Illumina sequencing. Altogether, 44 chromosomal regions were analyzed. Overall, the 11q/j isolate clustered with TEN strains Bosnia A and Iraq B as expected from previous TEN classification of the 11q/j isolate. However, the 11q/j sequence in a 505 bp-long region at the TP0488 locus was similar to Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) strains, but not to TEN Bosnia A and Iraq B sequences, suggesting a recombination event at this locus. Similarly, the 11q/j sequence in a 613 bp-long region at the TP0548 locus was similar to Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue (TPE) strains, but not to TEN sequences. Conclusions/Significance A detailed analysis of two recombinant loci found in the 11q/j clinical isolate revealed that the recombination event occurred just once, in the TP0488, with the donor sequence originating from a TPA strain. Since TEN Bosnia A and Iraq B were found to contain TPA-like sequences at the TP0548 locus, the recombination at TP0548 took place in a treponeme that was an ancestor to both TEN Bosnia A and Iraq B. The sequence of 11q/j isolate in TP0548 represents an ancestral TEN sequence that is similar to yaws-causing treponemes. In addition to the importance of the 11q/j isolate for reconstruction of the TEN phylogeny, this case emphasizes the possible role of TEN strains in development of syphilis-like lesions. Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum (TEN) is an uncultivable pathogenic treponeme that causes bejel (endemic syphilis), a chronic human infection mostly affecting children under 15 years of age, occurring mainly in several African and Middle East countries. In this work, we characterized a TEN 11q/j isolate from France that was obtained from an adult male with genital lesions, who was suspected of having syphilis and who received benzathine penicillin G. DNA sequencing of the isolate revealed two loci that were, rather than to TEN, related either to T. pallidum subsp. pertenue or to T. pallidum subsp. pallidum and likely resulted from recombination events. The recombination event in TP0488 as well as the recombination in TP0548, of the 11q/j, helped clarify the phylogeny of the TEN strains indicating that the recombination in TP0548 took place in a treponeme that was ancestral of Bosnia A and Iraq B, but was not an ancestor of the 11q/j isolate. In contrast, a recombination event in TP0488 appeared in the ancestor of the 11q/j isolate after separation of the ancestral treponeme of Bosnia A and Iraq B. This case also points to a possible role of TEN strains in development of syphilis-like lesions in countries with endemic syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Mikalová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Strouhal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Oppelt
- CEITEC–Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Philippe Alain Grange
- Institut Cochin U1016, Laboratoire de Dermatologie—CNR Syphilis, Faculté de Médecine, Université Sorbonne Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Michel Janier
- Centre des MST, Hôpital Saint-Louis, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Nadjet Benhaddou
- Institut Cochin U1016, Laboratoire de Dermatologie—CNR Syphilis, Faculté de Médecine, Université Sorbonne Paris Descartes, Paris, France
- Service de Bactériologie, Groupe Hospitalier Paris Centre Cochin-Hôtel Dieu-Broca, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Dupin
- Institut Cochin U1016, Laboratoire de Dermatologie—CNR Syphilis, Faculté de Médecine, Université Sorbonne Paris Descartes, Paris, France
- Service de Dermatologie-Vénéréologie, Hôpital Cochin–Pavillon Tarnier, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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23
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Treponema pallidum flagellin FlaA2 induces IL-6 secretion in THP-1 cells via the Toll-like receptor 2 signaling pathway. Mol Immunol 2017; 81:42-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2016.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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24
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Marcatili P, Nielsen MW, Sicheritz-Pontén T, Jensen TK, Schafer-Nielsen C, Boye M, Nielsen M, Klitgaard K. A novel approach to probe host-pathogen interactions of bovine digital dermatitis, a model of a complex polymicrobial infection. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:987. [PMID: 27908274 PMCID: PMC5142292 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3341-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 11/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Polymicrobial infections represent a great challenge for the clarification of disease etiology and the development of comprehensive diagnostic or therapeutic tools, particularly for fastidious and difficult-to-cultivate bacteria. Using bovine digital dermatitis (DD) as a disease model, we introduce a novel strategy to study the pathogenesis of complex infections. Results The strategy combines meta-transcriptomics with high-density peptide-microarray technology to screen for in vivo-expressed microbial genes and the host antibody response at the site of infection. Bacterial expression patterns supported the assumption that treponemes were the major DD pathogens but also indicated the active involvement of other phyla (primarily Bacteroidetes). Bacterial genes involved in chemotaxis, flagellar synthesis and protection against oxidative and acidic stress were among the major factors defining the disease. Conclusions The extraordinary diversity observed in bacterial expression, antigens and host antibody responses between individual cows pointed toward microbial variability as a hallmark of DD. Persistence of infection and DD reinfection in the same individual is common; thus, high microbial diversity may undermine the host’s capacity to mount an efficient immune response and maintain immunological memory towards DD. The common antigenic markers identified here using a high-density peptide microarray address this issue and may be useful for future preventive measures against DD. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-3341-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Marcatili
- Center for Biological Sequence analysis, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Martin W Nielsen
- National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Thomas Sicheritz-Pontén
- Center for Biological Sequence analysis, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tim K Jensen
- National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | | | - Mette Boye
- Molecular Diagnostic and Clinical Research Unit, Hospital of Southern Jutland, 6400, Sønderborg, Denmark
| | - Morten Nielsen
- Center for Biological Sequence analysis, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.,Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Kirstine Klitgaard
- National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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25
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Xie Y, Xu M, Wang C, Xiao J, Xiao Y, Jiang C, You X, Zhao F, Zeng T, Liu S, Kuang X, Wu Y. Diagnostic value of recombinant Tp0821 protein in serodiagnosis for syphilis. Lett Appl Microbiol 2016; 62:336-43. [PMID: 26853900 DOI: 10.1111/lam.12554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Revised: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Syphilis is a multistage sexually transmitted disease that remains a serious public health concern worldwide. The coexistence of Treponema pallidum with other closely related members of spirochaeta, such as Leptospira spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi, has complicated the serodiagnosis due to cross-reactive antigens. In this study, recombinant Tp0821 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by metal affinity chromatography. Then enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) based on Tp0821 for the detection of specific antibodies were established. The relative positive rates of the IgM ELISA and the IgG ELISA were found to be 91·0 and 98·3%, respectively, when screening 578 syphilis specimens. The specificities were 94·3 and 100%, respectively, when cross-checking with serum samples obtained from 30 patients with Lyme disease, five patients with leptospirosis, and 52 uninfected controls. In addition, relative positive rates and specificities of Tp0821 for human sera were all 100% in Western blotting. When compared to the syphilis diagnostic tests commonly used in clinical settings, we found that the results of Tp0821-based ELISAs correlated well with the results of the treponemal tests, specifically the T. pallidum particle agglutination (TP-PA) test and the chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA). Thus, these findings identify Tp0821 as a novel serodiagnostic candidate for syphilis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY In this study, we expressed and purified the Treponema pallidum protein Tp0821 and developed Tp0821-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the detection of specific antibodies. The serodiagnostic performance of the recombinant protein was then evaluated. When compared to the results of syphilis diagnostic tests commonly used in clinical settings, we found that the reactivities of syphilitic sera with the recombinant antigen correlated well with the results of the treponemal tests, specifically the T. pallidum particle agglutination (TP-PA) test and the chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA). Thus, the recombinant protein shows promise as a new diagnostic antigen in the ELISAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Xie
