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Venugopal G, Pechous RD. Yersinia pestis and pneumonic plague: Insight into how a lethal pathogen interfaces with innate immune populations in the lung to cause severe disease. Cell Immunol 2024; 403-404:104856. [PMID: 39002222 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2024.104856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of bubonic, septicemic and pneumonic plague. The historical importance and potential of plague to re-emerge as a threat worldwide are indisputable. The most severe manifestion of plague is pneumonic plague, which results in disease that is 100% lethal without treatment. Y. pestis suppresses host immune responses early in the lung to establish infection. The later stages of infection see the rapid onset of hyperinflammatory responses that prove lethal. The study of Y. pestis host/pathogen interactions have largely been investigated during bubonic plague and with attenuated strains in cell culture models. There remains a somewhat limited understanding of the interactions between virulent Y. pestis and immune populations in the lung that drive severe disease. In this review we give a broad overview of the progression of pneumonic plague and highlighting how Y. pestis interfaces with host innate immune populations in the lung to cause lethal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopinath Venugopal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Roger D Pechous
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
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2
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Marais G, Moodley C, Claassen-Weitz S, Patel F, Prentice E, Tootla H, Nyakutira N, Lennard K, Reddy K, Bamford C, Niehaus A, Whitelaw A, Brink A. Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae among hospitalized patients in Cape Town, South Africa: molecular epidemiology and characterization. JAC Antimicrob Resist 2024; 6:dlae050. [PMID: 38529003 PMCID: PMC10963078 DOI: 10.1093/jacamr/dlae050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in Cape Town remains largely unknown. Objectives This study aimed to describe the molecular epidemiology, resistome, virulome and mobilome of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) within Cape Town to guide therapy, antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control practices. Methods Eighty-five CRKP isolates from hospitalized patients underwent WGS as part of a prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional study, conducted between 1 November 2020 and 30 November 2022, across public-sector and private-sector hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa. Results MLST revealed three novel types, ST6785, ST6786 and ST6787, while the most common were ST219, ST307, ST17, ST13 and ST2497. Different predominant clones were noted in each hospital. The most common carbapenemase gene was blaOXA-48-like, detected in 71% of isolates, with blaNDM detected in 5%. Notably, co-detection of two carbapenemase genes (blaOXA-48-like and blaNDM) occurred in 13% of isolates. The yersiniabactin siderophore was detected in 73% of isolates, and was most commonly associated with the ICEKp5 mobile element. All carbapenemases were located on plasmids. The genes blaOXA-181 and blaOXA-232 colocalized with a ColKP3 replicon type on assembled contigs in 83% and 100% of cases, respectively. Conclusions CRKP epidemiology in Cape Town reflects institutionally dominant, rather than regional, clones. The most prevalent carbapenemase gene was blaOXA-48-like, in keeping with CRKP epidemiology in South Africa in general. Emerging clones harbouring both blaOXA-48-like and blaNDM, such as ST17, ST2497 and the novel ST6787, are a concern due to the limited availability of appropriate antimicrobial agents in South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gert Marais
- Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service Laboratory, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Clinton Moodley
- Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service Laboratory, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Shantelle Claassen-Weitz
- Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Fadheela Patel
- Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Elizabeth Prentice
- Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service Laboratory, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Hafsah Tootla
- Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Service, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nyasha Nyakutira
- Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Katie Lennard
- Division of Computational Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Kessendri Reddy
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Colleen Bamford
- Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Pathcare, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Abraham Niehaus
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Ampath, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andrew Whitelaw
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Adrian Brink
- Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service Laboratory, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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Fang J, Wang G, Kang X, Pan Z, Mei Y, Chen H, Liu Y, Xiang T. Analysis of the hypovirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae with the NDM-5 gene on IncN plasmids. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0344323. [PMID: 38019003 PMCID: PMC10783101 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03443-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE It is crucial to strengthen the ongoing clinical surveillance of non-highly virulent, multi-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Fang
