1
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Otto SB, Servajean R, Lemopoulos A, Bitbol AF, Blokesch M. Interactions between pili affect the outcome of bacterial competition driven by the type VI secretion system. Curr Biol 2024; 34:2403-2417.e9. [PMID: 38749426 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.041] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
The bacterial type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a widespread, kin-discriminatory weapon capable of shaping microbial communities. Due to the system's dependency on contact, cellular interactions can lead to either competition or kin protection. Cell-to-cell contact is often accomplished via surface-exposed type IV pili (T4Ps). In Vibrio cholerae, these T4Ps facilitate specific interactions when the bacteria colonize natural chitinous surfaces. However, it has remained unclear whether and, if so, how these interactions affect the bacterium's T6SS-mediated killing. In this study, we demonstrate that pilus-mediated interactions can be harnessed by T6SS-equipped V. cholerae to kill non-kin cells under liquid growth conditions. We also show that the naturally occurring diversity of pili determines the likelihood of cell-to-cell contact and, consequently, the extent of T6SS-mediated competition. To determine the factors that enable or hinder the T6SS's targeted reduction of competitors carrying pili, we developed a physics-grounded computational model for autoaggregation. Collectively, our research demonstrates that T4Ps involved in cell-to-cell contact can impose a selective burden when V. cholerae encounters non-kin cells that possess an active T6SS. Additionally, our study underscores the significance of T4P diversity in protecting closely related individuals from T6SS attacks through autoaggregation and spatial segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon B Otto
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Richard Servajean
- Laboratory of Computational Biology and Theoretical Biophysics, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Lemopoulos
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Florence Bitbol
- Laboratory of Computational Biology and Theoretical Biophysics, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Blokesch
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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2
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Chen YYM, Yang YC, Shieh HR, Lin YJ, Ke WJ, Chiu CH. Functional Analysis of the Major Pilin Proteins of Type IV Pili in Streptococcus sanguinis CGMH010. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5402. [PMID: 38791440 PMCID: PMC11121087 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105402] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The pil gene cluster for Type IV pilus (Tfp) biosynthesis is commonly present and highly conserved in Streptococcus sanguinis. Nevertheless, Tfp-mediated twitching motility is less common among strains, and the factors determining twitching activity are not fully understood. Here, we analyzed the functions of three major pilin proteins (PilA1, PilA2, and PilA3) in the assembly and activity of Tfp in motile S. sanguinis CGMH010. Using various recombinant pilA deletion strains, we found that Tfp composed of different PilA proteins varied morphologically and functionally. Among the three PilA proteins, PilA1 was most critical in the assembly of twitching-active Tfp, and recombinant strains expressing motility generated more structured biofilms under constant shearing forces compared to the non-motile recombinant strains. Although PilA1 and PilA3 shared 94% identity, PilA3 could not compensate for the loss of PilA1, suggesting that the nature of PilA proteins plays an essential role in twitching activity. The single deletion of individual pilA genes had little effect on the invasion of host endothelia by S. sanguinis CGMH010. In contrast, the deletion of all three pilA genes or pilT, encoding the retraction ATPase, abolished Tfp-mediated invasion. Tfp- and PilT-dependent invasion were also detected in the non-motile S. sanguinis SK36, and thus, the retraction of Tfp, but not active twitching, was found to be essential for invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ywan M. Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (H.-R.S.); (Y.-J.L.); (W.-J.K.)
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- Molecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou 333, Taiwan;
| | - Yuan-Chen Yang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
| | - Hui-Ru Shieh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (H.-R.S.); (Y.-J.L.); (W.-J.K.)
| | - Yu-Juan Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (H.-R.S.); (Y.-J.L.); (W.-J.K.)
| | - Wan-Ju Ke
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (H.-R.S.); (Y.-J.L.); (W.-J.K.)
| | - Cheng-Hsun Chiu
- Molecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou 333, Taiwan;
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3
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Wang Y, Theodore M, Xing Z, Narsaria U, Yu Z, Zeng L, Zhang J. Structural mechanisms of Tad pilus assembly and its interaction with an RNA virus. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl4450. [PMID: 38701202 PMCID: PMC11067988 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl4450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Caulobacter crescentus Tad (tight adherence) pili, part of the type IV pili family, are crucial for mechanosensing, surface adherence, bacteriophage (phage) adsorption, and cell-cycle regulation. Unlike other type IV pilins, Tad pilins lack the typical globular β sheet domain responsible for pilus assembly and phage binding. The mechanisms of Tad pilus assembly and its interaction with phage ΦCb5 have been elusive. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we unveiled the Tad pilus assembly mechanism, featuring a unique network of hydrogen bonds at its core. We then identified the Tad pilus binding to the ΦCb5 maturation protein (Mat) through its β region. Notably, the amino terminus of ΦCb5 Mat is exposed outside the capsid and phage/pilus interface, enabling the attachment of fluorescent and affinity tags. These engineered ΦCb5 virions can be efficiently assembled and purified in Escherichia coli, maintaining infectivity against C. crescentus, which presents promising applications, including RNA delivery and phage display.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Wang
- Center for Phage Technology, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Matthew Theodore
- Center for Phage Technology, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Zhongliang Xing
- Center for Phage Technology, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Utkarsh Narsaria
- Center for Phage Technology, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Zihao Yu
- Center for Phage Technology, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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4
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Zhang C, Zeng X, Xu X, Nie W, Dubey BK, Ding W. PDA-Fe 3O 4 decorated carbon felt anode enhancing electrochemical performance of microbial fuel cells: Effect of electrode materials on electroactive biofilm. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 355:141764. [PMID: 38521108 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Anode modification is an effective strategy for enhancing the electrochemical performance of microbial fuel cell (MFC). However, the impacts of the modified materials on anode biofilm development during MFC operation have been less studied. We prepared a novel PDA-Fe3O4-CF composite anode by coating original carbon felt anode (CF) with polydopamine (PDA) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The composite anode material was characterized by excellent hydrophilicity and electrical conductivity, and the anodic biofilm exhibited fast start-up, higher biomass, and more uniform biofilm layer after MFC operation. The MFC reactor assembled with the composite anode achieved a maximum power density of 608 mW m-2 and an output voltage of 586 mV, which were 316.4% and 72.4% higher than the MFC with the original CF anode, respectively. Microbial community analysis indicated that the modified anode biofilm had a higher relative abundance of exoelectrogen species in comparison to the unmodified anode. The PICRUSt data revealed that the anodic materials may affect the bioelectrochemical performance of the biofilm by influencing the expression levels of key enzyme genes involved in biofilm extracellular polymer (EPS) secretion and extracellular electron transfer (EET). The growth of the anodic biofilm would exert positive or negative influences on the efficiency of electricity production and electron transfer of the MFCs at different operating stages. This work expands the knowledge of the role that anodic materials play in the development and electrochemical performance of anodic biofilm in MFCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cunkuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Xiaolan Zeng
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
| | - Xiaotang Xu
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Wenbo Nie
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Brajesh Kumar Dubey
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West India
| | - Wenchuan Ding
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
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5
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Mikhailovich V, Heydarov R, Zimenkov D, Chebotar I. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia virulence: a current view. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1385631. [PMID: 38741741 PMCID: PMC11089167 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1385631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic pathogen intrinsically resistant to multiple and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Although the bacterium is considered a low-virulence pathogen, it can cause various severe diseases and contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of multibacterial infections. During the COVID-19 pandemic, S. maltophilia has been recognized as one of the most common causative agents of respiratory co-infections and bacteremia in critically ill COVID-19 patients. The high ability to adapt to unfavorable environments and new habitat niches, as well as the sophisticated switching of metabolic pathways, are unique mechanisms that attract the attention of clinical researchers and experts studying the fundamental basis of virulence. In this review, we have summarized the current knowledge on the molecular aspects of S. maltophilia virulence and putative virulence factors, partially touched on interspecific bacterial interactions and iron uptake systems in the context of virulence, and have not addressed antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Mikhailovich
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Rustam Heydarov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Danila Zimenkov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor Chebotar
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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6
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Treuner-Lange A, Zheng W, Viljoen A, Lindow S, Herfurth M, Dufrêne YF, Søgaard-Andersen L, Egelman EH. Tight-packing of large pilin subunits provides distinct structural and mechanical properties for the Myxococcus xanthus type IVa pilus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321989121. [PMID: 38625941 PMCID: PMC11046646 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321989121] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Type IVa pili (T4aP) are ubiquitous cell surface filaments important for surface motility, adhesion to surfaces, DNA uptake, biofilm formation, and virulence. T4aP are built from thousands of copies of the major pilin subunit and tipped by a complex composed of minor pilins and in some systems also the PilY1 adhesin. While major pilins of structurally characterized T4aP have lengths of <165 residues, the major pilin PilA of Myxococcus xanthus is unusually large with 208 residues. All major pilins have a conserved N-terminal domain and a variable C-terminal domain, and the additional residues of PilA are due to a larger C-terminal domain. We solved the structure of the M. xanthus T4aP (T4aPMx) at a resolution of 3.0 Å using cryo-EM. The T4aPMx follows the structural blueprint of other T4aP with the pilus core comprised of the interacting N-terminal α1-helices, while the globular domains decorate the T4aP surface. The atomic model of PilA built into this map shows that the large C-terminal domain has more extensive intersubunit contacts than major pilins in other T4aP. As expected from these greater contacts, the bending and axial stiffness of the T4aPMx is significantly higher than that of other T4aP and supports T4aP-dependent motility on surfaces of different stiffnesses. Notably, T4aPMx variants with interrupted intersubunit interfaces had decreased bending stiffness, pilus length, and strongly reduced motility. These observations support an evolutionary scenario whereby the large major pilin enables the formation of a rigid T4aP that expands the environmental conditions in which the T4aP system functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Treuner-Lange
- Department of Ecophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg35043, Germany
| | - Weili Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA22903
| | - Albertus Viljoen
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-NeuveB-1348, Belgium
| | - Steffi Lindow
- Department of Ecophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg35043, Germany
| | - Marco Herfurth
- Department of Ecophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg35043, Germany
| | - Yves F. Dufrêne
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-NeuveB-1348, Belgium
| | - Lotte Søgaard-Andersen
- Department of Ecophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg35043, Germany
| | - Edward H. Egelman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA22903
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7
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Whitfield GB, Brun YV. The type IVc pilus: just a Tad different. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102468. [PMID: 38579360 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria utilize type IV pili (T4P) to interact with their environment, where they facilitate processes including motility, adherence, and DNA uptake. T4P require multisubunit, membrane-spanning nanomachines for assembly. The tight adherence (Tad) pili are an Archaea-derived T4P subgroup whose machinery exhibits significant mechanistic and architectural differences from bacterial type IVa and IVb pili. Most Tad biosynthetic genes are encoded in a single locus that is widespread in bacteria due to facile acquisition via horizontal gene transfer. These loci experience extensive structural rearrangements, including the acquisition of novel regulatory or biosynthetic genes, which fine-tune their function. This has permitted their integration into many different bacterial lifestyles, including the Caulobacter crescentus cell cycle, Myxococcus xanthus predation, and numerous plant and mammalian pathogens and symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory B Whitfield
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie, et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada.