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - M Xu
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - C Wang
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - J Xiao
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Y Xiao
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Clinical Laboratory Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - C Jiang
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - X You
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - F Zhao
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - T Zeng
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - S Liu
- Clinical Laboratory Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - X Kuang
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Y Wu
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
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26
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The Structure of Treponema pallidum Tp0624 Reveals a Modular Assembly of Divergently Functionalized and Previously Uncharacterized Domains. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166274. [PMID: 27832149 PMCID: PMC5104382 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum is the causative agent of syphilis, a chronic, multistage, systemic infection that remains a major global health concern. The molecular mechanisms underlying T. pallidum pathogenesis are incompletely understood, partially due to the phylogenetic divergence of T. pallidum. One aspect of T. pallidum that differentiates it from conventional Gram-negative bacteria, and is believed to play an important role in pathogenesis, is its unusual cell envelope ultrastructure; in particular, the T. pallidum peptidoglycan layer is chemically distinct, thinner and more distal to the outer membrane. Established functional roles for peptidoglycan include contributing to the structural integrity of the cell envelope and stabilization of the flagellar motor complex, which are typically mediated by the OmpA domain-containing family of proteins. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms that govern peptidoglycan binding and cell envelope biogenesis in T. pallidum we report here the structural characterization of the putative OmpA-like domain-containing protein, Tp0624. Analysis of the 1.70 Å resolution Tp0624 crystal structure reveals a multi-modular architecture comprised of three distinct domains including a C-terminal divergent OmpA-like domain, which we show is unable to bind the conventional peptidoglycan component diaminopimelic acid, and a previously uncharacterized tandem domain unit. Intriguingly, bioinformatic analysis indicates that the three domains together are found in all orthologs from pathogenic treponemes, but are not observed together in genera outside Treponema. These findings provide the first structural insight into a multi-modular treponemal protein containing an OmpA-like domain and its potential role in peptidoglycan coordination and stabilization of the T. pallidum cell envelope.
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27
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Osbak KK, Houston S, Lithgow KV, Meehan CJ, Strouhal M, Šmajs D, Cameron CE, Van Ostade X, Kenyon CR, Van Raemdonck GA. Characterizing the Syphilis-Causing Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum Proteome Using Complementary Mass Spectrometry. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004988. [PMID: 27606673 PMCID: PMC5015957 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum is the etiological agent of syphilis, a chronic multistage disease. Little is known about the global T. pallidum proteome, therefore mass spectrometry studies are needed to bring insights into pathogenicity and protein expression profiles during infection. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS To better understand the T. pallidum proteome profile during infection, we studied T. pallidum ssp. pallidum DAL-1 strain bacteria isolated from rabbits using complementary mass spectrometry techniques, including multidimensional peptide separation and protein identification via matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) and electrospray ionization (ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap) tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 6033 peptides were detected, corresponding to 557 unique T. pallidum proteins at a high level of confidence, representing 54% of the predicted proteome. A previous gel-based T. pallidum MS proteome study detected 58 of these proteins. One hundred fourteen of the detected proteins were previously annotated as hypothetical or uncharacterized proteins; this is the first account of 106 of these proteins at the protein level. Detected proteins were characterized according to their predicted biological function and localization; half were allocated into a wide range of functional categories. Proteins annotated as potential membrane proteins and proteins with unclear functional annotations were subjected to an additional bioinformatics pipeline analysis to facilitate further characterization. A total of 116 potential membrane proteins were identified, of which 16 have evidence supporting outer membrane localization. We found 8/12 proteins related to the paralogous tpr gene family: TprB, TprC/D, TprE, TprG, TprH, TprI and TprJ. Protein abundance was semi-quantified using label-free spectral counting methods. A low correlation (r = 0.26) was found between previous microarray signal data and protein abundance. CONCLUSIONS This is the most comprehensive description of the global T. pallidum proteome to date. These data provide valuable insights into in vivo T. pallidum protein expression, paving the way for improved understanding of the pathogenicity of this enigmatic organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara K Osbak
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Simon Houston
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Karen V Lithgow
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Conor J Meehan
- Unit of Mycobacteriology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Michal Strouhal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Caroline E Cameron
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Xaveer Van Ostade
- Laboratory for Protein Science, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling (PPES) and Centre for Proteomics (CFP), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Chris R Kenyon
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Geert A Van Raemdonck
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory for Protein Science, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling (PPES) and Centre for Proteomics (CFP), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
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Xu M, Xie Y, Jiang C, Xiao Y, Kuang X, Zhao F, Zeng T, Liu S, Liang M, Li L, Wang C, Wu Y. A novel ELISA using a recombinant outer membrane protein, rTp0663, as the antigen for serological diagnosis of syphilis. Int J Infect Dis 2015; 43:51-57. [PMID: 26747418 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2015.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Revised: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The lack of Treponema pallidum-specific antigens with highly accurate diagnosis makes the diagnosis of syphilis challenging. METHODS A soluble recombinant version of a new diagnostic protein Tp0663 has been produced. The serodiagnostic potential of this protein was assessed by screening 3326 serum samples simultaneously evaluated by rapid plasma reagin and T. pallidum particle agglutination tests. Kappa (κ) coefficients were used to compare the concordance between clinical diagnosis and the Tp0663-based ELISA or the ARCHITECT Syphilis TP chemiluminescent immunoassay (Abbott GmbH and Co. KG). RESULTS Using the results of clinical diagnosis as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of Tp0663 were found to be 98.83% (95% confidence interval (CI) 96.61-99.60%) and 100% (95% CI 99.88-100%), respectively. In comparison, the ARCHITECT Syphilis TP assay was found to have a lower sensitivity (97.27%, 95% CI 94.46-98.67%) and specificity (99.61%, 95% CI 99.32-99.78%). In particular, the ARCHITECT Syphilis TP exhibited a false-positive rate of 0.39%. Moreover, the ELISA was in perfect agreement with the gold standard, with a κ value of 0.99, comparable to that of ARCHITECT Syphilis TP (0.96). CONCLUSION These results identified Tp0663 as a novel serodiagnostic candidate with great potential for developing novel tests for the diagnosis of syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Xu
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yafeng Xie
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Chuanhao Jiang
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yongjian Xiao
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Xingxing Kuang
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Feijun Zhao
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Tiebing Zeng
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Shuangquan Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Mingxing Liang
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Li Li
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Chuan Wang
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yimou Wu
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, China.