- Department of Infectious disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Department of Infectious disease, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Guoyu Wang
- Department of Hospital Infection Control, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiuhua Kang
- Department of Hospital Infection Control, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Zhenhui Pan
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yanfang Mei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Huade Chen
- Department of Infectious disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Department of Infectious disease, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Tianxin Xiang
- Department of Hospital Infection Control, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Hospital of China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Medical Center for Critical Public Health Events, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
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Pitta JLDLP, Bezerra MF, Fernandes DLRDS, de Block T, Novaes ADS, de Almeida AMP, Rezende AM. Genomic Analysis of Yersinia pestis Strains from Brazil: Search for Virulence Factors and Association with Epidemiological Data. Pathogens 2023; 12:991. [PMID: 37623951 PMCID: PMC10459997 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12080991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Yersinia pestis, the etiological agent of the plague, is considered a genetically homogeneous species. Brazil is currently in a period of epidemiological silence but plague antibodies are still detected in sentinel animals, suggesting disease activity in the sylvatic cycle. The present study deployed an in silico approach to analyze virulence factors among 407 Brazilian genomes of Y. pestis belonging to the Fiocruz Collection (1966-1997). The pangenome analysis associated several known virulence factors of Y. pestis in clades according to the presence or absence of genes. Four main strain clades (C, E, G, and H) exhibited the absence of various virulence genes. Notably, clade G displayed the highest number of absent genes, while clade E showed a significant absence of genes related to the T6SS secretion system and clade H predominantly demonstrated the absence of plasmid-related genes. These results suggest attenuation of virulence in these strains over time. The cgMLST analysis associated genomic and epidemiological data highlighting evolutionary patterns related to the isolation years and outbreaks of Y. pestis in Brazil. Thus, the results contribute to the understanding of the genetic diversity and virulence within Y. pestis and the potential for utilizing genomic data in epidemiological investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Luiz de Lemos Padilha Pitta
- Microbiology Department of Aggeu Magalhães Institute—FIOCRUZ PE, Recife 50740-465, PE, Brazil; (M.F.B.); (D.L.R.d.S.F.); (A.M.P.d.A.)
- Bioinformatics Platform of Aggeu Magalhães Institute—FIOCRUZ PE, Recife 50740-465, PE, Brazil
| | - Matheus Filgueira Bezerra
- Microbiology Department of Aggeu Magalhães Institute—FIOCRUZ PE, Recife 50740-465, PE, Brazil; (M.F.B.); (D.L.R.d.S.F.); (A.M.P.d.A.)
| | | | - Tessa de Block
- Department of Clinical Sciences—Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Ane de Souza Novaes
- Department of Biological Sciences—Federal University of Vale do São Francisco—UNIVASF, Petrolina 56300-000, PE, Brazil;
| | - Alzira Maria Paiva de Almeida
- Microbiology Department of Aggeu Magalhães Institute—FIOCRUZ PE, Recife 50740-465, PE, Brazil; (M.F.B.); (D.L.R.d.S.F.); (A.M.P.d.A.)
| | - Antonio Mauro Rezende
- Microbiology Department of Aggeu Magalhães Institute—FIOCRUZ PE, Recife 50740-465, PE, Brazil; (M.F.B.); (D.L.R.d.S.F.); (A.M.P.d.A.)
- Bioinformatics Platform of Aggeu Magalhães Institute—FIOCRUZ PE, Recife 50740-465, PE, Brazil
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Novel RNA Extraction Method for Dual RNA-seq Analysis of Pathogen and Host in the Early Stages of Yersinia pestis Pulmonary Infection. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9102166. [PMID: 34683487 PMCID: PMC8539884 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumonic plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is a rapidly progressing lethal infection. The various phases of pneumonic plague are yet to be fully understood. A well-established way to address the pathology of infectious diseases in general, and pneumonic plague in particular, is to conduct concomitant transcriptomic analysis of the bacteria and the host. The analysis of dual RNA by RNA sequencing technology is challenging, due the difficulties of extracting bacterial RNA, which is overwhelmingly outnumbered by the host RNA, especially at the critical early time points post-infection (prior to 48 h). Here, we describe a novel technique that employed the infusion of an RNA preserving reagent (RNAlater) into the lungs of the animals, through the trachea, under deep anesthesia. This method enabled the isolation of stable dual mRNA from the lungs of mice infected with Y. pestis, as early as 24 h post-infection. The RNA was used for transcriptomic analysis, which provided a comprehensive gene expression profile of both the host and the pathogen.