| | - Yves V Brun
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie, et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada
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8
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Hernández-Sánchez A, Páez-Pérez ED, Alfaro-Saldaña E, Olivares-Illana V, García-Meza JV. Understanding a Core Pilin of the Type IVa Pili of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, PilV. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 34:527-537. [PMID: 38346803 PMCID: PMC11016768 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2310.10033] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Pilins are protein subunits of pili. The pilins of type IV pili (T4P) in pathogenic bacteria are well characterized, but anything is known about the T4P proteins in acidophilic chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms such as the genus Acidithiobacillus. The interest in T4P of A. thiooxidans is because of their possible role in cell recruitment and bacterial aggregation on the surface of minerals during biooxidation of sulfide minerals. In this study we present a successful ad hoc methodology for the heterologous expression and purification of extracellular proteins such as the minor pilin PilV of the T4P of A. thiooxidans, a pilin exposed to extreme conditions of acidity and high oxidation-reduction potentials, and that interact with metal sulfides in an environment rich in dissolved minerals. Once obtained, the model structure of A. thiooxidans PilV revealed the core basic architecture of T4P pilins. Because of the acidophilic condition, we carried out in silico characterization of the protonation status of acidic and basic residues of PilV in order to calculate the ionization state at specific pH values and evaluated their pH stability. Further biophysical characterization was done using UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy and the results showed that PilV remains soluble and stable even after exposure to significant changes of pH. PilV has a unique amino acid composition that exhibits acid stability, with significant biotechnology implications such as biooxidation of sulfide minerals. The biophysics profiles of PilV open new paradigms about resilient proteins and stimulate the study of other pilins from extremophiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Araceli Hernández-Sánchez
- Geomicrobiología, Metalurgia, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona 550, San Luis Potosí, 78210, SLP, México
| | - Edgar D. Páez-Pérez
- Geomicrobiología, Metalurgia, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona 550, San Luis Potosí, 78210, SLP, México
| | - Elvia Alfaro-Saldaña
- Geomicrobiología, Metalurgia, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona 550, San Luis Potosí, 78210, SLP, México
| | - Vanesa Olivares-Illana
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Biomoleculares y Cáncer. Instituto de Física, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Parque Chapultepec 1570, Privadas del Pedregal, San Luis Potosí, 78210, SLP, México
| | - J. Viridiana García-Meza
- Geomicrobiología, Metalurgia, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona 550, San Luis Potosí, 78210, SLP, México
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9
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Carvia-Hermoso C, Cuéllar V, Bernabéu-Roda LM, van Dillewijn P, Soto MJ. Sinorhizobium meliloti GR4 Produces Chromosomal- and pSymA-Encoded Type IVc Pili That Influence the Interaction with Alfalfa Plants. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:628. [PMID: 38475474 DOI: 10.3390/plants13050628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Type IVc Pili (T4cP), also known as Tad or Flp pili, are long thin microbial filaments that are made up of small-sized pilins. These appendages serve different functions in bacteria, including attachment, biofilm formation, surface sensing, motility, and host colonization. Despite their relevant role in diverse microbial lifestyles, knowledge about T4cP in bacteria that establish symbiosis with legumes, collectively referred to as rhizobia, is still limited. Sinorhizobium meliloti contains two clusters of T4cP-related genes: flp-1 and flp-2, which are located on the chromosome and the pSymA megaplasmid, respectively. Bundle-forming pili associated with flp-1 are involved in the competitive nodulation of alfalfa plants, but the role of flp-2 remains elusive. In this work, we have performed a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of T4cP genes in the highly competitive S. meliloti GR4 strain and investigated the role of its flp clusters in pilus biogenesis, motility, and in the interaction with alfalfa. Single and double flp-cluster mutants were constructed on the wild-type genetic background as well as in a flagellaless derivative strain. Our data demonstrate that both chromosomal and pSymA flp clusters are functional in pili biogenesis and contribute to surface translocation and nodule formation efficiency in GR4. In this strain, the presence of flp-1 in the absence of flp-2 reduces the competitiveness for nodule occupation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Carvia-Hermoso
- Department of Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Virginia Cuéllar
- Department of Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Lydia M Bernabéu-Roda
- Department of Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Pieter van Dillewijn
- Department of Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - María J Soto
- Department of Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, 18008 Granada, Spain
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Yalkut K, Ben Ali Hassine S, Basaran E, Kula C, Ozcan A, Avci FG, Keskin O, Sariyar Akbulut B, Ozbek P. Attenuation of Type IV pili activity by natural products. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38305801 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2310781] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
The virulence factor Type IV pili (T4P) are surface appendages used by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa for twitching motility and adhesion in the environment and during infection. Additionally, the use of these appendages by P. aeruginosa for biofilm formation increases its virulence and drug resistance. Therefore, attenuation of the activity of T4P would be desirable to control P. aeruginosa infections. Here, a computational approach has been pursued to screen natural products that can be used for this purpose. PilB, the elongation ATPase of the T4P machinery in P. aeruginosa, has been selected as the target subunit and virtual screening of FDA-approved drugs has been conducted. Screening identified two natural compounds, ergoloid and irinotecan, as potential candidates for inhibiting this T4P-associated ATPase in P. aeruginosa. These candidate compounds underwent further rigorous evaluation through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and then through in vitro twitching motility and biofilm inhibition assays. Notably, ergoloid emerged as a particularly promising candidate for weakening the T4P activity by inhibiting the elongation ATPases associated with T4P. This repurposing study paves the way for the timely discovery of antivirulence drugs as an alternative to classical antibiotic treatments to help combat infections caused by P. aeruginosa and related pathogens.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerem Yalkut
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Soumaya Ben Ali Hassine
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Uskudar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Esra Basaran
- Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ceyda Kula
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aslıhan Ozcan
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Fatma Gizem Avci
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Uskudar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ozlem Keskin
- Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Berna Sariyar Akbulut
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Pemra Ozbek
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
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11
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Little JI, Singh PK, Zhao J, Dunn S, Matz H, Donnenberg MS. Type IV pili of Enterobacteriaceae species. EcoSal Plus 2024:eesp00032023. [PMID: 38294234 DOI: 10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0003-2023] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Type IV pili (T4Ps) are surface filaments widely distributed among bacteria and archaea. T4Ps are involved in many cellular functions and contribute to virulence in some species of bacteria. Due to the diversity of T4Ps, different properties have been observed for homologous proteins that make up T4Ps in various organisms. In this review, we highlight the essential components of T4Ps, their functions, and similarities to related systems. We emphasize the unique T4Ps of enteric pathogens within the Enterobacteriaceae family, which includes pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella. These include the bundle-forming pilus (BFP) of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), longus (Lng) and colonization factor III (CFA/III) of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), T4P of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, Colonization Factor Citrobacter (CFC) of Citrobacter rodentium, T4P of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, a ubiquitous T4P that was characterized in enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), and the R64 plasmid thin pilus. Finally, we highlight areas for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janay I Little
- School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Pradip K Singh
- School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jinlei Zhao
- School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Shakeera Dunn
- Internal Medicine Residency, Bayhealth Medical Center, Dover, Delaware, USA
| | - Hanover Matz
- Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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12
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Mom J, Chouikha I, Valette O, Pieulle L, Pelicic V. Systematic functional analysis of the Com pilus in Streptococcus sanguinis: a minimalistic type 4 filament dedicated to DNA uptake in monoderm bacteria. mBio 2024; 15:e0266723. [PMID: 38095871 PMCID: PMC10790768 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02667-23] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Type 4 filaments (T4F) are nanomachines ubiquitous in prokaryotes, centered on filamentous polymers of type 4 pilins. T4F are exceptionally versatile and widespread virulence factors in bacterial pathogens. The mechanisms of filament assembly and the many functions they facilitate remain poorly understood because of the complexity of T4F machineries. This hinders the development of anti-T4F drugs. The significance of our research lies in characterizing the simplest known T4F-the Com pilus that mediates DNA uptake in competent monoderm bacteria-and showing that four protein components universally conserved in T4F are sufficient for filament assembly. The Com pilus becomes a model for elucidating the mechanisms of T4F assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Mom
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Aix-Marseille Université-CNRS (UMR 7283), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
| | - Iman Chouikha
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Aix-Marseille Université-CNRS (UMR 7283), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
| | - Odile Valette
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Aix-Marseille Université-CNRS (UMR 7283), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
| | - Laetitia Pieulle
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Aix-Marseille Université-CNRS (UMR 7283), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
| | - Vladimir Pelicic
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Aix-Marseille Université-CNRS (UMR 7283), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
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Weawsiangsang S, Rattanachak N, Ross S, Ross GM, Baldock RA, Jongjitvimol T, Jongjitwimol J. Hydroquinine Enhances the Efficacy of Contact Lens Solutions for Inhibiting Pseudomonas aeruginosa Adhesion and Biofilm Formation. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:56. [PMID: 38247615 PMCID: PMC10812619 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13010056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
P. aeruginosa is one of the most common bacteria causing contact lens-related microbial keratitis (CLMK). Previous studies report that disinfecting solutions were ineffective in preventing biofilm formation. Solutions containing novel natural agents may be an excellent alternative for reducing the risk of CLMK. Here, we investigate the disinfecting properties of hydroquinine in combination with multipurpose solutions (MPSs) to prevent P. aeruginosa adhesion and biofilm formation. We examined the antibacterial, anti-adhesion, and anti-biofilm properties of hydroquinine-formulated MPSs compared to MPSs alone. Using RT-qPCR, hydroquinine directly affected the expression levels of adhesion-related genes, namely, cgrC, cheY, cheZ, fimU, and pilV, resulting in reduced adhesion and anti-biofilm formation. Using ISO 14729 stand-alone testing, hydroquinine met the criteria (>99.9% killing at disinfection time) against both P. aeruginosa reference and clinical strains. Using the crystal violet retention assay and FE-SEM, MPSs combined with hydroquinine were effective in inhibiting P. aeruginosa adhesion and destroying preexisting biofilms. This report is the first to highlight the potential utility of hydroquinine-containing formulations as a disinfecting solution for contact lenses, specifically for inhibiting adhesion and destroying biofilm. These findings may aid in the development of novel disinfectants aimed at combating P. aeruginosa, thereby potentially reducing the incidence of CLMK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sattaporn Weawsiangsang
- Biomedical Sciences Program, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand;
| | - Nontaporn Rattanachak
- Biology Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand; (N.R.); (T.J.)
| | - Sukunya Ross
- Biopolymer Group, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand; (S.R.); (G.M.R.)