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Čejková D, Strouhal M, Norris SJ, Weinstock GM, Šmajs D. A Retrospective Study on Genetic Heterogeneity within Treponema Strains: Subpopulations Are Genetically Distinct in a Limited Number of Positions. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0004110. [PMID: 26436423 PMCID: PMC4593590 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pathogenic uncultivable treponemes comprise human and animal pathogens including agents of syphilis, yaws, bejel, pinta, and venereal spirochetosis in rabbits and hares. A set of 10 treponemal genome sequences including those of 4 Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA) strains (Nichols, DAL-1, Mexico A, SS14), 4 T. p. ssp. pertenue (TPE) strains (CDC-2, Gauthier, Samoa D, Fribourg-Blanc), 1 T. p. ssp. endemicum (TEN) strain (Bosnia A) and one strain (Cuniculi A) of Treponema paraluisleporidarum ecovar Cuniculus (TPLC) were examined with respect to the presence of nucleotide intrastrain heterogeneous sites. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The number of identified intrastrain heterogeneous sites in individual genomes ranged between 0 and 7. Altogether, 23 intrastrain heterogeneous sites (in 17 genes) were found in 5 out of 10 investigated treponemal genomes including TPA strains Nichols (n = 5), DAL-1 (n = 4), and SS14 (n = 7), TPE strain Samoa D (n = 1), and TEN strain Bosnia A (n = 5). Although only one heterogeneous site was identified among 4 tested TPE strains, 16 such sites were identified among 4 TPA strains. Heterogeneous sites were mostly strain-specific and were identified in four tpr genes (tprC, GI, I, K), in genes involved in bacterial motility and chemotaxis (fliI, cheC-fliY), in genes involved in cell structure (murC), translation (prfA), general and DNA metabolism (putative SAM dependent methyltransferase, topA), and in seven hypothetical genes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Heterogeneous sites likely represent both the selection of adaptive changes during infection of the host as well as an ongoing diversifying evolutionary process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darina Čejková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Immunology, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Strouhal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Steven J. Norris
- Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - George M. Weinstock
- The Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Cellular metabolic network analysis: discovering important reactions in Treponema pallidum. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:328568. [PMID: 26495292 PMCID: PMC4606156 DOI: 10.1155/2015/328568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Revised: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
T. pallidum, the syphilis-causing pathogen, performs very differently in metabolism compared with other bacterial pathogens. The desire for safe and effective vaccine of syphilis requests identification of important steps in T. pallidum's metabolism. Here, we apply Flux Balance Analysis to represent the reactions quantitatively. Thus, it is possible to cluster all reactions in T. pallidum. By calculating minimal cut sets and analyzing topological structure for the metabolic network of T. pallidum, critical reactions are identified. As a comparison, we also apply the analytical approaches to the metabolic network of H. pylori to find coregulated drug targets and unique drug targets for different microorganisms. Based on the clustering results, all reactions are further classified into various roles. Therefore, the general picture of their metabolic network is obtained and two types of reactions, both of which are involved in nucleic acid metabolism, are found to be essential for T. pallidum. It is also discovered that both hubs of reactions and the isolated reactions in purine and pyrimidine metabolisms play important roles in T. pallidum. These reactions could be potential drug targets for treating syphilis.
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Meadows JA, Wargo MJ. Carnitine in bacterial physiology and metabolism. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2015; 161:1161-74. [PMID: 25787873 PMCID: PMC4635513 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Carnitine is a quaternary amine compound found at high concentration in animal tissues, particularly muscle, and is most well studied for its contribution to fatty acid transport into mitochondria. In bacteria, carnitine is an important osmoprotectant, and can also enhance thermotolerance, cryotolerance and barotolerance. Carnitine can be transported into the cell or acquired from metabolic precursors, where it can serve directly as a compatible solute for stress protection or be metabolized through one of a few distinct pathways as a nutrient source. In this review, we summarize what is known about carnitine physiology and metabolism in bacteria. In particular, recent advances in the aerobic and anaerobic metabolic pathways as well as the use of carnitine as an electron acceptor have addressed some long-standing questions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie A. Meadows
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 95 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Matthew J. Wargo
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 95 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
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Identification of functional candidates amongst hypothetical proteins of Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124177. [PMID: 25894582 PMCID: PMC4403809 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Syphilis is a globally occurring venereal disease, and its infection is propagated through sexual contact. The causative agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum, a Gram-negative sphirochaete, is an obligate human parasite. Genome of T. pallidum ssp. pallidum SS14 strain (RefSeq NC_010741.1) encodes 1,027 proteins, of which 444 proteins are known as hypothetical proteins (HPs), i.e., proteins of unknown functions. Here, we performed functional annotation of HPs of T. pallidum ssp. pallidum using various database, domain architecture predictors, protein function annotators and clustering tools. We have analyzed the sequences of 444 HPs of T. pallidum ssp. pallidum and subsequently predicted the function of 207 HPs with a high level of confidence. However, functions of 237 HPs are predicted with less accuracy. We found various enzymes, transporters, binding proteins in the annotated group of HPs that may be possible molecular targets, facilitating for the survival of pathogen. Our comprehensive analysis helps to understand the mechanism of pathogenesis to provide many novel potential therapeutic interventions.