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Rosario-Acevedo R, Biryukov SS, Bozue JA, Cote CK. Plague Prevention and Therapy: Perspectives on Current and Future Strategies. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1421. [PMID: 34680537 PMCID: PMC8533540 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9101421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Plague, caused by the bacterial pathogen Yersinia pestis, is a vector-borne disease that has caused millions of human deaths over several centuries. Presently, human plague infections continue throughout the world. Transmission from one host to another relies mainly on infected flea bites, which can cause enlarged lymph nodes called buboes, followed by septicemic dissemination of the pathogen. Additionally, droplet inhalation after close contact with infected mammals can result in primary pneumonic plague. Here, we review research advances in the areas of vaccines and therapeutics for plague in context of Y. pestis virulence factors and disease pathogenesis. Plague continues to be both a public health threat and a biodefense concern and we highlight research that is important for infection mitigation and disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Christopher K. Cote
- Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA; (R.R.-A.); (S.S.B.); (J.A.B.)
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Moyer TB, Purvis AL, Wommack AJ, Hicks LM. Proteomic response of Escherichia coli to a membrane lytic and iron chelating truncated Amaranthus tricolor defensin. BMC Microbiol 2021; 21:110. [PMID: 33845758 PMCID: PMC8042948 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-021-02176-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plant defensins are a broadly distributed family of antimicrobial peptides which have been primarily studied for agriculturally relevant antifungal activity. Recent studies have probed defensins against Gram-negative bacteria revealing evidence for multiple mechanisms of action including membrane lysis and ribosomal inhibition. Herein, a truncated synthetic analog containing the γ-core motif of Amaranthus tricolor DEF2 (Atr-DEF2) reveals Gram-negative antibacterial activity and its mechanism of action is probed via proteomics, outer membrane permeability studies, and iron reduction/chelation assays. RESULTS Atr-DEF2(G39-C54) demonstrated activity against two Gram-negative human bacterial pathogens, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Quantitative proteomics revealed changes in the E. coli proteome in response to treatment of sub-lethal concentrations of the truncated defensin, including bacterial outer membrane (OM) and iron acquisition/processing related proteins. Modification of OM charge is a common response of Gram-negative bacteria to membrane lytic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to reduce electrostatic interactions, and this mechanism of action was confirmed for Atr-DEF2(G39-C54) via an N-phenylnaphthalen-1-amine uptake assay. Additionally, in vitro assays confirmed the capacity of Atr-DEF2(G39-C54) to reduce Fe3+ and chelate Fe2+ at cell culture relevant concentrations, thus limiting the availability of essential enzymatic cofactors. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the utility of plant defensin γ-core motif synthetic analogs for characterization of novel defensin activity. Proteomic changes in E. coli after treatment with Atr-DEF2(G39-C54) supported the hypothesis that membrane lysis is an important component of γ-core motif mediated antibacterial activity but also emphasized that other properties, such as metal sequestration, may contribute to a multifaceted mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa B Moyer
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Rd. CB#3290, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | | | - Andrew J Wommack
- Department of Chemistry, High Point University, High Point, NC, USA
| | - Leslie M Hicks
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Rd. CB#3290, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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The Yersinia pestis GTPase BipA Promotes Pathogenesis of Primary Pneumonic Plague. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00673-20. [PMID: 33257531 PMCID: PMC7822129 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00673-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Yersinia pestis is a highly virulent pathogen and the causative agent of bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic plague. Primary pneumonic plague caused by inhalation of respiratory droplets contaminated with Y. pestis is nearly 100% lethal within 4 to 7 days without antibiotic intervention. Pneumonic plague progresses in two phases, beginning with extensive bacterial replication in the lung with minimal host responsiveness, followed by the abrupt onset of a lethal proinflammatory response. The precise mechanisms by which Y. pestis is able to colonize the lung and survive two very distinct disease phases remain largely unknown. To date, a few bacterial virulence factors, including the Ysc type 3 secretion system, are known to contribute to the pathogenesis of primary pneumonic plague. The bacterial GTPase BipA has been shown to regulate expression of virulence factors in a number of Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. However, the role of BipA in Y. pestis has yet to be investigated. Here, we show that BipA is a Y. pestis virulence factor that promotes defense against early neutrophil-mediated bacterial killing in the lung. This work identifies a novel Y. pestis virulence factor and highlights the importance of early bacterial/neutrophil interactions in the lung during primary pneumonic plague.