- Centre of Excellence in Biomaterials, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
| | - Gareth M. Ross
- Biopolymer Group, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand; (S.R.); (G.M.R.)
- Centre of Excellence in Biomaterials, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
| | - Robert A. Baldock
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Health, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2DT, UK;
| | - Touchkanin Jongjitvimol
- Biology Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand; (N.R.); (T.J.)
| | - Jirapas Jongjitwimol
- Biomedical Sciences Program, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand;
- Centre of Excellence in Biomaterials, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
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14
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Ashikur Rahman M, Akter S, Ashrafudoulla M, Anamul Hasan Chowdhury M, Uddin Mahamud AGMS, Hong Park S, Ha SD. Insights into the mechanisms and key factors influencing biofilm formation by Aeromonas hydrophila in the food industry: A comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis. Food Res Int 2024; 175:113671. [PMID: 38129021 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Biofilm formation by Aeromonas hydrophila in the food industry poses significant challenges to food safety and quality. Therefore, this comprehensive review aimed to provide insights into the mechanisms and key factors influencing A. hydrophila biofilm formation. It explores the molecular processes involved in initial attachment, microcolony formation, and biofilm maturation; moreover, it concurrently examines the impact of intrinsic factors, including quorum sensing, cyclic-di-GMP, the efflux pump, and antibiotic resistance, as well as environmental conditions, such as temperature, nutrient availability, and osmotic pressure, on biofilm architecture and resilience. Furthermore, the article highlights the potential of bibliometric analysis as a promising method for conceptualizing the research landscape of and identifying knowledge gaps in A. hydrophila biofilm research. The findings underscore the requirement for focused interventions that prevent biofilm development and raise food sector safety. The consolidation of current information and incorporation of bibliometric analysis enhances existing understanding of A. hydrophila biofilm formation and offers insights for future research and control strategies within a food industry context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Ashikur Rahman
- School of Food Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong-Si, Republic of Korea; Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Bangladesh
| | - Shirin Akter
- School of Food Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong-Si, Republic of Korea; Department of Fisheries and Marine Bioscience, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ashrafudoulla
- School of Food Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong-Si, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | - Si Hong Park
- Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Sang-Do Ha
- School of Food Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong-Si, Republic of Korea.
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15
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Schroven K, Putzeys L, Kerremans A, Ceyssens PJ, Vallino M, Paeshuyse J, Haque F, Yusuf A, Koch MD, Lavigne R. The phage-encoded PIT4 protein affects multiple two-component systems of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0237223. [PMID: 37962408 PMCID: PMC10714779 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02372-23] [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: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE More and more Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates have become resistant to antibiotics like carbapenem. As a consequence, P. aeruginosa ranks in the top three of pathogens for which the development of novel antibiotics is the most crucial. The pathogen causes both acute and chronic infections, especially in patients who are the most vulnerable. Therefore, efforts are urgently needed to develop alternative therapies. One path explored in this article is the use of bacteriophages and, more specifically, phage-derived proteins. In this study, a phage-derived protein was studied that impacts key virulence factors of the pathogen via interaction with multiple histidine kinases of TCSs. The fundamental insights gained for this protein can therefore serve as inspiration for the development of an anti-virulence compound that targets the bacterial TCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaat Schroven
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leena Putzeys
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Marta Vallino
- Institute of Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, Turin, Italy
| | - Jan Paeshuyse
- Host and Pathogen Interactions, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Farhana Haque
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Ahmed Yusuf
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Matthias D. Koch
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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16
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Anger R, Pieulle L, Shahin M, Valette O, Le Guenno H, Kosta A, Pelicic V, Fronzes R. Structure of a heteropolymeric type 4 pilus from a monoderm bacterium. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7143. [PMID: 37932265 PMCID: PMC10628169 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42872-5] [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: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Type 4 pili (T4P) are important virulence factors, which belong to a superfamily of nanomachines ubiquitous in prokaryotes, called type 4 filaments (T4F). T4F are defined as helical polymers of type 4 pilins. Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) led to structures of several T4F, revealing that the long N-terminal α-helix (α1) - the trademark of pilins - packs in the centre of the filaments to form a hydrophobic core. In diderm bacteria - all available bacterial T4F structures are from diderm species - a portion of α1 is melted (unfolded). Here we report that this architecture is conserved in phylogenetically distant monoderm species by determining the structure of Streptococcus sanguinis T4P. Our 3.7 Å resolution cryo-EM structure of S. sanguinis heteropolymeric T4P and the resulting full atomic model including all minor pilins highlight universal features of bacterial T4F and have widespread implications in understanding T4F biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Anger
- Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, Université de Bordeaux-CNRS (UMR 5234), Pessac, France
| | - Laetitia Pieulle
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Aix-Marseille Université-CNRS (UMR 7283), Marseille, France
| | - Meriam Shahin
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Odile Valette
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Aix-Marseille Université-CNRS (UMR 7283), Marseille, France
| | - Hugo Le Guenno
- Plateforme de Microscopie, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Aix-Marseille Université-CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Artemis Kosta
- Plateforme de Microscopie, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Aix-Marseille Université-CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Vladimir Pelicic
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Aix-Marseille Université-CNRS (UMR 7283), Marseille, France.
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Rémi Fronzes
- Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, Université de Bordeaux-CNRS (UMR 5234), Pessac, France.
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Heidarpanah S, Thibodeau A, Parreira VR, Quessy S, Segura M, Gottschalk M, Gaudreau A, Juette T, Gaucher ML. Evaluation of the Immunoprotective Capacity of Five Vaccine Candidate Proteins against Avian Necrotic Enteritis and Impact on the Caecal Microbiota of Vaccinated Birds. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3323. [PMID: 37958078 PMCID: PMC10650611 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Avian necrotic enteritis is an enteric disease of broiler chickens caused by certain pathogenic strains of Clostridium perfringens in combination with predisposing factors. A vaccine offering complete protection against the disease has not yet been commercialized. In a previous study, we produced five recombinant proteins predicted to be surface-exposed and unique to necrotic enteritis-causing C. perfringens and the immunogenicity of these potential vaccine candidates was assessed in broiler chickens. In the current work, the relative contribution of the antibodies raised by these putative antigens to protect broiler chickens was evaluated using an experimental necrotic enteritis induction model. Additionally, the link between the immune response elicited and the gut microbiota profiles in immunized birds subjected to infection with virulent C. perfringens was studied. The ELISA results showed that the IgY antibody titers in vaccinated birds on days 21 and 33 were significantly higher than those on days 7 and 14 and those in birds receiving the adjuvant alone, while the relative contribution of the specific immunity attributed to these antibodies could not be precisely determined using this experimental necrotic enteritis induction model. In addition, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that immunization of birds with recombinant proteins had a low impact on the chicken caecal microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Heidarpanah
- Chaire de Recherche en Salubrité des Viandes (CRSV), Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (S.H.); (A.T.); (S.Q.)
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (M.S.); (M.G.); (A.G.)
| | - Alexandre Thibodeau
- Chaire de Recherche en Salubrité des Viandes (CRSV), Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (S.H.); (A.T.); (S.Q.)
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (M.S.); (M.G.); (A.G.)
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses en Production Animale (GREMIP), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Valeria R. Parreira
- Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety (CRIFS), Food Science Department, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Sylvain Quessy
- Chaire de Recherche en Salubrité des Viandes (CRSV), Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (S.H.); (A.T.); (S.Q.)
| | - Mariela Segura
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (M.S.); (M.G.); (A.G.)
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses en Production Animale (GREMIP), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Marcelo Gottschalk
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (M.S.); (M.G.); (A.G.)
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses en Production Animale (GREMIP), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Annie Gaudreau
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (M.S.); (M.G.); (A.G.)
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses en Production Animale (GREMIP), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Tristan Juette
- Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
| | - Marie-Lou Gaucher
- Chaire de Recherche en Salubrité des Viandes (CRSV), Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (S.H.); (A.T.); (S.Q.)
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (M.S.); (M.G.); (A.G.)
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses en Production Animale (GREMIP), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
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18
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Páez-Pérez ED, Hernández-Sánchez A, Alfaro-Saldaña E, García-Meza JV. Disorder and amino acid composition in proteins: their potential role in the adaptation of extracellular pilins to the acidic media, where Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans grows. Extremophiles 2023; 27:31. [PMID: 37848738 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-023-01317-z] [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: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
There are few biophysical studies or structural characterizations of the type IV pilin system of extremophile bacteria, such as the acidophilic Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. We set out to analyze their pili-comprising proteins, pilins, because these extracellular proteins are in constant interaction with protons of the acidic medium in which At. thiooxidans grows. We used the web server Operon Mapper to analyze and identify the cluster codified by the minor pilin of At. thiooxidans. In addition, we carried an in-silico characterization of such pilins using the VL-XT algorithm of PONDR® server. Our results showed that structural disorder prevails more in pilins of At. thiooxidans than in non-acidophilic bacteria. Further computational characterization showed that the pilins of At. thiooxidans are significantly enriched in hydroxy (serine and threonine) and amide (glutamine and asparagine) residues, and significantly reduced in charged residues (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, arginine and lysine). Similar results were obtained when comparing pilins from other Acidithiobacillus and other acidophilic bacteria from another genus versus neutrophilic bacteria, suggesting that these properties are intrinsic to pilins from acidic environments, most likely by maintaining solubility and stability in harsh conditions. These results give guidelines for the application of extracellular proteins of acidophiles in protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar D Páez-Pérez
- Geomicrobiología, Metalurgia, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona 550, 78210, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico.
| | - Araceli Hernández-Sánchez
- Geomicrobiología, Metalurgia, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona 550, 78210, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico.