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Ke W, Molini BJ, Lukehart SA, Giacani L. Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum TP0136 protein is heterogeneous among isolates and binds cellular and plasma fibronectin via its NH2-terminal end. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003662. [PMID: 25793702 PMCID: PMC4368718 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Adherence-mediated colonization plays an important role in pathogenesis of microbial infections, particularly those caused by extracellular pathogens responsible for systemic diseases, such as Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (T. pallidum), the agent of syphilis. Among T. pallidum adhesins, TP0136 is known to bind fibronectin (Fn), an important constituent of the host extracellular matrix. To deepen our understanding of the TP0136-Fn interaction dynamics, we used two naturally-occurring sequence variants of the TP0136 protein to investigate which region of the protein is responsible for Fn binding, and whether TP0136 would adhere to human cellular Fn in addition to plasma Fn and super Fn as previously reported. Fn binding assays were performed with recombinant proteins representing the two full-length TP0136 variants and their discrete regions. As a complementary approach, we tested inhibition of T. pallidum binding to Fn by recombinant full-length TP0136 proteins and fragments, as well as by anti-TP0136 immune sera. Our results show that TP0136 adheres more efficiently to cellular Fn than to plasma Fn, that the TP0136 NH2-terminal conserved region of the protein is primarily responsible for binding to plasma Fn but that binding sites for cellular Fn are also present in the protein’s central and COOH-terminal regions. Additionally, message quantification studies show that tp0136 is highly transcribed during experimental infection, and that its message level increases in parallel to the host immune pressure on the pathogen, which suggests a possible role for this protein in T. pallidum persistence. In a time where syphilis incidence is high, our data will help in the quest to identify suitable targets for development of a much needed vaccine against this important disease. The study of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (T. pallidum) proteins that mediate adhesion to host tissue components is pivotal to understand how the syphilis agent establishes infection and is able to invade virtually every organ system following dissemination from the site of entry. This study focuses on T. pallidum TP0136, a known plasma fibronectin (Fn) and super Fn binding protein that is heterogeneous in sequence among T. pallidum isolates. This study shows that TP0136 also mediates attachment to human cellular Fn, that TP0136 conserved NH2-terminus is primarily responsible for binding to plasma Fn, but that cellular Fn binding sites appears to be scattered throughout the molecule. Message quantification experiments reveal that tp0136 transcription is high during experimental syphilis and increases at the time of bacterial immune clearance, suggesting a role for this antigen in counteracting the host defenses during infection, as reported for other Fn binding proteins in other pathogens. Our data deepen the current knowledge of the function of T. pallidum TP0136 and further support a role for this virulence factor in syphilis pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wujian Ke
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Graduate School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Division of STD, Guangdong Provincial Center for STI & Skin Diseases Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Barbara J. Molini
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sheila A. Lukehart
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Lorenzo Giacani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Brautigam CA, Deka RK, Liu WZ, Norgard MV. Insights into the potential function and membrane organization of the TP0435 (Tp17) lipoprotein from Treponema pallidum derived from structural and biophysical analyses. Protein Sci 2014; 24:11-9. [PMID: 25287511 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The sexually transmitted disease syphilis is caused by the bacterial spirochete Treponema pallidum. This microorganism is genetically intractable, accounting for the large number of putative and undercharacterized members of the pathogen's proteome. In an effort to ascribe a function(s) to the TP0435 (Tp17) lipoprotein, we engineered a soluble variant of the protein (rTP0435) and determined its crystal structure at a resolution of 2.42 Å. The structure is characterized by an eight-stranded β-barrel protein with a shallow "basin" at one end of the barrel and an α-helix stacked on the opposite end. Furthermore, there is a disulfide-linked dimer of the protein in the asymmetric unit of the crystals. Solution hydrodynamic experiments established that purified rTP0435 is monomeric, but specifically forms the disulfide-stabilized dimer observed in the crystal structure. The data herein, when considered with previous work on TP0435, imply plausible roles for the protein in either ligand binding, treponemal membrane architecture, and/or pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad A Brautigam
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, 75390
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Nechvátal L, Pětrošová H, Grillová L, Pospíšilová P, Mikalová L, Strnadel R, Kuklová I, Kojanová M, Kreidlová M, Vaňousová D, Procházka P, Zákoucká H, Krchňáková A, Šmajs D. Syphilis-causing strains belong to separate SS14-like or Nichols-like groups as defined by multilocus analysis of 19 Treponema pallidum strains. Int J Med Microbiol 2014; 304:645-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2014.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Revised: 04/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Abstract
The agents of human treponematoses include four closely related members of the genus Treponema: three subspecies of Treponema pallidum plus Treponema carateum. T. pallidum subsp. pallidum causes venereal syphilis, while T. pallidum subsp. pertenue, T. pallidum subsp. endemicum, and T. carateum are the agents of the endemic treponematoses yaws, bejel (or endemic syphilis), and pinta, respectively. All human treponematoses share remarkable similarities in pathogenesis and clinical manifestations, consistent with the high genetic and antigenic relatedness of their etiological agents. Distinctive features have been identified in terms of age of acquisition, most common mode of transmission, and capacity for invasion of the central nervous system and fetus, although the accuracy of these purported differences is debated among investigators and no biological basis for these differences has been identified to date. In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially set a goal for yaws eradication by 2020. This challenging but potentially feasible endeavor is favored by the adoption of oral azithromycin for mass treatment and the currently focused distribution of yaws and endemic treponematoses and has revived global interest in these fascinating diseases and their causative agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Giacani
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sheila A. Lukehart
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Pětrošová H, Pospíšilová P, Strouhal M, Čejková D, Zobaníková M, Mikalová L, Sodergren E, Weinstock GM, Šmajs D. Resequencing of Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum strains Nichols and SS14: correction of sequencing errors resulted in increased separation of syphilis treponeme subclusters. PLoS One 2013; 8:e74319. [PMID: 24058545 PMCID: PMC3769245 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA), the causative agent of syphilis, is a highly clonal bacterium showing minimal genetic variability in the genome sequence of individual strains. Nevertheless, genetically characterized syphilis strains can be clearly divided into two groups, Nichols-like strains and SS14-like strains. TPA Nichols and SS14 strains were completely sequenced in 1998 and 2008, respectively. Since publication of their complete genome sequences, a number of sequencing errors in each genome have been reported. Therefore, we have resequenced TPA Nichols and SS14 strains using next-generation sequencing techniques. Methodology/Principal Findings The genomes of TPA strains Nichols and SS14 were resequenced using the 454 and Illumina sequencing methods that have a combined average coverage higher than 90x. In the TPA strain Nichols genome, 134 errors were identified (25 substitutions and 109 indels), and 102 of them affected protein sequences. In the TPA SS14 genome, a total of 191 errors were identified (85 substitutions and 106 indels) and 136 of them affected protein sequences. A set of new intrastrain heterogenic regions in the TPA SS14 genome were identified including the tprD gene, where both tprD and tprD2 alleles were found. The resequenced genomes of both TPA Nichols and SS14 strains clustered more closely with related strains (i.e. strains belonging to same syphilis treponeme subcluster). At the same time, groups of Nichols-like and SS14-like strains were found to be more distantly related. Conclusion/Significance We identified errors in 11.5% of all annotated genes and, after correction, we found a significant impact on the predicted proteomes of both Nichols and SS14 strains. Corrections of these errors resulted in protein elongations, truncations, fusions and indels in more than 11% of all annotated proteins. Moreover, it became more evident that syphilis is caused by treponemes belonging to two separate genetic subclusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Pětrošová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Pospíšilová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Strouhal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Genetics, The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Darina Čejková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Marie Zobaníková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Mikalová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Genetics, The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Erica Sodergren