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Intranasal Inoculation of Mice with Yersinia pestis and Processing of Pulmonary Tissue for Analysis. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2010:17-28. [PMID: 31177428 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9541-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Pneumonic plague is a rapidly progressing and highly lethal pneumonia caused by pulmonary infection with Yersinia pestis. Disease is marked by the rapid replication of bacteria in the lungs in the absence of symptoms, followed by the abrupt onset of a highly lethal inflammatory response. A murine intranasal infection model has been key to characterizing the progression of disease. Mice are a natural Y. pestis host, and murine disease closely mirrors what is seen during human infection. Intranasal inoculation of mice with fully virulent Y. pestis strains allows for the detailed analysis of key bacterial and host factors that define disease progression. In this chapter I describe a method for intranasal inoculation of mice with Y. pestis, as well as techniques for processing lung tissue for analysis. These include protocols for isolating whole lungs and lavage fluid for measure of bacterial burden, transcriptomics, cytokine/chemokine expression, and flow cytometry. These techniques can be used to evaluate disease parameters of interest during typical infection, infection with bacterial mutants, or infection in the presence of pharmacological agents aimed at targeting specific host or bacterial factors. Combining a highly relevant murine infection model with these techniques provides a powerful platform for fully evaluating the progression of pneumonic plague.
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Eichelberger KR, Jones GS, Goldman WE. Inhibition of Neutrophil Primary Granule Release during Yersinia pestis Pulmonary Infection. mBio 2019; 10:e02759-19. [PMID: 31822588 PMCID: PMC6904878 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02759-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhalation of Yersinia pestis causes primary pneumonic plague, the most severe manifestation of plague that is characterized by a dramatic neutrophil influx to the lungs. Neutrophils are ineffective during primary pneumonic plague, failing to control Y. pestis growth in the airways. However, the mechanisms by which Y. pestis resists neutrophil killing are incompletely understood. Here, we show that Y. pestis inhibits neutrophil degranulation, an important line of host innate immune defense. We observed that neutrophils from the lungs of mice infected intranasally with Y. pestis fail to release primary granules throughout the course of disease. Using a type III secretion system (T3SS) injection reporter strain, we determined that Y. pestis directly inhibits neutrophil granule release by a T3SS-dependent mechanism. Combinatorial mutant analysis revealed that a Y. pestis strain lacking both effectors YopE and YopH did not inhibit primary granule release and is killed by neutrophils both in vivo and in vitro Similarly, Y. pestis strains injecting only YopE or YopH are able to inhibit the majority of primary granule release from human neutrophils. We determined that YopE and YopH block Rac2 activation and calcium flux, respectively, to inhibit neutrophil primary granule release in isolated human neutrophils. These results demonstrate that Y. pestis coordinates the inhibition of neutrophil primary granule release through the activities of two distinct effectors, and this inhibition promotes Y. pestis survival during primary pneumonic plague.IMPORTANCEYersinia pestis is the causative agent of plague and is one of the deadliest human pathogens. The pneumonic form of Y. pestis infection has played a critical role in the severity of both historical and modern plague outbreaks, yet the host-pathogen interactions that govern the lethality of Yersinia pestis pulmonary infections are incompletely understood. Here, we report that Yersinia pestis inhibits neutrophil degranulation during infection, rendering neutrophils ineffective and allowing unrestricted growth of Y. pestis in the lungs. This coordinated inhibition of granule release not only demonstrates the pathogenic benefit of "silencing" lung neutrophils but also reveals specific host processes and pathways that could be manipulated to reduce the severity of primary pneumonic plague.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara R Eichelberger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Grant S Jones
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - William E Goldman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Ritzert JT, Minasov G, Embry R, Schipma MJ, Satchell KJF. The Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein Regulates Quorum Sensing and Global Gene Expression in Yersinia pestis during Planktonic Growth and Growth in Biofilms. mBio 2019; 10:e02613-19. [PMID: 31744922 PMCID: PMC6867900 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02613-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptor protein (Crp) is an important transcriptional regulator of Yersinia pestis Expression of crp increases during pneumonic plague as the pathogen depletes glucose and forms large biofilms within lungs. To better understand control of Y. pestis Crp, we determined a 1.8-Å crystal structure of the protein-cAMP complex. We found that compared to Escherichia coli Crp, C helix amino acid substitutions in Y. pestis Crp did not impact the cAMP dependency of Crp to bind DNA promoters. To investigate Y. pestis Crp-regulated genes during plague pneumonia, we performed RNA sequencing on both wild-type and Δcrp mutant bacteria growing in planktonic and