| | - Elvia Alfaro-Saldaña
- Geomicrobiología, Metalurgia, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona 550, 78210, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico
| | - J Viridiana García-Meza
- Geomicrobiología, Metalurgia, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona 550, 78210, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico
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19
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Khomyakova MA, Merkel AY, Slobodkin AI, Sorokin DY. Phenotypic and genomic characterization of the first alkaliphilic aceticlastic methanogens and proposal of a novel genus Methanocrinis gen.nov. within the family Methanotrichaceae. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1233691. [PMID: 37886072 PMCID: PMC10598746 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1233691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Highly purified cultures of alkaliphilic aceticlastic methanogens were collected for the first time using methanogenic enrichments with acetate from a soda lake and a terrestrial mud volcano. The cells of two strains were non-motile rods forming filaments. The mud volcano strain M04Ac was alkalitolerant, with the pH range for growth from 7.5 to 10.0 (optimum at 9.0), while the soda lake strain Mx was an obligate alkaliphile growing in the pH range 7.7-10.2 (optimum 9.3-9.5) in the presence of optimally 0.2-0.3 M total Na+. Genomes of both strains encoded all enzymes required for aceticlastic methanogenesis and different mechanisms of (halo)alkaline adaptations, including ectoine biosynthesis, which is the first evidence for the formation of this osmoprotectant in archaea. According to 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, the strains possessed 98.3-98.9% sequence identity and belonged to the obligately aceticlastic genus Methanothrix with M. harundinaceae as the most closely related species. However, a more advanced phylogenomic reconstruction based on 122 conserved single-copy archaeal protein-coding marker genes clearly indicated a polyphyletic origin of the species included in the genus Methanothrix. We propose to reclassify Methanothrix harrundinacea (type strain 8AcT) into a new genus, Methanocrinis gen. nov., with the type species Methanocrinis harrundinaceus comb. nov. We also propose under SeqCode the complete genome sequences of strain MxTs (GCA_029167045.1) and strain M04AcTs (GCA_029167205.1) as nomenclatural types of Methanocrinis natronophilus sp. nov. and Methanocrinis alkalitolerans sp. nov., respectively, which represent other species of the novel genus. This work demonstrates that the low energy aceticlastic methanogenesis may function at extreme conditions present in (halo)alkaline habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A. Khomyakova
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Y. Merkel
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander I. Slobodkin
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dimitry Y. Sorokin
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
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20
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Meyer HL, Abdelbary MMH, Buhl EM, Kuppe C, Conrads G. Exploring the genetic and functional diversity of Porphyromonas gingivalis long fimbriae. Mol Oral Microbiol 2023; 38:408-423. [PMID: 37750230 DOI: 10.1111/omi.12433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Porphyromonas gingivalis is a key pathobiont in periodontitis. Its long fimbriae consist of a single anchor (FimB), a varying number of stalk (FimA), and three accessory (tip-related) proteins (FimC, FimD, and FimE). Based on 133 strains/genomes available, it was our aim to investigate the diversity within FimA and FimB and explain the variety of long fimbriae (super-)structures. Combining the new forward primer fimAnewF with the established fimAunivR, we were able to amplify and sequence fimA including its leader region covering all genotypes and serotypes for phylogenetic analysis. We designed two primer pairs sensing the presence of an internal stop codon in fimB with an impact on fimbrial length. Finally, we examined fimbrial secondary structures by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The phylogeny of fimA/FimA revealed two new subtypes (IIa and IIb) with specific changes in functional domains and thus adding to the current classification scheme (I, Ib, and II-V). Regarding evolution, we confirm that Porphyromonas gulae fimA-type A is closely related to human P. gingivalis strains of cluster Ib and might be its ancestor genotype. A fimB internal stop codon is rare and was found in ATCC 33277 only. Comparing P. gingivalis TEM/SEM pictures of type I ATCC 33277 with type V OMI622 revealed a broad spectrum of fimbrial structures including bundling, cell-cell knotting, and brick-wall formation. In conclusion, FimA forms more distinct subtypes than previously known. The bundling of long fimbriae, a mechanism known from EPEC/EHEC and Salmonella, is proposed and supported by TEM/SEM pictures for the first time here. The role and variations of terminal accessory FimC-E in superstructure formation and/or (co-) adhesion should be investigated more closely next.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Leonhard Meyer
- Division of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Operative Dentistry, Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mohamed M H Abdelbary
- Division of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Operative Dentistry, Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Eva Miriam Buhl
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Institute of Pathology, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christoph Kuppe
- Institute of Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Georg Conrads
- Division of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Operative Dentistry, Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
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21
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Palanisamy V, Bosilevac JM, Barkhouse DA, Velez SE, Chitlapilly Dass S. Shotgun-metagenomics reveals a highly diverse and communal microbial network present in the drains of three beef-processing plants. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1240138. [PMID: 37743870 PMCID: PMC10515220 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1240138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Multi-species biofilms pose a problem in various environments, especially food-processing environments. The diversity of microorganisms in these biofilms plays a critical role in their integrity and protection against external biotic and abiotic factors. Compared to single-species biofilms, mixed-species biofilms are more resistant to various stresses, including antimicrobials like sanitizers. Therefore, understanding the microbiome composition and diversity in biofilms and their metabolic potential is a priority when developing intervention techniques to combat foodborne pathogens in food processing environments. Methods This study aimed to describe and compare the microbiome profile of 75 drain biofilm samples obtained from five different locations (Hotscale, Hotbox, Cooler, Processing, & Grind room) of three beef-processing plants (Plant A, B & C) taken over two timepoints 2017-18 (T1) and 2021 (T2) by shotgun sequencing. Results Core microbiome analysis found Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter, and Acinetobacter to be the top three prevalent genera among the plants and locations. Alpha diversity analysis demonstrated a high diversity of microbiome present in all the plants and locations across the time points. Functional analysis showed the high metabolic potential of the microbial community with abundance of genes in metabolism, cell-adhesion, motility, and quorum sensing. Moreover, Quaternary Ammonium Compound (QAC) resistance genes were also observed, this is significant as QAC sanitizers are commonly used in many food processing facilities. Multi-functional genes such as transposases, polymerases, permeases, flagellar proteins, and Mobile Genetic Elements (MGEs) were found suggesting these are dynamic microbial communities that work together to protect themselves against environmental stresses through multiple defense mechanisms. Conclusion This study provides a framework for understanding the collective microbial network spanning a beef processing system. The results can be used to develop intervention strategies to best control these highly communicative microbial networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vignesh Palanisamy
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Joseph M. Bosilevac
- U. S. Department of Agriculture, Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Darryll A. Barkhouse
- Molecular Center of Excellence, Invisible Sentinel, bioMerieux Inc., Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sarah E. Velez
- Molecular Center of Excellence, Invisible Sentinel, bioMerieux Inc., Philadelphia, PA, United States
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22
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Vo N, Sidner BS, Yu Y, Piepenbrink KH. Type IV Pilus-Mediated Inhibition of Acinetobacter baumannii Biofilm Formation by Phenothiazine Compounds. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0102323. [PMID: 37341603 PMCID: PMC10433872 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01023-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections by pathogenic Acinetobacter species represent a significant burden on the health care system, despite their relative rarity, due to the difficulty of treating infections through oral antibiotics. Multidrug resistance is commonly observed in clinical Acinetobacter infections and multiple molecular mechanisms have been identified for this resistance, including multidrug efflux pumps, carbapenemase enzymes, and the formation of bacterial biofilm in persistent infections. Phenothiazine compounds have been identified as a potential inhibitor of type IV pilus production in multiple Gram-negative bacterial species. Here, we report the ability of two phenothiazines to inhibit type IV pilus-dependent surface (twitching) motility and biofilm formation in multiple Acinetobacter species. Biofilm formation was inhibited in both static and continuous flow models at micromolar concentrations without significant cytotoxicity, suggesting that type IV pilus biogenesis was the primary molecular target for these compounds. These results suggest that phenothiazines may be useful lead compounds for the development of biofilm dispersal agents against Gram-negative bacterial infections. IMPORTANCE Acinetobacter infections are a growing burden on health care systems worldwide due to increasing antimicrobial resistance through multiple mechanisms. Biofilm formation is an established mechanism of antimicrobial resistance, and its inhibition has the potential to potentiate the use of existing drugs against pathogenic Acinetobacter. Additionally, as discussed in the manuscript, anti-biofilm activity by phenothiazines has the potential to help to explain their known activity against other bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nam Vo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Benjamin S. Sidner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Yafan Yu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Kurt H. Piepenbrink
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
- Nebraska Food for Health Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
- Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
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23
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Arnold ND, Garbe D, Brück TB. Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses to Decipher the Chitinolytic Response of Jeongeupia spp. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:448. [PMID: 37623729 PMCID: PMC10455584 DOI: 10.3390/md21080448] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In nature, chitin, the most abundant marine biopolymer, does not accumulate due to the action of chitinolytic organisms, whose saccharification systems provide instructional blueprints for effective chitin conversion. Therefore, discovery and deconstruction of chitinolytic machineries and associated enzyme systems are essential for the advancement of biotechnological chitin valorization. Through combined investigation of the chitin-induced secretome with differential proteomic and transcriptomic analyses, a holistic system biology approach has been applied to unravel the chitin response mechanisms in the Gram-negative Jeongeupia wiesaeckerbachi. Hereby, the majority of the genome-encoded chitinolytic machinery, consisting of various glycoside hydrolases and a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase, could be detected extracellularly. Intracellular proteomics revealed a distinct translation pattern with significant upregulation of glucosamine transport, metabolism, and chemotaxis-associated proteins. While the differential transcriptomic results suggested the overall recruitment of more genes during chitin metabolism compared to that of glucose, the detected protein-mRNA correlation was low. As one of the first studies of its kind, the involvement of over 350 unique enzymes and 570 unique genes in the catabolic chitin response of a Gram-negative bacterium could be identified through a three-way systems biology approach. Based on the cumulative data, a holistic model for the chitinolytic machinery of Jeongeupia spp. is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas B. Brück
- TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Werner-Siemens Chair for Synthetic Biotechnology (WSSB), Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748 Garching, Germany; (N.D.A.); (D.G.)