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - George M. Weinstock
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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Centurion-Lara A, Giacani L, Godornes C, Molini BJ, Brinck Reid T, Lukehart SA. Fine analysis of genetic diversity of the tpr gene family among treponemal species, subspecies and strains. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2222. [PMID: 23696912 PMCID: PMC3656149 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Accepted: 04/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The pathogenic non-cultivable treponemes include three subspecies of Treponema pallidum (pallidum, pertenue, endemicum), T. carateum, T. paraluiscuniculi, and the unclassified Fribourg-Blanc treponeme (Simian isolate). These treponemes are morphologically indistinguishable and antigenically and genetically highly similar, yet cross-immunity is variable or non-existent. Although all of these organisms cause chronic, multistage skin and systemic disease, they have historically been classified by mode of transmission, clinical presentations and host ranges. Whole genome studies underscore the high degree of sequence identity among species, subspecies and strains, pinpointing a limited number of genomic regions for variation. Many of these “hot spots” include members of the tpr gene family, composed of 12 paralogs encoding candidate virulence factors. We hypothesize that the distinct clinical presentations, host specificity, and variable cross-immunity might reside on virulence factors such as the tpr genes. Methodology/Principal Findings Sequence analysis of 11 tpr loci (excluding tprK) from 12 strains demonstrated an impressive heterogeneity, including SNPs, indels, chimeric genes, truncated gene products and large deletions. Comparative analyses of sequences and 3D models of predicted proteins in Subfamily I highlight the striking co-localization of discrete variable regions with predicted surface-exposed loops. A hallmark of Subfamily II is the presence of chimeric genes in the tprG and J loci. Diversity in Subfamily III is limited to tprA and tprL. Conclusions/Significance An impressive sequence variability was found in tpr sequences among the Treponema isolates examined in this study, with most of the variation being consistent within subspecies or species, or between syphilis vs. non-syphilis strains. Variability was seen in the pallidum subspecies, which can be divided into 5 genogroups. These findings support a genetic basis for the classification of these organisms into their respective subspecies and species. Future functional studies will determine whether the identified genetic differences relate to cross-immunity, clinical differences, or host ranges. Pathogenic treponemes include three subspecies of Treponema pallidum (pallidum, pertenue, endemicum), T. carateum, T. paraluiscuniculi, and the unclassified Fribourg-Blanc treponeme. Although they share morphology and have very similar antigenic profiles, they have traditionally been distinguished by mode of transmission, host specificity and the clinical manifestations that they cause. The molecular basis for these disease characteristics is not known. Comparative genomics has revealed that sequences differences among the species and subspecies are found in very localized regions of the chromosome. Many of these regions of sequence variation are found in the tpr genes, which encode a family of twelve candidate virulence factors, many of which are predicted to be outer membrane proteins. Most of the tpr-specific sequence changes are consistent within subspecies or species, supporting the historical classification of these organisms into separate subspecies and species. Functional studies are needed to determine whether any of the tpr gene differences are related to differences in host range, immunity, or clinical manifestations.
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Zobaníková M, Strouhal M, Mikalová L, Čejková D, Ambrožová L, Pospíšilová P, Fulton LL, Chen L, Sodergren E, Weinstock GM, Šmajs D. Whole genome sequence of the Treponema Fribourg-Blanc: unspecified simian isolate is highly similar to the yaws subspecies. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2172. [PMID: 23638193 PMCID: PMC3630124 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Unclassified simian strain Treponema Fribourg-Blanc was isolated in 1966 from baboons (Papio cynocephalus) in West Africa. This strain was morphologically indistinguishable from T. pallidum ssp. pallidum or ssp. pertenue strains, and it was shown to cause human infections. Methodology/Principal Findings To precisely define genetic differences between Treponema Fribourg-Blanc (unclassified simian isolate, FB) and T. pallidum ssp. pertenue strains (TPE), a high quality sequence of the whole Fribourg-Blanc genome was determined with 454-pyrosequencing and Illumina sequencing platforms. Combined average coverage of both methods was greater than 500×. Restriction target sites (n = 1,773), identified in silico, of selected restriction enzymes within the Fribourg-Blanc genome were verified experimentally and no discrepancies were found. When compared to the other three sequenced TPE genomes (Samoa D, CDC-2, Gauthier), no major genome rearrangements were found. The Fribourg-Blanc genome clustered with other TPE strains (especially with the TPE CDC-2 strain), while T. pallidum ssp. pallidum strains clustered separately as well as the genome of T. paraluiscuniculi strain Cuniculi A. Within coding regions, 6 deletions, 5 insertions and 117 substitutions differentiated Fribourg-Blanc from other TPE genomes. Conclusions/Significance The Fribourg-Blanc genome showed similar genetic characteristics as other TPE strains. Therefore, we propose to rename the unclassified simian isolate to Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue strain Fribourg-Blanc. Since the Fribourg-Blanc strain was shown to cause experimental infection in human hosts, non-human primates could serve as possible reservoirs of TPE strains. This could considerably complicate recent efforts to eradicate yaws. Genetic differences specific for Fribourg-Blanc could then contribute for identification of cases of animal-derived yaws infections. A bacterial strain isolated in 1966 from baboons (Papio cynocephalus) in West Africa was preliminarily characterized as unclassified simian strain Treponema Fribourg-Blanc (FB). This strain was morphologically identical to T. pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA, agent of syphilis) or ssp. pertenue (TPE, agent of yaws). In this study, we completed a high quality whole genome sequence of simian isolate Treponema Fribourg-Blanc and compared it to known genome sequences of Treponema pallidum strains. No major differences in the gene order of the FB genome were found when compared to all known genomes of Treponema pallidum subspecies. Moreover, the FB genome clustered with other TPE strains, while T. pallidum ssp. pallidum strains clustered separately. In general, the FB genome showed similar genetic characteristics to other TPE strains. Therefore, we proposed that the simian isolate Fribourg-Blanc be classified as a bacterial strain belonging to Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue. It appears that, except for humans, the reservoir of yaws-causing treponemes may also include free-living primates, especially in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Zobaníková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Strouhal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Lenka Mikalová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Darina Čejková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Lenka Ambrožová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Pospíšilová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucinda L. Fulton