biofilm states in minimal media with glucose or glycerol. Y. pestis Crp was found to dramatically alter expression of hundreds of genes in a manner dependent upon carbon source and growth state. Gel shift assays confirmed direct regulation of the malT and ptsG promoters, and Crp was then linked to Y. pestis growth on maltose as a sole carbon source. Iron regulation genes ybtA and fyuA were found to be indirectly regulated by Crp. A new connection between carbon source and quorum sensing was revealed as Crp was found to regulate production of acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) through direct and indirect regulation of genes for AHL synthetases and receptors. AHLs were subsequently identified in the lungs of Y. pestis-infected mice when crp expression was highest in Y. pestis biofilms. Thus, in addition to the well-studied pla gene, other Crp-regulated genes likely have important functions during plague infection.IMPORTANCE Bacterial pathogens have evolved extensive signaling pathways to translate environmental signals into changes in gene expression. While Crp has long been appreciated for its role in regulating metabolism of carbon sources in many bacterial species, transcriptional profiling has revealed that this protein regulates many other aspects of bacterial physiology. The plague pathogen Y. pestis requires this global regulator to survive in blood, skin, and lungs. During disease progression, this organism adapts to changes within these niches. In addition to regulating genes for metabolism of nonglucose sugars, we found that Crp regulates genes for virulence, metal acquisition, and quorum sensing by direct or indirect mechanisms. Thus, this single transcriptional regulator, which responds to changes in available carbon sources, can regulate multiple critical behaviors for causing disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy T Ritzert
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - George Minasov
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Ryan Embry
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Matthew J Schipma
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Karla J F Satchell
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Parsley NC, Sadecki PW, Hartmann CJ, Hicks LM. Viola " inconspicua" No More: An Analysis of Antibacterial Cyclotides. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2019; 82:2537-2543. [PMID: 31464123 PMCID: PMC6873112 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of rapidly evolving multidrug-resistant pathogens and a deficit of new compounds entering the clinical pipeline necessitate the exploration of alternative sources of antimicrobial therapeutics. Cyclotides revealed in Viola spp. are a class of highly stable, cyclic, and disulfide-bound peptides with diverse intrinsic bioactivities. Herein we have identified a novel complement of 42 putative cyclotide masses in the plant species Viola inconspicua. Cyclotide-containing fractions of a V. inconspicua peptide library revealed potent bioactivities against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and the highly virulent and multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae VK148. As such, six previously uncharacterized cyclotides, cycloviolacins I1-6 (cyI1-cyI6), were prioritized for molecular characterization. Cyclotides cyI3-cyI6 contain a novel "TLNGNPGA" motif in the highly variable loop six region, expanding the already substantial sequence diversity of this peptide class. Library fractions comprised of cyclotides cyI3-cyI6 exhibited MIC values of 18 and 35 μM against E. coli and K. pneumoniae, respectively, whereas isolated cyI3 killed ∼50% of E. coli at 60 μM and isolated cyI4 demonstrated no killing at concentrations >60 μM against both pathogens. This work expands the repertoire of bioactive cyclotides found in Viola spp. and highlights the potential of these antibacterial cyclic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole C. Parsley
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Patric W. Sadecki
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Conrad J. Hartmann
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Leslie M. Hicks
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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Modeling Pneumonic Plague in Human Precision-Cut Lung Slices Highlights a Role for the Plasminogen Activator Protease in Facilitating Type 3 Secretion. Infect Immun 2019; 87:IAI.00175-19. [PMID: 31085709 PMCID: PMC6652753 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00175-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumonic plague is the deadliest form of disease caused by Yersinia pestis Key to the progression of infection is the activity of the plasminogen activator protease Pla. Deletion of Pla results in a decreased Y. pestis bacterial burden in the lung and failure to progress into the lethal proinflammatory phase of disease. While a number of putative functions have been attributed to Pla, its precise role in the pathogenesis of pneumonic plague is yet to be defined. Here, we show that Pla facilitates type 3 secretion into primary alveolar macrophages but not into the commonly used THP-1 cell line. We also establish human precision-cut lung slices as a platform for modeling early host/pathogen interactions during pneumonic plague and solidify the role of Pla in promoting optimal type 3 secretion using primary human tissue with relevant host cell heterogeneity. These results position Pla as a key player in the early host/pathogen interactions that define pneumonic plague and showcase the utility of human precision-cut lung slices as a platform to evaluate pulmonary infection by bacterial pathogens.