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24
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Treuner-Lange A, Zheng W, Viljoen A, Lindow S, Herfurth M, Dufrêne YF, Søgaard-Andersen L, Egelman EH. Large pilin subunits provide distinct structural and mechanical properties for the Myxococcus xanthus type IV pilus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.22.550172. [PMID: 37503255 PMCID: PMC10370171 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.22.550172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Type IV pili (T4P) are ubiquitous bacterial cell surface filaments important for surface motility, adhesion to biotic and abiotic surfaces, DNA uptake, biofilm formation, and virulence. T4P are built from thousands of copies of the major pilin subunit and tipped by a complex composed of minor pilins and in some systems also the PilY1 adhesin. While the major pilins of structurally characterized T4P have lengths of up to 161 residues, the major pilin PilA of Myxococcus xanthus is unusually large with 208 residues. All major pilins have a highly conserved N-terminal domain and a highly variable C-terminal domain, and the additional residues in the M. xanthus PilA are due to a larger C-terminal domain. We solved the structure of the M. xanthus T4P (T4P Mx ) at a resolution of 3.0 Å using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The T4P Mx follows the structural blueprint observed in other T4P with the pilus core comprised of the extensively interacting N-terminal α1-helices while the globular domains decorate the T4P surface. The atomic model of PilA built into this map shows that the large C-terminal domain has much more extensive intersubunit contacts than major pilins in other T4P. As expected from these greater contacts, the bending and axial stiffness of the T4P Mx is significantly higher than that of other T4P and supports T4P-dependent motility on surfaces of different stiffnesses. Notably, T4P Mx variants with interrupted intersubunit interfaces had decreased bending stiffness and strongly reduced motility on all surfaces. These observations support an evolutionary scenario whereby the large major pilin enables the formation of a rigid T4P that expands the environmental conditions in which the T4P system functions.
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25
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Kreutzberger MAB, Cvirkaite-Krupovic V, Liu Y, Baquero DP, Liu J, Sonani RR, Calladine CR, Wang F, Krupovic M, Egelman EH. The evolution of archaeal flagellar filaments. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2304256120. [PMID: 37399404 PMCID: PMC10334743 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304256120] [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: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Flagellar motility has independently arisen three times during evolution: in bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes. In prokaryotes, the supercoiled flagellar filaments are composed largely of a single protein, bacterial or archaeal flagellin, although these two proteins are not homologous, while in eukaryotes, the flagellum contains hundreds of proteins. Archaeal flagellin and archaeal type IV pilin are homologous, but how archaeal flagellar filaments (AFFs) and archaeal type IV pili (AT4Ps) diverged is not understood, in part, due to the paucity of structures for AFFs and AT4Ps. Despite having similar structures, AFFs supercoil, while AT4Ps do not, and supercoiling is essential for the function of AFFs. We used cryo-electron microscopy to determine the atomic structure of two additional AT4Ps and reanalyzed previous structures. We find that all AFFs have a prominent 10-strand packing, while AT4Ps show a striking structural diversity in their subunit packing. A clear distinction between all AFF and all AT4P structures involves the extension of the N-terminal α-helix with polar residues in the AFFs. Additionally, we characterize a flagellar-like AT4P from Pyrobaculum calidifontis with filament and subunit structure similar to that of AFFs which can be viewed as an evolutionary link, showing how the structural diversity of AT4Ps likely allowed for an AT4P to evolve into a supercoiling AFF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. B. Kreutzberger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22903
| | | | - Ying Liu
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris75015, France
| | - Diana P. Baquero
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris75015, France
| | - Junfeng Liu
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris75015, France
| | - Ravi R. Sonani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22903
| | - Chris R. Calladine
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 1PZ, United Kingdom
| | - Fengbin Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22903
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris75015, France
| | - Edward H. Egelman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22903
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26
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Iruegas R, Pfefferle K, Göttig S, Averhoff B, Ebersberger I. Feature architecture aware phylogenetic profiling indicates a functional diversification of type IVa pili in the nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010646. [PMID: 37498819 PMCID: PMC10374093 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacterial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii is a major cause of hospital-acquired opportunistic infections. The increasing spread of pan-drug resistant strains makes A. baumannii top-ranking among the ESKAPE pathogens for which novel routes of treatment are urgently needed. Comparative genomics approaches have successfully identified genetic changes coinciding with the emergence of pathogenicity in Acinetobacter. Genes that are prevalent both in pathogenic and a-pathogenic Acinetobacter species were not considered ignoring that virulence factors may emerge by the modification of evolutionarily old and widespread proteins. Here, we increased the resolution of comparative genomics analyses to also include lineage-specific changes in protein feature architectures. Using type IVa pili (T4aP) as an example, we show that three pilus components, among them the pilus tip adhesin ComC, vary in their Pfam domain annotation within the genus Acinetobacter. In most pathogenic Acinetobacter isolates, ComC displays a von Willebrand Factor type A domain harboring a finger-like protrusion, and we provide experimental evidence that this finger conveys virulence-related functions in A. baumannii. All three genes are part of an evolutionary cassette, which has been replaced at least twice during A. baumannii diversification. The resulting strain-specific differences in T4aP layout suggests differences in the way how individual strains interact with their host. Our study underpins the hypothesis that A. baumannii uses T4aP for host infection as it was shown previously for other pathogens. It also indicates that many more functional complexes may exist whose precise functions have been adjusted by modifying individual components on the domain level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Iruegas
- Applied Bioinformatics Group, Inst of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Katharina Pfefferle
- Molecular Microbiology & Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stephan Göttig
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Beate Averhoff
- Molecular Microbiology & Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ingo Ebersberger
- Applied Bioinformatics Group, Inst of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (S-BIK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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27
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Myers B, Catrambone F, Allen S, Hill PJ, Kovacs K, Rawson FJ. Engineering nanowires in bacteria to elucidate electron transport structural-functional relationships. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8843. [PMID: 37258594 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35553-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial pilin nanowires are protein complexes, suggested to possess electroactive capabilities forming part of the cells' bioenergetic programming. Their role is thought to be linked to facilitating electron transfer between cells and the external environment to permit metabolism and cell-to-cell communication. There is a significant debate, with varying hypotheses as to the nature of the proteins currently lying between type-IV pilin-based nanowires and polymerised cytochrome-based filaments. Importantly, to date, there is a very limited structure-function analysis of these structures within whole bacteria. In this work, we engineered Cupriavidus necator H16, a model autotrophic organism to express differing aromatic modifications of type-IV pilus proteins to establish structure-function relationships on conductivity and the effects this has on pili structure. This was achieved via a combination of high-resolution PeakForce tunnelling atomic force microscopy (PeakForce TUNA™) technology, alongside conventional electrochemical approaches enabling the elucidation of conductive nanowires emanating from whole bacterial cells. This work is the first example of functional type-IV pili protein nanowires produced under aerobic conditions using a Cupriavidus necator chassis. This work has far-reaching consequences in understanding the basis of bio-electrical communication between cells and with their external environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Myers
- Bioelectronics Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
- Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Francesco Catrambone
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Stephanie Allen
- Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Phil J Hill
- Division of Microbiology, Brewing and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Katalin Kovacs
- Bioelectronics Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
- Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Frankie J Rawson
- Bioelectronics Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
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28
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Fessler M, Madsen JS, Zhang Y. Conjugative plasmids inhibit extracellular electron transfer in Geobacter sulfurreducens. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1150091. [PMID: 37007462 PMCID: PMC10063792 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1150091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Geobacter sulfurreducens is part of a specialized group of microbes with the unique ability to exchange electrons with insoluble materials, such as iron oxides and electrodes. Therefore, G. sulfurreducens plays an essential role in the biogeochemical iron cycle and microbial electrochemical systems. In G. sulfurreducens this ability is primarily dependent on electrically conductive nanowires that link internal electron flow from metabolism to solid electron acceptors in the extracellular environment. Here we show that when carrying conjugative plasmids, which are self-transmissible plasmids that are ubiquitous in environmental bacteria, G. sulfurreducens reduces insoluble iron oxides at much slower rates. This was the case for all three conjugative plasmids tested (pKJK5, RP4 and pB10). Growth with electron acceptors that do not require expression of nanowires was, on the other hand, unaffected. Furthermore, iron oxide reduction was also inhibited in Geobacter chapellei, but not in Shewanella oneidensis where electron export is nanowire-independent. As determined by transcriptomics, presence of pKJK5 reduces transcription of several genes that have been shown to be implicated in extracellular electron transfer in G. sulfurreducens, including pilA and omcE. These results suggest that conjugative plasmids can in fact be very disadvantageous for the bacterial host by imposing specific phenotypic changes, and that these plasmids may contribute to shaping the microbial composition in electrode-respiring biofilms in microbial electrochemical reactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Fessler
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jonas Stenløkke Madsen
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Yifeng Zhang,
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29
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Ozcan A, Keskin O, Sariyar Akbulut B, Ozbek P. Piperidine-based natural products targeting Type IV pili antivirulence: A computational approach. J Mol Graph Model 2023; 119:108382. [PMID: 36463631 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2022.108382] [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: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Type IV (T4) pilus is among the virulence factors with a key role in serious bacterial diseases. Specifically, in Neisseria meningitidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, it determines pathogenicity and causes infection. Here, a computational approach has been pursued to find piperidine-based inhibitor molecules against the elongation ATPase of T4 pili in these two selected pathogens. Using the modeled structures of the PilF and PilB ATPases of N. meningitidis and P. aeruginosa, virtual library screening via molecular docking has returned inhibitor molecule candidates. The dynamics of the best three binders have further been investigated in detail via molecular dynamic simulations. Among these, ligands with COCONUT IDs CNP0030078 and CNP0051517 were found to have higher potential in the inhibition of ATPases based on molecular dynamic simulation analysis and biological activity information. The obtained results will guide future efforts in antivirulence drug development against T4 pili of N. meningitidis and P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslihan Ozcan
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ozlem Keskin
- College of Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Berna Sariyar Akbulut
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Pemra Ozbek
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
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30
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Pelicic V. Mechanism of assembly of type 4 filaments: everything you always wanted to know (but were afraid to ask). MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169. [PMID: 36947586 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Type 4 filaments (T4F) are a superfamily of filamentous nanomachines - virtually ubiquitous in prokaryotes and functionally versatile - of which type 4 pili (T4P) are the defining member. T4F are polymers of type 4 pilins, assembled by conserved multi-protein machineries. They have long been an important topic for research because they are key virulence factors in numerous bacterial pathogens. Our poor understanding of the molecular mechanisms of T4F assembly is a serious hindrance to the design of anti-T4F therapeutics. This review attempts to shed light on the fundamental mechanistic principles at play in T4F assembly by focusing on similarities rather than differences between several (mostly bacterial) T4F. This holistic approach, complemented by the revolutionary ability of artificial intelligence to predict protein structures, led to an intriguing mechanistic model of T4F assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Pelicic
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, UMR 7283 CNRS/Aix-Marseille Université, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
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31
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Szmuc E, Walker DJF, Kireev D, Akinwande D, Lovley DR, Keitz B, Ellington A. Engineering Geobacter pili to produce metal:organic filaments. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 222:114993. [PMID: 36525710 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114993] [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: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The organized self-assembly of conductive biological structures holds promise for creating new bioelectronic devices. In particular, Geobacter sulfurreducens type IVa pili have proven to be a versatile material for fabricating protein nanowire-based devices. To scale the production of conductive pili, we designed a strain of Shewanella oneidensis that heterologously expressed abundant, conductive Geobacter pili when grown aerobically in liquid culture. S. oneidensis expressing a cysteine-modified pilin, designed to enhance the capability to bind to gold, generated conductive pili that self-assembled into biohybrid filaments in the presence of gold nanoparticles. Elemental composition analysis confirmed the filament-metal interactions within the structures, which were several orders of magnitude larger than previously described metal:organic filaments. The results demonstrate that the S. oneidensis chassis significantly advances the possibilities for facile conductive protein nanowire design and fabrication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Szmuc
- College of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
| | - David J F Walker
- College of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, United States; U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, United States; Bioconscientia LLC, Austin, TX 78712, United States
| | - Dmitry Kireev
- Cockrell School of Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
| | - Deji Akinwande
- Cockrell School of Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
| | - Derek R Lovley
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | - Benjamin Keitz
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
| | - Andrew Ellington
- College of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, United States.