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Lei Chen
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Erica Sodergren
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - George M. Weinstock
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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Giacani L, Denisenko O, Tompa M, Centurion-Lara A. Identification of the Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum TP0092 (RpoE) regulon and its implications for pathogen persistence in the host and syphilis pathogenesis. J Bacteriol 2013; 195:896-907. [PMID: 23243302 PMCID: PMC3562100 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01973-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2012] [Accepted: 12/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria often respond to harmful environmental stimuli with the induction of extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma (σ) factors that in turn direct RNA polymerase to transcribe specific groups of response genes (or regulons) to minimize cellular damage and favor adaptation to the changed extracellular milieu. In Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum, the agent of syphilis, the TP0092 gene is predicted to code for the pathogen's only annotated ECF σ factor, homologous to RpoE, known in Escherichia coli to control a key transduction pathway for maintenance of envelope homeostasis in response to external stress and cell growth. Here we have shown that TP0092 is highly transcribed during experimental syphilis. Furthermore, TP0092 transcription levels significantly increase as infection progresses toward immune clearance of the pathogen, suggesting a role for TP0092 in helping T. pallidum respond to harmful stimuli in the host environment. To investigate this hypothesis, we determined the TP0092 regulon at two different time points during infection using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing. A total of 22 chromosomal regions, all containing putative TP0092-binding sites and corresponding to as many T. pallidum genes, were identified. Noteworthy among them are the genes encoding desulfoferrodoxin and thioredoxin, involved in detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Because T. pallidum does not possess other enzymes for ROS detoxification, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, or glutathione peroxidase, our results suggest that the TP0092 regulon is important in protecting the syphilis spirochete from damage caused by ROS produced at the site of infection during the inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Giacani
- Departments of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Whole genome sequence of Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum, strain Mexico A, suggests recombination between yaws and syphilis strains. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1832. [PMID: 23029591 PMCID: PMC3447947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2012] [Accepted: 08/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA), the causative agent of syphilis, and Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue (TPE), the causative agent of yaws, are closely related spirochetes causing diseases with distinct clinical manifestations. The TPA Mexico A strain was isolated in 1953 from male, with primary syphilis, living in Mexico. Attempts to cultivate TPA Mexico A strain under in vitro conditions have revealed lower growth potential compared to other tested TPA strains. Methodology/Principal Findings The complete genome sequence of the TPA Mexico A strain was determined using the Illumina sequencing technique. The genome sequence assembly was verified using the whole genome fingerprinting technique and the final sequence was annotated. The genome size of the Mexico A strain was determined to be 1,140,038 bp with 1,035 predicted ORFs. The Mexico A genome sequence was compared to the whole genome sequences of three TPA (Nichols, SS14 and Chicago) and three TPE (CDC-2, Samoa D and Gauthier) strains. No large rearrangements in the Mexico A genome were found and the identified nucleotide changes occurred most frequently in genes encoding putative virulence factors. Nevertheless, the genome of the Mexico A strain, revealed two genes (TPAMA_0326 (tp92) and TPAMA_0488 (mcp2-1)) which combine TPA- and TPE- specific nucleotide sequences. Both genes were found to be under positive selection within TPA strains and also between TPA and TPE strains. Conclusions/Significance The observed mosaic character of the TPAMA_0326 and TPAMA_0488 loci is likely a result of inter-strain recombination between TPA and TPE strains during simultaneous infection of a single host suggesting horizontal gene transfer between treponemal subspecies. Treponema pallidum is a Gram-negative spirochete that causes diseases with distinct clinical manifestations and uses different transmission strategies. While syphilis (caused by subspecies pallidum) is a worldwide venereal and congenital disease, yaws (caused by subspecies pertenue) is a tropical disease transmitted by direct skin contact. Currently the genetic basis and evolution of these diseases remain unknown. In this study, we describe a high quality whole genome sequence of T. pallidum ssp. pallidum strain Mexico A, determined using the ?next generation? sequencing technique (Illumina). Although the genome of this strain contains no large rearrangements in comparison with other treponemal genomes, we found two genes which combined sequences from both subspecies pallidum and pertenue. The observed mosaic character of these two genes is likely a result of inter-strain recombination between pallidum and pertenue during simultaneous infection of a single host.
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ROTANOV SV, HAYRULIN RF, FRIGO NV. Studies of T.pallidum proteome for the purpose of improving laboratory assessments for the syphilis diagnostics. VESTNIK DERMATOLOGII I VENEROLOGII 2012. [DOI: 10.25208/vdv691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The review covers problems related to the ways of development of modern methods of laboratory assessment used for syphilis diagnostics on the basis of the use of specific antigens of the pathogenic agent. Results of studies of some immune proteome proteins of T.pallidum have been provided. The data on the possibility of their use for the development of new laboratory methods based on the detection of antibodies to Т. pallidum target proteins in blood serum samples of patients with different clinical forms of syphilis.
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Houston S, Hof R, Honeyman L, Hassler J, Cameron CE. Activation and proteolytic activity of the Treponema pallidum metalloprotease, pallilysin. PLoS Pathog 2012; 8:e1002822. [PMID: 22910436 PMCID: PMC3406077 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Accepted: 06/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Treponema pallidum is a highly invasive pathogen that undergoes rapid dissemination to establish widespread infection. Previous investigations identified the T. pallidum adhesin, pallilysin, as an HEXXH-containing metalloprotease that undergoes autocatalytic cleavage and degrades laminin and fibrinogen. In the current study we characterized pallilysin's active site, activation requirements, cellular location, and fibrin clot degradation capacity through both in vitro assays and heterologous treponemal expression and degradation studies. Site-directed mutagenesis showed the pallilysin HEXXH motif comprises at least part of the active site, as introduction of three independent mutations (AEXXH [H198A], HAXXH [E199A], and HEXXA [H202A]) abolished pallilysin-mediated fibrinogenolysis but did not adversely affect host component binding. Attainment of full pallilysin proteolytic activity was dependent upon autocatalytic cleavage of an N-terminal pro-domain, a process which could not occur in the HEXXH mutants. Pallilysin was shown to possess a thrombin cleavage site within its N-terminal pro-domain, and in vitro studies confirmed cleavage of pallilysin with thrombin generates a truncated pallilysin fragment that has enhanced proteolytic activity, suggesting pallilysin can also exploit the host coagulation process to facilitate protease activation. Opsonophagocytosis assays performed with viable T. pallidum demonstrated pallilysin is a target of opsonic antibodies, consistent with a host component-interacting, surface-exposed cellular location. Wild-type pallilysin, but not the HEXXA mutant, degraded fibrin clots, and similarly heterologous expression of pallilysin in the non-invasive spirochete Treponema phagedenis facilitated fibrin clot degradation. Collectively these results identify pallilysin as a surface-exposed metalloprotease within T. pallidum that possesses an HEXXH active site motif and requires autocatalytic or host-mediated cleavage of a pro-domain