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Demeure C, Dussurget O, Fiol GM, Le Guern AS, Savin C, Pizarro-Cerdá J. Yersinia pestis and plague: an updated view on evolution, virulence determinants, immune subversion, vaccination and diagnostics. Microbes Infect 2019; 21:202-212. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Demeure CE, Dussurget O, Mas Fiol G, Le Guern AS, Savin C, Pizarro-Cerdá J. Yersinia pestis and plague: an updated view on evolution, virulence determinants, immune subversion, vaccination, and diagnostics. Genes Immun 2019; 20:357-370. [PMID: 30940874 PMCID: PMC6760536 DOI: 10.1038/s41435-019-0065-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Plague is a vector-borne disease caused by Yersinia pestis. Transmitted by fleas from rodent reservoirs, Y. pestis emerged <6000 years ago from an enteric bacterial ancestor through events of gene gain and genome reduction. It is a highly remarkable model for the understanding of pathogenic bacteria evolution, and a major concern for public health as highlighted by recent human outbreaks. A complex set of virulence determinants, including the Yersinia outer-membrane proteins (Yops), the broad-range protease Pla, pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and iron capture systems play critical roles in the molecular strategies that Y. pestis employs to subvert the human immune system, allowing unrestricted bacterial replication in lymph nodes (bubonic plague) and in lungs (pneumonic plague). Some of these immunogenic proteins as well as the capsular antigen F1 are exploited for diagnostic purposes, which are critical in the context of the rapid onset of death in the absence of antibiotic treatment (less than a week for bubonic plague and <48 h for pneumonic plague). Here, we review recent research advances on Y. pestis evolution, virulence factor function, bacterial strategies to subvert mammalian innate immune responses, vaccination, and problems associated with pneumonic plague diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivier Dussurget
- Yersinia Research Unit, Institut Pasteur, F-75724, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Guillem Mas Fiol
- Yersinia Research Unit, Institut Pasteur, F-75724, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Le Guern
- Yersinia Research Unit, Institut Pasteur, F-75724, Paris, France
- National Reference Laboratory 'Plague & Other Yersiniosis', Institut Pasteur, F-75724, Paris, France
- World Health Organization Collaborating Research & Reference Centre for Yersinia, Institut Pasteur, F-75724, Paris, France
| | - Cyril Savin
- Yersinia Research Unit, Institut Pasteur, F-75724, Paris, France
- National Reference Laboratory 'Plague & Other Yersiniosis', Institut Pasteur, F-75724, Paris, France
- World Health Organization Collaborating Research & Reference Centre for Yersinia, Institut Pasteur, F-75724, Paris, France
| | - Javier Pizarro-Cerdá
- Yersinia Research Unit, Institut Pasteur, F-75724, Paris, France.
- National Reference Laboratory 'Plague & Other Yersiniosis', Institut Pasteur, F-75724, Paris, France.
- World Health Organization Collaborating Research & Reference Centre for Yersinia, Institut Pasteur, F-75724, Paris, France.
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Abstract
Neutrophils are the primary immune cell recruited to the site of bacterial infection, where they can rapidly deploy vesicles filled with various pro-inflammatory and anti-microbial proteins. This degranulation process, combined with oxidative and nitrosative mechanisms, is a major part of the initial host response to kill microorganisms. Neutrophils are one of the main cell types that interact with Yersinia pestis during infection, which is often lethal in the absence of prompt antibiotic treatment. Intradermal inoculation of Y. pestis results in bubonic plague, and inhalation of aerosolized droplets containing Y. pestis results in pneumonic plague. Although neutrophils are recruited to the site of inoculation during both bubonic and pneumonic plague, the neutrophils fail to clear Y. pestis, and, during pneumonic plague, contribute to the development of severe pneumonia. Subverting neutrophil responses is critical to the development of fulminant disease, yet the mechanisms by which Y. pestis impairs neutrophils are poorly understood. Cell culture models are important tools for studying Y. pestis interactions with immune cells. We describe a cell culture model for the infection of human neutrophils with Y. pestis. Neutrophils are isolated from human peripheral blood at high purity and subsequently infected with Y. pestis. We specifically focus on the application of this in vitro infection assay to the analysis of neutrophil degranulation responses.