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32
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Merfa MV, Zhu X, Shantharaj D, Gomez LM, Naranjo E, Potnis N, Cobine PA, De La Fuente L. Complete functional analysis of type IV pilus components of a reemergent plant pathogen reveals neofunctionalization of paralog genes. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011154. [PMID: 36780566 PMCID: PMC9956873 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Type IV pilus (TFP) is a multifunctional bacterial structure involved in twitching motility, adhesion, biofilm formation, as well as natural competence. Here, by site-directed mutagenesis and functional analysis, we determined the phenotype conferred by each of the 38 genes known to be required for TFP biosynthesis and regulation in the reemergent plant pathogenic fastidious prokaryote Xylella fastidiosa. This pathogen infects > 650 plant species and causes devastating diseases worldwide in olives, grapes, blueberries, and almonds, among others. This xylem-limited, insect-transmitted pathogen lives constantly under flow conditions and therefore is highly dependent on TFP for host colonization. In addition, TFP-mediated natural transformation is a process that impacts genomic diversity and environmental fitness. Phenotypic characterization of the mutants showed that ten genes were essential for both movement and natural competence. Interestingly, seven sets of paralogs exist, and mutations showed opposing phenotypes, indicating evolutionary neofunctionalization of subunits within TFP. The minor pilin FimT3 was the only protein exclusively required for natural competence. By combining approaches of molecular microbiology, structural biology, and biochemistry, we determined that the minor pilin FimT3 (but not the other two FimT paralogs) is the DNA receptor in TFP of X. fastidiosa and constitutes an example of neofunctionalization. FimT3 is conserved among X. fastidiosa strains and binds DNA non-specifically via an electropositive surface identified by homolog modeling. This protein surface includes two arginine residues that were exchanged with alanine and shown to be involved in DNA binding. Among plant pathogens, fimT3 was found in ~ 10% of the available genomes of the plant associated Xanthomonadaceae family, which are yet to be assessed for natural competence (besides X. fastidiosa). Overall, we highlight here the complex regulation of TFP in X. fastidiosa, providing a blueprint to understand TFP in other bacteria living under flow conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus V. Merfa
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Xinyu Zhu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Deepak Shantharaj
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Laura M. Gomez
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Eber Naranjo
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Neha Potnis
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Paul A. Cobine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Leonardo De La Fuente
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Characterization of a glycan-binding complex of minor pilins completes the analysis of Streptococcus sanguinis type 4 pili subunits. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2216237120. [PMID: 36626560 PMCID: PMC9934059 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216237120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Type 4 filaments (T4F)-of which type 4 pili (T4P) are the archetype-are a superfamily of nanomachines nearly ubiquitous in prokaryotes. T4F are polymers of one major pilin, which also contain minor pilins whose roles are often poorly understood. Here, we complete the structure/function analysis of the full set of T4P pilins in the opportunistic bacterial pathogen Streptococcus sanguinis. We determined the structure of the minor pilin PilA, which is unexpectedly similar to one of the subunits of a tip-located complex of four minor pilins, widely conserved in T4F. We found that PilA interacts and dramatically stabilizes the minor pilin PilC. We determined the structure of PilC, showing that it is a modular pilin with a lectin module binding a subset of glycans prevalent in the human glycome, the host of S. sanguinis. Altogether, our findings support a model whereby the minor pilins in S. sanguinis T4P form a tip-located complex promoting adhesion to various host receptors. This has general implications for T4F.
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Escobar MR, Lepek VC, Basile LA. Influence of cyclic di-GMP metabolism to T3SS expression, biofilm formation and symbiosis efficiency in Mesorhizobium japonicum MAFF303099. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2023; 370:fnad087. [PMID: 37632199 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnad087] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
A link between the T3SS and inhibition of swimming motility by the transcriptional regulator TtsI in Mesorhizobium japonicum MAFF303099 has been previously reported. Here, we show that mutants in T3SS components display impaired biofilm formation capacity, indicating that a functional T3SS, or at least pili formation, is required for this process. As a first approach to the cdiG regulation network in this bacterium, we started a study of the second messenger cdiG by overexpressing or by deleting some genes encoding cdiG metabolizing enzymes. Overexpression of two putative PDEs as well as deletion of various DGCs led to reduced biofilm formation on glass tubes. Mutation of dgc9509 also affected negatively the nodulation and symbiosis efficiency on Lotus plants, which can be related to the observed reduction in adhesion to plant roots. Results from transcriptional nopX- and ttsI-promoter-lacZ fusions suggested that cdiG negatively regulates T3SS expression in M. japonicum MAFF303099.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariel R Escobar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde", Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIBio-EByN-UNSAM), CONICET. Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Viviana C Lepek
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde", Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIBio-EByN-UNSAM), CONICET. Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura A Basile
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde", Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIBio-EByN-UNSAM), CONICET. Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Ganesan R, Wierz JC, Kaltenpoth M, Flórez LV. How It All Begins: Bacterial Factors Mediating the Colonization of Invertebrate Hosts by Beneficial Symbionts. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2022; 86:e0012621. [PMID: 36301103 PMCID: PMC9769632 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00126-21] [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] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Beneficial associations with bacteria are widespread across animals, spanning a range of symbiont localizations, transmission routes, and functions. While some of these associations have evolved into obligate relationships with permanent symbiont localization within the host, the majority require colonization of every host generation from the environment or via maternal provisions. Across the broad diversity of host species and tissue types that beneficial bacteria can colonize, there are some highly specialized strategies for establishment yet also some common patterns in the molecular basis of colonization. This review focuses on the mechanisms underlying the early stage of beneficial bacterium-invertebrate associations, from initial contact to the establishment of the symbionts in a specific location of the host's body. We first reflect on general selective pressures that can drive the transition from a free-living to a host-associated lifestyle in bacteria. We then cover bacterial molecular factors for colonization in symbioses from both model and nonmodel invertebrate systems where these have been studied, including terrestrial and aquatic host taxa. Finally, we discuss how interactions between multiple colonizing bacteria and priority effects can influence colonization. Taking the bacterial perspective, we emphasize the importance of developing new experimentally tractable systems to derive general insights into the ecological factors and molecular adaptations underlying the origin and establishment of beneficial symbioses in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Ganesan
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Jürgen C. Wierz
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Kaltenpoth
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Laura V. Flórez
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Section for Organismal Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Type IV Pili Are a Critical Virulence Factor in Clinical Isolates of Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus. mBio 2022; 13:e0268822. [PMID: 36374038 PMCID: PMC9765702 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02688-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrocephalus, the leading indication for childhood neurosurgery worldwide, is particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. Hydrocephalus preceded by an infection, or postinfectious hydrocephalus, accounts for up to 60% of hydrocephalus in these areas. Since many children with hydrocephalus suffer poor long-term outcomes despite surgical intervention, prevention of hydrocephalus remains paramount. Our previous studies implicated a novel bacterial pathogen, Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus, as a causal agent of neonatal sepsis and postinfectious hydrocephalus in Uganda. Here, we report the isolation of three P. thiaminolyticus strains, Mbale, Mbale2, and Mbale3, from patients with postinfectious hydrocephalus. We constructed complete genome assemblies of the clinical isolates as well as the nonpathogenic P. thiaminolyticus reference strain and performed comparative genomic and proteomic analyses to identify potential virulence factors. All three isolates carry a unique beta-lactamase gene, and two of the three isolates exhibit resistance in culture to the beta-lactam antibiotics penicillin and ampicillin. In addition, a cluster of genes carried on a mobile genetic element that encodes a putative type IV pilus operon is present in all three clinical isolates but absent in the reference strain. CRISPR-mediated deletion of the gene cluster substantially reduced the virulence of the Mbale strain in mice. Comparative proteogenomic analysis identified various additional potential virulence factors likely acquired on mobile genetic elements in the virulent strains. These results provide insight into the emergence of virulence in P. thiaminolyticus and suggest avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of this novel bacterial pathogen. IMPORTANCE Postinfectious hydrocephalus, a devastating sequela of neonatal infection, is associated with increased childhood mortality and morbidity. A novel bacterial pathogen, Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus, is highly associated with postinfectious hydrocephalus in an African cohort. Whole-genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and proteomics of clinical isolates and a reference strain in combination with CRISPR editing identified type IV pili as a critical virulence factor for P. thiaminolyticus infection. Acquisition of a type IV pilus-encoding mobile genetic element critically contributed to converting a nonpathogenic strain of P. thiaminolyticus into a pathogen capable of causing devastating diseases. Given the widespread presence of type IV pilus in pathogens, the presence of the type IV pilus operon could serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic target in P. thiaminolyticus and related bacteria.