to attain full host component-directed proteolytic activity. Furthermore, our finding that expression of pallilysin confers upon T. phagedenis the capacity to degrade fibrin clots suggests this capability may contribute to the dissemination potential of T. pallidum. Syphilis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, is a chronic sexually transmitted disease which infects 12 million people annually. Treponema pallidum is highly invasive and undergoes widespread dissemination via the circulatory system. Similar to other invasive pathogens, T. pallidum has been shown to express a host-component-degrading protease, pallilysin, that binds and degrades human fibrinogen and laminin, suggesting a role for pallilysin in bacterial dissemination. Here we identify pallilysin active site residues using mutagenesis and show that, unlike wild-type, mutants fail to degrade fibrinogen. We show that pallilysin is converted into a highly proteolytically active form via truncation of a pro-domain through either autocatalytic cleavage or host-derived, thrombin-mediated cleavage. We also demonstrate that recombinant pallilysin enables clot dissolution and that pallilysin expressed on the surface of the non-invasive spirochete Treponema phagedenis confers the ability to degrade fibrin clots. Further, we show that pallilysin is present on the surface of T. pallidum and thus resides in a cellular location that facilitates direct contact with host components. Our study provides insight into the mechanism of interaction between pallilysin and two important coagulation system proteins, fibrinogen and thrombin, and suggests a novel mechanism that T. pallidum may utilize for dissemination during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Houston
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Rebecca Hof
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lisa Honeyman
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Julia Hassler
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Caroline E. Cameron
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Smajs D, Norris SJ, Weinstock GM. Genetic diversity in Treponema pallidum: implications for pathogenesis, evolution and molecular diagnostics of syphilis and yaws. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2012; 12:191-202. [PMID: 22198325 PMCID: PMC3786143 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2011.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2011] [Revised: 12/05/2011] [Accepted: 12/07/2011] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic uncultivable treponemes, similar to syphilis-causing Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, include T. pallidum ssp. pertenue, T. pallidum ssp. endemicum and Treponema carateum, which cause yaws, bejel and pinta, respectively. Genetic analyses of these pathogens revealed striking similarity among these bacteria and also a high degree of similarity to the rabbit pathogen, Treponema paraluiscuniculi, a treponeme not infectious to humans. Genome comparisons between pallidum and non-pallidum treponemes revealed genes with potential involvement in human infectivity, whereas comparisons between pallidum and pertenue treponemes identified genes possibly involved in the high invasivity of syphilis treponemes. Genetic variability within syphilis strains is considered as the basis of syphilis molecular epidemiology with potential to detect more virulent strains, whereas genetic variability within a single strain is related to its ability to elude the immune system of the host. Genome analyses also shed light on treponemal evolution and on chromosomal targets for molecular diagnostics of treponemal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Smajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Building A6, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
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Čejková D, Zobaníková M, Chen L, Pospíšilová P, Strouhal M, Qin X, Mikalová L, Norris SJ, Muzny DM, Gibbs RA, Fulton LL, Sodergren E, Weinstock GM, Šmajs D. Whole genome sequences of three Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue strains: yaws and syphilis treponemes differ in less than 0.2% of the genome sequence. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1471. [PMID: 22292095 PMCID: PMC3265458 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2011] [Accepted: 11/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The yaws treponemes, Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue (TPE) strains, are closely related to syphilis causing strains of Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA). Both yaws and syphilis are distinguished on the basis of epidemiological characteristics, clinical symptoms, and several genetic signatures of the corresponding causative agents. Methodology/Principal Findings To precisely define genetic differences between TPA and TPE, high-quality whole genome sequences of three TPE strains (Samoa D, CDC-2, Gauthier) were determined using next-generation sequencing techniques. TPE genome sequences were compared to four genomes of TPA strains (Nichols, DAL-1, SS14, Chicago). The genome structure was identical in all three TPE strains with similar length ranging between 1,139,330 bp and 1,139,744 bp. No major genome rearrangements were found when compared to the four TPA genomes. The whole genome nucleotide divergence (dA) between TPA and TPE subspecies was 4.7 and 4.8 times higher than the observed nucleotide diversity (π) among TPA and TPE strains, respectively, corresponding to 99.8% identity between TPA and TPE genomes. A set of 97 (9.9%) TPE genes encoded proteins containing two or more amino acid replacements or other major sequence changes. The TPE divergent genes were mostly from the group encoding potential virulence factors and genes encoding proteins with unknown function. Conclusions/Significance Hypothetical genes, with genetic differences, consistently found between TPE and TPA strains are candidates for syphilitic treponemes virulence factors. Seventeen TPE genes were predicted under positive selection, and eleven of them coded either for predicted exported proteins or membrane proteins suggesting their possible association with the cell surface. Sequence changes between TPE and TPA strains and changes specific to individual strains represent suitable targets for subspecies- and strain-specific molecular diagnostics. Spirochete Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue (TPE) is the causative agent of yaws while strains of Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA) cause syphilis. Both yaws and syphilis are distinguished on the basis of epidemiological characteristics and clinical symptoms. Neither treponeme can reproduce outside the host organism, which precludes the use of standard molecular biology techniques used to study cultivable pathogens. In this study, we determined high quality whole genome sequences of TPE strains and compared them to known genetic information for T. pallidum ssp. pallidum strains. The genome structure was identical in all three TPE strains and also between TPA and TPE strains. The TPE genome length ranged between 1,139,330 bp and 1,139,744 bp. The overall sequence identity between TPA and TPE genomes was 99.8%, indicating that the two pathogens are extremely closely related. A set of 34 TPE genes (3.5%) encoded proteins containing six or more amino acid replacements or other major sequence changes. These genes more often belonged to the group of genes with predicted virulence and unknown functions suggesting their involvement in infection differences between yaws and syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darina Čejková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Marie Zobaníková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lei Chen
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Petra Pospíšilová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Michal Strouhal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Xiang Qin
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lenka Mikalová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Steven J. Norris
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Donna M. Muzny
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Richard A. Gibbs
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lucinda L. Fulton
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Erica Sodergren
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - George M. Weinstock