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Bobrov AG, Kirillina O, Fosso MY, Fetherston JD, Miller MC, VanCleave TT, Burlison JA, Arnold WK, Lawrenz MB, Garneau-Tsodikova S, Perry RD. Zinc transporters YbtX and ZnuABC are required for the virulence of Yersinia pestis in bubonic and pneumonic plague in mice. Metallomics 2018; 9:757-772. [PMID: 28540946 DOI: 10.1039/c7mt00126f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
A number of bacterial pathogens require the ZnuABC Zinc (Zn2+) transporter and/or a second Zn2+ transport system to overcome Zn2+ sequestration by mammalian hosts. Previously we have shown that in addition to ZnuABC, Yersinia pestis possesses a second Zn2+ transporter that involves components of the yersiniabactin (Ybt), siderophore-dependent iron transport system. Synthesis of the Ybt siderophore and YbtX, a member of the major facilitator superfamily, are both critical components of the second Zn2+ transport system. Here we demonstrate that a ybtX znu double mutant is essentially avirulent in mouse models of bubonic and pneumonic plague while a ybtX mutant retains high virulence in both plague models. While sequestration of host Zn is a key nutritional immunity factor, excess Zn appears to have a significant antimicrobial role in controlling intracellular bacterial survival. Here, we demonstrate that ZntA, a Zn2+ exporter, plays a role in resistance to Zn toxicity in vitro, but that a zntA zur double mutant retains high virulence in both pneumonic and bubonic plague models and survival in macrophages. We also confirm that Ybt does not directly bind Zn2+in vitro under the conditions tested. However, we detect a significant increase in Zn2+-binding ability of filtered supernatants from a Ybt+ strain compared to those from a strain unable to produce the siderophore, supporting our previously published data that Ybt biosynthetic genes are involved in the production of a secreted Zn-binding molecule (zincophore). Our data suggest that Ybt or a modified Ybt participate in or promote Zn-binding activity in culture supernatants and is involved in Zn acquisition in Y. pestis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander G Bobrov
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
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Depletion of Glucose Activates Catabolite Repression during Pneumonic Plague. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:JB.00737-17. [PMID: 29555700 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00737-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial pathogenesis depends on changes in metabolic and virulence gene expression in response to changes within a pathogen's environment. The plague-causing pathogen, Yersinia pestis, requires expression of the gene encoding the Pla protease for progression of pneumonic plague. The catabolite repressor protein Crp, a global transcriptional regulator, may serve as the activator of pla in response to changes within the lungs as disease progresses. By using gene reporter fusions, the spatial and temporal activation of the crp and pla promoters was measured in a mouse model of pneumonic plague. In the lungs, crp was highly expressed in bacteria found within large aggregates resembling biofilms, while pla expression increased over time independent of the aggregated state. Increased expression of crp and pla correlated with a reduction in lung glucose levels. Deletion of the glucose-specific phosphotransferase system EIIBC (PtsG) of Y. pestis rescued glucose levels in the lungs, resulting in reduced expression of both crp and pla We propose that activation of pla expression during pneumonic plague is driven by an increase of both Crp and cAMP levels following consumption of available glucose in the lungs by Y. pestis Thus, Crp operates as a sensor linking the nutritional environment of the host to regulation of virulence gene expression.IMPORTANCE Using Yersinia pestis as a model for pneumonia, we discovered that glucose is rapidly consumed, leading to a catabolite-repressive environment in the lungs. As a result, expression of the gene encoding the plasminogen activator protease, a target of the catabolite repressor protein required for Y. pestis pathogenesis, is activated. Interestingly, expression of the catabolite repressor protein itself was also increased in the absence of glucose but only in biofilms. The data presented here demonstrate how a bacterial pathogen senses changes within its environment to coordinate metabolism and virulence gene expression.