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Vahvelainen N, Bozkurt E, Maula T, Johansson A, Pöllänen MT, Ihalin R. Pilus PilA of the naturally competent HACEK group pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans stimulates human leukocytes and interacts with both DNA and proinflammatory cytokines. Microb Pathog 2022; 173:105843. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Bautista S, Schmidt V, Guiseppi A, Mauriello EMF, Attia B, Elantak L, Mignot T, Mercier R. FrzS acts as a polar beacon to recruit SgmX, a central activator of type IV pili during Myxococcus xanthus motility. EMBO J 2022; 42:e111661. [PMID: 36345779 PMCID: PMC9811614 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022111661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In rod-shaped bacteria, type IV pili (Tfp) promote twitching motility by assembling and retracting at the cell pole. In Myxococcus xanthus, a bacterium that moves in highly coordinated cell groups, Tfp are activated by a polar activator protein, SgmX. However, while it is known that the Ras-like protein MglA is required for unipolar targeting, how SgmX accesses the cell pole to activate Tfp is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that a polar beacon protein, FrzS, recruits SgmX at the cell pole. We identified two main functional domains, including a Tfp-activating domain and a polar-binding domain. Within the latter, we show that the direct binding of MglA-GTP unveils a hidden motif that binds directly to the FrzS N-terminal response regulator (CheY). Structural analyses reveal that this binding occurs through a novel binding interface for response regulator domains. In conclusion, the findings unveil the protein interaction network leading to the spatial activation of Tfp at the cell pole. This tripartite system is at the root of complex collective behaviours in this predatory bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Bautista
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la MéditerranéeAix‐Marseille Université‐CNRS (UMR7283)MarseilleFrance
| | - Victoria Schmidt
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, Institut de Microbiologie de la MéditerranéeAix‐Marseille Université‐CNRS (UMR7255)MarseilleFrance
| | - Annick Guiseppi
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la MéditerranéeAix‐Marseille Université‐CNRS (UMR7283)MarseilleFrance
| | - Emillia M F Mauriello
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la MéditerranéeAix‐Marseille Université‐CNRS (UMR7283)MarseilleFrance
| | - Bouchra Attia
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, Institut de Microbiologie de la MéditerranéeAix‐Marseille Université‐CNRS (UMR7255)MarseilleFrance
| | - Latifa Elantak
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, Institut de Microbiologie de la MéditerranéeAix‐Marseille Université‐CNRS (UMR7255)MarseilleFrance
| | - Tâm Mignot
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la MéditerranéeAix‐Marseille Université‐CNRS (UMR7283)MarseilleFrance
| | - Romain Mercier
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la MéditerranéeAix‐Marseille Université‐CNRS (UMR7283)MarseilleFrance
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Uroz S, Geisler O, Fauchery L, Lami R, Rodrigues AMS, Morin E, Leveau JHJ, Oger P. Genomic and transcriptomic characterization of the Collimonas quorum sensing genes and regulon. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:6679101. [PMID: 36040340 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac100] [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: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Collimonads are well-adapted to nutrient-poor environments. They are known to hydrolyse chitin, produce antifungal metabolites, weather minerals, and are effective biocontrol agents protecting plants from fungal diseases. The production of N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) was suggested to be a conserved trait of collimonads, but little is known about the genes that underlie this production or the genes that are controlled by AHLs. To improve our understanding of the role of AHLs in the ecology of collimonads, we carried out transcriptomic analyses, combined with chemical and functional assays, on strain Collimonas pratensis PMB3(1). The main AHLs produced by this strain were identified as 3-hydroxy-hexa- and octa-noyl-homoserine lactone. Genome analysis permitted to identify putative genes coding for the autoinducer synthase (colI) and cognate transcriptional regulator (colR). The ability to produce AHLs was lost in ΔcolI and ΔcolR mutants. Functional assays revealed that the two mutants metabolized glucose, formate, oxalate, and leucine better than the wild-type (WT) strain. Transcriptome sequencing analyses revealed an up-regulation of different metabolic pathways and of motility in the QS-mutants compared to the WT strain. Overall, our results provide insights into the role of the AHL-dependent regulation system of Collimonas in environment colonization, metabolism readjustment, and microbial interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephane Uroz
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR1136 "Interactions Arbres-Microorganismes", F-54280 Champenoux, France.,INRAE, UR1138 "Biogéochimie des écosystèmes forestiers", F-54280 Champenoux, France
| | - Océane Geisler
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR1136 "Interactions Arbres-Microorganismes", F-54280 Champenoux, France
| | - Laure Fauchery
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR1136 "Interactions Arbres-Microorganismes", F-54280 Champenoux, France
| | - Raphaël Lami
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes (LBBM, USR3579), Fédération de Recherche FR3724, Observatoire Océanologique, 66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Alice M S Rodrigues
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes (LBBM, USR3579), Fédération de Recherche FR3724, Observatoire Océanologique, 66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Emmanuelle Morin
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR1136 "Interactions Arbres-Microorganismes", F-54280 Champenoux, France
| | - Johan H J Leveau
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Philippe Oger
- Université Lyon, INSA de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5240, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
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Oki H, Kawahara K, Iimori M, Imoto Y, Nishiumi H, Maruno T, Uchiyama S, Muroga Y, Yoshida A, Yoshida T, Ohkubo T, Matsuda S, Iida T, Nakamura S. Structural basis for the toxin-coregulated pilus-dependent secretion of Vibrio cholerae colonization factor. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo3013. [PMID: 36240278 PMCID: PMC9565799 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo3013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Colonization of the host intestine is the most important step in Vibrio cholerae infection. The toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP), an operon-encoded type IVb pilus (T4bP), plays a crucial role in this process, which requires an additional secreted protein, TcpF, encoded on the same TCP operon; however, its mechanisms of secretion and function remain elusive. Here, we demonstrated that TcpF interacts with the minor pilin, TcpB, of TCP and elucidated the crystal structures of TcpB alone and in complex with TcpF. The structural analyses reveal how TCP recognizes TcpF and its secretory mechanism via TcpB-dependent pilus elongation and retraction. Upon binding to TCP, TcpF forms a flower-shaped homotrimer with its flexible N terminus hooked onto the trimeric interface of TcpB. Thus, the interaction between the minor pilin and the N terminus of the secreted protein, namely, the T4bP secretion signal, is key for V. cholerae colonization and is a new potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroya Oki
- Department of Infection Metagenomics, Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuki Kawahara
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Minato Iimori
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuka Imoto
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Haruka Nishiumi
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Maruno
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Susumu Uchiyama
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Creative Research, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Aichi, Japan
- U-Medico Inc., Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuki Muroga
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akihiro Yoshida
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takuya Yoshida
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tadayasu Ohkubo
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shigeaki Matsuda
- Department of Bacterial Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Iida
- Department of Infection Metagenomics, Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Bacterial Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shota Nakamura
- Department of Infection Metagenomics, Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Integrated Frontier Research for Medical Science Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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41
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Knoot CJ, Wantuch PL, Robinson LS, Rosen DA, Scott NE, Harding CM. Discovery and characterization of a new class of O-linking oligosaccharyltransferases from the Moraxellaceae family. Glycobiology 2022; 33:57-74. [PMID: 36239418 PMCID: PMC9829042 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwac070] [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: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial protein glycosylation is commonly mediated by oligosaccharyltransferases (OTases) that transfer oligosaccharides en bloc from preassembled lipid-linked precursors to acceptor proteins. Natively, O-linking OTases usually transfer a single repeat unit of the O-antigen or capsular polysaccharide to the side chains of serine or threonine on acceptor proteins. Three major families of bacterial O-linking OTases have been described: PglL, PglS, and TfpO. TfpO is limited to transferring short oligosaccharides both in its native context and when heterologously expressed in glycoengineered Escherichia coli. On the other hand, PglL and PglS can transfer long-chain polysaccharides when expressed in glycoengineered E. coli. Herein, we describe the discovery and functional characterization of a novel family of bacterial O-linking OTases termed TfpM from Moraxellaceae bacteria. TfpM proteins are similar in size and sequence to TfpO enzymes but can transfer long-chain polysaccharides to acceptor proteins. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that TfpM proteins cluster in distinct clades from known bacterial OTases. Using a representative TfpM enzyme from Moraxella osloensis, we determined that TfpM glycosylates a C-terminal threonine of its cognate pilin-like protein and identified the minimal sequon required for glycosylation. We further demonstrated that TfpM has broad substrate tolerance and can transfer diverse glycans including those with glucose, galactose, or 2-N-acetyl sugars at the reducing end. Last, we find that a TfpM-derived bioconjugate is immunogenic and elicits serotype-specific polysaccharide IgG responses in mice. The glycan substrate promiscuity of TfpM and identification of the minimal TfpM sequon renders this enzyme a valuable additional tool for expanding the glycoengineering toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory J Knoot
- Omniose, 4340 Duncan Ave, Suite 202, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Paeton L Wantuch
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, 4990 Children’s Place, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | | | - David A Rosen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, 4990 Children’s Place, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA,Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Nichollas E Scott
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
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42
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Ronish LA, Sidner B, Yu Y, Piepenbrink KH. Recognition of extracellular DNA by type IV pili promotes biofilm formation by Clostridioides difficile. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102449. [PMID: 36064001 PMCID: PMC9556784 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive bacillus, which is a frequent cause of gastrointestinal infections triggered by the depletion of the gut microbiome. Because of the frequent recurrence of these infections after antibiotic treatment, mechanisms of C. difficile persistence and recurrence, including biofilm formation, are of increasing interest. Previously, our group and others found that type IV pili, filamentous helical appendages polymerized from protein subunits, promoted microcolony and biofilm formation in C. difficile. In Gram-negative bacteria, the ability of type IV pili to mediate bacterial self-association has been explained through interactions between the pili of adjacent cells, but type IV pili from several Gram-negative species are also required for natural competence through DNA uptake. Here, we report the ability of two C. difficile pilin subunits, PilJ and PilW, to bind to DNA in vitro, as well as the defects in biofilm formation in the pilJ and pilW gene-interruption mutants. Additionally, we have resolved the X-ray crystal structure of PilW, which we use to model possible structural mechanisms for the formation of C. difficile biofilm through interactions between type IV pili and the DNA of the extracellular matrix. Taken together, our results provide further insight into the relationship between type IV pilus function and biofilm formation in C. difficile and, more broadly, suggest that DNA recognition by type IV pili and related structures may have functional importance beyond DNA uptake for natural competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie A Ronish
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Ben Sidner
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Yafan Yu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Kurt H Piepenbrink
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Food for Health Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
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43
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Zhang Y, Li D, Yan Q, Xu P, Chen W, Xin H, Wu D, Zhou M, Xu Y, Zhang A, Wei W, Jiang Z. Genome-wide analysis reveals the emergence of multidrug resistant Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila strain SINDOREI isolated from a patient with sepsis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:989259. [PMID: 36212813 PMCID: PMC9537462 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.989259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila, the most recent reported species in genus Stenotrophomonas, is a relatively rare bacteria and is an aerobic, glucose non-fermentative, Gram-negative bacterium. However, little information of S. acidaminiphila is known to cause human infections. In this research, we firstly reported a multidrug-resistant strain S. acidaminiphila SINDOREI isolated from the blood of a patient with sepsis, who was dead of infection eventually. The whole genome of strain SINDOREI was sequenced, and genome comparisons were performed among six closely related S. acidaminiphila strains. The core genes (2,506 genes) and strain-specific genes were identified, respectively, to know about the strain-level diversity in six S. acidaminiphila stains. The presence of a unique gene (narG) and essential genes involved in biofilm formation in strain SINDOREI are important for the pathogenesis of infections. Strain SINDOREI was resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, cefepime, ceftazidime, and aztreonam. Several common and specific antibiotic resistance genes were identified in strain SINDOREI. The presence of two sul genes and exclusive determinants GES-1, aadA3, qacL, and cmlA5 is responsible for the resistance to multidrug. The virulence factors and resistance determinants can show the relationship between the phenotype and genotype and afford potential therapeutic strategies for infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China
- Hunan Hematology Oncology Clinical Medical Research Center, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Danhua Li
- Departmant of Scientific Affairs, Hugobiotech Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Qun Yan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ping Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changsha Central Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Hongya Xin
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China
- Hunan Hematology Oncology Clinical Medical Research Center, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Dengshu Wu
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China
- Hunan Hematology Oncology Clinical Medical Research Center, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Mingxiang Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yajing Xu
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China
- Hunan Hematology Oncology Clinical Medical Research Center, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ao Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China
- Hunan Hematology Oncology Clinical Medical Research Center, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wenjia Wei
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China
- Hunan Hematology Oncology Clinical Medical Research Center, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhiping Jiang
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China
- Hunan Hematology Oncology Clinical Medical Research Center, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhiping Jiang,
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Exploring Bacterial Attributes That Underpin Symbiont Life in the Monogastric Gut. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0112822. [PMID: 36036591 PMCID: PMC9499014 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01128-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The large bowel of monogastric animals, such as that of humans, is home to a microbial community (microbiota) composed of a diversity of mostly bacterial species. Interrelationships between the microbiota as an entity and the host are complex and lifelong and are characteristic of a symbiosis. The relationships may be disrupted in association with disease, resulting in dysbiosis. Modifications to the microbiota to correct dysbiosis require knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms by which symbionts inhabit the gut. This review aims to summarize aspects of niche fitness of bacterial species that inhabit the monogastric gut, especially of humans, and to indicate the research path by which progress can be made in exploring bacterial attributes that underpin symbiont life in the gut.