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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Šmajs D, Zobaníková M, Strouhal M, Čejková D, Dugan-Rocha S, Pospíšilová P, Norris SJ, Albert T, Qin X, Hallsworth-Pepin K, Buhay C, Muzny DM, Chen L, Gibbs RA, Weinstock GM. Complete genome sequence of Treponema paraluiscuniculi, strain Cuniculi A: the loss of infectivity to humans is associated with genome decay. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20415. [PMID: 21655244 PMCID: PMC3105029 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2010] [Accepted: 05/02/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Treponema paraluiscuniculi is the causative agent of rabbit venereal spirochetosis. It is not infectious to humans, although its genome structure is very closely related to other pathogenic Treponema species including Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, the etiological agent of syphilis. In this study, the genome sequence of Treponema paraluiscuniculi, strain Cuniculi A, was determined by a combination of several high-throughput sequencing strategies. Whereas the overall size (1,133,390 bp), arrangement, and gene content of the Cuniculi A genome closely resembled those of the T. pallidum genome, the T. paraluiscuniculi genome contained a markedly higher number of pseudogenes and gene fragments (51). In addition to pseudogenes, 33 divergent genes were also found in the T. paraluiscuniculi genome. A set of 32 (out of 84) affected genes encoded proteins of known or predicted function in the Nichols genome. These proteins included virulence factors, gene regulators and components of DNA repair and recombination. The majority (52 or 61.9%) of the Cuniculi A pseudogenes and divergent genes were of unknown function. Our results indicate that T. paraluiscuniculi has evolved from a T. pallidum-like ancestor and adapted to a specialized host-associated niche (rabbits) during loss of infectivity to humans. The genes that are inactivated or altered in T. paraluiscuniculi are candidates for virulence factors important in the infectivity and pathogenesis of T. pallidum subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Dashper SG, Seers CA, Tan KH, Reynolds EC. Virulence factors of the oral spirochete Treponema denticola. J Dent Res 2010; 90:691-703. [PMID: 20940357 DOI: 10.1177/0022034510385242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There is compelling evidence that treponemes are involved in the etiology of several chronic diseases, including chronic periodontitis as well as other forms of periodontal disease. There are interesting parallels with other chronic diseases caused by treponemes that may indicate similar virulence characteristics. Chronic periodontitis is a polymicrobial disease, and recent animal studies indicate that co-infection of Treponema denticola with other periodontal pathogens can enhance alveolar bone resorption. The bacterium has a suite of molecular determinants that could enable it to cause tissue damage and subvert the host immune response. In addition to this, it has several non-classic virulence determinants that enable it to interact with other pathogenic bacteria and the host in ways that are likely to promote disease progression. Recent advances, especially in molecular-based methodologies, have greatly improved our knowledge of this bacterium and its role in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- S G Dashper
- Cooperative Research Centre for Oral Health, Melbourne Dental School and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, 720 Swanston Street, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Abstract
Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum is the causative agent of syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease characterized by widespread tissue dissemination and chronic infection. In this study, we analyzed the proteome of T. pallidum by the isoelectric focusing (IEF) and nonequilibrating pH gel electrophoresis (NEPHGE) forms of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DGE), coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis. We determined the identity of 148 T. pallidum protein spots, representing 88 T. pallidum polypeptides; 63 of these polypeptides had not been identified previously at the protein level. To examine which of these proteins are important in the antibody response to syphilis, we performed immunoblot analysis using infected rabbit sera or human sera from patients at different stages of syphilis infection. Twenty-nine previously described antigens (predominantly lipoproteins) were detected, as were a number of previously unidentified antigens. The reactivity patterns obtained with sera from infected rabbits and humans were similar; these patterns included a subset of antigens reactive with all serum samples tested, including CfpA, MglB-2, TmpA, TmpB, flagellins, and the 47-kDa, 17-kDa, and 15-kDa lipoproteins. A unique group of antigens specifically reactive with infected human serum was also identified and included the previously described antigen TpF1 and the hypothetical proteins TP0584, TP0608, and TP0965. This combined proteomic and serologic analysis further delineates the antigens potentially useful as vaccine candidates or diagnostic markers and may provide insight into the host-pathogen interactions that occur during T. pallidum infection.
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Giacani L, Godornes C, Puray-Chavez M, Guerra-Giraldez C, Tompa M, Lukehart SA, Centurion-Lara A. TP0262 is a modulator of promoter activity of tpr Subfamily II genes of Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum. Mol Microbiol 2009; 72:1087-99. [PMID: 19432808 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2009.06712.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation in Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum is poorly understood, primarily because this organism cannot be cultivated in vitro or genetically manipulated. We have recently shown a phase variation mechanism controlling transcription initiation of Subfamily II tpr (T. pallidumrepeat) genes (tprE, tprG and tprJ), a group of virulence factor candidates. Furthermore, the same study suggested that additional mechanisms might influence the level of transcription of these tprs. The T. pallidum genome sequence has revealed a few open reading frames with similarity to known bacterial transcription factors, including four catabolite activator protein homologues. In this work, sequences matching the Escherichia coli cAMP receptor protein (CRP) binding motif were identified in silico upstream of tprE, tprG and tprJ. Using elecrophoretic mobility shift assay and DNaseI footprinting assay, recombinant TP0262, a T. pallidum CRP homologue, was shown to bind specifically to amplicons obtained from the tpr promoters containing putative CRP binding motifs. Using a heterologous reporter system, binding of TP0262 to these promoters was shown to either increase (tprE and tprJ) or decrease (tprG) tpr promoter activity. This is the first characterization of a T. pallidum transcriptional modulator that influences tpr promoter activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Giacani
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
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Matejková P, Strouhal M, Smajs D, Norris SJ, Palzkill T, Petrosino JF, Sodergren E, Norton JE, Singh J, Richmond TA, Molla MN, Albert TJ, Weinstock GM. Complete genome sequence of Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum strain SS14 determined with oligonucleotide arrays. BMC Microbiol 2008; 8:76. [PMID: 18482458 PMCID: PMC2408589 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-8-76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2008] [Accepted: 05/15/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Syphilis spirochete Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum remains the enigmatic pathogen, since no virulence factors have been identified and the pathogenesis of the disease is poorly understood. Increasing rates of new syphilis cases per year have been observed recently. Results The genome of the SS14 strain was sequenced to high accuracy by an oligonucleotide array strategy requiring hybridization to only three arrays (Comparative Genome Sequencing, CGS). Gaps in the resulting sequence were filled with targeted dideoxy-terminators (DDT) sequencing and the sequence was confirmed by whole genome fingerprinting (WGF). When compared to the Nichols strain, 327 single nucleotide substitutions (224 transitions, 103 transversions), 14 deletions, and 18 insertions were found. On the proteome level, the highest frequency of amino acid-altering substitution polymorphisms was in novel genes, while the lowest was in housekeeping genes, as expected by their evolutionary conservation. Evidence was also found for hypervariable regions and multiple regions showing intrastrain heterogeneity in the T. pallidum chromosome. Conclusion The observed genetic changes do not have influence on the ability of Treponema pallidum to cause syphilitic infection, since both SS14 and Nichols are virulent in rabbit. However, this is the first assessment of the degree of variation between the two syphilis pathogens and paves the way for phylogenetic studies of this fascinating organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Matejková
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Alkek N1619, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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