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Pechous RD. With Friends Like These: The Complex Role of Neutrophils in the Progression of Severe Pneumonia. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:160. [PMID: 28507954 PMCID: PMC5410563 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumonia is a leading cause of death from infection in the United States and across the globe. During pulmonary infection, clear resolution of host inflammatory responses occurs in the absence of appreciable lung damage. Neutrophils are the first wave of leukocytes to arrive in the lung upon infection. After activation, neutrophils traffic from the vasculature via transendothelial migration through the lung interstitium and into the alveolar space. Successful pulmonary immunity requires neutrophil-mediated killing of invading pathogens by phagocytosis and release of a myriad of antimicrobial molecules, followed by resolution of inflammation, neutrophil apoptosis, and clearing of dead or dying neutrophils by macrophages. In addition to their antimicrobial role, it is becoming clear that neutrophils are also important modulators of innate and adaptive immune responses, primarily through the release of cytokines and recruitment of additional waves of neutrophils into the airways. Though typically essential to combating severe pneumonia, neutrophil influx into the airways is a double-edged sword: Overzealous neutrophil activation can cause severe tissue damage as a result of the release of toxic agents including proteases, cationic polypeptides, cytokines, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) aimed at killing invading microbes. In extreme cases, the damage caused by neutrophils and other innate immune mediators become the primary source of morbidity and mortality. Here, we review the complex role of neutrophils during severe pneumonia by highlighting specific molecules and processes that contribute to pulmonary immunity, but can also drive progression of severe disease. Depending on the identity of the infectious agent, enhancing or suppressing neutrophil-mediated responses may be key to effectively treating severe and typically lethal pneumonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger D Pechous
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesLittle Rock, AR, USA
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20
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Pechous RD, Sivaraman V, Stasulli NM, Goldman WE. Pneumonic Plague: The Darker Side of Yersinia pestis. Trends Microbiol 2016; 24:190-197. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2015.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Chung LK, Bliska JB. Yersinia versus host immunity: how a pathogen evades or triggers a protective response. Curr Opin Microbiol 2015; 29:56-62. [PMID: 26638030 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2015.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Revised: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The human pathogenic Yersinia species cause diseases that represent a significant source of morbidity and mortality. Despite this, specific mechanisms underlying Yersinia pathogenesis and protective host responses remain poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that Yersinia disrupt cell death pathways, perturb inflammatory processes and exploit immune cells to promote disease. The ensuing host responses following Yersinia infection include coordination of innate and adaptive immune responses in an attempt to control bacterial replication. Here, we highlight current advances in our understanding of the interactions between the pathogenic yersiniae and host cells, as well as the protective host responses mobilized to counteract these pathogens. Together, these studies enhance our understanding of Yersinia pathogenesis and highlight the ongoing battle between host and microbe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawton K Chung
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5120, United States
| | - James B Bliska
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5120, United States.
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Hosseinkhan N, Zarrineh P, Rokni-Zadeh H, Ashouri MR, Masoudi-Nejad A. Co-expressional conservation in virulence and stress related genes of three Gammaproteobacterial species: Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2015; 11:3137-48. [PMID: 26387845 DOI: 10.1039/c5mb00353a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Gene co-expression analysis is one of the main aspects of systems biology that uses high-throughput gene expression data. In the present study we applied cross-species co-expressional analysis on a module of biofilm and stress response associated genes. We addressed different kinds of stresses in three most intensively studied members of Gammaproteobacteria including Escherichia coli K12, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and Salmonella enterica for which large sets of gene expression data are available. Our aim was to evaluate the presence of common stress response strategies adopted by these microorganisms that may be assigned to the other members of Gammaproteobacteria. Results of functional annotation analysis revealed distinct categories among co-expressed genes, most of which concerned biological processes associated with virulence and stress response. Transcriptional regulatory analysis of genes present in co-expressed modules showed that the global stress sigma factor, RpoS, besides several local transcription factors accounts for the observed co-expressional response, and that several cases of feed-forward loops exist between global regulators, local transcription factors and their targets. Our results lend partial support to our underlying assumption of the conservation of core biological processes and regulatory interactions among these related Gammaproteobacteria members. This has led to the implementation of transferring gene function annotations from well-studied Gammaproteobacterial species to less-characterized members. These findings can shed light on the discovery of new drug targets capable of controlling severe infections caused by these groups of bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Hosseinkhan
- Laboratory of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
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