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Alteri CJ, Rios-Sarabia N, De la Cruz MA, González-y-Merchand JA, Soria-Bustos J, Maldonado-Bernal C, Cedillo ML, Yáñez-Santos JA, Martínez-Laguna Y, Torres J, Friedman RL, Girón JA, Ares MA. The Flp type IV pilus operon of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is expressed upon interaction with macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:916247. [PMID: 36204636 PMCID: PMC9531140 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.916247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) harbors the genetic machinery for assembly of the Fimbrial low-molecular-weight protein (Flp) type IV pilus. Presumably, the Flp pilus is essential for pathogenesis. However, it remains unclear whether the pili genes are transcribed in culture or during infection of host cells. This study aimed to shed light on the expression of the Flp pili-assembly genes (tadZ, tadA, tadB, tadC, flp, tadE, and tadF) in Mtb growing under different growth conditions (exponential phase, stationary phase, and dormancy NRP1 and NRP2 phases induced by hypoxia), during biofilm formation, and in contact with macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells. We found that expression of tad/flp genes was significantly higher in the stationary phase than in exponential or NRP1 or NRP2 phases suggesting that the bacteria do not require type IV pili during dormancy. Elevated gene expression levels were recorded when the bacilli were in contact for 4 h with macrophages or epithelial cells, compared to mycobacteria propagated alone in the cultured medium. An antibody raised against a 12-mer peptide derived from the Flp pilin subunit detected the presence of Flp pili on intra- and extracellular bacteria infecting eukaryotic cells. Altogether, these are compelling data showing that the Flp pili genes are expressed during the interaction of Mtb with host cells and highlight a role for Flp pili in colonization and invasion of the host, subsequently promoting bacterial survival during dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Alteri
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI, United States
| | - Nora Rios-Sarabia
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Miguel A. De la Cruz
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jorge A. González-y-Merchand
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jorge Soria-Bustos
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Hidalgo, Mexico
| | - Carmen Maldonado-Bernal
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Inmunología y Proteómica, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - María L. Cedillo
- Centro de Detección Biomolecular, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Jorge A. Yáñez-Santos
- Centro de Detección Biomolecular, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Ygnacio Martínez-Laguna
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Microbiológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Javier Torres
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Richard L. Friedman
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Jorge A. Girón
- Centro de Detección Biomolecular, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Miguel A. Ares, ; Jorge A. Girón,
| | - Miguel A. Ares
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Miguel A. Ares, ; Jorge A. Girón,
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Savitskaya VY, Monakhova MV, Iakushkina IV, Borovikova II, Kubareva EA. Neisseria gonorrhoeae: DNA Repair Systems and Their Role in Pathogenesis. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2022; 87:965-982. [PMID: 36180987 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922090097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (a Gram-negative diplococcus) is a human pathogen and causative agent of gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection. The bacterium uses various approaches for adapting to environmental conditions and multiplying efficiently in the human body, such as regulation of expression of gene expression of surface proteins and lipooligosaccharides (e.g., expression of various forms of pilin). The systems of DNA repair play an important role in the bacterium ability to survive in the host body. This review describes DNA repair systems of N. gonorrhoeae and their role in the pathogenicity of this bacterium. A special attention is paid to the mismatch repair system (MMR) and functioning of the MutS and MutL proteins, as well as to the role of these proteins in regulation of the pilin antigenic variation of the N. gonorrhoeae pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mayya V Monakhova
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Iuliia V Iakushkina
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Irina I Borovikova
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Elena A Kubareva
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
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47
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Krause AL, Stinear TP, Monk IR. Barriers to genetic manipulation of Enterococci: Current Approaches and Future Directions. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6650352. [PMID: 35883217 PMCID: PMC9779914 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are Gram-positive commensal gut bacteria that can also cause fatal infections. To study clinically relevant multi-drug resistant E. faecalis and E. faecium strains, methods are needed to overcome physical (thick cell wall) and enzymatic barriers that limit the transfer of foreign DNA and thus prevent facile genetic manipulation. Enzymatic barriers to DNA uptake identified in E. faecalis and E. faecium include type I, II and IV restriction modification systems and CRISPR-Cas. This review examines E. faecalis and E. faecium DNA defence systems and the methods with potential to overcome these barriers. DNA defence system bypass will allow the application of innovative genetic techniques to expedite molecular-level understanding of these important, but somewhat neglected, pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L Krause
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia
| | - Timothy P Stinear
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia
| | - Ian R Monk
- Corresponding author: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia. E-mail:
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48
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Archaeal bundling pili of Pyrobaculum calidifontis reveal similarities between archaeal and bacterial biofilms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2207037119. [PMID: 35727984 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2207037119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While biofilms formed by bacteria have received great attention due to their importance in pathogenesis, much less research has been focused on the biofilms formed by archaea. It has been known that extracellular filaments in archaea, such as type IV pili, hami, and cannulae, play a part in the formation of archaeal biofilms. We have used cryo-electron microscopy to determine the atomic structure of a previously uncharacterized class of archaeal surface filaments from hyperthermophilic Pyrobaculum calidifontis. These filaments, which we call archaeal bundling pili (ABP), assemble into highly ordered bipolar bundles. The bipolar nature of these bundles most likely arises from the association of filaments from at least two different cells. The component protein, AbpA, shows homology, both at the sequence and structural level, to the bacterial protein TasA, a major component of the extracellular matrix in bacterial biofilms, contributing to biofilm stability. We show that AbpA forms very stable filaments in a manner similar to the donor-strand exchange of bacterial TasA fibers and chaperone-usher pathway pili where a β-strand from one subunit is incorporated into a β-sheet of the next subunit. Our results reveal likely mechanistic similarities and evolutionary connection between bacterial and archaeal biofilms, and suggest that there could be many other archaeal surface filaments that are as yet uncharacterized.
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Recombinant PilS: Cloning, Expression and Biochemical Characterization of a Pil-Fimbriae Subunit. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061174. [PMID: 35744689 PMCID: PMC9227774 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061174] [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: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pil-fimbriae is a type IV pili member, which is a remarkably versatile component with a wide variety of functions, including motility, attachment to different surfaces, electrical conductance, DNA acquisition, and secretion of a broad range of structurally distinct protein substrates. Despite the previous functional characterization of Pil, more studies are required to understand the regulation of Pil expression and production, since the exact mechanisms involved in these steps are still unknown. Therefore it is extremely important to have a protein with the correct secondary and tertiary structure that will enable an accurate characterization and a specific antisera generation. For this reason, the aim of this work was to generate potential tools for further investigations to comprehend the mechanisms involved in Pil regulation and its role in pathogenic E. coli infections with the obtaining of a precise native-like recombinant PilS and the corresponding antisera. The pilS gene was successfully cloned into an expression vector, and recombinant PilS (rPilS) was efficiently solubilized and purified by metal affinity chromatography. Protein characterization analyses indicated that rPilS presented native-like secondary and tertiary structures after the refolding process. The generated anti-rPilS sera efficiently recognized recombinant and native proteins from atypical enteropathogenic E. coli strains.
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50
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Abstract
Type IV pili (T4P) are retractable multifunctional nanofibers present on the surface of numerous bacterial and archaeal species. Their importance to microbiology is difficult to overstate. The scientific journey leading to our current understanding of T4P structure and function has included many innovative research milestones. Although multiple T4P reviews over the years have emphasized recent advances, we find that current reports often omit many of the landmark discoveries in this field. Here, we attempt to highlight chronologically the most important work on T4P, from the discovery of pili to the application of sophisticated contemporary methods, which has brought us to our current state of knowledge. As there remains much to learn about the complex machine that assembles and retracts T4P, we hope that this review will increase the interest of current researchers and inspire innovative progress.
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